EDM: Parliament Education and Engagement Outreach Service

Parliament Education and Engagement Outreach Service

Tabled by Jim Allister (Traditional Unionist Voice) 46 signatures

The motion

That this House recognises the Parliamentary outreach service delivers in-person democratic engagement workshops to audiences in schools, colleges and adult community settings; acknowledges the work of the outreach team in engaging with disadvantaged and hard to reach audiences across the regions and nations of the UK; welcomes the outreach team’s contribution of 52% of the 2025-26 Participation direct engagement target for school aged children; notes that the outreach team is supportive of the Savings and Improvement Programme target of a 10% budget reduction; is therefore deeply concerned by the proposal to disband the outreach service, and replace with a smaller London based team delivering online school sessions only; is further concerned this will negatively impact accessibility, inclusion and undermine trust in Parliament for people living in the regions and nations; and therefore calls for a pause on this decision to allow for new efficiency and cost saving proposals to be considered.

Signatories (46)