Research Briefing
By-elections 2005 – 2010
This research paper provides the results of the 14 by-elections held during the 2005-10 Parliament.
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Research Briefing
Economic Indicators, August 2010
This Research Paper series summarises the main economic indicators currently available for the UK, along with comparisons with other major OECD countries. This issue includes articles entitled 'Analysing the recent recession' and 'UK aid budget: under pressure?'. [Articles: 'Analysing the recent recession' and 'UK aid budget: under pressure?']
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Research Briefing
Anti-social Behaviour Orders
The Home Secretary Theresa May criticised ASBOs in a speech in July 2010. Her criticisms were rejected by former Labour Home Secretaries. ASBOs were introduced by the Crime and Disorder Act 1988. Their use was slow to start with, but peaked in 2005 before declining again. Some commentators argue that authorities are using alternative remedies. Evaluations have highlighted the relatively high breach rate, but also their role in deterring anti-social behaviour. Publication of a Home Office review is awaited.
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Research Briefing
Coalition proposals for an Energy Security and Green Economy Bill
This note sets out the measures in the Bill alongside what was said about these areas in the Conservative and Liberal Democrat election manifestos, the formal coalition Government agreement and the March 2010 Conservative green paper Rebuilding Security: Conservative energy policy for an uncertain world. It also highlights comment on the proposals.
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Research Briefing
India: Development aid from the UK & other donors
UK aid to India was £297 million in 2008/09, and India has received more UK overseas aid than any other country since 1998. As one of the rapidly expanding emerging 'BRIC' economies, this aid programme has come under increasingly intense scrutiny. Recent commentary and Government statements are summarised.
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Research Briefing
Parliamentary constituency boundaries: the Fifth Periodical Review
This note gives details of the fifth periodical review of Parliamentary constituencies.
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Research Briefing
Reducing the size of the House of Commons
The Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill was introduced on 22 July 2010 and introduces new Rules for Redistribution which make provision for the number of constituencies to be reduced to 600. This note looks briefly at the current Rules for Redistribution and at recent calls for the Rules to be changed; details of the length of time it has taken to carry out periodical reviews of Parliamentary constituencies are also given. A summary of the Bill's main provisions is also included.
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Research Briefing
The Rules for the Redistribution of Seats- history and reform
This briefing is no longer being updated. It has been replaced by another Library briefing paper: Constituency boundary reviews and the number of MPs, Research Briefing 5929
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Research Briefing
Redistributing parliamentary boundaries: some international comparisons
This note describes how constituency boundaries are redrawn in a number of other countries: Canada, Australia, the USA and France. Much of the material in the note is taken from a key text on the subject, Redistributing in comparative perspective edited by Lisa Handley and Bernard Grofman.
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Research Briefing
Property disputes in north Cyprus
Property ownership is a major issue in the divided island of Cyprus, not just for Cypriots but for British and other people. Many thousands of people were displaced after the Turkish intervention in 1974, abandoning their property, and in the north much of this has been transferred to other people without the original owner's consent. The resulting disputes have not only thwarted progress in reunification talks but also resulted in a large number of court cases.
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Research Briefing
In brief: a closed window in Cyprus?
The nationalist Dervis Eroglu won the April 2010 presidential elections in the 'Turkish Republic of North Cyprus' with just over 50% of the vote. Most commentators had argued that a win by Eroglu would close a window of opportunity for reunification, but peace talks have in fact resumed. Are these talks likely to bring progress, or is Eroglu really still in favour of a two-state solution?
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Research Briefing
Freedom of Information: the first five years
The Freedom of Information Act came into force in January 2005. This note reviews the operation of the Act over the first five years of implementation.
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Research Briefing
Parliamentary Ombudsman: right of Appeal
Members often ask on behalf of their constituents whether there is any appeal against a decision by the Parliamentary Ombudsman (also called the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration). This note provides guidance on this subject.
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Research Briefing
The Parliamentary Ombudsman and the MP filter
This Note sets out the role of the MP in referring complaints to the Parliamentary Ombudsman and refers to other relevant Library Standard Notes.
Total results (page 392 of 558)