Research Briefing
Polling Data on the Scottish Independence Referendum
This Library Note—an update to a previous Note published on 23 June 2014—focuses on public opinion polling data in relation to the Scottish independence referendum.
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Research Briefing
Debate on 24 July 2014: International Compliance with Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights Concerning Freedom of Belief
This Library Note provides background reading for the debate. It briefly examines Article 18’s status in international law, its role in promoting freedom of belief, and then presents sources which examine freedom of religion around the world.
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Research Briefing
Wales Bill (HL Bill 34 of 2014–15)
The Wales Bill would provide for a range of measures in three key areas. The first is elections to the National Assembly for Wales, where the Bill would alter the length of the electoral term and rules on candidacy. Secondly, the Bill would make provision with regard to a number of financial matters, including the devolution of some tax-raising powers to the Welsh Assembly. Thirdly, the Bill would make provision with regard to housing revenue account debt in Wales, and to adjust the relationship between Welsh Ministers and the Law Commission.
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Research Briefing
Deregulation Bill (HL Bill 33 of 2014–15)
The Deregulation Bill is a wide-ranging bill that is intended to remove or reduce regulatory burdens on businesses, civil society, individuals, public sector bodies and the taxpayer across a number of policy areas including: general and specific areas of business, companies and insolvency, the use of land, housing, transport, communications, the environment, education and training, entertainment, public authorities and the administration of justice.
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Research Briefing
Consumer Rights Bill (HL Bill 29 of 2014–15)
The Consumer Rights Bill makes provision for the reform of consumer law in the UK and connected areas of law. This Note summarises the Bill’s report stage and third reading in the House of Commons.
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Research Briefing
Criminal Justice and Courts Bill (HL Bill 30 of 2014–15)
The Criminal Justice and Courts Bill contains a range of proposals across four areas: criminal justice; young offenders; courts and tribunals; and judicial review. This Library Note summarises the key debates that took place on the Bill at report stage and third reading in the House of Commons, highlighting amendments made to the Bill, and refers to some of the other issues raised by MPs.
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Research Briefing
Referendum on Scottish Independence
On 18 September 2014, Scotland will hold a referendum on whether it should be an independent country. This Library Note updates a previous Library Note, published on 27 January 2014, on the subject of the possible consequences of a ‘Yes’ vote. The Note aims to provide broad discussion of some of the main issues raised in connection with the subject, and lists possible sources for further reading.
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Research Briefing
Infrastructure Bill [HL] (HL Bill 2 of 2014–15)
The Infrastructure Bill makes provision for the Government’s proposals to fund, plan, manage and maintain the UK’s national infrastructure.
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Research Briefing
Membership of the House of Lords: Ethnicity, Religion and Disability
Members of the House of Lords are not required to provide information about their ethnicity, religious beliefs or any disabilities they may have. However, there is continued interest in the representativeness of the House, as currently composed. This Library Note provides background information on this subject: it summarises existing research on the representation in the House of Lords of minority ethnic groups, religions and disability, and sets out some of the challenges in collecting and interpreting this information.
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Research Briefing
Debate on 6 May: Actions Taken Following the Publication in 2013 of the Report of the Select Committee on Small and Medium Sized Enterprises
This Library Note examines what developments have occurred since the Government’s response to the report of the House of Lords Select Committee on Small and Medium Sized Enterprises was published in May 2013.
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Research Briefing
Hereditary Peers in the House of Lords: 1999 to 2014
The House of Lords Act 1999 ended the centuries-old linkage between the hereditary peerage and membership of the House of Lords. The majority of hereditary Peers left the House of Lords in November 1999, but under a compromise arrangement, 92 of their number, known as ‘excepted’ hereditary Peers still sit in the House today.
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Research Briefing
Britain and the First World War: Parliament, Empire and Commemoration
The centenary of the start of the First World War will be marked in 2014. Britain entered the conflict in August 1914 and remained at war until November 1918.
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Research Briefing
Budget 2014: Reaction
This Library Note provides a brief summary of the key measures announced on 19 March 2014 in the Chancellor’s Budget Statement.
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Research Briefing
Debate on 20 March: The Level of Employment in the United Kingdom
This House of Lords Library Note provides background information to employment figures in the United Kingdom, including how they are defined and some of the economic theories surrounding their levels.
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Research Briefing
Second Chambers
This Library Note looks at bicameral legislatures in other parts of the world and provides an overview of some of the features of other second chambers, and how these compare to the current House of Lords.
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