• In Focus

    Renewable energy: Costs

    Labour has committed to decarbonising the UK’s electricity system by 2030, saying this would help the UK achieve its 2050 net zero target. This briefing discusses how much renewable energy contributes to Great Britain’s electricity currently, how much it costs to generate electricity from renewable energy sources and estimates for the total cost of transitioning to a zero-carbon power system, and issues around the need to invest in supporting infrastructure such as storage technologies and grid upgrades.

  • In Focus

    Strategic defence review

    The Labour Party’s 2024 general election manifesto said that, if elected, it would conduct a strategic defence review (SDR) in its first year in government. The new Labour government launched a review in July 2024. It is expected to report in the first half of 2025. The House of Lords is scheduled to hold a debate on the SDR on 9 October 2024.

  • In Focus

    Review of the House of Lords code of conduct

    The House of Lords Conduct Committee is currently reviewing the House of Lords code of conduct for members, with written submissions due to close on 31 October 2024. Before this, the House of Lords is scheduled to hold a debate on the review.

  • In Focus

    Changes to winter fuel payments: The Social Fund Winter Fuel Payment Regulations 2024

    This briefing looks at the Social Fund Winter Fuel Payment Regulations 2024. These regulations would introduce means testing for the winter fuel payment. They are the subject of a motion by Baroness Altmann (non-affiliated) to annul them. The House of Lords Secondary Legislation Scrutiny Committee has also drawn the regulations to the special attention of the House.

  • In Focus

    Government plans to address children vaping

    This briefing discusses what vaping is and how many children are estimated to use e-cigarettes. It summarises how the advertising of e-cigarettes is currently regulated. It also sets out the previous government’s plans to address issues around children vaping alongside the new government’s plans to introduce legislation similar to that which fell at the end of the previous parliament.

  • In Focus

    Challenges faced by people with disabilities

    People with disabilities can face additional barriers when trying to access services. The World Health Organisation has stated disability comes from these barriers rather the related impairment. Barriers can include online services that are not accessible, infrastructure that can be physically inaccessible and attitudinal barriers. The government has introduced policies to help address these barriers but disability charities have argued these have not been sufficient.

  • In Focus

    Strategies to address issues in the transport system

    The transport system in England consists of many elements, including local roads, the strategic road network, and local and national rail systems. Concern has been expressed by some that England’s transport system outside London is not working as well as it could. The government has published several different strategies to address issues in the transport system, such as its national bus strategy and transport decarbonisation plan.

  • In Focus

    Children looked after by local authorities in England

    Under the Children Act 1989, a child is looked after by a local authority if they are provided with accommodation, for a continuous period of more than 24 hours, are subject to a care order or are subject to a placement order. There were 83,840 looked-after children in England in March 2023. This was an increase from 78,140 in 2019. The Local Government Association has said councils face challenges around the availability of suitable residential and fostering placements. The government is currently implementing its 2023 children’s social care strategy to reform care in England.

  • In Focus

    Supporting persecuted Christians: Government policy

    The charitable organisation Open Doors has estimated that more than 365 million Christians face high levels of persecution and discrimination worldwide because of their faith. In 2019, the government asked the Bishop of Truro to map levels of persecution and other discrimination against Christians around the world and present recommendations to the foreign secretary. An independent assessment of the government’s implementation of the review was published in July 2022.

  • In Focus

    Sexual and reproductive healthcare

    Most sexual and reproductive healthcare services in England are commissioned by local authorities and funded through a public health grant from central government. Some organisations have expressed concern that funding has been cut in real terms over the past 10 years and this has placed pressure on existing services in the context of increased demand. The government has said that it is looking at how to continue to improve the sexual health of the population, and workforce planning, development and training for public health areas such as sexual and reproductive health should benefit from improved joint working between integrated care boards and local authorities through integrated care partnerships.

  • In Focus

    Questions to the foreign secretary: 12 March 2024

    Members of the House of Lords will ask Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron of Chipping Norton a series of oral questions on 12 March 2024. These include when he will next meet with the president of the European Commission; the role of private creditors in debt restructuring for low- and middle-income countries facing debt crises; the amount of humanitarian aid to Gaza; and how the government is supporting the BBC World Service.

  • In Focus

    Supporting Myanmar’s health system

    A military coup in Myanmar in February 2021 has led to widespread conflict and has had a severe impact on its health care system. Many health care workers have been involved in civil disobedience and protests against the coup, including boycotts. Organisations such as the WHO and Insecurity Insight have also reported on attacks on health care in the country. Since February 2021, the UK government has provided over £120mn in humanitarian and development assistance in Myanmar.

  • Research Briefing

    Economic Activity of Public Bodies (Overseas Matters) Bill: HL Bill 38 of 2023–24

    The Economic Activity of Public Bodies (Overseas Matters) Bill would prevent public authorities from participating in or expressing support for boycott, divestment and sanctions campaigns. The bill would allow the government to exempt states and territories from its provisions by regulations, with the exception of Israel, the Occupied Palestinian Territories and the Occupied Golan Heights.

  • In Focus

    UK biosecurity: Infectious disease threats

    This briefing considers the impact of factors such as globalisation and climate change on the prevalence of various infectious diseases in the UK affecting humans, animals and plants. The briefing also summarises the government’s ‘Biological security strategy’ (June 2023), which provides the overarching framework for mitigating biological risks among other area-focused strategies. The government has also said that import controls are an important element of the UK’s biosecurity regime.

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