Policy Statements and Initiatives

ScotGov:  Pilot Inshore Fisheries Groups (IFGs) are being established in the Outer Hebrides, the Clyde and the South East, to be followed closely by 3 others in Moray Firth, the North West and Mull & the Small Isles.  Over the course of the next 18+ months, the intention is to introduce 6 further IFGs, covering the whole coast.
 
IFGs are claimed to have commercial fishing interests at their heart.  Fishermen's representatives will make up the IFGs' executive committees and, supported by expert advice and in liaison with all relevant interests, will be responsible for producing fisheries management plans for their areas, thus hopefully ensuring a prosperous & sustainable future for themselves and the communities they support.
Press release ~ Developing Scottish Inshore Fisheries Groups (IFGS) Management Plans ~ ScotGov – Sea fisheries ~ Bill Ellis, IFG National Coordinator Tel: 0131 244 4756
 
DCMS: 9m people over 60 are set to get free swimming as Culture Secretary Andy Burnham announced that more than 80% of local authorities are to join a Government scheme. The initiative is part of a £140m Government investment in the sport that also includes free swimming for those aged ‘16 & under’ and capital for local authorities to upgrade pools.
 
For the over 60s, 300 out of 354 local authorities have confirmed that they will participate, offering free swimming to this age group between 2009 and 2011. For the under 16s, 296 local authorities have expressed their interest in claiming their share of the £50m fund for this age group, also covering 2009 and 2011.
 
Those local authorities that opt in for both the over 60s and under 16s pots will also share a £10m capital fund for 2008 / 09 (which will be administered by Sport England)to modernise & improve swimming pools.
Press release ~ Free Swimming Capital Modernisation Development Programme (SCMP) ~ DCMS – Free swimming
 
DH: Three Local Authorities in deprived areas are being invited to bid to take part in a two year £20m pilot (beginning in September 2009), which will look at the health benefits of free school meals.  It will investigate whether free school meals:
* reduce obesity / have an impact on a child's BMI
* change eating habits at home
* impact on behaviour & academic performance at school
* improve school standards
* improve general health & well being
Press release ~ Guidance on procuring school meals ~ The Real Meals cookbook ~ Food in schools: encouraging healthier eating ~ BRC – Government Standard for School Food ~ A guide to the Government’s new food-based standards for school lunches ~ Guidance for caterers to school lunch standards ~ Caroline Walker Trust guidelines ~ FSA - School meals research project ~ Feed me better ~ Scottish Government – School meals ~ Welsh Network of Healthy School Schemes ~ Nutritional strategy for Wales ‘Food and Well Being’ ~ ’Food in schools - a short guide for parents and carers’  ~ Food in Schools website ~ DH Food in schools ~ Directgov: Nutrition and school lunches ~ FSA – Standards for lunches
 
DfT: Ruth Kelly, Transport Secretary, has announced £25m to provide new & improved bus services across England, intended to better connect local communities with vital services - like hospitals, business centres and colleges - and help tackle congestion and rural accessibility by giving people more alternatives to their car.
 
Over the last three years the Kickstart programme has helped councils and bus operators introduce 43 new or enhanced bus services.  Councils will soon be invited to submit applications for the programme demonstrating how they will work in partnership with bus operators to develop long-term and viable schemes.
Press release ~ Kickstart ~ DfT – Rural bus services ~ The contribution of transport to sustainable rural communities ~ Defra: Rural proofing checklist
 
ScotGov: Funding of £3.5m to increase recycling rates in local communities across Scotland has been announced. Projects supported through the latest round of community re-use and recycling funding under the 'INCREASE (Investment in Community Recycling and Social Enterprise) III' programmeinclude:
* Developing facilities for testing, repairing and refurbishing second hand furniture & white goods and distributing to local housing associations
* Collecting non-hazardous paint products to reprocess & distribute through sales and donations
* Providing food waste collections from businesses, allowing the waste to be composted
* Gathering waste wood from businesses & domestic households and selling recycled products
Press release ~ Increase III - recycling funding 2008 ~ ScotGov - Waste ~ Bike Station in Edinburgh ~ WRAP Scotland ~ Waste Aware Scotland
 
TfL: The Mayor of London, Transport for London (TfL) and the Metropolitan Police Service have launched the latest phase of the Safer Travel at Night campaign to raise awareness of the dangers of using illegal cabs.  The award-winning campaign has been very successful to date, with cab-related sexual offences down 44% since 2002.  The proportion of women using illegal cabs to get home late at night has also fallen from 19% in 2003 to 3% in 2008. 
 
However, 104 cab-related sexual attacks were committed in 2007 and recent research shows that 48% of late night travellers incorrectly believe that minicabs can pick up passengers that approach them in the street.  Only licensed taxis (black cabs) can be hailed in the street or picked up at a rank without a booking.
Press release ~ Safer Travel at Night campaign ~ Cabwise ~ Findaride ~ Traveltools
 
WAGWelsh Assembly Government Heritage Minister, Alun Ffred Jones, has announced that a new action plan would be developed to meet the challenge of boosting levels of physical activity in Wales.  The new action plan, which will build on the existing strategies in place, will be produced by March 2009.
 
The Minister also paid tribute in his statement to the hard work and determination of all those involved in this summer of sporting success: the athletes, their families, coaches, the governing bodies of sport and the Sports Council for Wales.  He said that a review will now examine how we can build on these achievements and further improve Wales’ performance on the national and international stage.
Press release ~ WAG – Sport and recreation ~ WAG – Health improvement ~ A healthy future for Wales ~ Sports Council for Wales ~ Wales Active
 
WAG: Rural Affairs Minister Elin Jones has updated members on a number of areas where progress has been made to date in implementing the £27m programme to eradicate bovine TB in Wales.  A comprehensive one-off test of all herds across Wales will be launched this week. 

TB Health Check Wales will start on 1 October 2008 and means 3,500 additional herds being tested in a period of 15 months ending on 31 December, 2009.  In effect this means that in 15 months WAG will be testing herds that would have normally taken four years to test.
 
Another significant development is that officials have been working closely with Animal Health as a matter of priority to ensure each office in Wales meets the current target for the removal of reactors and that an action plan is in place when the 20-day target is not met.
Press release ~ Bovine Tuberculosis Eradication Programme ~ Animal Health
 
CLG: Local Government Minister, John Healey, has given the green light to 34 councils to raise £455m to meet their equal pay liabilities, either by borrowing against or selling assets - known as capitalisation.  This will enable them to make one-off back-payments to thousands of employees - mostly women on low pay.
Press release ~ Councils face £2.8bn bill for equal pay
Spotlight on women at Serco – Anita’s story