Northern Ireland Troubles Bill: HL Bill 59 of 2026–27

The Northern Ireland Troubles Bill is a government bill that completed its House of Commons stages in October 2026. Among other things, it would repeal and replace parts of the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023, set expanded parameters for a renamed Legacy Commission and allow inquests to be reopened. The bill was opposed by opposition parties in the Commons, who flagged concerns about repeated investigations and the impact on veterans.

Northern Ireland Troubles Bill: HL Bill 59 of 2026–27

Courts and Tribunals Bill: HL Bill 57 of 2026–27

The Courts and Tribunals Bill would introduce various reforms to courts and tribunals in England and Wales. The government said the measures would help reduce the court delays and improve efficiency, however proposals affecting jury trials, magistrates’ courts and appeal rights have proved controversial during the bill’s passage through the House of Commons. Its second reading in the House of Lords is due to take place on 27 October 2026.

Courts and Tribunals Bill: HL Bill 57 of 2026–27

  • Research Briefing

    House of Lords (Alternative Second Chamber) Bill [HL]: HL Bill 11 of 2026–27

    The House of Lords (Alternative Second Chamber Bill) [HL] is a private member’s bill introduced by Baroness Smith of Llanfaes (Plaid Cymru). It would require the secretary of state to carry out a consultation regarding proposals for replacing the House of Lords with an alternative second chamber. The bill specifies whom the secretary of state would be required to consult with and the timeframe of that consultation.

  • Research Briefing

    British Sovereignty Protection (Chagos Islands) Bill [HL]: HL Bill 15 of 2026–27

    The British Sovereignty Protection (Chagos Islands) Bill [HL] is a private member’s bill sponsored by Lord Weir of Ballyholme (Democratic Unionist Party). The bill would restrict any cession or transfer of sovereignty of the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) unless certain requirements were met, including the consent of the Chagossian people and an act of parliament. It would also see the UK remain sovereign over the military base on Diego Garcia.

  • Research Briefing

    Health Bill: HL Bill 52 of 2026–27

    The Health Bill is intended to make changes to the NHS in England, including abolishing NHS England. It would also abolish Healthwatch and move the Heath Services Safety Inspectorate Board into the CQC. The bill would establish a single patient record, making patient data available across healthcare settings and directly to patients. In the House of Commons, amendments were made on visiting patients, medicines and medical devices regulation, and pharmaceutical services.

  • Research Briefing

    Sovereign Grant Bill: HL Bill 54 of 2026–27

    The Sovereign Grant Bill is a government bill which would amend how the sovereign grant is set. This is a grant paid to the King to support the work of the sovereign. The bill would enable the size of the sovereign grant to be reduced following the completion of a 10-year works project on Buckingham Palace. The bill received cross-party support and was not amended in the House of Commons.

  • Research Briefing

    Representation of the People Bill: HL Bill 47 of 2026–27

    The bill is a government bill that would make a range of changes to the legal framework concerning elections, including extending the franchise for UK parliamentary elections and other reserved elections to 16- and 17-year-olds. The bill was amended during both its committee and report stages in the House of Commons, with many of the government’s later amendments implementing recommendations from the Rycroft review on countering foreign financial influence and interference in UK politics.

  • Research Briefing

    Commercial Payments Bill [HL]: Progress in the Lords

    The Commercial Payments Bill [HL] seeks to tackle late payments to small businesses. It would impose minimum payment periods for invoices, prohibit the use of retentions in construction contracts and provide the small business commissioner with greater powers. The bill received an unopposed second reading in the House of Lords on 9 June 2026. 30 government amendments were made to the bill at committee stage.

  • Research Briefing

    Microplastic Filters (Washing Machines) Bill [HL]: HL Bill 21 of 2026–27

    The Microplastic Filters (Washing Machines) Bill [HL] is a private member’s bill introduced by Lord Randall of Uxbridge (Conservative). It would require new washing machines to have filters to capture microfibres, a form of microplastic shed from synthetic clothing. It would also impose a duty on the secretary of state to promote awareness of microfibre pollution. The bill’s second reading in the House of Lords is scheduled for 11 September 2026.

  • Research Briefing

    Youth Justice Board for England and Wales (Restoration of Powers and Responsibilities) Bill [HL]: HL Bill 20 of 2026–27

    The bill would make the Youth Justice Board for England and Wales (YJB) primarily responsible for certain youth justice functions, provide a formal role for the Welsh government in some youth justice decisions, and restrict the UK government’s ability to alter the YJB’s functions through secondary legislation.

  • Research Briefing

    Leaseholder Remediation (Building Safety) Bill [HL]: HL Bill 18 of 2026–27

    The Leaseholder Remediation (Building Safety) Bill [HL] is a private member’s bill that would prevent developers and building owners from recovering remediation costs for systemic defects from protected leaseholders in residential buildings containing any leasehold properties, with no minimum height or storey threshold. Systemic defects would include unsafe cladding and structural deficiencies. The House of Lords is scheduled to debate the bill at second reading on 11 September 2026.

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