General News
HMT: £120m in new funding will speed up the delivery of flood defences that could protect up to 60,000 homes and deliver up to £1bn of economic benefits, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury announced recently.
WAG: A refreshed statistical website has been re-launched by the Welsh Government. The Welsh Government publishes a range of official statistics about Wales on StatsWales. They cover diverse topics such as population; economy; health; education; housing and transport.
TfL: The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson has set out a range of major new transport initiatives that he will use to spearhead the drive for new jobs & economic growth in the capital. Transport for London's (TfL) new draft Business Plan outlines how a steady & sustainable stream of funding would deliver vital new upgrades & improvements to London's transport network ensuring that the capital remains a world-leading city.
SFA: A combination of emerging industries & changing work environments along with waiting for a qualification to develop in a new field, can mean individuals have to wait several months or even a year to be able to gain the skills they need to progress or move into employment.
However, an independent training provider, PBTS Ltd based in the south east, demonstrates how they have overcome these challenges by using the Skills Funding Agency’s Innovation Code – including helping unemployed learners to move into work.
LR: As of 3 December 2012, thousands of property professionals are able to make quicker & more cost effective applications to update details held on property registers with a new Land Registry service.
The new electronic Document Registration Service (e-DRS) is now available through Land Registry’s ‘portal’ transactional channel. It allows users such as conveyancers to send & receive the majority of their applications to change the register electronically – rather than through the post.
The new electronic Document Registration Service (e-DRS) is now available through Land Registry’s ‘portal’ transactional channel. It allows users such as conveyancers to send & receive the majority of their applications to change the register electronically – rather than through the post.
WAG: Release of contingency funding for the health service to help meet unprecedented pressures and maintain quality of care was announced by Health Minister Lesley Griffiths last week as she published the NHS Mid Year Review, which shows a 10% increase in hospital admissions for patients aged 85 & over – beyond forecast projections – which is placing significant strain on the NHS.
ScotGov: A specialist heart centre has successfully treated its first patients in Scotland. 7 patients who were too ill to have open heart surgery have now received Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI) at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh centre, which was created in September 2012.
If a patient is either not well enough for open heart surgery, or their heart & vessels are not suitable for replacement, TAVI can be used as an alternative treatment option if suitable.
The procedure is less invasive, as a replacement valve is passed through a hole in the groin and advanced up to the patient’s heart. The new service will be closely monitored over the next 6 to 12 months, and consideration will be given to introducing a regional model of service, or extending to 2 sites.
The procedure is less invasive, as a replacement valve is passed through a hole in the groin and advanced up to the patient’s heart. The new service will be closely monitored over the next 6 to 12 months, and consideration will be given to introducing a regional model of service, or extending to 2 sites.
TNA: The on-site museum (now called the Keeper's Gallery) of the National Archives has re-opened. They have made changes to the layout, making it a brighter, more inviting space for visitors. There is now extra space for visiting school groups - allowing better access for our award-winning education programme.
HO: The winners of the national Tilley Awards have been announced at a special ceremony in the Houses of Parliament hosted by the Minister for Crime Prevention, Jeremy Browne. The awards, now in their 14th year, recognise innovative crime fighting projects where local councils, police, community groups and the public successfully work together to deal with local problems.
TfL: A revised Metropolitan line timetable will operate from this Sunday, 9 December 2012. The same number of trains will run, but there will be some changes to train times.
10 DS: PM David Cameron has announced increased support for military personnel and their families. This includes nearly £1m for Fisher House, a military charity which provides accommodation & support for the families of injured service personnel. As of next year, families will be able to live in ‘a home away from home’, next to their loved ones who are being treated in the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham .
The PM has also given the very first Government-led military discount cards for serving personnel, their families & veterans to 3 serving personnel in Downing Street last week. More than 200 high street & online retailers have signed up to the Defence Discount Service.
DfT: Designated drivers will be rewarded with a ‘buy 1 get 1 free’ deal on Coca-Cola, Diet Coke and Coca-Cola Zero, this Christmas. Now in its 5th year the nationwide designated driver campaign will reward drivers who choose not to drink alcohol. The scheme runs from 6 - 31 December 2012.
A dedicated website has also been set up to encourage consumers to take advantage of the offer by finding a participating pub in their area.
MoD; The excellent work of the Armed Forces and the people who support them was recognised recently at the 5th annual Sun Military Awards. The awards fall into 9 main categories, celebrating the professionalism & bravery of the men & women working in our armed forces around the world. They also recognise members of the public who, in various ways, work tirelessly to support our Service personnel.
TUC: TUC General Secretary, Brendan Barber, has responded to the announcement last week by the Minister for Disabled People, Esther McVey MP, that nearly 900 employees face compulsory redundancy as a result of further closures to Remploy factories around the UK.
WAG: The Welsh Government has asked the UK Minister for Disabled People, Esther McVey, to devolve the funding, assets, land, buildings & contracts of the 2 remaining Remploy factories in Wales to the Welsh Government in order to create a viable social enterprise.
