What is an APPG?

An all-party group has a membership of backbench Members of the House of Commons and/or Houses of Lords of more than one party.  They have a liaison function and when necessary can exert pressure on a Minister to modify policy or influence legislation and further action in particular areas.

All-party groups draw attention to certain aspects of public affairs and assist in keeping the Government informed of parliamentary opinion, and may act as pressure-groups to promote a specific cause.  An approved list of registered all-party groups was established by the House on 31 October 1984.

All-Party Parliamentary Groups commonly referred to as APPGs, need to be registered and included on the Approved List.  APPGs when they are on the Approved List are able to: -

• Use the words All-Party, Associate and Parliamentary in the group’s title
• Use the All-Party Notices to advertise meetings
• Have priority when booking rooms in the Palace of Westminster over groups that are not on the Approved List

• The membership is open to all Members of the House of Commons and the aims and constitution are parliamentary in character
• The membership will at all times include at least ten Members from the Government party and ten from the other parties, at least six must be from the main Opposition party.  Members present can be from either House, or from both Houses
• Groups must hold an Annual General Meeting (AGM) to elect its officers every 12 months
• Groups must meet at least twice a year, one of those can be the AGM
• Members of either House may attend and speak at any meeting, including the AGM.  (Voting rights are variable depending on whether the group has imposed a subscription charge)

• You can attend the APPG meetings/events.  Meetings and events are advertised on the All-Party Notices, on this website and on the regular MPs Local Environmental Quality e-bulletin
• You can get further information or you could join the circulation list for the MPs Local Environmental Quality e-bulletin by emailing APPG Enquiries

• You could look at the list of interested MPs and if your MP is not listed you could speak to the constituency and encourage them to join (details above how to join)