In Focus
The government published a draft new national policy statement for ports in June 2025. This seeks to update the planning policy for ports development, which was previously set out in a 2012 national policy statement. The proposed new policy statement has been welcomed by those in the ports sector. As part of its parliamentary scrutiny, it is due to be debated in the House of Lords on 14 October 2025.
Research Briefing
The Space Industry (Indemnities) Bill is a private member’s bill, supported by the government, that would amend the Space Industry Act 2018 to require all spaceflight operator licences to specify a limit on a licence holder's liability for damage or loss. This is intended to encourage investment in the UK space industry by ensuring that operators are not subject to unlimited liability.
In Focus
The House of Lords is due to debate whether to approve three statutory instruments on 22 July 2025. These relate to the restrictions on foreign state investment in UK news sources, such as newspapers. One of these instruments would allow foreign states to own holdings of up to 15% in a UK news source owner. The reasoning behind this move has been questioned by a House of Lords committee, and Liberal Democrat peer Lord Fox has tabled a motion calling on the House to reject it.
In Focus
The UK crafts sector encompasses a range of artisan activities that depend on expert hand skills. Official statistics show that crafts account for a relatively small share of economic activity and employment, although these estimates may understate the sector’s actual contributions. Crafts are supported by public funding and are being preserved and passed on through a variety of initiatives. However, the sector faces structural, economic and cultural challenges.
In Focus
In September 2024 the House of Lords Communications and Digital Committee launched an inquiry into the scaleup challenges facing startup enterprises working with artificial intelligence (AI) and creative technology. In a report published in February 2025, the committee warned the UK risked becoming an incubator economy where UK startups developed innovative products and services before selling out or moving abroad. This briefing summarises the report’s recommendations and the government’s response.
In Focus
In 2024, the House of Lords Built Environment Committee conducted an inquiry into how high streets could be regenerated and become more resilient and attractive. This briefing provides a summary of the committee’s findings, reactions to the report, and the government’s response, ahead of a debate in the House of Lords on 13 May 2025.
Research Briefing
The bill aims to create a 'smoke-free generation' by banning tobacco sales to anyone born on or after 1 January 2009, alongside other measures to tackle smoking and tobacco harms. It would also further regulate vaping, curbing its appeal to children, while enabling adult smokers to use vapes as a quitting tool. The bill is similar to the Tobacco and Vapes Bill which fell at dissolution 2024.
Research Briefing
The government introduced the Employment Rights Bill in the House of Lords on 14 March 2025. The House is scheduled to debate the bill at second reading on 27 March 2025.
In Focus
In October 2024, a House of Lords committee published a post-legislative review of the Modern Slavery Act 2015. The committee argued that the legislation was no longer world-leading. It suggested developments worldwide had led to the UK falling behind internationally and that recent immigration legislation had limited the act’s support infrastructure for victims. It called on government policy to recognise the difference between migrants coming to the UK willingly and victims of trafficking.
In Focus
In October 2024, a report from the House of Lords Food, Diet and Obesity Committee concluded that poor-quality diets were contributing to an obesity crisis in England. It said that successive governments had failed to tackle the issue, and more regulation was now needed. This briefing summarises the committee’s recommendations, the government’s response in January 2025, and reaction to both reports.
In Focus
In the UK, human body parts can legally be held in museums and private collections, as well as offered for sale. Many items were collected in colonial contexts, without the consent of communities. Indigenous groups are campaigning for the return of their ancestors’ remains. This briefing sets out the relevant background and law on this issue in the UK.
In Focus
The Post Office introduced the Horizon computer system into branches from 1999. The system, used for accounting and stock-taking, inaccurately recorded losses and money missing in branches. The Post Office has identified 700 convictions in cases it prosecuted between 1999 and 2015 in which Horizon evidence may have featured. Compensation schemes have been established by the Post Office and the Department for Business and Trade. However, progress in making payments has been criticised for being too slow.
In Focus
Concerns have been raised about the environmental performance of water companies in recent years, particularly the frequency at which sewage has been released into rivers. In response, there have been calls to use the fines imposed on water companies to pay for restoration projects. This article summarises the background, and steps taken by the previous Conservative government and the current Labour government, relating to the environmental performance of water companies.
In Focus
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.
In Focus
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.
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