• Research Briefing

    Crossrail 2

    This paper provides information on the proposed Crossrail 2 project, including the latest information around its funding and expected timeline for completion.

  • Research Briefing

    Crossrail (Elizabeth Line)

    This paper provides information on the Crossrail project, including the latest information around its costs and expected timeline for completion.

  • Research Briefing

    European Union (Withdrawal) (No. 3) Bill 2017-19

    Yvette Cooper presented a Private Member's bill, the European Union (No. 3) Bill 2017-19, on Monday 21 January 2019. The Bill would create a legal mechanism whereby the House of Commons can instruct the Prime Minister to ask the European Council for an extension to Article 50 in the absence of an approval resolution for an exit deal from the EU.

  • Research Briefing

    Tenant Fees Bill 2017-19: update on progress in Parliament

    The Tenant Fees Bill will abolish most upfront fees for tenants in England and cap security deposits at the equivalent of five weeks’ rent where the annual rent is less than £50,000. This paper provides background to the Bill, including information on current practice in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. It explains the Bill's provisions and summarises reactions from tenants, landlords and letting agents. This paper has been updated to include issues raised during Public Bill Committee and subsequent Parliamentary stages. Consideration of Lords amendments is scheduled to take place on 23 January 2019.

  • Research Briefing

    European Union (Withdrawal) (No. 2) Bill 2017-19

    Nick Boles MP presented a Private Members Bill on Tuesday 15 January 2019 to require the Government to request an extension to the Article 50 Brexit process in certain circumstances. This paper explains how this Bill proposes to give Parliament greater control over the Government's negotiations with the European Union. This Bill is expected to be superseded on Monday 21 January 2019 by another Bill in the name of Yvette Cooper, but which does not provide a statutory role for the Liaison Committee.

  • Research Briefing

    VAT : European law on VAT rates

    All Member States have limited discretion in setting VAT rates under EU VAT law. This note discusses the development of European law in this area, and the implications this has for the UK setting its own VAT rates.

  • Research Briefing

    Somalia: January 2019 update

    Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed (known as Farmajo) was elected Somalia's president by parliament on 8 February 2017. During the campaign he promised to renew the fight against corruption and suggested that he would be open to talks with al-Shabaab. He came into office with a reputation for competence. However, two years on, this reputation is being severely tested.

  • Research Briefing

    EU assurances to the UK on Brexit

    The EU and UK negotiators agreed the texts of a Withdrawal Agreement and Political Declaration on a framework for a future EU-UK relationship, and the time came for the UK Parliament to vote on it. But on 15 January Parliament rejected the two documents by 230 votes. The EU has said there will be no renegotiating the texts but has offered assurances on the intention that the backstop arrangement to prevent a hard Irish border would be temporary if it had to be introduced. This paper looks at what the EU has offered by way of 'clarifications' and 'assurances' on the backstop and whether the EU would offer an extension to Article. 50 might .

  • Research Briefing

    Tax, marriage & transferable allowances

    Since the introduction of independent taxation in 1990, all individuals have been assessed for tax as separate persons, entitled to their own personal tax allowance, to set against their liability to income tax. This note looks at the debate there has been about allowing partners to transfer their allowance to their spouse, so that the tax system might 'recognise' marriage.

  • Research Briefing

    Mortality in the UK

    In the United Kingdom, there has been a long-term downward trend in both the number of deaths and the crude death rate. However, since 2011, both the number of deaths and the crude death rate have increased.

  • Research Briefing

    BT and Openreach

    A short House of Commons Library briefing paper providing an explanation and background to the legal separation of BT and Openreach.

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