Research Briefing

Data and latest developments on interest rates and quantitative easing policy from the UK (Bank of England), Eurozone (European Central Bank) and the US (Federal Reserve).

This Library Paper looks at Government plans to regulate harmful content online.

Businesses since 2000, small businesses, business by region, businesses by industry, business births and deaths and information on female representation in business. It also features some discussion of the sources of business statistics and their coverage.

This note discusses the way sanitary protection is charged VAT - more specifically, the Labour Government’s decision, announced in the March 2000 Budget, to introduce a 5% rate on sanitary protection, the lowest rate then permissible due to EU VAT rules, and the current Government’s announcement in the 2020 Budget that a zero rate will apply from 1 January 2021.

Business and Consumer Confidence: Information on business and consumer confidence surveys, which is generally released ahead of official statistical data and can indicate changes to the economic outlook as well as turning points in the economic cycle.

Service industries: Data for the sector that incorporates the retail sector, the financial sector, the public sector, business administration and cultural activities.

A Commons Library briefing on the financial resilience of local authorities.

This Commons briefing provides an outline of the main measures of the new Corporate Insolvency and Governance Act 2020. The Act introduces permanent measures to update the UK insolvency regime, and temporary measures to give struggling businesses a lifeline during the current coronavirus crisis.

This landing page features a new series of Commons Library briefings on the policies, capabilities and programmes of the nuclear weapon states.

Latest data on government net borrowing and net debt.

This Commons Library briefing paper provides an overview of the rules which affect getting divorced where there is a cross-border element, including divorces involving residents or nationals of EU Member States.

The Government is reviewing its policy on restricting asylum seekers' rights to work. The current position is that people seeking asylum can only apply for permission to work if they have been waiting for an initial decision on their asylum claim for over 12 months. Those who are given permission can only do skilled jobs on the Shortage Occupation List.