This Library Note was prepared for a debate in the House of Lords on the impact of personal indebtedness in UK households, especially on children, which was scheduled to take place on 17 July 2014, but was postponed to a future date.
The Impact of Personal Indebtedness in United Kingdom Households, Especially on Children (349KB PDF)
This Library Note was prepared for a debate in the House of Lords on the impact of personal indebtedness in UK households, especially on children, which was scheduled to take place on 17 July 2014, but was postponed to a future date. The Note gives an overview of current levels of personal indebtedness in the UK and examines reports relating to its impact on households. The Note then considers the specific impact household indebtedness has on children, before examining some of the suggested causes of problem debt in UK households. The Note also provides an overview of government policy on the issue and the action it has taken to date.
The Impact of Personal Indebtedness in United Kingdom Households, Especially on Children (349KB 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)