This House of Lords Library briefing provides background information in advance of the second reading of the Public Advocate Bill [HL] in the House of Lords on 29 January 2016.
Public Advocate Bill [HL] (125KB PDF)
The Public Advocate Bill [HL] is a private member’s bill introduced by Lord Wills (Labour). The Bill received its first reading in the House of Lords on 3 June 2015 and is scheduled to receive its second reading on 29 January 2016.
The Public Advocate Bill [HL] aims to provide representation for the bereaved during investigations following public disasters, and to provide for the establishment of an independent panel to review documentation relating to the disaster. As was the case for the Hillsborough Independent Panel, this panel would be registered as a data controller under the Data Protection Act 1998 and would therefore have access to documents it would not otherwise be able to view. Lord Wills and Maria Eagle MP, the Bill’s sponsors, have stated that the system provided for in the Public Advocate Bill [HL] “is based on learning the lessons of Hillsborough which showed the benefits of the panel review system”, and would provide new protection and support for families bereaved in public disasters.
Public Advocate Bill [HL] (125KB 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.
