East of England round-up: 22 January 2010
22 January 2010 (updated on 22 April 2010)
Parliamentary business relating to the East of England region for the week ending 22 January 2010.
Written questions
- Commons Hansard: Road traffic flow in the Dartford-Thurrock Crossing
- Commons Hansard: Tolls for the Dartford-Thurrock Crossing
- Commons Hansard: Fly tipping in Chelmsford
- Commons Hansard: Employment in Hemel Hempstead
- Commons Hansard: Apprentices in Essex
- Commons Hansard: Empty property in Chelmsford
In addition to oral questions, MPs and Peers can ask government ministers questions for written answer. These are often used to obtain detailed information about policies and statistics on the activities of government departments.
Debates
- Video: Hatchfield farm development in Newmarket
- Commons Hansard: Hatchfield farm development in Newmarket
An adjournment debate is a way of having a general debate without requiring the House to vote. The MP who tabled the relevant adjournment debate is called to speak and a Minister will reply.
Public petition
The public can petition the House of Commons to make MPs aware of their opinion on an issue and to request action.
Petitioning is a formal process involving sending a written appeal to an MP, following a set format, which is then presented to the Commons by the MP.
Early Day Motions
- EDM 623: Termination of rail franchise of First Capital Connect
- EDM 670: First Capital Connect rail operator
Early Day Motions (EDMs) are formal motions submitted for debate in the House of Commons. However, very few EDMs are actually debated. Instead, they are used for reasons such as publicising the views of individual MPs, drawing attention to specific events or campaigns, and demonstrating the extent of parliamentary support for a particular cause or point of view.
Ministerial statements
Government ministers can make written statements to Parliament as well as oral statements. Oral statements often address major incidents, policies and actions. Written ministerial statements are normally used to put the day-to-day business of government on the official record and in the public domain.
East of England Select Committee
The East of England Committee covers the following local government areas: Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Luton, Norfolk, Peterborough, Southend on Sea, Suffolk and Thurrock.
The remit of the Committee is to examine regional strategies and the work of regional bodies. The Committee previously conducted an inquiry into impact of the Government's response to the global economic downturn in the East of England region.