• In Focus

    Working from home: Lords Home-based Working Committee report

    The House of Lords Home-based Working Committee published its report on home working in November 2025. The report examined how remote and hybrid working has affected workers, employers, and the UK’s wider economy and society. The committee said one of its key findings was that home working could help more people into work. The committee made a number of recommendations for the government, which the government responded to in February 2026.

  • Research Briefing

    Grenfell Tower Memorial (Expenditure) Bill: HL Bill 178 of 2024–26

    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

    Strengthening Northern Ireland’s voice in the context of the Windsor Framework: Lords Northern Ireland Scrutiny Committee report

    The House of Lords Northern Ireland Scrutiny Committee published a report in October 2025 examining how Northern Ireland politicians and stakeholders can participate in the Windsor Framework structures. Its findings overlapped with those of an independent review of the Windsor Framework commissioned by the government. In response, the government set out how it was working to engage stakeholders and facilitate democratic scrutiny. It is also creating a new ‘one stop shop’ to help businesses understand the rules that apply under the Windsor Framework.

  • In Focus

    ‘Tokenised deposits’: What are they and how are they being used?

    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

    Spring statement 2026 and Finance (No. 2) Bill: HL Bill 177 of 2024–26

    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.

  • In Focus

    Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading Scheme (Amendment) (Extension to Maritime Activities) Order 2026

    The Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading Scheme (Amendment) (Extension to Maritime Activities) Order 2026 would expand the UK’s emissions trading scheme to include the domestic maritime sector. The government states this supports its climate change and net zero policies. However, concern has been expressed by some about the potential financial impact on the industry and a possible increased impact on Northern Ireland compared with other areas of Great Britain.

  • Research Briefing

    Industry and Exports (Financial Assistance) Bill: HL Bill 170 of 2024–26

    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

    Universal Credit (Removal of Two Child Limit) Bill: HL Bill 171 of 2024–26

    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.

  • In Focus

    Resetting the UK-EU relationship: House of Lords European Affairs Committee report

    The House of Lords European Affairs Committee published a report on the UK-EU reset in November 2025, describing it as “unfinished business”. Ahead of a debate on the committee’s report, this briefing looks at progress on implementing commitments made at the UK-EU summit in May 2025, including negotiations on a sanitary and phytosanitary agreement, emissions trading, participation in the EU electricity market and a youth experience scheme. It also summarises the committee’s findings and the government response.

  • In Focus

    Financial Services Regulation Committee report on the secondary international competitiveness and growth objective

    The House of Lords Financial Services Regulation Committee held an inquiry into the progress made by financial services regulators in strengthening the international competitiveness of the UK economy. The committee’s report, published in June 2025, highlighted cultural and regulatory barriers undermining this objective. The government and regulators stated that the committee’s recommendations align closely with planned and ongoing reforms. On 11 March 2026 the House of Lords is scheduled to debate the Financial Services Regulation Committee report ‘Growing pains: Clarity and culture change required’, published on 13 June 2025.

  • In Focus

    UK-India trade deal

    This briefing provides details on the trade deal signed between the UK and India in July 2025. It includes information on parliamentary scrutiny of the deal, including the report by the House of Lords International Agreements Committee. The government expects the deal to boost UK trade with India and UK GDP. However, concerns have been raised over ongoing negotiations for a ‘double contributions convention’ with India and the potential impact of the deal on certain UK sectors.

  • In Focus

    UK flour milling sector

    The flour milling sector produces flour for a variety of foods, including bread, biscuits, cakes and other products. This briefing provides an overview of the contribution of the flour milling sector to the UK economy, including its contribution to employment.

  • Research Briefing

    National Insurance Contributions (Employer Pensions Contributions) Bill: HL Bill 164 of 2024–26

    The National Insurance Contributions (Employer Pensions Contributions) Bill would give effect to the government’s policy, announced at the November 2025 budget, to abolish national insurance contributions (NICs) tax relief on employer salary sacrifice pensions contributions above £2,000 per year per employee. The bill would provide for future regulations to apply employee and employer NICs to salary sacrifice pensions contributions above this new threshold. The change would take effect from April 2029.

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