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.
Research Briefing
France is holding Presidential elections in April and May 2012. The current favourite to win the elections is the Socialist Party’s candidate, Francois Hollande.
Research Briefing
This note surveys the military set-backs experienced by al-Shabaab since the beginning of 2011, the motives behind the current Kenyan incursion into southern Somalia, recent international efforts to promote a viable political process on the ground and the continuing food crisis in the country.
Research Briefing
The Water Industry (Financial Assistance) Bill contains two measures. One will give the Government the discretion to reduce water bills in certain regions. The other will give the Government the discretion to provide financial assistance for major water and sewage infrastructure projects. Initially the Government plans to use these powers to reduce water bills in the South West of England and to support the Thames Tunnel project.
Research Briefing
This note gives information on who owns the country’s rail stations and is responsible for their maintenance; station accessibility and safety.
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 brings together in one place the key documents relating to the “fiscal compact” for the eurozone agreed at the informal European Council of 30 January 2012.
Research Briefing
Iran’s nuclear programme remains at the top of the international agenda. Many commentators think that Iran has not made a decision to build a nuclear weapon, but that Iran may want to be at the threshold, with the technical ability and materials to build a weapon fairly quickly if the decision were to be made.
Research Briefing
On 13 July 2011 the Government published draft legislation on three electoral administration provisions for pre-legislative scrutiny. Further draft electoral administration proposals were published on 14 September 2011. The draft legislation forms part of a larger package of measures including draft legislation on individual electoral registration (IER). The Political and Constitutional Reform Committee examined the Government’s proposals for individual electoral registration and the other electoral administration provisions at the same time and published its report on 4 November 2011. The Government published its response to the PCR Committee’s report on 9 February 2012.
Research Briefing
A guide to the key sources of social statistics for Scotland.
Research Briefing
A guide to the key sources of social statistics for Northern Ireland.
Research Briefing
Population ageing: statistics. By Tom Rutherford. SN/SG/3228.
Research Briefing
This note provides some general information about the UK's "biometric” passports (also known as “ePassports”), which it began to issue in 2006. The passports include a microchip which stores a digitised image of the holder’s passport photograph as well as the biographical details printed on the passport. Non-biometric passports continue to be valid until they expire.
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