Hansard Society eNewsletter - April 2008

Hansard Society News
Hansard Society contributes to report on e-Petitions

Lords of the Blog – watch the interview

Teachers and Young People
Y Vote Mock Mayoral Elections

And Finally.....
Hansard Society Scotland Research Scholars Update

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Hansard Society News
Hansard Society contributes to report on e-Petitions
The Hansard Society welcomes the first report of the House of Commons Procedure Committee on the introduction of parliamentary e-Petitioning. The report paints a positive picture for the future of e-Petitions but raises cautions about their introduction alongside the traditional written petition.

Peter Riddell, Chair of the Hansard Society and Dr Laura Miller, Senior Researcher on our eDemocracy Programme, gave evidence to the committee in January expressing support for the e-Petitions project in general. However, they stressed that the process of any e-Petitioning system should take precedence over the technology, and that it should be a two-way exchange to ensure petitioners are kept updated about the progress and outcome of their petition. Basing e-Petitions within Parliament, where the current (non-electronic) petitioning system resides, was also highlighted as an important move away from the high profile e-Petitioning system created by 10 Downing Street.

Lords of the Blog – watch the interview
The most recent Hansard Society project - Lords of the Blog - has so far taken the world of blogging by storm. The House of Lords appears to be an institution much misunderstood by the public, many of whom have no idea what Peers do and who inhabits the second chamber, but this is starting to change.

The project, commissioned by the House of Lords authorities, is in a six-month experimental phase after which its success will be evaluated by the Hansard Society and its contributors will take sole control. Lords Norton and Tyler, two of the most prolific and enthusiastic peers supporting the project, were recently interviewed by Catch 21, an internet television channel run by young people for young people. They give a brief introduction to the project and what it involves for them. Watch the interview here.

Teachers and Young People
Y Vote Mock Mayoral Elections
We are now only weeks away from the Greater London Assembly elections and the end of what has been one of the most colourful Mayoral campaigns London has witnessed. 1 May 2008 is the big day for registered voters, but also for the thousands of young people who have registered to vote in the Y Vote Mock Mayoral Elections. For many young people, this will be their first taste of democracy and a valuable opportunity to get to grips with the inner workings of the GLA and its voting systems.

Teachers and students are able to run a Y Vote Mock Election anywhere and at any time. However, Thursday 1 May provides the perfect opportunity to recreate the buzz and excitement of the local council or Greater London Assembly elections. Comprehensive teacher resources and student support are available free of charge to schools.

Results of the Y Vote Mock Mayoral Elections are due to be published two weeks after the real results and will be published online. To find out more or get your school involved in this flexible, active citizenship project, register online today at www.mockelections.co.uk.

And Finally….
Hansard Society Scotland Research Scholars Update
The Hansard Society Scotland Programme has just completed a very successful first intake of Hansard Society Research Scholars, in association with the University of Edinburgh. During the three-month programme, scholars carried out a 12-week internship placement in the Scottish Parliament, attended a specialised course in Multi-Level Democracy & Public Policy in the UK at the University of Edinburgh, took part in political study visit's to London and Glasgow, and attended a series of high profile guest lectures. Sunday 1 June is the deadline for the Autumn 2008 intake.