• In Focus

    Children looked after by local authorities in England

    Under the Children Act 1989, a child is looked after by a local authority if they are provided with accommodation, for a continuous period of more than 24 hours, are subject to a care order or are subject to a placement order. There were 83,840 looked-after children in England in March 2023. This was an increase from 78,140 in 2019. The Local Government Association has said councils face challenges around the availability of suitable residential and fostering placements. The government is currently implementing its 2023 children’s social care strategy to reform care in England.

  • In Focus

    Local government finances: Impact on communities

    Local authorities receive revenue finance primarily from government grants and business rates. This is used to fund various services, including social care, housing and waste management. In recent years, cost and demand pressures faced by local authorities have outstripped overall inflation. The government recently finalised the local government funding settlement, which sets out how much councils will receive from the government in 2024/25 and provides estimates of their spending power.

  • In Focus

    UK accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership

    In 2023, the UK government signed the accession protocol to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). This briefing includes background information on the negotiations for the UK’s membership of the CPTPP prior to a House of Lords debate on the protocol. It also summarises the recommendations of the House of Lords International Agreements Committee on the protocol.

  • In Focus

    Strengthening the UK union

    The union between England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland is governed both by legislation and the statutory frameworks of devolution settlements, and non-legislative measures that cover joint decision making and dispute resolution. Events such as the UK’s exit from the European Union have the potential to put the union under strain. This briefing explores suggested reforms which proponents argue would strengthen the UK union.

  • In Focus

    Motion for an humble address on Northern Ireland

    The government has tabled motions in both Houses of Parliament for an humble address on Northern Ireland to be presented to the King. This follows the publication in January 2024 of a command paper on ‘Safeguarding the union’ and the restoration of Northern Ireland’s devolved institutions in February 2024.

  • In Focus

    Long-term plan for housing

    The government’s long-term plan for housing includes a range of policies it says are aimed at regeneration, inner-city densification and housing delivery across England. In December 2023, the government announced the next stage of its long-term plan, including revisions to the ‘National planning policy framework’ (NPPF). This briefing summarises government housing policies within the long-term plan and NPPF revisions, as well as recent criticism of the government’s plan from parliamentarians.

  • In Focus

    Where are they now?: Changes to the legislative agenda in the 2022–23 session

    The Queen’s Speech at the start of the 2022–23 session included 20 bills. A further 13 bills were announced in the government’s background briefing to the speech, including five carry-over bills. Changes in government leadership then resulted in some changes to policy during the 2022–23 session. This briefing looks at how the government’s legislative agenda changed during the last session and how many of these bills have been carried over into the new session.

  • In Focus

    Who sits where in the House of Lords?

    Seating in the House of Lords is defined by precedence and tradition. Tudor laws laid the groundwork for the layout of the current chamber. However, changes to the makeup of the membership and roles in the House have affected how the chamber has been used over time. This briefing explains who sits where and why, then takes a closer look at the tradition of sitting on the steps of the throne.

  • In Focus

    The government’s strategy and policy statement for the Electoral Commission: Regret motion

    The Elections Act 2022 included provisions for the government to issue a strategy and policy statement for the Electoral Commission. The government has said the statement is necessary to improve public confidence in the commission. A range of organisations, including the Electoral Commission, have opposed the statement, calling it incompatible with the commission’s independence.

  • In Focus

    Windsor Framework: Command paper and regulations

    On 31 January 2024, the government published a command paper on ‘Safeguarding the union’ and accompanying draft secondary legislation, seeking to address concerns about Northern Ireland’s place in the union and arrangements for the movement of goods between Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Following negotiations with the DUP, this is intended as a step towards restoring the Northern Ireland executive.

  • Research Briefing

    Economic Activity of Public Bodies (Overseas Matters) Bill: HL Bill 38 of 2023–24

    The Economic Activity of Public Bodies (Overseas Matters) Bill would prevent public authorities from participating in or expressing support for boycott, divestment and sanctions campaigns. The bill would allow the government to exempt states and territories from its provisions by regulations, with the exception of Israel, the Occupied Palestinian Territories and the Occupied Golan Heights.

  • In Focus

    Intergovernmental relations within the UK

    Intergovernmental relations (IGR) within the UK refers to engagement between the UK government and the devolved governments in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. In 2022, following a review, a new three-tier IGR structure was introduced. However, its full implementation has been impacted by the absence of a Northern Ireland executive since February 2022. The Scottish and Welsh governments have welcomed improvements brought about by the new structure but have also criticised the UK government’s attitude towards engagement with the devolved administrations at times.

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