Rural areas contribute a significant proportion of England’s economic output. The government has announced several policies intended to support growth in the rural economy, including farming. However, it has faced criticism for the delay in outlining its overall strategy for the agricultural sector. This briefing provides data on the rural economy and summarises government policy and stakeholder reaction
The Social Housing Bill [HL] is a government bill intended to support growth in the social housing sector in England and improve the efficiency of the current right to buy system. It also includes provisions intended to protect the victims of domestic abuse.
![Social Housing Bill [HL]: HL Bill 2 of 2026–27](https://lordslibrary.parliament.uk/content/uploads/sites/2/2022/05/louis-reed-LVNsyZch-Pw-unsplash-1232x693.jpg)
Between 2002 and 2024, by-elections were held to replace excepted hereditary peers who left the House of Lords. In July 2024, the House agreed to pause by-elections following the introduction of the House of Lords (Hereditary Peers) Bill. This bill was passed in 2026, ending the need for by-elections. This briefing provides a list of by-election results, including information on turnout and the number of candidates.
Research Briefing
This briefing explores what announcements the government could make in the King’s Speech on 13 May 2026 about energy, the environment and animal welfare.
In Focus
The motion “that this bill do now pass” is moved immediately after a bill’s final stage in the House of Lords (known as third reading). It is amendable and so provides an opportunity for the House to oppose, delay or record a view on a measure if there is enough support. This briefing provides examples of amendments to the motion and what the outcome was each time.
In Focus
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
The flour milling sector produces flour for a variety of foods, including bread, biscuits, cakes and other products. This briefing provides an overview of the contribution of the flour milling sector to the UK economy, including its contribution to employment.
In Focus
The government’s current approach to tackling extremism focuses on using the Prevent programme to stop people becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism. There have been calls for the government to develop a separate counter-extremism strategy. Under both current and previous government there have been several reviews of the UK’s counter-extremism policies. The government has not committed to introducing a new strategy but has said it is considering advice on improving its approach.
In Focus
On 11 December 2025 the House of Lords is due to debate a report on demographic change in the UK. The report was written by Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts (Conservative) for the Common Good Foundation, a registered charity directed by Lord Glasman (Labour). This Library briefing contains summary information on the report, alongside statistics and further reading on the issue.
In Focus
Ministers are needed in the House of Lords to take legislation through the House and answer for the government during questions and debates. Some cabinet ministers are appointed from the Lords. For example, the leader of the House of Lords is always a member of the Lords. This briefing looks at the role of ministers in the House of Lords and how they are scrutinised.
In Focus
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.
In Focus
A speech by the sovereign at the start of a parliamentary session usually takes place every year. However, there have been six years since 1900 without a speech. Most can be ascribed to the preceding session being longer than average. The government has said the current session will continue until 2026, meaning there will be no King’s Speech in 2025.
In Focus
In 2024, the House of Lords established a committee to consider the prevention and consequences of preterm birth in England. This briefing provides a summary of the House of Lords Preterm Birth Committee's finding, reactions to its report, and the government’s response, ahead of a debate in the House of Lords on 6 June 2025.
Research Briefing
The House of Lords (Peerage Nominations) Bill [HL] is a private member’s bill sponsored by Lord Norton of Louth (Conservative). The bill seeks to strengthen the House of Lords Appointments Commission.
In Focus
Integration and community cohesion have both been identified as important factors to enable people from different communities to live and work together. Like the previous Conservative government, the current Labour government has committed to policies intended to support integration in order to improve community cohesion. This briefing summarises how integration and community cohesion are conceptualised and measured and discusses the debate on effective integration strategies.
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