In Focus
In both 2020 and 2021, the Commonwealth postponed its 26th Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) set to take place in Kigali, Rwanda, due to the coronavirus pandemic. It has since announced the meeting will take place between 20 and 25 June 2022. Some organisations have called on Commonwealth leaders to use CHOGM to press Rwanda to respect and promote human rights.
In Focus
Ahead of the Queen’s Speech on 10 May 2022, this article examines the Government’s policy commitments on levelling up, housing and communities. This includes the measures found in the levelling up white paper, which aimed to reduce geographical inequalities across the UK. It also discusses the Government’s plans to bring forward legislation on social housing, the rental market and leaseholds.
Current Affairs Digest
This article looks at two of the many questions that have emerged following the Russian invasion of Ukraine: whether the Baltic states could be Russia’s next target, and what the future holds for the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO).
In Focus
The Taxis and Private Hire Vehicles (Disabled Persons) Bill would amend sections of the Equality Act 2010 relating to disabled people’s use of taxis and private hire vehicles. It aims to reduce discrimination against disabled people and address the barriers they face when accessing taxi and private hire vehicle services by creating new offences aimed at drivers and operators of such vehicles in Great Britain.
In Focus
The Animals (Penalty Notices) Bill is a private member’s bill which would enable the secretary of state to introduce fixed penalty notices for certain offences in relation to animals and animal products.
In Focus
In June 2020, the House of Lords Democracy and Digital Committee published its report into the effects of digital technology on democracy and trust. It made several recommendations to the Government, including calling for online harms legislation to be introduced within a year of the report’s publication. The House of Lords is scheduled to debate the report on 11 March 2022.
In Focus
This private member’s bill would seek to extend the duty to provide careers guidance in schools in England to students in year 7. It would also extend the duty to academies. The House of Lords is scheduled to debate the bill at second reading on 4 March 2022.
In Focus
The Government has committed to phasing out global fossil fuel subsidies and to changing the way that oil and gas is licensed in the UK. However, environmental organisations have argued that outside interests, such as oil companies and climate sceptics, have too much influence on the oil and gas industry in the UK. This includes at board level of the industry’s regulator, the Oil and Gas Authority, and through political donations.
In Focus
On 5 January 2022, the House of Lords is due to take note of the UK-Ukraine Credit Support Agreement. Amongst several measures, the agreement would provide the framework for a £1.7 billion loan package from the UK to enable Ukraine to purchase two British minesweeper vessels and retrofit UK weapons systems on Ukrainian existing vessels. This article considers the details of the agreement, in addition to the parliamentary scrutiny it has received to date.
In Focus
The draft Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) (Amendment) (Coronavirus) (No. 2) Regulations 2021 would place a requirement on health and social care workers who have face-to-face contact with service users, including volunteers, to provide evidence that they have been fully vaccinated against Covid-19. They would need to do so in order to be deployed, though there would be exemptions for certain staff. The policy has been met with criticism by several medical bodies.
In Focus
The Universal Credit (Exceptions to the Requirement not to be receiving Education) (Amendment) Regulations 2021 would provide that to be eligible for universal credit, a disabled student must have a determination of limited capability for work before they start receiving education. The regulations have been met with criticism from several disability rights charities. On 13 December 2021, the House of Lords is due to debate a motion to annul the regulations.
In Focus
In response to a revenue shortfall attributed to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Government and the Mayor of London agreed three consecutive short-term funding packages for Transport for London worth more than £4 billion. The latest of those agreements expires on 11 December 2021. Concerns have been raised that without further funding, London’s transport infrastructure could see a “managed decline”, with the possibility of cancelled bus routes and tube lines closed.
In Focus
This private member’s bill would seek to place a requirement on tobacco manufacturers to print health warnings on individual cigarette sticks and cigarette rolling papers. It is scheduled to have its second reading in the House of Lords on 3 December 2021.
Current Affairs Digest
Catch up on events from around the world this month. We take a closer look at the 26th Conference of Parties, which is the international summit on the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, and examine an article published in The Conversation discussing whether the summit could be considered a success.
In Focus
On 9 November 2021, the House of Lords is due to debate a regret motion on the Public Health England (Dissolution) (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2021. The regret motion raises concerns that there has been a lack of consultation or scrutiny of the regulations. This article examines the regulations and the parliamentary scrutiny they have received to date.
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