Research Briefing
Local government finances
Local authorities in England spent £105.7 billion in 2024/25. This briefing looks at the funding that local authorities receive from central government, and where and how they spend it.
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Research Briefing
The UAE exits OPEC and Saudi-UAE tensions in 2026
The Arab Gulf is not a unified block. The two leading Gulf states have been diverging over Yemen, Sudan, Israel and oil.
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Research Briefing
British Steel and government special measures
The government is directing British Steel’s Scunthorpe plant operations. What are the next steps and how much does it cost to the public purse?
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Research Briefing
Main Estimates: Government spending plans for 2026/27
This briefing summarises 2026/27’s Main Estimates, the way in which Parliament approves the Government’s spending plans for the year.
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Data dashboards,Research Briefing
Supplementary Estimates data: Government spending plans for 2025/26
Use our interactive dashboard to explore data on Supplementary Estimates (spending plans submitted to Parliament by government departments).
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Research Briefing
Economic update: How resilient are current supply chains?
Economic effects of the US/Israeli conflict with Iran are emerging for UK consumers and businesses. However, flexible supply chains may cushion price pressures.
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Research Briefing
Public sector pay
Public sector employees were able to receive average pay awards of between 3.25% and 4.5% in 2025/26. This is lower than the average pay awards in 2024/25, which were between 3.25% and 5.4%, but higher than the average pay awards seen in the last fifteen years. Since 2010, there have also been a number of pay freezes. Some individuals will receive higher or lower awards, as these figures represent average pay awards within departments.
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Research Briefing
The green economy
The green economy is an important area of policy. It sits at the centre of the government’s plans to support economic growth and to meet the UK’s commitment to reach net zero by 2050.
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Research Briefing
Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism
This briefing outlines the purpose of a Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), the UK Government plans for a UK CBAM, the impact of the EU CBAM, and international trade considerations. It also sets out commentary on a need for global cooperation, and further reading.
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Research Briefing
Fiscal drag: An explainer
Several tax thresholds have not been increased since 2022. This briefing looks at fiscal drag in the context of taxation in the UK, with a specific focus on income tax thresholds.
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Research Briefing
Beneficial ownership registers in the Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies
The UK Government expects all Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies to introduce public registers of beneficial ownership. What progress has been made?
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Research Briefing
Economic update: Middle East conflict and the UK economy
The Israel/US–Iran conflict has disrupted oil and gas in the Middle East. Consequent price rises may lead to higher inflation and lower GDP growth in the UK.
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Research Briefing
How to adjust for inflation
We all know £100 could buy a lot more 50 years ago. But how much more? This briefing explains how to adjust for changes in the value of money over time.
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Research Briefing
Productivity and economic growth in the East Midlands
A Westminster Hall debate is scheduled for 9.30am on Tuesday 17 March 2026 on productivity and economic growth in the East Midlands.
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Research Briefing
The UK’s fiscal targets
This briefing looks at the UK's fiscal targets and wider policy for managing the public finances.
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