Research Briefing

Research Briefing

The Arms Trade Treaty

Friday, 21 November, 2014

A legally binding Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) was adopted by the UN General Assembly on 2 April 2013. It provides, for the first time, an international legal and regulatory framework for the arms trade based on respect for international law and human rights. The UK ratified the treaty on 2 April 2014. Primary legislation was not required for ratification but secondary legislation was amended and the UK’s Consolidated Criteria, which are the basis upon which official decisions are made about whether to approve licence applications for arms exports, were updated. The treaty enters into force on 24 December 2014

• Research Briefing
• Defence policy
• Institutions
• International organisations

Research Briefing

Conference on the Humanitarian Impact of Nuclear Weapons

Wednesday, 19 November, 2014

On 8-9 December interested parties will convene in Vienna for the Conference on the Humanitarian Impact of Nuclear Weapons. This will be the third conference on this issue in two years and is the result of an increasing focus by the non-nuclear weapon states on a previously little-debated aspect of the nuclear weapons debate: the humanitarian consequences of their use. On 2 December the British government announced that it would attend the Vienna conference, in contrast to the two previous conferences on this subject.

• Research Briefing
• Defence policy

Research Briefing

The English Question

Tuesday, 18 November, 2014

This Note explores the technical issues involved in identifying “England-only” legislation and gives some analysis of bills and divisions in the current session. It also gives a brief account of proposals for further devolution in England.

• Research Briefing
• Devolution
• House of Commons
• Parliament

Research Briefing

Local government: polls and referendums

Tuesday, 18 November, 2014

This note provides information on the various types of referendum which may be (and in some circumstances must be) conducted by local authorities.

• Research Briefing
• Local government

Research Briefing

Privatisation

Tuesday, 18 November, 2014

Privatisation: This paper examines the economic policy which came to be known as ‘privatisation’ – the transfer of responsibility for an industry or the ownership of a company from the public to the private sector.

• Research Briefing
• Economic policy

Research Briefing

Flood defence spending in England

Monday, 17 November, 2014

A House of Commons Library Paper on Flood defence spending in England as at 2014.

• Research Briefing
• Environment
• Farming and fishing

Research Briefing

Housing mobility schemes

Monday, 17 November, 2014

Housing mobility schemes enable local authority and housing association tenants to relocate from their current area to other parts of the country. This is an overview of the history of mobility schemes and Government policy. It covers the Housing and Mobility Exchange Service (HOMES), the LAWN and Seaside and Country Homes schemes, Scout Solutions Projects Ltd. and MoveUK, the Hosing Mobility Tasklforce, the Housing Corporation review, HomeSwap Direct, Right to Move, the Localism Act and mutual exchange.

• Research Briefing
• Housing and planning
• Rented housing

Research Briefing

Land Value Taxation

Monday, 17 November, 2014

This note discusses recent debates over the case for taxing land values and proposals for a 'mansions tax' - an annual levy on the most valuable residential properties.

• Research Briefing
• Housing and planning
• Tax

Research Briefing

Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Bill: Committee stage report

Monday, 17 November, 2014

This is a report on the House of Commons Committee stage of the Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Bill.

• Research Briefing
• Business
• Child care
• Finance
• International trade
• Public spending
• Schools
• Work and incomes

Research Briefing

Cold Weather Payments for winter 2014/2015

Thursday, 13 November, 2014

Cold Weather Payments are made from the Social Fund to certain recipients of Income Support, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Universal Credit or Pension Credit during periods of very cold weather. The amount is £25 a week for eligible benefit claimants.

• Research Briefing
• Benefits policy
• Energy
• Family benefits
• Sickness, disability and carers' benefits
• Working age benefits

Research Briefing

Libya: deepening conflict

Thursday, 13 November, 2014

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office advises against all travel to Libya, as the country splits among warring factions. The country now has two parliaments and its internationally-accepted government is based in a hotel in Tobruk.

• Research Briefing
• Africa
• Elections

Research Briefing

Scotland the referendum and devolution: Selected timeline

Thursday, 13 November, 2014

A selected timeline of events and significant publications leading up to the referendum in Scotland on 18 September 2014 and to some of the planned follow-up events.

• Research Briefing
• Devolution

Research Briefing

Armed Forces Pension Scheme legacy issues – survivors’ benefits

Wednesday, 12 November, 2014

Looks at changes in survivors benefits from the armed forces pension schemes

• Research Briefing
• Armed forces
• Defence
• Pensions

Research Briefing

Unemployment by Constituency – November 2014

Wednesday, 12 November, 2014

This paper contains labour market figures for parliamentary constituencies, as well as a summary of the latest national and regional statistics.

• Research Briefing
• Work and incomes

Research Briefing

US mid-term elections 2014

Tuesday, 11 November, 2014

In a significant setback for the Democrats, the Republicans won a strong majority in the US Senate in November’s mid-term election

• Research Briefing
• Elections