Consultations
OFT: Holidaymakers booking in the UK should have access to fair, clear & transparent information at the right time according to draft guidance for travel agents, tour operators & price comparison websites published last week for consultation (closes on 28 January 2013) by the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and the Office of Fair Trading (OFT).
The joint guidance covers both aviation specific and general consumer protection legislation. This new draft guidance has been designed to help the travel sector comply with the regulations & raise awareness of its legal responsibilities.
2 versions of the draft guidance have been developed:
2 versions of the draft guidance have been developed:
* an in-depth guidance document
* a shorter version for quick & easy reference which sets out key requirements
TfL: Transport for London is asking Londoners for their views on a number of proposed changes to the Congestion Charging scheme. The proposed changes include:
* the introduction of a new Ultra Low Emission Discount (ULED)
* an increase in the penalty charge
* the removal of the under-used retail (shop) payment channel
TfL is also seeking views on increasing the penalty charge for the Congestion Charge from £120 to £130. This would be only the third increase in the penalty charge since the Congestion Charge was introduced in 2003 and would bring the penalty charge in line with other moving traffic, bus lane & parking penalty charges within London. The consultation closes on Friday 8 February 2013.
Monitor: The NHS should improve the way it records data on the cost of services Monitor said last week. The regulator stated that costs collected from the NHS should in future be based on the actual cost of providing services for individual patients rather than the average cost.
At the heart of this approach is Monitor's proposal to collect Patient Level Information and Costing Systems (PLICS) data on costs from providers in 2013. This draws on data already collected by many providers and has the potential to open up opportunities for more sophisticated methods of correctly pricing patient care in the NHS. Monitor is also proposing immediate changes to improve existing reference costs because these are expected to continue to inform prices for the next few years.
They have also issued Approved Costing Guidance for stakeholder comment before 11 December 2012 to underpin the PLICS collection. The guidance will be published in early 2013 and will consolidate and streamline existing guidance into a coherent framework.
HO: Plans to make private security businesses across the UK more accountable for quality & standards were unveiled by the government last week. The Security Industry Authority (SIA) currently regulates the private security industry through the compulsory licensing of individuals who work as security guards including door supervisors, CCTV operatives and those involved in close protection (e.g. bodyguards).
Fresh proposals would move responsibility for the standards & behaviour of 330,000 security staff from the SIA onto an estimated 4,200 businesses currently operating in the UK. The consultation closes on 15 January 2013.
DECC: Proposals to ensure that all households are on the best deal for their gas & electricity as soon as possible were published by the Government last week.
Following publication of Ofgem’s Retail Market Review proposals, the Government is setting out further ideas to help consumers with their energy bills, including the Prime Minister’s commitment to ensure that households get the cheapest tariff. The consultation closes on 4 January 2013.
Following publication of Ofgem’s Retail Market Review proposals, the Government is setting out further ideas to help consumers with their energy bills, including the Prime Minister’s commitment to ensure that households get the cheapest tariff. The consultation closes on 4 January 2013.
FSA: The Financial Services Authority (FSA) has published a consultation paper outlining how much capital Self Invested Personal Pension (SIPP) operators must hold in future. The proposed regime reflects the growing popularity of SIPPs as a way to invest, the wide range of assets that can be placed within them, and will help protect consumers should the operator have to be wound down.
The absolute minimum capital a SIPP operator must hold will increase from £5,000 to £20,000 because experience has shown the cost of winding down an operator is unlikely to be less than this amount.
The FSA recognises that the proposals will require some operators to raise significant new capital, so there will be a transitional period of one year between the publication of final rules & implementation. The consultation closes on 22 February 2013.
The FSA recognises that the proposals will require some operators to raise significant new capital, so there will be a transitional period of one year between the publication of final rules & implementation. The consultation closes on 22 February 2013.
CO: As part of its drive to enhance the right to data, the Cabinet Office has launched an open consultation on new guidance for public authorities on how to handle Freedom of Information (FOI) requests for the release of datasets. The guidance will complement new provisions governing the release of data in the FOI Act, which are planned to come into force in April 2013, giving public authorities time to prepare for their new duties.
The online consultation fulfils an Open Data White Paper commitment to open up the process of developing guidance to the public. The traditional email route for submissions is also available, and all contributions should be made by 10 January 2013.
WAG: A new draft Control of Dogs (Wales) Bill, aimed at promoting responsible dog ownership and helping to prevent dogs from becoming dangerously out of control has been launched by Environment Minister, John Griffiths. The consultation closes on 1 March 2013.
RoSPA: Employers managing & using lakes, reservoirs and other inland water sites across the UK are being offered the chance to shape safety guidance.
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) and the Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK) are updating the Safety at Inland Water Sites guidelines, which provide a raft of legal & safety information. Organisations are urged to register their views in an online consultation survey before midnight on 7 December 2012.
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) and the Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK) are updating the Safety at Inland Water Sites guidelines, which provide a raft of legal & safety information. Organisations are urged to register their views in an online consultation survey before midnight on 7 December 2012.
.gif)
