The House of Commons (HoC) has announced its new Independent Expert Panel (IEP) appointments. The IEP was established in 2020 to investigate appeals of bullying, harassment, and sexual misconduct against current and former Members of Parliament. Following an open recruitment process Rt Hon Sir Adrian Fulford, Lyndsey de Mestre KC, Andrew Hoyle and Wendy Williams CBE have been appointed. They will serve six year terms starting 25 November 2024 and join four existing members whose terms will conclude in 2026.

The House of Commons (HoC) Library has published a research briefing on the Parliamentary Ombudsman, detailing its role and recent reform proposals. The briefing explains that the Ombudsman, established by the Parliamentary Commissioner Act 1967, investigates complaints of maladministration by government departments and certain public bodies. Key aspects of the current system include the requirement for complaints to be directed through an MP and for complainants to first approach the relevant department. The Ombudsman's remit covers non-devolved matters and UK government departments in relation to England, with separate systems existing for devolved administrations. The briefing also notes that the Parliamentary Ombudsman's powers and responsibilities are set out in the 1967 Act, as amended, and that reform proposals have been put forward, though specifics are not provided in this excerpt.

The House of Commons (HoC) Library has published a research briefing on the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill 2024-25 which was introduced to the HoC on 30 January 2025. The bill proposes significant changes to immigration enforcement and border security. The bill creates new criminal offences for supplying or handling items intended for use in illegal immigration, with penalties of up to 14 years' imprisonment. It also grants immigration officers expanded powers to search and seize electronic devices from migrants. The role of Border Security Commander would become statutory, with duties to set strategic priorities. Most provisions of the Illegal Migration Act 2023 and the entire Safety of Rwanda Act 2024 would be repealed. Additional measures include a new offence of endangering others during small boat crossings, amendments to serious crime prevention orders, and provisions for sharing customs data. The bill's impact on reducing unauthorised migration remains uncertain, with the government acknowledging limited evidence to support its effectiveness. The second reading, when MPs debate the purpose of the bill, is scheduled for 10 February 2025.

The House of Commons (HoC) Library has published a briefing examining the potential merits of extending the Youth Mobility Scheme to EU countries. Currently, the UK has reciprocal agreements with 13 countries and territories, and the scheme, described as a ‘cultural exchange programme’ provides two-year visas for work or study. The scheme's criteria typically include age limits of 18-30 or 18-35 and annual quotas. Despite calls from various quarters and a formal proposal from the European Commission in April 2024 for negotiations on an EU-UK scheme, both Conservative and Labour governments have rejected the idea. The briefing highlights that 312,000 visas have been issued since 2008, with Australians comprising half of the recipients. Amidst these considerations, the UK government faces pressure to reduce net migration, which stood at 728,000 between June 2023 and June 2024.

The House of Commons (HoC) Library has published a research briefing on the financial (minimum income) requirement for partner visas.  The briefing discusses the minimum income requirement for spouse/partner visas of £29,000, following an increase from £18,600 in April 2024. This change includes the removal of additional income requirements for sponsoring children. The new Labour government has commissioned the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) to review the policy, with a report due in June 2025. The review will consider how to balance economic wellbeing with respect for family life. The £29,000 threshold now exceeds full-time minimum wage earnings, prompting debate on its impact on lower-income sponsors and regional disparities.

The House of Commons Library has published a research briefing on the banning of foreign nationals from the UK where their presence is considered as not ‘conducive to the public good’. This is a discretionary power given to the Home Secretary (personally, and to the Home Office) on top of the usual rules for barring entry on the basis of misconduct and criminal convictions. The power can also be used regardless of whether the intended target’s nationality would ordinarily allow them to travel to the UK visa free or not. In 2005 there was a list of 'unacceptable behaviours' which could lead to exclusion on this ground, while in 2009 the Home Office 'named and shamed' some people who had been so excluded.

The House of Lords Financial Services Regulation Committee (FSRC) has written a further letter to the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in relation to the latter’s proposal to announce investigations when they are opened and name the firms involved, without prejudice to the outcome.

The House of Lords European Affairs Committee has published its Second Report of Session 2024–26, reporting the UK‑EU Agreement on Cooperation on the Application of their Respective Competition Laws for the special attention of the House. The report examines the agreement, which was laid before Parliament on 15 April 2026 under the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010 (CRaG 2010), and explains that it establishes a formal framework for cooperation, notification, coordination and information sharing between the UK Competition and Markets Authority, the European Commission and EU member state competition authorities, building on commitments in the UK‑EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement. The Committee highlights that the agreement raises scrutiny‑relevant issues, including its standalone treaty status, safeguards on the use of shared information, the exclusion of the TCA dispute resolution mechanism, its application to the metropolitan UK, the ability for either party to terminate on 60 days’ notice, and the government’s confirmation that no new domestic legislation is required, leading the Committee to conclude that it merits the House’s special attention during the CRaG scrutiny period, which ends on 1 June 2026.

The House of Lords (HoL) Financial Services Regulation Committee (FSRC) has issued a call for evidence on the growth of private markets in the UK following reforms introduced after 2008. The Committee is particularly interested to hear views on whether regulatory capital and liquidity reforms have reduced banks’ ability or willingness to lend, pushing risk away from the banking sector and towards private markets; and how much visibility the Bank of England (BoE) has on the size of these private markets, their interconnections with the banking sector, and any potential spillover risks. Responses are sought by 18 September 2025.

The House of Lords Financial Services Regulation Committee is launching an inquiry into the secondary international competitiveness and growth objective given to the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2023.

The House of Lords Financial Services Regulation Committee (FSRC) is launching an inquiry into the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)’s consultation paper CP24/2, in which the regulator proposes to publicise enforcement investigations. The FSRC is now seeking views on the proposals, ahead of taking evidence from the FCA itself. Written submissions to the inquiry are requested by 4 June 2024.

The House of Lords Financial Services Regulation Committee (FSRC) has published a statement and report into the Financial Conduct Authority's (FCA) proposals to change its approach to publicising enforcement investigations set out in FCA consultation paper CP24/2 and revised in November 2024. The report entitled ‘Naming and shaming: how not to regulate’, sets out the FSRC’s conclusions that the FCA has not made a convincing case for changing its current policy of announcing investigations only in 'exceptional circumstances' and calls on the FCA to further amend or withdraw the proposals. Key concerns include potential reputational damage to firms and the risk of the UK becoming an international outlier, indicating a failure to properly take into account the FCA’s competitiveness and growth objective. Although the FSRC  welcomes the FCA’s willingness to revise its proposals to address some stakeholders concerns, it expresses ‘deep concern’ over inadequacies in the consultation process.