The Commons Library has published a new research briefing looking at the results of the local elections that took place in England on 6 May 2021.
You can find it here: https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-9228/
Author: W4MP Editor
New Wellbeing Hub for Members’ Staff
StandardThe Wellness Working Group has launched a new Wellbeing Hub for Members’ Staff.
This is a dedicated space created by MPs’ staff for MPs’ staff; they know just how difficult this job can be and the importance of taking time to look after yourself. They have gathered all resources to support you on this site.
The Wellness Working Group is a cross party group of members staff that aims to place a greater focus on mental health and increase support for members staff wellbeing.
Please visit the Wellbeing Hub for Members’ Staff here: https://hopuk.sharepoint.com/sites/hct-wellbeinghub
There will be a tour of the new Wellbeing Hub at 3pm on Wednesday 12 May 2021. Please click here for details of how to join: https://hopuk.sharepoint.com/sites/hct-wellbeinghub/_layouts/15/Event.aspx?ListGuid=391ff5e9-e147-4629-996a-5998ff65a95a&ItemId=3
The Public Affairs Guide to Westminster: The Handbook of Effective and Ethical Lobbying
StandardAward-winning public affairs professional Robert McGeachy has written The Public Affairs Guide to Westminster: The Handbook of Effective and Ethical Lobbying, drawing upon his experience of working in the House of Lords for many years, and of leading successful UK-wide public affairs campaigns.
The Westminster Public Affairs Guide shows organisations and individuals how to influence both Houses of the UK Parliament and the UK Government, and to do so on an ethical, cost effective basis. Full of useful hints and tips, and written with the benefit of years of experience and success in the profession, the Westminster Public Affairs Guide is the essential tool for those seeking to find out more about the Westminster political system, about developing campaigns and about how to engage with the UK Government, and with both Houses of the UK Parliament, to influence policy and legislation.
The book will be of interest both to public affairs professionals, and to parliamentary staff. It will help parliamentary staff to maximise the effectiveness of their support for the MPs or Peers they work for, and strengthen the latter’s capacity to influence legislation and policy development.
The Westminster Public Affairs Guide has been published by the Welsh Academic Press. Further details can be accessed at https://welsh-academic-press.shopfactory.com/contents/en-uk/p60.html or https://www.amazon.co.uk/Public-Affairs-Guide-Westminster-Effective/dp/1860571344
All MPs’ staff phone-in – Supporting individuals with Hoarding disorder
StandardThe Members’ Services Team run all-Members’ staff phone-ins monthly. These events are available to book through our learning management system, Act.
Supporting individuals with Hoarding disorder
Tuesday 18 May 10-11am – Supporting individuals with Hoarding disorder
Commons Library Research Briefing – “Common law marriage” and cohabitation
StandardThis Commons Library briefing paper provides general information about how the law applies to cohabitants, the number of cohabiting couples, and about the Law Commission’s proposals for reform.
The number of couples choosing to live together (cohabit) without getting married or entering a civil partnership, in what is often called “a common law marriage”, increased by 137% between 1996 and 2020.
Although cohabitating couples do have legal protection in several areas, such as under the law relating to domestic abuse, cohabitation gives no general legal status to a couple, unlike marriage and civil partnership from which many legal rights and responsibilities flow. Many people are unaware this is the case.
This briefing provides information about the number of cohabiting couples, how the law applies to them, the Law Commission’s proposals for reform, and other calls for reform.
You can find the briefing here: “Common law marriage” and cohabitation
Commons Library Research Briefing – Coronavirus: International Travel FAQs for England
StandardThe House of Commons Library has published a briefing paper which provides answers to frequently asked questions about international travel restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Coronavirus: International Travel FAQs for England
This paper is a compilation of frequently asked questions about international travel from and to England, and how it is affected by current restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The paper addresses the following questions:
- What is the international travel ban?
- What are the reasonable excuses for travel?
- Who is exempt from the international travel ban and travel requirements?
- What are the penalties for international travel offences?
- I’m travelling to the UK, what do I need to do?
- What COVID-19 testing is required after arrival in England?
- What is the “test to release” scheme?
- What is hotel quarantine for travel from “red list” countries?
- Are there any exemptions from Hotel quarantine?
- What if I cannot afford to pay for Hotel Quarantine?
- When can I go on holiday?
- I can’t fly because of lockdown, but my flight wasn’t cancelled, what are my options?
Commons Library Research Briefing – Universal Credit: A reading list
StandardThe Commons Library has produced a Universal Credit reading list covering the new benefit from its development more than a decade ago through to April 2020.
You can find it here: https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-9211/
Telegraph guides: how to make customer services listen to your complaint
StandardWill Kirkman of The Telegraph newspaper has published a series of articles about how to get utility company customer services listen to your complaints. You can find them on the Telegraph website here:
British Gas: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/consumer-affairs/british-gas-contact-complain-customer-service-how-make-complaint/
Scottish Power: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/consumer-affairs/scottish-power-contact-complain-customer-services-how-make-complaint/
Virgin Media: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/consumer-affairs/virgin-media-contact-how-complain-customer-service-make-complaint/
Virtual Events for Mental Health Awareness Week – 10th – 14th May
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Please join us for a series of fascinating events to mark Mental Health Awareness Week.
We are also launching the WWG’s very own SharePoint site which includes information on:
- Spending the IPSA wellbeing funds
- Group supervision – what is it and how might it help staff?
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Courses run by the House on mental health
- Templates and exercises for you and your team to use to promote wellbeing.
Please email mpsstaff-wwg@parliament.uk in order to receive the links to each meeting.
Monday 10th May
3pm – 4pm –
Ceri Finnegan, Mind
‘Coping in Tough Times’
________________________________________________________________________________
Tuesday 11th May
11am – 12pm
Hein Ten Cate, NHS Consultant Clinical Psychologist on Trauma
‘Understanding trauma, types of trauma, supporting others and looking after oneself.’
________________________________________________________________________________
Wednesday 12th May
3pm – 4pm
MP’s Staff Wellness Working Group
‘Join us to see our new Sharepoint site’
________________________________________________________________________________
Thursday 13th May
3pm – 4pm
Dr Robbie Anderson, Managing Director, Chimp Paradox
‘Optimising the performance of the human mind’
________________________________________________________________________________
Friday 14th May
11am – 12pm
Rachel Edwards, Life and Career Coach
‘Who are you and where are you going?’
________________________________________________________________________________
Take care
Chloe, Steph, Estelle & Tom
Wellness Working Group
Follow the Speaker on Twitter
StandardFollow the new official @CommonsSpeaker Twitter account!
The Speaker of the House of Commons, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, launched his new official Speaker Twitter account on Wednesday 21 April 2021.
Follow @CommonsSpeaker to stay up to date with his work as Speaker of the UK House of Commons, both inside and beyond the Chamber.