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House of Lords Library
In Focus
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
In Focus
In response to recent pressures in the NHS, there has been debate about the sustainability of the NHS and its funding model. In preparation for a House of Lords debate on this topic, this briefing examines the UK’s taxation-based health care model and alternative models (such as social health insurance and private health insurance) used in other countries.
House of Lords Library
In Focus
Coronavirus vaccine programmes are improving the economic outlook, but rising cases in some countries are affecting global activity. This article discusses the outlook for key economic variables. It then summarises the Government’s policies for the economy as it recovers from the pandemic. Finally, it lists a number of possible bills or areas for legislation, related to the economy and business, which might feature in the Queen’s speech.
House of Lords Library
In Focus
During the Covid-19 pandemic, the UK Government introduced a new requirement that passengers on public transport wear facial coverings. This measure was intended to prevent the spread of the virus. This article looks at the regulations establishing this requirement, due to be debated in the House of Lords on 8 July 2020.
House of Lords Library
In Focus
Between 2013 and 2020, the UK met an international target to spend 0.7% of gross national income (GNI) on overseas aid. A 2015 act enshrined this in legislation. In response to the economic impact of coronavirus, the Government has said that aid spending will temporarily reduce to 0.5% of GNI from 2021. Some commentators have argued this requires further primary legislation. The Government has announced the tests that must be met to restore spending to 0.7%.
House of Lords Library
In Focus
Women have been specifically affected by the economic impacts of the coronavirus pandemic. Reasons for this include that they are over-represented in some of the worst-hit sectors, and that they do a greater share of unpaid care. The Government has said it wants women’s economic empowerment to be a focus in the post-pandemic recovery period. But it has faced criticism for not taking enough account of gender equality in its approach.
House of Lords Library
In Focus
Quantitative easing (QE) is a form of monetary policy first used in the UK during the financial crisis. In July 2021, the House of Lords Economic Affairs Committee published a report on the policy. It concluded that QE had succeeded in stabilising the economy in crisis conditions, but that it remains poorly understood and has led to perceptions that the Bank of England has become politicised.
House of Lords Library
Current Affairs Digest
Catch-up on social policy articles you may have missed from April 2020, including an anthropologist's view on how best to tackle coronavirus.
House of Lords Library
In Focus
The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak, delivered the second budget of the year on 27 October 2021. It set out the Government’s plans to “build back better”. He also announced the results of a spending review, setting departmental spending totals for 2022/23 to 2024/25. Overall spending will increase, with a large proportion of the increase going to the NHS. The Office for Budget Responsibility also published its latest forecasts for the economy and the public finances. They showed improvements from its previous, March 2021, forecasts.
House of Lords Library
In Focus
On 26 April 2021, the House of Lords is due to debate a regret motion by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on the National Health Service (Charges and Pharmaceutical and Local Pharmaceutical Services) (Coronavirus) (Amendment) Regulations 2021. The purpose of the regulations is to make it easier for pharmacies to distribute specific medicines during a pandemic. However, there are concerns about the financial pressures on pharmacies in England.
House of Lords Library
In Focus
The use and effectiveness of short prison sentences of under 12 months has been debated in recent years. This article discusses calls for reform of short prison sentences, in addition to the Government’s commitments in this area. Short prison sentences are due to be the subject of an oral question in the House of Lords on 29 June 2020.
House of Lords Library
In Focus
The Status of Workers Bill is a private member’s bill that seeks to amend employment rights and trade union legislation to give statutory employment rights to all workers other than the genuinely self-employed. The current legal framework distinguishes between employees and workers, with the latter having fewer rights. There are also concerns that people may miss out on employment rights if they are in false self-employment or working through a personal service company.
House of Lords Library
In Focus
The 2020 US election has been conducted during the coronavirus pandemic. At the start of the year, the candidates’ presidential campaigns had to be halted as many US states issued lockdown orders. Since June, the candidates have taken different approaches to appealing to voters. Donald Trump has tried to emulate his successful 2016 campaign while Joe Biden has been more cautious in his campaigning.
House of Lords Library
In Focus
The UK last set out a formal industrial strategy in 2017. Since 2021, the government has instead pursued various plans for growth. This briefing provides details on the UK’s industrial policies, commentary on the benefits and use of industrial strategies, and brief statistics about UK industry.
House of Lords Library
In Focus
The Covid-19 outbreak has had a significant impact on the delivery of other vaccination programmes around the world. In April 2020, the UN estimated that vaccination programmes in 24 countries had been delayed due to Covid-19. This article looks at why it is important that other vaccination programmes continue, focusing in particular on the measles vaccine.
House of Lords Library
In Focus
The Government has introduced draft regulations intended to require that large businesses such as restaurant chains display the calorie information of non-prepacked food and drink items prepared for immediate consumption. Ministers suggest the policy will deliver considerable benefits over the long term by reducing obesity and related demand on health services. However, the policy has been criticised by some in the hospitality industry and charities campaigning on behalf of those with eating disorders.
House of Lords Library
In Focus
This instrument makes changes to planning regulations in England only. The regulations are part of the Government's economic renewal package in response to the coronavirus pandemic. This article looks at what these regulations do and the scrutiny that the instrument has received so far.
House of Lords Library
In Focus
This briefing considers the impact of factors such as globalisation and climate change on the prevalence of various infectious diseases in the UK affecting humans, animals and plants. The briefing also summarises the government’s ‘Biological security strategy’ (June 2023), which provides the overarching framework for mitigating biological risks among other area-focused strategies. The government has also said that import controls are an important element of the UK’s biosecurity regime.
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