Working with MPs and

Members of the House of Lords

1st November 2011

House of Commons

House of Lords

Monarch

Makes and passes laws(Legislation)

Holds Government to account (Scrutiny)

Raises key issues

Meeting and representing constituents

Debating key issues in the House

Debating, amending and passing legislation

Holding Government to account

Working in Committees

Frontbench MPs members of Government or Opposition Government

Backbench – any MP not a member of the Government or Opposition Government.

All backbench MPs, from all parties, hold Government to account.

The House of Lords is the second chamber of Parliament, often known as the revising House

There are currently 787 Members (as at November 2011)

These include:◦ Life Peers ◦ Hereditary Peers◦ Bishops

Debating key issues in the House

Debating, amending and passing legislation

Holding Government to account

Working in Committees

Who is the best person to contact according to your issue?• Constituency issues – your local MP• National issues – who has an interest?

Use the following ways to identify their interests:• Early Day Motions• All Party Parliamentary Groups• Previous questions, debates and votes• Work on Select Committees

House of Lords Business

Forthcoming Business

The Parliamentary website www.parliament.uk

The Government Whips Office website www.lordswhips.org.uk

All members contact details can be found on the Parliament website.

Be clear what action you want them to take – an answer to a question, to raise awareness about a particular local issue, to take action for a campaign.

State why you are contacting them – e.g. because of their previous work in that area.

Be clear about what you want to achieve – is this within the remit of a Member?

Members receive 100s of requests each week.

Give yourself plenty of time when contacting a Member.

A follow up telephone call can be very useful.

If possible, begin to build a relationship before action is required.

Provide case studies and reports that Members can use to raise the issue on your behalf.

Invite Members to visit your work and community groups or, arrange for a visit in Parliament.

Ensure that the research and information you provide is reliable and of high quality

Keep up to date with the work of Parliament especially Select Committees and the Backbench Business Committee.

Keep the HoC library informed about any pertinent research

Don’t forgot about the importance of staff – MPs and Members staff plus committee clerks.

How will you follow up on the Members activities with you? ◦ i.e local press release, new report

Keep Members informed about whether your campaign has been successful

What additional action could a Member take to support campaign?

www.parliament.uk

House of Commons Information Office: 020 7219 4272

House of Lords Information Office: 020 7219 3107