What is a division? Where is the Lobby? What is the difference between a PPS, a PPC, an APPG and a POPTART? And, the greatest mystery of them all, just what exactly are the Lords doing when they are “at pleasure”?
One of the most overwhelming difficulties of starting a job in parliament can be coming to terms with the language, which quite often might as well be Swahili for a newcomer.
In an attempt to help the public connect with parliament, the Modernisation Committee made some changes to the language and procedures used around the place. For example, the procedure whereby Members wishing to raise a point of order used to have to wear a special hat, like a pirate, was abolished in 1998 to the dismay of the more fashionably (and piratically ) minded MPs of the time.
Similarly, ‘I spy strangers’ (formerly used to request that the House sit in private), ‘strangers’ being members of the public, was abolished in and replaced with the rather less romantic request that the ‘House sit in private’.
While there may be a certain smugness which emanates from being able to understand such obscurities, many feel that the use of such language further turns off an already disengaged public. Others argue it creates a sense of occasion and tradition and helps maintain dignified discussion.
The BBC also has a very good jargon-buster, called the A-Z of Parliament.
Parliament’s Education Service works with schools to support young people’s understanding of Parliament and democracy; they are here: https://learning.parliament.uk/en/
ES March 2013
Training
The main resource for training for Members’ Staff is The Members and Members’ Staff Services Team .
Courses take place online, on the Parliamentary Estate and regionally, and if a course of interest is not available at a convenient location or date, they will endeavour to accommodate specific requirements, subject to sufficient demand (12 delegates and above).
Courses are free of charge to all Members’ staff who are paid through IPSA’s staffing allowance and travel costs to training events can be met from the expenses scheme administered by IPSA.
The full course catalogue is available via Act – the Parliamentary learning management system. Some courses are advertised as being for House staff, but MPs’ staff can still sign up for some of them, such as some of the courses from Parliamentary Digital. If in doubt, please do contact L&D for advice.
If you see a course you’d like to do, but there isn’t a session advertised yet, please do put yourself on the waiting list so that the MMSST knows that people are interested. This will also ensure that you get a notification of when a session is available.
email: mmsst@parliament.uk
House of Commons Library
The House of Commons Library arranges inductions, training and events for MPs and MPs’ staff. Visit the Library’s website to find out more.
To receive information on all upcoming Commons Library training courses and events, sign up for email updates for MPs’ staff and bookmark the Library’s ACT page.
Latest Training Courses
Time: 1200-1300Date: Thursday 23 April 2026Location: Online via MS TeamsBooking: Sign up here – parliamentary account holders only Join us for a panel conversation with staff from the Speaker’s Office, as they discuss their roles, what goes on behind the chair, and how they make Parliament happen. This event is part of the programme of work…
Join the Meta team for a practical training session that will cover key best practices, safety and security features across Meta technologies. Whether you’re new to these tools or looking to strengthen your existing setup, you’ll leave with actionable next steps. Time: Noted added 15 April – it looks like this event has been changed…
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…
Time: 1030Date: Thursday 16 April 2026Location: Online via MS Teams With staff from the DVLA. For booking and further information, please see ACT.
IPSA year-end webinars will take place on: This webinar will explain what year-end is and outline the essential process that is required from MPs and Proxies at the financial year-end in order to finalise their staffing and business costs accounts accurately. Part of this webinar will be practical to demonstrate how to use IPSA Online…
Time: 1030 – 1130Date: Thursday 12 February 2026Location: Online via MS TeamsInformation and booking: https://parliament.learningpool.com/course/view.php?id=1953 With Tom Powell, Manjit Gheera and Rachael Harker from the Commons Library.
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Tagged briefings, casework, Casework Discussion Forum, Caseworker Discussion Forum, Commons Library, health, learning, library, mental health, research, training
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Time: 1100 – 1200Date: Tuesday 13 January 2025Location: Online via MS TeamsInformation and Booking: https://parliament.learningpool.com/course/view.php?id=1953 With Hannah Cromarty and Faye Greaves from the Commons Library.
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Tagged Acts of Parliament, casework, Casework Discussion Forum, Caseworker Discussion Forum, Commons Library, learning, library, Renters' Rights, research, training
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Time: 1400 – 1500Date: 11 December 2025Location: Online via TeamsSign 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…
Time: 1000 – 1200Date: 7 January 2026Location: Online via MS TeamsBooking: https://parliament.learningpool.com/course/view.php?id=2573 This is a joint workshop from the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman, Housing Ombudsman and Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) independently investigates complaints about the NHS, UK government departments, and other public organisations in England. Constituents…
Time: 1400 – 1500Date: 4 December 2025Location: Online via TeamsSign up link: https://parliament.learningpool.com/mod/facetoface/view.php?id=8324 County and district councils across England have been asked to present plans to Government to reorganise themselves into unitary authorities. Final proposals were due in on 28 November 2025. This talk looks at what we know about the plans that have been…
