This House of Lords Library Briefing has been prepared in advance of the second reading in the House of Lords of the Non-Domestic Rating (Lists) Bill on 30 September 2019.
Non-Domestic Rating (Lists) Bill: Briefing for Lords Stages (160 KB , PDF)
The Non-Domestic Rating (Lists) Bill is a government bill that brings forward by one year the next revaluation for non-domestic rates in England and Wales to 1 April 2021. It also moves the cycle of new rating lists thereafter in England from every five years to every three years. The Government believes that this change will make business ratings more responsive to economic conditions. Wales is not changing its cycle.
The bill was introduced in the House of Commons on 12 June 2019. It had its second reading on 17 June 2019 and completed its House of Commons stages, without amendment, on 22 July 2019. During the House of Commons stages, Labour “welcomed” bringing forward the new ratings list by a year but described the bill as “narrow”. The Labour Party said it shared concerns raised by several stakeholders about the impact of business rates on the retail sector, the viability of businesses and the future of high streets and town centres. At public bill committee stage, organisations such as the British Retail Consortium called on the Government to reform the business rates system. In addition, more than 50 British retailers, signed a joint letter in August 2019 to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Sajid Javid, asking the Government to freeze increases in business rates.
The bill was introduced into the Lords on 23 July 2019 and is scheduled to receive its second reading on 30 September 2019.
Non-Domestic Rating (Lists) Bill: Briefing for Lords Stages (160 KB , PDF)
The bill aims to create a 'smoke-free generation' by banning tobacco sales to anyone born on or after 1 January 2009, alongside other measures to tackle smoking and tobacco harms. It would also further regulate vaping, curbing its appeal to children, while enabling adult smokers to use vapes as a quitting tool. The bill is similar to the Tobacco and Vapes Bill which fell at dissolution 2024.
The government introduced the Employment Rights Bill in the House of Lords on 14 March 2025. The House is scheduled to debate the bill at second reading on 27 March 2025.
In October 2024, a House of Lords committee published a post-legislative review of the Modern Slavery Act 2015. The committee argued that the legislation was no longer world-leading. It suggested developments worldwide had led to the UK falling behind internationally and that recent immigration legislation had limited the act’s support infrastructure for victims. It called on government policy to recognise the difference between migrants coming to the UK willingly and victims of trafficking.
