This Library Note examines what developments have occurred since the Government’s response to the report of the House of Lords Select Committee on Small and Medium Sized Enterprises was published in May 2013.
Debate on 6 May: Actions Taken Following the Publication in 2013 of the Report of the Select Committee on Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (325 KB , PDF)
This Library Note briefly describes the background to the establishment of the House of Lords Select Committee on Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs). It then discusses the Committee’s recommendations alongside the Government’s responses and examines what developments have occurred since the Government’s response was published in May 2013. The Note concludes with a brief statistical digest of SMEs.
Debate on 6 May: Actions Taken Following the Publication in 2013 of the Report of the Select Committee on Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (325 KB , PDF)
In the autumn budget the chancellor announced changes to inheritance tax reliefs. From April 2026, taxes would apply to agricultural assets over £1mn (or up to £3mn in certain circumstances). The government has said this would just affect the wealthiest landowners and disincentivise buying agricultural land to avoid tax. Farming groups have argued the policy is a threat to the future of family farming and the UK's food security.
Reported retail crime has increased significantly in recent years. This criminal activity, encompassing offences such as shoplifting and assaults on retail workers, has impacted businesses, their employees and local economies. The government has outlined plans to tackle retail crime in response to this issue. This includes legislating to create a new specific offence of assaulting a retail worker and to remove the threshold on so-called “low-value” shoplifting offences.
In February 2024 the House of Lords Communications and Digital Committee published a report on large language models and generative AI. It highlighted the opportunities and risks this technology offers, and recommended actions the government should take to support the market while mitigating risks. The new government has said it will legislate to address safety risks arising from generative AI.
