• In Focus

    International Agreements Committee report on the UK-Rwanda treaty

    The UK government signed a treaty with Rwanda in December 2023 in response to a Supreme Court judgment that its proposed Rwanda asylum policy was unlawful. The House of Lords International Agreements Committee has recommended that the government does not ratify the treaty until Parliament is satisfied that the protections it provides have been fully implemented, in the context of the Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill asking Parliament to make a judgement that Rwanda is safe.

  • In Focus

    Questions to the foreign secretary: 16 January 2024

    Members of the House of Lords will ask Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron of Chipping Norton a series of oral questions on 16 January 2024. These include what steps the UK government is taking to address the Rohingya refugee crisis; what progress has been made towards securing a ceasefire in Gaza; how the government is promoting implementation of the UN sustainable development goals; and how the UK is championing a rules-based international order.

  • In Focus

    Universal Declaration of Human Rights: Promoting the declaration’s principles 75 years on

    The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly 75 years ago, on 10 December 1948. The declaration set out, for the first time, fundamental human rights to be universally protected. As such it became a foundational instrument of the modern international human rights system. The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights has called on member states to “rejuvenate” the declaration.

  • Research Briefing

    Arbitration Bill [HL]

    Arbitration is a form of dispute resolution that enables opposing parties to resolve a disagreement privately through a third party rather than going to court. The Arbitration Bill [HL] would amend the Arbitration Act 1996, the principal legislation governing arbitrations in England and Wales and in Northern Ireland. The changes provided for in the bill would implement recommendations from the Law Commission following consultation with the sector.

  • In Focus

    Agricultural fungicides: Impact on long-term food and biological security

    Agricultural fungicides are pesticides which are used to prevent or control plant disease caused by fungi. They can help ensure food availability, affordability and safety. However, they can also have negative environmental effects and exposure to chemical pesticides has been linked to a higher risk of chronic disease in humans. The government is due to publish a revised national action plan on the sustainable use of pesticides by the end of 2023.

  • In Focus

    Air travel for disabled passengers

    Passengers with a disability or reduced mobility are entitled to assistance from airports and airlines when flying. However, some passengers using assistance services have had poor experiences in recent years. This was particularly the case during widespread sector disruption in 2022 due to staffing shortages. The Department for Transport and the Civil Aviation Authority have consulted on ways to improve consumer rights for those who require assistance when travelling by air.

  • In Focus

    King’s Speech 2023: Health and social care

    The government will set out its legislative programme for the new parliamentary session in the King’s Speech set to be delivered on 7 November 2023. The speech and accompanying briefing notes are expected to detail certain health and social care-related initiatives, including measures to restrict the sale of tobacco products to young people and a draft Conversion Therapy Bill for pre-legislative scrutiny in the new session.

  • Research Briefing

    Northern Ireland Budget (No. 2) Bill: HL Bill 167 of 2022–23

    The Northern Ireland Budget (No. 2) Bill is a government bill that would authorise government departments and certain other bodies in Northern Ireland to incur expenditure and use resources for the financial year ending 31 March 2024. The House of Commons has passed the bill and the Speaker has certified the bill as a money bill. In practice this limits the extent to which the House of Lords can propose significant changes.

  • In Focus

    Abraham Accords: UK government policy

    In September 2020, following US-sponsored talks, representatives from Israel, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Bahrain signed the Abraham Accords at the White House in Washington DC. These comprised a declaration and bilateral agreements to normalise diplomatic relations, making the UAE and Bahrain the third and fourth Arab states to recognise Israel. Morocco later signed the accords, and Sudan signed the declaration. The UK government supports the accords.

  • Research Briefing

    Pensions (Extension of Automatic Enrolment) (No. 2) Bill: HL Bill 128 of 2022–23

    The Pensions (Extension of Automatic Enrolment) (No. 2) Bill is a private member’s bill that would allow ministers to lower to 18 the age threshold at which qualifying workers are automatically enrolled into workplace pensions. It would also allow ministers to amend qualifying earnings limits so that pension contributions are calculated from the first pound earned. Ministers would have to obtain Parliament’s approval for any changes after first consulting on any proposals and reporting to Parliament on the consultations held.

  • In Focus

    NHS in England: Current performance and innovation

    The NHS in England has not been able to meet many of its pledges on maximum waiting times for patients in recent years. Challenges facing the health service include increasing demand, funding constraints, additional pressures arising from the Covid-19 pandemic, workforce shortages and industrial action among other issues. This article surveys recent summaries of NHS performance in England and selected commentary on innovation in the health service ahead of a debate on the subject in the House of Lords.

  • In Focus

    Parliamentary democracy in the UK

    A range of groups have expressed concern in recent years about the overall strength of the UK’s democracy or about particular elements of the UK’s constitutional arrangements. Concerns range from observations that the relationship between Parliament and the executive has become increasingly unbalanced, to views on changes to certain rights, freedoms and norms seen as essential features in a democratic society.

  • Research Briefing

    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.

  • Research Briefing

    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.

  • In Focus

    UK–Iran relations

    The UK and Iran have long had a complex and difficult relationship. There have been long-standing tensions over Iran’s nuclear activity, its destabilising activities in the Middle East and the arbitrary detention of dual nationals. But these have been exacerbated in recent months by widespread human rights abuses as the regime in Tehran looks to quell unrest at home, supplies drones to Russia for use in Ukraine and plans extraterritorial abductions and killings abroad, including within the UK.

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