This In Focus briefing provides background information in advance of the second reading in the House of Lords of the Easter Trading Bill [HL] on 19 June 2015.
Easter Trading Bill [HL] (127KB PDF)
The Easter Trading Bill [HL] is a private member’s bill introduced by Baroness Turner of Camden (Labour), which seeks to “reform the law of England relating to Easter trading; and for connected purposes”. The Bill, if enacted, would amend schedule 1 to the Sunday Trading Act 1994 to remove the prohibition on Easter Day trading for large shops (defined as measuring over 280 square metres/3,000 square foot). The existing restrictions on Sunday trading would still apply to such shops. The Bill would, therefore, enable large shops to open on Easter Sunday as they do on any other Sunday of the year. The Bill would also allow for the repeal or amendment, by statutory instrument, of any provision in a local Act which appears to the Secretary of State to be inconsistent, unnecessary or to require amendment as a consequence of the Bill. The Bill, if enacted, would extend to England only and would come into force on the day on which it was passed.
Easter Trading Bill [HL] (127KB PDF)
In January 2026, the government announced a new scheme to support urgent repairs and essential improvements to listed places of worship. Called the ‘Places of worship renewal fund for England’, it replaced the ‘Listed places of worship grant scheme’ which had run since 2001. This briefing provides an overview of both schemes, the government’s reasoning for the change and the reaction of stakeholders.
There have been big differences in expenditure across different forms of healthcare for a number of years. In 2024/25, spending on acute care was £74.7bn, compared to £14.5bn on primary care and £13.8bn on community services. Both the 2024 Labour Party manifesto and the subsequent 10 year health plan for England contained an emphasis on shifting towards more care being delivered in local communities rather than in acute settings, dubbed a ‘neighbourhood health service’.
Concerns about abuse and intimidation towards elected representatives have increased in recent years. The Jo Cox Civility Commission made a number of recommendations in a 2024 report to address this because of concerns that this activity would dissuade people from standing in elections and encourage existing representatives to stand down. The government has instigated a number of policies to tackle the abuse and intimidation of elected representatives.
