Russell Taylor

Many of the restrictions imposed due to coronavirus have been set out in secondary legislation. This article covers two regulations that were made to relax some of the restrictions on what businesses can open, including pubs, restaurants and certain beauty salons. It has been published ahead of a Lords debate on the legislation.

The bill would provide the Government with new delegated powers to update or amend the UK’s regulatory framework for medical devices and for human and veterinary medicines. Much of the current UK regulatory framework is based on EU regulations and directives. It would also allow a new information system to be introduced covering data on medical devices and would consolidate and expand enforcement provisions.

A summary of proposals for policies to reshape the economy following the coronavirus pandemic. This includes recommendations for how the economy could be "fairer" and "cleaner".

The Vagrancy Act 1824 criminalises rough sleeping and begging, subject to certain conditions. Some have campaigned for the Act to be repealed and the Government has committed to reviewing the legislation. This article provides details on some of the criticisms of the legislation. It also summarises the Government's stance on this.

This legislation forms part of the Government’s policy to improve the country’s digital infrastructure. It seeks to make it easier for network operators to respond to requests to install broadband infrastructure in certain buildings, such as flats, if they are unable to contact the relevant rights holder.

Hong Kong has had 118 confirmed cases of the coronavirus disease and three deaths as at 10 March 2020. Hong Kong’s government has sought to contain the virus through strict quarantine and travel restrictions and by closing some public services, including schools. However, concerns have been raised about the social and economic impact of the measures taken.

This House of Lords Library Briefing has been prepared in advance of the debate due to take place on 6 February 2020 on the motion moved by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath (Labour) that “this House takes note of the National Health Service’s performance in relation to its priority area targets; and the impact of adult social care pressures on patients of the National Health Service, and their safety”.

With reference to state openings in 2019, 2017, March 1974 and 1939, this briefing discusses the differences between a traditional state opening and one with reduced ceremonial elements.

How can the House of Commons pass laws the Lords disagrees with? The answer lies in two key pieces of legislation. The Parliament Act 1911 provided that any public bill rejected by the House of Lords could still be passed as long as three sessions over a two-year period had elapsed from its original second reading to its final third reading in the House of Commons. The Parliament Act 1949, passed 70 years ago, reduced that time period to one year and two sessions.

This House of Lords Library briefing has been prepared in advance of second reading of the Health Service Safety Investigations Bill [HL] 2019–20

This House of Lords Library Briefing has been published ahead of day 3 of the Lords debate on the Queen’s Speech, covering the following subjects: economic affairs, business, agriculture, environment, energy and transport.

This House of Lords Library briefing provides breakdowns of life peers appointed under the Life Peerages Act 1958.