General Reports and Other Publications

DCMSUK film contributes more than £4.6bn to UK GDP and more than £1.3bn to the Exchequer, an independent report has shown. The Economic Impact of the UK Film Industry, published by Oxford Economics, shows the industry’s growth outstrips the UK economy as a whole and suggests the overall picture is one of continued long-term growth.
Press release & links
 
PC&PE: A report by the Commons Welsh Affairs Committee says the UK & Welsh Governments must work together and use all means available to bring broadband services in Wales up to speed with the rest of the UK, and eradicate broadband ‘slow spots’’ & ‘notspots’ as a matter of urgency.
 
Both Governments should consider promoting mobile & satellite technologies, particularly in remote areas of Wales in order to deliver this and not rely solely on rolling out fibre optic cabling.  The Committee says Government must investigate all possible options to ensure broadband service reaches everyone.
Press release & links
 
nef: Research published recently by the New Economics Foundation (nef) finds that restoring European fish stocks could generate huge returns on investment. The Return on Investment (ROI) of restoring fish stocks is 148% by 2023.  By 2052 the returns are £14 for every £1 invested.
 
Years of mismanagement have left the majority of EU fish stocks overfished.  The report, No Catch Investment, from nef has calculated the costs of restoring fish stocks and found they are far outweighed by the economic benefits in the short & long term.   Most overfished stocks could be fully restored within 5 years.
Press release & links ~ No Catch Investment
 
ScotGov: Richard Lochhead has labelled reports that wrongly imply fish stocks are collapsing ‘as a distraction from Scottish efforts to fish sustainably’. Recent reports have claimed there are only 100 mature cod left in the North Sea – however scientific research estimates there are 21m mature fish in the North Sea cod spawning stock.
Press release & links
 
IoE: An under-valued network of employer-led training organisations established almost 50 years ago could help to remedy the serious skills gaps & shortages that are hampering the UK's economic recovery.  This is the conclusion of an independent Commission of Inquiry into the role of Group Training Associations (GTAs) chaired by Professor Lorna Unwin of the Institute of Education.
Press release & links
 
CBIBusinesses are concerned that critical infrastructure improvements are not happening quickly enough and want to see urgent Government delivery on the ground.  That is the main finding of the new CBI/KPMG infrastructure survey, Better Connected, Better Business, published last week.
Press release & links
 
NAO: A report released by the National Audit Office has welcomed steps taken by the Department for International Development to improve transparency over how aid it distributes via multilateral organisations is spent. The report found that the review is a significant step towards the Department being able to improve the value for money from its spending through these organisations which totalled £3.6bn in 2011-12.
Press release & links
 
CH: London is likely to remain a complementary rather than central player in the emerging renminbi (RMB) market, according to a new paper from Chatham HouseConnecting Dots of China’s RMB Strategy: London and Hong Kong, says that although financial centres such as London & Singapore are essential to China’s strategy of internationalizing its currency, the expansion of the offshore RMB market remains contingent upon politics in Beijing around capital account liberalization.
 
As a result, for the time being London will struggle to expand the RMB business as quickly as Hong Kong, which benefits from being part of China.
Press release & links
 
PC&PE: A report by the Work and Pensions Committee concludes that the Government’s Youth Contract is a good start in attempting to tackle youth unemployment but that, on its own, it will be insufficient, given the scale of the current problem.
Press release & links ~ CBI comment ~ LGA comment
 
PC&PE: Concerns exist about the MoD’s capacity to manage the risk created by the capability gap in maritime surveillance and about its ability to react to demand in the short and medium term, says the Defence Committee in its report entitled ‘Future Maritime Surveillance’.
 
The Committee has serious concerns following the decision in the 2010 Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR) to cancel the Nimrod MRA4 maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) programme.   

The UK now has no current or planned sovereign MPA capability (i.e. a capability that could be operated independently) and the MoD has acknowledged that the resultant capability gap cannot be completely covered by an existing single asset or collection of assets.
Press release & links
 
HMICRestorative justice is being used effectively in all areas of the criminal justice system – but patchy take-up & inconsistent application mean that not all victims, offenders and communities are able to access the evidenced benefits it offers, found a report published by the Criminal Justice Joint Inspectorates.
Press release & links
 
TWFThe gap between successful & struggling regions of the UK is set to widen, with the poorest communities experiencing further economic decline unless the government takes more effective action to rebalance the economy.  This is according to a report published recently by The Work Foundation

Drawing on an analysis of previous schemes, People or Place? Urban policy in the age of austerity also concludes that without adequate funding or formal powers, Local Enterprise Partnerships - the government’s flagship measure for rebalancing the economy - will be significantly less effective than previous schemes.
Press release & links
 
PC&PE: In a report on Protecting the Arctic, the Environmental Audit Committee calls for a halt on oil drilling until 5 conditions are met:
Press release & links ~ WWF comment ~ Additional WWF PR
 
PXThe government’s plans to digitise public services could prevent 5.4m older people – over half of all people aged 65 or above - from accessing vital services, such as their state pension.   A new report by think tank Policy ExchangeSimple things, done well – notes that:
* 4 out of 10 people aged 65 or over do not have access to the internet at home
* 5.4m have never used the internet with two thirds citing a lack of interest in or need for the internet as their main reason for being offline
* Only 5% of those aged 65 or above own a smartphone compared to nearly three quarters of 16-24 year olds
 
It recommends setting up a UK wide network of ‘silver sidekicks’ – older, tech savvy people - who would be paid to go into peoples’ homes & community centres to teach them how to use the internet to make digital transactions such as renewing a driving licence or paying a utility bill.
Press release ~ Simple things, done well: Making practical progress on digital engagement & inclusion
 
CIPD6 in 10 employers don’t offer any routes into their organisation for non-graduates.  That’s according to new research by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), launched recently at a DWP Employer Forum hosted by the CBI.  The research is the latest output from the CIPD’s Learning to Work campaign, designed to encourage more employers to invest in tomorrow’s workforce.
Press release & links
 
Ofsted: Ofsted has produced 3 reports that will help schools improve to be at least ‘good’ and ensure that all pupils achieve to the best of their ability. The reports, Getting to good, The Pupil Premium and initial data from the forthcoming report Early entry to GCSE examinations were presented at a press briefing, where Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector, Sir Michael Wilshaw talked about the importance of all children receiving a good education and the need for schools to focus on both ends of the ability & achievement spectrum.
Press release & links
 
WAG: A report commissioned by the Welsh Government to look at how to maximise the impact of procurement policy in Wales has found that good progress has been made in developing successful policies but there are key areas for improvement.
Press release & links
 
IPCCPolice forces should make the prevention, detection & investigation of officers abusing their powers for sexual exploitation a higher priority, says a report published recently by the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) and the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO)

The report reveals how some police officers have used their positions of trust to abuse & exploit people with whom they come into contact. The report urges senior leaders within the police service to determinedly root out this kind of abuse of power.  The IPCC & ACPO have produced a checklist of questions & recommendations for police which could prevent or quickly detect similar abuses.
Press release ~ Report
Spotlight on women at Serco – Anita’s story