This Library Note provides background information for the debate on 28 April 2011 on co-ordination between Government departments on the use of soft power.
Debate on 28 April: Co-ordination between Government Departments on the use of Soft Power (504 KB , PDF)
This Library Note provides background reading for Baroness Taylor of Bolton’s debate on the level of co-ordination between government departments on the use of soft power. The Note defines soft power, and examines what the current Government has said about the role of soft power in its foreign policy. It also considers how the UK compares to other countries in terms of soft power. The second half of the Note deals with the co-ordination of soft power across Government and examines the effects of specific policies on soft power, including the impact of the Spending Review on overseas aid, the British Council and the World Service.
Debate on 28 April: Co-ordination between Government Departments on the use of Soft Power (504 KB , PDF)
In January 2025 the House of Lords Constitution Committee published a report on the responsibility of the government (the executive) to oversee the constitution. It concluded that the UK’s constitutional arrangements would benefit from several improved safeguards, such as the appointment of a senior minister to advise on constitutional matters and for advisory bodies to be put on a statutory footing.
The Chagos Archipelago has been the subject of a long-standing dispute over its sovereignty between the UK and Mauritius. Having been retained by the UK since 1965, the largest island, Diego Garcia, later became the site of a joint UK-US military base. In May 2025, the UK reached an agreement to transfer sovereignty of the islands back to Mauritius, while maintaining an initial 99-year lease of Diego Garcia. The agreement also includes security and financial provisions.
National policy statements (NPSs) inform decision-making for nationally significant infrastructure projects. The current NPS for nuclear power generation (EN-6) has effect for listed nuclear projects capable of being deployed by the end of 2025. Both the current and previous governments have consulted on a new NPS (EN-7) that would apply to nuclear power stations expected to be deployed after 2025. This briefing gives an overview of NPSs, the proposed new NPS for nuclear power generation and the reaction to it, as well as the current government’s policy on nuclear energy.
