Mark Francois, MP for Rayleigh and Wickford, recently welcomed Hockley Primary School to the Palace of Westminster, where they were taken on an extensive tour of the building, before making the most of their opportunity to grill Mark on his role as an MP.
100 staff and pupils from the school were split into five groups before being collected by their tour guides to begin their journey around Parliament. The tour began in Westminster Hall, where preparations are currently underway to install the stained glass window which was presented to the Queen as a gift from MPs and Peers to mark her Diamond Jubilee.
The tour then took in various landmarks around the estate, such as Central Lobby, which connects the two chambers, the House of Lords and the Royal Gallery, and the Chamber of the House of Commons. Following completion of the tour, the children were taken into a meeting room in Portcullis House overlooking the Thames and the London Eye, where they were met by their local MP. Mark was able to spend time with the pupils, explaining what goes on in Parliament, as well as answering questions on his role as a constituency MP.
Commenting on the visit, Mark Francois said:
“It was a pleasure to welcome so many pupils from Hockley Primary School to Westminster, as I think encouraging schools to visit the Palace and take an early interest in our democratic system it is an important aspect of being an MP. I am always pleased to meet with pupils and answer their questions, especially when they are as eager and polite as those from Hockley Primary. I do hope all of the children enjoyed their visit to Parliament and also to the Imperial War Museum in the afternoon.”