• 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.

  • In Focus

    Early years education: Trends, issues and the impact of Covid-19

    Early years refers to the education and care a child receives between birth and five years old. In March 2023 there were over 63,000 registered childcare providers in England. Most were rated by Ofsted as either good or outstanding. However, the number of providers has been steadily declining since 2015. The sector is also characterised by high childcare costs for families, financial pressures for providers and issues recruiting and retaining high quality staff.

  • In Focus

    King’s Speech 2023: Welfare

    The government has not signalled a specific welfare bill for the upcoming King’s Speech. However, it has committed to make some reforms to the benefits system that may require legislation. These include measures to reduce benefits fraud and error, and changes to the enforcement of child maintenance payments.

  • In Focus

    King’s Speech 2023: Pensions

    The chancellor’s Mansion House speech in July 2023 included a range of reforms to private pensions that may require primary legislation. These included initiatives to consolidate the defined contribution and defined benefit pensions sectors, and to encourage greater investment by pension funds in UK companies.

  • Current Affairs Digest

    Current Affairs Digest: Constitution (October 2023)

    In September 2023, Birmingham City Council filed a ‘section 114 notice’. In recent years several other councils have also faced financial challenges. This briefing explores some of the constitutional issues raised by the funding system for local authorities in England and summarises proposals for greater fiscal devolution to local government.

  • In Focus

    Cleaning up failures in water and sewage regulation: Industry and Regulators Committee report

    In 2022 the House of Lords Industry and Regulators Committee launched an inquiry into the work of the water regulator, Ofwat. It considered issues including the discharge of sewage by water companies and whether Ofwat was promoting sufficient investment in water and sewage infrastructure. This article summarises the committee’s conclusions and recommendations, the response to the report from both the government and Ofwat, and the conclusions of a follow-up inquiry held in summer 2023.

  • In Focus

    Horseracing industry: Government support and recent developments

    Horseracing is the second largest sport in the UK in terms of attendance and revenues generated. However, the horseracing industry faces several challenges, including declining attendances and lower prize money levels compared with international competitors. This article summarises the government support provided to the racing industry, the proposed reforms in the government’s gambling white paper of April 2023, and the reaction to protests at racecourses over the summer of 2023.

  • In Focus

    Membership of the House of Lords: July 2023 update

    The House of Lords has no fixed number of seats, and numbers can change week by week based on those leaving or joining the House. This article provides a snapshot of membership and composition in July 2023 and statistics on appointments and departures since 2014. It also considers recent concerns about the increasing size of the House and calls for reform, including recommendations from the Lord Speaker’s committee on the size of the House.

  • In Focus

    Our creative future: Communications and Digital Committee report

    In January 2023, the House of Lords Communications and Digital Committee published a report on the future of the UK’s creative industries. The report highlighted the contribution the sector makes to the UK economy and criticised the government for being “complacent” in its support for the sector. This article summarises the committee’s recommendations, the government’s response in April 2023, and the government’s ‘Creative industries sector vision’ (June 2023).

  • In Focus

    NHS eating disorder services

    In 2017, the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) published a report following the death of Averil Hart, a 19-year-old with anorexia. It concluded that Averil’s death had been avoidable, linking it to failings in NHS eating disorder services. During the coronavirus pandemic there was an increase in demand for eating disorder services, particularly among young people. The House of Lords is due to debate the progress made in implementing the PHSO report’s recommendations.

  • In Focus

    Draft Public Order Act 1986 (Serious Disruption to the Life of the Community) Regulations 2023: ‘Fatal’ and ‘regret’ motions

    In response to protests by groups such as Just Stop Oil, the government has introduced secondary legislation which would lower the threshold for what kind of protests are classed as “serious disruption” in England and Wales. The regulations are controversial because the government previously tried to introduce the same changes during parliamentary consideration of the Public Order Act 2023. The House of Lords rejected the proposed measures at that time. The House is now set to debate the regulations and motions to ‘regret’ or reject them.

  • In Focus

    Freelancers in the arts and creative sectors

    The creative industries sector is a significant contributor to the UK economy and freelancers comprise a large proportion of its workforce. While many freelancers can benefit from the flexibility of self-employment, they can also lose entitlements to a range of workplace rights. Concerns have been raised about the impact on creative freelancers of the UK’s post-Covid recovery. Some organisations in the creative sector have called for the appointment of a freelancers’ commissioner to advocate for the rights of freelancers.

  • In Focus

    UK’s role in the world: Implications for foreign policy

    In March 2023, the government published a ‘refresh’ of the 2021 integrated review of defence, security and foreign policy. This reaffirmed the broad direction of the earlier review but set out an updated strategic framework to inform future policy and resource decisions. This article summarises the refresh and selected reaction to it, ahead of a House of Lords debate on the UK’s role in the world and foreign policy.

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