Annual Reports

TKF: The latest quarterly monitoring report from The King’s Fund shows that NHS performance is continuing to hold up, despite warnings from MPs this week about the scale of the financial challenge it is facing.  The report shows that performance against key indicators for waiting times & infection rates remains on track, although national statistics mask significant variation in performance between hospitals.
Press release & links
 
LR: As part of its commitment to the Government's priorities of economic growth and data transparency, detailed Land Registry transaction information is now available monthly in addition to the House Price Index.
Press release & links
 
ScotGov: Following the introduction of new measures in 2011 to protect seals(including strict licensing conditions for seal shootings) indications are that the first year has worked well. In the first 3 quarters of 2011, 362 seals were shot – 27% of the permitted maximum under licence – considerably lower than estimates by environmental groups of over 3,000 seals each year prior to the new system. The measures are in place to control the removal of specific seals around fisheries and fish farm cages as a last resort measure.
Press release & links
 
IFS: The latest IFS Green Budget suggests that, even relative to major planned cuts, Whitehall departments will underspend by more than £3bn this year. But significant downside risks to the public finances, combined with long-term pressures from an ageing population, suggest that the Chancellor has little scope for a significant permanent fiscal loosening relative to current plans.
Press release & links
 
NAO: Amyas Morse, the Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG), has qualified his audit opinion on the 2010-11 Civil Superannuation accounts which report the financial results of the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme (PCSPS) and a number of other small public sector pension schemes.
Press release & links
 
MOThe Met Office has revealed which European countries were the windiest during 2011 in a special edition of Wind Review for the wind energy industry - The 2011 Wind Review.  
Press release & links
 
WAG: The Welsh Government is making positive progress with its work to put sustainable development at the heart of everything is does, according to an independent report by PwC. The report also says that in instances where sustainable development is embedded into Welsh Government policy and decision making, the end result is more effective and efficient. 
 
However, whilst the report recognises the Welsh Government’s progress on sustainable development, it does highlight that there is more work to do if all objectives are to be fully realised.
Press release & links
 
TUC: Total bank lending to firms outside of finance & real estate must more than double in order to meet the investment needs of the UK economy over the next decade, says a TUC report published last week. The TUC report Banking after Vickers says that government has identified £450bn-worth of physical investment, vital to the UK over the next decade.  

But with the current stock of bank loans to non-financial firms (excluding real estate) at just £322bn, banks would need to more than double their current level of lending to meet UK investment needs. This simply won't happen without radical reform of the banking sector, says the TUC.
Press release & links
 
NAO: An initial report by the National Audit Office on progress by central government departments in reducing costs has concluded that departments took effective action in 2010-11, cutting spending in real terms by 2.3% or £7.9bn, compared with 2009-10.
 
However, the report warns that departments are less well-placed to make the long-term changes needed to achieve the further 19% over the four years to 2014-15, as required by the spending review. This is partly because of gaps in their understanding of costs & risks, making it more difficult to identify how to deliver activities & services at a permanently lower cost. Fundamental changes will be needed to achieve sustainable reductions on the scale required.
Press release & links ~ IfG comment
Facing the Future...find out more