• In Focus

    Bank of England: the gold standard

    The Bank of England operates monetary policy in the UK. This article describes how, for much of its history, this involving maintaining the convertibility of the currency into bullion—the gold standard. More recently, the aims of policy have shifted, with the current target being to control inflation. However, debates continue about the appropriate targets of monetary policy, its links with fiscal policy and other aspects of the Bank’s operations.

  • In Focus

    When cooking kills

    Cooking on open fires releases dangerous particles into the air. These particulars harm human health and contribute to global warming. This article looks at the problem of cooking-related air pollution and potential solutions.

  • In Focus

    Parliament Act 1949: Reducing the power to delay

    How can the House of Commons pass laws the Lords disagrees with? The answer lies in two key pieces of legislation. The Parliament Act 1911 provided that any public bill rejected by the House of Lords could still be passed as long as three sessions over a two-year period had elapsed from its original second reading to its final third reading in the House of Commons. The Parliament Act 1949, passed 70 years ago, reduced that time period to one year and two sessions.

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