Select committees currently accepting written evidence (compiled 2 April 2025)

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.

New calls for evidence:

All other inquiries currently accepting written evidence:

Job Opportunity: Senior Researcher (Energy)

The Research and Information team is looking to appoint a Senior Researcher in Energy to join the Science and Environment Section (SES) in the House of Commons Library. SES briefs MPs and their staff on topics such as energy, climate change, agriculture, flooding, telecommunications, planning, artificial intelligence, science and technology, medicine and public health.

The core work of the role will involve providing briefings for MPs and their staff on a wide range of energy topics including large scale energy infrastructure, energy efficiency, consumer energy bills, energy trading and markets. Support and training will be provided to build skills and subject knowledge of planning policy if necessary. As a Senior Researcher, you will provide written and oral briefings on legislation and topical issues, in response to specific enquiries from Members and their staff. You will prepare and publish new briefing papers as required, collaborating with colleagues when appropriate. You will also support the broader work of the Science and Environment Section, which may include research work on any of the subjects covered by the team.

There are two virtual information sessions scheduled on MS Teams for you to find out more about this role and working at Parliament.

These sessions will be on:

  • Friday 4 April at 12:00 – 13:00
  • Tuesday 8 April at 13:30 – 14:30

To register to attend, please book your slot via Eventbrite here.

This is a permanent, full-time (or full time/job share), hybrid position. Salary £56,180 – £66,497. 

You can find out more about the role and how to apply here. The deadline for applications is Tuesday 15 April 2025, 23:55.

Reminders

  • The KEU are looking for an Arts and Humanities Research Fellow. This 12-month Research Fellowship (minimum 3 days a week) is kindly funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council. It is open to junior researchers or knowledge exchange professionals with research skills who are employed by a university or one of UKRI’s Eligible Independent Research Organisations or Research Institutes. In this role, you will develop and deliver a mixed-methods research project, culminating in the production of a report for policy audiences and an academic journal article for the research community. This will help establish and evidence the use of arts and humanities research in the UK Parliament and more broadly, make a valuable contribution in an area where there is a lack of evidence. We ran a virtual information session on 26 March and will be sharing the session recording in this round-up and on our website in the next couple of weeks. You can find more information about the role, including information on how to apply here. The deadline for applications is 23:55, Tuesday 6 May.
  • POST and the British Psychology Society (BPS) are offering a 13-week fellowship to PhD students in a psychology-related subject and who are a Member of the British Psychological Society. The successful applicant will be based in UK Parliament supporting its use of research evidence. The fellowship lasts 13 weeks (full-time) or longer if part-time. It may be undertaken remotely, at POST’s offices in Westminster, or under hybrid working arrangements. The successful applicant will start their fellowship by January 2026 or by April 2026. The opportunity will be funded by the BPS and successful candidates will receive a one-off stipend payment of £7,922.50. Read the application guidance document for more information. Application deadline: Sunday 4 May at 11.59pm.
  • The Energy Security and Net Zero Committee is inviting applications for a specialist adviser to support its inquiries into energy policy. Visit the committee’s webpage to read the full information about the specialist adviser role. Deadline to respond: Friday 11 April 2025, at 12pm (midday).
  • The Scottish Parliament is currently seeking fellows for three project areas. They are also inviting bids for their open call. The deadline for submitting bids for all fellowships is 5pm, Friday 18 April 2025.Find out more here: Academic Fellowship Scheme | Scottish Parliament Website
  • The Scottish Parliament has launched its first Areas of Research Interest (ARIs), focusing on supporting access to research expertise linked to climate change. They are currently inviting members of the research community to register their expertise.

And you thought the Walking Bus was invented by primary schools 

Lots of the practices in Parliament are centuries old traditions. Did you know that, when the House rises, two Doorkeepers (one behind the Speaker’s chair and one in Members’ lobby) simultaneously shout “Who goes home?” 

This is often explained as an invitation to Members to join together to cross what – in the past – were the dangerous unlit fields between Westminster and the City of London, or to hire boats homeward on the Thames as a party in order to save the individual fares.  

So what? 

We can take a lesson out the book of our former MPs: it’s good to stick together, particularly if you’re feeling a bit afraid.  

For our readers who consider themselves as junior researchers, or not far enough along in their careers to be influencing policy and scrutiny, we tend to disagree.  

We are sure you’ve got something to say: if you’ve done a PhD literature review on your topic then you know more than most on it; ergo, you are an expert and have something to say. 

However, perhaps you don’t feel confident enough to step out on your own. That’s okay. Step out with colleagues. It is totally fine to draft joint policy briefings, blogs, or committee evidence submissions. In fact, it’s better than fine; it’s great. With multiple names to a report, you are making a stronger case for your submission and indicating there is (at least some) consensus.