Policy Statements and Initiatives

ScotGov:  The UK Government has been called on to back the creation of a dotSCOT (.scot) internet domain and ‘ensure is at the centre of a transformation in the way people use the web’.  The International Corporation for Assigned Names & Numbers (ICANN) announced in the summer that the application window for new Top Level Domains (TLDs) will open for a 3 month period from 12 January 2012.

Hundreds of bids for domains are expected to be submitted, including dotNYC, dotLONDON, dotBERLIN, & dotCYMRU in a process that will greatly expand the number of domains or web addresses available to internet users.

Press release ~ Dotscot website ~ dotCYM cyf ~ Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) 

HO:  A public consultation to consider how to make civil marriage available to same-sex couples will begin in March 2012, the government announced last week.  The consultation will only cover civil marriage for same sex couples — not religious marriage.

Press release & links

MoJ:  Up to £1m a year is to be seized from prisoners’ pay packets and used to fund victim support services, the Ministry of Justice has announced.  Under the Prisoners’ Earnings Act, which came into force last week, low-risk prisoners who work outside of prison to prepare for their eventual release will see up to 40% of their net weekly wages over £20 go to services which support victims of crime.

Press release & links

WAG:  Increasing apprenticeship opportunities for young people, ensuring universal access to next generation broadband and introducing 50+ health checks were among the priorities announced by the Welsh Government last week.  In an address to Assembly Members in the Senedd, First Minister Carwyn Jones set out his Programme for Government for the current Assembly term.

Press release & links

ScotGov:  A new way to tackle youth offending using early intervention to clamp down on criminality will keep young people out of trouble and save public money, Kenny MacAskill said last week.  Speaking at a conference in Dumfries , the Justice Secretary outlined the Whole System Approach, which will hold young people to account for their behaviour, and stop them following the wrong path into a life of crime.

Press release & links

WAG:  The Minster with responsibility for Transport, Carl Sargeant, has recently confirmed that the popular concessionary rail fares scheme is to continue on 4 rural routes across for a 2 year period.  A recent independent evaluation report of the scheme completed by the Wales Transport Research Centre revealed that free rail travel is changing travel behaviour & reducing car use – with 74% of survey respondents stating that they now use the train more often as a result of the scheme.

Press release & links

WAG:  The Welsh Government Equalities Minister, has launched the first national Gypsy & Traveller Framework in the UK .  ‘Travelling to a better future’, together with an accompanying Delivery Plan, aims to ensure equality of opportunity for Gypsies & Travellers in and to set out the practical ways the Welsh Government can achieve this.

Press release & links

ScotGov:  A scheme to help fund school trips to a number of key Scottish historical sites has been extended for a further year by Learning Minister, Alasdair Allan.  The move came as part of a parliamentary debate on Scottish Studies within Curriculum for Excellence, a commitment which already has the support of the Scottish public and a number of cultural personalities and leading academics.

Press release & links

Spotlight on women at Serco – Anita’s story