The independent commentary on British political affairs.
The independent commentary on British political affairs.
May 2008
Vol. 11, No. 11
A People's War: Brenda Boardman | The shadow over Brown's plan's to change the way we are governed: … More…
Available for subscribers to download now, in the Print Magazine section.
CLIMATE CHANGE BILL. More art than science.
Author: Roderick Crawford
Published: 1st December 2007
Filed Under: Climate Change, Climate Change Bill, Queen's Speech
ENERGY BILL. The Energy Bill is a Cinderella, living in the shadow of her step-sisters the Climate Change and Planning Bills.
Author: Professor Gordon MacKerron
Published: 1st December 2007
Filed Under: Nuclear, Energy, Queen's Speech, Carbon Capture and Storage, Energy Bill
PENSIONS BILL. The tattered remnants of the Turner Commission drafted into legislation.
Author: Noel Whiteside
Published: 1st December 2007
Filed Under: Pensions, Queen's Speech, Pensions Bill, Turner Commission
PENSIONS BILL. Steve Bee breaks down the debate into a simple question-and-answer format.
Author: Steve Bee
Published: 1st December 2007
Filed Under: Pensions, Queen's Speech, Pensions Bill, Personal Accounts
COUNTER-TERRORISM BILL. Paul Wilkinson looks at the debate over the 28-day detention limit.
Author: Paul Wilkinson
Published: 1st December 2007
Filed Under: Counter-terrorism, Queen's Speech, Counter-Terrorism Bill
CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND IMMIGRATION BILL. The latest provision aim to plug the gap in the Borders Bill by ensuring that those who can't be deported won't be allowed to live normal lives in the UK.
Author: Frances Webber
Published: 1st December 2007
Filed Under: Queen's Speech, Criminal Justice and Immigration Bill, Deportation
CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND IMMIGRATION BILL. Schedule 17 of the bill propses a massive widening of the powers currently available to the police to close down premises.
Author: Maya Sikand
Published: 1st December 2007
Filed Under: Policing, Queen's Speech, Anti-Social Behaviour, Criminal Justice and Immigration Bill
EU TREATY REFORM BILL. Parliament must have its say before and not after a treaty.
Author: Andrew Blick
Published: 1st December 2007
Filed Under: EU, Europe, Queen's Speech, EU Treaty, EU Treaty Reform Bill
CONSTITUTIONAL RENEWAL BILL. The Blair style of government may be over, but just what does it mean when Brown promises to transfer power from the executive?
Author: Brian Walker
Published: 1st December 2007
Filed Under: Lords Reform, Constitutional Reform, Queen's Speech, Constitutional Renewal Bill, West Lothian Question
EDUCATION AND SKILLS BILL. Is raising the school leaving age to 18 really such a dramatic suggestion?
Author: Anna Vignoles
Published: 1st December 2007
Filed Under: Education, Queen's Speech, Education and Skills Bill
CHILDREN AND YOUNG PERSON'S BILL. David Berridge discusses the changes proposed by the bill.
Author: David Berridge
Published: 1st December 2007
Filed Under: Child Welfare, Social Service, Queen's Speech, Care, Children and Young Person's Bill
CHILD MAINTENANCE AND OTHER PAYMENTS BILL. After the fialure of the CSA, the new approach is a catalogue of missed opportunities and flawed thinking.
Author: Kim Fellowes
Published: 1st December 2007
Filed Under: CSA, C-Mec, Child Support, Queen's Speech, Child Maintenance and Other Payments Bill
CHILD MAINTENANCE AND OTHER PAYMENTS BILL. The existing model of child support is based on one non-resident parent paying child support to a parent with care - and it is assumed that these are the father and mother respectively. The stereotype is doing more harm than good.
Author: Dr Steve Millett
Published: 1st December 2007
Filed Under: Child Support, Queen's Speech, Child Maintenance and Other Payments Bill
CHILD MAINTENANCE AND OTHER PAYMENTS BILL. Ian McFall looks at compensation in cases such as mesothelioma developed from asbestos exposure outside the workplace, and how effective the bill will be in these cases.
Author: Ian McFall
Published: 1st December 2007
Filed Under: Queen's Speech, Child Maintenance and Other Payments Bill, John Hutton, asbestos, compensation, mesothelioma
HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE BILL. If power is to move away from the centre, trust boards must be the drivers for local improvements. A system which tres to predict every eventuality with the constant potential for intervention is anachronistic, impractical and financially unrealistic.
Author: Nigel Edwards
Published: 1st December 2007
Filed Under: NHS, Queen's Speech, Health and Social Care Bill, Ofcom
HUMAN FERTILISATION AND EMBRYOLOGY BILL. Lauren Leigh Hinthorne outlines the structure of the bill and the controversy surrounding it.
Author: Lauren Leigh Hinthorne
Published: 1st December 2007
Filed Under: Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill, Queen's Speech
HUMAN FERTILISATION AND EMBRYOLOGY BILL. Ruth Hunt looks at the impact of the bill on same-sex couples.
Author: Ruth Hunt
Published: 1st December 2007
Filed Under: Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill, Queen's Speech, Same Sex Parenting
HOUSING AND REGENERATION BILL. The main thrust of the bill is to enable an expansion in the housebuilding programme to levels not seen since the 1960s.
Author: Christine Whitehead
Published: 1st December 2007
Filed Under: Housing, Queen's Speech, Housing and Regeneration Bill
PLANNING REFORM BILL. Mark Tewdwr-Jones examines the pros and cons of the proposals.
Author: Mark Tewdwr-Jones
Published: 1st December 2007
Filed Under: Environment, Housing, Queen's Speech, Planning Reform Bill
EMPLOYMENT BILL. Mediation is the better alternative to workplace disputes.
Author: Mike Emmott
Published: 1st December 2007
Filed Under: Employment, Queen's Speech, Employment Bill, Employment Tribunal
EMPLOYMENT BILL. The National Minimum Wage is a key element to ensuring that workers are being paid fairly. The proposals include a new penalty for underpayment of the NMW as well as a fairer way of calculating arrears.
Author: Parliamentary Brief Research Department
Published: 1st December 2007
Filed Under: Employment, Queen's Speech, Employment Bill, National Minimum Wage
EMPLOYMENT BILL. Keith Norman discusses the events leading up to and following Jay Lee's expulsion from ASLEF and its contribution to the Employment Bill.
Author: Keith Norman
Published: 1st December 2007
Filed Under: Employment, Queen's Speech, ASLEF, BNP, Employment Bill, Jay Lee
REGULATORY, ENFORCEMENT AND SANCTIONS BILL. Paul Ramsden looks at the benefits of the bill, improving co-operation between business and regulators whilst targeting the rogue traders.
Author: Paul Ramsden
Published: 1st December 2007
Filed Under: Queen's Speech, Regulatory Enforcement and Sanctions Bill, Trading Standards
LOCAL TRANSPORT BILL. Outside London, bus use has been in long-term decline. The bill would remove some of the barriers and conflicts between local authorities and service providers.
Author: David Fowler
Published: 1st December 2007
Filed Under: Transport, Queen's Speech, Local Transport Bill
CROSSRAIL BILL. Iriving Yass outlines the bill's proposals and the next steps.
Author: Irving Yass
Published: 1st December 2007
Filed Under: Transport, London, Crossrail, Queen's Speech, Crossrail Bill
CHANNEL TUNNEL RAIL LINK BILL. It took the French seven years to build a high-speed link from Paris to the tunnel. Britain's equivalent has only just opened.
Author: Nicholas Faith
Published: 1st December 2007
Filed Under: , Queen's Speech, Channel Tunnel Rail Link Bill, Eurostar, Channel Tunnel
EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES (FINANCE) BILL. In December 2005, Blair and other EU heads of state and government agreed the EU Financial Framework 2007-13 at the European Council. Brian Ardy looks at the impact this will have on the UK.
Author: Brian Ardy
Published: 1st December 2007
Filed Under: EU, Europe, Queen's Speech, European Communities (Finance) Bill
NATIONAL INSURANCE CONTRIBUTIONS BILL. The bill will align the NIC 'upper earnings limit' with the starting point of the 40 per cent higher rate income tax threshold. And raise additional funds of over £1bn.
Author: John Whiting
Published: 1st December 2007
Filed Under: , Budget, National Insurance, National Insurance Contributions Bill
SALE OF STUDENT LOANS BILL. The bill authorises the first sale of student loans since the ore-1998 student loan book was sold off in the late 1990s. As long as the government gets a good deal, the sale looks like good value for tax payers.
Author: Parliamentary Brief Research Department
Published: 1st December 2007
Filed Under: Education, Queen's Speech, Sale of Student Loans Bill, Student Loans, University
DORMANT BANK & BUILDING SOCIETY ACCOUNTS BILL. It is estimated that up to £400m may be sitting in Britain's bank and building societies without a traceable owner. The bill aims to release this cash for use in community projects.
Author: Angela Knight
Published: 1st December 2007
Filed Under: Economy, Dormant Bank & Building Society Accounts Bill, Queen's Speech
Coroners Bill - Innocents in limbo - Hear, hear - Beyond Kyoto
Author: Sue Freeth, Jenny Green, Sir Michael Graydon, Duncan Hadfield, Professor Sir Richard Gardner, Keith Allott
Published: 1st December 2007
Filed Under: Cyprus, Turkey, Armed Forces, Climate Change, Climate Change Bill, Coroners Bill, Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill, Kyoto Protocol