Science, environment and technology Archives

Research Briefing

Landfill Tax (Qualifying Fines) Order 2015

Wednesday, 17 June, 2015

Following a consultation exercise, in December 2014 the Coalition Government confirmed that from 1 April 2015, landfill site operators would be able to use a new 'Loss on Ignition' (LOI) test, to ensure they charged the right rate of landfill tax on 'fines' - residual waste from waste processing. Operators would be able to charge the lower rate of tax on 'fines' meeting certain criteria. This Order would introduce the new test. It is not expected to have an Exchequer impact.
Research Briefing

Large energy generation projects in Wales – who will be deciding on them in future?

Thursday, 11 June, 2015

This article is by Graham Winter, National Assembly for Wales Research Service, with contributions from Louise Smith, House of Commons Library. It first appeared on In Brief. An increasingly complex picture is emerging about who will be taking decisions on large energy projects in future, with the Planning (Wales) Act 2015 about to appear on
- Research Briefing
- Energy
Insight

Large energy generation projects in Wales – who will be deciding on them in future?

Thursday, 11 June, 2015
- Insight
- Energy
Research Briefing

New Psychoactive Substances

Thursday, 04 June, 2015

This briefing paper has been withdrawn. It has been replaced by the Library briefing on the Psychoactive Substance Bill 2015.
Research Briefing

Regulating the web, the Open Internet and Net Neutrality

Wednesday, 20 May, 2015

Sir Tim Berners-Lee, creator of the World Wide Web, earlier this year warned that net neutrality—“a key element of the openness that underpins the Web and the broader Internet”—is under threat. And while internet activists cheered the announcement in February this year that the US telecommunications regulator had approved a plan to govern the internet
- Research Briefing
- Technology
Insight

Regulating the web, the Open Internet and Net Neutrality

Wednesday, 20 May, 2015
Research Briefing

Key Issues for the 2015 Parliament

Tuesday, 19 May, 2015

This book examines the key issues facing the House of Commons over the course of the 2015 Parliament - from the public finances to the UK’s membership of the EU and from school places for children to climate change.
Research Briefing

Regulating the web: The open internet and net neutrality

Monday, 18 May, 2015

Net neutrality is the concept that all information and services should have equal and open access online without regard to content, destination or source. Both net neutrality—and the associated concept of the ‘open internet’—are considered to be founding principles of the World Wide Web. Concerns that Internet Service Providers (ISPs) are looking to circumvent net neutrality principles—deciding how fast data will be transmitted and at what quality—have led to campaigns to explicitly legislate for net neutrality. Without net neutrality campaigners fear a two-tiered service with fast and slow lanes could develop. In the past few years, the EU and other countries have attempted to explicitly legislate to ensure Internet Service Providers (ISPs) operate in a net neutral fashion.
Research Briefing

Religious Slaughter of Animals

Wednesday, 18 February, 2015

Religious slaughter of animals for food without pre-stunning is currently permitted in the UK for Muslim (Halal) and Jewish (Shechita) methods in line with permitted exemptions to EU slaughter regulations which require pre-stunning. In practice, around 80% of halal meat in the UK is from animals that have been pre-stunned. The UK Government has said that it would prefer all animals to be pre-stunned before slaughter on welfare grounds but it observes the rights of religious communities. However, animal welfare groups, including the British Veterinary Association and RSPCA are calling for an end to non-stun slaughter. All parties in the debate would like to see labelling of meat which provides more consumer information on the slaughter methods used.
Research Briefing

Mitochondrial Donation

Thursday, 29 January, 2015

This note seeks to provide a summary of the role of mitochondria, mitochondrial disease and the proposed new techniques. It will also outline the investigations into these techniques that took place prior to the Government announcement; a HFEA scientific review of the safety and efficacy of methods, an ethical review of the techniques for mitochondrial replacement undertaken by the Nuffield Council on Bioethics and an HFEA public consultation. The main safety and ethical considerations associated with the introduction of these techniques into clinical practice will be discussed.
Research Briefing

Infrastructure Bill: Energy and Climate Change measures

Friday, 23 January, 2015

The Infrastrucutre Bill 2014-15 provides a number of new powers and regualtions that relate to energy and climate change. The note provides information on some of these for the Commons Report stage debate.
Research Briefing

Infrastructure Bill: Invasive species

Friday, 23 January, 2015

The Infrasctructure Bill 2014-15 contains new measures to control invasive non-native species. This paper provides an overview of debate on these parts of the Bill for the Commons' Report Stage.
Research Briefing

Control of Horses Bill 2014-15

Tuesday, 13 January, 2015

There are proposals to update fly-grazing legislation. This note covers the private Members' bill put forward by Julian Sturdy MP.
Research Briefing

UK Fishing Quota Agreements for 2015

Monday, 22 December, 2014

This House of Commons Library Standrad Note summarises the negotiations and decisions taken over UK fishing quota agreements for 2015 made under the reformed Common Fisheries Policy.
Research Briefing

Septic tanks: new regulations

Thursday, 18 December, 2014

This note explains the legislation relating to septic tanks in England.

Total results (page 70 of 91)