Consultations

DFID: The public consultation (close on 31 January 2011) ) on the reform of CDC, the UK owned development finance institution, announced by the Secretary of State for International Development, Andrew Mitchell, began on Friday 5 November 2010.
 
The consultation will enable interested parties to submit evidence based ideas, via an online survey, on which approaches CDC should focus on to maximise its development impact, and how it can best catalyse private investment. The consultation will include 2 half-day technical roundtable discussions and a number of studies to inform the reform of CDC.
Press release ~ Reforming CDC consultation
 
HO: Members of the public can have their say on a review into the UK's extradition arrangements. Extradition is the process which allows countries to make formal requests to each other for the return of suspects to stand trial for a crime in the country it was committed.
 
An independent review of the UK's extradition laws was announced by the Home Secretary in September.  As part of that review, the public has until 31 December 2010 to contribute views. You can put forward your views by email to: extradition.review@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk.
Press release
 
Defra: The Government is calling for the public to contribute ideas on ways to improve the way we care for one of England’s biggest assets – our National Parks

Local people & communities are being given the opportunity to share concerns & suggestions with their National Park Authority, or Broads Authority, as part of a consultation (closes on 1 February 2011). Defra will consider proposals for individual parks, together with suggestions that will affect all parks, and publish a response in Spring 2011.
Press release ~ Consultation on the Governance arrangements for the National Parks and the Broads
 
Defra: A consultation (closes on 14 January 2011) on proposals to replace or amend the Controlled Waste Regulations (1992) relating to certain non-domestic properties has been launched by Defra & the Welsh Assembly Government. 

Any changes would affect all premises listed in Schedule 2 of the Controlled Waste Regulations, these include: self catering holiday accommodation/caravan parks; hospitals; schools/colleges; prisons; and care homes.
Press release ~ Review of the Controlled Waste Regulations ~ Schedule 2 institutions (scroll down)
 
EHRC: The Equality and Human Rights Commission has launched a major inquiry into the human rights of older people requiring or receiving home-based care.  Older people receiving home-based care are acutely vulnerable to human rights violations, yet the duties & responsibilities of those providing, commissioning, funding or regulating the care and support system are far from clear.
 
Currently, over a 1m older people receive care & support in their own home, with a smaller proportion – an estimated 173,000- in residential care.  81% of publicly funded home care is provided by the independent sector, up from 2% in 1992. 

However, most independent providers are likely to be operating outside the direct reach of the Human Rights Act because they are not considered to be performing a ‘public function’.  The Inquiry will publish its findings & recommendations in December 2011.
Press release ~ Find out more about the home care Inquiry ~ Mapping Long-Term Care Markets ~ Commission for Social Care Inspection (2009) ~ Older people in the United Kingdom May 2010
 
FSA: The Financial Services Authority (FSA) has published a consultation paper (closes on 9 February 2011) outlining changes to the FSA Handbook following the Government’s confirmation of the workplace pension reforms. The policy proposals broadly fall into 2 categories:
* the use of group personal pensions (GPPs) for automatic enrolment
* protecting consumers in the changing pension landscape
Press release ~ CP10/26: Pension reform – Conduct of business changes
 
FSA: The Food Standards Agency has begun a consultation (closes on 1 February 2011) on proposals to charge the UK meat industry the full cost of official controls on meat.  The consultation includes a commitment by the FSA to further reduce the cost of these ‘meat official controls’ in Great Britain from £55.5m to £50m over the next 4 years.
Press release ~ A new approach to charges for official controls on meat in England: delivering efficiency and reform ~ Ditto in Northern Ireland ~ Ditto in Scotland ~ Ditto in Wales ~ Board meeting video: 10 November 2009
 
FSA: The Financial Services Authority (FSA) has published a consultation on the implementation of remuneration disclosure requirements based on those set out in the Capital Requirements Directive (CRD3).  The consultation period closes on 8 December 2010 and the FSA intends to publish a policy statement on remuneration disclosure in mid-December.
Press release  ~ CP10/27: Implementing CRD3 requirements on the disclosure of remuneration ~ FSB’s standards and principles ~ CEBS Guidelines ~ CP10/19 ‘Revising the Remuneration Code’
 
EU News: The European Commission has launched a public consultation on the successor to the Competitiveness & Innovation Framework Programme 2007-2013 (CIP).  

The CIP is the main EU budgetary instrument targeting competitiveness outside the research and skills areas.  Its main priorities are SMEs, access to finance, innovation (including eco-innovation), take-up and use of information and communication technologies (ICT), energy efficiency and renewables.

Through the consultation, the public is invited to have its say on what the priorities of future competitiveness & innovation EU funding should be.  The consultation will remain open until 4 February 2011.
Press release ~ Consultation ~ EC: Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme (CIP)
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