Policy Statements and Initiatives
ScotGov: Renewable heating will now be cheaper thanks to new support mechanisms to be introduced in Scotland. Energy Minister, Fergus Ewing, has (in partnership with the UK Government), opted for Scotland to be part of the UK wide Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI), a scheme that will pay large producers of renewable heating for every unit of energy produced.
Householders will also receive support for the installation of renewable heat technologies such as heat pumps, solar thermal or biomass boilers under the Renewable Heat Premium Payment. The move will help Scotland meet its target to produce 11% of heat from renewables by 2020. Around 3% of Scotland's heat demand came from renewables last year, 3 times the UK rate.
In recognition of concerns raised about the impact of bio-energy developments on the timber sector, the Scottish & UK Governments have also agreed to host a wood processing industry summit in the summer to ensure the sector, which employs more than 500 people in Scotland, continues to make a contribution to Scotland's low carbon economy. With the agreement of the UK Government this would involve the whole of the timber trade, including forestry, sawmill and wood processing.
HMT: Chancellor’s speech at the Lord Mayor’s Dinner for Bankers and Merchants of the City of London on 15 June 2011.
Defra: Plans to help people to do the right thing by reducing waste & increase recycling at home, on the move or as part of their business have been unveiled as the Government announced the results of its comprehensive review of waste (2011).
The Anaerobic Digestion strategy and action plan has also been published, which will enable a thriving industry to grow in England over the next few years, delivering new green jobs as well as new green energy.
BIS: Universities Minister David Willetts has given his ‘full support’ to a new taskforce on student finance (Independent Taskforce on Student Finance Communication), to be chaired by Martin Lewis of Moneysavingexpert.com and former NUS President Wes Streeting.
The independent taskforce will work to combat the myths around the changes to English student finance in 2012 and will seek to reassure potential students about what they can expect when applying for university & beyond.
The independent taskforce will work to combat the myths around the changes to English student finance in 2012 and will seek to reassure potential students about what they can expect when applying for university & beyond.
CLG: A major change to planning policy that will ‘get development back on track & ensure protection for the environment’ has been published by Planning Minister, Greg Clark. The new 'presumption in favour of sustainable development' will ‘get development underway whilst keeping vital environmental protections’.
Publishing information on the intended approach to the presumption ahead of the consultation on the National Planning Policy Framework gives councils, communities and businesses a clear idea of how it will work, and reinforces the message about the importance of getting up-to-date plans in place.
ScotGov: Mandatory screening is being introduced in Scotland as the next step in eradicating the highly infection cattle disease BVD. Rural Affairs Secretary, Richard Lochhead, recently announced that, from 1 December 2011, farmers with breeding cattle herds will be required to screen their herd each year for Bovine Viral Diarrhoea (BVD). All herds must have had their first test by the end of November 2012.
DWP: New figures released recently show customer error is now costing the taxpayer more than fraud or official error (£1.3bn p.a.). Lord Freud, the Minister for Welfare Reform, has announced that people who negligently give incorrect information on their claim or who don’t tell the Department quickly about a change in their circumstances will face a new civil penalty.
In the future, claimants on out of work benefits will also have to sign a commitment which will set out their obligations & responsibilities.
In the future, claimants on out of work benefits will also have to sign a commitment which will set out their obligations & responsibilities.
ScotGov: Further cuts to Scotland's military personnel or closures of RAF bases would not be justified on either economic or defence grounds, the First Minister said recently. Alex Salmond made the comments in a comprehensive Scottish Government submission to the UK Government Basing Review.
WAG: It has been announced by Huw Lewis, Minister for Housing, Regeneration & Heritage that the Care & Repair movement in Wales is to receive new funding of £1.5m for Independent Living Grants (ILG) to help older people in Wales remain safe & well in their own homes. The £1.5m will be distributed to the 22 Care & Repair agencies in Wales and will be spent on home adaptations such as stair lifts and walk in showers.
ScotGov: Steps to realise the Scottish Broadcasting Commission's vision for a Scottish Digital Network (SDN) have been set out by the Cabinet Secretary for Culture and External Affairs. During a debate at the Scottish Parliament, Fiona Hyslop suggested 3 areas where Holyrood should have more input into power and influence over broadcasting to help deliver quality public service content for the whole of Scotland.
CLG: Communities Secretary, Eric Pickles recently urged faith groups to make use of new powers in the Government's Localism Bill to end their reliance on the goodwill of local authorities alone, and strengthen their arm in playing an active and visible role in society.
Speaking to the Cinnamon Network - a faith-based charities group - he outlined the Government's continued financial support & commitment to faith groups. He acknowledged that faith groups - often engaged in vital work within communities - can face barriers in terms of securing funding from local authorities and endless unnecessary red tape.
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