Consultations
UKSA: The UK Statistics Authority has launched its consultation (closes on 30 September 2008) on a new Code of Practice for Official Statistics alongside a draft Statement of Principles and Procedures for Assessment.
Press release ~ Consultation – Official Statistics Serving the public Good ~ Statistics and Registration Service Act 2007~ Web Strategy and Future Developments ~ Public Confidence in Official Statistics
SAP: The Sentencing Advisory Panel has launched a consultation (closes on 28 October 2008) to explore current thinking on the principles that should guide our courts when they are sentencing criminal offenders. Key questions include:
* the circumstances in which custodial sentences should be imposed
* what impact previous convictions should have on sentences
* what weight should be given to all the factors of an offence that might appear to make it more or less serious
* whether the vulnerabilities of women offenders should have any impact on the approach to sentencing
To support the consultation the Panel is commissioning independent research to identify the public’s views on what factors make an offence serious and the circumstances in which an offence is sufficiently serious to warrant a custodial sentence or a community order.
To support the consultation the Panel is commissioning independent research to identify the public’s views on what factors make an offence serious and the circumstances in which an offence is sufficiently serious to warrant a custodial sentence or a community order.
MoJ: The Government has launched a consultation (closes 1 October 2008) on the most appropriate way of supporting people diagnosed with pleural plaques. Pleural plaques are small localised areas of fibrosis found within the pleura of the lung caused by asbestos exposure.
Before last year it was possible for those with pleural plaques to claim damages. In October 2007, the Law Lords ruled that pleural plaques were not actionable nor ‘compensatable’, meaning that people who have been diagnosed with them are no longer able to claim compensation under the civil law of negligence.
The consultation paper asks for views on the best and most appropriate way to respond to the Law Lords decision. It proposes action to improve understanding of pleural plaques and to provide support and reassurance to help allay people's concerns. It also asks whether changing the law of negligence would or would not be appropriate and seeks views on the merits of offering no fault financial support to people diagnosed with pleural plaques, and on possible ways of doing this.
Press release ~ Pleural plaques consultation ~ Related previous ScotGov press release ~ Clydeside Action on Asbestos ~ Damages (Asbestos-related Conditions) (Scotland) Bill (SP Bill 12) ~ Pleural plaques ~ Johnston v NEI International Combustion Ltd
CLG: Communities Secretary, Hazel Blears, has put forward new proposals for consultation (closes on 3 October 2008) thatare intended to strengthen Planning Policy Statement 6: Planning for town centres (PPS6) - the Government's 'town centres first' policy - and give councils more scope to refuse out of town development proposals that threaten the survival of high streets and small shops, are published today for consultation.
These revised planning rules keep the important 'sequential test' that requires the most central town centre sites to be developed first, but also introduces a tougher 'impact test',which will give councils a better tool to prevent big developments that put small shops and town centres at risk.
The revised policy will also remove the blunt & simplistic 'need test', which the government claims has led to some new retail schemes on the fringes of the town centre - which could benefit the centre - being ruled out because out of town developments already fulfil that function.
Press release ~ Proposed Changes to Planning Policy Statement 6: Planning for Town Centres ~ Competition Commission investigation into the supply of groceries in the UK market
WAG: New ways to boost the availability of rural and more affordable housing for local people working & living in the countryside have been outlined by the Welsh Assembly Government in aconsultation (closes on 10 October 2008) – See ‘Policy Statements and Initiatives’ for more information.
DfT: Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly has launched a consultation (closes on 3 October 2008) on EU proposals to introduce compulsory CO2 targets for high volume new cars, which should reduce carbon emissions, make cars more fuel efficient and cut the running costs – See ‘EU legislation, initiatives’ for more information.
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