In Focus
The House of Lords is scheduled to debate the Science and Technology Committee’s report ‘Battery strategy goes flat: Net zero target at risk’ on 23 November 2022. This article provides an overview of the committee’s recommendations and the government’s response. It also summarises recent statements from the government on supporting battery production and development and the expansion of low-carbon technologies.
In Focus
The six countries that together comprise the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have long been criticised for their human rights records. The UK’s engagement with GCC members, whether bilaterally or collectively through recent trade negotiations, has drawn criticism as a result. Critics of continued engagement suggest it could risk the UK being seen to condone continuing human rights abuses, although the UK government maintains that it regularly raises human rights concerns with GCC partners.
In Focus
The House of Lords Youth Unemployment Committee identified six main “longstanding drivers” of youth unemployment: skills gaps and shortages; access to careers advice; the further education system; availability of apprenticeships; support for disadvantaged groups; and coordination between government departments. The committee stated that the Covid-19 pandemic had made the situation worse, especially for those disadvantaged groups already facing additional barriers. This article summarises the findings and recommendations of the committee.
In Focus
International governments and non-governmental organisations have raised concerns about the human rights situation in India. Recent allegations have been disputed by the Indian government, which has reiterated its commitment to human rights. This article focuses on some of the concerns raised, including in relation to Kashmir, and outlines the UK government’s response.
In Focus
The UK assesses China as a priority country for tackling human rights issues. The UK believes there is compelling evidence of widespread and systematic abuses of the human rights of the Uyghur minority in China’s Xinjiang province. The House of Commons passed a resolution describing this as genocide, but the UK government’s position is that only the courts can make such a determination.
In Focus
The horseracing industry faces several challenges, including falling average attendances and lower prize money levels compared with international competitors. This article briefly outlines these challenges, and discusses the financial support made available to the industry, particularly through the horseracing betting levy.
In Focus
In 2022, the UK has experienced its largest outbreak of bird flu, and experts have warned that infections could rise even higher over the winter of 2022–23. The outbreak has led to the death of 97 million birds globally (3.8 million in the UK), with significant consequences for agriculture and the environment. In response, the UK government has imposed mandatory housing for all poultry, amended its culling compensation scheme and relaxed the sale regulations of defrosted poultry.
In Focus
This article sets out the transition away from LIBOR which, until recently, was a key benchmark set of interest rates underpinning trillions of pounds worth of financial contracts. The article has been written ahead of a House of Lords question for short debate on the use of LIBOR.
In Focus
On 2 November 2022, the African Union announced a peace agreement had been reached between the Ethiopian government and Tigrayan forces. The truce followed nearly two years of intermittent fighting between the two, which has also drawn in troops from neighbouring Eritrea. A recent UN report concluded there were reasonable grounds to believe that extrajudicial killings, rape, sexual violence and starvation of the civilian population had been used as a method of warfare during the conflict.
In Focus
National women’s sport teams have seen multiple successes in recent years. England’s victory at the UEFA Women’s Championship 2022 shone the spotlight on how these successes should be honoured and legacies built upon. Recent data has shown that women’s sport audiences have increased since the women’s European championship, and the government has made several commitments to build upon this momentum.
In Focus
A range of issues have been raised about housing in England, including the supply and affordability of homes and their quality and suitability for the future. This article provides a selection of statistics on these issues, as well as further reading and commentary on the long-term policies needed to deal with them.
In Focus
Long Covid is commonly used to describe the symptoms that persist or develop four weeks after contracting Covid-19. With no evidence-based treatment available for long Covid, the condition has impacted the health and employment of people suffering from it. To tackle the challenges presented by the condition, Boris Johnson’s government announced funding to NHS England to support those with long Covid. It has also funded research studies to better understand the condition. Additionally, people suffering from long Covid may be eligible for existing benefits, such as universal credit and personal independent payment.
In Focus
In January 2022, the House of Lords Built Environment Committee published the report ‘Meeting housing demand’, which argued that the government should remove the “administrative and other blockers” that prevent increased housing supply. Ahead of a House of Lords debate on the report on 8 November 2022, this article summarises the report, the government’s response and recent developments in housing and planning reform policy.
In Focus
The future of public service broadcasting has risen up the political agenda in recent years with debates about how the BBC should be funded and how broadcasters can compete in a competitive online media environment. Recent parliamentary committee inquiries in both the Lords and the Commons have looked at this issue. In April 2022 the government published a white paper on broadcasting and in the 2022 Queen’s Speech said it would introduce media legislation. The House of Lords is due to debate the future of public service broadcasting on 3 November 2022.
In Focus
There have been reports of increased delays in ambulance handovers in England, with concerns raised about the effect of this on patient health and the ability of ambulances to attend other emergencies. This article provides statistics on ambulance handovers and information on what the government and the NHS are trying to do to alleviate handover delays. It also covers the recent ambulance workers unions’ announcement of possible strike action.
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