This House of Lords Library Briefing has been prepared in advance of the second reading in the House of Lords of the Census (Return Particulars and Removal of Penalties) Bill [HL] on 13 May 2019.
Census (Return Particulars and Removal of Penalties) Bill [HL]: Briefing for Lords Stages (177 KB , PDF)
The Census (Return Particulars and Removal of Penalties) Bill [HL] is a three-clause government bill that provides for questions on sexual orientation and gender identity to be included in censuses in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. It also provides that completion of these questions should, in effect, be voluntary. The bill was introduced in the House of Lords on 1 May 2019. It is due to have its second reading on 13 May 2019.
The next UK census is expected to take place in March 2021. The census is a devolved matter, but the relevant bodies from each region of the UK work closely together in preparing the census. For example, they intend to hold the census on the same date, and have committed to using the same topics and questions whenever possible. As the Welsh Assembly has not amended the main relevant legislation, the Census Act 1920, the first clause of the bill applies to both England and Wales. However, the Welsh Assembly must be consulted before further legislation to enable the 2021 census is made. The second clause applies to Northern Ireland in the absence of an executive and sitting Assembly. Separate legislation is currently going through the Scottish Parliament.
The UK Statistics Authority and the Office for National Statistics (ONS) carried out an extensive consultation before recommending changes to the census. This resulted in new questions in three areas: sexual orientation, gender identity and past service in the armed forces. The first two of these are the subject of this bill. The ONS also recommended excluding some questions previously asked, and changing some response options for continuing questions.
The new questions on sexual orientation and gender identity are designed to meet a need for better quality information on these subjects. In particular, the data will help in developing policy, planning public services—for example, health services— and helping public authorities to meet their obligations under the Equality Act 2010. The questions will only be asked of people aged 16 or over. There will be no penalties for not completing these questions, making them in effect voluntary. Penalties exist for not completing the remainder of the census, apart from a question on religion introduced in 2001.
Census (Return Particulars and Removal of Penalties) Bill [HL]: Briefing for Lords Stages (177 KB , PDF)
This bill seeks to implement the government’s commitments to modernise the asylum and immigration systems, establish a border security command and introduce enhanced powers and offences to tackle immigration crime and people smuggling gangs. It has completed its passage in the House of Commons and is scheduled to have its second reading in the House of Lords on 2 June 2025.
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.
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.
