Research briefings

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• LIBOR, Public Inquiries & FSA Disciplinary Powers Published 02 May 2013 | Standard notes SN06376 This note summarises some of the key points relating to the LIBOR scandal. It looks at issues surrounding public inquiries and at the role and limitations of the FSA’s/FCA's disciplinary powers. Topic: Financial institutions, Financial services
• PIL: Current Members Related to Other Current or Former Members Published 02 May 2013 | Standard notes SN04809 MPs who have family members that are are also current or former Members Topic: Members of Parliament
• Party Political Broadcasts Published 02 May 2013 | Standard notes SN03354 Amended 07 May 2013 This note sets out the current arrangements for party political broadcasts including such matters as their allocation, frequency, length and content. Topic: Elections, General elections
• Damage to property by police forcing entry Published 01 May 2013 | Standard notes SN06627 This note looks at whether it is possible to get compensation for damage to a front door when the police have forced entry. Topic: Police
• Nuclear energy statistics Published 01 May 2013 | Standard notes SN03631 Amended 03 May 2013 The UK had the first civilian nuclear power station in the world and increased its nuclear output for most of the latter half of the twentieth century. The last nuclear power station to be built in the UK started operating in 1995. Since then output has fallen as some older power stations have been decommissioned. The UK now has among the lowest share of generation from nuclear of all countries with nuclear power. Some aging nuclear power stations have had their operating life extended, but the majority are due to close over the next decade. No new nuclear capacity is due to come online until around 2020. One consequence of being a pioneer of civil nuclear power is large ongoing financial liability for decommissioning old power stations and managing nuclear waste. Topic: Energy, Nuclear power
• Internet - protecting children Published 01 May 2013 | Standard notes SN06527 This note looks at recent debate and developments on how best to protect children in the online world. Topic: Internet and cybercrime
• Council tax: local referendums Published 01 May 2013 | Standard notes SN05682 Under provisions in the Localism Act 2011, local authorities, fire authorities, and Police and Crime Commissioners are required to determine whether the amount of council tax they plan to raise is excessive. A set of principles defined by the Secretary of State, and approved by the House of Commons, is used by authorities to decide if the amount to be raised is excessive. This note provides further information on this subject. Topic: Local government
• HE in England from 2012: Student numbers Published 01 May 2013 | Standard notes SN06205 New students starting higher education in England in 2012 faced higher tuition fees, potentially higher loan interest rates and longer loan durations. The Government has also introducing a new ‘core and margin’ model which introduces an element of competition into the allocation of student numbers between institutions. The impact of these changes on potential students and student numbers is seen as one key test of the success of the Government’s reforms to higher education in England. The number of new fell in 2012 as it did when fees were first introduced and then raised in the past. Any long term change to student numbers would also have important implications for the financial health of the higher education sector and the UK economy. Topic: Higher education, Students
• Industries in the UK since 1970 Published 30 April 2013 | Standard notes SN06623 This note presents data on the value and relative contribution of major industries to the UK economy since 1970. Topic: Construction industry, Economic situation, Manufacturing industries, Service industries
• UK Cases at the European Court of Human Rights since 1975 Published 30 April 2013 | 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
• Pensions: income drawdown Published 30 April 2013 | Standard notes SN00712 On retirement, people with money purchase pension schemes can buy an annuity or enter an income drawdown arrangement. This note focuses on developments in drawdown policy in recent years Topic: Pensions
• The retail industry Published 29 April 2013 | Standard notes SN06186 This note examines the economic contribution of the retail industry to the UK, recent sales data and Government policy in this area. Topic: Industry
• PIL: Opposition Day Debates 2010 - present Published 29 April 2013 | Standard notes SN06315 Opposition Day debates Topic: House of Commons
• Business rates Published 29 April 2013 | Standard notes SN06247 This note provides a brief guide to the system of non-domestic rating, better known as ‘business rates’. Topic: Local government
• Delivering public services: The growing use of Payment by Results Published 29 April 2013 | Standard notes SN06621 The Payment by Results (PbR) approach to delivery of public services is not new and is not without controversy. This note looks at current and planned projects in rehabilitation, welfare to work, the NHS, children’s social services and with rough sleepers and with vulnerable young people. Topic: Children's social services, Employment schemes, Prisons
• Public Service Pensions Bill - Lords stages Published 29 April 2013 | Standard notes SN06572 A guide to main issues of debate on the Bill in the House of Lords Topic: Pensions
• Deportation of foreign national ex-offenders Published 29 April 2013 | Standard notes SN03879 This note provides an overview of the current law and Home Office practice relating to the deportation of foreign national ex-offenders. Topic: Immigration, Prisons
• The abolition of sentences of Imprisonment for Public Protection Published 26 April 2013 | Standard notes SN06086 The Government has abolished sentences of imprisonment for public protection (IPPs) for offenders convicted on or after 3 December 2012, and replaced them with different sentences for dangerous offenders. However the change was not made retrospective. The change in the law will not apply to people currently serving these sentences. Topic: Administration of justice, Crimes of violence, Criminal law, Prisons
• Tax Relief for Childcare Published 26 April 2013 | Standard notes SN00019 This note discusses the current, limited, tax relief given for employer-provided childcare, and the case that has been made for wider relief on these costs. A second Library note gives an overview of Government policies on childcare since 1997 (SN6382). Topic: Child care, Taxation
• The Leveson Report: implementation Published 26 April 2013 | Standard notes SN06535 This note provides pointers to the developments since publication of the report. It does not attempt to summarise the complex arguments involved or differences between the various proposals for draft legislation that have been brought forward. Topic: Media, Press