These opportunities and resources have been compiled by UK Parliament’s Knowledge Exchange Unit (KEU) to help you understand how to engage with Parliament as a researcher.

Take a look at the KEU’s webhub of information and resources for researchers. 

Jump to:

Select committees currently accepting written evidence (compiled 01 July 2026)

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:

Why should I engage? Submitting evidence to a select committee can lead to further engagement, such as an invite 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 

Support resources: find guidance on submitting evidence to select committees on the KEU’s ‘how to guides’ page  

Parliament for Researchers with the House of Lords 2026!

“I am delighted to host the inaugural Parliament for Researchers with the House of Lords Conference, taking place on 25 November 2026 as part of UK Parliament Week. Academic research plays a key role in enhancing the scrutiny, legislative and debating functions of the House. I hope that this conference will broaden and deepen the connections between the House of Lords and the UK research community.” The Rt. Hon the Lord Forsyth of Drumlean
Lord Speaker

For further details about the event please keep on reading below! 

Save the date: Wednesday 25 November 2026, 10:30-16:00

This conference will provide researchers from across the UK with a unique opportunity to gain insight into how the House of Lords uses evidence to scrutinise legislation, conduct inquiries, influence public policy and hold government to account. 

Through a series of engaging sessions with Members of the House of Lords and parliamentary experts, attendees will learn how research contributes to parliamentary work and discover practical ways to engage effectively with Parliament. 

The programme will explore a range of areas where evidence plays a vital role, including as part of legislative scrutiny, Select Committees, the House of Lords Library and the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology (POST). Speakers will share their experiences of working with research and explain how high-quality evidence can inform debate, scrutiny and decision-making.

We hope this conference will inspire researchers at all career stages to engage with Parliament and contribute their expertise to the work of the House of Lords. We encourage members of the UK academic community to register their interest and join us for what promises to be an informative and engaging event. 

We will be sharing the sign up link shortly. 

Why should I engage?  Parliament for Researchers with the House of Lords 2026 is a one-day online conference, held on Wednesday 25 November 2026, which offers a unique opportunity to learn more about the UK Parliament, in particular the House of Lords and how it uses research to help it to scrutinise, legislate and debate.

There are a variety of sessions throughout the day, covering a range of topics such as select committees, POST, Libraries and a Q&A session. Each of the sessions will involve a presentation from a different Member from the House of Lords. 

More information  
You can also explore our previous training sessions here  

Final reminder for UKRI Fellowship Scheme. Applications close 8 September 2026 

The Policy Internships Scheme allows candidates from the research councils of UK Research and Innovation to get invaluable policy experience, with an organisation of their choice. If POST is your first host choice and you’d like the opportunity to contribute to one of our POSTnotes, please make that clear in your application.

While fellows typically help us with the production of a POSTnote or POSTbrief, this unique opportunity to view the epicentre of policy-making from the inside may also include a secondment to a select committee or to the House of Commons or House of Lords Libraries.

Fellows at POST will have the opportunity to produce their own POSTnote from start to finish. This includes scoping the topic, conducting interviews with senior stakeholders from across academia, government, industry and the not-for-profit sector, drafting and editing.

By the end of their time at POST, our 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.

To see the full list of hosts which include parliamentary departments, government departments and non-governmental bodies, learned societies and other organisations, visit the UKRI website.

More information:

Benches, Peers and a Parliamentary Fun Fact

I find one of the best things about working in Parliament is how much you learn everyday!  

A couple of weeks ago I was reminded of the distinction between a cross-bench peers and a non-party affiliated peer. Do you know the difference? 

In the House of Lords there are both types of peers. Crossbench peers are truly apolitical, with no political standing. They sit on benches that face the Throne and lie perpendicular to the government benches and the opposition benches. Similarly, non-affiliated peers do not belong to a parliamentary group but also do not belong to the crossbench group – they are independent. It may be that they were part of a political party, but are no longer so. Often peers who hold positions in office and who must remain politically neutral are also non-party affiliated.

So what?  Well, as a researcher you may feel that your work is apolitical and may sometimes find it challenging to know who to submit your research to. It’s important to know that within Parliament there is a huge cohort of crossbench and non-affiliated peers who are not aligned with a political party. This can make them particularly interested in evidence that helps them understand complex issues, scrutinise legislation and contribute to debates from an informed, independent perspective. So, if you’re wondering whether your research has a place in Parliament, don’t assume it needs a partisan angle. High-quality evidence and expertise are valuable in their own right, and there are many parliamentarians actively looking for exactly that.

More information: