Research Briefing
The Quebec referendums
This paper gives a brief outline of separatism in Quebec, showing that many of the arguments in Canada are already being echoed in the debate about Scotland’s future relationship with the rest of the UK.
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Research Briefing
In brief: the controversy over the November 2013 Commonwealth Summit in Sri Lanka
In November 2009, the Commonwealth Heads of State and Government Meeting (CHOGM) agreed that its 2013 meeting should be held in Sri Lanka. This decision has faced persistent criticism since then, with organisations including Human Rights Watch arguing that the Sri Lankan Government’s human rights record is so poor that the Commonwealth should relocate the Summit elsewhere. The Commonwealth Secretary-General, Kamalesh Sharma, has rejected such calls. So far, Canada is the only Commonwealth member state to say that it will definitely not be attending the Summit. The Prime Minister, David Cameron, and the Foreign Secretary, William Hague, have confirmed that they will both be attending the Summit on behalf of the British Government (Prince Charles will represent the Queen). The official British position is that they will use their presence to raise concerns about the human rights situation in Sri Lanka.
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Research Briefing
Royal Mail Pension Plan
This note looks at the development of the Royal Mail Pension Plan and the Government's decision to take responsibility for its historic deficit.
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Research Briefing
Unemployment by Constituency, July 2013
This paper contains labour market figures for parliamentary constituencies, as well as a summary of the latest national and regional statistics.
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Research Briefing
Lobbying: July 2013 update
This Note covers the debate over a statutory register of lobbyists, and gives an update on the Government’s plans to legislate.
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Research Briefing
Civil servants’ and MPs’ salaries
Historically MPs’ pay was linked to the salary scales of certain civil service grades. Although this is no longer the case, there is a continued interest in how these rates of pay have moved relative to each other.
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Research Briefing
Parliamentary privilege: current issues
This Note provides information on developments in parliamentary privilege since the last major review by the Joint Committee on Parliamentary Privilege report in 1999.
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Research Briefing
Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill: Lords amendments
The purpose of this note is to draw attention to the principal amendments that were made in the Lords. It does not cover all minor or technical amendments. All the agreed amendments were Government amendments, many of which were moved in response to amendments proposed but not agreed at earlier stages, and commitments made by the Government to consider matters further. Peers debated many other amendments, on some of which they voted, but this note does not cover amendments that were not agreed.
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Research Briefing
VAT on postal services
At present public postal services are exempt from VAT, though the European Commission has argued that this hinders competition in postal services across the EU. This note looks at the prospects for reform.
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Research Briefing
In brief: the 2014 bloc opt-out and selective opt-back-ins
This note, prepared for the parliamentary debate on 15 July 2013, looks briefly at the current situation regarding the UK's 2014 decision on justice and home affairs measures and lists the 35 measures the Government would like to opt back into.
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Research Briefing
Short Term Benefit Advances and Budgeting Advances
From 1 April 2013, a new advance of benefit facility administered by DWP replaced Social Fund Budgeting Loans, interim payments of benefits and "alignment payments". This note gives details of the new system of Short Term Benefit Advances and Budgeting Advances.
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Research Briefing
Sessional Orders
This note provides a brief outline of the changes to Sessional Orders since 2002-03 when the Procedure Committee was asked to look at this subject.
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Research Briefing
Defence Reform Bill
The Defence Reform Bill was introduced in the House of Commons on 3 July 2013. Second Reading has been tabled for 16 July 2013.
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Research Briefing
High Cost Credit Bill
This is a Private Members Bill introduced by Paul Blomfield.
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Research Briefing
Electoral Statistics 2012
This note provides data on electorates of parliamentary constituencies at December 2011. There were 46.3 million people registered to vote in UK parliamentary elections at 1 December 2012, an increase of 247,000 on December 2011.
Total results (page 325 of 559)