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 12 January 2023)

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 since 15 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. 

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”.

Contribute to the International Development Committee’s new Area of Research Interests 

The House of Commons International Development Committee has updated its Areas of Research Interest to support the Committee’s scrutiny of the UK’s international development strategy and funding. 

Areas of Research Interest (ARIs) are lists of policy issues or questions. They are a way for select committees to express interest in seeing more research evidence in certain topics.

This ARI comes with several specific areas of interest aiming to further break down the broad area. These include:

  • evaluating the impact of UK aid spending, as well as the UK spending through development finance institutions,
  • the availability and quality of data on the UK Government’s contribution to international development,
  • the impact of in-country refugee costs on wider UK Official Development Assistance (ODA) effectiveness. 

This updates the Area of Research Interest published by the International Development Committee in 2021, on changes to the UK aid budget. The information provided by academics and other experts on existing and forthcoming research, and suggested scrutiny questions, helped to inform the Committee’s work and subsequent inquiries.

Academics at all career stages, research institutions, and experts are encouraged to register their interest in these ARIs, add their existing research in the topic areas to the ARI repository, provide their insights, and suggest questions that the Committee could be asking the Government.

Register your expertise and research insights on UK International development funding

Why should I engage? ARIs, and the research and insights which you contribute in response to them, help to support committees’ scrutiny of government. When you register on the repository, parliamentary staff will be able to access your research to inform their work. They may also contact you when they are seeking experts to contribute to the committee’s work. Find out more about why to engage with Parliament. You can also read more on engagement for impact.

More information: Find out more about the ARI on International Development Funding and register your expertise and research interests.

Can you suggest a topic for the Transport Committee to investigate? 

The Transport Committee has launched an open call for topics of inquiry. The ‘Our Future Transport inquiry‘ invites proposals from researchers and innovative thinkers on what the Committee should investigate next and why, including what action is needed from the Government.

The Committee are keen to receive ideas from a wide range of experts, researchers and thinkers about technology and trends that they may not have come across before, and innovations that those with knowledge of the sector think deserve more attention. 

A shortlist of people who have submitted proposals will be invited to pitch their idea to MPs on the Committee in a formal session. The winning proposal will form the basis of a new inquiry by the Committee.

The deadline to submit your proposal for an inquiry topic (no more than 500 words!) is 12 noon on Monday 6 February 2023. 

Find out more information about the ‘Our Future Transport’ inquiry, and how to submit your proposal. 

Why should I engage? Select committees scrutinise the work of Government through inquiries, which gather evidence and put forward recommendations to Government on a particular issue. This is a chance to shape the work of the Science and Technology Committee, and provoke scrutiny of a particular aspect of the Government’s work. Find out more about why to engage with Parliament. You can also read more on engagement for impact.

More information: Find out more about the work of the Transport Committee. Read more about the ‘Our Future Transport Inquiry‘ and submit your proposal for an inquiry. 

Support resources: Watch our 30 minute online training session “How to work with select committees”.

Objection! Withdraw!

During House of Commons debates, MPs use thousands of words to scrutinise Government policy and to discuss the issues of the day. However, there are some words that MPs are not able to use. Unparliamentary language are words and phrases that break the rules of politeness in the House of Commons Chamber. If an MP uses unparliamentary language they may be asked to withdraw the comment by the House of Commons Speaker, and refusal to do so can result in the MP being disciplined. Words that have previously drawn objection from the Speaker include coward, hooligan, liar, miserable pipsqueak, rat, stupid cow and traitor. 

So what?

Every word spoken in the House of Commons- unparliamentary language included- is recorded and transcribed in the official Parliamentary report, known as Hansard. Transcripts are available to view, for free, on the Hansard website, 48 hours after a session. Researchers can use these transcripts to read about debates and evidence sessions that relate to their specialism as well as identify MPs and Peers who have an interest in their field of expertise, and consequently, their research. You can find debates using keywords and dates.