Research Briefing Archives

Research Briefing

The reviews of university admissions

Tuesday, 17 November, 2020

This House of Commons briefing paper discusses the university admissions system and the various review of university admissions. The Office for Students launched its review on 27 February 2020. On 22 July 2019 Universities UK launched its own separate review of admissions which was published on 13 November 2020. On the same day Secretary of State for Education Gavin Williamson said that it was his intention to consider post-qualification university admissions and that the government will consult on proposals to “remove the unfairness” in the university admission system. The paper focuses on the use of predicted grades for university admissions, the increase in unconditional offers by universities, contextual admissions and issues around a post qualification admissions system.
Research Briefing

Immigration and Social Security Co-ordination (EU Withdrawal) Bill 2019-21: Progress of the Bill

Tuesday, 10 November, 2020

This briefing provides an overview of the progress of the Immigration and Social Security Co-ordination (EU Withdrawal) Bill 2019-21. The Bill has now completed its passage through Parliament.
Research Briefing

Social security powers in the UK

Monday, 09 November, 2020

This House of Commons Library briefing paper provides a high-level overview of recent changes to social security provision in Northern Ireland and Scotland, including the devolution of significant welfare powers, and analyses how this has affected the structure of the UK social security system as a whole.
Research Briefing

Undercover policing in England and Wales

Thursday, 05 November, 2020

This Library briefing paper discusses undercover policing in England and Wales. It explains how undercover operations are regulated and managed. It outlines the criticism of historic undercover policing units and provides details of the ongoing public inquiry into undercover policing.
Research Briefing

House of Commons trends

Wednesday, 04 November, 2020

This is the full briefing on our series on House of Commons trends. It looks at statistics on the working and procedures of the House of Commons. It looks at the composition of the Commons, the Parliamentary mechanisms, time spent on different types of business and staffing among other things.
Research Briefing

Asylum claims in the UK: common questions

Wednesday, 04 November, 2020

This briefing addresses some of the issues frequently raised by constituents about asylum claims in the UK.
- Research Briefing
- Asylum
Research Briefing

Family visa requirements: future changes affecting British citizens in the EU

Tuesday, 03 November, 2020

This briefing provides background to changes to UK visa requirements affecting non-British family members of British citizens living in the UK, which the Government plans will take effect from late March 2022. It also summarises campaigners' calls for a change of policy, and related debates during the passage of the Immigration and Social Security Co-ordination (EU Withdrawal) Bill 2019-21.
Research Briefing

Trade agreements: a reading list

Tuesday, 03 November, 2020

A reading list of resources on the UK's negotiations for trade agreements with the US, Australia, New Zealand and Japan, and on the approach to join the CPTPP.
- Research Briefing
- International trade
Research Briefing

Has anything changed in the Overseas Operations Bill?: Committee Stage report

Monday, 02 November, 2020

The Public Bill Committee for the Overseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bill concluded on 22 October 2020. Despite a significant number of tabled amendments to Parts 1 and 2 of the Bill, no changes were made. The Bill is not without controversy and MPs are expected to return to some of its more contentious provisions when it comes back to the Floor of the House. Report Stage is scheduled for 3 November 2020.
Research Briefing

Consumer sales contracts: rules on the transfer of ownership of goods

Friday, 30 October, 2020

This Commons briefing paper considers the formation of sale of goods contracts between consumers and traders and the current rules on transfer of ownership. It also summarises the background to the Law Commission’s consultation and the main provisions of a draft Bill to reform the transfer of ownership rules in respect of consumer contracts.
Research Briefing

Pension Protection Fund

Wednesday, 28 October, 2020

This Commons Library briefing paper looks at the Pension Protection Fund (PPF) which was one of the measures set up by the Pensions Act 2004. It was in response to a series of high-profile cases in which pension schemes had wound up with insufficient assets to meet their pension commitments. The PPF started operations on 6 April 2005 and applies to schemes that started winding up after that date.
- Research Briefing
- Pensions
Research Briefing

Bolivia: 2020 presidential election

Tuesday, 27 October, 2020

Bolivia held elections on Sunday 18 October 2020. As well as electing a president and vice-president, the electorate also voted for members of both houses of Congress.
Research Briefing

New Zealand: 2020 general election

Monday, 26 October, 2020

New Zealand held a General Election on Saturday 17 October 2020, with advance voting beginning two weeks earlier, on 3 October. Originally planned for 19 September, the election was postponed due to Covid-19.
Research Briefing

Violence over Nagorno Karabakh

Wednesday, 21 October, 2020

This autumn has seen the worst outbreak of violence over the disputed enclave of Nagorno Karabakh since 1994. Observers are worried that it will be difficult to stop the fighting and that it could draw in regional powers.
Research Briefing

UK subsidy policy: first steps

Monday, 19 October, 2020

Having left the EU, the government is setting up for an independent UK state aid or ‘subsidy control’ regime, based on WTO rules and its international commitments. This briefing sets out the background of the new approach and the negotiations on state aid with the EU.

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