‘How to be a Select Committee Member’ – Training Events

There are two “How to be a Select Committee Member” events taking place this week. If your Member has recently been elected to a Select Committee, they are strongly encouraged to attend.

Wednesday 23 October 2024, 10am – 10.50am (Macmillan Room, Portcullis House).

Tuesday 29 October 2024, 10 – 10.50am (Macmillan Room, Portcullis House).

The sessions will cover:

practical aspects of committee work, such as the inquiry process and how committees make decisions;
meeting procedure and etiquette;
and information about the support from specialist teams available.

Members can register to attend these events, by completing this short online form.

There are also two events for staff coming up: “How to support your Member with select committee work”. These will be really useful if your Member has recently been appointed to a Select Committee.

Wednesday 30 October 2pm to 2.45pm
Tuesday 5 November 11.30am-12.15pm

These 40-minute sessions will cover:

What are select committees and how do they work?
How to support a Member who is serving on a select committee?
Q&A – ask us anything!

To sign up, book via Act.

Ordering wreaths for Armistice Day or Remembrance Sunday

If you would like to order a wreath for Armistice Day or Remembrance Sunday, you can do so by contacting the Royal British Legion directly: https://www.britishlegion.org.uk/get-involved/ways-to-give/shop/wreaths

They are able to provide a portcullis badge for the centre of the wreath, but you will need to request this at the time you order the wreath, and only ‘Type C’ and ‘Type G’ wreaths can accommodate a central badge. You have to order by telephone if you want the House of Commons badge because it’s not on the website: 0345 845 1945, and make sure you tell them that you want the green House of Commons badge.

You can order wreaths at any time of year but, obviously, they are busiest in October and November, so do try to order in good time. They suggest that orders for Armistice Day should be placed before 24 October.

Select Committee training session

Are you going to be supporting a Member serving on a select committee? Or, do you simply want to understand more about how select committees work?

The Select Committee Team is offering training for Members’ staff on ‘how to support your Member with select committee work’. This is a virtual event, which will be held on Microsoft Teams, and is open to all Members’ staff, whether you are based in Westminster or in the constituency.

This 40-minute session will consist of a short presentation from committee staff with the remaining time left for questions. We will cover:

• What are select committees and how do they work?

• How to support a Member who is serving on a select committee?

• Q&A – ask us anything!

There are currently two dates available:

• Wednesday 30 October 2pm to 2.45pm

• Tuesday 5 November 11.30am-12.15pm

Sign-up via Act – Course: How To Support Your Member With Select Committee Work (learningpool.com)

More dates will be added if there is sufficient demand, please use the waitlist function to indicate your interest if you are unable to attend either of the two dates advertised.

Whistleblowing Training for MPs and MPs’ Staff

This training session will be delivered by Protect, a UK independent whistleblowing charity and legal advice centre.

Members of Parliament are designated in the law as people to whom whistleblowers can disclose information about wrongdoing, risks and malpractice. This training aims to help MPs and their staff who may receive concerns understand their role in the process, the protections available and the risks to whistleblowers who may have taken a big step in speaking up.

Time: 10:00
Date: Wednesday 30 October 2024
Location: Online via Teams
Booking and further information: https://parliament.learningpool.com/enrol/index.php?id=2290

October Benefits Newscast

The Benefits Training Company produces a monthly newscast which features three of their benefits experts discussing the latest benefits news stories including changes to legislation, DWP announcements, relevant case law and guidance. There are links to the sources of the items discussed, and some that aren’t discussed if they think they might help.

In this month’s Benefits Newscast, David, Will and Sarah discuss extrapolating from non-PIP activities; Means-testing winter fuel payments; UC managed migration & passporting; UC managed migration current issues & resources; Carer’s allowance & averaging earnings.

You can also access previous newscasts on their website: https://www.benefitstraining.co.uk/benefits-newscast/

Do you need an interpreter or translation services?

MPs often need to use the services of an interpreter or translator when working with constituents whose first language is not English, or maybe require a British Sign Language interpreter. You can find some information on such services here: https://w4mp.org/w4mp-guides/your-office/interpreters-and-translation-services/

Free PolicyMogul Webinars

PolicyMogul is hosting two webinars to introduce parliamentary users to its platform. You can learn more about it, and sign up for the webinars here: https://about.policymogul.com/parliament/

Sessions, including a Q&A will take place on:

Friday 11th October, 12:00
Tuesday 15th October, 16:00

You can read a bit more about PolicyMogul here: https://w4mp.org/w4mp-guides/researcher-extraordinaire/policymogul-a-free-political-monitoring-and-research-platform/

MPs’ Guide to Procedure

The MPs’ Guide to Procedure has been updated and hard copies are now available from the Vote Office.

You can find an online version here: https://guidetoprocedure.parliament.uk/mps-guide-to-procedure

Where’s the Vote Office? It has four outlets: Main Vote Office (lower ground floor, Palace), Members’ Lobby, Portcullis House and Parliament Street. See their intranet page for full details of how to contact them.

Throughout October 2024, the Vote Office is holding 30-minute introductory sessions comprising a talk and Q&A session. You can find out more about these here: https://parlinet.parliament.uk/teams/house-of-commons/chamber-participation-team/vote-office/general-election-2024-vote-office-training-and-tours-for-the-new-parliament/

Caseworker.MP Training

Two new dates for Caseworker Software Training have become available to sign-up to on ACT (3 and 10 October).

Please note, these sessions are for staff of newly elected Members only at this time. Sessions for staff of returned Members will be organised in due course.

Sign-up via the link: Course: Caseworker Software Training for MPs’ Staff (learningpool.com)