Book Description

This report looks at improving visitor's access to Parliament, and assesses what the focus of Parliament's visitor services should be and who should be the main target audience. The report sets out options for varying scales of visitor facilities and what kind of facilities should be provided, and what proposals for change are required. One part of the strategy is to improve public engagement with Parliament with an upgrade of the Parliamentary website. Also an upgrade of the new visitor route through the Visitor Reception Building and Westminster Hall, along with a better welcome for visitors. Further, initiatives to explain the work of the select committees to the media, along with outreach programmes to schools and the wider public. The Committee is sceptical of the value for money of a full-scale visitor centre, and states that existing strategies, such as improved educational facilities about Parliament and its' working would provide better engagement with the public. School trips to Parliament would be the best means of communicating the work and history of the institution. The Committee recommends improved facilities for the Parliamentary Education Service.