General Reports and Other Publications

DWP: More couples are in work & better off, according to new research by the DWP.  The proportion of 'work-rich' couples (where both partners are in work) has increased from 57% in 1994/5 to 67% in 2005/6.
 
In contrast, the proportion of 'work-poor' couples (where both partners are unemployed or inactive) has fallen from 14% to 8% for the same period.  The new findings also show that the incomes for all groups, including those with children, have increased in real terms by as much as £175 per week.
Press release ~ Research article ~ Family Resources Survey (FRS)
 
NAO:   The National Audit Office has reported that Government-led initiatives to help unemployed people find work are having a real impact.  Programmes such as the New Deal have helped reduce the number of people on benefit, and the average length of claims.
 
 However, too many people still do not stay in work once they have found it and of the 2.4m new Jobseeker’s allowance claims made each year, around 66% are repeat claims.  Therefore the NAO says that more now needs to be done to address the problems faced by jobseekers who cycle between work & benefit.
Press release ~ Sustainable employment: supporting people to stay in work and advance ~ Executive Summary ~ Local Labour Market Analysis (Caution – 5Mb) ~ New Deal
 
Acas: A new independent study has revealed the positive impact that the employment relations service Acas is having on the UK economy. Research published by the National Institute of Economic and Social Research shows that for every pound spent by Acas, over £16 is returned, generating benefits worth almost £800m a year across UK businesses, employees and the economy.
 
The report, which analysed Acas' six principal service areas, found that Acas work in resolving individual & collective disputes at work produced immediate savings to the economy of £313m, while the advice & guidance provided to employers and employees contributed a further £475m.
 
Savings in management time and reductions in recruitment, absence & other employment costs were amongst the benefits for businesses from working with Acas while employees benefited particularly from better employment prospects and avoiding a loss in earnings.
Press release ~ A Review of the Economic Impact of Employment Relations Services Delivered by Acas ~ Acas ~ National Institute of Economic and Social Research
 
Defra: An investigation into the effects on soil quality and fertility of the heavy metals present in sewage sludge has published interim findings.  Spreading treated sewage sludge on agricultural land provides organic matter & nutrients and maintains soil carbon, as well as offering what is in many circumstances the best environmental option for recycling of sewage sludge.  The alternative disposal routes are landfill or incineration, both of which waste a potentially valuable resource.
 
Headline results show that under certain conditions metal-rich sludge could impact upon some microbial groups, with implications for soil quality over the long term.  Further work is now planned to understand the mechanisms behind the identified impacts and how these could be influenced.
Press release ~ Effects of sewage sludge on agricultural productivity and soil fertility (Phase III) ~ Defra - Sewage ~ Code of Practice for Agricultural Use of Sewage Sludge ~ The safe application of sewage sludge to agricultural land ~ Environment Agency NetRegs - Landspreading sewage sludge ~ Sewage sludge in land reclamation
 
BERR: ‘Too Much Information Can Harm’, a Department for Business (BERR) and the National Consumer Council (NCC) report highlights how much of the vital information provided with products & services is never read because it is too long or too complicated. Examples included a toaster manual with more than 50 different safety warnings, and a store card agreement form that took more than an hour to read. 
 
Among the measures it recommends are:
* Testing information on consumers before applying it too goods & services and ensuring it is regularly reviewed
* Introducing a small print award to recognise best practice
Press release ~ Too Much Information Can Harm ~ BERR - Related documents ~ National Consumer Council (NCC)
 
HSE: The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has published a report on its investigation into two outbreaks of Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) at Stoke Mandeville Hospital between 1 October 2003 and 30 June 2005.
 
Launching the report Sandra Caldwell, HSE Director of Field Operations, said:
On the basis of the evidence available, HSE did not find sufficient admissible evidence to be able to bring criminal proceedings against the Trust, alleging a link between management failures and particular deaths.  We did find some breaches relating to the requirements to keep documents.  
 
However, as these were not directly linked to any of the deaths and were of a relatively minor nature, HSE decided that it would not be in the public interest to bring legal proceedings against the Trust and its managers in relation to these matters. ……..
 
Of particular concern to HSE was the fact that the Trust did not have a contingency plan to help managers respond to any outbreak.  The consequence was that throughout the two C difficile outbreaks, managers were constantly having to respond to events rather than being able to implement and follow well thought out solutions to foreseeable circumstance."
Press release ~ HSE investigation into outbreaks of Clostridium difficile at Stoke Mandeville Hospital ~ Code for Crown Prosecutors ~ HSE - Work Related Deaths Investigation ~ Health and safety in health and social care services ~ Healthcare Commission update
 
NAO: The UK bears the ultimate risk of potential liabilities from its overseas territories such as Anguilla, Montserrat and the Falkland Islands; and, while progress has been made in managing & mitigating these risks since the last report by the National Audit Office in 1997, there is room for improvement, the NAO has reported.
 
The report to Parliament has found that progress has been made in improving the standards of safety and security of transport links, and in the regulation of offshore financial services in the territories. It is important, however, that the UK should reinforce its close working with Territories to manage risks in government finances, disaster and crisis management, and in law enforcement and security.
Press release ~ Foreign and Commonwealth Office: Managing Risk in the Overseas Territories ~ Executive Summary ~ Annexes A to D
Free, Secure, Compliant UK Public Sector IT Recycling Service