Research Briefing
This note gives a brief history of postal voting and sets out the main electoral offences. It covers the period 2001-09; for information about electoral fraud since 2010 see Standard Note 6255, Electoral fraud since 2010.
Research Briefing
This paper contains labour market figures for parliamentary constituencies, as well as a summary of the latest national and regional statistics.
Research Briefing
This note reproduces the terms of reference for the Commission, and puts them in the context of the Holtham Commission on funding reform in Wales, the fiscal changes proposed for Scotland in the Scotland Bill, and the changes made to the powers of the National Assembly for Wales in May 2011. The Commission will aim to report on fiscal powers in autumn 2012, and on constitutional matters by spring 2014. It is led by Paul Silk, former Clerk to the National Assembly for Wales.
Research Briefing
This note provides a brief overview of the controversy and includes a summary of the final text of the agreement.
Research Briefing
This Research Paper series summarises the main economic indicators currently available for the UK, along with comparisons with other major OECD countries.
Research Briefing
This note summarises the pay freezes and reductions that have been applied to Government ministers since April 2007. Under the Labour Government ministerial pay was frozen. The Coalition Administration reduced ministerial salaries in order to achieve a five per cent reduction in ministerial remuneration (ministerial and Members' salaries combined).
Research Briefing
This note summarises the child sex offender disclosure scheme, also known as Sarah's law, under which members of the public can ask the police whether an individual (e.g. a neighbour or family friend) is a convicted sex offender. In August 2010 the Home Secretary announced that the scheme would be rolled out across all police force areas in England and Wales, following a successful pilot.
Research Briefing
From 20-22 June 2012 the UN will hold a conference on sustainable development in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, twenty years on from the ‘Earth Summit’ of 1992, also held in Rio. This note sets out the likely agenda for the conference and some surrounding political issues.
Research Briefing
Unenriched battery cages were widely used to keep laying hens until 2012. This note covers law, welfare issues and the EU ban on this practice, and the new requirment for enriched cages.
Research Briefing
This notes sets out the positions of various groups regarding the effects of fluoridation of drinking water. It also sets out the Government's position.
Research Briefing
This note describes the Workplace Parking Levy (WPL), a policy introduced by the Labour Government that enables local authorities to charge businesses for every employee who parks in the area. It outlines the policy of successive governments and provides information on the only scheme currently in place, in Nottingham.
Research Briefing
Under the last Government the first academy was set up in 2002. Their number increased steadily over the following few years and reached more than 100 by the end of 2008. The rate of growth was even faster in the following two years. At the start of February 2012 their number stood at 337; 329 secondaries and 8 recently opened primary schools.
Research Briefing
The resurgence in piracy at sea, particularly hijackings off the coast of Somalia, has prompted a range of efforts to tackle it. These throw up a series of legal issues including the use of force by governments and private armed security guards, and transferring of suspects for trial or imprisonment. Library Standard Notes covering related issues include: Piracy at sea: overview and policy responses; Somalia: recent political, security and humanitarian developments; and Does Somali piracy have any ‘developmental effects’?.
Research Briefing
This note gives a brief overview of the problems facing UK and world shipping from piracy and armed robbery at sea and summarises the actions being taken by the UK Government and international organisations to tackle the problem.
Research Briefing
There has been growing debate about where the spoils of Somali piracy have been going. How far are they helping to support the Islamist terrorist group al-Shabaab? Is some of the money going into the pockets of local politicians and businessmen with links to the pirates? Could a surprisingly large portion of the spoils be percolating through to ordinary Somalis? This note briefly surveys recent debates on the last two of these questions.
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