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 19 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 in the last two weeks (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.   

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”.

Submit a proposal to the Health and Social Care Committee for its prevention of ill health inquiry

The Health and Social Care Committee has launched an inquiry into the prevention of ill health. In the first stage of the inquiry, the Committee are inviting researchers, organisations and individuals interested in, or working in, preventative healthcare to suggest what specific issues it should explore. 

Inquiry proposals should outline, in no more than 750 words, the nature of the issue that the Committee should explore, why it deserves attention from the Committee now, and how Government policy in this area could be developed or improved. 

The topics that the inquiry could seek to cover include:

  • Upstream prevention, including genomic sequencing 
  • Obesity and physical activity
  • Smoking
  • Alcohol use
  • Mental health 
  • Healthy environments 
  • Healthy homes and workplaces 
  • Disease prevention 

This is not an exhaustive list and submitters are welcome to send proposals that cover other topics relevant to prevention. 

The Committee will choose a selection of proposals to take forward. If your proposal is shortlisted you will be contacted by Committee staff. Proposals will be published on the Committee’s website. 

The deadline to submit your proposal is Wednesday 8 February 2023. 

Find out more information about the ‘Prevention in Health and Social Care inquiry’ and how to submit a 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 Health and Social Care Committee. Read more about the ‘Prevention in Health and Social Care‘ inquiry and submit your proposal for an inquiry

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

Apply to be a Specialist Adviser on the National Policy Statement for National Networks 

The Transport Committee is seeking a Specialist Adviser for prospective committee scrutiny of the draft National Policy Statement for National Networks. 

As a Specialist Adviser, you will be working with Committee staff on an ad-hoc basis to provide authoritative advice in relation to this subject. Work demands from the Committee may be irregular and occasionally unpredictable. Only in exceptional circumstances would you be asked to do more than two days’ work in a particular week, and it would normally be less than this. The Committee expects a total commitment of up to 10 days over the course of the inquiry on the draft policy statement. You would be paid on a daily fee based on work done, as well as connected, necessary expenses. 

The Committee values diversity and encourages applications from people from a wide range of backgrounds. 

To find out more about the Committee, the kind of work involved in the role, the knowledge and skills required, and how to apply, visit the Transport Committee webpage on this opportunity.  

The deadline for applications is 5pm on Thursday 2 February 2023.

Why should I engage? Being a special adviser provides a great opportunity to work closely with a committee, informing its work and approach to an inquiry – such as inquiry focus, selection of oral witnesses, and report development and conclusions. Find out more about why to engage with Parliament here. And find more on engagement for impact here.

More information: watch a short video with researchers who’ve been specialist advisers talking about their experience  

Meet the Backbench Business Committee

On Thursday 26 January, the House of Commons will hold a debate to mark Holocaust Memorial Day. This debate was put forward by Sajid Javid to the Backbench Business Committee. 

The House of Commons Backbench Business Committee gives backbench MPs the opportunity to bring forward debates of their choice. The Committee has a limited allocation of time in which it can schedule debates in the House of Commons Chamber, and backbench MPs can suggest what subjects are debated during this time. 

MPs can put forward debates on any subject. The subjects can be local, national or international issues, and the issues may have been suggested by the MP’s constituents. 

The Committee hold a weekly public meeting, where MPs can make a case for a debate on their subject. If successful, the Committee will allocate a debate on that subject. 

So what?

A key part of an MP’s role is to represent their constituents, and UK residents can contact their local MP with their thoughts, concerns and suggestions for topics they would like to see raised at Parliament. Introduce yourself, and your research, to raise awareness of your work and to shape their views on an issue. Your work may be referenced in a Commons debate or select committee evidence session, and it could even lead to your local MP putting forward a debate on the subject to the Backbench Business Committee.

Recordings and transcripts of the weekly meeting of the Backbench Business Committee can be viewed online, and these resources can be used to identify MPs who have an interest in your field of study.