This House of Lords Library briefing provides information in support of the House of Lords consideration of the Modern Slavery (Victim Support) Bill [HL].
Modern Slavery (Victim Support) Bill [HL] (148KB PDF)
The Modern Slavery (Victim Support) Bill is a private member’s bill introduced by Lord McColl of Dulwich (Conservative). The Bill received its first reading in the House of Lords on 26 June 2017, and is scheduled to receive its second reading on 8 September 2017. The Bill proposes to amend the Modern Slavery Act 2015 to provide a statutory basis for support and assistance for potential victims of modern slavery during a reflection and recovery period of 45 days, and for a further period of twelve months following confirmation of their status as a victim of modern slavery. Clause 1 of the Bill would insert four new sections into the Modern Slavery Act 2015. Clause 2 would repeal section 50(1) of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and remove the power of the Secretary of State to make regulations regarding the provision of support and assistance to victims of modern slavery. Lastly, clause 3 states that the Bill would extend to England and Wales only (support for adult victims of modern slavery is a devolved matterii) and would come into force twelve months to the day after receiving royal assent.
Modern Slavery (Victim Support) Bill [HL] (148KB 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.
