| Graduate appointments in Parliament | Part II |
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Experiences of recent recruits Parliament Office, House of Lords |  |
Lucy MoulandI started work in the House of Lords in October 1994, after completing a doctoral thesis in French history. I applied for Clerkships in preference to the Home Civil Service as I had long been attracted by the prospect of working within Westminster but had never been inclined towards a career as a politician. The House of Commons had been my first choice, inspired I think more by ignorance of the work of the Lords than by knowledge of the work of the Commons. On my visits to both Clerks’ Departments, I realised that work with Peers who were, in many cases, specialists in their particular fields, and the smaller scale of the Clerks’ Department in the Lords, meant I would probably prefer work in the House of Lords. Fortunately, this was where my interviewers placed me! I spent my first year as a Clerk in the Public Bill Office, which is responsible for dealing with all legislation and amendments to that legislation as it passes through the House. From my first day, I was immersed in the language of parliamentary procedure and the specially written computer programs with which the copy for the printer is prepared. It was initially daunting to be expected to advise Peers on how best to draft an amendment or to take a telephone call from a member of the public anxious to know the stage a particular Bill had reached when I was still trying to work out how amendments were set out, or what stages a Bill was required to pass. By the end of my year, however, my early concerns had been replaced by an invaluable knowledge of Public Bill procedure and the satisfaction of knowing that I could make a contribution to the team work of a busy office. I then spent a year working in the Committee Office where I had responsibility for Sub-Committee D of the European Communities Committee, which is concerned with all aspects of proposals for European legislation on agriculture and fisheries. The first inquiry on which I worked looked into the reform of the EC fruit and vegetable regime. The Sub-Committee then completed a much broader inquiry into proposals for reform of the Common Agricultural Policy, and went on to look at fisheries agreements made between the EU and third countries. My experience of preparing academic papers stood me in good stead for the drafting of Reports to tight deadlines. However, little could prepare me for the meetings at which a draft Report is deliberated on by ten Committee members rather than one examiner. The challenge of transferring the ideas of the Committee to the printed page in a form of which they approved was probably one of the most daunting, yet ultimately satisfying, aspects of my work. I have also had the opportunity to travel with Committees. I visited Lithuania and Poland to meet farmers and Ministers and am now Clerk to one of the Committees of the British-Irish Inter-Parliamentary body, which draws members from both Britain and Ireland. This involves travel to meetings in both countries, work on the British side with both Peers and MPs, and on the Irish side with TDs and Senators. In addition, work for international assemblies has taken me to Paris, Strasbourg and Copenhagen. In January 1997 I moved to the Judicial Office where I worked closely with the Lords of Appeal in Ordinary. I had responsibility for drafting the orders made at the conclusion of a hearing of an appeal to the House, and dealt with much of the day-to-day administration of the country’s highest Court of Appeal. In November 1998, I moved to the Information Office to take responsibility for the work of implementing a new database of information on membership and work of the House. This has tested my staff and resource management skills and given me a baptism of fire into the quirks of new software. Fortunately, nearly five years in the House have taught me to adapt swiftly to changes of office and responsibility and I continue to relish this challenge. |
 
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| © Parliamentary copyright 1999 | Revised 25 October 1999 |