In Focus
This briefing provides a summary of work over recent years towards a national library strategy, including Baroness Sanderson of Welton’s independent review of public libraries. It has been prepared ahead of Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay’s (Conservative) debate scheduled for 12 September 2024 on whether the Labour government plans to publish a new strategy for public libraries.
In Focus
The House of Lords Education for 11–16 Year Olds Committee argued in a report published in 2023 that “urgent change” was needed in 11–16 education, including revising the curriculum, reducing the volume of exams at 16 and reforming school performance measures. The House of Lords is due to debate the report on 26 July 2024. The Labour government has launched a review of the curriculum and the assessment system, due to report in 2025.
In Focus
The number of community sentences issued by courts in England and Wales has declined since 2012. A recent House of Lords Justice and Home Affairs Committee report concluded that community sentences were falling short of their potential. The committee said better use of community sentences would help cut crime and ease pressure on prisons. The House of Lords is due to debate the report on 26 July 2024.
In Focus
The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) is 75 years old this summer. This briefing looks back through the Hansard archives to the debate where the House approved the signing of the treaty and finds some themes raised by members that still resonate today.
In Focus
Common law long provided that peers of parliament could not vote in general elections. In the last 25 years, this has been put on a statutory footing and peers who are members of the House of Lords remain barred from voting. This briefing explores how this came to be and looks at recent attempts to change this disenfranchisement.
In Focus
During the 2023–24 session, the UK government introduced legislation to raise the age each year at which someone can legally buy tobacco products. This was similar to measures introduced in New Zealand which were recently reversed. This briefing looks at developments in New Zealand and how they have informed the debate on the UK government’s proposals.
In Focus
This briefing is the fourth of a series on the post-war history of the UK economy. The series proceeds decade-by-decade from the 1950s onwards, providing an overview of the key macroeconomic developments of each decade. This briefing looks at the 1980s. The decline in the profitability of industry, which began in the 1960s, was reversed in this decade; however, the share of national income received by workers fell to a post-war low.
In Focus
The UK and the Republic of Ireland are due to jointly host the European Football Championship in 2028 (EURO 28). The UK government hopes it will deliver £2.4bn in socio-economic benefits to cities and communities across the UK. EURO 28 will be held in 10 venues across England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, and the Republic of Ireland. However, there have been recent concerns over the costs of the development of one of those venues: Casement Park in Belfast.
In Focus
Too much sugar in diets can contribute to health issues. Reformulating products, or changing how much sugar is in what people normally eat and drink, means the public do not have to change their habits to eat more healthily. Recent governments have introduced measures to decrease the public’s consumption of sugar, as well as salt and fat. However, some organisations have encouraged the government to go further by creating more mandatory schemes and levies for industry.
In Focus
Members of the House of Lords will ask Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron of Chipping Norton a series of oral questions on 21 May 2024. Topics include the government’s assessment of Israel's compliance with an International Court of Justice order regarding Gaza; the number of vessels transporting Russian oil; the UK’s priorities for cooperation with South Africa after forthcoming elections; and what the UK is doing to address conflict-induced food insecurity.
In Focus
The prime minister’s trade envoys are a network of parliamentarians appointed to engage with countries where the UK government has identified trade and investment opportunities. There were 35 trade envoys covering 58 markets as of 16 May 2024. The government has said trade envoys support the UK’s economic growth by promoting trade in key markets. However, some parliamentarians have sought clarity on aspects of the trade envoy programme.
In Focus
In 2023, the House of Lords Industry and Regulators Committee published a report which criticised the Office for Students’ (OfS) approach to regulation. It said the regulator had a poor relationship with both students and providers, and that it lacked independence from the government. While the government and the regulator acknowledged some reforms were needed, they argued that the OfS’ actions were not driven by political pressures.
In Focus
People with disabilities can face additional barriers when trying to access services. The World Health Organisation has stated disability comes from these barriers rather the related impairment. Barriers can include online services that are not accessible, infrastructure that can be physically inaccessible and attitudinal barriers. The government has introduced policies to help address these barriers but disability charities have argued these have not been sufficient.
In Focus
This briefing considers the benefits of sport and physical activity ahead of a House of Lords debate on the subject on 16 May 2024. The government and sports sector stakeholders agree that sport has many benefits for individuals and communities, as well as for the economy more broadly. The government published a new strategy for the sports sector in August 2023. The ambition of the strategy was commended; however, sports charities and the opposition suggested that more was required from the government to deliver on it.
In Focus
Home Office data shows that approximately 40,000 people have entered the UK illegally since March 2023. The Illegal Migration Act 2023 deems asylum applications as inadmissible if the claimant has entered the UK illegally, but not all the act’s provisions have yet been commenced. This briefing summarises the migration statistics and how the government has said it will deal with illegal migrants in conjunction with its Rwanda deportation scheme.
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