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Research Briefing
The English Question
This Note explores the technical issues involved in identifying “England-only” legislation and gives some analysis of bills and divisions in the current session. It also gives a brief account of proposals for further devolution in England.
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Research Briefing
Petitions in the House of Commons since 1987-88
Number of petitions presented to the House of Commons since 1987-88
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Research Briefing
The European Parliament’s ‘Political Groups’: Unlikely Alliances?
European Parliament rules provide for the formation of “political groups” – essentially alliances between political parties from different Member States. Belonging to a political group brings a number of advantages, chiefly access to additional funding. The incentive to form political groups leads to the creation of a number of alliances which might initially appear surprising.
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Research Briefing
Parliamentary Sovereignty and the European Convention on Human Rights
One of the issues which arises frequently when there is a dispute between the Government and the European Court of Human Rights is the effect of Parliamentary Sovereignty. This is retained in the domestic sphere, since the Human Rights Act 1998 does not grant the UK Courts the power to strike down primary legislation made
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Research Briefing
Making EU law into UK law
EU law becomes part of UK law by means of primary or secondary legislation (Act of Parliament, Order or Statutory Instrument) or by administrative rules. This note looks at the procedures for transposing EU law in the UK.
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Research Briefing
European Union (Referendum) Bill
This Private Member’s Bill was introduced to the Commons on 2 July 2014 and requires the holding of a referendum on the UK’s continued membership of the European Union (EU) before the end of 2017. This Paper has been prepared as a guide in advance of the second reading on Friday 17 October.
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Research Briefing
Mitochondrial donation in Parliament
Earlier this year, following a consultation on draft regulations, the Government announced that they would be laying regulations before Parliament to allow for the introduction of new techniques to prevent the transmission of serious mitochondrial disease. Parliament will have an opportunity to scrutinise the draft Regulations and will be asked for its approval before they
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Research Briefing
House of Commons sitting of the UK Youth Parliament – November 2014
This special briefing paper has been produced to help Members of Youth Parliament (MYPs) prepare for the House of Commons sitting of the UK Youth Parliament which takes place on 14 November.
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Research Briefing
Recall of MPs Bill 2014-15
The Recall of MPs Bill 2014-15 was introduced on 11 September 2014, and is scheduled to be debated on second reading on 14 October. There was a commitment to legislate to introduce a power of recall in the Coalition Agreement, and a draft bill was scrutinised by the Political and Constitutional Reform Committee in 2012.
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Research Briefing
Timetable for the 2015 UK parliamentary general election
The date for the 2015 general election has been set by the Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011. This briefing explains changes to the dissolution of parliament resulting from the 2011 act and the timetable for the 2015 election.
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Research Briefing
House of Commons Library project to establish a research service in the Burmese Parliament
In June 2012 Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi gave a speech in Parliament. She had spent 15 of the past 21 years in Burma under house arrest, and following her release had been elected a Member of the Burmese parliament. She spoke of her dreams for her country, its past struggles and
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