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House of Lords Library
In Focus
Following the release of this year’s GCSE and A-level results, some commentators have raised concerns that the educational attainment gap between the north and south of England has widened. This issue is the focus of an upcoming question for short debate in the House of Lords. In preparation for the debate, this briefing looks at recent commentary on the issue and provides an overview of this year’s results.
House of Lords Library
In Focus
Public health information has been a central tool in the Government’s fight against Covid-19. However, the public’s ability to obtain, process and understand health information is variable, with 61% of adults in one observational study struggling to understand health information that included both text and numbers. This article examines some of the barriers to understanding public health information, particularly in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic. It also looks at what the Government is doing to improve levels of health literacy.
House of Lords Library
Current Affairs Digest
Catch up on economics articles you may have missed. This month we take an in-depth look at the funding of devolved governments.
House of Lords Library
In Focus
This In Focus looks at possible announcements in the Queen’s Speech relating to pensions and benefits. It includes developments connected to universal credit payments and the Government’s proposed national disability strategy, and highlights the possible next steps in pensions legislation following the passing of the Pension Schemes Act 2021.
House of Lords Library
In Focus
As the coronavirus pandemic has led to children spending more time online, concerns have been raised that there is an increased risk of online-facilitated child sexual abuse and exploitation. This article examines these concerns and what the Government has done to reduce the risks.
House of Lords Library
In Focus
During the Covid-19 pandemic, domestic abuse charities have reported a sharp increase in demand for their services. In response, the Government has provided additional funding to local authorities and domestic violence groups, and is seeking to enact further measures through the Domestic Abuse Bill shortly to come before the House of Lords.
House of Lords Library
In Focus
On 12 October 2020, the Government announced a new system of local Covid-19 alert levels in England. Areas would be categorised as either ‘medium’, ‘high’ or ‘very high’. Different restrictions intended to combat the spread of Covid-19 would be in place based on the alert level in a local area. This article summarises the regulations establishing this new system and the reaction from the local areas affected.
House of Lords Library
In Focus
The Social Security (Up-rating of Benefits) Bill is due to be considered in the House of Lords on 13 October 2020. It allows for particular state pension benefits to be reviewed and potentially increased, despite an expected fall in average earnings due to the coronavirus pandemic. The bill received cross-party support in the House of Commons, where it passed all its stages on 1 October 2020.
House of Lords Library
In Focus
A recent report published by the Church of England has estimated that 8 million people in England are currently living in overcrowded, unaffordable or unsuitable homes. Responding to these issues, the report makes a number of recommendations aimed at actors across the housing sector, including the Government. This article provides a brief overview of the report and the Government’s policies on various housing issues.
House of Lords Library
In Focus
On 11 September 2020, the Government announced that it would be creating new ‘local lockdown’ restrictions in Birmingham, Sandwell and Solihull. These regulations came into force on 15 September 2020. Under the regulations, those living within these areas are prohibited from meeting different households in private dwellings either within or outside the protected area (except for linked households). This article provides a summary of these regulations and their scrutiny in Parliament. It also considers how people in the areas affected have responded to the new restrictions.
House of Lords Library
In Focus
It is nearly two years since the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared Covid-19 a global pandemic. Globally women make up over two-thirds of health and social care workers, rising to three-quarters of NHS staff employed in England. This placed women at the forefront of the fight against the virus. In the UK and the US, many women have been also leading the search for a vaccine. This article looks at some of these UK and US female scientists and their roles in the global pandemic response.
House of Lords Library
In Focus
The Government has laid regulations allowing trials of the use of electric scooters on roads to begin. Prior to the regulations, the use of both privately owned and rental e-scooters was prohibited on roads. The regulations use the ‘made negative’ procedure and came into force on 4 July 2020. This article examines what the regulations do, and explains concerns identified by the Secondary Legislation Scrutiny Committee.
House of Lords Library
Current Affairs Digest
Catch up on social and home affairs with a selection of articles you may have missed. Articles this month include a look at poverty in the UK, and how public services use digital technology.
House of Lords Library
In Focus
There has been notable scrutiny of the link between health and food, including in 2020 by an ad hoc committee in the House of Lords. It found that the UK food system was failing to enable people to make healthy and affordable dietary choices. This briefing examines those findings and the challenges faced by both consumers and the UK agri-food sector, and the government’s policy response.
House of Lords Library
In Focus
During the pandemic, levels of debt owed by UK companies have risen. This article discusses the significance of this increase for the vulnerability of firms and their possible behaviour, and the overall health of the economy. It also discusses some additional policy proposals for managing corporate debt after the pandemic.
House of Lords Library
In Focus
The outbreak of Covid-19 in the UK saw the closure of places of worship, including churches, as part of measures to limit transmission of the virus. Churches were gradually reopened in June and July 2020. This article considers the ways in which churches and congregations were affected by this closure and the gradual reopening. It also summarises the discussion between the Government and religious bodies during this process.
House of Lords Library
In Focus
This article focuses on the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the financial stability of local government. It considers how the pandemic has affected local government finances and how the Government has responded.
House of Lords Library
Research Briefing
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".
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