• 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)
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• Voting record
• Committees and topics of interest
• Recent appearances
• Numerology
• Register of Members' Interests
• Expenses
• Early Day Motions signed by this MP (From edm.ais.co.uk)

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.

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)

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.”

More of David Laws's recent appearances

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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?)

Nil

Register last updated: 23 Apr 2008. More about the Register

View the history of this MP's entries in the Register

Figures in brackets are ranks. Parliament's explanatory notes.

^* Car £6,308 (59th). Rail £551 (466th).