Research Briefing
The Hunting Trophies (Import Prohibition) Bill would prohibit the import into Great Britain of hunting trophies from species of conservation concern. It is a private member’s bill that is supported by the government. It is due to have its second reading in the House of Lords on 16 June 2023.
In Focus
In October 2021, the House of Lords Environment and Climate Change Committee published a report which examined the government’s approach to encouraging behaviour change to achieve its climate and environmental goals. The report found that the government’s approach at the time was “inadequate to meet the scale of the challenge”. The House of Lords is scheduled to debate the report on 7 June 2023. This article examines the report and the government’s response.
In Focus
In 2022, the House of Lords Science and Technology Committee conducted an inquiry into the government’s stated ambition to make the UK a “science and technology superpower” by 2030. This briefing provides a summary of the committee’s findings and the government’s response, ahead of a debate in the House of Lords on 7 June 2023.
In Focus
The government has committed to halting nature decline in the UK and improving natural habitats. Grey squirrels, which are a non-native species to the UK, cause damage to natural habitats by stripping bark from trees in order to eat the sap beneath. This In Focus article looks at the government’s policies on supporting woodlands and controlling the grey squirrel population.
In Focus
Assistive technology can support individuals with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) to improve or maintain their daily quality of life. This includes in the areas of education and employment. This article looks at the challenges those with SEND face in these areas as well as the potential solutions assistive technology can offer. It also considers the government’s policy in these areas.
Research Briefing
The Equipment Theft (Prevention) Bill would allow the secretary of state to make regulations to deter the theft of all-terrain vehicles (ATVs). This government-supported private member’s bill has passed its stages in the House of Commons and is awaiting second reading in the House of Lords.
Research Briefing
Electricity network operators can apply to compulsorily acquire land or land rights without the consent of landowners when installing and maintaining network infrastructure. If approved, landowners are entitled to compensation from the network operator. If a compensation dispute arises between a landowner and network operator, the level of compensation can be determined by a tribunal. The Electricity Transmission (Compensation) Bill would require the secretary of state to lay proposals before Parliament for the use of alternative dispute resolution processes to determine levels of compensation in electricity-related land acquisition cases.
In Focus
Developing countries have been identified as some of those most at risk from the effects of climate change. This includes many of the member states of the Commonwealth. The UK government has made a series of commitments to provide support to developing countries in order to mitigate these risks, including through aid spending and international climate finance. The House of Lords is scheduled to debate these policies on 30 March 2023.
Research Briefing
The Shark Fins Bill is a private member’s bill that would ban the import and export of detached shark fins and shark fin-containing products in Great Britain, with routes available for conservation-related exemptions. It would also extend an existing prohibition on shark finning in place for UK fishing vessels to all fishing vessels operating in UK waters. The House of Lords is scheduled to debate the bill on 24 March 2023.
In Focus
Cryptoassets, such as digital currencies like bitcoin, have become a significant part of the world of finance, with a global value estimated at $0.8tn. Volatility in the markets for these products, along with high-profile business failures, has led to calls for cryptoassets to be regulated. This article discusses what cryptoassets are, as well as recent developments and the government’s policy intentions in this area.
Current Affairs Digest
Is artificial intelligence changing writing and research? This article explores the possibilities, problems and limitations of writing generated by artificial intelligence.
Current Affairs Digest
In January 2023, the self-proclaimed misogynist Andrew Tate was arrested in Romania following allegations of human trafficking and rape. His arrest led to a renewed focus on the spread of misogynistic ideas to young men. This article focuses on concerns that the consumption of online content, like that produced by Mr Tate, can have real world consequences, and questions what should be done to tackle it.
In Focus
Capturing carbon dioxide (CO2) from industrial processes to prevent it entering the atmosphere has been put forward as one approach to help the world reduce carbon emissions to net zero and mitigate against climate change. This article looks at carbon dioxide capture and storage in more detail.
In Focus
In January 2022, the House of Lords Science and Technology Committee published its report on the role of nature-based solutions in mitigating climate change and achieving net zero by 2050. It argued that whilst the government’s plans for nature-based solutions were “ambitious”, they were at “severe risk of failure”. Therefore, it proposed several recommendations, including calling for increases to the budgets of public bodies tasked with delivering nature-based solutions.
Research Briefing
The Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill is due to have its second reading in the House of Lords on 6 February 2023. The bill would automatically revoke, or ‘sunset’, most retained EU law at the end of 2023. However it would also give ministers powers to exempt some retained EU law from the sunset and to restate, reproduce, replace or update retained EU law by statutory instrument.
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