General Reports and Other Publications
JRF: A new study, released by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, looks at international evidence of the role benefit sanctions can play in welfare reform, whether they are effective at encouraging people into work in the short- or long-term, and if they have unintended consequences. The report was produced to inform the debate on changes to the benefit system, and to provide evidence in the formation of sanctions policies.
KF: A call to reduce the unnecessary use of hospital beds for patients with mental health problems who could be cared for in the community is among the recommendations in a new report published by The King’s Fund and the Centre for Mental Health.
The report – published ahead of a cross-government mental health strategy due shortly – argues for radical changes in the delivery of mental health services to improve patient care & increase productivity.
Press release ~ Mental health and the productivity challenge: Improving quality and value for money ~ Quality in a Cold Climate programme ~ Royal College of Psychiatrists ~ NHS Confederation Mental Health Network ~ The King’s Fund ~ The Centre for Mental Health
HEFCE: A survey of the public carried out by Ipsos MORI shows strong support for public investment in higher education (HE) and that its benefits to the UK are clearly recognised. The final report on the survey was published recently following publication of a summary report in September by Universities UK.
Press release ~ Final report on public perceptions of the benefits of HE ~ Summary report published by Universities UK
BIS: The Innovation and Growth Team (IGT), which is drawn from the construction industry, was tasked by the government to consider how the construction sector could meet the low carbon agenda. Its report said lowering the net UK carbon account in 2050 to at least 80% lower than the 1990 baseline will require a ‘quantum change’ in the industry’s response to this challenge. The report highlights 4 themes that government & industry need to engage on to rise to the carbon challenge.
Defra: New research has found that British businesses voluntarily reporting their greenhouse gas emissions experience benefits such as cost savings, improved green credentials, and better relations with investors & customers. Research found that businesses who measured their emissions were using the results to set targets for reduction and also in a much broader context to influence wider business plans.
Defra has also published a total carbon footprint of UK central Government from 1990 to 2008. This includes the emissions from sources such as buildings, vehicles and other equipment. For the first time, it also includes the ‘embedded emissions’ of the goods and services bought by Government.
Press release ~ Review of the contribution of reporting to GHG emissions reductions and associated costs and benefits ~ Defra: Measuring and reporting environmental impacts ~ Carbon Disclosure Project ~ A Greenhouse Gas Footprint Analysis of UK Central Government 1990-2008 ~ Government’s Greening Government Operations and Procurement Action Plan
Newswire – Unicef: Achieving an AIDS-free generation is possible if ‘the international community steps up its efforts to reach universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, and social protection’, according to Unicef’s ‘Children and AIDS: Fifth Stocktaking Report 2010’.
Press release (& link to report)
IfG: The minimum wage, devolution, privatisation and the Northern Ireland peace process were named as the most successful policies of the last 30 years in a survey of the UK's politics academics conducted by the Institute for Government. 150 members of the Political Studies Association from 69 institutions replied to the survey, part of the Institute for Government's Better Policy Making Project.
The IfG and the PSA are now holding a series of policy reunions with those involved in some of the 'successful' policies to understand in more depth what drove those successes.
Press release ~ Download the survey results ~ Policy Making: What worked? ~ Institute for Government's Better Policy Making project ~ Institute's series of policy reunions ~ Political Studies Association
CPA: The Committee of Public Accounts has published a report on government funding for renewable energy technologies.
NAO: The Comptroller and Auditor General, Amyas Morse, has qualified the Social Fund White Paper Account for the seventh consecutive year. The account has been qualified because of material levels of error in discretionary awards, which include Budgeting Loans, Crisis Loans and Community Care Grants, and in Funeral Expense Payments. He has also qualified his opinion on Sure Start Maternity Grants, for the first time, because of the level of error found in these payments.
nef: New research, published recently by nef (the new economics foundation) with the support of the Barrow Cadbury Trust, finds that Government plans to cap immigration will mean our ageing population may become acutely difficult to support by 2040.
nef predicts that the combined effects of the immigration cap, a decline in global migration and increased international competition for talent mean migration to the UK will start dropping off after 2030, falling dramatically by 2050. According to the report this steep decline in immigration will coincide with the peak in our dependency ratio, with adverse consequences for the economy and the welfare state.
Newswire – HAC: There should be a cooling-off period of 4 years if a former senior police officer decides to stand as a Police & Crime Commissioner in the same area in which they have served, says a report by the Commons Home Affairs Committee.
Newswire – ECCC: Coalition plans to introduce an Emissions Performance Standard (EPS) – to limit emissions from power stations – are necessary to meet the UK’s carbon budgets & develop new technology, but are likely to increase energy prices, according to a new report by MPs on the Energy & Climate Chamge Committee.
Newswire – WAO: Little progress has been made in improving the planning & delivery of housing services for people with mental health needs. That is the conclusion of a report, published by the Auditor General for Wales.
Despite clear expectations set out in the Assembly Government’s National Service Framework for adult mental health, the report found that poor progress has been made in delivering the WAG’s targets, strategic planning remains of poor quality, and joint planning between local health, social care & housing service providers was not always effective. WAG’s monitoring against the delivery of its housing targets has also been ineffective.
Newswire – TC: In its first report to the new parliament, the Transport Committee is calling on ministers to strengthen police enforcement of the drink-drive limit. They also call on ministers to retain the current 12-month mandatory disqualification minimum penalty.
Press release ~ Transport Committee report: Drink and drug driving law ~ Transport Committee report: Drink and drug driving law - additional written evidence ~ Drink and drug driving inquiry page
Newswire - CSM: The 2010 Female FTSE report from Cranfield School of Management has revealed ‘another year of barely noticeable change in the number of women in leadership positions of the UK’s top 100 companies’. This year the report takes a retrospective look at companies who have consistently performed well on gender diversity and those that have failed to make any progress.
CSM press release ~ CBI comment PR ~ CSM: The FTSE female index 2010 ~ International Centre for Women Leaders
FSA: The Health Protection Agency has published a report of outbreaks of campylobacter food poisoning linked to chicken liver products. The Food Standards Agency is therefore reminding caterers to make sure chicken liver is cooked thoroughly.
Data provided by the HPA shows that 11 of the 15 outbreaks of campylobacter recorded this year at catering premises (such as restaurants and hotels) were linked to consuming poultry liver parfait or pâté. This is a substantial increase compared with previous years.
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