• In Focus

    Autumn statement 2023: Key announcements and analysis

    The chancellor presented the autumn statement on 22 November 2023. He said that because of difficult decisions he had taken over the last year, he was able to announce tax cuts in support of boosting growth. However, the Office for Budget Responsibility noted that taxation as a share of gross domestic product (GDP) was still predicted to rise in each of the next five years to a post-war high of 38% of GDP in 2028/29. In addition, commentators have expressed concern that the funding for the tax measures has come at the expense of increased pressures on public services.

  • Research Briefing

    Automated Vehicles Bill [HL]: HL Bill 1 of 2023–24

    The Automated Vehicles Bill would put into place measures announced in the 2023 King’s Speech to set up a legal framework to enable self-driving cars in the UK. It would establish a regulatory regime for authorising the vehicles, deal with criminal liability and marketing restrictions and allow for automated passenger services, among other things.

  • In Focus

    Mopeds, motorcycles and the powered light vehicle industry

    Powered light vehicles (PLVs) are a category of smaller, lighter vehicles, including mopeds and motorcycles. Zero emission PLVs can contribute to reducing congestion and air and noise pollution. The government consulted in 2022 on ending sales of new non-zero emission PLVs by 2035, but the industry argues this is unrealistic. It is not clear how the government’s decision to delay the date for ending sales of new petrol and diesel cars and vans affects this proposal.

  • In Focus

    Air travel for disabled passengers

    Passengers with a disability or reduced mobility are entitled to assistance from airports and airlines when flying. However, some passengers using assistance services have had poor experiences in recent years. This was particularly the case during widespread sector disruption in 2022 due to staffing shortages. The Department for Transport and the Civil Aviation Authority have consulted on ways to improve consumer rights for those who require assistance when travelling by air.

  • Research Briefing

    Pedicabs (London) Bill [HL]: HL Bill 2 of 2023–24

    The Pedicabs (London) Bill is a government bill which would provide Transport for London with powers to regulate pedicabs, also known as cycle rickshaws, for example by introducing a licensing regime and standards for operators, drivers and their vehicles. The bill would extend to England and Wales, but only apply in England to pedicabs operated within Greater London. The bill was promised in the 2023 King’s Speech and was introduced into the House of Lords on 8 November 2023. It is due to receive its second reading on 22 November 2023.

  • Research Briefing

    Trade (Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership) Bill [HL]: HL Bill 4 of 2023–24

    The Trade (Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership) Bill was announced as part of the King’s Speech in November 2023. It is a bill to enable the implementation of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership. It will amend aspects of domestic legislation on technical trade barriers, government procurement and intellectual property to ensure the UK is compliant when the agreement comes into force.

  • In Focus

    King’s Speech 2023: Transport

    This briefing looks at measures announced by the government in the last session relating to transport, including those in the 2022 Queen’s Speech such as creating a new entity to oversee the railways and creating a regulatory framework for self-driving and remotely operated cars. The government has also said it intends to address pavement parking and e-scooters and to redistribute money intended for phase 2 of HS2.

  • In Focus

    King’s Speech 2023: Economic affairs, business and trade

    This briefing considers the current economic situation ahead of the 2023 King’s Speech. It also covers other economy, business and trade-related measures that the government has indicated it may pursue. Such measures include regulatory reform, reforming the way in which building societies can fund themselves, and legislation to implement specific areas of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) in UK domestic law.

  • In Focus

    King’s Speech 2023: Energy security and net zero

    The government has committed to reducing the UK’s carbon emissions and household energy costs while increasing energy security. In September 2023, the government announced it would be pushing back some of its previously announced net zero related deadlines, including those for the transition to electric vehicles and the phasing out of fossil fuel boilers for off-gas-grid homes. This briefing provides a summary of the government’s recent announcements.

  • In Focus

    ‘Investing in energy: Price, security, and the transition to net zero’: Economic Affairs Committee report

    In February 2022, the House of Lords Economic Affairs Committee launched an inquiry into how the government could support investment in UK energy in order to achieve greater security of supply, improve affordability and meet the UK’s net zero targets. This article summarises the committee’s conclusions and the then government’s response to its recommendations. It also provides an overview of subsequent developments in the government’s energy policies.

  • In Focus

    Reforming adult social care: House of Lords committee report

    Government plans for adult social care have undergone several changes in the last decade. In December 2022, the House of Lords Adult Social Care Committee published a report examining the adult social care system and making recommendations to make it a “progressive, visible, fairer and kinder system”. In July 2023, the government published a response. It pointed to commitments in its April 2023 white paper, including reform of the adult social care workforce, housing for people who required care and tackling delayed discharge and unnecessary admissions to hospitals.

  • In Focus

    Value added tax (VAT) at 50

    The 50th anniversary of the UK’s value added tax (VAT) occurred on 1 April 2023. VAT was introduced in anticipation of the UK’s entry to the European Economic Community and has since become one of the government’s largest revenue raisers. This article examines the history of VAT and the debate about how it has developed.

  • In Focus

    The future UK-EU relationship: Report by the House of Lords European Affairs Committee

    Since the Windsor Framework was agreed in February 2023, the UK and the EU agree their relationship has been on a positive trajectory. In light of this, a recent House of Lords committee report made recommendations about further opportunities for UK-EU cooperation on foreign policy, defence and security, energy security, climate change and mobility of people.

  • In Focus

    Private parking code of practice: Latest developments

    The government “temporarily” withdrew the private parking code of practice in June 2022. This statutory guidance included a cap on the level of parking charges operators of private parking facilities could issue to motorists, as well as the removal of additional fees they could impose at the debt recovery stage. The government has since published a draft impact assessment and launched a call for evidence to review the impact of these provisions on operators.

  • Research Briefing

    Northern Ireland Budget (No. 2) Bill: HL Bill 167 of 2022–23

    The Northern Ireland Budget (No. 2) Bill is a government bill that would authorise government departments and certain other bodies in Northern Ireland to incur expenditure and use resources for the financial year ending 31 March 2024. The House of Commons has passed the bill and the Speaker has certified the bill as a money bill. In practice this limits the extent to which the House of Lords can propose significant changes.

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