Edward Scott Archives

In Focus

Queen’s Speech 2021: environment, climate change and energy

Wednesday, 05 May, 2021

The Government has confirmed the Environment Bill will be included in the 2021 Queen’s Speech, a bill carried over from the 2019–21 session. The Queen’s Speech is also likely to refer to the Government’s commitment to reduce UK carbon emissions and the 2021 UN COP26 conference hosted in Glasgow. The Government has said that it will publish in 2021 further details of strategies to improve UK biodiversity, including the England tree strategy.
In Focus

Forensic science and the criminal justice system

Thursday, 22 April, 2021

In May 2019, the House of Lords Science and Technology Committee published a report warning the quality and delivery of forensic science services in England and Wales was inadequate. It recommended several reforms intended to halt the damage this was causing to public trust in the criminal justice system. The House of Lords is scheduled to debate this report on 26 April 2021. This article summarises the committee’s recommendation, the Government’s response and subsequent developments.
In Focus

Facial recognition technology: police powers and the protection of privacy

Wednesday, 31 March, 2021

Facial recognition technology is used to identify individuals or to verify someone’s identity. Live facial recognition has been used by several police forces in England and Wales in collaboration with the private sector. There have been calls for increased scrutiny and oversight of the powers of the police to use the technology, including in the House of Lords. This article summarises the debates about the use of this technology.
In Focus

Renewables obligation scheme: changes to energy supplier payments

Friday, 19 March, 2021

The renewables obligation scheme provides support for generators of renewable electricity. The costs of the scheme are met by energy suppliers. These costs are then passed on to consumers. When suppliers fail to meet their obligations under the scheme, the resultant shortfall is mutualised if it reaches a certain threshold and must be met by other suppliers. The Renewables Obligation (Amendment) Order 2021 would raise the shortfall threshold which triggers this mutualisation process.
In Focus

British Library Board (Power to Borrow) Bill

Tuesday, 16 March, 2021

The British Library Board (Power to Borrow) Bill would grant the British Library board new powers to borrow money. This private member’s bill, introduced in the House of Commons, has received cross-party support. Having completed its initial stages in the Commons on 12 March 2021, it is scheduled to be debated at second reading in the House of Lords on 19 March 2021. This article summarises the bill’s provisions and its passage through the Commons.
- In Focus
- Culture, Media & Sport
In Focus

Peatland burning: New regulations for blanket bog habitats

Friday, 12 March, 2021

In February 2021, the Government introduced new regulations banning the burning of certain types of vegetation on protected blanket bog peatland without a licence in England. On 18 March 2021, the House of Lords will debate a motion criticising the new regulations as not adequately protecting peatland or reducing UK carbon emissions. This article summarises what the regulations do and what the reaction to them has been since they were announced.
In Focus

Lockdown 1.0 and the pandemic one year on: What do we know about the impacts?

Friday, 05 March, 2021

The first lockdown was implemented across the UK in March 2020. On the first anniversary, what evidence is there on the impact of the pandemic and initial lockdown on public health, the economy and education?
In Focus

House of Lords: Impact of virtual and hybrid sittings in 2020

Thursday, 25 February, 2021

In 2020, following the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, the House of Lords made several changes to the way it conducted its business. This included the use of virtual proceedings and sittings which featured both physical and remote participation. This briefing looks at the impact of those changes on member participation over the course of 2020.
In Focus

LGBT+ History Month: language and legislation

Monday, 01 February, 2021

February is Lesbian, Gay, Bi, Trans, and other sexual and gender identities (LGBT+) History Month. This article provides a timeline of legislation passed in Westminster over the last two decades affecting the rights of LGBT+ people.
Research Briefing

National Security and Investment Bill: Briefing for Lords Stages

Thursday, 28 January, 2021

The aim of the National Security and Investment Bill is to reform how inward investment in the UK is investigated to ensure hostile governments or other entities do not use this to undermine the UK’s national security. The second reading of the bill is scheduled to take place in the House of Lords on 4 February 2021. This briefing provides a summary of the bill and its passage through the House of Commons.
In Focus

Church Action for Tax Justice reports: Tax for the Common Good and Fair Tax Now

Friday, 15 January, 2021

The campaign organisation Church Action for Tax Justice published two reports entitled Tax for the Common Good and Fair Tax Now, containing proposals on creating a fairer tax system. The House of Lords will debate these reports on 21 January 2021. This article summarises the reports' recommendations, the Government’s current tax policies and the impact of Covid-19 on fiscal policy.
- In Focus
- Business
- Coronavirus
- Economy
Research Briefing

Overseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bill: Briefing for Lords Stages

Thursday, 14 January, 2021

On 18 March 2020, the Government introduced the Overseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bill in the House of Commons. It completed report stage and third reading in the Commons on 3 November 2020. Second reading in the House of Lords is scheduled to take place on 20 January 2021.
In Focus

Immigration and Social Security Co-ordination (EU Withdrawal) Act 2020 (Consequential, Saving, Transitional and Transitory Provisions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020

Tuesday, 08 December, 2020

On Thursday 10 December 2020, the House of Lords will debate regulations made by the Secretary of State using powers in the Immigration and Social Security Co-ordination (EU Withdrawal) Act 2020. The regulations make a series of changes which the Government describe as necessary following the ending of freedom of movement. The changes will come into force at the end of the transition period on 31 December 2020.
In Focus

REACH etc. (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020

Friday, 04 December, 2020

On 8 December 2020, the House of Lords will debate government proposals to further amend the rules that will govern the domestic regime for regulating the chemicals industry following the end of the Brexit transition period. Concerns have been raised regarding the administration of this new system and its impact on UK businesses. This article summarises the new draft regulations and the reaction to the Government’s proposals.
In Focus

Changes to the planning system in England: Permitted development rights and use classes

Friday, 23 October, 2020

In August and September 2020, the Government made several changes to the planning system in England. It introduced secondary legislation creating new permitted development rights and making changes to use classes. Five of these statutory instruments are being debated in the House of Lords on 27 October 2020. This article provides a summary of these instruments and the scrutiny they have received so far in Parliament.

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