We publish briefings on every major item of business in the House of Lords, providing Members with an essential overview of the topic, its progress in Parliament, and recent developments, to help them engage with business in the Chamber. We also produce topical and current affairs briefings, providing authoritative, up-to-date information on key topics and events.
The House of Lords Library produces briefings to support Members and the work of the House. This page provides details of all House of Lords Library research publications which are relevant to the business of the House this week.
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The House of Lords Library provides impartial, authoritative, timely research and information to Members of the House of Lords in support of their parliamentary work.
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Read the most recent articles analysing topical issues and current affairs.
Unlike the gender pay gap, there is no legal requirement for companies to publish their ethnicity pay gap. A recent report by the Commission for Race and Ethnic Disparities recommended that the practice remain voluntary due to a lack of diversity in some parts of the country. A coalition of workers’ groups have called for ethnicity pay gap reporting to be made mandatory so employers can better address pay disparities.
The House of Lords made several changes to its procedures during the Covid-19 pandemic. This included the use of virtual sittings and sittings which featured both physical and remote participation. This article provides a chronology of these developments.
On 7 September 2021, the Government announced plans to increase the funding of health and social care through a new tax: the health and social care levy. The levy will be based on a rise in national insurance and will raise £12 billion a year on average over the next three years. Many commentators have raised concerns that this approach is unfair on younger people and low earners.
Read the latest coronavirus (Covid-19) analysis from Parliament.
Analysis on legislation before the House of Lords, debates and topical affairs.
The bill would introduce national insurance relief schemes for employers based in freeport tax sites, as well as for employers of ex-service personnel. The bill also makes other provisions around national insurance. This briefing considers: the background to the bill; what it would do and what happened during its passage through the House of Commons.
The bill would extend parliamentary consent for the armed forces for a further five years, along with other provisions. This briefing considers: the background to the bill; what it would do and what happened during its passage through the House of Commons.
This proposed law seeks to reform pensions across the public sector. It would also make other changes to the rules related to judicial offices. The pension reforms partly respond to a finding of unlawful discrimination in existing schemes and are partly aimed at improving the operation of public sector pensions. The changes relating to judicial offices are intended to improve recruitment and retention in the judiciary.
![Public Service Pensions and Judicial Offices Bill [HL]](https://lordslibrary.parliament.uk/content/uploads/sites/2/2020/01/Government-VIGS-1232x924.jpg)
In-depth analysis on legislation before the House of Lords, debates and topical affairs. Longer, more in-depth briefings in PDF format.
Shorter, web-based articles analysing topical issues and current affairs.
A monthly round-up of specialised press, blog and journal articles on a variety of subjects.
