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/

https://parlinet.parliament.uk/on-the-estate/access-estate/parking2/bicycle-access-and-parking/

The House of Commons bicycle parking policy, which has been approved by the Administration Committee, states that owners of bicycles wishing to park in Star Chamber Court or the Colonnade are required to mark their bicycle with a numbered yellow plastic tag.

These tags can be obtained from Hallkeeper’s Lodge in St. Stephen’s Hall and should be displayed prominently from the handlebars or from the saddle of the bicycle.

From Monday 30 January 2017, any bicycle parked in Star Chamber Court or the Colonnade during sitting periods that does not display a numbered tag will be marked with a notice informing the owner that the bicycle must be tagged or it will be removed within three days of the notice being issued.

Untagged bicycles that are removed will be put in to storage on the Estate. Any bicycles not reclaimed after two months will be given to charity.

On June 6 last year the Administration Committee confirmed the rules on bringing animals onto the Parliamentary Estate.

There has been a recent increase in the number of instances of pass holders bringing animals on to the Estate without authorisation. This may be because not all staff are aware of the restrictions in place.

Under the current Administration Committee rules, no animals other than assistance dogs and security dogs are allowed in the Palace or any of its outbuildings (other than residences).  This rule is in place because of the duty of care that would arise in relation to animal welfare and the health, safety and wellbeing of Members, staff and visitors on the Parliamentary Estate.

In light of the increased traffic all across the Estate carrying out essential works programmes over the coming years, the Estate is likely to become an even less appropriate environment for dogs or cats.  The Committee therefore gave its support to Parliamentary security staff refusing entry to animals that do not fall within the exemption criteria, without express written permission by the Serjeant at Arms. (Exceptional circumstances may include access for purposes of guide dog training).

The Department of Health has produced a helpful guide for constituency staff, which has been sent out by email to Office Managers.

The Ministerial correspondence – Guide for constituency staff is designed to help constituency office staff find their way around the health and social care system, and identify which organisation is best placed to help them with their constituency enquiries and casework. The guide explains the roles of the NHS trusts and arms-length bodies (ALBs) in the health and care sector, and includes contact details for the chief executives of all the Department’s ALBs.

If you have not already received a copy of this guide and would like one, please email us on editor@w4mp.org and we will email you a copy.  Please note that this will only be sent out to those with verified Parliamentary email addresses.  It is not available to the public.

The Government published a draft bill on 5 December that would create a Public Service Ombudsman for UK reserved matters and public services in England.

The draft bill would abolish the existing Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman and the Local Government Ombudsman, merging their existing responsibilities into a single Public Service Ombudsman (PSO).

The draft Public Service Ombudsman Bill aims to simplify the public service ombudsman system, while also ‘modernising’ aspects of it. The Government expects its proposals will “make it easier than ever before to rectify complaints about a range of public services.”

One of the draft bill’s most notable features is the removal of the ‘MP filter’ – the requirement that all complaints to the existing Parliamentary Ombudsman (PO) must be made through an MP. This filter is unique to the PO.

You can read more here: https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-7864/

Come and see the Vote 100 exhibition on women’s suffrage and the Speaker’s Conference on Electoral Reform 1916-17.

• Date: Friday 6 January – Friday 3 February
• Location: The Atrium, Portcullis House

This event is open to all passholders; no need to book.

For further information, please contact the Vote 100 Exhibition Project team by email (vote100@parliament.uk) or on x1296.

Did you know that the British Red Cross has a free ‘Emergency App’?

Their unique app delivers real-time alerts, severe weather warnings and practical advice in an emergency.  You can set up alerts for your own area, and also for other areas where you may have friends or relatives.

It’s available free for IOS or Android from their website: http://www.redcross.org.uk/emergencyapp

MAPSA has decided to jump on the Christmas jumper bandwagon and hold their own event in Parliament.

This is part of Save the Children’s nationwide event so it’s for a brilliant cause as well as being highly amusing.

This is open to anyone, MAPSA or non MAPSA members so please tell your friends and get everyone involved – and most importantly please donate!

MAPSA will award a prize to the best jumper, so on Thursday and Friday, please send in pictures of you and your jumper on the Parliamentary Estate or in your constituency office to: hattie.turner@parliament.uk.

To donate, they have our their code.  Please text TEAMPOLITICS to 70050 to donate just £2 to Save the Children.

The House of Lords EU Committee – Parliament’s largest body responsible for scrutinising the European Union – will publish six reports on Brexit in six days, starting on 12 December.

The reports will identify key issues across a broad range of policy areas, making recommendations to the Government on what it should prioritise in Brexit negotiations.

These six reports will be followed in the New Year by further reports, ahead of the Government’s proposed deadline of March for triggering Article 50. Taken as a whole, this programme of work will be the most extensive and thorough parliamentary scrutiny of Brexit.

The publication schedule for the reports is:

Brexit: UK-Irish relations – Monday 12 December
Brexit: options for trade – Tuesday 13 December
Brexit: acquired rights – Wednesday 14 December
Brexit: financial services – Thursday 15 December
Brexit: future UK-EU security and policing cooperation – Friday 16 December
Brexit: fisheries – Saturday 17 December

For full details and the links to the published reports, see the Committee Page on the Parliament website.

According to a report on the BBC News website, MPs are to be surveyed about their mental health with questions about depression, their sense of self-worth and their drinking habits.

The report says:

Former health minister Dr Dan Poulter is conducting the study alongside King’s College London.

The Tory MP said he had seen colleagues clearly struggling with very low mood and behaving erratically under stress.

Researchers say it could establish if mental health issues are more prevalent among MPs than the general population.

The study, based on a standard psychiatric questionnaire, will ask MPs whether they feel they can face up to their problems, overcome difficulties or think of themselves as worthless.

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