Rayleigh and Wickford MP, Mark Francois, recently welcomed Hawkwell Village U3A on their visit to the Palace of Westminster, where they were given the opportunity to take a guided tour of the famous building, before meeting their local MP.
The group were met in Westminster Hall by their guides, before embarking on an extensive tour of the Houses of Parliament, which included viewing the chambers in both the House of Lords and the House of Commons, the Royal Gallery, the Queen’s Robing Room and the Voting Lobbies, as well as discussions on the history and architecture of what is one of the most recognised buildings in the world.
Following the tour, Mark met the group in Westminster Hall for a question and answer session, where he was able to explain a little more about the iconic building as well as answering questions from the group about his role as both a local MP and his new role as a Minister of State in the Department for Communities and Local Government. Mark then distributed certificates for each visitor to help commemorate their trip.
Commenting on the visit, Mark said:
"It was a pleasure to welcome Hawkwell Village U3A to Westminster recently. I think it is important for people to take the opportunity to come and visit Parliament to learn a more about what goes on in Westminster and better understand the democratic process, particularly in light of the recent General Election which I think generated a lot of interest among the general public. I hope the group enjoyed their tour and I look forward to keeping in touch in the future."