Select committees currently accepting written evidence (compiled 5 August 2025)

New calls for evidence:

All other inquiries currently accepting written evidence:

*Please note that contributing to the Fan-Led Review of Music involves completing a survey rather than submitting written 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 here. And find more on engagement for impact here.  

What should I expect? All evidence will be read and taken into consideration, but you may not receive a direct response from us or the Committee. To stay informed, we encourage you to follow the progress on the respective committee / inquiry webpages.

More information: all inquiries currently accepting evidence are found here 
Guidance on submitting evidence to Commons select committees
Guidance on submitting evidence to Lords select committees

How to contribute to a POSTnote

Contributing to one of POST’s research projects or suggesting an emerging topic is a great way of feeding your research and expertise into the policy making process.

The evidence POST receives are used widely by parliamentarians and parliamentary staff, and helps to improve the functioning of Parliament. Contributing to POST research can also lead to research impact as understood in the context of the Research Excellence Framework.

How do I contribute?

Contributing to a POSTnote has never been easier. All you need to do is fill out a short form to share your details with the team. The form asks for the following information:

  • Name, job title, and email address
  • Whether you are submitting as an individual or part of a group, and a link to your research profile
  • Brief summaries of your expertise, and key issues relevant to the POSTnote
  • Information about what stakeholder group represents you (i.e. whether you are submitting, for example, as an individual, an academic, an industry professional, etc.)
  • Where you heard about the opportunity

The relevant forms are linked in the description of each research topic below, and on the POST website.

What happens next?

POST will carefully consider the information you supply. Any information used will be referenced. However, due the volume of information received, it is normally not possible to discuss your contribution with you.

POST sometimes contacts contributors to obtain further information. Given the number of contributions received, they cannot guarantee that you will be contacted.

Can I suggest a topic for a POSTnote?

Experts can suggest topics that they believe POST might wish to research by emailing post@parliament.uk. Topics that are relevant to the following issues, as described POST’s Editorial Policy, are of particular interest:

  • parliamentary business
  • questions from parliamentarians
  • new and topical issues
  • research advances and developments
  • developments in policy areas

Please note that POST receives a significant number of emails. All suggestions are carefully considered, but the team are not always able to engage in discussions about it or guarantee that topics will be selected for a future research project.

How can I stay updated?

We share all opportunities to contribute to POST’s work in this round-up. You can also subscribe to POST’s mailing list to be notified when new research is published, so you can check if your contribution has been referenced.

Why should I engage? POSTnotes are used by Members of the House of Commons and the House of Lords and UK Parliament staff to navigate complex research. Contributing to a POSTnote is a good way of feeding your expertise into the UK Parliament as part of a trusted, impartial publication. All contributors are acknowledged when the POSTnote is published. On publication, you and your organisation’s communications team will be notified to publicise the POSTnote and your contribution. Therefore, your contribution can help raise your profile and promote your research. 
 
What should I expect? All submissions will be read and taken into consideration, but you may not receive a direct response. To stay informed, we encourage you to sign up to their alerts to follow its progress.
 
More information: Find out more about contributing to a POSTnote as an expert. Sign up to POST’s mailing list to receive updates on new research. For queries about POST or POSTnotes, contact POST.

New POSTnote: The effects of artificial intelligence on UK employment

Developments in areas such as large language models are driving the adoption of AI. How is this likely to influence the types of jobs available in the future? 

  • Deadline for contributions: 23:55 on the 14 September 2025 
  • Please contribute to this POSTnote via this form 
  • Publication is expected in December 2025 

Research commissioned by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology estimates that by 2035, approximately 10 million workers will be in jobs where AI will be part of their role or responsibilities. AI has the potential to improve productivity and increase UK GDP.  

However, AI also has the potential to displace human workers. PWC estimated that around 18% of existing UK jobs could face a “high” probability of automation (greater than a 70% chance of automation) over the next 10 years. 

This POSTnote will assess: 

  • the key capabilities and applications of AI tools most likely to shape the jobs of the future  
  • evidence for how AI is likely to effect the types of jobs available 
  • potential policy implications, for example, for UK employment, education, training and inequality 
  • current UK Government activities to harness the opportunities and mitigate the disadvantages of these changes 
  • further policy options for addressing these issues, including approaches being taken internationally. 

POST welcomes information on issues relevant to the project. To contribute to this research, please complete this form.

New POSTnote: Data centres and their sustainability

Data centres are critical infrastructure for digital activity in the UK. What drives their growth, and what are the environmental challenges? 

  • Deadline for contributions: 23:55 on the 14 September 2025 
  • Please contribute to this POSTnote via this form 
  • Publication is expected in December 2025 

Data centres are critical infrastructure for digital activity across the public and private sectors, and are vital to AI, cloud computing, and internet connectivity. An increasing use of digital information is leading to greater demand for data centre capacity. 

In 2025, the UK data centre industry was ranked 3rd globally, and over 2% of UK energy is currently used for data centres. Large technology companies plan to invest £25 billion in UK data centres in the next three to five years.  

This POSTnote will outline what data centres are, and the factors driving UK demand. It will provide an overview of the UK data centre industry, including possible economic benefits, and look at potential enablers and barriers to establishing new data centres, such as planning legislation, and the availability of land.  

This project will consider possible environmental challenges, such as water use, large energy demands, and the creation of micro-climates. It will also consider what options are available for mitigation, such as green energy usage, and the reuse of waste heat.

POST welcomes information on issues relevant to the project. To contribute to this research, please complete this form.

New POSTnote: Management of legacy landfill pollution

What is the scale of the pollution challenges arising from legacy landfill, also known as an old, historic, or closed landfill, in the UK? 

  • Deadline for contributions: 23:55 on the 5 September 2025 
  • Please contribute to this POSTnote via this form
  • Publication is expected in December 2025 

The Environment Agency define legacy landfills as one where there is no Pollution Prevention and Control permit or waste management licence currently in force. Some 80% of the British population lives within 2 km of known landfill sites in Great Britain, with the most deprived parts of the country containing five times more old landfills as a proportion of their area.  

Before the implementation of the EU Landfill Directive, the UK practiced co-disposal, where hazardous and non-hazardous wastes were mixed and disposed of in the same landfill sites. There are more than 21,000 old landfills across England and Wales, of which 1,287 are currently categorised as containing hazardous waste. 

Since the withdrawal of the national contaminated land fund in 2017, some local authorities have stated they do not have the resources to manage sites. This POSTnote will outline the evidence for environmental hazards arising from legacy landfill sites that may pose risks to human health and mitigation options. 

POST welcomes information on issues relevant to the project. To contribute to this research, please complete this form. 

New POSTnote: Access to justice: legal aid and services

How can legal aid services better address the needs of vulnerable populations? In what ways can legal aid and related services enhance systemic efficiency in the justice sector? 

  • Deadline for contributions: 23:55 on the 28 September 2025 
  • Please contribute to this POSTnote via this form
  • Publication is expected in December 2025 

The provision of legal services changed following the introduction of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012. Evidence indicates impacts have included increased self-representation in legal matters and barriers to legal services, particularly for vulnerable groups due to factors such as barriers to digitalisation, language barriers or eligibility criteria. With recent announcements of Government funding in legal aid, and the 2025 cyberattacks of the Legal Aid Agency, some stakeholders suggest further reforms and technological innovations to support aid services could relieve system pressures. 

This POSTnote will summarise the existing evidence on the access to legal aid and quality of service provision in relevant justice settings. It will assess how legal aid services meet the needs of vulnerable populations and consider compare outcomes for those with and without legal representation. 

POST welcomes information on issues relevant to the project. To contribute to this research, please complete this form.

New POSTnote: Improving outcomes and support for looked after children and their families

What interventions have the most significant impact on improving outcomes for looked-after children? How can we better support vulnerable children to achieve improved outcomes? 

  • Deadline for contributions: 23:55 on the 28 September 2025 
  • Please contribute to this POSTnote via this form
  • Publication is expected in December 2025 

Data shows that looked-after-children, or children in care, may have poorer outcomes in later life, regarding education, wellbeing and interactions with the justice system. Evidence indicates that children in care face a higher risk of entering the criminal justice system compared to their peers. In England, one in three care-experienced children has received a caution or conviction. Custodial sentences are at least eight times more prevalent among looked-after children (LAC). Research from the What Works for Children’s Social Care has identified children in care as a group at risk of poor educational outcomes. Longitudinal data studies reveal that the effectiveness of interventions may vary based on the intended outcomes and the demographics of the children involved. 

This POSTnote aims to provide an overview of recent research studies regarding the outcomes for LAC. It will identify effective support interventions that can help reduce the risks of unfavourable life outcomes, particularly in areas such as education, justice, mental health, and employment. The briefing will also discuss vulnerable and at-risk groups, such as unaccompanied asylum-seeking children, as well as support for families and parents separated from children in care. Additionally, it will outline future policy considerations to improve outcomes and support for looked-after children along with their families. 

POST welcomes information on issues relevant to this project. To contribute to this research, please complete this form.

New POSTnote: Surrogacy: current practice and proposed reforms

What reforms have been proposed to surrogacy law, and what are the ethical, social and medical considerations? 

  • Deadline for contributions: 23.55 on the 5 October 2025 
  • Contributions can be submitted via this form 
  • Publication is expected in January 2026  

Many stakeholders consider UK surrogacy law (Surrogacy Arrangements Act 1985) to be outdated. In 2023, the Law Commission of England and Wales/ Scottish Law Commission published a report outlining proposed reforms to surrogacy law, including a new regulatory pathway for domestic surrogacy arrangements, and new rules on payments that intended parents may make to the surrogate.  

This POSTnote will describe current surrogacy practice in the UK, and suggestions for reform. It will consider research evidence and stakeholder views on surrogacy practice in the UK and internationally. It will discuss ethical, social and medical considerations, such as access to surrogacy, and the rights of surrogates, intended parents, and children.  

POST welcomes information on issues relevant to the project. To contribute to this research, please complete this form.

New POSTnote: Technology alternatives to animals in life sciences research

What are the latest developments in technologies to replace, reduce and refine the use of animals in life sciences research?  

  • Deadline for contributions: 23:55 on the 28 September 2025 
  • Contributions can be submitted via this form 
  • Publication is expected in December 2025 

The government’s Life Sciences Sector Plan discusses ongoing efforts to replace, reduce, and refine the use of animals in research. It also notes a government commitment to phase out animal testing in partnership with scientists, industry, and civil society, with a strategy for supporting alternative methods to be published in 2025. 

This project will outline the latest developments in replacement technologies, such as computer models, organoids and the use of human cell cultures to create “organs-on-chip”. It will summarise the extent to which these technologies accurately and usefully replicate the biological complexity of human bodies, and barriers and opportunities for their adoption.  

POST welcomes information on issues relevant to the project. Please note, this project will not cover techniques used in animal testing or associated ethical issues. We will only consider contributions focused on technology alternatives. 

To contribute to this research, please complete this form. 

New POSTnote: Diagnosis and treatment of rare genetic diseases

What are the challenges associated with the diagnosis of rare genetic diseases, and with the coordination of and access to treatment and care?  

  • Deadline for contributions: 23:55 on the 3 October 2025 
  • Contributions can be submitted via this form 
  • Publication is expected in March 2026

Rare genetic diseases are individually uncommon but collectively affect an estimated 2.8 million people in the UK. Although rare genetic diseases are dissimilar to one another, there are common challenges in their diagnosis and treatment. 

The UK Rare Diseases Framework, published by the Department of Health and Social Care, outlines how the lives of people with rare diseases can be improved. It is due to be updated in 2026. 

This project will outline the latest developments in the diagnosis of rare genetic diseases, including genome sequencing. It will consider new technologies to treat rare genetic diseases, including cell and gene therapies, and the coordination of and access to these treatments. 

POST welcomes information on issues relevant to the project. This project will not focus on issues relating to orphan drugs as these are covered in a Rapid Response. 

To contribute to this research, please complete this form.

Recruiting now: Data and Transformation Lead

Are you passionate about data science and the power of statistics to inform public debate and policymaking? Would you like to lead innovative projects that shape how data is used at the heart of democracy? The House of Commons Library is looking for a Data and Statistics Transformation Lead to drive forward our use of data science and help deliver impartial, high-quality statistical research for MPs and their teams.

This is a unique and exciting opportunity to join the Research and Information team. The team is home to the respected House of Commons Library and the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology. As part of our Social and General Statistics team, you’ll lead transformative projects to improve how we collect, analyse and present data. You’ll also provide expert briefings and data-driven insight across a broad range of policy areas from health and education to environment and demographics to support Members of Parliament in their vital work.

This role is offered on a hybrid working basis, with an expectation of you spending 40% of your time in the office. The contract length is 12 months fixed term, with the possibility of extension/permanency.

Information session

As part of the process, there will be an information session on MS Teams for you to find out more about this role and working at Parliament. The session will take place on:

  • Tuesday 12th August between 10:00-11:00.

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

Next steps

Find out more about the role, including information on how to apply here. The deadline for applications is 23:55, 20 August 2025.