Library/NAO talk: Unlocking land for housing

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Time: 10:30 – 11:30
Date: 2 July 2026
Location: Online via Teams
Booking: https://parliament.learningpool.com/mod/facetoface/view.php?id=9857

The government has set a milestone to deliver 1.5 million new homes over this Parliament to July 2029. This will require building more than 300,000 homes per annum on average, a level of housebuilding that was last achieved in the 1960s. The government says a chronic undersupply of land underpins the housing crisis. It believes there is suitable land in England for housebuilding that is not being developed by the market as it is not profitable or attractive enough for developers to build on in its current form. This can be due to factors such as the need for remediation work, a lack of infrastructure such as roads, or pieces of land making up a site being owned by different people or companies.

Join the National Audit Office as they discuss the key findings from their report on Unlocking land for housing. They assess whether MHCLG’s programmes to increase the supply of suitable land for housing development are effectively supporting the government’s ambitions to build the right homes in the right places. 

The National Audit Office (NAO) is the UK’s independent public spending watchdog. It supports Parliament in holding government to account and helps improve public services through its audits.

Library/NAO talk: Access to Work scheme

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Time: 10:30 – 11:30
Date: 25 June 2026
Location: Online via Teams
Booking: https://parliament.learningpool.com/mod/facetoface/view.php?id=9875

Access to Work is a demand-led grant scheme to help people get, or stay in, work if they have a physical or mental health condition or disability. Funding may pay for things like specialist equipment, support workers such as a British Sign Language interpreter, the costs of travelling to work and physical adaptations to the workplace.  The Department for Work & Pensions (DWP) typically approves support for individuals for three years, up to a maximum annual total, which was £69,260 in 2024-25 and 2025-26.

Join the National Audit Office as they discuss key findings from their report on The Access to Work scheme, which covers:

  • the purpose of the Access to Work scheme
  • take-up of the scheme
  • how DWP is managing the increased take-up of the scheme

The National Audit Office (NAO) is the UK’s independent public spending watchdog. It supports Parliament in holding government to account and helps improve public services through its audits.

Library talk: The NATO Summit 2026

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The NATO summit will take place in Ankara on 7 and 8 July. Join Library experts from our International Affairs and Defence team to find out more about the key topics for discussion and what we might expect from the Summit.

Time: 10:30 – 11:30
Date: 18 June 2026
Location: Online via Teams
Booking: https://parliament.learningpool.com/mod/facetoface/view.php?id=10108

Library Talk: Representation of the People Bill

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Need a refresher on the Representation of the People Bill? As the bill is carried over into the next parliamentary session, this talk can help you get the facts on the main points of the bill, key changes at committee and more.

Time: 10:30 – 11:30
Date: Tuesday 9 June 2026
Location: Online via Teams
Booking: https://parliament.learningpool.com/mod/facetoface/view.php?id=9727

Evidence Week 2026 – from 6 July 2026

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Bitesize online training sessions for parliamentary staff, provided by the UK’s leading experts including the House of Commons Library, ONS and OSR.

For more information and registration for these sessions, please visit the Evidence Week website

Monday 6 July
Modern information warfare 14:00 – 14:45 (online)
How to combat disinformation in the digital age with the House of Commons Library.

Tuesday 7 July
Use, understand and present numbers well in your work 14:00 – 14:45 (online)
Find out how the Code of Practice for Statistics can help – with the Office for Statistics Regulation.

Wednesday 8 July
Risk Know-How 14:00 – 14:45 (online)
How to understand and present risks effectively with Risk Know-How.

Thursday 9 July
Are you using a reliable survey? 11:00 – 11:45 (online)
How to spot trustworthy survey data with the National Centre for Social Research.

AI fakes 14:00 – 14:45 (online)
What to check with Full Fact.

Friday 10 July
How could changes in different industries and products affect the UK economy? 11:00 – 11:45 (online)
Get trained to use the unique UK calculator with the Office for National Statistics.

How to use spatial insights 14:00 – 14:45 (online)
Access to geographic data that can help address local challenges with Smart Data Research UK.

Behind the Speaker’s Chair (virtual event)

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Time: 1200-1300
Date: Thursday 23 April 2026
Location: Online via MS Teams
Booking: Sign up here – parliamentary account holders only

Join us for a panel conversation with staff from the Speaker’s Office, as they discuss their roles, what goes on behind the chair, and how they make Parliament happen.

This event is part of the programme of work called ‘We Make Parliament Happen’, that aims to help colleagues feel part of Parliament and understand how their role contributes to Members.

Training: Staying Safe Across Meta Technologies

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Join the Meta team for a practical training session that will cover key best practices, safety and security features across Meta technologies. Whether you’re new to these tools or looking to strengthen your existing setup, you’ll leave with actionable next steps. 

Time: Noted added 15 April – it looks like this event has been changed to 10:00am
Date: Wednesday 15 April 2026
Location: Online
Sign up: https://parliament.learningpool.com/enrol/index.php?id=2697