In message <1fco14pvcae1a48f1tuj6h542oqe2khso0@4ax.com>,
stillnobodyhome@gmail.com writes
>On Sat, 03 May 2008 07:39:07 GMT, Mike_B
>wrote:
>
>>In message ,
>>stillnobodyhome@gmail.com writes
>>>I sent a message to my MP recently and this is the response I got .I
>>>had asked him to sign Austin Mitchell's EDM . Turns out he can't as he
>>>is a Parl'y Under Secretary of State for Transport
>>>
>>>"Dear Mr *******
>>>
>>>Many thanks for contacting me on this matter. Although I am unable to
>>>sign EDMs as I am a member of the government I am more than happy to
>>>look into the facts.
>>>
>>>I will get back to you as soon as possible.
>>>
>>>Tom Harris"
>>
>>
>>I thought the failure of government ministers to sign EDMs was a
>>convention rather than a rule. He is surely able to sign it if he chose
>>to.
>
>I found this yesterday when looking for help on that very topic .It
>mentions PPS's but my MP is a Parl'y Under Sec'y of State .
>http://www.parliament.uk/documents/upload/p03.pdf
>
>"Ministers
>Ministers and whips do not normally sign EDMs. Under the Ministerial
>Code, Parliamentary Private
>Secretaries “must not associate themselves with particular groups
>advocating special policies”, and
>they do not normally sign EDMs. Neither the Speaker nor Deputy
>Speakers will sign EDMs. Internal
>party rules may also affect who can sign early day motions."
>
>Stuart
I emailed MY MP, expressing my concern, and asking her to consider
adding her signature to EDM 1155. I subsequently had a letter from her,
dated 25 April, thanking me for bringing it to her attention, and saying
that she will look at this motion to see if it is one she can support.
So far (3 May), I do not see her name among the signatories (now
totalling 191). However, it is heartening to see that such a large
number of MPs have signed the motion (far more than any of the others
listed).
--
Ian |