Consultations
DWP: The Government has launched a consultation (closes on 17 October 2011) into employment services for disabled people and is seeking views on the recommendations put forward by RADAR Chief Executive Liz Sayce.
The Government is also publishing its response to the Sayce Review, ‘Getting in, staying in and getting on’, which recommends that employment support should be focused on the individual and not the institution, so disabled people can access jobs across the economy - rather than in segregated employment.
The Government is also publishing its response to the Sayce Review, ‘Getting in, staying in and getting on’, which recommends that employment support should be focused on the individual and not the institution, so disabled people can access jobs across the economy - rather than in segregated employment.
HMT: The Government has issued a call for evidence (closes on 19 September 2011) as part of its consideration of the integration of the operation of the income tax and National Insurance contributions systems, announced at Budget 2011.
This is a preliminary stage of consultation, and aims to build a strong evidence base on the burdens to employers of having to operate two different systems. Responses to this call for evidence will inform the Government’s proposals for reform, on which it will consult in the autumn.
This is a preliminary stage of consultation, and aims to build a strong evidence base on the burdens to employers of having to operate two different systems. Responses to this call for evidence will inform the Government’s proposals for reform, on which it will consult in the autumn.
The call for evidence document poses 14 questions, the majority of which focus on the burdens employers & payroll professionals face in paying income tax & NICs through the Pay As You Earn system. For example, how much staff time & other resource is required to manage the systems, which aspects of the process currently work well and how often problems are encountered when calculating payments.
NICE: The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has opened its consultation (closes on 4 August 2011) on the use of a device that can help improve the outcome of a specific type of heart surgery.
CABG surgery is performed to treat heart disease where the major arteries have become narrowed or blocked. A blood vessel is taken from another part of the patient's body and used to ‘bypass' the affected section of artery by attaching it above & below the blockage or narrowing. The new section of blood vessel is called a graft.
CABG surgery is performed to treat heart disease where the major arteries have become narrowed or blocked. A blood vessel is taken from another part of the patient's body and used to ‘bypass' the affected section of artery by attaching it above & below the blockage or narrowing. The new section of blood vessel is called a graft.
NICE: NICE has published a draft guideline on the initial assessment & referral following emergency treatment for a suspected anaphylactic episode or a severe allergic reaction. The draft NICE short clinical guideline, Anaphylaxis: assessment to confirm an anaphylactic episode and the decision to refer after emergency treatment for a suspected anaphylactic episode is available until 5.00pm, Monday 8 August 2011.
Defra: A consultation on including proposed major sewers within the existing planning process for major infrastructure projects has been launched by Defra (closes on Wednesday 5 October 2011).
DfT: Coastguard stations will be better coordinated & more resilient to the challenges of the coming decades under updated modernisation proposals announced last week by Transport Secretary, Philip Hammond. Under existing arrangements, neighbouring stations are 'paired', allowing them to provide back-up to one another when needed. This announcement means that one station in each pair is retained.
Under the proposals the Coastguard stations at Clyde, Forth, Portland, Liverpool, Yarmouth, Brixham, Thames and Swansea would close progressively over the period 2012 to 2014/15. The station at Solent will be replaced by a new Maritime Operations Centre in the Portsmouth/Southampton area.
There will now be the opportunity for people to comment (by 6 October 2011) on those elements of the announcement which differ from the original proposals.
Press release & links ~ HM Coastguard Proposals for Modernisation Consultation - July 2011 ~ PCS response
DfT: Passengers using Heathrow and communities around the airport could benefit from reduced delays, less stacking and fewer unscheduled night flights at the UK's busiest airport, as part of a trial of new measures announced by Aviation Minister, Theresa Villiers.
The measures are set out in the final report by the Government's South East Airports Taskforce and are focused on making Heathrow more resilient and better able to recover on days when the airport’s operations are disrupted by poor weather or other problems.
When such problems occur, these proposals would allow, exceptionally, both Heathrow's runways to be used simultaneously for either arrivals or departures as a way to cut delays & cancellations and get punctuality back on track. Trials of the new measures will be run over the autumn & summer 2012.
When such problems occur, these proposals would allow, exceptionally, both Heathrow's runways to be used simultaneously for either arrivals or departures as a way to cut delays & cancellations and get punctuality back on track. Trials of the new measures will be run over the autumn & summer 2012.
The Taskforce also endorsed plans for a switch to a smarter, more effective and more passenger-friendly airport security regime for all UK airports - details of which have also been published for consultation (closes on 7 November 2011).
EU News: Digital technology & the internet are rapidly changing the way in which audiovisual works are produced, marketed, & distributed. Consumers increasingly expect to be able to watch anything, anywhere, any time and via any one of a number of devices (TV, personal computer, games console, mobile media device). Business models have to evolve rapidly to keep pace with the ever faster pace of technological change which offers new opportunities for creators & distributors and also new consumer expectations and ultimately more growth & jobs.
To gather views on how Europe can seize these opportunities and move towards a digital single market, the European Commission has published a Green Paper, which serves as the basis for a debate on whether & how the regulatory framework needs to be adapted to allow European industry to develop new business models, creators to find new distribution channels and European consumers to have better access to content throughout Europe.
The views of all interested parties are sought (until 18 November 2011) on various aspects of online distribution of audiovisual works such as films, documentaries, TV dramas, cartoons etc.
The views of all interested parties are sought (until 18 November 2011) on various aspects of online distribution of audiovisual works such as films, documentaries, TV dramas, cartoons etc.
Press release & links ~ Green Paper on the online distribution of audiovisual works in the European Union: opportunities and challenges towards a digital single market
ScotGov: Plans to make the Crofters Commission more democratic & accountable have been unveiled by Environment Minister, Stewart Stevenson. The proposals recommend that the majority of the Crofters Commission (to be renamed the Crofting Commission from April 2012) should be elected by crofters.
A consultation (closes on October 5, 2011) on the draft plans also covers the constituency boundaries for the elections and who should be eligible to vote.
A consultation (closes on October 5, 2011) on the draft plans also covers the constituency boundaries for the elections and who should be eligible to vote.
EU News: The European Commission has launched a debate on the future of promotion & information schemes for EU agricultural products. With the publication of a Green Paper on these issues, the Commission is looking at how to shape a more targeted & more ambitious strategy for the future, which will make clearer to consumers – both in the EU & beyond - the quality, traditions and added-value of European agricultural & food products.
The paper raises a series of multi-faceted questions and invites all stakeholders - consumers, producers, distributors & official authorities - to give their comments & suggestions by September 30, 2011. On the basis of these responses, the Commission will draft a Communication for publication next year, which should then lead to legislative proposals.
