research

Library/NAO talk: Unlocking land for housing

Standard

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

Standard

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

Standard

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

Library Talk: Representation of the People Bill

Standard

Need a refresher on the Representation of the People Bill? As the bill is carried over into the next parliamentary session, this talk can help you get the facts on the main points of the bill, key changes at committee and more.

Time: 10:30 – 11:30
Date: Tuesday 9 June 2026
Location: Online via Teams
Booking: https://parliament.learningpool.com/mod/facetoface/view.php?id=9727

The House Magazine’s Lord Cormack Fellowship

Standard

Applications for this amazing opportunity for aspiring political journalists are now open, and the deadline for applications is 22 June 2026.

Total Politics Group is proud to announce the return of the Lord Cormack Fellowship, a paid editorial and political journalism fellowship with The House magazine, Parliament’s independent and cross-party publication.

The fellowship is named in honour of Lord Patrick Cormack, the late politician, author and journalist who co-founded The House. Generously supported by his family, the scheme reflects Lord Cormack’s deep-rooted values of editorial impartiality, cross-party collaboration, and respect for the institution of Parliament.

The Lord Cormack Fellowship is open to individuals over the age of 18 and will run from July 6 to August 7 2026; it has been designed to be fully accessible. The selected fellow will be paid the London Living Wage during the first week in London, with accommodation provided by the Royal Foundation of St Katharine for those who require it. The fellow will also receive our standard freelance fee for any work published in the magazine.

Please see here for full details: The House Magazine’s Lord Cormack Fellowship

Evidence Week 2026 – from 6 July 2026

Standard

Bitesize online training sessions for parliamentary staff, provided by the UK’s leading experts including the House of Commons Library, ONS and OSR.

For more information and registration for these sessions, please visit the Evidence Week website

Monday 6 July
Modern information warfare 14:00 – 14:45 (online)
How to combat disinformation in the digital age with the House of Commons Library.

Tuesday 7 July
Use, understand and present numbers well in your work 14:00 – 14:45 (online)
Find out how the Code of Practice for Statistics can help – with the Office for Statistics Regulation.

Wednesday 8 July
Risk Know-How 14:00 – 14:45 (online)
How to understand and present risks effectively with Risk Know-How.

Thursday 9 July
Are you using a reliable survey? 11:00 – 11:45 (online)
How to spot trustworthy survey data with the National Centre for Social Research.

AI fakes 14:00 – 14:45 (online)
What to check with Full Fact.

Friday 10 July
How could changes in different industries and products affect the UK economy? 11:00 – 11:45 (online)
Get trained to use the unique UK calculator with the Office for National Statistics.

How to use spatial insights 14:00 – 14:45 (online)
Access to geographic data that can help address local challenges with Smart Data Research UK.

Research from POST

Standard

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?

Library talk: The 1926 general strike

Standard

Time: 1400-1500
Date: Thursday 7 May 2026
Location: Online via MS Teams

The 1926 general strike: an ‘unconstitutional’ act or legitimate industrial action?  

To mark the centenary of a landmark event in British politics (and the publication of a new book), this talk will explore the background to the strike, its legacy and legality.  

Book your place on Act.

Members’ Office Management Call – 22 April 2026

Standard

This call will discuss Internships with Department for Trade and Business and Members HR.

There will also be the regular weekly updates from the Parliamentary Digital Service, the Parliamentary Security Department, the Human Resources Team, IPSA, and the House of Commons Library.

Time: 1100
Date: Wednesday 22 April 2026
Location: online via MS Teams
How to join: email MMSST@parliament.uk citing your role and the member you work for, and ask to be added to the mailing list and receive an invitation to the weekly call

*** Please note that this call is only for those in an office management role within an MP’s office.

POLITICO PRO UK: Parliamentary access

Standard

MPs and staffers can receive POLITICO Pro U.K. newsletters as part of the corporate license at no additional cost. Join the subscription to get instant access to:

  • U.K. Pro Energy & Climate
  • U.K. Pro Trade
  • U.K. Pro Technology
  • U.K. Pro Financial Services
  • The Ex Files (Everything Brexit related)

At no additional cost. Join hundreds of your colleagues who are already taking advantage of our exclusive intelligence.  Sign up now.

The coverage provides:

  • Real-time alerts – Be the first to know about breaking policy developments, regulatory changes, amendments, consultations and political shifts, helping you to move quickly and confidently.
  • Regular briefings – Cut through the noise with concise round-ups summarising what’s happening, why it matters and what’s coming next, giving you clear, actionable insight.
  • Forward-looking intelligence – Stay ahead with insight on upcoming legislation, regulatory moves, political strategy and stakeholder activity – and what it means for Parliament.