Part of Petition – in the House of Commons at 7:29 pm on 15 January 2007.
Jeremy Browne
Opposition Whip (Commons), Shadow Minister (Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs)
7:29,
15 January 2007
I wish to present a petition about post offices. The Post Office network makes a major contribution to urban and rural communities in my Taunton Constituency, and it is particularly valued by people without transport, so closures have a particularly detrimental effect on people who live in the surrounding area and on local businesses. The petition states:
To the House of Commons
The Petition of the residents of the Taunton constituency and others
Declares that the post office network in Taunton Deane provides a vital service which is now threatened by Government proposals.
The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to save the local network of post offices across Taunton Deane.
And the petitioners remain, etc.
To lie upon the Table.
The House of Commons is one of the houses of parliament. Here, elected MPs (elected by the "commons", i.e. the people) debate. In modern times, nearly all power resides in this house. In the commons are 650 MPs, as well as a speaker and three deputy speakers.
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
