General Reports and Other Publications

IISS:  The latest Strategic Comment from the International Institute for Strategic Studies highlights how 6 months after foreign forces intervened to protect civilians from the regime of Muammar Gadhafi, his loyalists have been reduced to defending a few remaining strongholds. 

The NATO-led operation that helped the rebels to become the government can provisionally be termed a success.  The war will, however, leave lessons both in terms of objectives & execution.

Press release & links

CSJ:  Tax breaks for marriage are backed overwhelmingly by the British public, according to a new opinion poll commissioned by the influential independent think-tank, the Centre for Social Justice.  And in the wake of the summer riots, more than 80% of those polled said they regarded family breakdown as a ‘serious’ problem facing society.

Press release & links

CIPD:  Stress is, for the first time, the most common cause of long-term sickness absence for both manual & non-manual employees, according to this year’s Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD)/Simplyhealth Absence Management survey.

Press release & links ~ TUC comment

NIESR:  The Department for Communities and Local Government has published 2 research reports by the National Institute of Economic and Social Research (NIESR ) on international migration to the .

* The first report examines the determinants of international migration between the   and 14 different groups of countries

* The second report, 'Local Geography of International Migration to the  ', explores the determinants of immigrants' location choices within the  

Press release & links

Ofsted:  Last week was Children’s Book Week - a national celebration of reading for children of primary school age.  Research & evidence from Ofsted’s inspections show that the critical age when children learn to be good readers & writers is between 3 and 7.  However, nationally, 1 in 5 children leaving primary school does not reach the standard expected for reading & writing:

* Ofsted published a report ( Reading by six: how the best schools do it) in November 2010, which showcases the work of 12 outstanding schools in teaching virtually all children to read to the expected standard.

 * Another Ofsted report, Excellence in English, published in May 2011, featured some schools that were very effective in promoting reading.

Press release & links

Unite:  The fact that 40% of disabled children are living in poverty is ‘a scar on the conscience of ’, Unite, the union, said recently.  Unite called on ministers to act ‘immediately and urgently’ on The Children’s Society findings in its report - 4 in every 10: Disabled children living in poverty


The report revealed that when the Disability Living Allowance is removed from family income, 40% of disabled children in the UK are living in poverty, rising to about 50% where there is also a disabled adult in the family. 

Press release & links

Spotlight on women at Serco – Anita’s story