The Constituency

Alyn & Deeside is the name given to the constituency Mark represents. All the people in this area are his constituents - that is he is directly accountable to them and is their representative to Government, Parliament and all other similar bodies.

Alyn & Deeside covers; Connah’s Quay, Northop Hall, Shotton, Queensferry, Garden City, Sealand, Deeside Industrial Estate, Mancot, Pentre, Sandycroft, Saltney, Broughton, Penyffordd, Kinnerton, Hawarden, Ewloe, Buckley, Alltami, Caergwrle, Hope, Cymau, Ffrith and all the places in between.

Mark represents all the people living in the above areas regardless of how they voted in the last general election. Neighbouring constituencies are Delyn (includes Mold, Flint and Holywell), Wrexham & Chester.

Above: Mark Speaking In Parliament

The work of a Backbench MP

Since being elected in June 2001 Mark has been what is called a ‘backbench’ MP. A ‘backbench’ MP is a member of parliament who is not part of the Government ranks whether as a junior minister, parliamentary private secretary or a senior/junior cabinet minister. Backbench MPs can make that voice heard through Early Day Motions, Adjournment Debates and Westminster Hall Debates.

MPs must divide their time between the area they represent (the constituency) and the House of Commons in London. Most MPs usually spend Mondays to Thursdays in London and Friday, Saturday and Sunday working locally. Part of an MPs constituency work involves holding regular advice surgeries. These surgeries provide the opportunity for people to talk to their MP about any concerns or problems, however small or large. In the constituency, MPs also spend time meeting people in local factories, clubs, schools and opening local events.

They also undertake campaigns on local issues and on behalf of individuals or organisations. Anybody living within the constituency is entitled to contact Mark on a matter that is of importance to them. To check if you live in Mark’s constituency, go to the constituency locator on the parliamentary website.

In Parliament

When many people turn on the TV they are all too often greeted by the infamous image of politicians shouting at each other in the Commons Chamber, which straight away switches the majority of people off. However, there is a lot more to working in Westminster than this (news programmes often only show the rowdiest clips!)

The working hours of the House of Commons can be long. Until this year most MPs would start their day early in the morning and often not get away until midnight or later. However, when Parliament returned from the Christmas break the initial stages of the modernization of the House of Commons came into effect with a change in the times at which the House of Commons sits – from 11.30am until 7.30pm on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Mondays will remain the same as before, starting at 2.30pm until 10pm, allowing for Members of Parliament to travel down from their constituencies. Fridays will mostly be kept free so that we can attend to constituency business. Not all MPs stay in the chamber for the duration but they have to remain around Westminster as they could get called to a vote at any time.

Any select or standing committees will normally begin early morning between 9am and 9.30am or will take place late afternoon. It is hoped that the new hours will bring MPs work more into line with the rest of the country. The new hours will also make the institution of the House of Commons more compatible with the modern media age that we now live in - any important statements and Prime Minister’s Questions will be held at lunchtime or just before allowing them to go out on lunchtime news bulletins. Debates will be finished by 7pm, not going on well into the night as has often been the case in the past, enabling debates and statements to feature on the night time news.

There has been much debate in the media about MPs having more ‘holidays’. The time away from Westminster is not for MPs to rest their weary feet but to have more time to attend to all the important and varied day to day tasks in the constituency.

MPs vote for or against a particular issue by walking through one of Division Lobbies (The Aye or Noe) on either side of the chamber and being counted as they come out. Debates in Parliament allow opinions to be discussed and decisions to be reached. Debates are an integral part of the process in making a law.

The majority of public bills, which succeed in becoming Acts of Parliament are sponsored by the Government. Before a Government Bill can be introduced, consultations have to take place with the various people who are likely to be affected. The Bill has to be properly drafted and Government Bills have to be approved by the Cabinet.

The Bill then passes through Parliament in several stages. This is to ensure that a wide range of perspectives are given, it is properly scrutinised and thoroughly thought out. Once it gets to the House of Commons, the First Reading informs members all about the bill. The first really important stage is the Second Reading, which explains the purpose of the bill. If the House votes for the bill, it then goes to the committee stage where a group of between 15-50 MPs called a Standing Committee will look over the details of the bill. After this the bill reaches the report stage for changes by the whole House and then the Third Reading. Once a bill has passed through the Commons it then goes to the Lords for the same process. The Lords’ review and scrutinises bills.

The final stage is for a bill to receive Royal Assent, which is when it will become law.