Office for Demographic Change Bill [HL]

1 Office for Demographic Change

(1)

There is to be a body corporate called the Office for Demographic Change.

(2)

It is the duty of the Office to—

(a)

collect evidence about, and analyse the impact of, population change;

(b)

consider future changes in the population of the United Kingdom and
their consequences, including examining and reporting on the impact
of the Government’s demographic objectives in relation to anticipated
demographic change as set out in the Charter for Demographic Change,
under section 2 .

(3)

The Office must report at least annually, and any reports must be laid before
Parliament.

(4)

The Office’s reports must include assessments of—

(a)

the economic, environmental, ecological and societal impacts of the
Government’s demographic objectives as set out in the Charter for
Demographic Change;

(b)

the extent to which those objectives have been achieved;

(c)

the main risks to their achievement in the future; and

(d)

the extent to which the Government’s ability to honour treaty
obligations may be affected by demographic change.

(5)

The Office has complete discretion in the performance of its duties, except
that it—

(a)

must perform its duties objectively, transparently, and impartially;
and

(b)

may not consider the impact of any alternative policies.

(6)

The Secretary of State may, by regulations made by statutory instrument,
provide for the establishment of the Office for Demographic Change.

(7)

A statutory instrument containing regulations under subsection (6) is subject
to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

2 Charter for Demographic Change

(1)

The Secretary of State must prepare an annual document for the Office for
Demographic Change, to be known as the Charter for Demographic Change
(“the Charter”), explaining the policies of Her Majesty's Government relating
to anticipated demographic change.

(2)

The Charter must set out—

(a)

the Government's demographic objectives in relation to the United
Kingdom, and

(b)

the means by which such objectives will be attained.

(3)

The Secretary of State must lay a copy of the Charter before Parliament.

3 Extent, commencement and short title

(1)

This Act extends to England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

(2)

This Act comes into force on the day on which it is passed.

(3)

This Act may be cited as the Office for Demographic Change Act 2021.