Seldom do we stop to ask what is the purpose of Parliament? What are its functions and how does it carry them out? If we do not try and answer these basic questions, Parliament is at risk of failing to focus on its fundamental purposes and functions. The Review of Standing Orders has made...

An address to the Alcohol Advisory Council's “Working Together” conference, delivered on 15 May 2009. The address focuses on the health and injury-related consequences of alcohol consumption, from foetal alcohol disorders to chronic diseases. It argues that the risks associated with alcohol...