Research briefings

This page provides access to research briefings produced by the Libraries of the House of Commons and House of Lords and the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology (POST). You can find research briefings by sorting by date, type, or one of 350 topics. Pick your options from the dropdown menus.

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    Glossary

    • Commons Library Research Papers: in-depth and impartial analysis on every major piece of primary legislation and on other major topics of public and parliamentary concern. Regular statistics papers are also published.
    • Commons Library Standard Notes: 3,000 briefings on topical issues or frequently asked questions.
    • Lords Library Notes: Written by the research section of the House of Lords Library to provide information on topics of current interest to members
    • POSTnotes: Short briefings produced by the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology analysing policy issues that have a basis in science and technology.
    • POST Reports: Occasional major reports produced by the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology.

Displaying 1-20 out of 5014

  • Revocation of planning permission Published 22 May 2013 | Standard notes SN00905 This note covers the rarely-used procedure that occasionally allows planning permission to be revoked after it has been granted. Topic: Planning
  • Public Finances: Economic Indicators page Published 22 May 2013 | Standard notes SN02812 Excluding the effects of the £28 billion Royal Mail pension transfer and QE interest payments, borrowing in 2012/13 was £120.6 billion, 0.3% lower than in 2011/12. Topic: Economic situation, Public expenditure
  • Community Infrastructure Levy Published 22 May 2013 | Standard notes SN03890 This note covers the method of financing infrastructure called Community Infrastructure Levy. Topic: Planning, Regeneration
  • Housing complaints - the role of designated persons Published 22 May 2013 | Standard notes SN06644 This note provides information on the new role introduced by the Localism Act 2011 for "designated persons" in relation to complaints against social landlords by their tenants. Topic: Housing, Social rented housing
  • Planning Reform Proposals Published 22 May 2013 | Standard notes SN06418 This note sets out recent Government proposals to reform certain aspects of planning law and policy. Topic: Planning, Regional planning and development
  • Broadband – Update 2013 Published 22 May 2013 | Standard notes SN06643 How the Government aims to meet its targets for increasing access to faster internet connections. Topic: Internet and cybercrime, Telecommunications
  • Disputes over the British Indian Ocean Territory: a survey Published 22 May 2013 | Research papers RP13/31 Between 1968 and 1973 the British Government cleared the entire Chagos Archipelago of its inhabitants, opening the way for a US military base on the biggest island, Diego Garcia. The Archipelago was made a British overseas territory, the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT). Two main disputes have arisen from these events. One has been between the Chagos Islanders and the British Government over the legality of the former’s removal and whether they have a right to return. The other has been between the UK and Mauritius about sovereignty over the BIOT. The UK has said that it will cede sovereignty to Mauritius once the BIOT is no longer required for defence purposes. Topic: International politics and government, Overseas territories
  • Local Elections 2013 Published 22 May 2013 | Research papers RP13/30 This paper summarises the results of the local and mayoral elections held on 2 May 2013. Topic: Election results : UK
  • Flood insurance Published 21 May 2013 | Standard notes SN06613 this note outlines issues relating to flood insurance within the UK. Topic: Environmental protection, Financial services, Flooding, Water
  • Grammar school statistics Published 20 May 2013 | Standard notes SN01398 This note gives a brief summary of statistics on grammar schools –state schools that select all or virtually all of their pupils by ability. It includes trends in the number and share of pupils at grammar schools over the last 65 years and a snapshot of current grammars. Most of the data are for England only. Topic: Schools
  • PIL: Living Former MPs Published 20 May 2013 | Standard notes SN05324 A list of all known living former Members as at 20/05/2013. Topic: Members of Parliament
  • PIL: Number of by-elections since 1959 Published 20 May 2013 | Standard notes SN02383 The PIL lists the number of by-elections in each year since 1959. It also gives details of by-elections since 2005 Topic: Elections
  • Inflation: International: Economic indicators page Published 17 May 2013 | Standard notes SN02794 Eurozone inflation was 1.2% in the year to April 2013, down from 1.7% in March. UK inflation in the year to March 2013 was 2.8%, the same as in February. Topic: Economic policy, Economic situation, World economy
  • Employment: Economic Indicators page Published 17 May 2013 | Standard notes SN02796 There were 29.71 million people aged 16 and over in employment in the UK in January to March 2013. The number of people in employment decreased by 43,000 compared to the previous quarter, but was 434,000 higher than in January to March 2012. Topic: Economic situation, Employment
  • GDP - International comparisons: Economic Indicators page Published 17 May 2013 | Standard notes SN02784 Comparisons of latest GDP data and forecasts for the UK and the world's largest economies. Topic: Economic situation, International economic relations, World economy
  • Gross Domestic Product: Economic Indicators page Published 17 May 2013 | Standard notes SN02783 The economy grew by an estimated 0.3% in Q1 2013, following a contraction of 0.3% in Q4 2012. Topic: Economic situation
  • Interest Rates and the Money Supply: Economic indicators page Published 17 May 2013 | Standard notes SN02802 Latest official interest rates from the UK, euro zone and the US are shown on this page. A summary of the Bank of England’s quantitative easing policy and latest money supply data in the UK are also provided. Topic: Economic policy, Economic situation
  • Average Earnings: Economic Indicators page Published 17 May 2013 | Standard notes SN02795 Latest data on average weekly earnings, including breakdowns by public and private sectors and manufacturing and service sectors. Topic: Economic situation, Pay
  • Care Bill [HL] (HL Bill 1 of 2013-14) Published 17 May 2013 | Library notes LLN 2013/010 The Care Bill consolidates and reforms adult social care law in England. It includes provision for a cap on individual social care cost contributions and implements legislative responses to the Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust failings. This Library Note provides background information ahead of the second reading debate on the Care Bill in the House of Lords on 21 May 2013. Topic: Health finance, Health services, Health staff and professions
  • EU Bibliographies: Proposed reform of the Common Agricultural Policy Published 17 May 2013 | Standard notes SN06554 This Note brings together documents relevant to the proposals to reform the Common Agricultural Policy and its scrutiny in the UK and EU. It is not an attempt to define policy in this area. For information on policy developments contact Emma Downing on extn 6787 Topic: Agriculture, Agriculture and environment, EU law and treaties

Related information

House of Commons Library

The House of Commons Library provides research, analysis and information services for MPs and their staff.

If you have any comments on briefings from the Commons Library, please contact papers@parliament.uk.

Please note, authors are not available to discuss the contents of papers with members of the general public.

House of Lords Library

The House of Lords Library delivers research and information services to Members and staff of the House in support of parliamentary business.

Email holresearchservices@parliament.uk with comments on Lords Library Notes.

Please note that authors are not available to discuss the contents of Library Notes with members of the general public.

Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology

POST produces independent, balanced and accessible briefings on public policy issues related to science and technology. You can leave feedback at www.surveymonkey.com/postnote