Constitution Archives

In Focus

Public inquiries: Enhancing public trust—report by the House of Lords Statutory Inquiries Committee

Wednesday, 09 April, 2025

In November 2024, the House of Lords Statutory Inquiries Committee published a report examining public inquiries established under the Inquiries Act 2005. While recognising their positive impact, the committee criticised elements of the public inquiry system, such as governments failing to implement agreed inquiry recommendations. To address this, the committee proposed several reforms, including the formation of a parliamentary committee to oversee inquiries and ensure government accountability for implementing recommendations.
In Focus

Local elections in England: House of Lords debate on certain elections being postponed to 2026

Wednesday, 19 March, 2025

The government postponed elections in nine local authority areas in England from May 2025 to May 2026 to help with planning for local government devolution and creating unitary authorities in two-tier local government areas. There has been opposition to postponing the elections from other political parties, some councils and some members of the public. The House of Lords is due to debate motions to annul the legislation that delays the elections.
Research Briefing

House of Lords (Peerage Nominations) Bill [HL]: HL Bill 36 of 2024-25

Tuesday, 11 March, 2025

The House of Lords (Peerage Nominations) Bill [HL] is a private member’s bill sponsored by Lord Norton of Louth (Conservative). The bill seeks to strengthen the House of Lords Appointments Commission.
Research Briefing

Church of Scotland (Lord High Commissioner) Bill: HL Bill 79 of 2024–25

Tuesday, 11 March, 2025

The Church of Scotland (Lord High Commissioner) Bill would remove the restriction on people of the Roman Catholic faith holding the office of His Majesty’s lord high commissioner to the general assembly of the Church of Scotland.
Research Briefing

Education (Assemblies) Bill [HL]:HL Bill 35 of 2024-25

Friday, 14 February, 2025

The Education (Assemblies) Bill [HL] is a private member’s bill introduced by Baroness Burt of Solihull (Liberal Democrat). It would repeal the requirement for schools in England without a designated religious character to provide daily acts of collective religious worship. In its place, the bill would establish a new duty to provide non-religious assemblies which develop the spiritual, moral, social, and cultural education of pupils.
Research Briefing

Permitted Development Rights (Extension) Bill [HL]: HL Bill 28 of 2024–25

Tuesday, 04 February, 2025

The Permitted Development Rights (Extension) Bill [HL] is a private member’s bill introduced by Lord Lucas (Conservative). The bill would establish new permitted development rights to make additions and alterations to domestic properties. The House of Lords is scheduled to debate the bill at second reading on 7 February 2025.
Research Briefing

Crown Estate (Wales) Bill [HL]: HL Bill 29 of 2024–25

Monday, 03 February, 2025

This private member’s bill would transfer responsibility for the Crown Estate in Wales to the Welsh government.
- Research Briefing
- Devolution
In Focus

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

Wednesday, 29 January, 2025

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

Terrorism in the UK: Legislation and government strategy

Thursday, 23 January, 2025

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

Office attendance mandate for the civil service

Monday, 06 January, 2025

The Conservative government set an expectation that civil servants spend at least 60% of their working week at a government building or on official business. The Labour government has maintained this expectation due to the “clear benefits of face-to-face working”. Some civil servants have raised concerns about the 60% office attendance mandate, including civil servants in HM Land Registry who have recently voted in favour of strike action.
- In Focus
- Government
Research Briefing

Bus Services (No. 2) Bill [HL]: HL Bill 54 of 2024–25

Friday, 03 January, 2025

The Bus Services (No. 2) Bill is a government bill scheduled to have its second reading in the House of Lords on 8 January 2025. It is intended to make it easier for local transport authorities to franchise bus services in their area. It also includes measures on bus data, enforcement powers, accessibility of bus stops, safeguarding checks and training for bus drivers and zero-emissions buses.
Research Briefing

Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Bill: HL Bill 53 of 2024–25

Friday, 20 December, 2024

The Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Bill would introduce requirements on those responsible for certain publicly accessible premises and events to implement measures in the event of a terrorist attack. It would also require certain larger premises and events to take steps to reduce their vulnerability to terrorist attacks.
In Focus

Restoration and renewal of the Palace of Westminster: Background and progress in 2024

Wednesday, 18 December, 2024

In 2024 the restoration and renewal programme announced it would be developing three options to preserve the Palace of Westminster. Details should be presented to Parliament in 2025. Members will then decide whether the programme should temporarily relocate both Houses of Parliament, keep the Commons Chamber onsite while temporarily relocating the Lords, or conduct a rolling programme of works “to deliver enhanced maintenance and improvement”. Surveying, design and remediation work was also progressed in 2024.
In Focus

US election 2024: How will Donald Trump’s return impact the UK’s global future?

Monday, 16 December, 2024

With ‘America first’, where will the UK stand? This briefing looks at views on President-elect Trump’s potential trade and international policies.
In Focus

From the Hansard archives: Christmas tree bills

Friday, 13 December, 2024

Why are bills before Parliament sometimes likened to a Christmas tree? Where did the term Christmas tree bill come from and why? This briefing looks back through Hansard to find when it was first used in Parliament and to trace its development as a political metaphor.

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