Research Briefing Archives

Research Briefing

The Deal with Iran

Friday, 13 December, 2013

On the 24th of November, the world woke up to news that a deal had been reached between the Permanent Five plus One (the UK, US, France, China, Russia and Germany) and Iran. A Joint Plan of Action was the outcome of weeks of hard negotiations. The deal was indeed revealed to be the fruit of years of US-Iran secret negotiations alongside a decade of public Iranian diplomacy following the revelation of a wide scale Iranian enrichment programme. This note seeks to outline the terms of the deal and reactions to it, background information for context and give a sense of potential technical and geopolitical outcomes.
Research Briefing

Split Capital Investment Trusts

Friday, 13 December, 2013

This note provides an explanation of the historic split capital trust 'debacle' in the mid 2000's
- Research Briefing
- Finance
Research Briefing

Interpal

Thursday, 12 December, 2013

The UK charity collects money for Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza and in Lebanon and Jordan. It has been the subject of controversy because of allegations that money distributed by it has gone to promote terrorism. After some delays it has been cleared by the Charity Commission, but it is still a Specially Designated Global Terrorist organisation, on the US Treasury’s list.
Research Briefing

Care Bill [HL]

Wednesday, 11 December, 2013

The Care Bill would consolidate existing legislation for adult social care in England into a single framework, and introduce reforms to the way care and support is accessed and funded. It also includes reforms to the regulation of health services and care standards.
Research Briefing

Investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) and the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP)

Wednesday, 11 December, 2013
Research Briefing

Financial Services (Banking Reform) Bill: Lords stages

Tuesday, 10 December, 2013

This note summarises the proceedings of the Lords committee stage of the bill.
- Research Briefing
- Finance
Research Briefing

Autumn Statement 2013: a summary

Monday, 09 December, 2013

This note sets out the main measures announced in the 2013 Autumn Statement, presented by the Chancellor on 5 December 2013, and the Office for Budget Responsibility’s updated forecasts for the economy and public finances. There are also overviews of policy announcements on the State Pension age, business rates, the cap on welfare spending and jobs and young people.
Research Briefing

Intellectual Property Bill [HL]

Thursday, 05 December, 2013

The Intellectual Property Bill [HL] (Bill 102 of session 2013-14) was introduced into the House of Lords on 9 May 2013, where it received Second Reading on 22 May. It completed its parliamentary stages in the upper house on 30 July and was passed to the Commons, where it received First Reading on 29 August. This Research Paper has been produced to inform the Second Reading debate in the Commons, which is scheduled for 9 December 2013.
Research Briefing

Buses: grants and subsidies

Wednesday, 04 December, 2013

This note summarises the different types of government financial support for bus services in England, including Bus Service Operators’ Grant, the Green Bus Fund and the Better Bus Areas Fund.
- Research Briefing
- Transport
Research Briefing

The EU’s Common Security and Defence Policy: A Fresh Impetus?

Wednesday, 04 December, 2013

The European Council Summit is due to be held on 19-20 December 2013. Among the main issues for debate is the EU’s Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP). It will be the first time in five years that EU leaders have comprehensively discussed EU defence policy, amid criticisms that CSDP has lost momentum due to a lack of consensus over its strategic direction, an unwillingness on the part of Member States to commit the necessary resources and the prevailing economic crisis which has seen defence budgets fall across Europe and capabilities cut.
Research Briefing

Economic Indicators, December 2013

Wednesday, 04 December, 2013

This Research Paper series summarises the main economic indicators currently available for the UK, along with comparisons with other major OECD countries. This weeks articles are 'Who’s looking for work? Differences between ILO unemployment and the claimant count' and 'Interesting times: inflation and monetary policy responses'
Research Briefing

Autumn Statement 2013: background briefing

Tuesday, 03 December, 2013

This note sets out the background to the 2013 Autumn Statement which will take place on Thursday 5 December. The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) will publish revised forecasts for the economy and public finances on the same day.
Research Briefing

The Francis Report (Report of the Mid-Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust public inquiry) and the Government’s response

Monday, 02 December, 2013

This briefing provides background to the public inquiry led by Robert Francis QC into serious failings in care at Mid-Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust before 2009. It also provides some information on the Government’s initial response to the Francis report, which was published on 6 February 2013.
- Research Briefing
- Health services
Research Briefing

School funding: 2006–2010 policy changes under the Labour Government

Friday, 29 November, 2013

This Note provides background to the introduction of the Labour Government's school funding reforms in 2006, details of the reforms (which included the introduction of a ring-fenced schools budget, known as the Dedicated Schools Grant), and the March 2010 consultation on the introduction of a school funding formula.
Research Briefing

The Royal Navy’s surface fleet: in brief

Friday, 29 November, 2013

The Royal Navy is in the middle of an ambitious programme to upgrade its surface fleet with new destroyers, frigates and at least one operational aircraft carrier.

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