Access to Justice: Legal aid and services

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A research briefing from the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology (POST).

  • How have changes to legal aid affected access to justice in England and Wales?
  • What are the key trends, impacts and regional disparities in legal support and service provision?

Find out by reading the research briefing here: Access to Justice: Legal aid and services

Structure of the NHS in England (ICBs, trusts, etc) – Caseworker Discussion Forum

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Time: 1030 – 1130
Date: Thursday 12 February 2026
Location: Online via MS Teams
Information and booking: https://parliament.learningpool.com/course/view.php?id=1953

With Tom Powell, Manjit Gheera and Rachael Harker from the Commons Library.

MMSST Midlands Roadshow

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Sign up now!

The MMSST will be hosting a roadshow event in the Midlands this February.  

The event forms part of a wider programme of roadshows taking place across the UK this year and offers a valuable opportunity to deepen your understanding of the wide range of support and services available to you, while also providing a chance to connect and network with colleagues from other local offices.   

The agenda will include informative presentations from IPSA and the Home Office, as well as updates and workshops with House Administration services such as the Library. 

The roadshow will take place on Wednesday 11 February 2026. Please note that it is open only to parliamentary staffers.

To register to attend, please email MMSST@parliament.uk and you will be sent an outlook invitation and further information.

Welcome to Parliament (Members’ Staff Induction)

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Welcome to Parliament.

The new joiner induction sessions are available to book via the ACT portal. If you have a new joiner in your office, please share with them.

This session will welcome you to being part of the Parliamentary community and cover essential information from key House services that will help you to settle in and get off to a good start in your new role.

If you have not yet obtained your parliamentary network access and would like to book, please contact MMSST@parliament.uk


Time: 10:00 – 12:00
Date: 15 January 2026
Location: Online via MS Teams
Booking: https://parliament.learningpool.com/course/view.php?id=1341


Time: 10:00 – 12:00
Date: 9 February 2026
Location: Online via MS Teams
Booking: https://parliament.learningpool.com/course/view.php?id=1341


Time: 10:00 – 12:00
Date: 10 March 2026
Location: Online via MS Teams
Booking: https://parliament.learningpool.com/course/view.php?id=1341


Booking for 2026 summer term educational visits

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Bookings for Summer Term (April to July 2026) open at 10am on 28 January.

Get ready to book your Summer Term (April to July 2026) visit. Register on the booking portal to view available slots and book your Summer Term visit when Summer Term bookings open. All schools wanting to book a school visit will need to have a user account set up in the online booking portal.  Schools should register their account now so they’re ready when bookings go live, with no further action needed until January. Account verification can take up to five working days, so setting up early avoids delays. Register your account here.

Your visit includes:

  • A curricula-informed workshop in our Education Centre
  • A guided tour of the iconic Palace of Westminster

Schools outside London and the South East may be eligible for help with travel costs.

Data protection compliance: AI and other developments

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Time: 1400 – 1500
Date: 28 January 2026
Location: Online

To mark Data Privacy Day, the Information Commissioner’s Office is delivering a webinar for Members and their staff. This is your opportunity to find out more about data protection law, including:

  • How to deal with Subject Access Requests
  • When you can share constituents’ personal data
  • How to use generative AI in a compliant manner

There will also be lots of time to answer any questions you have.

The session will take place on Wednesday 28 January between 2pm and 3pm. You can book your place here.

If you can’t attend, there is advice about how to comply with your data protection obligations on ParliNet, including a link to dedicated e-learning.

Library Talk – The relationship between church and state

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Time: 1400 – 1500
Date: 11 December 2025
Location: Online via Teams
Sign up link: https://parliament.learningpool.com/mod/facetoface/view.php?id=8325

The relationship between church and state is a very old feature of the UK constitution but also little understood.

This Library talk will explore the historical foundations of the UK’s two established churches – England and Scotland – how their relationship with ‘the state’ has evolved over time and what the main obligations and benefits are today.

With the recent announcement of a new Archbishop of Canterbury, the talk will also explain the Lords Spiritual and the King’s role in appointing bishops and archbishops, as well as the Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland. It will also explain the role of Parliament in Church Measures and the status of ecclesiastical law.

House Services Fair – Sign up now open for talks and tours

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This year’s House Services Fair will take place from Tuesday 9 – Wednesday 10 December. The Fair is a fantastic opportunity to find out more about the brilliant work teams from across the House do every day to make Parliament happen.

Get involved 

  • Visit stalls in the Atrium and Customer Hub in Portcullis House from 10am-5pm: explore the wide range of services available to support you in your role. 
  • Attend talks, panel discussions and networking events in the Attlee Suite: hear from expert speakers on a range of interesting topics, take part in discussions, and connect with others. View the full programme of talks and book your place on Act. If you’re unable to attend in person, virtual attendance is available at most sessions. 
  • Experience exclusive ‘behind-the-scenes’ tours of Parliament: visit the Parliamentary Broadcasting Unit, meet the Postmaster for a tour of the Members’ mail sorting office, see the new Parliamentary Contact Centre in action and more! View the full programme of tours and book your place on Act. 

For more information visit ParliNet | Visit the House Service Fair

House Services Fair 2025

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Start: 10:00 on Tuesday 9 December 2025
Finish: 17:00 on Wednesday 10 December 2025
Location: House of Commons

The House Administration is delighted to be bringing back the House Services Fair this year, showcasing the services and support available from the House Administration.

The House Administration is delighted to be bringing back the House Services Fair this year, showcasing the services and support available from the House Administration. 

  • Visit stalls in the Portcullis House Atrium to learn about the wide range of support, services, and facilities available to you. 
  • Take part in a special programme of talks and Q&A sessions
  • Enjoy exclusive tours

Please note there is no booking required to visit the stalls. However, booking will be required for talks and tours. The full programme and information on how to book will be available closer to the event.

The House Services Fair is for Members and Members’ staff of the House of Commons, and colleagues from the House of Commons Administration and Joint Departments.  

For full details, please see here: https://parlinet.parliament.uk/events/2025/december/House_Services_Fair/