Consultations
CLG: The government has launched a consultation (closes 7 March 2008) into how Government can best support faith communities' engagement with one another and with their local communities.
The consultation ‘Face-to-Face and Side-by-Side’ looks at the work that is already underway and considers what support might be given to facilitate greater inter faith dialogue & inter faith activity in order that faith groups can continue to make a positive difference within the wider community.
Press release ~ Face-to-Fa ce and Side-by-Side ~ CLG – Race, Cohesion and faith ~ Building Bridges Pendle project
Defra: Increasing the level of recycling & reducing some of the 700m batteries that go to landfill annually are at the heart of new government plans. The proposals, which are set out in a Government consultation (closes on 12 March 2008), look at the best way to improve the environmental performance of new batteries and ensure collection, treatment & recycling of waste batteries.
They apply to batteries of all shapes, volumes, weights, types and uses, and, will help the UK implement the EU's Batteries and Accumulators Directive. Member States are required to transpose the Directive into national law by 26 September 2008.
Defra: Defra is consulting (closes 25 March 2008) on draft legislation that will deliver, in UK law, strengthened definitions of Scotch Whisky, to help support action against counterfeiting and passing-off, as called for by the Scotch Whisky Association. These provisions will also tightly define Scotch Whisky's geographical provenance - such as Highland or Islay - and ensure that if the product uses the name of a distillery then it must also come from that distillery.
The proposed UK legislation will put enforcement provisions in place to underpin the new EC Spirit Drinks Regulations and protection of the Scotch Whisky Geographical Indication.
A parallel consultation for UK legislation covering all spirit drinks (including EC provisions relating to Scotch Whisky) to introduce obligatory enforcement arrangements for the new EC Spirit Drinks Regulations has also been launched.
Press release ~ Consult ation package on the Scotch Whisky Regulations ~ Parall el consultation package on the Spirit Drinks Regulations ~ Scotch Whisky Association ~ New whisky law welcomed ~ Geographical Indication ~ ScotGov
The standards are titled: *accessing the service; *information provision & communication with individual patients; *assessment; *developing & implementing an individual management plan communication; *support & collaborative working and *professional competence.
ScotGov: Scottish Councils are being encouraged to identify & release more land for housing under a new planning policy released for consultation. The Scottish Government’s draft Scottish Planning Policy 3: Planning for Housing (SPP3) is intended to facilitate new land supply for housing development and ensure best use is made of existing housing land allocations.
The consultation will close on 31 March 2008, with publication of the final revised SPP 3 intended for summer 2008.
Press release ~ Draft Scottish Planning Policy 3: Planning for Housing (SPP3) ~ Firm Foundations: The Future of Housing in Scotland: A discussion document ~ ScotGov – Planning & Building ~ Scottish Federation of Housing Associatons ~ Communities Scotland
Press release ~ Draft Scottish Planning Policy 3: Planning for Housing (SPP3) ~ Firm Foundations: The Future of Housing in Scotland: A discussion document ~ ScotGov – Planning & Building ~ Scottish Federation of Housing Associatons ~ Communities Scotland
SGC: Drivers who kill after flagrantly ignoring the rules of the road and disregard the danger they pose to others should be given jail terms of at least seven years, recommends a draft guideline published for consultation (closing date for responses is Monday 10 March 2008).
The Council’s consultation guideline covers four offences:
* causing death by dangerous driving
* causing death by careless driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
* causing death by careless driving and causing death by driving
* unlicensed, disqualified or uninsured drivers
Press release ~ Consultation guideline: Causing death by driving ~ Covering letter for causing death by driving consultation guideline ~ Advice: Driving offences – causing death by driving ~ Research report: Attitudes to the sentencing of offences involving death by driving ~ Sentencing Guidelines Council (SGC) ~ Sentencing Advisory Panel
ScotGov: A consultation (closes 1 April 2008) is underway in Scotland on plans for greater public involvement in the NHS and direct elections to health boards. The proposed Local Healthcare Bill will seek to enhance the role patients and the public play in decisions about how local health services are designed & delivered.
The consultation is divided into two parts - the first seeks views on how existing processes could be strengthened to enhance public involvement, and the second part asks for views on introducing direct elections to health boards.
Press release ~ Consultation Document: Local Healthcare Bill ~ ScotGov - Health & Community Care ~ Scottish Health Council ~ Scottish Health, Better Care Action Plan
DCSF: All parents will get regular electronic reports on their children's progress in future - going far beyond the traditional annual school report, according to Schools Minister Jim Knight. All secondary schools will be expected to have 'real-time' reporting systems up & running by 2010 and primary schools two years later.
‘Real-time reporting’ means parents will be able to access frequently updated information on children's achievement, progress, attendance, behaviour and special needs wherever, whenever they want - using secure, online systems. To facilitate access, the government is consulting on universal home access technology (closes on 2 April 2008).
Press release ~ C onsultation on the best way to achieve universal home access ~ Becta – Parental engagement ~ Beyond Current Horizons ~ Harnessing Technology Grant ~ Computers for Pupils scheme ~ Byron Review
ScotGov: A consultation (closes 9 April 2008) on clinical standards for adult hearing rehabilitation services in Scotland has been launched by the Scottish Government. During February 2008, public meetings will be held in Glasgow and Dundee to provide an opportunity to comment on the draft guidelines.
The standards are titled: *accessing the service; *information provision & communication with individual patients; *assessment; *developing & implementing an individual management plan communication; *support & collaborative working and *professional competence.
Press release ~ Draft Quality Standards for Adult Hearing Rehabilitation Services consultation ~ Scottish Audiology Services Advisory Group ~ NHS Quality Improvement Scotland
DIUS: Public funding for English language teaching should be targeted where it will have the biggest impact on community cohesion & integration, the government has announced. The consultation (closes 4 April 2008) follows a report published last year by the Commission for Integration and Cohesion – See ‘Policy Statements and Initiatives’ above.
CLG: The government has launched proposals (submissions by 20 March, 2008) under whichcouncils would be legally required to respond to petitions gaining significant local support, which could be on any issue for which the local council has responsibility, from abandoned vehicles to youth services. Currently there is no requirement for councils to respond to petitions, no matter how many people sign up – See ‘In the News’ above.
ScotGov: Nine infrastructure projects have been identified as potential national developments in the Scotland’s second National Planning Framework, just published for consultation (closes 15 April 2008), which outlines a vision for Scotland's development to 2030 – See ‘In the News’ above.
HMRC: HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has published three further consultation documents (closing on 6 March 2008) as part of HMRC's work to modernise its powers, deterrents and the accompanying safeguards – See ‘Business and other Briefings’ below.
