The Speaker has ruled that Members may use the Crowned Portcullis symbol on wreaths they buy to lay at Remembrance Sunday ceremonies in their capacity as a Member of Parliament.

The wreath should not be in any way party political: the use of the Portcullis on wreaths on behalf of a constituency association or including any party political symbol is not permitted.

Members can obtain an electronic copy of the Crowned Portcullis for this purpose from Nick Battley, in Print Services (by email battleyn@parliament.uk or on x6208).

The Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal office are able to provide the wreaths if Members wish to order through them.They can be contacted on 01622 717172 or by sending the form linked to here back to them by the 22nd October.

Royal British Legion wreath order form (Word Document)

Parliament co-teaches a module with 13 different universities from around the UK called ‘Parliamentary Studies’, giving politics students an in depth knowledge of how Parliament works, and there is an opportunity for an MPs’ researcher/researchers to give a talk to Leeds University students for the  module

Students taking the module at the University of Leeds will be visiting Parliament on the 26th November 2014. We are currently looking for a confident person/group of people that work closely with MPs, to give a talk to these students about the inner workings of an MP’s office. This will be held in the Palace of Westminster at 13:45-14:30.

If you think you may be interested in this opportunity, please contact L’myah Ross at rosswalcottl@parliament.uk

 

The Year Here Fellowship describes itself as ‘an ambitious, creative and rigorous 7-month course in social innovation’ and offers an opportunity to develop solutions to social problems supported by a network that includes Citizens UK, FutureGov, Bain & Company and the Cabinet Office.

They are looking for graduates who are serious about making society better and offer successful applicants a great opportunity that includes:

Working with a mentor to advise you.

Four months spent in homeless shelters, care homes and community centres understanding first-hand the daily realities of people living at the margins of society and designing an Innovation Project to boost your placement’s impact.

Training and coaching from a faculty of more than 60 experts, learning all about society’s problems and how to tackle them effectively.

Tuition fees are covered, and accommodation/bursaries may be available.

Full details at http://yearhere.org

The Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology (POST) runs a series of seminars and receptions while Parliament is sitting, kicking off with a seminar on Palliative and End of Life Care in the Attlee Suite on October 14 from 1600-1800.

If you would like further details, all the  events can be viewed (and places booked) on the POST website at http://www.parliament.uk/mps-lords-and-offices/offices/bicameral/post/post-events/

 

The Office of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards has recently published a new rulebook for APGs. Acquaint and reacquaint yourself with the rules here: https://www.parliament.uk/about/mps-and-lords/members/apg/rules-on-appgs/

For more information on All-Party Groups, see here and here.

Full details here: http://bit.ly/1lFOQyy

The Culture, Media and Sport Committee is holding an online consultation in partnership with The Student Room to hear the views of young people about the BBC as part of its ongoing inquiry into the future of the BBC.

Online consultation

The Committee will hear from young people about their viewing habits; what BBC services they consider to be the most valuable; how well they feel the BBC caters to young people and their views on the licence fee.

The consultation will begin on The Student Room website on Friday 22 August and will finish on 18 September. During this time, young people are encouraged to share their opinions and discuss their views on the BBC with others, the responses received will feed into the Committee’s work and the Report which is expected in the autumn.

Today sees the launch of  “Sex and Power 2014: Who runs Britain?” which shows just how little progress has been made on gender equality in the UK’s political institutions and suggests what the UK’s governments, parliaments, political parties and media should do about it.

Among the report’s key findings is that the House of Commons has slipped from 59th (in early 2010) to 65th (today) in the world ranking of parliaments for gender equality.

Just 22.7% of our MPs are women. And whilst the figure for some of the devolved parliaments is better – 41.7% of Welsh Assembly members are women, for example – the situation amongst political journalists is even worse. Over 91% of print and broadcast political editors are male.

Today’s report makes six recommendations for what must happen to change this situation. It was written by Counting Women In, a coalition of organisations including the Electoral Reform Society, the Centre for Women & Democracy, the Fawcett Society, the Hansard Society and Unlock Democracy.

Read the report (pdf)

Visit the Electoral Reform Society website

The New Statesman, in association with the Webb Memorial Trust has announced the 2014 Webb Memorial Trust Essay Competition for young people aged between 18 and 25.

This year’s question is: How can business reduce poverty?

For further information, please visit: http://bit.ly/1w8rkhZ