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Legislation / Legal
ScotGov: New proposals to better safeguard vulnerable groups and put an end to 'needless bureaucracy', which can deter volunteers from helping Scotland's children, have been announced following a detailed consultation on the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Act earlier this year.
The plans are intended to further ensure that people who come into regular contact with vulnerable groups through their work don't have a history of abusive behaviour, while also creating a proportionate approach to vetting, ending the need for multiple disclosure checks.
The new PVG scheme, to be phased in over four years so that those working with vulnerable groups have time to comply, will create a list of people barred from working with children, replacing the existing Disqualified from Working with Children List. The proposals willbe introduced through secondary legislation in the Scottish Parliament next year.
Press release ~ Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Act 2007: Scottish Vetting and Barring Scheme - Responses ~
FSA: The Financial Services Authority (FSA) has fined Alliance & Leicester Plc (A&L) £7m for serious failings in its telephone sales of payment protection insurance (PPI). For 3 years from January 2005 to December 2007 A&L sold approximately 210,000 PPI policies to customers seeking a personal loan at an average price of £1,265, but there was a general failure by advisers to give customers details of the cost of PPI. In addition A&L sought to find reasons to sell PPI without properly considering what customers needed.
A&L did not make it sufficiently clear that PPI was optional and it trained its staff to put pressure on customers where they queried the inclusion of PPI in their quotation or challenged advisers’ recommendations. These failings resulted in unacceptable levels of non-compliant sales and a high risk of unsuitable sales over the three year period.
Any A&L customers with questions concerning their PPI policy can contact A&L as follows:
* Call into any branch
* Telephone 0844 5619790 (24 hours a day, 7 days a week)
* Write to Let’s Work it Out, Alliance & Leicester plc, Carlton Park, Narborough, Leicestershire, LE19 0AL
Press release ~ Final Notice ~ FSA thematic work on PPI ~ FSA additional rules ~ Money Made Clear - PPI
FCO: Victims of child sex abuse on Pitcairn Island will be able to apply for compensation according to the Foreign & Commonwealth Office. If the applications meet the eligibility criteria, the UK Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority will offer advice on the levels of compensation to award in accordance with their guidelines. The closing date for applications is31 March 2009.
The abuse was revealed in 1999 and led to an extensive police investigation and trials resulting in the conviction of eight men. The FCO, DfID and Pitcairn Government have put several safeguarding measures in place to provide protection for the children on the island, including:
* a full-time Family and Community Adviser
* child protection training for professionals such as the teacher and doctor
* education programmes led by the Family and Community Advisor and teacher
*appointment of a full-time Community Police Officer on secondment from New Zealand Police
