Closure of bank branches: Impact on rural communities

Over the last three decades, the number of bank branches in the UK has declined due to advances in technology and changing customer habits. Stakeholders have argued that these closures have negatively affected rural communities. In recent years, successive governments and the Financial Conduct Authority have taken action aimed at ensuring sufficient access to banking services, including for rural communities. This briefing provides an overview of these measures, as well as information on the number of bank closures and their impact on rural communities.

Closure of bank branches: Impact on rural communities

Water companies and sewage pollution: Repairing damage using revenue from fines

Concerns have been raised about the environmental performance of water companies in recent years, particularly the frequency at which sewage has been released into rivers. In response, there have been calls to use the fines imposed on water companies to pay for restoration projects. This article summarises the background, and steps taken by the previous Conservative government and the current Labour government, relating to the environmental performance of water companies.

Water companies and sewage pollution: Repairing damage using revenue from fines

Creative industries: Growth, jobs and productivity

The government has identified the creative industries as one of eight “growth driving” sectors it will prioritise in its industrial strategy. The strategy is due to be published later this year, along with a creative industries sector plan. The creative industries have called on barriers to growth, such as skills gaps and access to funding, to be addressed in the sector plan.

Creative industries: Growth, jobs and productivity
  • In Focus

    Encouraging retail investment in the stock market

    Individual consumers investing in the stock market, known as ‘retail’ investment, can have benefits for individuals and the economy, though it also brings risks. The Financial Conduct Authority estimates that a significant number of people in the UK have cash savings that are depreciating in value and would produce higher returns if invested. Some commentators and thinktanks have argued the government should pursue policies to encourage greater retail investment in the stock market.

  • In Focus

    Copyright and artificial intelligence: Impact on creative industries

    Currently, developers are subject to copyright law when using large data sets to train artificial intelligence (AI) models. In December 2024, the government published proposals to change the way in which this material could be used. This included the establishment of a copyright exemption for AI developers and a new rights reservation model whereby copyright holders would need to opt-out from having their material used for training AI.

  • In Focus

    Tax implications of corporate profit shifting

    Multinational corporations may use artificial intragroup transfers and other strategies to lower their exposure to corporation tax. Following high profile examples of aggressive tax avoidance, OECD countries including the UK agreed a number of measures to reduce so-called ‘profit shifting’ and increase tax revenues globally. This included a global minimum tax for large corporations. US President Donald Trump has since signalled the US no longer agrees with the latest OECD tax agreement.

  • Research Briefing

    Non-Domestic Rating (Multipliers and Private Schools) Bill: HL Bill 61 of 2024–25

    This government bill would enable changes to the business rates regime. It would allow the introduction of additional business rate multipliers to increase business rates for larger properties and reduce business rates for retail, hospitality and leisure properties, and the removal of charitable rate relief from some private schools that are charities.

  • In Focus

    Economic growth conditions: Discussion and debate

    Economic growth is a consequence of increases in the stocks of labour and capital and the efficiency with which factors of production are used. Economists disagree on the potential to improve conditions for growth. Optimists point to the scope for policy changes in areas such as housing and energy to lift economic growth. Pessimists argue that structural headwinds mean the economy’s weak performance of the last decade-and-a-half will persist. Beyond policy, cultural factors may also play an important role in determining the economy’s growth prospects.

  • Research Briefing

    Consumer Products (Control of Biocides) Bill [HL]: HL Bill 32 of 2024–25

    The Consumer Products (Control of Biocides) Bill [HL] is a private member’s bill sponsored by Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle (Green Party). It would restrict the use of substances with antimicrobial properties, known as biocides, in cosmetic, personal care and other treated products, for example clothing and period products, subject to certain exemptions. The House of Lords is scheduled to debate the bill at second reading on 17 January 2025.

  • Research Briefing

    Financial Assistance to Ukraine Bill: HL Bill 58 of 2024–25

    The Financial Assistance to Ukraine Bill is a two-clause government bill that would authorise the government to provide loans and other financial assistance to Ukraine resulting from the extraordinary revenue acceleration (ERA) loans agreement made at the meeting of the G7 and the EU in June 2024. It has been designated as a money bill and it completed its House of Commons stages on 18 December 2024 with broad cross-party support.

  • Research Briefing

    Bus Services (No. 2) Bill [HL]: HL Bill 54 of 2024–25

    The Bus Services (No. 2) Bill is a government bill scheduled to have its second reading in the House of Lords on 8 January 2025. It is intended to make it easier for local transport authorities to franchise bus services in their area. It also includes measures on bus data, enforcement powers, accessibility of bus stops, safeguarding checks and training for bus drivers and zero-emissions buses.

  • In Focus

    Are the government’s growth ambitions realisable?

    The government has set out an ambition to raise the growth rate of the UK economy. This briefing looks at how realistic this ambition is. Faster growth in GDP could help deal with some of the economic and social challenges facing the UK. While achieving this goal confronts several structural obstacles, advances in technology and addressing some current obstacles holding back economic activity have the potential to lift the economy onto a higher growth path.

  • In Focus

    The rural economy

    The rural economy in the UK is made up of a variety of different industries, including agriculture and tourism. Rural areas contribute a significant proportion of the UK’s economic output. However, figures for England indicate productivity in rural areas is lower when compared with urban areas. This briefing provides a summary of statistics on the rural economy and outlines some of the challenges for achieving economic growth.

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