Research briefings

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• The abolition of sentences of Imprisonment for Public Protection Published 26 April 2013 | Standard notes SN06086 The Government has abolished sentences of imprisonment for public protection (IPPs) for offenders convicted on or after 3 December 2012, and replaced them with different sentences for dangerous offenders. However the change was not made retrospective. The change in the law will not apply to people currently serving these sentences. Topic: Administration of justice, Crimes of violence, Criminal law, Prisons
• Tax Relief for Childcare Published 26 April 2013 | Standard notes SN00019 This note discusses the current, limited, tax relief given for employer-provided childcare, and the case that has been made for wider relief on these costs. A second Library note gives an overview of Government policies on childcare since 1997 (SN6382). Topic: Child care, Taxation
• The Leveson Report: implementation Published 26 April 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
• “Public Service Mutuals” and the Fire Service Published 26 April 2013 | Standard notes SN06590 This note examines the controversy over reports that Cleveland Fire Brigade is proposing becoming a "Public Service Mutual", with Government support. Topic: Emergency services, Fire services
• United Arab Emirates uncovered Published 26 April 2013 | Standard notes SN06619 The latest development from the oil-rich nation of United Arab Emirates Topic: Human rights, Middle East
• PIL: Number of Commons sitting days by session since 1945 Published 26 April 2013 | Standard notes SN04653 Amended 29 April 2013 This PIL lists the number of Commons sitting days by session since 1945 Topic: House of Commons
• HE in England from 2012: Funding and finance Published 26 April 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
• Support for Mortgage Interest scheme Published 25 April 2013 | Standard notes SN06618 Help with mortgage costs is available to claimants of certain means-tested benefits for people not in full-time work. The schemes are collectively known as Support for Mortgage Interest (SMI). Payments are made towards mortgage interest payments and are generally made direct to lenders. Topic: Benefits policy, Homelessness, Housing, Housing benefits, Owner occupation, Pensions, Sickness, disability and carers' benefits, Working age benefits
• Components of GDP: Economic Indicators page Published 25 April 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
• Self Invested Personal Pension Schemes (SIPPS) Published 25 April 2013 | Standard notes SN03697 Amended 29 April 2013 Looks at some of the issues raised in connection with SIPPS, such as the restrictions on investments and the regulatory framework. Topic: Pensions
• Select bibliography of terrorism resources Published 25 April 2013 | Standard notes SN05866 A selective bibliography of terrorism resources. This includes reports on terrorism legislation by the Independent reviewer and government policy. Topic: Terrorism
• PIL: House of Commons Budget Debates and Finance Bills Published 25 April 2013 | Standard notes SN02271 Budget dates and Chancellors since 1968 Topic: Legislative process, Parliamentary procedure
• Managing Online Identity Published 25 April 2013 | POST notes POST PN 434 Topic: Information technology, Internet and cybercrime
• Military Search and Rescue to end in 2016 Published 25 April 2013 | Standard notes SN06617 The Royal Air Force and the Royal Navy will no longer provide a Search and Rescue Helicopter service in the UK after March 2016. A wholly civilian service run by Bristow Helicopters Ltd and managed by the Department for Transport will provide the Search and Rescue Helicopter capability for the UK. Topic: Armed forces, Aviation, Shipping
• Railways: British Transport Police Published 24 April 2013 | Standard notes SN03119 This note looks at the structure and funding of the British Transport Police. Topic: Police, Railways
• Age-related personal allowance Published 24 April 2013 | Standard notes SN06158 All taxpayers are entitled to receive a personal allowance to set against their income for tax purposes. Individuals aged 65 and over have been entitled to receive an additional allowance; an extra addition has been made for those age 75 and over. This note gives details of the allowance and the Government's decision, first announced in Budget 2012, to phase it out from 2013/14. Topic: Taxation
• Unemployment by ethnic background Published 24 April 2013 | Standard notes SN06385 The unemployment rate varies considerably among different ethnicities. This note analyses unemployment by ethnic background, with further breakdowns by age and gender. Topic: Ethnic groups, Unemployment
• 0845 numbers Published 24 April 2013 | Standard notes SN06235 The use of non-geographic telephone numbers, such as those beginning 0845, has been controversial – particularly in the context of the delivery of public services by bodies such as HM Revenue and Customs. Topic: Telecommunications
• Extending home ownership: Government initiatives Published 23 April 2013 | Standard notes SN03668 An overview of Government initiatives aimed at assisting people into home ownership. Topic: Housing, Owner occupation, Social rented housing
• Queen's Speech 2013 Published 23 April 2013 | Standard notes SN06580 This Standard Note gathers together announcements from ministers and speculation from commentators on the issues that might be included in the forthcoming Queen’s Speech. Topic: Central government, Parliament