EVTV that parliament carries out representation effectively

Question 1

1. The house of commons has become more descriptively representative

Answer 1

• In 2015, a record number of 191 female MPs were elected (48 more than in 2010), as well as 41 ethnic minority MPs.
• The average age of MPs remained consistent at 50 years old. There was also a slight decrease in the number of MPs
  who attended fee-paying schools. As such, the current Parliament is the most diverse in British history.

Question 2

1. There is still a substantive difference in descriptive representation between the commons and the rest of the population

Answer 2

• The commons is not well positioned to understand the needs and concerns of the whole population and therefore make decisions on their behalf.
• Ultimately, women make up only 29% of Parliament, compared to 51% of the general population
• Ethnic
  minority groups make up only 6% of Parliament, versus 13% of the UK population.
• Similarly, 1/3 of MPs attended feepaying schools (compared with 7% of the population) and 90% attended university, much higher than the national
  average.
• Furthermore, 26% of Parliament attended Oxford or Cambridge, versus just 1% of the general population.