• Research Briefing

    Non-Domestic Rating Bill: HL Bill 140 of 2022–23

    The Non-Domestic Rating Bill is a government bill that would make changes to business rates. It would reduce the time between property revaluations, impose a duty on businesses to notify the Valuation Office Agency of changes that could affect a property’s rateable value, and introduce rates reliefs for improvements to property and heat networks. It was introduced in the House of Commons on 29 March 2023 and its second reading in the House of Lords is scheduled to take place on 19 June 2023.

  • Research Briefing

    Public Advocate Bill [HL]: HL Bill 25 of 2022–23

    This private member’s bill seeks to establish a public advocate who would advise representatives of the deceased after major incidents, and who would establish a panel similar to the Hillsborough Independent Panel if a majority of representatives of the deceased requested it.

  • Research Briefing

    Northern Ireland (Interim Arrangements) Bill: HL Bill 137 of 2022–23

    The Northern Ireland (Interim Arrangements) Bill is a government bill that was introduced in the House of Commons. The bill is being fast-tracked and completed all of its stages in the House of Commons on 10 May 2023 without amendment. It is scheduled to have its second reading on the 18 May 2023 with its remaining stages taking place on 23 May 2023.

  • Research Briefing

    Lifelong Learning (Higher Education Fee Limits) Bill: HL Bill 136 of 2022–23

    The Lifelong Learning (Higher Education Fee Limits) Bill would introduce a new credit-based method of calculating the maximum tuition fee limits for higher education courses in England. This would ensure fee limits were set consistently across modules, short courses and full courses, so that learners who studied flexibly would not be charged disproportionately. The bill supports the introduction of the government’s lifelong loan entitlement (LLE). From 2025, the LLE would give people access to a flexible loan worth £37,000 that could be used to enrol in post-18 education courses throughout their working life. The government has committed to reform post-18 education. It said the current student financing framework did not encourage individuals to study flexibly throughout their lifetime.

  • Research Briefing

    Illegal Migration Bill: HL Bill 133 of 2022–23

    The Illegal Migration Bill seeks to fulfil the commitments made by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on 4 January 2023 to “stop the boats and tackle the unfairness of illegal migration”. Provisions in the Illegal Migration Bill would introduce a duty on the home secretary to remove all adults entering the UK illegally (as defined in clause 2) after 7 March 2023. It would also introduce powers to detain those individuals prior to removal. The bill provides the secretary of state with greater powers to decide the place and duration of an individual’s detention. In addition to the duty to remove adults, the bill contains a power to remove those under 18 years of age; this would become a duty upon the child reaching 18. It would disapply aspects of modern slavery protections and provide that asylum and human rights claims by those subject to clause 2 were inadmissible. Immigration is a reserved matter, most of the bill’s provisions would apply in all four parts of the UK.

  • Research Briefing

    Supported Housing (Regulatory Oversight) Bill: HL Bill 111 of 2022–23

    The Supported Housing (Regulatory Oversight) Bill is a private member’s bill that has government support. The purpose of the bill is to improve the regulation and oversight of ‘supported exempt’ housing, which is exempt from the benefit cap and housing benefit limits in welfare regulations. The bill has been introduced in response to reports of poor quality provision in the exempt housing sector.

  • Research Briefing

    Electricity Transmission (Compensation) Bill: HL Bill 108 of 2022–23

    Electricity network operators can apply to compulsorily acquire land or land rights without the consent of landowners when installing and maintaining network infrastructure. If approved, landowners are entitled to compensation from the network operator. If a compensation dispute arises between a landowner and network operator, the level of compensation can be determined by a tribunal. The Electricity Transmission (Compensation) Bill would require the secretary of state to lay proposals before Parliament for the use of alternative dispute resolution processes to determine levels of compensation in electricity-related land acquisition cases.

  • Research Briefing

    Employment Relations (Flexible Working) Bill: HL Bill 107 of 2022–23

    The Employment Relations (Flexible Working) Bill is a private member’s bill sponsored by Baroness Taylor of Bolton (Labour). The bill would amend the Employment Rights Act 1996 to make it easier for employees to request flexible working. It was first introduced in the House of Commons and received cross-party support. The bill passed all its stages in the House of Commons without being amended.

  • Research Briefing

    Social Security (Additional Payments) (No. 2) Bill: HL Bill 114 of 2022–23

    The Social Security (Additional Payments) (No. 2) Bill would provide for additional payments to be made in the 2023/24 financial year to help vulnerable households with the increased cost of living. It was introduced in the House of Commons on 7 February 2023 and completed its Commons stages on 6 March 2023. The bill has been certified as a money bill. This limits the extent to which the House of Lords can propose significant changes.