Invitation to contribute to Inquiry into Bullying and Harassment

Standard

Please note that links to the old Parliamentary intranet have been removed as of October 2023. Please use search on ParliNet to find relevant current details, if available.

https://parlinet.parliament.uk/house-of-commons-members-staff/

 

On 19 July, the House resolved to set up an Inquiry similar to the Dame Laura Cox QC inquiry into bullying and harassment, including sexual harassment, of the staff of Members of Parliament and others engaged in Parliamentary work on their behalf.

The Inquiry, launched today, is being conducted by Gemma White QC.

Please visit this page to learn more, and for details on how to contribute to the Inquiry

NEW: courses to help you with casework

Standard

The House of Commons Library is offering four new ‘taster’ courses aimed at helping you answer common constituents’ questions in the areas of housing, special educational needs, employment law and anti-social behaviour.

The training will be provided in Westminster by experienced lawyers. You can sign-up via ACT by first logging into the ACT Learning Pool (via Office 365), and then clicking the links below:

Introduction to Housing Law for caseworkers
The Law and Special Educational Needs and Disability
An introduction to employment law for caseworkers
The Law and anti-social behaviour

Once you have registered, we will be in touch with further details.  If you have any questions, please contact hclibrary@parliament.uk or call x3666.

Photographic exhibition of all 209 Female MPs seeks funding

Standard

On 14th December 1918  women voted for the first time in Britain, and in the same year the first female MP was elected.

To mark 100 years since some women achieved the right to vote, the 209 Women project aims to take over parliament with 209 new photographic portraits of all female MPs, shot exclusively by female photographers, and make it free and open to the public.

To ensure that all of the women photographers involved receive support to make this visual statement, they need help, and have set up a funding page at https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/209-women/

The aim is that the exhibition will hang in Westminster from 14th December to February 2019 (tbc). It will be curated by Hilary Wood, (founder of ‘209 Women’ and photographer), Tracy Marshall (Director of Development and Partnerships at Open Eye Gallery, Co- Director of Northern Narratives arts initiative) and Cheryl Newman (Artist, curator and former Director of Photography of the Telegraph magazine).

The exhibition is supported by Liverpool City Council. In February 2019, it will travel to Open Eye Gallery, to be exhibited in partnership with Culture Liverpool.

Behind the scenes: Diane Abbott (Labour), photographed by Karen Knorr. ©Karen Knorr.

A new way to book meeting and committee rooms in the House of Commons

Standard

Please note that rooms can not be booked by members of the public.

For room bookings please consult the relevant pages on ParliNet, which are kept up to date. A self service room booking system is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and all bookings will be confirmed by email. Committee Rooms in the Commons or the Lords cannot be booked using the self service system.

 

Have you looked at POST’s publications recently?

Standard

POST provides balanced and accessible overviews of research from across the biological, physical and social sciences, and engineering and technology. It places the findings of this research in a policy context for Parliamentary use.

The best known format for these briefings are ‘POSTnotes’: four page summaries of public policy issues based on reviews of the research literature and interviews with stakeholders from across academia, industry, government and the third sector; they are peer reviewed by external experts. POSTnotes are often produced proactively, so that parliamentarians have advance knowledge of key issues before they reach the top of the political agenda.

Find out more here: https://www.parliament.uk/mps-lords-and-offices/offices/bicameral/post/publications/

House of Commons Library on BBC Westminster Hour

Standard

As BBC Radio 4 puts it, ‘The House of Commons library is an indispensable part of life at Westminter conducting research for MPs and providing impartial briefs on everything from the environment and schools to Brexit’. They have given enormous support to w4mp over the years – and this lovely piece by reporter John Beesley is  an excellent tribute as they celebrate 200 years.

Listen here

 

Bullying and Harassment and Sexual Harassment support services

Standard

Please note that links to the old Parliamentary intranet have been removed as of October 2023. Please use search on ParliNet to find relevant current details, if available.

https://parlinet.parliament.uk/house-of-commons-members-staff/

The Independent Complaints and Grievance Policy (ICGP) Programme was established to help ensure that Westminster, constituency offices and related locations are safe environments in which everyone can feel valued and respected.

Following the 19 July Commons vote on the proposals outlined in the ICGP delivery report, two new independent helpline services are now live. These services offer support and advice those who have experienced bullying and harassment and sexual harassment whilst on the Parliamentary Estate, in constituency offices or whilst undertaking parliamentary work.

These services are available to MPs and MPs’ staff and interns, as well as staff employed by or working for the House of Commons, Parliamentary Digital Service,  and other paid or unpaid staff, including those employed by external organisations who hold a parliamentary pass.

For full details see  https://w4mp.org/w4mp/w4mp-guides/harassment-involving-mps-and-staff/ or the Parliamentary Intranet pages.

Did you know that you can pay your trade union members directly from your salary?

Standard

IPSA is reminding people that, for Members of Parliament, or MPs’ staff, who are members of a trade union, membership fees can usually be paid by salary deductions.

For those who would like to set up a salary deduction for union fees, please contact IPSA’s payroll team either by email payroll@theipsa.org.uk or by calling 020 7811 6400 and pressing option 2.

Not in a Trade Union? Why not have a look here: https://w4mp.org/library/researchguides/your-employment-status/staff-rights-and-representation/tgwuunite-parliamentary-branch/

New home for alt.guides

alt.guides
Standard

Parliament is a serious place, and the Palace of Westminster and constituency offices are filled with hard-working, dedicated professionals engaged in the important business of running the country.  Yet even the most committed need time for rest and recuperation, space to kick back and unwind, and opportunities to take a sideways look at their workplace, employers and even their political masters.

For many years we’ve published a range of material  for staff who are looking for something less serious and rather more entertaining than the average guide to best practice.

Now they have their own home, along with an archive of our much-loved Hoby cartoons – over at http://alt.w4mp.org/

We hope you enjoy these guides as much as we do.