Author: W4MP Editor

Pensions Advisory Service toolkit for MPs and Staff

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The Pensions Advisory Service (TPAS) is a non-departmental body that provides free advice and guidance to the public on issues relating to pensions.

They have produced a toolkit for MPs and their staff and you can see it here. Here’s what it covers:

1) Who they are and what they do

2) How their advisers can help your constituents

3) How they can support your parliamentary work

4) Online planning tools

5) Other helpful organisations in the pensions sector

6) How to contact them.

W4MP will be adding this to our guides in the near future (and we shall let you know when this happens) but, meanwhile, we thought you’d like to have immediate access.

Important Information about Safety and Security

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The latest information about  Members’ Personal Safety is now available on ParliNet. This is not just for Members; it’s vital that their staff read it as well.  W4MP can’t emphasise strongly enough the importance of your reading this and taking appropriate action.

The ParliNet guide provides detailed information for Members on personal safety and that of family and staff. It covers:

  • Running a safe surgery
  • Obtaining additional physical security advice
  • Financial support for security measures
  • Getting Support from the Fixated Threat Assessment Centre (FTAC) – see below *
  • Members’ Home Security
  • Suspicious Post and Packages
  • IT Security Matters

Whether you work at Westminster or in the constituency you should read this.

*  The FTAC, a joint Police-NHS unit, will consider cases where intrusive behaviour is causing particular concern or distress or is perceived as harassing or threatening. Potential cases for FTAC should be discussed first with the Members’ Security Support Service.

Members’ Security Support Service

The Members’ Security Support Service (MSSS) provides guidance, advice and support to members of both Houses and their staff, about security away from the Parliamentary Estate.

MSSS provides support in three keys area:

  • physical security measures
  • personal security
  • social media support

There’s more about the MSSS on ParliNet.

Staff enewsletter Commons View Issue 8 available now

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Please note that links to the old Parliamentary intranet have been removed as of October 2023. Please use search on ParliNet to find relevant current details, if available.

https://parlinet.parliament.uk/house-of-commons-members-staff/

Issue 8 of Commons View is now online on the intranet.  Commons View is the enewsletter for Members’ staff provided by the House of Commons Service.  Inside this issue:

  • New toner supplier contract – QC Supplies;
  • Changes to the e-tabling system;
  • Latest jobs available;
  • Speaker’s Parliamentary Placement Scheme update;
  • parliOUT event;
  • Find out about the courses available to you;
  • and much more…

 

Don’t forget: if you would like to offer feedback, submit an article for inclusion in future editions of Commons View or have ideas on how to improve House services available to Members’ staff, contact communicationsoce@parliament.uk.

 

Commons Monthly Issue 6 now available

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Please note that links to the old Parliamentary intranet have been removed as of October 2023. Please use search on ParliNet to find relevant current details, if available.

https://parlinet.parliament.uk/house-of-commons-members-staff/

The sixth edition of Commons Monthly, the monthly enewsletter for Members of the House, is now available online on the parliamentary intranet.

Commons Monthly – issue 6 includes:

•           House of Commons Commission Bulletin

•           Personnel Advice surgeries

•           catering promotions

•           events

•           and much more.

Researcher/Caseworker of the Year awards – Have you nominated yet?

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Nominations for the Dods Parliamentary Researcher of the Year Awards in association with the Federation of Small Businesses – now in its seventh year – will close on 23 January.  

It you haven’t already nominated – do it NOW!

The Awards are open to all staff working in a research or casework capacity for an MP or a Peer from parliamentary or constituency offices. The Awards have been developed to promote the extremely valuable role played by all individuals working for parliamentarians.

Full information here: http://dods-parliamentary-events.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=259&Itemid=199

Have you used the w4mp Notices facility?

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You are welcome to send us Notices of flat shares, property for sale, details of clubs or teams, or anything else you think may be of interest to your colleagues. It’s a good free way of advertising and it works!

You can see current Notices here.

Ready to submit a Notice yourself?  The form is here.

Please note that we can only accept notices from staff of MPs or others with a current @parliament.uk email address.