This House of Lords Library briefing provides information on the Air Travel Organisers’ Licensing Bill ahead of that Bill’s second reading in the House of Lords, scheduled to take place on 5 September 2017.
Air Travel Organisers' Licensing Bill: Briefing for Lords Stages (3 MB , PDF)
The Air Travel Organisers’ Licensing Bill is a government bill which completed its passage through the House of Commons on 11 July 2017. The Bill had its first reading in the House of Lords the next day, 12 July 2017, and is scheduled to receive its second reading on 5 September 2017.
The Bill seeks to update the Air Travel Organiser’s Licence (ATOL) scheme, a statutory licensing system introduced in 1973 designed to provide a measure of reassurance and financial protection to consumers booking holiday packages that include a flight. The Government has stated that the proposals in the Bill would allow for UK businesses to trade across Europe more easily; ensure a wider body of consumers are protected; and provide an ability for the ATOL scheme to adapt to future trends, including changes that may arise as a result of the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union.
The changes are being sought in advance of the coming into effect of an updated European directive relating to package travel (2015/2302/EU) which will extend insolvency protection arrangements in EU member states beyond traditional package holidays to include other forms of combined travel.
The Bill received cross-party support during its passage through the House of Commons, though a number of amendments were proposed relating to concerns held by opposition parties regarding the impact of changes; powers within the Bill; and guarantees for existing consumer protections following the UK’s withdrawal from the EU.
This briefing should be read in should be read in conjunction with the Explanatory Notes to the Bill, produced by the Department for Transport.
The House of Commons Library briefing Air Travel Organisers’ Licensing Bill (27 June 2017) provides further background information on the Bill and its provisions. That briefing also includes summaries of relevant proceedings in the House of Commons in the last parliament on the Vehicle Technology and Aviation Bill, which included the three main clauses that make up the Air Travel Organisers’ Licensing Bill.
Air Travel Organisers' Licensing Bill: Briefing for Lords Stages (3 MB , PDF)
The Education (Non-religious Philosophical Convictions) Bill [HL] is a private member’s bill sponsored by Baroness Burt of Solihull (Liberal Democrat). It would introduce an explicit requirement for schools in England to include non-religious worldviews such as humanism in religious education (RE). At the time of writing, the bill’s second reading debate has yet to be scheduled.
![Education (Non-religious Philosophical Convictions) Bill [HL]: HL Bill 29 of 2022–23](https://lordslibrary.parliament.uk/content/uploads/sites/2/2020/09/Communities-1-1232x924.png)
The world is currently experiencing a food crisis. UK consumers are also facing rapid food price inflation. Both the UK government and international bodies, such as the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, have identified climate change and biodiversity loss as major contributing factors to food insecurity in the UK and around the world. This briefing considers the nature and extent of this impact and government policies to improve UK food security.
The government has published an updated plan for music education. It emphasises aspects such as early years music; cooperation between schools and other organisations, for example music hubs; and providing a variety of ways to progress in music. Commentators have welcomed the plan but called for more funding. Some observers have also argued that the structure of testing in schools from age 14 skews the curriculum against music.
