Parliament Archives

Research Briefing

Brexit: what happens next?

Thursday, 30 June, 2016

Now that the UK has voted to leave the EU, what will happen next? This Commons Library briefing paper looks at the immediate consequences of the vote and some of the longer term implications. This paper considers various questions about UK withdrawal from the EU and what is likely to happen in the coming weeks and months. The issues include the method of leaving the EU, continuing parliamentary scrutiny of EU business and the withdrawal negotiations, and the implications of Brexit for Scotland and Gibraltar.
Research Briefing

Wales Bill 2016-17

Monday, 13 June, 2016

Briefing paper for the second reading of the Wales Bill 2016-17.
Research Briefing

Impeachment

Monday, 06 June, 2016

Impeachment was a means by which Parliament could prosecute and try individuals, normally holders of public office, for high treason or other crimes and misdemeanours. Impeachment is considered obsolete, as it has been superseded by other forms of accountability, and the rules underpinning the procedure have not been adapted to modern standards of democracy or procedural fairness
Research Briefing

Select Committees: evidence and witnesses

Thursday, 02 June, 2016

This Commons Library briefing paper reviews the power of select committees “to send for persons, papers and records”, that is to obtain oral and written evidence. The Paper considers arguments that have been made to increase select committees’ abilities to enforce these powers without recourse to the House. It reviews the arguments for requiring witnesses to give evidence on oath to select committees.
Research Briefing

EU Referendum: analysis of the UK’s new EU Settlement

Thursday, 26 May, 2016

This Commons Library briefing looks at the new Settlement for the United Kingdom within the European Union agreed at the European Council on 17-19 February 2016. The Settlement consists of seven texts: a Decision and a Statement of Heads of State or Government and five Declarations.
Research Briefing

National Assembly for Wales Elections: 2016

Thursday, 19 May, 2016

It was the first Assembly election when all three UK-wide parties: Conservative, Labour and Liberal Democrats lost seats. Labour fell short of a majority and won 29 of the 60 seats in the National Assembly. The Conservatives, for the first time, did not increase their seat count loosing 3 seats.
Research Briefing

A British Bill of Rights?

Wednesday, 18 May, 2016

The Conservative Party went into the 2015 General Election with a manifesto commitment to “scrap the Human Rights Act and curtail the role of the European Court of Human Rights.” This note provides a brief introduction to the Human Rights Act 1998; the European Convention on Human Rights and the work of the European Court of Human Rights.
Research Briefing

Queen’s Speech 2016

Tuesday, 17 May, 2016

This Commons Library Briefing Paper identifies issues and bills that may appear in the Queen’s Speech, which will outline the Government's legislative programme for the 2016-17 Session of Parliament.
Insight

Steel in crisis: timeline and events in Parliament

Wednesday, 27 April, 2016
Research Briefing

Members’ pay and expenses 2015/16

Thursday, 31 March, 2016

This House of Commons Library Briefing Paper reviews changes in Members' salaries and the Members' expenses scheme since the responsibility for determining pay and expenses was transferred to the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority.
- Research Briefing
- Parliament
Research Briefing

Political party funding: controversies and reform since 1997

Thursday, 24 March, 2016

This House of Commons Library Briefing Paper gives background to the main controversies around, and attempts to reform, political party funding since 1997.
Research Briefing

All-women shortlists

Monday, 07 March, 2016

This note looks at the background to the Sex Discrimination (Election Candidates) Act 2002 which allowed political parties to draw up all-women shortlists of candidates for elections; and its extension. It gives details of Labour candidates selected through all-women shortlists and methods of positive action used by the main political parties to increase the number of women MPs.
Research Briefing

House of Commons Members’ Fund

Monday, 29 February, 2016

Looks at current legislation to reform the House of Commons Members' Fund, set up in 1939 (before a pension scheme was established) to help former Members and their dependants in financial difficulty.
Research Briefing

The Parliament Acts

Thursday, 25 February, 2016

This House of Commons Library Briefing Paper sets out the procedures governing the use of the Parliament Acts of 1911 and 1949. It notes occasions when they have been used and also reports on challenges to the validity of the Parliament Acts.
- Research Briefing
- Parliament
Research Briefing

Women around the world: International Women’s Day 2016

Monday, 22 February, 2016

This briefing gives an introduction to International Women’s Day, celebrated on the 8th of March. It examines a variety of indicators for women’s equality both in the UK and internationally.

Total results (page 40 of 65)