Research Briefing
The EU referendum campaign
This House of Commons Library briefing includes information about the timetable for the EU referendum campaign. It also includes information on the rules that apply to campaign activity.
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Research Briefing
Steel in crisis: timeline and events in Parliament
Since the summer of 2015 the British steel industry has been in turmoil. Steel plants have closed, several steel manufacturing companies have gone into liquidation, and others have been restructured. There have been around 5,000 jobs lost in the industry, with redundancies across the country, most numerously in Redcar, Hartlepool, South Wales and Motherwell. The
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Research Briefing
Direct taxes: rates and allowances 2016/17
This paper sets out the main changes to direct tax rates and allowances announced in the Budget on 16 March 2016. It lists the principal personal allowances which will be available against income tax in the tax year 2016/17, and it outlines the conditions necessary for eligibility for these allowances. The paper provides a summary of the general tax position in straightforward cases only. It should be noted that it deals just with tax allowances. No reference is made to cash benefits provided under the social security system, or to child tax credit and working tax credit.
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Research Briefing
Trade Union Bill: Lords Amendments
Many of the Trade Union Bill’s clauses were amended during its passage through the Lords. This short paper summarises those amendments.
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Research Briefing
A paperless NHS: electronic health records
House of Commons Library briefing for Westminster Hall debate on "Use of digital records in the NHS".
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Research Briefing
Welfare reform and disabled people
The Library briefing provides an overview of the benefits changes introduced since 2010 affecting disabled people and their families, looks at the impact of the changes, and summarises responses from disability organisations and others.
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Research Briefing
Policing and Crime Bill: Committee Stage Report
The Policing and Crime Bill is due to have its report stage and Legislative Grand Committee on 26 April 2016. This Briefing Paper provides an overview of the debate so far.
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Research Briefing
Meningitis B vaccination
A petition to call on the Government to extend the programme of Meningitis B vaccination to all children, at least up to the age of 11, has received over 820,000 signatures. The Petitions and Health Committees have held evidence sessions, hearing from affected families, medical professionals and the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation. A debate on this e-petition has been tabled in Westminster Hall on 25 April 2016.
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Research Briefing
Examples of other referendums on the European Union
This Commons Library Note charts referendums held since 1972 on EU matters in candidate and Member States, and also in Switzerland on its relations with the EU, with brief details on turnout and results. It also outlines the positions of France and Austria on holding a referendum on EU enlargement, particularly with regard to a possible Turkish accession.
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Research Briefing
British soldiers to Libya?
Could British soldiers be sent to Libya? This briefing examines the Government's position and Parliament's role, if any, in approving such a mission.
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Research Briefing
Climate Change Levy: renewable energy & the carbon reduction commitment
In the July 2015 Budget the Government proposed scrapping the Climate Change Levy exemption which applies to electricity generated by renewable sources. Subsequently in the March 2016 Budget it announced that the rates of the levy would be increased in 2019, following the abolition of the Carbon Reduction Commitment energy efficiency scheme. This paper discusses the background to these measures.
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Research Briefing
Unemployment by Constituency, April 2016
This paper contains claimant count figures for parliamentary constituencies, as well as a summary of the latest labour market statistics for the UK as a whole.
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Research Briefing
Is the UK the world’s 5th or 9th largest economy?
The UK has one of the largest economies in the world. But how big? Some say it is the 5th biggest; others say it is the 9th. Which is right? The answer is both. Here’s why. How to create a league table of world’s biggest economies When people talk about the size of an economy,
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Research Briefing
UK Dairy Industry: Current Issues and Challenges
UK dairy farmers continue to highlight their financial difficulties with government as low milk prices remain. Policy action has been taken at EU and UK level to assist and the dairy industry is also seeking to improve its ability to weather future volatility in global markets.
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Research Briefing
The European Union: a guide to terminology, procedures and sources – House of Commons Background Paper
This Note aims to clarify some of the terminology used to describe the institutions, laws and procedures of the European Union. It also provides links to useful sources of information on the EU.
Total results (page 333 of 638)