• In Focus

    Science and Technology Committee report on seizing the opportunity of engineering biology

    Engineering biology involves designing and building new biological systems, molecules, or organisms. It has potential applications ranging from medicines and manufacturing to making new materials or more resilient crops. The House of Lords Science and Technology Committee has urged the government to seize the opportunities presented by this technology and warned that without urgent action the UK risks losing the potential benefits of remaining a world-leader in the field.

  • In Focus

    Constitution Committee report on the governance of the union

    The House of Lords Constitution Committee has re-examined relations between the UK government and devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland following the introduction of new intergovernmental relations structures in January 2022 and its own earlier inquiry on the subject. In a report published in September 2024, the committee urged the government to add a new principle of positive engagement to the principles underpinning the new structures.

  • In Focus

    The future of news: Report by the House of Lords Communications and Digital Committee

    In November 2024, the House of Lords Communications and Digital Committee published a report examining the future of the news sector in the UK. While acknowledging the sector’s strengths, it expressed concerns about declining trust and revenue, threats to investigative reporting and the influence of artificial intelligence (AI). It made several recommendations to the government and others, including dedicating resources to address the challenges of AI and developing a media literacy strategy.

  • In Focus

    Public inquiries: Enhancing public trust—report by the House of Lords Statutory Inquiries Committee

    In November 2024, the House of Lords Statutory Inquiries Committee published a report examining public inquiries established under the Inquiries Act 2005. While recognising their positive impact, the committee criticised elements of the public inquiry system, such as governments failing to implement agreed inquiry recommendations. To address this, the committee proposed several reforms, including the formation of a parliamentary committee to oversee inquiries and ensure government accountability for implementing recommendations.

  • In Focus

    Media Freedom Coalition and the UK’s actions to ensure the safety and security of journalists worldwide

    The UK co-founded and is a member of the Media Freedom Coalition, which advocates for media freedom, the safety of journalists, and holding those who harm journalists to account. More than 50 journalists have been killed every year since 2019, often with impunity. They can also be subject to detention and legal intimidation. The previous government worked with the UN and other multilateral organisations to promote media freedom, and the current government has said it will protect independent journalism.

  • In Focus

    ‘National debt: It’s time for tough decisions’: House of Lords Economic Affairs Committee report

    In 2024 the House of Lords Economic Affairs Committee conducted an inquiry into the sustainability of the UK’s national debt, following a sharp rise in public sector indebtedness in recent years. This briefing provides a summary of the committee’s findings and the government’s response, ahead of a debate in the House of Lords on 25 April 2025.

  • In Focus

    Ottawa Treaty and the Convention on Cluster Munitions: Recent developments

    The Baltic States and Poland recently announced their withdrawal from the Ottawa Treaty, which bans anti-personnel mines. Lithuania has also withdrawn from the Convention on Cluster Munitions, of which those other states are not signatories. The countries have linked their decisions to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the potential for future risks to their territorial integrity. Russia has used both anti-personnel landmines and cluster munitions in its invasion of Ukraine.

  • In Focus

    Costs of net zero by 2050

    The UK’s target of achieving net zero by 2050 was set under then prime minister Theresa May in 2019. To date, there has been political consensus on the target between Conservative and Labour governments. In March 2025, the Leader of the Conservative Party Kemi Badenoch announced that her party no longer supported the target, in part because she did not believe it was affordable. This briefing examines the costs associated with achieving net zero by 2050 and how progress to the target has been legislated for under the Climate Change Act 2008.

  • In Focus

    Economic and planning policies: Impact on farming and rural communities

    The government has announced various policies affecting farming and rural communities. Examples include the closure of the sustainable farming incentive, changes to inheritance tax relief and planning reforms set out in the Planning and Infrastructure Bill. Whilst some stakeholders have welcomed the plans, the government has faced strong opposition from the farming industry about the impact these policies could have on farm businesses and rural communities.

  • In Focus

    Modern Slavery Act 2015: Lords committee post-legislative scrutiny

    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.

  • In Focus

    Local elections in England: House of Lords debate on certain elections being postponed to 2026

    The government postponed elections in nine local authority areas in England from May 2025 to May 2026 to help with planning for local government devolution and creating unitary authorities in two-tier local government areas. There has been opposition to postponing the elections from other political parties, some councils and some members of the public. The House of Lords is due to debate motions to annul the legislation that delays the elections.

  • In Focus

    ‘A plan to fix our broken food system’: House of Lords Food, Diet and Obesity Committee report

    In October 2024, a report from the House of Lords Food, Diet and Obesity Committee concluded that poor-quality diets were contributing to an obesity crisis in England. It said that successive governments had failed to tackle the issue, and more regulation was now needed. This briefing summarises the committee’s recommendations, the government’s response in January 2025, and reaction to both reports.

  • In Focus

    Covid-19 pandemic: Support for the bereaved

    On 9 March, the Covid-19 Day of Reflection 2025 took place to mark five years since the start of the pandemic in the UK. This briefing has been prepared ahead of a debate in the House of Lords focused on the support available to those bereaved because of Covid-19. It outlines the help available for families and sets out background information on the Covid-19 Day of Reflection, as well as the UK Covid-19 inquiry.

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