General Reports and Other Publications
PC&PE: A tidal barrage across the Severn could contribute to energy & climate objectives, but the Hafren Power scheme has failed to demonstrate economic, environmental & public acceptability, according to MPs on the Energy and Climate Change Select Committee.
IPPR: The Government should bring back the ‘Polytechnic’, according to the final report of the Commission on the Future of Higher Education, published by the think tank IPPR.
The report argues that large further education colleges where students studying higher education courses make up the majority of their student body could be eligible to apply for Polytechnic status, with around half a dozen meeting demanding thresholds in the first wave.
The report argues that large further education colleges where students studying higher education courses make up the majority of their student body could be eligible to apply for Polytechnic status, with around half a dozen meeting demanding thresholds in the first wave.
ScotGov: Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has welcomed the first independent report of the Expert Working group on Welfare. She also published an initial response to the report and announced the next phase of the Scottish Government's work to ‘build a fairer welfare system for an independent Scotland’.
CSJ: Lone parent families are increasing at a rate of more than 20,000 a year and will total more than 2m by the time of the next election, according to a major new report, by the Centre for Social Justice, accusing the Government of turning a blind eye to its commitment to promote family stability.
NO: Birmingham City Council failed to deal with a homeless family properly meaning a woman & her 4 children had to live in a one-room Bed & Breakfast for over 4 months. An investigation by the Local Government Ombudsman (LGO) upholds a complaint from the woman about the council’s poor handling of her homeless application and that she was hit with an unreasonable bill for removal & storage of her possessions.
The complainant fled her council home due to harassment & threats of violence in June 2010 and applied to the council as being homeless. In August that year the council refused her application and upheld its decision after a review was requested.
NO: Local Government Information Unit (LGiU) inquiry highlights strong support for the Local Government Ombudsman (LGO). The report looks at the role of the Ombudsman and how it might best use the information it holds to enhance local accountability.
PC&PE: The Public Accounts Committee published its 9th Report of this Session which examines tax avoidance by large companies.
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