• Research Briefing

    Claimant count unemployment in the new (2010) parliamentary constituencies

    New parliamentary constituency boundaries will be used at the General Election on 6 May 2010. This paper presents data from the labour market statistics currently available for these constituencies, including Job Seeker's Allowance claimant levels in 2005, 2009 and 2010, Job Seeker's Allowance claimant rates, long-term claimants, claimants aged 24 and under, and vacancies recorded at Jobcentre Plus. The data in the paper are not seasonally adjusted, and are available on a monthly basis from 2004.

  • Research Briefing

    Aviation: Open Skies

    This note outlines the bilateral aviation agreements between the Uk and the United States and the Open Skies agreement between the EU and the US which superseded it.

  • Research Briefing

    Financial Services Compensation Scheme

    This note outlines the background to and scope of the financial services compensation scheme (FSCS). Significant changes were made to the scheme in the summer of 2007 following the emergence of financial difficulties at the Northern Rock bank and in October 2008 following continued difficulties in the UK banking sector.

  • Research Briefing

    Railways: 2007 White Paper

    In July 2007 the Government published a Rail White Paper, Delivering a Sustainable Railway, incorporating the first high level operating statement (HLOS). It also published the Rail Technical Strategy. This Note gives an overview of these two documents along with responses from industry and opposition parties.

  • Research Briefing

    Digital Economy Bill [HL]

    The Bill implements aspects of Government policy on digital media set out in the ‘Digital Britain’ White Paper published in June 2009. It requires Ofcom to report on communications infrastructure and media content and gives it additional powers in relation to electromagnetic spectrum access. It imposes obligations on internet service providers to reduce online copyright infringement and allows the Secretary of State to intervene in internet domain name registration. The Bill requires Channel Four to provide public service content on a range of media and allows variation of the public service provision in Channel 3 and 5 licences. It also modifies the licensing regime to facilitate switchover to digital radio, extends the range of video games that are subject to age-related classification and includes non-print formats in the public lending right payment scheme.