Research Briefing
This note looks at reforms introduced to the Local Government Pension Scheme in April 2008. The current debate on further reforms to the scheme is in SN 5823 Local Government Pension Scheme - 2010 onwards
Research Briefing
A 12 April coup has provoked renewed political crisis in the West African state of Guinea Bissau. On 20 May there was an ECOWAS-backed deal under which power was ostensibly returned to civilians, but there is concern about its credibility and legitimacy. The crisis is likely to set-back recent efforts to strengthen Guinea-Bissau’s capacity to combat drug-trafficking and thereby shed its reputation as a ‘narco-state’. In a country where there are regular military coups, no president has completed a full term in office since the mid 1990s.
Research Briefing
Despite some progress in Bahrain, most reports suggest that the reform programme has been half-hearted at best. Unrest and reports of abuse continue and some fear an impending crisis.
Research Briefing
The Government is proposing to introduce a "Community Trigger" as part of its reforms to the law on anti-social behaviour. This note looks at the proposals, and at some similar sorts of "triggers" which Labour introduced.
Research Briefing
In 2011 the ratio of lower quartile house price to lower quartile earnings in England was 6.5. The highest ratios are found in London (9.0), the South East (8.2) and the South West (7.8).
Research Briefing
The Library is often asked how the purchasing power of the pound has changed over various periods. This Paper provides a composite index of prices from 1750 to 2011.
Research Briefing
The Government indicates that the Defamation Bill is designed to reform the law of defamation to ensure that a fair balance is struck between the right to freedom of expression and the protection of reputation. Proposals to reform the defamation laws have a long history and bids to change the law have been somewhat contentious. Currently, defamation is governed substantially by the common law. Statutory intervention has been infrequent and the last Act exclusively concerned with defamation was passed in 1996. The Government committed to reform the defamation law in its Coalition Agreement. A draft Bill was published in March 2011 and subject to extensive pre-legislative scrutiny. The Government also conducted a separate consultation on the draft Bill. The Defamation Bill extends to England and Wales only. Second Reading is expected to take place on 12 June 2012.
Research Briefing
Greece’s long-standing public debt problem became a crisis at the start of 2010 and has since escalated to a point where it threatens the survival of the euro. This note describes the country's May 2010 and February 2012 bail-out agreements, the results of the May 2012 elections, future prospects, and implications of euro exit
Research Briefing
This note looks at the Treaty base for EMU and some of the informal suggestions as to how Greece might legally leave the euro and/or the EU.
Research Briefing
This note provides a brief introduction to UK consumer protection law. Most importantly, it refers to sources of information that may be helpful to Members’ staff when dealing with straightforward questions.
Research Briefing
The aviation sector has been included in the EU Emissions Trading Scheme from 1 January 2012 as part of EU efforts to reduce emissions by 20% by 2020.
Research Briefing
Egyptians vote on 23 and 24 May to elect a new president. If no candidate wins 50%, a second round will be held on 16 and 17 June. There are signs, however, of a looming crisis over the division of power and the role of the military.
Research Briefing
The 2012 Queen’s Speech announced that "My Government will propose reform of the electricity market to deliver secure, clean and affordable electricity and ensure prices are fair”. This will be done through the latest in a line of Energy Bills, published in draft for pre-legislative scrutiny on 22 May 2012.
Research Briefing
This note explains the civil recovery scheme designed to prevent criminals profiting from accounts of their crimes (for example in an autobiography or television or newspaper interviews). It also looks at the rules preventing serving prisoners from publishing such information and at the relevant media codes of practice.
Research Briefing
This note discusses the effects of the Ofcom ban on junk food advertising aimed at children and future policy options
Total results (page 431 of 639)