Research Briefing Archives

Research Briefing

Universal suffrage to elect the next Chief Executive of Hong Kong in 2017: a legal primer

Tuesday, 30 September, 2014

In August 2014 the Standing Committee of the Chinese National People’s Congress decided that the next Chief Executive of Hong Kong should be directly elected in 2017 by universal suffrage. However, the candidates (expected to be two or three in total) will still have to be approved in advance by a nominating committee, whose composition and method of formation will remain unchanged from that of the 1200-person strong ‘Election Committee’ which elected the current Chief Executive in 2012. Critics argue that this nominating committee will have an in-built ‘pro-Beijing’ bias. The decision has triggered a wave of protest. This briefing summarises the legal context of recent events, including the UK's own obligations.
Research Briefing

Scottish Independence Referendum 2014

Tuesday, 30 September, 2014

In the Scottish Independence Referendum held on the 18th September 2014, the proposition ‘Should Scotland be an independent country?’ was rejected by a margin of 10.6 percentage points. The turnout at the referendum was 84.6% including rejected papers (84.5% based on valid votes). This is the highest turnout at a nationwide referendum or parliamentary election in Scotland since the franchise was extended to women in 1918.
Research Briefing

Defence personnel statistics

Friday, 26 September, 2014

This note provides information on the current and future strength of the UK Armed Forces
- Research Briefing
- Armed forces
Research Briefing

Iraq, Syria and ISIS – recent developments

Thursday, 25 September, 2014

The advance of ISIS in Iraq and Syria seems to have been slowed, but Western and regional states are struggling to formulate a convincing response to it
Research Briefing

Improving outcomes for DC pension savers

Tuesday, 23 September, 2014

Discusses proposals to improve outcomes for savers in defined contribution (DC) pension schemes
- Research Briefing
- Pensions
Research Briefing

Regulation of work-based DC pension schemes

Tuesday, 23 September, 2014

Looks at the regulatory framework for DC pension schemes
- Research Briefing
- Pensions
Research Briefing

Public sector finances: 2014 revisions

Sunday, 21 September, 2014

Accounting changes introduced to Public Sector Finance statistics from September 2014, are set to increase UK Public Sector Net Debt (PSND) and Public Sector Net Borrowing (PSNB) by around £130bn and £4bn respectively in 2013/14. The Public Sector Current Budget deficit and Public Sector Net Investment will also be affected.
Research Briefing

Asbestos-related diseases: payments from the Department for Work and Pensions

Thursday, 18 September, 2014

Exposure to asbestos fibres can lead to a number of serious diseases. People suffering from certain conditions may be able to pursue a civil claim for damages against one or more employers responsible for exposing them to asbestos negligently and/or in breach of a statutory duty. Compensation may also be available under schemes administered by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).
Research Briefing

Unemployment by Constituency, September 2014

Wednesday, 17 September, 2014

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

The “right to be forgotten”

Tuesday, 16 September, 2014

In May 2014 the European Court of Justice ruled that a user had the right to have links to web pages about him removed from Google’s search results because the passage of time had made them “irrelevant”. This Note examines what the judgment means for search engines, for individuals and for the UK.
Research Briefing

NATO Wales Summit 2014: outcomes

Friday, 12 September, 2014

The 2014 NATO Wales Summit discussed Russia, Ukraine, Iraq, defence spending amongst allies and the end of combat operations in Afghanistan.
Research Briefing

EU Institutional Appointments in 2014

Thursday, 11 September, 2014

The EU has just appointed four new institutional leaders: the President of the European Parliament, the President of the European Commission, the President of the European Council and the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. This Note looks at the background to the four recent appointments.
Research Briefing

International Development (Official Development Assistance Target) Bill [Bill 14 of 2014-15]

Wednesday, 10 September, 2014

The International Development (Official Development Assistance Target) Bill 2014-15 would put the 0.7% aid target in legislation and would create a new body to carry out independent evaluation of aid spending.
- Research Briefing
- International development
Research Briefing

Household Safety (Carbon Monoxide Detectors) Bill [Bill 26 of 2014-15]

Wednesday, 10 September, 2014

Carbon monoxide is an invisible, tasteless and odourless gas. This Private Member's Bill aims to introduce a requirement that a functioning carbon monoxide detector must be installed in all newly built and all rented residential properties.
Research Briefing

Timetable for the 2015 UK parliamentary general election

Wednesday, 10 September, 2014

The date for the 2015 general election has been set by the Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011. This briefing explains changes to the dissolution of parliament resulting from the 2011 act and the timetable for the 2015 election.

Total results (page 300 of 560)