Nicola Newson Archives

In Focus

Northern Ireland Protocol and Windsor Framework: Reports by the House of Lords Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland Sub-Committee

Monday, 04 September, 2023

A House of Lords committee found in July 2022 that the Northern Ireland Protocol was affecting Northern Ireland businesses differently depending on whether they traded mostly with Great Britain or with Ireland and the EU. A year later, the same committee found the Windsor Framework, which amended the protocol in February 2023, was an improvement on the protocol as originally negotiated, but has not solved all the problems associated with it.
In Focus

Trade unions: Members and relations with the government

Thursday, 29 June, 2023

Ahead of a House of Lords debate on government support to skilled professional graduate workers who belong to a trade union, this briefing looks at the demographics of trade union membership. It also covers recent relations between the government and trade unions, especially over strikes, pay and the government’s Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Bill.
- In Focus
- Economy
- Education
- Employment
- Health
- Transport
Research Briefing

Hunting Trophies (Import Prohibition) Bill: HL Bill 119 of 2022–23

Tuesday, 06 June, 2023

The Hunting Trophies (Import Prohibition) Bill would prohibit the import into Great Britain of hunting trophies from species of conservation concern. It is a private member’s bill that is supported by the government. It is due to have its second reading in the House of Lords on 16 June 2023.
Research Briefing

Public Advocate Bill [HL]: HL Bill 25 of 2022–23

Thursday, 25 May, 2023

This private member’s bill seeks to establish a public advocate who would advise representatives of the deceased after major incidents, and who would establish a panel similar to the Hillsborough Independent Panel if a majority of representatives of the deceased requested it.
- Research Briefing
- Communities
In Focus

Sentences of imprisonment for public protection: Updated action plan

Friday, 19 May, 2023

Imprisonment for public protection (IPP) sentences were indeterminate sentences given to serious offenders who posed a significant risk of serious harm to the public. Although the IPP sentence was abolished in 2012, thousands of people subject to such a sentence are still in prison. In February 2023, the government rejected a recommendation from the House of Commons Justice Committee to conduct a resentencing exercise. It says its recently updated IPP action plan will support those serving an IPP sentence to progress towards release.
- In Focus
- Crime
- Justice
Research Briefing

Northern Ireland (Interim Arrangements) Bill: HL Bill 137 of 2022–23

Monday, 15 May, 2023

The Northern Ireland (Interim Arrangements) Bill is a government bill that was introduced in the House of Commons. The bill is being fast-tracked and completed all of its stages in the House of Commons on 10 May 2023 without amendment. It is scheduled to have its second reading on the 18 May 2023 with its remaining stages taking place on 23 May 2023.
In Focus

Windsor Framework (Democratic Scrutiny) Regulations 2023 and the Stormont brake

Friday, 24 March, 2023

On 29 March 2023, the House of Lords is due to debate regulations that would implement the Stormont brake in domestic law. These regulations were approved by the House of Commons on 22 March 2023. The Stormont brake is a key part of the Windsor Framework agreed between the UK and the EU. This briefing explains the background to the brake and how it would work, and includes reaction from political parties.
Research Briefing

Northern Ireland (Executive Formation and Organ and Tissue Donation) Bill: HL Bill 105 of 2022–23

Friday, 24 February, 2023

The Northern Ireland (Executive Formation and Organ and Tissue Donation) Bill would extend the deadline for forming a Northern Ireland executive to 18 January 2024. It would also allow the secretary of state to set an Assembly election date earlier than this if no executive had been formed. It would also allow regulations to be made about the rule for organ donation in Northern Ireland in the absence of a functioning Assembly.
In Focus

Implementing the Dunlop review into the UK’s union capability

Monday, 20 February, 2023

The Dunlop review examined whether UK government structures were set up to “realise fully all the benefits of being a United Kingdom”. Its report, published in March 2021, made recommendations on reforms the UK government should make to the machinery of government and the civil service to strengthen the working of the union. This article looks at how its recommendations have been taken forward.
In Focus

Police and crime panels: Structure, purpose and powers

Wednesday, 15 February, 2023

Police and crime panels are local bodies that scrutinise police and crime commissioners in England and Wales. There have been some concerns that they lack the right resources, training and powers to carry out the role effectively. A recent government review concluded they had the right powers at their disposal. Following the review, the government updated guidance for panel members and support officers.
Research Briefing

Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill: HL Bill 89 of 2022–23

Friday, 27 January, 2023

The Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill is due to have its second reading in the House of Lords on 6 February 2023. The bill would automatically revoke, or ‘sunset’, most retained EU law at the end of 2023. However it would also give ministers powers to exempt some retained EU law from the sunset and to restate, reproduce, replace or update retained EU law by statutory instrument.
In Focus

Scrutiny of EU legislation within the scope of the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland: Debate on committee report

Tuesday, 10 January, 2023

One of the tasks of the House of Lords Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland Sub-Committee is to scrutinise EU legislative proposals that may affect Northern Ireland because of the Northern Ireland Protocol. The House of Lords is due to debate a report from the committee that summarises the first year of its work on this issue and the government’s commitment to facilitating this parliamentary scrutiny.
Research Briefing

Northern Ireland (Executive Formation etc) Bill: HL Bill 74 of 2022-23

Thursday, 01 December, 2022

The Northern Ireland (Executive Formation etc) Bill would extend the deadline for forming a Northern Ireland executive to 8 December 2022. It could be extended for another six weeks to 19 January 2023. The bill is due to complete all its stages in the House of Lords on 5 December 2022.
In Focus

The evolution of the Salisbury convention

Monday, 21 November, 2022

In recent years there have been three occasions in which leadership of the government has changed without a general election having been called. This has given rise to questions about the relationship between a government’s legislative agenda and its most recent election manifesto. This article looks at how the Salisbury convention has shaped the House of Lords’ treatment of government manifesto bills.
Research Briefing

Counsellors of State Bill [HL]: HL Bill 66 of 2022-23

Thursday, 17 November, 2022

The Counsellors of State Bill [HL] would add the Princess Royal and the Earl of Wessex to the pool of members of the royal family who can act as counsellors of state if the sovereign is ill or absent from the UK. The bill is due to have its second reading in the House of Lords on 21 November 2022.

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