This data was produced by TheyWorkForYou from a variety of sources.
David Laws MP

- Liberal Democrat MP for Yeovil
- Shadow Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, Children, Schools and Families (since 4 Jul 2007)
- Entered Parliament on 7 June 2001 — General election
- Majority: 8,562 votes. — 334th out of 635 MPs.
- Send a message to your MP (via WriteToThem.com)
- Sign up to HearFromYourMP to get messages from your MP
- Email me whenever David Laws speaks (no more than once per day)
Voting record (from PublicWhip)
How David Laws voted on key issues since 2001:
- Has never voted on a transparent Parliament. votes, speeches
- Voted moderately against introducing a smoking ban. votes, speeches
- Voted moderately against introducing ID cards. votes, speeches
- Voted strongly against introducing foundation hospitals. votes, speeches
- Voted strongly against introducing student top-up fees. votes, speeches
- Voted strongly against Labour's anti-terrorism laws. votes, speeches
- Voted very strongly against the Iraq war. votes, speeches
- Voted very strongly for an investigation into the Iraq war. votes, speeches
- Voted very strongly against replacing Trident. votes, speeches
- Voted strongly for the hunting ban. votes, speeches
- Voted moderately for equal gay rights. votes, speeches
Read about how the voting record is decided.
More on well-known issues (from the Guardian) & their full record
- Hardly ever rebels against their party in this parliament.
Committees and topics of interest
Asks most questions about
- Departments: Treasury, Work and Pensions, Children, Schools and Families, Health, Education and Skills
- Subjects (based on headings added by Hansard): Tax Credits, Pensions, Child Support Agency, Parliamentary Questions, Euro
(based on written questions asked by David Laws and answered by departments)
Most recent appearances in parliament
- Written Answers — Children, Schools and Families: Children (9 May 2008)
“To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what his estimate is of the proportion of children living with both parents in each local authority area.”
- Written Answers — Children, Schools and Families: Pupils: English Language (9 May 2008)
“To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families (1) what additional support is provided for schools with large numbers of children who have English as a second language; and if he will make a statement; (2) what additional funding is made available to (a) primary schools and (b) secondary schools in respect of each pupil who has English as a second language; what the...”
- Written Answers — Children, Schools and Families: Pupils: English Language (9 May 2008)
“To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what guidance his Department provides to (a) local authorities and (b) schools on the entering for key stage tests of pupils with English as a second language who arrive in England and are enrolled in school shortly before the test date; and if he will make a statement.”
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 19 debates in the last year — below average amongst MPs.
- Has received answers to 1341 written questions in the last year — well above average amongst MPs.
- Replied within 2 or 3 weeks to a very high number of messages sent via WriteToThem.com during 2007, according to constituents.
- Has voted in 68% of votes in parliament — below average amongst MPs. (From Public Whip)
- People have made 3 comments on this MP's speeches — below average amongst MPs.
- This MP's speeches are understandable to an average 19–20 year old, going by the Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level score.
- 49 people are tracking whenever this MP speaks — email me whenever David Laws speaks.
- Has used three-word alliterative phrases (e.g. "she sells seashells") 326 times in debates — well above average amongst MPs. (Why is this here?)
Register of Members' Interests
Nil
Register last updated: 23 Apr 2008. More about the Register
Expenses
Figures in brackets are ranks. Parliament's explanatory notes.
| Type | 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 | £21,065 (344th) | £18,887 | £16,870 (435th) | £13,321 (512th) | £18,459 (396th) | £16,449 (123rd) |
| London Supplement | £0 | £0 | £0 | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Incidental Expenses Provision | £25,795 (79th) | £23,999 | £19,273 (joint 167th) | £18,784 (joint 262nd) | £18,228 (joint 213th) | £20,282 (158th) |
| Staffing Allowance | £81,920 (401st) | £80,068 | £70,378 (321st) | £68,023 (joint 228th) | £65,591 (233rd) | £52,721 (107th) |
| Members' Travel | £6,859 (350th)* | £7,585 | £13,308 (204th) | £10,929 (289th) | £12,811 (207th) | £7,467 (349th) |
| Members' Staff Travel | £230 (joint 313th) | £150 | £347 (314th) | £158 (383rd) | £242 (joint 359th) | £395 (276th) |
| Centrally Purchased Stationery | £1,451 (170th) | £1,334 | £1,235 (joint 221st) | £2,068 (58th) | £1,835 (107th) | £2,080 (65th) |
| Stationery: Associated Postage Costs | £8,325 (53rd) | £6,887 | £6,415 (91st) | £13,694 (10th) | N/A | N/A |
| Centrally Provided Computer Equipment | £1,125 (joint 205th) | £0 | £1,945 (joint 204th) | £1,945 (joint 199th) | £1,945 (joint 196th) | £1,945 (joint 186th) |
| Other Costs | £0 | £0 | £0 | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Total | £146,770 (141st) | £138,910 | £129,771 (198th) | £128,922 (136th) | £119,111 (191st) | £101,339 (75th) |
