Finding out more about Parliament

The UK Parliament website contains a detailed section about Parliament which provides lots more information including the history of Parliament and the Palace of Westminster, how Parliament functions, major Parliamentary occasions, and the roles of Government and Opposition.

Visiting Parliament

If you would like to visit the House of Commons for a tour, listen to a debate or attend a question time session then please give as much notice as possible and contact me at info@malcolmbruce.org.uk. More information about visits can also be found on the Parliament website.

Tours of Parliament are only able take place when the House of Commons is not sitting, this is on Monday and Tuesday morning (until about 12.00 noon), Wednesdays before 9.30am and all day on non-sitting Fridays. There is greater scope for tours during Parliamentary recesses. These times should only be used as a provisional guide however and are subject to Parliamentary business. It is therefore advisable that you contact my Parliamentary Assistant in order to arrange an appropriate date and time.

Tours of the the Clock Tower (including Big Ben) are also available for adults and children (over the age of 11). The tours are free of charge; however, early booking is recommended. Because they have to be booked externally as much notice as possible should be given (minimum of two weeks). Again, please contact my Parliamentary Assistant for further information.

'There are lots of different ways for constituents to engage with the work of Parliament' says Malcolm

School visits and Educational Information

The Clock Tower- often referred to as 'Big Ben'

The UK Parliament also provides an education website, Explore Parliament with material mainly aimed at schoolchildren. Topics include: what Parliament does, how laws are made and parliamentary elections. There is also a Teachers' Centre to provide information about the Parliamentary Education Unit and the services and publications available to them.

Parliament also offers the opportunity for school visits which run throughout the academic year for students in primary and secondary schools (ages 7-18); these can also be adapted for students with special needs. All visits are free of charge and range from a half day to a full day programme. Due to limits on accommodation, there is a maximum capacity of 32 (inclusive of students and staff) in each session. For further details about arranging a school visit to Parliament see the Visits to Parliament section on the Explore Parliament website.

Hansard (the Parliamentary Record)

Hansard is the edited verbatim report of proceedings in both Houses. The Commons' Hansard covers proceedings in the Commons Chamber, Westminster Hall and Standing Committees while the Lords' Hansard covers proceedings in the Lords Chamber and its Grand Committees.

Although Members' and Peers' words are reported with any obvious mistakes or repetition omitted, nothing which adds to the meaning of the speech or illustrates the argument is left out.

Hansards are published the next day in printed form at 7.30 am and appear on the Parliament website at 8 am (Hansard for Friday sittings will be available on the following Monday). For more information on Hansard see the Parliament website.

Malcolm Bruce MP is not responsible for the content of external internet sites. By using any links you will be leaving Malcolm Bruce's website.