This article was originally posted by Sarah Foxen on the author’s personal blog.

Discussions about research and policy have a tendency to be more reflective about policy-making in general, rather than focusing on the more practical aspects of how research filters through a variety of networks and into policy discussions. Sarah Foxen looks at eight specific ways research currently gets into Parliament and provides some helpful links on where to start to get more involved.

I recently attended an RCUK-funded training day on research and policy. Part-way through one of the breakout sessions, it became apparent that my peers were sharing my frustrations with the training. We had expected to gain practical insight into how research feeds into policy, but instead the training had a rather more reflective focus, with the majority of speakers using their lectern time to perpetuate or challenge discourses surrounding academic impact.

As we discussed our frustrations, I shared with my breakout group what I had learnt during my Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology (POST) fellowship about the structures of Parliament and the ways research gets into Westminster, for example, the Select Committees have Twitter accounts through which they ask for input. Hearing this, every single member of my group reacted: be it by writing this information down, logging on to Twitter and hunting for ‘relevant’ Select Committees, or even creating a Twitter account.

To me the information I was sharing – a general understanding about the structures of Parliament and the available mechanisms by which research filters into Westminster – was simple and obvious, but judging by my peers’ reactions and responses, it was not. I thought what I knew was common knowledge, but it turns out it’s just the opposite. So, without further ado, let me share what I have learned about how research gets into Parliament.

Eight ways research gets into Parliament

1. Through the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology (POST)

• POST provides independent, balanced analyses of topics in science and technology for both MPs and Peers
• The office publishes short briefings on relevant topics and also hosts events
• Input comes from a wide variety or sources including both academics and their research

2. Through Commons and Lords Select Committee Inquiries

• Committees set an agenda for inquiries they want to carry out
• They also ask for ideas for inquiries on Twitter or their webpages
• They get written and oral evidence from various sources including academics
• The outcome of an inquiry is a report, which Government is obliged to respond to

3. Through All-Party Parliamentary Groups (APPGs)

• APPGs are composed of MPs and Peers who have an interest in a particular area, e.g. ‘the aluminium industry’, ‘arts, health and wellbeing’ and ‘biodiversity’ (they are a bit like university societies)
• They hold meetings on different topics with invited speakers who are sometimes academic researchers

4. Through Political Researchers

• Some MPs employ researchers to work in their offices, carry out research and gather information for them
• An MP’s position in Government, for example ‘shadow secretary of state for health’, will impact on the sorts of information the researcher is tasked with gathering

5. Through Direct Correspondence and Engagement with MPs and Peers

• MPs and Peers have specific areas of interest on account of: the nature of their constituency; their political affiliation; or their general interests
• One of the ways they find out more about these areas of interest is through engaging with academics in relevant disciplines

6. Through Commons Debate Packs

• When a debate is planned for a particular topic, for example ‘shale gas’, library specialists quickly compile briefing packs for MPs ahead of the debate
• Packs may include news items, press releases and parliamentary material
• They may also include information from research centres

7. Through Commons Research Briefings and Lords Library Notes

• The House of Commons and House of Lords each have a library
• The Commons library has a number of subject specialists who research and write briefings on relevant topics
• The Lords library also produces briefings
• Some of the input comes from academics and their research

8. Through Commons Library Responses to MPs Questions

• The House of Commons library provides a confidential service for MPs and their staff wherein they can submit requests to the library for answers to questions they have
• Academic research, as well as other sources of information, may contribute to the response

A version of this piece originally appeared on the author’s personal blog and is reposted with permission.

About the Author

Sarah Foxen is a PhD Candidate in French Linguistics at the University of Exeter. She blogs about researcher skills, academia and impact from the perspective of a junior academic.