Economy and business by topic
Economy and business includes the following topic areas. Please click the links to access lists of publications by topic:
Business
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Botulinum Toxin and Cosmetic Fillers (Children) Bill
The Botulinum Toxin and Cosmetic Fillers (Children) Bill would prohibit specific cosmetic procedures being performed on young people under the age of 18 in England, except under the direction of a registered health professional (such as doctors, dentists, pharmacists, nurses). It would also prohibit businesses from arranging or performing the procedures on under-18s. The bill has completed its stages in the House of Commons and is due to have its second reading in the Lords on 16 April 2021.
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Spring Budget 2021: Tax, Spending, the Economy and Coronavirus
The budget set out the Government’s plans for taxation and spending over the next five years. It also included the Office for Budget Responsibility’s assessment of the economy and forecasts for growth, the public sector finances, unemployment and inflation. It illustrated the effect of coronavirus on the economy and described how the Government aims to deal with the recovery from the pandemic.
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Current Affairs Digest: Economics (March 2021)
Catch up on economics articles you may have missed. This month we take an in-depth look at the economics of Scottish independence.
Economy
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Building an inclusive society in the post-pandemic world
Attendees at a United Nations (UN) summit more than 25 years ago defined an inclusive society as a “society for all”. Policy responses have been introduced in the years since, though questions remain about how progress can be measured. The Covid-19 pandemic has represented a setback towards realising the goal in many areas, but some have identified an opportunity to redouble efforts towards achieving ambitions in the pandemic’s wake.
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Government investment programmes: the ‘green book’
The Government’s ‘green book’ describes how major public sector investment projects are assessed. In March 2020, the Government announced a review of the approach, to improve how the green book supports strategic priorities such as its ‘levelling up’ agenda and the transition to net zero greenhouse gas emissions. The review’s conclusions were published in November 2020, followed by a revised green book in December 2020.
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Spring Budget 2021: Tax, Spending, the Economy and Coronavirus
The budget set out the Government’s plans for taxation and spending over the next five years. It also included the Office for Budget Responsibility’s assessment of the economy and forecasts for growth, the public sector finances, unemployment and inflation. It illustrated the effect of coronavirus on the economy and described how the Government aims to deal with the recovery from the pandemic.
Employment
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Government investment programmes: the ‘green book’
The Government’s ‘green book’ describes how major public sector investment projects are assessed. In March 2020, the Government announced a review of the approach, to improve how the green book supports strategic priorities such as its ‘levelling up’ agenda and the transition to net zero greenhouse gas emissions. The review’s conclusions were published in November 2020, followed by a revised green book in December 2020.
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Regulation after Brexit: The Taskforce on Innovation, Growth and Regulatory Reform
This article considers the Government’s post-Brexit regulatory reform agenda. The Government has established a Taskforce on Innovation, Growth and Regulatory Reform, which is the subject of an oral question in the House of Lords on 17 March 2021.
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Covid-19: Empowering women in the recovery from the impact of the pandemic
Women have been specifically affected by the economic impacts of the coronavirus pandemic. Reasons for this include that they are over-represented in some of the worst-hit sectors, and that they do a greater share of unpaid care. The Government has said it wants women’s economic empowerment to be a focus in the post-pandemic recovery period. But it has faced criticism for not taking enough account of gender equality in its approach.
International trade
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HGV drivers: temporary relaxation of driving hours limits and minimum rest period rules
Due to concerns about disruptions to supply chains resulting from Brexit and the coronavirus pandemic, the Government has introduced the Drivers’ Hours and Tachographs (Temporary Exceptions) Regulations 2021 (SI 2021/58) to relax the rules governing maximum driving hours and minimum rest periods. It has stated that the exceptions should only be used where necessary and not at the expense of safety. The House of Lords is due to debate the regulations on 18 March 2021.
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International haulage: Government support
The UK’s new trading relationship with the European Union and the coronavirus pandemic have affected international haulage. On 4 March 2021, Lord Taylor of Holbeach is due to ask the Government what steps they are taking to support hauliers transporting goods internationally.
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UK-Kenya Economic Partnership Agreement
On 2 March 2021, the House of Lords is due to take note of the UK-Kenya Economic Partnership Agreement. The agreement would set out the UK and Kenya’s future trading relationship. This article considers the details of the agreement, as well as scrutiny it has received from the House of Lords International Agreements Committee.
Transport
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HGV drivers: temporary relaxation of driving hours limits and minimum rest period rules
Due to concerns about disruptions to supply chains resulting from Brexit and the coronavirus pandemic, the Government has introduced the Drivers’ Hours and Tachographs (Temporary Exceptions) Regulations 2021 (SI 2021/58) to relax the rules governing maximum driving hours and minimum rest periods. It has stated that the exceptions should only be used where necessary and not at the expense of safety. The House of Lords is due to debate the regulations on 18 March 2021.
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International haulage: Government support
The UK’s new trading relationship with the European Union and the coronavirus pandemic have affected international haulage. On 4 March 2021, Lord Taylor of Holbeach is due to ask the Government what steps they are taking to support hauliers transporting goods internationally.
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Fast tracked planning permission to use land as temporary inland border facilities
The Town and Country Planning (Border Facilities and Infrastructure) (EU Exit) (England) Special Development Order 2020 (SI 2020/928) has sped up the planning process for land to be used as inland border facilities in specified areas of England. The Government stated this is necessary due to the increased border control measures needed now the UK has left the EU. On 11 February 2021, the House of Lords will debate a motion ‘regretting’ the legislation.
