• In Focus

    Economic and taxation policy: Impact on growth, jobs and prosperity

    Ahead of the 26 November 2025 autumn budget, there is growing speculation about potential tax increases. This briefing considers the Labour government’s approach to taxation and the economy so far, including its manifesto commitments and tax decisions set out in the 2024 budget. The briefing also includes statistics and commentary relating to UK jobs, growth and prosperity figures. It has been prepared for a House of Lords debate on 13 November 2025.

  • In Focus

    Impact of government policies on biodiversity and the countryside

    The UK has been described as “one of the most nature-depleted countries on Earth”. Legally binding biodiversity targets apply under the Environment Act 2021. Work is underway to gather data to measure progress towards them. Government policies to improve biodiversity include local nature recovery strategies, environmental land management schemes, biodiversity net gain and introducing a nature restoration levy through the Planning and Infrastructure Bill. However, nature groups have argued the levy may work to reduce environmental protection.

  • In Focus

    Hillsborough Law

    The government has committed to introducing a ‘Hillsborough Law’, placing a legal duty of candour on public servants and providing legal aid for victims of state related deaths and disasters. In September 2025 the government introduced the Public Office (Accountability) Bill in the House of Commons. This follows calls for legislation to avoid repeating the long process that families and others affected went through to get information about the 1989 Hillsborough disaster.

  • In Focus

    Financial provision on divorce and dissolution: Law Commission financial remedies scoping report

    The Law Commission has published a review of the law governing financial remedies on divorce and dissolution in England and Wales. They concluded that the current law lacks certainty and accessibility and that there was need for reform. The report outlined potential models of reform and key policy choices that the government would need to make under each model.

  • In Focus

    Ukraine update: October 2025

    2025 has seen a significant evolution of the war in Ukraine as new and emerging technologies continue to alter the shape of the battlefield. At the same time, diplomatic efforts to find a solution have continued as the US under President Donald Trump has prioritised a negotiated settlement. The UK and other European nations have continued to declare their support for Ukraine and have sought to aid the country through stepping up supplies of military aid and industrial support.

  • In Focus

    Great Britain’s electricity grid infrastructure: Lords Industry and Regulators Committee report

    The government has brought forward the target of decarbonising the electricity system by five years to 2030 as part of plans to achieve net zero. The House of Lords Industry and Regulators Committee considered the government’s plans to achieve this target as part of its recent inquiry on the energy grid and grid connections. The committee found that while the target is achievable, it is “a significant challenge”. The committee made a number of recommendations in light of this finding and others which are outlined in this briefing alongside the government’s responses.

  • In Focus

    Education to work transition for young disabled people: Public Services Committee report

    The House of Lords Public Services Committee has explored the challenges faced by young disabled people as they move from the education system into work. The committee found that there were significant challenges for young disabled people in securing long-term employment. It called for the government to focus on early intervention and to provide employers with the right support and tools to create an inclusive workplace.

  • In Focus

    Economic effects of higher defence spending

    The UK government has committed to raise spending on defence as a share of gross domestic product over the next decade. This briefing looks at the potential economic effects of higher defence spending. Higher defence spending could boost economic activity in the short and long run. However, the size of any gains will depend on several factors, including the broader economic context and how additional defence spending is financed.

  • In Focus

    Smartphones in schools: Practice, policy and international perspectives

    Smartphone use among children has raised concerns about its potential effects on their focus and wellbeing. In response, some countries have implemented bans on smartphones in schools, prompting discussion on introducing the policy in the UK. This briefing examines these issues alongside recent policy and children’s smartphone usage in the UK.

  • In Focus

    Technology in policing: Advances and limitations

    Every day, police officers across the country use a variety of technologies in the course of their duties. Some of these technologies have been used for almost a century, while others have been introduced in recent years. This briefing explores policing’s historic use of technology, some of the recent technological developments and the potential opportunities and risks they present.

  • In Focus

    Explainer: United Nations at 80

    2025 marks the 80th anniversary of the creation of the United Nations (UN) in 1945. Established in the aftermath of the second world war, the UN was created with a mission of maintaining peace and security, and promoting international cooperation, with the hope it could help prevent another devastating global conflict. Since then, the UN has grown into a large transnational organisation with a broader remit, including promoting social progress, better living standards, and human rights. This briefing examines the composition of the modern UN and recent attempts at reform.

  • In Focus

    All change: Reforming the railways

    Reform of the railways is a key government policy; it was part of the Labour Party’s 2024 election manifesto and was set out in further detail in ‘Getting Britain moving: Labour’s plan to fix Britain’s railways’, published in April 2024. This briefing looks at the government’s plans for changes to the ownership and organisation of the railways.

  • In Focus

    Free trade or fair trade? Preferential tariffs, fiscal policy and government division in 1904

    At the turn of the twentieth century, debate about the UK’s fiscal policy centred on the issue of tariffs. In July 1904, the House of Lords debated the government’s fiscal policy, and whether the then Conservative government supported the introduction of tariffs as some leading political proponents thought. Moving away from ‘free’ trade to what some considered ‘fair’ trade proved to be both a controversial and divisive policy idea. This briefing looks back to the Lords debate and identifies the key contributions made.

  • In Focus

    Private members’ bills in the House of Lords

    Members of the House of Lords who are not ministers can introduce private members’ bills. With limited time available, they rarely become law without government, and usually cross-party, support. This briefing provides a profile of private members’ bills in the Lords including examples of the types of private members’ bills introduced and commentary on the reasons why someone might table a private member’s bill.

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