This briefing provides information in support of the House of Lords consideration of the National Insurance Contributions (Rate Ceilings) Bill.
National Insurance Contributions (Rate Ceilings) Bill 2015–16 (176KB PDF)
In the Queen’s Speech on 27 May 2015, the Government announced it would implement a five-year tax lock ensuring there are no income tax, VAT or National Insurance rate rises in this Parliament. The National Insurance Contributions (Rate Ceilings) Bill would legislate for the National Insurance aspect of that commitment, and would protect against any rise in National Insurance Contributions for the next five years, or any increase in the Upper Earnings Limit.
National Insurance Contributions (Rate Ceilings) Bill 2015–16 (176KB PDF)
The Sovereign Grant Bill is a government bill which would amend how the sovereign grant is set. This is a grant paid to the King to support the work of the sovereign. The bill would enable the size of the sovereign grant to be reduced following the completion of a 10-year works project on Buckingham Palace. The bill received cross-party support and was not amended in the House of Commons.
The Commercial Payments Bill [HL] seeks to tackle late payments to small businesses. It would impose minimum payment periods for invoices, prohibit the use of retentions in construction contracts and provide the small business commissioner with greater powers. The bill received an unopposed second reading in the House of Lords on 9 June 2026. 30 government amendments were made to the bill at committee stage.
![Commercial Payments Bill [HL]: Progress in the Lords](https://lordslibrary-parliament.studio24.dev/content/uploads/sites/2/2020/01/Business-VIGs-568x426.jpg)
The Financial Services and Markets Bill [HL] is a wide-ranging bill that aims to reform the way the UK financial services sector is regulated. This briefing provides a summary of the bill’s second reading and committee stage in the House of Lords ahead of its further consideration at report.
![Financial Services and Markets Bill [HL]: Progress in the Lords](https://lordslibrary-parliament.studio24.dev/content/uploads/sites/2/2020/09/Economy-568x426.png)