On 30 September 2021, Gresham College broadcast a 1-hour lecture by Professor Leslie Thomas QC and David Neale.
It’s really worth watching as it gives an excellent background to the history of Britain’s immigration law which will be of interest to anyone who works as an MP’s caseworker, particularly those who process immigration casework.
Here’s the lecture summary:
“Commonwealth citizens once enjoyed the right to live, work and settle in the UK without any restrictions. But a racist backlash against Black and Asian immigration led to legislators introducing immigration controls in the Commonwealth Immigrants Act 1962, which were broadened by the Commonwealth Immigrants Act 1968 to deprive East African Asians of the right to settle in the UK. Its shameful successor, the Immigration Act 1971 continues to form the basis of our xenophobic immigration laws today.”
You can watch the lecture on Gresham College’s website here: https://www.gresham.ac.uk/lectures-and-events/immigration-act
The Members Services Team have some drop-in Q&A Sessions coming up:
This course aims to support the Member’s staff to build confidence and skills to deal with distressed callers. This is also an important part of new starters induction training.
Course Overview
- Module 1: Mental Health Awareness Session
- Module 2: Communication Skills
- Module 3: Suicide/serious self-harm calls
- Module 4: Difficult Calls
- Module 5: An open session for Q&A
Approach
Debriefing and support will be given on an individual basis by telephone/virtual calls after the sessions are completed sharing your contact details with the trainer.
Duration: 60 minutes x 5 modules over 5 days. Debriefing and support after the training (optional).
Please click here to see the full details and to book a place on the course or the waiting list: https://parliament.learningpool.com/course/view.php?id=1877
If you have difficulty in viewing the details or clicking on the booking link, please click on the ‘enrol’ button first.
Over the recess, PDS is still offering digital coaching sessions on a range of topics- including Teams, cyber security and office 365 (for both new starters and longstanding staff).
To book please see here. (Parliamentary network account required)
For 24/7 technical support the Support Desk is available as usual on 020 7219 2001.
This is a briefing / Q&A session from the Members’ Services Team.
National Audit Office (NAO) / Education Team
The National Audit Office is the nation’s independent spending watchdog. It reports to, and is funded by, Parliament to value for money reports on subjects ranging from HS2, Defence contracts, local authority finances, Covid-19, to environmental sustainability. In this session, Adrian Jenner and Sadie Smith from the NAO will give a brief overview on how they can assist Members’ staff with queries on major programmes and Departmental spending, and point them in the direction of resources which can assist with drafting speeches, briefing papers, articles, and constituency correspondence.
We will also hear from the Education and Engagement Outreach Team who do brilliant work organising events, tours and activities to promote the work of Parliament. They will provide an update on their work and give details of activities to help Members’ offices better engage with their constituencies.
If you would like to register a question ahead of the event, please email MST@parliament.uk. You will also be given the opportunity to ask questions during the session.
10:00 – 11:00
Tuesday 13 July 2021
To register, please go here: https://parliament.learningpool.com/mod/facetoface/view.php?id=4536
Members’ Staff Roadshows – Refreshed: Launch event for the North West region
The Members’ Services Team (MST) have recently taken ownership of the regional constituency events (or roadshows). We very much intend to return to face to face roadshows in due course, but in the meantime we have consulted MPs’ staff and other stakeholders on what our virtual roadshows might look like. We are therefore piloting a new type of virtual roadshow that will have two phases:
A short launch event on MS Teams, where the MST will ask you what you would like included in the roadshow. The first launch event is on Thursday 15th July at 09.30 for the North West region.
As well as constituency based staff, we want to hear from staff who work in Westminster, whose constituency is in the North West. If you work for an MP in this region, you will receive an email asking you to vote on whether you will attend, and if you vote yes, you will then receive an invite to the roadshow itself. At the launch event, you can let us know what subjects you would like to discuss, and which of the break-out groups we are planning will be beneficial for you. We will not be having presentations from House services, but staff from those services will be at both the launch event and the roadshow itself. Your views will be key and we really want to hear from you.
The actual roadshow event will then follow the launch event between 4-6 weeks later. For the North West region, the roadshow is on the 7th September at 09.30 and will be virtual.
It is really important that you register for the event, so please vote; and if you haven’t received an email, please contact mst@parliament.uk.
The next event will be for staff working for MPs in Scotland, and further details will follow.
See more here: https://intranet.parliament.uk/business-news/news-current-issues/news/2021/july/refreshed-members-staff-roadshows-launch-event-for-the-north-west-region/
The Registrar of Members’ Financial Interests runs workshops for Members and their staff on the following subjects together with the next available dates.
‘Openness and Registering Members’ Financial Interests’, covering:
- How to help your Member register and declare interests
- The rules on paid lobbying by MPs
- How and when to register your own interests
Thursday 1 July 2021 at 2pm
‘How to Support an All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG)’, covering:
- Register entries
- APPG Secretariats (volunteers, Members’ staff, outside organisations)
- Members and Officers
- Meetings (including AGMs, inaugrals and other formal meetings)
- Transparency and records, including APPG websites
- Income and expenditure statements
Thursday 1 July 2021 at 11am
Booking required. Please contact CommonsRegistrar@parliament.uk to book a place.
This session, aimed at MPs and their HR proxies, is run by the Members’ HR Advice Service to supplement the Best Practice Guide to Office Restructures.
The session will provide information about how to manage restructuring the office when you are considering reorganising your staffing resources to respond to changing priorities. It will cover employer responsibilities and provide practical advice about the best practice approach to managing the restructure process effectively. This will help you to ensure staff are treated fairly, properly consulted, and supported.
More information about the support available from the Members’ HR Advice Service will also be provided
See here for further information and booking:
1 July 2021 – 10:00 – 10:45 – https://parliament.learningpool.com/mod/facetoface/view.php?id=4439
The Registrar of Members’ Financial Interests runs workshops for Members and their staff on the following subjects together with the next available dates.
‘Openness and Registering Members’ Financial Interests’, covering:
- How to help your Member register and declare interests
- The rules on paid lobbying by MPs
- How and when to register your own interests
Thursday 17 June 2021 at 2pm
Thursday 1 July 2021 at 2pm
‘How to Support an All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG)’, covering:
- Register entries
- APPG Secretariats (volunteers, Members’ staff, outside organisations)
- Members and Officers
- Meetings (including AGMs, inaugrals and other formal meetings)
- Transparency and records, including APPG websites
- Income and expenditure statements
Thursday 17 June 2021 at 12.30pm
Thursday 1 July 2021 at 11am
Booking required. Please contact CommonsRegistrar@parliament.uk to book a place.
This session, aimed at MPs and their HR proxies, is run by the Members’ HR Advice Service to supplement the Best Practice Guide to Office Restructures.
The session will provide information about how to manage restructuring the office when you are considering reorganising your staffing resources to respond to changing priorities. It will cover employer responsibilities and provide practical advice about the best practice approach to managing the restructure process effectively. This will help you to ensure staff are treated fairly, properly consulted, and supported.
More information about the support available from the Members’ HR Advice Service will also be provided
See here for further information and booking:
17 June 2021 – 10:00 – 10:45 – https://parliament.learningpool.com/mod/facetoface/view.php?id=4438
1 July 2021 – 10:00 – 10:45 – https://parliament.learningpool.com/mod/facetoface/view.php?id=4439
