This House of Lords Library briefing summarises the second reading proceedings in the House of Commons on the European Union (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill that took place on 31 January and 1 February 2017.
This House of Lords Library briefing provides information on the European Union (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill which was introduced in the House of Commons on 26 January 2017, following the Supreme Court judgment that legislation was required to authorise the triggering of Article 50.
This House of Lords Library briefing examines the background to a proposal that information should be published alongside every Act showing the length of time spent on it at each stage in the parliamentary process to highlight the level of scrutiny it had received.
This Lords Library briefing explores machinery of government changes announced by the Prime Minister, Theresa May, on 18 July 2016, in the wake of the United Kingdom’s referendum vote in favour of leaving the European Union.
On 3 November 2016, the High Court of England and Wales handed down a judgment in which it held that the Secretary of State does not have power under the Crown’s prerogative to give notice pursuant to Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union for the UK to withdraw from the European Union. This briefing examines responses to the judgment at Westminster and in the devolved administrations.
This House of Lords Library briefing provides background information in advance of the second reading of the Lobbying (Transparency) Bill [HL] in the House of Lords on Friday 9 September.
This House of Lords Library briefing provides background reading in advance of the question for short debate on 8 September 2016 about whether the Government plans to consider the proposal that, for a period of time, all government department should cease devising new legislation and concentrate on sound administration.
This House of Lords Library briefing sets out the legislation that regulates the statutory register of lobbyists, and outlines the rules governing the ability of charities and trade unions to engage in political activity and to campaign in relation to elections. This briefing has been written in preparation for the debate in the House of Lords on 8 September 2016 on the role that charities, trade unions and civil society groupings play in a democracy and the case for regulating lobbying activities.
This Lords Library briefing provides a brief timeline of principal developments during the process of the Iraq Inquiry (Chilcot). It particularly focusses on delays of the report’s publication.
A number of investigations into historical child sex abuse in the UK have been launched by the police and public institutions in recent years. This follows allegations that claims of child sex abuse made against public figures had not been properly investigated in the past. This briefing focuses on the existing guidance for conducting these investigations and provides background information on recent investigations that have taken place. It has been written in preparation for a debate that is due to take place in the House of Lords on 30 June 2016 on the case for introducing statutory guidelines relating to the investigation of cases of historical child sex abuse.
This Library briefing provides information on royal charters, outlining the Sovereign’s prerogative power to grant them, and briefly describing their function. It also provides an overview of two examples of royal charters—the self-regulation of the press and the BBC—and discusses Parliament’s role in their scrutiny.
The House of Lords is due to debate the Queen’s Speech over four days between 19 and 25 May 2016. This briefing is one of four prepared by the House of Lords Library to cover the themes of each day of debate.
On 9 September 2015, Queen Elizabeth II became the longest reigning sovereign in British history. This House of Lords Library briefing focuses on the Sovereign as part of the constitution of Parliament. It captures key aspects of the role of the Sovereign as it relates, in practice, to Parliament today, with an emphasis on the House of Lords. It does this through addressing a selection of the ceremonial and formal roles of the Sovereign: the State Opening of Parliament and its prorogation and dissolution; the calling of a new Parliament, in light of the Fixed-term Parliament Act 2011; Royal Commissions and royal assent; and Queen’s consent. The briefing also addresses a number of aspects of the Sovereign’s communications and relationship with Parliament more broadly, through Addresses and messages and the Palace of Westminster itself. It provides facts and figures relating to Queen Elizabeth II including: the number of Acts that have received Royal Assent during her reign, Addresses given by the Queen to both Houses in Westminster Hall, and the wording of Queen Elizabeth II’s first message to Parliament on her accession to the throne in 1952.