Parliament Examples

Question 1

Example of question to minister

Answer 1

Fiona Bruce asked the Foreign Secretary to ask for his assessment on how much religious freedom there is in North Korea

Question 2

Examples of representation

Answer 2

Proposals to build a third runway at Heathrow in 2009-10, the relevant MPS from constituencies in the Thames Valley actively opposed the plans or sought to change the details of those plans

Question 3

Example of MPs vetoing government legislation

Answer 3

In 2006 when the Commons rejected government plans plans to extend the period during which terrorist suspects could be imprisoned without trial to 90 days

Question 4

Example of MPs voting to dismiss a government

Answer 4

James Callaghan’s Labour government was removed in March 1979

Question 5

Example of Lord’s delaying legislation for a year

Answer 5

Hunting with Dogs Act - passed in 2004 and 2005

Question 6

Number of Conservative Lords

Answer 6

253

Question 7

Number of Labour Lords

Answer 7

201

Question 8

Number of Liberal Democrat Lords

Answer 8

102

Question 9

Example of the HoL forcing the government to drop a bill

Answer 9

Political Parties and Elections Bill 2009

Question 10

Example of HoL leading to amendment

Answer 10

Equality Bill 2010
The Lords carried an amendment excluding the Church of England from the terms of the new Act designed to end discrimination. The amendment was accepted

Question 11

Example of private members’ legislation

Answer 11

2007 Forced marriages act

Abortion Act 1967

Question 12

Example of failed private members’ legislation

Answer 12

Conservative MP Douglas Carswell put forward a Bill to repeal the European Communities Act 1972.

Question 13

Example of failed opposition

Answer 13

MPs voted in favour of election 2017 by margin of 509

Question 14

How many Lords are there in the House of Lords

Answer 14

800

Question 15

Strengths of the HoL

Answer 15

Govt. doesn’t have majority in the Lords
Peers are more independent -
Peers with party allegiance aren’t whipped
Most peers have experience

Question 16

How many constituents does the average MP have to represent

Answer 16

Average MP has to represent 70,000 constituents

Question 17

Example of hereditary peer who was removed in 1997

Answer 17

Lord Remnant

Question 18

Example of hereditary peer

Answer 18

Lord Addington

Question 19

Example of when the Lords has been strong

Answer 19

1997-2005, Labour had huge majorities: HoL more obstructive than normal

Question 20

Example of a rebel backbencher

Answer 20

Jeremy Corbyn - voted against govt. 428 times - most disloyal mp

Question 21

The Lib Dems were in government even though Labour won _____ more seats than them

Answer 21

201

Question 22

Average govt. defeats per annum from 1979 - 97 under conservatives before reform

Answer 22

13

Question 23

Average govt. defeats per annum from 1997-2009 following reform under labour

Answer 23

43

Question 24

Example of conservative donor appointed to Lords

Answer 24

Andrew Fraser gave the Lords £2.5M and was then made a peer

Question 25

How many peers were representing the coalition in 2010

Answer 25

311

Question 26

Example of a Lord with expertise

Answer 26

Lord Rees of Ludlow - astrophysicist

Question 27

How many UKIP peers

Answer 27

3

Question 28

Which act states that the HoL can only block legislation for a year

Answer 28

1949

Question 29

Example of a lord who is not accountable (any lord)

Answer 29

Lord Coe represents the conservatives and is not accountable to the electorate

Question 30

Example of a legislative committee

Answer 30

High Speed Rail Bill Select Committees - Scrutinise bill to create Hs2

Question 31

Example of a departmental select committee

Answer 31

Home Affairs Select Committee - Chaired by Yvette Cooper (Labour) Jan 2017: Questioned Home Secretary, Amber Rudd, on implications of UK leaving the EU

Question 32

Example for Public Accounts Committee

Answer 32

Chaired by Meg Hillier (Lab) April 2017 - Published report highlighting problem of UK's overseas aid donations being used for corrupt purposes in recipient countries

Question 33

Example for Standard and Privileges committees

Answer 33

Investigates expenses claims made by MPs during the parliamentary expenses scandal 2009

Question 34

Example for statutory instruments committee

Answer 34

Was chaired by Derik Twigg (Lab) | April 2017 - Produced report highlighting legislation created by HMRC on savings accounts

Question 35

Example for European Scrutiny Committee

Answer 35

Was chaired by Sir William Cash (Con) | Feb 2017 - Published report on future of EU digital laws post - Brexit

Question 36

Example for Liaison Committee

Answer 36

Was chaired by Sir Kevin Barron (Con) | Last questioned PM (May) in Dec 2016, on exiting the EU and health and social care spending

Question 37

Example of a life peer

Answer 37

Lord Sugar

Question 38

Example of a hereditary peer

Answer 38

Lord Elton

Question 39

Example of a bishop

Answer 39

Bishop of London

Question 40

Example of a conservative peer

Answer 40

Lord Coe

Question 41

Example of a labour peer

Answer 41

Baroness Blood

Question 42

Example of a Lib Dem peer

Answer 42

Lord Razzal

Question 43

Example of a crossbencher peer

Answer 43

Lord Crisp

Question 44

Example of a female peer

Answer 44

Baroness Bradey

Question 45

Example of an mp of a minor party

Answer 45

Lord Wigley - Plaid Cymru

Question 46

Example of Lords amendment

Answer 46

Proposals to introduce top-up tuition fees for university students in 2003-04

Question 47

Example of Lords' hostile suggestion for amendments in the hope that constant obstruction will force the govt. to compromise

Answer 47

Anti-Terrorism Act 2004-05

Question 48

Example of a great Lords debate

Answer 48

Abortion