Government bodies

Air Accidents Investigation Branch

The United Kingdom Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) is the part of the Department of Transport responsible for investigating the causes of civil aircraft accidents. Its website contains information on the work of the organisation, including its history and the civil aviation laws and regulations within which it operates. The site also provides reports on air safety and the Air Accident Monthly Bulletin from 2005 onwards. 

Intellectual Property Office

The Intellectual Property Office is responsible for granting intellectual property (IP) rights in the United Kingdom. Its website provides information about patents, designs, trade mark, including legislation, official notices, research commissioned by the IPO, procedural forms, guidance and databases of trademarks, registered designs and patents.

House of Lords

The House of Lords is the upper chamber of the UK parliament. Its section of the parliamentary website provides detailed information about the work of the House, including Hansard (parliamentary debates) from November 1995 onwards, current bills before Parliament and the reports of House of Lords select committees.

European Central Bank (ECB)

The European Central Bank (ECB) implements the monetary policy of the European Union, and in particular maintains the European System of Central Banks. It is the central bank for the European single currency, the euro. Its website has news, statistics and information on the euro, monetary policy, payments and markets. The ECB's reports, reviews and papers are available on the website, as are its Monthly Bulletin, Economic Bulletin

House of Representatives - Diet of Japan

The House of Representatives is one of the two chambers of the Diet or parliament of Japan. Its website provides information on the function and current structure and organisation of the House. It includes some details of the Japanese legislative procedure. Also available is a list of current members of the chamber and some information about the relative strength of representation of the key political parties in the House. The site is available in English or Japanese.

Publications Office

The Publications Office of the European Union is the European Union's official publisher. Its website includes the EU Bookshop as well as links to key resources including EUR-Lex, Tenders Electronic Daily (TED), the EU Open Data Portal, the CORDIS research and innovation database and EU Who Is Who. It also provides background information about the Publications Office and a newsletter which covers EU policy and recent publications. The interface is available in all the EU languages.

United Nations Security Council

The United Nations Security Council has responsibility under the UN Charter for maintaining international security and peace by taking military actions against aggressors and applying sanctions. Its website provides information on the functions of the Security Council, including its rules of procedure, and role within the UN as a whole. It also includes a list of current members and the full-text of a large number of its documents.

European Scrutiny Committee

The European Scrutiny Committee is a permanent cross-party committee of the House of Commons. It assess draft EU legislation which has been deposited in Parliament by the Government. Its website makes available the Committee's reports from November 1996 to date, minutes from November 2009 to date, ministerial correspondence with the Committee, background papers and details of inquiries by the Committee. There is also a guide to the European scrutiny system and a guide to the EU institutions and EU legislation.

European Investment Bank (EIB)

The European Investment Bank is the official body which finances capital investment in the EU and seeks to promote European Union economic policy. Its activities include: fostering economic development of the poorer European regions, financing urban renewal projects and promoting competitiveness of industry. The EIB website contains the full-text of the statute which sets out its role, it also includes its most recent annual report, press releases and other publications. Information is also available on current projects and there is a list of recent publications.

Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA)

COMESA is an inter-governmental body encouraging economic cooperation between countries in East and South Africa. Member states include: Angola, Burundi, Comoros, D.R.Congo, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Namibia, Rwanda, Seychelles, Sudan, Swaziland, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Click on the Intstitutions link to find the COMESA Court of Justice.

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