Research briefings

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• The Greater London Authority Published 18 July 2013 | Standard notes SN05817 This note summarises the role and powers of the Mayor of London, including the changes introduced by the Greater London Authority Act 2007. It also describes the role and powers of the London Assembly. It provides explanations of the electoral system and the system of government within the Greater London Authority, with some notes on current policy priorities (though these are not comprehensive). Topic: Local government, Regional assemblies
• The Local Government Ombudsman Published 18 July 2013 | Standard notes SN04117 This standard note provides information on the Local Government Ombudsman service. Topic: Local government
• House of Commons Background Paper: Resignation from the House of Commons Published 18 July 2013 | Standard notes SN06395 Under a Resolution of the House of 2 March 1624, Members of Parliament cannot directly resign their seat. The only means by which a Member's seat may be vacated during the lifetime of a Parliament are through death; expulsion by resolution of the House; or disqualification, either by the voiding of the Member’s election or through accepting one of a number of offices which are incompatible with membership of the House of Commons. Members who resign in this way may contest the subsequent by-election. Topic: House of Commons, Members of Parliament, Parliament
• Recall Elections Published 18 July 2013 | Standard notes SN05089 Recall is a term used to describe a process whereby the electorate can petition to trigger a vote on the suitability of an existing elected representative to continue in office. There is no recall procedure in the UK. The Government has stated that it will legislate to introduce a power of recall. This note explains the process of recall as commonly understood and briefly examines its usage in different countries. Topic: Elections, Members of Parliament
• Pensioner benefits Published 18 July 2013 | Standard notes SN06354 Looks at the main benefits available to pensioners, in addition to the State Pension. Topic: Pensions
• Unemployment - Regional: Economic Indicators page Published 17 July 2013 | Standard notes SN02798 Over the period March 2013 to May 2013, the North East had the highest unemployment rate, at 10.4% of the economically active population. The lowest rate over the same period was 5.8% in the South West. Topic: Unemployment
• Unemployment - National: Economic Indicators page Published 17 July 2013 | Standard notes SN02797 ILO unemployment in March 2013 – May 2013 was 2.51 million (7.8% of all economically active) – down 57,000 from the previous quarter. (UK, seasonally adjusted). Topic: Unemployment
• Youth unemployment statistics Published 17 July 2013 | Standard notes SN05871 959,000 young people aged 16-24 were unemployed in March to May 2013, down 20,000 on the previous quarter and down 59,000 on the previous year. Topic: Unemployment
• Unemployment by Constituency, July 2013 Published 17 July 2013 | Research papers RP13/46 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
• Plain packaging of tobacco products Published 17 July 2013 | Standard notes SN06175 This note briefly sets out the background to the current debate in the UK on whether or not the introduction of plain packaging for all tobacco products will have a significant impact on levels of smoking. It also considers the European Commission’s review of the Tobacco Products Directive (2001/37/EC), including the merits of extending the scope of the Directive to include the introduction of plain packaging for cigarettes. Finally, this note considers the position in Australia, the first country to introduce this kind of legislation. Topic: Consumers, Health education and preventive medicine, Smoking
• Taxation of banking Published 17 July 2013 | Standard notes SN05251 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
• Calling in a planning application Published 17 July 2013 | Standard notes SN00930 This note describes the Secretary of State's power to "call-in" a planning application, to determine it himself. Topic: Planning
• Employment: Economic Indicators page Published 17 July 2013 | Standard notes SN02796 There were 29.71 million people aged 16 and over in employment in the UK in March to May 2013, up by 16,000 compared to the previous quarter and by 336,000 compared to the same period last year. Topic: Economic situation, Employment
• The Francis Report (Report of the Mid-Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust public inquiry) and the Government’s response Published 17 July 2013 | Standard notes SN06690 This briefing sets out the main issues arising from the public inquiry led by Robert Francis QC, and other preceding reports, into serious failings in care at Mid-Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust. It also provides some information on the Government’s response to the Francis report, which was published on 6 February 2013. Topic: Health services, Health staff and professions
• National Insurance numbers (NINOs) Published 17 July 2013 | Standard notes SN04281 This note discusses the process by which NINOs are allocated, the uses to which they are put, and the introduction of the 'Right to Work' test, for individuals requiring a NINO for employment purposes, in July 2006. Topic: National insurance, Taxation
• Gift Aid scheme for small donations Published 17 July 2013 | Standard notes SN06330 In the 2012 Budget the Government announced proposals to introduce a new scheme, to be introduced from April 2013, to allow charities to claim additional payments on small donations - equivalent to the way they may claim tax relief on donations made under Gift Aid. This note gives some background to the scheme and the legislation to put it in place. Topic: Charities, Taxation
• National Insurance contributions: an introduction Published 17 July 2013 | Standard notes SN04517 This note gives a short introduction to the structure of National Insurance contributions (NICs), and the debate there has been about integrating NICs with income tax. Topic: National insurance, Taxation
• Personal service companies : recent debate Published 17 July 2013 | 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
• Lobbying: July 2013 update Published 17 July 2013 | Standard notes SN06660 This Note covers the debate over a statutory register of lobbyists, and gives an update on the Government’s plans to legislate. Topic: Central government, Parliament, Public administration
• Constituency work: school-related matters Published 16 July 2013 | Standard notes SN05396 The note provides brief background and key sources on a selection of issues that are typically raised with Members by constituents (including school organisation; school admissions; transport to school; school attendance and exclusion from school; and, special educational needs provision).The note gives a very brief overview of the structure of the state-maintained school system including an outline of the different categories of schools as often an answer to a school-related constituency question may depend upon the type of school in question. Topic: Local authorities: education, Schools, Special educational needs