I have previously commented on the sheer growth in recent years in the number of all-party parliamentary groups in Parliament. There is a group for virtually every topic you can think of, political and non-political. An all-party group can serve a valuable purpose, bringing together members from all parties with a particular interest in a…
In recent decades, both Houses have become more specialised through the use of investigative select committees. These are highly active and productive bodies. They are a formal part of the parliamentary process. They meet in public to take evidence: their membership is a matter of public record, as is the attendance of the members. Attendance…
At the beginning of each year, I table a Question asking how many items of mail were received in the Palace of Westminster in the previous year and what proportion is received in the House of Lords. I have just had the answer to my Question for 2008. Last year, 4,135,144 items of post were…
