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Research Briefing
Iceland’s financial crisis
The global financial crisis has been tumultuous for Iceland. Until recently considered a rich, successful and competitive nation, Iceland suffered a dramatic collapse of its economy and currency following the collapse of its banking sector in October 2008. It was forced to negotiate a loan from the IMF and further financial support from a number of countries, and saw the fall of its government. The crisis has led to renewed suggestions that Iceland may apply to join the EU and adopt the euro. Following the Government's fall in January 2009, a caretaker Government took over in February and elections are expected on 25 April 2009. The major partner in the caretaker left-wing coalition, the Social Democratic Alliance, was a member of the previous administration and is strongly pro-EU, but its new partner, the Left Green Movement, has said it will continue to oppose EU membership.
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Research Briefing
European Parliament Political Groups
This Note looks briefly at political groups in the European Parliament.
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Research Briefing
Recent developments at the Atomic Weapons Establishment
This note provides details on the Government's new investment programme at the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) and examines the new ownership arrangements at AWE Management Ltd (AWEML), the consortium which manages AWE on behalf of the government, which resulted from the decision by British Nuclear Fuels Ltd (BNFL) to sell their one-third stake in AWEML to the US-based Jacobs Engineering Group on 18 December 2008.
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Research Briefing
Afghanistan and narcotics: Opium poppy cultivation trends, 2001 – 2009
This note examines the scale of the opium problem in Afghanistan and analyses recent trends in opium production in the country, including the latest figures published by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in August 2008 and its forecast for 2009, published in February 2009. It also outlines the linkages between the narcotics trade and the Taliban insurgency.
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Research Briefing
VAT & employment bureaux : the staff hire concession
This note describes the background to the Government's announcement in the 2008 Budget that it would withdraw the 'staff hire concession' from 1 April 2009.
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Research Briefing
Income and earnings by constituency: availability of data
Members of Parliament often express interest in incomes at a local level, and at the Parliamentary constituency level in particular. However, limited income statistics are available for smaller geographies, such as constituencies. This note outlines what is available at the constituency level.
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Research Briefing
In brief: Camp Ashraf and the Geneva Conventions
Camp Ashraf in Northern Iraq houses members of the People Mujahedin of Iran. These people were regarded as 'protected persons' under the Fourth Geneva Convention when Ashraf was under US control. On 1 January 2009 control of Ashraf passed fom the US to the Iraqi Government, and concerns have been raised about how its inhabitants will be treated.
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Research Briefing
Geneva Conventions and United Nations Personnel (Protocols) Bill [HL] (Bill 69 of 2008-09)
This short Bill is intended to amend two UK Acts to enable the Government to ratify two international agreements protecting military medical personnel and humanitarian workers. In line with the protocols, the Bill would firstly sanction and protect the ‘red crystal’ as a new symbol to protect humanitarian personnel in armed conflict instead of (or in addition to) the existing red cross or red crescent; and secondly extend the definition of protected UN workers to include those delivering humanitarian, political or development assistance in peacebuilding operations and those delivering emergency humanitarian protection.
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Research Briefing
Tibet
The 50th anniversary of the Tibetan uprising was commemorated on 10 March 2009. This Note provides brief background for Members and their staff. It is neither comprehensive nor exhaustive.
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Research Briefing
Coroners and Justice Bill: Committee stage report
The Coroners and Justice Bill deals with a wide range of matters including: coroners; death certification; murder, infanticide and suicide; prohibited images of children; hatred against persons on grounds of sexual orientation; criminal evidence, investigations and procedure; sentencing; legal aid; criminal memoirs and data protection.
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Research Briefing
Unemployment by Constituency, February 2009
This paper shows the number of people claiming Jobseeker's Allowance recorded as resident in each constituency in the United Kingdom in February 2009, together with comparisons with the levels in February 2008 and February 1997. This paper also presents residence-based unemployment rates for all 646 constituencies in the United Kingdom.
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Research Briefing
EU bibliographies: Timeshare Directives
This Note brings together documents relevant to UK legislation on the application of EU Timeshare Directives.
Total results (page 503 of 639)