General Reports and Other Publications

CRC: The Commission for Rural Communities has published a summary of notes from the 3rd Upland Communities inquiry hearing in Alnwick in March 2009. Some of those giving evidence to the Inquiry Panel suggested the uplands hold significant resources that could be tapped to generate energy.  Specific reference was made to six renewable energy projects in the uplands of Northumberland and opportunities offered by wind, biomass and geothermal energy and micro-hydro electricity.
 
These examples, together with several others are highlighted in a guide ‘Energy for Business: Demonstration Renewable Energy Projects’ published by the Northumberland Renewable Energy Group.
Press release ~ Read the hearing summary ~ Northumberland Renewable Energy Group
 
DH: The Government has responded to the independent inquiry into contaminated blood supplies in the 1970s and 1980s. In a Written Ministerial Statement, Public Health Minister Dawn Primarolo set out the Government's response to the Archer Inquiry into individuals infected by HIV and hepatitis C through infected NHS blood and blood products.
 
The response includes:
* there will be an increase in annual payments to £12,800 for individuals infected with HIV
* further support for the Haemophilia Society of £100,000p.a. for the next 5 years
* a commitment to review the financial relief for individuals affected by hepatitis C in 5 years time
Press release ~ Archer Inquiry ~ Documents held by the Department of Health on the safety of blood and blood products, 1970-1985 ~ Review of documentation relating to the safety of blood products 1970 - 1985 (non-A, non-B hepatitis) ~ Macfarlane Trust ~ Eileen Trust ~ Skipton Fund
 
NAO: The National Offender Management Service Executive Agency (NOMS) has obtained good value for money from its expenditure on prison maintenance, the National Audit Office has reported.  In spite of an increasing prisoner population spending has been kept at around £320m in recent years.
 
The Agency has scope to improve the way it plans major prison maintenance.  Currently, the Agency defers approved maintenance works if funds are no longer available.  Pressures on prisoner population can also delay maintenance work because of the lack of alternative cell spaces.
 
The Agency should develop long-term plans for maintaining equipment and other assets over their economic life.  It could also use more common & standardised parts, materials, fixtures & fittings, to bring cost savings to maintenance works.
Press release ~ National Offender Management Service: Maintenance of the prison estate in England and Wales 
 
Ofsted: Beginning in November 2008, Ofsted undertook a consultation on the proposals for new inspection arrangements for the further education and skills system.  The evaluation report summarises the responses to Ofsted’s consultation on the proposals for college, work-based learning and ‘nextstep’ inspections from September 2009.
Press release ~ Responses to Ofsted’s consultation on proposed changes to further education and skills inspections: an evaluation report
 
NAO: The National Audit Office has reported that Home Office has made substantial improvements in its financial management since 2006, when the Comptroller & Auditor General disclaimed an opinion on its 2004-05 Resource Accounts.  Further sustained improvement will still be needed over the next few years, so that good financial management becomes ‘business as usual’ across all of the Department’s operations.
 
However, the strategic management of the Department’s capital programme has not been responsive enough to avoid large underspends, which amounted to £725m over the 5 years to 31 March 2008.  The Department also needs to develop further its understanding of the cost of its activities and the relationship between resource consumption and service outcomes.
Press release ~ NAO: Financial Management in the Home Office
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