Consultations
OFT: The OFT recently issued a call for evidence to establish the background to recent reports of rising UK private motor insurance premiums, and consider whether further work may be necessary to improve the way the market works. UK annual comprehensive car insurance premiums are reported to have risen by as much as 40% in the year ending 31 March 2011.
CLG: A statutory consultation on proposed changes to contribution rates made by firefighters towards their pensions was published last week by the Department for Communities and Local Government. The consultation document sets out proposals for increased employee contributions to the 2 firefighter pension schemes for the financial year 2012-13.
The consultation proposes that the lowest earning firefighters will see the lowest increases while higher earners, such as chief fire officers, would pay a higher contribution. Members of the New Firefighters Pension Scheme, which has more balanced contributions, will see lower contribution increases.
Directgov: The government has announced plans for a wholesale deregulation of entertainment licensing in the UK. The proposals are part of a consultation paper (closes on 3 December 2011) which asks what would happen if currently licensable activities no longer required a licence.
The consultation paper ‘Regulated Entertainment’ proposes scrapping much of the Licensing Act 2003. This requires people to apply & sometimes pay for licences for many events where there is little or no risk of trouble.
EU News: The scientific community and other interested groups & individuals have been asked to help redefine the research landscape in Europe. The European Commission has launched a public consultation (closes on 30 November 2011) to find out how the European research environment can be radically improved.
The goal is to achieve the European Research Area (ERA) by 2014, creating a genuine single market for knowledge, research & innovation. This will enable researchers, research institutions & businesses to circulate, compete, and co-operate across borders, increasing growth potential.
BIS: Professor John Kay has launched a consultation exercise to inform his examination of UK equity markets and long-term decision making, publishing a call for evidence paper that identifies the key questions the review will explore.
The call for evidence (closes on 18 November 2011) sets out to examine the mechanisms of corporate control & accountability provided by UK equity markets, and their impact on the long-term competitive performance of UK businesses.
BCE: The independent Boundary Commission for England (BCE) has launched a consultation (closes on 5 December 2011) on its initial proposals for new Parliamentary constituency boundaries in England – See ‘In the News’ section for more information
