Here’s a timely reminder about our guide on Working with Lobbyists.

You can see it here.

Looks like it needs updating again (!) but much of the advice is still relevant.

Newish here?

Not sure where you can eat or drink and whether access may be restricted?

Have a look at our guide here. It includes a link to a page on the intranet which spells out exactly where each restaurant or bar is, when it’s open and, where appropriate, what’s on the menu.

They’ve let him in again and you can now benefit from Russell Brand’s views on your workplace and colleagues.

You can read it here.

Enjoy!

The House of Commons now has its own dedicated Twitter feed, @HouseofCommons, maintained by the Public Information and Outreach team.

The feed has been live since January and already has over 8,000 followers, including Members of both Houses, political journalists, broadcasters and a wide range of interest groups and NGOs.

@HouseofCommons provides politically impartial news and information on the work of the Commons, with a particular focus on increasing the visibility of work in the Chamber and in Westminster Hall debates. It is also used to respond to queries from other Twitter users about aspects of House of Commons procedure and practice.

Future plans for @HouseofCommons include real-time coverage of Commons divisions and other key events in the parliamentary calendar.

We have already mentioned the Commons Library tweets which are at https://twitter.com/commonslibrary.

New information received from the Financial Ombudsman Service. Here’s what they say:

The Financial Ombudsman Service, which you may know, is the free service set up law with power to resolve financial disputes between consumers and financial businesses. It is completely impartial and free for consumers to use.

We run free training events across the UK for consumer advice workers and MP caseworkers, which MP caseworkers and researchers can also attend. The training event is designed to help you sort out financial problems your constituents are facing.

What you’ll find out:

• the ombudsman’s role and powers – what complaints we can look into;
• how we resolve complaints;
• our approach to complaints about unaffordable lending and the treatment of consumers in financial difficulty.

The sessions run from 10am until 4pm and a light lunch will be provided.

To find out if there’s an event near you, check out our website http://www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk/news/wt_ca.htm.  To book a place, please return the booking form. If you have any questions about the events, please email outreach@financial-ombudsman.org.uk

If you are running an event in Westminster, or your constituency, and would like us to come along – or if your office is interested in working with us to create awareness of our service then please email  phillipa.cook@financial-ombudsman.org.uk

What is ‘Prorogation’ and what exactly happens at the State Opening of Parliament?

These links explain all:

• www.parliament.uk/about/how/occasions/prorogation/
• www.parliament.uk/about/how/occasions/stateopening/

Or you can watch the Yeoman Usher of the Black Rod, Lieutenant Colonel Ted Lloyd-Jukes OBE, speaking about the organisation and significance of State Opening. He’s here.

Our guide Looking for a Job with an MP includes a list of other useful job sites and we have just updated that list to include Shout Out Jobs whose website is here: www.shoutoutuk.org. Their jobs section is new and “offers jobs, volunteering positions and courses all under one roof for students and professionals alike.”

We have a new guide to redundancy for you.  This is about staff of MPs who, for one reason or another, suffer redundancy.

As our guide says, “redundancy is horrible” and at every election it happens to lots of staff. Of course, it won’t happen to YOU, will it…..or will it?

Have a quick look through and then tuck it away – just in case, eh.

All information about the services provided by the House of Commons Library can be found on ParliNet, the Parliamentary intranet.

There is also a public website with many of the research briefings and other resoruces.

Essential if you are new at Westminster or in a constituency office. Well worth a look even if you reckon you already know what the Library offers.