Research Briefing Archives

Research Briefing

Dogs (Protection of Livestock) (Amendment) Bill: Bill 118 of 2024–25

Tuesday, 22 July, 2025

The bill aims to strengthen the law on livestock worrying in England and Wales. Dogs chasing and attacking livestock can cause death, distress and pregnancy loss in animals, as well as financial and emotional impacts for farmers. The bill would increase penalties, expand the definition of livestock and the locations where incidents take place, and give police more powers of evidence collection and dog detention.
Research Briefing

Universal Credit Bill: HL Bill 123 of 2024–25

Thursday, 17 July, 2025

The Universal Credit Bill was introduced in the House of Lords on 10 July 2025. It is due to receive its second reading and remaining stages on 22 July 2025. It is a government bill that was originally introduced in the House of Commons with the title Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill. The speaker of the House of Commons has designated the bill as a money bill. Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle (Green Party) has tabled a non-fatal amendment to regret the motion to give the bill a second reading in the House of Lords.
Research Briefing

Still-Birth (Definition) Bill [HL]: HL Bill 39 of 2024–25

Friday, 20 June, 2025

The Still-Birth (Definition) Bill [HL] would amend the legal definition of stillbirth in England and Wales to apply from 20 weeks into a pregnancy, rather than the current 24 weeks. It is scheduled to have its second reading in the House of Lords on 4 July 2025.
Research Briefing

Planning and Infrastructure Bill: HL Bill 110 of 2024–25

Thursday, 19 June, 2025

The Planning and Infrastructure Bill would make changes to the system for approving major infrastructure projects, planning committees and nature recovery. It would also make changes to electricity and transport infrastructure processes, development corporations, spatial development strategies, and compulsory purchase. The government intends the bill to help grow the economy by enabling important infrastructure and homes to be built more quickly. Some parts of the bill, particularly those related to nature recovery, have attracted criticism from opposition parties and external bodies.
Research Briefing

Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill: HL Bill 101 of 2024–25

Thursday, 22 May, 2025

This bill seeks to implement the government’s commitments to modernise the asylum and immigration systems, establish a border security command and introduce enhanced powers and offences to tackle immigration crime and people smuggling gangs. It has completed its passage in the House of Commons and is scheduled to have its second reading in the House of Lords on 2 June 2025.
Research Briefing

Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill: HL Bill 96 of 2024–25

Friday, 09 May, 2025

The government has committed to reducing and reclaiming public money lost to fraud and error. The Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill contains provisions to extend Cabinet Office and Public Sector Fraud Authority powers to tackle fraud and error outside the tax and benefits system, and also expands powers to tackle fraud within the benefits system. The bill is due to have its second reading in the House of Lords on 15 May 2025.
Research Briefing

Sentencing Guidelines (Pre-sentence Reports) Bill: HL Bill 99 of 2024–25

Wednesday, 07 May, 2025

This proposed law would prevent sentencing guidelines setting out when a pre-sentence report should be obtained from being framed by reference to the personal characteristics of an offender such as race, religion or belief and cultural background.  
- Research Briefing
- Justice
Research Briefing

Hares (Close Season) Bill [HL]: HL Bill 52 of 2024–25

Wednesday, 16 April, 2025

The Hares (Closed Season) Bill [HL] would create a closed season during which it would be an offence to intentionally or recklessly kill, injure or take any hare between 1 February to 30 September each year. It would also repeal the Hares Preservation Act 1892.
Research Briefing

Tobacco and Vapes Bill: HL Bill 89 of 2024–25

Thursday, 10 April, 2025

The bill aims to create a 'smoke-free generation' by banning tobacco sales to anyone born on or after 1 January 2009, alongside other measures to tackle smoking and tobacco harms. It would also further regulate vaping, curbing its appeal to children, while enabling adult smokers to use vapes as a quitting tool. The bill is similar to the Tobacco and Vapes Bill which fell at dissolution 2024.
Research Briefing

Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill: HL Bill 84 of 2024–25

Thursday, 03 April, 2025

The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill is scheduled for second reading in the House of Lords on 1 May 2025. The bill would make a number of changes to children’s social care and schools.
Research Briefing

Employment Rights Bill: Bill 81 of 2024-25

Thursday, 20 March, 2025

The government introduced the Employment Rights Bill in the House of Lords on 14 March 2025. The House is scheduled to debate the bill at second reading on 27 March 2025.
Research Briefing

Finance Bill: Bill 77 of 2024-25

Thursday, 13 March, 2025

The government introduced the Finance Bill in the House of Lords on 4 March 2025. The House is scheduled to debate the bill at second reading and all remaining stages on 19 March 2025.
- Research Briefing
- Economy
Research Briefing

House of Lords (Peerage Nominations) Bill [HL]: HL Bill 36 of 2024-25

Tuesday, 11 March, 2025

The House of Lords (Peerage Nominations) Bill [HL] is a private member’s bill sponsored by Lord Norton of Louth (Conservative). The bill seeks to strengthen the House of Lords Appointments Commission.
Research Briefing

Church of Scotland (Lord High Commissioner) Bill: HL Bill 79 of 2024–25

Tuesday, 11 March, 2025

The Church of Scotland (Lord High Commissioner) Bill would remove the restriction on people of the Roman Catholic faith holding the office of His Majesty’s lord high commissioner to the general assembly of the Church of Scotland.
Research Briefing

Palestine Statehood (Recognition) Bill [HL]: HL Bill 37 of 2024-25

Monday, 10 March, 2025

The Palestine Statehood (Recognition) Bill [HL] is a private member’s bill introduced by Baroness Northover (Liberal Democrat). The bill would require the UK government to formally recognise Palestine as a sovereign and independent state.
- Research Briefing
- Foreign Policy

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