WIREDGOV

Policy Statements and Initiatives

DfT:  Transport Minister Sadiq Khan has issued a challenge to local authority & city leaders to be bold & innovative in developing transport strategies.  The minister was speaking at an event in London to launch the Urban Challenge Fund – a new funding scheme designed to support packages of measures that will hopefully deliver a wide range of transport improvements.

Cities will only be eligible to receive money from the fund if they can show their plans will: improve journey choice, tackle congestion, improve safety; lower carbon emissions; and promote healthier lifestyles through better air quality and more walking & cycling.

Press release ~ Prime Minister’s Strategy Unit report on urban transport ~ DfT response:  The Future of Urban Transport ~ Local Transport Plans (LTPs)
 

DH:   Nurses & midwives must renew their pledge to society to deliver high quality, compassionate care – and must be better supported to do so by their employers, according to a new report on the future of nursing & midwifery in published last week.

The Prime Minister’s Commission on the Future of Nursing and Midwifery in England believes that a strong statement of commitment to high quality care from all concerned would help to restore public trust.  Front-line staff and their employers should state how nurses & midwives will enact their values of compassion, maintain their competence and become champions of care in hospitals & the community.

Among its 20 recommendations, it highlights the need to prepare nurses to meet the growing need for highly skilled care for people with long-term conditions and the complex needs of ageing.  The Government welcomed the report and committed to a full Government response in due course.

Press release ~ Front line care: Report by the Prime Minister’s Commission on the Future of Nursing and Midwifery in England – 2010 (VLF 4Mb) ~ Commission on the Future of Nursing and Midwifery

WAG:  The Welsh Assembly Government has published the Woodlands for action plan which sets out what needs to happen over the next 5 years to make progress towards achieving the outcomes of Woodlands for Wales, the Welsh Assembly Government’s 50 year strategy for trees & woodlands. 

The plan includes actions that will encourage the use of trees to help control flooding and that will introduce more trees to urban environments – where they provide shade & improve drainage, as well as a making towns & cities more attractive.  Actions to increase the demand for timber & other woodland products also feature in the plan.
Press release ~ Woodlands for Wales action plan ~ WAG:  Woodlands for Wales

BIS:  The new Government body responsible for rolling-out next generation broadband across the began its work last week, Digital Britain Minister Stephen Timms has announced.  Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK) will drive forward the Universal Service Commitment to deliver 2Mbps to every household by 2012 and will manage the spend of the £1bn Next Generation Fund to deliver next generation broadband to 90% of the country by 2017.

The group has been launched as a major report forecasting the future reach of next generation broadband across the is published by the Government.  The report will help inform public authorities looking to invest in superfast broadband and will also be considered by BDUK in prioritising the communities who could benefit from the Next Generation Fund.  See also CRC item in ‘In the News’ section.
Press release ~ Research paper:  An Assessment and practical guidance on next generation access risk in the UK ~ CLG:  Digital Inclusion Resources (includes ESD Toolkit) ~ Next Generation Access in the Digital Britain Report ~ Universal Service Commitment ~ Next Generation Fund