• In Focus

    Retail crime: Impact on workers, the community and local economies

    Reported retail crime has increased significantly in recent years. This criminal activity, encompassing offences such as shoplifting and assaults on retail workers, has impacted businesses, their employees and local economies. The government has outlined plans to tackle retail crime in response to this issue. This includes legislating to create a new specific offence of assaulting a retail worker and to remove the threshold on so-called “low-value” shoplifting offences.

  • In Focus

    Weight management: Diet and medication

    The NHS sometimes prescribes weight management drugs to people with severe obesity and conditions such as type 2 diabetes. Many health professionals have argued that the drugs could positively impact people, alongside diet and exercise regimes. However, there are concerns that demand for the drugs could stretch existing NHS services and have led to people using them without a medical reason.

  • In Focus

    Addressing external auditing deficiencies

    The collapse of major UK companies such as BHS and Carillion has raised questions about the effectiveness of the country’s auditing practices. The government has committed to reforming the auditing industry. The 2024 King’s Speech included plans to publish a draft bill comprising measures to establish a new audit, reporting and governance regulatory body with enhanced enforcement powers. The draft bill has not yet been published.

  • In Focus

    Higher education funding

    In recent years, many universities have faced financial challenges. This has been attributed to several factors, including the impact of inflation on the real-terms value of tuition fee income from undergraduates, a dependence on international student numbers and increases in the cost of living. These challenges have led to some universities reducing their education provision and staffing allocations.

  • In Focus

    Accountability, independence and performance of UK regulators: House of Lords committee report

    The House of Lords Industry and Regulators Committee published a report in February 2024 examining the accountability, independence and performance of UK regulators. The committee highlighted several issues, including the perceived influence of political factors in the appointment and reappointment of regulatory leaders, rather than suitability for the role. The House of Lords is due to debate the report on 9 September 2024.

  • In Focus

    Supply of affordable housing

    Affordable housing accounted for 27 percent of all new additions to the housing stock in England in 2022/23. In recent years, the government has introduced several initiatives to increase the supply of affordable housing. This includes launching the first homes scheme, which seeks to assist first-time buyers and key workers in purchasing properties at discounted rates. However, some housing stakeholders have called on the government to provide further funding towards the construction of affordable homes.

  • In Focus

    UK-India relations: 2030 roadmap and future trade partnership

    The UK and India have a complex and multifaceted history. In recent years, their relationship has focused on political and economic cooperation. Both countries have agreed to a framework setting out future relations and are currently negotiating a free trade agreement. With India’s next general election scheduled to take place between April and June 2024, this briefing analyses the potential trajectory of UK-India relations.

  • In Focus

    Regulation of news broadcasting companies

    The Office of Communications (Ofcom) is the regulator for the communications industry in the UK. It licences broadcasters and enforces content standards through its broadcasting code. In recent years, the government has sought to change the regulation of media companies by introducing legislation to update the framework governing broadcasting. It has also launched a mid-term review evaluating the effectiveness of the governance and regulation of the BBC.

  • In Focus

    Windrush scandal and compensation scheme

    The Windrush generation refers to individuals who migrated to the UK from Commonwealth countries between 1948 and 1973. Despite legal entitlement to stay, many faced job losses, denial of services and removal. In 2018, the then government acknowledged their mistreatment and introduced measures including the creation of a compensation scheme for those affected. However, several reviews have raised concerns about the accessibility and effectiveness of the scheme to date.

  • In Focus

    Closure of high street banks: Impact on local communities

    There has been a decline in the number of bank branches in operation in the UK over the last three decades. This has reportedly impacted many people, including those with disabilities, older people and those living in rural areas. In recent years, the government has sought to mitigate the impact of branch closures by introducing legislation containing provisions to protect access to cash services and publishing a policy statement outlining its minimum expectations to banks regarding services being removed or changed.

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