General Reports and Other Publications

Newswire – PX: Industrial relations in the UK are in need of significant modernisation, a report from think tank Policy Exchange argues.  

Changes in the nature of employment and the workforce, increased concentration of union membership, the proliferation of litigation over the last decade and the shift in the balance of power to the trade unions has created a situation where the existing framework needs extensive revision, says the report -
Press release ~ Modernising Industrial Relations ~ Related CBI press release ~ Related TUC press release
 
Newswire – IPPRIn-work poverty in the recession, a briefing paper by the Institute for Public Policy Research (ippr), claims that in 2008/09 there were 1.7m poor children living in working households, compared to 1.1m in workless households.  

The proportion of poor children who live in working households has continued to rise despite the recession driving up unemployment.  Over 60% of poor children now live with parents who work, demonstrating that poverty is not simply the result of worklessness.
Press release ~ In-work poverty in the recession
 
OBR: The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) has published its report into the effect of changes in oil prices on the public finances.  The report concludes that the overall effect of a temporary oil price rise would be close to zero.  A permanent rise would create a loss to the public finances.
Press release ~ Assessment of the Effect of Oil Price Fluctuations on the Public Finances ~ OBR ~ Effect on the Public Finances of a temporary £10 rise in the oil price1 (£bn) ~ Effect on the Public Finances of a permanent £10 rise in the oil price1 (£bn)
 
MoD: An independent report into detainee handling by the British Army has been published, Armed Forces Minister, Nick Harvey, has announced. The report's author, Brigadier Purdy, was directed by Chief of the General Staff, General Sir David Richards, to assess the current detainee handling situation within the British Army.

This comes 2 years after the Aitken Report, which examined 6 cases of alleged detainee abuse in Iraq. The report concluded that detainee handing receives direct attention from commanders at all levels in the Army & MOD, and that progress identified in the 2008 Aitken Report is continuing.
Press release ~ Photos and related links ~ 2008 Aitken Report
 
CRCConsumer Focus have prepared a report on outreach Post Offices highlighting concerns about their future viability, in particular the need for more support, flexible opening hours and better publicity about the existence of the services themselves.
Press release ~ Sink or swim? Post Office Outreach services in the long term ~ Consumer focus
 
MoD: The House of Commons Defence Committee (HCDC) published its first report on the Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR) last week. The report represents its initial reaction to the Secretary of State's and the Department's written & oral evidence given before the Parliament summer recess.
 
Conclusions & recommendations of the report covered policy context, the SDSR timetable, the National Security Strategy and MOD studies, costing & industry involvement, manpower costs and the Reserve Forces, cost-cutting & reform, consultation and the public, as well as other issues.
Press release ~ Photos and related links
 
Newswire – AC: How would your local fire & rescue service cope with a disruption caused by bad weather, staff illness, industrial action, communication problems or power failure?  Has it planned for all types of emergency?  Can it call on specialist equipment, and what scale of event could put public safety at risk?
 
Earlier this year the government asked the Audit Commission to answer questions like these by reporting on fire service resilience - how well firefighters plan and practise to make sure their lifesaving work can continue whatever happens. 

The big change is that they no longer have military backup as a safety net.  The familiar old green goddess fire engines are no longer available.
Press release ~ Business Continuity Management in the Fire and Rescue Service
 
CRC: The East of England Rural Forum (EERF) has published a paper titled ‘Vibrant Rural Communities’ setting out their vision for the region’s rural areas over the next 10 years.
Press release ~ Covering letter from the Pat Holtom Chairman East of England Rural Forum ~ Vibrant Rural Communities Unlocking the Potential of the East of England’s Rural Areas ~ Vibrant Rural Communities Unlocking the Potential of the East of England’s Rural Areas - Summary
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