Annual Reports

CBIAbsence from work in the UK has dropped to a new record low, according to the latest CBI/Pfizer Absence and Workplace Health Survey. The 30-year survey found the average absence rate was 5.3 days in 2012, down from 6.5 days in 2010 - saving business £3bn.
 
Absence rates in both the public & private sector were down to 6.9 (from 8.1) and 4.9 (from 5.9) days respectively. Mental health conditions emerged as the single most widespread cause of long-term absence from the workplace.
Press release & links
 
TUC: TUC General Secretary Frances O'Grady has commented on new pension tax relief research published last week by the Pensions Policy Institute (PPI). The report analyses a number of proposals to reform pensions tax relief, including the introduction of a flat rate for tax relief and a cash limit on lump sums in retirement that are eligible for tax relief.
Press release & links
 
IoE: Research by Dr John Jerrim of the Institute of Education (IOE) has been published by the Sutton Trust recently showing that Britain's brightest boys from the least advantaged homes are more likely to score poorly on international reading tests than those in any other advanced nation
Press release & links
 
WAONHS bodies met their statutory financial targets in 2012-13 despite a tough financial settlement, but some of the actions taken to achieve break-even are not sustainable according to a report published last week by the Wales Audit Office.
Press release ~ Health Finances 2012-13 and beyond ~ Health Finances report (Last year) ~ Health Finances update
 
PC&PE: The Home Affairs Committee published its report ‘The work of the UK Border Agency (October–December 2012)’.
Press release & links
 
CHProspects for the world's manufacturing landscape are uncertain and developed countries are in for a prolonged period of low growth, says a new report, The World's Industrial Transformation

The financial crisis & recession mean a long period of tepid growth is likely in the West, whilst developing countries such as China – now the world’s largest manufacturer - and India, should continue to grow at a healthy rate, partly owing to the emergence of a huge middle class that will need consumer goods and vast infrastructure investments.

The report assesses which industries will change the global manufacturing landscape and drive future growth. The report examines 4 key sectors: aircraft, automotive, pharmaceutical and retailing. From the aircraft & automotive studies comes a clear recommendation that governments should support free trade and resist protectionist pressures.
Press release & links
 
MoD: Amyas Morse, the Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG), has qualified his audit opinion on the MOD’s 2012-13 accounts. There are a number of grounds for this qualification.
Press release & links
 
IPCC: A report by the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC), based on an analysis of race complaints dealt with by the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS), has concluded that in general these complaints were not handled in a sufficiently robust, fair or customer-focused way.  

It calls for a cultural change in the way the MPS deals with such complaints, supported by training, monitoring and community feedback. 
Press release & links ~ EHRC responds to IPCC report on Metropolitan police handling of race discrimination complaints
 
PC&PE: The Public Accounts Committee has published a report which, on the basis of evidence from the Serious Fraud Office, examined their redundancy & severance arrangements. Richard Bacon MP, of the Committee of Public Accounts, said: “The reputation of the Serious Fraud Officehas beenundermined by a catalogue of errors and poor judgement and the morale of its staff has suffered as a result.
Press release & links
 
HO: A report released by HM Inspectorate of Prisons (HMIP) has praised the progress made by Morton Hall IRC since its opening in 2011. The independent report, which was published following an inspection of the Lincolnshire centre in March 2013, found a ‘safe establishment’ which ‘supported the detainees it held’.
Press release & links ~ Morton Hall
 
NAO: Amyas Morse, head of the National Audit Office, has recently qualified the accounts of the Youth Justice Board (YJB) 2012 - 13.
Press release & links
 
HMICPolice forces in England & Wales are rising to the financial challenge of the spending review – crime is down, victim satisfaction up, and they are protecting their front lines as much as possible; but HMIC has concerns about the ability of 5 forces to respond to future cuts.
Press release ~ Policing in Austerity: Rising to the Challenge ~ Further drop in crime is welcome news for local communities - PCCs respond to another fall in crime statistics ~ PCCs - Innovation the key to maintaining frontline policing
Spotlight on women at Serco – Anita’s story