From our friends at the Hansard Society:
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News
News
Towards 2020 and Beyond – a new POSTnote
StandardThis note focuses on policy drivers leading towards 2020 and beyond. It looks at the relationship between UK policy and the following drivers: people (demographics), technological change, climate change, resource security and sustainability, inequality, and governance issues.
If you wish to leave feedback on any POSTnotes, please complete this short survey, which will provide them with valuable feedback for future publications.
POST also runs fellowships for PhD researchers and events.
Regional Open Days for Staff
StandardThe House of Commons Service regularly holds regional open days for constituency staff throughout the United Kingdom.
About the events
The days include:
- an overview of the services that the House provides
- a focus on the services that constituency staff have said matter most to them – access to digital services, learning & development, and the Library
- an opportunity to meet some House staff and ask questions, and to meet other neighbouring constituency staff
- information on office security and contact information
- information from IPSA and contact information
- breakout sessions for you to tell us what you need from the House Service
- access to clerks for procedural advice.
Lunch will also be provided and this, along with the registration period, is intended as a chance to network with the House Service, other constituency office staff in your region and visit ‘stalls’ of services.
IPSA have recognised the day as a training event and as such the costs of travel are eligible to be reclaimed through allowances in the normal way.
How HMRC can help you to help your constituents
StandardHMRC have produced a very helpful booklet, explaining how they can help you to help your constituents.
It is available to download from the Parliamentary Intranet.
*** Please note that we are only able to send this to current MPs and their staff with intranet email accounts. It is not available to members of the public.
Would you like to be a Case Study?
StandardWould you like to share your experience of what it’s like to work for an MP?
Graduate Prospects is looking for case studies to accompany the Politician’s assistant job profile on the Prospects website (www.prospects.ac.uk). Ideally you will be a graduate who qualified within the last five years, but non-graduates will also be considered.
The process of providing a case study is straightforward, you will answer a set of questions via email and they will be put into the case study format. You will be able to approve the final version before it’s published and can either have your name published or remain anonymous.
This content for the Prospects site is handled by AGCAS and if you are interested in this opportunity please contact [email protected] for more information.
Rewriting, reworking and updating w4mp guides
Over the last fifteen years (!) w4mp has built up an extensive library of guides for staff, and keeping them up to date is a major undertaking. We are looking for help to review existing guides and write new ones – ideally written by those who are involved in casework, research etc.
If you’d like to help, email [email protected] – we pay for editorial work.
Here are the current guides
Image: Stosy kawałków kartonu w fabryce papieru w Chojnowie (Polska). Piles of cardboard scraps at paper factory in Chojnów (Poland). {{GFDL}} Autorem zdjęcia jest <tt>taw</tt>. The photo was shot by <tt>taw</tt>.
Looking for Great Tom
According to an article in today’s Observer a planed excavation of Westminster might uncover Great Tom, Big Ben’s renowned medieval predecessor.
The article notes that ‘the original tower was built around 1288 during the reign of Edward I, a little further from the river than the current tower, which was built in 1859 and is officially called the Elizabeth Tower – though in the public imagination it is firmly identified with its 16-tonne bell. Parliament officials have granted permission for the small-scale dig on the old site in a bid to “determine features and locations of the old palace” and, in particular, that of the first tower or its immediate successor, built in 1367. The bell in the first tower was named Great Edward after the king – although some say it was named after Edward the Confessor – but was known colloquially as Great Tom.’
House of Lords sits on Monday 18 May
StandardAfter the 2015 General Election, the House of Lords will meet on Monday 18 May and Tuesday 19 May 2015.
The House of Lords meets ahead of the State Opening of Parliament for members of the Lords to take the oath or affirmation. Members are also required to sign an undertaking to abide by the House of Lords Code of Conduct as part of the swearing-in procedure.
The State Opening of Parliament will take place on Wednesday 27 May 2015. State Opening marks the formal start of the parliamentary year and the Queen’s Speech sets out the government’s agenda for the coming session, outlining proposed policies and legislation.
Guardian offers guide to ‘the Bubble’
StandardThe Guardian has published a ‘helpful’ guide for new MPs that may also be of interest to new (and old) staff.
The insider’s guide to Westminster: from Portcullis House to the Burma Road
Next week the new MPs will take up their seats in the Commons. For the lost or confused, John Crace gives his definitive guide to the Westminster house rules.
Outreach service event: How laws are made
StandardAfter the hurly burly of the General Election, the brand new Parliament gets down to formal business on 27 May with the State Opening of Parliament when the Queen’s Speech will set out the new government’s legislative programme. New MPs, returning MPs, and Peers will begin the work of checking and challenging the government’s agenda for the new Parliament, and in due course will propose new legislation of their own.
Focusing on how laws are introduced, checked and passed, “Understanding Parliament: law making in action” will provide you with a comprehensive view of how the legislative system works, as well as equipping you with the information you need to engage effectively with the new 2015 Parliament and influence the issues that matter to you.
Sign up for this free event to get:
- Unique insights from Parliamentary experts on how new laws are proposed, scrutinised and passed
- A greater understanding of how MPs and Peers check and challenge legislation
- Guidance on how you can get involved and directly engage with the law-making process
We are pleased to announce that this event will be chaired by Krishnan Guru-Murthy, presenter of Channel Four News. There will be lots of opportunities to ask our panel of experts questions about Parliament.
Follow @UKParlOutreach on Twitter and submit questions for the panel in advance using the hashtag #GetParliament. We will do our best to answer as many as possible.
When and where?
This free public event is taking place in London on Tuesday 9 June from 2-4pm at:
How to book
Register online for this event using the link below:
Looking for a more general introduction to Parliament and its work?
Come to one of our “How Parliament Works” drop-in sessions for a basic introduction to Parliament, covering:
- What Parliament is and what it does
- The role of an MP
- The difference between Parliament and Government
- How a bill becomes a law
- How members of the public can get involved
When and where?
These regular 90 minute sessions are delivered by Parliament’s Outreach team and take place in the Houses of Parliament – details available via the online registration form links below.
How to book
Register online for one of our forthcoming drop-in sessions:
- Thursday 21 May, 10.30 – 12 noon – drop-in session online registration form
- Thursday 25 June, 10.30 – 12 noon – drop-in session online registration form
- Thursday 23 July, 10.30 – 12 noon – drop-in session online registration form