Justin Tomlinson MP today visited St Mary’s RC Primary School in Rodbourne Cheney to talk to the pupils about the role of an MP and to help them pass their very own Bill into law.
Justin talked about the campaigns he has been pushing in Parliament – financial education, young entrepreneurs, school libraries and school sports – getting the pupils to vote for their favourite. More sport in schools was the clear favourite and together, the school set about putting a Bill calling for more school sport into law.
The pupils split in half, with a small group of 9 sitting at the front. These 9 took on the role of Select Committee, putting forward their view on the idea of more sport in schools as if they had interviewed sports stars and teachers. Having been approved by Select Committee, the Bill passed (via the Head Boy who played the role of Clerk) to the House of Commons, where more sport was approved unanimously. The Bill, however, encountered difficulties in the House of Lords where the pupils decided that how much extra sport needed to be specified. After a lot of too-ing and fro-ing between the student Commons and Lords, the Commons had no choice but to vote to overrule the Lords who were enjoying their blocking power a little too much! The Bill was then taken to the Head Girl, who played the role of Queen, who gave it the St Mary’s Royal Assent.
Justin Tomlinson MP said “The hands on law making process was really good fun. The children were really getting into their respective roles, with the Lords enjoying their power to say no to the Commons, and the Commons enjoying the ability to overrule. It really brought alive how Parliament works and the excitement showed how much the pupils enjoyed it.
“They then asked some extremely good and tricky questions, I was very impressed by how much they knew about how Parliament and the judicial system worked.”