Research briefings

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• Oil Prices Published 04 March 2013 | 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 since then, despite a fairly weak global economy. Political unrest across the Middle East and the revolt in Libya contributed to further price rises in early 2011. Subsequent prices have been volatile; falling amid concerns about the world economy and going up as tension between Iran and the West increases. Some commentators have said that quantitative easing has contributed to the underlying price increases. Sustained high prices in 2011 meant the annual average price was above that seen in 2008 and the highest since 1864. The latest spot price is around $110 per barrel. This is more than $40 below the peak, but the weaker pound has meant that recent Sterling prices have frequently been above their 2008 peak. The International Energy Agency’s business as usual projections put the price of oil at almost $250 per barrel in 2035. Topic: Energy, Iraq, Oil, petrol and natural gas, Roads
• Manufacturing: Economic Indicators page Published 04 March 2013 | Standard notes SN05206 Manufacturing output rose by 1.6% in December 2012 compared with November 2012. Manufacturing output fell by 1.8% for the entirety of 2012, as compared with 2011. Topic: Economic situation, Manufacturing industries
• Migration Statistics Published 04 March 2013 | Standard notes SN06077 A guide to understanding UK migration statistics, explaining the concepts and methods used in measuring migration and setting out a range of data on migration in the UK and in European Union countries. Topic: Immigration, Population
• Police service strength Published 04 March 2013 | Standard notes SN00634 This note summarises the latest available data from the Home Office, Scottish Executive and Police Service of Northern Ireland. Topic: Police
• Viral emails protesting about financial assistance for "illegal immigrants/refugees living in Britain" Published 04 March 2013 | Standard notes SN05621 A viral email claims that "illegal immigrants/refugees living in Britain" receive significantly more financial assistance from the Government than UK pensioners. The email originates from abroad and the figures quoted do not reflect the true situation in the United Kingdom. Topic: Asylum, Immigration, Pensions
• Energy imports and exports Published 04 March 2013 | Standard notes SN04046 After spending most of the previous 25 years as a net exporter of energy the UK became a net importer in 2004. The gap between imports and exports has increased since 2004 and this looks set to continue to increase in the future. This, alongside higher fuel prices and increased concern over the security of energy supply has increased the attention on energy imports and exports. Topic: Coal, Electricity, Energy, International trade, Oil, petrol and natural gas
• Co-ownership of real property Published 04 March 2013 | Standard notes SN06570 People who join together to buy real property (a house, flat, land) are known as co-owners. Typically, this may mean a couple in a relationship, whether married, in a civil partnership or cohabiting, or friends, who jointly buy a property to live in. There are two ways in which two or more people may hold (own) the underlying benefit in a property – as “beneficial joint tenants” or as “tenants in common”. Topic: Housing, Land law
• Household Debt: Economic Indicators page Published 04 March 2013 | Standard notes SN02885 Total net lending to individuals (excluding student loans) was £0.6 billion in January 2013. Net lending has been relatively low since mid-2008. Topic: Economic situation, Financial services
• Pensions: Automatic enrolment - 2010 onwards Published 04 March 2013 | Standard notes SN06417 The Workplace pension reforms will start to be introduced from 2012. Employers will be required to automatically enrol workers into a qualifying pension scheme and, unless the worker opts out, make minimum contributions. Topic: Pensions
• Calls for reform of the criminal law on child neglect Published 04 March 2013 | Standard notes SN06372 The current criminal offence of child neglect is set out in section 1 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933. The charity Action for Children has launched a campaign calling for reform of the law, arguing that the legislation needs to "catch up" with modern society's understanding of neglect. However, the Government has said it has no plans to change the law in this area as the courts and children's services already interpret the 1933 Act "in a contemporary way". Topic: Children and families, Criminal law
• Business and Consumer Confidence: Economic Indicators page Published 01 March 2013 | Standard notes SN02817 This page provides latest information on business and consumer confidence surveys, which is generally released ahead of official statistical data and can indicate changes to the economic outlook as well as turning points in the economic cycle. Topic: Consumers, Economic situation, Manufacturing industries
• Asylum decisions: Social Indicators page Published 01 March 2013 | Standard notes SN02654 Summary statistics on asylum decisions in the UK. Topic: Asylum, Immigration, Population
• Asylum seekers: Social Indicators page Published 01 March 2013 | Standard notes SN02653 Summary statistics on asylum seekers. Topic: Asylum, Immigration, Population
• International migration: Social Indicators page Published 01 March 2013 | Standard notes SN02652 International migration: Social Indicators page. By Oliver Hawkins and Richard Cracknell. SN/SG/2652. Topic: Immigration, Population
• Financial Indicators: Economic Indicators page Published 01 March 2013 | Standard notes SN05207 The FTSE-100 is up 1% on the month and 7% on the year. Oil is down 2% on the month and down 8% on the year. Gold is down 4% and 10% on the year. Topic: Economic situation
• Inflation: International: Economic indicators page Published 01 March 2013 | Standard notes SN02794 UK inflation as measured by the Consumer Prices Index was 2.7% in the year to January 2013, unchanged for the fourth month in a row. The flash estimate of Eurozone inflation in the year to February 2013 was 1.8%, down from 2.0% in January. Topic: Economic policy, Economic situation, World economy
• Social Indicators Published 01 March 2013 | Research papers RP13/16 A compendium of the latest social statistics. This edition includes articles on: Why has crime fallen around the world?; International Year of Statistics. Topic: Crime, Statistics policy
• The History of the Parliamentary Franchise Published 01 March 2013 | Research papers RP13/14 This paper gives a history of the Parliamentary franchise and shows the incremental stages which led to universal suffrage across the UK by drawing on several of the recognised sources which have dealt with the subject and by referring to the key legislation. Topic: Elections, Electoral franchise
• MPs' Pension Scheme - 2012 onwards Published 01 March 2013 | Standard notes SN06283 This note provides an overview of MPs' pensions and current proposals for reform. Further detail on the background can be found in SN 01844 MPs Pension Scheme - background Topic: Members of Parliament, Pensions
• By-elections since 2010 General Election Published 01 March 2013 | Standard notes SN05833 This note sets out results of by elections since the 2010 General Election. It will be updated as by-elections occur. Topic: By-elections, Election results : UK, Elections