Parliament

MANY people form their view of what Parliament is like based on Prime Minister's Question Time but apart from that half-hour what goes on is serious, but often dull.

Every Bill after being debated goes to a Bill Committee where they are considered in detail and when it's a subject as dry as the accounting procedures of local councils, important though it is, is not something to get the adrenaline flowing. During the last week I've attended four sessions, with six more to come on the Local Audit & Accountability Bill. At one point a group of students arrived and stayed for 20 minutes. The same person was speaking for the whole time, not electrifying but it showed the grind of the process.

I have written before about what a pleasure it is to meet constituents who visit Westminster.

A couple of weeks ago I met Abigail Heywood, a Franklin College student who had been invited to become a Leader in the National Citizens Service (NCS) and attend a reception in the Houses of Parliament.

When Abigail wrote to me she said she went on NCS with Grimsby Town FC – a life changing social programme. She helped with maintenance and made up 'veg boxes', cleared a waste area in Cleethorpes, ran a sports and crafts workshop at Nunsthorpe School and helped out at the Firemens' Fete. It was a pleasure to meet her. Full details of the scheme are at https://www.gov.uk/government/get-involved/take-part/national-citizen- service

If any reader would like to take a Westminster tour all that is necessary is to contact your MP's office.

Despite the Election being 18 months away the rhythm of politics is now entering its pre-election phase.

The fixed-term Parliaments Act means we now know the date of the Election (May 7, 2015). It's interesting that the Labour Party has started to make some policy announcements. For the opposition party this is difficult – do you wait or show your hand early on? What's interesting is that Labour acknowledged there will be difficult spending decisions but still refuse to apologise for the mess they left behind.

The main announcement was the energy price freeze. The natural inclination is to take it; but would you if it meant higher increases before and after? And what if the freeze is introduced when prices are falling? The allegation is that the "Big 6" are manipulating the market. All of us may be inclined to that view but before any government can act they must have evidence. The Energy Bill gives Ofgem greater powers to investigate.