Get your voice heard! Four top tips for working with Parliament

By PRSD, on Thursday, October 22, 2009

Scratching your head about how to get more involved in the democratic system? On the eve of free workshops in Exeter for getting more out of Parliament, Parliamentary Outreach got in touch with four tips on how to get your voice heard.

Do you feel that what goes on in Westminster has nothing to do with you? Does all the political jargon and talking heads turn you off? If you answered yes, read on. You may be surprised by how many ways there are to get your voice heard in Parliament. The points below are just a taster of the different ways in which you can get involved.

You may also want to come along to a free workshop in Exeter on Friday, October 23, to find out more about getting involved with Parliament. Contact Naomi on 07917 488148 or kentn@parliament.uk for more information.

1. Select Committees
Select Committees work in both Houses. They check and report on areas ranging from the work of government departments to economic affairs. The results of these inquiries are public and many require a response from the government. Select Committees gather written and oral evidence which informs their reports. Anyone can submit relevant information to a committee, so if you have experience or information to share, you can give evidence to any appropriate inquiry.

2. Parliamentary Questions
Parliamentary questions are tools that can be used by Members of Parliament to seek information or to press for action. They oblige Ministers to explain and defend the work, policy decisions and actions of their Departments. You can work with your MP on submitting a Parliamentary Question to gain information from Government.

3. All Party Parliamentary Groups
All-Party Groups (APGs) are informal cross-party groups that have no official status within Parliament. There are APGs for a wide range of topics which bring Members together to discuss that subject. There are country groups (from Afganistan to Zimbabwe) and subject groups (from Abuse Investigation to Zoos and Aquariums). APGs are a good way for you to come into contact with Members who are interested in your area and may be able to work with you in the future.

4. Adjournment Debates
An adjournment debate is simply a way in the Commons of having a general debate without requiring the House to vote. There are several different types of adjournment debate. Some allow the Commons to hold a general open-ended debate on a subject or a government policy without reaching a formal decision about it. Others provide an opportunity for backbench MPs to raise constituency issues or other matters relating to government administration or policy – and to obtain a response from a government minister. Adjournment debates are a good way of raising awareness of an issue among MPs, Peers and the media.

• The Exeter workshops take place at Exeter CVS, Wat Tyler House, King William Street on Friday, October 23, from 11am to 1pm

What to know more about your MP? Teignbridge MP Richard Younger-Ross starts his column on the PRSD!