Current Affairs Digest
Current Affairs Digest: Science (May 2020)
Catch up on science articles you may have missed from April and May 2020. Articles this month include a look at the psychology of lockdown, and 200 years of Florence Nightingale.
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In Focus
Contact-tracing apps: Legislating for data protection?
Many countries have adopted or are in the process of developing coronavirus contact-tracing apps. Different apps use different models for handling sensitive personal data. This article looks at the approaches taken by different governments around the world on whether specific data protection legislation is required.
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Current Affairs Digest
Current Affairs Digest: Science (April 2020)
Catch up on science articles you may have missed from March and April 2020. Articles this month look at the science behind measures to contain Covid-19.
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In Focus
Coronavirus testing: Could genome-editing tool CRISPR provide the answer?
CRISPR (clustered regulatory interspaced short palindromic repeats) is a genome editing tool. Scientists continue to research the potential uses of CRISPR technology. The coronavirus pandemic has seen an increase in the demand for diagnostic testing. This article discusses what CRISPR is and its potential role in diagnostics.
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In Focus
UK preparedness for Covid-19: Lords scrutiny of the 2009 swine flu pandemic
In 2009–10, the UK faced an outbreak of H1N1 swine flu. This article summarises the measures introduced by the then Labour Government which were intended to mitigate the potential impact of swine flu, including the establishment of a public awareness campaign and attempts to increase intensive-care capacity in hospitals. It also looks at the role of the House of Lords in scrutinising the then Government’s handling of the outbreak.
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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
Bates v Post Office: Horizon Accounting System
This House of Lords Library briefing provides information in support of the House of Lords debate on the Government's response to the judgment in Bates v Post Office [2019] EWHC 3408; and whether they intend to take any action against the directors responsible for the Horizon Accounting System.
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Research Briefing
Coronavirus: A Public Health Emergency
The coronavirus was declared a public health emergency on 30 January 2020 by the World Health Organisation (WHO), only the sixth such emergency since 2009. The declaration followed reports on 31 December 2019 of an unknown virus causing a number of pneumonia cases in Wuhan, a city in eastern China. The virus was later identified as a new strain of coronavirus (Cov). This House of Lords Library briefing provides information about: the virus, including its spread and impact; what action the WHO and UK Government have taken; and the problem of disinformation in relation to the disease.
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Research Briefing
Predictive and Decision-making Algorithms in Public Policy
This House of Lords Library Briefing contains a selection of material relevant for the forthcoming debate on the full implications of decision-making and prediction by algorithm in the public sector.
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Research Briefing
Gene Editing: Recent Developments and Scientific Status
This House of Lords Library Briefing has been prepared ahead of a debate due to take place on 30 January 2020 on the motion moved by Baroness Bakewell (Labour) “that this House takes note of recent developments in the field of gene editing and its status in scientific research around the world”.
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Research Briefing
Medical Cannabis: Recent Developments
This House of Lords Library Briefing provides information on recent developments surrounding cannabis use for medicinal purposes.
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Research Briefing
Queen’s Speech January 2020: Debate in the House of Lords Day 3
This House of Lords Library Briefing has been published ahead of day 3 of the Lords debate on the December 2019 Queen’s Speech, covering the following subjects: economic affairs, business and public services
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Research Briefing
GCHQ: 100th Anniversary
The House of Lords Library briefing has been produced to mark GCHQ’s 100th anniversary.
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Research Briefing
World Cities Day, 31 October 2019
This House of Lords Library Briefing provides information to mark the upcoming World Cities Day on 31 October 2019.
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Research Briefing
World Alzheimer’s Day
This House of Lords Library Briefing provides information to mark World Alzheimer's Day on 21 September 2019.
Total results (page 8 of 11)