These opportunities have been compiled by UK Parliament’s Knowledge Exchange Unit (KEU).

Take a look at the KEU’s webhub of information and resources for researchers. 

These opportunities and resources have been sent to members of the KEU’s informal network for knowledge mobilisers, for circulation to the research community (find out more about the network).

Select committee inquiries launched in the last seven days (since 1 December 2022)

Please click the title of any inquiry listed below to be taken to a summary of that inquiry and the full call for evidence.
Remember that you don’t have to answer every question posed in each call for evidence. And you can also explore all select committee inquiries currently open for submissions of written evidence.

Select committee inquiries launched in the last 2 weeks (since 24 November 2022)

Please click the title of any inquiry listed below to be taken to a summary of that inquiry and the full call for evidence. 

Why should I engage? Submitting evidence to a select committee can lead to further engagement, such as an invitation to give oral evidence. Your submission will be published on the Committee webpage. Your insights may inform the Committee’s conclusions or recommendations it makes to the Government. Find out more about why to engage with Parliament. You can also read more on engagement for impact.

More information: Explore all select committee inquiries currently open for submissions of written evidence. 

Support resources: Find guidance on submitting evidence to select committees on the KEU’s ‘how to guides’ page. Watch our 30 minute online training session “How to work with select committees”.

Get some House of Commons Library Insights

House of Commons Library Insights are online articles which provide timely, need to know information on current issues. The impartial and authoritative articles are written by Library subject specialists and are designed to keep readers up to speed quickly. 

Subjects of recent Library insights include: the background to Irish independence and how it impacted the UK, the recent Supreme Court judgement on a Scottish independence referendum and an examination of how a place becomes a city. 

Read these, and other Insights articles, on the House of Commons Library website. 

Why should I engage? The work of the House of Commons Library is guided by the interests of Members of Parliament, and the topics that are being debated in Parliament. These articles will also provide an insight into how Members are briefed on a topic. Insights are also an interesting and useful way to get impartial and informative guidance on topics of the day. 

More information: Find out more about the work of the House of Commons Library. Watch the Knowledge Exchange Unit Online training videos which provides more information about the House of Commons Library 

Spotlight on Select Committees

Each week we promote inquiries that have been launched by select committees, and in today’s round-up we want to provide a brief refresher of how committees work. 

House of Commons select committees are groups of MPs from different political parties whose role is to examine a particular area of Government. For example, the Foreign Affairs Committee examine the work of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. House of Lords select committees examine specific areas of policy. 

Committees run inquiries on specific topics, and an inquiry typically includes:

  1. Inviting written evidence from organisations, academics, charities, and members of the public. To guide submissions, the Committee will publish a list of questions- called a ‘terms of reference’- that they would like guidance on. 
  2. The Committee hold oral evidence sessions. During these sessions the Committee will invite individuals to answer questions from Members of the committee, and they typically take place at Parliament. The written evidence is used to write the questions and to identify potential witnesses. 
  3. The Committee use the evidence to write a report with conclusions and recommendations on the issues. The report is sent to the Government, who have two months to respond. 

Further information about how Committees work can be found on the UK Parliament website. 

Why should I engage? Submitting evidence to a select committee can lead to further engagement, such as an invitation to give oral evidence. Your submission will be published on the Committee webpage. Your insights may inform the Committee’s conclusions or recommendations it makes to the Government. Find out more about why to engage with Parliament. You can also read more on engagement for impact.

More information: Find guidance on submitting evidence to select committees on the KEU’s ‘how to guides’ page. Watch our 30 minute online training session “How to work with select committees”.

Do they know it’s Christmas time at all? 

Oliver Cromwell is famously remembered for disliking Christmas festivities and celebrations. In 1656, during the second Parliament of Cromwell’s protectorate, the House of Commons sat for debates on Christmas day. The topics covered included the holding of sheriff’s courts in Wiltshire and the reforestation of the Forest of Dean. During the debates- which were sparsely attended- Members express regret that a significant part of the population had taken the day off. 

So what?
Parliament is not expected to sit on Christmas day this year. However, you can use the ‘What’s on at UK Parliament’ page to find out the days that Parliament is sitting. The calendar can also be used as a guide for what topics are being debated in the House of Commons and House of Lords Chamber, and what topics are being scrutinised by select committees that week. 

Note on this round-up

If you have been forwarded this email and would like to get it yourself, you can subscribe directly to receive our weekly email round-up of opportunities for the research community to engage with UK Parliament. These opportunities can include calls for evidence from select committees, academic fellowship opportunities, requests for expertise from Parliament and more. You will receive the round-up each Thursday morning, with some exceptions such as parliamentary recess. 
If you consider yourself a knowledge mobiliser, find out how to join our informal network of knowledge mobilisers. This is a network of people whose role includes sharing research from their institution with other sectors, or supporting researchers to share their research.