Matching MPs’ information needs and information services in the House of Commons

Abstract

Reports on a study of information needs of MPs in the House of Commons (UK Parliament). Members’ requests for information continues on its upward trend and shows no sign of reaching a plateau. This may in part be driven by the general demands of the “information age” and reflected in the ever larger amounts of constituency mail reported by Members. Other factors may include an increasing proportion of younger politicians and more research assistants as a result of increases in the Office Cost Allowance. The Library was considered a key, and indeed indispensable, source of information by MPs. It was valued particularly for speed of response, accuracy, and helpfulness. An exceptionally high rating was given to the quality of Library services as a whole by information users (MPs), information providers (Library staff and Parliamentary Labour Party Resource Centre staff), and the co‐ordinating group (Information Committee). Concludes that user surveys are very central in ensuring a quality information service for Members of Parliament, and the study indicated that on the whole the House of Commons Library Information services match the information needs of UK MPs.

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