Work and incomes

The Troubled Families Programme (TFP) is a programme in England administered by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG). The programme conducts targeted interventions for families experiencing multiple problems, including crime, anti-social behaviour, truancy, unemployment, mental health problems and domestic abuse. This briefing examines the TFP since 2012, details MHCLG evaluations of the programme, and describes recent commentary and potential future directions for the programme.

This short paper summarises trends in unemployment rates and looks at how rates vary by ethnicity, age and gender.

This briefing paper provides statistics on the size of the gender pay gap in the UK, looks at some of the reasons why the gender pay gap arises and discusses the duty on large employers to report on the size of the gender pay gap in their workforce.

This note sets out the rules regarding the tax treatment of alcohol and tobacco purchases made by passengers, and sets out proposals the Government has published for reforming these rules in the context of Brexit, and the UK’s departure from the EU single market.

This paper covers some of the most frequently asked questions on cycling, walking and micro-mobility policy of interest to MPs and their staff.

This briefing paper describes the findings of the United Nations (UN) Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities’ investigation into the UK in 2016, the UK and Devolved Government reactions, and subsequent developments, including the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on disabled persons’ rights.

A Westminster Hall debate on the ‘Future of Work’ has been scheduled for Thursday 19 November 2020 from 3pm. The debate has been initiated by Kirsten Oswald MP.

This Library briefing note summarises the levels of fuel poverty across the UK, policies to address fuel poverty, and stakeholder comment on the issue.

This House of Commons Library briefing paper outlines temporary measures to assist homeowners to manage their mortgage payments during the coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak. It considers lenders’ obligations towards homeowners who are struggling with their mortgage payments, outlines possible sources of advice for mortgagors, and discusses the mortgage support schemes that were introduced in response to the 2008 financial crisis.

This note sets out the background to the Government's policy on freeports.

This paper discusses the background to the Government's proposals, announced in the 2018 Budget, to introduce a Digital Services Tax from April 2020, in the context of wider concerns as to the challenge of taxing digital businesses and moves to agree reforms to the international tax system.

A Westminster Hall debate on the ‘Future of the Union Learning Fund’ has been scheduled for Wednesday 18 November 2020 from 9.30am. The debate has been initiated by Lilian Greenwood MP.

In the 2016 Budget the Government announced the introduction of the Loan Charge - a major initiative to tackle the mass marketing of tax avoidance ‘loan schemes’. Since the legislation establishing the Loan Charge was introduced, there have been many concerns as to its design and the financial difficulties facing taxpayers who used these schemes to either settle with HMRC or pay the Charge. In the 2020 Budget the Government confirmed it would implement a series of reforms to the Loan Charge, following the recommendations of an independent review, chaired by Sir Amyas Morse.

A Westminster Hall debate on 'The covid-19 outbreak and employment rights' has been scheduled for Tuesday 17 November 2020.

This note looks at the way alcoholic drinks are taxed, the Labour Government's introduction of a 'duty escalator' in 2008, and the concerns in the pub trade at the impact of this policy. It goes on to discuss the Coalition Government decision to remove the duty escalator in two stages in 2013 and 2014, and the current Government's approach to the taxation of alcohol.