Social policy Archives

Research Briefing

Health and Social Care (Re-committed) Bill: the NHS Future Forum and the Committee Stage Report

Tuesday, 30 August, 2011

On 21 June 2011 the House agreed a motion re-committing certain clauses of the Health and Social Care Bill to the Public Bill Committee that had previously considered the Bill. The Committee met between 28 June and 14 July 2011 and agreed a number of Government amendments, introduced in response to the recommendations the ‘NHS Future Forum’. Key changes are intended to clarify the Secretary of State for Health’s overall responsibility for the NHS, to ensure good governance for the new groups that will be responsible for commissioning NHS-funded services, to strengthen duties to involve the public and health professionals in decision making, and to amend duties in relation to the role of competition and integration in the health service. The Bill is due to have its Report stage and Third Reading on 6 and 7 September 2011.
Research Briefing

Welfare Reform Bill 2010-12: Commons Report Stage and Third Reading

Friday, 26 August, 2011

The Commons Report Stage and Third Reading of the Welfare Reform Bill took place on 13 and 15 June. Amendments relating to the Universal Credit, housing support, the Social Fund and the Personal Independence Payment were debated, but other groups of amendments –including those on Employment and Support Allowance changes and the benefit cap – were not discussed as proceedings on each day reached the deadlines specified in the programme motion before they could be considered.
Research Briefing

Child Support Agency: key statistics

Monday, 22 August, 2011

Some headline figures on the activities of the CSA, and sources of further statistics.
- Research Briefing
- Child support
Research Briefing

The reform of Housing Revenue Account Subsidy

Thursday, 04 August, 2011

This note provides background on the old Housing Revenue Account (HRA) subsidy system and considers some of the issues associated with it up to its abolition in April 2012. This note will not be updated – information on the self-financing regime can be found in Library note SN/SP/6776 Local housing authorities - the self-financing regime: progress and issues. A further paper, CB8963, A new era of social rented housing in England? (2020) considers prospects for social rented housing following the lifting of the HRA borrowing caps in 2018.
Research Briefing

Tax relief for private medical insurance

Monday, 18 July, 2011

In 1990 a new tax relief for private medical insurance, paid for those aged 60 and over, was introduced. In 1997 the then Labour Government abolished this relief on the grounds of cost, and the view that it had failed to encourage take-up. This note discusses the short life of this tax relief, and recent debate as to whether it should be reintroduced.
Research Briefing

Energy from waste and incineration

Wednesday, 13 July, 2011

This note looks at the role of energy from waste and incineration.
Research Briefing

HIV and Hepatitis C infection from contaminated blood and blood products

Wednesday, 13 July, 2011

This Note summarises the background and current areas of debate relating to an episode of HIV and Hepatitis C infection from contaminated blood and blood products during the 1970s and 1980s. This includes existing support for those affected, the recommendations of an independent inquiry on this matter (the Archer Inquiry), and ongoing debate relating to levels of support in comparison with other countries.
- Research Briefing
- Diseases
Research Briefing

Pension Credit statistics

Wednesday, 22 June, 2011

Pension Credit Statistics. By Tom Rutherford. SN/SG/2756.
Research Briefing

Pensions Bill [HL], Bill 183 of 2010-12

Thursday, 16 June, 2011

This paper has been prepared for the Second Reading debate in the House of Commons on the Pensions Bill and outlines the main changes to the paper.
- Research Briefing
- Pensions
Research Briefing

Overview of new regulations to ban tobacco displays in shops and tobacco vending machines

Wednesday, 15 June, 2011
Research Briefing

Healthcare for veterans

Friday, 10 June, 2011

This note covers the current policies on healthcare services for ex-service personnel, including priority access to NHS services and the provision of dedicated mental health services for veterans. The note also provides a list of useful links and contacts.
- Research Briefing
- Health services
Research Briefing

Welfare Reform Bill: Committee Stage Report

Wednesday, 08 June, 2011

This is an account of the House of Commons Committee Stage of the Welfare Reform Bill. It complements Research Papers 11/23 and 11/24, prepared for the Commons Second Reading debate.
Research Briefing

The economic crisis: policy responses

Friday, 03 June, 2011

This note brings together the various elements of Government action to deal with the economic crisis
Research Briefing

Household projections in England and the Regions: 2008 – 2033

Friday, 27 May, 2011

This note examines the 2008-based household projections for England and the regions from 2008 to 2033. The number of households in England is projected to increase from 21.7 million in 2008 to 27.5 million by 2033, an increase of 5.8 million or 27%. This is equivalent to an average annual increase of around 232,000 households.
Research Briefing

Health expenditure: international comparisons

Tuesday, 24 May, 2011

In the UK expenditure on health comes largely from public funds, with 82.6% of total expenditure on health coming from public expenditure. This is the fifth highest proportion among OECD countries and is similar to other northern European countries. In the United States less than half of total health expenditure comes from public funds.

Total results (page 191 of 219)