Research Briefing
This paper complements Library Research Paper 12/79 on the Energy Bill 2012-13. It covers the Bill’s Second Reading and Committee Stages. The Bill seeks to implement electricity market reform and introduces ‘contracts for difference’ to support all forms of low carbon generation, including nuclear. Government amendments made during Committee Stage related to cheaper energy tariffs and setting a decarbonisation target.
Research Briefing
Prior to July 2012, video (or “computer”) games were classified under two systems: (voluntarily) under the Pan-European Game Information (PEGI) scheme and (in certain cases, compulsorily) by the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC). In response to recommendations in the Byron Review on child safety, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport consulted on options for strengthening classifications.
Research Briefing
The Crime and Courts Bill would, amongst other things, establish a new National Crime Agency, change the law on self defence for householders defending themselves from intruders, make changes to community sentences and immigration appeal rights and introduce a new drug driving offence. The Government made a number of substantive amendments in Committee, including on bailiffs, proceeds of crime and extradition.
Research Briefing
On 7 March, the Bank of England announced that interest rates would be kept on hold at 0.5%. Interest rates have been unchanged for forty-eight months (since March 2009). The next interest rate announcement will be on 4 April. Inflation (measured by the change in the CPI) showed inflation at 2.7% in January 2013 for the fourth consecutive month and above the Bank of England’s 2% target for the thirty-eighth successive month. The next inflation figures (for February 2013) are due to be published on 19 March.
Research Briefing
This Research Paper series summarises the main economic indicators currently available for the UK, along with comparisons with other major OECD countries.
Research Briefing
This note provides a summary of the problems identified with the current regulatory system for bailiffs and the background to bailiff reform. It also provides an outline of the Government’s proposed reforms as set out in its consultation paper, ‘Transforming bailiff action’. Importantly, it considers the new bailiff provisions embodied in ‘enforcement by taking control of goods’ in the Crime and Courts Bill, which seek to amend Part 3 and Schedule 12 of the TCEA 2007.
Research Briefing
In his 2007 Budget the then Chancellor Gordon Brown announced a series of changes to personal tax to take effect from 6 April 2008, including two major changes to income tax rates: the withdrawal of the 10% starting rate and a cut in the basic rate from 22% to 20%. Initially it was estimated that although 21 million households would be better off or no worse off as a result of these reforms, 5.3 million households would pay more in tax. This note looks at the reaction there was to this reform, and the Labour Government's approach after the 2007 Budget to compensate lower-income households who had lost out.
Research Briefing
This note looks at independence referendums around the world and referendums on other constitutional arrangements short of full independence in the 20th and 21st centuries.
Research Briefing
People who join together to buy real property (a house, flat, land) are known as co-owners. Typically, this may mean a couple in a relationship, whether married, in a civil partnership or cohabiting, or friends, who jointly buy a property to live in. There are two ways in which two or more people may hold (own) the underlying benefit in a property – as “beneficial joint tenants” or as “tenants in common”.
Research Briefing
This paper gives a history of the Parliamentary franchise and shows the incremental stages which led to universal suffrage across the UK by drawing on several of the recognised sources which have dealt with the subject and by referring to the key legislation.
Research Briefing
This note briefly surveys domestic developments in North Korea since the death of Kim Jong-Il in December 2011 and the succession of his son, Kim Jong-Un. The nuclear issue is referred to only in passing. Insofar as we can know, Kim Jong-Un appears to have consolidated power smoothly and quickly. There are signs that the new leadership wants to shift from a 'Military First' to a 'People First' policy, which will involve economic reform measures. However, there are no real signs yet of an improvement on human rights.
Research Briefing
This, latest, financial services reform legislation brings together the final proposals for how the banking sector will look going forward.
Research Briefing
A new Chinese leadership is about to take power at the National People’s Congress, which begins on 5 March. Xi Jinping will take on the role of President, while Li Keqiang will become Premier. The succession of the 'fifth generation' of Communist leaders appeared to have been destabilised during 2012 following the fall of Bo Xilai, but in the end has gone relatively smoothly. Commentators are now focused on whether and, if so, how Xi and Li will change China's political course. This note surveys some of the views being expressed on this issue.
Research Briefing
The European Union (Approvals) Bill [HL] 2012-13 seeks to approve three EU draft decisions before the UK Government can approve their adoption in the EU Council.
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