Insight
2024 general election: How many women were elected?
The number of women in the House of Commons has been increasing over the last century. Of the 330 MPs elected for the first time in 2024, 129 were women.
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Research Briefing
The election of Deputy Speakers
This research briefing reviews the background to the introduction of elections for Deputy Speakers. It notes the arrangements for and reports the results of the elections that have taken place.
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Research Briefing
Representing the Overseas Territories in the UK Parliament and Government
How does the UK Parliament interact with the UK's Overseas Territories?
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Research Briefing
Number of seats in the House of Commons since 1801
The number of seats contested in general elections to the House of Commons from 1801 to today. Items of legislation enabling changes to the number of seats are listed.
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Research Briefing
Public spending: What’s unusual about this year’s Main Estimates?
Parliament will have less opportunity to scrutinise this year’s Main Estimates for government departments’ spending, although this often happens after elections.
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Research Briefing
Main Estimates: Government spending plans for 2024/25
This briefing summarises 2024/25’s Main Estimates, the way in which Parliament approves the Government’s spending plans for the year.
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Insight
Public spending: What’s unusual about this year’s Main Estimates?
Parliament will have less opportunity to scrutinise this year’s Main Estimates for government departments’ spending, although this often happens after elections.
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Research Briefing
Understanding statistics on employment, unemployment and earnings
This note explains the meaning of different concepts within labour market statistics and identifies the key measures and sources to use.
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Research Briefing
MPs and constituency etiquette
This note discusses the conventions that have developed as a result of the relationship between individual MPs and their constituencies. It covers the issues of constituency casework, raising matters relating to another Member’s constituency in the House, and visits and speaking engagements in other constituencies. The Note deals also with the related matter of local precedence.
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Research Briefing
Delegated powers and framework legislation
Not all laws are made directly by Parliament. Some are made by ministers, known as delegated powers. These have been used more frequently, and with important constitutional consequences, in recent years.
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The legislative process and Library briefings on bills
As bills pass through the various stages of Parliament, the Library publishes briefings as at second reading, committee stage, ping pong, and Royal Assent.
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What is devolution?
The power to make laws in certain policy areas has been transferred from Parliament to legislatures in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland through devolution.
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How does Parliament scrutinise tax and spending?
Parliament scrutinises how the government raises and spends money with the Spending Review; the Budget and associated Finance Bill; and the Estimates process.
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Research Briefing
How is a government formed?
The Prime Minister advises the Monarch who should become members of the government. By convention, ministers will be MPs or members of the House of Lords.
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Research Briefing
How are life peers created?
Most members of the House of Lords are life peers, rather than hereditary peers or Lords Spiritual. What is the process for creating new life peerages?
Total results (page 15 of 76)