.gif)
Consultations
WAG: The Welsh Government has launched a consultation (closes on 30 May 2012) about the way that concerns & complaints about social services in
Press release & links
DH: Earlier diagnosis of a rare condition and better coordinated care will help improve the quality of life for people with rare diseases and their families, according to the first ever UK plan on rare diseases, published for consultation (closes on 25 May 2012) by the Department of Health. A rare disease is one that affects fewer than 5 in 10,000 of the population.
Press release ~ Consultation
FSA: The Financial Services Authority (FSA) has published a consultation (closes on 27 March 2012) paper outlining proposals to change the way pension transfer analysis is carried out. The proposed changes will clarify & update the current standards and aim to ensure that pension scheme members considering a transfer are given a fair assessment of what they will receive in retirement.
The FSA estimates that the changes to the way TVAs are performed will prevent an undervaluation of benefits of up to £20bn. In other words, the changes mean that transfer values may have to increase before an adviser recommends a transfer.
Press release & links
FSA: The Chia Company, based in , has applied to the Food Standards Agency to extend the authorisation of chia seeds, so it can market chia seeds in baked goods, breakfast cereals, and fruit, nut & seed mixes.
The ACNFP has considered this application and has formulated a positive draft opinion. Any comments on this draft opinion should be emailed to them by Friday 9 March 2012. The comments will be considered by the committee when it concludes its assessment of this novel food ingredient.
Press release & links
LC: In a consultation opened last week (closes on 31 May 2012), the Law Commissions of England &Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, and are seeking views on how the regulation of health care professionals in the UK and social workers in England can be made clearer, simpler, more modern & more consistent.
News release & links
EU News: There are many cases where animals & plants have been introduced to an environment that is not naturally theirs, and are now spreading so fast that they become a threat to biological diversity.
The European Commission is considering ways to tackle this problem, including a new dedicated legislative instrument, and seeking views through an on-line consultation (closes on 12 April 2012) on how to deal with the issue most effectively. The results of the consultation will feed into a proposal to appear later this year.
Press release & links
EU News: Double non-taxation deprives Member States of significant revenues & creates unfair competition between businesses in the Single Market. As a first step in combating this problem, the Commission has launched a public consultation on the double non-taxation of cross-border companies.
The aim of the consultation is to gauge the full scale of the problem and see where the main weaknesses lie. On this basis, the Commission will develop the most appropriate policy response before the end of 2012.
In order to encourage participation by those who may have insight into real-life exploitation of double non-taxation by companies, anonymous contributions will be accepted. The consultation is available in all official EU languages and will run until 30 May 2012.
Press release & links
DECC: Energy regulator Ofgem and the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) have published a report showing how more co-ordination in the development of offshore links & infrastructure can be achieved.
In tandem, Ofgem has launched a consultation (closes on 26 April 2012) on potential changes to the regulatory regime for offshore transmission assets to take some of this work forward.
Press release & links
NHS Confed: The care of older people needs fundamental change so that ‘hospitals & care homes stamp out undignified care and ensure all patients and residents are treated with dignity and respect’. That is the message from the Commission on improving dignity in care for older people, an independent body set up by the NHS Confederation, Age UK and the Local Government Association (LGA) – See ‘In the News’ section for more information on consultation.
