Research Briefing Archives

Research Briefing

The EU’s Common Security and Defence Policy: A Fresh Impetus?

Wednesday, 04 December, 2013

The European Council Summit is due to be held on 19-20 December 2013. Among the main issues for debate is the EU’s Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP). It will be the first time in five years that EU leaders have comprehensively discussed EU defence policy, amid criticisms that CSDP has lost momentum due to a lack of consensus over its strategic direction, an unwillingness on the part of Member States to commit the necessary resources and the prevailing economic crisis which has seen defence budgets fall across Europe and capabilities cut.
Research Briefing

Economic Indicators, December 2013

Wednesday, 04 December, 2013

This Research Paper series summarises the main economic indicators currently available for the UK, along with comparisons with other major OECD countries. This weeks articles are 'Who’s looking for work? Differences between ILO unemployment and the claimant count' and 'Interesting times: inflation and monetary policy responses'
Research Briefing

Autumn Statement 2013: background briefing

Tuesday, 03 December, 2013

This note sets out the background to the 2013 Autumn Statement which will take place on Thursday 5 December. The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) will publish revised forecasts for the economy and public finances on the same day.
Research Briefing

Green Levies and Energy Bills

Monday, 02 December, 2013

On Thursday 5 December George Osborne will deliver his Autumn Statement to the House of Commons, setting out the state of UK finances and detailing new economic policy. One issue that the Chancellor is expected to talk about is green levies on energy bills.
Research Briefing

The Francis Report (Report of the Mid-Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust public inquiry) and the Government’s response

Monday, 02 December, 2013

This briefing provides background to the public inquiry led by Robert Francis QC into serious failings in care at Mid-Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust before 2009. It also provides some information on the Government’s initial response to the Francis report, which was published on 6 February 2013.
- Research Briefing
- Health services
Research Briefing

School funding: 2006–2010 policy changes under the Labour Government

Friday, 29 November, 2013

This Note provides background to the introduction of the Labour Government's school funding reforms in 2006, details of the reforms (which included the introduction of a ring-fenced schools budget, known as the Dedicated Schools Grant), and the March 2010 consultation on the introduction of a school funding formula.
Research Briefing

Growth forecasts and the Autumn Statement

Friday, 29 November, 2013

One of the features of George Osborne’s Budgets and Autumn Statements has been a downgrading over time of forecasts for the economy by the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR). For example, both the 2010 and 2011 Budgets forecast GDP growth of 2.9% in 2013. By the March 2013 Budget, this forecast had been cut to
- Research Briefing
- Economic situation
Research Briefing

The Royal Navy’s surface fleet: in brief

Friday, 29 November, 2013

The Royal Navy is in the middle of an ambitious programme to upgrade its surface fleet with new destroyers, frigates and at least one operational aircraft carrier.
Research Briefing

Lords stages of the Care Bill: Health Provisions

Thursday, 28 November, 2013

This note provides an overview of the health provisions in the Care Bill, including developments during the Bill’s Committee and Report Stages in the Lords.
- Research Briefing
- Health services
Research Briefing

Election monitoring troubles in Azerbaijan

Wednesday, 27 November, 2013

The 2013 presidential election in Azerbaijan set off a row between different groups of election monitors. The European Parliament, the Council of Europe and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) all had groups of parliamentarians in Azerbaijan, while the OSCE Office of Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) mission consisted of a
- Research Briefing
- Europe
Research Briefing

Pensions Bill 2013-14 – House of Commons stages

Wednesday, 27 November, 2013

Looks at provisions in the Pensions Bill 2013/14 and will follow its progress through Parliament.
Research Briefing

Clare’s law: the Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme

Tuesday, 26 November, 2013

The Government has announced that, from March 2014, it will introduce a national domestic violence disclosure scheme. This will provide a framework for the police to disclose information about an individual’s history of domestic violence to a new partner.
- Research Briefing
- Crime
Research Briefing

Report Stage and Third Reading of the Defence Reform Bill

Tuesday, 26 November, 2013

Report Stage and Third Several amendments were tabled prior to Report stage, including one which sought to impose an obligation on the Government to report on the viability and cost-effectiveness of the plan to increase the size of the Reserves, which would then be subject to approval by both Houses before the Government could continue with its reform agenda. Despite the support of several Conservative backbenchers, that amendment was, however, defeated on division. A clause seeking to increase the leave entitlement of Reservists was also defeated. Reading of the Defence Reform Bill took place in the House of Commons on 20 November 2013.
Research Briefing

Eastern Partnership summit in Vilnius: carrots v sticks

Tuesday, 26 November, 2013

Another victory for Vladimir Putin?
Research Briefing

Effects of the EU Charter of Rights in the UK

Tuesday, 26 November, 2013

Does the UK have an opt-out from the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights via its Protocol? This Note presents views on the nature of the Protocol and what a 2011 ruling on the effects of the Protocl might mean with regard to the effects of the Charter in the UK.

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