Home Affairs Archives

In Focus

Rwanda policy: Unaccompanied children and age assessments

Friday, 15 July, 2022

In April 2022, the UK government announced a scheme to relocate certain asylum seekers to Rwanda for asylum claims processing and potential resettlement. Concerns have since been raised about the risk of unaccompanied children being mistaken for adults and subsequently removed from the UK to Rwanda. This article considers this issue and also what the government is doing to improve age assessment procedures in the UK’s immigration system.
Research Briefing

Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Bill: HL Bill 37 of 2022-23

Thursday, 14 July, 2022

The Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Bill 2022–23 is intended to address the legacy of the Northern Ireland Troubles by establishing a new independent commission for reconciliation and information recovery, limiting criminal investigations and legal proceedings, and providing for a new oral history initiative and memorialisation strategy.
Research Briefing

Ballot Secrecy Bill [HL]: HL Bill 15 of 2022–23

Monday, 11 July, 2022

On 15 July 2022, the Ballot Secrecy Bill [HL] is due to receive second reading in the House of Lords. This private member’s bill would amend section 60 of the Representation of the People Act 1983 to create new offences for individuals who accompany a voter to a polling booth or position themselves nearby with the intention of influencing a voter.
In Focus

China: Security challenges to the UK

Friday, 08 July, 2022

On 6 July 2022, the British and US intelligence services jointly said China would pose the biggest security threat facing the West over the next decade. Relations between China and the UK have deteriorated in recent years and experts have expressed concern over Chinese ambitions in several areas. This article provides a brief overview of recent UK-China relations and those security threats.
Research Briefing

Heritage Railways and Tramways (Voluntary Work) Bill [HL]: HL Bill 12 of 2022–23

Friday, 08 July, 2022

The Heritage Railways and Tramways (Voluntary Work) Bill [HL] is a private member’s bill introduced by Lord Faulkner of Worcester (Labour). The bill seeks to remove statutory restrictions on young people volunteering to work on heritage railways or tramways.
In Focus

Human Rights Act 1998: Does it need replacing?

Thursday, 07 July, 2022

The Human Rights Act 1998 (HRA) provides the statutory basis in UK law for the protection of human rights and freedoms. The government recently published plans to replace the act with a UK bill of rights. This article looks at what the HRA does, why the government wants to reform it, and what the reaction has been to the proposed bill of rights and other reform plans.
In Focus

Status of women and girls in the UK since 2010

Thursday, 07 July, 2022

This article examines the status of women and girls in the UK since 2010. This includes a focus on their economic wellbeing, such as employment rates, earnings and the gender pay gap. It also considers the welfare and safety of women and girls, as well as examining opportunities in higher education.
- In Focus
- Crime
- Health
In Focus

Public Services Committee report: Role of public services in supporting vulnerable children

Thursday, 07 July, 2022

In November 2021, the House of Lords Public Services Committee published a report entitled ‘Children in crisis: the role of public services in overcoming child vulnerability’. The report made several recommendations, including that the government ringfence the funding available for early intervention services provided by local authorities. The House of Lords is scheduled to debate this report on 11 July 2022.
In Focus

Ukrainian refugees in the UK: Access to public services and employment

Monday, 04 July, 2022

This article sets out information on the support available to Ukrainian refugees in the UK, particularly regarding access to employment, education, healthcare and other public services. It has been prepared ahead of debate on the needs of Ukrainian mothers and children arriving in the UK. It also provides further reading on some of the challenges they face.
In Focus

Musicians: Working and touring in the European Union

Friday, 01 July, 2022

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

Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Bill: HL Bill 30 of 2022–23

Thursday, 23 June, 2022

This proposed law seeks to reform and strengthen the protections for freedom of speech and academic freedom in higher education.
In Focus

Istanbul Convention: Preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence

Thursday, 23 June, 2022

The UK signed the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence, also known as the Istanbul Convention, in 2012. On 17 May 2022, Home Secretary Priti Patel announced that the UK’s laws were now compliant with the treaty and the government intended to ratify. The House of Lords International Agreements Committee has welcomed the ratification, but has expressed concern about two reservations the UK wishes to make from the treaty.
Research Briefing

Refugees (Family Reunion) Bill [HL]: HL Bill 8 of 2022–23

Thursday, 23 June, 2022

This private member’s bill would seek to expand the criteria of who qualifies as a family member for the purposes of refugee family reunion and to reintroduce legal aid for such cases.
- Research Briefing
- Immigration
In Focus

Crime and rehabilitation: An overview

Thursday, 23 June, 2022

This article gives a brief overview of crime in England and Wales and how rehabilitation services are delivered. It also summarises the involvement of the voluntary sector and provides links to further reading. It has been prepared in advance of a House of Lords debate on 30 June 2022 on the causes of crime and reoffending and the effectiveness of rehabilitation, including the contribution made by the voluntary sector.
- In Focus
- Crime
- Justice
Research Briefing

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

Wednesday, 22 June, 2022

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.

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