Research Briefing
This Commons Library briefing deals with the Kew Gardens (Leases) (No. 3) Bill [HL] 2017-19, which would provide that the Secretary of State’s powers in relation to the management of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, include the power to grant a lease in respect of land for a period of up to 150 years.
Research Briefing
This short note has been prepared in advance of the Westminster Hall debate “UK Trade and investment strategy” which will take place on Tuesday 23 July 2019.
Research Briefing
This briefing paper provides information on past consultations on proposals to introduce new debt measures in England and Wales.
Research Briefing
This note looks at the way in which forming a civil partnership affects rights to state, occupational and personal pensions and at the relevant provisions in the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013
Research Briefing
The UK is party to hundreds of international treaties with third states or organisations, many of them on trade, by virtue of its EU membership. To continue to benefit from the advantages of these agreements, the Government has been seeking to replace them in a UK bilateral context. The Government has prioritised trade agreements, but has also agreed replacement agreements covering aviation services and safety, and road transport, for example. But Parliament is not happy about the way the Government is carrying out this 'treaty continuity programme' and Committees in both Houses have called for a greater scrutiny role for Parliament in treaty-making processes. This paper looks at what has been going on and what Parliamentary Committees in both Houses have asked for. It includes a table showing where we are with scrutiny of these treaties and what sort of scrutiny they have undergone, both in their precursor form as EU treaties and currently as replacement treaties.
Research Briefing
This paper provides figures for the number of people claiming unemployment benefits (the “claimant count”) by parliamentary constituency, as well as a summary of the latest labour market statistics for the UK as a whole. In the latest quarter, there was a fall in unemployment levels and the unemployment rate remains at its joint lowest level since comparable records began in 1971. Despite employment levels increasing, the employment rate fell slightly from the previous quarter. Average pay continued to grow faster than inflation, with pay excluding bonuses growing at its fastest rate since 2008.
Research Briefing
The Census (Return of Particulars and Removal of Penalties) Bill [HL] 2017-19 is a Government Bill that provides for voluntary questions on sexual orientation and gender identity to be included in the census in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Research Briefing
A review of policy and practice influencing the creation and change of local government and other local administrative boundaries in England.
Research Briefing
In December 2015 HM Revenue & Customs published Making Tax Digital - its strategy to implement a new system of digital tax accounts to be used by businesses, the self-employed and landlords. This briefing examines the development of this strategy up to 2019.
Research Briefing
In early July the Courts and Tribunals (Online Procedure) Bill completed its passage through the House of Lords. The Bill provides a legislative framework for more court proceedings to be conducted by electronic means. The Bill's second reading is expected in the House of Commons on Tuesday 16 July.
Research Briefing
The HHSRS is a risk based assessment tool which is used by environmental health officers to assess the risk (the likelihood and severity) of a hazard in residential housing to the health and safety of occupants or visitors. The Government commissioned a review of the HHSRS at the end of 2018. On 11 July 2019, the outcome of this scoping exercise was announced - there is an intention to carry out further work to update the system and make it easier to understand. This paper provides an overview of the HHSRS and considers some reviews and reports on its operation.
Research Briefing
This paper provides general information on the proposed high-speed rail line between London and the North of England (HS2). It gives a brief overview of the scheme, its costs, compensation arrangements and the Bill which would give statutory and planning authority for the construction of Phase 2a of the scheme between the West Midlands and Crewe.
Research Briefing
This Commons briefing paper summarises the Insolvency Service’s “Review of the monitoring and regulation of insolvency practitioners” published in September 2018. In this document, the Insolvency Service detailed significant concerns about the practices and regulation of Insolvency Practitioners working for volume providers of IVAs and made several recommendations.
Research Briefing
Release on Temporary Licence (ROTL) allows prisoners to be released temporarily into the community for specific purposes such as to engage in employment, to maintain family ties or to receive medical treatment. Not every prisoner is eligible to be released on temporary licence. Some, such as those posing the highest security threat are barred altogether.
Research Briefing
This Commons Library briefing paper deals with the Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Bill 2017-19 which would remove the legal requirement to make allegations about spousal conduct or to have lived separately for up to five years in order to divorce or dissolve a civil partnership. A separate Commons Library briefing paper deals with the Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Bill[HL] 2019-21 (CBP 8697)
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