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.
This briefing explores what announcements the government could make in the King’s Speech on 13 May 2026 about home affairs.
In recent years, concerns have been raised about the state of modern foreign language education in England. These concerns have mainly focused on a decrease in the number of students studying the subjects and a shortage of specialist teachers. Various commentators have described these issues as a ‘vicious circle’ arguing that they are linked. The government has set out various measures aimed at addressing these issues, including the use of financial incentives, but has said it would not introduce visa waivers.
In Focus
In 2005, the then Labour government proposed the introduction of a national identity card scheme and register. Having passed the House of Commons, the government’s Identity Cards Bill reached the House of Lords, where it received a mixed response at its second reading. Speakers from across the House debated the principle and practicability of identity cards. Some members raised specific concerns, foreshadowing debates held later at committee and report stages. This briefing looks back at the bill’s second reading and summarises the key points made.
In Focus
On 11 December 2025 the House of Lords is due to debate a report on demographic change in the UK. The report was written by Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts (Conservative) for the Common Good Foundation, a registered charity directed by Lord Glasman (Labour). This Library briefing contains summary information on the report, alongside statistics and further reading on the issue.
Research Briefing
The Deprivation of Citizenship Orders (Effect during Appeal) Bill is a government bill comprising a single substantive clause. It follows a Supreme Court judgment in February 2025 which held that anyone deprived of British citizenship automatically regains that status following a successful initial appeal. The bill would provide for deprivation orders to continue to have legal effect until any onward appeals had been determined.
Research Briefing
This bill seeks to implement the government’s commitments to modernise the asylum and immigration systems, establish a border security command and introduce enhanced powers and offences to tackle immigration crime and people smuggling gangs. It has completed its passage in the House of Commons and is scheduled to have its second reading in the House of Lords on 2 June 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
Integration and community cohesion have both been identified as important factors to enable people from different communities to live and work together. Like the previous Conservative government, the current Labour government has committed to policies intended to support integration in order to improve community cohesion. This briefing summarises how integration and community cohesion are conceptualised and measured and discusses the debate on effective integration strategies.
In Focus
The UK has schemes to allow young people from specific countries to come to the UK to live and work for a limited period of time. In April 2024, the European Commission made a proposal to the European Council to open negotiations with the UK on agreeing a youth mobility scheme between the UK and the EU. The Labour government has stated that it has no plans for a scheme with the EU. Several organisations have expressed support for it, but others have expressed concern that it would be a return to a form of freedom of movement.
In Focus
Hotel rooms are used in certain circumstances to house asylum seekers. The Home Office has said this has been necessary to meet its legal obligations to those eligible for support at times when there is not enough space across the rest of the asylum accommodation estate. However, successive governments have stated the use of hotels is temporary and it is their policy to end reliance on them. This briefing outlines the approach of various governments to meet this commitment.
Research Briefing
The Asylum Support (Prescribed Period) Bill [HL] is a private member’s bill introduced by Baroness Lister of Burtersett (Labour). It was introduced in the House of Lords on 6 September 2024 and is due to have its second reading on 13 December 2024.
Research Briefing
This private member’s bill would expand the criteria of who qualifies as a family member of a refugee and people granted humanitarian protection. Additionally, it would seek to reintroduce legal aid for such cases.
Research Briefing
Research briefing setting out the government’s commitments covering home affairs for the House of Lords debate on the 2024 King’s Speech.
Research Briefing
This private member’s bill would add a new registration route to the British Nationality Act 1981 so that Irish citizens who have been lawfully resident in the UK for five years could apply to be registered as British citizens.
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