Local Basingstoke MP Maria Miller joined school pupils and Borough Councillors at a Parliament Week debating event held at the Basingstoke Council Offices.
Maria said “Parliament is there to debate and scrutinise the Government’s proposed new laws. We discuss issues and listen to each others views, in a way thats not always represented through media coverage of events like Prime Ministers Question Time which is just 30 mins of the proceedings of the House each week.
“Listening to each others views and finding a way forward is an essential part of the way our democracy works. Democracy is the linchpin that holds our community and country together, but it only works if we listen and take the majority view”.
Talking to the 60 pupils present Maria talked about representative democracy using the experience Basingstoke pupils have of School Councils. Maria said, “Like a school council member, MPs are voted in, for us at a General Election. As an MP you represent a whole community rather than a class. Working together with Borough Councillors, County Councillors, and listening to residents I am able to take ideas back to Parliament to make our community a better place to live and work”.
Pupils attending Aldworth School, South View Junior school, Park View Primary school, St Anne’s catholic primary school, Marnel Junior school, Winklebury Junior school, Bishop Challoner school and Ashwood school all came together for the debating event and asked questions to the panel on environmental issues including how we should encourage people not to use their cars and encouraging people to stop smoking.
Questions were also asked about the steps that are being taken to improve recycling in Basingstoke and whether there will be more parks in Basingstoke. The schools then went on to debate whether school uniforms should continue…
