Consultations

ScotGov:  The Scottish Government has recently launched a consultation (closes on 15 June 2012) on reforming Scotland's tribunal system with proposals centring around a unified, integrated structure. 

The proposals intend to create two generic tribunals, a First-tier & an Upper-tier, in which to transfer the separately operating tribunals in Scotland .  There will also be genuine judicial independence by bringing the tribunal judiciary under the leadership of the Lord President.

Press release & links

DWP:  The final building blocks for automatic enrolment were put in place recently as the Government published its response to the consultation on the earnings threshold.  The Government has also published the consultation ‘Revised implementation proposals for workplace pension reform’ (closes on 4 May 2012).

Press release & links

DfE:  The Secretary of State for Education Michael Gove has laid before the House of Commons a written ministerial statement on school funding reform.  The Department for Education has also published its consultation (closes on Monday 21 May 2012) on school funding reform.

Press release & links

Ofgem:  Ofgem has announced a new regulatory framework to reinvigorate industry efforts to tackle gas theft. This will protect consumers by giving incentives to gas suppliers to detect & prevent theft and to establish minimum standards for theft investigations. 

Ofgem consulted on proposed changes to the regulatory framework in August 2011.  It has now set out its final proposals (views by 30 April 2012) including a consultation on new licence obligations they hope to have in place by summer 2012.

Press release & links

HMT:  The Government has launched a consultation on an Above the Line (R&D credit.  The Government announced in the autumn of 2011 that it would introduce an ATL R&D credit for large companies.  This consultation (closes on 29 June 2012) seeks the views of businesses and other stakeholders on how such a credit should work, ahead of its introduction in April 2013.

Press release & links

OFT:  The OFT has launched its consultation (closes on 19 June 2012) on proposals to strengthen its Competition Act (CA98) decision-making processes, through introducing a new system of decision-makers who are separate from investigation teams.  The OFT intends to publish its response to the consultation and the final revised guidance before Autumn 2012.

The OFT is also extending the trial of its Procedural Adjudicator role for a further year, to 21 March 2013, with an expanded remit.

Press release & links

BIS:  The Government has launched an informal consultation (closes on 27 April 2012) to seek views from businesses, local communities and other organisations (in England only) on how EU Structural Funds, Rural Development Funds & Fisheries Funds can be used to support growth in England

The European Commission proposals for the next funding round (2014-2020) are still subject to negotiation, but the key changes proposed will allow much greater flexibility to tailor the funds to the specific economic challenges faced in different areas.  The Government wants to ensure there is maximum potential value of the EU money for taxpayers.

Press release & links ~ Delivery of Structural Funds, Rural Development Funds and European Maritime & Fisheries Fund in England

BIS:  The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has launched a consultation (closes on 20 June 2012) on proposals to make it easier for Trading Standards officers to tackle rogue traders across local authority boundaries 

BIS will consult further on proposals to simplify other consumer rights later this year with the aim of bringing forward a new Consumer Bill of Rights to comprehensively update consumer law in order to scrap or reform some 12 pieces of existing legislation.

Press release & links

MoJ:  Justice Secretary Kenneth Clarke has launched proposals to strengthen community sentences & modernise the Probation Service.  The proposals in the 2 consultations (both close on 22 June 2012) will ‘ensure community sentences are a tough & credible punishment, supported by the innovation, capacity & diversity of voluntary & private providers, in partnership with the Probation Service to reduce re-offending and protect the public’.

Press release & links ~ CBI comments    

ScotGov:  Planning Minister, Derek Mackay has outlined plans to improve efficiency & streamline the planning system, including linking increases in fees to improved performance by planning authorities.  In a statement to Parliament, he launched a series of consultations (closing date Friday June 22, 2012) & measures to take planning forward following the comprehensive reform of the Scottish Planning System in 2006.

Mr Mackay also announced that work would start on the 3rd National Planning Framework in autumn 2012, and launched a consultation on examinations of Development Plans.

Press release & links

DECC:  £ms will be saved for businesses through new proposals (consultation closes on 18 June 2012) to simplify the Carbon Reduction Commitment Energy Efficiency Scheme.  Participants will see their administrative costs cut by almost two-thirds, equating to around £330m of savings up to 2030.

Press release & links

WAG:  A public debate on whether Wales should be a separate legal jurisdiction has been launched by the Welsh Government.  In March 2011, the people of Wales voted ‘yes’ in a referendum on giving the National Assembly for Wales primary law making powers in 20 devolved policy areas.

Laws made in Wales, for Wales, still form part of the law of England & Wales .  This is not the case Scotland and Northern Ireland, who have separate legal jurisdictions.  Since 1999, there has been an increasing divergence between Welsh law and the law in England - particularly in the fields of education, health & social care - to meet the specific needs of the people of Wales.

Press release & links ~ Welsh Secretary responds

CC:  Notice of intention to make an Order (regarding local bus services) under section 165 of and Schedule 10 to the Enterprise Act 2002 and public consultation on the proposed Order.  Representations should reach the Competition Commission by no later than 5pm on Friday 27 April 2012.

Press release & links

ACE:  Arts Council England has opened an online conversation as part of the next stage of their consultation on the library of the future.  The consultation - Envisioning the library of the future - which will be captured via a dedicated blog - will help them to define their long term strategy for libraries by exploring what they could and should look like in in 2022 & beyond, through a programme of research & debate. 

This second stage consisting of an online consultation, questionnaires and regional workshops will last until May 2012.  A third stage, to test the public view of the purpose & value of public libraries, will be undertaken between June & late September 2012.  ACE will then produce a final report, drawing upon this research, which will inform their vision for the future of public library services.

Press release & links

FSA:  The Financial Services Authority has published the findings of its thematic review into anti-bribery & corruption (ABC) systems & controls in investment banks.  In response to those findings, the FSA is consulting (closes on 29 April 2012) on proposed amendments to the FSA’s regulatory guidance, ‘Financial crime: a guide for firms’.

Press release & links

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