New home for the hotlines list

We wanted to let you know about the new home for the w4mp hotlines list!

We have worked closely with MST to adapt the hotlines list, following feedback on its storage on SharePoint. This version of the w4mp hotlines list returns to you being able to copy and paste information, as well as being able to find information using CTRL+F, so we hope you find it useful! However, please give us any feedback on how you find it, as we are always looking for ways to improve it!

If you didn’t know, the w4mp hotlines list is a great resource for caseworkers who are looking for contact details for different organisations, government departments, companies etc. when supporting their constituents. It not only has helplines that their constituents can use, but also emails and phone numbers that give MPs’ staff a more direct contact link to these organisations, which can make supporting constituents queries a lot easier. It is regularly updated and this new w4mp hotlines list is essentially a live document, so you know that it will always have the latest known contact details. You can see a list of the latest updates here: https://w4mp.org/hotline-numbers-for-mps-meps-msps-ams-and-their-staff/

If you have any questions or feedback, let us know. Otherwise, we hope you like the new home of the w4mp hotlines list!

Please note that the list is available only to people who have parliamentary network accounts. We are not able to share the list with people who are not on the network.

‘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.

Housing Ombudsman Drop-In Surgery – 22 October

Date: Tuesday 22 October 2024
Time: 9am to 5pm
Location: InfoHub, Portcullis House Atrium

Do you have an enquiry you would like to discuss? Or just want to find out more about what we do?

Join us for our first in-person surgery for MPs and their staff, in partnership with the House of Commons Members Services Team.

Drop by today between 9am and 5pm to meet the Housing Ombudsman and our investigators. You can discuss any cases, landlords, or our work in promoting a healthy culture in the rented sector.

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.

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.

Presentation and Q&A: Data protection – hear from the experts

Time: 10:30 – 12:00

Date: Tuesday 22 October 2024

Location: House of Commons

This is in-person training, and booking is required. You can see more information on ParliNet.

As controllers of personal data under data protection law, Members of Parliament have certain obligations. This session will cover these obligations and how to comply with them, including how to handle sensitive constituent data, requirements for sharing personal data with public sector organisations, and how to respond to Subject Access Requests. Half of the session will be dedicated to answering your questions.

This session will be of particular interest to new Members and new Members’ staff, but will also be useful to others seeking to refresh their knowledge.

VOTE OFFICE TRAINING THIS WEEK

Please note that this training is only available to people with a parliamentary network account.

Introduction to the Vote Office (talk & Q&A, 30 min)

Information on the Vote Office’s full range of services, including parliamentary and
government papers available from their offices as well as their digital services.

In-person Sessions for Members and Estate-based Members’ Staff

Monday, 14th October, 1pm (In-Person; 30 min): REGISTER

Tuesday, 15th October, 1pm (In-Person; 30 min): REGISTER

Sessions for Members and Constituency-based Members’ Staff

Location: MS Teams

Monday, 14th October, 11am (MS Teams; 30 min): REGISTER

Tuesday, 15th October, 11am (MS Teams; 30 min): REGISTER

VOTE OFFICE TOUR (45 min)

Join us to learn more about the history of the office and the work we do to
support Chamber business on a daily basis.

Monday, 14th October:

12pm: REGISTER

3pm: REGISTER

Tuesday, 15th October:

12pm: REGISTER

3pm: REGISTER

Wednesday, 16th October:

12pm: REGISTER

3pm: REGISTER

Thursday, 17th October:

12pm: REGISTER

3pm: REGISTER

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/

Access to cash and banking Q&A – Caseworker Discussion Forum

Time: 14:30 – 15:30
Date: Tuesday 8 October 2024
Location: Virtual via Microsoft Teams

The October 2024 forum will be a Q&A on access to cash and banking – what the public can expect from banks and regulators in maintaining access to cash services. We will be joined by Abbas Panjwani from the Library’s Business & Transport team.

To book, please go here: https://parliament.learningpool.com/mod/facetoface/signup.php?s=17909