Research Briefing
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.
Research Briefing
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
Research Briefing
A summary of statistics relating to Employment and Support Allowance and other incapacity-related benefits.
Research Briefing
This note covers disputes between those owning holiday caravans and the site owners
Research Briefing
Government policy on support for small business has been evolving in the current economic downturn. This note covers existing arrangements and schemes introduced under the previous administration.
Research Briefing
This note aims to assist MP's staff in replying to constiteuncy planning questions
Research Briefing
This note deals with several issues related to horticulture, including the problem of invasive species and the supply of foreign workers
Research Briefing
This note looks at the increasingly high-profile problem of metal theft, which the Association of Chief Police Officers has estimated costs the UK economy approximately £770 million per year. There have been calls to reform the Scrap Metal Dealers Act 1964 to tighten up controls on scrap metal dealers. In January 2012 the Government announced that it would be amending the 1964 Act to introduce a ban on cash payments for scrap metal and unlimited fines for relevant offences under the Act. These changes are set out in sections 145 to 147 of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012. In June 2012 Richard Ottaway introduced a Private Member's Bill that proposes to repeal the 1964 Act altogether and replace it with a new regulatory regime. The Bill has Government support.
Research Briefing
The Scrap Metal Dealers Bill seeks to introduce a more robust regulatory regime for scrap metal dealers to reduce the opportunities for metal thieves to sell stolen material.
Research Briefing
NATO assumed command of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan in August 2003. At its summit in Chicago in May 2012, NATO confirmed ISAF’s mission will end on 31 December 2014. It also mapped out the transition of security for Afghanistan from ISAF to Afghan National Security Forces. Specifically, it set the goal for Afghan forces to be in the lead for security nation-wide by mid-2013.
Research Briefing
This note describes how dairy farmers faced low prices for several years but saw some improvement in 2007 and 2008.
Research Briefing
This Research Paper discusses the House of Lords Reform Bill 2012-13, placing it in the context of the previous draft bill and wider debates on the subject.
Total results (page 347 of 558)