1. Parliament and Research Birkbeck University October 2015 @UKParlOutreach

2. Parliament’s Outreach Service a free service from the Houses of Parliament politically neutral aims to increase knowledge and engagement with work and processes of Parliament @UKParlOutreach

3. Session objectives By the end of this session, you will know: what Parliament is what Parliament does the ways your research could be used at Parliament how to present your research effectively at Parliament @UKParlOutreach

4. What is Parliament? House of CommonsHouse of Lords The Monarch

5. The core tasks of Parliament Makes and passes laws (Legislation) Holds Government to account Enables the Government to set taxes @UKParlOutreach

7. Parliament (Westminster) Commons, Lords and Monarch holds Government to account passes laws Government (Whitehall) some MPs and some Lords, chosen by the Prime Minister runs Government departments and public services @UKParlOutreach

8. Your MP’s contact details will be on the Parliament website: www.parliament.ukwww.parliament.uk You can find information there on your MP’s past speeches and areas of interest Write letter/e-mail to your MP to introduce your concerns You can also call the House of Commons Information Office on 020 7219 4272 Contacting your MP

9. You can call the House of Lords Information Office on 020 7219 3107 Identify Peers who will support your campaign Biographies of all Peers are available at www.parliament.uk www.parliament.uk Members of the House of Lords do not have constituencies, so in theory, you can contact any member Contacting Members of the Lords

10. Passage of a Bill

11. Key Bills this session EU Referendum Bill Full Employment and Welfare Benefits Bill National Insurance Contributions and Finance Bill Childcare Bill Housing Bill Immigration Bill

12. Select Committees Scrutinise specific areas of work and Government Departments Groups and individuals can submit evidence to inquiries Relevant Government Department must respond to the reports they produce

13. @UKParlOutreach

14. Key points Committees choose own subjects Inquiries are based on evidence received Programmes are flexible No checklists or templates Different outputs Independence of staff

15. Tasks of Select Committees Examine Government policy proposals and deficiencies Examine department’s actions and administration Monitor associated public bodies Scrutinise major appointments Scrutinise draft bills Examine the implementation of legislation

16. The inquiry process 4. Report publication 5. Government reply 3. Report preparation 1. Inquiry initiation 2. Evidence gathering

17. Choosing subjects Member preference Topical/media/pressure groups Fulfilment of core tasks Staff input – Scoping – Terms of reference

18. Modes of working Discuss informally Hear oral evidence Ask for written evidence Go on visits – UK and overseas Produce reports & recommendations (Set up sub-committees)

19. Sources of information COMMITTEE STAKEHOLDERS WITNESSES Members’ knowledge Scrutiny Unit National Audit Office Specialist advisers LibraryMediaPOST

20. All-Party Parliamentary Groups Cross-party MPs and Members of the House of Lords Based around common interest  Not involved in formal decision making

21. Questions?

22. @UKParlOutreach How does Parliament use research? House of Commons Library House of Lords Library Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology (POST) House of Commons Select Committees House of Lords Select Committees Public Bill Committees

23. Parliament and academia: how MPs access and use research

24. Introduction: David Hough: –Enquiry Executive, Commons Library –Science & Environment –Economic Policy & Statistics –Department of Finance Researcher 7 years experience in Parliament 22 years senior manager, British Gas 10 years director economic consultancy

25. Why well-informed parliamentarians? Hold Government to account – scrutinise Government departments’ work- based on good evidence Suggest and scrutinise legislation Represent constituents Pursue ‘issues’

26. Who don’t we work for? Balancing the briefing Library and Committee staff work for backbench and opposition MPs. Ministers have hundreds of civil servants behind them. Front-bench spokespeople do not serve on Committees (by convention)

27. Sources of information... The Libraries POST Select Committees Lobbyists All-Party Groups Constituents MPs’ own researchers Party ‘machine’ Government via PQs

28. The Commons Library Research Service For Commons Members (not Peers, and not ex-Members!) For all parties 60 subject specialists, 8 subject areas Science & Environment Section = –8 scientists, one medic and one economist (6 FTE) –3 resource staff (information professionals, admin staff)

29. What is our work used for? Opposition Front Bench team Hold Government to account Backbenchers – –Scrutinising legislation –Debates (debate packs) –Media appearances –Constituents, surgeries –Specialist interests Select Committees Other Parliaments’ Members

30. Main ‘outputs’ Confidential briefings for MPs; 250 a month 70% of all MPs commission work from SES Publish 100+ ‘briefing notes' on internet each year Twice weekly ‘current awareness’ email to over 100 subscribers Personal briefings – e.g. new Opposition spokespersons Library Briefing Papers

31. When is academic and scientific research useful? Nuclear technologies Climate change Energy storage technology Biomass Fracking and shale gas Energy market competition Oil and gas enhanced recovery Energy efficiency Fuel poverty

32. Engaging with the Library Keep in touch with individual Library Specialists – let them know about research developments Follow the Library or SES on Twitter @CommonsSES Research Council funded internships in the future. Specialists can be a conduit for getting information to policy makers Library and Committee staff are now co-located – a big group of specialists

33. What is POST? An office of both Houses of Parliament providing MPs and peers with balanced and independent analysis of public policy issues that have a basis in science and technology

34. Scientists in Parliament? Much of what Parliament does has a science basis Most parliamentarians are not scientists So parliament employs scientists to assist MPs and Peers POST is one of Parliament’s sources of information on S&T- related issues

35. What POST does POST is funded by Parliament to provide impartial information on S&T issues Do this by publishing: POST notes: 4 pages, (~30 per year); reports, up to 100 pages (1 per year); these aim to be balanced, timely, comprehensive & relevant Assist select committees on S&T related inquiries Organise parliamentary events and seminars Other science communication (run fellowship schemes, liaise with UK science community)

36. Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology: POSTNotes http://www.parliament.uk/post http://www.parliament.uk/post Each note takes 3-4 months Interviews with around 15 experts Examples of notes: 422 - Mental Health and the WorkplaceMental Health and the Workplace 421 - Measuring WellbeingMeasuring Wellbeing 420 - Advanced ManufacturingAdvanced Manufacturing 419 - Water Resource ResilienceWater Resource Resilience 418 - Balancing Nature and Agriculture Balancing Nature and Agriculture 417 - Energy Use Behaviour ChangeEnergy Use Behaviour Change

37. Further information contacts www.parliament.uk www.parliament.uk/ecc http://www.parliament.uk/m ps-lords-and- offices/offices/commons/com monslibrary/http://www.parliament.uk/m ps-lords-and- offices/offices/commons/com monslibrary/ http://www.parliament.uk/po sthttp://www.parliament.uk/po st http://commonslibraryblog.c om/http://commonslibraryblog.c om/ –Twitter: @CommonsSES –@commonslibrary –@UKParliament Or get in touch: houghd@parliament.uk