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  • House of Lords Library

    Research Briefing

    Rating (Coronavirus) and Directors Disqualification (Dissolved Companies) Bill

    The bill aims to: clarify circumstances in which the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic can and cannot be considered when deciding on the rateable value of a property on the 2017 rating list; and make it easier to investigate the conduct of directors of companies that have been dissolved. The Government states that the bill will allow it to “plug the legal loophole that exists in the insolvency enforcement landscape”.

  • House of Lords Library

    In Focus

    Crime and rehabilitation: An overview

    This article gives a brief overview of crime in England and Wales and how rehabilitation services are delivered. It also summarises the involvement of the voluntary sector and provides links to further reading. It has been prepared in advance of a House of Lords debate on 30 June 2022 on the causes of crime and reoffending and the effectiveness of rehabilitation, including the contribution made by the voluntary sector.

  • House of Lords Library

    In Focus

    Supporting the performing arts

    In 2022 music, performance and visual arts contributed an estimated £11.5bn to the UK economy. The government supports the performing arts primarily through Arts Council England (ACE), which received £943mn from the government and National Lottery in 2021/22. To support its levelling up agenda, the government has asked ACE to distribute more of its funding outside London.

  • House of Lords Library

    In Focus

    Covid-19: Planning for the May 2021 elections to go ahead safely

    A number of elections are due to be held across Great Britain on 6 May 2021. This includes local council elections, mayoral elections and elections to the Scottish and Welsh parliaments. In light of concerns about whether these elections can go ahead due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Government recently published guidance on how they can be run safely and securely.

  • House of Lords Library

    In Focus

    Through the roof? Housing and the cost of living

    This article explores the impact of cost of living pressures on housing costs. Higher inflation, interest rates and rents, coupled with a decline in average real-terms earnings, have increased housing costs for many people. Evidence suggests that the impact is being felt across all housing tenure types, but that tenants in the private and social rented sectors have been most adversely affected.

  • House of Lords Library

    Current Affairs Digest

    Current Affairs Digest: World Affairs (June 2020)

    Catch up on articles on world affairs you may have missed in June 2020, including on the impact of coronavirus on Africa's informal workers and on the relationship between Venezuela and Iran.

  • House of Lords Library

    Current Affairs Digest

    Current Affairs Digest: Coronavirus (July 2021)

    Catch up on the latest Covid-19 developments with a selection of articles you may have missed. Articles this month look at the relationship between Covid-19 and vitamin D, and the impact of lockdown on gambling.

  • House of Lords Library

    In Focus

    HGV drivers: temporary relaxation of driving hours limits and minimum rest period rules

    Due to concerns about disruptions to supply chains resulting from Brexit and the coronavirus pandemic, the Government has introduced the Drivers’ Hours and Tachographs (Temporary Exceptions) Regulations 2021 (SI 2021/58) to relax the rules governing maximum driving hours and minimum rest periods. It has stated that the exceptions should only be used where necessary and not at the expense of safety. The House of Lords is due to debate the regulations on 18 March 2021.

  • House of Lords Library

    In Focus

    International haulage: Government support

    The UK’s new trading relationship with the European Union and the coronavirus pandemic have affected international haulage. On 4 March 2021, Lord Taylor of Holbeach is due to ask the Government what steps they are taking to support hauliers transporting goods internationally.

  • House of Lords Library

    In Focus

    Spring statement 2022: key announcements and analysis

    The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak, presented the 2022 spring statement to the House of Commons on 23 March 2022. He said the measures in the statement would support the British people in dealing with rising costs of living. He announced some changes to the tax system and new spending commitments. Alongside the statement, the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) published revised forecasts for the economy and the public finances.

  • House of Lords Library

    Current Affairs Digest

    Current Affairs Digest: Coronavirus (May 2021)

    Catch up on Covid-19 developments with a selection of articles you may have missed. Articles this month include a closer look at how variants of Covid-19 develop and spread.

  • House of Lords Library

    In Focus

    Queen’s Speech 2021: health and social care

    The 2021 Queen’s Speech is expected to include several health and social care-related measures previously trailed at the start of the 2019–21 session. This article considers recent government announcements on how it plans to progress these in the new session. The Government is also making changes to the public health system in England.

  • House of Lords Library

    In Focus

    UK development aid and the Integrated Review

    In the 2020 spending review, the Government cut aid spending from a target of 0.7% of GNI to 0.5%. The Government said in its recent integrated review of security, defence, development and foreign policy it would use aid spending “more strategically” to increase the UK’s impact as a force for good. On 28 April 2021, the House of Lords is due to debate the reduction in aid spending and its impact on achieving the integrated review’s objectives.

  • House of Lords Library

    In Focus

    Covid-19: Impact on the UK cultural sector

    The UK’s arts and entertainment sector has been one of the areas worst affected by the coronavirus pandemic. The decline in revenues and the number of workers furloughed over the past few months is second only to the accommodation and food sector. This article examines the impact of the pandemic on the UK’s cultural industry and the Government’s recently announced support package worth £1.57 billion aimed at helping the sector recover.

  • House of Lords Library

    Current Affairs Digest

    Current Affairs Digest: Brexit (April 2020)

    Catch up on Brexit articles you may have missed from April 2020, including on how the UK and the EU may approach discussions on their future relationship.

  • House of Lords Library

    In Focus

    Promoting tourism in the UK

    The UK’s tourism industry has been particularly hard-hit by the coronavirus pandemic. Ahead of a House of Lords debate on 24 June 2021 to take note of the need to promote tourism in the UK, this article looks at how the sector has been affected, and the Government’s response, including its recently published Tourism Recovery Plan.

  • House of Lords Library

    In Focus

    King’s Speech 2023: Culture, media and sport

    This briefing provides details on government proposals for media legislation and regulation of football and the gambling sector. The government has published consultations and papers on these subjects and therefore they may come up in the 2023 King’s Speech. The briefing also links to further reading and briefly summarises other subjects that may be touched upon involving the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

  • House of Lords Library

    In Focus

    King’s Speech 2023: Welfare

    The government has not signalled a specific welfare bill for the upcoming King’s Speech. However, it has committed to make some reforms to the benefits system that may require legislation. These include measures to reduce benefits fraud and error, and changes to the enforcement of child maintenance payments.

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