Research briefings

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• Succession to the Crown Bill (HL Bill 81 of 2012–13) Published 11 February 2013 | Library notes LLN 2013/005 The Succession to the Crown Bill makes changes to the laws of succession to the Crown. This Library Note summarises the proceedings which have taken place on the Bill during its passage through the House of Commons, ahead of the Bill’s second reading debate in the House of Lords on 14 February 2013. Topic: Church and state, Constitution, Crown, Equality, Religious discrimination, Sex discrimination
• Welfare Benefits Up-rating Bill (HL Bill 78 of 2012-13) Published 06 February 2013 | Library notes LLN 2013/004 The Welfare Benefits Up-rating Bill implements an announcement by the Chancellor in the 2012 Autumn Statement that increases in certain working-age welfare benefits and tax credits would be limited to 1 percent, rather than increasing them in line with inflation. This Library Note is intended to provide background information in advance of the Bill’s second reading in the House of Lords on 11 February 2013. Topic: Benefits policy, Family benefits, Housing benefits, Incomes and poverty, Sickness, disability and carers' benefits, Working age benefits
• Antarctic Bill (HL Bill 76 of 2012-13) Published 28 January 2013 | Library notes LLN 2013/003 Amended 29 January 2013 The Antarctic Bill would implement Annex VI (the ‘Liability Annex’) to the Antarctic Treaty’s Environmental Protocol and sets out measures to reduce risks of environmental emergencies in Antarctica. It would also make a number of changes to the Antarctic Act 1994 to give additional protection to the Antarctic environment. This Library Note provides background information in advance of the Bill’s second reading in the House of Lords on 1 February 2013. Topic: Environmental protection, International law
• Debate on 31 January: Prime Minister’s Speech on Europe Published 25 January 2013 | Library notes LLN 2013/002 Amended 28 January 2013 This Library Note provides a short history of Prime Ministerial speeches on Europe since 1970; outlines Government policy towards Europe since 2010; summarises David Cameron’s speech and selected reaction to it; and considers some aspects of the proposed renegotiation and referendum. It concludes with information about trends in public opinion towards Britain’s membership of the EU. Topic: EU law and treaties, EU political integration, Europe
• Debate on 24 January: Multilateral Nuclear Disarmament Published 21 January 2013 | Library notes LLN 2013/001 Amended 22 January 2013 This Library Note provides background reading in advance of the debate to be held on 24 January on the prospects for multilateral nuclear disarmament, and the contribution which Britain could make. Topic: Arms control
• Growth and Infrastructure Bill (HL Bill 72 of 2012–13) Published 24 December 2012 | Library notes LLN 2012/046 The purpose of the Growth and Infrastructure Bill is to promote investment in infrastructure projects, reduce delays in the planning system and introduce a new employment status of employee shareholder. This Library Note provides background information for the second reading of the Bill in the House of Lords on 8 January 2013. Topic: Countryside, Economic situation, Employment, Housing, Local government, Planning
• Public Service Pensions Bill (HL Bill 67 of 2012–13) Published 14 December 2012 | Library notes LLN 2012/045 Amended 17 December 2012 The Public Service Pensions Bill sets out new arrangements for the creation of schemes for the payment of pensions and other benefits. This Library Note provides background information for the second reading of the Bill in the House of Lords on 19 December 2012. Topic: Pensions
• Debate on 17 December: European Union (Croatian Accession and Irish Protocol) Bill (HL Bill 59) and European Union (Approvals) Bill [HL] (HL Bill 57) Published 12 December 2012 | Library notes LLN 2012/044 Amended 13 December 2012 This Library Note provides background information in advance of the second readings in the House of Lords of the European Union (Croatian Accession and Irish Protocol) Bill and the European Union (Approvals) Bill. Topic: EU enlargement, EU institutions, EU law and treaties
• Debate on 14 December: Older People Published 10 December 2012 | Library notes LLN 2012/043 Amended 11 December 2012 This Library Note provides background reading in advance of the debate to be held on 14 December 2012 on the place and contribution of older people in society. Topic: Older people
• Autumn Statement 2012: Reaction Published 06 December 2012 | Library notes LLN 2012/042 Amended 07 December 2012 This Library Note provides a brief summary of the key measures announced yesterday in the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement, before outlining the immediate reaction to the Statement as expressed by the Shadow Chancellor in the House of Commons and by a range of organisations and commentators. Topic: Economic policy, Economic situation, Public expenditure, Taxation
• Leveson Report: Reaction Published 30 November 2012 | Library notes LLN 2012/041 This Library Note summarises a selection of the reaction and comment expressed immediately following the publication of the report of Lord Justice Leveson’s Inquiry into the Culture, Practices and Ethics of the Press. Topic: Press
• Debate on 29 November: Diabetic Services Published 26 November 2012 | Library notes LLN 2012/040 This Library Note looks at the government’s strategy on diabetes services and care, and at the implementation of the strategy. In particular, it summarises the National Service Framework on Diabetes and reviews of the operation of the Framework, before presenting statistical evidence on the implementation of adult diabetes services in England. Topic: Diseases, Health services
• Debate on 22 November: Successor Framework to the Millennium Development Goals Published 19 November 2012 | Library notes LLN 2012/039 This Library Note provides background reading on the successor framework to the Millennium Development Goals. Topic: Human rights, International development, United Nations
• Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Bill (HL Bill 45 of 2012–13) Published 09 November 2012 | Library notes LLN 2012/038 Amended 12 November 2012 The Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Bill includes measures for changes to competition policy, to employment law, and for reducing regulation, as well as provisions on the Green Investment Bank, directors’ remuneration, copyright and planning. This Library Note provides background reading in advance of the Bill’s second reading in the House of Lords. Topic: Competition, Employment, Financial institutions, Financial services, Insolvency, Intellectual property, Local government, Planning
• Debate on 8 November: Olympic and Paralympic Games Legacy Published 06 November 2012 | Library notes LLN 2012/037 This Library Note explores the impact of the London 2012 Olympics on the UK economy, regeneration, sport and the broader cultural effects of hosting the Games. Topic: Regeneration, Sports and Olympic Games, Tourism
• Debate on 25 October: Looked-after Children Published 22 October 2012 | Library notes LLN 2012/036 This Library Note provides background reading for the debate on looked-after children on 25 October. Topic: Child care, Children's social services, Sexual offences
• Infrastructure (Financial Assistance) Bill (HL Bill 43 of 2012–13) Published 19 October 2012 | Library notes LLN 2012/035 The Infrastructure (Financial Assistance) Bill would authorise the Government to provide financial assistance of up to £50 billion to support infrastructure projects. This Library Note summarises proceedings in the House of Commons on the Bill. Topic: Economic policy, Public expenditure
• Debate on 18 October: Scott Expedition to Antarctica and Scientific Legacy Published 15 October 2012 | Library notes LLN 2012/034 Amended 16 October 2012 This Library Note provides background reading for the debate to be held on Thursday, 18 October: “the centenary of the Scott Expedition to Antarctica and of the United Kingdom’s enduring scientific legacy and ongoing presence there”. Topic: Climate change, Cultural heritage, International law, Research and innovation
• House of Lords: Reform of Working Practices, 2000-2012 Published 11 October 2012 | Library notes LLN 2012/033 Amended 18 October 2012 This Library Note summarises significant proposals to change working practices and procedures in the House of Lords. Topic: House of Lords, Lord Speaker, Parliamentary procedure
• Defamation Bill (HL Bill 41 of 2012–13) Published 04 October 2012 | Library notes LLN 2012/032 This Library Note is published in advance of the second reading in the House of Lords of the Defamation Bill on 9 October 2012. Topic: Civil law, Courts