Research Briefing
Schools are currently required to actively promote British values. These values were taken from the 2011 Prevent strategy. The Education (Values of British Citizenship) Bill [HL] would require any statement relating to British values for education purposes, made by public authorities in England and Wales, to include certain values, some of which are different from those currently set out.
Research Briefing
This private member’s bill would expand the criteria of who qualifies as a family member of a refugee and people granted humanitarian protection. Additionally, it would seek to reintroduce legal aid for such cases.
Research Briefing
This proposed law would introduce a new “think again” procedure in the House of Lords so members could ask the House of Commons to consider their concerns before a draft affirmative statutory instrument is approved.
Research Briefing
Bringing passenger railway services into public ownership was a commitment in the Labour Party’s manifesto ahead of the 2024 general election. The Passenger Railway Services (Public Ownership) Bill would implement this policy. It would remove the existing presumption that passenger railway service contracts are awarded to private companies. Instead, it would require the government to award contracts to publicly owned companies when existing ones expire.
Research Briefing
The Product Regulation and Metrology Bill [HL] contains measures seeking to update the UK’s product safety, regulation and metrology framework. The government says the bill aims to ensure the UK is better placed to address modern day safety issues, respond to opportunities that deliver economic growth and to deliver a level playing field for businesses operating online or on the high street.
Research Briefing
This House of Lords Library briefing covers the maiden and valedictory speeches made during the last two sessions of parliament. The first and last speeches made by a member of the House of Lords are significant occasions and, by tradition, are marked with respect by the House.
Research Briefing
The Budget Responsibility Bill would require ministers to request an assessment from the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) for every major fiscal announcement and give the OBR the power to decide to publish one if the minister failed to request it. This follows the September 2022 ‘mini-budget’. The statement included plans that would have resulted in a projected £45bn reduction in tax income. It did not have an accompanying OBR assessment.
Research Briefing
Lithium-ion batteries are the most popular type of rechargeable battery and are used in a wide range of electrical devices worldwide. The Lithium-ion Battery Safety Bill [HL] would provide for regulations concerning the safe storage, use and disposal of such batteries in the UK. The bill is a private member’s bill sponsored by Lord Redesdale (Liberal Democrat). The House of Lords is scheduled to debate the bill at second reading on 6 September 2024.
Research Briefing
The Holocaust Memorial Bill is due to have its second reading in the House of Lords on 4 September 2024. This bill seeks to make provision for expenditure on the construction and operation of a Holocaust memorial and learning centre. It would also remove restrictions on building these in Victoria Tower Gardens, next to Parliament. It is a government bill, introduced under the previous Conservative government and continued by the newly elected Labour government. The bill is a hybrid bill, meaning it applies generally but also has a particular effect on specific groups, people or places. This entails additional stages for the bill. The bill is made up of two substantive clauses. It would extend to England and Wales, and apply to England. It would come into force two months after receiving royal assent.
Research Briefing
The Lords Spiritual (Women) Act 2015 (Extension) Bill [HL] is a government bill comprising a single substantive clause. It would extend the period in which vacancies among the lords spiritual are filled by bishops who are women by five years. The lords spiritual are the maximum of 26 Church of England archbishops and bishops in the House of Lords. The Lords Spiritual (Women) Act 2015 is currently due to expire in May 2025. The bill has been introduced at the request of the Church of England. This briefing provides a summary of the background to the bill, including the appointments procedure for the lords spiritual. It summarises the bill’s provisions and provides statistics on women bishops in the House of Lords.
Research Briefing
This proposed law would make it a legal requirement for English local authorities to publish information about support services such as maternity and mental health services available in their area for infants, parents or carers of infants, or prospective parents or carers. This would be known as the ‘start for life offer’.
Research Briefing
The Crown Estate Bill [HL] is a government bill to widen the borrowing and investment powers of the Crown Estate. The government intends this will help speed up the development of offshore wind projects in seabed areas managed by the Crown Estate and deliver long-term financial returns to the taxpayer. It announced a partnership between the Crown Estate and Great British Energy on the same day it introduced the bill.
Research Briefing
This Lords Library briefing provides background information about the office of leader of the House of Lords and lists those who have held this position since 1963.
Research Briefing
Arbitration is a form of dispute resolution that enables two or more parties to resolve a disagreement privately through a third party instead of going to court. The Arbitration Bill [HL] would amend the Arbitration Act 1996, the principal legislation governing arbitrations in England and Wales and in Northern Ireland. The changes provided for in the bill would implement recommendations from the Law Commission following consultation with the sector.
Research Briefing
The Bank Resolution (Recapitalisation) Bill [HL] was announced as part of the King’s Speech on 17 July 2024. The bill seeks to enhance the UK’s regime for managing bank failures, by allowing the Bank of England to recover the costs associated with recapitalising failing small banks through a levy on the banking sector.
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