Consultations
HEFCE: The Higher Education Funding Council England has launched a consultation that proposes to require each university & college to comply with a set of principles on research integrity if they are to remain eligible for funding to carry out research.
The principles are set out in the Research Integrity Concordat, published in July 2012 by Universities UK, which sets out 5 commitments that all research conducted by UK higher education institutions meets the highest standards of rigour & integrity. Consultation closes on 8 March 2013.
WAG: Equalities Minister Jane Hutt has launched a consultation on security of tenure rights for Gypsies & Travellers. Currently, residents of these sites have limited protection from eviction. The proposed changes should provide the same level of security of tenure for Gypsies & Travellers as is enjoyed by other Welsh residents of Mobile Home Parks. Consultation closes on 29 March 2013.
DSA: The government is currently consulting on proposals to improve the way all motoring services are delivered. The Motoring Services Strategy consultation outlines long term proposals to put customers firmly at the heart of the way motoring services are delivered, so that they best serve the consumer while getting the best possible deal for the taxpayer. Consultation closes on 7 March 2013.
LC: The Secretary of State has announced a review of the Law Commission. The review is part of a rolling 3-year Cabinet Office programme designed to assess the form, function & governance of non-departmental public bodies. The consultation closes on 6 February 2013.
WAG: Deputy Minister for Agriculture & European Programmes, Alun Davies, has announced plans for a formal public consultation on future EU Programmes in Wales. During a statement in Plenary he said that while the development of the next round of Structural Funds and Rural Development programmes (RDP) in Wales was already well underway (involving partners from all sectors), a formal public consultation, ‘Wales and the EU: Partnership for Jobs and Growth, will begin on 14 January 2013 with the publication of the Structural Funds consultation documents for West Wales & the Valleys and East Wales.
This will be followed by the publication of the RDP consultation document later that month. The deadline for responses to the public consultation is 23 April 2013.
Monitor: Monitor, is publishing for consultation a draft operational manual which it will use in future to monitor compliance by providers of NHS services with certain conditions of the new licence that Monitor will issue. The principles behind the Risk Assessment Framework (RAF) are similar to those Monitor has used so far in regulating NHS foundation trusts, so do not represent any significant change to the current regulatory approach under Monitor’s compliance regime.
The proposed new continuity of service risk rating will also flag the risk of insolvency over the next 12-18 months on a scale of 1 to 4, with the lowest rating signifying the highest level of concern. Consultation closes on Thursday 4 April 2013.
TPR: Standards that defined contribution (DC) pension schemes should meet to increase the chance of individuals receiving good outcomes from their retirement savings have been published recently by The Pensions Regulator. Consultation closes on 28 March 2013.
Defra: New plans to help beekeepers protect their hives from pests & diseases to reduce bee population losses have been unveiled. Defra & the Welsh Government have outlined proposals which will help beekeepers to identify & manage pests such as the potentially devastating Varroa mite, considered the single greatest problem for beekeepers. Consultation closes on 9 March 2013.
MoJ: The reforms for tackling re-offending & managing offenders in the community were set out recently by Justice Secretary Chris Grayling. Under plans laid out in the consultation 'Transforming Rehabilitation', a new refocused & streamlined public sector service will be tasked with keeping the public safe from the most dangerous & high-risk offenders. Private & voluntary sector organisations will work together on closing the 'revolving door' of the criminal justice system by tackling lower risk offenders. Consultation closes on 22 February 2013 - See ‘In the News Section’ for more information.
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