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Parliamentary Inquiries

UK Parliament regularly advertises calls for evidence on a wide range of subjects. It is important for researchers to respond to these if they have relevant expertise.

According to the Parliamentary Office for Science and Technology, substantive engagement with the UK Parliament was mentioned in 20% of REF 2014 impact case studies. The examples of impacts arising from engaging with legislatures include informing the legislation scrutiny process, influencing government policy, and legislatures themselves, such as skills development.

Public Policy Southampton supports university researchers so that their evidence has higher chances of being used in the fast-paced and busy information environment of the UK Parliament.

If you are considering to submit a response please let us know and we are happy to support with drafting and submission. Please email us at publicpolicy@soton.ac.uk or complete our Membership Survey below so you can get all latest policy updates relevant to your research.

The range of support PPS offer to academics to facilitate their public policy engagement with Parliament and assist them in using their expertise to influence decision-making includes:

Scanning calls for evidence and reviewing them in order to notify relevant academics within the University with relevant expertise/knowledge.
Assisting academics in identifying the elements of the terms of reference that they have expertise in
Ensuring that the evidence is submitted in a clear way that meets the information needs of, and makes it as easy as possible for, parliamentarians and their staff to use it
Coordinating between academics where a corporate response is being prepare
Providing useful tips for producing both written and oral evidence
Proof-reading draft responses
Submitting responses on behalf of academics
Following up with clerks and establishing connections linking academics with policymakers
Publishing responses on the PPS website
Promoting academics’ contributions via various social media platforms and through PPS monthly newsletter

Key Tips on How to Engage with Parliament Key Tips on How to Submit Written Evidence to Parliament Key Tips on How to Give Oral Evidence to Parliament

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Community sentences

Read Dr Harry Annison's contribution to the response to the Justice and Home Affairs Committee's inquiry on community sentences.

Sexual and Reproductive Health

Read Dr Sarah Neal's response to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office’s approach to sexual and reproductive health

How devolution is changing post-EU

Read Professor John Denham's response to The Scottish Parliament's Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee inquiry into how devolution is changing post-EU? 

Human rights of asylum seekers in the UK

Read Dr Ingi Iusmen's response to the Joint Committee on Human Rights' inquiry into the Human Rights of Asylum Seekers in the UK.

Assisted dying and assisted suicide

Read Dr Natasha Campling and Professor Sue Latter's response to the Health and Social Care Committee inquiry into assisted dying and assisted suicide.

Scotland's census

Read Professor David Martin and the International Steering Group's response to The Scottish Parliament's Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee inquiry into Scotland's census.

Green Finance Strategy update

Read Read Dr Renatas Kizys and Chris McHugh's response to the Government's consultation on the Green Finance Strategy update.

Illegal Migration Bill

Read Dr Ingi Iusmen and Dr Jana Kreppner's response to the Joint Committee on Human Rights' legislative scrutiny of the Illegal Migration Bill.

AI in weapon systems

Read Professor Christian Enemark's response to the AI in Weapon Systems Committee's inquiry.

Prevention in health and social care

4 groups of academics' responses have submitted to the Health and Social Care Committee's inquiry of Prevention in health and social care

Electronic Trade Documents

Read Dr Jenny Jingbo Zhang and Professor Liang Zhao's response to the Law Commissions’ Consultation Paper Digital Assets: Electronic Trade Documents

Governance of artificial intelligence (AI)

Read Professor Dame Wendy Hall's consultation in response to the "Governance of artificial intelligence (AI)" from Science and Technology Committee.

Online Safety Bill

Read from Professor Uta Kohl and Dr Napoleon Xanthoulis' response submitted to House of Commons Public Bill Committee

The crypto-asset industry

Read Doctor Larisa Yarovaya's consultation in response to the The crypto-asset industry from the Treasury Committee.

Digital transformation in the NHS

Read from Professor Sue Latter, Dr Natasha Campling's consultation response to the Health and Social Care Committee.

Trade and the Environment Inquiry

Read Professor Emily Reid, Dr Michail Risvas, and Ms Kirsty McDougall's response to a Trade and the Environment Inquiry by the International Trade Committee.

The Right to Privacy: Digital Data

Read Professor Rosalind Edwards, Professor Val Gillies, and Dr Sarah Gorin's consultation response to the Science and Technology Committee's call for action on The Right to Privacy: Digital Data.

Post-pandemic Economic Growth

Read Professor Carmine Ornaghi, and Professor Jian Tong's response to the BEIS Committee’s Consultation Paper on Post-pandemic economic growth: State Aid and Post Brexit Cometition Policy.

Reimagining Where We Live

Read Professor Nicky Marsh, Dr Daniel Ashton, Dr Michael Howcroft's consultation response Reimagining where we live: cultural placemaking and the levelling up agenda

UNCLOS: fit for purpose in the 21st century?

Read Professor Alexandros Ntovas and Professor Andrew Serdy from the University of Southampton response to UNCLOS: fit for purpose in the 21st century?

Commercial Insurance Reinsurance Regulation

Read Dr Johanna Hjalmarsson, Dr Meixian Song, Dr Wassim Dbouk, and Dr Konstantinos Serdaris' consultation response to call for evidence on commercial insurance and reinsurance regulations

UK trade negotiations: Agreement with Australia

Watch Professor Emily Reid provide oral evidence regarding UK Trade Negotiations: Agreement with Australia at Parliament

Central Bank Digital Currencies

Read Prof. Frank McGroarty, Chair in Finance, Southampton Business School and Dr Larisa Yarovaya's, Associate Professor of Finance, Southampton Business School at the University of Southampton, response.

Zero emission vehicles and road pricing

Read Prof A.Cruden, Dr S.F.Brown, Prof S.M.Sharkh, Dr R.G.A.Wills, Mr T.Entwistle, Mr A.Hutchinson, Ms R.Lee, Mr J.Pryke, Mr T.Fantham, Mr N.Hillier, Dr H.Kimpton, Ms T.McNeilly's response.

Draft Online Safety Bill

Read the the TAS Hub response to the Draft Online Safety Bill, including contributions by Prof. Gopal D. Ramchurn and Dr Stuart E. Middleton.

Cancer services

Read Prof. Claire Foster, Prof. Alison Richardson, Prof. Andy Davies and Ass. Prof. Lynn Calman's response to the Health and Social Care Committee on Cancer Services.

Long-term impact of pandemic on towns and cities

Dr Jane Parry of the University of Southampton has submitted a response to the COVID-19 Committee's consultation on The long-term impact of the pandemic on towns and cities.

Net Zero Aviation and Shipping

Read Dr Wassim Dbouk's written response to the Environmental Audit Committee on Net zero aviation and shipping.

H&SCE Expert Panel: Cancer Services

Read Professor Claire Foster, Dr Lynn Calman, Dr David Wright, Dr Chloe Grimmett's written evidence response to the evaluation of the Government’s commitments in the area of cancer services in England

Future Governance of the UK

Several senior academics at University of Southampton have submitted a response to the Constitution Committee's inquiry on Future Governance of the UK.

The role of PS in addressing child vulnerability

Prof. Rosalind Edwards and Senior Research Fellow Sarah Gorin from Sociology, responded to the Public Services Committee's inquiry on the role of public services in addressing child vulnerability.

Legislative Scrutiny

Ass. Professor Jonathan Havercroft, responded to the Human Rights (Join Committee's) inquiry on Legislative Scrutiny: Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill.

Food, Poverty, Health and the Environment

Read the written evidence submitted by Professor Mark Hanson, Dr Chandni Maria Jacob, Dr Christina Vogel, Ms Ravita Taheem, Professor Janis Baird and Professor Keith Godfrey

Prison Population 2022 inquiry

Read the response from Dr Harry Annison, Associate Professor in Criminal Law and Criminology at Southampton Law School at the University of Southampton.

Coronavirus: Lessons learnt

Paul Muckelt; Dr Polly Hardy-Johnson; Dr Sofia Strommer and Prof. Mary Barker, respond to the Health and Social Care Committee's inquiry on lessons learnt from the coronavirus pandemic.

Remote Working: Implications for Wales

Read Dr Jane Parry's response to the Welsh Committee on working remotely.

Economic impact of coronavirus

Read Dr Jane Parry's response to the Treasury Committee on the Economic impact of coronavirus.

Economics of music streaming

Read the Allison Noble submission on economic impact of music streaming services.

Decarbonising heat in homes

Read the Energy and Climate Change Division (ECCD) at the University of Southampton response to the Buisness, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committe inquiry on Decarbonising heat in homes.

The role of hydrogen in achieving Net Zero

Read the University of Southampton's response on the the role of hydrogen in achieving Net Zero.

Ageing: Science, Technology and Healthy Living

Read Professor Roxana Carare's response to the Science and Technology Committee (Lords) inquiry on Ageing: Science, Technology and Healthy Living.

Covid-19: Support for Jobs

Dr Zhifeng Chang and Dr Haiming Hang (University of Bath) respond to a Covid-19 Committee on employment.

Living Online: Long Term Impact on Wellbeing

Professor Pauline Leonard and Dr Jane Parry respond to Covid-19 Committee on Wellbeing.

Work of the Electoral Commission

Read Dr Jacob Eisler's response to the Electoral Commission, an independent body set up under statute to oversee elections.

The Evolution of Devolution

Read Professor John Denham’s submission to the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee.

Employment and Covid 19

Read Dr Jane Parry's submission on Covid 19 and Employment to thee Economic Affairs Committee.

R&T Influence in Global Disease Outbreaks

Read Dr Michael Head's response to the Science and Technology Committee's inquiry on the Capability and Influence of UK Science, Research and Technology in Global Disease Outbreaks.

No 10’s response to COVID-19: the right to health

Read Dr Claire Lougarre response to the Human Rights (Joint Committee)'s inquiry "The Government’s response to COVID-19: human rights implications".

R&T Influence in Global Disease Outbreaks

Read Professor Peter J.S. Smith's response to the Science and Technology Committee's inquiry on the Capability and Influence of UK Science, Research and Technology in Global Disease Outbreaks.

Immigration Enforcement

Read the UoS's response to the Public Accounts Committee's inquiry on Immigration Enforcement.

Coronavirus Act 2020

Read Dr Alun Gibbs and Dr Asif Hameed's response to the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee's inquiry on Covid-19 and the Coronavirus Act 2020.

Climate Change: Hydrogen

Read the UoS's response to the Environmental Audit Committee's call for evidence on "Technological Innovations and Climate Change: Hydrogen".

Management of tax reliefs

Read Professor Collins Ntim's and Dr Mohamed Hosam Al Kaddour's response to the Public Accounts Committee's inquiry on Management of tax reliefs.

Fixed-term Parliament Act 2011

Read Dr Asif Hameed's response to the Constitution Committee's inquiry on Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011.

Managing flooding in England

Read the group response from prominent academics at the University of Southampton and Bournemouth University on The Government's response to- and future plans for managing flooding in England.

Offshore Wind

Read Prof Susan Gourvenec's response to the Parliament's inquiry on Technological Innovations and Climate Change: Offshore Wind.

Homelessness and the private rented sector

Read Dr Stephanie Barker and Dr Nick Maguire's response to the Parliament's inquiry on the Impact of COVID-19 (Coronavirus) on homelessness and the private rented sector.

Plastic Food and Drink Packaging

Read Professor Ian Williams' response to the Parliament's inquiry on plastic food and drink packaging.

The role of Parliament in the UK Constitution

Read Dr Asif Hameed's response to the Parliament's inquiry on the role of the Parliament in the UK Constitution.

Voting Procedure in the House of Commons

Read Dr Ben Saunders' response to the Parliament's inquiry on voting procedures in the House of Commons.

Prison Governance

Read the consultation response from Dr. Harry Annison, Associate Professor in Criminal Law and Criminology at Southampton Law School at the University of Southampton.

Commercial Genomics

Read the written evidence from Clinical Ethics and Law Southampton (CELS) at the University of Southampton.

Response to the Electoral Law Inquiry

Read the consultation response from Dr. Jacob Eisler, Associate Professor of Public Law at the University of Southampton.

Coastal flooding and adaption to climate change

Read the written evidence from Dr Ivan Haigh, Dr Sally Brown, Prof. Robert Nicholls, Prof Emma Tompkins, Ms Sien van der Plank, Prof Ian Townsend.

Autocracies and UK Foreign Policy

Read the consultation response from Dr Samuel Jarvis, Teaching Fellow in International Relations at the University of Southampton.

Genomics and Genome Editing in the NHS

Read the written evidence from Professor Anneke Lucassen, chair of the British Society for Genetic Medicine, University of Southampton.

Joint Submission to Lord Farmer Call for Evidence

Read the response from Dr Harry Annison, Associate Professor in Criminal Law and Criminology at Southampton Law School at the University of Southampton.

UK and BOT: Resetting the relationship

Read the response from Professor Robert Marsh, Professor Emma Tompkins and Dr Yue Zhang (OTS0112), University of Southampton.

RSE and Health Education

Read the response from Professor David Gurnham, Deputy Head of School and Professor of Criminal law and Interdisciplinary Legal Studies at the University of Southampton.

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