Inevitably, whilst Parliament is in session MPs have to spend most weekdays at Westminster leaving Fridays and weekends for work in the constituency visiting residents, schools, businesses, hospitals and a variety of local organisations and interests.
Tim is always keen to use constituency days to visit as many as people as possible whilst constituents are always welcome to come and visit the Houses of Parliament either to lobby MPs or join a tour of the Palace, usually in an organised group. Local schools are particularly welcome to visit and there is a special House of Commons Education unit which tailors special programmes for visiting school parties, usually in the Autumn term.
See this link for information on the UK Parliament's education website
As an ordinary Member of Parliament and as a Shadow Minister Tim has essentially three roles in Parliament:
- To take up issues and problems on behalf of constituents and make sure the people of East Worthing & Shoreham are getting a fair deal
- To participate in debates, deal with Parliamentary lobby groups and interests, sit on committees scrutinizing legislation and table questions, and generally hold the Government to account.
- As a Conservative front bencher to challenge Government policies and develop alternatives to offer the electorate at the next election. Tim is a Shadow Health Minister with responsibilities for Mental Health, Children's Health and Social Services amongst others, and in November 2003 he was appointed shadow Minister for Children as well
Much of Tim's time is therefore spent in meetings at Westminster away from the cameras and the chamber itself. The often unseen work in Committee where literally every line of a Bill will be scrutized is one of the most important jobs of a Member of Parliament and must take priority. Recently Tim has led for the Conservatives on the Adoption & Children Bill and on the Tobacco Advertising Bill. he also has one of the best records amongst MPs of all parties for the amount of questions he has tabled to Ministers on a wide range of subjects.
Every word which is spoken in Parliament is recorded by Hansard. Records of debates since 1993 are available on the Parliamentary website and speeches from debates are usually available on the web by noon of the following working day.
At the end of May 2005, Tim Loughton MP together with Shadow Secretary of State for Health, Andrew Lansley MP, launched the Conservative alternative Mental Health Bill, making the case for compassion, not co-ercion in the treatment of mental illness. The recommendations include:
- Setting narrower and more appropriate criteria for compulsion.
- Separating self-harm from harm to others as conditions for compulsion.
- Promoting the healthcare aspects of mental health legislation.
- Safeguards for patients, with realistic staffing implications.
- Policies in proportion to the size of the problem.
- Promoting culturally competent care.
- Reducing stigma and social exclusion.
Andew Lansley said: “We will continue to work with the Mental Health Alliance to oppose the Government’s wholly unacceptable and coercive legislative proposals. Our alternatives show that it is possible to bring about reform of mental health laws, and get the backing of the vast majority of people involved in the mental health community.”
