| Description | Papers and correspondence of the British Psychological Society Parliamentary Group.
18 February 1993 - Parliamentary Group agenda, minutes, papers and correspondence includes Group annual report; media release and documents on effect of clinical psychology funding of training changes; Parliamentary lecture, Impact of Disasters bill; review of special hospitals; Parliamentary Group membership; 'Selection for Innovation' Occupational Psychology briefing document; DCP meeting with Ministers; Special Educational Needs BPS response to questions of the Educational Select Committee on statementing, and also response on 'Exclusions': The operation by schools of their powers to exclude pupils and educational provision for provision for pupils once excluded'; Special Group of Teachers working party on A-Level psychology; SAB proposed White Paper on Science and Technology; BPS media briefing on 'The Psychological Effects of Unemployment'; BPS response to consultation on independent schools and barred staff; BPS response to consultation on extension of the jurisdiction of the Commission for Local Administration - Parental Appeals Procedures; White paper on Science and Technology; BPS response to Howie Committee; recruitment and training of those involved in the residential care of children; funding for Dundee educational psychology students; proposed All Party Group on Psychology;
14 May 1993 - Parliamentary Group agenda, minutes, papers and correspondence includes arrangements for Parliamentary lecture at London Conference -held at House of Commons, request for meeting with minister concerning 'Psychological Therapies in Social Services Settings'; response to 'Health of the Nation'; lobbying for registration of psychologists; press release and 'Psychology and Antisocial Behaviour' report; Early Day Motion on psychological needs of Kings Cross Disaster victims; House of Lords select committee on Medical Ethics; proposed All Party Group on Psychology; progress of BPS briefing document on innovation and proposed briefing on Economic Activity;;
4 November 1993 - Parliamentary Group agenda, minutes, papers and correspondence includes notes of meeting with Department of Health concerning 'Psychological Therapies in Social Services Settings'; All Party Children's Group meetings; annual report; reply to consultation on White Paper on Science and Technology; Counselling, HIV testing and Behaviour Change; BPS evidence to The Committee on the Penalty for Homicide; proposed guidelines on incest, Parliamentary lecture; proposed briefing in Behavioural Change in an Environmental Context; post traumatic stress disorder in road accidents; Green Paper on Education; Dearing enquiry into the National Curriculum; DCLP paper on 'Angry Violence and Screen Influence'; Response to 'Realising Our Potential'; |
| 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. Keith Vaz and Keith Hampson were British Psychological Society sponsored MPs c. 1992-1997. Keith Vaz at the instigation of the Society tabled a private members bill in 1992 'The Impact of Disasters' but it did not received support.
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 |