Policy Statements and Initiatives

DHFar more needs to be done across health and care services to improve the treatment that people with learning disabilities receive, Care & Support Minister, Norman Lamb made clear recently.  

 2 new publications from the Department of Health, the responses to the Confidential Inquiry into premature deaths of people with learning disabilities and the Six Lives Progress Report on Healthcare for People with Learning Disabilities, show that whilst some improvements have been made, people with learning disabilities are still experiencing poor care, and face unacceptable inequalities in health and social care.
 
In response, DH have asked the National Clinical Director for Learning Disability to look at the feasibility of developing best practice guidelines for the treatment of people with learning disabilities.  
Press release ~ Six Lives – Department of Health second progress report ~ Response to the Confidential Inquiry into learning disability
 
WAG: The new innovation strategy for Wales launched last week adopts a new approach to innovation - across business, government and society as a whole. Innovation Wales recognises the widely accepted technology-based concept of innovation, but emphasises that innovation can be achieved everywhere & anywhere and by anyone, across the board.
 
In order to encourage these broader areas of creativity & wealth generation, Innovation Wales highlights the need for the public sector to be less prescriptive and more open to fresh solutions for supporting business & procurement.
Press release & links
 
DH: The summary report of the responses to the public consultation on standardised packaging of tobacco products has recently been published by the Department of Health.  

Having carefully considered these differing views, the Government has decided to wait until the emerging impact of the decision in Australia can be measured before making a final decision on this policy.
Press release & links ~ ScotGov: Standardised tobacco packaging ~ Institute of Economic Affairs-Plain packaging decision is a victory for common sense
 
DWPThe benefit cap is being introduced across the country, restoring fairness to the welfare state. The cap will roll out from now to the end of September 2013 with the amount of benefits working-age households can claim limited to the average working wage – £500 a week.  In total, it is expected that 40,000 households will have their benefits capped. This will save £110m this year and £185m next year. 
Press release & links
 
DFID: International Development Minister Lynne Featherstone has launched Work in Freedom initiative to help tackle labour trafficking. The UK government is investing £9.75m over 5 years into the Work in Freedom initiative to help tackle known labour trafficking routes between South Asia, such as Bangladesh and Nepal, to the Gulf States including Jordan, United Arab Emirates and Lebanon.  Around 21m people are trafficked and in forced labour worldwide, the majority are from Asia with women & girls most affected.
Press release & links ~ Work in Freedom initiative
 
DECCHouseholders could get paid hundreds of pounds a year for heat generated by solar thermal panels, biomass boilers & heat pumps.   The tariff levels have been set at 7.3p/kWh for air source heat pumps; 12.2p/kWh for biomass boilers; 18.8p/kWh for ground source heat pumps and at least 19.2 p/kWh for solar thermal.
 
The new Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) for householders is designed to drive forward uptake of renewable heat technologies in homes across Great Britain to cut carbon, help meet renewables targets and save money on bills. The scheme is a world first, and has been up & running for the non - domestic sector since November 2011.
Press release & links
 
DfT:  The national network of motorways & trunk roads will get extra lanes, smoother, quieter surfaces, improved junctions and new sections in key areas under the plan published last week.
Press release & links ~ CBI comments on DfT 'Action for Roads' plan
 
DWPDisabled people will get more support to gain the skills and experience they need to get a job under changes to the government’s specialist disability employment scheme announced last week. 

Disabled people on traineeships, supported internships, work trials and work academies will for the first time get additional help through the Access to Work scheme – which provides funding towards the extra costs disabled people face in work, such as travel costs, specially adapted equipment or support workers.
Press release & links ~ New ad campaign launched at UK's first Disability Employment Conference
 
WAG: A 10-year plan to close the gap between the most & least disadvantaged children in Wales has been launched by the Welsh Government. ‘Building a Brighter Future: Early Years and Childcare Plan’ is the first plan of its kind published by the Welsh Government and sets out its commitment to improving life chances for children in Wales. 
 
The plan addresses children’s & family services for children from 0 up to the age of 7, when they reach the end of their Foundation Phase. Progress in completing the plan’s action points and achieving its results will be assessed annually.  The Plan will be reviewed in 2016.
Press release & links
 
HMT: The government will consult on the proposed devolution of Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) to the National Assembly for Wales, Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander told parliament last week.
Press release
 
CLGNew funding will help councils take on the rogue landlords who make tenants’ lives a misery, Housing Minister Mark Prisk has announced.  Councils will be able to bid for share of up to £3m to tackle irresponsible landlords in their area, who allow their tenants to live in unsafe & squalid conditions, putting lives at risk and disrupting local communities.
Press release & links
 
DfT: Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin has confirmed a £1.2bn order for more state-of-the-art trains to transform rail travel on one of Britain’s busiest intercity routes, as part of the government’s overall £5.8bn Intercity Express Programme (IEP).
Press release & links
 
CLG: A competition launched last week asks the public to suggest projects their local post office could start up to benefit the community, including mentoring for business start-ups, digital access and training and display space for local producers.  Successful schemes must be innovative & support the local community or small businesses in the area.
 
Working with local residents, sub-postmasters across England can now apply for up to £10,000 from a £200,000 community enterprise fund from the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) and the Post Office.  

Branches will suggest suitable projects, which must be not for profit but provide a service, activity or support that are easily accessible and open to all. The competition is not open to Crown branches. Members of the public who wish to suggest projects should speak to their local branch manager by Friday 18 October 2013.
Press release & links
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