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Specification:

• Edexcel: Component 2.3: The legislative process

• AQA: Component 3.1.1.2: The structure and role of Parliament: parliamentary debate and the legislative process

Background: what you need to know

This article covers the recall of Parliament from recess (leave) on Saturday 12 April — the first time that this has happened since the 1982 Falklands conflict. The purpose was to give the government powers to prevent the imminent closure of Scunthorpe steelworks.

Steel is regarded as a strategically important industry, and there was a real threat that the Chinese company which owns the plant would have shut it down. The bill for this purpose completed its passage through both Houses of Parliament in just one day, which is highly unusual, but possible in a crisis.

Click the link below to read the article and then answer the questions:

British Steel’s nationalisation is a ‘likely option’, says business secretary

Question in the style of AQA Politics Paper 2

• ‘The Executive has more or less complete control over Parliament.’ Analyse and evaluate this statement. In your answer you should draw on material from across the whole range of your course of study in Politics. [25 marks]

Question in the style of Edexcel Politics Paper 2

• Evaluate the view that the Executive in effect controls Parliament.?In your answer you should draw on relevant knowledge and understanding of the study of Component 1: UK politics and core political ideas.?You must consider this view and the alternative to this view in a balanced way. [30 marks]?

  TIP: The passing of a major government bill in less than 24 hours with cross-party support is exceptional. The Labour government currently has a majority of 166 and this is an emergency situation where opposition parties cannot be seen to be playing politics. Bear in mind, however, that control of Parliament is much less effective if the government has a small or no majority, and if MPs are more divided, as was the case for example with Theresa May in 2017-19.

Graham Goodlad, Portsmouth High School