Consultations
WAG: A consultation paper seeks views on introducing a process to ensure consistency across Wales for when householders & businesses want to make minor changes to development proposals that have already been approved. Currently the approach taken by local planning authorities varies across the country. Consultation closes on 15 March 2013.
ScotGov: A stakeholders’ consultation on the implementation of the EU Dairy Package has been launched by the Scottish Government. Consultation closes on 21 January 2013.
EU News: The European Commission is holding a public consultation on the best way to improve air quality in Europe. The results of the consultation will feed into a comprehensive review of Europe's air policies due in 2013. The consultation closes on 4 March 2013.
Defra: The Government is pressing ahead with its plans to create Marine Conservation Zones (MCZs) to protect the UK’s rich marine environment. A consultation outlining the proposals for the first set of sites has been launched and will give coastal communities & those with an interest in the marine environment, the opportunity to have a say in its future.
The Government is proposing to designate around 10,900 km2 of marine habitat in the first phase this year. The 31 proposed sites provide a home to a variety of animals & plants, such as corals, jellyfish and seahorses. The area, roughly three times the size of Cornwall, will mean these are all given greater protection. The Consultation closes on 31 March 2013.
ICO: The ICO has launched a consultation on a new draft code that will help organisations handle subject access requests, while supporting the public in taking control of their personal information. During the last financial year, the ICO handled nearly 6,000 complaints from individuals unhappy that organisations were not complying with the law by allowing them to view their file.
The final version of the code will aim to clear up any confusion, by clearly & simply explaining an organisation’s legal responsibilities and individuals’ rights under the Act. Consultation closes on 21 February 2013.
HMT: The Government has published draft tax legislation, as well as responses to consultations that have taken place over the summer. The legislation will be included in Finance Bill 2013 and implements a number of tax policies announced at Budget 2012 and Autumn Statement 2012. The draft legislation is open to technical consultation until 6 February 2013.
Monitor: The sector regulator, Monitor, has set out how it proposes to enforce the rules for which it will be responsible under the new NHS regulatory regime. Monitor’s priority in exercising its new functions is to ensure that patients’ interests are protected & promoted. The consultation on Enforcement Guidance closes on Monday 11 February 2013.
The guidance comes into effect when licences are granted to foundation trusts, which is expected to be 1 April 2013. All providers of NHS Health Services will require a licence unless granted exemption by the Department of Health. The guidance also applies to new powers granted to Monitor under the 2012 Act to apply competition law in relation to the provision of healthcare services in England.
HEFCE: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) is consulting on proposals to develop a new system for alternative providers of higher education. It is envisaged that the new system will involve more robust and transparent requirements in the areas of quality assurance, financial sustainability, and management and governance. The consultation closes on 23 January 2013.
HMT: The Government has launched a formal consultation on raising the maximum interest rate cap for credit union loans from 2% per month to 3% per month. Interest rates will not increase for loans that have already been issued. It will only affect new loans where the credit union chooses to apply the 3% limit. The consultation closes on 15 March 2013.
ScotGov: New proposals for safeguards to the legal system are being proposed in the light of the responses to the Carloway consultation, published recently. The consultation responses show majority support for almost all the recommendations proposed by the independent review of Scottish law and practice, led by senior high court judge Lord Carloway. The consultation closes on 15 March 2013.
WAG: The Welsh Government has launched a consultation to ask for opinions on the delivery of diabetes care in Wales. Together for Health – A Diabetes Delivery Plan is designed to support & inform NHS efforts to prevent & treat diabetes and tackle its consequences across Wales. It also makes clear what the Welsh public can expect of NHS diabetes care by 2015 -16. Consultation closes on 15 March 2013.
EU News: The European Commission is holding a public consultation on the future development of unconventional fossil fuels such as shale gas in Europe. All interested individuals, organisations and public authorities are welcome to share their views on the possible opportunities & challenges that may arise from the development of such projects and on the best ways to address the challenges identified so far. The consultation closes on 20 March 2013.
WAG: The Welsh Government has launched a public consultation on EU regulations in the dairy sector which could help farmers negotiate a better price for their milk. The regulations, which came into force in 2012, permit producers to establish Producer Organisations, or less formal groups, to help negotiate contracts for milk supply between dairy farmers and buyers.
The regulations also provide options to formalise milk supply contracts, along with a simplified approach to monthly reporting by milk processors. Mr Davies encouraged all interested parties to put forward their views by 21 January 2013.
FRC: The International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (IAASB) recently issued an exposure draft of International Standard on Auditing (ISA) 720 (Revised) “The Auditor’s Responsibilities Relating to Other Information in Documents Containing or Accompanying Audited Financial Statements and the Auditor’s Report Thereon”.
This proposes significant revisions to the current ISA, which is used as the basis for the Financial Reporting Council’s equivalent standard, ISA (UK and Ireland) 720 Section A. The FRC would welcome comments from interested parties on the IAASB exposure draft by 15 February 2013, before it finalises its response to the IAASB.
MoJ: New measures to bring down the number & cost of whiplash claims, including speculative & fraudulent applications have been announced. Insurers estimate they add £90 a year to the average motor insurance policy. The consultation (closes on 8 March 2013) – See ‘In the News Section’ for more information
