Public affairs PPQs Flashcards
(70 cards)
You are a reporter for a national newspaper. There are renewed questions about the role and legitimacy of the House of Lords after recent devolution deals and criticisms about the membership and legitimacy of the House by MPs.
Identify FIVE contacts and devise a different question for each contact that will enable you to develop a story about the future of the House of Lords.
Hereditary Peer – should membership be based on birthright; reformers/critics – what should reform look like; Life Peer – what do you bring to the House of Lords?): Lord Spiritual – how can the membership of CoE bishops be justified? Should other faiths be represented? MP in favour of reform – what proportion of the membership of a reformed Lords should be elected? Any suitable contact and question should be rewarded.
Briefly explain the membership of the House of Lords, outlining how the members are selected.
Candidates should outline the present composition of the Lords:
- 92 hereditary peers (90 of whom are elected by their fellow hereditary peers from their party);
- 26 Lords Spiritual (senior Church of England bishops); and almost 700 life peers appointed by the Kin on the advice of the prime minister.
Can mention the Lords Appointments Commission which vets all nominations and recommends some appointments.
Outline the stages a Bill goes through when it reaches the House of Lords.
First reading (proposed legislation introduced),
second reading (debate stage),
committee stage,
report stage and third reading (final amendments),
followed by exchange of messages with the Commons to agree the text and then Royal Assent.
Candidate answer may mention that these stages occur in both the House of Commons and the House of Lords.
A local democracy reporter working for a regional broadcaster is covering a press conference in which a council leader in the local two-tier council area has set out proposals for the county to become two unitary authorities as part of a new regional combined authority. The council leader also suggested holding a referendum on whether the new unitary councils, if introduced, should adopt the committee system form of governance.
Outline the difference between a committee system and executive style decision making, as well as two potential advantages and two potential disadvantages of the executive style decision making.
Candidates should outline that the committee system is a traditional style of decision-making involving committees of councillors from all parties on the council that recommend or decide policy (delegated powers) ahead of a full-council meeting where there may be a further debate and a vote.
The two main forms of executive style local government decision-making: directly elected executive mayor and a cabinet of two or more councillors appointed by the mayor; executive leader elected by the members (usually leader of the majority party) with a cabinet of two or more councillors appointed by the leader. Mention may be made that members of the cabinet will be assigned portfolios and there will be the presumption that all decisions will be made by the cabinet unless the law lays down that the decision has to be made/approved by full council (e.g. setting the council tax).
Executive style advantage – Cabinet seen as more accountable, attracts higher calibre of councillor, more efficient decision making.
Executive style disadvantage – less democratic, some decisions may be less transparent, may be seen as divisive as backbench councillors marginalised in decision-making.
What is the difference between a unitary authority and a combined authority?
Candidates should recognise that a unitary authority is a single tier all-purpose authority, providing all the local authority services
A combined authority is a form of super-council that enables councils to collaborate and take decisions across council boundaries.
Combined authorities can take on significant powers and resources devolved from national government.
The majority have directly elected mayors (sometimes referred to as ‘metro mayors’) with enhanced powers that may also encompass the police governance role fulfilled in other areas by police and crime commissioners.
Examples of unitary and/or combined authorities should be rewarded.
List FIVE services or responsibilities administered by a district council in a two-tier system of local government.
District councils (or borough councils in areas historically granted ‘royal borough’ status) set and collect the council tax (including precepts) and are also responsible for: providing social housing; administering local Housing Allowance/Housing Benefit; determining planning applications; drawing up local plans, environmental health – including refuse collection; and organising elections.
You are a local government reporter who has been locked out of a crucial council meeting and will be unable to cover an agenda item about an internal investigation into a council work event. You are not able to appeal the decision and gain access.
Previously, you have had a Freedom of Information request blocked that related to specific expenditure by the leader’s office for the event.
Explain the rights of the media and public to attend local authority meetings and receive documents. How may access be refused and what must the local authority do in order to exclude the media and public? What documents relating to the meeting must be made available to the media and the public?
Candidates should explain that the media and public have a right to attend full council, cabinet, committee and sub-committee meetings of local authorities. They may be excluded if the item to be discussed is either confidential or exempt. A confidential item means automatic exclusion and would be classified as such if it contained secret information supplied by government departments or prohibited for legal reasons. Exempt items require a motion to be proposed and seconded before a vote to exclude the media and a brief explanation to be given as to why the decision to exclude has been reached. Candidates may mention that meetings are normally divided into ‘open’ and ‘closed,’ or Parts 1 and 2
Mention should also be made of the right to access the agenda, supporting and background papers relating to the meeting, as well as copies of the minutes of previous meetings. Candidates could also mention that the agenda should be published five clear days ahead of the meeting - and if held in private, 28 days’ notice should be given.
Explain how you might use a Freedom of Information request to gather information for stories about councils, including the purpose of the legislation, the procedures for submission of the request and the right to appeal if the request is refused.
Candidates should explain that a request may be made to a council, specifically requesting to seek details about most aspects of the council’s operations. Candidates should also identify that, in general terms, the Act allows for scrutiny of public bodies and assists investigative journalism by giving the public/media the right to access information from over 100,000 public bodies (examples can be given). The request should be in writing (email/letter) and should identify the information required and the individual requesting it. A response should be made within 20 working days. Mention might be made of exemptions. Candidates should outline the appeal process – firstly appealing to the public body itself and then to the Information Commissioner who, where necessary, can make binding decisions. The possibility of a judicial review may also be mentioned.
Outline the role of the Budget and define the following economic terms as part of your fact sheet/fact file: direct and indirect taxes, inflation, as well as the impact of the Bank of England raising interest rates.
Candidates should explain the purpose of the Budget is to manage and control the economy. The Budget usually covers medium-term forecasts, a review of the government’s economic policy, government spending plans and any taxation changes. It also assesses performance of the economy and issues affecting it. It paves the way for a Finance Bill which, once it becomes an Act, passes the Budget into law.
Indirect taxes (such as VAT, petrol duty and tax on cigarettes and alcohol) are charged at a flat-rate at the point of purchase for consumers, or charged by businesses, regardless of ability to pay. Direct taxes are charged according to a person’s earnings/status/ability to pay (such as income tax, corporation tax, inheritance tax, land tax) and are set at different rates for individuals and businesses.
Inflation refers to a sustained increase in the price of goods and services, measured using the consumer price index or retail price index. There are differences between the two indexes but both measure the price of a ‘basket of goods’ containing a range of commonly consumed goods and services.
Interest rates are raised by the Bank of England to curb inflation. It makes the cost of borrowing higher for both members of the public (increases mortgage rates; may increase homeowners’ monthly mortgage payments) and businesses; consumers and businesses have less to spend; demand for goods and services will drop; prices may fall and inflation may decrease; the value of the pound may increase.
Your news editor has asked you to produce an explainer on the cost-of-living crisis for your local TV station’s social media platforms. This should outline the main challenges currently facing the Chancellor in managing the UK economy and the impact of the crisis at a local level.
Identify FIVE local contacts you would contact as part of your report and indicate what question you would ask each of them.
Five marks for five acceptable local contacts and good questions must be set out for each choice for the additional marks. Repetition of types of contacts and imprecise questions should be avoided (e.g: MP from Labour, as well as a Conservative MP – credit one, unless effectively justified). Candidates may include: an “average” family to show how each will be affected by the Budget; local MPs or councillors from different parties for political comment (but see above about repetition without proper rationale); local companies, in particular businesses that are directly affected by the Budget (e.g: pubs, fuel retailers, etc); vox pops to gauge public opinion (with specific mention to how they are affected – e.g: cost of living, drinkers, smokers); local chamber of commerce; economics professor/academic expert; Citizens Advice; estate agents; accountants; financial adviser. Any other valid contacts to be rewarded.
As the health reporter for a local radio station, you are reporting on the state of the NHS, focusing on the way it is organised and the issues it faces.
Outline what is meant by Integrated Care Systems / Boards and the roles and responsibilities of the following key NHS bodies: NHS trusts, and the Care Quality Commission (England). What role do local authorities play in health provision?
Candidates should recognise that Integrated Care Systems is a major change in the administration of health care in England which now depends on collaboration rather than a separation between commissioners and providers. Integrated Care Boards, comprise representatives of NHS bodies, GPs, local authorities and others, and they both plan health and care services and commission and fund the services.
NHS trusts are the main providers of secondary healthcare in England. They tend to comprise individual acute hospitals, mental health services, community services or ambulance services, or groups of such providers located in the same or neighbouring areas. Most hospitals have added levels of autonomy over their finances, how to meet their obligations and ability to recruit staff – these are foundation trusts.
The Care Quality Commission (England) is the independent all-in-one regulator of health and social care providers. It carries out regular inspections of hospitals, GP practices, care homes and other providers to ensure they meet fundamental standards of quality and safety. The CQC gives performance ratings and has wide enforcement powers (or, candidates may explain the Care Inspectorate (Wales), as the independent regulator of social care and childcare in Wales).
Local authorities are responsible for social care and effective integration with the health service, including membership of ICBs. They are also responsible for public health and coordinate the response to public health emergencies (i.e. Covid).
Outline FIVE current issues affecting the NHS.
Candidates must identify FIVE relevant issues, which might include any of the following: lack of staff, recruitment problems and staff burnout – this is having an impact on the ability of the NHS to cope; waiting lists for operations and other procedures; wait times for GP surgery appointments; need for further vaccinations/boosters; the Covid Inquiry and its remit; scandals such as the failings at Nottingham’s, Peterborough’s or Telford’s maternity units; NHS pay disputes and strikes. Any other valid issues to be rewarded.
Identify FIVE local contacts who could help explain how the NHS operates and the challenges it faces.
Candidates should identify local contacts from Integrated Care Systems (ICS), such as GPs and other health professionals; care staff and managers within care providers; NHS staff or managers providing hospital care, residential care, emergency care, rehabilitation and community health; representatives of the various professional bodies (e.g. BMA, RCN), staff from private and voluntary-sector providers. Spokespeople from the Care Quality Commission (England) may be sought, as well as patient groups or local organisations with formal involvement in the NHS and academic experts on healthcare at the local university.
The local authority you cover as a political reporter for a newspaper has announced the closure of three youth clubs as part of cuts in the funding of youth services locally. Two local care homes have also cancelled contracts with the local council because they claim they are not being offered enough money to break even. These decisions have created a lot of attention, with your local MP, who is a backbencher, raising the issues during Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs). The Prime Minister, in response, blamed the closure of the youth centres on poor financial management by the Labour-controlled council in your patch. You have to get a reaction from the council leader for a story, and they have already tweeted that it is “Central Government cuts” that are responsible for the closures and loss of care beds.
Outline the difference between revenue and capital expenditure and explain the sources of funding for local authority revenue spending, indicating which are locally determined and which are determined by central government.
Candidates should correctly define revenue expenditure which is spending on items that will last for a year or less such as running costs, salaries, heating costs and interest payments. Candidates should correctly define capital expenditure which is money spent on long-term durable assets such as development projects.
Candidates should recognise that local authorities receive grants from central government and distinguish between general grants (money that local authorities may spend as they wish) including business rates income (some of which is retained by local authorities) and specific grants (money given for particular services). Mention must be made of local sources such as the council tax as well as rents, fees and charges (such as parking) as these are becoming a more significant source of revenue funding. Examples may be given. Mention may be made of the use of balances and reserves.
List FIVE newsworthy issues relating to adult social care.
Candidates may identify issues, such as: ageing population and less funding/resources; staff recruitment/retention/ training/expertise; charging for care services; people with care needs have to sell their homes to fund care; cost of improving/building care infrastructure; political challenges between district/county councils; issues related to capital or revenue funding; use of private sector for care services, level of pay for care workers; and any other relevant issue should be rewarded.
Explain who backbenchers are and outline their roles.
Candidates should explain that backbenchers, are MPs who do not hold ministerial posts and so are not members of the government nor are they members of the shadow cabinet. They have following main roles:
Legislative - debating, voting and amending legislation and introducing legislation and introducing private members bills
Holding the government / executive to account - question time, select committees, urgent questions /urgent debates
Constituency role - surgeries, raising matters on behalf of constituents in parliament, taking an interest in key events / issues in the constituency.
They also support their party by taking part in debates and voting the way the party instructs them.
You are hosting a podcast about the future of the Monarchy. Identify the sources of their funding and the way the money is raised.
Candidates should outline how the monarchy is currently funded. The Sovereign Grant – a single grant from the Treasury (based on a percentage of income from the net Crown Estates); income from the Privy Purse (Duchy of Lancaster – derived from income from the Duchy of Lancaster, a portfolio of land and property, most of which is also used to fund royal expenditure); plus personal income from shareholdings and other investments. Candidates may also mention that the government may provide funding for security at royal events (e.g: weddings).
Explain what an academy school is and how it differs from a community school.
Candidates should explain that academies are self-governing state schools that are free from the day-to-day control of their local authorities and are directly funded by central government. They have the ability to hire and fire their own staff (including hiring unqualified teachers); ability to set their own term dates and lengths of their school day; ability to adapt or deviate from the national curriculum; and they act as their own admissions’ authority. Many academies are part of ‘multi-academy trusts’ (MATs) where a group of schools work in partnership with each other.
Local authority community schools are required to follow the national curriculum and the local authority has oversight roles which include: overseeing and advising on the management/policies/curriculum/admissions; determining term dates/length of school days; and technically employing the teachers who have to be qualified and paying their salaries.
Distinguish between greenfield and brownfield sites, and indicate the advantages to developers of the different types of land.
A greenfield site is in an urban or rural area that has not been built on previously or has remained undeveloped e.g. agricultural fields, parks. Candidates may mention that greenfield sites may be larger and, if planning permission is secured, could lead to larger homes being built.
A brownfield site is previously developed land, often used for industrial and commercial purposes, usually in an urban location and is now derelict but still has some infrastructure e.g. utilities. Candidates may mention that the government has encouraged development of brownfield sites.
A local transport union representative is unhappy with the way his members are being treated.
Identify FIVE newsworthy issues about rail transport that you might raise in the interview.
Newsworthy issues about the railways include: working conditions; safety on the lines; better integration of services across the UK (Great British Rail) and regionally (Crossrail, Northern Powerhouse Rail); rail strikes; issue of ‘driver-only’ trains, electrification; costs of tickets; excessive profits of private rail companies and lack of investment; re-nationalisation; and any other relevant newsworthy issue.
An online poll on your news website shows that more of your audience want General Elections to be run using a system of proportional representation. What system is currently used for parliamentary elections, and how does it determine who will be Prime Minister at Westminster?
Parliamentary elections use the First-Past-The-Post system. To win a seat the successful candidate must merely achieve one more vote than their nearest rival (simple majority). The party who has gained more than 50% of the seats in the House of Commons (326 out of 650) will form the government and its leader will be appointed prime minister by the King. Should no party gain over 50% of the seats, the situation is more complex and there may have to be a coalition or minority government.
You are preparing a feature after a series of failures by local-authority-run children’s services.
Identify FIVE newsworthy issues that relate to children’s services departments in local authorities that you could include in your feature.
Issues may include: deficit in funding from Central Government; deteriorating facilities for children and young people; lack of foster parents; lack of adoptive parents; poor standards in children’s homes; increasing number of asylum seeking families; increase in need for mental health support for children; truancy; scandals relating to failures to protect vulnerable children from both serious harm / death or sexual exploitation. Any other valid issue should be rewarded.
A council by-election has been called in an area you cover as a local democracy reporter after the current leader of the council has announced she is stepping down due to health reasons.
Explain what the requirements are for a candidate to be able to stand in a local council election.
Candidates should recognise that anyone standing for election as a local councillor must be British; or a citizen of the Commonwealth; or, in certain circumstances, a citizen of the European Union. They must be at least 18 years old; registered to vote in the area or have lived, worked or owned property there for at least 12 months before an election. Candidates may mention disqualifications.
You are producing a news documentary about multi-national businesses that have head offices in your region.
List FIVE newsworthy issues relating to international trade arrangements with the EU countries and the UK that you could develop as a news story or feature.
Candidates may refer to: increased costs of trade in relation to the Northern Ireland Brexit deal/issues related to renegotiation of Brexit deal (Northern Ireland protocol); increased costs due to lack of trade deals between UK and other countries; increased bureaucracy; new trade links outside the EU area; less ‘red tape’; trade war between UK and EU; delays at ports; lorry jams; potential decline in food standards; and any other valid issues.
