Houses of Parliaments and Lords

Writing and Contacting Your MP/MEP/MSP

To find your MP’s details and at the same time send an email to them, go the following site where you can search for them by name in the alphabetical list or by constituency: www.parliament.uk

How to contact your MP:

In writing  
House of Commons, London SW1A 0AA.  
(Ensure that their name is clear and make sure that you put your own name and return address).  
You can use this link for this.

By telephone
To call your MP at the House of Commons, call the switchboard (020 7219 3000) and ask to be transferred to the MPs office.

By email:  
Some MP’s use email but many don’t; you can check when you find their details on the House of Commons website. If they do use email you are given a connection and will be presented with a feedback type window rather than a direct email address.

List of MPs by Name

You can also arrange to meat your MP who has a duty to see you and listen to your concerns.

Proceedings of both Houses

The Official Report of the proceedings in the both House (The Hansard) is available online at 8.00 pm on the next day.

The Hansard  
 

Operation of the Parliament

Parliament operates on many levels.  In order to change government policy, ‘Bills’ are put to Parliament of which there are several different types.  Below are explanations of some of the types so that you will be aware of ‘government language’.


Early Day Motions (EDMs)

This is in reality a form of petition put by an MP.  Its purpose is to request urgent attention to a particular issue.  Each EDM must have up to six sponsors. Each time a different MP adds their name to a motion it is published in the daily Order Papers of the House of Commons.

Private Members Bills

At the start of each new session of Parliament, MPs have an opportunity to introduce a Private Members Bill.  MPs are chosen through a ballot and those chosen will be allotted time in the Commons to introduce their bill.  Usually, only the top six MPs have a real chance of seeing their Bill pass through the legislative process.

Because of the pressures of parliamentary time, there is only limited time available for Private Members Bills and consequently they can be 'talked out' by other MPs who oppose the bill.  However, if the government supports the particular bill, it may decide not to oppose it and will allow parliamentary time for it.  However, even if the bill runs out of parliamentary time, it can be a very good way to raise the profile of an issue, and put pressure on the government.

Ten Minute Rule Bill

These are where an MP is allowed to speak for ten minutes on the reasons why a certain Bill is needed and MPs are allowed to introduce a Ten Minute Rule Bill on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.  These rarely produce results but offer good opportunities for publicity.

Private Members Bills

At the start of each new session of Parliament, MPs have an opportunity to introduce a Private Members Bill.  MPs are chosen through a ballot and those chosen will be allotted time in the Commons to introduce their bill.  Usually, only the top six MPs have a real chance of seeing their Bill pass through the legislative process.

Because of the pressures of parliamentary time, there is only limited time available for Private Members Bills and consequently they can be 'talked out' by other MPs who oppose the bill.  However, if the government supports the particular bill, it may decide not to oppose it and will allow parliamentary time for it.  However, even if the bill runs out of parliamentary time, it can be a very good way to raise the profile of an issue, and put pressure on the government.

Ten Minute Rule Bill

These are where an MP is allowed to speak for ten minutes on the reasons why a certain Bill is needed and MPs are allowed to introduce a Ten Minute Rule Bill on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.  These rarely produce results but offer good opportunities for publicity.

Adjournment Debates

These occur in the Commons at the end of every day when the speaker chooses the subjects for debate and an MP is allowed to speak for 15 minutes.  As these debates often occur late at night national media does not always pick them up but local papers can follow them up. The debates appear in the weekly Hansard.   More information can be gained by clicking on the Parliament link.