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General News
HEFCE: The Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) has confirmed the distribution of nearly £400m from the Higher Education Innovation Fund round four (HEIF 4) to universities following approval of their strategies.
At the same time as announcing the distribution of funding for HEIF 4, HEFCE is publishing an overview report highlighting the significant progress that the HE sector has made in supporting economic and social development:
HEFCE is working with Cambridge-MIT partnership to support a series of seminars on new approaches to assessing the value created by HE in businesses, public services and the community & cultural sectors. These events will showcase best practices from universities & colleges, home & overseas and private & public sectors.
HEFCE is also working with the National Co-ordinating Centre for Public Engagement to analyse the community and public-engagement aspects of strategies.
Press release ~ Higher Education Innovation Fund round four (HEIF 4) ~ Higher Education Innovation Fund round four outcomes ~ Higher Education Innovation Fund round four institutional strategies - Overview and commentary ~ Institute of Knowledge Transfer ~ Lord Sainsbury’s Review: The race to the top: a review of Government's science and innovation policies ~ National Co-ordinating Centre for Public Engagement ~ PACEC ~ Cambridge-MIT Partnership Programme
Monitor: Monitor, the independent regulator of NHS foundation trusts has confirmed the following foundation trusts were authorised from 1 October 2008:
* Royal Bolton Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
* The Dudley Group of Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
The announcement means there are now 107 NHS foundation trusts in total, of which 31 are mental health.
HO: A new £7m police unit dedicated to tackling cyber crime and clamping down on internet fraud has been announced by Home Office e-crime Minister Vernon Coaker. The new Police Central e-crime Unit (PCeU) will provide specialist officer training and co-ordinate cross-force initiatives to crack down on on-line offences.
E-crime is a global menace and, with an estimated 80-90% of crime on the internet (excluding crime relating to children or images of child sexual abuse) believed to be fraud-related, the unit will focus on supporting the new National Fraud Reporting Centre (NFRC) when it comes into operation in 2009. It will also work closely with other crime fighting agencies to tackle international & serious organised crime groups operating on the internet.
Press release ~ The Fraud Review ~ SOCA ~ CEOP ~ e-Crime Wales ~ e-Crime Wales Manifesto and Action Plan for Wales ~ WAG – e-crime ~ EURIM e-Crime Working Group ~ National e-Crime Prevention Centre (NeCPC) ~ e-crime strategy
CRC: Are you passionate about the welfare of rural communities? Can you help ensure that the rural voice is heard across the country? Become a Commissioner and help ensure the rural voice is heard. Commissioners for the Commission for Rural Communities have non-executive responsibility for the governance of the organisation, including determining its strategic direction and also providing impartial input & advice into reports to Government Ministers and to Parliament.
Defra are seeking to appoint 3 new Commissioners, who must be able to demonstrate knowledge & interest in economic and social issues affecting rural communities. The posts are remunerated up to 3.5 days per month. Legitimate travel and other expenses are fully reimbursed.
LLUK: Lifelong Learning UK and The Single Voice have recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which sets out an agenda for collaboration between the organisations over the coming three years (2008 to 2011) and beyond.
The MoU outlines three areas for action. These are matters affecting regulation in the sector; information, data, research & planning; and employer engagement.
OGC.bs: OGCbuying.solutions, an executive agency of the Office of Government Commerce in HM Treasury, has announced the launch of its enhanced Furniture framework agreement, which will come into effect on the 1 October 2008 for a period of 4 years.
Available to the public sector, the framework offers departments Quick Wins to comply with sustainability, environmental & workspace efficiency best practice and waste management legislation. Suppliers will undertake site surveys, space planning, design, reconfiguration and installation work.
Ofgem: New standards set by regulator Ofgem for energy companies dealing with customer complaints came into force on 1 October 2008. The standards are part of new consumer redress & representation arrangements in energy following the closure of energywatch.
These also see the creation of Consumer Focus (a new consumer advocacy body) and a new role for Consumer Direct to handle enquiries at the first port of call. As well as the new complaints standards, customers can seek redress (including compensation) from an independent ombudsman if they don’t get satisfaction from their energy company.
DWP: Faster payments for all people diagnosed with Diffuse Mesothelioma have come a step closer with the new Mesothelioma Scheme 2008 starting to accept claims. The payment package will provide up-front financial support within six weeks to people who were previously not eligible, including those who were:
* exposed to asbestos from a relative (e.g. from their overalls)
* exposed to asbestos environmentally (e.g. lived near a factory using asbestos)
* self-employed
* those who can't trace their exposure to asbestos
Currently only people who contract the disease from exposure to asbestos at work are eligible to claim a lump sum from the state. The legislation for lump-sum payments forms part of The Child Maintenance and Other Payments Act, which received Royal Assent on 5 June 2008.
Press release ~ Directgov - Diffuse mesothelioma payment ~ Mesothelioma Scheme 2008 ~ The Child Maintenance and Other Payments Act 2008
NA: In October The National Archives hosts a number of fascinating free events & talks, where specialists will share their knowledge and offer useful advice on research & best practice for using the archives. With subjects as diverse as Magna Carta and King John to Britain's changing relationship with the European Community, these talks provide a valuable insight into key historical events and issues.
There are also FREE daily drop-in sessions to introduce first-time visitors to the range of services available at The National Archives and to show you how to make the most of their resources.
Ofgem: Electricity supplies will be sufficient to meet demand even in harsh weather conditions this winter according to a report by system operator National Grid, published by regulator Ofgem.
In its Winter Outlook report for 2008-2009, National Grid says that North Sea gas deliveries are likely be around 10% lower than last winter, but that this should be offset by higher gas imports from diverse sources. Electricity supplies will be sufficient to meet demand this winter. However, it is still unclear when certain nuclear power stations will return from maintenance to begin generating. The spare generating capacity margin for the winter is expected to be 25.4% above demand.
Press release ~ Winter Outlook report for 2008-2009 ~ National Grid ~ Ofgem’s fact sheet on security of gas supplies
DH: A directory listing 100 of the most prestigious health & social care researchers has been published by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR). It lists Senior Investigators who have been chosen to support the people making the most outstanding contribution to patient & people-focused health research.
In addition to their research, Senior Investigators will:
* give new leadership to the NIHR Faculty
* give expert advice to the Director of the NIHR
* act as NIHR ambassadors and
* promote clinical & applied people-focused research in health & social care
STFC: Rare samples of moon rock and lunar dust landed at Sandfields Comprehensive School, Port Talbot last week. Meteorites of different kinds formed part of the display and students were able to handle & study them, seeing the obvious differences in the materials they are made from.
The lunar samples, provided by the UK’s Science and Technology Facilities Council were collected during NASA’s manned space missions to the Moon in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s. During these missions the Apollo astronauts brought back to Earth 382 kilograms of lunar material.
Most of this material is used by scientists to study the Moon, but NASA decided to use a small proportion of the rock & soil to develop lunar and planetary sciences educational packages. The Council offers a free of charge, short-term loan system of the lunar samples to educational & scientific organisations within the UK.
Press release ~ Science and Technology Facilities Council ~ ESA Mars Express ~ NASA Moon Rock replicas
LDcic: When Home Information Packs (HIPs) were introduced last year, the Government put in place a temporary insurance arrangement in relation to property searches, which allows private search firms to use insurance as a substitute where specific data is not readily accessible from the Local Authority.
The Birmingham investigation, where Trading Standards Officers found inaccurate and incomplete searches in 5 out of 6 randomly selected HIPs, shows there is abuse of these unsatisfactory temporary arrangements and that corners are being cut.
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