Parliament and Government Update — 22 July 2026

The day’s main updates come from the House of Commons, where committees published reports on education funding pressures and youth employment, alongside Government announcements on local service funding and flood-risk reduction projects.

Key points

• Commons Education Committee published a special report on higher-education funding, insolvency risks and international students, with a government response.
• Commons Work and Pensions Committee published a report on youth employment alongside education and training issues.
• Government announced new funding for maternity and neonatal services in Berkshire and a river restoration scheme in Shipley to reduce flood risk.

Main development

The Commons Education Committee published a special report on higher-education funding, focusing on the threat of insolvency for international students, and included the Government’s response to the committee’s findings. The report brings together concerns about financial sustainability in higher education and what that could mean for the position of international students. [1]

In the Lords

• In the Lords Chamber, peers took subordinate legislation amending the Infected Blood Compensation Scheme. [2]
• Peers also took an order amending trade union voting and employment rights relating to unfair dismissal. [3]
• In another piece of subordinate legislation, peers considered amendments to welfare benefits decisions and appeals for Universal Credit, PIP, Jobseeker’s Allowance and Employment and Support Allowance. [4]
• Peers considered a draft bill on conversion practices in property, covering proposed rules for how such practices are carried out. [5]

Government announcements

• The Department of Health and Social Care and NHS England announced £4.5 million funding to improve Berkshire maternity and neonatal services for mothers and babies. [6]
• The Environment Agency announced a river restoration project at Northcliffe Dike in Shipley, aimed at reducing flood risk and improving water quality, while also increasing biodiversity. [7]

Committee reports

• The Commons Work and Pensions Committee published its 3rd Report on youth employment, education and training, bringing together labour-market and skills issues for young people. [8]

Sources used

1. 3rd Special Report – Higher Education and Funding: Threat of Insolvency and International Students: Government Response — UK Parliament Committees
2. Infected Blood Compensation Scheme (Amendment) Regulations 2026 — Hansard
3. Trade Unions (Permissible Means of Voting) and Employment Rights (Unfair Dismissal) (Amendment) Order 2026 — Hansard
4. Universal Credit, Personal Independence Payment, Jobseeker’s Allowance and Employment and Support Allowance (Decisions and Appeals) (Amendment) Regulations 2026 — Hansard
5. Draft Conversion Practices Bill — Hansard
6. £4.5million to improve Berkshire maternity and neonatal services — GOV.UK
7. River restoration project to reduce flood risk in Shipley — GOV.UK
8. 3rd Report – Youth employment, education and training — UK Parliament Committees

Licensing

Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0.

Last updated

First published on 23 July 2026. No corrections at the time of publication.