The Women, Peace and Security Bill [HL] is a short private member’s bill introduced by Baroness Hodgson of Abinger (Conservative). The bill would require the secretary of state to have regard to the UK’s national action plan on women, peace and security (NAP) when formulating and implementing policy on foreign affairs, defence or related matters. The bill includes provisions requiring the government to report to Parliament annually on the progress made in implementing the NAP. It also requires considerations the government must have regard to when participating in multi-national organisations such as the United Nations. The bill was introduced on 4 September 2024 and is scheduled to have its second reading on 15 November 2024. The bill would extend to England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. It would come into force on the day the legislation was passed.
Women, Peace and Security Bill [HL] (314 KB , PDF)
The Women, Peace and Security Bill [HL] is a private member’s bill introduced by Baroness Hodgson of Abinger (Conservative). The bill is due to have its second reading in the House of Lords on 15 November 2024.
The bill would require the secretary of state to have regard to the UK’s national action plan on women, peace and security (NAP) when formulating and implementing policy on foreign affairs, defence or related matters. A NAP is an action plan that has been adopted to meet commitments under United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Resolution 1325. The resolution concerns the participation of women in peace and security efforts. Since the resolution’s adoption in 2000, the security council has encouraged member states to develop NAPs on women, peace and security (WPS). As of May 2024, 109 countries have adopted such NAPs. The UK is currently on its fifth NAP, which was launched by the Conservative government in 2023 and spans 2023 to 2027.
The bill would also require the government to report annually to Parliament on the progress made in relation to the NAP. In addition, the bill details considerations the secretary of state must have regard to, particularly where the UK is participating in a multi-national organisation, such as the United Nations.
The bill would extend to England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. It would come into force on the day the legislation was passed.
Baroness Hodgson introduced a very similar bill in the 2022–23 session. No amendments were tabled to that bill and it completed its passage through the House of Lords. It did not proceed to second reading in the House of Commons before the House was prorogued on 26 October 2023.
Women, Peace and Security Bill [HL] (314 KB , PDF)
In the autumn budget the chancellor announced changes to inheritance tax reliefs. From April 2026, taxes would apply to agricultural assets over £1mn (or up to £3mn in certain circumstances). The government has said this would just affect the wealthiest landowners and disincentivise buying agricultural land to avoid tax. Farming groups have argued the policy is a threat to the future of family farming and the UK's food security.
The Public Authority Algorithmic and Automated Decision-Making Systems Bill [HL] aims to regulate the usage of algorithmic and automated decision-making systems across the public sector, making the use of such systems more transparent and fair, and mitigating against the risks arising from such technologies such as bias and discrimination. It is a private member’s bill introduced by Lord Clement-Jones (Liberal Democrat). It is due to have its second reading in the House of Lords on 13 December 2024.
![Public Authority Algorithmic and Automated Decision-Making Systems Bill [HL]: HL Bill 27 of 2024–25](https://lordslibrary.parliament.uk/content/uploads/sites/2/2020/01/Government-VIGS-568x426.jpg)
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.
