Consultations

BERR: The Government has begun a consultation (closes on 11 June 2009) designed to crack down on entertainment & modelling agencies that exploit aspiring actors and models. One proposal being examined is a ban on allowing agencies to charge up-front fees to people who think they might be the next big thing.  There is a concern that some agencies are charging exorbitant amounts without any likelihood of securing castings or work for the aspiring performer.
 
A cooling-off period for up-front fees charged by agencies in the modelling & entertainment sector came into force on 6 April 2008.
Press release ~ Consultation ~ Directgov: Entertainment and modelling work ~ Spotlight ~ Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate (EAS) ~ Agency workers – Know your rights
 
FSA:  The Financial Services Authority (FSA) has published a consultation paper which formally consults on whether to incorporate its Code of practice on remuneration into the Handbook and its application to large banks and broker dealers.
 
The Code has a general requirement that ‘a firm must establish, implement and maintain remuneration policies, procedures and practices that are consistent with and promote effective risk management’.  This would become a Handbook rule.  The CP will also propose that the Code’s remaining 10 principles are put into the Handbook to help guide firms on the evidence the FSA will focus on when assessing compliance.
 
The CP is also inviting discussion on the idea that the Code should be applied to all other FSA-authorised firms.
 
The consulting period on implementation of the Code for larger banks and broker dealers will run for two months, until 18 May 2009.  The period for discussion and feedback on the idea of extending the Code to other firms regulated by the FSA will run until 18 June 2009.
Press release ~ Consultation paper
 
NA: The National Archives are asking for feedback to help with their ongoing website development.  Please take a few minutes to have your say in their customer satisfaction survey.  It is completely anonymous and you will not be asked for any contact details.
Press release
 
DH: Measurements to improve the regulation & governance of healthcare professionals have been set out in two reports published by the Department of Health.
 
These two reports are the result of external working groups taking forward the implementation of the reforms announced in the White Paper - Trust, Assurance, Safety: the Regulation of Health Professionals in the 21st Century - over the last 18 months. The Office of the Health professions Adjudicator is expected to be fully operational in 2011.
Press release ~ Tackling Concerns Nationally: establishing the Office of the Health Professions Adjudicator ~ Tackling Concerns Locally: report of the Working Group ~ White Paper - Trust, Assurance, Safety: the Regulation of Health Professionals in the 21st Century ~ The Office of the Health Professions Adjudicator Regulations 2009: a paper for consultation (closes 19 June 2009)
 
FSA: Published alongside the Financial Services Authority’s (FSA) Turner Review of global banking regulation, a FSA discussion paper (closes for comments on 18 June 2009) sets out more detail on specific policy proposals.  As the current crisis arose in the banking, investment banking and ‘shadow banking’ sectors, most of these proposals focus on these sectors.  Possible implications for some other sectors are however identified - See ‘Business and other Briefings’ for more information.
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