Prosperity - Freedom from debt slavery

Campaign Guide

How to use your MP

by Lynne Jones MP for Birmingham Selly Oak

MPs interest

MPs are usually keen to be involved in photoshoots, or to add their names to press releases if much of the work is done already.

MPs are also usually supportive of Debt and other related issues and are happy to advise constituents on the best way to approach them to get them to take action.

Most MPs, especially backbenchers, have little power, but there are ways and means to raise issues and influence Ministers and government working with backbench MPs.

MPs usually have to be selective in what they get involved in due to time but are keen to be seen to be doing a lot. Therefore asking MPs to do things, but providing them with little actual action is useful.

Order paper

This is produced daily and lists all the activity that is happening in Parliament on a certain day (white pages). It also lists the oral questions for ministers and for the Prime Minister that will be on the agenda in two weeks (blue pages). This information is also on the website:
www.parliament.uk.

Oral questions

There is a half an hour session for oral questions every day in Parliament. The minister answering the questions rotates and a different department answers every day (international development is always on a Wednesday afternoon). Prime Minister's questions are always on a Wednesday.

All MPs can ask oral questions, but these are submitted two weeks in advance and questions are selected by ballot.

Successful questions are printed the following day to be asked in Parliament two weeks hence.

Supplementary questions can be asked after the first and printed question. Other MPs may also ask supplementary questions.

PM's questions are always open - asking him to list what he is doing that day so that supplementary questions can be asked. If you see that your MP has got a PM's question they should be open to ideas for the topic and background information. Usually MPs put in for the PM's question ballot without pre-thinking questions.

MPs can also be asked to table oral questions and would appreciate a ready question being sent so that they can just cut and paste it onto the official form.

Oral questions are recorded and can sometimes prompt media interest, but rarely.

Oral question follow up

MPs often don't remember who suggested which question. Therefore it is good for individuals and groups to follow up the answer through Hansard or the website. This then allows for further written or oral questions responding to the answer.

Written questions

There is no limit on written questions an MP can submit as there is no time limit and replies must be given. Again MPs are very amenable to submitting written questions given to them by constituents or organisations.

Questions should aim to pursue information and make the appropriate department think and possibly act. Written questions can be followed up by further written questions using additional research or information.

How to phrase questions

There are some restrictions on the questions asked: they can't be argumentative, the question must ask for information and the question cannot include much information; and the question must be within the Minister's remit. No two identical questions can be asked in the same session, so approach one MP only to ask a specific oral question.

Questions should include phrases like: 'ask if the minister will make it his/her policy to .'; 'what his/her assessment of x is'; or could be a request for factual information.

For ideas on how to table questions it is worth looking at previous questions in the order book or on the website.

Early Day Motions

These have very little effect unless they criticise the speaker or more than half of all MPs sign at which point they will be debated. The latter is extremely unlikely as no minister or PPS can sign an EDM. But EDMs can make MPs think about an issue.

The first six people signing an EDM are always listed and then any subsequent new signatures are added each day with new signatories replacing old. Therefore MPs are often keen to be in the first six. Once the signatures stop the EDM will no longer be printed daily, but should an MP subsequently sign it will be re-printed.

There can be some media interest in EDMs and seeing MPs signing EDMs can encourage their constituents to approach them about issues they see their MP as sympathetic about.

Only ask one MP to table an EDM. If you are approaching a number ask about their support but tell them you will contact them to table the EDM at the appropriate time. MPs need to be clear on what you are asking them to do. It is better to have an all-party approach and to do this if the all-party committee is not involved, it is best to have a range of party members as the top six signatories.

Adjournment debates

These involve back benchers and ministers and are held in Westminster Central Hall on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings (9.30am - 2pm) and at the end of a debating session in the main chamber (held there also). Topics for these debates are decided by ballot and any MP can table a topic. The debates are two of 1½ hours and the remaining time is half hour debates. A minister must be present to answer any questions as part of the debate.

Often the adjournment debates focus on individual cases or local issues. The one and a half hour debates also allow other MPs to add comments and questions. MPs are happy to table adjournment debates and would welcome briefings on the issues before the debate. Such debates are useful to highlight loopholes.

These debates are open for the public to attend and it can add gravitas to the debate if the public gallery is full.

Select committees

The Blue Pages (with House Magazine) list all the select committees and their current enquiries. You can lobby select committee members to provide evidence for their enquiry (once a select committee is set up they often request evidence via a press release). Or you can suggest a new topic for enquiry if the select committee is coming to the end or finished its previous enquiry. Select committees also can examine draft legislation and make recommendations.

Select committees report and the government must respond to the report. MPs often don't know the debates of other select committees that they are not involved in or don't have an interest in.

Postcards and letters to MPs

Postcards can be effective, but only when in great numbers and when it is seen that people have put some personal effort into writing or sending them. MPs understand the process of charities getting postcards signed and sending them. Personalised letters are better if the number will be limited.

Lobby of Parliament

Only appropriate if there are significant numbers - 500+, otherwise it is better to lobby locally where 20 people can be a crowd. If you are going let your MP know in advance so they can meet you.

General guidelines

It is useful to know what legislation is coming up. Often MPs are not aware if it is not in their specific area of interest. Warning MPs and getting them to ask questions on the forthcoming legislation can work well. The Blue Pages, sent out with House Magazine, show what legislation is approaching and when.

The Weekly Information Bulletin provides useful information. Its exact web address is: http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmwib.htm

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The above article has been reprinted with permission from The Jubilee Debt Campaign, Birmingham and West Midlands

The following websites offer useful ways to contact and keep in touch with your elected representatives:
http://www.WriteToThem.com

http://www.TheyWorkForYou.com

http://www.PublicWhip.org.uk

http://electoralcalculus.co.uk

Prosperity
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