Policy Statements and Initiatives

DH: As our society ages and changes, more individuals and families will face caring responsibilities.  Care is a growing issue that will affect us all in some way in the future. A consultation is currently under way on a new deal for the people that take on this important role of carer.
 
This will continue, but ‘the issue is of such importance’ that the Prime Minister has announced that a Standing Commission on Carers will be established, reporting to the Secretary of State for Health, that will ensure the voice of carers is central to the development of Government policy and look at how carers will be affected by long term issues.
Press release ~ Carers website ~ Young Carers ~ Carers UK ~ DH: Caring about carers ~ DH: New Deal for Carers ~ Caring for Someone
 
Defra: Representatives from the fashion, clothing, and textile industry, as well as environmental & ethical groups, met for the first recently time to look at how they can work with government to improve the sustainability of clothing throughout its life cycle.  Following this event, the clothing and fashion industry will be invited to be involved in developing the sustainable clothing roadmap coordinated by Defra. 
 
The roadmap examines all stages of clothing's life cycle (from raw materials to end of life), charts the environmental and social impacts arising at each stage, and proposes ways of limiting those impacts where most effective.
Press release ~ Defra: Consumer products and the environment ~ Clothing Roadmap ~ Katharine Hamnett on sustainable clothing ~ A Shopper's Guide to Green Labels ~ Other related guidance ~ The European Ecolabel ~ Green Tourism Business Scheme ~ Defra Green Claims ~ National Consumer Council (NCC)
 
DCFS: The government claims that parents will be able to help their kids make the most of exciting new technologies, while protecting them from harmful and inappropriate imagery, thanks to a new review announced as part of the Government's new 10 year Children's Plan.
 
The Prime Minister and Ed Balls discussed this issue with parents, teachers and children at the launch of the Children's Plan consultation event recently at Bristol Brunel Academy. Their views will be fed through into this review.
 
The Review will NOT cover television content, as there is already effective statutory regulation in this area. Neither online grooming nor the creation & distribution of abusive images of children are included as these are already covered in the safeguarding strategy consultation.
 
Games which feature gross violence and/or sexual material are subject to the Video Recordings Act and must be submitted to the British Board of Film Classification. They are considered against a set of guidelines and given a legally binding age-related classification. All other games are covered the voluntary Pan-European Games Information system which aims to provide parents with information allowing them to make choices for their children.
Press release ~ Time to Talk ~ Staying Safe strategy ~ Internet Watch Foundation ~ Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) Centre ~ ThinkUKnow ~ Virtual Global Taskforce (VGT) ~ CEOP Most wanted ~ National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) ~ Report Abuse ~ Department for Children, Schools and Families' ~ Video Recordings Act 1993 ~ British Board of Film Classification ~ BERR ~ Voluntary Pan-European Games Information system
 
ScotGov: Scotland's Environment Minister, Michael Russell, has outlined his positive vision of crofting in the 21st century in his first major keynote speech on the subject, made to the annual conference of the Scottish Crofter's Foundation.
 
Describing crofting as having "a vital role to play in sustaining vibrant populations in Scotland's less accessible areas", Mr Russell has indicated his backing for the work being done by the Committee of Inquiry into Crofting, but he has also pledged new resources now, including an additional £100,000 per year to help improve quality of life in the crofting communities by enabling access to the new Scottish Rural Development Programme.
Press release ~ The Scottish Crofting Foundation ~ Crofters Commission ~ Committee of Inquiry into Crofting ~ Scottish Rural Development Programme ~ Crofters Cattle Quality Improvement Scheme
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