What should we do?

Old_Wrinkly

How many MPs have been arrested whilst within the precincts of Parliament?
How many should have been arrested?

Jenna_Appleseed

Is Dot basically a government chatbot?

Errata

Jenna_Appleseed wrote: »

Is Dot basically a government chatbot?

No, that's Clegg.

Takeaway_Addict

Question: Why do politicians not listen to the public?

ginjim

does the commons/government agencies employ people or agencies to sway public opinion on forums like this?

Takeaway_Addict

Does the rep ever bother replying to the thread they start?

UKParliament

Takeaway_Addict wrote: »

Does the rep ever bother replying to the thread they start?

Hi Takeaway_Addict

Thank you for your question! We ask that you refer to our response given above about the types of questions that we are able to respond to (post #43).

We also want to thank other MSE users for their comments but it may be of use to clarify that the House of Commons is part of Parliament and therefore does not represent the Government. One of the roles of Parliament is to scrutinise the work of the Government and hold them to account.

We are working to create a new sticky detailing the differences between Parliament and Government and aim to post it on this board shortly.

If you do have questions regarding the work and procedures of the House of Commons, we will do our best to answer them.

Many thanks
DOT

Old_Wrinkly

House_of_Commons_Rep_(DOT) wrote: »

If you do have questions regarding the work and procedures of the House of Commons, we will do our best to answer them.

Apart from the Government sitting on one side of the House of Commons, and the Opposition on the other side, with relevant spokespersons sitting at the front, what (if any) rules are there for who sits where?

UKParliament

Old_Wrinkly wrote: »

Apart from the Government sitting on one side of the House of Commons, and the Opposition on the other side, with relevant spokespersons sitting at the front, what (if any) rules are there for who sits where?

Hi Old-Wrinkly!

That’s a great question, thanks for asking. As you say the Government and Opposition leaders are the ‘front-benchers’ so sit on the benches closest to the despatch boxes and the Speaker’s chair. The government will always sit on the right hand side of the speaker. This is a tradition which dates all the way back to the time when the Speaker of the House of Commons would represent the Monarch inside the Chamber, and alludes to the ideas that Kings believed they were divinely appointed by god and so their advisers, their right-hand men - the government would therefore sit to the Speaker’s right hand.

This means that Opposition parties will always sit to the left-hand side of the Speaker, hence why political parties swap sides when a new party comes to power following a General Election. The official Opposition will sit directly opposite the dispatch box and the smaller political parties such as the national parties, will sit further along on the second grouping of benches. Though MPs, so long as they stay on their side of the House, can sit anywhere on their side should they wish.

Apart from this MPs can sit more or less where they like, although on busy days such as Prime Ministers Question Time MPs need to reserve their seats. This is because there are 650 MPs but only 427 seats on the floor of the House. If an MP wants to ask a question of a Minister they must be seated for the start of the session. They reserve their seats by writing their names on a prayer card - a small green piece of card that they can slip into a bracket on the back of the benches to reserve their seat for prayers, the first event to take place every debating day once the mace has been brought into the Chamber – be seated for prayers and you may be chosen by the Speaker to ask your question!

BTW - If you watch PMQs, try and watch as the MPs all leave following the conclusion of questions to the Prime Minister, just after 12.30pm on a Wednesday and you can spot all the green cards in the backs of the benches as they depart.

We hope this answers your question?
Thanks
DOT

alltrustgone

"We also want to thank other MSE users for their comments but it may be of use to clarify that the House of Commons is part of Parliament and therefore does not represent the Government. One of the roles of Parliament is to scrutinise the work of the Government and hold them to account. "

Can you elaborate on this.