Research Briefing

The main recent policy developments regarding school meals in England, including the revised school food standards and provision of free school meals.

This briefing provide an overview of long Covid, the impacts of this condition and the development of clinical guidance and services for those affected. It also provides links to further reading and Parliamentary material.

Since the start of the coronavirus pandemic there have been concerns about the financial impact on universities. Much of this has focussed on the potential loss of international students, but there could also be losses in income from lower home student numbers, a drop in research work and less revenue from accommodation, catering and conferencing. What are the size of these impacts and what has the Government done to support the sector?

This Library briefing paper discusses the enforcement of coronavirus restrictions regulations in England and Wales. It explains who has powers to enforce the restrictions and what those powers are. It also summarises statistics on the number of Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs- fines) issued by police for coronavirus offences.

The Government is committed to increasing housing supply. This paper considers key trends in supply in the UK and goes on to focus on some of the key barriers and potential solutions to increasing supply in England. It refers to proposals contained in the Housing White Paper (February 2017) and in Planning for the Future (August 2020) and has been updated to take account of subsequent developments. Historical supply statistics for the UK are provided.

This House of Commons Library briefing paper outlines the measures taken in England to support rough sleepers, and those at risk of rough sleeping, during the coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak. It discusses the impact of these measures and stakeholder comment.

This note examines the current state of infrastructure in the UK, recent Government policies and levels and sources of investment.

The National Minimum Wage Bill 2019-21 was introduced by Paula Barker MP following the Private Members' Bills Ballot on 9 January 2020. First reading took place on 5 February 2020. The Bill's second reading was due to take place on 15 January 2021, but was cancelled following an Order of the House on 13 January 2021. We do not have a date for the rearranged Second Reading.

An overview of the development and rollout of the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loans Scheme, the Coronavirus Larger Business Interruption Loans Scheme and the Bounce Back Loans Scheme, including refinements and challenges.

This Library paper gives a brief overview of public library services in England.

Unemployment: International Comparisons: Data on harmonised unemployment rates for major international economies.

This briefing paper provides official statistics on household savings and debt since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, and discusses the groups which are more likely than average to have experienced an increase in household debt.

This Library briefing paper discusses the regulation of air weapons in the UK.

This Library briefing paper discusses the regulation on firearms in the UK.

The Planning for the Future white paper published in August 2020, setting out the Government's proposals for "once in a generation" reform of England's planning system, and separate proposals to reform the current system of calculating housing need proved controversial. This briefing from the House of Commons Library examines those proposals and the other planning changes already made during the Covid-19 pandemic, including the announcement on 16 December 2020 on changes to the standard method for calculating housing need.