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Wired - GOV Plus welcomes back its readers from the summer break. This ‘bumper edition’ newsletter, in addition to covering the last week ‘in full’ as normal, also includes our editor’s pick of items published during the break period – especially consultations, the announcement of which you may have missed. Other items can be accessed by going to the ‘Home’ page and clicking on ‘Search for Press releases’ using ‘August’ as ‘Date From’ and selecting a specific department, or ‘Any’.
BIS: Recruiting ex-service personnel to teach in poorly performing schools may not be such a ‘wild’ idea after all - Prisoners will receive a boost to their chances of finding employment after their release, with intensive ‘military style’ Maths & English classes, Business Secretary Vince Cable announced recently. The pilot will be carried out in 6 prisons in the North West, and will be based on the successful approach used for training new recruits in the Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force.
An example of an Army intensive programme consists of 35 hours of lessons in a 1 week block, but with additional training for those who need it. The teaching makes literacy & numeracy relevant to the recruits’ day-to-day work and has been shown to boost their confidence and career progression, including those who had poor experiences of learning at school.
The programme will show offenders how important basic skills are when trying to get a job and stay in work. It will be taught at the start of their sentences so their studies are less likely to be disrupted. The pilot is part of the Government’s drive to cut re-offending, which costs the public purse £9.5bn - £13bn a year.
Press release & links ~ Armed Forces praised for literacy & numeracy training ~ Armed Forces basic skills longitudinal study: executive summary ~ Results from the Surveying Prisoner Crime Reduction (SPCR) survey ~ British Army - Reading and Writing ~ Army Education Officers teach Gurkhas in Helmand ~ Meeting needs? The Offenders’ Learning and Skills Service ~ Offenders’ Learning and Skills Service ~ £1.8m in BIG funding to keep ex-offenders on ‘straight and narrow’ ~ Civitas: We need a policy that delivers something between the 2 extremes of ‘giving them the key’ and ‘throwing it away’ (2nd item) ~ Army Basic Skills Provision Whole Organisation Approach (A2139) - Lessons learnt ~ Defence Dynamics ~ NAO: The youth justice system in England & Wales: Reducing offending by young people ~ Other related NAO documents
ICO: A caveat that, as the Third Sector takes on the provision of many more services, they also take on legal duties - Charities & third sector organisations stand to benefit most from a data protection ‘check up’, the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) confirmed recently as the ICO published its top 5 areas for improvement for SMEs.
With charities often handling sensitive information, such as individuals’ medical details, they are potentially more susceptible to encountering a serious data breach. This could result in the ICO serving the organisation with a monetary penalty of up to £500,000. However by using the top 5 tips and signing up for a FREE one day advisory visit, the ICO is highlighting the support available to help them keep their personal information secure.
The ICO’s top 5 areas for improvement are:
* Tell people what you are doing with their data
* Make sure your staff are adequately trained
* Use strong passwords
* Encrypt all portable devices
* Only keep people’s information for as long as necessary
The ICO has produced a guide to ICO advisory visits for organisations considering an advisory visit and organisations that would like to be considered for an advisory visit are invited to register their interest by sending an email. The ICO publish summary reports of the advisory visits already carried out and has also produced guidance for the charity sector.
Press release & links ~ Guide to ICO advisory visits (pdf) ~ Summary reports of the advisory visits ~ Guidance for the charity sector ~ ICO - Plain English Guide to FOI launched ~ Scottish charity signs ICO undertaking following personal data theft ~ ICO - University published personal data in online training manual ~ ICO takes action after medical examination results are sent to the wrong address ~ New guide explains the Environmental Information Regulations ~ ICO launches IT security guide for small businesses ~ ICO - Council fined £70,000 for losing highly sensitive data ~ ICO - Action taken after care provider lost unencrypted memory stick ~ ICO: Outsourcing a task does not mean an end to legal responsibility (1st item)
ICO: Expected better exam results? - The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has reminded students of their information rights regarding this year’s A-Level results. Under the Data Protection Act students can see information held about them, such as a breakdown of their marks, by making a subject access request to the examination body.
The ICO’s guidance, ‘Individuals’ rights of access to examination records, outlines how people can access more general information about college or university policies or procedures. The ICO has also produced guidance for schools and universities, explaining their responsibilities under the DPA, including what actions they should take when receiving a subject access request.
PC&PE: As the song goes: ‘Why are we waiting’ - The Scottish Affairs Committee has published the 4th report in its series of reports about the referendum on separation for Scotland. It follows on from a report last week on the legal competence of the Scottish Parliament to hold a referendum on separation.
Report Summary: ….. The Scottish Government does not have a mandate to hold a referendum on greater devolution. What it promised was a referendum on separation, and we agree they should be enabled to hold that. ……. It is perfectly clear that there are, at present, no developed plans for further devolution. In particular, the idea of "devolution max" is no more than a phrase in search of content. No plans exist, and none are in prospect which could properly be put forward to the voters in any referendum.
Press release & links ~ Press release regarding legal competence report & links ~ No, 10: Family break-ups are never easy or straight-forward (3rd item) ~ CO: The impact of Scottish independence will be far wider than just having 2 PMs for these islands ~ (1st item) ~ ScotGov: Will the Scots pay back the rest of the UK for rescuing their banks? (1st item) ~ DfT: Would an independent Scotland pay all the costs to extend HS2 beyond Leeds & Manchester? (2nd item) ~ IPPR: 79% of English voters want Scottish MPs barred from votes on English only laws ~ Welsh First Minister sets out his vision of a ‘new’ United Kingdom ~ Consultation launched on new Scottish borrowing powers ~ Scotland will stand on her own two feet ~ Consultation response shows strong support for a single question referendum sooner rather than later ~ Scottish Affairs Committee publishes report on the Crown Estate in Scotland ~ Commission on the consequences of devolution for the House of Commons established
DH: Will this avoid the quality issues & failures of recent times? - The National Quality Board (NQB) has published a report setting out how the new health system will work together to maintain and improve quality & safety, ensuring patients receive the best care possible. The focus of the NQB report – “Quality in the new health system – maintaining and improving quality from April 2013” – is how the new health system will work together to identify, respond to & prevent serious failures in quality.
Press release & links ~ CQC: Another rotten apple in the NHS barrel? ~ CQC: Can anyone still believe the NHS doesn’t need to change how it delivers its services? (1st item) ~ CQC: Time for the NHS to be run to DMS standards? (2nd item)
Ofsted: Double vulnerability through age & disability - Disabled children are at risk of slipping through the child protection net, according to a recent Ofsted report. The study found that many children and their families receive good multi-agency early support but too many children had child protection needs which went unidentified.
Protecting disabled children: thematic inspection report looks at the effectiveness of child protection work for disabled children in 12 local authorities, examining 173 cases and tracing the child’s journey through the system to understand how well disabled children are protected from harm.
Press release & links ~ LGA response ~ Bureaucracy axed to put vulnerable children first ~ Consultation on Revised Safeguarding Statutory Guidance (Consultation closes on Wednesday 5 September 2012) ~ A major step forward for children's inspections ~ Additional Ofsted documents
VSO: Helping them to help themselves - International development charity VSO is seeking experienced teachers to volunteer in Ethiopia and help improve the quality of education for children across the country, where 2.7m children are out of school.
VSO is currently recruiting primary teachers, English language teachers, head teachers and education managers to work at all levels in Ethiopia’s education system. Volunteers will be improving the language skills of teachers, delivering training programmes and lecturing in universities.
VSO is currently recruiting primary teachers, English language teachers, head teachers and education managers to work at all levels in Ethiopia’s education system. Volunteers will be improving the language skills of teachers, delivering training programmes and lecturing in universities.
Since 2003 VSO has been working with the government to set up & deliver Ethiopia’s Higher Diploma Programme, a 1-year mandatory qualification, which has exceeded its targets & trained more than 6,000 lecturers.
CLG: An end to ‘Behind closed doors’? - New law changes to introduce greater openness & transparency in executive councils meetings will mean all decisions including those affecting budgets & local services will have to be taken in an open & public forum, Local Government Secretary Eric Pickles has announced.
Ministers have put new regulations before Parliament that would come into force in September 2012 to extend the rights of people to attend all meetings of a council's executive, its committees and subcommittees. Individual councillors will also have stronger rights to scrutinise the actions of their council.
Press release & links ~ LGA response ~ Town Hall doors unlocked to social media and bloggers ~ New guidance to help councillors with new transparency agenda
Latest Paper: Is your organization in denial about Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) Attacks? - Cyber attacks are now a common news item, with high-profile organisations regularly having their Internet services taken offline by DDoS attacks. These attacks target the availability of networks, services and applications – disrupting access for genuine users, and potentially impacting business continuity. The Home Office, the European Parliament and the Australian Government are just some of the most recent victims.
As a business continuity threat, DDoS needs be considered alongside other risks such as fire, flood etc, and risk management processes put in place accordingly. An organisation can protect its online services from DDoS attacks, but only if the right defence mechanisms are put in place. If we protect our online services from the DDoS threat then we can ensure that our customers, partner-organisations and employees can always make best use of the online resources our organisations provide.
Click here to download the latest DDoS best practice guide find out more about how to defend your organisation’s online services against DDoS attacks.
Forthcoming event: Gartner Outsourcing & Strategic Partnerships Summit 2012, 8-9 October, London - Today's outsourcing is all about ensuring business needs are met by building strong relationships with the right providers, capable of delivering high quality products and services from the right locations.
Agenda is designed for key outsourcing roles: CIO and senior leaders, contact managers, vendor managers and sourcing managers. Get access to the latest Gartner research and analysis; meet with the leading solutions providers; hear from other uses and network with your peers.
Key topics include:
* Cloud and emerging technologies
* Vendor management of strategic providers
* Business-aligned outsourcing
* Market place trends and the future of IT services
* Contract and pricing structures
Click here to view the agenda and register today.
Please note that previously published newsletters can be accessed from the Newsletter Archive
General News
MoD: Professor Sir Keith Porter, Honorary Professor of Clinical Traumatology at the University of Birmingham, charts the remarkable progress of modern military care since the Cold War.
MoD: Sailors whose courage kept supply routes open to the strategically vital island of Malta during the Second World War have been honoured with a lasting tribute. Emotional British veterans have spoken of their pride at seeing the memorial to their bravery unveiled on Malta 70 years after their actions helped defeat fascism in Europe.
DH: 1 in 3 people are embarrassed to talk to their doctor about poo even though having blood in poo is a key symptom of bowel cancer which can kill. Knowing the symptoms of bowel cancer and seeing a doctor early on can save lives according to the national bowel cancer campaign supported by TV personality Sharon Osbourne.
The ‘Be Clear on Cancer’ bowel cancer campaign encourages people who have had blood in their poo or looser poo for 3 weeks or more to see their doctor. The adverts aim to make people aware of the symptoms of bowel cancer and make it easier for them to discuss this with their GP.
DH: The NHS will have to comply with NICE guidance on new drugs & treatments or explain to patients why there is a delay, under a new scheme, expected to be fully implemented by the Autumn. This will help end the unfair practice where some parts of the NHS delay offering new treatment while other areas make them available straight away.
RoSPA: The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents in Scotland has welcomed the release of new homes in Kirkcaldy, Fife, which feature a complete set of the charity’s home safety recommendations, which seek to reduce injuries from falls, poisoning (including carbon monoxide poisoning), burns, electrical accidents and fire.
STFC: The Geostationary Earth Radiation Budget (GERB) 3 instrument, aboard the latest European weather satellite MSG-3, was successfully activated recently. The data that will now become available from GERB 3 will be vital to validate climate models in new ways and measure clear changes in climactic patterns.
LGA: New free schools and those converting to academy status should take steps to keep school uniform costs down and ensure hard-pressed parents aren't hit with an unnecessary financial burden, local government leaders are warning. The LGA is encouraging schools to follow a number of ‘common sense' principles to keep the cost of school uniforms and sports kits down.
MoD: Transport for London and the Association of Train Operating Companies will continue their offer of free travel during the Games to military personnel supporting the London 2012 Paralympics within London. The offer also covers services to London and to other Paralympic venue locations.
ScotGov: Farmers in Scotland are being offered free tests for the Schmallenberg virus (SBV) in animals imported from areas where the virus is circulating. The National Farmers Union of Scotland (NFUS) have also announced additional support for SAC Veterinary laboratories to test free of charge up to 4 blood samples per farm from either cattle and sheep moving from areas known to be affected by SBV. Cattle & sheep moving to Scotland from the area south of a line from Lincolnshire, to the Severn Estuary, will be eligible for the testing.
FSA: Asda has recalled a batch of its Frozen Chicken Tandoori Thigh, with a 'best before' date of 30 April 2013. The product contains wheat (gluten) that is not mentioned on the label. If you are allergic to, or intolerant of, wheat or gluten don’t eat this product. The Food Standards Agency has issued an Allergy Alert..
Policy Statements and Initiatives
DfE: The Department for Education has responded to a FoI request on the disposal of school playing fields. The Department has received 22 applications since May 2010 for the disposal of school playing fields.
Approval has been given for 21 applications and one is under consideration. Of the 21 playing fields they approved for disposal 14 were schools that had closed, 4 were sites that became surplus when existing schools amalgamated (See press release for details of other 3).
Approval has been given for 21 applications and one is under consideration. Of the 21 playing fields they approved for disposal 14 were schools that had closed, 4 were sites that became surplus when existing schools amalgamated (See press release for details of other 3).
The DfE will only agree to the sale of school playing fields if the sports & curriculum needs of schools & their neighbouring schools can continue to be met. Sale proceeds must be used to improve sports or education facilities and any new sports facilities must be sustainable for at least 10 years.
Press release & links ~
DfE: An action plan to cut through the ‘wall of silence’ around ritual child abuse & neglect in the name of witchcraft, spirit possession, the supernatural and faith has been published. The National action plan to tackle child abuse linked to faith or belief aims to raise awareness of these appalling crimes and sets out urgent practical steps to build intelligence on the ground to identify children at risk and act to protect them.
It says that there needs to be closer engagement with local communities & churches to prevent abuse. It proposes stronger training & information for social workers, police & other frontline practitioners working with children; and better access to psychological and therapeutic support for victims.
And it sets out work to secure prosecutions by improving support for victims to give evidence in court cases and better awareness of how faith-based abuse links to related crimes, including trafficking, missing children and sexual exploitation or grooming.
ScotGov: A new strategy designed to improve the mental health & wellbeing of everyone in Scotland was recently launched. It sets out 36 key commitments to be delivered between now & 2015 to deliver faster access to mental health services for younger people, faster access to psychological therapies, work to reduce and prevent suicide and addressing stigma & discrimination.
There is a strong focus throughout the strategy on actions that people can take for themselves and with their communities to maintain & improve their own health. Other commitments include working more effectively with families & carers and improving links between work on alcohol & depression to improve identification & treatment.
CO: A ‘ruthless’ approach to eradicating wasteful spending across Whitehall enabled the Government to save over £5.5bn for the taxpayer last year - even higher than predicted - the Minister for the Cabinet Office, Francis Maude, announced recently.
The savings were driven by the Cabinet Office’s Efficiency & Reform Group (ERG) which applied spending controls to cut expenditure by departments on IT contracts, property, marketing, temporary staff & consultancy. These new savings, which are in addition to the £3.75bn saved during 2010/11, have been independently audited and are equivalent this year alone, to around £500 per working household in Britain.
CLG: Measures aimed at boosting professional investment in good quality, privately rented homes and to help meet the nation's housing demand have been published. Housing Minister, Grant Shapps welcomed the report by Sir Adrian Montague, saying it offered, ‘a blueprint’ for encouraging more institutional investment into the sector.
The vast majority of private-rented homes in this country are managed by individual landlords, but Sir Adrian's report highlights the ‘real potential’ for investment in large-scale development of homes built specifically for private rent by professional organisations. Sir Adrian's report makes a series of recommendations to speed up the timescale for building the private-rented homes needed to meet existing and growing demand.
CLG: Local authorities must get to grips with the £200m of Council Tax Benefit lost each year through fraud & error so they can fully support hard working families and genuinely vulnerable people, Local Government Secretary Eric Pickles said recently.
Spending on council tax benefit has more than doubled since 1997. Figures revealed last week show that since 2006 council tax benefit fraud & error has cost the taxpayer an estimated £1.1bn, an average of around £3m per council.
CLG: The Housing Minister has unveiled a new fund of £1.3m to help give more power to communities over their social homes. Grant Shapps hopes the scheme will help bring the passion of the Olympic volunteers and last year's broom armies to local communities by giving housing association and council tenants a voice to lead change in their area.
A new Community Cashback scheme will also be at the heart of the Tenant Empowerment Programme - allowing groups of tenants who choose to take on the management of services, such as maintenance and repairs, to reinvest any savings they make from running these services themselves into other community priorities.
CLG: Local Government Minister Grant Shapps has urged MPs, whose towns missed out in the Portas Pilot competition, to apply now for their town centres to become Town Team partners and benefit from help available, including support from the Government and access to advice & support from leading retail experts.
He also called on towns across the country to apply to be considered for the Future High Street X-Fund. Those town centres that show they have made the greatest improvements will win a share of the £1m prize on offer.
CLG: New funding to help communities bring jobs & homes to their neighbourhood using improved planning powers was announced last week. Neighbourhood planning gives people a major say in shaping development in their area. A £10m fund is now available to help councils ensure their communities are able to finalise people's plans for homes, businesses and facilities in their neighbourhood.
Councils are invited to apply for grants of up to £30,000 for each scheme to help pay for the costs of getting plans in place. Payments will be paid to councils to help them support & advise groups taking forward neighbourhood plans and to pay towards the examination of plans and a local referendum.
BIS: The Government will increase awareness among SMEs of the benefits of apprenticeships, and make support for small businesses taking on apprentices simpler and more accessible, thanks to a report from jeweller & social entrepreneur Jason Holt, published last week.
CLG: Plans for thousands of new homes that have been stuck on the drawing board for a decade are to finally get the go-ahead thanks to an historic deal reached between ministers, councillors and developers. The deal will unlock around 22,600 much-needed homes over the next 20 years - delivering as many as 60,000 jobs - and brings a brownfield site back into use.
The first phase at Eastern Quarry, Ebbsfleet, in Kent will deliver 1,500 homes as part of wider plans for Kent Thameside. Builders could be on site as early as Summer 2013 with the first homes set to be completed by December 2013.
DWP: Local authority led pilot projects that will support people to claim Universal Credit were named by Lord Freud, Minister for Welfare Reform, last week. 12 pilots will run from Autumn 2012 to explore how local expertise can support residents under Universal Credit, setting examples for other local authorities across the country.
DfT: Older & disabled people with bus passes will be able to get a third off train travel as part of a 12-month experiment announced by Rail Minister Norman Baker. The trial launched last Sunday to encourage more older and disabled people to use trains, and means concessionary bus pass holders will be able to claim discounted fares on two test routes without purchasing an annual Senior Railcard, which costs £28.
The scheme is being rolled out by First Great Western and will apply to standard off-peak fares between Worcester and Swindon via Stroud, and between Westbury and Weymouth. The Department will be assessing the trial keenly to see if a wider and more permanent application might be merited.
DfE: Schools Minister Nick Gibb has announced more than 650 new recipients of teacher scholarships, which includes special education needs (SEN) support staff for the first time. The second year of the £2m National Scholarship Fund will see the Government supporting teachers and SEN support staff to develop their skills and deepen their subject knowledge.
DH: Students starting secondary school this September are being encouraged to get to know their school nurse so they know where to go for help and advice when they need it. The school nursing service has a crucial role in improving the physical & emotional health of children & young people.
The service has been working with young people – supported by the British Youth Council and North West Regional Youth Work Unit – to design eye-catching materials to promote the range of services available from school nurses and how to access them. The materials can be downloaded below, to produce posters or factsheets. There is also a presentation about the school nursing service that can be adapted by schools to use in assemblies or parents’ evenings.
Consultations
HSE: The Health and Safety Executive has opened a consultation (closes on 28 October 2012) on proposals to simplify & clarify the reporting of injuries, diseases and dangerous occurrences. The changes proposed to Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR) 1995 will remove the duty to report in cases where the information is of little use or better collected through other means, while still ensuring that sufficient, quality data is available.
The proposals include self-employed people no longer having to report injuries or illness to themselves, and the removal of both the duty on employers to report dangerous occurrences outside of high-risk sectors/activities and requirements to report most occupational diseases.
WAG: Environment Minister, John Griffiths, has launched a consultation (closes on 23 October 2012) for simplifying & revising Building Regulation standards for new & existing domestic and non domestic buildings. This follows the Programme for Government commitment to develop changes to Building Regulations for new dwellings, working towards a 55% improvement in energy efficiency performance by 2013.
NHS Confed: Monitor's NHS provider licence consultation (closes on 23 October 2012), shows the regulator has listened to the health service and taken on board a number of issues raised by members about initial proposals, said the NHS Confederation's Jo Webber.
Commenting on the proposal, NHS Confederation deputy director of policy, Jo Webber, said: "It is encouraging to see that Monitor has really listened to the health service and taken on board a number of the issues we raised on behalf of our members about its initial proposals. As a result it has made some really significant amendments”.
ScotGov: A consultation has been launched (closes on 26 October 2012) on the Scottish Government’s Better Regulation Bill, which aims to reduce burdens on business & deliver changes to existing regulations; the flow of new regulation; and the culture.
DH: Proposals for the duties of health & wellbeing boards have been published by the Department of Health. H&WB boards will be made up of clinical commissioning groups (CCGs), local authorities, patient representatives, public health, and children’s & adult social care leaders in each local authority area to shape local health & care services, decide how they will be commissioned and support joined-up working across health and care services.
The consultation is also an opportunity to find out views on what further help H&WB boards would find useful in undertaking their duties. The final guidance will be available later in 2012.
Press release & links ~ Consultation on joint strategic needs assessment and joint health & wellbeing strategy guidance ~ DH: Health and wellbeing boards
Ofwat: Ofwat has opened a consultation (NB: closes this week on 5 September 2012) on proposals to accept binding commitments from Severn Trent plc. Severn Trent plc has offered to divest Severn Trent Laboratories in response to a complaint to Ofwat that Severn Trent Laboratories Limited had engaged in anti-competitive pricing practices contrary to the Chapter II Prohibition (Abuse of a dominant position) of the Competition Act 1998.
WAG: Transport Minister, Carl Sargeant, has launched a consultation on plans for extending Blue Badge eligibility in order to make sure that eligible badge holders continue to receive a badge following planned changes to the UK welfare system from April 2013.
The consultation (closes on 30 October 2012) is in direct response to proposed changes in the UK welfare benefits system that will see Personal Independence Payments (PIP) replace Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for people aged 16 to 64. Consultation proposals include linking automatic eligibility for a blue badge to PIP.
CLG: Expert brokers will spearhead a fresh drive to get stalled housing deals up & running and builders back on moth-balled sites, Communities Secretary Eric Pickles announced recently. Mr Pickles is concerned that too much development is being stalled because of economically unrealistic agreements negotiated between councils and developers at the height of the housing boom. This results in no development, no regeneration and no community benefits at all when agreements are no longer economically viable.
The Government's Housing Strategy Laying the Foundations: A Housing Strategy for England published on 21 November 2011 set out a proposal to allow reconsideration of planning obligations agreed in more buoyant market conditions. The aim of this consultation (closes on 8 October 2012) is to set out the details of how the proposal will work and to seek views.
EA: The Environment Agency has begun a public consultation (closes on 9 November 2012) on its draft decisions for 3 environmental permits for the proposed Hinkley Point C Nuclear Power Station. EDF Energy’s and Centrica’s joint venture company, NNB Generation Company Limited, applied for the permits in July last year. Each permit is a key regulatory permission that is required to operate the power station.
WAG: Environment Minister, John Griffiths is keen to hear views on how the new body that will manage Wales’ natural resources should operate and exactly what powers & duties it should have. He has launched a consultation (closes on 5 October 2012) which invites further views on specific aspects of the powers & functions of the new body that is due to become fully operational on 1 April 2013.
The new body will replace the Environment Agency Wales, The Countryside Council for Wales and the Forestry Commission for Wales. Its aim is to ensure the most sustainable and effective management of Wales’ natural resources, to deliver a more streamlined way of working and to cut unnecessary duplication to a minimum. It is estimated that over ten years the body will deliver up to £158 million in benefits before costs, freeing up resources for front line delivery.
LC: The Law Commission is seeking views in a consultation (closes on 30 November 2012) on how wildlife law should be modernised & simplified. The current law regulating wildlife is spread over a collection of Acts dating back to 1831. The original purpose of much of the law was to govern activities such as hunting & fishing, including poaching. Over the years it has expanded to conserve certain species, ensure the welfare of wildlife and protect local biodiversity from invasive species.
The result is a legal landscape that is out of date, confused & often contradictory. The proposals aim to simplify the existing complex framework, placing wildlife law into a single statute. The new regime would reduce the current dependency on criminal law, by allowing an appropriate mix of regulatory measures such as guidance, advice and a varied & flexible system of civil sanctions – such as fines & bans.
LC: The Law Commission is asking in a consultation (closes on 5 October 2012) whether the offence of scandalising the court is still necessary or should be consigned to history. Scandalising the court, also known as scandalising judges or scandalising the judiciary, is a form of contempt of court.
You might commit the offence if you do or publish anything that ridicules the judiciary to such an extent that it is likely to bring the administration of justice into disrepute. This might include, for example, being extremely offensive towards a member of the judiciary or suggesting that they are corrupt. The offence is not concerned with conduct which risks prejudicing particular proceedings, but only with conduct that is likely to affect the administration of justice generally.
ScotGov: The Scottish Government has launched a consultation (closes on 2 November 2012) on new laws designed to improve the way the public sector buys goods, works and services. The Scottish public sector spends over £9bn every year and, in 2011, over 45% of this spending was with SMEs. And of the contracts awarded through Public Contracts Scotland, Scotland’s national contract advertising portal, around 75% went to businesses registered from a Scottish address.
The Procurement Reform Bill will seek to ensure that all public bodies adopt transparent, streamlined & standardised procurement processes that are friendly to Scottish businesses. The consultation on the Bill will also explore substantially expanding the use of community-benefit clauses in higher value contracts, helping to promote training, apprenticeships and opportunities for the disabled and long-term unemployed.
Monitor: Monitor has launched the draft Commissioner Requested Services and Protected Services Guidance for consultation (closes on 8 November 2012). The guidance sets out a process for commissioners to follow to ensure that key NHS services remain available for patients if a provider gets into serious financial difficulty.
BIS: The Government has highlighted its proposals for the midata programme, as part of its ongoing consultation & progress review which sets out measures to provide it with a legal framework. The consultation (closes on 10 September 2012) proposes introducing a power that, when exercised, would give new rights to consumers to access their personal transaction data in an electronic, portable and machine-readable format.
midata was launched in April 2011 as part of Government’s consumer empowerment strategy, Better Choices: Better Deals. The programme is a partnership between the UK Government, consumer groups and major businesses aimed at giving consumers access to the data created through their household utility use, banking, internet transactions and high street loyalty cards.
WAG: The consultation deadline on the Welsh Government’s draft organ donation legislation is fast approaching. The Welsh Government is asking members of the public & health professionals alike to make their views known on the proposed soft opt-out legislation before the closing date of Monday September 10 2012.
BIS: New measures to deliver greater clarity & transparency on consumer rights, that will help boost the confidence of both consumers and businesses, have been published in a consultation (closes on 1 November 2012) on the Consumer Rights Directive.
The Consumer Rights Directive, agreed by the European Commission in 2011, focuses on simplifying & harmonising rules in a few key areas of consumer rights, including ensuring that consumers have the information and time they need to make good decisions, are fully aware of all the costs they are committing to and the implications of any contract. It also helps make sure that those traders who treat consumers fairly are not disadvantaged by those who use less transparent practices to lure consumers to less competitive offers.
Press release & links ~ Consultation on the implementation of the Consumer Rights Directive 2011/83/EU
NE: Proposals for an improved coastal access route between Ramsgate & Folkestone have been published by Natural England for consultation (closes on 9 November 2012) marking the first stages of the England Coast Path in the south east of England, set in motion by the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009.
The proposed route will run close to some of Kent’s most populated areas, including the towns of Sandwich, Deal & Dover and passes through a variety of coastal habitats & cliff scenery. Coastal Access legislation will enable the footpath to automatically move inland or ‘roll back’, if the route is lost to erosion for example, which means that the new route would be secure into the future.
ScotGov: A consultation (closes on 26 October 2012) on new EU rules to protect the welfare of animals at slaughter and killing has been launched by the Scottish Government. Domestic legislation will be introduced in Scotland to enforce & implement the new EU Regulation. As well as introducing new technical rules, the EU Regulation also offers opportunities to maintain existing national rules or introduce stricter national rules in specific areas.
The new legislation will affect a range of businesses, including poultry & livestock farmers, knackermen and equipment manufacturers as well as abattoirs. The consultation outlines key directly applicable measures that will come into effect on the 1 January 2013 and makes proposals for national rules.
EU News: The EU's Justice Commissioner has welcomed an announcement by Spain that it intends to improve legal certainty for property owners along the Spanish coast which have been affected by the Coastal Law. The Coastal Law (Ley de Costas) aims to protect local habitats by designating an area along the entire coastline as a public domain. An English summary of the new draft law is available to view and citizens can comment on the draft by email – See ‘EU Legislation, Initiatives, etc’ section for more information.
EU News: So far, over 5,500 EU-citizens have participated in one of the broadest web based consultations (closes on 9 September 2012) in the EU's history on citizens' rights and the future of Europe – the latest Commission figures released recently show – See ‘EU Legislation, Initiatives, etc’ section for more information.
EU News: The European Commission is proposing to create a digital seabed map of European waters by 2020 by collecting all existing data into one coherent database accessible to everyone. In a Green Paper on ‘Marine Knowledge’ adopted last week the Commission launched a consultation as to how this could be achieved – See ‘EU Legislation, Initiatives, etc’ section for more information.
MoJ: A consultation (closes on 3 October 2012) which looks at strengthening the rules on Claims Management Companies (CMCs) is currently open and the MoJ invite anyone with an interest to have their say - See ‘Legislation / Legal’ section for more information.
Guidance Notes and Best Practice Guides
CLG: Following the introduction of a new local standards regime last month guidance clarifying the requirements of councillors to declare their pecuniary interests has been published. It clarifies specific issues like urgency of declarations; personal information safety; handling spouse or partner interests and gold plating.
CIPD: To help employers provide more work-based financial education programmes for their employees, the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development has launched a guide on workplace financial education.
The guide calls on employers to offer financial education at work, to combat the danger of stress & anxiety-related underperformance associated with employee debt. With stress identified as the number one cause of long-term sickness absence, there is a real incentive for employers to tackle financial related stress in the workplace.
HO: All registered sex offenders face much tougher checks as from 13 August 2012. The new measures will tighten areas of the current law that could be open to exploitation by offenders who seek to cause harm. The Home Office has published new guidance for the police & probation service on the changes, which are set out within Part 2 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003.
NHS Confed: The NHS Confederation has, in collaboration with the NHS Institute for Innovation & Improvement, the Department of Health and the Local Government Association, published 2 new resources for health & wellbeing board (HWB) members:
* Structural & cultural differences
* Cohesive working
CLG: New, simple 'how to' advice to inspire communities to spot a plot of disused green spaces in their local area to use for food growing was published recently by Communities Secretary Eric Pickles. Local authority allotments are significantly oversubscribed - with waiting lists over 10 times longer than those in 1996.
The publication gives local people practical advice on new ways to get access to less conventional sources of land & green space to grow their own food as well as suggestions for wider community involvement, helpful tips on how to get funding and examples of projects already in bloom.
ScotGov: Energy Minister Fergus Ewing has launched guidance designed to make planning applications for wind energy developments run more smoothly for developers, planning authorities and the communities affected.
The guidance is a result of the GP Wind Project, a Scottish-Government led EU project which looked at the barriers to development of wind energy and ways of reconciling renewable energy objectives with environmental concerns, and actively involving communities in the planning process.
Mr Ewing also announced an ‘onshore wind taskforce’, which will look at ways to improve the planning consent process for onshore wind while keeping communities involved, consulted & informed, by bringing key players in the planning system including the Scottish Government, developers and statutory consultees (including Scottish Natural Heritage, SEPA, and planning authorities) together to critically examine current procedures.
SC: Following a 3 month period of training & implementation the definitive guideline on dangerous dog offences came into effect on 20 August 2012. .
NICE: NICE has produced a quality standard for stable angina that aims to help improve the diagnosis, care & treatment of the condition. Angina is prevalent in an estimated 1 in every 12 men and 1 in every 30 women aged between 55 & 64 in England, rising to 1 in every 7 men and 1 in every 12 women who are over 65. There are currently estimated to be around 2 million people in England who have or have had angina.
NICE: GPs should use either the FRAX or QFracture tools to estimate fracture risk in at-risk patients, NICE says. Fractures can lead to reduced life expectancy, with 1 in 10 people with a hip fracture dying within 1 month, though most deaths are due to associated conditions and not the fracture itself. A suite of support tools have been published to help implement this guideline, which includes an electronic audit tool, a costing template and a baseline assessment tool.
NICE: The NHS should prioritise the treatment of babies with suspected early-onset neonatal infection and use antibiotics sensibly to avoid developing resistance to the drugs, according to latest NICE guidance. Early-onset neonatal bacterial infection, infection that occurs within 72 hours of birth, is the cause of death for 1 in 4 babies who develop it, even when they are given antibiotics.
Currently, there are unnecessary delays in recognising & treating sick babies and wide variation in how the risk of early-onset neonatal infection is managed in healthy babies. The latest advice from NICE aims to address this by setting out a framework based on risk factors & clinical indicators should be used to identify & treat babies with an increased likelihood of having an early-onset neonatal infection.
A range of support tools have been developed to help put this guidance into practice including a podcast, a parent information leaflets, and a shared learning example: Supporting a 36 hour Neonatal Blood Culture status check by developing the availability of blood culture status in real time.
APCC: The Association of Police and Crime Commissioners' Transitional Board has recently welcomed the news that sitting Magistrates will no longer be barred from holding Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) to account as members of Police & Crime Panels, and confirmation that Magistrates may stand for election as a PCC if they take a leave of absence from the bench and resign if elected.
The new guidance effectively allows a Magistrate to take a leave of absence from the bench in order to campaign and return to the bench if not elected.
TfL: Transport for London has issued new guidance to bus drivers to help improve journeys for wheelchair & mobility scooter users and other bus passengers with accessibility needs.
CLG: Councils have been called on to clamp down on illegal encampments and to stop unauthorised traveller sites being set up by Communities Secretary Eric Pickles. New guidance has been sent to all council leaders advising how to act swiftly. The advice sets out the strong powers councils & landowners have to remove illegal & unauthorised encampments, such as traveller sites, protest camps and squatter sites from both public & private land.
Acas: Workplace experts Acas have published a new study into how employees feel about delivering news of redundancies and redeployment to their colleagues. An earlier study published by Acas explored the role of envoys in the public sector (For a link to the new Acas guidance for employers on the role of the envoy see press release).
CLG: Housing Minister Grant Shapps and Immigration Minister Damian Green have launched new guidance to councils making clear the wide range of powers at their disposal to shut down so-called 'beds in sheds' that blight entire neighbourhoods and take action against other bad practice by landlords such as overcrowding and poor maintenance.
ICO: The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has reminded students of their information rights regarding this year’s A-Level results. The ICO’s guidance, ‘Individuals’ rights of access to examination records, outlines how people can access more general information about college or university policies or procedures – See ‘In the News’ section for more information.
FCO: The FCO is urging those planning a gap year to pick up a copy of Plan.Pack.Explore. to help avoid running into preventable problems overseas. The guide contains a wealth of information from travel health advice to explaining exactly what the FCO can and cannot do if you get into trouble abroad. It also includes guidance on getting the right visa and keeping your money safe, along with case studies and handy maps.
CLG: Following the introduction of a new local standards regime last month guidance clarifying the requirements of councillors to declare their pecuniary interests has been published. It clarifies specific issues like urgency of declarations; personal information safety; handling spouse or partner interests and gold plating.
CIPD: To help employers provide more work-based financial education programmes for their employees, the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development has launched a guide on workplace financial education.
The guide calls on employers to offer financial education at work, to combat the danger of stress & anxiety-related underperformance associated with employee debt. With stress identified as the number one cause of long-term sickness absence, there is a real incentive for employers to tackle financial related stress in the workplace.
HO: All registered sex offenders face much tougher checks as from 13 August 2012. The new measures will tighten areas of the current law that could be open to exploitation by offenders who seek to cause harm. The Home Office has published new guidance for the police and probation service on the changes, which are set out within Part 2 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003.
NHS Confed: The NHS Confederation has, in collaboration with the NHS Institute for Innovation & Improvement, the Department of Health and the Local Government Association, published 2 new resources for health & wellbeing board (HWB) members:
* Structural & cultural differences
* Cohesive working
CLG: New, simple 'how to' advice to inspire communities to spot a plot of disused green spaces in their local area to use for food growing was published recently by Communities Secretary Eric Pickles. Local authority allotments are significantly oversubscribed - with waiting lists over 10 times longer than those in 1996.
The publication gives local people practical advice on new ways to get access to less conventional sources of land & green space to grow their own food as well as suggestions for wider community involvement, helpful tips on how to get funding and examples of projects already in bloom.
ScotGov: Energy Minister Fergus Ewing has launched guidance designed to make planning applications for wind energy developments run more smoothly for developers, planning authorities and the communities affected.
The guidance is a result of the GP Wind Project, a Scottish-Government led EU project which looked at the barriers to development of wind energy and ways of reconciling renewable energy objectives with environmental concerns, and actively involving communities in the planning process.
Mr Ewing also announced an ‘onshore wind taskforce’, which will look at ways to improve the planning consent process for onshore wind while keeping communities involved, consulted & informed, by bringing key players in the planning system including the Scottish Government, developers and statutory consultees (including Scottish Natural Heritage, SEPA, and planning authorities) together to critically examine current procedures.
SC: Following a 3 month period of training & implementation the definitive guideline on dangerous dog offences came into effect on 20 August 2012.
Press release & links ~ Dangerous dog offences
NICE: NICE has produced a quality standard for stable angina that aims to help improve the diagnosis, care & treatment of the condition. Angina is prevalent in an estimated 1 in every 12 men and 1 in every 30 women aged between 55 & 64 in England, rising to 1 in every 7 men and 1 in every 12 women who are over 65. There are currently estimated to be around 2 million people in who have or have had angina.
NICE: GPs should use either the FRAX or QFracture tools to estimate fracture risk in at-risk patients, NICE says. Fractures can lead to reduced life expectancy, with 1 in 10 people with a hip fracture dying within 1 month, though most deaths are due to associated conditions and not the fracture itself. A suite of support tools have been published to help implement this guideline, which includes an electronic audit tool, a costing template and a baseline assessment tool.
NICE: The NHS should prioritise the treatment of babies with suspected early-onset neonatal infection and use antibiotics sensibly to avoid developing resistance to the drugs, according to latest NICE guidance. Early-onset neonatal bacterial infection, infection that occurs within 72 hours of birth, is the cause of death for 1 in 4 babies who develop it, even when they are given antibiotics.
Currently, there are unnecessary delays in recognising & treating sick babies and wide variation in how the risk of early-onset neonatal infection is managed in healthy babies. The latest advice from NICE aims to address this by setting out a framework based on risk factors & clinical indicators should be used to identify & treat babies with an increased likelihood of having an early-onset neonatal infection.
A range of support tools have been developed to help put this guidance into practice including a podcast, a parent information leaflets, and a shared learning example: Supporting a 36 hour Neonatal Blood Culture status check by developing the availability of blood culture status in real time.
APCC: The Association of Police and Crime Commissioners' Transitional Board has recently welcomed the news that sitting Magistrates will no longer be barred from holding Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) to account as members of Police & Crime Panels, and confirmation that Magistrates may stand for election as a PCC if they take a leave of absence from the bench and resign if elected.
The new guidance effectively allows a Magistrate to take a leave of absence from the bench in order to campaign and return to the bench if not elected.
TfL: Transport for
CLG: Councils have been called on to clamp down on illegal encampments and to stop unauthorised traveller sites being set up by Communities Secretary Eric Pickles. New guidance has been sent to all council leaders advising how to act swiftly. The advice sets out the strong powers councils & landowners have to remove illegal & unauthorised encampments, such as traveller sites, protest camps and squatter sites from both public & private land.
Acas: Workplace experts Acas have published a new study into how employees feel about delivering news of redundancies and redeployment to their colleagues. An earlier study published by Acas explored the role of envoys in the public sector (For a link to the new Acas guidance for employers on the role of the envoy see press release).
CLG: Housing Minister Grant Shapps and Immigration Minister Damian Green have launched new guidance to councils making clear the wide range of powers at their disposal to shut down so-called 'beds in sheds' that blight entire neighbourhoods and take action against other bad practice by landlords such as overcrowding and poor maintenance.
ICO: The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has reminded students of their information rights regarding this year’s A-Level results. The ICO’s guidance, ‘Individuals’ rights of access to examination records, outlines how people can access more general information about college or university policies or procedures – See ‘In the News’ section for more information.
FCO: The FCO is urging those planning a gap year to pick up a copy of Plan.Pack.Explore. to help avoid running into preventable problems overseas. The guide contains a wealth of information from travel health advice to explaining exactly what the FCO can and cannot do if you get into trouble abroad. It also includes guidance on getting the right visa and keeping your money safe, along with case studies and handy maps.
General Reports and Other Publications
iea: Tackling water shortages and ensuring water costs are kept low for consumers requires changes in how water is regulated. A new report, Water: Supply, Prices, Scarcity and Regulation, by former water regulator, Sir Ian Byatt (who set up Ofwat) argues that the focus on environmental enhancement, rather than limiting prices, has driven up costs for the consumer and limited supply.
The publication suggests reforms are needed to encourage greater choice and more trading in Britain’s water market. It explains how a combination of quality standards and greater freedom for companies will help to ensure that Britain does not face significant water shortages in the future.
MAS: According to new Money Advice Service research, almost 3m people who recently moved home were ‘surprised’ by the cost of moving, and over 1m of the home-movers admitted they encountered ‘unexpected’ costs for which they hadn’t budgeted.
The survey was commissioned to launch the MAS new Smart Move campaign. To help home-movers prepare for the overall cost of moving day, they have created Smart Mover – free online tool to help home movers get to grips with the cost of moving day.
NE: A new report commissioned by Natural England, Ecosystem services from Environmental Stewardship that benefit agricultural production, highlights the role of Environmental Stewardship in protecting the environment & agricultural food production. The report found that ES schemes are delivering a range of vital goods & services, known as eco-systems services - which benefit the natural environment and in doing so help sustain & develop agricultural productivity.
PX: A new report – Ending Expensive Social Tenancies – by leading think tank Policy Exchange recommends selling off expensive social housing when it becomes vacant. This would generate £4.5bn annually which could be used to build 80,000-170,000 new social homes a year and reduce the housing waiting list by between 250,000 to 600,000 households in five years.
PC&PE: A report published by the International Development Committee highlights the importance of tax collection in developing countries, and recommends that the UK’s aid programme should increase its focus on supporting tax authorities.
FSA: The FSA in Scotland has published a report identifying key knowledge gaps & recommending areas for future research on enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC). The workshop helped to improve knowledge & develop strategies for tackling this group of pathogens at source – with the ultimate aim of reducing the health impact on humans.
PC&PE: In a recent report, the Public Administration Select Committee (PASC) says that while honours are greatly valued by recipients, reform of the system is required to create a system properly befitting the achievements and service of those being honoured.
The evidence is still that honours are more likely to be awarded to civil servants & celebrities than to people who volunteer in their local community. PASC calls for an increase in the proportion of people receiving honours for work in their local community, rather than to those who are awarded for their work as civil servants and in the wider public sector, to reflect the Government’s stated policy that the days of receiving an honour for simply ‘doing the day job’ are over.
PC&PE: Assisting China on low-carbon development should be at the heart of Government plans to tackle climate change and secure high-value business opportunities for UK firms, a report by MPs on the Energy and Climate Change Committee argues.
PC&PE: The Commons Public Accounts Committee has published its report - 'HM Revenue and Customs: Renewed alcohol strategy’. Richard Bacon MP, Member of the Committee of Public Accounts, said: "HMRC's drive to tackle alcohol duty evasion is being seriously hampered by a lack of information. Alcohol fraud is big business. The Department estimates that the gap between taxes due on alcohol and the amount actually collected might be as large as £1.2 billion.
The Department does not, however, have enough reliable information on the returns from tackling different types of alcohol duty evasion. It cannot say, therefore, whether a more effective targeting of its resources might not secure a better return on its investment”.
CBI: CBI Scotland is calling on the Scottish Government to put measures to aid economic growth at the centre of its upcoming Budget, which Ministers are due to publish next month. In a 7-page submission sent to Holyrood’s Finance Committee and also to the Finance Secretary, the business group urges Scottish Ministers to ‘pursue a bolder approach to reducing the costs of government in order to protect & enhance spending that galvanizes economic growth’.
Civitas: While the Coalition buckles under the strain of economic stagnation, a new Civitas report shows that supporting the electronics sector could re-energise job opportunities. Selling Circuits Short reveals that the Government is ignoring the size & significance of electronics manufacturing. Supportive policies could help in Osborne's trumpeted 'coordinated push for growth'.
iea: A new report from the Institute of Economic Affairs (The surprising ingredients of Swedish success – free markets and social cohesion), shows that an over-bearing welfare state, along with high taxes, damaged the economy in Sweden as well as undermining its social capital.
Sweden’s success is not a result of its extensive welfare state, as many argue, but of its positive cultural norms and its recent free market reforms. It suggests that it is only through focusing on increasing economic freedom and introducing more choice in public services that it has rebuilt its economy. Specifically, by reducing taxes & benefits it has increased work incentives and by introducing more choice, for example through voucher schemes, they increased productivity in areas like education, pensions, healthcare and elderly care.
NO: The London Borough of Haringey delayed unreasonably in issuing a statement of special educational needs for a boy with learning difficulties, finds Local Government Ombudsman, Dr Jane Martin.
LGA: Councillor Peter Fleming, Chairman of the LGA Improvement Board, has responded to the report by the TaxPayers' Alliance on councillor allowances.
WAO: The educational attainment of looked after children and young people is improving slowly but there is too much variation in attainment, inconsistent support and a lack of clearly defined outcomes against which progress can be assessed. These are the findings of a report published by the Auditor General for Wales recently.
However, overall educational attainment remains low. The attainment of looked after children varies across Wales and is lower on some measures than elsewhere in the UK.
PC&PE: The Commons Public Accounts Committee publishes its 11th Report of Session 2012-13, 'Improving the efficiency of central government office property,' as HC 288 last week. The Rt Hon Margaret Hodge MP, Chair of the CPA, said:
"Central government offices cost the taxpayer around £1.8 billion a year to run. Progress has been made in recent years to drive costs down, but a more ambitious approach could deliver much bigger savings: more than £800 million a year by 2020. Much will depend on the management of the estate being much more tightly controlled from the centre rather than leaving individual departments to their own devices”.
AS: Audit Scotland has found significant weaknesses in the management of 3 public sector information & communication technology (ICT) programmes costing a combined £133m so far. Managing ICT contracts: An audit of three public sector programmes, reports on the management of important ICT programmes that were delayed, cancelled or overran on costs.
The programmes were the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (£10m budget), Disclosure Scotland (£31m budget), and Registers of Scotland (project originally valued at £66m, but £112m has been spent so far).
The report says many of the problems stemmed from a lack of specialised information technology skills & experience. But there were also weaknesses in basic project management & control, and the ‘Gateway’ system that the Scottish Government uses to provide assurance on the management of projects was not always effective.
PC&PE: The Commons Public Accounts Committee has published its 8th Report of Session 2012-13, 'Managing early departures in central government'. Richard Bacon MP, Member of the CPA, said:
"Although departments have moved quickly to reduce staff numbers, few appear to be giving thought to how they are going to operate permanently with a lower number of staff. It is imperative that they do so.
Without a fundamental redesign in departments' working practices, staff numbers will probably rise as soon as restrictions on recruitment and spending have been lifted. The savings that have been achieved in staff costs will not be sustainable unless departments now complete long-term operating models for their businesses’.
What is not known is whether the reductions in staff are having an effect on departmental performance and service standards. Given the speed with which staff cuts were carried out and the scale of the cuts, there are significant risks to service delivery”.
Press release & links ~ Institute for Government response to PAC report on early departures in central government ~ PCS comment
Ippr: New statistics, released by the Office for National Statistics, show that immigration to the UK was 566,000 in 2011 and emigration of 350,000, meaning that net migration (the difference between immigration & emigration) was 216,000.
Reacting to the new figures, Sarah Mulley, Associate Director at IPPR, said:
“Migration statistics published today demonstrate again, as they do every quarter, the folly of the Government's target to reduce net migration to less than 100,000 a year. ……. The combination of recession and immigration policy changes may be starting to have an impact but more than a third of the fall is due to a rise in emigration”.
IfG: A new Institute for Government report, based on the views of those working to deliver on the Coalition’s pledge to open up public services to greater competition, says civil servants are excited about some of the opportunities that reforms bring, but they are ‘struggling to adapt’ to their new roles in delivering the programme and may need more time to develop their commissioning skills.
Commissioning for Success: how to avoid the pitfalls of open public services found ‘commercial skills in Whitehall were particularly scarce’. The findings are the result of workshops with those involved in public service reform across more than a dozen service areas – including civil servants, regulators, private & voluntary sector providers, and academic experts.
PC&PE: In a report - Access to cash machines for basic bank account holders - the Treasury Committee has urged RBS and Lloyds TSB to remove their restrictions on customers with basic bank accounts using cash machines run by other banks or independent third parties.
Legislation / Legal
SC: Following a 3 month period of training & implementation the definitive guideline on dangerous dog offences came into effect on 20 August 2012. .
MoJ: Good news for consumers who deal with Claims Management Companies (CMCs) as plans unveiled last week will mean any CMC that provides a poor service could be forced to pay compensation or provide another form of redress.
Thousands of consumers who have been let down by a small number of CMCs currently take their complaints to the Regulator. To better support the consumer, the Government has announced that from 2013 the Legal Ombudsman will handle claims management complaints. The Ombudsman has the legal power to ensure consumers can get compensation where appropriate.
A consultation (closes on 3 October 2012) which looks at strengthening the rules on CMCs is currently open and the MoJ invite anyone with an interest to have their say. The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has further information on unsolicited marketing calls and SMS texts.
ScotGov: Housing Minister Keith Brown recently confirmed that letting agents should not be charging a range of upfront fees to private tenants. Currently, under the Rent (Scotland Act) 1984, landlords and their agents can legally charge rent and a deposit only when granting a tenancy.
However, current legislation has not been explicit enough about additional charges such as reference checks, credit checks and inventory fees. The law will now be clarified so that all tenant charges, other than rent and a refundable deposit, will be deemed illegal.
MoJ: Homeowners are to receive better protection as squatting in residential buildings becomes a criminal offence for the first time in England & Wales from 1 September 2012, Justice Minister Crispin Blunt said. The offence will be punishable by a maximum prison term of up to 6 months, a £5000 (maximum) fine or both.
The new offence will protect homeowners or legitimate tenants who have been excluded from their homes. It will also protect those who own residential buildings that they don't live in, such as landlords, local authorities or second home owners. Previously, their only option was to seek a civil court order to regain possession of their properties, which could be time consuming, expensive and stressful.
EU Legislation, Initiatives, etc.
EU News: The EU's Justice Commissioner has welcomed an announcement by Spain that it intends to improve legal certainty for property owners along the Spanish coast which have been affected by the Coastal Law. The Coastal Law (Ley de Costas) aims to protect local habitats by designating an area along the entire coastline as a public domain.
A new draft law (an English summary of the proposal is now available on the website of the Spanish Ministry for Environment) would extend the period of the existing concession to enjoy possession of properties built in the protected zone (public domain) from 30 years to 75 years. It would also introduce the possibility to sell this interest in the property (subject to prior authorisation), and to renovate the buildings situated in this zone, as long as this would not imply a change in the volume, height or surface of the property.
In addition, the public administration will be obliged to register the definitive & provisional demarcation line in the property register, so that purchasers will be better informed about whether the property is situated in a protected area and the exact location & extension of this area. The demarcation lines will also be published on the website of the Spanish Ministry for Environment. Citizens can comment on the draft by email.
EU News: Improved rules on the collection & treatment of e-waste (WEEE Directive 2012/19/EU) entered into force recently. E-waste (i.e. waste electrical & electronic equipment, or WEEE) is one the fastest growing waste streams, and it offers substantial opportunities in terms of making secondary raw materials available on the market.
Systematic collection & proper treatment is a precondition for recycling materials like gold, silver, copper & rare metals in used TVs, laptops & mobile phones. The new Directive is a clear step forward in terms of environmental protection and a major boost to resource efficiency in Europe.
EU News: So far, over 5,500 EU-citizens have participated in one of the broadest web based consultations (closes on 9 September 2012) in the EU's history on citizens' rights and the future of Europe – the latest Commission figures released recently show.
On 9 May (Europe Day) the European Commission called on citizens all over the European Union to help set the policy agenda for the years to come and shape the future of Europe (IP/12/461).
On 9 May (Europe Day) the European Commission called on citizens all over the European Union to help set the policy agenda for the years to come and shape the future of Europe (IP/12/461).
EU News: The European Commission has published a set of frequently asked questions (FAQs) on the application of EU antitrust rules in the motor vehicle sector. The FAQs provide stakeholders with guidance on how the Commission applies these rules, in particular in the markets for repair & maintenance services and spare parts.
EU News: The European Commission is proposing to create a digital seabed map of European waters (by 2020) by collecting all existing data into one coherent database accessible to everyone. In a Green Paper on ‘Marine Knowledge’ adopted last week the Commission launched a consultation as to how this could be achieved.
It poses a number of questions such as ‘how can ongoing efforts in Member States be incorporated into a common EU effort?’, ‘how can new cheaper observation technologies be developed?’ and ‘how can the private sector contribute?’ The consultation closes on 15 December 2012..
BIS: New measures to deliver greater clarity & transparency on consumer rights, that will help boost the confidence of both consumers and businesses, have been published in a consultation (closes on 1 November 2012) on the Consumer Rights Directive – See ‘Consultations’ section for more information.
Charity and Voluntary Sector
CRUK: Cancer Research UK scientists have revealed a completely new route by which male androgen hormones fuel the growth of prostate cancer, raising the prospect that existing drugs could be used to treat the disease.
DH: The details of how to apply for funding from the Capital Grant scheme for hospices are now available. Up to £60m is available as part of the scheme, open to all adults’ & children’s hospices in England, to improve the physical environment in which they provide care.
The funding will improve care for patients & families by enhancing care facilities and improving the patient experience in the hospice environment, as well as supporting the care that hospices provide to people in their own homes. The deadline for applications is 5pm on 5 November 2012 (see PR for application details).
AUK: The deadline is fast approaching for people who may need an assessment to determine if they were eligible for NHS funding for continuing healthcare between 1 April 2004 & 31 March 2011. The deadline for notifying PCTs is the 30 September 2012.
NHS continuing healthcare (NHS CHC) is a package of health & social care funded solely by the NHS when a person’s need for care is primarily due to their need for healthcare. Not everyone is made aware of this support or they may not have been considered eligible at the time.
ScotGov: People with diabetes will now be able to monitor their own condition through an innovative online service. A new campaign - run in partnership with Diabetes UK - shows how a new online tool called ‘MyDiabetesMyWay’, will help people with diabetes manage their conditions more effectively through videos, educational tools and games containing information about diabetes.
CAB: Citizens Advice has responded to SSE's energy price hike. They will also be running Big Energy Saving Week on 22 - 27 October 2012, when their advisers will be out & about across the country giving practical advice & tips on how people can cut their fuel bills. on , when their advisers will be out & about across the country giving practical advice & tips on .
Business and Other Briefings
DWP: A business guide (Growing your customer base to include disabled people) aimed at making more firms aware of the potential spending power of disabled people and encourage them to capitalise on the success of the London 2012 Games has been launched. Commonly referred to as the ‘purple £’ the combined spending power of disabled people in the UK is £80bn a year.
Research shows that there are 2 main barriers to SMEs focusing on disabled customers:
* Low awareness of how they could boost their sales & profits by making their business more attractive to disabled customers.
* Fear & discomfort with disability coupled with a narrow understanding of ‘access’ and confusion about what is meant by ‘reasonable adjustments'.
The guide provides an explanation of why SMEs should consider making their businesses more accessible, their legal obligations as well as some practical but inexpensive changes they could apply to make their services more accessible to disabled customers. It’s a practical guide for businesses which gives common–sense and often low–cost solutions, which can make a big difference to a disabled customer.
HMRC: Revenue & Customs Brief 26/12 This Brief explains the withdrawal of the reduced rate of VAT on energy saving materials installed in buildings used for a relevant charitable purpose following infringement proceedings commenced by the European Commission.
This brief explains the position following the Upper Tribunal decision in the case of The Bridport and West Dorset Golf Club case (FTC/74/2011). The appeal concerned the VAT liability of green fees charged by the golf club to non-members.
This Brief asks for comments on draft revised guidance on sampling for a capital allowances claims in respect of fixtures.
This Brief announces publication of HM Revenue & Customs guidance on Group 16 - Supplies of services by groups involving cost sharing which is to be found in VAT Information Sheet 07/12.
This Brief provides a statement of HM Revenue & Customs' policy on the place of supply of services connected to land following discussions at EU level.
Industry News
ScotGov: 5 marine energy developers will benefit from £7.9m funding to further develop testing of new wave & tidal prototypes in the seas around Scotland. The second round of WATERS (Wave & Tidal Energy: Research, Development & Demonstration Support) funding is to enable Scottish developers and supply chain firms to capture an increased share of the growing international marine energy market, which could be worth up to £4bn to Scotland’s economy by 2020.
Press release & links ~ Four marine energy teams vie for £10m Saltire Prize
Press release & links ~ Four marine energy teams vie for £10m Saltire Prize
Forthcoming Event
Socitm: Think G-Cloud 2012 (18 October 2012) is the UK’s only large scale conference dedicated solely to the uptake of Cloud Computing in the Public Sector. Running in the morning & afternoon will be interactive breakout seminars, allowing for an excellent opportunity to better discuss key areas of policy with leading decision makers & peers. This will provide you with an excellent understanding of the benefits surrounding this massive change in Public Sector ICT procurement.
30 leading & specialised service providers will be available throughout the day to discuss with you how their products & services can help you with your issues & challenges. And it’s FREE
IPCC: The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) is holding a series of events for more than 100 prospective new Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs). The events are being held across England & Wales and are designed to help those standing for election as Police & Crime Commissioners learn about the work of the IPCC.. The events are being held across England & Wales and are designed to learn about the work of the IPCC.
Prospective PCC candidates interested in attending one of the events being held in September & October should email pcc-events@ipcc.gsi.gov.uk for further information.
ACE: A spectacular 11-day festival celebrating the talent of Deaf & Disabled Artists began last week and runs until 9 September 2012 at London's Southbank Centre for London 2012 Festival. For the duration of the Paralympic Games, Unlimited Festival will bring together the 29 ambitious commissions supported by Arts Council England for Unlimited, one of our flagship London 2012 Cultural Olympiad projects.
The programme of FREE & ticketed performances, exhibitions, participatory activities & discussions will highlight the artistic vision and originality of Deaf & disabled artists, as well as share their practice more widely.
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