Consultations

MoJ: The government is asking for views as to ‘who the new bodies responsible for regulation & complaints in the legal profession should be able to share information with’. The Legal Services Board is the new oversight regulator of legal services, while the Office for Legal Complaints will replace the numerous bodies that currently handle complaints about different legal professionals.  The LSB became operational on 1 January 2010 and the OLC will assume its functions later in 2010.
 
Both bodies will be restricted to disclosing personal information for defined purposes.  This includes where the effectiveness & efficiency of the wider regulatory framework will be improved by the sharing of certain information with other regulatory bodies.  A consultation (closes on 21 April 2010) published on the Ministry of Justice website suggests who those other bodies might be and seeks views on those suggestions.
Press release ~ Disclosure of information by Office for Legal Complaints and Legal Services Board consultation ~ Legal Services Board ~ Office for Legal Complaints ~ Legal services reform ~ Legal Services Act 2007
 
Defra: Dairy farmers are being asked for their views on how best to distribute England’s £16m (€18m) share of the EU Dairy Fund in a consultation (closes on 17 February 2010) launched by Defra.  The fund is intended to help farmers who have been most affected by changes in demand & prices over the last year.
 
Following discussions with the farming industry, the consultation presents 2 options for providing help to farmers, keeping administrative costs to a minimum, and supporting a competitive dairy sector.
Defra press release ~ Consultation on the method of distribution for the UK’s share of the €300 million EU Dairy Fund ~ WAG press release ~ Consultation on options to distribute Wales’ share of the €300m European Union Dairy Fund ~ ScotGov: Consultation on the method of distribution for the UK's share of the €300 million EU Dairy Fund
 
Ofgem: Ofgem has published the latest consultation (closes on 9 April 2010) for its RPI-X@20 project, which is looking at possible reforms for network regulation.  Its Emerging Thinking consultation document suggests that the RPI-X price control mechanism, which has been successfully used by regulators for over 20 years, needs to be changed as it will not be able to cope with the pace, uncertainty and scale of change needed to deliver sustainability for consumers.
 
Ofgem’s consultation sets out a potential new regulatory framework for consultation.  This framework seeks to ensure network companies deliver investment when & where it is needed and stimulates innovation in the way networks are run.  If implemented, it would also encourage a change in the mindset of network companies so they manage the uncertainty & risk in delivering a low carbon economy and seek to innovate as well as to invest to support this transition.
Press release ~ Regulating energy networks for the future: RPI-X@20 Emerging Thinking ~ RPI-X@20 project review ~ Factsheet: Reforming Network Regulation
 
ACEArts Council England has) launched Achieving great art for everyone - a consultation on future priorities for the arts, which sets out the Arts Council’s understanding of the current arts landscape and pinpoints the areas that the Council believes need development. 
 
The consultation (closes on 14 April 2010) outlines 5 long term goals that will drive the ACE’s development work, inform its funding priorities and strengthen relationships with artists, organisations & audiences.  The results of the consultation will inform a 10-year strategic framework and the ACE’s future investment decisions.
Press release ~ Achieving great art for everyone
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