The Antarctic Bill would implement Annex VI (the ‘Liability Annex’) to the Antarctic Treaty’s Environmental Protocol and sets out measures to reduce risks of environmental emergencies in Antarctica. It would also make a number of changes to the Antarctic Act 1994 to give additional protection to the Antarctic environment. This Library Note provides background information in advance of the Bill’s second reading in the House of Lords on 1 February 2013.
Antarctic Bill (HL Bill 76 of 2012-13) (358KB PDF)
The Antarctic Bill would implement Annex VI (the ‘Liability Annex’) to the Antarctic Treaty’s Environmental Protocol and sets out measures to reduce risks of environmental emergencies in Antarctica. It would also make a number of changes to the Antarctic Act 1994 to give additional protection to the Antarctic environment. This Library Note provides background information in advance of the Bill’s second reading in the House of Lords on 1 February 2013. It gives brief background on the UK’s involvement in the Antarctic and the Antarctic Treaty, before summarising the Bill’s report stage and third reading in the House of Commons. The Note should be read in conjunction with House of Commons Library Research Paper, Antarctic Bill, (30 October 2012, RP 12/63), and House of Commons Library Standard Note, Antarctic Bill: Committee Stage, (17 January 2013, SN/IA/6528). Also relevant are House of Lords Library Note, Debate on 18 October, Scott Expedition to Antarctica and Scientific Legacy, (16 October 2012, LLN 2012/034) and House of Commons Library Standard Note, Antarctica: The Treaty System and Territorial Claims, (18 July 2012, SN/IA/5040).
Antarctic Bill (HL Bill 76 of 2012-13) (358KB PDF)
The Nature’s Rights Bill [HL] is a private member’s bill sponsored by Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle (Green Party). The bill would recognise nature as a legal subject, granting it specific rights for protection and restoration. The bill would set out a legal framework for how this would operate, including an integrated rights framework and mechanisms for how nature’s rights would be implemented and enforced.
![Nature’s Rights Bill [HL]: HL Bill 7 of 2026–27](https://lordslibrary-parliament.studio24.dev/content/uploads/sites/2/2020/09/Environment-568x426.png)
The UK is a signatory to the convention establishing an international claims commission for Ukraine. The commission would assess claims for compensation for damage and losses caused by Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The House of Lords International Agreements Committee has broadly welcomed the convention, but also raised concerns about the scope and efficacy of the commission.
Rural areas contribute a significant proportion of England’s economic output. The government has announced several policies intended to support growth in the rural economy, including farming. However, it has faced criticism for the delay in outlining its overall strategy for the agricultural sector. This briefing provides data on the rural economy and summarises government policy and stakeholder reaction
