Annual Reports

AcasAcas  has released new figures showing that employment tribunals and potential employment tribunal claims passed to Acas for conciliation rose 24.9% on last year.  Despite the statistics, Acas - in its 2007/8 annual report - also revealed that it exceeded its performance targets for the year, demonstrating key contributions made to improving organisations and working life through better employment relations.
 
Looking ahead to 2009, Acas will be preparing for the implementation of the new dispute resolution system, following the Gibbons review and announcement in February that Acas will receive up to £37m extra funding over the next three years.
Press release ~ Acas Annual Report and plans ~ Gibbons review ~ ‘A Review of the Economic Impact of Employment Relations Services Delivered by Acas’ ~ BERR – Resolving disputes ~ Resolving disputes in the workplace - Acas' response ~ Acas – Disputes and mediation
 
BERR: A National Statistics publication, 'Trade Union Membership 2007' has been published by the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR).  The report, which uses information taken from the Labour Force Survey for the fourth quarter 2007, includes the following key findings:
* The rate of union membership (union density) for employees in the UK fell by 0.3% in 2007 to 28%
* Trade union density in the UK has now fallen 4.5 percentage points since 1995
* Private sector union density fell by 0.5 percentage points to 16.1% in 2007
* Public sector union density rose 0.3 percentage points in 2007 to 59.0%
Press release ~ Trade Union Membership 2007 ~ BERR: Trade Union Statistics
 
Defra: A free little book published by Defra - Sustainable development indicators in your pocket 2008 - provides a statistical overview of the country's progress in tackling key economic, social & environmental issues, by bringing together an extensive range of indicators that can literally ‘fit in your pocket’.  They cover a wide range of topics of everyday concern such as health, housing, jobs, crime, education, and our environment, all of which may affect whether we can live more sustainably in the future.
Press release ~ Sustainable development indicators in your pocket 2008 (scroll down) ~ Defra – Sustainable Development
 
BERR: The Digest of United Kingdom Energy Statistics 2008 has been published by the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform.  With detailed tables, supported by charts & commentary, it provides comprehensive data for 2007 and an account of trends in energy supply & demand in the UK.
Press release ~ Digest of United Kingdom Energy Statistics 2008 ~ Data for 2007 in Energy Consumption in the UK ~ UK Energy Sector Indicators ~ UK Energy in Brief ~ 2007 Energy Flow Chart
 
MoJ/OPG: Figures published in the Office of the Public Guardian's first Annual Report and Accounts show that more people are taking steps to ensure their rights (and those of their loved ones) are respected by registering plans setting out what should happen to their financial & health matters should they lose mental capacity,.
Press release ~ OPG Annual report 07/08 ~ Office of the Public Guardian
 
DH: The national suicide rate is at its lowest ever level according to the latest progress report from the National Institute for Mental Health in England.  The report also expressed continued concern about the dangers of insensitive media reporting following events in Bridgend.
 
The 2007 Annual Report of the National Suicide Prevention Strategy for England highlights progress made over the last year. However it also points out that:
* There were 82 self inflicted deaths in prisons in 2007/08 compared with 71 in 06/07
* While much progress has been made in the reporting of suicide by the media, many journalists & editors remain unaware of either general or in-house reporting guidelines on suicide
Press release ~ National Institute for Mental Health in England ~ 2007 Annual Report of the National Suicide Prevention Strategy for England (should appear here soon) ~ National Suicide prevention strategy for England ~ Mind: Suicide rates, risks and prevention strategies ~ Samaritans
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