The All-Party Parliamentary Group on Social Work

The All-Party Parliamentary Group on Social Work was established following lobbying from the British Association of Social Workers (BASW) aimed at moving social work higher up the political agenda.

This is a cross-party group of MPs and peers who come together for regular meetings to discuss issues around social work. BASW provides administrative and executive support to the group.

The group will meet throughout the year but will also hold an Annual General Meeting every January to elect officers.

There are over 30 MPs and peers who are members of the group [see below], representing constituencies in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, as well as five different political parties.

APPG Social Work membership

Chair: Ann Clwyd MP (Labour) Email: clwyda@parliament.uk
Vice Chair: Mike Wood MP (Labour) Email: woodm@parliament.uk
Secretary: Hywel Williams MP (Plaid Cymru) Email hywel.williams.mp@parliament.uk
Treasurers: Peter Bottomley MP (Conservative) Email: peter.bottomley.mp@parliament.uk
and
Baroness Jenny Randerson (Liberal Democrat) Email: randersonj@parliament.uk

Conservative Party
Andrea Leadsom
Henry Smith
Jessica Lee
Peter Bottomley
Robert Buckland

Liberal Democrat Party
Annette Brooke MP
Baroness Randerson
Baroness V Linklater
John Hemming
Mike Hancock

Labour Party
Nia Griffith (Lab)
Baroness H. Armstrong (Lab)
John McDonnell (Lab)
Madeline Moon (Lab)
Mike Wood (Lab)
Paul Goggins (Lab)
Steve McCabe (Lab)
Ann Clwyd (Lab)
Bridget Philipson (Lab)
Dave Anderson (Lab)
Frank Dobson (Lab)
Frank Doran (Lab)
Heidi Alexander (Lab)
Jenny Chapman (Lab)
Jeremy Corbyn (Lab)
Jim Dobbin (Lab)
Julie Elliott (Lab)
Julie Hilling (Lab)
Kelvin Hopkins (Lab)
Natascha Engel (Lab)
Paul Flynn (Lab)
Roberta Blackman-Woods (Lab)
Sharon Hodgson (Lab)
Tom Blenkinsop (Lab)
Tony Cunningham (Lab)

Social Democratic Labour Party
Mark Durkan (SDLP)

Plaid Cymru
Hywel Williams

All-Party Parliamentary Groups are established in Parliament by MPs and peers as a focus for their interest in a particular issue. All-Party Groups are not controlled by the party whips, and they normally comprise a wide range of parliamentarians from both Houses and various parties.

These and other requirements are laid down by the Office of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, which recognises and regulates All-Party Groups. 

If you want more information about the group please contact Catherine Smith, BASW’s Parliamentary Officer who coordinates the group: c.smith@basw.co.uk.

If you think your MP would be interested in joining the group you should ask them to contact Catherine to be added to the group.