engaging with parliament on issues that matter

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

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What is Parliament?House of Commons House of Lords

The Monarch

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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

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What does Parliament do?• Makes and passes laws (Legislation)• Holds Government to account• Enables the Government to set taxes

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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

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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

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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

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What is the role of the House of Lords?

• Making and passing laws• Holding the Government to account• Debating key issues • Scrutinising EU legislation

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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

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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

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Parliamentary QuestionsHealth questions 27th

November 2012 (12.28pm)

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Parliamentary Questions

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E-PetitionClear request to UK Parliament or the UK Government, about something which is within their responsibility

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Early Day MotionsA published statement allowing MPs to show their opinion on a specific subject

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Facebook/Tweet Quick way to engage with an MP

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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

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DebatesDebate on access to medicines for people with cystic fibrosis and other rare diseases 8 December 2015

Debate on organ donation 8 July 2014

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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?

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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 hcinfo@parliament.uk

• Lords Information Office020 7219 3107 hlinfo@parliament.uk

• UK Parliament Outreach and Engagement Service020 7219 1650 outreach@parliament.uk