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CLGEnd to Heathrow Third Runway protests even without ‘fixing’ consultation results? - Planning Minister, John Healey, has ‘heralded’ the start of the new planning regime for major infrastructure, as the Infrastructure Planning Commission (IPC) begins receiving applications for energy projects that have the potential to provide up to £50bn worth of international investment & supply electricity to 22m homes.
 
From 1 March 2010, the IPC will be able to consider proposals for major energy & transport projects. The IPC is a new development consent process for large projects such as large wind farms, power stations and major roads. It combines up to 8 former planning systems into a single process and is intended to cut the time taken to make planning decisions from up to 7 years to under 1 year.
Press release ~ Infrastructure Planning Commission (IPC) ~ IPC’s Programme of Projects ~ CLG: Nationally significant infrastructure ~ Consultation (closed) on draft National Policy Statements for Energy Infrastructure ~ A framework for the development of clean coal ~ Electricity development consentsConsultation (closed) on proposed Regulatory Justification decisions on new nuclear power stations (AP1000 and EPR) ~ Consultation (closed) on draft supplementary guidance for Section 36 Applications: New Coal Power Stations ~ Consultation (closed) on the proposed offshore carbon dioxide storage licensing regime ~ RTPI – NPS on energy ~ Infrastructure planning - How will it work? How can I have my say? ~ British Chambers of Commerce ~ The Infrastructure Planning (National Policy Statement Consultation) Regulations 2009 ~ National Policy Statements ~ Related article from The Guardian~ BAA plans for third Heathrow runway delayed — but is it too late for Sipson? ~ Bradwell and Oldbury reactors face opposition ~ FOE: Legal warning to Government over energy policy statements
 
DHThe new ‘normal’ reality of an aging population - 32% of people are uncomfortable around people with dementia according to new research, Care Services Minister, Phil Hope, claimed as he launched a new awareness campaign. The new ‘Living Well’ campaign employs real people with dementia who declare 'I have dementia - I also have a life' to educate the public about the condition and demonstrate the simple things everyone can do to help people live well with dementia.
 
The campaign will appear on TV, radio, online and in print across England. It asks people to take a moment to find out more about dementia and provides 5 simple ways to help someone living with the condition. Research, published by the Alzheimer’s Society, shows that over 700,000 people currently have a form of dementia and, in less than 20 years, 1m people will be living with the condition.
Press release ~ NHS Choices: Dementia ~ Dementia Information Portal ~ Alzheimer’s Society ~ Public awareness of dementia: What every commissioner needs to know (scroll down) ~ ‘Living Well with Dementia’: a five year National Dementia Strategy (NDS) ~ NAO: Improving dementia services in England - an interim report ~ Improving services and support for people with dementia (2007) ~ Dignity in Care Campaign ~ The use of antipsychotic medication for people with dementia: Time for action. A report for the Minister of State for Care Services by Professor Sube Banerjee ~ Government response ~ NICE- Dementia: Supporting people with dementia and their carers in health and social care ~ Consultation on the National Dementia Action Plan for Wales ~ Worried about your memory? ~ Prepared to care: challenging the dementia skills gap ~ Oral evidence ~ Leaflet launched to help hospital staff improve care to people with dementia ~ Impact of Blood pressure Treatments on dementia ~ Alzheimer Scotland ~ DH – Older people ~ Foresight Project on Mental Capital and Wellbeing (July 2006 - October 2008) ~ National Health Specialist Library
 
DHHelping them have a ‘normal’ life - The first strategy to help adults with autism in England live independently in a society that understands them has been launched by Care Services, Minister Phil Hope. For too long, adults with autism have been excluded. Just 15% are in paid employment and 49% live at home with parents.
 
Fulfilling and rewarding lives, the strategy for adults with autism in England, is intended to be a foundation for culture change. It will start fundamental change in public services helping adults with autism to find work and live independent lives. 
 
The Government will publish a first year delivery plan in March 2010, followed by statutory guidance for health & social care by December 2010. The strategy will be reviewed in 2013.
Press release ~ Fulfilling and rewarding lives: the strategy for adults with autism in England ~ DH: Delivering Adult Social Care - Autism ~ World Autism Day 2010 (2 April 2010) ~ Jobcentre Plus Disability Employment Advisers ~ Institute of Psychiatry ~ Autism Research Centre, Cambridge University ~ Autism London ~ National Autistic Society ~ Autism Act 2009 ~ Autistica ~ NAO: Supporting people with autism through adulthood ~ The Bercow Review ~ A better future: a consultation (closed) on a future strategy for adults with autistic spectrum conditions ~ National Centre for Autism Studies at the University of Strathclyde ~ National Autistic Society Scotland ~ Scottish Autism Service Network ~ Scottish Society for Autism ~ 'Services for adults with autistic spectrum conditions (ASC): good practice advice for primary care trust and local authority commissioners' ~ Autism NI ~ Autism Connect ~ Make school make sense ~ Autism Toolbox ~ HMIE report: Education for Pupils with Autism Spectrum Disorders ~ The Transporters ~ International Society for Autism Research (INSAR) ~ Adults with Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) ~ Welsh Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Strategic Action Plan ~ Autism Cymru ~ AWARES, the All Wales Autism Resource ~ Autism Independent UK (SFTAH) ~ Welcome to the Autism Awareness Website ~ NES - Autism Learning Resource
 
CRCNo access to Technology, no future - The Government has been told that the long-term future of the countryside is in jeopardy because so many young people are being forced out of rural areas to find homes, jobs & support. The alert comes from Dr Stuart Burgess − the Government’s Rural Advocate - in a report being delivered directly to the Prime Minister. 
 
Dr Burgess says: “Wherever I go, I hear deep concerns − that challenges with housing, work, transport, training and social exclusion are preventing young people from living in the countryside. Without young people to provide a work force, rural economies are unable to fulfil their full potential and rural communities can go into a decline. On top of this, lack of broadband and mobile phone coverage in many rural areas is hitting young people and businesses alike….”
 
At the same time, the Commission for Rural Communities, which Dr Burgess chairs, published a ‘State of the countryside’ update, setting out the statistical facts of rural life for children & young people, including the current rate of outward migration. See also BIS item in ‘Policy Statements and Initiatives’ section.
Press release ~ State of the Countryside Update: children and educational services ~ Rural Advocate report 2010 ~ 'Peace and quiet disadvantage: insights from users and providers of children’s centres in rural communities' ~ Summary report ~ Coalition for Rural Children and Young People ~ State of the Countryside Update: Housing demand and supply ~ Position statement - 'How can public resources be fairly allocated between different places? ~ Dedicated Schools Grant ~ Rural manifesto ~ 'Recognising rural interests within Regional Strategies' briefing note ~ PPS4: Planning for Sustainable Economic Growth ~ Earlier advice ~ The potential impacts on rural communities of future public austerity ~ Literature review ~ Understanding economic well-being ~ Economic well-being – guidance for local authorities ~ An assessment and practical guidance on next generation access (NGA) risk in the UK ( March 2010) ~ Green fields, digital divides: Green Futures article ~ ‘Mind the Gap − Digital England: a rural perspective’ ~ Ofcom - Next Generation Access ~ Related news item ~ Digital Britain ~ CRC: Hands Up ~ Rural Services Network ~ Rural Fuel Poverty ~ Quantifying rural fuel poverty ~ Addressing Fuel Poverty in Rural Cambridgeshire ~ Rural masterplanning fund prospectus ~ Taylor Review into rural housing and economies ~ Government response to the Matthew Taylor Review: Implementation plan ~ Defra: Affordable Rural Housing ~ Community Land Trusts (CLTs) ~ Guidance for local authorities on incentivising landowners to bring forward additional land for rural affordable housing on rural exception sites ~ Incentivising landowners to bring forward additional land for affordable housing: Impact assessment ~ Commission for Rural Communities (CRC) – Rural Housing ~ 10 Big Numbers ~ EEDA Short guide to Rural proofing ~ CRC: Rural proofing ~ Rural Accessibility report and best practice case studies ~ Local Transport Plan Guidance ~ Local Transport Plan process ~ Download 'Indicators of Poverty and Social Exclusion in Rural England: 2009' ~ Key facts document providing the headline findings of the report ~ JRF: The Poverty Site ~ 'Monitoring poverty and social exclusion' ~ Healthy Rural Communities: a national conference ~ IDeA’s Healthy Communities Programme
 
Newswire – DSCAs well as being 'underfunded' - The MoD is spending hundreds of millions of pounds a year on unproductive activities because it has commissioned more work than it can afford to pay for, says the Defence Select Committee in its Report - Defence Equipment 2010.
 
In its Report, the Committee notes that both the NAO: Major Projects Report 2009 and Bernard Gray’s: Review of Acquisition for the MoD have confirmed that the MoD’s 10 year equipment programme is unaffordable. Furthermore the MoD’s practice of delaying projects, so as to reduce costs in the early years of a programme, is adding to overall procurement costs and so further increases the funding gap.
 
The Committee considers it shocking that the MoD has apparently made no attempt to calculate the full extent of the costs of delays and that it has therefore taken decisions to delay projects without understanding the full implications of those decisions.

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Date Posted
08/03/2010
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