Consultations

DH: A consultation (closes on 11 December 2009) seeking views on how students studying to be nurses, midwives & doctors should be funded in their studies has been launched. It forms part of the NHS Student Support Review and will primarily seek views as to the best option for resolving the discrepancy of support available to degree & diploma students.
 
Currently the NHS offers bursaries to healthcare students studying diplomas and degree level courses.  However, the current system provides an incentive for students to opt for a diploma over a degree because they can receive additional funding, which is not mean-tested.
 
As the Nursing and Midwifery Council has indicated that the minimum qualification for new entry into the profession will, in the near future, be changed to a degree; the DH is keen to ensure that the system will adequately support students throughout their studies.  A final recommendation will be announced in early 2010.
Press release ~ Supporting our future NHS workforce: a consultation on the NHS Bursary Scheme ~ NHS Student Support Review
 
MoJ: A debate on aspects of defamation law & how it works in the internet age, has been launched by the Ministry of Justice. Part of the law on defamation originates from the 1840s, long before the internet arrived and changed the way that opinions & comment are often communicated.  The consultation (closes on 16 December 2009) seeks views on specific issues (including those around the multiple publication rule) that could interest anybody who posts or publishes on the internet, particularly those who maintain online archives.
 
Currently (for example), a defamation claim has to be made within a year of publication.  But the internet now allows content to be accessed immediately and for many years into the future.  So does this time limit need to be changed and how might that work?
 
This consultation is part of a wider reform of defamation law currently underway, which includes the decriminalisation of seditious libel that is currently before Parliament and a consultation earlier this year on controlling costs in defamation proceedings, the responses to which are currently being considered by the Ministry of Justice.
Press release ~ Consultation ~ Controlling costs in defamation proceedings
 
DfT: Cyclists will be allowed to ride in both directions on a number of one way streets as part of a series of measures to encourage greener travel.  The pilot project in the LB of Kensington & Chelsea will allow cyclists to travel both ways on specific one way roads in the borough where a 'no entry except for cyclists' sign will be used.
 
Proposals to significantly reduce red tape for councils wanting to use certain traffic signs have also been published for consultation (closes on 10 December 2009).  The new measures will allow councils to put in place certain signs - including those for car club parking spaces, electric car charging points and cyclists - without the need for Government to approve their use individually.
Press release ~ DfT's Traffic Signs Review ~ Consultation on amendments to the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions
 
WAG: The Welsh Assembly Government have set out for consultation (closes on 16 December 2009) how it plans to use new powers to protect the seas around Wales by creating Marine Conservation Zones (MCZs). Through the Marine and Coastal Access Bill, Welsh Ministers will have the ability to create these zones to protect nationally important habitats and species.
 
The new strategy, as well as underlining WAG’s ongoing commitment to managing existing sites effectively, will establish 'The MCZ Project Wales' that will look into & recommend sites for designating as new MCZs.
Press release ~ Protecting Welsh Seas - A draft strategy for marine protected areas in Wales ~ Marine and Coastal Access Bill – Research Paper for Wales ~ WAG – Marine Bill ~ Countryside Council for Wales – Report Stage Brief ~ MWAG - Marine Protected Areas ~ JNCC - Different types of MPAs
 
MPA:  The MPA Civil Liberties Panel met on 17 September 2009 to question 3 senior Met officers, with responsibility for public order policing, about the tactics used in recent events, and specifically G20.  Assistant Commissioner Chris Allison, Commander Bob Broadhurst and Chief Superintendent Ian Thomas, were asked to explain why they had used certain tactics such as ‘kettling’, and how the Met intends to ensure lessons learnt & public expectations are fed into future public order planning.
 
Victoria Borwick, MPA member and chair of the panel said: “We will be inviting people from all sides of the issue - protestors, police, business groups and people caught up in protests as they go about their daily business - to ask them what they want from their police service during a public order event.” 
 
If you are interested in attending the meeting on 5 November 2009, or wish to submit a question, details will be on the MPA website by the beginning of October.
Press release ~ MPA Civil Liberties Panel
 
DefraDefra has launched a public consultation (closes on 13 November 2009) on the implementation of new European legislation concerning the classification of beef, pig & sheep carcases and the reporting of prices. The European Commission has recently consolidated legislation governing agricultural commodity markets into a single common organisation of the markets.  In the meat sector this now incorporates 3 earlier regulations setting rules on the classification of and price reporting on beef, sheep and pig carcases.
 
The impact on the livestock sector of the proposed Regulations is expected to be small.  Those affected are operators of approved slaughterhouses killing adult bovine animals & pigs, classifiers of bovine animals & pigs, and beef & pig farmers.  
Press release ~ Consultation on the beef and pig carcase classification (England) regulations 2009
 
MoJ: Plans to help people solve their debt problems as quickly & fairly as possible have been published by the government. The consultation paper (closes on 18 December 2009) - Debt Management Schemes – delivering effective and balanced solutions for debtors and creditors - asks for views on how Debt Management (DM) Schemes can help people in debt – and their creditors – as effectively as possible.
 
DM schemes are designed to assist those who are in debt and are unable to meet their commitments.  In these situations finances are assessed and a monthly repayment deal is brokered with all their creditors which all sides agree to and the debtor is able to maintain.  Later this year, the Office of Fair Trading plans to launch a review of its DM Guidance to obtain a clearer picture of compliance levels within the DM sector and take appropriate follow-up action.

This consultation is published in conjunction with the government response to another consultation – Administration and Enforcement Restriction Orders: setting the parameters – which looked at reforming existing measures designed to help people with multiple debt.  However, it would not have been possible to implement these reforms until April 2011 at the earliest.
 
More immediately, the government plans to raise awareness about the benefits & pitfalls of current DM schemes by publishing guidance on what to expect from non-court based operators to help debtors better understand their options.
Press release ~ Debt Management Schemes – delivering effective and balanced solutions for debtors and creditors ~ The government response to the consultation Administration and Enforcement Restriction Orders: Setting the Parameters and the consultation ~ White Paper: A Better Deal for Consumers: Delivering Real Help Now and Change for the Future ~ The Insolvency Service: In debt? Dealing with Your Creditors ~ The Insolvency ServiceOFT - Debt Management practices
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