This Lords Library briefing provides information on the Battle of Passchendaele and events held to commemorate it ahead of a debate in the House of Lords on 19 October 2017.
Battle of Passchendaele: Centenary Commemorations (417KB PDF)
The Third Battle of Ypres, or the Battle of Passchendaele as it became known, encapsulated a series of engagements fought between 31 July and 6 November 1917. In the words of historians Robin Prior and Trevor Wilson, no Great War campaign excites stronger emotions, and no better word better encapsulates the horror of combat on the Western Front than ‘Passchendaele’. This briefing provides a short summary of the key events of the battle, describes the scale of the engagement and the casualties resulting from it, then details commemoration events which took place during this summer to honour those who lost their lives.
Battle of Passchendaele: Centenary Commemorations (417KB PDF)
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.
The National Security (State Threats) Bill would create new powers for the home secretary to designate bodies engaged in state threat activity, equivalent to the proscription of terrorist organisations under the Terrorism Act 2000. The bill would create three new offences associated with designation of supporting, assisting, or receiving material benefit from a designated body. These offences would carry sentences of up to 14 years’ imprisonment.
Recent tensions in Bosnia and Herzegovina have raised concerns about stability and security in the country, particularly due to reports of external influence and recent secessionist rhetoric in Republika Srpska. This briefing outlines recent developments, international responses and the UK government’s position on Bosnia and Herzegovina ahead of a House of Lords debate on the subject.
