Lesson 31 (Keal) Flashcards

1
Q

When the PM’s MPs ask her (pretend it was you) questions at PMQs, why is the Prime Minister already ready for them?

A

Because she gives them the questions to ask

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

David Cameron’s appointment as foreign secretary shows how Parliament isn’t effective. How?

A

Major ministers can sit in the Lords

E.g. Lord Cameron as foreign secretary

E.g. Lord Carrington as foreign secretary under Thatcher

And as he doesn’t sit in the Commons also (as he isn’t an MP), he can’t be scrutinised by the opposition party

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Why are ministers so often so useless?

A

Ministers are not specialised in their fields

Ministers change positions and stay at their posts for very short periods (e.g. Suella was not home secretary for long)

The PM has to choose from a small pool of terrible talent (her MPs) who aren’t particularly specialised for their ministerial jobs

Ministers are more selected for loyalty

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

How does Blair show the House of Commons is effective?

A

Because, just be having a strong majority in Parliament, he was able to pass so many bills that caused real change e.g. House of Lords Act, Belfast Agreement, etc etc

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

How can the Commons override the Lords? (Acts)

A

1911 and 1949 Parliament Acts

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Example of when the Commons overrode the Lord?

A

2000

Sexual Offences (Amendment) bill

Made the legal age for gay sex 16 not 18

Lords refused this

Government invoke the 1949 Parliament Act to give the bill royal assent

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Example under Brown when a bill was dropped due to now support in the Lords?

A

2008

Brown wanted to pass the ‘Counter-Terrorism Bill’

But a clause in it enabled terror suspects to be held for 42 days without charge

Won in the Commons by only 8 votes

Defeated in the Lords by 191 votes

Leading to Brown dropping the bill

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Example under Johnson when the gov. rejected the Lords’ proposed amendments?

A

January 2020

EU (Withdrawal Agreement) Bill

Commons rejected all 5 proposals made by the Lords to amend it

One of them was the Dubs amendment, ensuring that child refugees would still be able to join relatives in the UK after Brexit

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Sessional committees

A

Deal with a particular issue and last from one parliamentary session to the next

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Special enquiry (ad hoc) committes

A

Investigate a specific issue but are set up for a specific time period

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Why did Angela Eagle say the gov. was ‘governing from the shadows’?

A

Veteran Labour MP Angela Eagle said this

About Con. governments

By using secondary legislation

Which can be done by ministers or civil servants

And doesn’t need the Commons to scrutinise it

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Example of secondary legislation being abused in the past?

A

2020

1618 statutory instruments were passed

Whilst only 29 acts of Parliament were

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Secondary legislation

A

Amendments to current acts

Through statutory instruments (known as Henry the 8th clauses)

Which is not scrutinised by Parliament

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Primary legislation

A

Proposed to the Commons

Debated and scrutinised on

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

When were tons of statutory instruments used in recent times?

A

COVID-19

Used statutory instruments to develop policy around it

Which Lindsay Hoyle was highly critical of

He said that the way the gov was using these instruments to create policy was ‘totally unsatisfactory’

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

An important Lords sessional committee?

A

Secondary Legislation Scrutiny Committee

17
Q
A