Presentation from How Parliament Works event in Newcastle - 11 March 2016

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#GetParliament
How the UK Parliament
works: an introduction
Lynn Hobson
Parliament’s Outreach and Engagement
Service

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#GetParliament
Parliament’s Outreach and Engagement Service

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#GetParliament
What is Parliament?
House of
Commons
House of
Lords
The monarch

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#GetParliament
The core tasks of Parliament
Proposes and makes
laws (Legislation)
Holds Government to account
Enables the Government to
set taxes

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#GetParliament
Parliament and Government

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#GetParliament

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#GetParliament
Passage of a bill

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#GetParliament
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

9. www.parliament.uk/get-involved
#GetParliament
Pre-legislative scrutiny and
post-legislative scrutiny

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Select Committees

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A select committee inquiry
• Inquiry announced
• Call for evidence
• Written evidence deadline
• Oral evidence sessions
• Report preparation
• Publication of report
• Government response

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Evidence gathering

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http://www.parliament.uk/get-involved/committees/

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Petitions Committee
What can the Petitions Committee do with
petitions?
• Seek further info in writing - from petitioners, the Government,
other public bodies, other relevant people/organisations
• Seek further information in person – in Parliament or elsewhere
• Refer to another select committee (but no obligation to act)
• Schedule a debate in Westminster Hall (Monday afternoon, from
4.30pm for up to three hours)
• Ask the Backbench Business Committee for debating time in the
Chamber
• Nothing

15. www.parliament.uk/get-involved
#GetParliament
Your next steps...
• Watch, read or attend a select committee evidence session
• Use http://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/ to
find information on specific select committees
• Use www.parliament.uk to research MPs and Peers with an interest in your
issue
• Write to an interested member of a select committee, an MP or Peer, about
your issue
• Write to committee staff about your issue
• Read the advice on submitting evidence to select committees
• Submit evidence to a select committee

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#GetParliament
House of Commons Library
House of Commons Library Blog:
http://commonslibraryblog.com/
Twitter: @commonslibrary

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#GetParliament
Where can I get information?
www.parliament.uk @UKParliament
House of Commons Enquiry Service
• 020 7219 4272
• @HouseofCommons hcenquiries@parliament.uk
House of Lords Information Office
• 020 7219 3107
• @UKHouseofLords hlinfo@parliament.uk
Parliament’s Outreach Service
• 020 7219 1650
• outreach@parliament.uk