issue brief
Falkland Islands
The Falkland Islands, or 'Islas Malvinas', are an archipelago of small islands located in the South Atlantic Ocean, approximately 300 miles east of the South American mainland (Argentina and Chile).Read More
Fertility Treatment
Fertility treatment is the use of medical intervention techniques to aid the natural process of conception. Read More
Fire and Rescue Service
The Fire Service responds to fires and other emergencies, provides advice about fire safety and enforces fire safety laws, and helps plan and prepare for various emergencies, such as rail crashes.Read More
Firefighters’ Pay
The National Joint Council for Local Authority Fire and Rescue Services (NJC) is the body responsible for determining firefighters' pay and conditions.Read More
Foot and Mouth Disease
Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) is an extremely contagious viral condition, affecting cloven-hoofed animals, such as sheep, cattle, pigs, goats and deer.Read More
Football Hooliganism
"Hooliganism" is the term used broadly to describe disorderly, aggressive and often violent behaviour perpetrated by spectators at sporting events. In the UK, hooliganism is almost exclusively confined to football.Read More
Former Yugoslavia and the Role of British Forces
British forces have been involved in the conflicts in the former Yugoslavia since the mid-1990s through their involvement in multilateral peacekeeping and conflict missions mandated by the United Nations (UN) and the North Atlantic Treaty Alliance (NATO).Read More
Foundation Hospitals
'Foundation Hospitals' are hospitals that are run by NHS Foundation Trusts - a new type of NHS body introduced by the Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Act 2003.Read More
Freedom of Information
A commitment to "Freedom of Information" is a political principle which asserts that members of the public have a right to know what the state is doing, and what it knows about them.Read More
Fuel duties
Most oils, including road fuels, are subject to excise duties. The system of duties is administered by HM Customs and Excise, and revenues are collected from manufacturers and importers of liable oil products. This means that none of the price paid by the motorist at the petrol pump goes directly to the state. Rather, it reflects the price charged by the manufacturer or importer to the distributor or retailer, which is passed on in turn to the consumer.Read More