Research Briefing
CDC Group PLC (formerly the Commonwealth Development Corporation)
This note describes the current purpose and structure of CDC, and discusses its financial performance and contribution to international development.
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Research Briefing
Establishing a right of way
A common issue raised by constituents concerns the options available for formalising a right of way. This note highlights a variety of relevant legal provisions and procedures and provides a summary timeline of the key legislative acts which have shaped the classifications of rights of way since 1949. The options available depend on how the path came to be of use in the first place and if it has any official classification on the Definitive Map for the area. The Definitive Map records all recognised rights of way.
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Research Briefing
Police (Detention and Bail) Bill
This Research Paper has been prepared for the Commons stages of the Police (Detention and Bail) Bill, which is being fast-tracked and is due to undergo all of its remaining Commons stages on 7 July 2011. The Bill would reverse the effect of the High Court’s recent decision in the Hookway case, in which it held that the “detention clock” limiting the period that the police can hold a suspect for without charge continued to run when the suspect was released on bail
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Research Briefing
Economic Indicators, July 2011
This Research Paper series summarises the main economic indicators currently available for the UK, along with comparisons with other major OECD countries.
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Research Briefing
Progress of the Afghan conflict: recent commentaries
This note is a compilation of excerpts from a variety of official and think tank publications on the progress of and outlook for the west’s strategy in Afghanistan.
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Research Briefing
The European Union Bill 2010-11: Lords Committee and Report Stages
This Note looks at Lords amendments to the European Union Bill 2010-11 covering Committee and Report stages, and Third Reading.
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Research Briefing
Political Developments in Northern Ireland October 2008 to March 2009
This note aims to give an update on the political events in Northern Ireland from October 2008 to March 2009.
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Research Briefing
House of Commons: providing information and access for the public
This note outlines some of the current initiatives in this area.
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Research Briefing
Asylum: Claims based on sexual identity
The Coalition Agreement pledged not to remove asylum seekers from the UK if they are at proven risk of persecution due to their sexual orientation or gender identification. The UKBA has since enhanced its guidance and training for asylum caseworkers on how to handle these types of asylum claim, but has been criticised for failing to monitor how the new approach is being implemented.
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Research Briefing
Legal aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill Bill No 205 of 2010-12
This Research Paper has been prepared for the second reading of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill. The Bill covers a diverse range of issues, including legal aid; litigation funding and costs; sentencing; bail, remand and release on licence; prisoners’ pay and employment; out of court disposals and knives.
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Research Briefing
Women in prisons: a select bibliography
This note suggests further reading on the subject of women in prisons.
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Research Briefing
Live music in small venues
This note describes the old "two-in-a-bar" exemption, summarises the proceedings in Parliament which led to its removal and refers to a recent announcement by Lord Clement-Jones of his intention to introduce a Private Members' Bill to restore this particular exemption. It also considers evidence for the impact of new licensing laws on the provision of live music and two initiatives which might improve provision: a "de minimis" exemption and the simplification of the process for making "minor" variations to a premises licence.
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Research Briefing
Copyright online
The online world and those who inhabit it throw up challenges to the legitimacy of copyright law and the methods and effectiveness of enforcing it.
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Research Briefing
Thresholds in Referendums
Referendums have become an established mechanism for validating constitutional initiatives in the UK. The possibility of using an appropriate minimum turnout, or a special majority to ensure that the outcome of such a poll is seen as legitimate is sometimes raised. This note looks at the debate in the UK so far and briefly looks at the use of referendum thresholds in states outside the UK.
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Research Briefing
The International Criminal Court: new crimes and a new Prosecutor
As the International Criminal Court (ICC) moves towards opening its fourth trial, its jurisdiction is being widened and its most public face, the ICC Prosecutor, is about to be replaced at the end of his term.
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