Consultations

Ofsted: Ofsted has launched its consultation on the proposed changes to the inspection of Children & Family Court Advisory & Support Service (Cafcass) to drive improvement for children involved in the family courts proceedings. The consultation closes on 12 March 2013 with new inspection arrangements coming into effect in September 2013.
Press release & links
 
DCMS: The DCMS are seeking your views as they publish their response to Select Committee report on gambling. The DCMS are calling for evidence on any link between problem gambling & B2 machines (sometimes called fixed odds betting terminals, or FOBTs) as part of a consultation to review the maximum stake & prize limits for gaming machines. Consultation closes on 9 April 2013.
Press release & links
 
ScotGovSteps to help resolve disagreements between tenants & landlords were outlined in a consultation launched last week.  The Housing Panel consultation will look at the best ways to prevent disputes from arising between landlords & tenants in the private & social rented sectors, and to help parties to resolve issues themselves with input from an independent mediator. Consultation closes on 9 April 2013.
Press release & links
 
FSA: The Financial Services Authority has confirmed new rules designed to secure funding for the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) in a way which is affordable for firms.   The proposals will be adopted and will come into force when the FSA is replaced by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) on 1 April 2013.
 
The FSA also proposed setting up a Retail Pool, a collective resource funded by intermediaries and the investment providers which would be triggered if one or more of those classes reached their threshold.  In light of industry concerns about this approach, the FSA recently opened a month long consultation on a proposal that all providers should make contributions when the pool is triggered by the failure of an intermediary. Consultation closes on 18 February 2013.
Press release & links
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