Binge Drinking

Part of Oral Answers to Questions — Home Office – in the House of Commons at 2:30 pm on 31 January 2005.

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Photo of Hazel Blears Hazel Blears Minister of State (Home Office) (Policing, Security and Community Safety), Member, Labour Party National Executive Committee 2:30, 31 January 2005

I visited my hon. Friend's Constituency while he was seeking election. As a result of his excellent activity in the constituency, he is now a fine Member of Parliament representing the good people of Hartlepool. I am delighted that clubs in his area are taking a more responsible attitude to drinking. When I visited Hartlepool, one of the pubs had an "All you can drink for £8" promotion, but I hope that we have seen the last of that. There is more that we can do to work with schools to educate young people about the damage that alcohol can do to them, but many pubs and clubs now recognise that it is good business to run premises in which there is good order and where people can have an excellent night out without getting involved in crime, disorder and binge drinking. I encourage the clubs in his area to adopt the best practice that he has highlighted today.

Member of Parliament

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.

constituency

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