Research briefings

This page provides access to research briefings produced by the House of Commons Library, the House of Lords Library and the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology (POST). You can filter the research briefings by date, type, or one of 350 topics. Pick your options from the dropdown menus.

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    Glossary

    • Commons Briefing papers: Papers providing in-depth and impartial analysis on every major piece of primary legislation and on other topics of public and parliamentary concern. Regular statistics papers are also published.
    • Lords Library Notes: Authored publications by the research section of the House of Lords Library that provide analysis of Bills, subjects for debate in the House and other issues of interest to Members.
    • POSTbriefs: Responsive policy briefings from the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology based on mini-literature reviews and peer review, typically commissioned by select committees and library research services.
    • POSTnotes: Proactive four-page policy briefings from the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology based on reviews of the research literature, interviews with stakeholders and peer review, commissioned by the POST Board.
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    Topics

    Topics: Research material can be filtered by subject using the topic terms. The topics are arranged in a taxonomy (a hierarchical classification) and can be further filtered using sub-topics.

Displaying 61-80 out of 8149

Strategy for Disability Inclusive Development
Published Friday, December 7, 2018 | Lords Briefing packs LBP-2018-0127
This briefing identifies relevant reports and useful documents, including recent parliamentary materials and press articles, which may be of assistance to Members in preparing for the debate on the Global Disability Summit and the Strategy for Disability Inclusive Development.

Topics: Disability discrimination, Equality, International development

The UK's EU Withdrawal Agreement
Published Friday, December 7, 2018 | Commons Briefing papers CBP-8453
This briefing looks in detail at the Withdrawal Agreement negotiated between the EU and UK and finalised on 14 November. It was endorsed by EU Member State leaders at a special European Council summit on 25 November and the UK Prime Minister has promoted it in the UK Parliament and around the country. But it will be debated at length in Parliament over the coming days before being put to the so-called 'meaningful vote' on 11 December.

Topics: Administration of justice, Agriculture, Animals, Asylum, Aviation, Benefits policy, Central government, Civil law, Climate change, Common Agricultural Policy, Companies, Competition, Criminal law, Data protection, Defence policy, Devolution, Diseases, Economic situation, Elections, Electoral systems, Electricity, Energy, Environmental protection, EU budget, EU Council of Ministers, EU defence policy, EU external relations, EU institutions, EU law and treaties, EU political integration, Europe, European Commission, European Council, European Parliament, Financial institutions, Financial services, Fisheries, Food, Health finance, Health services, House of Commons, House of Lords, Human rights, Immigration, Industry, Intellectual property, International development, International economic relations, International law, International organisations, International politics and government, International trade, Legislative process, Members of Parliament, Military operations, Nationality, Nuclear power, Oil, petrol and natural gas, Parliament, Parliamentary procedure, Political parties, Privacy, Railways, Regulation, Research and innovation, Roads, Shipping, Speaker, Standards, Taxation, Terrorism, Utilities

Public sector employment by parliamentary constituency
Published Friday, December 7, 2018 | Commons Briefing papers SN05635
This note analyses public sector employment by Parliamentary constituency.

Topics: Economic policy, Employment, Public expenditure

Debate on an e-petition relating to the sale of products containing palm oil
Published Friday, December 7, 2018 | Commons Debate packs CDP-2018-0272
A debate will be held on an e-petition relating to the sale of products containing palm oil on Monday 10 December 2018 in Westminster Hall at 4.30pm.

Topics: Animal welfare, Animals, Biodiversity, Environmental protection, Nature conservation, Wildlife

Challenges Facing Young People
Published Friday, December 7, 2018 | Lords Library notes LLN-2018-0137
This House of Lords Library Briefing has been prepared in advance of the debate due to take place on 13 December 2018 in the House of Lords on the motion moved by Baroness Armstrong of Hill Top (Labour), “that this House takes note of the challenges facing young people”.

Topics: Children and families, Crime, Employment, Health services, Housing, Incomes and poverty, Mental health, Unemployment

Constitutional Issues and the Case for a UK-wide Constitutional Convention
Published Thursday, December 6, 2018 | Lords Library notes LLN-2018-0138
This House of Lords Library briefing has been prepared in advance of the debate in the House of Lords on the motion scheduled to be moved by Lord Foulkes of Cumnock (Labour) on the “current constitutional challenges within the United Kingdom and the case for the establishment of a UK-wide constitutional convention to address issues of democratic accountability and devolution, particularly in England”.

Topics: Constitution, Devolution

250th Anniversary of the Royal Academy
Published Thursday, December 6, 2018 | Lords Briefing packs LBP-2018-0126
This House of Lords Briefing pack contains a selection of material relevant to the forthcoming debate on the Government’s plans to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the founding of the Royal Academy of Arts, and the contribution made by the Academy to the artistic and cultural life of the country.

Topics: Art works, Arts, Cultural heritage, Museums and galleries

Science and Technology Committee Report: Off–site Manufacture for Construction
Published Thursday, December 6, 2018 | Lords Briefing packs LBP-2018-0125
This Briefing Pack contains a selection of material relevant for the forthcoming debate on the Report from the Science and Technology Committee, Off-site Manufacture for Construction: Building for Change (2nd Report, HL Paper 169).

Topics: Regional planning and development, Housing, Housing adaptations, Housing standards, Housing supply, Planning, Sustainable development

Air passenger duty : recent debates & reform
Published Thursday, December 6, 2018 | Commons Briefing papers SN05094
This note looks at the recent debate on taxing aviation, in the context of concerns about the structure of air passenger duty, the rates of tax, and the reform to the structure of APD in the 2014 Budget. The development of APD since its introduction is set out in two other Library notes (CBP413 & CBP6426).

Topics: Aviation, Taxation

Publishing Government Legal Advice
Published Thursday, December 6, 2018 | Lords Library notes LLN-2018-0115
This House of Lords Library Briefing provides a brief overview of the role of the law officers and the convention on the publication of their legal advice to government in light of recent demands for the Government to publish the legal advice that is has been given regarding Brexit and the withdrawal agreement.

Topics: Constitution, EU law and treaties, Ministers, Parliamentary procedure, Speaker

Democratic Republic of Congo: December 2018 update
Published Thursday, December 6, 2018 | Commons Briefing papers CBP-8460
Two years later than scheduled, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is set finally to hold national elections on 23 December. Joseph Kabila, who many feared would never relinquish power, is now poised to stand down as president. So, will this be a turning-point for a country that has experienced violence and instability for decades? The omens do not look good – there is a real risk that the elections could destabilise the country further.

Topics: Africa, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Human rights, International development, International politics and government

Exchange rates: Key Economic Indicators
Published Thursday, December 6, 2018 | Commons Briefing papers SN02811
Exchange rates: Data on the value of the pound relative to other major international currencies.

Topics: Economic policy, Economic situation, World economy

Human Rights Day: 10 December 2018
Published Thursday, December 6, 2018 | Lords Library notes LLN-2018-0136
This House of Lords Library Briefing provides information on the international Human Rights Day, which takes place on 10 December 2018.

Topics: Human rights, United Nations

The United Nations Global Compact for Migration
Published Wednesday, December 5, 2018 | Commons Briefing papers CBP-8459
The Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration will be formally adopted by most Member States of the United Nations, including the UK, in December 2018. This briefing explains what's in the Compact and its implications for Member States.

Topics: Asylum, EU external relations, Human rights, Immigration, International development, International law, International organisations, International politics and government

2019 Benefits Uprating
Published Wednesday, December 5, 2018 | Commons Briefing papers CBP-8458
2019/20 is the final year of the four-year freeze, which keeps most working-age benefits and tax credits at their 2015/16 cash values. Non-frozen benefits, mainly those aimed at disabled people and carers, rise in line with CPI inflation (+2.4%). The triple lock delivers a 2.6% increase to the new State Pension (£168.60 in 2019/20) and the Basic State Pension (£129.20).

Topics: Benefits policy, Family benefits, Housing benefits, Pensions, Sickness, disability and carers' benefits, Working age benefits

Brexit and state pensions
Published Wednesday, December 5, 2018 | Commons Briefing papers CBP-7894
This Commons Library briefing looks at EU law providing for the co-ordination of State Pension entitlement and the possible impact of Brexit

Topic: Pensions

Complaints against solicitors and other lawyers
Published Wednesday, December 5, 2018 | Commons Briefing papers SN03762
This Commons Library briefing paper deals with the current procedure and qualifying criteria for making complaints against solicitors and other lawyers across the United Kingdom.

Topic: Legal profession

Draft Public Service Ombudsman Bill
Published Wednesday, December 5, 2018 | Commons Briefing papers CBP-7864
This House of Commons Library Briefing Paper looks at the Draft Public Service Ombudsman Bill, published by the Cabinet Office on 5 December 2016, which would create a Public Service Ombudsman for UK reserved matters and public services delivered solely in England.

Topics: Central government, Legislative process, Parliament, Public administration

Fisheries Management in the UK
Published Wednesday, December 5, 2018 | Commons Briefing papers CBP-8457
The UK is in the process of negotiating its exit from the EU, and as part of that the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). This paper provides an overview of how fisheries are currently managed in the UK within the CFP.

Topics: EU law and treaties, Fisheries, Marine environment

Brexit deal: Economic analyses
Published Tuesday, December 4, 2018 | Commons Briefing papers CBP-8451
What are the ways in which Brexit could affect the economy? And what do studies of the potential impact of Brexit on the economy over the short- and long-term show? This briefing answers these questions and provides summaries of the Government's and Bank of England's economic analyses of Brexit, including the assumptions and scenarios used.

Topics: Economic policy, Economic situation, EU budget, International trade, Public expenditure

Displaying 61-80 out of 8149

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The House of Commons Library provides research, analysis and information services for MPs and their staff.

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The House of Lords Library delivers research and information services to Members and staff of the House in support of parliamentary business.

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The Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology produces independent, balanced and accessible briefings on public policy issues related to science and technology.

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