The Sovereign Grant Bill is a government bill which would amend how the sovereign grant is set. This is a grant paid to the King to support the work of the sovereign. The bill would enable the size of the sovereign grant to be reduced following the completion of a 10-year works project on Buckingham Palace. The bill received cross-party support and was not amended in the House of Commons.
The Financial Services and Markets Bill [HL] is a wide-ranging bill that aims to reform the way the UK financial services sector is regulated. This briefing provides a summary of the bill’s second reading and committee stage in the House of Lords ahead of its further consideration at report.
![Financial Services and Markets Bill [HL]: Progress in the Lords](https://lordslibrary-parliament.studio24.dev/content/uploads/sites/2/2020/09/Economy-1232x922.png)
The Taxation (Energy and Vehicles) Bill is a money bill that would implement three tax measures as part of the government’s package of support to tackle increased energy prices. The bill would increase the electricity generator levy, increase the rate of tax-free mileage allowance for employees, and provide a 12-month vehicle excise duty exemption for HGVs.
In Focus
Concerns have been raised about levels of welfare spending in the UK and increasing numbers of young people not in education, employment or training. This briefing sets out statistics, government policy and commentary on welfare and youth employment. This includes the government’s youth guarantee, its ‘Get Britain working’ policies and the interim report by Alan Milburn on young people and work.
In Focus
Rural areas contribute a significant proportion of England’s economic output. The government has announced several policies intended to support growth in the rural economy, including farming. However, it has faced criticism for the delay in outlining its overall strategy for the agricultural sector. This briefing provides data on the rural economy and summarises government policy and stakeholder reaction
Research Briefing
The Financial Services and Markets Bill [HL] is a government bill that would make reforms to several areas of financial regulation, including reforms to the Financial Ombudsman Service, abolishing the Payment Systems Regulator, introducing a ‘provisional licences’ authorisation scheme, and making reforms to the UK’s bank ring-fencing regime. Its second reading in the House of Lords is scheduled to take place on 8 June 2026.
In Focus
In recent years, electricity prices for both households and businesses have seen significant increases. This briefing sets out how electricity bills are calculated, how much on average they cost and how they compare internationally. It also provides commentary on why prices have been so high and gives an overview of government policy in this area.
In Focus
The UK’s low and declining birth rate, alongside increasing life expectancy, is contributing to population ageing. This has raised concerns about potential effects on the size of the workforce, demand for public services and economic growth. This briefing considers these issues and sets out the government’s response to such concerns.
Research Briefing
The Civil Aviation (Consumer Protection and Regulatory Reform) Bill [HL] is a government bill focused on supporting the aviation industry and related consumer rights.
Research Briefing
This briefing explores what announcements the government could make in the King’s Speech on 13 May 2026 about economics, business and trade. It also summarises the current economic situation.
Research Briefing
The Grenfell Tower Memorial (Expenditure) Bill is a government bill that would allow public money to be used to build a memorial to the victims of the Grenfell Tower fire and fund associated works related to archives, an exhibition and second site where elements of the tower could be laid to rest. It is a money bill which received cross-party support in the House of Commons.
In Focus
For many years companies and individuals have used distributed ledger technology (DLT) to create and trade cryptocurrencies. Now some banks are starting to use DLT to create ‘tokenised deposits’: digital representations of bank deposits that can be sent and received more easily than traditional bank money. This briefing looks into how tokenised deposits are being used and discusses the potential risks and benefits.
Research Briefing
The government delivered its spring forecast statement on 3 March 2026, accompanied by the latest Office for Budget Responsibility forecasts for the UK economy. Meanwhile, the House of Commons concluded scrutiny of the Finance (No. 2) Bill on 11 March 2026. The bill would implement many of the taxation measures announced in the November 2025 budget. The House of Lords will consider both the statement and bill on 17 March 2026.
Research Briefing
The bill is a short, technical bill with two substantive clauses. The bill would amend existing legislation to increase the statutory limits on financial assistance the government can provide to support UK industry and exports. It would do this by increasing the funding limit in the Industrial Development Act 1982 to £20bn and in the Export and Investment Guarantees Act 1991 to £160bn.
Research Briefing
The Universal Credit (Removal of Two Child Limit) Bill is a government bill that would remove the current two-child limit in universal credit across the UK from 6 April 2026. The government announced its intention to remove the limit at the November 2025 budget. The House of Commons has passed the bill. The House of Lords is scheduled to consider the bill at second reading and all remaining stages on 12 March 2026.
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