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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Research Briefing
Oil embargo on Iran and the threat to the Straits of Hormuz
EU countries are preparing to impose a new round of sanctions on Iran, to include an embargo on the import of oil. The US has also enacted new legislation which will target the Iranian central bank and make oil trading more difficult for Iran. Iran has responded with some threatening comments about closing the Straits of Hormuz, leading to a rise in the oil price. It has also signalled that it is open to re-starting talks. This note details these developments and gives some samples of recent expert commentary.
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Research Briefing
Daylight Saving Bill: Committee Stage Report
This is a report on the House of Commons Committee Stage of the Daylight Saving Bill.
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Research Briefing
Durban Climate Conference
This note covers run up and outcome of the UN climate change conference that took place in Durban between 28 November and 11 December 2011.
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Research Briefing
Food labelling nutrition – voluntary schemes
This note covers the Food Standards Agency's voluntary system of nutritional labelling and the alternative system favoured by manufacturers
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Research Briefing
Origin Marking of Food
The note explains the EU scheme allowing some regional food names to be protected from use by producers outside the region.
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Research Briefing
North Korea’s dynastic succession
This note briefly surveys the final month's of Kim Jong-Il's rule in North Korea and, following his death on 17 December 2011, the rise of his youngest son, Kim Jong-Un, to power.
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Research Briefing
Food Supplements Directive
This note provides background information on European Directive 2002/46/EC relating to regulation of food supplements containing vitamins and minerals, including permitted contents and maximum levels. Additional information on the UK implementation of the Directive can be found in EU Bibliographies: Food Supplements Directive (SN/IA/05101).
Total results (page 74 of 85)