The Infrastructure (Financial Assistance) Bill would authorise the Government to provide financial assistance of up to £50 billion to support infrastructure projects. This Library Note summarises proceedings in the House of Commons on the Bill.
Infrastructure (Financial Assistance) Bill (HL Bill 43 of 2012–13) (366 KB , PDF)
The Infrastructure (Financial Assistance) Bill would authorise the Government to provide financial assistance of up to £50 billion to support infrastructure projects. This Library Note provides summaries of the debates held in the House of Commons on the Bill at second reading on 17 September 2012 and at committee stage and third reading on 15 October 2012. It should be read in conjunction with the background briefing provided by the House of Commons Library Infrastructure (Financial Assistance) Bill (12 September 2012, RP 12/54).
Infrastructure (Financial Assistance) Bill (HL Bill 43 of 2012–13) (366 KB , PDF)
The Government’s ‘green book’ is guidance on how to appraise public sector policies, programmes and projects. In January 2025, the Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves announced a review of the green book. The review’s conclusions were published in June 2025 and are designed to improve the effectiveness of public sector appraisal. The Treasury will release an updated green book in early 2026.
In September 2024 the House of Lords Communications and Digital Committee launched an inquiry into the scaleup challenges facing startup enterprises working with artificial intelligence (AI) and creative technology. In a report published in February 2025, the committee warned the UK risked becoming an incubator economy where UK startups developed innovative products and services before selling out or moving abroad. This briefing summarises the report’s recommendations and the government’s response.
The government has committed to reducing and reclaiming public money lost to fraud and error. The Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill contains provisions to extend Cabinet Office and Public Sector Fraud Authority powers to tackle fraud and error outside the tax and benefits system, and also expands powers to tackle fraud within the benefits system. The bill is due to have its second reading in the House of Lords on 15 May 2025.
