Research briefings

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• International Year of Statistics: Social Indicators article Published 01 March 2013 | Standard notes SN06568 A brief article on Statistics2013 - the International Year of Statistics. This is an article in the March 2013 edition of the Social Indicators research paper. Topic: Statistics policy
• Why has crime fallen around the world?: Social Indicators article Published 01 March 2013 | Standard notes SN06567 A brief examination of the possible reasons for declining crime rates. This is an article in the March 2013 edition of the Social Indicators research paper. Topic: Crime
• PIL: Living Former MPs Published 01 March 2013 | Standard notes SN05324 A list of all known living former Members as at 28/02/2013. Topic: Members of Parliament
• North Korea: domestic developments during Kim Jong-Un’s first year in power Published 01 March 2013 | Standard notes SN06566 This note briefly surveys domestic developments in North Korea since the death of Kim Jong-Il in December 2011 and the succession of his son, Kim Jong-Un. The nuclear issue is referred to only in passing. Insofar as we can know, Kim Jong-Un appears to have consolidated power smoothly and quickly. There are signs that the new leadership wants to shift from a 'Military First' to a 'People First' policy, which will involve economic reform measures. However, there are no real signs yet of an improvement on human rights. Topic: Asia, Human rights, International economic relations, International politics and government
• The Leveson Report Published 01 March 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
• Housing Market: Economic Indicators page Published 01 March 2013 | Standard notes SN02820 Amended 04 March 2013 There were 54,791 mortgage approvals in January 2013, 2% lower than December and 5% lower than January 2012. Topic: Economic situation, Housing
• Supermarkets : The Groceries Code Adjudicator Published 01 March 2013 | Standard notes SN06124 The Coalition Government is committed to establishing a new ombudsman within the Office of Fair Trading, to enforce the code of practice between the major supermarkets and their suppliers. In May 2011 the Government published a draft Bill to create the Groceries Code Adjudicator; a final Bill was introduced on 10 May 2012 as one of the first Bills of the 2012/13 Session. This note discusses the background to this proposal. Topic: Competition
• In brief: The Arms Trade Treaty - trying again Published 01 March 2013 | Standard notes SN05802 This note surveys the state of the UN-based negotiations on an Arms Trade Treaty, which were due to be completed at a conference in New York in July 2012, but which were unable to reach agreement on a final text. However, the UN General Assembly has just agreed to convene a further UN Conference in March 2013. One way or another, the odds favour a treaty being agreed next year. Topic: Arms control, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Human rights, United Nations
• Gross Domestic Product: Economic Indicators page Published 01 March 2013 | Standard notes SN02783 The economy contracted by an estimated 0.3% in Q4 2012 (unrevised from the first estimate), following an increase of 0.9% in Q3 2012. Topic: Economic situation
• HE in England from 2012: Student numbers Published 01 March 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 students is expected to fall 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
• HE in England from 2012: Funding and finance Published 01 March 2013 | Standard notes SN06206 The Government raised the cap on tuition fees for new student to £9,000 in 2012/13 and cut most ongoing direct public funding for tuition in England. This shifted the balance of higher education funding further away from the state and further towards the individual who benefits. Students can take out publicly subsided student loans to pay these higher fees. There is uncertainty about the final size of this subsidy and hence the extent of the shift in funding from the state to the individual beneficiary. Topic: Higher education, Students
• Taxation of banking Published 28 February 2013 | Standard notes SN05251 Amended 01 March 2013 This note looks at the public debate about reforming the tax treatment of the banking sector in the wake of the recent financial crisis, before discussing the different approaches taken by the Labour Government and its Coalition successor. Topic: Financial services, Taxation
• Defence employment: Social Indicators page Published 28 February 2013 | Standard notes SN02621 A summary of statistics on defence employment. Topic: Armed forces, Employment
• Prison population: Social Indicators page Published 28 February 2013 | Standard notes SN02620 Prison population: Social Indicators page. Topic: Prisons
• Crime: Social Indicators page Published 28 February 2013 | Standard notes SN02617 Crime: Social Indicators page. By Gavin Berman and Roderick McInnes. SN/SG/2617. Topic: Crime, Crimes of violence
• Local, Scottish Parliament, Welsh Assembly and European Parliament elections: Social Indicators page Published 28 February 2013 | Standard notes SN02634 Local, Scottish Parliament, Welsh Assembly and European Parliament elections: Social Indicators page. A summary of recent election results. Topic: Election results : UK, Elections, European Parliament, Local government, National Assembly for Wales, Scottish Parliament
• Opinion polls: Social Indicators page Published 28 February 2013 | Standard notes SN02635 Opinion polls: Social Indicators page. A summary of recent opinion polls on voting intention and important issues among voters. Topic: Elections
• General Election results: Social Indicators page Published 28 February 2013 | Standard notes SN02632 General Election results: Social Indicators page. Topic: Election results : UK, Elections, General elections
• Turnout: Social Indicators page Published 28 February 2013 | Standard notes SN02633 Turnout: Social Indicators page. Summary information on turnout at elections in the UK. Topic: Election results : UK, Elections
• The Special Immigration Appeals Commission Published 28 February 2013 | Standard notes SN01083 The Special Immigration Appeals Commission Tribunal (SIAC) deals with appeals against some immigration, citizenship and asylum decisions that are made on national security, diplomatic, or other public interest grounds. Topic: Courts, Immigration, Terrorism