General Reports and Other Publications
DfT: The Renewable Fuels Agency's Gallagher review into the indirect effects of biofuels has been release. The review, led by RFA Chair Professor Ed Gallagher, examined the ‘indirect effects’ of biofuels. Specifically whether biofuels cause greenhouse gas emissions and harm to biodiversity by contributing to land-use change and the effect of biofuel on food prices.
Professor Gallagher said: 'Our review makes clear that the risks of negative impacts from biofuels are real and significant.'
The review proposes that as part of the path to sustainable biofuels the rate of increase of the UK's biofuels target should be reduced to 0.5%p.a. Targets beyond 5% by volume should only be implemented beyond 2013/14 if biofuels are shown to be demonstrably sustainable, including avoiding indirect land-use change.
Press release ~ Gallagher review ~ Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO) ~ Renewable Fuels Agency ~ Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership ~ Environment Agency - Biofuels for transport ~ Advice on impacts of Government support for biodiesel production from tallow ~ Defra: Other related reports (scroll down to ‘Biofuels’) ~ Biofuel review terms of reference
Ofsted: Standards & achievements in modern language teaching & learning across England's secondary schools have improved, but speaking was the least developed skill among pupils, according to a report published by the Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills (Ofsted).
Common weaknesses in provision for secondary modern languages included insufficient opportunities to develop good speaking skills or independent speaking and writing. Students' speaking skills were an area of particular weakness in both key stages. Overall, there was insufficient emphasis on helping students to use the language spontaneously for real life purposes and situations.
According to the report, common weaknesses in teaching included the overuse of English in language lessons. Lessons were also not always matched appropriately to the needs of lower or higher attaining pupils and teachers did not always utilise opportunities for routine work in the target language.
Press release ~ 'The changing landscape of languages, an evaluation of language learning 2004 -2007' ~ Every language matters ~ Nuffield Languages inquiry (1998-2000) ~ Community languages ~ Research project: Community Languages - Routes Into Languages ~ NALDIC ~ Languages Review ~ Grade standards in GCSE modern foreign languages ~ Investigation into the assessment of speaking for GCSE MFL ~ Teachernet, Languages Strategy ~ DCSF, Modern Foreign Languages ~ Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, Teaching, Assessment ~ CILT, the National Centre for Languages ~ The National Advisory Centre for Early Language Learning website ~ Modern foreign languages in a vocational context
MoD: The first UK tri-Service Armed Forces Continuous Attitude Survey (AFCAS), has been published. Since then, a number of the issues raised in the survey have already been addressed with the introduction of measures such as this year's 2.6% pay rise, the £10,000 rise in commitment bonuses to £15,000 and the 1% increase in X-factor pay.
Throughout the Armed Forces, the inevitable impact of Service on family life, including the amount of time spent away from home, remains a key issue. Service personnel are compensated for these differences in lifestyle and working conditions through the payment of an additional 14% of their salary through 'X-factor' pay. Personnel completing a six month operational deployment are also eligible for a tax-free £2,320 operational allowance.
According to the fifth annual City & Guilds Happiness Index published in May 2008, financial rewards are not the answer to job satisfaction. Instead, having an interest in what you do for a living is the number one factor for ensuring on-the-job contentment. The Armed Forces were joint second with hairdressers in the Happiest professions index.
DIUS: The Higher Education - Business and Community Interaction (HE-BCI) survey reveals that UK higher education institutions (HEIs) received £2.64bn (up 17%) from business & community interaction in 2006-07. Collaborative research is a crucial vehicle for universities to work with leading-edge innovators around the world. In 2006-7 UK HEIs' income in this area was nearly £670m, 12% more than the previous year.
Through interacting with business and the community Universities & colleges help turn knowledge into new companies, products and services. They also deliver professional training to improve skills, provide consultancy to solve problems and undertake projects to tackle social challenges.
Press release ~ Higher Education - Business and Community Interaction (HE-BCI) survey ~ The Allocations of the Science Budget 2008/09 to 2010/11 ~ Research Councils UK
BERR: The contribution of outsourced public services to the UK economy has grown 130% since 1995 and now represents the most developed public service industry in the world, according to a report on the Review of the Public Services Industry.
The industry has grown so significantly over the past twelve years that it is now second in size only to the US, and with a turnover of £79bn ‘contributes' more to the UK economy than key industries such as communications and electricity, gas and water supply.
Press release ~ Review of the Public Services Industry (scroll down for DeAnne Julius and two Oxford economics Reports) ~ National Outsourcing Association ~
Defra: Publishing progress reports on Sustainable Products & Materials and the Waste Strategy, Ms Ruddock said that the Government & industry were working together to green the whole life cycle of products and services - from the raw materials right through to their use and disposal.
Press release ~ Sustainable Products and Materials progress report ~ Waste Strategy progress report ~ Product Roadmaps ~ Market Transformation Programme ‘Policy Analysis and Projections’ ~ I will if you will ~ Colour-coded energy-efficiency labels for new passenger cars ~ Defra Energy efficiency ~ European Voluntary Code of Conduct on Energy Efficiency of Digital TV Services ~ Low Carbon Vehicle partnership ~ National Energy Action (NEA) ~ Timber Procurement ~ Fuelling the Future ~ IEA’s One Watt initiative
DH: The NHS has taken a step towards greater patient choice with the publication of national operation survival rates. The first data to be published is for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms (elective and emergency), elective hip replacements and knee replacements and will be followed in the coming months by a series of clinical outcome data being made available for a wider range of elective and emergency surgery.
The data, which indicates the success of an operation, is published on the NHS's website, NHS Choices, as part of the 'hospital scorecard', which allow patients to compare hospital treatment options from a range of clinical and non-clinical data such as length of stay and MRSA rates.
Alongside the new data, NHS Choices will publish Health Guides to help manage depression, dementia, diabetes and asthma. Each contains useful information on prevention, diagnosis, treatment and living with long-term conditions.
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