The Journey to Becoming a Parliamentary Fellow

Professor Laurence Ferry

My research into accountability of public services has had various impacts, including workshops, involving key institutional players such as the National Audit Office, Department for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy, the Local Government Association and the Centre for Public Scrutiny among others.

I have also provided written evidence to Parliament cited by Select Committees in their reports and distributed to MPs, influencing their thoughts on key issues affecting the country. In December 2017, I was invited to give oral evidence at the Communities and Local Government Select Committee on Brexit and Local Government at Parliament. Furthermore, my research was translated into the jazz musical, The Austerity Playbook, a sold out performance at the theatre as part of Freedom City 2017. I have since been invited to talk around this in Paris and Washington DC.

What is most exciting is being successful as a Parliamentary Academic Fellow 2018-2019. I am one of just over a dozen successful academics to be given full access to Parliament and work closely with a select committee on a range of issues where research can be fed into policy and practice. I am lucky to be working with the Housing, Communities and Local Government Select Committee on public accountability, and more specifically on looking at whether accountability arrangements for local government are robust given the significant changes that the sector has had to deal with including austerity-localism, financial and service sustainability, devolution, combined authorities, Brexit and the industrial strategy.

Back in May 2018, I had an induction at Westminster. Whilst I had been to Parliament previously, now I had my own pass – effectively making me an insider! What hit me was just how open and accessible Parliament is to the public. It is a very public space and in no way private, upholding the virtue of democracy that our country holds so dear. Even the traditions of Parliament uphold this, such as Black Rod representing the Monarchy and the importance of separation between the House of Lords and House of Commons.

As part of the induction, we were escorted through the back corridors to Westminster Hall congregating inside the large doors near the desk where the tours depart from. We were also given a tour of the Palace so we could all understand the history and culture that underpins how Parliament functions and why some things are done the way they are. As an accounting scholar, this is more critical than many realise, as the accounting ultimately affects and is affected by organisations, institutions and society. A lot of my work therefore looks at how accounting functions within the institution of democracy.

After a splendid tour that has already enriched my research, we had lunch altogether in the cafeteria in Portcullis House and were joined by staff from the Parliament Office for Science and Technology (POST).

After lunch, we looked at where to work on the Estate and had an overview from the Library Operations and Engagement Team and were given a tour of the space in Derby Gate Library that is available for you to work in. This is important, as the Library is really a foundation for research.

The afternoon sessions covered academic research in Parliament. The Social Science Adviser, POST, gave an overview of the main areas in Parliament where research is used and talked about the steps Parliament is taking to support academics to engage with Parliament through their research. This was followed by an academic who talked on their work as a Special Adviser to select committees in the Commons and Lords. Another speaker from the Lords Constitution Committee shared insights and reflections on their different experiences from various roles they had held, including an overview of what Select Committees are and how they run, their relationship to Government, how they choose what to focus on and who to call to give evidence.

A library specialist – researcher for Parliament – then gave an overview of what the libraries are and what their role is. This was very critical, as it highlights how different research is created and used to influence and shape policy and scrutiny processes. Finally, there was a reflection and discussion around the academic fellowship from the previous cohort.

I look forward to continuing to work with my main contact staff throughout my project and working towards the outcomes we are aiming for.