Legislation / Legal
Defra: Details of how the proposed Floods and Water Bill would ensure the country is better prepared to deal with surface water flooding were outlined by Environment Minister Phil Woolas, when he announced a new strategic overview role for the Environment Agency for all forms of flood risk management. Local authorities will take responsibility for surface water flooding in their own communities, supported by the Agency.
Mr Woolas also announced how the Bill will replace existing outdated legislation and tighten up reservoir safety. Under new rules, more of the country's reservoirs will be subject to stringent inspections. Defra is aiming to consult on the draft Bill in Spring 2009.
Press release ~ Making Space for Water strategy ~ Defra – Improving surface water drainage ~ Defra - Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management ~ CLG – Development and Flood Risk ~ 2004 Foresight Future flooding report ~ The interim conclusions of The Pitt Review - Learning Lessons from the 2007 Floods ~ Environment Agency - Flood
MoJ: The needs of bereaved people will be placed firmly at the centre of the reformed coroner system Justice Minister, Bridget Prentice, claimed when she published a new draft Charter that details the level of service that the bereaved should expect from the coroner service. This draft reflects responses received from a wide range of interested parties since the Charter was first published in 2006 and also explains appeal rights against particular decisions taken by coroners in individual cases.
The Government intends the Charter to be implemented following the Parliamentary passage of the Coroners and Death Certification Bill, which is included in the draft legislative programme for the 2008-09 parliamentary session.
Press release ~ Draft charter for bereaved people ~ Cruse Bereavement Care ~ Draft Coroners Bill ~ Coroners policy
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