What are APPGs?
All-Party Parliamentary Groups (APPGs) are cross-party informal groups of MPs and peers working on a particular topic or interest. They are run by and for Members of the Commons and Lords, although many groups involve individuals and organisations from outside Parliament in their administration and activities.
They have no official status in Parliament and should not be confused with select committees who do have official status and can have more formal influence over policy. They sometimes launch ‘inquiries’ but these are not official parliamentary inquiries and do not carry as much weight as official inquiries.
There are hundreds of All Party Parliamentary Groups, they all have a similar set-up and must abide by APPG rules but they all operate in slightly different ways.
All groups are listed on the register, which is updated roughly every six weeks. You can find the current register here: Register of All-Party Parliamentary Groups - UK Parliament. If you open it as a PDF it is easier to use key word search.
Why are they worth engaging with?
APPGs can provide opportunities to build your networks and connect with relevant people interested in your research and expertise. They can be receptive to approaches from researchers and can provide a forum for well-informed discussion and analysis. This could lead to further collaboration and increased profile for your research. Most are free to attend and interact with, and Parliament encourages this model, but occasionally there will be a charge or membership fee.
How to work with APPGs
Find a group most closely related to your research and expertise.
Each APPG has its own webpage containing details of its members, the secretariat, upcoming meetings, topics and past publications.
Get in touch with the secretariat.
Secretariats can be non-parliamentary eg National Association of Headteachers (NAHT) is the Secretariat for the APPG on Special Educational Needs and Disabilities and the information is hosted on the NAHT website. Contact them to find out more about what the group is interested in, how your research and expertise can contribute and how you can get involved. Be aware that some groups can be chaired by corporate bodies and they may have a focus that is contrary to your research aims.
Attend a meeting.
Meetings are public so usually anybody can attend. By attending one or two you will be able to get a good understanding of how the group works and meet some members. You can offer to speak at a meeting and present your research. Some groups have a paid membership and are closed events.
Follow on social media.
This can also help to build an understanding and offers the means for virtual engagement to support relationship building. You can also sign up for email updates on events and calls for research.
Submit a research summary.
It is helpful to write your research in an accessible and tailored format for readers who may not be experts in your subject area and do not have a lot of time for detailed reading.