• In Focus

    Recent US and UK government policy on Ukraine

    The US government has recently shifted its approach to Ukraine, engaging in direct negotiations with Russia regarding the conflict’s resolution, pursuing a minerals agreement with Ukraine, and temporarily halting military aid and intelligence sharing. During these developments, the UK government has reaffirmed its support for Ukraine through financial and military assistance, in addition to hosting a peace summit and committing further military aid.

  • In Focus

    Human body parts for sale, on display and in collections: Law, policy and campaigns for repatriation

    In the UK, human body parts can legally be held in museums and private collections, as well as offered for sale. Many items were collected in colonial contexts, without the consent of communities. Indigenous groups are campaigning for the return of their ancestors’ remains. This briefing sets out the relevant background and law on this issue in the UK.

  • In Focus

    A national youth strategy

    On 12 November 2024 the government announced it would co-develop a new national youth strategy with young people. Alongside this, the government said that it would be closing the National Citizen Service (NCS) programme. The announcement of the new national strategy has been broadly welcomed, but concern has been expressed by some organisations about the closure of the NCS and funding challenges faced by the sector more widely.

  • In Focus

    Biodiversity and conservation: International commitments and UK government policy

    Studies indicate that biodiversity is declining. The UK and other countries are signed up to international agreements requiring national strategies that tackle biodiversity loss. The Labour government has been conducting a rapid review of the previous administration’s environmental improvement plan to develop a new strategy to protect the natural environment.

  • In Focus

    UK global position: Defence, international partnerships and influence

    The global landscape has changed significantly over the last couple of decades. This has led to questions about the UK’s current global standing and its ambitions. This briefing considers these issues in the context of the UK’s membership of international organisations, and its defence policy, foreign policy, and influence through soft power, the economy and aid spending.

  • In Focus

    Community cohesion: The role of integration

    Integration and community cohesion have both been identified as important factors to enable people from different communities to live and work together. Like the previous Conservative government, the current Labour government has committed to policies intended to support integration in order to improve community cohesion. This briefing summarises how integration and community cohesion are conceptualised and measured and discusses the debate on effective integration strategies.

  • In Focus

    Open access operators and government plans for rail reform

    Open access operators are independent train operators that run passenger rail services on the national network, often in competition with services provided by franchised operators. The government is currently reforming the railway, bringing train operations into public ownership and planning to establish a single body, Great British Railways, to manage the network and deliver passenger services. Concerns have been raised about what this might mean for open access operators.

  • In Focus

    Free trade agreements with India and Southeast Asian nations

    In February 2025, the UK government announced that it was resuming negotiations with India with the aim of agreeing a free trade deal. This followed work by the previous Conservative government which initially opened trade talks in 2021. An overview of these talks is provided in this briefing alongside information about the UK’s relationship with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Relevant trade statistics are also included.

  • In Focus

    International Women’s Day 2025: Women in science and technology

    On 6 March 2025, the House of Lords is scheduled to hold a debate marking International Women’s Day focused on the steps being taken to promote women’s participation and leadership in science and technology. The motion for the debate is sponsored by Baroness Gustafsson, the government minister for investment. This briefing provides an overview of data and research in this area, as well as information on government policy.

  • In Focus

    Detention of British nationals in Iran

    Iranian authorities have detained British and dual nationals on various charges in recent years, including espionage. The exact number of those detained is not published because some choose to avoid publicity. UN human rights experts have referred to “systemic arbitrary detention” in Iran. The Labour government plans to support British nationals detained overseas by creating a special envoy for complex detention cases and ensuring a legal right to consular assistance.

  • In Focus

    Post Office Horizon IT scandal: Progress of compensation

    The Post Office introduced the Horizon computer system into branches from 1999. The system, used for accounting and stock-taking, inaccurately recorded losses and money missing in branches. The Post Office has identified 700 convictions in cases it prosecuted between 1999 and 2015 in which Horizon evidence may have featured. Compensation schemes have been established by the Post Office and the Department for Business and Trade. However, progress in making payments has been criticised for being too slow.

  • In Focus

    Law relating to prenuptial agreements

    At present, prenuptial agreements are not automatically enforceable by courts in England and Wales. However, a landmark ruling by the Supreme Court in 2010 stated that courts should consider such agreements if entered into freely and with full understanding, unless doing so would be unfair. This has prompted calls for reforming marriage laws, including a Law Commission proposal to introduce a new form of marital property agreement.

  • In Focus

    Review of the House of Lords code of conduct: Recommendations

    In 2024, the House of Lords Conduct Committee launched a review of the House of Lords code of conduct for members. The committee published the conclusions of this review and its proposed amendments to the code and guide to the code in January 2025. The House of Lords is scheduled to debate these recommendations. If accepted, these changes would come into force in April 2025.

  • In Focus

    Ukraine: A wake-up call—Lords committee report debate

    Looking at lessons from the war in Ukraine, the House of Lords International Relations and Defence Committee found the UK is “under-prepared” to meet the growing threat from Russia. The committee called on the government to commit to increasing and better targeting its defence spending and to leveraging the UK’s alliances. The government’s strategic defence review is due to report in spring 2025.

  • In Focus

    Closure of bank branches: Impact on rural communities

    Over the last three decades, the number of bank branches in the UK has declined due to advances in technology and changing customer habits. Stakeholders have argued that these closures have negatively affected rural communities. In recent years, successive governments and the Financial Conduct Authority have taken action aimed at ensuring sufficient access to banking services, including for rural communities. This briefing provides an overview of these measures, as well as information on the number of bank closures and their impact on rural communities.

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