Research Briefing

Research Briefing

Judicial appointments

Thursday, 03 September, 2009

This note provides background to the recent changes to the judicial appointments system in England and Wales, starting with the Constitutional Reform Act 2005, which established the Judicial Appointments Commission. Further changes to eligibility for appointment were made under the Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007, which changed the criteria for appointment to a number of judicial offices. The Governance of Britain Green Paper suggested that there would be additional changes to the system of judicial appointments. In March 2008, the Government published a White Paper and a Draft Bill setting out the proposed amendments.

• Research Briefing
• Justice
• Parliament

Research Briefing

The decent homes standard: update

Wednesday, 02 September, 2009

This Commons Library paper outlines progress in achieving the decent homes standard in the social and private housing sectors under the Labour Governments between 2000 - 2010.

• Research Briefing
• Housing and planning
• Rented housing

Research Briefing

Seafarers’ earnings deduction (FED)

Tuesday, 01 September, 2009

This note discusses this special tax relief for seafarers, before looking at recent concerns about a change in HM Revenue & Customs' approach to claims for this relief from those working in the oil & gas sector.

• Research Briefing
• Tax

Research Briefing

Motor vehicles: bull bars

Monday, 24 August, 2009

This note outlines the proscriptions on bull bars set out in European legislation.

• Research Briefing
• Roads

Research Briefing

Local government pension scheme: 85 year rule

Thursday, 20 August, 2009

Covers the abolition of the rule of 85 in the Local Government Pension Scheme and the transitional protection arrangements

• Research Briefing
• Local government
• Pensions

Research Briefing

Identity cards: status

Friday, 14 August, 2009

This note provides background on the status of the Government's identity cards programme together with information on the Home Office's plans for its further development. It ends with the Home Secretary's announcement of 30 June 2009.

• Research Briefing
• Crime

Research Briefing

The Lisbon Treaty: ratification issues in Ireland, Germany, Poland and Czech Republic

Friday, 14 August, 2009

This Note looks at ratification of the Lisbon Treaty in Ireland, Germany, the Czech Republic and Poland. It updates Standard Note 4943, "The Lisbon Treaty: the final four", 20 January 2009, and SN 4921, "The Lisbon Treaty: the European Council and prospects for Irish ratification", 18 December 2008.

• Research Briefing
• EU law and treaties

Research Briefing

Drivers’ hours

Thursday, 13 August, 2009

This note outlines the European and domestic drivers' hours rules and how they are enforced. It does not cover working time rules.

• Research Briefing
• Roads
• Work and incomes

Research Briefing

Unemployment by constituency, July 2009

Wednesday, 12 August, 2009

This paper shows the number of people claiming Jobseeker's Allowance recorded as resident in each constituency in the United Kingdom in July 2009, together with comparisons with the levels in July 2008 and July 1997. This paper also presents residence-based unemployment rates for all 646 constituencies in the United Kingdom.

• Research Briefing
• Work and incomes

Research Briefing

Biochar and climate change

Wednesday, 05 August, 2009

This note briefly introduces biochar as a measure to tackle climate change.

• Research Briefing
• Climate change
• Energy
• Environment
• Farming and fishing

Research Briefing

The US/UK Extradition Treaty: requests by US

Friday, 31 July, 2009

This note is part of a series on standard notes dealing with extradition issues.

• Research Briefing
• Crime

Research Briefing

UK income inequality (with international comparisons)

Thursday, 30 July, 2009

Income inequality has generally increased over the past two decades, stablising on one measure, but increasing further on another. This note updates Library Research Paper (RP04/70), Incomes, Wealth & Inequality. It includes the 2007/08 UK data and European/OECD comparisons.

• Research Briefing
• Work and incomes

Research Briefing

Parliamentary Trends: Statistics about Parliament

Wednesday, 29 July, 2009

This paper provides a summary of statistics about Parliament. It brings together figures about both the House of Commons and Lords; their membership and activities. The aim is to provide comparisons over time, though periods may vary according to relevance and the availability of consistent data. Some are for parliamentary sessions (a parliamentary session begins each year with the Queen’s Speech) some by calendar year and some by financial year. This should be borne in mind when comparing different sets of information.

• Research Briefing
• Parliament

Research Briefing

Progress of the Political Parties and Elections Bill 2008-09

Monday, 27 July, 2009

The Political Parties and Elections Bill was introduced into the House of Commons on 17 July 2008 and was carried over from the 2007-08 session. The Bill received Royal Assent on 21 July 2009. This Note summarises the debates and changes made to the Bill in the House of Commons and the House of Lords after Committee stage in the Commons

• Research Briefing
• Elections
• Parliament

Research Briefing

Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill [HL]: Committee Stage Report

Friday, 24 July, 2009

This report covers the Committee Stage of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill (HL) 2008-09. The Bill implements a number of community empowerment measuresoutlined in the white paper - Communities in control: real people, real power (Cm 7427). It also implements changes in relation to regional and sub-regional economic development and planning. See also Research Papers 09/45 and 09/46.

• Research Briefing
• Housing and planning
• Industry
• Local government