Research Briefing
2014 Ukraine crisis
Fears of a Russian military intervention in Ukraine are rising as the country faces a political crisis.
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Research Briefing
Economic aspects of Scottish independence: currency
This note discusses the pros and cons of the currency options which would be available to an independent Scotland.
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Research Briefing
Causes of the eurozone crisis: a summary
The causes of the eurozone crisis are summarised in this two-page overview, which examines why Greece, Ireland, Portugal, Spain and Cyprus have had to take emergency loans - or "bailouts" - from other eurozone and EU governments and the IMF.
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Research Briefing
Suspect anonymity: Should arrested persons be named by the police?
Should the identities of arrested suspects be made public by the police before they have been charged with an offence?
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Research Briefing
Elections and electoral administration: developments since 2010
This paper looks in brief at some of the developments relating to elections and electoral administration in the UK since the general election since 2010. It tracks the commitments in relation to elections contained in the Coalition Government’s agreement, The Coalition: Our Programme for Government, published in May 2010. Other key developments relating to elections are outlined, for example the Law Commission’s review of electoral law and proposed changes to electoral arrangements for the Northern Ireland Assembly and the National Assembly for Wales
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Research Briefing
Criminal Justice and Courts Bill
The Criminal Justice and Courts Bill would make a number of changes to the criminal justice system including sentencing; cautions; prisoners’ release and recall; and the detention of young offenders. It would also reform court proceedings and costs; establish a new system of strict liability in contempt proceedings; create new offences for juror misconduct; make changes to the conduct and funding of judicial review claims; and amend the law on extreme pornography.
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Research Briefing
Employment is up again – or is it?
New statistics out today suggest that employment is up 193,000 and unemployment is down 125,000 compared to the previous quarter. Politicians and pollsters, journalists and even(!) House of Commons Library staff, repeat the figures without hesitation. But do the statistics really merit this faith, or is a bit more caution in order?
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Research Briefing
Public bill and general committees: pay for chairs
This note outlines the background to proposals for introducing salaries for the chairmen of standing committees (now public bill and general committees), which were agreed by the House on 13 July 2005.
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Research Briefing
Select Committees – pay for chairs
This note briefly reviews the background to proposals for paying select committee chairs.
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Research Briefing
Unemployment by Constituency February 2014
This paper contains labour market figures for parliamentary constituencies, as well as a summary of the latest national and regional statistics.
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Research Briefing
The Central African Republic: a primer on the current crisis
President Francois Bozize was overthrown in March 2013 by a rebel coalition called Seleka, which then installed its leader, Michael Djotodia, as the new president. However, the country remained in turmoil and ‘self-defence groups’ opposed to Seleka, called Anti-Balaka, took up arms. By late 2013, senior UN officials were warning the conflict had turned into one between the Muslim minority and the Christian majority. They said there was a real danger of genocide. While not disputing the seriousness of the crisis, many experts caution against over-simplified narratives of ‘Christian versus Muslim’ and question claims of possible genocide. Despite the arrival of French and African peacekeepers and the resignation of Michael Djotodia - recently replaced by an interim president, Catherine Samba-Panza, who heads an transitional government - violence continues in many parts of the country, with some now fearing de facto partition.
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Research Briefing
Repeal of section 141 of the Mental Health Act 1983
In January 2010, the Speaker’s Conference on Parliamentary Representation recommended that section 141 of the Mental Health Act 1983 should be repealed. The provision was repealed by the Mental Health Discrimination Act 2013.
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Research Briefing
Campaigners and Part 2 of Transparency of Lobbying etc Act 2014
Campaigners and charities were concerned about the new provisions in part 2 of the Transparency of Lobbying Bill during its passage. This Note sets out the main changes which will affect them in the run-up to the general election of May 2015.
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Research Briefing
The McKay Commission: Report of the Commission on the consequences of devolution for the House of Commons
This Note looks at the McKay Commission: Report of the Commission on the consequences of devolution for the House of Commons. The report called for the adoption of a constitutional convention that decisions at the United Kingdom level with a separate and distinct effect for England (or for England-and-Wales) should normally be taken only with the consent of a majority of MPs for constituencies in England (or England-and-Wales).
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Research Briefing
No more Advanced Learning loans for apprentices after low take-up
There will be no more Advanced Learning loans for apprentices over 24, after only 695 were made since their introduction in April last year. According to the Skills Funding Statement 2013-16: It is clear that Loans are not the preferred funding route for employers or prospective Apprentices.
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