Publications 2006

274-Food security in developing countries (pdf 128KB)
Four page POSTnote, December 2006
Food security and insecurity are terms used to describe whether or not people have access to sufficient quality and quantity of food. They are affected by factors such as poverty, health, food production, political stability, infrastructure, access to markets, and natural hazards. Improved food security is important for global reduction of hunger and poverty, and for economic development. One aim of the Millennium Development Goals is to reduce by half the proportion of people suffering from hunger by 2015. Currently, 820 million people are affected by hunger in developing countries and numbers are not falling quickly enough to achieve the goal, particularly in Africa and Southern Asia. This POSTnote examines food security in the developing world and options available for its progress, including increasing access to food and higher agricultural production.

273 -Military uses of space (pdf 234KB)
Four page POSTnote, December 2006
Space plays an increasing role in military activities. Over 800 satellites orbit the earth, many of which have military uses, from reconnaissance to guiding weapons systems. This POSTnote outlines national, EU level and wider military space activities. It discusses small satellite development in the UK and the growing debate over the role of space in European Security and Defence Policy. It highlights concerns over the vulnerability of satellites to accidental damage or hostile acts.

272 -Ambient air quality (pdf 125KB)
Four page POSTnote, December 2006
Ambient air quality, the condition of the air in the outdoor environment, directly affects the health of humans and ecosystems. National and European regulation has delivered improvements in UK air quality (see POSTnote number 188). Air pollution from major sources such as transport, power generation and industry, are now heavily regulated and declining. However, current air pollution levels continue to cause adverse impacts on human health and the environment, as summarised by this POSTnote.

271 Computer crime (pdf 122KB)
Four page POSTnote, October 2006
An increasing number of domestic and international criminal activities are using the Internet. Computers and other electronic devices can be tools to commit crime or are targeted by criminals. A personal computer connected to the Internet without protection may be infected with malicious software in under a minute. This briefing discusses the scale and nature of computer crime, the technologies available to protect computers, and highlights the key policy challenges.

270 Data encryption (pdf 124KB)
Four page POSTnote, October 2006
Encryption is increasingly used to protect digital information, from personal details held on a computer to financial details transmitted over the Internet. Encryption has many benefits but can also be used to conceal criminal activity. This POSTnote outlines encryption techniques, their applications and their reliability. It also discusses controversial government proposals to give public authorities new powers under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act, relating to the handling of encrypted data in criminal investigations.

269 -Adapting to climate change in developing countries (pdf 122KB)
Four page POSTnote, October 2006
Climate change poses a serious threat to development and poverty reduction in the poorest and most vulnerable regions of the world. Minimising the impacts of climate change requires adaptation. In 2005, under the UK's presidency, the G8 Plan of Action1 included an agreement to assist developing countries adapt to climate change. This POSTnote examines how adaptation to climate change is being approached in developing countries. It will also address the role of the international community and how the UK government is helping developing countries to build their capacity to adapt to climate change and assisting in adaptation.

268 -Carbon footprint of electricity generation (pdf 162KB)
Four page POSTnote, October 2006
All electricity generation systems have a 'carbon footprint', that is, at some points during their construction and operation carbon dioxide (CO2) is emitted. There is some debate about how large these footprints are, especially for 'low carbon' technologies such as wind and nuclear. This POSTnote compares the life cycle CO2 emissions of different electricity generation systems currently used in the UK, including fossil-fuelled and 'low carbon'.

Errata: Figure 3, Gas power stations with (post-combustion) carbon capture and storage (CCS) are expected to have a carbon 'footprint' of 63 gCO2/kWh

267 -Adapting to climate change in the UK (pdf 124KB)
Four page POSTnote, July 2006
Scientists believe that a certain amount of climate change is inevitable over the next few decades, irrespective of future carbon emissions. The Government and businesses are beginning to assess what the impacts might be for the UK and to develop strategies and tools for dealing with them. This POSTnote outlines some of the impacts climate change may have and discusses remaining areas of uncertainty and debate.

266 -Children's medicines (pdf 116KB)
Four page POSTnote, July 2006
All medicines undergo clinical trials to assess their safety, quality and effectiveness. Most tests use adults; fewer than 50% of children's medicines have actually been tested in children. A new European regulation that aims to increase the development and testing of medicines specifically for use in children will become law in the UK by the end of 2006. This note examines current and future regulation of research into, and clinical trials of, children's medicines and discusses the issues raised.

265 -UK Soil degradation (pdf 164KB)
Four page POSTnote, June 2006
Soil degradation involves both the physical loss (erosion) and the reduction in quality of topsoil associated with nutrient decline and contamination. It affects soil quality for agriculture and has implications for the urban environment, pollution and flooding. Currently, 2.2 million tonnes of topsoil is eroded annually in the UK and over 17% of arable land shows signs of erosion. This POSTnote examines the nature and extent of soil degradation in the UK and the challenges and opportunities for soils in a changing climate. These include the potential for using degraded and polluted soils in the built environment for brownfield redevelopment as well as the possibility of using soils to mitigate carbon emissions.

264-Analogue to digital TV switchover (pdf 127KB)
Four page POSTnote, June 2006
In September 2005 the Government committed to switch over from analogue to only digital television in the UK. Digital switchover will occur, region-by-region, between 2008 and 2012. This briefing updates POSTnote 233 on Digital Television and looks at the logistics of implementing the switchover and its implications.

263-Pervasive computing (pdf 116KB)
Four page POSTnote, May 2006
Pervasive computing is a rapidly developing area of Information and Communications Technology (ICT). The term refers to the increasing integration of ICT into people's lives and environments, made possible by the growing availability of microprocessors with inbuilt communications facilities. Pervasive computing has many potential applications, from health and home care to environmental monitoring and intelligent transport systems. This briefing provides an overview of pervasive computing and discusses the growing debate over privacy, safety and environmental implications.

262-UK civil space activities (pdf 149KB)
Four page POSTnote, March 2006
This POSTnote provides an overview of the UK's civil space activities. It focuses on space exploration and Earth observation, discussing UK participation in international projects in the light of decisions made at a European Space Agency ministerial meeting in December 2005. Preparations for the 2007 comprehensive spending review are underway within government, giving rise to increased debate over the future of UK civil space activities. The note highlights key aspects of this debate such as the future of the UK space industry and the role space plays in drawing young people into science and technology careers.

261-ICT in developing countires (pdf 125KB)
Four page POSTnote, March 2006
Information and communication technology (ICT) can help developing countries tackle a wide range of health, social and economic problems. By improving access to information and by enabling communication, ICT can play a role in reaching Millennium Development Goals such as the elimination of extreme poverty, combating serious disease, and achieving universal primary education and gender equality. However the benefits of ICT are not fully realised in many countries: ICT is often out of reach of the poor and those in rural areas. This POSTnote discusses how this problem is being addressed, focusing on new ICT such as internet and mobile phones. It discusses the role of the UK and wider international community, and the effectiveness of projects funded by international aid.

260-Debating science (pdf 120KB)
Four page POSTnote, March 2006
Recent years have seen an increased awareness of the importance of public engagement with science and technology (S&T). The science to be funded, how it should be carried out and how it should be used and regulated are all debated questions. But what is meant by public engagement? Can public engagement in policy be effectively achieved without a wider dialogue between scientists and the public? How have methods of public engagement developed, and at what stage in the S&T process are they best applied? How do policy-makers take into account public opinion when using and regulating S&T?

259- Balancing Water Supply and the Environment (pdf 588KB)
Four page POSTnote, February 2006
Water is vital for all living things. Rivers, lakes and wetlands support a variety of wildlife and habitats. However, the environmental need for water must be balanced against human water use. In most areas of England and Wales , the balance between users and the environment is sustainable but, in some locations, water-based ecosystems are under threat. European Directives aimed at protecting the water environment will have impacts on how human water needs are met. This POSTnote examines the potential risks and opportunities for the provision of public water supply as the Directives are implemented in England and Wales. It precedes the House of Lords Science and Technology Select Committee report on Water Management.

258 - The national DNA database (pdf 108KB)
Four page POSTnote, February 2006
Over 3 million DNA profiles from individuals are now on the National DNA Database® (NDNAD) and this number continues to increase. A series of legislative changes have contributed to the extensive expansion of the NDNAD. While there is overall support for the Database as an intelligence tool, there is a need to balance the benefits to society and individual rights. This POSTnote will provide an overview of the NDNAD and cover issues such as the retention of samples, ethical oversight of the Database and the extraction of information from DNA.

257 - Healthy life expectancy (pdf 110KB)
Four page POSTnote, February 2006
Will the UK's ageing population be vibrant and independent, or suffer from greater chronic ill health? Healthy life expectancy (HLE) is commonly used to try to assess this: it is an estimate of how many years are lived in good health over the lifespan. Such data are invaluable for predicting future needs, evaluating health programmes and identifying trends and inequalities. They can inform planning of health and social services, long term care and pensions. This POSTnote reviews the current debate on HLE, outlines possible future scenarios, and looks at the pros and cons of different HLE measures.

256 - rhus convention (pdf 119KB)
Four page POSTnote, January 2006
There is currently a perceived lack of trust between people and their governments, especially where environmental matters are concerned. The rhus Convention is seen as an important tool for improving this situation. It is founded on the belief that citizens' involvement can strengthen democracy and environmental protection. Kofi Annan described it as "the most ambitious venture in the area of environmental democracy so far undertaken under the auspices of the United Nations". Furthermore, it is the first Convention that aims to make these rights for enhanced democracy enforceable by the courts. This POSTnote looks at the progress of introducing the rhus principles into national legislation, the successes achieved and the difficulties encountered.

255 - Low carbon private vehicles (pdf 272KB)
Four page POSTnote, January 2006
Private vehicle use is increasing. It now accounts for 86% of miles travelled in the UK, compared with just 27% in 1952. Cleaner fuels and exhaust technologies such as catalytic converters have reduced emissions of some pollutants from vehicles. However, carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions continue to rise, with a projected increase of 10% between 2000 and 2010. This POSTnote examines technologies as well as current government initiatives aimed at reducing CO2 emissions from private vehicles.