Research briefings

Displaying 1-20 out of 4441

Sort by: Most recent first Most recent last

• Public Finances: Economic Indicators page Published 22 February 2012 | Standard notes SN02812 Between April 2011 and December 2012, the government borrowed £93.5 billion, 14.3% less than the year before. Topic: Economic situation, Public expenditure
• Constituency boundaries: the Sixth General Review Published 22 February 2012 | Standard notes SN05929 This note gives details of the Sixth General Review of Parliamentary constituencies Topic: Elections
• Edited electoral register Published 22 February 2012 | Standard notes SN06198 This Note provides brief details of the consultation about the edited register and the recommendation of the Political and Constitutional Reform Select Committee. The Government published its response to the PCR Committee’s recommendations on 9 February 2012 but there was no announcement of a decision about the sale of the edited register. Topic: Elections, Electoral register
• Occupational pension increases Published 22 February 2012 | Standard notes SN05656 Looks at the minimum requirements on private sector Defined Benefit occupational pension schemes to index and revalue pension benefits Topic: Pensions
• Public service pension increases Published 22 February 2012 | Standard notes SN05434 Covers arrangements for uprating public service pensions. Topic: Pensions
• The eurozone crisis – rescuing Greece Published 22 February 2012 | Standard notes SN06232 Greece’s long-standing public debt problem became a crisis at the start of 2010 and has since escalated to a point where it threatens the survival of the euro. This note describes the country's May 2010 and February 2012 bail-out agreements, and its future prospects. Topic: Economic and monetary union, Economic situation, EU grants and loans, Europe, International economic relations
• Farm Diversification, Countryside and Planning Published 22 February 2012 | Standard notes SN03158 This note covers planning issues related to the countryside, including farm diversification Topic: Countryside, Planning
• UK Cases at the European Court of Human Rights since 1975 Published 22 February 2012 | Standard notes SN05611 This note gives brief details of UK cases at the European Court of Human Rights since 1975. Cases concluded by friendly settlement are included in this note, but Article 41 (previously Article 50) cases, which are concerned with determining “just satisfaction”, are not included. Topic: Europe, Human rights
• Trespass to land Published 22 February 2012 | Standard notes SN05116 This note provides some background information about issues relating to trespass to land. It is worth noting at the outset that in general terms, trespass to land is not a criminal offence in the absence of some special statutory provision that makes it so. Topic: Civil law, Crime
• Warm Front Scheme Published 22 February 2012 | Standard notes SN06231 The Warm Front scheme in England, NEST in Wales, the Energy Assistance Package in Scotland and Warm Homes in Northern Ireland are programmes generally designed to help vulnerable households, including those in fuel poverty, to benefit from energy efficiency improvements such as home heating and loft insulation measures. Topic: Energy, Energy conservation, Fuel poverty
• The current regulation of bailiffs Published 21 February 2012 | Standard notes SN04103 The law relating to bailiffs is fairly complex, since regulation currently depends upon the type of bailiff that has been employed. This note outlines the different types of bailiffs and enforcement officers, their powers and any relevant limitations to these. Topic: Civil law
• Proposed reform of bailiffs Published 21 February 2012 | Standard notes SN06230 This note provides a summary of the problems identified with the current system of regulation of bailiffs. It then provides an outline of the government’s proposed reforms as set out in its consultation paper, ‘Transforming bailiff action’, published on 17 February 2012. Many of the reforms would be achieved by implementing Part 3 and Schedule 12 of the TCEA 2007. Topic: Civil law, Insolvency
• Oil Prices Published 21 February 2012 | Standard notes SN02106 Oil prices peaked at almost $150 Dollars a barrel in July 2008 and fell sharply in the second half of 2008 as the global financial crisis hit. Prices have increased steadily since then, despite fairly weak economic growth and jumped further in early 2011 following political unrest across the Middle East. Sustained high prices in 2011 meant the annual average price was above that seen in 2008 and the highest in real terms since 1864. Recent spot Sterling prices of oil have been above their 2008 peak. Topic: Energy, Iraq, Oil, petrol and natural gas, Roads
• Railways: safety Published 21 February 2012 | Standard notes SN00605 This note looks at the statutory framework for rail safety that was introduced under the Railways Act 2005 and the regime which it replaced. It also provides information on EU rail safety policy, interoperability and the ERTMS train protection system. Topic: Railways
• Constituency boundaries: the Sixth General Review in England Published 21 February 2012 | Standard notes SN06229 Amended 22 February 2012 This Note gives details of the 2013 review in England, its progress and the consultation process. It should be read in conjunction with Library Standard Note, Initial proposals for new constituency boundaries: England (SN 6068) which looks at the extent to which the proposed constituencies can be identified with existing seats and which existing constituencies will be most affected by the proposals. Topic: Elections
• CF Arch cru investment funds Published 20 February 2012 | Standard notes SN06008 This note brings together information about the frozen Arch cru investment funds and the new compensation scheme available for investors. Topic: Financial services
• Plain packaging of tobacco products Published 20 February 2012 | Standard notes SN06175 This note briefly sets out the background to the current debate in the UK on whether or not the introduction of plain packaging for all tobacco products will have a significant impact on levels of smoking. It also considers the European Commission’s review of the Tobacco Products Directive (2001/37/EC), including the merits of extending the scope of the Directive to include the introduction of plain packaging for cigarettes. Finally, this note considers the position in Australia, the first country to introduce this kind of legislation. Topic: Consumers, Health education and preventive medicine, Smoking
• The retail industry Published 20 February 2012 | Standard notes SN06186 Wholesale and retail trade contributed 10.8% of total Gross Value Added in the UK economy in 2010. This note sets out a number of key statistics on the retail industry in the UK including the value of sales, the proportion of internet sales, and employment and business statistics for the retail industry. Topic: Industry
• Unemployment - International Comparisons: Economic Indicators page Published 17 February 2012 | Standard notes SN02800 In the US, unemployment rose from 9.0% to 9.1% between Q2 and Q3 2011, before falling back sharply in Q4 to 8.7%. Between Q2 and Q3, the UK saw the largest rise in unemployment in the G7, increasing from 7.9% to 8.2%. Topic: Economic situation, International economic relations, Unemployment
• Railways: stations Published 17 February 2012 | Standard notes SN03170 This note gives information on who owns the country’s rail stations and is responsible for their maintenance; station accessibility and safety. Topic: Railways