Research Briefing

Research Briefing

Somalia – President Mohamud on the back foot while al-Shabaab attacks continue

Friday, 27 June, 2014

A few days ago, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud declared that Somalia was once again in a “political crisis”. In May, UN Special Envoy to Somalia, Nicholas Kay, said that Somalia is approaching “a danger zone”. For the first year or so after President Mohamud took office in September 2012, Western supporters of the Government put a positive spin on his performance. However, there is a growing sense that President Mohamud’s government is not turning out to be the fresh start that Somalia needed. Al-Shabaab has suffered important military reverses since President Mohamud took office and is now focusing increasingly on launching regular violent attacks on government-held areas, including Mogadishu, where security has declined markedly recently. It has also increased its attacks in neighbouring Kenya, which sent troops into southern Somalia in 2011.

• Research Briefing
• Africa
• Institutions
• Security

Research Briefing

Childcare Payments Bill

Thursday, 26 June, 2014

This Bill introduces a new Tax-free Childcare scheme to support eligible parents with childcare costs. Under the scheme, the Government would provide 20 per cent support on costs up to £10,000 per year for each child via an online account. The Government would top up any payments made into the account, capped at a maximum Government contribution of £2,000 a year for each child.

• Research Briefing
• Child care
• Tax

Research Briefing

The Future of the British Nuclear Deterrent: Suggested Reading

Thursday, 26 June, 2014

This paper is now out-of-date and has been replaced by Commons Library Briefing CBP7353, Replacing the UK's Trident Nuclear Deterrent, 26 October 2015

• Research Briefing
• Defence policy

Research Briefing

Royal prerogative of mercy- a question of transparency

Wednesday, 25 June, 2014

The use of royal pardons has attracted attention over recent months, especially in Northern Ireland where questions have been raised over apparently secret letters of assurance given to so-called “on the runs”. While Ministers have faced calls for greater transparency over the royal prerogative of mercy, a High Court judgement in Belfast last week shed

• Research Briefing
• Parliament

Research Briefing

Russia and Ukraine – update June 2014

Wednesday, 25 June, 2014

Ukraine is due to sign its agreement with the EU on 27 June; Russia's reaction is awaited

• Research Briefing
• Defence policy
• Economic policy
• Europe
• The EU

Research Briefing

A new Commission President in 2014

Tuesday, 24 June, 2014

Will David Cameron succeed in blocking the nomination of Jean-Claude Juncker for European Commission President? Juncker has the support of most Member State governments but the UK Prime Minister thinks he is too integrationist and would not implement necessary reforms.

• Research Briefing
• EU institutions
• EU law and treaties
• The EU

Research Briefing

Auditing the EU accounts

Tuesday, 24 June, 2014

A common complaint from the UK press is that the EU accounts have not been “signed off” (for example, see articles from the Daily Mail, the Telegraph and the BBC). In fact, the European Court of Auditors (ECA) has signed off the accounts for each year up to 2012 – although it has never given a

• Research Briefing
• EU law and treaties

Research Briefing

Passport application fees

Monday, 23 June, 2014

There are different fees for British passports, depending on whether the application is made in the UK or overseas.

• Research Briefing
• Nationality

Research Briefing

Housing demand and need (England) (ARCHIVED)

Monday, 23 June, 2014

This note provides information on estimates of housing need and demand in England. It includes information on some of the main factors which influence demand and need for housing.

• Research Briefing
• Housing and planning

Research Briefing

Incentivising the Right to Buy

Monday, 23 June, 2014

In October 2011 the Prime Minister said he wanted to “raise Right to Buy discounts to a level which will make the scheme attractive again and rejuvenate the housing stock.” This note summarises various changes to the Right to Buy (RTB) in England and reactions to those changes.

• Research Briefing
• Home ownership
• Housing and planning
• Rented housing

Research Briefing

Bingo taxation

Friday, 20 June, 2014

This note discusses the development of the current structure of bingo duty, before looking at the decision by the Government to cut the rate of bingo duty to 10% in Budget 2014.

• Research Briefing
• Culture, media and sport
• Tax

Research Briefing

Unemployment by Constituency, January 2014

Friday, 20 June, 2014

This paper contains labour market figures for parliamentary constituencies, as well as a summary of the latest national and regional statistics.

• Research Briefing
• Economic situation
• Work and incomes

Research Briefing

Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIS) and the takeover of Mosul

Friday, 20 June, 2014

ISIS has shocked observers by the speed of its takeover of large amounts of Iraqi territory

• Research Briefing
• Middle East

Research Briefing

Unemployment by Constituency, December 2013

Friday, 20 June, 2014

This paper contains labour market figures for parliamentary constituencies, as well as a summary of the latest national and regional statistics.

• Research Briefing
• Economic situation
• Work and incomes

Research Briefing

Programming of legislation – recent proposals

Friday, 20 June, 2014

The Procedure Committee's recommendation that a trial take place in 2014-15 Session of a three-day deadline for the tabling of amendments and new clauses/schedules at report stage of all programmed bills will be debated on 8 May 2014. It is hoped this will ensure a timetable could be agreed for report stage debates.

• Research Briefing
• Parliament