The UK and Poland have signed a new treaty on defence and security which provides a framework for cooperation across a range of policy areas, including foreign policy and defence innovation, economic resilience, and energy and climate security. It is not yet in force; the process of its ratification is ongoing. The treaty comes at a time of rising geopolitical tensions, particularly over the war in Ukraine and Russian activity on NATO’s eastern flank.
The UK-EU competition cooperation agreement would establish a formal framework for the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority and EU competition authorities to work together to enforce their respective competition laws. This would include duties for authorities to consider the interests of other parties when enforcing competition law and safeguards regarding the sharing and use of information. The agreement was signed in February 2026 but it is not in force at the time of writing.
Citizenship education focuses on the knowledge, skills and understanding to help prepare pupils to play a full and active role in society. In England, it is currently a compulsory part of the national curriculum for secondary school pupils, but not for primary. There have been various calls for this to change, and in 2025 the government announced that it would become compulsory for schools following the national curriculum at key stages 1 through 4 starting in 2028.
In Focus
The House of Lords Appointments Commission (HOLAC) vets nominations to the House and recommends non-party political members. While its advice is usually followed, it is not a statutory body and the prime minister can choose to disregard its advice. This briefing provides an overview of the role and powers of the commission and summarises recent debates concerning its reform.
In Focus
The UK government and health organisations have established numerous health partnerships with organisations in Africa and Asia to support the development of healthcare in those countries. Independent evaluations conclude that many are effective, although some do not result in sustained changes to the broader health system. Recently, there have been concerns for the future of these programmes following reductions in aid funding and the conclusion of programmes without successor schemes.
In Focus
Stakeholders have argued that each empty home removes a property from the housing market at a time of unaffordable rents, rising homelessness, record levels of temporary accommodation use and long waits for social housing. A group of industry stakeholders have called on the government to produce a national empty homes strategy aimed at bringing such properties back into use.
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. The cabinet secretary, Dame Antonia Romeo, has recently announced plans to update the code but at the same time reiterated that impartiality remains integral to the work of the civil service.
In Focus
Surveys suggest that people working in farming tend to have poorer mental health than the general population. While different pieces of research point to different causes of poor mental health among farmers, some causes cited more than once are bad or unpredictable weather and climate, financial pressures, isolation and negative portrayals of farming in the media. The government has said it is improving access to mental health services in rural communities.
In Focus
Concerns have been raised about the impact of gambling on children and young people, particularly in relation to online gambling and exposure to advertising. This briefing summarises current regulatory protections for children and vulnerable people in the way gambling is licensed in Great Britain, statistics on gambling participation and gambling harms among children and young adults, and proposals from campaigners, parliamentarians and the government to reduce gambling-related harm.
In Focus
The Macolin Convention aims to coordinate prevention, detection and sanction of match-fixing and similar fraud internationally. The UK signed in 2018 and intends to ratify in 2026. The government has said the UK already meets the convention’s requirements, but ratification would ensure quick information-sharing and involvement in ongoing governance. The House of Lords International Agreements Committee has reported on the agreement for special attention and debate given its legal and political significance.
In Focus
Enterprise zones and industrial strategy zones are designated areas intended to support local economic growth by offering certain benefits to business and local authorities. The government has also recognised the contribution of sport and sports clubs to the UK economy and local areas. The government has talked about the role of sports stadiums in helping local regeneration, but has not explicitly linked this to enterprise zone status.
In Focus
Members of the House of Lords who are not ministers can introduce private members’ bills. With limited time available, they rarely become law without government, and usually cross-party, support. This briefing provides a profile of private members’ bills in the Lords including examples of the types of private members’ bills introduced and commentary on the reasons why a member might table a private member’s bill.
In Focus
Prison and probation services in England and Wales are facing significant pressures, including limited prison capacity and increasing demands on probation. Parliamentary committees have examined prison conditions, rehabilitation and probation performance, raising concerns about the resilience and effectiveness of both services. The government has responded with reforms including sentencing changes, prison expansion, enhanced offender supervision and additional victim support. However, stakeholders have argued that more must be done.
In Focus
Since 2025, VAT has been charged on private school fees. In addition, most private schools with charitable status in England have lost business rates charitable relief. Estimates published before the changes forecast increased tax revenues and a reduction in private school attendance. Recent data shows lower pupil numbers in the independent sector, though there is debate over the extent to which this reflects the tax measures rather than broader demographic changes.
In Focus
The House of Lords Retirement and Participation Committee was tasked with looking at options for introducing a retirement age and a participation requirement for members of the House of Lords, following commitments in Labour’s general election manifesto. The committee proposed a maximum retirement age of 80 be phased in over five years from July 2029. It also said members should be required to attend at least 20% of sitting days averaged over two parliamentary sessions.
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