Research Briefing
Civil Legal Aid: England & Wales, Scotland and N Ireland compared
A comparison of the different legal aid schemes in England & Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
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Research Briefing
Mali: June 2016 update
In 2012-13 Mali experienced a massive political and security crisis from which it has been struggling to recover. This briefing provides a quick overview of that crisis, what has happened since then and what the UK's role has been.
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Research Briefing
A new UK judge for the European Court of Human Rights
Who will be the UK's new judge for the European Court of Human Rights? This Commons Library briefing paper looks at the two-stage process, the UK candidates, and recent criticisms and reforms.
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Research Briefing
Impeachment
Impeachment was a means by which Parliament could prosecute and try individuals, normally holders of public office, for high treason or other crimes and misdemeanours. Impeachment is considered obsolete, as it has been superseded by other forms of accountability, and the rules underpinning the procedure have not been adapted to modern standards of democracy or procedural fairness
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Research Briefing
Investigatory Powers Bill: Committee Stage Report
The Investigatory Powers Bill was introduced on 1 March 2016 and received its second reading on 15 March.There were sixteen sittings of the Public Bill Committee, including two evidence sessions. The Bill is due to have its report stage on 6 June 2016.
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Research Briefing
Select Committees: evidence and witnesses
This Commons Library briefing paper reviews the power of select committees “to send for persons, papers and records”, that is to obtain oral and written evidence. The Paper considers arguments that have been made to increase select committees’ abilities to enforce these powers without recourse to the House. It reviews the arguments for requiring witnesses to give evidence on oath to select committees.
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Research Briefing
Digital economy: statistics and policy
This paper is about statistics and policy related to the Digital Economy, which includes computer programming, telecommunications, manufacturing, publishing and data processing.
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Research Briefing
Reforming the Electronic Communications Code
A House of Commons Library Briefing on attempts to reform the Electronic Communications Code (ECC), including the Coalition Government's withdrawn amendment to the Infrastructure Bill in early 2015, and the proposals for reform in the May 2016 Queen's Speech.
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Research Briefing
No win, no fee funding arrangements
This Commons Library briefing paper looks at 'no win, no fee' funding arrangements in the UK. Following the withdrawal of civil legal aid, many litigants are reliant on such arrangements for access to justice. Unable to afford lawyers' fees, they enter into agreements whereby they will not pay their lawyers should they lose but must pay an extra success fee in the event that they are successful.
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Research Briefing
Nigeria: Buhari at the one-year mark
29 May marks the first anniversary of Muhammadu Buhari’s inauguration as President of Nigeria. Analysts have been busy assessing his performance so far. Alarmingly, the Financial Times has reported that “Nigerians are impatient for the gains they voted for and have little appetite for further pain […] confidence in President Muhammadu Buhari, elected a year
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Research Briefing
BBC governance and financial accountability
Arrangements for the governance, regulation and financial scrutiny of the BBC look set to change when a new Royal Charter is agreed. This paper examines what is currently in place and what is proposed.
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Research Briefing
Should Fire and Rescue Services have a statutory duty to deal with flooding?
The Fire Brigades Union is campaigning for a statutory duty for firefighters to attend floods. There is an online petition, and the issue has been debated in Parliament. This Briefing Paper sets out the background and the arguments.
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Research Briefing
EU Referendum: Impact on UK agriculture policy
Most farming organisations are taking a 'remain' or neutral position ahead of the EU Referendum on the grounds that there is too much uncertainty around a potential UK approach to farming outside the EU and its Common Agricultural Policy. However, others are starting to set out what a new approach to UK agriculture, outside the EU, might look like.
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Research Briefing
EU Referendum: analysis of the UK’s new EU Settlement
This Commons Library briefing looks at the new Settlement for the United Kingdom within the European Union agreed at the European Council on 17-19 February 2016. The Settlement consists of seven texts: a Decision and a Statement of Heads of State or Government and five Declarations.
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Research Briefing
A new victims’ law in England and Wales?
There have been many calls for reform of the law on victims' rights in England and Wales. This Briefing Paper looks at how the Victims' Code has developed; funding and commissioning of services; and proposals for new legislation from the main parties and others.
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