Parliament Explained: Introduction to Parliament

1. Introduction to Parliament Nerys Davies July 2014

2. What is Parliament? House of Commons House of Lords The Monarch The Queen

3. What is the role of the Queen? politically neutral signs off laws passed by Parliament (Royal Assent) opens Parliament each session

4. The House of Commons

5. The House of Lords

6. The core tasks of Parliament Makes and passes laws (Legislation) Holds Government to account Enables the Government to set taxes

7. 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

8. Parliament (Westminster) Commons, Lords and Monarch holds Government to account passes laws Government (Whitehall) some MPs and some Lords, chosen by the Prime Minister runs Government departments and public services

9. Legislation

10. Types of legislation Public Bills are proposed changes to general law Government Bills Private Members Bills Private Bills are local /one-off changes to laws Hybrid Bills are a mixture of the above Delegated/Secondary Legislation

11. Passage of a bill

12. Scrutiny of legislation Green Papers and White Papers Pre-legislative committees, Draft bills Passage of a bill Public Bill committees MPs and members of the House of Lords Act of Parliament Post-legislative scrutiny

13. http://services.parliament.uk/bills/

14. Select Committees scrutinise specific areas of work and Government departments carry out public inquiries groups and individuals can submit evidence relevant Government Department is required to respond to report

15. Select Committees webpages

16. Questions and debates Parliamentary Questions written or spoken questions asked by MPs and Lords, directed at the Government Written Ministerial Statements Can be in response to oral questions not answered or ways of informing the House without coming to the chamber Debates debates happen every day that the House of Commons or the House of Lords are sitting.

17. Other ways MPs can raise issues? Petitions usually a call on Government for action regarding an issue (local or national) Early Day Motions a published statement allowing MPs to show their opinion on a specific subject

18. Only includes provisions on imposition and alteration of taxes to raise money for central Govt Controversial, important or novel provisions dealt with by Committee of whole House The Finance Bill

19. Lords debates, but does not amend Finance Bills by convention Lords do not debate Finance Bills clause by clause by convention The Finance Bill – scrutiny?

20. Government introduced fixed-term Parliaments End of session just a few weeks after Budget Provision for Collection of Taxes Act amended by 2011 Finance Act to allow for carry-over of Budgets Will not apply for dissolution of Parliament prior to elections The Finance Bill – carried over

21. Autumn Statement http :// www.ifs.org.uk/publications/6485

22. Run up to the General Election Lots of Housekeeping Preparing for new MPs Organising rooms with the Whips Organising new technology for Members

23. Questions?

24. Where can I get information? www.parliament.uk and @UKParliament Commons Information Office 020 7219 4272 [email protected] Lords Information Office 020 7219 3107 [email protected] Parliament’s Outreach Service 020 7219 1650 [email protected]