In Focus
Improvements in life expectancy have slowed in the UK since the early 2010s. A recent study argued there have been over 300,000 excess deaths during this period, when comparing trends in life expectancy with those from before 2011. The authors of the study argue this is a result of austerity policies pursued by the government. The subject is due to be debated in the House of Lords on 12 January 2023.
In Focus
The House of Lords Delegated Powers and Regulatory Reform Committee (DPRRC) and the Secondary Legislation Scrutiny Committee (SLSC) published reports in November 2021 criticising the government’s use of delegated powers. The committees are concerned about the amount delegated powers are used and how they are being used, and say it is negatively impacting parliamentary scrutiny. The government has defended its use of delegated powers but has accepted some of the committees’ recommendations to improve the system.
In Focus
In December 2021, the House of Lords Risk Assessment and Risk Planning Committee published a report which examined the UK’s approach to risk assessment and management. It found that the Covid-19 pandemic had revealed that the UK’s risk management system was “deficient” and “too inflexible” to protect the country from risks. The House of Lords is scheduled to debate the report on 12 January 2023. This article examines the report and the government’s response.
In Focus
Since the UK left the EU, trade between the UK and Central America has been governed by a bilateral trade agreement. The UK also signed a joint financing agreement with the Central American Bank for Economic Integration in August 2021 to build upon the bilateral agreement. This article considers these agreements, as well as other trade negotiations that the UK is currently participating in with countries across the world.
In Focus
The national risk register provides an overview of the risks of major emergencies that could impact the UK, looking ahead two years at a time. These risks include natural disasters, terrorism and disease outbreaks. With the last register published in 2020 and, therefore, expected to be refreshed imminently, this article examines whether successive governments have mitigated the risks detailed in the register.
In Focus
Armed conflict affects many aspects of life. As well as the humanitarian toll it takes, conflicts often involve damage to and the destruction of cultural heritage as well as the looting of artefacts. This article looks at how cultural heritage has been deliberately targeted in recent conflicts, considers what international protections exist and discusses if they are fit for purpose.
In Focus
This article explores how the rising cost of living has affected the UK healthcare ecosystem. Rising energy prices and food insecurity can lead to an increasingly ill population, while staff shortages and high hospital bills add pressure to the health system. In November 2022, the UK government announced an £8bn spending increase for health and adult social care, but some organisations have said it is not enough.
In Focus
Disabled individuals and their households have, on average, lower incomes than their non-disabled counterparts. They often incur additional costs related to the treatment and mitigation of their disability. Furthermore, they typically spend a greater share of their income on food and energy, the commodities driving the current surge in inflation. In recognition of Disability History Month—running from 16 November to 16 December this year—this article considers how disabled individuals and their households are impacted by the rising cost of living.
In Focus
The Cabinet Manual was first published in 2011. It was described as “a guide to laws, conventions and rules on the operation of government”. The House of Lords Constitution Committee ran an inquiry on the manual in 2021. Its recommendations included that a draft update be produced as soon as possible. Responding, the government agreed to produce a new draft by the end of the current parliament.
In Focus
Recent data has revealed that the number of vacancies in the NHS and social care sectors has increased since September 2020. Health bodies and organisations have warned that such shortages have affected, and will continue to affect, patients. In recent years, successive governments have introduced measures to tackle staff shortages, including commissioning the NHS to publish a long-term workforce strategy and publishing a white paper on reforming adult social care.
In Focus
In July 2022, the House of Lords Public Services Committee published a report on the future of the public services workforce. It argued that public sector staffing was “facing a crisis” due to a “vicious circle” of increasing demand, staff shortages, low morale and recruitment issues. The committee observed that these problems were not unsolvable, but said current efforts were at “far too small a scale”. It made recommendations which it argued, if implemented, would make a “substantial difference” and “secure a more sustainable public services workforce for the future”.
In Focus
Legislation is complete when it has finished its parliamentary journey and received royal assent. At this point it is said to be ‘on the statute book’. Before it can become active law, it must be brought into force. This is known as ‘commencement’. But what happens if provisions are not commenced?
In Focus
The government announced plans in February 2022 to redistribute Arts Council England (ACE) funding across regions in England to “level up” access to the arts. ACE published its latest funding allocations for 2023–26 in November 2022. It said 21.8% more investment would be given to regions outside of London when compared to 2018/19. Some arts organisations and parliamentarians have raised concerns about ACE’s funding distribution and the impact on leading cultural institutions.
In Focus
UK aid spending reduced by £3bn, or 21%, from 2020 to 2021. This article looks at statistics on aid spending and how it is being spent. It also includes a summary of the government’s current international development strategy and commentary on some of the issues affecting UK aid spending. The House of Lords will hold a debate on the subject on 15 December 2022.
In Focus
The BBC is principally funded through a licence fee paid by UK households; the amount is set by the government in a periodic ‘licence fee settlement’. In January 2022, the government announced a licence fee settlement that would apply from April 2022 until March 2028. It also stated that it was considering how the BBC should be funded after this period. In July 2022, the House of Lords Communications and Digital Committee published a report examining the future of BBC funding.
Total results (page 43 of 87)