Research Briefing
House of Commons: providing information and access for the public
This note outlines some of the current initiatives in this area.
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Research Briefing
Asylum: Claims based on sexual identity
The Coalition Agreement pledged not to remove asylum seekers from the UK if they are at proven risk of persecution due to their sexual orientation or gender identification. The UKBA has since enhanced its guidance and training for asylum caseworkers on how to handle these types of asylum claim, but has been criticised for failing to monitor how the new approach is being implemented.
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Research Briefing
Legal aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill Bill No 205 of 2010-12
This Research Paper has been prepared for the second reading of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill. The Bill covers a diverse range of issues, including legal aid; litigation funding and costs; sentencing; bail, remand and release on licence; prisoners’ pay and employment; out of court disposals and knives.
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Research Briefing
Women in prisons: a select bibliography
This note suggests further reading on the subject of women in prisons.
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Research Briefing
Live music in small venues
This note describes the old "two-in-a-bar" exemption, summarises the proceedings in Parliament which led to its removal and refers to a recent announcement by Lord Clement-Jones of his intention to introduce a Private Members' Bill to restore this particular exemption. It also considers evidence for the impact of new licensing laws on the provision of live music and two initiatives which might improve provision: a "de minimis" exemption and the simplification of the process for making "minor" variations to a premises licence.
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Research Briefing
Copyright online
The online world and those who inhabit it throw up challenges to the legitimacy of copyright law and the methods and effectiveness of enforcing it.
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Research Briefing
Thresholds in Referendums
Referendums have become an established mechanism for validating constitutional initiatives in the UK. The possibility of using an appropriate minimum turnout, or a special majority to ensure that the outcome of such a poll is seen as legitimate is sometimes raised. This note looks at the debate in the UK so far and briefly looks at the use of referendum thresholds in states outside the UK.
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Research Briefing
The International Criminal Court: new crimes and a new Prosecutor
As the International Criminal Court (ICC) moves towards opening its fourth trial, its jurisdiction is being widened and its most public face, the ICC Prosecutor, is about to be replaced at the end of his term.
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Research Briefing
Protection of Freedoms Bill: Committee Stage Report Bill 189 of 2010-11
This is a report on the House of Commons Committee Stage of the Protection of Freedoms Bill. It complements Research Paper 11/20 prepared for the Commons Second Reading.
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Research Briefing
Equatorial Guinea: a quick introduction
Equatorial Guinea is often cited as a classic example of the ‘resource curse’ which can strike poor countries with weak formal institutions when oil is discovered. This note provides a brief introduction to Equatorial Guinea, including UK and EU relations with the country.
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Research Briefing
Cyber Security – A new national programme
It is widely acknowledged that cyber attacks will increasingly be a key aspect of future warfare and organised crime. This note explains the increasing threat to national security posed by the new "front" of the cyber realm of networked, digital activities (often internet-based) and sets out the Government's response.
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Research Briefing
Pension Credit statistics
Pension Credit Statistics. By Tom Rutherford. SN/SG/2756.
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Research Briefing
EU energy policy 2010 and after
This note outlines the development of EU energy policy since the Coalition Government first represented the UK at negotiations.
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Research Briefing
Trident after the Strategic Defence and Security Review
This paper is now out-of-date and has been replaced by Commons Library Briefing CBP7353, Replacing the UK's Trident Nuclear Deterrent, 26 October 2015
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Research Briefing
Uprising in Tunisia
This note describes the background to the riots in Tunisia, the recent series of events leading to the flight of the president, the interim government and progress towards elections.
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