1. Campaigning: an introduction
Kate Anderson
Parliament’s Outreach Service

2. Parliament’s Outreach Service
• A service from the
Houses of Parliament
• Politically neutral
• Aim is to increase
knowledge and
engagement with work
and processes of
Parliament
• Can come to groups and
explain how to engage
with Parliament

3. A policy timeline
Manifesto
discussion
Green Paper
White Paper
Pre-legislative
scrutiny
General
election
Queen’s
Speech
Passage of Bill
through Parliament
An Act

4. Manifesto discussion
• Conservatives
www.conservatives.com
• Labour
www.labour.org.uk
• Scottish Nationalist Party
www.snp.org
• Liberal Democrats
www.libdems.org.uk
• Other

5. Parliament
• comprises House of
Commons, House of Lords
and Monarch
• holds Government to
account
• passes laws
General election
Government
• some MPs and some
Peers, chosen by the Prime
Minister
• runs Government
Departments and public
services

6. Make up of the House of Commons
State of the Parties - May 2015
Conservative
Labour
SNP
DUP
Liberal Democrat
Sinn Fein
Plaid Cymru
SDLP
Ulster Unionist
UKIP
Green
Speaker
Independent

7. Queen’s Speech
• Read the Queen’s Speech online in Hansard
• Watch the Queen’s Speech on www.parliamentlive.tv

8. https://www.gov.uk/governm
ent/publications/queens-
speech-2015-what-it-means-
for-you/queens-speech-2015-
what-it-means-for-you

9. Pre-legislative scrutiny
• Draft Bills or draft clauses of
a bill
• Mainly looked into by House
of Commons Select
Committees but can be Joint
Committees or House of
Lords Committees
• Investigatory powers likely
to be a draft Bill
• Draft Wales Bill is due soon

10. Parliament’s website – Bill options

11. Passage of a bill
Bill starting in the
House of
Commons
Bill starting in the
House of Lords
House of Commons
House of CommonsHouse of Lords
House of Lords
Royal Assent
Royal Assent

12. Parliament’s website – Bill pages

13. Commons: how to get involved
When to contact an MP about a Bill:
• Second reading
• Public Bill Committee – find out who chairs the
committee
• Report Stage
Where to find information online:
• Bills - http://services.parliament.uk/bills/
• Find an MP - www.parliament.uk/mps-lords-and-
offices/mps/

14. Lords: how to get involved
When to contact a Peer about a Bill:
• Second reading
• Committee stage
• Report Stage
• Third reading
Where to find information online:
• Speakers list - www.lordswhips.org.uk/todays-lists
• Bills - http://services.parliament.uk/bills/
• Find a Peer - www.parliament.uk/mps-lords-and-
offices/lords/

15. Post-legislative scrutiny
• A relatively new thing
• Ad hoc Committees as well
as Select Committees in
both Houses
• Memoranda issued from
Government Departments
• The Equalities Act 2010 and
disability committee House
of Lords – taking evidence
• http://www.parliament.uk/business/comm
ittees/committees-a-z/lords-
select/equality-act-2010-and-disability/

16. House of Commons Library
• The House of Commons Library
briefings cover all major pieces of
legislation, other major policy areas,
topical issues, statistics and FAQs
• Legislation briefings are also on the
Bills pages
• Our blog includes regular analysis
from our specialists
http://commonslibraryblog.com/
• Key issues for the new Parliament
available in the foyer
http://www.parliament.uk/commons-library
@commonslibrary

17. www.parliament.uk

18. www.parliament.uk

19. Your next steps...
• Watch, read or attend a debate on a bill
• Use http://services.parliament.uk/bills/ to find information
on specific bills (e.g. Library briefing papers or amendment
papers)
• Use www.parliament.uk to research MPs and Peers with an
interest in your issue
• Write to an interested MP or Peer about your issue
• Read the advice on submitting evidence to Public Bill
Committees
• Submit evidence to a Public Bill Committee

20. Where can I get information?
• www.parliament.uk @UKParliament
• Commons Information Office
020 7219 4272
@HouseofCommons hcinfo@parliament.uk
• Lords Information Office
020 7219 3107
@UKHouseofLords hlinfo@parliament.uk
• Parliament’s Outreach Service
020 7219 1650
@UKParlOutreach outreach@parliament.uk