eNewsletters

Hansard Society eNewsletter - June 2008

admin — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 11:58:00 GMT

Hansard Society News
Budget evidence to be given to Scottish Committee
2008: Women and the Vote Campaign

Events
Referendums: What are they good for?

Hansard Society News
Budget evidence to be given to Scottish Committee
Alex Brazier, Director of the Hansard Society's Parliament and Government Programme, will be giving evidence to the Finance Committee's review of the parliamentary budget process in the Scottish Parliament on Tuesday June 17 2008. Alex co-authored the publication The Fiscal Maze (July 2006), which looked at the ways in which Parliament holds Government to account on the raising and spending of public money. He will be discussing with the Finance Committee, the report's recommendations, and whether any parrallels can be drawn between budgetary processes in Westminster and the Scottish Parliament.

2008: Women and the Vote Campaign
2008 marks 90 years since the Representation of the People Act gave women the right to vote and 80 years since women won equal voting rights with men. The 2008: Women and the Vote campaign is an alliance between a number of organisations - including the Hansard Society - that are celebrating women's achievements over this time and also highlighting the gulf in political representation between men and women that still exists. This lack of political equality is shown by the fact that in the 90 years since women gained the vote there have only been 291 women MPs out of a wapping total of 4654! If you think this is unacceptable in 2008 sign up to the campaign and encourage your MP or MEP to do the same. The alliance will be holding events to mark this anniversary throughout the whole of 2008 so watch this space....

Events
Referendums: What are they good for?
Tuesday 17 June, 6.45 - 7.45pm, House of Commons

Speakers:
Dr David Butler, Oxford University
David Curry MP
Chris Huhne MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Justice
Steve Richards, The Independent
Rt Hon Clare Short MP
Chair - Virginia Gibbons, Hansard Society

This meeting will discuss the highly topical issue of the role of referendums in the British political system. Can they be used in a representative Parliamentary democracy without usurping the power of our elected representatives? What issues are appropriate to be put to a referendum? How can we ensure that referendum outcomes are not skewed by political or financial resources? To register click here.

Until next time......

Beccy Allen
Events and Communications Coordinator

Hansard Society eNewsletter - May 2008

admin — Wed, 14 May 2008 14:06:00 GMT

Hansard Society News
Hansard Society Chair pays tribute to Lord Holme

Researching with Communities - New book published

Events
Parliamentary e-Petitions: Politics lite?

Teachers and Young People
HeadsUp Forum: 9 June - 27 June

Hansard Society News
Hansard Society Chair pays tribute to Lord Holme
Peter Riddell pays tribute to his Hansard Society Council colleague and the former Chair of the Society, after the sad news of the death of Lord Holme over the weekend. Peter said:

"Richard Holme, Lord Holme of Cheltenham, who died at his home in Sussex on Sunday after a long battle with cancer, was central to the expansion of the Hansard Society to its current size and prominence. He served for three decades on our Council and for six years as our Chairman, until June last year. Throughout, he displayed an uncanny skill and astuteness, both in spotting where the next opportunities lay for the Society and in his dealings with members of the Council, with staff, and supporters in Parliament and outside. He always saw the big picture and ensured that the Society was actively involved in new challenges affecting Parliament. Apart from the expansion of the Society under his Chairmanship - which largely overlapped with Clare Ettinghausen's period as Chief Executive - he set up a successful and influential commission under the Hansard Society's auspices into how Parliament should communicate with the public. This was chaired by Lord Puttnam, now a Vice Chair on the Hansard Society's Advisory Council.

"But, above all, Richard Holme had a zest and enthusiasm for politics, combined with a commitment to improving the way we are governed. His long involvement with the Hansard Society went alongside his leading part in the debate over constitutional reform and his role as a close adviser on strategy to David Steel and Paddy Ashdown as leaders of the Liberals and, then, the Liberal Democrats. Richard Holme was a generous, warm and witty man who will be much missed by all who knew him and everyone at the Hansard Society."

Researching with Communities - New book published
Hansard Society eDemocracy Director, Andy Williamson, launched a new book at the end of April called Researching with Communities: Grounded perspectives on engaging communities in research. It provides guidance, examples and discussions for researchers that are aiming to promote a community voice in their work. This book looks at the issues from an international perspective with chapters drawn from a range of disciplines including; community development, mental health, migration and refugees, and community technology. It draws on the experiences of researchers and community practitioners to explore what community based research means in a variety of settings and how it can be carried out meaningfully, respectfully and inclusively.

Events
Parliamentary e-Petitions: Politics lite?
Tuesday 20 May, 6 - 7.15pm, House of Commons

Speakers include:
Bethan Jenkins AM, Member, Petitions Committee (Assembly for Wales)
Rt Hon Greg Knight MP, Chair, Procedure Committee
Andy Williamson, Director, eDemocracy Programme, Hansard Society

Chair: Pete Picton, Online Editor, The Sun
This event will debate the implications of the Procedure Committee’s recent report on e-Petitions, discuss what the next steps might be, how the process might work to ensure that the public are engaged and limit disillusionment with Parliament.

To register please click here.

Teachers and Young People
HeadsUp Forum: 9 June - 27 June
NHS at 60......
What's your assessment of this institution in the 21st century?
HeadsUp is an online forum that encourages young people to debate topics that have been chosen by young people. This months forum is on the NHS and the future of health care in Britain. The following key questions will be put to young people in the debate:

Pay as you go……should we be taxed for health care or make our own arrangements?
Hitting the mark……do targets on standards of health care, waiting times etc help deliver results?
Behind the stats……what are your experiences of the NHS?
Treatment for all?…….should people be allowed to get plastic surgery and treatment for obesity on the NHS?

Key health legislators from the major political parties will be invited to debate the important issues with young people.

Until next time......

Beccy Allen
Events and Communications Coordinator

Hansard Society eNewsletter - April 2008

admin — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 11:05:00 GMT

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

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.

Hansard Society eNewsletter - March 2008

admin — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 09:33:00 GMT

Hansard Society News
Lords of the Blog
Last week the House of Lords took its first step into the world of blogging, creating a wave of interest from political and non-political bloggers alike. The Hansard Society and the House of Lords authorities set up the experimental blog to help peers engage directly with the public and give more information to a wider audience about what their work at the Palace of Westminster involves. The blog, which will be evaluated after six months by the Hansard Society, is now in the hands of the peers who will write and moderate all blog posts. To date, the site has had over 12,000 visitors and almost 200 comments - with the peers involved posting daily. Topics discussed so far have included: parliamentary outreach, electoral reform, Easter, Tibet, the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill and, of course, the do's and don'ts of blogging!
Click here to visit Lords of the Blog.

New Publications
The Audit of Political Engagement 5
The Audit of Political Engagement series is the Hansard Society's annual political check-up of the nation's health. It includes original poll data from surveys conducted by Ipsos MORI, which allow yearly comparisons to be made about the British public's attitude to politics and their level of engagement with the political system. The fifth Audit includes a special section on constitutional issues that questions the public's knowledge about how our constitutional arrangements operate, which areas they are satisfied with and which they think are ripe for reform.
Click here to order or download your free copy.

No Overall Control? The impact of a 'hung parliament' on British politics
There has been increasing speculation that the next UK general election might produce a parliament in which no single party holds a majority of seats - a ‘hung parliament'. This edited collection of essays from distinguished commentators, academics and parliamentarians discusses the implications of a hung parliament from those with first hand experience of power sharing. It features a wide range of views on the subject and includes examples, both international and from the devolved UK institutions, of what happens when no single party has an overall majority.
Click here to order a copy.

Teachers and Young People
HeadsUp
Human Rights or Poverty? Should the UK only trade, send aid or money to countries with a good human rights record?
The next HeadsUp debate runs from 14 April - 2 May 2008 and will encourage under-18s to debate issues around human rights, poverty and international development. The following key questions will be posed in the debate:

- Does Britain interfere too much? Does Britain spend too much in overseas aid? Does aid work?
- What's changed since Drop the Debt or Live8? Should countries or sportspeople boycott the Beijing Olympics over China's human rights record?
- What's changed since Drop the Debt or Live8? Should countries or sportspeople boycott the Beijing Olympics over China's human rights record?
- What about playing against the Zimbabwean cricket team given Robert Mugabe's oppressive regime?
- Is the EU the right place to produce trade sanctions against oppressive regimes? Can sanctions be negative?

This debate offers the chance for young people to share their views and ideas on human rights with key decision makers and each other. It's an opportunity to set the record straight, get their voices heard and tell the politicians what they really think. Click here to visit the HeadsUp website.

What a Waste! The Lord Speaker's Competition for Young People
Schools across the UK have been registering for a new Hansard Society competition sponsored by the Lord Speaker, Baroness Hayman, and supported by Parliament's Education Service. The competition is for under-18s on the subject of how we can reduce waste - the main prize is winning £100 for your team. A House of Lords committee has been examining all aspects of waste reduction and is joining forces with the Hansard Society to encourage young people to present their views on waste and recycling - by video, audio or written submissions. Groups of young people in Key Stages 3, 4 and 5 can submit their ideas about waste reduction and improve their level of political literacy at the same time. As well as a cash prize, winning groups will visit the House of Lords to make a presentation to members of the Science and Technology Committee and receive feedback. The deadline for submissions is 28 April 2008 and all entrants will receive a certificate. Entry details, competition rules, background information and lesson plans for teachers are all provided online.
Click here to visit the competition website.

Until next time.....
Beccy Allen, Events and Communications Coordinator

Hansard Society eNewsletter - February 2008

admin — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 12:02:00 GMT

Upcoming Events
No Overall Control? The impact of a hung parliament on British politics

Tuesday 11 March 2008, 11am - 12.15pm, House of Commons

Speakers include: Professor Vernon Bogdanor, University of Oxford, Alex Brazier, Hansard Society, Professor Phil Cowley, University of Nottingham, Chair: Fiona Booth, Hansard Society

Tea and coffee available from 10.30am. Questions will be taken from the floor after discussion by our speakers.
Register for No Overall Control?

This event will launch the Hansard Society’s latest publication, No Overall Control? The impact of a hung parliament on British politics. This edited collection is the handbook for anyone interested in coalition governments and their implications for British politics. There has been much speculation about the chances of a hung parliament in the next general election but what would this really mean for politics in the UK? The devolved institutions within Britain regularly have coalition governments but what impact does this have on their political processes? A wide range of experts on this issue including commentators, academics and politicians, have contributed essays to this book setting out their experiences and perceptions of hung parliaments, both internationally and in the UK.

An Audit of Political Engagement 5

Thursday 27 March 2008, 10 - 11am, House of Commons

Speakers: Michael Wills MP, Minister for Constitutional Reform, Ministry of Justice, Peter Riddell, Chair, Hansard Society
Chair: Fiona Booth, Chief Executive, Hansard Society

Refreshments available from 9.30am. Questions will be taken from the floor after discussion by our speakers.
Register for An Audit of Political Engagement 5.

The Audit is in its fifth year and measures the nature and extent of political engagement through a national survey conducted by Ipsos MORI. This allows us to compare data year on year and give the nation its annual political health check. This year’s research also includes data on public attitudes to constitutional reform including issues such as House of Lords reform, a Bill of Rights and the European Union.

For Teachers and those Working with Young People
House of Lords competition
What a waste! Is recycling a waste of time? If you’re under 18 and feel strongly about how we can reduce waste, this is your chance to make your voice heard in Parliament - and win up to £100 for your team.

Groups of young people in Key Stages 3, 4 and 5 can submit their ideas about waste reduction and improve their level of political literacy at the same time. As well as a cash prize, winning groups will visit the House of Lords to make a presentation to members of the Science and Technology Committee and receive feedback.

Entry details, competition rules, background information and lesson plans for teachers are all provided online. Visit the competition website to register for the project, today.

HeadsUp
Defence d-day - should our forces be in Iraq? The debate runs from 25 Feb - 14 March 2008. Legislators involved in the debate include: Bob Ainsworth MP - Minister of State for the Armed Forces, Linda Gilroy MP - Member of the Defence Select Committee , Gerald Howarth MP - Shadow Minister for Defence and Willie Rennie MP - Shadow Minister for Defence. Visit the HeadsUp Forum

And Finally...
Study & Scholars Programme Update
The Spring 08 scholars are now in their seventh week and fully into the swing of the programme. This month they will be having guest lectures from Dr Sarah Childs about ‘Women in Politics’ and the Rt Hon Lord Hunt of Wirral about ‘Being in Cabinet’. In addition we will be taking the scholars to Oxford where they will have seminars on the ‘Rise of the Labour Party’ and ‘Electoral Processes in the UK’.

Work is now underway for the Summer 08 programme. After much deliberation, the Foreign Office select committee and Study and Scholars have chosen six outstanding Hansard/Chevening Research Scholars. The scholars are from Croatia, Bulgaria, Argentina and Bangladesh with backgrounds in political journalism, mass communication and international development.