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www.parliament.uk/get-involved
Engaging with Parliament on issues that matterThe Cystic Fibrosis Trust
Alasdair MackenzieUK Parliament Outreach and
Engagement Service
www.parliament.uk/get-involved
Outreach and Engagement Service
• A service from the Houses of Parliament• Politically neutral• Aim is to increase the public’s knowledge
and engagement with work and processes of Parliament• Not an alternative to MPs
www.parliament.uk/get-involved
What is Parliament?House of Commons House of Lords
The Monarch
www.parliament.uk/get-involved
What is the Government?• The 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 Parliament• is accountable to Parliament
www.parliament.uk/get-involved
What does Parliament do?• Makes and passes laws (Legislation)• Holds Government to account• Enables the Government to set taxes
www.parliament.uk/get-involved
ParliamentWestminster
• Commons, Lords and Monarch
• Holds Government to account
• Passes laws
Government
• Some MPs and some Lords, chosen by the Prime Minister
• Runs Government departments and public services
Whitehall
www.parliament.uk/get-involved
The House of CommonsThe democratically elected chamber of the UK Parliament• 650 Members of Parliament • Elected • Making and passing laws• Holding the Government to account• Raising key issues • Representing constituents• Approving the Budget, public expenditure
www.parliament.uk/get-involved
The House of LordsThe second chamber of the UK Parliament• Who can become a member of the House
Lords?• Members of the public nominate them• An independent Commission
recommends them• The Prime Minister chooses them• Their titles are passed down to them
through their family• All of the above
www.parliament.uk/get-involved
What is the role of the House of Lords?
• Making and passing laws• Holding the Government to account• Debating key issues • Scrutinising EU legislation
www.parliament.uk/get-involved
Where do you start?How can you take your issue into Parliament?• Always start with your own MP• Contact a Member of the House of Lords• There is an all-party parliamentary group on Cystic Fibrosis, made
up of MPs and Members of the Lords who have an interest in the issue
www.parliament.uk/get-involved
Easy influencing options1. Parliamentary questions2. Early day motions3. Petitions4. Tweet/Facebook them
www.parliament.uk/get-involved
Parliamentary QuestionsWritten or spoken questions asked by MPs and Lords, directed at the Government
www.parliament.uk/get-involved
Parliamentary QuestionsWritten or spoken questions asked by MPs and Lords, directed at UK Government.Can be used to:
• Obtain information – statistics, policies, positions• Press for action• Raise constituency issues• Challenge Government policy
www.parliament.uk/get-involved
Parliamentary QuestionsHealth questions 27th
November 2012 (12.28pm)
www.parliament.uk/get-involved
Parliamentary Questions
www.parliament.uk/get-involved
E-PetitionClear request to UK Parliament or the UK Government, about something which is within their responsibility
www.parliament.uk/get-involved
Early Day MotionsA published statement allowing MPs to show their opinion on a specific subject
www.parliament.uk/get-involved
Facebook/Tweet Quick way to engage with an MP
www.parliament.uk/get-involved
DebatesBack-bench MPs can apply for a debate on a particular topic, where a Minister must explain what the Government are doing, or intend to do about it
www.parliament.uk/get-involved
DebatesDebate on access to medicines for people with cystic fibrosis and other rare diseases 8 December 2015
Debate on organ donation 8 July 2014
www.parliament.uk/get-involved
How would you contact your MP?Think of four short sentences:• What is the issue? • Why is it important to you? • Why is it important to your MP? • What would you like your MP to do?
www.parliament.uk/get-involved
Contact your MP: example
• What is the issue? “Parents are unable to take their children out of school for a holiday without being fined.”
• Why is it important to you? “I am a soldier and cannot spend time quality time with my children because I am not on leave during the school holidays.”
• Why is it important to your MP? “You have spoken in Parliament about looking after the armed forces.”
• What would you like your MP to do? “Please ask the Government to change the rules to say that serving personnel can take children out of school when they are home on leave.”
www.parliament.uk/get-involved
Where can I get information?• www.parliament.uk and @UKParliament
• Commons Enquiry Service020 7219 4272 [email protected]
• Lords Information Office020 7219 3107 [email protected]
• UK Parliament Outreach and Engagement Service020 7219 1650 [email protected]