Research Briefing
Shipping: safety on the River Thames and the Marchioness disaster
This note looks at the safety issues on the River Thames that came to light as a result of the Marchioness disaster in 1989 and measures taken to deal with them.
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Research Briefing
Shipping: Marine Safety Act 2003
This note briefly explains how the Marine Safety Act 2003 came into being and those problems it was designed to address.
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Research Briefing
Aviation: Manchester’s second runway, 1993-2001
This short note briefly explains the debate surrounding Manchester Airport's application to build a second runway in the late 1990s.
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Research Briefing
Emerging economies: Brazil, China, India & Russia (BRICs)
This is a archived Commons Library briefing on Emerging economies: Brazil, China, India & Russia (BRICs) from 2010.
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Research Briefing
Special Constables
This note sets out the role and powers of special constables as well as looking at some of the initiatives to increase their numbers.
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Research Briefing
Aviation: Concorde
This note describes the political and economic agreement between Britain and France to build and operate Concorde. It does not cover the technology.
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Research Briefing
The establishment of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority
This note briefly describes the background to the decision to create the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA) and a Commissioner for Parliamentary Investigations. It then outlines the functions given to IPSA and to the Commissioner for Parliamentary Investigations by the Parliamentary Standards Act 2009. It also sets out the steps taken in establishing IPSA, including the appointment of the Speaker's Committee and the Chair of IPSA, Sir Ian Kennedy.
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Research Briefing
Identity Documents Bill, Bill 1 of 2010-11
The Bill’s central purpose is to abolish identity cards and the National Identity Register, but there are no provisions for refunding existing card-holders. The Bill retains provisions included in the Identity Cards Act 2006 that proscribe the possession or making of false identity documents other than ID cards – such as passports and driving licences. Immigration ID cards for foreign nationals are untouched by the measures.
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Research Briefing
The Commission on Scottish Devolution – “the Calman Commission”
This note gives some the background on the Commission on Scottish Devolution, chaired by Professor Sir Kenneth Calman.
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Research Briefing
Capital gains tax : the 2008 reforms
In the 2008 Budget the Labour Government introduced a major reform to capital gains tax, introducing a new single rate of tax set at 18%, and withdrawing 'taper relief', which had been designed to encourage longer-term investment in business assets. This note examines the background to this reform.
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Research Briefing
Sudan: Peace or war, unity or secession?
This paper considers the current political situation in Sudan, including the impact of the April 2010 elections in which Omar al-Bashir was re-elected as national President. The prospects for Sudan over the coming year are examined, with particular reference to the two referendums to be held in January 2011, required under the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement, and the recent resurgence of the conflict in Darfur.
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Research Briefing
Capital gains tax : background history
Capital gains tax (CGT) was first introduced in 1965 on gains made on the disposal of assets by individuals, personal representatives and trustees. This note provides a short history of the tax up to 2007.
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Research Briefing
Fixed term parliaments- early dissolution arrangements
This Note is intended to be a companion to Library Standard Note 831 Fixed Term Parliaments. It explains how fixed term parliaments operate in a number of other advanced democracies, both parliamentary and presidential.
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Research Briefing
Economic indicators, June 2010
This Research Paper series summarises the main economic indicators currently available for the UK, along with comparisons with other major OECD countries. [Article: 'Is the recent rise in inflation temporary?' and 'Household income and poverty in 2008/09']
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Research Briefing
Sudan, 2003-09
In order to make sense of Sudan's present and possible futures, it is vital to know something of its recent past. This is the purpose of this Standard Note, which provides a detailed account of events in Sudan, including their regional impact, between 2003 and 2009. It will not be updated.
Total results (page 398 of 560)