Oonagh Gay

Research Briefing

Parliamentary privilege and qualified privilege

Wednesday, 25 May, 2011

This Note examines the concept of privilege as it applies to Members, staff, and publications of the House, press reports of Parliament, and members of public authorities. It compares qualified privilege with the absolute nature of parliamentary privilege, by examining a number of areas where privilege may be applicable. Apart from quoting the statutory authorities, it does not seek to deal with the wider question of media publications on matters of public interest, which may involve a different kind of qualified privilege

• Research Briefing
• Parliament

Research Briefing

Budget Responsibility and National Audit [HL] Bill: Committee stage report

Tuesday, 15 March, 2011

The Bill establishes the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) on a statutory basis, following its creation after the general election of 2010. It also requires the Treasury to publish a Charter for Budget Responsibility setting out its approach to fiscal policy. The Bill would also confirm a new corporate governance structure for the National Audit Office, under a new paid post of Chair, who would develop a joint strategy with the Comptroller and Auditor General. This Research Paper covers the Bill's House of Commons Committee Stage.

• Research Briefing
• Public spending

Research Briefing

The Parliamentary Voting system and Constituencies Bill: summary of amendments

Monday, 21 February, 2011

• Research Briefing
• Elections
• House of Commons
• Parliament
• UK elections

Research Briefing

Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill: Lords stages

Tuesday, 15 February, 2011

This Note summarises the Lords stages of the Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill 2010-11. It supplements Research Paper 10/55 which was produced for the Bill's second reading in the House of Commons and Research Paper 10/72 which summarises all the Commons stages of the Bill.

• Research Briefing
• Elections
• House of Commons
• Parliament
• UK elections

Research Briefing

Budget Responsibility and National Audit Bill [HL]

Tuesday, 08 February, 2011

The Bill establishes the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) on a statutory basis, following its creation after the general election of 2010. It also requires the Treasury to publish a Charter for Budget Responsibility setting out its approach to fiscal policy. The Bill would also confirm a new corporate governance structure for the National Audit Office, under a new paid post of Chair, who would develop a joint strategy with the Comptroller and Auditor General.

• Research Briefing
• Public spending

Research Briefing

European Union Bill (HC Bill 106 2010-11)

Thursday, 02 December, 2010

This Bill strengthens the provisions of the European Union (Amendment) Act 2008 with explicit procedures for agreeing to or ratifying certain EU decisions or treaty changes, including provisions for referendums on changes that would transfer powers from the UK to the EU.

• Research Briefing
• EU institutions

Research Briefing

Civil Service reform

Tuesday, 23 November, 2010

This note outlines the Coalition Government's plans for the civil service. It also provides a very brief overview of civil service reform since 1979.

• Research Briefing
• Government

Research Briefing

Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill 2010-11: Commons Stages

Thursday, 11 November, 2010

This Paper summarises all Commons stages of the Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill 2010-11. It supplements Research Paper 10/55 which was produced for the Bill’s Second Reading and replaces Standard Note 5697 'Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill: Progress of the Bill'. No major changes were made during the passage of the Bill in the Commons, but the text of the referendum question was altered and legislative provision was made for the combination of polls on 5 May 2011.

• Research Briefing
• Elections
• House of Commons
• Parliament
• UK elections

Research Briefing

The Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill [Bill 63 of 2010-11]

Wednesday, 01 September, 2010

This Paper has been prepared for the Second Reading debate in the House of Commons. The Bill seeks to enable the next general election to be fought under the Alternative Vote system, provided this change is endorsed in a referendum on 5 May 2011 and boundary changes have been made to reduce the size of the House of Commons to 600. New rules for the redistribution of seats are designed to give primacy to numerical equality in constituencies and regular redistributions would take place every five years.

• Research Briefing
• Elections
• House of Commons
• Parliament
• UK elections

Research Briefing

Reducing the size of the House of Commons

Wednesday, 28 July, 2010

The Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill was introduced on 22 July 2010 and introduces new Rules for Redistribution which make provision for the number of constituencies to be reduced to 600. This note looks briefly at the current Rules for Redistribution and at recent calls for the Rules to be changed; details of the length of time it has taken to carry out periodical reviews of Parliamentary constituencies are also given. A summary of the Bill's main provisions is also included.

• Research Briefing
• Elections
• House of Commons
• Parliament

Research Briefing

The Rules for the Redistribution of Seats- history and reform

Wednesday, 28 July, 2010

This briefing is no longer being updated. It has been replaced by another Library briefing paper: Constituency boundary reviews and the number of MPs, Research Briefing 5929

• Research Briefing
• Elections
• House of Commons
• Parliament

Research Briefing

Freedom of Information: the first five years

Wednesday, 28 July, 2010

The Freedom of Information Act came into force in January 2005. This note reviews the operation of the Act over the first five years of implementation.

• Research Briefing
• Government

Research Briefing

Parliamentary Ombudsman: right of Appeal

Tuesday, 27 July, 2010

Members often ask on behalf of their constituents whether there is any appeal against a decision by the Parliamentary Ombudsman (also called the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration). This note provides guidance on this subject.

• Research Briefing
• Government
• Parliament

Research Briefing

The Parliamentary Ombudsman and the MP filter

Tuesday, 27 July, 2010

This Note sets out the role of the MP in referring complaints to the Parliamentary Ombudsman and refers to other relevant Library Standard Notes.

• Research Briefing
• Government
• Parliament

Research Briefing

Northern Ireland: political developments January to June 2010

Wednesday, 23 June, 2010

This Note should be read in conjunction with Library Standard Note 5350 The Hillsborough Agreement, published March 2010, which explains in detail the agreement reached on the devolution of policing and justice. This duly took place on 12 April 2010 and David Ford, the leader of the Alliance Party, became Policing and Justice Minister. New arrangements need to be agreed by May 2012.

• Research Briefing
• Devolution