Research briefings

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• The Protection from Harassment Act 1997 Published 24 May 2013 | Standard notes SN06648 This note gives a broad outline of the criminal and civil remedies which the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 can give Topic: Anti-social behaviour, Crime
• Financial Indicators: Economic Indicators page Published 24 May 2013 | Standard notes SN05207 The FTSE-100 is up 5% on the month and up 27% on the year. Oil is up 2% on the month and down 3% on the year. Gold is down 4% on the month and down 13% on the year. Topic: Economic situation
• PIL: Current Members Related to Other Current or Former Members Published 24 May 2013 | Standard notes SN04809 MPs who have family members that are are also current or former Members Topic: Members of Parliament
• Business and Consumer Confidence: Economic Indicators page Published 24 May 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
• Inflation: International: Economic indicators page Published 24 May 2013 | Standard notes SN02794 UK inflation was 2.4% in the year to April 2013, down from 2.8% in March. Eurozone inflation in the year to April 2013 was 1.2%, down from 1.7% in March. Topic: Economic policy, Economic situation, World economy
• Gross Domestic Product: Economic Indicators page Published 24 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
• In brief: UK withdrawal from Afghanistan Published 24 May 2013 | Standard notes SN06515 The drawdown of British troops in Afghanistan has begun. The number of British troops in Afghanistan will be reduced to 5,200 by the end of 2013. Topic: Afghanistan, Armed forces, Military operations
• Water bills - are they affordable to all? Published 24 May 2013 | Standard notes SN06596 Water affordability problems have grown with real-term increases in water bills of around 50% since privatisation in 1989. Current UK Government policy might not ensure that water bills are affordable to all those on low incomes, although support is available for some vulnerable households. Topic: Consumers, Water, Water industry
• Water bills and rateable values Published 24 May 2013 | Standard notes SN06647 Members of the public often contact their water company or MP complaining that their water bill is much higher than their neighbour’s because of differences to the rateable value of the properties. However, rateable values cannot be changed. Opting for a water meter might be the best option for households seeking to reduce their water bill. Topic: Consumers, Water, Water industry
• Voting Behaviour in the EU Council Published 23 May 2013 | Standard notes SN06646 This Note looks at the voting behaviour of Member States in the EU Council when a Qualified Majority is required for the adoption of an EU measure, and at other factors which may influence the outcome of a QMV decision. It also considers the UK’s voting record and possible future scenarios when the voting rules change and the Eurozone expands. Topic: Economic and monetary union, EU Council of Ministers
• Components of GDP: Economic Indicators page Published 23 May 2013 | Standard notes SN02787 Latest data on the components that make up GDP, including household consumption, government spending, investment, net trade and output by sector. Topic: Economic situation
• Post-Legislative Scrutiny Published 23 May 2013 | Standard notes SN05232 This note outlines the background to and the Government’s approach to post-legislative scrutiny. By January 2013, 58 memorandums on post-legislative assessments had been published. The note also gives some details of individual inquiries held by Select Committees in response to the publication of several Memorandums, as well as some detail on post-legislative scrutiny in the House of Lords. Topic: Legislative process, Parliament
• Railways: High Speed Rail (Preparation) Bill (Bill 10 of 2013-14) Published 23 May 2013 | Standard notes SN06624 In the 2013 Queen’s Speech the Government announced a ‘paving bill’ to authorise further spending on preparation for the HS2 project. This short note will cover the Parliamentary stages of the paving bill through to Royal Assent. Topic: Railways
• A minimum price for alcohol? Published 23 May 2013 | Standard notes SN05021 In public debate the term “minimum pricing” has been used generically to refer to two different policies. The first is to set a minimum price per unit of alcohol. The second is to ban the sale of alcohol below cost price. Topic: Alcoholism, Competition, Licensing
• Civil legal aid: changes since 1 April 2013 Published 23 May 2013 | Standard notes SN06645 This note examines the changes made by the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 and some of the further changes proposed in the Ministry of Justice’s most recent consultation paper. Topic: Civil law, Legal aid
• Service industries: Economic Indicators page Published 23 May 2013 | Standard notes SN02786 The service industry incorporates the retail sector, the financial sector, the public sector, business administration and cultural activities . Topic: Economic situation, Service industries
• National Citizen Service Published 23 May 2013 | Standard notes SN06364 The National Citizen Service (NCS) is a voluntary programme for 16 year olds, designed to take place after pupils have finished year 11. Topic: Children and families, Voluntary organisations
• Retail Sales: Economic Indicators page Published 23 May 2013 | Standard notes SN02818 The annual increase in the value of retail sales in the three months to April 2013 was 1.0%. Topic: Economic situation, Service industries
• Inflation: Economic Indicators page Published 23 May 2013 | Standard notes SN02792 Summary of latest inflation data from both the CPI and RPI inflation indexes. Topic: Economic policy, Economic situation
• High cost consumer credit Published 22 May 2013 | Standard notes SN05849 This note outlines issues about high cost credit lending and attempts to reform it. It looks at evidence from various academic research and other reports into the impact of the sector on individuals both here and abroad. It also looks at the opportunities for other lenders to enter the market and to offer more competition to the current market leaders. Topic: Financial services