IMPORTANT: Alan Beith was a Candidate for Speaker.
mySociety asked likely candidates for the post of Speaker to endorse the following principles.
The three principles are:
- Voters have the right to know in detail about the money that is spent to support MPs and run Parliament, and in similar detail how the decisions to spend that money are settled upon.
- Bills being considered must be published online in a much better way than they are now, as the Free Our Bills campaign has been suggesting for some time.
- The Internet is not a threat to a renewal in our democracy, it is one of its best hopes. Parliament should appoint a senior officer with direct working experience of the power of the Internet who reports directly to the Speaker, and who will help Parliament adapt to a new era of transparency and effectiveness.
Update: Alan Beith MP replied in 3 days. He endorses the principles. Here's the reply in full:
"Thank you for your email of 21 May 2009. Sir Alan has asked me to let you know that he fully endorses the three principles set out in your email."
This data was produced by TheyWorkForYou from a variety of sources.
Alan Beith
Liberal Democrat MP for Berwick-upon-Tweed
- Entered Parliament on 8 November 1973 — unknown
- Majority: 8,632 votes. — 201st out of 643 MPs.
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- Help us add video by matching a speech by Alan Beith
- Voting record
- Committees and topics of interest
- Most recent appearances
- Numerology
- Register of Members’ Interests
- Expenses
- Early Day Motions signed by this MP (From edmi.parliament.uk)
Voting record (from PublicWhip)
How Alan Beith voted on key issues since 2001:
- Voted moderately for a transparent Parliament. votes, speeches
- Voted moderately for introducing a smoking ban. votes, speeches
- Voted very strongly against introducing ID cards. votes, speeches
- Voted very strongly against introducing foundation hospitals. votes, speeches
- Voted strongly against introducing student top-up fees. votes, speeches
- Voted very strongly against Labour's anti-terrorism laws. votes, speeches
- Voted very strongly against the Iraq war. votes, speeches
- Voted strongly for an investigation into the Iraq war. votes, speeches
- Voted very strongly against replacing Trident. votes, speeches
- Voted very strongly against the hunting ban. votes, speeches
- Voted moderately for equal gay rights. votes, speeches
- Voted very strongly for laws to stop climate change. votes, speeches
Read about how the voting record is decided.
More on well-known issues (from the Guardian) & their full record
- Occasionally rebels against their party in this parliament.
Committees and topics of interest
Select Committee membership
- Member, Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission (since 3 Dec 2008)
- Chairman, Justice Committee (since 15 Nov 2007)
- Member, Liaison Committee (since 1 Nov 2005)
Asks most questions about
- Departments: Environment Food and Rural Affairs, Health, Trade and Industry, Education and Skills, Home Department
- Subjects (based on headings added by Hansard): Unpaid Advisers, Correspondence, Parliamentary Advisers, Project Sponsorship, Departmental Report
(based on written questions asked by Alan Beith and answered by departments)
Public Bill Committees (sittings attended)
- Hunting Bill Committee (14 out of n/a)
Most recent appearances
- Bill Presented — Sustainable Energy (Local Plans) Bill: National Express East Coast Franchise (1 Jul 2009) has video
“Does the Minister not recognise that the bidding process has produced two defaulting operators on this line? If he looks for the level of premiums that he has had from it in the past he will drive away not only passengers, because of high fares, but future bidders for the franchise.”
- Bill Presented — Sustainable Energy (Local Plans) Bill: Clause 14 — Short title and commencement (1 Jul 2009)
“While my hon. Friend is offering thanks, I wonder whether he will allow me to encourage him to thank the two Committees that have contributed to these debates, and the Members and staff who have made that possible.”
- Bill Presented — Sustainable Energy (Local Plans) Bill: Clause 7 — Investigations (1 Jul 2009)
“The Lord Chancellor should keep in mind the advice of Speaker's Counsel, which was that the law on corruption in this country does not require a person to prove that a corrupt design was carried out, but to show only that it was entered into. Such a demonstration does not require the consideration of proceedings in the House.”
More of Alan Beith's recent appearances
Numerology
Please note that numbers do not measure quality. Also, representatives may do other things not currently covered by this site. (More about this)
- Has spoken in 58 debates in the last year — well above average amongst MPs.
- Has received answers to 19 written questions in the last year — average amongst MPs.
- Is a member of 3 select committees (1 as chair).
- Replied within 2 or 3 weeks to a high number of messages sent via WriteToThem.com during 2007, according to constituents.
- Has voted in 72% of votes in parliament with this affiliation — average amongst MPs. (From Public Whip)
- People have made 6 annotations on this MP’s speeches — average amongst MPs.
- This MP's speeches, in Hansard, are readable by an average 19–20 year old, going by the Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level score.
- 65 people are tracking whenever this MP speaks — email me whenever Alan Beith speaks.
- Has used three-word alliterative phrases (e.g. "she sells seashells") 1939 times in debates — well above average amongst MPs. (Why is this here?)
Register of Members' Interests
Register last updated: 24 Jun 2009. More about the Register
View the history of this MP's entries in the Register
Expenses
Figures in brackets are ranks. Data from parliament.uk (source). Read 2004/05 – 2007/08 receipts.
| Type | 2007/08 (ranking out of 645) | 2006/07 (ranking out of 645) | 2005/06 | 2004/05 (ranking out of 659) | 2003/04 (ranking out of 658) | 2002/03 (ranking out of 657) | 2001/02 (ranking out of 657) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Additional Costs Allowance | £17,686 (446th) | £22,110 (joint 1st) | £15,674 | £12,595 (536th) | £12,637 (526th) | £19,719 (249th) | £17,329 (79th) |
| London Supplement | £0 | £0 | £0 | £0 | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Incidental Expenses Provision | £13,491 (503rd) | £18,730 (443rd) | £26,706 | £18,631 (295th) | £18,799 (joint 13th) | £16,907 (482nd) | £20,525 (151st) |
| Staffing Allowance | £85,593 (394th) | £81,048 (421st) | £64,330 | £65,969 (526th) | £63,436 (533rd) | £65,745 (177th) | £44,222 (396th) |
| Communications Allowance | £12,638 (46th) | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Members' Travel | £11,353 (166th)* | £9,417 (248th)** | £10,804 | £14,536 (156th) | £13,372 (200th) | £14,438 (161st) | £11,429 (154th) |
| Members' Staff Travel | £2,349 (15th) | £1,298 (87th) | £2,851 | £799 (joint 217th) | £1,553 (95th) | £1,700 (72nd) | £1,706 (joint 56th) |
| Members' Spouse Travel | £742 (156th) | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Members' Family Travel | £0 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Centrally Purchased Stationery | £645 (398th) | £818 (358th) | £571 | £523 (joint 491st) | £545 (488th) | £964 (354th) | £729 (440th) |
| Stationery: Associated Postage Costs | £3,040 (232nd) | £1,386 (523rd) | £2,288 | £2,667 (309th) | £1,807 (449th) | N/A | N/A |
| Centrally Provided Computer Equipment | £1,307 (joint 175th) | £1,365 (26th) | £0 | £1,717 (507th) | £1,717 (498th) | £1,475 (552nd) | £1,475 (479th) |
| Other Costs | £3,719 (39th) | £0 | £0 | £0 | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Total | £152,563 (228th) | £136,172 (357th) | £123,224 | £117,437 (455th) | £113,866 (446th) | £120,948 (145th) | £97,415 (126th) |
* Regular journeys between home/constituency/Westminster: Mileage £2,916 (301st). Rail £7,976 (86th). Air £350 (131st). Misc £111 (151st).
** Car £2,337 (385th). Rail £6,280 (119th). Air £800 (124th).