The Year 10 students have been using the British Parliamentary Debate style for their competitions. So, they decided that we should go and see a real debate! Grace wrote to our MP Richard Bacon who was more than happy to grant us an audience and organise tickets to view a House of Commons debate. On Thursday 14th May after a train journey reading the morning's papers about MPs expenses claims, swine flu and, of course, Jordan and Peter we arrived in London. Richard Bacon answered questions from the students on Iraqi Interpreters and Ghurkha's rights in the UK, treatment of stroke patients in the N&N, family support for autism, policing levels in rural Norfolk and of course, MPs expenses claims. It was two hours to really get to know our local MP and his priorites in Norfolk. After a brief tour of parliament and lunch we were given seat in the Houses of Commons to watch the Minister for Health being questioned on Swine Flu. We heard from a range of MPs; their concerns were about workers at Heathrow airport, access to hand washing facilities in London train stations and adopting the new American system of non school closure for infected areas. It was a thoroughly enjoyable and eye-opening day. The trip home had the students criticising the MPs styles, contemplating future careers in parliament and discussing how they would deal with the key issues of the day. Many thanks to our MP for helping to organise the day.
To read a student account of the day please click on the link to Talitha's report.
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