Consultations

WAG: Proposals to link bovine TB compensation payments to good farming practices and disease control measures have been published as part of the Welsh Assembly Government’s comprehensive programme of activity to eradicate bovine TB in Wales.
 
A key aim of the £27m WAG programme of bovine TB eradication is to amend the current system to ensure a fair deal for herd owners and taxpayers by linking compensation arrangements with the encouragement of farmers to comply with best practice requirements.
 
A consultation paper (closes on 10 April 2009) considers the responsibilities of herd owners and the principles of compensation and, in particular, how these principles can both encourage positive on-farm actions and help to modify behaviour to prevent the reintroduction of the disease into herds in Wales.
Press release ~ WAG – Farming and Countryside ~ Consultation on the review of compensation arrangements for Bovine Tuberculosis in Wales
 
DfT: New powers to tackle uninsured drivers who cost law-abiding motorists £400m each year have been set out for consultation (closes 16 April 2009) by Road Safety Minister Jim Fitzpatrick (around 6.5% - around 2m - of GB motorists drive uninsured). 
 
The new measures will make it an offence to keep an uninsured vehicle - rather than just to drive when uninsured – hopefully making it easier to catch uninsured drivers and keep them off the roads. Uninsured driving adds around £30 a year to every motorist's insurance premium - amounting to more than £400m a year in additional premiums.  
 
It is also estimated that uninsured & untraced drivers kill 160 people and injure 23,000 every year. Last year a new offence of causing death by driving while unlicensed, disqualified or uninsured was introduced.
Press release ~ Continuous Enforcement of Motor Insurance ~ Motor Insurance Database
 
DH: The assessment process for people who need health & social care services should be quicker, simpler and more convenient - that's the message from Care Services Minister Phil Hope as he launched a consultation (closes on 17 April 2009) on streamlining the process.
 
The consultation aims to create a more efficient & transparent system of information sharing, to avoid patients having to answer the same questions several times and ensure that people receive the best quality care and support. It includes how best to safely & securely share personal information across health and social care services, as well as wider community services such as housing.
 
The consultation will run alongside a number of demonstrator sites - local authority led partnerships who will work to test & evaluate the practical changes that will need to be made and will take into account people's feedback from the consultation.  A first wave of demonstrator sites is expected to start shortly, and a call for interest in a second wave is expected in the summer.
Press release ~ Common Assessment Framework for Adults: A consultation ~ Call for expressions of interest in piloting the Common Assessment Framework for Adults - Phase 1 ~ Public consultation events ~ DH – Social care reform
 
PCSPCS and other unions have been invited to comment on the revised draft code of practice on time off for trade union duties & activities published by ACAS in December 2008, including the proposed accompanying guide.  The consultation paper combines three documents, namely an introductory note on the need to revise the code of practice, the revised code and the draft guide.
 
PCS intends to make a submission on both the revised draft code & the new guidance and branches & groups are encouraged to feed in comments to PCS by Friday 20 February 2009. The deadline for comments sent direct to Acas is 16 March 2009.
Press release ~ Consultation on time off for trade union duties and activities
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