On 25 March 2020, there will be two topics for the 7th allotted Opposition Day Debate in the House of Commons. The first debate is on the subject of "Social cohesion and community" and the second on "Financial and social emergency support package", both in the context of the Covid-19 outbreak. The House of Commons Library has shared relevant material below.
This briefing sets out the background to Spring Budget 2020 which will take place on 11 March 2020. The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) will publish revised forecasts for the economy and public finances on the same day.
This briefing provides an overview of the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS). The scheme has been introduced to allow EU, EEA and Swiss nationals, and their close family members, to apply to remain in the UK following its departure from the European Union.
This pack has been prepared ahead of the debate to be held in Westminster Hall at 1.30pm on Thursday 6 February 2020 on acquired brain injury. The debate will be opened by Chris Bryant MP.
This Commons Library briefing looks at the problems working Universal Credit claimants can experience because of the assessment period rules, and at the implications of a recent High Court judgment.
This Commons Library briefing looks at Carer's Allowance - a non-contributory, non-means-tested benefit paid to people who care full-time for someone who is severely disabled. It covers the background to the benefit and issues frequently raised by people claiming it, including the level of the benefit, its interaction with other benefits including the Retirement Pension, and the difficulties recipients face when seeking to combine their caring duties with paid work or studying. Reforms to Carer's Allowance have been discussed, but there have been no significant changes to the benefit in recent years, and Carer's Allowance will remain a separate benefit under the Universal Credit system. Responsibility for Carer's Allowance and related disability benefits is now devolved to the Scottish Parliament. The Scottish Government has introduced a Carer's Allowance Supplement, and Carer's Allowance in Scotland will be replaced by a new benefit - Carer's Assistance - starting from winter 2021.
This briefing addresses the citizens' rights provisions of the European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Bill 2019-20. It has been produced for the Bill’s Committee Stage and remaining stages in the Commons.
The Winter Fuel Payment is a tax-free annual payment to help older people meet the cost of their winter fuel bills. The “standard” rates are £200 per eligible household where the oldest person is under 80, and £300 for households containing a person aged 80 or over.
This Commons Library briefing looks at how Universal Credit will affect benefit claimants who are, or were, getting the Severe Disability Premium. It covers measures which came into force in January 2019 to prevent people getting SDP from moving onto UC until they can receive transitional protection, and "SDP transitional payments" for those who have already moved to UC and lost SDP.
The UK and EU agreed a revised Political Declaration on the framework for the future UK-EU relationship on 17 October. This Briefing provides an outline of the contents of the Declaration and the key changes in the revised text
Rough sleepers are one of the most vulnerable groups in society, many with high levels of complex and interrelated needs. This paper provides an overview of the support and services - including accommodation, health, welfare, training, employment and voter registration - that are available for rough sleepers in England, and the challenges rough sleepers can face in accessing them.
This briefing looks in detail at the Withdrawal Agreement negotiated between the EU and UK and finalised on 14 November 2018. It was endorsed by EU Member State leaders at a special European Council summit on 25 November and the UK Prime Minister promoted it in the UK Parliament and around the country. The Agreement was debated at length in Parliament on several occasions and has been voted on three times. But the House of Commons has not endorsed it. A second extension of Article 50 took exit day to 31 October 2019, but once again the UK is faced with the possibility of leaving the EU without an agreement if this agreement or another one is not ratified by the UK and the EU.