1. Ruth Fox & Matt Korris r.fox@hansard.lse.ac.uk m.korris@hansard.lse.ac.uk A Fresh Start? The Orientation and Induction of New MPs at Westminster Following the Parliamentary Expenses Scandal

2. A Fresh Start At Westminster? Recovering from the expenses crisis Expected large turnover of MPs Role of parties and independent bodies

3. A Year in the Life 2005 study – critical of the induction provision 2010: 3 surveys, interviews / focus groups 3 comparative studies –National Assembly for Wales –Scottish Parliament –Dail Eireann (in partnership with Dr Mary Murphy, University of Cork)

4. © UK Parliament Information pack – New Members’ Guidebook The 4 P’s: Passes Post PC’s Pay (IPSA) Chamber Briefing Orientation

5. Induction Flexible timing: rolling programme of briefings Multiple formats: on-line podcasts & downloads Road-tested Presentation skills training Piloted aspects of it on by-election winners Opportunity for party’s to comment BUT – just 19% of new MPs attended a session

6. Difficulty of getting it ‘just right’ Balancing the ‘Must-Haves’ & ‘Business as Usual’ Vary the delivery: more experiential, role-play & simulation & fewer ‘talking heads’ Action oriented: link the national to the local Time management & ‘learning how to say ‘no’’ Independent partners providing sessions – who and about what? Who is responsible for areas like ‘ethics’?

7. MPs in ‘learning’ mode? Lack of time / competing pressures Confidence or arrogance? High levels of perceived knowledge on arrival in Parliament Greatest sources of advice / influence are peer- group – current and former MPs

8. Preparing for office How much, if anything, do you feel you know about how each of the following work? (a great deal/a fair amount)

9. Sources of knowledge Where did you acquire your knowledge of Parliament and government? From my party 59% Research in my own time 56% Formal education 46% Previous employment 41%

10. Sources of advice Pre- Post- election Current MPs 90% 98% Former MPs 61% 49% Party officials 48% 42% Friends/family 27% 25%

11. Needs for future learning 64% - procedural issues 45% - how government works 45% - IPSA’s expenses system 41% - government finance 38% - time management 31% - managing staff 31% - data protection / freedom of information

12. Continuing Professional Development (CPD)? Only half (49%) of the MPs in our study believe they should undertake some form of CPD BUT Of those (56%) who had prior experience of CPD, 70% thought MPs should have undertake it

13. What Might Help In Future? Mentors –Greater use of peer-group: MPs / former MPs Engage class of 2010 to help plan for 2015 More positive engagement by parties – importance of locating ‘critical actors’ well in advance of the election

14. For further information about the A Year in the Life study and our other related research, see: www.hansardsociety.org.uk

15. Ruth Fox & Matt Korris r.fox@hansard.lse.ac.uk m.korris@hansard.lse.ac.uk A Fresh Start? The Orientation and Induction of New MPs at Westminster Following the Parliamentary Expenses Scandal