Research Briefing
The Localism Act 2011 allows parish councils and groups of people from the community, called neighbourhood forums, to formulate Neighbourhood Development Plans and Orders, to guide and shape development in a particular area. This briefing examines these powers and reviews of their effectiveness and describes recent changes to relevant provisions in the National Planning Policy Framework.
Insight
The ONS's latest projections estimate that there will be an average of 159,000 new households per year, compared to 210,000 in the previous projections.
Research Briefing
This briefing paper explains the Coalition Government's starter homes initiative. The homes were to be available at a minimum 20% discount on market value to first-time buyers under the age of 40. The paper outlines legislative provisions in the Housing and Planning Act 2016 to enact the initiative, together with planning policy reforms and a £1.2 billion Starter Homes Land Fund to support starter homes delivery. No starter homes were built and the policy appears to have been replaced by First Homes. This paper is historic and will not be updated.
Debate Pack
This pack has been produced ahead of the debate to be held of the General Debate to be held in the Commons Chamber on Tuesday 6 February 2018 on Housing, Planning and the Green Belt. The subject for this debate has been selected by the Backbench Business Committee.
Research Briefing
The Government published its 25-year plan to improve the environment on 11 January 2018. This briefing paper provides an overview and background to the plan, picks out key themes and commitments, and provides a summary of stakeholder reaction.
Debate Pack
A Westminster Hall debate on Unauthorised encampments is scheduled for Thursday 12 October 2017 at 1.30pm. The Member leading the debate is Wendy Morton MP.
Debate Pack
MPs will debate new housing design in Westminster Hall on Tuesday 5 September 2017 from 11.30am to 1pm . The debate will be opened by Neil Parish MP. This House of Commons Library debate pack outlines design policy and issues and provides some of the media and parliamentary coverage.
Research Briefing
Glyphosate was re-approved for use in the EU in November 2017 and the legal act enabling this was adopted in December 2017. This approval was subject to delay as a range of scientific evidence was considered regarding potential health risks with fierce debate over a number of years.
Research Briefing
This briefing concentrates on the interaction between bees and a group of insecticides - known as neonicotinoids - which have been in the spotlight after a number of studies yielded evidence (although much of that evidence is contested) of sub-lethal, harmful effects on bees. In July 2015, the UK Government granted an emergency authorisation for the use of restricted neonicotinoids on oil seed rape seeds in four English counties. Similar application for emergency authorisations for 2016 and 2017 were rejected.
Debate Pack
This pack has been prepared ahead of the general debate on drugs policy to be held in the Commons Chamber on Tuesday 18 July 2017.
Research Briefing
The Grenfell Tower fire has raised questions about how agencies plan for and respond to civil contingencies. This briefing looks at emergency planning in the UK.
Debate Pack
MPs will debate The Introduction of an opt-out system for organ donation in England, in Westminster Hall on Thursday 13 July at 3.00pm. The Member in charge of this debate is Dan Jarvis MP. This House of Commons Library debate pack provides some background information and parliamentary and media coverage of the issues.
Research Briefing
The UK agriculture and horticulture sectors have long relied on migrant labour. This reliance has increased in recent years due to the seasonal nature of demand and falling unemployment in the UK. This briefing therefore examines current concerns within the industry about a labour shortage and further concerns about the impact of Brexit might have on labour supply. One solution but forward by some has been the return of the Seasonal Agricultural Workers scheme (or something very like it), and the briefing provides a background on this. The Seasonal Agricultural Workers scheme is the subject of a Westminster Hall debate on 6 July 2017. The debate is sponsored by Neil Parish, who was chair of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee in the last Parliament. The Committee produced a report Feeding the nation: labour constraints in April 2017
Research Briefing
Key Issues 2017 is a series of short briefings on the topics that will take centre stage in UK and international politics in the new Parliament. Written by impartial Commons Library specialists, these articles are designed to help the reader get up to speed quickly on issues such as; Brexit, the housing crisis, the future of devolution and much more.
Research Briefing
The House of Commons Library has published a briefing paper examining the recent history of the EU authorisation for glyphosate.
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