• Research Briefing

    Spring statement 2026 and Finance (No. 2) Bill: HL Bill 177 of 2024–26

    The government delivered its spring forecast statement on 3 March 2026, accompanied by the latest Office for Budget Responsibility forecasts for the UK economy. Meanwhile, the House of Commons concluded scrutiny of the Finance (No. 2) Bill on 11 March 2026. The bill would implement many of the taxation measures announced in the November 2025 budget. The House of Lords will consider both the statement and bill on 17 March 2026.

  • Research Briefing

    Industry and Exports (Financial Assistance) Bill: HL Bill 170 of 2024–26

    The bill is a short, technical bill with two substantive clauses. The bill would amend existing legislation to increase the statutory limits on financial assistance the government can provide to support UK industry and exports. It would do this by increasing the funding limit in the Industrial Development Act 1982 to £20bn and in the Export and Investment Guarantees Act 1991 to £160bn.

  • Research Briefing

    Universal Credit (Removal of Two Child Limit) Bill: HL Bill 171 of 2024–26

    The Universal Credit (Removal of Two Child Limit) Bill is a government bill that would remove the current two-child limit in universal credit across the UK from 6 April 2026. The government announced its intention to remove the limit at the November 2025 budget. The House of Commons has passed the bill. The House of Lords is scheduled to consider the bill at second reading and all remaining stages on 12 March 2026.

  • Research Briefing

    National Insurance Contributions (Employer Pensions Contributions) Bill: HL Bill 164 of 2024–26

    The National Insurance Contributions (Employer Pensions Contributions) Bill would give effect to the government’s policy, announced at the November 2025 budget, to abolish national insurance contributions (NICs) tax relief on employer salary sacrifice pensions contributions above £2,000 per year per employee. The bill would provide for future regulations to apply employee and employer NICs to salary sacrifice pensions contributions above this new threshold. The change would take effect from April 2029.

  • Research Briefing

    Rare Cancers Bill: HL Bill 124 of 2024–26

    The Rare Cancers Bill is intended to incentivise research and investment into rare cancers, which tend to be more difficult to diagnose and treat than common cancers. The bill would require the secretary of state to promote research into rare cancers and to review licencing for medicines which treat rare conditions. It would also create a national speciality lead to promote and advise on research, as well as improved data sharing for contacting potential trial participants.

  • Research Briefing

    English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill: HL Bill 150 of 2024–26

    The government states the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill is a “landmark” piece of legislation. Arguing that England is one of the most centralised developed countries, it says the bill would transfer power to England’s regions, “fix the foundations” of local government, empower communities and “drive growth”. However, some opposition members argue the measures would instead centralise decision making and have criticised the lack of accountability measures for mayors.

  • Research Briefing

    Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Bill: HL Bill 148 of 2024–26

    The Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Bill is intended to align UK law with an international agreement on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction, the 'high seas'. The bill would enable the UK to enforce compliance for UK craft with internationally agreed protections, such as marine protected areas. It would also set out requirements for UK-based projects collecting genetic resources.

  • Research Briefing

    Victims and Courts Bill: HL Bill 141 of 2024-26

    The Victims and Courts Bill would introduce various justice reforms, including: compelling offenders to attend their sentencing hearings, restricting parental responsibility for certain sex offenders and clarifying victims’ rights for making disclosures relating to criminal conduct. The bill would also introduce measures to extend the powers of the victims’ commissioner, expand the eligibility for appointing crown prosecutors and increase sentencing review time limits for law officers under the unduly lenient sentences scheme.

  • Research Briefing

    Sentencing Bill: HL Bill 142 of 2024–26

    The Sentencing Bill is a government bill that started in the House of Commons. It received its first reading in the House of Lords on 30 October 2025 and is scheduled to have its second reading in the House of Lords on 12 November 2025.

  • Research Briefing

    Diego Garcia Military Base and British Indian Ocean Territory Bill

    The Diego Garcia Military Base and British Indian Ocean Territory Bill would provide for the implementation of the UK-Mauritius agreement on the Chagos archipelago in UK domestic law ahead of the government ratifying the treaty. In particular it would end UK sovereignty over the archipelago and make certain consequential changes to nationality law, while also providing for the continued administration of the existing joint UK-US military base on the island of Diego Garcia.

  • Research Briefing

    Sustainable Aviation Fuel Bill: HL Bill 138 of 2024-26

    The Sustainable Aviation Fuel Bill is a government bill. It was introduced in the House of Lords on 20 October 2025 and is due to receive its second reading on 20 November 2025. The bill would introduce a revenue certainty mechanism to support the production of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) in the UK. It would do this by designating a counterparty (a company wholly owned by the government) to engage in contracts with SAF producers to guarantee the price of the sale of eligible SAF. The government has said that SAF is one of the most effective ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from aviation, as SAF is a ‘drop-in fuel’ that does not require modifications to existing aircraft. Current supply of SAF is limited. The government has claimed the bill would support SAF production in the UK by providing revenue certainty and thereby reducing risk to investors in SAF production facilities. There was broad cross-party support for the bill during its House of Commons stages.

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