1. Campaigning: an introduction
Nerys Davies
Parliamentary Outreach Service

2. A policy timeline
Manifesto
discussion
Green Paper
White Paper
Pre-legislative
scrutiny
General
election
Queen’s
Speech
Passage of Bill
through Parliament
An Act

3. Manifesto discussion
• Conservatives
www.conservatives.com
• Labour
www.labour.org.uk
• Liberal Democrats
www.libdems.org.uk
• Other

4. Parliament
• comprises Commons,
Lords and Monarch
• holds Government to
account
• passes laws
General election
Government
• some MPs and some
Lords, chosen by the Prime
Minister
• runs Government
Departments and public
services

5. Queen’s Speech
Can be found in Hansard
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld201415/ldhansrd/text/140604-
0001.htm#14060430000173

6. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/queens-speech-2014-what-it-means-
for-you/queens-speech-2014-what-it-means-for-you

7. Pre-legislative scrutiny
• Draft Bills or draft clauses
of a bill
• Mainly looked into by
House of Commons Select
Committees but can be
Joint Committees or
House of Lords
Committees

8. Passage of a bill
Bill starting in the
House of
Commons
Bill starting in the
House of Lords
House of Commons
House of CommonsHouse of Lords
House of Lords
Royal Assent
Royal Assent

9. Commons: how to get involved
When to contact an MP about a Bill:
• Second reading
• Public Bill Committee – find out who chairs the
committee
• Report Stage
Where to find information online:
• Bills - http://services.parliament.uk/bills/
• Find an MP - www.parliament.uk/mps-lords-and-
offices/mps/

10. Lords: how to get involved
When to contact a Lord about a Bill:
• Second reading
• Committee stage
• Report Stage
• Third reading
Where to find information online:
Speakers list - www.lordswhips.org.uk/todays-lists
Bills - http://services.parliament.uk/bills/
Find a Lord - www.parliament.uk/mps-lords-and-offices/lords/

11. Post-legislative scrutiny
• A relatively new thing
• Ad hoc committees
as well as select
committees in both
Houses
• Memoranda issued
from Government
Departments

12. www.parliament.uk

13. www.parliament.uk

14. Your next steps...
• Watch, read or attend a debate on a bill
• Use http://services.parliament.uk/bills/ to find
information on specific bills (e.g. Library briefing
papers or amendment papers)
• Use www.parliament.uk to research MPs and Lords
with an interest in your issue
• Write to an interested MP or Lord about your issue
• Read the advice on submitting evidence to Public Bill
Committees
• Submit evidence to a Public Bill Committee

15. Where can I get information?
• www.parliament.uk and @UKParliament
• Commons Information Office
020 7219 4272 hcinfo@parliament.uk
• Lords Information Office
020 7219 3107 hlinfo@parliament.uk
• Parliament’s Outreach Service
020 7219 1650
parliamentaryoutreach@parliament.uk