According to information provided by the Parliamentary website, the cost to record Early Day Motions tabled by MPs costs around £1.5million, plus undisclosed costs to input and store the details electronically.
Our local MP Bob Spink seems to base some of his worth on the number of these motion he has raised.
It is clear the details voiced in these motions sometimes are relevant and important, but the Early day Motion does not seem to have any clout.
The following is from the Parliamentary website about the motions: “Early day motion is a colloquial term for a notice of motion given by a Member for which no date has been fixed for debate.
“They exist to allow Members to put on record their opinion on a subject and canvass support for it from fellow Members.
“In effect, the primary function of an Early Day Motion is to form a kind of petition that MPs can sign and there is very little prospect of these motions being debated on the floor of the House.”
The comment “very little prospect of these being debated” suggests in most cases, other than getting it recorded, they do nothing to change anything.
K Barber
Clinton Road
Canvey
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