• In Focus

    People living with learning disabilities: Access to health and social care

    People with a learning disability often face challenges accessing appropriate health care. Several organisations have identified people with a learning disability as having worse life expectancy on average than the population in general. Both the current and previous governments have introduced measures intended to reduce these health inequalities, including training and the use of reasonable adjustments to improve access to care.

  • In Focus

    National curriculum and assessment review

    The national curriculum contains the subjects and standards that must be used to teach primary and secondary pupils in maintained schools. The Labour manifesto committed to modernising the curriculum. The government established a curriculum and assessment review in July 2024. Its final report was published in November 2025. The government has responded to the review and confirmed a revised curriculum will be published in 2027, for first teaching in 2028.

  • In Focus

    Living with anosmia: The problem of long-term loss of sense of smell

    Millions of people experienced sudden loss of their sense of smell during the Covid-19 pandemic. Most recovered, but for some, the changes were permanent, affecting their health, safety, and how they experience the world. This briefing looks at the impacts of anosmia, its other causes and the latest research into treatments.

  • 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

    Cyber security and the UK government

    Cyber security is becoming an increasingly salient issue as society becomes more dependent on digital services and the capabilities of malicious actors evolve. The government is a significant target for cyber attacks, particularly those aiming to disrupt public services or conduct espionage. This briefing provides an introduction to cyber security and recent plans to strengthen government cyber security.

  • In Focus

    UK civil preparedness for war: Government strategy

    The UK government strategy is to take a ‘whole-of-society’ approach to national security and to homeland resilience and preparedness. It has pledged to develop a new ‘social contract’ between the government and the British people, beginning with a new national conversation about the threats facing the UK. The government published several strategies in 2025, which set out its approach to strengthening civil preparedness. However, concerns have been expressed about the progress being made on these strategies.

  • In Focus

    Imran Khan: Rights and welfare during his imprisonment

    The former prime minister of Pakistan, Imran Khan, was arrested and imprisoned in 2023 on charges including corruption. Mr Khan has denied these charges. Concerns have been raised by Mr Khan’s family and supporters regarding his rights and welfare during his ongoing incarceration. The UK government has said that, while judicial matters are for Pakistan’s courts to decide, the Pakistani government should ensure Mr Khan receives humane treatment.

  • In Focus

    Girls’ participation in sport: Improving access

    In 2025, England women celebrated both a home Rugby World Cup win and the retention of football’s UEFA Women’s Championship title. The women’s cricket team also reached the semi-finals of the Cricket World Cup, and the Netball Super League was relaunched. Despite this professional success, girls play less sport than boys at both school and the grassroots level. This briefing explores the sports participation gap and what action the government has taken in this area.

  • 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.

  • In Focus

    The Arctic’s strategic importance

    The Arctic region has become the subject of increased international interest as rising temperatures, shrinking sea ice and expanding maritime access reshape the region’s strategic importance. Its natural resources, emerging shipping routes and its increasing role in military planning have drawn interest from countries including the United States, Russia and China. This briefing outlines views on the current approach of these three countries.

  • In Focus

    Hansard archive: To read or not to read?

    Guidance given to members discourages them from reading their speeches. In 1936, the House resolved that the reading of speeches was both ‘alien’ to its customs and ‘injurious’ to debate. This briefing revisits this debate to find arguments both for and against members reading their speeches, discussion about whether it was a recent development and suggestions there were occasions where it was appropriate to do so.

  • 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.

  • In Focus

    Treaty scrutiny in Parliament: Lords International Agreements Committee report

    The House of Lords International Agreements Committee has published a report on treaty scrutiny in Westminster. The committee described the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010’s framework for treaty scrutiny as a “weak and insufficient mechanism for securing meaningful accountability to Parliament” and called for it to be reformed. The government said it saw some difficulties in the committee’s proposals, but it was also “keen to work with the committee to help to mitigate or resolve, so far as possible, the issues which the committee has raised”.

  • In Focus

    Media literacy: Lords Communications and Digital Committee report

    The committee’s report raised concerns about public risk from misinformation, disinformation and online harms. The committee recommended enhancing media literacy, including through national curriculum reforms, an industry levy to fund education, and better coordination of support for adults, especially parents. The government agreed on the importance of media literacy, citing measures under the Online Safety Act 2023, cross-government work, and forthcoming updated media literacy teaching following the curriculum review.

  • In Focus

    International Women’s Day 2026

    The House of Lords will hold a debate marking International Women’s Day on 6 March 2026. This briefing looks at progress internationally towards meeting the UN’s sustainable development goal on gender equality. It also examines the impact on women and girls of reductions in UK and other developed-country international aid.

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