Families & Social Services Archives - House of Lords Library

Queen’s Speech 2022: Education

Wednesday, 04 May, 2022

Education measures in the 2022 Queen’s Speech are likely to be dominated by provisions outlined in the schools white paper, published in March 2022. In addition, proposals for new national standards on provision for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and legislation on school funding and the lifelong loan entitlement (LLE) are expected. A carry-over motion, agreed in April 2022, will also see the continuation of the passage of the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Bill.

Marriage and Civil Partnership (Minimum Age) Bill

Thursday, 24 March, 2022

On 1 April 2022, the House of Lords is due to debate the second reading of the Marriage and Civil Partnership (Minimum Age) Bill. The private member’s bill would raise the minimum age of marriage and civil partnership in England and Wales to 18. It would also expand the scope of legislation dealing with forced marriage to include any conduct to facilitate the marriage of someone under the age of 18.

Mandatory vaccines for health and care workers: latest regulations

Monday, 13 December, 2021

The draft Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) (Amendment) (Coronavirus) (No. 2) Regulations 2021 would place a requirement on health and social care workers who have face-to-face contact with service users, including volunteers, to provide evidence that they have been fully vaccinated against Covid-19. They would need to do so in order to be deployed, though there would be exemptions for certain staff. The policy has been met with criticism by several medical bodies.

Mandatory vaccines for health and care workers: latest regulations

Research Briefing

Health and Care Bill

Thursday, 02 December, 2021

The Health and Care Bill is scheduled for second reading in the House of Lords on 7 December 2021. This Lords Library briefing focuses on how the bill changed as it went through the House of Commons, and remaining areas that opposition parties and other stakeholders would like to see addressed in the House of Lords.
Current Affairs Digest

Current Affairs Digest: Social Policy (October 2021)

Thursday, 11 November, 2021

Catch up on the latest social policy developments with a selection of articles you may have missed. This month we take a look at the social care levy, and the introduction of road pricing.
In Focus

Social care funding: improving the availability of private sector insurance products

Monday, 25 October, 2021

When announcing the introduction of a cap on care costs on 7 September 2021, the Government said that it would also be working with the financial services industry to encourage it to provide more products to help individuals cover their care costs. This In Focus discusses that aim, alongside reaction from the financial services sector and committee commentary on the subject.
In Focus

Community care for people with learning disabilities and/or autism

Monday, 25 October, 2021

Since 2012, successive governments have set targets to reduce the number of people with learning disabilities and/or autism in inpatient settings, in favour of being cared for in the community. However, though progress has been made, to date these targets have not been achieved. Leading in turn to calls for further action and investment, and for funding incentives to ensure those with learning disabilities and/or autism are cared for in the most appropriate settings.
Research Briefing

Social care: challenges, funding and reform

Thursday, 07 October, 2021

There is widespread recognition that the formal adult social care sector in England has faced multiple challenges over many years. The Government has set out proposals for a levy to raise funds for the sector alongside reforms to how people pay for adult social care in England. Further detail on the Government’s plans for sector reform are expected in a white paper due later this year.
- Research Briefing
- Families & Social Services
Research Briefing

Health and Social Care Levy Bill

Wednesday, 06 October, 2021

The bill would provide for a new tax dedicated to helping fund the Government’s plans for health and social care, with proceeds ringfenced for this purpose. The tax would be collected from April 2022. The House of Commons has passed the bill and there are limitations on the powers of the House of Lords to amend or reject the measure. The House of Lords is scheduled to debate the bill at second reading and remaining stages on 11 October 2021.
In Focus

Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) (Amendment) (Coronavirus) Regulations 2021

Friday, 16 July, 2021

The Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) (Amendment) (Coronavirus) Regulations 2021 would make it a requirement for workers in care homes to be fully vaccinated against coronavirus. The Government has said this is important to protect vulnerable residents. The House of Lords Secondary Legislation Scrutiny Committee has been critical of a lack of detail on the implementation of the policy. The Lords is due to debate the regulations on 20 July 2021.
In Focus

Public services: impact of the Covid-19 pandemic

Thursday, 15 July, 2021

In March 2020, the House of Lords Public Services Committee set up an inquiry into the impact of Covid-19 on public services which reported in November 2020. Among its findings, the committee identified five weaknesses highlighted by the pandemic that should be addressed to make public services resilient enough to withstand future crises. The committee’s recommendations also aimed to ‘lock-in’ innovations developed during the pandemic to reform public services over the longer-term.
Current Affairs Digest

Current Affairs Digest: Social Policy (July 2021)

Monday, 05 July, 2021

Catch up on social affairs with a selection of articles you may have missed. Articles this month look at universal basic income, and the deadline for the EU settlement scheme.
In Focus

Elderly Social Care (Insurance) Bill [HL]

Wednesday, 30 June, 2021

The Elderly Social Care (Insurance) Bill [HL] is a private member’s bill sponsored by Lord Lilley (Conservative). The bill would establish a government-owned company to provide insurance against the risk of the policyholder needing elderly social care. The premium would be recouped via a charge on the person’s home at the time of their death or when the home was sold.
Research Briefing

Social care provision in the UK and the role of carers

Thursday, 17 June, 2021

On 24 June 2021, the House of Lords is due to debate a motion on social care provision and the role of carers. The term ‘social care’ can include all forms of personal and practical assistance for children, young people and adults who need extra support, including those who care for others. The policy area is a devolved matter and provision differs across the UK. This briefing provides an overview of the subject.
- Research Briefing
- Families & Social Services
In Focus

Covid-19: impact on child poverty and on young people’s education, health and wellbeing

Thursday, 10 June, 2021

Concerns have been raised about the impact on young people of many of the measures taken to control the spread of coronavirus. This article explores the potential impact on education, health and poverty levels, and what the Government are doing to mitigate these concerns. It has been prepared in advance of a House of Lords debate scheduled for 17 June 2021.

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