Essential
New Information
Bulletins 101 to 150
(21 June to 2 November 2002)
This page
features new information - as we receive it. How
to find your way about, where you can get help and advice, details of briefing events,
etc.
If you have discovered any
new information which you feel other staff could use, let us know by using the website's Feedback Form.
Bulletins
1-50 Bulletins 51- 100
Bulletins 101- 150
Bulletins 151-200
Bulletins 201-250 Bulletins
251 onwards
Information
Bulletin 150
Recess dates
until October 2003
One of the
benefits of the Modernisation plans is that you can now plan your
holidays for next year good and early. We have added all the
recess dates (Christmas, February Half Term, Easter plus
Constituency Week, Whitsun and Summer) until the House returns in
September 2003. Click here
to go to our Events page for full details.
"Conference
recess" (Sept to October) now added.
Posted: 2 November 2002
Revised 13 November 2002 |
Information
Bulletin 149
Constituency
and Local Authority boundary maps
Here's
a handy resource from Ordnance Survey; just type in the name of the
Parliamentary Constituency or Local Authority and you get a map
showing the boundary.
Posted: 30 October 2002 |
Information
Bulletin 148
New email
contact for Derby Gate Library
You have an
enquiry for Derby Gate Library Reading Rooms, so......you phone
x6767, don't you? But what if the enquiry is best written
down?
Try their new
resource: dglibrary@parliament.uk
Just bear in mind these ground rules:
-
You should specify a
deadline, if there is one, and
-
Don't expect an immediate
reply; within 24 hours probably, but not immediate
-
provide a contact number, if
possible, in case any clarification is
required.
Posted: 29 October 2002
Revised: 8 November 2002 |
Information
Bulletin 147
Modernisation
of the House of Commons: new Standard Note
Click here
for information and access to the new Standard Note (published 24
October 2002) "Proposals
to reform the House of Commons: Motions to be debated on Monday 29
October 2002".
Posted 26 October 2002
|
Information
Bulletin 146
Ministerial
changes following Estelle Morris resignation
Click here
for the Cabinet Office page showing
Cabinet and Ministerial changes following resignation by Estelle
Morris on 23 October 2002
Posted 26 October 2002 |
Information
Bulletin 144
State Opening
of Parliament: tickets and access for staff
Click here
for information about access arrangements for MPs' staff as well
as information on tickets for guests.
STATE OPENING OF PARLIAMENT: WEDNESDAY 13 NOVEMBER
2002
Members’ are requested to note the following
timings:
- The
Speaker will come into the House at 11.26am for Prayers.
- Summons
by Black Rod at approximately 11.30am.
The Reporter’s Gallery will be opened immediately
after Prayers.
- The
House will resume the Sitting at 2.15pm.
Division Bells will be rung three minutes before the
House resumes.
- Special
and Public Galleries will be opened at 2.00pm.
Admission Orders issued to Members for the Special
Galleries will remain valid until 3.00pm.
See
also Bulletin 142 below.
Posted 24 October 2002
Revised: 1 November 2002 |
Information
Bulletin 143
CAPRI - yet
another invaluable Library resource
The new edition of Constitutional
and Parliamentary Research Index (CAPRI) is available.
This useful index gives details of the Library's Research Papers,
Standard Notes and Factsheets relating to topics of
constitutional or Parliamentary interest.
Provided
you have access to PDVN (the Parliamentary Intranet) - and if you
work for an MP you must have - you can access the
October Edition. Click here
for more information.
Posted 21 October 200 |
Information
Bulletin 141
Updates on
future Tax Credit changes
You may have
already seen the recent letter from Paymaster General, Dawn
Primarolo MP, about Working Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit which
take effect from April 2003. If not, click here
to see a copy of the letter.
Posted 14 October 2002 |
Information
Bulletin 140
Parliamentary
Procedures - how it all works
Confused
by all those weird and wonderful parliamentary procedures,
practices, rules etc? Want to sharpen up your
knowledge? Click
here for several sources of guidance and
help.
Posted 10 October 2002
Latest revision: 21 January 2003 |
Information
Bulletin 139
Finance
& Admin Dept contact numbers
Not
sure who to contact about Payroll problems, pensions enquiries,
budget queries, travel questions? Click here for a full list,
accurate at 7 October 2002.
Posted 8 October 2002 |
Information
Bulletin 138
Improvements
to pensions arrangements of MPs' staff
Significant
improvements to the pensions scheme for MPs' staff are contained
in a letter to all staff sent out on 2 October 2002. Click here
to see a copy.
Update 24
March 2003: Plan now open. Details here.
Posted 2 October 2002
Revised 24 March 2003 |
Information
Bulletin 137
Staff
questionnaire on spam emails sent to MPs
Our
sample survey of staff revealed that a third of MPs' offices are having to put
up with a deluge of spam emails (including many with highly
offensive content) sent to MPs but processed
daily by staff. Click here
to learn more about the results of the questionnaire we invited all
staff to complete. PCD are
co-operating with this survey and have provided interim advice.
Posted 30 September 2002
Revised 19 October 2002 |
Information
Bulletin 136
The Iraq
dossier (plus a pdf version)
Just
in case you are the only person left who hasn't accessed the
websites where you can see the dossier, click here
for information on where to find it. We
have added a pdf version to
our website as accessing the document from the official websites is
difficult today. The document is 55 pages so may take some
time to download; be patient as you may not be
able to "see" that it is downloading! If it looks
like it's stuck, click anywhere on a blank part of the screen.
Our
page was revised and updated on 2 June 2003. Click here.
Posted 24 September 2002
Revised 2 June 2003 |
Information
Bulletin 134
Changes
in Ministers' responsibilities at DEFRA
Click
here to see a copy of the
press release (dated 9 September) from Secretary
of State at Defra, Margaret Beckett, announcing some changes in
responsibilities for her team of ministers.
This
is a pdf document and you will
need Acrobat Reader to see it.
Posted 19 September 2002 |
Information
Bulletin 131
Parliament
recalled on 24 September
It
is now confirmed that Parliament will be recalled on Tuesday 24
September for a one day debate on the adjournment of the House
and will sit between 11.30am and 10.00 pm. The Prime Minister will
be making a statement to the House at the commencement of the
debate.
Full coverage will be
available at www.parliamentlive.tv
Further details on the Recall of Parliament can be found at http://www.parliament.uk/what_s_on/parliamentrecall.cfm
Click here
to see the Standard Note on "Recall of Parliament".
Posted 12 September 2002
Revised 17 September |
Information
Bulletin 130
45% of
you are missing out on free pensions premiums. Why?
Why on earth are 45%
of MPs' staff failing to take the simple steps which will ensure
them entirely free pension premiums equivalent to 10% of their
annual salary. Read this:
"Members
may authorise the payment of premiums to a personal pension scheme
in respect of staff whose salary is paid out of the Office Costs
Allowance. Contributions will be paid from public funds - these
sums are not charged to the employing Member's O.C.A., but
to the pension allowance available to each MP.
"The
maximum sum available for payment is limited to 10% of the gross
salary payable by an individual Member, subject to an overriding
limit of 10% of the Office Costs Allowance."
Update
24 March 2003: Plan now open. Details here.
Posted 9 September 2002
Revised 24 March 2003 |
Information
Bulletin 129
IMPORTANT
SECURITY ADVICE
We
have received a letter from the Secretary of the Parliamentary
Branch of the TGWU relating to potential threats from extreme sections of
pro-hunt campaigners leading up to 22 September. It has been distributed widely to staff but, in
case you have not seen it, we are publishing a copy here so you are aware
of the potential threat and can take the action which you and your Member
consider appropriate. Click
here to see the letter.
Posted 5 September 2002 |
Information
Bulletin 128
Who does what in
Research?
You know that the
Commons Library is a wonderful resource but how do you discover who
is the right individual to help you with the specific topic you are
researching just now? The answer is to get a
copy of "WHO DOES WHAT IN RESEARCH". Click here
for more information on the content of this comprehensive Library
publication, as well as where to access it.
Posted 4 September 2002 |
Information
Bulletin 127
MPs' Staff Pay and
Conditions - IMPORTANT QUESTIONNAIRE
If you are
one of the 400+ staff who have already completed the TGWU
questionnaire, thanks.
If you haven't done so
yet, PLEASE DO IT NOW. Click here
for a copy.
Posted 2 September 2002 |
Information
Bulletin 126
Looking for an Intern?
Are you looking for high quality research assistance
without tapping into your office costs? The LSE Public Policy Group
is looking to place LSE graduate students at Westminster starting in
October 2002. Students
must commit to a minimum of one day per week and are permitted to
work up to a maximum of one and a half days per week. The
internships are completely unpaid. For more information please contact the LSE Public Policy
Group by email lse-ppg@lse.ac.uk
or telephone Dr. Françoise Boucek at 020 7955 6731, or visit their
website: http://www.lse.ac.uk/depts/ppg/interns
Posted 2 September 2002 |
Information
Bulletin 125
Operation Black Vote
shadowing scheme
In
partnership with the CRE and in collaboration with the main three
political parties Operation Black Vote announces the second MP
shadowing scheme. Following
on from the success of the 1999 pilot, the 2002 scheme will allow
twenty-five people with little knowledge of the political process,
but who are keen to learn more, the opportunity to shadow Members of
Parliament from constituencies around Britain. Click
here for full information.
Posted: 29 August
2002
|
Information
Bulletin 124
Training for MPs and
their staff - It's on the House
Sharpen up
your I.T. skills for FREE! Click here
for more information of this unbeatable offer.
Posted: 28 August
2002
|
Information
Bulletin 123
Which MPs won the
New Media Awards?
If you want
to know which MPs won the Elected Representative section of these
awards, click here. Congratulations
to them, by the way.
Posted: 22 August
2002
|
Information
Bulletin 122
Westminster Telephone
Directory
If you are
still using the September 2001 version, you need the latest
one: April 2002. This was sent out in May 2002 and if
you didn't get a copy ring 020 7216 5270. OK, so you knew
that. Well, what else is there to report in deepest
August? You have a suggestion? Then let us know, using
the website's Feedback Form.
Happy holidays!
Posted: 20 August
2002
|
Information
Bulletin 121
"MPs shun
email" says report
"Fear
of technology and tradition are preventing Britain's MPs from using
e-mail to keep in touch with constituents. A survey has found that
only 10% of politicians conduct a quarter or more of their
correspondence via e-mail. The vast majority still prefer to
use post and many respond to electronic messages with a written
letter the survey also showed. Only
one of the MPs questioned used e-mail for more than 75% of their
correspondence." These
are the conclusions of research by Rick Bacon, managing director of
the training and recruitment firm, Parity.
For a fuller report
(from the BBC website), click here.
Posted: 16 August
2002
|
Information
Bulletin 120
New supplier of House of
Commons stationery from 30 Sept
From 30 September the new supplier of
bespoke and of general stationery will be Banner Business Supplies
Ltd. Click here for more
information from the Serjeant at Arms about the changeover.
Posted 13 August 2002
Revised 14 September 2002 |
Information
Bulletin 119
House of Commons
Publication Scheme under the Freedom of Information Act 2000
As
required under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, in July
2002 the House of
Commons added full details of its Publication Scheme to
the new website. This
will be of particular interest to Members' staff as it lists all the
classes of information published by the House of Commons - and the
online version links to all these as well. They are rather proud
of themselves as they're four months ahead of schedule and are the
first public body to have their publication scheme approved by the
Information Commissioner.
Click here
for full details (updated in November 2002) plus links to the Parliament website and the House
of Commons pages as well.
Posted 7 August 2002
Revised 27 November 2002 |
Information
Bulletin 118
Casework and the Data
Protection Act
We've had a lot of
enquiries about the effect of the recent changes to the Data
Protection Act and how these impact on casework. Guidance is
being produced by House of Commons staff but this is not yet
available. At present when
Members handle information about sensitive issues such as someone's
health, sexuality, religion or political views, the law requires
them to obtain that person's explicit permission. Government
departments, agencies etc, who might hand over information to
Members, are required to satisfy themselves that the
person concerned has consented to their passing on the information.
A new Order, which
should make life easier for Members' offices when dealing with
constituency casework, was placed on 24 July and should come into
force in the autumn of 2002. The new Order would relieve
Members of the burden of seeking consent in most of these
circumstances but, until the Order takes effect (November or
December 2002), staff may continue
to experience some difficulties
when dealing with casework.
In
the meantime, you are advised to observe the law as it now is - and
also to ensure that your Member has registered with the Information
Commissioner, in accordance with legal requirements. Have a
look at our advice in our guide, Setting
Up the Office, Section 2.5. and use something like the suggested
Permission Form in our Miscellaneous
Resources, Section 6.4. For
further advice contact Heather Wood woodh@parliament.uk
or 020 7219 5732.
Posted 1 August 2002 |
Information Bulletin
117
Summer
Opening arrangements for tours of the Palace of Westminster
Click here
for full details of tours for members of the public during August
and September 2002 as well as for information about the usual Line
of Route tours for groups of constituents. Click
here for a recent clarification by the
Serjeant at Arms Dept - sent out on 2 August.
Or go direct to the
"Summer Opening" page of the new Parliament website at: http://www.parliament.uk/parliament/SummerOpeningInfo.Htm
Posted 31 July 2002
Revised 3 August 2002 |
Information Bulletin
116
Commons
Library Courses: Summer Recess 2002
The Library have
published the list of courses during the Summer Recess (i.e. from
late July until October 2002). Click here
for full details.
And here's a recent
message from the Library re email contact during the Recess:
Placing
Enquiries by Email.
All
Library staff can be contacted directly by their individual email
addresses.
However, to ensure that enquiries can be dealt with promptly
Members and their staff are advised to use the Library’s central
email address, which is: HCLibrary@parliament.uk
This
is especially important during recesses when staff may be on
holiday.
Posted 30 July 2002 |
Information Bulletin
115
Parliament's
redesigned public website launched
"The
redesigned Parliamentary Web site http://www.parliament.uk
will be available from 23 July. This will replace the
existing Home Pages of Parliament, The House of Lords and the House
of Commons with a new design as well as providing access to a
revised and improved search facility. The new design also aims to
make it easier for the general public to find information about
Parliament.
"All
other existing pages will remain on the site and accessible, so
stored bookmarks will still function. Please note that the new
site is work in progress: there will be further new developments and
additional features later in the year.
Currently we are on track to make the site available during
the afternoon of 23 July. The Intranet site will remain unchanged for the time being
and contain a copy of the old site."
John
Collins - Deliverer of the Vote - 23
July 2002 08:58
Update
at 16.31 on 23 July: The launch of the redesigned
Parliamentary Web site, due to take place today, has had to be
postponed for 12 hours. Subject to satisfactory completion of work
in progress, it will now take place at about 11.00am on Wednesday 24
July.
[This
is a shortened version of the message sent out on Tuesday 23 July.]
Posted 24 July 2002
|
Information Bulletin
114
ACCESS TO THE TERRACE DURING SUMMER RECESS
"It
has been exceptionally agreed that all passholders, except for
Contractors and members of the Press, may use the Terrace during the
peak lunchtime period between mid-day and 2.30 pm.
This arrangement will be in force from Thursday 25th
July to Monday 14th October 2002.
"When
visiting the Terrace, please do not move individual tables in order
to form one large seating area.
This is to preserve the interests of those who may wish to
occupy tables with smaller numbers."
Serjeant
at Arms -
22 July 2002 09:41
See
also Bulletin 111 (below)
for details of Commons catering arrangements during Recess
Posted 23 July 2002
|
Information Bulletin
113
New
"Divert Calls" facility at Westminster offices
The
Finance and Services Committee has agreed to the Information
Committee's recommendation that Members and their staff should be
able to divert calls to telephone numbers outside the
Parliamentary Estate.
This service will be available on a trial basis from Monday
22nd July
and will be reviewed by the Finance and Services Committee
early in 2003.
Click
here for a full
explanation.
Posted 20 July 2002
|
Information Bulletin
112
Information
Committee's Report: Digital Technology: Working
for Parliament and the Public.
The
Information Committee has published a Report titled Digital
Technology: Working for Parliament and the Public.
This looks at ways of using Information and Communication
Technologies to (i) involve the public more in the work of
Parliament and (ii) enable Members to run their offices more
efficiently.
Copies of the Report and evidence can be obtained from the
Vote Office by quoting House of Commons Paper 1065.
The report is also available on the Committee's pages on the
public Parliamentary website: www.parliament.uk/commons/selcom/infohome.htm.
Or
go to the Report direct at:
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200102/cmselect/cminform/1065/106502.htm
Click here to preview the
Report's Summary of Conclusions and Recommendations.
Posted 19 July 2002
|
Information Bulletin
111
Commons
Catering Arrangements during Summer Recess 2002
Click
here for full details of what's
open and what's not from
Rise
of House on Wed 24 July until Return of House on Tues 15 October.
Posted 17 July 2002
|
Information Bulletin
110
Latest
version of the List of Ministerial Responsibilities is out
The
October
2002 version
(yellow cover) is now available from the
Vote Office. If you work in a constituency office you can get
it sent to you either from the Vote Office (020 7219 3631) or from the Cabinet Office Secretariat by ringing 020 7276 2474.
Including telephone numbers and addresses of all government
departments and agencies, this is a must-have item for your office.
There's a PDF version
at:
http://www.cabinet-office.gov.uk/central/2002/lmr09.pdf
but
it's very long and cumbersome on line. You need a hard copy.
An alternative is the excellent http://www.knowledgenetwork.gov.uk/elmr/minister.nsf
which has the advantage of being updated
regularly to reflect Ministerial changes.
Posted
12 July 2002
Revised
10 June 2003
|
Information Bulletin
109
Controlled
Web Services: restricted access for MPs and their staff
The
House of Commons Library has privileged access to 18 websites for
which you would otherwise have to pay. For example, Which?,
periodicals in the British Library, Keesings Record of World
Events, BBC online newsfeed monitor and many others. Only
accessible via the Parliamentary Intranet (PDVN), you will be
given any necessary usernames and passwords as you go.
Didn't
know you needed this? Click here
for full information.
Posted
11 July 2002
|
Information Bulletin
108
Personnel
Advice Service: new Newsletter
The
Finance and Admin Department's Personnel Advice Service has recently
(late June) issued its first Newsletter. This is aimed at
Members but contains lots of useful information for MPs' staff as
well. If you haven't seen a hard copy, it's available on-line
as well. Only accessible via PDVN, you should check it out now
at: http://cfinw01/fanda/pmatters/pas/pdf/pasnews1.pdf
The
first edition has information about: Insurance for
Centrally-provided Computer Equipment, Employers and Public
Liability Insurance, Changes to Parental Leave, Employing New Deal
Jobseekers, and some useful points of contact.
Posted
8 July 2002
|
Information Bulletin
106
Strangers
Gallery allocation dates up to Christmas 2002
Click here
for the list of dates between Tuesday 15 October and Thursday 19
December 2002............and here
for a useful reminder note from the Admission Order Office about
booking Strangers Gallery tickets and Line of Route permits.
Posted
3 July 2002
|
Information Bulletin
105
How
to track a Bill's progress
Had
an enquiry from a constituent about a Bill currently passing through
Parliament?
Need to know where a Bill has got to?
Looking for a bit of background research on a particular
Bill?
Then
the Library’s Bill Information Pages List is what you need.
You can only access it via PDVN but, once you are into the
Parliamentary Intranet, the answers to all your questions will be to
hand. Click
here for a preview and
details.
Posted
2 July 2002
|
Information Bulletin
104
Parliamentary
Private Secretaries: latest updated list
Click
here to see the latest (26 June 2002)
list of PPSs.
A
revised list was circulated 17 July 2003. Click here
for access.
Posted
30 June 2002
Revised
17 July 2003
|
Information Bulletin
103
Constituency
Profiles - from the Commons Library
Another
valuable resource for researchers and caseworkers. The
covers a vast range of information including Education and
Health. The complete profile is only available for
constituencies in Great Britain. Some data is available for
constituencies in Northern Ireland and this can be downloaded
separately. Click
here for a
preview of the opening page; it can only be accessed via the
parliamentary intranet (PDVN).
Posted
25 June 2002 |
Information Bulletin
102
House
of Commons Childcare Review
"The
Director of Finance and Administration has recently commissioned a
consultancy report into childcare provision for House staff.
The views of Members and Member’s staff are also welcome. Please
direct your views to the Clerk of the Administration Committee,
Shona McGlashan: mcglashans@parliament.uk
or on 020 7219 2420 by Monday 1 July, indicating the extent
to which you yourself would be interested in using facilities if
they were provided. Thank you for your interest."
From the All-Party
Whip 20 June 2002
Posted
here 21 June 2002 |
Information Bulletin
101
MPs'
offices and surgeries: disabled access
The
Standard Note on this was updated in April 2002 and you need to
check it out as there are new obligations you will need to
meet. Click here for a
preview of the first page of this new SN. It can be accessed
only via PDVN.
Posted
20 June 2002
|
Bulletins
1-50 Bulletins 51- 100
Bulletins 101- 150
Bulletins 151-200
Bulletins 201-250 Bulletins
251 onwards
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