This In Focus briefing provides background information in advance of the second reading in the House of Lords of the Airports Act 1986 (Amendment) Bill [HL] on 19 June 2015.
Airports Act 1986 (Amendment) Bill [HL] (131 KB , PDF)
The Airports Act 1986 (Amendment) Bill [HL] is a private member’s bill introduced by Lord Empey (Ulster Unionist Party). The Bill would amend the Airports Act 1986 to:
Concerns have been raised that airlines might re-allocate slots at Heathrow currently used for flights to and from regional airports such as Belfast to more profitable international routes, particularly if a proposed takeover of Aer Lingus by IAG goes ahead, or if a decision were taken not to expand Heathrow.
Lord Empey introduced similar bills in the 2011–12 and 2012–13 parliamentary sessions. On both occasions, the Government commended the aims of the bill but said they could not support it as it would be incompatible with EU law. EU legislation governing the allocation of slots at airports only permits government intervention in specific circumstances. Moves to amend this legislation as part of the European Commission’s ‘Better Aiports’ package stalled in late 2012.
Airports Act 1986 (Amendment) Bill [HL] (131 KB , PDF)
On 27 June 2022, the second reading and all remaining stages of the Social Security (Additional Payments) Bill are scheduled to take place in the House of Lords. The bill gives effect to the cost of living support measures for benefits claimants announced as part of Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s statement to the House of Commons on 26 May 2022.
The UK’s union continues to evolve. Recent developments include the repatriation of powers from the EU post-Brexit and reviews of intergovernmental relations between central government and the devolved administrations, but there are also calls for further constitutional review and reform. The Scottish government’s plans for a second independence referendum and disagreements about the implementation of the Northern Ireland Protocol are particular issues that highlight current stresses on the union.
The Equality Act 2010 is the main piece of domestic legislation governing disabled people’s rights in the UK; it replaced several separate pieces of discrimination legislation. A 2016 House of Lords committee review contained recommendations for improvements to the 2010 Act. In September 2021, the House of Lords Liaison Committee examined whether these recommendations had been implemented. The committee’s 2021 report is due to be discussed in the House of Lords on 21 June 2022.
