Research briefings

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• Assessing Energy Efficiency Published 25 May 2012 | POST notes POST PN 409 This POSTnote examines definitions of energy efficiency, looks at methods to measure and verify achieved energy savings and summarises UK and EU polices to promote energy efficiency. Topic: Climate change, Energy, Energy conservation, Fuel poverty, Manufacturing industries
• Calling in a planning application Published 25 May 2012 | Standard notes SN00930 This note describes how the Secretary of State can call in a planning application to determine it herself, after a public inquiry. Topic: Planning
• Personal service companies : recent debate Published 25 May 2012 | Standard notes SN05976 The 'IR35' rules to prevent the exploitation of personal service companies for tax avoidance were introduced in April 2000, following a long and contentious consultation exercise. This legislation remains very unpopular among freelancers who use this corporate form to provide services. This note looks at recent debate on how these rules might be reformed. Topic: National insurance, Taxation
• Financial Indicators: Economic Indicators page Published 25 May 2012 | Standard notes SN05207 Data on the FTSE-100 stock index, the price of oil and the price of gold. Topic: Economic situation
• Retail Sales: Economic Indicators page Published 25 May 2012 | Standard notes SN02818 The annual increase in the value of retail sales in the three months to April 2012 was 3.2%, a decrease on March’s 4.4%.ruary’s 4.4%. Topic: Economic situation, Service industries
• The eurozone crisis – rescuing Greece Published 25 May 2012 | Standard notes SN06232 Greece’s long-standing public debt problem became a crisis at the start of 2010 and has since escalated to a point where it threatens the survival of the euro. This note describes the country's May 2010 and February 2012 bail-out agreements, the results of the May 2012 elections, future prospects, and implications of euro exit Topic: Economic and monetary union, Economic situation, EU grants and loans, Europe, International economic relations, World economy
• Can Greece legally withdraw from the Euro? Published 25 May 2012 | Standard notes SN06342 This note looks at the Treaty base for EMU and some of the informal suggestions as to how Greece might leave the euro and/or the EU. Topic: Economic and monetary union, EU law and treaties, European Council
• Output and Employment by Industry: Economic Indicators page Published 25 May 2012 | Standard notes SN02786 Revised estimates suggest manufacturing output was flat in the first quarter of 2012. Services output rose by 0.1%. Construction output fell by 4.8% compared with a decrease of 0.2% in Q4 of 2011. Topic: Economic situation, Manufacturing industries
• School Sport Published 24 May 2012 | Standard notes SN06052 The purpose of this note is to outline the current debate about the provision of sport and Physical Education (PE) in schools and to highlight recent policy developments and commentary in this area. The note relates to England only. Topic: Schools, Sports and Olympic Games
• Consumer protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 Published 24 May 2012 | Standard notes SN04678 The purpose of this note is to provide a brief overview of the Regulations. Topic: Consumers
• Regulation of street traders and pedlars Published 24 May 2012 | Standard notes SN05693 This note looks at the previous Labour Government’s consultation in 2009 on the case for amending and modernising the law as it applies to the control of street trading and the certification of pedlars. It also looks at the position of the new Coalition Government. Topic: Consumers
• Gross Domestic Product: Economic Indicators page Published 24 May 2012 | Standard notes SN02783 The economy contracted by an estimated -0.3% in Q1 2012, the same as in Q4 2011. In May, HM Treasury’s average of independent economic forecasts of GDP growth for 2012 was 0.4% (downgraded from 0.6% in the April edition) and 1.7% for 2013. The Office for Budget Responsibility’s (OBR) central forecasts from March 2012 are 0.8% growth for 2012 and 2.0% for 2013. Topic: Economic situation
• Components of GDP: Economic Indicators page Published 24 May 2012 | Standard notes SN02787 Latest data on the components that make up GDP, including household consumption, government spending, investment and net trade (exports less imports). Topic: Economic situation
• Can an undischarged bankrupt open a bank account? Published 24 May 2012 | Standard notes SN06109 It is not illegal for an undischarged bankrupt to open a bank account; the difficulty may be in finding a bank that will enter into a business relationship with them. The purpose of this note is to provide a brief outline of the legal position. Topic: Insolvency
• Crime and Courts Bill (HL Bill 4 of 2012–13) Published 24 May 2012 | Library notes LLN 2012/020 The Crime and Courts Bill would establish a new National Crime Agency to combat organised crime, and contains provisions for reforms of the courts system (including judicial appointments and to allow broadcasting of certain court proceedings) as well as provisions on immigration, drug driving and community sentencing. This Library Note provides background reading in advance of the Bill’s second reading in the House of Lords. Topic: Courts, Drugs crimes, Internet and cybercrime, Legal profession
• Prison population statistics Published 24 May 2012 | Standard notes SN04334 This note provides a detailed summary of the prison population in England and Wales with a more limited analysis of the situation in Scotland. Topic: Prisons
• Work Programme Published 23 May 2012 | Standard notes SN06340 Amended 24 May 2012 Overview of the Government’s main welfare-to-work scheme designed to tackle long-term unemployment. Topic: Employment, Employment schemes, Unemployment
• Constituency casework: consumer protection Published 23 May 2012 | Standard notes SN05356 This note provides a brief introduction to UK consumer protection law. Most importantly, it refers to sources of information that may be helpful to Members’ staff when dealing with straightforward questions. Topic: Consumers
• Reforming Financial Markets VI: Solvency II Published 23 May 2012 | Standard notes SN06339 Amended 24 May 2012 This is one of a series of notes which looks at actual or proposed reforms of either certain parts of the financial services sector or reforms of certain activities. It deals with the Solvency II directive. Topic: Financial services
• Prisoners' voting rights Published 23 May 2012 | Standard notes SN01764 This standard note looks at the current position regarding convicted prisoners and the franchise. Topic: Elections, Electoral franchise, General elections, Prisons