Research Briefing

Research Briefing

Health and Social Care Bill: Committee Stage Report.

Wednesday, 06 April, 2011

The Health and Social Care Bill had its Second Reading in the Commons on 31 January 2011. The Bill was considered in Public Bill Committee in 28 sittings, between 8 February and 31 March 2011. A large number of Government amendments were made, mainly minor and technical changes, although significant alterations were made to clauses 103 and 104 in Part 3 of the Bill, to prevent competition on price. No Opposition amendments were agreed. This Paper summarises the Commons Second Reading debate and Committee stages and supplements the House of Commons Library Research Paper Health and Social Care Bill (RP 11/11), which was produced for the Bill’s Second Reading.

• Research Briefing
• Children's social services
• Community care
• Health services

Research Briefing

Interpretation of Security Council Resolution 1973 on Libya

Wednesday, 06 April, 2011

What the rules of engagement are in Libya, and how far coalition forces are allowed to go in protecting the civilian population are highly controversial. This note looks briefly at some of the current questions.

• Research Briefing
• Africa
• Armed forces
• International law
• International organisations

Research Briefing

Direct taxes: rates and allowances 2011/12

Wednesday, 06 April, 2011

This paper sets out the main changes to direct tax rates and allowances announced in the Budget on 23 March 2011.

• Research Briefing
• Tax

Research Briefing

Economic Indicators, April 2011

Tuesday, 05 April, 2011

This Research Paper series summarises the main economic indicators currently available for the UK, along with comparisons with other major OECD countries. The decline in Q4 2010 GDP was revised from 0.6% to 0.5%. ONS estimated that if the effects of December’s winter weather were excluded, GDP would have been unchanged. Although data from early 2011 is mixed, the economy is likely to have returned to growth in Q1. The manufacturing sector continues to expand strongly and business confidence indicators are generally positive. However, with earnings growth failing to keep pace with rising inflation, consumer expenditure – which makes up around two-thirds of GDP – is likely to remain subdued in the near future.

• Research Briefing
• Economic situation

Research Briefing

The Coinage (Measurement) Bill: London Olympics preparation

Monday, 04 April, 2011

This note summarises a very short private members Bill which removes a technical legal impediment to the production of a 1 kilogram commemorative coin for the 2012 Olympics.

• Research Briefing
• Finance

Research Briefing

No-Fly Zone Over Libya: Suggested Reading

Monday, 04 April, 2011

UN Security Council Resolution 1973 adopted on 17 March 2011, established, among other things, a no-fly zone over Libya. This note provides a list of suggested reading material on the arguments for and against the establishment of a no fly zone over Libya and its likelihood of success.

• Research Briefing
• Africa
• Armed forces
• Defence policy

Research Briefing

Data protection and campaigning

Friday, 01 April, 2011

This Library paper covers the data protection implications of using constituency casework to inform campaigning activities in local or other elections.

• Research Briefing
• Security

Research Briefing

Eco Towns

Wednesday, 30 March, 2011

This note describes the Government programme of new settlements based on ecological principles, along with comment and criticism.

• Research Briefing
• Energy
• Housing and planning

Research Briefing

Members’ pay from April 2011

Wednesday, 30 March, 2011

• Research Briefing
• Parliament

Research Briefing

Turmoil in the Middle East

Wednesday, 30 March, 2011

This note looks at the instability in the Middle East and North Africa since the Tunisian and Egyptian uprisings.

• Research Briefing
• Africa
• Institutions
• Middle East

Research Briefing

The 2011 Budget

Wednesday, 30 March, 2011

This note summarises the main points of the 2011 Budget and the reaction to it.

• Research Briefing
• Business
• Economic policy
• Economic situation
• Public spending
• Tax

Research Briefing

Council Tax 2011/12

Tuesday, 29 March, 2011

This note contains key statistics on council tax levels in 2011/12 and a limited amount of analysis is provided. The main purpose of this note is to act as a reference document although more detailed analysis is available on request.

• Research Briefing
• Local government

Research Briefing

The Draft Defamation Bill

Tuesday, 29 March, 2011

On the 15th of March 2011, the Government published the Draft Defamation Bill and a consultation paper (which included questions on a number of issues which were not included in the Bill itself). The consultation will remain open until 10 June 2011 and a Government response is promised by autumn 2011. The draft Bill was the Government's response to a number of complaints that had been raised around the defamation laws in England and Wales. The consultation paper noted that "there has been mounting concern over the past few years that our defamation laws are not striking the right balance, but rather having a chilling effect on freedom of speech". It also acknowledged worries that the threat of libel proceedings might be used to frustrate robust scientific and academic debate or to impede responsible investigative journalism.

• Research Briefing
• Civil law

Research Briefing

Background to the 2011 Budget

Monday, 28 March, 2011

This note sets out the background to the 2011 Budget which will take place on Wednesday, 23 March.

• Research Briefing
• Economic policy
• Economic situation
• Public spending
• Tax

Research Briefing

The ContactPoint database

Friday, 25 March, 2011

• Research Briefing
• Children and families
• Children's social services