Guides to Parliament - UK Parliament

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> <html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" class="noJS"> <head><script type="text/javascript" src="/_static/js/bundle-playback.js?v=HxkREWBo" charset="utf-8"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/_static/js/wombat.js?v=txqj7nKC" charset="utf-8"></script> <script>window.RufflePlayer=window.RufflePlayer||{};window.RufflePlayer.config={"autoplay":"on","unmuteOverlay":"hidden"};</script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/_static/js/ruffle/ruffle.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> __wm.init("https://web.archive.org/web"); __wm.wombat("http://www.parliament.uk:80/about/how/guides/","20120228180937","https://web.archive.org/","web","/_static/", "1330452577"); </script> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/_static/css/banner-styles.css?v=S1zqJCYt" /> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/_static/css/iconochive.css?v=3PDvdIFv" />  <link rel="shortcut icon" href="/web/20120228180937im_/http://www.parliament.uk/favicon.ico" type="image/x-icon"/> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" media="projection,screen" href="/web/20120228180937cs_/http://www.parliament.uk/assets/css/reset.css"/> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" media="projection,screen" href="/web/20120228180937cs_/http://www.parliament.uk/assets/css/grid.css"/> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" media="projection,screen" href="/web/20120228180937cs_/http://www.parliament.uk/assets/css/main.css"/> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" media="print" href="/web/20120228180937cs_/http://www.parliament.uk/assets/css/print.css"/>    <script type="text/javascript"> (function () { try { document.documentElement.className = 'js'; } catch (e) { } })();</script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/web/20120228180937js_/http://www.parliament.uk/assets/scripts/jquery-1.4.2.min.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/web/20120228180937js_/http://www.parliament.uk/assets/scripts/jquery.equalheights.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/web/20120228180937js_/http://www.parliament.uk/assets/scripts/parliament-uk.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/web/20120228180937js_/http://www.parliament.uk/assets/scripts/swfobject.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/web/20120228180937js_/http://www.parliament.uk/assets/scripts/slideshow.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> /*<![CDATA[*/ $(document).ready(function(){ var settings = { main:{ advancedSearchAjaxUrl: '/AJAX/MemberNames.ashx', edmMembersAjaxUrl: '/AJAX/EdmMembers.ashx', calendarListingAjaxUrl: '/AJAX/CalendarMonth.ashx', publicationsAndRecordsInitialShow: 3, slideshowAjaxUrl: '/AJAX/ImageGallery.ashx' }, woa:{ ajaxFlashZoomArtworkUrl: '/AJAX/ImageZoom.ashx' }, masterPage: 'threecolumn', pageType: 'main-generic-content', pageInstanceId: '297' } parliamentUK.init(settings); }); /*]]>*/ </script> <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8"/> <meta name="title" content="Guides To Parliament"/> <meta name="keywords" content="guides to parliament, guides, information guides, information office publications, house of commons information office publications"/> <meta name="description" content="Parliament is made up of two distinct Houses; the House of Commons and the House of Lords.&nbsp;Each House has its own administration to support it, including two seperate public information offices.&nbsp;"/> <meta name="Date" content="2010-04-21 02:45:55"/> <meta name="language" content="English"/> <meta name="viewport" content="width=940"/> <meta name="sections" content="Parliament home page~About Parliament~How Parliament works~Guides to Parliament"/> <title> Guides to Parliament - UK Parliament </title></head> <body class="main"> <script type="text/javascript"> /*<![CDATA[*/ //load any sub-site JavaScript files (if required) parliamentUK.loadSubSiteJavaScript($(document.body).attr('class')); /*]]>*/ </script> <form method="post" action="/web/20120228180937/http://www.parliament.uk/about/how/guides/" id="aspnetForm"> <div> <input type="hidden" name="__EVENTTARGET" id="__EVENTTARGET" value=""/> <input type="hidden" name="__EVENTARGUMENT" id="__EVENTARGUMENT" value=""/> <input type="hidden" name="__VIEWSTATE" id="__VIEWSTATE" value="/wEPDwUKLTc3OTI0NzE5NmRk5bMcK/ttcFbAqzfJYJJ3nNI321o="/> </div> <script type="text/javascript"> //<![CDATA[ var theForm = document.forms['aspnetForm']; if (!theForm) { theForm = document.aspnetForm; } function __doPostBack(eventTarget, eventArgument) { if (!theForm.onsubmit || (theForm.onsubmit() != false)) { theForm.__EVENTTARGET.value = eventTarget; theForm.__EVENTARGUMENT.value = eventArgument; theForm.submit(); } } //]]> </script> <script src="/web/20120228180937js_/http://www.parliament.uk/WebResource.axd?d=q9dgdU2M3gvAsxY-5kyLkEiVX-75r7OEHALFmKSl6nye1Ocgp80woIOeAXrwqfkoiYO36wKzRIrEpBTOT0FnFSidLj01&t=634604424479085897" type="text/javascript"></script> <script src="/web/20120228180937js_/http://www.parliament.uk/ScriptResource.axd?d=xGaghmX67eZMqQrjn9_owpLgYT0J3wa6Rsq_OiD8AmTAzGd9balscFDKON1hxdHWEo29M5eCRGvV7FYOaXmjekHBseVWa3g5fhM9zpnRjIy4PZ91nxdE0KM2qHp_rX2TMwNu2ZDm5zvaKFmv4QVzOBhZZOo1&t=ffffffffb868b5f4" type="text/javascript"></script> <script src="/web/20120228180937js_/http://www.parliament.uk/ScriptResource.axd?d=Z3QvXC_V1-d-ezbI8yCywAEp4WmGYZVM4AE-QVXLopVoe3PId4IKXTxpJ4VHQOWL2SNsm1nJ4Pdc9TJnQ64CxH-J3v32VCNwA4vNAg7ahFR601necBFqOWpmGQo5FuC9_YrWlButWleqOlP9CbfgLEODLaa5fq5ikWSpa6jX1-l7nDNb0&t=ffffffffb868b5f4" type="text/javascript"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> //<![CDATA[ Sys.WebForms.PageRequestManager._initialize('ctl00$ctl00$ScriptManager1', document.getElementById('aspnetForm')); Sys.WebForms.PageRequestManager.getInstance()._updateControls([], [], [], 90); //]]> </script> <div id="wrapper" class=""> <div id="header"> <div id="skiplink"><a href="#skipToContent">Skip to content</a></div> <a href="/web/20120228180937/http://www.parliament.uk/"><img src="/web/20120228180937im_/http://www.parliament.uk/assets/images/parliament-uk-logo.gif" alt="Parliament UK"/></a> <fieldset class="site-search"> <ul> <li><a id="ctl00_ctl00_ctlGlobalHeader_ctlNavigationLinks_rptLinks_ctl01_hypLink" href="/web/20120228180937/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/accessibility/">Accessibility</a></li> <li><a id="ctl00_ctl00_ctlGlobalHeader_ctlNavigationLinks_rptLinks_ctl02_hypLink" href="/web/20120228180937/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/email-alerts/">Email alerts</a></li> <li><a id="ctl00_ctl00_ctlGlobalHeader_ctlNavigationLinks_rptLinks_ctl03_hypLink" href="/web/20120228180937/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/rss-feeds/">RSS feeds</a></li> <li class="last"><a id="ctl00_ctl00_ctlGlobalHeader_ctlNavigationLinks_rptLinks_ctl04_hypLink" href="/web/20120228180937/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/contact-us/">Contact us</a></li> </ul> <legend>Site search</legend> <div onkeypress="javascript:return WebForm_FireDefaultButton(event, 'ctl00_ctl00_ctlGlobalHeader_ctlSearch_btnSearch')"> <ol> <li> <label for="ctl00_ctl00_ctlGlobalHeader_ctlSearch_txtSearch" id="ctl00_ctl00_ctlGlobalHeader_ctlSearch_lblSearch" class="access">Search</label> <input name="ctl00$ctl00$ctlGlobalHeader$ctlSearch$txtSearch" type="text" id="ctl00_ctl00_ctlGlobalHeader_ctlSearch_txtSearch"/> </li> </ol> <input type="submit" name="ctl00$ctl00$ctlGlobalHeader$ctlSearch$btnSearch" value="Search" id="ctl00_ctl00_ctlGlobalHeader_ctlSearch_btnSearch"/> </div> <ul id="search-options"> <li class="last"><a href="/web/20120228180937/http://www.parliament.uk/search/advanced/">Advanced search</a></li> </ul> </fieldset> <div id="navigation"> <ul id="level-1"> <li><a href="/web/20120228180937/http://www.parliament.uk/">Home</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20120228180937/http://www.parliament.uk/business/">Parliamentary business</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20120228180937/http://www.parliament.uk/mps-lords-and-offices/">MPs, Lords & offices</a></li> <li class="over"><a href="/web/20120228180937/http://www.parliament.uk/about/">About Parliament</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20120228180937/http://www.parliament.uk/get-involved/">Get involved</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20120228180937/http://www.parliament.uk/visiting/">Visiting</a></li> <li class="last"><a href="/web/20120228180937/http://www.parliament.uk/education/">Education</a></li> </ul> <ul id="level-2"> <li class="over"><a href="/web/20120228180937/http://www.parliament.uk/about/how/">How Parliament works</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20120228180937/http://www.parliament.uk/about/mps-and-lords/">About MPs, Lords & officers</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20120228180937/http://www.parliament.uk/about/faqs/">FAQs</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20120228180937/http://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/">Living Heritage</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20120228180937/http://www.parliament.uk/about/art-in-parliament/">Art in Parliament</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20120228180937/http://www.parliament.uk/about/images/">Images</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20120228180937/http://www.parliament.uk/about/podcasts/">Watch and Listen</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20120228180937/http://www.parliament.uk/about/working/">Jobs</a></li> </ul> </div> <div id="breadcrumb"> <div class="inner"> <strong>You are here:</strong> <ul><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120228180937/http://www.parliament.uk/">Parliament home page</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120228180937/http://www.parliament.uk/about/">About Parliament</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120228180937/http://www.parliament.uk/about/how/">How Parliament works</a></li><li>Guides to Parliament</li></ul> </div> </div> </div> <div id="secondary-navigation"> <ul><li class="grand-parent"><a href="/web/20120228180937/http://www.parliament.uk/about/how/">How Parliament works</a><ul><li class="parent"><a href="/web/20120228180937/http://www.parliament.uk/about/how/guides/">Guides to Parliament</a><ul><li><a href="/web/20120228180937/http://www.parliament.uk/about/how/guides/easy-read-guides/">Easy Read Guides</a></li><li><a href="/web/20120228180937/http://www.parliament.uk/about/how/guides/people-events-and-places/">Guides to People, Events and Places</a></li><li><a href="/web/20120228180937/http://www.parliament.uk/about/how/guides/brief-guides/">Brief guides to Parliament</a></li><li><a href="/web/20120228180937/http://www.parliament.uk/about/how/guides/foreign-language-guides/">Foreign language guides</a></li></ul></li></ul></li></ul> </div> <div id="content" class="three-column"> <div id="content-small"> <a name="skipToContent"></a> <h1 id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_HeadingOne_ctlHeadingH1_h1Item"> Guides to Parliament </h1> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20120228180937im_/http://assets3.parliament.uk/iv/main-large/id_3198.jpg" id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_PageContent_ctlRichMediaControl_SimpleImage_imgMainImage" alt=""/> <div class="inner">  <div class="rte main-introduction"> <p>Parliament is made up of two distinct Houses; the House of Commons and the House of Lords. Each House has its own administration to support it, including two seperate public information offices. </p> </div>   <div id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_PageContent_ctlMainBody_wrapperDiv" class="rte"> <p></p><div> <h2>House of Commons Information Office publications</h2> <p>The House of Commons Information Office answers enquiries on the work, history and membership of the House of Commons. It also produces a range of publications about the House which are available for free in hard copy on request.</p> <ul> <li><a href="/web/20120228180937/http://www.parliament.uk/about/how/guides/people-events-and-places/">Guides to People, Events and Places</a></li></ul> <p>Read short, informative descriptions of the parliamentary estate, state occasions and the principal office holders in the House of Commons.</p> <ul> <li><a href="/web/20120228180937/http://www.parliament.uk/about/how/guides/brief-guides/">Brief Guides</a></li></ul> <p>Browse our extended descriptions about the House of Commons, its history and membership.</p> <ul> <li><a href="/web/20120228180937/http://www.parliament.uk/about/how/guides/easy-read-guides/">Easy Read Guides</a></li></ul> <p>Information on MPs and the House of Commons in an easy read format</p> <ul> <li><a href="/web/20120228180937/http://www.parliament.uk/about/how/guides/foreign-language-guides/">Foreign Language Guides</a></li></ul> <p>Read about the role of an MP and our guides to Parliament in a range of foreign languages.</p> <h2>House of Lords Information Office publications</h2> <p>The House of Lords Information Office acts as a central service for answering queries from Members, staff, the press and the public. The illustrated 'The work of the House of Lords' describes the work of the House with examples drawn from the previous session.</p> <ul> <li> <p><a href="/web/20120228180937/http://www.parliament.uk/documents/lords-information-office/hol-woth200910.pdf" class="document">The work of the House of Lords (<span><img src="/web/20120228180937im_/http://www.parliament.uk/assets/images/pdf-icon.gif" alt="PDF"/></span> PDF 2.19 MB)</a> </p></li> <li> <p><a href="/web/20120228180937/http://www.parliament.uk/mps-lords-and-offices/offices/lords/house-of-lords-information-office/bplist/">Lords Briefing papers</a> </p></li> <li> <p><a href="/web/20120228180937/http://www.parliament.uk/about/how/guides/foreign-language-guides/lords-brief-guide/">Guides to business</a>, including Welsh and foreign language versions </p></li></ul> <h2>Parliamentary Bookshop</h2> <p>The <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120228180937/http://www.bookshop.parliament.uk/">Parliamentary Bookshop</a> provides access to the full range of Parliamentary and related publications as soon as they are available. </p> </div> </div>  </div> </div> <div id="panel"> <div class="local-module">  <h2>Related information</h2>  <div class="local-module-content"> <div class="itemImageWithTitle"> <a id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_ctlRightHandModuleContainer_ctl00_rptLocalModuleItems_ctl00_ctlLocalModuleItem_hypLink"> <strong>Contact the House of Commons Information Office</strong> </a> </div> <div class="itemText">  <div class="rte main-introduction"> <ul> <li><span><font>Telephone: 020 7219 4272<?xml:namespace ?><o:p></o:p></font></span></li> <li><span><font>Email: <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120228180937/mailto:hcinfo@parliament.uk">HCinfo@parliament.uk</a></font></span></li> <li> <div><span></span><span><font>Text phone: dial 18001 followed by 020 7219 4272</font></span></div></li> <li> <div><span><font><a href="/web/20120228180937/http://www.parliament.uk/mps-lords-and-offices/offices/commons/hcio/">House of Commons Information Office</a></font></span></div></li></ul> </div>  </div> <div class="itemImageWithTitle"> <a id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_ctlRightHandModuleContainer_ctl00_rptLocalModuleItems_ctl01_ctlLocalModuleItem_hypLink"> <strong>Publications</strong> </a> </div> <div class="itemText">  <div class="rte main-introduction"> <p>The HCIO produces a number of regular publications that include:</p> </div>  <ul class="square-bullets"> <li id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_ctlRightHandModuleContainer_ctl00_rptLocalModuleItems_ctl01_ctlLocalModuleItem_ctlRelatedLinks_rptRelatedLinks_ctl00_liItem"> <a id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_ctlRightHandModuleContainer_ctl00_rptLocalModuleItems_ctl01_ctlLocalModuleItem_ctlRelatedLinks_rptRelatedLinks_ctl00_hypRelatedLink" href="/web/20120228180937/http://www.parliament.uk/about/how/guides/">Publications</a> </li> <li id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_ctlRightHandModuleContainer_ctl00_rptLocalModuleItems_ctl01_ctlLocalModuleItem_ctlRelatedLinks_rptRelatedLinks_ctl01_liItem"> <a id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_ctlRightHandModuleContainer_ctl00_rptLocalModuleItems_ctl01_ctlLocalModuleItem_ctlRelatedLinks_rptRelatedLinks_ctl01_hypRelatedLink" href="/web/20120228180937/http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/commons/weekly-information-bulletin/">Weekly Information Bulletin</a> </li> <li id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_ctlRightHandModuleContainer_ctl00_rptLocalModuleItems_ctl01_ctlLocalModuleItem_ctlRelatedLinks_rptRelatedLinks_ctl02_liItem"> <a id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_ctlRightHandModuleContainer_ctl00_rptLocalModuleItems_ctl01_ctlLocalModuleItem_ctlRelatedLinks_rptRelatedLinks_ctl02_hypRelatedLink" href="/web/20120228180937/http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/commons/sessional-information-digest/">Sessional Information Digest</a> </li> </ul> </div> <div class="itemImageWithTitle"> <a id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_ctlRightHandModuleContainer_ctl00_rptLocalModuleItems_ctl02_ctlLocalModuleItem_hypLink"> <strong>FAQs</strong> </a> </div> <div class="itemText">  <div class="rte main-introduction"> <p>Can't find what you're looking for?  Read answers to Parliament's most frequently asked questions:</p> <ul> <li><a href="/web/20120228180937/http://www.parliament.uk/about/faqs/house-of-commons-faqs/">House of Commons FAQs</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20120228180937/http://www.parliament.uk/about/faqs/house-of-lords-faqs/">House of Lords FAQs</a></li></ul> </div>  </div> <div class="itemImageWithTitle"> <a id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_ctlRightHandModuleContainer_ctl00_rptLocalModuleItems_ctl03_ctlLocalModuleItem_hypLink"> <strong>Research material</strong> </a> </div> <div class="itemText">  <div class="rte main-introduction"> <p>Read House of Commons Library briefings about topics and issues discussed in Parliament.</p> <ul> <li><a href="/web/20120228180937/http://www.parliament.uk/business/topical-issues/">Topics</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20120228180937/http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/research/">Research publications</a></li></ul> </div>  </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div id="footer"> <p class="marker">Footer links</p> <ul> <li><a id="ctl00_ctl00_ctlGlobalFooter_ctlNavigationLinks_rptLinks_ctl01_hypLink" href="/web/20120228180937/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/azindex/">A-Z index</a></li> <li><a id="ctl00_ctl00_ctlGlobalFooter_ctlNavigationLinks_rptLinks_ctl02_hypLink" href="/web/20120228180937/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/glossary/">Glossary</a></li> <li><a id="ctl00_ctl00_ctlGlobalFooter_ctlNavigationLinks_rptLinks_ctl03_hypLink" href="/web/20120228180937/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/contact-us/">Contact us</a></li> <li><a id="ctl00_ctl00_ctlGlobalFooter_ctlNavigationLinks_rptLinks_ctl04_hypLink" href="/web/20120228180937/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/foi/">Freedom of Information</a></li> <li><a id="ctl00_ctl00_ctlGlobalFooter_ctlNavigationLinks_rptLinks_ctl05_hypLink" href="/web/20120228180937/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/job-opportunities/">Jobs</a></li> <li><a id="ctl00_ctl00_ctlGlobalFooter_ctlNavigationLinks_rptLinks_ctl06_hypLink" href="/web/20120228180937/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/using-this-website/">Using this website</a></li> <li><a id="ctl00_ctl00_ctlGlobalFooter_ctlNavigationLinks_rptLinks_ctl07_hypLink" href="/web/20120228180937/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/copyright/">Copyright</a></li> <li class="last"><a id="ctl00_ctl00_ctlGlobalFooter_ctlNavigationLinks_rptLinks_ctl08_hypLink" href="/web/20120228180937/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/privacy/">Cookies</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> <script type="text/javascript"> //<![CDATA[ Sys.Application.initialize(); //]]> </script> </form> <script type="text/javascript"> /*<![CDATA[*/ var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "https://web.archive.org/web/20120228180937/https://ssl." : "https://web.archive.org/web/20120228180937/http://www."); document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='" + gaJsHost + "google-analytics.com/ga.js' type='text/javascript'%3E%3C/script%3E")); /*]]>*/ </script> <script type="text/javascript"> /*<![CDATA[*/ if(tracking.enabled){ try { var pageTracker = _gat._getTracker(tracking.accountID); pageTracker._setDomainName('.parliament.uk'); pageTracker._trackPageview(); } catch(err){} } /*]]>*/ </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/web/20120228180937js_/http://www.parliament.uk/assets/scripts/lbi_ga.js"></script> </body> </html>

CINXE.COM

Guides to Parliament - UK Parliament