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).

Jump to:

Select committee inquiries launched in the last two weeks (since 25 May 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 three weeks (since 18 May 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”.

Fellowship: Insider Perspective

If you, or a colleague, are considering applying for the 2023 Ashok Kumar Fellowship (or another Fellowship) you can hear from Josh Fearns, who secured last year’s Ashok Kumar Fellowship. Josh will speak about his Fellowship experience, what it’s like to work in Parliament, and what he gained from the role. Josh will also talk about the application process and give tips for writing a briefing document. There will be time to ask questions about the Fellowship and the application process too.

The seminar will take place on Thursday 15 June at 12:00-13:00 hosted by IChemE. The Ashok Kumar Fellowship is a POST fellowship funded by both the IChemE and the Materials Processing Institute.

Why should I engage? Fellows at POST will have the opportunity to produce their own parliamentary briefing from start to finish. By the end of their time at POST, fellows will have learned how to write for policy-makers with balance, impartiality and succinctness. They will also have developed a unique understanding of Westminster, forged important relationships with key stakeholders, and delved into a novel and exciting topic of research.

More information: Find out more about the scheme here, read about previous fellows’ experiences here, and find out more about the impacts of participating in a fellowship here.   

Engage with the Scottish Parliament on the extra costs of disability

We love to support our Knowledge Exchange colleagues in the devolved legislatures and this week we have an opportunity to engage with the Scottish Parliament. 

The Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body is seeking to award a contract for research relating to the Scottish Social Justice and Social Security Committee’s Inquiry into the extra costs of disability. The Committee previously sought bidders for this research earlier in the year and are now calling for additional interest to be expressed as they have reframed the work programme and amended the deadline.

The Committee is seeking to get a better understanding of the extent to which social security disability benefits and other assistance compensates for the extra costs of disability, particularly in the context of the current high cost of living.  

The purpose of the research will be to form the basis of further work in scrutinising Scottish social security, considering the adequacy of social security benefits as well as considering other policy responses which might mitigate these extra costs. 

The research will explore the extra costs of disability, the drivers of these costs and the extent to which these are offset through disability benefits and other available support. This should have a particular focus on the variation in the scale and type of costs between individuals and the impact of the current increasing cost of living. The research will inform future committee discussion on the adequacy of disability benefits. 

While it is for bidders to identify suitable methodology, it may be that a number of case studies illustrating high, medium and low costs would be one way to explore the degree of variation in individual experiences.  

Apply: If you are interested you can obtain a ‘Quotation Pack’ which includes information on how to submit a quotation. Email academia@parliament.scot and quote Reference: 2023-24/01/SJSS to obtain your pack. 

The response deadline for quotes is 23:59 on Friday 7 July 2023.

Why should I engage? Direct calls enable researchers to showcase their research expertise and support decision making in the areas most useful to the Parliament. The research will contribute to understanding topical issues, and recommendations offered may be implemented and lead to real world impact or enhance parliamentary scrutiny functions. Direct calls support researchers to make connections at the heart of the devolved nation and network with the parliamentary teams who specialise in the topic area. This research will also inform further work to support Scottish social security scrutiny. 

More information: 
Find out about the Scottish Social Justice and Social Security Committee’s range of work.
Watch the latest Scottish Justice and Social Security Committee meetings. 

Contribute specialist knowledge to legislation

Are you interested in contributing specialist knowledge on the details within legislation that is being scrutinised by Parliament?

The House of Lords Secondary Legislation Scrutiny Committee examines the merits of regulations laid before both Houses of Parliament. The Committee recently published an annual report overviewing its work scrutinising 700 statutory instruments during 2022-23. 

The Knowledge Exchange Unit organised a recent seminar on scrutiny of secondary legislation. It explained the types of legislation and how both primary and secondary play an important role in the law-making process. 

Primary legislation are the main laws passed by the UK legislative bodies, including the UK Parliament, these are known as Acts of Parliament. They set out the broad rules relating to the law. Secondary legislation are laws created by ministers (or other bodies) under powers delegated by the enactment of primary legislation. They add detail to primary legislation and bring legislation up to date without having to pass new laws. For example, governments often use secondary legislation to ban new substances by adding them to a list under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. Statutory instruments are the most common form of secondary legislation.

So what?

Secondary legislation pads out the detail or directs the operation of primary legislation. If your research topic relates to secondary legislation currently before Parliament you may wish to write to the Committee to comment or make suggestions. This has to be done in a timely manner as there is usually only a one week window after a statutory instrument is laid for anyone to write to the Committee to make a comment.

More information:

Check the list of statutory instruments
Understand the different types of secondary legislation
Find out more about the work of the Secondary Legislation Scrutiny Committee
View all legislative scrutiny

Surf’s Up!

It’s World Ocean Day! A Westminster Hall debate will take place today on World Ocean Day. One of the purposes of this world day is to inform the public of the impact of human actions on the ocean, whereas the purpose of debates in Parliament is to assist MPs and Lords to reach an informed decision on a subject that affects the public.  

Westminster Hall debates may take place in response to a Petition, on a topic selected by the Backbench Business Committee, or on general matters that are important to MPs or their constituents. It’s an opportunity for an MP to raise local or national issues and receive a response from a government minister. Any MP can take part in a Westminster Hall debate. 

So what? 

Sometimes finding an interested ear for your research can feel like an uphill battle. Often a good place to start is at home – with your constituency MP. Engaging with your local MP is for everyone. MPs are elected to represent the interests of all their constituents, even those who didn’t vote for them.  

  • You could share your research with your local MP and explain why it’s important for Parliament to be aware of it.  
  • You could ask your MP to apply for a Westminster Hall debate on the topic. As a government minster attends all Westminster Hall debates the topic will also receive an official response. 
  • You could even watch the debate in Parliament in person.   

How’s that for the perfect set of waves? 

More information