Consultations
ScotGov: A consultation (closes on 4 September 2009) on options to reform outdated wildlife & natural environment laws, some dating back over 200 years, has been unveiled by the Scottish Government. Current legislation contains anomalies & weaknesses which need to be addressed to ensure Scotland has suitable structures in place to manage & sustain its wildlife and the natural environment.
The consultation paper sets out a number of potential areas of reform, including:
* Stronger action to address problems created by invasive non-native species such as Japanese knotweed and the American signal crayfish
* The reform of game laws, some dating back to the 18th century
* More robust & sustainable deer management practices, including raising the standards of those involved in shooting deer
Press release ~ Wildlife and Natural Environment Bill Consultation ~ RSPB Scotland ~ Scottish Rural Property and Business Association (SRPBA)
WAG: Proposals (consultation closes on 5 October 2009) to improve people’s sexual health and sexual health services have been unveiled by the Welsh Assembly Government. The plan also aims to reduce the number of unintended pregnancies, particularly amongst teenage girls, reduce the rates of HIV & sexually transmitted infections and to create a culture that supports open & responsible discussion of sexual health.
The draft working document ‘Sexual Health and Wellbeing Strategy for Wales 2009-2014’, aims to increase awareness of the importance & understanding of sexual health & relationships, improve access to sexual health services, reduce the number of unintended pregnancies, reduce the number of new diagnoses of sexually transmitted infections, HIV and Hepatitis B and improve the health and social care for people living with HIV.
Press release ~ Sexual health and well-being for Wales 2009 – 2014 ~ WAG – Sexual Health ~ Service Specification and Care Pathways for HIV/AIDS in Wales ~ Report to the Minister for Health and Social Services of a task and finish group on services for children who display sexually harmful behaviour ~ Publication of the consultation report on Quality Requirements for Sexual Health Services in Wales
DECC: Clean coal technology could bring between £2-4bn a year into the UK economy by 2030 and support between 30,000-60,000 in jobs such as engineering, manufacturing & procurement, according to new research. The report - ‘Future Value Of Coal Carbon Abatement Technologies To UK Industry’ - by AEA Group, is published alongside the Government’s consultation (closes on 9 September 2009) document ‘A framework for the development of clean coal’.
The consultation details how the Government proposes to reconcile the need to curb emissions of carbon from future coal fired power stations with the need to maintain a secure diverse energy mix. Coal currently accounts for 37% (29GW) of the UK’s electricity capacity, generating 31% of the UK’s electricity in 2008.
Press release ~ Consultation: A framework for the development of clean coal (& related documents) ~ Future value of coal carbon abatement technologies to UK industry. AEA (2009) ~ DECC - Carbon Capture & Storage (CCS)
Defra: With the risk of coastal erosion & flooding set to increase over the next 100 years, a consultation (closes on 25 September 2009)published by Defra examines what managing coastal change could look like for individuals, businesses, local infrastructure and the historic & natural environment. It also sets out ideas on how the Government can best support local communities.
Mr Benn has also launched an £11m Coastal Change Fund, which gives local authorities the opportunity to ‘test-drive’ potential adaptation schemes in partnership with their local communities. Schemes could range from helping restore coastal footpaths or maintain beach access points, to exploring innovative approaches where properties are at risk such as buy & lease back schemes.
The outcome of the consultation and selected local authority pathfinders will be announced in the autumn. The pathfinder programme will then run until spring 2011.
Press release ~ Consultation on Coastal Change Policy ~ Defra – Flood management ~ Regional Flood Defence Committee's — National Flood Forum ~ Environment Agency - Flood risk maps ~ Shoreline Management Plans (SMPs) ~ NAO: Environment Agency Report: Building and maintaining river and coastal flood defences in England ~ EU FloodCommand ~ Making Space for Water programme ~ Atlantis Initiative~
IS: The Insolvency Service has launched a consultation (closes on the 7 September 2009) on ‘revising insolvency rules to help businesses facing financial difficulties’. The key proposals include:
* To give absolute priority to new money lent to companies in difficulty. This would make it more attractive to lend to businesses in this situation, allowing them to access the funding they need to get back on their feet and stay in business.
* Giving large & medium-sized companies breathing space while they seek legally binding Company Voluntary Agreements (CVAs) with their creditors, without first having to place their companies into administration
* To introduce new procedures to allow a court-agreed moratorium of up to 3 months, where the court is satisfied that creditors’ interests are properly safeguarded
Press release ~ Encouraging Company Rescue - a Consultation ~ Small Business Summary - Encouraging Company Rescue - a Consultation ~ Encouraging Company Rescue Q&A
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