Research Briefing

This government bill would provide parliamentary authorisation for Windrush compensation scheme payments. While the bill has received cross-party support, opposition parties have remained critical of the compensation scheme.

The social and domiciliary care sector is under huge strain as it tries to meet the challenges posed by the coronavirus pandemic. The Government has introduced several measures, principally through the Coronavirus Act 2020, which it says are aimed to help the sector cope at such unprecedented times. However, concern has been expressed that the changes may have unintended negative consequences for some of the most vulnerable in society.

The Government has proposed setting up a constitution, democracy and rights commission to consider broad aspects of the UK’s constitution. This would look at issues including the relationship between the government, parliament, and the courts; the functioning of the royal prerogative; the role of the House of Lords; and access to justice.

What changes are taking place regarding the administration of business rates and their revaluations? This briefing explores the latest Government policy on the subject.

The UK Government has recognised that it is “imperative” that support is given to people on low incomes to access justice. However successive governments, parliamentary committees and stakeholders have identified barriers to vulnerable people accessing the necessary advice and legal services.

The bill proposes new laws that would provide the Government, and various public bodies, with powers to manage the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic in the UK.

This legislation forms part of the Government’s policy to improve the country’s digital infrastructure. It seeks to make it easier for network operators to respond to requests to install broadband infrastructure in certain buildings, such as flats, if they are unable to contact the relevant rights holder.

This briefing examines recent Government policy to tackle loneliness in care homes in the UK.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer delivered the first budget since the 2019 election on 11 March 2020. It contained a series of measures to counteract threats from the coronavirus (COVID-19). The Chancellor also announced changes to taxation policy and an increase in public spending.

This bill would legally require the Parole Board to consider offenders’ failure to disclose either the location of victims’ remains or the identity of child victims in indecent images when assessing whether that offender should be released from prison.

Reducing the number of road casualties is one of the targets of sustainable development goal 3.

The Transport Secretary, Grant Shapps, has recently said in an interview that the UK will leave the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) at the end of the UK’s transition period with the EU. This statement has been criticised by industry bodies, such as the ADS, who have stated that continued participation in EASA is their top priority. The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has said it is prepared to take over responsibilities currently undertaken by EASA.