The House of Lords Library has published a briefing on the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill, which has now completed its third reading in the House of Commons. The bill would create strategic authorities with standardised powers across transport, housing, skills, economic development, the environment, health and public safety, and would give ministers powers to direct local government reorganisation towards unitary structures. It introduces a new community right to buy assets of community value, establishes the Local Audit Office, bans upwards-only rent review clauses in commercial leases in England and Wales, creates a new licensing framework for taxi and private hire vehicles and grants new hospitality licensing powers to the Mayor of London. The government has also launched a consultation on an overnight visitor levy, which closes on 18 February 2026.

The House of Lords have introduced multiple private members' Bills during the 2024-25 session. These include the Environmental Targets (Public Authorities) Bill and the Statutory Instruments (Amendment) Bill.

Following an evidence session with the CEO of the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), Nikhil Rathi, the House of Lords Financial Services Regulation Committee (FSRC) has sought follow up information on cost disclosure requirements for listed investment companies. In a letter dated 30 April 2024, the FSRC sets out its concerns with the cost disclosure regime applied to investment trusts in the UK, and says urgent steps are necessary. It asks for information on the FCA’s work in this area by 7 May 2024. The Treasury Committee has also published an update on the retail cost disclosure requirements it received from chancellor of the exchequer Jeremy Hunt, who said the government intends to lay Iegislation to deliver this reform in 2024, subject to Parliamentary timing, and the FCA will consult on its detailed new rules in due course.

Law360: The House of Lords voted on 17 November 2025 to amend the Employment Rights Bill to remove day-one protection against unfair dismissal, blocking for the third time the government's headline policy in the latest round of ping-pong over the legislation.

Law360: Employers would be obliged to investigate concerns raised by whistleblowers under an amendment to the Employment Rights Bill (ERB) put forward by the House of Lords.

Dispute Resolution analysis: In Amaal Ventures Ltd and Shievon Ventures Ltd v Eros Ltd, the High Court considered the costs consequences where the successful party had nevertheless failed on several issues. Applying CPR 44.2 and developing the principles in Pigot v Environment Agency, the court held that failure on individual issues does not, without more, justify departing from the general rule that costs follow the event. A departure is more likely where an unsuccessful issue is discrete, materially increases costs or was unreasonably pursued. For practitioners, the decision emphasises the need to assess whether alternative arguments will generate distinct costs and whether their prospects and strategic value justify the risk of a partially adverse costs order. Produced in partnership with Fraser Barnstaple of Kings Chambers.

The term 'loss' appears in many statutes and is not generally restricted to permanent deprivation.

Claims by contractors for loss and expense arising from a disturbance to progress of the works are one of the most debated and contentious areas of construction law, often leading to disputes between the employer and the contractor. This Practice Note explains the basics of loss and expense claims and looks at how the subject is dealt with in the JCT, NEC and FIDIC contracts. For a comparison of the specific provisions in each of these contracts, see Practice Note: Comparison between JCT, NEC and FIDIC time and money events. For a list of the key issues to consider in relation to a claim by a contractor for reimbursement of loss and expense and/or an extension of time, see also Practice Note: Time and money claims. What is loss and expense? Loss and expense is the term often used (most notably, in the JCT contracts) to describe the additional costs incurred by a contractor as a result of disturbance to the regular progress of the works caused by matters either within the employer's control or by breaches of contract

Additional costs incurred by a contractor due to disturbance to the regular progress of the works caused by matters within the employer's control or by breaches of contract by the employer. Loss and expense costs may include increased preliminaries, overheads, loss of profit, loss of productivity and interest/finance charges.

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