General Reports and Other Publications
MoJ: Justice Minister David Hanson MP has praised London Probation's work in helping to steer offenders who misuse alcohol away from a life of crime. The National Offender Management Service is working to reduce re-offending associated with substance misuse and figures already show a reduction in re-offending of almost 7% for offenders placed on accredited substance misuse programmes.
It is the case that 63% of sentenced males and 39% of sentenced females report a hazardous drinking pattern before coming into prison and around 8% are physically dependent on alcohol. Around 41% of offenders assessed while in the community have a current problem with alcohol misuse usually linked to their offending.
Press release ~ National Offender Management Service ~ 'Safe. Sensible. Social. - The next steps in the National Alcohol Strategy' ~ British Crime Survey and other surveys ~ Substance misuse among prisoners in England and Wales ~ Re-offending of Adults ~ Re-offending of Juveniles ~ Home Office – Alcohol related crime ~ Crime reduction toolkit ~ Crime Stoppers - Alcohol ~ Alcohol Concern
DIUS: The first progress report from the Office for Strategic Co-ordination of Health Research (OSCHR) has been submitted to the Government. OSCHR was established 22 months ago following Sir David Cooksey's recommendations (A review of UK health research funding) for better co-ordination of health research activities across the UK, and a stronger focus on translating basic science into improved care for NHS patients.
The purpose of the OSCHR progress report is to highlight the main elements of the combined approach that has been put in place by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) and the Medical Research Council (MRC) since the Cooksey review.
Press release ~ OSCHR – First Progress report ~ Office for Strategic Co-ordination of Health Research (OSCHR) ~Cooksey review: A review of UK health research funding ~ National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) ~ Medical Research Council (MRC)
Defra: The interim report by Professor Martin Cave into competition & innovation in water markets has been published. The report sets out Professor Cave's recommended measures for increasing retail competition in the water industry which could benefit customers and the economy by up to £600m over the next 30 years and deliver considerable environmental and service improvements. The final report andfurther recommendations will be delivered in spring 2009.
CRC: The Commission for Rural Communities has highlighted its campaign to keep Post Offices and Village Shops, as they provide important services for local communities, particularly for vulnerable groups who are more reliant on them for their needs.
Research has shown that where a post office is closed, an attached village shop struggles to survive and is often forced to close as well. The post office acts as a draw for customers, generates footfall and sustains the village shop business. The CRC has provided details where some Councils have developed initiatives to help support village shops & post offices and to retain services.
Press release ~ The Economic Significance of Post Offices Combined with a Village Shop ~ Devon ~ Essex CC ~ Shropshire CC ~ South Shropshire DC ~ Stroud Town Council ~ Guide for local councils who want to provide local funding to Post Offices
HO: Policing Minister Vernon Coaker published his Assessment of Minority Ethnic Recruitment, Retention and Progression in the Police Service. The report ‘confirms’ police forces are already doing good work to aid minority ethnic recruitment, retention & progression in the police, with minority ethnic officer representation in the police service doubling over the last ten years, but recognises that there is still more to do.
He will drive forward initiatives to overcome barriers in minority ethnic recruitment, retention and progression in the police through his new Ministerial Steering Group, which will deliver the recommendations in this Assessment.
Press release ~ Assessment of Minority Ethnic Recruitment, Retention and Progression in the Police Service ~ National Police Improvement Agency (NPIA) – Equality and Diversity ~ Breaking Through Action Plan ~ Positive Action Events Toolkit ~ High Potential Development Scheme (HPDS) ~ Home Secretary's Race Employment Targets ~ Home Office: Staff equality and diversity
NAO: HMRC has improved how it manages debts owed to it by taxpayers, according to a report by the National Audit Office. The amount of money owed has reduced from 4.3% of tax collected in 2005-06 to 3.8% in 2007-08. The age of the direct tax debt has also reduced. Over the past year the level & age of debt has increased on some taxes, however, and the total number of debts has risen by 22%.
HMRC has yet to introduce some of the measures recommended by the Committee of Public Accounts in its previous report on debt, which have also helped other organisations to improve their debt management.
Press release ~ HM Revenue and Customs: management of tax debt ~ Executive Summary ~ Committee of Public Accounts report on Debt
NAO: Increased spending has been accompanied by an improvement in the condition of England’s Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs),according to a report released by the National Audit Office. The assessment of the condition of SSSIs, however, has fallen behind and there is a risk that Natural England is not detecting all sites that are in decline or those where recovery is complete.
Press release ~ Natural England’s Role in Improving Sites of Special Scientific Interest ~ Executive Summary ~ Natural England - SSSIs ~ BRANCH project (Biodiversity, Spatial Planning and Climate Change) ~ Planning for Biodiversity as climate changes ~ NTERREG IIIB ~ Natura 2000 - What are they?
WAG: Rhodri Morgan, First Minister for Wales has commended the launch of a major new State of the Nation report on the well-being of children & young people in Wales, released by the Welsh Assembly Government, saying: “This is the first time we have ever produced a proper Children and Young People’s Well-being Monitor, bringing together research and statistical data covering virtually all aspects of the well-being of young people aged 0-18 in Wales.
The Monitor focuses on our seven core aims for children and young people, which are underpinned by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child”.
The report establishes a baseline against which progress will be measured when future reports are published in 2010, 2013 and so on every three years.
Press release ~ WAG – Children and Young People ~ 2008 Children and Young People’s Well-being Monitor for Wales ~ Eradicating Child Poverty in Wales: Measuring Success ~ United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child
LSN: The Learning and Skills Network has highlighted that over a decade has gone by since the report of the Widening Participation Committee - Learning works - was presented to the Further Education Funding Council.
A new report called Unfinished business in widening participation: the end of the beginning asks how far have we come in the decade since Learning works? What progress have we made? What barriers have we yet to overcome?
Press release ~ Unfinished business in widening participation: the end of the beginning ~ Widening Participation Committee ~ HEFCE - Widening participation : A - Z ~ A NIACE Briefing to Learning Works (The Kennedy Report) ~ The Learning and Skills network
LLUK: The Scottish Funding Council has published its 2007 report (spread over 4 publications) for On Track: Class of 2004, a longitudinal study which has followed learners who gained a qualification from a Scottish college or university in 2004. The study follows graduates with qualifications from across SCQF spectrum up to and including level 12 PHDs.
