Consultations
FCO: The Foreign Office has launched a consultation (closes on 31 December 2011) on a new strategy for the
* strengthen the engagement & interaction between the & the Territories.
* work with Territories to strengthen good governance arrangements, public financial management & economic planning where this is necessary
* improve the quality & range of support available to the Territories
Press release & links
EU News: The European Commission has launched a public consultation (closes on 19 December 2011) on strengthening EU measures to reduce emissions of fluorinated gases, a group of industrial gases which are extremely powerful contributors to global warming.
A Commission review, which was also adopted last week, concludes that the EU's existing Regulation on fluorinated gases ('F-gases') is having a significant impact but that, without further measures, F-gas emissions are expected to remain at today's levels in the long term.
Press release & links
ACE: Arts Council has published its response to the government consultation on the Draft National Planning Policy Framework. The Framework seeks to significantly reduce the number of pages of planning policy & guidance, but this streamlined approach has meant that arts & culture are not referenced. ACE are encouraging arts & cultural organisations & our partners to read this response, and respond to the CLG consultation by the 17 October 2011 deadline.
Press release & links
ICO: Transparency is not just about what the authorities choose to reveal to citizens; but what citizens have a right to ask to see,’ Information Commissioner, Christopher Graham, said in a video address broadcast on YouTube, to mark International Right to Know Day 2011.
Mr Graham also launched a public consultation on the content of publication schemes (closes on 21 December 2011) – the documents that specify what information public authorities must release proactively.
Press release & links ~ Related EU Press release
LC: The Law Commission has opened a consultation to clarify the law on kidnapping. Under the existing law it is not enough simply for a victim to be taken away – several parts of the definition are ambiguous.
Press release & links
ScotGov: The creation of a Scottish Civil Justice Council is the focus of a Scottish Government consultation (closes on 22 December 2011) launched last week, which outlines proposals to replace the existing civil rules councils with a single council, which will have a wider policy role to advise & make recommendations on improving the civil justice system in Scotland.
Press release & links
DH: The latest draft guidance to support emerging clinical commissioning groups has been published. It comes as the NHS moves towards a stronger & streamlined management system for the new commissioning arrangements which supports the reduction of administration costs by a third. From next month, the NHS will have moved from 10 management teams at SHA level to just 4 SHA clusters.
