Consultations

FSA: The Financial Services Authority (FSA) has published the final list of qualifications retail investment advisers will need to pass before 1 January 2013.  This provides the certainty advisers need to prepare for the implementation of Retail Distribution Review (RDR) requirements.
 
The FSA is consulting (closes on 24 September 2010) on whether advisers will also be required to hold a Statement of Professional Standing confirming that they are qualified to give advice, have kept their knowledge up-to-date and subscribe to a code of ethics.
Press release ~ Professionalism Consultation paper
 
HO: The number of workers entering the UK from outside Europewill be controlled by a new limit the Home Secretary, Theresa May, announced last week. Net migration ‘will be scaled back to the levels of the 1990s’ (to tens of thousands rather than hundreds of thousands). 
 
Details of how the final limit will be delivered will be agreed following a consultation with businesses(closes on 17 September 2010). In the meantime an interim limit will be introduced to ensure there is no rush of applications and the number of work visas issued stays below 2009 levels.
Press release ~ Working in the UK ~ Limits on non-EU economic migration consultation ~ Immigration and Asylum Statistics
 
FSA: The Financial Services Authority (FSA) and the Financial Reporting Council (FRC) have issued a discussion paper which considers ways of enhancing auditors' contribution to regulation. The purpose of the paper is to stimulate debate on the role of auditors following the financial crisis. The deadline for responses to the discussion paper is 29 September 2010.
Press release ~ Discussion Paper ~ Financial Reporting Council (FRC)
 
DfT: Increased powers to crack down on dangerous trucks & coaches were set out last week by Transport Secretary, Philip Hammond. The proposals would give the Vehicle & Operator Services Agency (VOSA) more flexibility in tackling vehicles they suspect of being overloaded or breaking operating or driving hours' rules. 

The new powers would also help VOSA to enforce new cabotage rules, which govern the amount of UK domestic work hauliers from outside the UK can undertake.
 
The consultation (closes on 13 August 2010) also outlines plans to give VOSA officers in Scotland the power to independently stop commercial vehicles for the first time.  Currently, all VOSA enforcement in Scotland is assisted by the police.
Press release ~ VOSA and DVA powers to stop commercial vehicles for inspection at the roadside
 
Newswire – EA: The Environment Agency (EA) has released detailed assessments of 2 new nuclear power station designs (both Pressurised Water Reactors) and is inviting comments (by 18 October 2010). There are 10 sites in England & Wales potentially suitable for the next generation of new nuclear power stations.  

The EA, working closely with the H & S Executive, has conducted the assessments in a process called Generic Design Assessment. This process was designed to ensure that any new nuclear power station will meet high standards of safety, security, environmental protection and waste management. 
Press releaseGeneric design assessment of new nuclear power plant designs
 
EU: A consultation on key questions arising from the issue of net neutrality has been launched by the European Commission. EC Vice-President for the Digital Agenda, Neelie Kroes, announced in April 2010 her intention to launch this consultation in order to take forward Europe's net neutrality debate (see SPEECH/10/153).

The consultation will feed into a Commission report on net neutrality, which should be presented by the end of 2010.  All interested parties are invited to respond to the consultation by 30 September 2010.  An open & neutral internet underpins many of the targets set out in the Digital Agenda for Europe (IP/10/581).
 
As one of the prerequisites for the successful conclusion of the 2009 EU telecoms reform package (see MEMO/09/568), the Commission gave a commitment to scrutinise closely the open & neutral nature of the internet and to report on the state of play to the European Parliament and the Council of Ministers.
Press release ~ Public consultation on the open internet and net neutrality
 
MAC: The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) has launched a consultation (closes on 7 September 2010) on the annual limit of the number of non-EU migrants admitted to work in the UK through Tiers 1 & 2 of the Points Based System.

The Government has asked the MAC to provide advice on the level of the permanent economic migration limit for its first full year of operation.  The permanent limit is intended to be implemented from April 2011.
Press release ~ MAC consultation on level of first annual limit on economic migration (June 2010) ~ Migration Advisory Committee
 
MoJ: Views on how the family justice system can do its best to protect children & help families to work through their disagreements are being sought by a panel of experts the Family Justice Review Panel. This is part of a fundamental review of the system announced by the Government in the coalition agreement.  
Press release ~ Family justice review
 
CLG: The Government has issued a call to arms against pointless regulation & unnecessary bureaucracy’, launching a new Your Freedom website, which ‘provides an opportunity for anyone to suggest ideas on restoring liberties that have been lost, repealing unnecessary laws and stripping away excessive regulation on businesses’.
Press release ~ Your Freedom website
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