Parliamentary links

Westminster | Scotland | Wales | Europe

Westminster

• UK Parliament website
  Everything you need to know about the UK Houses of Commons and Lords, in an easy-to use website with minimal graphics on a fast server — a very useful resource. It’s a pity the designers of the government websites didn’t follow the excellent example set by this one!
• Parliamentary proceedings
  Hansard (the record of proceedings) used to be available only in libraries, or by order at great cost … but now you can read and search it on-line. Hansard for both Commons and Lords is updated daily.
• Members of Parliament
  If you want to know who is the MP for a particular constituency, what responsibilities they hold, or anything else about MPs, this is the first place to look. It also includes regularly update lists of MPs’ responsibilities, lists of government ministers etc, arranged in several different ways.

Scotland

Citizens of Scotland no longer have to wait for Westminster to finally resolve the big issues of trans rights: they have their own parliament, with many of the necessary legislative powers.  But will it act?

• The Scottish Parliament
  The official website of the Scottish Parliament, includes minutes of proceedings and the Official Report.
• The Scotland Act
  Want to know what powers the Scottish Parliament actually has? The Scotland Act, which established the parliament, is the definitive source on what the parliament can and can’t do.  Beware — it’s a long read!

Wales

• The National Assembly for Wales
  The Welsh Assembly doesn’t have powers to enact legislation … but it has an important role in overseeing government activity in Wales, including such a critical matters for trans people such as the NHS.  Crucially, it also has a powerful equal opportunities committee … which we hope will pay due attention to protecting the rights of trans people. The Assembly’s website includes a record of proceedings, though the site’s design is sadly over-complex and inaccessible.
• The Government of Wales Act
  Want to know what powers the assembly actually has? The Government of Wales Act, which established the assembly, is the definitive source on what the parliament can and can’t do.  Beware — it’s a long read!

European parliament

• The European Parliament
  The EP’s website has a lot of detailed information on the parliament’s structure, membership and proceedings.  It’s easy to overlook the European Parliament … but don’t forget that its list of powers are growing, and that the UK’s poor treatment of its trans citizens looks increasingly out-of-place in a Europe where standards are being harmonised.
• Members of the European Parliament
  The parliament’s own list of members, searchable under several categories.