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Consultations
MoJ: As part of their punishment offenders supervised by Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Probation Trust have been clearing scrub, weeds & rubbish in the village of Longstanton - and their hard work has uncovered a World War II guard post (known as a pillbox).
The trust plans to get offenders to rebuild a second, dilapidated pillbox in the Cambridgeshire village as a lasting legacy to the men & women who served in the war. As part of the punishment the offenders will learn new skills that will improve their chances of getting into honest employment and reduce re-offending. You can take part in the Green Paper consultation: 'Breaking the cycle: effective punishment, rehabilitation and sentencing of offenders.' (Consultation closes on 4 March 2011).
HFEA: The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority has launched a public consultation (closes on 8 April 2011) about sperm & egg donation. The consultation will focus on 3 main areas of policy:
* The level of compensation for donors
* The number of families a donor can help to create
* Family donation
ScotGov: The Scottish Government has launched a consultation on draft legislation to require farmers with breeding herds to test for bovine viral diarrhoea (BVD). BVD is a major economic drain on the industry. Under government plans, farmers with breeding herds will have to screen their herd annually for the disease.
A range of screening methods would be available so that all types of herd can find a suitable testing regime for their circumstances. Additionally, where a calf is born in a non-breeding herd it would have to be tested for BVD, for example by using an ear tag test. The consultation closes on 15 April 2011.
Press release ~ Consultation on Mandatory Annual Testing for Bovine Viral Diarrhoea (BVD) ~ Bovine Viral Diarrhoea information
FSA: The Food Standards Agency has published new draft regulations in England that will implement 2 European directives. The directives set criteria for the purity of 4 new food additives & 1 sweetener recently permitted for use in the European Union. If you require any further information or have any comments, please contact the Food Additives Team by Friday 11 February 2011.
Similar regulations are being made in Scotland, Wales & NI. recently permitted for use in the European Union. If you require any further information or have any comments, please contact the Food Additives Team by emailing
ScotGov: The first ever statutory guidance setting out Scotland's approach to dealing with flooding and its impacts on homes, businesses & communities is a stage closer. Environment & Climate Change Minister, Roseanna Cunningham has launched a consultation (closes on 18 March 2011) on the guidelines which will ensure that the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, local authorities and other organisations, such as Scottish Water, adopt a sustainable & collaborative approach to managing the risk.
DirectGov: The government is consulting the public on its new strategy for dealing with waste water and sewage. The government is required under European law to prevent environmental damage and poor water quality by providing adequate waste water infrastructure. The consultation document explains the background to the draft National Policy Statement and its purpose.
It also gives information on some specific 'nationally significant' infrastructure projects such as the prevention of sewage overflows into the River Thames. The Statement also poses a number of questions which the public are invited to consider and explains how to respond (by 22 February 2011).
DCMS: Culture Secretary, Jeremy Hunt, has launched an action plan to make his vision of local TV a reality for consultation (closes13 April 2011). The Government aims to award licences by the end of 2012. Speaking at the Oxford Media Convention, Mr Hunt said the initiative would offer communities a ‘new voice’ and provide local perspectives directly relevant to them.
The Action Plan, which builds on the Shott report published last month, proposes broadcasting the channels on Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) and displaying them prominently on the Electronic Programme Guide (EPG).
New & existing media providers have been invited to register their interest by 1 March 2011and come forward with suggestions on how a channel dedicated to local news and content could work best.
DfE: The Secretary of State for Education last week announced a consultation (closes on 14 April 2011) on a major review of the National Curriculum in England.
The review will be led by the Department, supported by an advisory committee and expert panel made up of top teachers, academics & business representatives. The review will:
The review will be led by the Department, supported by an advisory committee and expert panel made up of top teachers, academics & business representatives. The review will:
* replace the current substandard curriculum with one based on the best school systems in the world
* consider what subjects should be compulsory at what age
* consider what children should be taught in the main subjects at what age.
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