Dods People draws together a list of appointments in Westminster politics, the devolved administrations and the public affairs sector in the last week.

Chancellor urged to leave his “Westminster bubble” to see true impact of underinvestment.

Today the Mental Health Units (Use of Force) Bill – also known as Seni’s law - has passed its final debate in the House of Lords meaning that it’s set to become law.

The DUP have ditched their threat to vote down the Budget over fears that the Government was preparing to sign a Brexit deal which would effectively draw a new border in the Irish Sea.

Philip Hammond has hit back at critics of his £400m Budget boost for schools by insisting it was a "nice gesture" which could pay for new white boards and laptops.

Sarah Kostense-Winterton, Executive Director at MIMA comments: 

Below is the briefing prepared by the Equality and Human Rights Commission for the Westminster Hall debate this Thursday on the future of legal aid. 

The decade-long squeeze on public spending is "finally coming to an end", Philip Hammond has declared, as he turned on the spending taps in his final Budget before Brexit.

Philip Hammond is delivering his final Budget before Brexit. The Chancellor has been tasked by Theresa May to end austerity - but how far will the spending taps be turned on? Find out as we cover the build-up, the Budget and the fallout in our liveblog below. Watch the whole thing below the blog window.

Philip Hammond will pump an extra £2bn-a-year into mental health services today as he lifts the lid on the final Budget before Brexit.

Andrew Walker QC, Chair of the Bar Council, sets out what he hopes to see ahead of the Budget announcement on 29 October.

Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell has challenged Conservative MPs to vote down Monday's Budget if Philip Hammond does not use it to halt the rollout of Universal Credit.

A fresh briefing war has broken out between Number 10 and the Treasury as Philip Hammond prepares to spend billions in tomorrow's Budget to fulfil Theresa May's vow that austerity is "over".

As Philip Hammond prepares to unleash his Autumn Budget on Westminster next week, here's our guide on what to look out for. 

Hopefully the Government will reconsider their current path, and use the final stages of the Offensive Weapons Bill to introduce amendments to the legislation that will allow the Bill to have it’s intended effect, says Dods Monitoring's Alex Tiley.

Sajid Javid has apologised to dozens of migrants who were wrongly forced by the Home Office to take DNA tests to prove they were entitled to settle in UK.

The powerful Home Affairs Select Committee (HASC) has backed the Police Federation of England and Wales (PFEW) in calling for an urgent injection of funds into the ailing police service – or face ‘dire consequences’.

Chief Constable Mike Cunningham, College of Policing CEO, said: “Today’s report recognises the urgent need for additional funding for policing and I support this case to invest in the service and our officers and staff.

As we approach Brexit, the UK Government should make a very clear statement that it will continue to safeguard our rights and quickly introduce legislation to plug the gaps left by the decision to remove the protections offered by the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, says David Isaac, EHRC Chair.

A new report into the LASPO Act reaches a bleak verdict, showing that it has failed to meet its aims and has created an unfair and inefficient justice system, says the Bar Council.

Britain’s most at-risk groups of people are in danger of being forgotten and becoming trapped in disadvantage, Britain’s equality body is warning in its comprehensive report on the state of equality and human rights in Britain.

MPs have slammed the Home Office over a "complete failure" to give police forces the resources they need to deal with online child sex offences.

Philip Hammond should use next week’s Budget to make good on the Conservatives’ vow to end austerity, Labour's John McDonnell will say today. 

Ministers are considering a shake-up of the rules around gagging orders to stop victims of harassment and bullying being “unethically” silenced, Theresa May has revealed.