This House of Lords Library Briefing summarises amendments made to the European Union (Withdrawal) Bill in the House of Lords.
European Union (Withdrawal) Bill: Summary of Lords Amendments (280 KB , PDF)
The European Union (Withdrawal) Bill was introduced in the House of Lords on 18 January 2018 and had its second reading over two days on 30 and 31 January 2018. It was considered in committee of the whole House over eleven sittings between 21 February and 28 March 2018. A total of 477 amendments were tabled to the Bill for consideration at committee stage, but no amendments were made. The Bill was considered by the House of Lords at report stage over six days between 18 April and 8 May 2018. A total of 316 amendments were tabled for consideration at report stage and of these, a total of 192 amendments were made to the Bill. Third reading of the Bill took place on 16 May 2018, when a further nine amendments were made. This Briefing gives an overview of the main changes made to the Bill in the Lords, covering both the 15 government defeats and the numerous government amendments agreed.
More detail on the amendments made at report stages in the Lords is available in a longer House of Lords Library Briefing, European Union (Withdrawal) Bill: Lords Report Stage (14 May 2018).
European Union (Withdrawal) Bill: Summary of Lords Amendments (280 KB , PDF)
The government recently announced an independent review of physician and anaesthesia associates to be led by Professor Gillian Leng. This announcement followed a debate about the use of the roles in the NHS and concerns raised by some stakeholders about patient safety. The review has been widely welcomed by stakeholders as a way to move the debate forward.
The idea of civil service impartiality, defined as the ability to serve the government of the day without fear or favour, is one of the core values promoted by the civil service code. Several recent events have led to debate on whether the civil service has become more politicised and the extent to which that is desirable. This briefing examines that history, and the arguments for and against a more politicised civil service, ahead of a forthcoming debate in the House of Lords.
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