Economy

On Thursday 9 July 2020, there will be a debate in the House of Commons on the Spending of the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. The subject for this debate was selected by the Backbench Business Committee following the publication of the Central Government Supply Estimates 2020-21 on 4 May 2020.

On Thursday 9 July there will be an Estimates Day debate in the House of Commons Chamber on “The merger between DFID and the FCO and the implications for expenditure of Official Development Assistance (ODA) across government.” The debate will be led by Sarah Champion and Tom Tugendhat, the respective chairs of the International Development Committee and the Foreign Affairs Committee.

The Library has published a series of briefings on international dimensions of the coronavirus pandemic since March 2020, ranging from general surveys of its impact on developing countries to assessments of its effects in specific situations. Links to these briefings can be found here.

This note gives some key statistics on UK-Commonwealth trade.

The so-called level playing field - rules on competition, state aid, taxation, labour and environmental standards, and climate change - are one of the main causes of disagreement between the UK and EU in the negotiations on their future partnership. This paper explains the commitments that both parties are proposing in these areas in order to come to a deal.

This Commons Library briefing paper provides answers to a number of frequently asked questions on the Government's Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme. It covers the second Treasury Direction and the new rules for the flexible furlough scheme.

This policy limits the total amount that Government can spend on certain benefits, including tax credits and housing benefit. Not to be confused with the household benefits cap which limits the amount individual households can receive.

Economic output fell by one fifth during April when lockdown measures were at their most stringent. This Insight will set the April GDP figures in context.

This paper provides a timeline of the major events leading up to the EU referendum and subsequent dates of note, looking ahead to expected events as the UK and EU negotiate the UK's exit.

The tables in this paper provide a summary of the UK and EU positions in the future relationship negotiations, based on their proposed draft treaty texts and other publicly available statements

A summary of the process and details of the 2020-21 Main Estimates, the way in which Parliament approves the Government's spending plans.

This note aims to answer some FAQs related to the budget deficit.

Sharp falls in GDP, increases in claims for unemployment-related benefits, and an increase in government borrowing: the coronavirus lockdown is having a profound effect on the economy.