Parliament

Question 1

How many MP’s are in the House of Commons and what is the compesition?

Answer 1

650 MP’s, 350 Conservatives, 198 Labour, 43 SNP, 15 Lib Dems, 8 DUP, Plaid Cymru 3, Alba 2, Sinn fein 7.

Question 2

How Many Peers are there and what is the compesition?

Answer 2

785 peers, 269 Conservatives, 175 Labour, 81 Lib Dems, 183 Cross-benchers, 26 Bishops.

Question 3

List 3 Important Government Ministers?

Answer 3

Jeremy Hunt - Chancellor of the exchequer, James Cleverly - Home Secretary, Grant Schapps - Minister of defence.

Question 4

Give two examples of Lords being in the Cabinet?

Answer 4

Lord Cameron of Chipping Norton - Foreign secretary.
Lord Frost - Boris Johnson, Brexit secretary.

Question 5

What is the current wage of an MP and what body regulates this?

Answer 5

The current wage for an MP is £81’932 and is regulated by the Parliamentary Salaries Authority.

Question 6

Give 2 examples of MP’s caught during the 2009 expenses scandal?

Answer 6

Jacqui Smith said she would stand down after the European elections.
Tony Mcnulty resigned from his role as Minister of Unemployment.

Question 7

What does parliamentary privilege set out?

Answer 7

A legal immunity to protect freedom of speech and exclusive cognisance which is the right for each house to regulate its own internal affairs.

Question 8

Give 2 examples of the Recall of MP’s act 2015 being used?

Answer 8

In 2023 the MP for Rutherglen and Hamilton West Margaret Ferrier was removed with 14.7% of the vote.
Peter Bone MP for Wellingborough is currently in the petition stage.

Question 9

Who are the current Labour and Conservative Whips in the House of Commons?

Answer 9

The Labour whip is Alan Campbell who has been chief whip since 2021.
The Conservative whip is Simon Heart who has been chief whip since October 2022.

Question 10

Who is the current speaker of the House?

Answer 10

Sir Lindsay Hoyle, Previous Labour MP.

Question 11

How do Speakers often use their Casting votes?

Answer 11

They normally vote against if there’s a tie.

Question 12

What is John Bercow well known for?

Answer 12

Called for more Backbench MP’s to speak in debate and granted more urgent questions.

Question 13

How are Lords paid?

Answer 13

Lords receive a daily attendance allowance, however some Lords simply take advantage of this.

Question 14

Who is the current Lord Speaker?

Answer 14

The Current Lord speaker is Lord McFall who was elected on the 1st May 2021.

Question 15

What did the 1911 Parliament act do?

Answer 15

Reduced power to block money bills to 2 years and non money 1 year.

Question 16

What did the 1949 Parliament act do?

Answer 16

Reduced the power to block money bills to just 1 year.

Question 17

What did the 1958 Life Peerages act do?

Answer 17

Gave the PM the power to appoint life peers.

Question 18

What did the 1963 Peerages act do?

Answer 18

Allowed Hereditary peers to renounce their title, allowed for female hereditary peers and removed restrictions on Scottish Peers.

Question 19

What did the 1999 House of Lords Act do?

Answer 19

Reduced the number of Hereditary peers to 92.

Question 20

What did the 2014 House of Lords reform act do?

Answer 20

Allowed for members to resign from the House, allowed for exclusion of peers that have committed a criminal offence (lead to 2015 House of Lords expulsion and Suspension act)

Question 21

Who are the Labour and Conservative Chief Whips in the house of Lords?

Answer 21

The Conservative Chief Whip is Baroness Williams of Trafford.
The Labour Chief Whip is lord Kennedy of Southwark.

Question 22

What exclusive powers does the House of Commons have?

Answer 22

The right to insist on Legislation, Financial Privilege, Power to dismiss the executive.