• In Focus

    Cost of living: Impact on public wellbeing

    The rising cost of living has been associated with a reduction in wellbeing, including increased anxiety and worsening mental health. Charities and campaign groups have said the impact of increased costs has been worse for households already on lower incomes. Since becoming prime minister, Liz Truss has said the government’s priority is to increase economic growth while announcing at the same time an increase in government support for household energy bills. However, the opposition has said the government has not provided adequate support for households struggling with the rising cost of living.

  • In Focus

    Violent crime, burglaries and gang activity

    This article presents statistics and information on violent crime, burglaries and gang activity in England and Wales ahead of a House of Lords debate on 20 October 2022. It also provides details on and reaction to the government’s attempts to address these issues, including its ‘beating crime plan’ and efforts to increase police numbers.

  • In Focus

    UK-China relations: International Relations and Defence Committee report

    The House of Lords International Relations and Defence Committee published a report in 2021 calling for the government to produce a “single, coherent China strategy”. The committee report focused on the UK-China security and trade relationship. It concluded that a clear plan was needed on how to balance the UK’s ambition for increased economic engagement with China and the need to protect the UK’s national security and its values.

  • In Focus

    Sentences of imprisonment for public protection

    Imprisonment for public protection (IPP) sentences were indeterminate sentences given to serious offenders who posed a significant risk of serious harm to the public. Although the IPP sentence was abolished in 2012, thousands of people subject to such a sentence are still in prison. The House of Commons Justice Committee recently called on the government to address what it said was a “unique injustice” caused by the continued operation of IPP sentences.

  • In Focus

    Loot boxes in computer games: Are they a form of gambling?

    Loot boxes are rewards within computer games that can be bought with virtual currencies or real-world money. Concerns have been raised about whether they encourage gambling-like behaviours, particularly among children. In July 2022, Boris Johnson’s government published its response to a consultation on loot boxes. It decided not to legislate to bring loot boxes within the scope of the Gambling Act 2005.

  • In Focus

    Times Education Commission: ‘Bringing out the best’

    The Times Education Commission was composed of leaders from the fields of education, politics, public life and culture. It set out to examine the entire education system, arguing that the disruption of Covid-19 presented an opportunity to make fundamental changes to education provision. The commission published its final report in June 2022.

  • In Focus

    Effects of corruption in the UK

    Corruption can be defined as dishonest and illegal behaviour by people in positions of power. It threatens national security, reduces access to services, erodes public trust in institutions and impedes investment. Measures of corruption produced by organisations such as Transparency International indicate stability in the UK’s recent global corruption rank. However, anti-corruption experts have pointed to a number of recent scandals which are leading to the perception that corruption in the UK is worsening.

  • In Focus

    The UK’s horticultural sector

    In recent years, concerns have been raised about the horticultural sector’s workforce, including its dependence on foreign seasonal workers and the existence of a skills gap. The sector’s role in protecting the environment has also been discussed. This article considers both these issues and the government’s response.

  • In Focus

    Reviewing the National Heritage Act 1983

    The National Heritage Act 1983 established select museums as non-departmental bodies, governed by a board of trustees. In addition to outlining the boards of trustees’ general functions, the act restricted them from disposing of objects from their collections. With growing calls for some of these museums to return cultural objects in their collections to their countries of origin, some museums and organisations have called for the act to be amended or replaced.

  • In Focus

    Research and development spending: Pharmaceuticals

    In the UK, pharmaceutical research and development is funded primarily by businesses. The government is the next biggest funder. The UK comes 13th among OECD economies for overall research and development spending from all sources and in all sectors. However, it comes third for government spending on health research and development. The government has committed to increasing funding for research and development.

  • In Focus

    Storm overflows discharge reduction plan

    The government published its plan to reduce storm overflow spills and their harmful impacts in August 2022. Under the plan, water companies will have to meet several time-bound targets to limit storm overflow use and eliminate ecological harm from their discharges by 2050. The government was required to publish this plan by 1 September 2022 under the Environment Act 2021.

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