Home affairs by topic
Home affairs includes the following topic areas. Please click the links to access lists of publications by topic:
Communities
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Cadet forces: funding and social impact
The cadet forces are voluntary youth organisations that are based on the traditions of the armed forces but are not part of them. The Government says they offer “challenging and enjoyable activities”. They receive some government funding. Independent analysis suggests that they provide benefits both for participants and wider society. An ongoing government scheme aims to increase the number of cadet units in state schools.
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International non-binary people’s day
Non-binary people may feel that the traditional binary of man and woman does not comfortably reflect their own gender identity. International non-binary people’s day celebrates the identities of non-binary people and takes place on 14 July. This briefing explores some of the basic ideas around non-binary identities and concepts of sex and gender.
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Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities: impact of Brexit and Covid-19
June marked Gypsy, Roma and Traveller History Month. Along with other minority groups, these communities have been heavily impacted by recent events, in particular Brexit and the Covid-19 pandemic. While some from these communities have called the UK a safe haven, the groups continue to face discrimination and inequality.
Crime
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Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill
The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill is a wide-ranging piece of legislation that would make changes across the criminal justice system. This briefing considers: the background to the bill; what it would do; and what happened during its passage through the House of Commons.
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Domestic abuse of older people
Evidence suggests domestic abuse affects hundreds of thousands of older people in the UK every year. Reports since the first national lockdowns have also drawn attention to how the situation for many older victims has deteriorated due to the Covid-19 pandemic. This article examines what constitutes ‘elder abuse’, as well as risk factors, prevalence rates, and government action.
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Magnitsky sanctions
‘Magnitsky’ sanctions target those responsible for human rights violations or corruption. The UK established a global human rights sanctions regime in 2020 and a global anti-corruption sanction regime this year, using powers in the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act 2018.
Culture, media and sport
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Educational and cultural exchange programmes
Educational and cultural exchange programmes have existed for many years. They provide individuals, such as students, with the opportunity to learn and experience cultures outside of their home country. This article discusses exchange programmes such as the Government’s new Turing Scheme and the impact that programmes can have on participants.
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Promoting tourism in the UK
The UK’s tourism industry has been particularly hard-hit by the coronavirus pandemic. Ahead of a House of Lords debate on 24 June 2021 to take note of the need to promote tourism in the UK, this article looks at how the sector has been affected, and the Government’s response, including its recently published Tourism Recovery Plan.
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Motions on recent changes to planning rules
The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development etc.) (England) (Amendment) Order 2021 introduces several changes to the local planning framework. It makes it easier to convert a wider range of commercial buildings to residential use; allows further development of schools, colleges, universities, hospitals, prisons and ports; and implements a ‘retain and explain’ policy for certain statues, memorials and monuments. The House of Lords is set to debate motions to reject or ‘regret’ the changes.
Family and civil law
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To sign or not to sign? Sign language in law, parliament and Covid-19 briefings
Following Deaf Awareness Week this month, this article looks at British sign language and a campaign for the Government to provide an on-set BSL interpreter at the live televised Covid-19 briefings. It also looks at the introduction of BSL interpretation to certain parliamentary proceedings, most notably for prime minister’s questions.
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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.
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Representation of women in the House of Lords
It has been over 60 years since women gained the right to join the House of Lords. Today, just under a third of members are women. Why is the number of women not equal to that of men?
Immigration
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UK Windrush Day: update on the Windrush scheme
Following the 70th anniversary celebrations in 2018, the Government announced a national Windrush Day on 22 June each year, to pay tribute to the Windrush generation and their descendants. In this article, we examine who the Windrush generation are and the various Windrush schemes implemented by the Government since acknowledging the unfair treatment of members of the Windrush generation.
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Magnitsky sanctions
‘Magnitsky’ sanctions target those responsible for human rights violations or corruption. The UK established a global human rights sanctions regime in 2020 and a global anti-corruption sanction regime this year, using powers in the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act 2018.
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Asian Youth Movements in the UK: history and legacy
The Asian Youth Movements formed in the United Kingdom in the 1970s, as second generation South Asian people mobilised against racism. Following on from our articles on Black Lives Matter and the early UK Black Panther movement, we take a closer look at their membership, their aims and campaigns, and their legacy within the UK today.
Justice
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Human rights concerns in India
For several years, concerns have been raised by international governments and human rights organisations about alleged human rights violations in India. Concerns include the protection of religious minorities in the country. India has disputed the allegations, reiterating its commitment to human rights. This article looks at some of those incidences, as well as concerns raised by human rights organisations.
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Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill
The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill is a wide-ranging piece of legislation that would make changes across the criminal justice system. This briefing considers: the background to the bill; what it would do; and what happened during its passage through the House of Commons.
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Domestic abuse of older people
Evidence suggests domestic abuse affects hundreds of thousands of older people in the UK every year. Reports since the first national lockdowns have also drawn attention to how the situation for many older victims has deteriorated due to the Covid-19 pandemic. This article examines what constitutes ‘elder abuse’, as well as risk factors, prevalence rates, and government action.
Security
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Telecommunications (Security) Bill: Briefing for Lords Stages
The Telecommunications (Security) Bill is a government bill to improve the regulation of the UK telecoms market in order to protect the security of the UK’s telecoms infrastructure. Second reading of the Telecommunications (Security) Bill is scheduled to take place in the House of Lords on 29 June 2021. This briefing provides a summary of the bill and its passage through the House of Commons.
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Queen’s Speech 2021: digital, culture, media and sport
The Queen’s Speech is taking place on 11 May 2021. This will set out the Government’s legislative and policy programme for the new parliamentary session. This article provides a summary of the Government’s proposals for digital, culture, media and sport that may be included in the speech.
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Forensic science and the criminal justice system
In May 2019, the House of Lords Science and Technology Committee published a report warning the quality and delivery of forensic science services in England and Wales was inadequate. It recommended several reforms intended to halt the damage this was causing to public trust in the criminal justice system. The House of Lords is scheduled to debate this report on 26 April 2021. This article summarises the committee’s recommendation, the Government’s response and subsequent developments.
