Research Briefing
The Infrastructure Bill 2014-15 would make changes to the planning system: to change the process of development consent for nationally significant infrastructure projects, and to allow certain types of planning conditions to be regarded as discharged if a local planning authority took too long to determine an official application to discharge them. This note sets out these provisions and comment on them in more detail.
Research Briefing
This paper looks at the multiple challenges facing Nigeria as it prepares for presidential and legislative elections on 14 February 2015. These elections will take place amidst an atmosphere of even greater crisis and uncertainty than usual. Boko Haram’s insurgency in the north of the country continues unabated. There are fears that the country might break up if the election aftermath is poorly handled. However, some observers remain remarkably hopeful about Nigeria’s future, predicting that its enormous economic potential is on the verge of being realised at last.
Research Briefing
This Note describes the Lords Spiritual (Women) Bill 2014-15 and places it in context
Research Briefing
This note looks at the debates on the International Development (Official Development Assistance Target) Bill 2014-15 since the bill’s introduction. In committee, the bill was amended, changing the requirements about the scrutiny of aid spending. At third reading, the bill was passed by the House of Commons by 146 votes to five.
Research Briefing
There are proposals to update fly-grazing legislation. This note covers the private Members' bill put forward by Julian Sturdy MP.
Research Briefing
US economic recovery from the 2008/2009 recession has been steady as annual GDP growth averaged 2.2% between 2010 and 2013. Unemployment has been falling but the proportion of working age adults in employment remains low by historical standards. Interest rates are near 0% and the Federal Reserve has bought $4 trillion in assets to try and boost the economy. Large budget deficits have seen fiscal policy become a key political battleground, although the deficit has fallen in recent years.
Research Briefing
Since the Government’s decision in the summer of 2012 to withdraw the House of Lords Reform Bill 2012-13, it has supported provisions in the House of Lords Reform Act 2014 to allow members of the House of Lords to resign, and to require those who do not attend and those convicted of serious offences to cease to be members.
Research Briefing
Settlement funding assessments for local authorities will decrease by 13.9% and the overall reduction in Spending power, a measure of The total funding available to local authorities (excluding the GLA), was confirmed as 1.8%. The Government will again be offering Council Tax Freeze Grant to those authorities that freeze their council tax in 2015/16. Local authorities raising their council tax by 2% or more will have to hold a local referendum on the proposal.
Research Briefing
Looks at the provisions in the Pensions Act 2014 to allow people who reach State Pension age before 6 April 2016 to pay voluntary class 3A National Insurance Contributions to increase their entitlement to the additional State Pension
Research Briefing
This briefing covers the UK credit union landscape and policy development up to 2015. This briefing has been superseded by a new briefing CBP-10306.
Research Briefing
This House of Commons Library briefing paper provides information on the Health and Social Care (Safety and Quality) Bill, which received its Second Reading on 7 November 2014. It is a Private Members Bill containing measures intended to improve patient safety. It was introduced by Jeremy Lefroy MP, who came fifth in the Private Members’ Bill ballot.
Research Briefing
This note provides background information on the Bill’s provisions and summarises the content of the Bill. The Bill's Committee Stage was adjourned on 29 October 2014 as a money resolution must be passed in order for it to progress any further.
Research Briefing
This Bill is a government-supported Private Members’ Bill which started in the Lords.
Research Briefing
This note analyses statistics contained in a viral email on aid spending, which is often headed 'Something to think about'.
Research Briefing
This House of Commons Library Standrad Note summarises the negotiations and decisions taken over UK fishing quota agreements for 2015 made under the reformed Common Fisheries Policy.
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