Hi norfolk:
Thanks for the fascinating question.
The term "surgeries", when used in reference to British MPs, is
defined as follows at the official British Parliament site's glossary:
MPs' surgeries
"Most MPs hold a surgery that gives the people in a constituency an
opportunity to meet their MP. Rather like a doctor's surgery,
constituents can turn up at an MP's office to discuss matters that
concern them. An MP can very often take up an issue on a constituent's
behalf. MPs often hold surgeries once or twice a week and advertise
them in the local press and sometimes in the local library."
From: http://www.explore.parliament.uk/search/data.asp?r=174
As you can see, the origin of using the term "surgeries" in respect to
MPs comes from the similarities to doctors' and vets' surgeries - a
set aside time when and place where patients/constituents can bring in
their concerns/questions.
Dictionary.com defines "surgeries" as:
*********************
Chiefly British.
* A physician's, dentist's, or veterinarian's office.
* The period during which a physician, dentist, or veterinarian
consults
with or treats patients in the office.
*********************
From: http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=surgery
Here's a couple of examples of this term in use.
Patsy Calton MP - Surgery Diary
http://www.gdroberts.btinternet.co.uk/other/contactsurgerydiary.html
Eric Martlew M.P. - Surgery Details
http://www.apqw01.dsl.pipex.com/eric/surgery.htm
I hope that this information has been of help in your search.
If you need any clarification of the information I have provided,
please ask using the Clarification feature and provide me with
additional details as to what you are looking for. As well, please
allow me to provide you with clarification(s) *before* you rate this
answer.
Thank you.
websearcher-ga
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