• In Focus

    Encouraging retail investment in the stock market

    Individual consumers investing in the stock market, known as ‘retail’ investment, can have benefits for individuals and the economy, though it also brings risks. The Financial Conduct Authority estimates that a significant number of people in the UK have cash savings that are depreciating in value and would produce higher returns if invested. Some commentators and thinktanks have argued the government should pursue policies to encourage greater retail investment in the stock market.

  • Research Briefing

    Renters’ Rights Bill: HL Bill 60 of 2024–25

    The Renters' Rights Bill would enact significant reform of the private rental sector (PRS). The bill’s provisions are centred on the PRS in England, though some measures would apply to Scotland and Wales. Many of the provisions in the bill are similar to the Renters (Reform) Bill 2023–24 introduced by the then Conservative government, but with several key differences including ending rental bidding and curtailing rent payments in advance of a tenancy.

  • In Focus

    Lifelong learning: England’s adult education sector and the government’s plan for skills

    Lifelong learning can have social, professional and health benefits. However, funding and student numbers have decreased over the past decade. Government policies aim to align skills and learning opportunities with local and national economic priorities. Policies include devolving adult skills funding to mayoral authorities, introducing the lifelong learning entitlement, and establishing Skills England.

  • In Focus

    Youth mobility schemes

    The UK has schemes to allow young people from specific countries to come to the UK to live and work for a limited period of time. In April 2024, the European Commission made a proposal to the European Council to open negotiations with the UK on agreeing a youth mobility scheme between the UK and the EU. The Labour government has stated that it has no plans for a scheme with the EU. Several organisations have expressed support for it, but others have expressed concern that it would be a return to a form of freedom of movement.

  • In Focus

    Copyright and artificial intelligence: Impact on creative industries

    Currently, developers are subject to copyright law when using large data sets to train artificial intelligence (AI) models. In December 2024, the government published proposals to change the way in which this material could be used. This included the establishment of a copyright exemption for AI developers and a new rights reservation model whereby copyright holders would need to opt-out from having their material used for training AI.

  • In Focus

    The Office for Students: Proposed strategy and decision to pause applications

    The Office for Students (OfS) strategy for 2025 to 2030 establishes priorities in the areas of quality, student experience, and sector resilience. The OfS is currently pausing aspects of its regulatory functions to focus on financial sustainability among education providers. This action is supported by the government. However, critics argue the OfS’s decision will cause financial difficulties to some education providers and leave some students without the protection of the regulator.

  • In Focus

    Rape: Levels of prosecutions

    In the 2021 ‘End-to-end rape review’, the Conservative government pointed to a sharp decrease in rape prosecutions since 2016/17. Issues cited include long delays during the criminal justice process and a lack of specialist support for victims. Labour’s 2024 general election manifesto argued prosecutions were “shamefully low”. It committed to specialist rape and sexual offences teams in every police force and specialist courts to fast-track rape cases.

  • In Focus

    Tax implications of corporate profit shifting

    Multinational corporations may use artificial intragroup transfers and other strategies to lower their exposure to corporation tax. Following high profile examples of aggressive tax avoidance, OECD countries including the UK agreed a number of measures to reduce so-called ‘profit shifting’ and increase tax revenues globally. This included a global minimum tax for large corporations. US President Donald Trump has since signalled the US no longer agrees with the latest OECD tax agreement.

  • Research Briefing

    Non-Domestic Rating (Multipliers and Private Schools) Bill: HL Bill 61 of 2024–25

    This government bill would enable changes to the business rates regime. It would allow the introduction of additional business rate multipliers to increase business rates for larger properties and reduce business rates for retail, hospitality and leisure properties, and the removal of charitable rate relief from some private schools that are charities.

  • In Focus

    Terrorism in the UK: Legislation and government strategy

    The UK’s approach to counter-terrorism is set out in its strategy CONTEST, which includes the scheme Prevent. Following the Southport attack in July 2024, Keir Starmer said that the threat from terrorism had changed, and the government would be reviewing its counter-extremism systems and reforming programmes such as Prevent. He also said the government would change the law to respond to the new threat if needed.

  • In Focus

    Economic growth conditions: Discussion and debate

    Economic growth is a consequence of increases in the stocks of labour and capital and the efficiency with which factors of production are used. Economists disagree on the potential to improve conditions for growth. Optimists point to the scope for policy changes in areas such as housing and energy to lift economic growth. Pessimists argue that structural headwinds mean the economy’s weak performance of the last decade-and-a-half will persist. Beyond policy, cultural factors may also play an important role in determining the economy’s growth prospects.

  • In Focus

    Academy schools: Government plans for change

    The number of academy schools has increased significantly since 2010. In England, 43.5% of all schools were academies in the 2023/24 academic year. The government has announced plans to change the rules academy schools must follow. Some of these changes are set out in the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill.

  • In Focus

    Climate change: Supporting farmers and growers

    Extreme rainfall and flooding in 2023 and 2024 impacted farmers and affected the supply of some domestically grown food. It is predicted that future climatic changes could impact agriculture and domestic food production, presenting both risks and opportunities. This briefing examines how the government is supporting farmers and growers to adapt to climate change.

  • In Focus

    Budget tax measures: Context for the UK’s nations and regions

    Tax measures announced in the autumn 2024 budget included reforms to agricultural property relief for inheritance tax, changes to employer national insurance contributions and the extension of VAT to private school fees. This briefing provides some context to assess the potential economic impact of these measures on the nations and regions of the UK.

  • In Focus

    Asylum accommodation support: Use of hotels

    Hotel rooms are used in certain circumstances to house asylum seekers. The Home Office has said this has been necessary to meet its legal obligations to those eligible for support at times when there is not enough space across the rest of the asylum accommodation estate. However, successive governments have stated the use of hotels is temporary and it is their policy to end reliance on them. This briefing outlines the approach of various governments to meet this commitment.

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