WIREDGOV

ScotGov: Two research reports focusing on public attitudes to public services and government in Scotland have been published. The fieldwork for the reports was carried out in 2006 - before the election of the current Scottish Parliament and new Scottish Government.  It also pre-dates the name change from Scottish Executive to Scottish Government.

The independent reports form part of the Scottish Social Attitudes (SSA) survey and show that the top priorities for the people of Scotland in 2006 were improving health and cutting crime.

Press release ~ Scottish Social Attitudes (SSA) survey ~ Core Module: Report 1 - Attitudes Towards Public Services in Scotland ~ Core Module: Report 2 - Perceptions of Government in Scotland ~ Research Findings No.2/2007 ~ Core Module: Technical Report

 

CRC: Government policy is still not adequately considering the needs of rural communities, according to a new report by the Commission for Rural Communities.  The report, 'Monitoring rural proofing 2007' shows that although there are some good examples of rural proofing, it is still not part of the day-to-day work of government departments.

 

Rural proofing was formally introduced by government in the Rural White Paper 2000 and it was reinforced in the Rural Strategy 2004, which established a statutory role to monitor & report on how policy is developed and the extent to which those policies meet the needs of rural communities.  This year's report draws on independent evidence gathered from those who make & deliver policy nationally and regionally.  Policies considered ranged from schools' funding to the digital switchover.

Press release ~ 'Monitoring rural proofing 2007' CRC 52 / November 2007 ~ 'Evidence of the government's rural proofing of policies in 2006-7' ~ Written Answers on Rural Proofing ~ Rural proofing project ~ Rural Strategy 2004

 

Defra: The Government has welcomed publication of an independent review of the greyhound racing industry, chaired by Lord Donoughue, who was asked to provide & consider evidence relating to the greyhound racing industry and to consider ways in which the industry's standards could be improved.

Press release ~ NGRC - National Greyhound Racing Club ~ Independent Greyhound Review by Lord Donoughue of Ashton ~ Defra – Animal Welfare ~ British Greyhound Racing Board ~ UK Dog Tracks and Greyhound Racing

 

Defra: Defra has published the initial epidemiology report into the H5N1 avian influenza outbreak in Suffolk, which concludes that, at the time of writing, the outbreak is confined to the index case which is also the first case and a secondary case as a result of transmission by vehicles, people or other things on the sites.

 

It has not been possible, at this stage, to categorically identify the source of the outbreak.  This initial report states that no evidence has so far been found to indicate introduction via infected poultry or poultry products or vehicles/people transporting them, from countries which have undisclosed infection in their domestic turkey, geese and duck population. Wild birds cannot be ruled out as a source of infection.

Press release ~ Initial epidemiology report into the H5N1 avian influenza outbreak in Suffolk ~ Defra - Avian Flu

 

CIOB: In response to a recent government consultation ‘Strategy for Sustainable Construction’, the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) has called for a greater emphasis on the ‘big picture’.

Stephen Wielebski a CIOB Ambassador said: “There is a prodigious, and urgent, opportunity for us to develop a Strategy for Sustainable Construction that has real direction and some teeth.  But sadly the strategy in its current form does not adequately consider the UK construction industry’s role in delivering sustainability objectives within a national or international context.

 

Press release ~ Strategy for Sustainable Construction ~ Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) ~ CIOB submission

 

NAO: The National Audit Office’s annual report on 20 of the top defence equipment projects shows that, while there has been progress on the majority of projects in the last year, there continue to be time delays and cost increases on some of the major projects.

 

Of the fifteen projects not in service as at April 2007, eight have progressed to schedule and on two projects, the MoD has recovered time against the schedule.  Five projects were delayed by a total of an extra 38 months this year, compared to 33 months on five projects in 2005-06.

 

The current total forecast cost for the 20 largest projects is £28bn, which is £2.5bn over the ‘most likely’ budget when the main investment decision was taken.

NAO press release ~ MoD press release ~ Major Projects Report 2007 ~ Volume II: Project Summary Sheets ~ Volume III: The Landing Ship Dock (Auxiliary) Project ~ Executi ve Summary ~ Defence Industrial Strategy ~ Previous PAC press release ~ Public Accounts Committee: Ministry of Defence Major Projects Report 2006