Research Briefing
Reviewing and reforming business rates
A briefing paper explaining local government finance reform in the late 2010s and early 2020s.
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Debate Pack
St. Andrew’s day and Scottish Affairs
A general debate on St Andrew's day is scheduled to take place in the House of Commons Chamber on Thursday 11 December 2025. The debate was scheduled by the Backbench Business Committee and will be led by Graeme Downie MP.
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Research Briefing
Parliamentary sovereignty
A short research briefing on the principle of parliamentary sovereignty, its origins and contemporary application.
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Research Briefing
Reserved matters in the United Kingdom
A briefing paper focusing on policy matters which remain "reserved" to Westminster following the devolution of certain executive and legislative powers to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
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Research Briefing
The Armed Forces Covenant and its status in law
The Armed Forces Covenant is a statement of the moral obligation which exists between the nation, the government and the armed forces.
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Insight
Independent review of the Windsor Framework
The independent review makes recommendations to the UK Government to build cross-community support for the Windsor Framework.
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Research Briefing
The death of a monarch
The death of a monarch – and the accession of a new sovereign – involves the Cabinet, the Privy Council, Parliament, Buckingham Palace and the Church of England. This paper outlines the historical precedents for events that follow a demise of the crown.
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Insight
What are the Sewel Convention and legislative consent?
The Sewel Convention states that the UK Parliament does “not normally” legislate on devolved policy areas without consent.
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Research Briefing
The Sewel Convention and legislative consent
A research briefing on the Sewel Convention and legislative consent, examining the development of the convention and consent procedures in the UK Parliament, Scottish Parliament, Senedd and Northern Ireland Assembly
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Research Briefing
The Crown and the constitution
A briefing paper on the constitutional aspects of the Crown
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Research Briefing
The Privy Council: history, functions and membership
A briefing paper on the history, functions and membership of the Privy Council
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Research Briefing
The royal prerogative and ministerial advice
A briefing paper on the royal prerogative and ministerial advice to the Crown on both the prerogative and statutory public appointments
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Research Briefing
Petitions in the UK
This briefing paper sets out trends in petitioning to the UK Parliament and devolved institutions. It provides a range of statistics on the number of petitions, the geography of participation in petitioning, and provides information on the largest petitions submitted to the UK Parliament and other bodies.
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Research Briefing
Northern Ireland: border polls
The UK Secretary of State has the power to hold a border poll. They must hold one if they think a majority of people in Northern Ireland favour a united Ireland.
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Research Briefing
Windsor Framework: Democratic oversight and the independent review
This briefing looks at the independent review of the Windsor Framework commissioned by the government and democratic oversight of the Framework
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