This note describes the findings of the FAMR and the Retail distribution Review which preceded it. Both reviews looked at the way that advice on financial products is given.
South Sudan has been embroiled in a brutal civil war involving immense human suffering since December 2013. After numerous false starts, a peace deal was agreed in August 2015, but important elements are yet to be implemented.
The Investigatory Powers Bill would overhaul the framework governing the use of surveillance by the intelligence and security agencies and law enforcement to obtain the content of communications and communications data. It follows three important reports published in 2015, all of which concluded that the law in this area is unfit for purpose and in need of reform, and a draft Bill that has been subjected to pre-legislative scrutiny by three parliamentary committees.
The Independent Commission on Freedom of Information has been reviewing the law on Freedom of Information. Is it fit for purpose? This note looks at the background to the issue, what is proposed and how people have responded.
The National Health Service Bill 2015-16, also known as the “NHS Reinstatement Bill” is due to have its Second Reading debate on 11 March 2016. It is a Private Members Bill introduced by Caroline Lucas on 1 July 2015. The Bill seeks to make changes to a number of provisions in the Health and Social Care Act 2012, the National Health Service Act 2006 and other legislation.
This note sets out the background and recent events concerning the privatisation of Royal Mail.
The privatisation of Royal Mail has taken place in three parts – the majority of the company was disposed of in 2013 and the sales of the remaining parts were in June and October 2015.
The People's Mujahiddin of Iran (PMOI) or Mujahiddin e Khalq (MEK) is a group of exiled Iranians opposed to the government of Iran. It is a member of a wider coalition known as the National Council of Resistance in Iran. PMOI/MEK was put on to the Government's list of proscribed terrorist organisations in March 2001. This note describes the proscription of the PMOI in the UK and EU and subsequent removal of the organisation from both the UK and EU proscription lists in June 2008 and January 2009 respectively.
This note looks at the background to the Sex Discrimination (Election Candidates) Act 2002 which allowed political parties to draw up all-women shortlists of candidates for elections; and its extension. It gives details of Labour candidates selected through all-women shortlists and methods of positive action used by the main political parties to increase the number of women MPs.
This House of Commons Library briefing paper explains long leaseholders' rights in relation to buildings insurance and summarises a Westminster Hall debate on the issue (October 2014) and the findings of a study carried out by the Competition and Markets Authority, also in 2014.
From 6 April 2016, some skilled non-EEA workers with Tier 2 visas will only be eligible to stay in the UK permanently if they are earning at least £35,000. A related e-petition has been uploaded to Parliament’s e-petition website calling for the £35k threshold to be scrapped. Parliament will be debating this petition on Monday 7 March 2016.