Research Briefing
Background to the 2012 Autumn Statement
The Chancellor will present the Autumn Statement on 5 December. This note sets out the economic and public finance background to the Statement.
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Research Briefing
Police (Complaints and Conduct) Bill
This Bill is due to go through all its Commons stages under the Fast-Track procedure on 5 December 2012. It would make two changes to the powers of the Independent Police Complaints Commission. These are designed to enable the Commission to investigate allegations against the police in relation to the Hillsborough disaster. The Bill has reportedly been welcomed by the Opposition. It extends to England and Wales, and parts of it extend to the whole UK.
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Research Briefing
The Work Capability Assessment for Employment and Support Allowance
The Work Capability Assessment (WCA) was introduced in October 2008 to assess entitlement to Employment and Support Allowance (ESA). Between now and 2014, 1.5 million incapacity benefits claimants will also undergo the WCA. The WCA has however proved controversial and remains so, depsite changes to the test itself and how it is applied as a result of Government an independent reviews.
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Research Briefing
Bank of England Asset Purchase Facility Fund Limited (BEAPFF)
This short note provides background on the recent announcement that the Bank of England is to transfer to the Exchequer excess cash held by the Bank as part of its programme of Quantitative Easing (QE).
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Research Briefing
Police and Crime Commissioner Elections, 2012
On Thursday 15 November 2012 the first ever elections for Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) took place in England and Wales, outside of London. The Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 replaced police authorities with directly elected PCCs. The 41 police areas each elected one PCC. The supplementary vote system was used for the elections. This Research Paper analyses the results
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Research Briefing
Public Service Pensions Bill: Committee Stage Report
This is a report on the Public Bill Committee stage of the Public Service Pensions Bill. It is designed to complement Research Paper RP 12/57, which covers in more detail the background to the Bill.
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Research Briefing
Education: Historical statistics
The organisation of every stage of education has undergone significant change over the last century. These changes have fundamentally altered most aspects of education. Historical indicators are therefore particularly interesting, but also problematic. Very few series are consistent over more than a few decades. The definition/size of different stages of education (primary, secondary, further/higher), school leaving ages and examinations have changed markedly as have state organisation and funding. As key concepts in education change so do the types of statistics collected. The increased role of the state in the first half of the 20th century also widened the scope of official education statistics.
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Research Briefing
House of Commons Background Paper: Disciplinary and Penal Powers of the House of Commons
This Note provides information on rules covering disciplinary and penal powers of the House of Commons.
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Research Briefing
Presumption of Death Bill: Committee stage report
This is a report on the House of Commons Committee Stage of the Presumption of Death Bill (the Bill). It complements Library standard note, Missing persons and the presumption of death (SN/HA/4890).
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Research Briefing
The publication of MPs’ expenses by IPSA
This Note sets out the background to the information made available by the Commons for Members' allowances paid in the 2005-2010 Parliament. It then outlines IPSA's policy on release of allowances data and the position in the Welsh and Northern Irish Assemblies and the Scottish Parliament.
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Research Briefing
Mental Health (Discrimination) (No. 2) Bill: Committee Stage Report
This briefing has been prepared for the Report Stage of the Mental Health (Discrimination) (No 2) Bill on 30 November 2012. The Bill is sponsored by Gavin Barwell MP, who was fourth in the 2012-13 ballot for Private Members’ Bills.
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Research Briefing
Reducing reoffending: the “what works” debate
This paper examines the evidence for the effectiveness of prison and programmes in the community aimed at reducing reoffending and some of the claims and counter-claims for whether “prison works”.
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Research Briefing
In brief: deja vu in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo
On 20 November, forces belonging to the March 23 (M23) armed group seized Goma, the main city in eastern DRC. This note briefly surveys the events of recent days and the many echoes of the past that they evoke. It also looks at the roles of Rwanda and Uganda, which is leading Western governments, including the UK, to review their aid programmes to both countries.
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Research Briefing
The Prisons (Property) Billl: Committee Stage Report
The Prisons (Property) Bill would allow a governor or director of a prison to destroy unauthorised property found in prisons, or dispose of it in other ways including selling it. It has its report stage and third reading on 30 November 2012.
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Research Briefing
Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative
This note summarises the main features of the extractive industries transparency initiative and outlines the sphere of operations of the UK’s main mining companies.
Total results (page 339 of 557)