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A whole heap of important legislation will become law this week. But with most of the media focusing on rows over Chinese espionage and one asylum seeker’s release, they’re likely to be largely missed.
Away from the newspaper front pages, the Labour Government has been busy with some pretty major reforms, as well as some smaller initiatives that could significantly affect people’s lives.
So here’s a collection of some recent news from Westminster and Whitehall you may have missed, as part of an occasional series looking at what the Government is really getting up to.
Here’s our usual caveat: This list is by no means conclusive, and it is up to you whether you think the news is either good or bad. Mostly, as you’d imagine, they are things the Government sees as positive developments – as we’ve picked out announcements which haven’t been extensively reported on.
However, the examples do offer a flavour of some of the things that we could, but aren’t, talking about thanks largely to the priorities of the British press, or if you prefer, due to a maddening failure of communication by No 10.
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1. London-Style Buses
The boringly-named Bus Services (No. 2) Bill became law on Monday night (27th October), enabling local transport authorities to implement franchising schemes for bus services in England – potentially reversing the decades-old deregulation of buses which opponents say has contributed to spiralling prices and worsening, reduced services while transport firms pay millions to shareholders.
But it will also end the (surprisingly recent) Conservative ban on councils setting up their own bus companies to directly compete with private firms.
Buses are the most frequently used form of public transport and are relied on by millions of people – disproportionately lower-income workers, young people, retirees and more.
Greater Manchester took up the opportunity of regulating buses by setting up the ‘Bee Network’, but the legal framework mayor Andy Burnham had to use to do it took years to utilise, and faced relentless challenge from transport firms. The new process is set to massively streamline it.
This bill won’t make the front pages, but if councils take up the opportunity, it could revolutionise this vital form of transport in England.
Cat Hobbs, director of pro-public ownership campaign We Own It, told Byline Times: “After 40 years of bus deregulation and privatisation, it’s fantastic that this government is making it easier to take back control of our buses,” though she also called for the ambition to be matched with extra funding to help make this a success.
Hobbs added: “It’s excellent news that the absurd ideological ban on new publicly owned bus companies, introduced under the last government, has now been reversed. Publicly owned bus companies like Lothian Buses and Reading Buses consistently win awards for their brilliant services.”
Transport for London-style transport in Cornwall, Leeds, and Newcastle, here we come?
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2. Awaab’s Law
Millions of social housing tenants in England are set to benefit from safer homes due to new rules coming into force in England this week, the Government says.
The first phase of ‘Awaab’s Law’ will force social landlords (including councils and housing associations) to take urgent action to fix dangerous homes or face the full force of the law.
New legal duties will force social landlords to fix emergency health and safety hazards within 24 hours of reporting. They must also investigate significant damp and mould within 10 working days of being notified and then make properties safe in five working days. For both types of hazards, they must also write the findings to tenants within three working days of inspection.
As part of the reforms, social landlords now must also consider the circumstances of tenants which could put them at risk – including young children and those with disabilities or health conditions. Alternative accommodation must also be offered if homes cannot be made safe within the required timeframes.
A Government spokesperson said: “These vital reforms will not only keep tenants safer in their homes, but hold landlords to account. Those who fail to comply with the rules face being taken to court, where they could be issued enforcement orders, forced to pay compensation and legal costs – as well as loss of rent if homes were uninhabitable.”
Awaab’s Law is a lasting legacy for two-year-old Awaab Ishak, who died after being exposed to mould at his Rochdale home in December 2020. Awaab’s family has since fought to secure justice, not only for their son but for all those who live in social housing. There are four million social rented homes in England.
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3. Tourism Tax in Wales
This isn’t a UK-Government law, but it is a law brought in by Labour – and has gone little-noticed outside of Wales.
The Visitor Levy Bill received Royal Assent in September. The new law gives Welsh councils the choice to introduce a small charge on overnight stays, with all funds reinvested locally to support tourism.
Councils will decide how money raised can be used for tourism-related expenses – such as improving toilets, footpaths, beaches, visitor centres and activities. The Welsh Revenue Authority (WRA) will collect and manage the levy for councils.
There have been calls for a similar levy in England – so far avoided by ministers.
The Welsh law also creates a national register for all visitor accommodation providers operating in Wales. The Welsh Government says it will provide better data about tourism to help councils and communities make informed decisions about how properties are used in their areas.
There is no cost to register but from Autumn 2026, anyone charging visitors to stay overnight in Wales must sign-up. The earliest possible date a tourism levy could be introduced by councils opting to do so would be 2027.