Research Briefing Archives

Research Briefing

The Arab Uprisings

Tuesday, 15 November, 2011

Since December 2010, the most profound process of change has affected the countries of the Arab world. The change spread quickly between the countries of the region, underlining the many common factors that provoked unrest. How the region’s revolutions progress, however, depends on the individual characteristics of each country, which are very different. This paper looks at these similarities and differences and considers the possible outcomes in each case. The legitimacy of ruling regimes, the effect of societies’ divisions along confessional lines and the role of the region’s militaries are considered.
Research Briefing

Defence Basing Review

Monday, 14 November, 2011

Since October 2010 the MOD has been conducting a basing review to examine all of the issues that arose out of the Strategic Defence and Security Review. The conclusions of that review were announced in the House on 18 July 2011. In November 2011 the MOD announced the first tranche of moves envisaged under the rebasing programme.
Research Briefing

Education Bill: School-related Lords’ Amendments

Friday, 11 November, 2011

The House of Commons will consider Lords’ Amendments to the Education Bill on 14 November 2011. This Library Standard Note highlights some of the main Lords’ Amendments on school-related matters.
- Research Briefing
- Schools
Research Briefing

Ports: policy since 1997

Friday, 11 November, 2011

This note gives details of ports policy, including the National Policy Statement, and approvals for new container ports since 1997.
- Research Briefing
- Transport
Research Briefing

IMF quotas and proposed increases

Friday, 11 November, 2011

Quotas paid by member states are the main financial resource of the IMF. This note explains how they work with particular reference to the UK, and describes the proposed changes that will see quotas double.
Research Briefing

Convention on Enforced Disappearance

Thursday, 10 November, 2011

The 2006 Convention on Enforced Disappearance, which came into force in 2010, requires states that have ratified it to create new criminal offences in their domestic law and to adjust their laws on (for example) detention. The UK has not signed or ratified the Convention despite some pressure to do so.
- Research Briefing
- International law
Research Briefing

Ukraine, the EU, Russia and Tymoshenko

Thursday, 10 November, 2011

The boundaries of western and Russian influence in Eastern Europe are in play in Ukraine.
Research Briefing

Scotland, independence and the EU

Tuesday, 08 November, 2011

If Scotland became independent, would it automatically remain a member of the European Union (EU) – or would it have to go through the whole accession process for new Member States, either alone or alongside the rest of the UK?
Research Briefing

In Brief: The IAEA report and action against Iran

Monday, 07 November, 2011

The IAEA is to release a report on the Iranian nuclear programme on 8 or 9 November. The report will give strong evidence suggesting that Iran is working on the components of a nuclear weapon, and there has been a flurry of speculation that Israel is preparing for military action against Iran.
Research Briefing

Armed Forces Bill: Lords Amendments

Thursday, 03 November, 2011

Six amendments to the Armed Forces Bill were agreed at Lords Third Reading which took place on 10 October, including several tabled or supported by the Government. This note briefly examines those amendments.
- Research Briefing
- Armed forces
Research Briefing

Pensions Bill 2011 – final stages

Thursday, 03 November, 2011

Section 1 of the Pensions Act 2011 will accelerate the increase in the State Pension age to 66. The amended the Bill in its final stages to cap the maximum increase in women's State Pension age at 18 months relative to the previously legislated timetable. This note also looks at this and other Government amendments to the Bill in its final stages. It complements and updates Library Research Paper 11/68 Pensions Bill: Commitee Stage Report.
- Research Briefing
- Pensions
Research Briefing

Economic Indicators, November 2011

Tuesday, 01 November, 2011

This Research Paper series summarises the main economic indicators currently available for the UK, along with comparisons with other major OECD countries.
- Research Briefing
- Economic situation
Research Briefing

Initial proposals for new constituency boundaries: Scotland

Thursday, 27 October, 2011

The number of parliamentary constituencies in Scotland will fall from 59 to 52 as part of the current boundary review. Initial proposals for the new seats were published by the Boundary Commission for Scotland on 13 October 2011. This note looks at the extent to which proposed constituencies can be identified with existing seats and which existing constituencies will be most affected by the proposals.
- Research Briefing
- Elections
Research Briefing

Mortgage repossessions: tenants’ rights (England and Wales)

Monday, 24 October, 2011

This House of Commons Library briefing paper summarises the options available to tenants when they discover that their landlord has defaulted on the mortgage payments.
Research Briefing

The Equality Act 2010 and positive action

Monday, 24 October, 2011

This note considers the provisions in the Equality Act 2010 that allow positive action in respect of employment – it should be noted that positive discrimination continues to be illegal in most cases.

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