Part of Oral Answers to Questions — Duchy of Lancaster – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 25 November 1991.
Mr Chris Patten
, Bath
12:00,
25 November 1991
My hon. Friend is, of course, right. Any Constituency represented by a Member of Parliament as diligent as she would also be very fortunate.
A Member of Parliament (MP) is elected by a particular area or constituency in Britain to represent them in the House of Commons. MPs divide their time between their constituency and the Houses of Parliament in London. Once elected it is an MP's job to represent all the people in his or her constituency. An MP can ask Government Ministers questions, speak about issues in the House of Commons and consider and propose new laws.
In a general election, each Constituency chooses an MP to represent them. MPs have a responsibility to represnt the views of the Constituency in the House of Commons. There are 650 Constituencies, and thus 650 MPs. A citizen of a Constituency is known as a Constituent
