![[Parliamentary portcullis]](../../../images/nav/hoc_logo.gif){kind=logo}
home
resources
fairer internships
Making Parliamentary Internships Fairer
Some advice and a way forward
Updated: 28 June 2010
Added: 19 September 2008
W4MP is often approached by interns, working for an MP, who are looking for a bit of support and advice. An internship at Westminster can be a very worthwhile experience but it can also prove pretty daunting and lonely.
You will have already read the article ‘Neither here nor there – an intern’s Parliamentary journey’; what follows is the response of Adam Leeder, the Interns Officer of the TGWU/Unite Parliamentary Branch. The TGWU Interns Network is run by Parliamentary Staff in their spare time and seeks to improve both the experiences and treatment of interns, by using inside experience of working in Parliament.
UPDATE 28 June 2010: Have a look, too, at the guides we
did for new staff after the 2010 Election,
A guide to managing good internships
at
www.w4mp.org/html/library/2010booklet/managers.asp
and
A guide to getting the best out of your internship at
www.w4mp.org/html/library/2010booklet/interns.asp.
Introduction
Following on from the reflections of a Parliamentary intern, featured in ‘Neither here nor there – an intern’s Parliamentary journey’, I can certainly sympathise – and, as a former intern, empathise - with some of the more frustrating aspects of that intern’s experiences.
I want to offer an explanation for why some of these difficulties occur; some advice for interns on how to overcome the tribulations of life as an intern; and finally, provide a blueprint for a constructive way forward for the intern-employer relationship.
Payment
How much and how frequently interns should be paid is always a highly controversial topic which has important ramifications for the health of British democracy. In short, if Parliamentary internships are not financially viable for interns, they will remain the preserve of those from more fortunate backgrounds.
Simply proposing that interns must receive the National Minimum Wage (NMW) would almost certainly reduce the number of MPs willing to take-on interns. Naturally therefore, the next best thing would be the centralised, organised and regularised payment of expenses in return for food and travel costs incurred by the intern. However, whilst I agree in principle, current employment law renders this practically impossible. This is because, under the National Minimum Wage Act, any payment of expenses which is either a) expected by the intern (perhaps through an agreed contract), b) paid at a set amount, or c) paid on a regular basis, would likely make that intern no longer a ‘volunteer’ in the eyes of the law, but rather a ‘worker’ who is entitled to NMW.
Therefore, the key is to find a system whereby MPs would be happy to use their allowance to pay interns the NMW. Perhaps this could be achieved through providing a small additional ‘interns fund’ to each Member, which would be ring-fenced within an increased staffing allowance.
Also, increasing the flexibility of working hours would help interns pursue other part-time employment to help fund their internship. This can be encouraged through modifying the guidance Members receive when hiring interns. Here, the present employment law plays to the intern’s advantage, as, once an intern is obligated to work at certain times (say 10:00 to 16:00 on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays) they then cease to be a ‘volunteer’ and become a ‘worker’ who by-rights should receive NMW. Legally therefore, MPs must permit interns to dictate their own working hours.
Acquiring a Parliamentary pass
I acknowledge that the length of time required to process an application for a Parliamentary pass can seem arbitrary. It is, however, not.
The time required to process a pass application is directly proportionate to the complex inter-relationship between: the number of previous residences in which one has lived; one’s family history; and the frequency, duration and location of any foreign travel. Even when an element of ‘luck’ does determine the timescale of an application this cannot be blamed on House of Commons authorities, who cannot control the efficiency the multitude of external organisations from which information is required about a pass applicant.
However, again this problem could be tackled by modifying the guidance which MPs receive. Here the solution is simple – MPs and their staff need to better plan when they will be requiring an intern. That intern can then be chosen well in advance of their approximate start date, allowing many – if not all – of the necessary security checks to be conducted before an internship commenced.
Support and representation
‘Neither here nor there’ clearly highlights the historic lack of support for interns – and this is one of the things that the TGWU Intern’s Network is fighting to address.
Interns can by formally and legally represented by the T & G Parliamentary Branch if they join the union at the very reasonable part-time rate of £1.07 per week – information about joining up can be found at http://www.w4mp.org/html/personnel/tgwu/interns_network.asp.
Even if an intern is not a T & G member but is experiencing difficulties, both the branch and I are happy to offer informal guidance and support through the TGWU Intern’s Network mentoring service. The network’s monthly informal social events also provide the chance to meet up with, and feel the support of other interns. Full details about the TGWU Interns Network, and how you can get involved, can be found at http://www.w4mp.org/html/personnel/tgwu/interns_network.asp.
The TGWU Interns Network is run by Parliamentary Staff in their spare time and seeks to improve both the experiences and treatment of interns, by using inside experience of working in Parliament.
Conclusion
Parliamentary internships on the whole are both hugely enjoyable and educational. I believe that the work of the TGWU Interns Network, along with the advice and proposals for reform given in this article, will make what is already a fantastic experience even more rewarding and inclusive.
I would be more than happy to receive comments on the position stated. Please email me at: leedera@parliament.uk
Adam
Leeder
Interns Officer
TGWU/Unite Parliamentary Branch
September 2008
Click here to read the advice we at W4MP give to MPs
and organisations who advertise internships on our Jobs
page
You can also