Research Briefing
The Church of Scotland (Lord High Commissioner) Bill would remove the restriction on people of the Roman Catholic faith holding the office of His Majesty’s lord high commissioner to the general assembly of the Church of Scotland.
Research Briefing
The Education (Assemblies) Bill [HL] is a private member’s bill introduced by Baroness Burt of Solihull (Liberal Democrat). It would repeal the requirement for schools in England without a designated religious character to provide daily acts of collective religious worship. In its place, the bill would establish a new duty to provide non-religious assemblies which develop the spiritual, moral, social, and cultural education of pupils.
Research Briefing
The Permitted Development Rights (Extension) Bill [HL] is a private member’s bill introduced by Lord Lucas (Conservative). The bill would establish new permitted development rights to make additions and alterations to domestic properties. The House of Lords is scheduled to debate the bill at second reading on 7 February 2025.
Research Briefing
This private member’s bill would transfer responsibility for the Crown Estate in Wales to the Welsh government.
In Focus
Lifelong learning can have social, professional and health benefits. However, funding and student numbers have decreased over the past decade. Government policies aim to align skills and learning opportunities with local and national economic priorities. Policies include devolving adult skills funding to mayoral authorities, introducing the lifelong learning entitlement, and establishing Skills England.
In Focus
The UK’s approach to counter-terrorism is set out in its strategy CONTEST, which includes the scheme Prevent. Following the Southport attack in July 2024, Keir Starmer said that the threat from terrorism had changed, and the government would be reviewing its counter-extremism systems and reforming programmes such as Prevent. He also said the government would change the law to respond to the new threat if needed.
In Focus
The Conservative government set an expectation that civil servants spend at least 60% of their working week at a government building or on official business. The Labour government has maintained this expectation due to the “clear benefits of face-to-face working”. Some civil servants have raised concerns about the 60% office attendance mandate, including civil servants in HM Land Registry who have recently voted in favour of strike action.
Research Briefing
The Bus Services (No. 2) Bill is a government bill scheduled to have its second reading in the House of Lords on 8 January 2025. It is intended to make it easier for local transport authorities to franchise bus services in their area. It also includes measures on bus data, enforcement powers, accessibility of bus stops, safeguarding checks and training for bus drivers and zero-emissions buses.
Research Briefing
The Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Bill would introduce requirements on those responsible for certain publicly accessible premises and events to implement measures in the event of a terrorist attack. It would also require certain larger premises and events to take steps to reduce their vulnerability to terrorist attacks.
In Focus
In 2024 the restoration and renewal programme announced it would be developing three options to preserve the Palace of Westminster. Details should be presented to Parliament in 2025. Members will then decide whether the programme should temporarily relocate both Houses of Parliament, keep the Commons Chamber onsite while temporarily relocating the Lords, or conduct a rolling programme of works “to deliver enhanced maintenance and improvement”. Surveying, design and remediation work was also progressed in 2024.
In Focus
With ‘America first’, where will the UK stand? This briefing looks at views on President-elect Trump’s potential trade and international policies.
In Focus
Why are bills before Parliament sometimes likened to a Christmas tree? Where did the term Christmas tree bill come from and why? This briefing looks back through Hansard to find when it was first used in Parliament and to trace its development as a political metaphor.
Research Briefing
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.
In Focus
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.
In Focus
The idea of civil service impartiality, defined as the ability to serve the government of the day without fear or favour, is one of the core values promoted by the civil service code. Several recent events have led to debate on whether the civil service has become more politicised and the extent to which that is desirable. This briefing examines that history, and the arguments for and against a more politicised civil service, ahead of a forthcoming debate in the House of Lords.
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