The Education Maintenance Allowance came up yesterday. The contracting company has been having difficulty delivering at an acceptable standard so it deserves some Parliamentary scrutiny. The EMA however has been remarkably helpful to many youngsters keeping them in eduction. This is particularly important at a time when unemployment is rising. Skills and educational level do affect your employment opportunities. Follow this link to see the exchanges at question time.
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200708/ldhansrd/text/81028-0002.htm
I also note that initials were used a lot in this question and I often wonder how good we are at using the full title to make sure listeners outside Parliament know what we are talking about. Is our language user friendly in Parliament? Any views on this?
The question actually starts on the previous page, and the abbreviations are given in full the first time they are mentioned. Also, if readers follow the version on theyworkforyou.com, it includes useful inline links to define terms people might not be familiar with.
Ultimately, Hansard is a record of what goes on in parliament, not a simple guide for the public. I don’t see why it needs to be dumbed down.
Is our language user friendly in Parliament? Any views on this?
The language of Acts of Parliament is often convoluted and impenetrable. If parliamentary draftsmen cannot write in ways that ordinary people can understand, they should be sacked and replaced with someone who can.
Ultimately, Hansard is a record of what goes on in parliament, not a simple guide for the public. I don’t see why it needs to be dumbed down.
I agree. Putting in explanatory notes as well as the content of debate would however be useful. But since theyworkforyou does this, there’s no need for Hansard to too.
I think you make a good point, Lord Soley. For anyone who is not experienced in the proceedings of the House of Commons or House of Lords, you do often end up wondering what on earth is going on most of the time.
Just listening to parliamentarians going through a bill clause by clause is difficult for most people to understand – it’s no wonder people can only stand to stay in the public galleries for a short period of time (outside the daily highlight of Question Time in the Commons and Lords).
I think there is much to be said about some of the procedural rules which are laid down in both Houses.
You are quite right Jonathan; the full name was stated in the first answer. I was thinking generally though. I am conscious that we need to make our language more user friendly. I do not want Hansard to fill it in. I think it is up to us to be conscious that we do have a wider audience at times. I think the public sitting in the gallery must be puzzled at terms like “the other place” which refers to the Commons. I don’t use that phrase preferring the direct “the Commons” because there is a danger we speak in code.