In Focus Archives

In Focus

Funding science research in universities

Tuesday, 25 August, 2020

Scientific research in universities is funded through a mix of public money, EU funding and other sources. This article considers the House of Lords Science and Technology Committee report on the pressures on science research funding in universities, including proposals in the Augar Review to lower the existing cap on tuition fees and the potential impact of Brexit. The committee’s report is due to debated in the House of Lords on 9 September 2020.
In Focus

Parliamentary scrutiny of treaties: Debate on committee reports

Wednesday, 19 August, 2020

This article summarises the conclusions of three House of Lords committee reports on the powers of Parliament to scrutinise treaties. In the context of Brexit, there have been calls for Parliament’s powers of scrutiny of treaties and trade agreements to be strengthened. The committee reports are due to be debated in the House of Lords on 7 September 2020.
In Focus

Covid-19 regulations: Face coverings in shops

Thursday, 30 July, 2020

On 23 July 2020 the Government laid regulations requiring people to wear face coverings in shops and some other indoor venues. The House of Lords is due to debate these regulations in September 2020. This article provides an overview of the regulations and the background to their introduction.
In Focus

Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (Leicester) Regulations 2020

Friday, 24 July, 2020

In July 2020, Leicester became subject to the UK’s first local lockdown due to an increase in cases of Covid-19. This article discusses the regulations that provide for this localised lockdown.
In Focus

Retirement from the House of Lords

Thursday, 23 July, 2020

There is no formal retirement age for members of the House of Lords. However, members can voluntarily retire under the provisions of the House of Lords Reform Act 2014. This article explains how these provisions came into force and details how many members have retired under this legislation so far.
- In Focus
- House of Lords
In Focus

Coronavirus lockdown: Costs and benefits

Wednesday, 22 July, 2020

The coronavirus lockdown was introduced to reduce the spread of the disease. However, it also gave rise to substantial costs, both to the economy and in areas such as health, education, domestic violence and inequality. This article considers one analysis of these costs and how they compare to the benefits of the lockdown. This is the subject of an oral question in the House of Lords on 28 July 2020.
In Focus

The jury’s out: Covid-19 impact on jury trials

Tuesday, 21 July, 2020

Jury trials in England and Wales were suspended temporarily on 23 March 2020. This was due to the Covid-19 pandemic. This article discusses the impact that this suspension has had on the justice system, in addition to the Government’s plans for recovery.
In Focus

UK Census 2021, Covid-19 and possible implications

Tuesday, 21 July, 2020

The next UK-wide census was due to take place in March 2021. However, the Scottish Government has recently announced that the census in Scotland will be delayed until 2022. This article, marking the centenary of the Census Act 1920, considers the implications of the Scottish announcement and also other policy developments relating to the forthcoming census.
In Focus

Tehran, Yalta and Potsdam: Three wartime conferences that shaped Europe and the world

Tuesday, 21 July, 2020

This year marks the seventy-fifth anniversary of two of the three allied tripartite heads of government conferences held during the second world war. What happened at these summits, and how was the UK Parliament kept updated on these key milestones 75 years ago?
In Focus

Terezin Declaration: The restitution of property

Monday, 20 July, 2020

The Terezin Declaration on Holocaust Era Assets and Related Issues is a legally non-binding document outlining several measures towards property restitution belonging to the victims of Nazi persecution. This article provides a background to the Declaration and discusses recent UK legislation on property restitution. The Declaration and the restitution of property is due to be the subject of an oral question in the House of Lords on 20 July 2020.
- In Focus
- International Law
In Focus

Covid-19: Reopening church buildings and the financial impact of closure

Monday, 20 July, 2020

The outbreak of Covid-19 in the UK saw the closure of places of worship, including churches, as part of measures to limit transmission of the virus. Churches were gradually reopened in June and July 2020. This article considers the ways in which churches and congregations were affected by this closure and the gradual reopening. It also summarises the discussion between the Government and religious bodies during this process.
In Focus

Coronavirus regulations: Reducing lockdown restrictions

Monday, 20 July, 2020

Many of the restrictions imposed due to coronavirus have been set out in secondary legislation. This article covers two regulations that were made to relax some of the restrictions on what businesses can open, including pubs, restaurants and certain beauty salons. It has been published ahead of a Lords debate on the legislation.
In Focus

Environment Agency: sustainable development and the 25 year environment plan

Friday, 17 July, 2020
In Focus

International impact of Covid-19 on parliaments

Thursday, 16 July, 2020

The Coronavirus pandemic has impacted how parliaments across the world operate. This article details how several parliaments have had to adapt. For example, the use of heat sensors in the Republic of Korea and reduced plenary sittings in the French Senate.
In Focus

Covid-19: How has it affected the sustainable development goals?

Thursday, 16 July, 2020

The Covid-19 pandemic has affected health, education and livelihoods around this world. This article gives an overview of some of the ways the pandemic is expected to impact progress towards meeting the Sustainable Development Goals. This is the subject of an oral question in the House of Lords on 22 July 2020.

Total results (page 76 of 82)