Parliamentary engagement opportunities

First Time Buyer ISA consultation  - Government Consultation
The Treasury has published a consultation on the implementation of a new ISA product to support first time buyers to buy a home. Once available this new product will be offered in place of the Lifetime ISA.
Deadline: 17 August

VAT treatment of land for social housing  - Government Consultation
The Treasury and HM Revenue & Customs are consulting on the introduction of a new VAT zero rate for land intended for the construction of social housing across the UK. The consultation explores how current VAT rules affect land acquisition, development timing and cashflow, and invites views on the scope, design and administration of any new relief.
Deadline: 18 August

High Value Council Tax Surcharge - Government Consultation

The Treasury, HM Revenue & Customs and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government are seeking views on the design and delivery of the High Value Council Tax Surcharge (HVCTS). This is a new charge on residential properties worth £2 million and above in England. 
Deadline: 14 July

Scrutiny of the draft Heathrow Expansion National Policy Statement  - Select Committee Inquiry
The Transport Committee is holding an inquiry to scrutinise the draft Heathrow Expansion NPS, which was published by the government on 18th June, including the extent to which it provides clear guidance about how to assess a proposed runway scheme, and the robustness of the assumptions and requirements in the NPS and its associated documents.
Deadline: 23 July 

Watch this space: a new strategic direction for UK media - green paper and public consultation  - Government Consultation
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport is consulting on measures to ensure our media, and television in particular, can continue to play its vitally important role in British society and democracy. This includes seeking views on requiring social media to make trustworthy news providers easily discoverable and supporting public service media providers such as the BBC, ITV and Channel 4 in driving growth and investment.
Deadline: 31 August

The future of Gaelic Broadcasting- Select Committee Inquiry
The Scottish Affairs Committee is seeking views on the risks and opportunities to Scottish Gaelic broadcasting in the future. This inquiry will explore the value of Gaelic broadcasting for the revival of the Gaelic language and culture. The Committee will examine the statutory and funding issues faced by the industry and will look at how the BBC can better support minority language broadcasting, like Scottish Gaelic.  
Deadline: 31 July

Strengthening the regulation of commercial sunbeds in England - Government Consultation
The Department of Health and Social Care is seeking views on proposals to introduce new safeguards using powers under the Sunbeds Act in England. The proposals will promote responsible practices among businesses providing use of sunbed services.
Deadline: 14 August

Proposed outline content for T Levels in sport and social care - Government Consultation

The Department for Education is consulting on the proposed outline content for T Levels in sport and social care for first teach in September 2028. Specifically, they are seeking views on:

• the areas covered in the content, as well as breadth and depth
• the proposed structures for the sport T Level

Deadline: 9 August

'Every Child Achieving and Thriving' White Paper - Select Committee Inquiry
The Education Committee is examining the Government's proposals for reform of the school system in England, as set out in the Every Child Achieving and Thriving White Paper. The Committee’s inquiry will focus on the White Paper’s broader school reforms and will not include an examination of its SEND proposals, which will be scrutinised separately. The Committee will explore raising attainment, improving attendance, reducing disadvantage gaps, workforce reforms, and other aspects of the White Paper.
Deadline: 30 July

Shaping the future of early years teaching - Government Consultation
The Department for Education is seeking views on reforms that will define how early years teachers are trained and assessed in the future. The department are aiming to:

• raise the quality of training
• strengthen the professional status of early years teachers
• ensure children benefit from excellent teaching wherever they attend early education

Deadline: 24 September

GCSE natural history proposed subject content - Government Consultation
The Department for Education is seeking views on the proposed subject content for a new GCSE in natural history. The GCSE will allow students to engage with and study specific organisms, including plants and animals and the contexts in which they live. Ofqual will consult on assessment arrangements later this year.
Deadline: 4 September

Make Work Pay: misuse of non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) - Government Consultation

The Department for Business and Trade is seeking views on proposals to prevent the misuse of non-disclosure agreements in cases of workplace harassment and discrimination. This includes expanding the types of individuals the legislation applies to beyond the definitions of employee and worker used in the Employment Rights Act 1996, including some types of self-employed individuals.
Deadline: 8 July

Make Work Pay: employment rights for unpaid carers and parents of seriously ill children - Government Consultation
The Department of Business and Trade are consulting on the employment rights that are available to people with unpaid caring responsibilities and parents who have a seriously ill child. Specifically, they are seeking views on:

• the information and guidance that is available to support unpaid carers
• the potential need for further support
• what forms of support would be helpful for both unpaid carers and parents with a seriously ill child

Deadline: 1 September

Deterrence in an age of Russian aggression  - Select Committee Inquiry

The National Security Strategy Joint Committee is holding an inquiry on the UK's deterrence posture in relation to Russia. It will focus on the UK’s ability to impose costs to deter Russia’s aggressive activity, both directly and through working with allies and partners.
Deadline: 8 July 

Multilateralism - Government Consultation
The International Relations and Defence Committee is undertaking an inquiry into the UK's engagement with the multilateral system. Experts in specific areas, such as China, the US, and others mentioned in the Call for Evidence may have relevant insight.
Deadline: 20 July

 The relationship between the Government and defence industry - Select Committee Inquiry
The Industry and Regulators Committee will question how defence procurement and regulatory processes need to change to adapt to the pace of new technologies, such as drone and anti-drone capabilities, and to enable smaller, more technology-focused companies to supply the needs of the UK defence industry. The Committee will also consider how the Defence Industrial Strategy and its implementation are taking this forward, including how these processes will ensure sufficient industry capacity to engage in or deter military action.
Deadline: 21 July

Courts and Tribuals Bill - Public Bill Committee

The Committee of MPs gathered to scrutinise the new, and controversial, Courts and Tribunals Bill - which will restrict trial by jury amongst other reforms in an attempt to slash the backlog - has opened a call for written evidence. The Committee begins its scrutiny this week, so the deadline for submissions is imminent. You can read the explanatory notes on the Bill here. Please let the Public Affairs team know if you would like to submit evidence. 

Possible amendments to the costs/expenses rules in the First-tier Tribunal, Upper Tribunal and Employment Tribunals - Government Consultation
The Tribunal Procedure Committee is seeking views on proposed changes to the rules governing when and how costs (or expenses in Scotland) may be awarded in the First-tier Tribunal, Upper Tribunal and Employment Tribunals.
Deadline: 29 July

Stop and search authorised professional practice (APP) - Government Consultation
The College of Policing is seeking views on updated guidance that will help police officers across the country conduct stop and searches. The updated APP is child-centred and addresses disproportionality affecting children, young people and other vulnerable groups.
Deadline: 6 July

A fairer end to relationships - Government Consultation
The Ministry of Justice is consulting on plans for reforming financial remedies on divorce and strengthening protections for cohabitants at the end of their relationship. This includes inviting views on a “codification-plus” model of reform, which would bring settled case law principles, such as those of “needs” and “sharing”, into statutory form. It also includes reform of rights and protections for cohabitants.  
Deadline: 14 August 

Land Use and Nature - Committee Inquiry 

The Environment Committee has launched a long-term, multi-stranded inquiry looking at trade-offs between growth, net-zero and conservation, and how the Government and other public bodies manage them. It will consider how the Government is looking to restore habitats and make progress towards international commitments to protect 30% of land by 2030. The Committee will call for evidence on a regular basis - topics may include: restoration of different habitats, such as heathland, wetlands and forest; protected sites; national parks and landscapes; the design and implementation of the Land Use Framework; urban green spaces; and land use in the agricultural sector.

Deadline: ongoing