Research and analysis from impartial experts
This Briefing Paper illustrates changes that have been made to procedures and practices in response to coronavirus in the House of Commons and a small selection of other parliaments.…
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This Commons Library briefing paper provides answers to a number of frequently asked questions on the Government’s new Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme. While some details of the Scheme have been published, much remains unknown. The paper considers how the Scheme will fit within the broader framework of employment law.…
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The coronavirus outbreak is causing significant disruption to the economy. Given the speed at which the outbreak has spread and the public health response to it, official economic data reflecting the impact will not be published until late April at the earliest.
Until then, a range of other sources, such as business surveys and anecdotal information, can be used to capture at least some of the impact of coronavirus on the economy. This briefing collates the economic data that is available into a single page that is frequently updated.…
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Experts warn there could be a coronavirus catastrophe in the Middle East. This is especially true in conflict zones and among refugees. The movement of fighters and refugees…
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On Monday 23 March the Prime Minister made an address to the nation in which he announced extraordinary measures to slow the spread of the coronavirus in the UK. This short briefing paper explains the new temporary powers to enforce the instruction to stay at home given by the Prime Minister.…
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Refugees camps are especially vulnerable to serious outbreaks of Covid-19. Here we look at the conditions in the world’s largest refugee settlement, Cox’s Bazar in Bangladesh, where hundreds of thousands of Rohingya have fled.
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This Commons Library briefing paper outlines the measures introduced by the Government, and other authorities, to support household finances during the coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak.…
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The Justice Secretary has told the Justice Committee that the pressure on prisons in England and Wales due to coronavirus is acute. The Chair of the Justice Committee has described prisons as “a potential hotbed for viral transmission”, stating that “they are overcrowded, understaffed and often dirty”.…
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To support the self-employed through the coronavirus outbreak the Government has announced the Self-employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS). This will pay cash grants worth 80% of total profits, up to £2,500 per month over a three-month period starting from March 2020.…
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This briefing summarises who is subject to the No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF) visa condition and how it is applied. It also identifies what state support and concessions might be available for migrants with NRPF during the coronavirus crisis. It does not cover migrants’ entitlements to NHS healthcare, or the position of European Economic Area nationals.…
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This Commons Library Briefing paper provides an overview of changes to local authority duties around the provision of adult social care during the coronavirus outbreak. …
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The UK-EU future relationship negotiations are stalled due to the coronavirus pandemic. This Insight examines the timeline for those negotiations. …
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Government debt will increase as it responds to coronavirus. In this insight we look at the basics of what government debt is, how it is funded and who it is owed to.…
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This Commons Library briefing paper provides an overview of key issues facing the NHS and social care services during the coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak, and links to official UK and international guidance and data. It also lists other reliable sources of information in the health and social care sector, including comment from organisations representing patients, staff and service providers.…
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Waste collection is a core public service. There will be continuing demands on household waste and clinical waste management in the coming weeks. The…
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House of Commons Library briefing on access to patient health records, electronic patient records, NHS data security, and the use of confidential information by the NHS. …
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