Digital and technology policy and national sovereignty

Digital sovereignty has become a pressing policy issue as governments seek to balance economic opportunity, security and control over critical technologies. Particular concerns have been raised over the market dominance in several key areas by a small number of powerful companies, predominantly headquartered in the United States and China. Debate has focused on how the UK can adapt to this changing environment and to what extent it should seek to expand its own sovereign capabilities and to regulate overseas providers, whilst sustaining international collaboration.

Digital and technology policy and national sovereignty

Creative industries: Potential impact of T-levels, V-levels and post-16 qualification reforms

The government is introducing new V-levels and expanding T-levels as part of post-16 qualification reforms. The government has said the changes will simplify routes into employment and higher education and enable vocational study to sit alongside A-levels. However, stakeholders have questioned whether the new qualifications will meet the needs of the creative sector and students looking to enter the creative industries.

Creative industries: Potential impact of T-levels, V-levels and post-16 qualification reforms

Homelessness and rough sleeping among released prisoners

In 2024/25, around 1,000 prisoners a month were released from prison homeless and went on to rough sleep in England and Wales. This briefing summarises the statistics on homelessness among those released from prison, the early prison release schemes, and the statutory duties on prisons to refer those at risk of homelessness to local authority housing services.

Homelessness and rough sleeping among released prisoners

  • In Focus

    Education, employment and welfare: Government policy

    Since taking office, the government has announced a range of policies intended to support economic growth, increase employment, to expand the number of young people in education and training and to reform the welfare system. This briefing provides an overview of key government commitments in the areas of education, employment and welfare. It also provides key statistics.

  • In Focus

    Proposed legislation on defence readiness and national resilience

    The 2025 strategic defence review recommended the government bring forward a defence readiness bill to provide for powers to mobilise reserves and industry should crisis escalate into conflict. Amid criticism that such a measure was not included in the May 2026 King’s Speech, the government has indicated it will introduce a bill later in the current parliament. There have been calls for the bill to cover national resilience matters more broadly when it is introduced.

  • In Focus

    Ukraine’s decentralisation reforms

    Even as the war in the country continues, Ukraine has implemented significant reform and decentralisation of its public sector in an attempt to improve effectiveness as well as local and regional participation, accountability, and growth. Observers suggest Ukraine has made notable progress in these areas, but considerable obstacles remain. Addressing these challenges could, they argue, be key to Ukraine’s resilience and post-war recovery.

  • In Focus

    Impact of cuts to official development assistance on women and girls

    The UK has reduced official development assistance (ODA) from 0.7% of gross national income in 2020 to a planned 0.3% by 2027. This briefing examines the government's approach to supporting women and girls within a reduced aid budget, recent changes to ODA allocations, and assessments of the implications for women and girls.

  • In Focus

    Dementia and frailty: Modern service framework

    The government has stated that it will publish a modern service framework for dementia and frailty by the end of 2026. It intends for the framework to help improve access to treatment, diagnosis and support for those living with dementia or frailty. This briefing provides statements on the framework, including from the government, stakeholders and Baroness Casey of Blackstock (Crossbench), who is chairing a review of adult social care.

  • In Focus

    Space economy and the UK: Lords UK Engagement with Space Committee report

    The House of Lords UK Engagement with Space Committee has examined the UK’s potential role in emerging economic opportunities presented by the growth of space exploration and commercialisation. To harness these opportunities, the committee said that the UK’s space sector requires clearer strategic direction, an updated funding structure, and better cross-government working. It called on ministers to champion the space sector as crucial to future economic growth and national resilience.

  • In Focus

    Rule of law: Lords Constitution Committee report

    The House of Lords Constitution Committee published its report on the rule of law in November 2025. This followed concerns of a reported decline in adherence to the rule of law globally and domestically. The committee examined different understandings of the rule of law in the UK and its operation within government, Parliament and the judiciary. The committee made several recommendations, which the government responded to in February 2026.

  • In Focus

    Freedom of expression in the arts

    The organisation Freedom in the Arts published a report in 2026 detailing its concerns about cancellations and boycotts in the arts sector. The report set out a number of findings and recommendations on the issue. This briefing summarises the report and provides government and Arts Council England statements on freedom of expression in the arts ahead of a House of Lords debate.

  • In Focus

    Cultural and economic contribution of live music in the UK

    The UK’s music industry has been described as “a cultural and economic powerhouse”. The live music sector in particular has been labelled a “significant contributor” to this success, generating £6.68bn in consumer spending and supporting over 230,000 jobs in 2024. However, stakeholders have argued the sector is facing challenges, particularly at the grassroots level. This briefing explores these issues and provides an overview of the government’s policies in this area.

  • In Focus

    Affordability and quality of higher education

    This briefing examines issues relating to the affordability and quality of higher education in England, in the context of the government’s post-16 education and skills white paper published in autumn 2025. It outlines changes to the current system of tuition fees and student finance, including the introduction of the lifelong learning entitlement, inflation-linked increases and targeted maintenance grants. It also covers the role of the Office for Students in regulating the quality of higher education and proposals for reforming this framework.

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