Research briefings

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• 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
• Financial Services (Banking Reform) Bill Published 28 February 2013 | Research papers RP13/15 Amended 01 March 2013 This, latest, financial services reform legislation brings together the final proposals for how the banking sector will look going forward. Topic: Financial institutions, Financial services
• Justice and Security Bill [HL] Committee Stage Report Published 26 February 2013 | Research papers RP13/13 This paper has been produced following the Committee Stage of the Justice and Security Bill in the House of Commons, which took place between 29 January and 7 February 2013. The Bill, which has proved contentious, was originally introduced in the House of Lords on 28 May 2012. It is aimed at modernising and strengthening the oversight of the intelligence and security services and would allow the civil courts to use ‘closed material procedures’ to hear sensitive evidence in cases that raised national security concerns. It would also preclude the courts from ordering the disclosure of sensitive information in certain circumstances. The Bill was revised significantly in the Lords and was introduced in the House of Commons on 28 November 2012. Second Reading took place on 18 December 2012. A number of noteworthy and controversial amendments were made to the Bill in Committee. Topic: Civil law, Human rights, Intelligence services
• Unemployment by Constituency, February 2013 Published 20 February 2013 | Research papers RP13/12 This paper contains labour market figures for parliamentary constituencies, as well as a summary of the latest national and regional statistics. Topic: Economic situation, Employment, Unemployment
• Children and Families Bill Published 15 February 2013 | Research papers RP13/11 Amended 21 February 2013 The Children and Families Bill introduces a wide range of legislation concerning adoption and children in care, aspects of family justice law, special educational needs, the Office of the Children’s Commissioner for England, child care, statutory rights to leave and pay for parents and adopters, time off work for ante-natal care, and the right to request flexible working. This paper has been prepared for the Second Reading of the Bill. Topic: Child care, Children and families, Divorce, Employment, Family law, Further education, Schools, Special educational needs
• The Local Government Finance Settlement 2013/14 and 2014/15 Published 08 February 2013 | Research papers RP13/10 Amended 11 February 2013 The Local Government Financial Settlement is to be debated in the House on 13 February 2013. Start-up funding assessments for non-police local authorities will fall by 4.1% in 2013/14. Topic: Local government
• Economic Indicators, February 2013 Published 05 February 2013 | Research papers RP13/9 This Research Paper series summarises the main economic indicators currently available for the UK, along with comparisons with other major OECD countries. Topic: Economic situation
• Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill Published 01 February 2013 | Research papers RP13/8 Amended 04 February 2013 The Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill was introduced into the House of Commons on 24 January 2013 and is due to have its second reading debate on 5 February 2013. It would introduce civil marriage for same sex couples, and enable religious organisations to opt in to conduct same sex marriages if they wish to do so. The Bill includes provisions intended to protect religious organisations and individuals from being forced to conduct same sex marriages. The proposals have proved highly controversial with interested parties expressing strong opinions both for and against same sex marriage. The Bill would also enable civil partners to convert their partnership to a marriage and would enable married transsexual people to gain legal recognition in their acquired gender without having to end their marriage. Topic: Civil partnerships, Family law, Marriage
• European Union (Approvals) Bill Published 31 January 2013 | Research papers RP13/7 The European Union (Approvals) Bill (HC Bill 121) aims to approve two draft EU Council decisions and one draft decision of the European Council (the EU Heads of State and Government). Topic: EU Council of Ministers, EU institutions, EU law and treaties, Europe, European Commission, European Council, Human rights
• Unemployment by Constituency, January 2013 Published 23 January 2013 | Research papers RP13/6 This paper contains labour market figures for parliamentary constituencies, as well as a summary of the latest national and regional statistics. Topic: Economic situation, Employment, Unemployment
• Groceries Code Adjudicator Bill [HL] : Committee Stage Report Published 10 January 2013 | Research papers RP13/5 This Bill creates the office of the Groceries Code Adjudicator, whose role is to enforce and oversee the Groceries Code – a code of practice that regulates the relationship between large retailers and their suppliers Topic: Competition
• Crime and Courts Bill [HL] Published 09 January 2013 | Research papers RP13/4 Amended 10 January 2013 The Bill would establish a new National Crime Agency and make a number of changes to the administration of justice. It also deals with the law of self defence as it applies to householders defending themselves from intruders; makes changes to community sentences and to immigration appeal rights; and introduces a new drug driving offence. Topic: Administration of justice, Courts, Crime, Immigration, Legal profession
• Economic Indicators, January 2013 Published 08 January 2013 | Research papers RP13/3 Amended 09 January 2013 This Research Paper series summarises the main economic indicators currently available for the UK, along with comparisons with other major OECD countries. Topic: Economic situation
• HGV Road User Levy Bill: Committee Stage Report Published 07 January 2013 | Research papers RP13/2 This Bill would provide for the introduction of an HGV road user levy from April 2014. Topic: Roads, Taxation
• Welfare Benefits Uprating Bill Published 04 January 2013 | Research papers RP13/1 Social security legislation requires the Secretary of State to review benefit levels each year to determine whether they have retained their value relative to prices. For most benefits annual uprating is not mandatory, but historically governments have ... Topic: Benefits policy, Family benefits, Housing benefits, Incomes and poverty, Sickness, disability and carers' benefits, Working age benefits
• Succession to the Crown Bill 2012-13 Published 19 December 2012 | Research papers RP12/81 The Succession to the Crown Bill would make changes so that gender would no longer play a part in determining the order of succession to the Crown, and so that a person marrying a Roman Catholic would no longer be barred from becoming or remaining monarch. It would also remove a requirement for descendants of George II to seek permission from the monarch to marry, replacing it with a requirement for the first six people in the line of succession to seek consent if they wish to remain in line to the throne. This Paper discusses the existing rules, the changes proposed by the Bill, and the process among the 16 states of which the Queen is Head of State to make the changes together. Topic: Constitution, Crown
• Justice and Security Bill Published 14 December 2012 | Research papers RP12/80 This paper has been prepared for the Second Reading of the Justice and Security Bill in the House of Commons, which is due to take place on 18 December 2012. The Bill, which has proved contentious, was originally introduced in the House of Lords on 28 May 2012. It is aimed at modernising and strengthening the oversight of the intelligence and security services and would allow the civil courts to use closed material procedures to hear sensitive evidence in cases that raised national security concerns. It would also preclude the courts from ordering the disclosure of sensitive information in certain circumstances. The Bill was revised significantly in the Lords and was introduced in the House of Commons on 28 November 2012. Topic: Administration of justice, Courts, Intelligence services, Privacy, Terrorism
• Energy Bill Published 13 December 2012 | Research papers RP12/79 Amended 17 December 2012 The Energy Bill [Bill 100 of 2012-13] seeks to implement ‘electricity market reform’ and through this achieve ‘secure, clean and affordable’ electricity supplies. The Bill was introduced to the Commons on 29 November 2012 and will have its Second Reading debate on 19 December 2012. A draft Bill was subject to pre-legislative scrutiny by the Energy and Climate Change Select Committee. Topic: Electricity, Energy, Energy conservation, Environmental protection, Fuel poverty, Nuclear power, Oil, petrol and natural gas, Renewable energy
• Growth and Infrastructure Bill: Committee Stage Report Published 13 December 2012 | Research papers RP12/78 Amended 17 December 2012 This is a report on the House of Commons Committee Stage of the Growth and Infrastructure Bill. It complements Research Paper 12/61 prepared for Commons Second Reading Topic: Countryside, Economic situation, Employment, Energy, Housing, Local government, Planning, Regeneration, Regional planning and development