Research Briefing Archives

Research Briefing

HE in England from 2012: Funding and finance

Monday, 03 April, 2017

The Government raised the cap on tuition fees for new student to £9,000 in 2012/13 and cut most ongoing direct public funding for tuition in England. This shifted the balance of higher education funding further away from the state and further towards the individual who benefits. Students can take out publicly subsided student loans to pay these higher fees. There is uncertainty about the final size of this subsidy and the Government’s estimate of it has increased considerably since the reforms were first announced. This also affects the size of any saving in public expenditure and the extent of the shift in costs from the state to the individual beneficiary.
Research Briefing

Business rates: the 2017 revaluation

Friday, 31 March, 2017

This Commons Library briefing note explains the processes governing the 2017 business rates revaluation.
Research Briefing

GCSE, AS and A Level reform

Friday, 31 March, 2017

This House of Commons Library briefing provides an overview of the extensive reforms to GCSE, AS and A level qualifications undertaken by the Coalition and Conservative Governments.
- Research Briefing
- Schools
Research Briefing

A short history of rent control

Thursday, 30 March, 2017

This House of Commons Library briefing paper provides historical background to the introduction and impact of rent control and its continued application until January 1989.
Research Briefing

House of Lords Reform: debates and issues in the 2015 Parliament

Thursday, 30 March, 2017

This House of Commons Library Briefing Paper outlines the Government's view that House of Lords reform is not a priority in this Parliament. It also discusses pressure from members of the House of Lords to address their concerns about the size of the House of Lords.
- Research Briefing
- Parliament
Research Briefing

UK offshore oil and gas industry

Wednesday, 29 March, 2017

This Commons Library briefing paper provides a summary of the state of the UK offshore oil and gas industries and outlines the industry, the regulatory framework and key challenges for the industry.
Research Briefing

Direct taxes: rates and allowances 2017/18

Wednesday, 29 March, 2017

This paper sets out the main changes to direct tax rates and allowances announced in the Budget on 8 March 2017. It lists the principal personal allowances which will be available against income tax in the tax year 2016/17, and it outlines the conditions necessary for eligibility for these allowances. The paper provides a summary of the general tax position in straightforward cases only. It should be noted that it deals just with tax allowances. No reference is made to cash benefits provided under the social security system, or to child tax credit and working tax credit.
- Research Briefing
- Tax
Research Briefing

Medical school places in England from September 2018

Wednesday, 29 March, 2017

This Commons Library research briefing provides information about the Government's to increase the number of medical school places in England by 1,500, starting from September 2018. This paper has been updated with details of the related Department of Health consultation, which opened on 14 March 2017.
Research Briefing

ECO, the Energy Company Obligation

Wednesday, 29 March, 2017

This Commons Library briefing paper provides historical background information on the Energy Company Obligation scheme.
Research Briefing

Statistics on Migrants and Benefits

Tuesday, 28 March, 2017

Data on migrants and benefits is incomplete and fragmented, not routinely available from a single source. This is because the nationality of benefit claimants is not routinely gathered by either DWP or HMRC when administering benefits or tax credits. This paper brings together the main available data sources – including DWP data on National Insurance Number registrations, departmental ad-hoc releases and responses to Freedom of Information requests – to analyse rates of benefit and tax credits receipt among migrants living in the UK.
Research Briefing

Homelessness Reduction Bill 2016-17: Progress in the Commons and Lords

Monday, 27 March, 2017

This House of Commons Library briefing paper provides information on the Homelessness Reduction Bill's progress to date. The main thrust of the Bill is to refocus English local authorities on efforts to prevent homelessness. The Bill has completed its progress through the House of Commons. The debate on Second Reading in the House of Lords took place on 24 February 2017. No amendments were tabled following its commitment to a Committee of the whole House. The Bill received its Third Reading in the Lords with no debate on 23 March 2017.
- Research Briefing
- Housing and planning
Research Briefing

The UK’s Universal Periodic Review by the UN Human Rights Council

Wednesday, 22 March, 2017

In May 2017 the UK will have its third regular human rights review by a group of other UN States, who will make recommendations under the UN’s ‘Universal Periodic Review’ (UPR) process. This Commons Library briefing paper provides a brief overview.
Research Briefing

The Occupied Palestinian Territories: recent developments

Monday, 20 March, 2017

This House of Commons Library briefing paper looks at recent developments in The Occupied Palestinian Territories (March 2017).
Research Briefing

Commons Library analysis: Controversy around the EU’s re-approval of the pesticide glyphosate

Friday, 17 March, 2017

The House of Commons Library has published a briefing paper examining the recent history of the EU authorisation for glyphosate.
Research Briefing

Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) pensions

Friday, 17 March, 2017

Looks at current proposals to reform NDA pensions
- Research Briefing
- Pensions

Total results (page 247 of 561)