Research Briefing
This paper summarises the Second Reading and Committee of the Whole House stages of the Local Government Finance Bill 2010-12, which has been carried over into the 2012-13 session. Library Research Paper 12/01, Local Government Finance Bill 2010-12, published for Second Reading on 10 January 2012 in the 2010-12 session, is relevant.
Research Briefing
This Note looks at UK Government and Civil Service structures and culture; what happens at the UK-EU interface, and methods for transposing EU law into UK law.
Research Briefing
A briefing paper setting out UK government responsibility for reserved powers in Scotland.
Research Briefing
During the campaign for the London mayor in 2012, the two main candidates, Boris Johnson and Ken Livingstone, agreed to release details of their tax returns. The Prime Minister and the Chancellor of the Exchequer have also suggested that the policy could be extended more widely. This Note looks at the arguments for and against so far, and looks at selected international comparisons.
Research Briefing
The continuing political crisis in Madagascar began when Andre Rajoelina successfully ousted the incumbent President, Marc Ravalomana, in March 2009 and installed himself instead, albeit formally as a transitional leader pending elections. The international community considers Rajoelina illegitimate. Regional mediation efforts to return Madagascar to 'constitutional rule' led to a peace deal in September 2011, but implementation remains fraught and the danger reamains that the process could collapse.
Research Briefing
How is measurement of well-being or "happiness" being investigated in the UK to complement more traditional measures of progress?
Research Briefing
This Note lists the amendments made to the Scotland Bill in the House of Lords. Significant amendments were made in committee and, in particular, on report following an agreement between the UK and Scottish Governments. The Note does not cover amendments that were proposed but not agreed. It therefore summarises the Government amendments and gives a guide to the Bill in its final form. Lords amendments were considered in the Commons on 26 April 2012, and all were agreed.
Research Briefing
Opposition day debates under Labour governments from 1997 to 2010.
Research Briefing
This Standard Note gathers together speculation on the issues that might be included in the forthcoming Queen’s Speech.
Research Briefing
This Note considers the background to the ‘yellow card’ subsidiarity early warning mechanism and its application in practice since the Lisbon Treaty came into force.
Research Briefing
On 12 March 2012, the House agreed changes to the rules for the election of the chair and members of the Backbench Business Committee. The previous rules, changes made and background to the changes are reviewed in this note.
Research Briefing
Recent parliamentary and presidential elections in Russia led to the return of Vladimir Putin as President of Russian Federation from May 2012. There has been a crisis in legitimacy of Putinism and moves to restore faith in the system, but the looming economic problems threaten the system and carrying through genuine reform will be difficult.
Research Briefing
Aung San Suu Kyi and the National League for Democracy achieved a stunning victory in recent by-elections, leading some to argue that Burma's democratic transition is no sham after all. This note briefly surveys the debate about what has been achieved so far, what remains to be done and whether the time has come to scrap Western sanctions.
Research Briefing
The Public Bodies Act 2011 received royal assent on 14 December 2011. The Act provides for orders to be brought forward to abolish, merge, modify the constitutional arrangements of; modify the funding arrangements of; and modify or transfer the functions of public bodies.
Research Briefing
This note contains key statistics on council tax levels in 2012/13 and a limited amount of analysis is provided. The average council tax for a band D household in 2012/13 is: £1,444 in England; £1,188 in Wales; and £1,149 in Scotland.
Total results (page 130 of 162)