London round-up: 15 January 2010
15 January 2010 (updated on 22 April 2010)
Parliamentary business relating to London for the week ending 15 January 2010.
Written questions
- Commons Hansard: Latest cost estimates for hosting the 2012 Olympic Games
- Commons Hansard: Job creation in relation to the 2012 Olympic Games
- Commons Hansard: Flood risk in the Thames Gateway
- Commons Hansard: Teaching grants received by Middlesex University
- Lords Hansard: Constable of the Tower of London
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.
Early Day Motions
- EDM 577: Construction of temporary Olympic arena
- EDM 584: King George Hospital, Ilford
- EDM 613: Charlton Athletic FC and Millwall FC anti-street violence campaigns
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.
Oral questions
Question Time in the Commons takes place for an hour Monday to Thursday after prayers. Each government department answers questions according to a rota called the Order of Oral Questions. The questions asked must relate to the responsibilities of the government department concerned.
Public petitions
- Commons Hansard: Freedom Pass (petition and Government observations)
- Commons Hansard: Sheltered housing in Sidcup
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.
London Regional Select Committee
The remit of the London Regional Select Committee is to examine the Government's regional policies for London and the Government's relationship with the Greater London Authority and regional bodies.