This page lists all of our research across our publication types.
In Focus
Assistive technology can support individuals with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) to improve or maintain their daily quality of life. This includes in the areas of education and employment. This article looks at the challenges those with SEND face in these areas as well as the potential solutions assistive technology can offer. It also considers the government’s policy in these areas.
In Focus
Imprisonment for public protection (IPP) sentences were indeterminate sentences given to serious offenders who posed a significant risk of serious harm to the public. Although the IPP sentence was abolished in 2012, thousands of people subject to such a sentence are still in prison. In February 2023, the government rejected a recommendation from the House of Commons Justice Committee to conduct a resentencing exercise. It says its recently updated IPP action plan will support those serving an IPP sentence to progress towards release.
In Focus
The UK government has a complex relationship with its overseas territories spanning constitutional, security and financial aspects. The territories operate with differing levels of self-governance, balancing local decision-making with UK responsibilities. The government collaborates closely with the territories on security and defence. It also engages in financial cooperation, providing support to the territories for their economic development and financial stability.
In Focus
This year marks the 65th anniversary of the Life Peerages Act 1958, which first allowed women to sit in the House of Lords. Since the act’s passing the proportion of female members in the House has progressively increased over time. However, women still only make up less than a third of the House’s membership. This piece contains statistics on women in the House of Lords since 1958.
Research Briefing
The Veterans Advisory and Pensions Committees Bill is intended to widen the statutory functions of the committees to better represent how they have operated in recent years. The bill passed all of its Commons stages unamended with cross-party support.
In Focus
This article presents recent data on violent crime in England and Wales published by the Office for National Statistics.
In Focus
When the UK withdrew from the EU it regained its ability to independently negotiate free trade agreements. The trade agreements with Australia and New Zealand were the first that the UK negotiated from scratch. The legislation implementing their procurement provisions in domestic UK law received royal assent on 23 March 2023 (the Trade (Australia and New Zealand) Act 2023). This, and the negotiation of the agreements that underpinned the UK’s withdrawal, has highlighted the role of Parliament in scrutinising international treaties.
In Focus
In 2021, the government announced it would reduce the size of the army from 82,000 to 73,000 trained regulars. It also said the army would be modernised to take advantage of new technologies. This article looks at the current size of the army, the government’s 2021 integrated review and the findings of a recent inquiry on UK defence policy by the House of Lords International Relations and Defence Committee.
Research Briefing
The Northern Ireland (Interim Arrangements) Bill is a government bill that was introduced in the House of Commons. The bill is being fast-tracked and completed all of its stages in the House of Commons on 10 May 2023 without amendment. It is scheduled to have its second reading on the 18 May 2023 with its remaining stages taking place on 23 May 2023.
In Focus
Several thousand prisoners in England required support from custodial mental health services between July and September 2021, according to new research. One such service included psychologically informed planned environments (PIPEs), which are designed to support offenders with personality-related difficulties. An evaluation of PIPEs commissioned by the government analysed whether the PIPE model had been effective. This article looks at how PIPEs work and what the evaluation found.
Current Affairs Digest
In the spring budget in March 2023, Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt announced reforms to disability benefits which he described as the “biggest change to our welfare system in a decade”. This article summarises the reforms, which were also published in a white paper, and reaction to them by disability groups and charities.
Research Briefing
The Lifelong Learning (Higher Education Fee Limits) Bill would introduce a new credit-based method of calculating the maximum tuition fee limits for higher education courses in England. This would ensure fee limits were set consistently across modules, short courses and full courses, so that learners who studied flexibly would not be charged disproportionately. The bill supports the introduction of the government’s lifelong loan entitlement (LLE). From 2025, the LLE would give people access to a flexible loan worth £37,000 that could be used to enrol in post-18 education courses throughout their working life. The government has committed to reform post-18 education. It said the current student financing framework did not encourage individuals to study flexibly throughout their lifetime.
In Focus
In the March 2023 budget, the government announced increased support for paying for childcare. This article looks at the current cost of childcare in England, how this compares internationally and what the government is doing to help, and the potential impacts of those changes.
Current Affairs Digest
One of the largest and most comprehensive trials for a four-day working week recently took place in the UK. This article considers the arguments around a four-day week in the context of the trial results.
Research Briefing
This private member’s bill would seek to amend the basis on which the secretary of state could make liability orders to enable the Child Maintenance Service to use enforcement powers in collecting payment for arrears.
Total results (page 48 of 185)