Commons Library

Make the Most of the Commons Library

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Join the Library Team for a short session to learn how the Library can support your work. These sessions are ideal for those who have recently started working for a Member or if you simply want a refresher in how to use Library resources.

The resources they cover will help you in your policy, research and casework.

By the end of the session you will be able to:

  • Find and use key Library products including briefing papers, casework articles and data dashboards.
  • Keep up to date with the latest research and developments through our email alerts
  • Know how to use the Library request service
  • Access our online services such as Nexis news and Grantfinder

The sessions are delivered over MS Teams by Library colleagues who all have extensive experience of working with Members and their staff.

To book, click here: https://parliament.learningpool.com/course/view.php?id=81
Note: you must be logged into the Parliamentary intranet to access the course booking system.

  • 3 March 2023 – 10:30 – 12:00
  • 11 April 2023 – 14:00 – 15:30
  • 17 May 2023 – 10:30 – 12:00
  • 15 June 2023 – 14:00 – 15:30
  • 10 July 2023 – 10:30 – 12:00

Useful new guides from the Commons Library

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The House of Commons Library website contains a wealth of information which is of use not only to Members of Parliament and their staff, but are also accessible by members of the public.

The latest guides to be published are:

You can find more constituency casework guides here: https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/constituency-casework/

Casework Discussion Forum – Wellbeing – looking after yourself and others

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Time: 10:30 – 11:30
Date: Thursday 26 January 2023
Location: Online

The Library, in conjunction with the Members’ Services Team, is pleased to invite you to the Casework Discussion Forum which will take place virtually each month.

Wellbeing – looking after yourself and others
Led by the Member Services Team.

Booking required: https://parliament.learningpool.com/mod/facetoface/view.php?id=5177

Forthcoming Library Talks

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The programme of Library talks for January to March 2023 is open for booking – the titles will take you to Act, if you wish to book a place.

Please note that you must have a Parliamentary Network account in order to access the links.

TitleDateStartsEnds
The world in 2023: looking ahead to key eventsThursday 19 January 202310:30 AM11:30 AMVirtual via MS Teams
Can I pay less Council Tax?Thursday 26 January 20232:30 PM3:30 PMVirtual via MS Teams
Benefits and the rising cost of livingThursday 02 February 20232:30 PM3:30 PMVirtual via MS Teams
Broadband and mobile services and the cost of livingThursday 09 February 202310:30 AM11:30 AMVirtual via MS Teams
DWP employment support: The Restart Scheme (NAO)Tuesday 21 February 20232:30 PM3:30 PMVirtual via MS Teams
Planning applications – how constituents can get involved (England)Thursday 23 February 20232:30 PM3:30 PMVirtual via MS Teams
Introduction to employment rights in GBThursday 02 March 20232:30 PM3:30 PMVirtual via MS Teams
What have we learned from the 2021 census?Thursday 09 March 20232:30 PM3:30 PMVirtual via MS Teams
Managing NHS backlogs and waiting times in England (NAO)Thursday 16 March 20232:30 PM3:30 PMVirtual via MS Teams
Why are so many people leaving the labour market?Thursday 23 March 202310:30 AM11:30 AMVirtual via MS Teams
Can businesses recruit from overseas to fill labour shortages?Thursday 30 March 202310:30 AM11:30 AMVirtual via MS Teams

Helping tenants with damp and mouldy housing (England)

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The House of Commons Library has produced a new guide for MPs and their staff to help them to assist their constituents: ‘A short guide to tenants’ rights when living in damp and mouldy homes and Government action to address this issue.’

You can find the new House of Commons Library guide here: https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/helping-tenants-with-damp-and-mouldy-housing-england/

Constituency casework: help with energy bills for businesses, voluntary sector and public sector organisations

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The House of Commons Library has produced a briefing on help with energy bills for businesses, voluntary sector and public sector organisations.

This briefing provides information on support with energy bills for non-domestic customers, including businesses, public sector organisations and charities. It covers help with rising energy prices, and support to install energy-saving measures and low carbon technologies.

Other sources that answer frequent questions are provided, as well as links to other Library briefings, which cover some of the schemes in more detail. Where complex issues are raised it may be more appropriate to refer constituents to specialist bodies and organisations or to a solicitor if legal advice is sought. 

https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-9692/

Grantfinder Demonstration – 13 December 2022

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Grantfinder gives access to a flexibly searchable and continuously updated database of UK and European Union (EU) funding sources, including grants, loans and advisory schemes. It enables you to set up alerts for new sources of funding in the areas most relevant. 

This hour-long session is for those who need a full introduction to what Grantfinder is and how it works. Book your place via Act.

Forthcoming Commons Library Talks

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Details of all forthcoming Commons Library Talks can be found on ACT: https://parliament.learningpool.com/course/view.php?id=1563
Please note that you must have a parliamentary network account to access ACT.

Topics include:

Help with fire safety remediation work: high rise blocks (England)

Improving the UK’s science capability for managing animal diseases (NAO talk)

The Northern Ireland Protocol Bill

Energy prices, security and market reform

The creation of the UK Infrastructure Bank (NAO talk)

Rising cost of living

An introduction to occupational and personal pensions in the UK

Mental Health reforms in England

Tackling local breaches of air quality (NAO talk)

Understanding and interpreting survey data

Legal aid and other options (England)

Wellbeing – looking after yourself and others

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Caseworker Discussion Forum hosted by the Commons Library

The Library, in conjunction with the Members’ Services Team, is pleased to invite you to the Casework Discussion Forum which will take place virtually each month.

The next session is taking place on Thursday 18 August, 9:30-10:30am and will be on the topic of Wellbeing – looking after yourself and others. It will be chaired by Wendy Wilson from the Library.

The Forum will be complemented by a dedicated Teams chat which will allow you to share ideas and best practice, as well as support being on hand from the Library should specialist knowledge be required.

(Please note, you do not have to be a Caseworker to attend these sessions, they are open to any Members’ staff who handle casework.) 

If you have any questions, please contact MST@parliament.uk