This House of Lords Library Briefing has been prepared in advance of the second reading in the House of Lords of the Birmingham Commonwealth Games Bill [HL], scheduled to take place on 25 June 2019.
Birmingham Commonwealth Games Bill [HL]: Briefing for Lords Stages (273 KB , PDF)
The next Commonwealth Games are set to take place in Birmingham between 27 July and 7 August 2022. The Birmingham Commonwealth Games Bill [HL] is a government bill that would provide the legal basis for certain time-limited measures in support of the games. It had its first reading on 5 June 2019. It is scheduled to receive its second reading on 25 June 2019.
The bill would provide the legal basis for certain time-limited measures in support of the games. These are grouped in four main areas:
The provisions have precedence in legislation for previous sporting events, such as the 2012 London Olympic and Paralympic Games and the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games.
The bill has been welcomed by individuals including John Crabtree, chair of the Birmingham 2022 organising committee; Ian Ward, Labour leader of Birmingham City Council; Andy Street, Conservative mayor of the West Midlands; and David Grevemberg, chief executive of the Commonwealth Games Federation.
Birmingham Commonwealth Games Bill [HL]: Briefing for Lords Stages (273 KB , PDF)
Concerns have been raised about the state of the opera sector in England, with much of this focused on the financial pressures it is facing. Some institutions face reductions in Arts Council funding and, taken together with increasing costs, this has led to cuts in performances and concerns about the sector’s future viability. Concerns have also been raised about diversity and equality across opera, including in audiences and the workforce.
Academic research suggests that mobile phones in schools can adversely affect pupils’ educational attainment and contribute to problems such as bullying. But some experts point to potential learning benefits and argue that a blanket ban on phones could prove ineffective and counterproductive. Government guidance discourages the use of phones in schools but defers to school leaders on prohibiting their use. Most schools in England already have policies limiting the use of phones.
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.
