Policy Statements and Initiatives
ScotGov: 8 pharmacies across Scotland are taking part in a walk-in pilot scheme. Pharmacies in Glasgow, Dundee, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Airdrie will operate extended hours and offer a selection of additional services.
These will include nurse-led minor injury and illness clinics, sexual health treatment & testing, smoking cessation, immunisation and access to simple diagnostic services such as checks to determine heart disease risk. Some services are already up and running with others due to come online between now and the end of the year.
Defra: Around £1.5m of funding for a 3-year research project to examine the feasibility of short rotation forestry as a viable renewable energy source has been announced by Defra. The species being planted will include both native and naturalised broadleaved trees along with other species with the potential to be used for biomass, such as eucalyptus.
Forestry Commission England will work closely with Defra to set up the project which will provide ongoing monitoring and scientific data on hydrology, carbon balance, economic viability, biodiversity and possible environmental risks such as the impact of the project on landscape and biodiversity.
Monitoring & evaluation will also be linked to the results of short rotation forestry trials in Scotland which are currently being established.
Press release ~ The UK Forestry Srandard - The Government’s Approach to Sustainable Forestry ~ Forestry Commission England - woodfuel ~ Strategy for England's Trees, Woods and Forests
ScotGov: New plans for a fairer, simpler and more transparent transmission charging regime for Scotland's power companies have been announced by the Scottish Government. Jim Mather outlined the ScotGov’s plans for reform when he addressed delegates at the Ofgem Sustainability and Energy Networks event in Edinburgh.
The new model proposes a uniform charge for each unit of energy that enters the system, regardless of location or capacity of the generating facility. The amount paid is directly related to the amount produced.
DfT: The Department for Transport (DfT) has announced the allocation of an additional £15m for a new strategic research programme to be managed by Rail Safety and Standards Board (RSSB), offering a substantial boost to the rail industry's research & development capacity.
The new Strategic Research Programme will help the industry achieve the challenging long term goals set out in the 2007 Rail Technical Strategy and support the rail industry & its stakeholders in the delivery of 'step changes' on the rail network over the next 30 years.
Press release ~ Rail Safety and Standards Board (RSSB) ~ Rail Industry Strategic Research Programme ~ 2007 Rail Technical Strategy ~ Why do we need a technical Strategy? ~
