CALLS FOR EVIDENCE
You can find our top ten tips for giving written and oral evidence to Select Committees here. General guidance from Parliament can be found here.
Let us know if you intend to submit evidence to the committee inquiries or government consultations listed below, and if we can help in any way, via comms.publicaffairs@lse.ac.uk.
Calls for evidence by topic:
Bank of England monetary policy independence at 30: Still fit for purpose? - Select Committee Inquiry
The Treasury Committee will examine how monetary policy independence is working in today's economy, 30 years since the Bank of England was granted operational independence. In this time, CPI inflation has averaged 2.5%, compared with 7.3% in the previous 30 years. More recently inflation has been above target for 60 of the past 64 months.
Deadline: 6 November
Extending Awaab's Law to private rented tenancies and to licenses - Government Consultation
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government is seeking views on proposals to apply Awaab's Law to private rented tenancies and to acommodation under occupied license.
Deadline: 18 December
Fare play? Government's role in ticketing and pricing - Select Committee Inquiry
The Transport Committee is examining Government interventions in public transport fares, pricing and ticketing. As responsibility for local public transport becomes increasingly devolved, the committee will explore how fares should be set, who should have the power to set them, what objectives fare policy should pursue and what could the wider benefits of government intervention be.
Deadline: 13 November
Getting to work: transport connecting young people to jobs and training - Committee Inquiry
The Transport Committee is holding an inquiry examining how transport issues can act as a barrier to young people finding, taking up and remaining in employment or training.
The inquiry will explore:
- how well these transport challenges are understood by national and local decision-makers;
- whether existing powers, funding and policies are sufficient to help address these challenges or whether they could be better targeted;
- what role employers and transport operators might play in breaking down these transport barriers; and
- what could be done to make things better?
Deadline: 16 October
Technology-facilitated abuse - Select Committee Inquiry
The Science and Technology Committee has launched an inquiry examining the nature, scale and impact of technology-facilitated abuse, and assess how technology companies and the Government are responding to and mitigating these risks. The Committee will also consider the challenges posed by new technologies and devices, while maintaining a particular focus on the systemic role of online platforms.
Deadline: 4 November
There are currently no opportunities, please check back soon
Work-based immigration - Select Committee Inquiry
After a series of workshops commissioned by the Home Affairs Committee, participants agreed that the government should prioritise training, upskilling and employment opportunities for UK residents before relying on migrant labour. The Committee will consider how this principle, alongside others agreed through the deliberative workshops, can be built into immigration policy, in particular the administration of the Skilled Worker visa. This inquiry will scrutinise the linkages between migration, skills and training policy, and look at what role migration should have in addressing labour shortages.
Deadline: 27 October
Children's social care - Select Committee Inquiry
The Lords Public Services Committee will examine a broad range of issues in children's social care, including the changing demand for care and local authority funding, the supply of residential placements and the impact of market management measures within the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act. The committee will also seek evidence on fostering, workforce, and regulations, and finally the outcomes for care-experienced children.
Deadline: 26 October
National Youth Strategy: One year on - Select Committee Inquiry
The Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee will examine the department's progress in delivering the 'Youth Matters: Your National Youth Strategy', which was published in December 2025. The Committee will look at access to youth services across England, the youth workforce, funding, delivery partnerships and accountability.
Deadline: 4 November
UK Defence in the Gulf - Select Committee Inquiry
This inquiry will examine the UK’s defence interests and objectives in the region, the adequacy of its current force posture and partnerships, and the implications of recent regional crises, including the 2026 conflict involving Iran, Israel and the United States, for the UK’s future defence presence.
Deadline: 4 November
Courts and Tribuals Bill - Public Bill Committee
The Committee of MPs gathered to scrutinise the new, and controversial, Courts and Tribunals Bill - which will restrict trial by jury amongst other reforms in an attempt to slash the backlog - has opened a call for written evidence. The Committee begins its scrutiny this week, so the deadline for submissions is imminent. You can read the explanatory notes on the Bill here. Please let the Public Affairs team know if you would like to submit evidence.
Climate Adaptation - Select Committee Inquiry
The Committee is looking at adaptation measures in the UK and includes looking at whether the UK’s key infrastructure, including water, transport, communications and health are adequately prepared for extreme weather. Other areas of the inquiry include what support farmers need to adapt to climate change and the role of nature-based solutions and how the government should measure progress on adaptation.
Deadline: 21 October
Land Use and Nature - Committee Inquiry
The Environment Committee has launched a long-term, multi-stranded inquiry looking at trade-offs between growth, net-zero and conservation, and how the Government and other public bodies manage them. It will consider how the Government is looking to restore habitats and make progress towards international commitments to protect 30% of land by 2030. The Committee will call for evidence on a regular basis - topics may include: restoration of different habitats, such as heathland, wetlands and forest; protected sites; national parks and landscapes; the design and implementation of the Land Use Framework; urban green spaces; and land use in the agricultural sector.
Deadline: ongoing
POLICY ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES
Areas of Research Interest
Areas of research interest (ARI) outline key research questions, evidence and knowledge needs from policymakers. They have been used by a range of public bodies, including UK Government departments, parliamentary committees, combined authorities and local councils to support collaboration. Academics and researchers can provide evidence for these questions either from their existing or emerging work which will address these evidence gaps and inform policy.
Government Areas of Research Interest (ARI)
Areas of research interest (ARI) are published by Government Departments on a rolling basis, they are updated when policy needs change so at most are updated every couple of years.
Recently published ARIs include:
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
Topics range from international security and migration to climate and nature, with a consistent focus on the impact of AI and new technologies on these areas.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
This document reflects the Ministry’s priorities in local government reform, ending homelessness, delivering new homes and improving housing quality and electoral engagement.
Department for Work and Pensions
The DWP has identified high-level evidence gaps for academics to contribute to. This includes examining how the DWP can support people to transition from education into further education, training or employment, supporting disabled people into work and shaping the pensions system.
Department for Transport
The DFT’s ARIs are centred around four themes: enhancing growth and place, improving journeys for people, delivering green and healthy transport and cross-cutting systems, enablers and uncertainty.
Devolved Nations Areas of Research Interest (ARIs)
The devolved Scottish and Welsh Governments have published ARIs covering some specific research areas. These include:
Scottish Government Social Care Analytics ARIs
Responsible for developing and communicating the evidence base for adult social care in Scotland, the Social Care Analytical Unit's key evidence questions are organised around nine topics, ranging from understanding need, unmet need, prevention, and early intervention in social care to research about community-based social care.
The Welsh Government is developing their Areas of Research Interest, and have recently published those focused on Economic and Fiscal Issues. There are research questions around low carbon and circular economy, tax, and AI automation for the jobs market to name but some.
London
The Greater London Authority (GLA) with The London Research and Policy Partnership (LRaPP) have together developed ARIs specific to London. The ARIs are split by theme, spanning from growth, housing and transport to energy and climate and safety.
UK Combined & Local Authority ARIs
The Greater Manchester Combined Authority has worked with Manchester City Council and the University of Manchester to pilot new Areas of Research Interest (ARIs), focusing on two major strategic priorities for the region. These are ‘good growth’ and ‘prevention’. You can find the new pilot ARIs here.
The pilot seeks to identify the best evidence and new thinking on these themes, including how evidence can be obtained. Learn more about how to contribute evidence which informs policy on these themes, including guidance documents and directions on how academics can respond online.
South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority have recently launched a pilot of ARIs, with questions covering business growth and innovation, housing development, nature recovery and active travel. You can find the specific questions and how to engage with the Combined Authority on these ARIs here.
Following Bradford Council's inaugural Areas of Research Interest, other local authorities are publishing their local versions. Kirklees has focused theirs on Health and Wellbeing and Communities. Leeds City Council has refreshed their ARIs, reflecting the four Leeds Ambitions: health and wellbeing, inclusive growth, strong communities, sustainable city. Cornwall's focus on health and wellbeing can be found here. Newcastle City Council’s ARIs range from questions relevant to adult social care, children in care, climate change and net zero and mental health.
If you think your research has something to contribute to any of the above ARIs, please get in touch with the authority or the team here who will be happy to support engagement.
Parliamentary Office for Science and Technology (POST) Notes
Information on the new POST notes, which are used in Parliament by MPs, the House Libraries and members of the Lords, can be found here along with links to other notes that POST are developing and plan to develop in the future.
Parliament for Researchers: free online training sessions from UK Parliament
The UK Parliament's Knowledge Exchange Unit holds online training sessions on how to use research to engage with Parliament. Sessions are tailored both to different roles and career stages, and to the varied ways in which academics can engage with the policymaking process - for example, how to engage with Select Committees, and how to write for a parliamentary audience. You can watch previous sessions here.