Consultations

HO: New measures to maintain the capability of public authorities to obtain access to communications data have been announced by the Home Secretary.  Publishing the consultation - 'Protecting the public in a changing communications environment' - the government explicitly rules out setting up a single store of all communications data.
 
Communications data is the ‘who, when, where and how’ information from mobile phone calls, texts, emails and instant messages, but is not the content.  The consultation (closes on 20 July 2009) outlines ways to collect & retain communications data and seeks views on how to strike the right balance between privacy and security.
 
The system the government is proposing is based on the current model where Communications Service Providers (CSPs) collect & store the data and where there are safeguards in place to regulate access by public authorities.
Press release ~ 'Protecting the public in a changing communications environment' ~ Liberty press release ~ Liberty’s response to the Home Office consultation paper: Transposition of Directive 2006/24/EC (October 2008) ~ Office of Security and Counter terrorism – Communications Data
 
DefraDefra, the Welsh Assembly Government and the Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs in Northern Ireland, are consulting (closes on 20 July 2009) on the way import checks are conducted on rabies-susceptible animals, including commercial consignments and unaccompanied pets.
 
On arrival into the UK, rabies-susceptible animals are securely transported to quarantine premises where they undergo a six-month programme of veterinary inspection and monitoring.  The most recent case of an animal in quarantine with rabies was in April 2008, when disease was detected in a puppy imported from Sri Lanka.
 
The European Commission is recommending that this system is changed so that these consignments of animals are checked at the border before being transported to the quarantine premises.
Press release ~ Consultation on veterinary checks on rabies susceptible animals ~ Disease factsheet: Rabies ~ HPA - Rabies ~ NHS Rabies
 
DWP:  The Government has announced that they are looking at officially recognising Workers Memorial Day, to commemorate the thousands of people who have been killed, seriously injured or made ill through work.  It would also provide an annual focal point for the importance of healthy & safe workplaces.  A formal consultation will be launched shortly. 
 
Following its inception in Canada in 1984, Workers Memorial Day is already recognised as a national day in many countries around the world including Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, Luxembourg, Peru, Portugal, Spain, Thailand, Taiwan and the USA. International Workers Memorial Day takes place annually around the world on 28 April.
Press release ~ Hazards Campaign ~ International Day of Action for Safety and Health at Work
 
DfT: Plans to ‘improve the delivery’ of the concessionary bus pass scheme have been announced by Transport Minister Paul Clark, as he launched a consultation (closes on 21 July 2009) on possible changes to the way the scheme is administered.
 
One option being considered is to give county councils responsibility for running the scheme.  Currently administration of the scheme is mainly handled by district councils, but the Government believes a change will simplify the system and allow for the more accurate distribution of funding.
 
From 1st April 2008 people aged 60 or over and eligible disabled, whose principle residence is England, were able to take advantage of free off-peak local bus travel anywhere in England.  These criteria are unaffected by the consultation.
Press release ~ Possible changes to the administration of concessionary travel; Consultation Paper ~ Dft – Concessionary Bus Travel ~ Concessionary Travel - Eligible Services Changes ~ Directgov - Free bus travel and concessions
 
CompC: The Competition Commission is now consulting publicly (closes 28 May 2009) on draft Undertakings to establish an Ombudsman to arbitrate on disputes between retailers & suppliers and investigate complaints under the new Groceries Supply Code of Practice (GSCOP).
 
In February this year, the CC published a draft Order for consultation, which will see the creation of a new strengthened and extended GSCOP, and is now considering responses before finalizing it.  Unlike with the GSCOP, the CC does not have the power to establish an Ombudsman itself, so this will require the agreement of retailers.  If retailers do not sign up to the Undertakings, then the CC will recommend to the Department for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) that it takes steps to establish the Ombudsman instead.
 
In addition, the CompC has renewed work on the 'competition test' following the successful challenge by Tesco in a case heard before the Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT) in November 2008. On 3 April 2009, the CAT 'remitted' the matter back to the CC in order for it to carry out further work and analysis to address the CAT's concerns over some issues related to the introduction of the test.
Press release ~ Order and Public consultation on Order ~ CompC. - Groceries Market Investigation ~ Notice of intention to make an (Controlled Land) Order ~ Explanatory note to accompany the Order ~ Provisional recommendation on the selection of drive-time software ~ Ombudsman Undertakings
 
HO: The Home Office has announced a new consultation (closes on 23 July 2009) into plans to subject rogue wheel clamping businesses to new regulations. The Government's proposals include the introduction of compulsory licensing to tackle the limited number of wheel clamping businesses whose practices include excessive fines for releasing clamped cars, towing cars unreasonably quickly after being clamped and putting up hidden, missing or confusing signs warning drivers that clamping takes place.
 
Currently, any individual undertaking wheel clamping must hold a frontline licence from the Security Industry Authority (SIA), with supervisors or directors holding a non-frontline licence.  The new proposals could also make it mandatory for the business itself to be licensed to help ensure it upholds standards of conduct, which will be enforced if they are not met.
Press release ~ Consultation ~ Security Industry Authority (SIA) ~ Citizens Advice Guide ~ Car Clampers - guidance notes ~ Land owners employing car clampers - guidance
 
DH: Five people with Autism Spectrum Conditions have met with Care Services Minister Phil Hope to respond in person to a new consultation on Autism (closes on 15 September 2009). The issues raised will be formally submitted as the first responses to the consultation, which asks for opinions on what should be in the Government's National Autism Strategy to be published later this year.
 
People responding to the consultation will be asked for their views on five key themes:
* Health
* Social Inclusion
* Choice & Control
* Awareness raising & training for staff
* Access to training & employment
Press release ~ A better future: a consultation on a future strategy for adults with autistic spectrum conditions ~ DH - Autism ~ National Autistic Society
 
DSA:  The Driving Standards Agency (DSA) has launched a consultation (closes on 23 July 2009) proposing measures to improve the Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) scheme which affects professional bus, coach and lorry drivers.
Press release ~ Consultation
 
Defra: Farmers, land owners, and the public will be able to have their say on how Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) money could be managed more effectively following the launch of a consultation (closes on 22 July 2009) on changes to the eligibility rules for the Single Payment Scheme (SPS).
 
Defra is seeking views on the most suitable size limit in order to assess the potential benefits of a reduced administrative burden balanced against any impacts on the amount of land managed under cross compliance Good Agricultural and Environmental Condition. In England the minimum area for SPS claims can now be set between 1 & 5 hectares.
 
The proposals are the result of improvements to the CAP achieved at the CAP Health Check last year and any changes will be implemented in time for the 2010 SPS payments.
Press release ~ Consultation on the impact of the CAP Health Check reforms relating to the Single Payment Scheme and other direct payments ~ Defra: Single Payment Scheme (SPS) ~ CAP Health Check
 
Defra: Consultation (closes on 22 July 2009) on plans that will ensure all greyhound racing tracks comply with minimum welfare standards have been launched by Animal Welfare Minister Jane Kennedy. The proposals would require all English tracks to be licensed by a local authority or regulated by an officially accredited body, as well as ensure a vet is present at all races and has appropriate facilities to be able to administer first aid.
 
This follows recommendations from an independent report into the greyhound industry, the Donoughue Report, and the Associate Parliamentary Group for Animal Welfare inquiry into greyhound welfare.
Press release ~ Consultation on proposals for welfare of racing greyhounds regulations ~ Donoughue Report ~ Associate Parliamentary Group for Animal Welfare inquiry into greyhound welfare (May 2007)
 
CompC: The Competition Commission (CompC) and the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) have issued draft joint guidelines on how they assess the competitive impact of mergers and have called for comments (by 7 August 2009) on the document from interested parties.
 
The publication revises & expands guidance material currently contained in several publications issued separately by the two authorities after the introduction of the Enterprise Act 2002.  The draft policy has been developed in consultation with government, the European Commission and other external parties involved in merger inquiries or competition policy.
Press release ~ Merger Assessment Guidelines ~ Review of Guidelines for Merger References ~ Memorandum of Understanding to promote greater clarity on their process for reviewing merger, monopoly and market undertakings
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