Co-operatives, Mutuals and Friendly Societies Bill: HL Bill 106 of 2022–23

The Co-operatives, Mutuals and Friendly Societies Bill is a private member’s bill that would allow cooperatives, mutual insurers and friendly societies to choose to adopt legal restrictions on the use of their assets. Community benefit societies, a type of cooperative, already have the option to implement such statutory ‘asset locks’ to ensure a society’s assets cannot later be used for the private benefit of members. The House of Lords is scheduled to debate the bill on 24 March 2023.

Co-operatives, Mutuals and Friendly Societies Bill: HL Bill 106 of 2022–23

Shark Fins Bill: HL Bill 93 of 2022–23

The Shark Fins Bill is a private member’s bill that would ban the import and export of detached shark fins and shark fin-containing products in Great Britain, with routes available for conservation-related exemptions. It would also extend an existing prohibition on shark finning in place for UK fishing vessels to all fishing vessels operating in UK waters. The House of Lords is scheduled to debate the bill on 24 March 2023.

Shark Fins Bill: HL Bill 93 of 2022–23

Education (Non-religious Philosophical Convictions) Bill [HL]: HL Bill 29 of 2022–23

The Education (Non-religious Philosophical Convictions) Bill [HL] is a private member’s bill sponsored by Baroness Burt of Solihull (Liberal Democrat). It would introduce an explicit requirement for schools in England to include non-religious worldviews such as humanism in religious education (RE). The House of Lords is scheduled to debate the bill at second reading on 3 February 2023.

Education (Non-religious Philosophical Convictions) Bill [HL]: HL Bill 29 of 2022–23

  • In Focus

    Resilience of the UK armed forces

    The government published both its integrated review of foreign, defence, security and international development policy and a defence command paper in March 2021. Alongside a list of new capabilities set to be introduced and existing equipment due to be retired, the second document set a target of reducing the size of the regular army. The government maintains that capabilities, rather than troop numbers, are of primary importance in confronting the defence and security challenges facing the UK.

  • Research Briefing

    Levelling-up and Regeneration Bill: HL Bill 84 of 2022-23

    The Levelling-up and Regeneration Bill would give effect to aspects of the government’s levelling up agenda to reduce economic, social and environmental disparities between and within different parts of the UK. It would provide for the government to set statutory levelling up missions amongst other measures, including significant proposals concerning planning in England. A number of clauses were added to the bill during the bill’s passage through the House of Commons.

  • In Focus

    Human rights in the Gulf states

    The six countries that together comprise the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have long been criticised for their human rights records. The UK’s engagement with GCC members, whether bilaterally or collectively through recent trade negotiations, has drawn criticism as a result. Critics of continued engagement suggest it could risk the UK being seen to condone continuing human rights abuses, although the UK government maintains that it regularly raises human rights concerns with GCC partners.

  • Research Briefing

    Health and Social Care Levy (Repeal) Bill

    The Health and Social Care Levy (Repeal) Bill would repeal the Health and Social Care Levy Act 2021 while maintaining a legislative basis for keeping tax receipts collected under provisions in that act until early November 2022. The House of Commons considered the bill at second reading and all remaining stages on 11 October 2022. The House of Lords is scheduled to similarly consider the bill on 17 October 2022.

  • In Focus

    Peerages created following prime ministerial resignations

    UK prime ministers may draw up a resignation honours list on their departure from office, in which they may request that the reigning monarch grant honours to any number of people. Such honours may include peerages, knighthoods and damehoods, or other awards. However, not all have chosen to draw up such a list. This article lists those prime ministers who have requested that peerages be conferred on their departure from office.

  • In Focus

    Ugandan Asians: 50 years since their expulsion from Uganda

    On 4 August 1972, Ugandan President Idi Amin gave his country’s Asian population 90 days in which to leave the country. Almost 40,000 Ugandan Asians would come to the UK over the months that followed to start new lives, leaving behind homes and businesses in the country of their birth. A national commemorative event will take place in London on 18 September 2022, 50 years after the first evacuation flight landed at Stansted airport.

  • In Focus

    Voting in the House of Lords: A short history

    Voting practices in the House of Lords remained largely unchanged for over 150 years, until the Covid-19 pandemic prompted a dramatic switch to remote voting. The House has now returned to seeing members vote in division lobbies located either side of the chamber, but now pass readers rather than officials record voting members’ names and some members may continue to vote remotely. What is the background to these changes?

  • Research Briefing

    Energy Bill [HL]: HL Bill 39 of 2022–23

    The government’s Energy Bill includes provisions relating to 26 separate energy-related measures. These are structured around three ‘key pillars’, listed as: leveraging investment in clean technologies; reforming the UK’s energy system and protecting consumers; and maintaining the safety, security and resilience of the energy systems across the UK. The House of Lords is scheduled to debate the bill at second reading on 19 July 2022.

  • In Focus

    Energy (Oil and Gas) Profits Levy Bill

    The Energy (Oil and Gas) Profits Levy Bill would introduce a new temporary levy on North Sea oil and gas production. It follows a government announcement in late May 2022 that ministers would seek to impose a levy on companies operating in the North Sea to help fund support measures for households facing higher living costs. The House of Lords is expected to consider the bill at second reading and all remaining stages on 13 July 2022.

  • Research Briefing

    Social Housing (Regulation) Bill [HL]: HL Bill 21 of 2022–23

    The Social Housing (Regulation) Bill [HL] is a government bill that seeks to facilitate a new, proactive approach to regulating social housing landlords on consumer issues such as safety, transparency and tenant engagement. It also aims to refine the existing economic regulatory regime and strengthen the sector regulator’s powers. The House of Lords is scheduled to debate the bill’s second reading on 27 June 2022.

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