Consultations

DHOver a million patient safety incidents are reported every year, so the Government is setting out proposals that will require NHS providers to be more open and admit when things go wrong. The new ‘Duty of Candour’ consultation (closes on 2 January 2010) will form part of the Government’s plans to modernise the NHS by making it more accountable & transparent and giving patients & local clinicians more power to hold the NHS to account.
Press release ~ Duty of Candour consultation ~ NPSA’s National Reporting & Learning System (NRLS)
 
MoD: The MoD is launching a consultation (closes on 6 January 2012) on how to take forward the findings of a review of single-source military equipment contracts, which found that the Government could potentially save hundreds of £ms by introducing new rules for industry.

Lord (David) Currie of Marylebone chaired the review of single-source procurement, which is currently subject to 'Yellow Book' rules - where only one defence supplier is invited to tender.  Single-source contracts currently account for 40% of all MOD procurement and in-service support of equipment.
Press release & links ~ Consultation Details
 
CLG: A statutory consultation (closes on 6 January 2012) proposing changes to local government pensions that ‘deliver fair cost savings’ has been published by the Department for Communities and Local Government. The Government's draft proposals aim to deliver short-term savings of £900m, by 2014/15 to the Local Government Pension Scheme in England & Wales. This was set in the Spending Review 2010.
 
In recognition of the way the LGPS is funded it was agreed alternative ways to find savings could be considered if they retained council taxpayer protections.  The consultation proposes a balanced mix of increasing employee contributions and adjusting the accrual rates.
Press release & links ~ Related PCS press release & links
 
CO: Francis Maude, Minister for the Cabinet Office, has won this year’s ‘Better information from government’ award from the Demographics User Group for the progress he has made in making government data, such as that on crime, schools and public spending, more transparent.
 
The CO is currently consulting (closes on 27 October 2011) the public on ‘Making Open Data Real’. It is inviting views on how it can best embed a culture of openness & transparency in our public services.
Press release & links
 
DWP: The Government is inviting views (by 3 January 2012) on plans to bring the child maintenance system back into the heart of government, in order to improve accountability and assist in the process of reform. It is proposing to transfer the functions of the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission (CMEC) into the Department for Work and Pensions, under direct Ministerial control.
Press release & links
 
ScotGov: The Commission on Rural Education is seeking views on how to maximise the attainment & achievement of children & young people in rural areas of Scotland. Individuals & organisations from across Scotland are invited to provide their views until 12 January 2012.
Press release & links
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