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WIREDGOV NEWSLETTER ARCHIVE
A new ‘Residents Index’ database based on IBM’s Big Data Analytics that matches key information about residents in the London Borough of Camden is helping to reduce crime and save time and money. The new system will help with issues such as debt collection, illegal subletting and preventing school admissions fraud. Camden is running its Residents Index as an “invest to save” project, meaning an investment at the outset will save money in the long run. Having a single view of the customer is enabling the London Borough of Camden Council to introduce a ‘collect once and use many times’ approach to data. Key to Camden’s success has been the implementation of a robust data governance framework to ensure data on citizens is gathered, stored and managed appropriately across key systems in 16 locations across London. Click here to access this latest case-study and supporting guide “Big Data Beyond the Hype”. |
| Savings ‘bagged’ for charities |
| Retailers across Scotland have witnessed a ‘staggering’ reduction in the number of single use carrier bags handed out since the 5p charge came into effect 12 months ago. Data from major grocery retailers indicate a reduction in bag use of around 80% since 20 October 2014 – equivalent to at least 650m fewer bags – with funds of around £6.7m being donated to good causes. |
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Planned solution to this problem not yet 'in the bag' M&S Launches New Eco Tote Bag In Partnership With Unicef UK And Designed By Barbara Hulanicki Plastic bag charge introduced in England FSA tips on packing food safely when shopping |
| We owe them a ‘Duty of care’ |
| The Minister for Preventing Abuse & Exploitation has announced the commencement date for mandatory reporting of female genital mutilation (FGM) and published guidance to help professionals get ready for the new duty. From 31 October 2015 onwards, regulated health & social care professionals and teachers in England & Wales will have a mandatory requirement to report visually confirmed or verbally disclosed cases of FGM in girls under 18 to the police. The guidance contains an overview of the action which may be taken if they fail to comply with the duty. |
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Home Office: FGM mandatory reporting duty comes into force |
| There is no ‘honour’ in marital ‘kidnap & imprisonment’ |
| The Forced Marriage Unit has released a new film to demonstrate the devastating impact of forced marriage on victims and their families. |
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Home Office: New video shows the devastating impact of forced marriage No better than selling their children into slavery One ‘Traditional British Value’ that the government MUST enforce |
| Free advice for businesses |
| Residents & businesses based in Hertfordshire can now access an award-winning, live chat business advice service FREE of charge as a result of a recent partnership deal by My Incubator Ventures (MIV). Anyone with a Hertfordshire postal code can now chat live online, instantly with their professional business mentors in real-time without the need to travel anywhere. Whether it’s business start-up advice or support for an existing business that’s needed, MIV’s experienced mentors can help. |
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| My Incubator Ventures: Hertfordshire councils partner with MIV |
| New Team to meet New Challenges |
| The next few weeks will see some big changes in the leadership of the Information Commissioner’s Office – changes of personnel & changes of approach. The changes marks a move towards a more collective model of leadership at the ICO which has become a significantly bigger & more complex operation to manage. |
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Collective leadership at the ICO ICO: Online pharmacy fined £130,000 for selling customer details |
| Open your eyes to MS Office government approved alternative |
| A new deal by the Crown Commercial Service will provide public sector organisations with savings on Open Source office software. Collabora GovOffice is based on LibreOffice, and is compatible with Google Docs and Microsoft Office. It includes comprehensive support for the latest version of Open Document Format. |
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| Crown Commercial Service: Collabora deal will provide savings on Open Source office software |
| BBC pleads poverty |
| In responding to the DCMS Green Paper on BBC Charter renewal the BBC says that it cannot afford to fund Digital Radio Switchover. The BBC says the cost of the project could put at risk stations such as 6 Music, in spite of the BBC being one of the driving forces behind digital radio take-up, and with a line-up of services including 6 Music and Radio 4 Extra which each have more than 2m listeners. |
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| Every worker’s work contributes to the success of an organisation |
| A campaign to promote good working conditions in the cleaning industry has been launched by an industry-led taskforce set up by the Equality & Human Rights Commission. The EHRC convened the taskforce following publication of its report The Invisible Workforce: employment practices in the cleaning sector. This set out their findings on employment practices in the commercial cleaning sector in England, Scotland & Wales. |
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EHRC: Industry taskforce unveils campaign to improve the working conditions of cleaners |
| Children get sick! |
| As temperatures begin to drop and the cough & cold season falls upon us, the TUC is reminding working parents about their rights to take time off work to look after their sick children. |
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| Know your rights to time off work when your child is sick, says TUC |
| Some way to go still |
| Progress has been made to reduce the additional risk of death for people with diabetes. However, 22,000 are still estimated to be dying each year from diabetes related causes. |
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NAO: The management of adult diabetes services in the NHS: progress review PHE: New evidence review of measures to reduce sugar consumption |
| There is some hope then! |
| Scientists have a new tool for developing new antibiotics & other drugs in the fight against infections such as E.coli. 2013 figures taken from the NHS website show 1 in 5 infections involving E.coli is now resistant to a commonly-used antibiotic (ciproflaxin). |
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STFC: Brand new tool for developing improved antibiotics produced by ISIS and Newcastle |
| Must learn from each other |
| Hospitals can save around £5bn by reducing variation in care and improving the way they care for patients. The call is part of Lord Carter’s review into how savings can be made by the NHS. Activity carried out by all NHS hospitals has been reviewed together and broken down by clinical speciality. The results show huge variations in clinical costs, infection rates, readmission rates, litigation payments and device & procedure selection. |
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DH: Lord Carter: reducing variation in care could save NHS £5bn We have known this for years so why hasn’t NHS management ‘reformed’ its purchasing? But are the NHS & LAs flexible enough to make the necessary changes to service delivery? |
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More news, opinions, documents, claims & counter-claims; |
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ScotGov: Trade Union Bill exemption call ScotGov: Scotland’s Islands ‘have your say’ ScotGov: Call for Scottish aviation guarantee Wales Office: A stronger Wales within a strong UK Cabinet Office: MPs to debate proposals for fair votes for English laws |
