| Description | Papers and correspondence of the British Psychological Society Parliamentary Group.
26 January 1990 - Parliamentary Group agenda (and draft), minutes (and draft), papers and correspondence including new Chairman of the Group; submission to the Social Services Select Committee on Community Care, white paper 'Caring for People', members interests and sponsorship of MPs; review of the Standing Committee on Communications; proposed presentation to All Parliamentary Group for Children; and lobbying training. SAB [Scientific Affairs Board] 'Management Education and Research' position paper;
9 March 1990 - Parliamentary Group agenda, minutes, papers and correspondence including SACPRATIA [anti vivisection campaigning group]; introductory letters and briefings to Chairmen of Parliamentary groups (Solicitors 'Psychology and the Law, Drug Misuse; AIDS); COPUS Westminster Fellowships;
18 May 1990 - Parliamentary Group agenda, minutes, papers and correspondence including draft article about the Group for The Psychologist, membership of the Group; report and correspondence on symposium 'Politics in Psychology' held at Annual Conference; funding for psychology undergraduate courses; responses from MPs to 'Applying Psychology to Imprisonment' report psychological services post disasters; Westminster Fellowship; draft DCP [Division of Clinical Psychology] presentation to All Party Penal Affairs Group on 'Diversion from Custody'.
7 September 1990 - Parliamentary Group agenda, minutes, papers and correspondence including review of Standing Committee on Communications; Group membership; report of meeting of the Parliamentary Scientific Committee; BPs submission to the 'Inquiry into the Circumstances Surrounding The Convictions Arising Out of the Bomb Attacks in Guildford and Woolwich in 1974'; draft position paper 'Mental Impairment and Severe Mental Impairment A Search for Definitions' [PAB Working Group [ Professional Affairs Board]; comments on green paper 'supervision and Punishment in the Community: A Framework for Action'; proposal Westminster column in 'The Psychologist'; sponsorship of COPUS Westminster Fellowships; 15 plans for Group; draft 'Diversion from Custody'; reorganisation of prison psychologists; invitation to Stephen Dorrell to address 1990 London Conference.
8 November 1990 - Parliamentary Group agenda, minutes, papers and correspondence, sponsorship of MPs; briefing notes on psychological testing for Employment Committee inquiry into recruitment practices; Welsh Affairs Committee inquiry into the Health Service in Wales; draft bill 'Psychological Assessment and Treatment Services Post-Disaster'; application of Scottish Branch of the SAB [Scientific Affairs Board] for funding for a workshop on 'The Role of Psychology in the Research Base of Public Affairs'; copy letter to The Guardian on violent and sexual offenders in Criminal Justice bill; meeting of DCP [Division of Clinical Psychology] with Ministers; representation on Parliamentary Scientific Committee;
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| AdminHistory | Responses to Government policies papers and commissions were traditionally the responsibility of British Psychological Society Boards, Divisions, specifically created working parties or Subsystems including the Division of Clinical Psychology who had a Parliamentary Liaison Officer rather being a central activity.
In 1985 after the creation of the coordinating Standing Committee on Communications and the appointment of a Director of Information (Stephen White) - the Society started a more proactive approach to parliamentary and policy affairs. A parliamentary briefing was held March 1985 (as part of the launch of book) on The Psychological Aspects of Nuclear War. The Standing Committee then discussed topics for future briefings and a 'Parliamentary Team' or 'Group' was created comprising Guy Fielding, James Thompson and Stephen White. It was formally constituted as the Parliamentary Group with its first meeting on 19 November 1986 under the Chairmanship of Guy Fielding, reporting to the Standing Committee on Communications. A week earlier a briefing had been held on Psychological Aspects of Alcohol.
Lea Pearson succeeded Guy Fielding as Chair December 1988 and was herself succeeded by John Sheppard in February 1990.
John Sheppard was responsibility holder for Parliamentary activities 1990-1996 reporting to Standing Committee on Communications successor the Information Committee. The Parliamentary Group was disbanded after the review of the Information Committee in 1996.
Keith Vaz and Keith Hampson were British Psychological Society sponsored MPs c. 1992-1997.
A London based Parliamentary officer Ana Padilla was employed by the British Psychological Society between September 2002 and December 2010.
In July 2017 a BPS All Party Parliamentary Group for Psychology met for the first time, chaired by Lisa Cameron, MP and clerked by the British Psychological Society. |
| Copyright | Subject to the condition of the original, copies may be supplied for private research use only on receipt of a signed undertaking to comply with current copyright legislation. Permission to make any published use of material from the collection must be sought in advance from the Head of the History of Psychology Centre and Archives and, where appropriate, from the copyright owner. Where possible, assistance will be given in identifying copyright owners, but responsibility for ensuring copyright clearance rests with the user of the material |