Research Briefing
Agriculture and Climate Change
This note covers some predictions of the effect of climate change on UK agriculture and forestry
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Research Briefing
Food Miles
This note discusses food miles as an indicator of the environmental impact of food production.
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Research Briefing
Broiler chickens and poultrymeat
This note covers welfare issues relating to chickens kept for meat - unlike battery hens, which are kept for eggs.
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Research Briefing
The Chagos Islanders
This note provides brief background about the situation of the Chagos Islanders, paying particular attention to the legal dispute over whether they have the right of return and the recent establishment of a Marine Protection Area around the British Indian Ocean Territory (with the exception of Diego Garcia). The note is not comprehensive in its coverage and will not be automatically updated.
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Research Briefing
The ‘conservatory tax’
Changes to the building regulations are currently being consulted upon. These have led to press reports of a ‘conservatory tax’ of up to 10% on certain home improvements, through required associated energy efficiency measures. Reports have also said that people will be forced to take out green deal loans if they cannot afford to fund these improvements.
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Research Briefing
Feed-in Tariffs: Solar PV Review
This note summarises details of Solar PV feed-in tariffs, including the various reviews of tariffs for solar, the latest consultation published in February 2012, and the Government's defeat in the courts.
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Research Briefing
Food Security – UK Policy
This note deals with UK Government policy on food security in the UK.
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Research Briefing
Agriculture – Overview
This note contains short notes on major topics along with links to further material
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Research Briefing
Allotments
This note covers issues arising from allotment gardens, including what happens when developers want to build on the site
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Research Briefing
Waste Water National Policy Statement
This note provides background information on the Waste Water National Policy Statement, which streamlines planning policy for nationally significant waste water treatment projects such as the Thames Tunnel.
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Research Briefing
The Rio+20 UN conference on sustainable development
From 20-22 June 2012 the UN will hold a conference on sustainable development in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, twenty years on from the ‘Earth Summit’ of 1992, also held in Rio. This note sets out the likely agenda for the conference and some surrounding political issues.
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Research Briefing
Battery hens
Unenriched battery cages were widely used to keep laying hens until 2012. This note covers law, welfare issues and the EU ban on this practice, and the new requirment for enriched cages.
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Research Briefing
Fluoridation
This notes sets out the positions of various groups regarding the effects of fluoridation of drinking water. It also sets out the Government's position.
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Research Briefing
The Water Industry (Financial Assistance) Bill 2010-12
The Water Industry (Financial Assistance) Bill contains two measures. One will give the Government the discretion to reduce water bills in certain regions. The other will give the Government the discretion to provide financial assistance for major water and sewage infrastructure projects. Initially the Government plans to use these powers to reduce water bills in the South West of England and to support the Thames Tunnel project.
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Research Briefing
Railways: rural and community lines
This note looks at the development of community rail under successive governments. It explains the purposes of rural rail, how it is structured, and proposals for its development.
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