• In Focus

    UK-Australia free trade agreement

    The UK-Australia free trade agreement is the first trade agreement that the UK has negotiated from scratch since leaving the EU. Whilst the government’s impact assessment suggests the economic benefit to the UK’s GDP is likely to be modest, the government has described the agreement as “historic”. The House of Lords International Agreements Committee has welcomed the agreement but has suggested that its scope had been traded off for achieving an agreement quickly.

  • In Focus

    How have cuts to overseas aid affected the control of malaria and other diseases?

    Promoting international health security is a priority area for UK overseas aid. This includes efforts to combat malaria and neglected tropical diseases, working both bilaterally with affected countries and through multilateral organisations such as the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. Reductions in the UK aid budget, along with changes to how it is spent, have led to concerns that funding for such projects will be cut.

  • In Focus

    Musicians: Working and touring in the European Union

    Since Brexit, UK musicians and creative professionals no longer have free movement rights to travel and work across the EU. The EU and the UK have both said that they put forward proposals to prevent this outcome, but they could not come to an agreement. Several commentators have argued that the restrictions are having a negative impact. The government has said that it is committed to supporting UK creative industries and is “clarifying arrangements” with the EU and working with member states to make touring easier.

  • Research Briefing

    Social Security (Additional Payments) Bill: HL Bill 34 of 2022-23

    On 27 June 2022, the second reading and all remaining stages of the Social Security (Additional Payments) Bill are scheduled to take place in the House of Lords. The bill gives effect to the cost of living support measures for benefits claimants announced as part of Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s statement to the House of Commons on 26 May 2022.

  • Research Briefing

    Local Authority (Housing Allocation) Bill [HL]: HL Bill 9 of 2022–23

    The Local Authority (Housing Allocation) Bill [HL] is a private member’s bill introduced by Lord Mann (non-affiliated). The bill is due to have its second reading in the House of Lords on 8 July 2022. The bill would require local planning authorities to establish targets for the allocation of land for new housing in England in consultation with their local communities. The timescales for meeting these targets would be set by the secretary of state.

  • Research Briefing

    Universal Credit (Removal of Two Child Limit) Bill [HL]: HL Bill 7 of 2022-23

    On 8 July 2022, the second reading of the Universal Credit (Removal of Two Child Limit) Bill [HL] is scheduled to take place in the House of Lords. The bill is a private member’s bill introduced by the Bishop of Durham. The bill would disapply provisions of the Welfare Reform Act 2012, as amended by the Welfare Reform and Work Act 2016, which implemented the two-child limit to universal credit.

  • Research Briefing

    Front-loaded Child Benefit Bill [HL]: HL Bill 6 of 2022–23

    The Front-loaded Child Benefit Bill [HL] is a private member’s bill introduced by Lord Farmer (Conservative). It aims to allow recipients of child benefit to receive, if they wish, a higher rate of child benefit when a child is younger in exchange for a lower rate when the child is older. This would be an alternative to the current system whereby a flat rate is paid throughout childhood. Two thinktanks put forward similar proposals prior to 2010. The bill is due to have its second reading in the House of Lords on 8 July 2022.

  • In Focus

    The Equality Act 2010: Impact on disabled people

    The Equality Act 2010 is the main piece of domestic legislation governing disabled people’s rights in the UK; it replaced several separate pieces of discrimination legislation. A 2016 House of Lords committee review contained recommendations for improvements to the 2010 Act. In September 2021, the House of Lords Liaison Committee examined whether these recommendations had been implemented. The committee’s 2021 report is due to be discussed in the House of Lords on 21 June 2022.

  • In Focus

    Travel disruption: Airports and ferry ports

    UK airports and ferry ports have faced widespread disruption in recent months, including mass cancellations of flights and long delays. Airline operators, unions and the government have spoken of various causes for this travel disruption. This article looks at recent examples of disruption and what has been said about the potential reasons behind it.

  • Research Briefing

    Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Bill: HL Bill 16 of 2022-23

    The Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Bill is government legislation intended to introduce security requirements for smart devices and to assist the rollout of telecoms infrastructure for emerging technologies, including 5G and gigabit capable internet. This briefing examines the legislation ahead of its consideration in the House of Lords.

  • In Focus

    Cost of living, economic resilience and government policy

    The cost of living has been increasing for households across the UK since early 2021. This is due to a variety of factors, including Russia’s invasion of Ukraine affecting food and energy prices. At the same time, tax and benefit changes have added pressure to the capacity of household incomes to absorb rising prices. The government has announced successive packages of measures aimed at supporting households as they face rising living costs.

  • In Focus

    Health care services for neurological conditions

    Neurology organisations have reported a “neurology workforce crisis” in recent years. The UK has fewer neurology consultants when compared to other high-income countries, recent data has shown. This has led to concerns about the impact on people with neurological conditions receiving timely access to health and care services. This briefing considers the latest neurology workforce and waiting times data, in addition to recent action taken to improve neurological care.

  • Research Briefing

    Procurement Bill [HL]

    The Procurement Bill is a government bill that has been introduced in the House of Lords. The bill would reform the current rules on public procurement in the UK, much of which are derived from EU law.

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