briefings

Library Research Briefings

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The House of Commons Library produces excellent research briefings on topics relating to current affairs and matters of interest to MPs and their staff.

Some of the latest briefings include:

  • Objecting to gambling premises
  • NHS key statistics: England
  • Changes to automatic prisoner release dates in England and Wales
  • Financial markets: Economic indicators
  • e-petition: remove sentence reductions for guilty pleas in controlling and coercive cases
  • Inflation international comparisons: Economic indicators
  • Complaining about UK Government departments or public bodies in England
  • Adult social care reform in England
  • Electoral Commission strategy and policy statement
  • Flexible voting pilots
  • Complaining to an ombudsman

You can find all of the briefings here: https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/type/research-briefing

Constituency data: Deprivation in England

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The House of Commons Library has created an interactive dashboard shows deprivation data for constituencies and small areas in England and you can find it here: Constituency data: Deprivation in England

The Library briefing paper Deprivation in English constituencies, 2025 provides more information and statistics.

Library talk – Local government reorganisation: Vantage point summer 2026

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Time: 10:30 – 11:30
Date: 9 July 2026
Location: Online via Teams
Booking: https://parliament.learningpool.com/mod/facetoface/view.php?id=9728

This talk will analyse the decisions made on local government reorganisation in March 2026, and the implications of any developments since. It will then reiterate the timetable for the implementation of the policy. It will also trace the implications for Government decisions on the remainder of two-tier areas in England.

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

Research from POST

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The Parliamentary Office for Science and Technology

Read the latest research from POST here: https://post.parliament.uk/

Recent topics include:

  • Technology transfer and productivity growth in the UK
  • The health impacts of airports on local residents
  • Conspiracy theories: What they are and how to spot them
  • Nature-based flood and drought resilience
  • Evidence for nature recovery
  • Leasehold retirement living: How it works, challenges and reforms
  • Research and development (R&D) for UK defence
  • Mental health during and after pregnancy
  • Contracts for Difference and the economics of renewable energy deployment.
  • Public engagement with the energy transition
  • Astronaut health: is going into space bad for your health?
  • Diagnosis and treatment of rare genetic diseases
  • UK investment screening: Balancing national security and economic growth
  • What are data centres and how sustainable are they?

Royal British Legion parliamentary staff event

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Please note the change of date

Time: 1800 – 2100
Date: Thursday 4 June 2026
Location: London

On Thursday 4 June 2026 at 6pm-9pm before the Whitsun recess, the Royal British Legion is planning to hold a reception in Westminster for members of parliamentary staff in London.

The aim of this event will be to inform Members’ staff about the work of RBL, the 2026 Armed Forces Bill, and how we can help with casework support for the Armed Forces community in constituencies across the country.

Buffet and drinks will be provided, and there will also be a bar.

Please do let us know at PublicAffairs@britishlegion.org.uk if you can attend, and if you would like to bring any other staff with you.

What next for restoration and renewal of parliament?

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An expert panel explores how parliament should approach the major restoration project, including lessons from other countries and industry.

Time: 1230-1330
Date: Monday 11 May 2026
Location: London, in-person and online

The Palace of Westminster is one of the world’s most recognisable historic buildings and the home of the UK parliament. Yet much of the estate is in urgent need of repair. While debates over how to approach the Restoration and Renewal programme have continued for over a decade, other countries have already moved ahead: Austria has completed the renovation of its parliament, and Canada’s is well underway.

In February, the Restoration and Renewal Client Board set out updated costings and recommended two possible paths forward – full decant or enhanced maintenance and improvement. Parliament is expected to debate the Client Board’s report in the coming weeks.  

With the stage now set for parliament to embark on a project that will not only safeguard this historic landmark but also reimagine it for future generations, this IfG event will explore lessons from other international projects, and discuss what the Restoration and Renewal programme could mean for parliament, industry and the wider public.

For full details, please see here: Institute for Government