PUTNEY'S MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT TONY COLMAN

Last Thursday marked another small step in dragging politics in the UK in to the technological age.As more and more MPs have websites and are contactable via e-mail, it is time our Parliament and the law making process joined in and opened themselves up to proper public scrutiny.

For the first time in Parliamentary history a Pre-legislative Committee will take evidence which will also be web cast - this means anyone with access to the internet can view proceedings live and e-mail back their views on how our laws might be amended. All e-mails will be received by an independent mediator who will feed the contributions through to members of the committee.

All you need to do is go to www.parliamentlive.tv , watch the evidence being given and send a helpful e-mail to the address which will be displayed along the bottom of the screen.

The first pre-legislative scrutiny available on this site was the Communications Bill with evidence being given by the Independent Television Commission.

The Joint Committee has arranged the following public hearings:

• Monday 27 May 6.15 pm
• Monday 10 June 6.15 pm
• Thursday 13 June 10.15 am
• Monday 17 June 6.15 pm
• Thursday 20 June 10.15 am
• Monday 24 June 6.15 pm
• Thursday 27 June 10.15 am
• Thursday 4 July 10.15 am
• Monday 8 July 6.15 pm

Hopefully, more and more proposed legislation will have to pass this public scrutiny, and that input won't just be limited to lobbyists. I really hope this is a project that takes off, and hope you can take part. Please let me know how you find the site and the format, and don't forget to e-mail in your views to the Committee!

To check if I am your MP, please log on to www.locata.co.uk/commons and enter your full postcode.

I have set up a website www.tonycolman.org.uk which I hope you will use and enjoy.

Tony Colman MP
colmant@parliament.uk

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First Putneysw15.com Diary Entry 8.11.2001

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