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This briefing is no longer being updated. It has been replaced by another Library briefing paper: Constituency boundary reviews and the number of MPs, Research Briefing 5929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.
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Research Briefing
Debt relief & ‘vulture funds’: the Debt Relief (Developing Countries) Act 2010
This note provides an update to the second reading and committee stage Library research papers on the Debt Relief (Developing Countries) Bill, also known as the 'Vulture Funds' Bill. The Act entered into force in June 2010 and will lapse if not renewed within a year due to a 'sunset clause'.
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Research Briefing
Parliamentary scrutiny of opt-in decisions to the EU Area of Freedom, Security and Justice
The UK has an opt-in arrangement to measures in the "Area of Freedom, Security and Justice", which concern mainly immigration and asylum, border control, judicial cooperation in civil law, policing and criminal law. This Note looks at parliamentary scrutiny of the opt-in arrangement.
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Research Briefing
The Terrorist Asset-Freezing Etc.Bill 2010-11
Describes the cases that led to the quashing of the terrorist asset-freezing regime by the Supreme Court, the temporary provisions bill that reinstated it and the present Bill, designed to provide a permanent solution to the problem.
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Research Briefing
Yemen
The failed attempt on 25 December to destroy an airliner bound for Detroit has focussed attention on the situation in Yemen. This note summarises political and military developments in the country and looks at Yemeni relations with the UK and the EU.
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Research Briefing
Time Spent on Government Bills
This note lists the time spent on debating Government Bills during each Parliamentary session since 1983. The table lists the number of bills introduced each session and the numbers that were successful or unsuccessful. Information is also provided on the time spent during each stage of the process through Parliament.
Total results (page 394 of 560)