Consultations

CLG:  A new, ‘simpler framework for the planning system that safeguards the environment while meeting the need for sustainable growth’ has been published for consultation (closes on 17 October 2011) by Planning Minister, Greg Clark.  

Ministers are inviting views on the draft National Planning Policy Framework - which streamlines national policy from over 1,000 pages to just 52 pages of policy - as part of a consultation to get the planning system right for current & future generations. 

The draft Framework draws on responses to an initial call for evidence earlier in the year.  Consultation workshops have been arranged across the country to hear directly from people with an interest.  The Government intends to consult on simplifying other guidance on national policy as the next step.

Press release & links ~ WWF comment

Ofsted:  Ofsted has launched a consultation (closes on 30 September 2011) on changes to the inspection of local authority children’s services.  The proposals focus on the child’s journey as a key element in the inspection of child protection and for children in care.  Through inspection, the changes aim to improve the services children receive and how these impact on their lives.

The review of the inspection system follows the recommendations from The Munro Review of Child Protection: Final report; A child-centred system. The new arrangements are due to be implemented in May 2012.  It is proposed that inspection will look at all stages of a child’s experience from early intervention right through to when a child is referred to the children’s social care services and on to their exit from the child protection system.  

Press release ~ Arrangements for the inspection of local authority children’s services

Defra:  Defra has launched a consultation (closes on 17 October 2011) on proposals for reforming the registration system for town & village greens.  The proposals in this consultation will not prevent the protection of any existing registered greens and any changes to the registration system will not bring the designation of new greens to an end.

It asks whether the registration system can strike a better balance between protecting quality green spaces valued by local people and securing the new homes, jobs & essential infrastructure the country needs.

Press release & links

NICE:  Draft guidance from NICE's Diagnostics Assessment Programme on 2 genetic tests used to diagnose familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH) have been issued for consultation. The provisional recommendations do not support the use of the Elucigene and LIPOchip tests in the NHS in for the confirmation of a clinical diagnosis of FH or for the screening of relatives of people with confirmed FH.  The consultation closes on 23 August 2011 and final guidance is expected to be published in December 2011.

Press release & links

FSA:  An independent committee of scientists appointed by the FSA has considered an application from a Spanish company for approval to market cockerel combs extract as a novel food ingredient. Views are wanted on the expert committee’s draft opinion.  Any comments on the draft opinion should be emailed to the ACNFP secretariat by Saturday 6 August 2011. The comments will be considered by the committee before it finalises its opinion on this novel food ingredient.

Press release & links

Ofcom:  Phone users with hearing and/or speech impairments stand to benefit from new measures being proposed for consultation (closes on 20 October 2011) by Ofcom.  By law, communications providers must provide ‘text relay’ services for disabled consumers. This involves a relay assistant converting typed messages into speech and then back again, allowing consumers with hearing and/or speech impairments to communicate on the phone.

Ofcom research has found that these conversations can be slow and sometimes fail to flow naturally.  Ofcom is therefore proposing to upgrade services by introducing a number of modifications to bring the experience more in line with voice communications.  This includes a new feature that will allow users to interject during a conversation, instead of having to wait until the end of a message.  Ofcom is also setting out options for the introduction of video relay for British Sign Language (BSL) users.

Press release & links

OFT:  The Office of Fair Trading has provisionally decided to refer the market for statutory audit services to large companies in the to the Competition Commission for a market investigation.  A final decision will be taken following a 6-week consultation period.  Interested parties wishing to respond to the consultation can send written representations to the OFT before 9 September 2011 by email.

Press release & links

DH:  The Department of Health has launched a consultation (closes on 21 October 2011) on proposed changes to the level of contributions made by NHS Pension Scheme members towards their pension – See also ‘In the News’ section for more information.

Editor’s Note
:  The DH has agreed that the examples could be ‘clearer’.  For example ‘As a manager working full-time earning £60,000  ……………  you will earn pension of £1,000 per year, with the option to exchange some of this for a tax free lump sum, payable at age 65’.  

This means that for an ‘effective (net) contribution rate of 5.1%, equivalent to £3,060 per annum’ that one year’s lump sum payment would earn a pension of £1,000 per year at age 65.  One’s actual total final pension would be made up of many years worth of ‘one year’s lump sum’ payments. 
Press release & links

DfE:  The Department for Education has launched a consultation (closes on 20 October 2011) on proposed changes to the contribution rate for employees in the Teachers’ Pension Scheme.   See also ‘In the News’ section for more information.

Press release & links

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