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  • @ Andy Williamson
    Director of e-Democracy, Hansard Society

    Does the volume of electronic communications that MPs receive negatively impact on their ability to do their job?

    Submitted by: querycat | 26 votes for this..

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    Answered by Andy Williamson

      Our research shows that 46% of MPs think that increased staffing would improve their use of ICT, suggesting that workload is an issue in the office (this was also noted by the House of Commons Information... Show more »

     

    Our research shows that 46% of MPs think that increased staffing would improve their use of ICT, suggesting that workload is an issue in the office (this was also noted by the House of Commons Information Committee as far back as 2002). But the full answer isn’t quite as straightforward as that. The internet clearly also makes it easier for constituents to be in contact with MPs (one to one) and for MPs to keep in touch with constituents (one to many) and this by and large seen as a good thing (87% of MPs think email is a valuable tool and websites are valued by 89%). 

    Where electronic communication is seen as negative is in the difficulty of filtering out communication from non-constituents – comments have been made my MPs that it is too easy to fire off an email to a group of MPs. This obviously happens with letters but is more prevalent with email and social networking. 

    Another way to answer this question is to look at adoption. All but a very small minority of MPs use email, most have a website and a quarter use social networking tools (and the use of the latter is growing rapidly). They use these media because they are seen as beneficial to them doing their job – and, of course, getting re-elected. Yes, it’s true that many see the internet as a tool to promote themselves, their party and what they are doing but part of an MPs role is to be accountable to their electorate. 

    Overall, I think it’s safe to say that the internet increases an MPs workload but it also improves their ability to do their job, providing that they are using it effectively as a two-way communication media and not simply as a publishing tool.

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  • @ Tom Watson MP
    Labour MP for West Bromich East

    As you know, Birmingham has got ambitions to be a hub for the digital media industry but there are a lot of developing countries which have equal ambitions and can compete with Birmingham on cost. So ... Show more »As you know, Birmingham has got ambitions to be a hub for the digital media industry but there are a lot of developing countries which have equal ambitions and can compete with Birmingham on cost. So how can Birmingham address this problem of competitiveness? Show less »

    Submitted by: samwebb2 | 2 votes for this..

    1 comment | Topic: Media | Bookmark and Share

    Answered by Tom Watson MP

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  • @ Tim Loughton
    Dept of Education PUS

    Why di you come down Newtown? You never done nothing for the community. All you're doing is sitting on your MP butt making big money while we are out here without money here and no youth clubs no nothing.... Show more »Why di you come down Newtown? You never done nothing for the community. All you're doing is sitting on your MP butt making big money while we are out here without money here and no youth clubs no nothing.
    How come you come round here bad-mouthing Newtown making it look worse than it is already?  Show less »

    Submitted by: Newtowner | 9 votes for this..

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    Answered by Tim Loughton

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  • @ Jo Swinson
    Lib Dem MP for East Dunbartonshire

    Frings asjed Jo Swinson: You are supporting the Voting Age (Reduction bill), which would lower the voting age in the UK to 16. Stewart Jackson, Tory MP for Peterborough, asks whether you have any evidence... Show more »Frings asjed Jo Swinson: You are supporting the Voting Age (Reduction bill), which would lower the voting age in the UK to 16. Stewart Jackson, Tory MP for Peterborough, asks whether you have any evidence that there is a demand from young people for this reduction. Is there any evidence that the demand is there? Show less »

    Submitted by: Beebadmin | 1 votes for this..

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    Answered by Jo Swinson

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  • @ Tom Watson MP
    Labour MP for West Bromich East

    Do you think that the UK has got the potential to be a world leader in digital media?

    Submitted by: janetvale | 1 votes for this..

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    Answered by Tom Watson MP

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  • @ Mark Oaten
    Former Liberal Democrat MP for Winchester

    Has this experience changed your political ideas/priorities?

    Submitted by: Rachel | 4 votes for this..

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    Answered by Mark Oaten

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  • @ Paul Hudson
    TV weatherman

    Other than yourself, who is your favourite TV weatherperson?

    Submitted by: vietfra | 58 votes for this..

    0 comments | Topic: Media | Bookmark and Share

    Answered by Paul Hudson

     Bob Rust now retired – but the first Yorkshire weatherman who I watched every day

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  • @ Guy Kawasaki
    Internet Entrpreneur and Columnist

    What will the four biggest internet companies be in 10 years time? Will Facebook be one of them?

    Submitted by: sunnyday | 27 votes for this..

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    Answered by Guy Kawasaki

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  • @ Siôn Simon
    Former Labour MP

    Do you agree with Tom Watson's view that proposed copyright legislation does  nothing for the Uk's Digital natives?

    Submitted by: sunnyday | 7 votes for this..

    0 comments | Topic: Media | Bookmark and Share

    Answered by Siôn Simon

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  • @ Austin Mitchell
    Labour MP for Great Grimsby

    You mentioned in the last episode that you think the public don't believe that any MP actually delivers. Do you believe that they deliver? Do you deliver?

    Submitted by: telforth | 4 votes for this..

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    Answered by Austin Mitchell

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