winchester university october 2016

www.parliament.uk/get-involved

The UK Parliament

Kate Anderson: UK Parliament Universities Programme

[email protected]@KateAHoP

mailto:[email protected]


The UK Parliament is made up of:

a) House of Commons and House of Lordsb) House of Commons and Governmentc) Government and Monarchd) House of Commons, House of Lords

and Monarch


What is Parliament?

House of Commons

The Monarch(The Queen)

House of Lords


How many MPs are there in the House of Commons?

a) 678b) 664c) 650d) 659

Reduce the number of constituencies in the UK from 650 to 600, and reduce the variation in electorates.

The Boundary Commission for England initial proposals for 501 English constituencies would mean a reduction of 32 seats.

Only 68 seats would remain unchanged.

The Boundary Commission is independent.

The rules for the review are set out in the Parliamentary Constituencies Act 1986 (as amended).

The changes will be consulted on with final the final report to be delivered in 2018.

The Commission for Scotland is due to report this month (October 2016). Scotland is expected to lose 10% of its seats.


A snap election?Fixed Term Parliament Act 2011The Act stipulates that there will be a general election every five years, on the first Thursday in May.An early election may take place if either of two conditions is met:(1) If the House passes the motion (and, if divided on, is supported by two-thirds of all MPs, not just two-thirds of those voting) ‘That there shall be an early general election’.(2) If the House passes the motion ‘That this House has no confidence in Her Majesty’s Government’ and if, after 14 days, a new or reconstituted government has not achieved a motion of confidence from the House.

51%

35%

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Seats

Conservative Labour Scottish National Party Democratic Unionist PartyLiberal Democrat Independent Sinn Fein Plaid CymruSocial Democratic & Labour Party Ulster Unionist Party Green Party SpeakerUK Independence Party Vacant


How can people become members of the House of Lords?a) Members of the public nominate themb) An independent Commission recommends themc) The Prime Minister chooses themd) Their titles are passed down to them through their familye) All of the above


Who sits in the House of Lords? Life peersElected hereditary peersBishops and Archbishops


What do the Commons and the Lords do?Make new laws and change existing lawsScrutinise the UK GovernmentRaise and debate key issues


What doesn’t the House of Lords do?

The House of Lords doesn’t approve taxes and Government spendingThe House of Lords doesn’t block Bills that were in a Government’s manifestoThe Lords can only delay new laws the Government want to pass, not stop them completely


House of LordsSpecialists v Generalists• Any reform of the House of Lords is likely to shift the balance from

specialists to generalists. • The current role of the House of Lords is based on the expertise of

its membership.• Scientists sit on the Science and Technology Committee• Head of homelessness charities sit on Housing Bill

Committees • Retired judges inform reforms to the courts and criminal

justice system• If the membership changes, it’s role will change.


The UK GovernmentThe party with (usually) the majority of seats in the House of Commons forms the Government

The Government:

Runs public departments (e.g. Home Office)

Proposes new laws to the UK Parliament

Is accountable to Parliament


UK Parliament UK Government

• Commons, Lords and Monarch• Holds Government to account • Makes laws• Enables the Government to raise and

spend money

• Some MPs and some Lords, chosen by the Prime Minister

• Runs Government departments and public services


Where do Public Bills come from?Individual MPs and Peers• Private Members BillsThe UK Government• Government Bills• Green and white papers


Passage of a Bill


LegislationExercise• Find the Higher Education and Research Bill pages on the UK Parliament website. •Which Government Department does it come from?•What stage is the Bill at?


House of Commons Public Bill Committees• Line-by-line scrutiny of the Bill• This is where most amendments are

made• Many amendments are intended to

“probe” rather than change the Bill• Government will often accept the

basis for Opposition amendments and consider introducing changes on Report


Higher Education and Research BillThe Bill is open for consultationAny change must be related to the topic of the Bill.

• Your first stop is the Library briefing paper. It will give you an overview of what the Bill will do. • You can also look at the most recent amendment paper

to see what changes Government and Opposition Members are proposing. • All written evidence is published on the Bill website.


Higher Education and Research BillThe Bill is open for consultationYou can propose a change. • Think carefully how to summarise your concern. • What is the problem? • Why do you care?• Why should the Committee care?• What do you want them to do about it?


Get involvedRespond to a Government consultation: www.gov.uk/government/publications?publication_filter_option=consultations

Comment on a draft Bill: www.parliament.uk/business/bills-and-legislation/draft-bills/

See which Bills the UK Parliament is considering and sign up for email updates: http://services.parliament.uk/bills/


Where to start? MPs and Peers• Your MP’s contact details will be on the UK Parliament website -

www.parliament.uk - or you can call the House of Commons Enquiry Service on 0800 112 4272

• Members of the House of Lords do not have constituencies, so in theory, you can contact any member

• Identify Peers who are interested in the Bill• You can email Peers at [email protected],

but do not send bulk mail shots. If more than six copies of the same email are received, all will be deleted

• Call the House of Lords Enquiry Service on 0207 219 3107 for more information about contacting Peers


English votes for English lawsIt’s not only about EnglandIf parts of a Government Bill are only about England or England and Wales, those parts go through an extra stage in the House of Commons.

MPs from the nations affected must approve those parts of the Bill between report stage and third reading.


Delegated or Secondary LegislationMakes detailed changes to the law

Statutory instruments form the majority of delegated legislation

Whether the Government are allowed to make the particular change was decided when the Act was going through Parliament

Parliament checks that the Government are acting within the powers in the Act


House of Commons Library Blog: http://commonslibraryblog.com/

Twitter: @commonslibrary

Read the research prepared for Peers and MPFixed-Term Parliaments ActBoundary ReviewRole of Opposition

The Libraries ofHouse of Commons and House of Lords


Get involvedContact your MP or a member of the House of LordsSubmit evidence to a Public Bill CommitteeWatch, read or attend a debate or committee on a BillUse http://services.parliament.uk/bills/ to find information on specific Bills Sign up for email updatesFind out more at www.parliament.uk/get-involved or call the House of Commons Enquiry service on 0800 112 4272 or the House of Lords Enquiry Service on 020 7219 3107

winchester university october 2016

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