| Level | SubSubSeries |
| Ref No | BPS/001/11/04/02 |
| Title | BPS Lobbying, Statements, Policy and Briefings (1932)-2022 |
| Date | 1966-2021 |
| Extent | 4 boxes |
| Physical Description | Some documents very creased |
| Description | Papers and correspondence concerning the British Psychological Society's Working Parties, Reports, Statements, Policy, Briefing as well Parliamentary lobbying activities. More material awaiting cataloguing.
Includes
BPS/001/11/04/02/01 BPS Statements, Reports and Policy 1946-1959
BPS/001/11/04/02/02 BPS Statements, Reports and Policy 1960-1969
BPS/001/11/04/02/03 BPS Statements, Reports and Policy 1970-1979
BPS/001/11/04/02/04 BPS Briefings, Statements, Lobbying and Policy 1980-1989
BPS/001/11/04/02/05 BPS Briefings, Statements, Lobbying and Policy 1990-1995
BPS/001/11/04/02/07 BPS Briefings, Statements, Lobbying and Policy 2001-2005
BPS/001/11/04/02/08 BPS Briefings, Statements, Lobbying and Policy 2006-2010
BPS/001/11/04/02/09 BPS Briefings, Statements, Lobbying and Policy 2011-2015
BPS/001/11/04/02/10 BPS Briefings, Statements, Lobbying and Policy 2016-2020
See also
BPS/001/11/04/01/01 BPS Parliamentary Group Papers 1986-1987
BPS/001/11/04/01/11 BPS Parliamentary Group Research on MPs 1986-1991
BPS/001/11/04/01/12 BPS Sponsored MPs 1990-1997
BPS/001/11/04/03 BPS Consultations and Policy Responses
|
| Format | File |
| Notes | The History of Psychology Centre is committed to creating an inclusive environment for all our users. Be aware that our catalogue contains historic terminology relating to mental health which could be considered offensive. The terminology exists within the original record and has been retained to inform users on viewpoints at the time. It in no way reflects the attitudes of the cataloguers or the British Psychological Society. |
| Stephen White Director of Information's files |
| Language | English |
| Related Material | BPS/001/11/04/01 Parliamentary Group 1986-1998
BPS/001/11/05/02/05 BPS Lobbying and Campaigning Workshops 1989-1991
BPS/001/11/01 BPS Press and Communications Committees
BPS/001/11/02 BPS Press and Communications Correspondence
BPS/001/11/04/03 BPS Consultation Responses
BPS/001/11/03/01 BPS Press Releases
BPS/001/11/05/03/04 Guidelines on Writing Briefing Papers 1987-1998
BPS/001/11/04/01/12 BPS Sponsored MPs 1990-1997
BPS/001/2/02/01 BPS Council Papers
BPS/001/11/04/03/04/08/01 Mental Health Act (Amendment) Bill 1982-1983
BPS/001/13/02/06 Parliamentary All Party Mental Health Group |
| RelatedRecord | BPS/001/11/01/05/01 |
| BPS/001/11/01/05/02 |
| BPS/001/11/05/02/05 |
| BPS/001/11/01 |
| BPS/001/11/04/01 |
| BPS/001/11/05/03/04 |
| BPS/001/3/02/01/28 |
| BPS/001/11/04/01/12 |
| BPS/001/11/03/01/11 |
| BPS/001/11/04/03/04/08/01 |
| BPS/001/13/02/06 |
| AccessConditions | Registered Users by Appointment Only. |
| AccessStatus | Open |
| Location | 13: BPS History of Psychology Centre, London |
| Term | Public Relations |
| AdminHistory | In July 1943 a BPS policy committee reported to Council that government departments should be advised on the application of psychological methods in education and the possibility of providing a national service in vocational guidance with particular reference to demobilisation problems.
After the second World War it became evident that the Government was going to continue to employ psychologist who had been attached to the armed forces and civil service commission however there was a debate as to whether they would be treated as civil servants and on the same pay scales, The British Psychological Society wrote to the Lord President of Council in 1946 and 1947 without response but on 12 April 1948 a deputation (Professor Godfrey Thomson, Alec Rodger and Colonel Bernard Ungerson met Treasury representatives and subsequently wrote to Thompson [Deputy President of the British Psychological Society] confirming an agreement to set up a separate class for psychologists in the civil service [the letter is published in the Quarterly Bulletin of the British Psychological Society Vol 1 Number 2 October 1948 page 38-39];
The Society became a subscribing member of the Parliamentary and Scientific Committee in 1958 and held an event 'Science in Everyday Life' in 9 December 1959
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. Although there are some examples such the BPS's statement on 'Privacy' sent to all MPS when the Younger Committee was announced in 1970 [see BPS/001/11/03/01/01].
During the Mental Health Bill passage through parliament in 1982 the Society lobbied MPs directly including Stan Thorne MP to raise specific amendments.
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. Not only did they ask for advice of House of Commons Select Committees for advice on the best way to present consultation responses they also started a series of proactive briefing. The first of these was held in Parliament on March 1985 (as part of the launch of book) on The Psychological Aspects of Nuclear War. The Standing Committee on Communications discussed topics for future briefings and as a result a 'Parliamentary Team' or 'Group' was created comprising Guy Fielding, James Thompson and Stephen White.
The Parliamentary Group held 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. John Sheppard was Chairman of the Parliamentary Group and responsibility holder for Parliamentary activities 1990-1996 reporting to Standing Committee on Communications successor the Information Committee.
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 receive the support it required.
A London based Parliamentary officer Ana Padilla was employed by the British Psychological Society between September 2002 and December 2010.
In 2005 the British Psychological Society agreed a policy on on Campaigning, lobbying, and political activities to define the scope and limitation of this activity within their charitable status.
In July 2017 a BPS funded 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 |
| Rules | Description compiled in line with the following: ISAD (G) General International Standard Archival Description MAD3 Third Edition 2000 |
| ArchNote | Compiled by Claire Jackson BPS Archivist History of Psychology Centre. |