Research Briefing
Economic Assessments for the European Union
The UK must send an assessment of its economic position to the European Union. Parliament is required to approve the documents which form the basis of this assessment.
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In Focus
British Business Bank: Coronavirus Business Interruption Loans
The British Business Bank operates a series of loan schemes to support companies during the pandemic, including the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS). This article summarises the schemes and policy debates around them. It includes data on loan take-up up to 22 April. Coronavirus support through the British Business Bank is the subject of an oral question in the House of Lords on 30 April 2020.
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In Focus
Coronavirus and the telecoms industry
The Covid-19 pandemic has seen an increase in homeworking and other online activity, such as video streaming. This increase in demand has affected both telecoms providers and engineers. This article summarises the scale of this increased demand and the measures taken to meet it.
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Research Briefing
Covid-19: Impact on People Living in Poverty
Policies to tackle the impact of Covid-19 on those living in poverty is explored in this briefing.
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Current Affairs Digest
Current Affairs Digest: Economics (April 2020)
These articles consider the effect of coronavirus, first, on the UK economy; and second, on global poverty. On the UK economy it summarises two commentaries that attempt to draw lessons from the earlier pandemics, but reach different conclusions. On global poverty, it reports two estimates of the implications of the pandemic for developing countries and for the UN sustainable development goal to eliminate extreme poverty.
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In Focus
Coronavirus: How do we measure its economic impact?
Most official data is produced with a lag, making timely assessments of the economic impact of coronavirus difficult. The disruption may also have made it harder to collect accurate statistics. This article looks at a new set of indicators that the Office for National Statistics has produced to address these issues. It also reports suggestions for other measures to shed light on the impact of the pandemic, including from countries.
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Research Briefing
Windrush Compensation Scheme (Expenditure) Bill: Briefing for Lords Stages
This government bill would provide parliamentary authorisation for Windrush compensation scheme payments. While the bill has received cross-party support, opposition parties have remained critical of the compensation scheme.
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In Focus
Coronavirus: What does it mean for the Brexit transition period? (Part 2 of 2)
This article looks at how the coronavirus outbreak is having an impact on the Brexit transition period. It explores what the continued application of EU law during the transition means for the UK’s response to coronavirus, for example on state aid and participation in EU initiatives to procure ventilators. It also looks at what role there would be for Parliament in any decision to extend the transition period beyond December 2020.
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In Focus
Coronavirus: What does it mean for the Brexit transition period? (Part 1 of 2)
This article looks at how the coronavirus outbreak is having an impact on the Brexit transition period. It explores how the pandemic has affected the timing and format of the UK-EU future relationship negotiations, and the ability of governments on both sides to focus on them. It also covers the effect on the UK’s implementation of the citizens’ rights and Northern Ireland provisions of the withdrawal agreement.
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In Focus
UK banks and coronavirus policy responses
This article considers the role of the banking sector in the UK’s response to coronavirus. It describes key policy announcements in relation to the banks, many of which are intended to support the wider economy. It also reports some ways in which the banks themselves have responded, including on overdrafts and branch opening hours. Finally, it summarises some criticisms of the sector’s activities in relation to the pandemic.
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In Focus
Pandemic insurance and government as insurer of last resort
This article looks at the Government’s role as ‘insurer of last resort’. Over time, the areas where it takes this role have expanded from basic military, health and welfare provision to include, for example, elements of flood, terrorism and travel risks. Coronavirus has widened this scope further. The article also considers the costs of providing cover, and whether the private sector might cover more of the risks arising from pandemics.
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Research Briefing
Non-Domestic Rating (Lists) Bill [HL]: Briefing for Lords Stages
What changes are taking place regarding the administration of business rates and their revaluations? This briefing explores the latest Government policy on the subject.
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Research Briefing
Telecommunications Infrastructure (Leasehold Property) Bill: Briefing for Lords Stages
This legislation forms part of the Government’s policy to improve the country’s digital infrastructure. It seeks to make it easier for network operators to respond to requests to install broadband infrastructure in certain buildings, such as flats, if they are unable to contact the relevant rights holder.
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Research Briefing
Spring Budget 2020
The Chancellor of the Exchequer delivered the first budget since the 2019 election on 11 March 2020. It contained a series of measures to counteract threats from the coronavirus (COVID-19). The Chancellor also announced changes to taxation policy and an increase in public spending.
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Research Briefing
UK Progress on UN Sustainable Development Goal 3 and the Reducing Road Casualties Target
Reducing the number of road casualties is one of the targets of sustainable development goal 3.
Total results (page 34 of 53)