General Reports and Other Publications

DH: The number of children achieving their 5 A DAY target has increased according to a report out by the Department of Health.  The Further Evaluation of The School Fruit and Vegetable Scheme shows that the scheme is working and could contribute to a reduction of heart disease, stroke and cancer later in life.
 
Figures show that the number of children achieving 5 A DAY has increased from 27% in March 2004 to 44% in November 2006 and the number of portions consumed has also increased to a point where on average 50% of children in the scheme are close to achieving their 5 A DAY target.
Press release ~ Further Evaluation of The School Fruit and Vegetable Scheme ~ DH – 5 A Day ~ 5 A DAY - NHS
 
ScotGov: Maps which identify areas of urban Scotland and near major transport arteries which could have high levels of ambient noise have been published by the Scottish Government. The strategic maps of Glasgow, Edinburgh and Scotland's main transport network and airports have been drawn up in accordance with the European Union's Environmental Noise Directive (END) which requires all Member States to do so by the end of this year for its major urban areas and transport centres.
 
Member states are then required to use the maps to develop Action Plans by July 2008.  This process is to be repeated five yearly.
Press release ~ Scottish Noise Mapping ~ Environmental Noise Issues ~ SEPA ~ Environmental Noise Directive Consultation Responses ~ Defra – Noise research
 
DWP: A survey of 1,500 GPs has found that 64% are unaware of the evidence that work is beneficial for physical and mental health. However, nearly 90% said that if they knew of this evidence, it would affect the advice they give to their patients.
 
Evidence published last year found that being in work can help people with a health condition to get better; and returning to work from unemployment improves health. Work can be intrinsic to health & wellbeing, boosting self-esteem and quality of life.
 
As part of its Health, Work and Well-being Strategy, the government has developed a series of initiatives to support & educate healthcare professionals on the health risks of unemployment, the consequences of signing people off long-term sick, and how they can help patients stay in or return to work. 
 
Other initiatives include an online training tool for GPs to assist in difficult consultations with patients on remaining in or returning to work.
Press release ~ Executive Summary - Is Work Good for your Health and Well-being? ~ Is Work good for your Patient's Health and Wellbeing? ~ DWP - Welfare Reform - In work, better off: next steps to full employment ~ Government's Health Work and Well-being (HWWB) strategy ~ HSE - Managing sickness absence & return to work ~ Faculty of Occupational Medicine statement ~ Doctors.Net ~ Health and Well-being of Working Age People ~ Workplace Health Connect
 
PCS: The publication of the House of Commons Committee of Public Accounts into - The Delays in Administering the 2005 Single Payment Scheme in England - has led to the PCS union echoing the committee's finding that civil service job cuts were a major factor in the delays surrounding the scheme.
 
The union which represents staff working at the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) supports the committee's finding that the agency axed too many experienced staff at the same time as trying to introduce the single payment scheme.  During 2005-06 the agency cut 1,000 jobs as it sought to meet its Gershon target of 1,800 job losses, this led to the RPA spending £14.3 million on temporary agency staff to fill the gaps.
 
The union also called on the government to learn the lessons of the RPA and to reassess its job cuts programme which has also led to backlogs and delays in Jobcentres and Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs.
Press release ~ Committee of Public Accounts into - The Delays in Administering the 2005 Single Payment Scheme in England ~ NAO report ~ Rural Payments Agency (RPA) ~ Public and Commercial Services Union
 
TfL: Transport for London (TfL) has published its Rail Freight Strategy which proposes measures to remove between 110 and 176 million lorry miles from UK roads each year - significantly reducing harmful gas emissions and road accidents.
 
The document sets out TfL’s proposals for the next ten years in support of the Mayor’s priorities on greenhouse gases, congestion and road accidents.  It also contains toolkits to help Borough officers with planning procedures for potential rail freight sites.
Press release ~ Strategy and the toolkits
 
CEL: The Centre for Excellence in Leadership (CEL) has commissioned a second independent evaluation of its work across the further education system. The latest research assessed whether there had been improvements, especially around leadership and management, since the provider’s last ALI or Ofsted inspection.
 
It also sought to identify evidence of any correlation between CEL engagement and subsequent improvement in leadership being recognised in the inspection process. The evaluation found a very high level of correlation between CEL engagement and improved performance, predominantly in leadership and management.
Press release ~ Review of FE provider inspection reports ~ Review of CEL’s impact in the FE sector ~ Centre for Excellence in Leadership (CEL)
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