Annual Reports
OFT: Action by local authority Trading Standards Services (TSS) to protect the public from unfair trading practices saves UK consumers at least £347m a year, the OFT has revealed. In a new study OFT found that, on average, for every £1 that TSS spend on this work, they deliver direct consumer savings of at least £6.
Press release ~ An evaluation of the impact of the fair trading work of local authority Trading Standards Services in the UK ~ OFT
HMIC: Although the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) have made considerable improvements in organising their complex & fast moving operations, further work is needed if a recurrence of the tragic death of Jean Charles de Menezes is to be avoided. That's the verdict of HM Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC), in the report – Stockwell: MPS progress - published recently.
The report found several projects to improve police operations following the Stockwell event still did not have clear deadlines for delivery, while overall planning needed to be streamlined across departments.
ScotGov: Much progress has been made in Scottish prisons over the past 7 years, but many frustrations remain, Dr Andrew McLellan, HM Chief Inspector of Prisons, says in his final report published last week. The report highlights:
* The transformation of living conditions which has produced first class prison buildings
* The end of slopping out, except in one prison
* The patience, humanity and fundamental decency of prison staff at all levels
However, the report also emphasises:
* Overcrowding remains a real evil
* Children under 16 years of age are still being held in prison
* Prisoners, especially remand prisoners, spend far too long locked up in cells
DH: The Department of Health has released a report on the experience of patients in BME groups, based on data up to and including 2008 patient surveys. These findings give us insight into the areas of NHS service provision where experience of the service looks different to patients from different ethnic groups. Results are based on data from the National Patient Survey programme, led by the Care Quality Commission.
Press release ~ Report on the experience of patients in Black and Minority Ethnic groups, based on data up to and including 2008 patient surveys ~ National Patient Survey programme ~ Care Quality Commission
SE: New research published by Sport England reveals a high level of satisfaction amongst people taking part in grassroots sport. Regular participants from over 40 sports gave an overall satisfaction rating of 80.3 out of 100 across ten areas - including coaching, exertion and fitness, officiating, facilities and value for money.
Increasing satisfaction lies at the heart of one of Sport England’s strategic outcomes – sustaining participation – because the quality of the sporting experience on offer is a key factor in attracting & retaining participants. The results show that satisfaction is higher among affiliated club members than general participants, suggesting that being part of a club enhances the sporting experience.
More detailed results & analysis will be published in July, following workshops with the national governing bodies of each of the sports covered by the survey
WO: The fifth annual report of the Wales Office has been presented to Parliament.
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