• Research Briefing

    Local Government Bill [HL] Bill No 75 of 2010-11

    The Bill gives effect to the Coalition Government’s commitment to stop the restructuring of councils in Norfolk, Suffolk and Devon. Specifically the Bill would prevent implementation of any of the existing proposals for a single-tier local government structure made under the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007. The Bill completed its passage through the House of Lords and was introduced into the House of Commons on 11 October 2010. This briefing was prepared to inform the Second Reading debate on the Bill.

  • Research Briefing

    Unemployment by Constituency, October 2010

    This paper presents labour market data for Parliamentary Constituencies. A summary of the latest national and regional labour market data is given, along with a selection of relevant constituency-level indicators including the latest Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) claimant count data.

  • Research Briefing

    Roads: traffic calming

    This note gives information as to the legislative authority for traffic calming measures; the relevant guidance to local authorities on its installation and explains about different types of calming such as road humps, chicanes and so-called 'naked streets'.

  • Research Briefing

    Iran’s nuclear programme and sanctions

    Shortly after taking office, US President Obama gave negotiations with Iran over its nuclear programme one year, promising to push for a new set of United Nations sanctions if there was no progress. After negotiating since the end of 2009, the E3+3 countries, France, Germany and the United Kingdom plus China Russia and the United States reached agreement on the fourth round of sanctions in June 2010 This note looks at Iran's nuclear programme and UN, US and EU sanctions.

  • Research Briefing

    Strategic Defence and Security Review

    That Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR) was announced shortly after the new Coalition Government took office in May 2010. As the SDSR is ongoing, it is difficult to conclude with any certainty what its final recommendations may be. Therefore, this note seeks to 'set the scene' by providing an outline of what proposals have been highlighted by the new Government thus far and a list of suggested reading material for relevant commentary.

  • Research Briefing

    Superannuation Bill: Committee Stage Report

    Clause 1 of this Bill would cap compensation payable under the Civil Service Compensation Scheme at a maximum of 12 months’ pay for compulsory redundancy and 15 months’ pay for voluntary exits. Clause 2 provides for clause 1 to expire after 12 months unless repealed, extended or revived using order-making powers. The Conservative-Liberal Democrat Coalition Government invited the civil service unions to negotiate a “sustainable and practical and practical long-term successor scheme”. On 7 October, the Government announced that it had concluded its negotiations with five of the six unions on a new scheme.

  • Research Briefing

    Reform of higher education funding in England

    The purpose of this note is to provide an overview of higher education funding in England and to highlight current debate on the wider issues of the funding and structure of higher education. On the 9th November 2009 the Independent Review of Higher Education Funding and Student Finance was launched under the chairmanship of Lord Browne. The primary task of the review is to make recommendations on the future of fees policy and financial support for full and part-time students, the review is due to publish a report in October 2010. This note flags up some of the issues possibly being considered by the Browne Review.

  • Research Briefing

    Lawful Industrial Action (Minor Errors) Bill Bill No 4 of 2010/11

    The Bill proposes reducing regulatory burdens on trade unions in relation to the balloting and notice requirements for lawful industrial action. It extends the provision for small accidental errors contained in section 232B of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992. The burden of proof in applications by an employer to restrain strike action by injunction will be changed. The employer will have to show that the union has failed to achieve “substantial compliance” with the ballot and notice requirements.

  • Research Briefing

    Economic Indicators, October 2010

    This Research Paper series summarises the main economic indicators currently available for the UK, along with comparisons with other major OECD countries. Employment in the three months to July 2010 was 286,000 higher than the previous quarter, mainly due to an increase in part-time employment. This is the largest quarterly increase in employment since records began in 1971. GDP growth in Q2 2010 was confirmed at 1.2%, the fastest quarterly increase in national output since 2001. Manufacturing output continues to recover strongly, increasing by 4.9% in the year to July, although employment in the sector fell. [Articles: 'Saving the Economy?' and 'Comparing earnings in the public and private sector']

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