EDMs should be abolished

Given all recent controversy over Speaker Martin's refusal to reveal the expenses of Members of Parliament, it's only fair to give credit where credit's due and praise the Commons authorities for the publication of the costs associated with at least one aspect of Parliamentary business: Early Day Motions.

According to House of Commons Factsheet P3 published in February 2008, "the printing and publication costs associated with Early Day Motions in financial year 2005/06 were approximately £627,000" exclusive of the costs of "editorial preparation and control and electronic publication".

So, do we get value for money?  Judge for yourself.  Here are some of my 'favourite' EDM's tabled by Members of Parliament during this session of Parliament:

• Praise for Cornwall's Patron Saint, St Piran
• A celebration of Bruce Forsyth's contributions to broadcasting
• The need for YouTube to be "socially responsible"
• The failure of Oystercard machines to recognise Scottish banknotes
• The definition of a pint of beer
• The achievements of a Department Store in Colchester
• The work of Dolly Parton
• The 'Year of the Potato'

By my calculations, £627,000 is enough money to pay the annual salaries of 32 newly-qualified nurses, 31 trainee teachers and 20 junior doctors.

EDMs are expensive, wasteful and have potential to turn Parliament into a laughing stock.  They should be abolished.

Comments

[Malcolm Dunn]

I don't think you quite appreciate Dan the importance to the wellbeing of the world of the work of Dolly Parton.I can think of few subjects more deserving of serious thought.
I quite like potatoes too.

[Steve R]

Totally agree. Someone should stop Rozza from generating the most stupid EDMs on dogs homes, flowers, tea towels, and other nonsence. He's a complete disgrace. He churns out scores of these every year, and the rest of us have to pay for it.

[Oli]

On the other hand, they do give us the ideal opportunity to highlight the ridiculous positions of certain Labour MPs- the EDM beginning 'this House commends the achievements of Fidel Castro' springs to mind...

[CCHQ Spy]

I like them and think we should spend more time analysing which MPs sign up to which EDMs. They are away of holding our MPs accountable. Putting them exclusively online might make them cheaper however.

[Doug]

I am very serious when I say the definition of a pint of beer is important. The combined amount that publicans short change us is £481 million a year according to CAMRA. The industry itself reports that it sells more pints than it buys from the breweries. Just apply that to any other consumable where customers expect to get what they paid for and it's a scandal.

Regarding the Castro EDM there should have been an opposing one highlighting Diane Abbott's remarks on This Week praising Mao.

[Justin hinchcliffe]

Totally agree. I, too, wish Andrew wouldn't do it. The three Tory MPs who sign every EDM going are Pelling (before he was given the boot, Spink (ditto) Penning and Bottomley.

Hats off to Thanet North’s Roger Gale who refuses to sign them as a matter of principle.

[Patrick Ratnaraja]

"By my calculations, £627,000 is enough money to pay the annual salaries of 32 newly-qualified nurses, 31 trainee teachers and 20 junior doctors."

Getting rid of all members of Parliament will probably pay for 1000 nurses.

EDMs are there for a reason.

[Steve R]

Somev recent Rosindell EDMs:
DOGS IN CHINA
BEARS IN CHINA
WAITANGI DAY (NEW ZEALAND DAY)
CELEBRATION OF ST PATRICK'S DAY IN MONTSERRAT
DAIRY COUNCIL'S ANNUAL CEREMONY OF THE CHRISTMAS CHEESES

What a load of rubbish.

[Buck Fush]

This puerile nonsense. Think how many nurses could have been employed if we had not invaded Iraq and Afghanistan! Where does the Editor get these idiotic pimply youths?

[Yet Another Anon]

EDMs are only as good as the MPs proposing them, they can give an indication of support.

Although it might seem a good idea to abandon EDMs surely the likliehood is that deprived of such a way of testing opinion, MPs would instead attempt to do so through debates and votes on debates on the floor of the House of Commons - disruping the business of the house and probably costing more than the EDMs do?

[Serf]

Why do you think the money would be spent on nurses?

Under this government, that money would be spent on Organic Real Nappy Recycling Facilitators.

[Concerned Tory]

I agree with Steve R that Rosindell's EDM's are a complete waste of taxpayers money. I do however like EDMs but I think that useless ones about goats, hot cross buns and other rubbish should be stopped.