Examines the process by which campaign medals are instituted, the rules governing the acceptance and wearing of foreign medals, and some of the medal campaigns that are currently underway. Summarises the findings of the interim Military Medals Review.
The Ministry of Defence announced a major re-structuring of the British Army in July 2012. This note looks at what the restructure involves and which regiments and battalions it affects.
Olympic Britain tells the story of the profound economic and social change in the UK since the two previous London Olympics, in 1908 and 1948, using statistics and expert analysis. The book can also be browsed using the Parliament website at www.parliament.uk/business/publications/research/olympic-britain/
On 16 July 2012 a Parliamentary Commission on Banking Standards was established by a motion in the House of Commons. The powers of the Commission are as set out by the motion. It is due to report its main recommendations on legislation action before 18 December 2012 before the Banking Reform Bill is published.
This note looks at views on a referendum on the UK’s EU membership, and government, parliamentary and public views on the UK’s future relations with the EU.
This Standard Note briefly outlines of the current special educational needs (SEN) system in England, highlights the main proposals in the Government's green paper on special educational needs and disability, and notes the Government’s plans to implement the changes..
On 7 July 2012, Libya held its first democratic election since 1964. Preliminary results suggest that the former interim Prime Minister Mahmoud Jibril won a landslide victory among seats reserved for party candidates. However, this should not yet be interpreted as a victory for liberals over Islamists. 120 of the 200 seats are reserved for independents and their politics are not yet clear. Mahmoud Jibril has denied that he is a secularist. Nevertheless, it is very different from election results in Egypt and Tunisia, where the parties associated with the Muslim Brotherhood did well.
The unique treaty system that protects the Antarctic is constantly updated and sometimes challenged. A current Private Member’s Bill would implement recent changes in the UK.
This Note looks at German political and public views of the euro rescue package, the European Financial Stability Facility (EFSF) and issues surrounding the ESM in Germany.
This paper sets out the Supporting People policy, intended to fund services to help vulnerable people live independently and first introduced by the Labour Government in April 2003. Initially a ring fenced grant to local authorities of £1.8 billion, it was estimated in 2009 that the net financial benefits of the programme were £3.41 billion.
As part of the Government’s programme of public bodies’ reform, which affects all Government departments, the Department for Education has abolished a number of school related quangos. Four new Executive Agencies within the Department for Education have been established and have taken on some of the responsibilities of those NDPBs