Policy Statements and Initiatives

DH: The PM has announced his commitment to make the UK a world leader on dementia1 in 3 people will develop dementia and it costs society an estimated £19bn a year.

The PM has set out his dementia challenge to society, the medical profession, business & Government, alongside the Alzheimer’s Society publishing their report; Dementia 2012: A national challenge.
Press release & links ~ Dementia 2012: A national challenge
 
DWPLone parents on Income Support whose child is aged 5 or over are being informed by letter, starting from May 2012, if they are able to work they will need to move from Income Support to Jobseeker’s Allowance where they will receive extra help to return to the workplace.   Previously this change has been when their child was aged 7.
 
A lone parent on JSA will not be expected to take up a job if appropriate childcare is not available and their availability for work must take into account their childcare responsibilities.  Lone parents with children of 12 or under will be able to specify school-hours only jobs without it affecting their benefits.
Press release & links
 
CLG: Cash payments for councils who have adapted the homes of wounded soldiers injured in the line of duty were announced recently by Housing Minister Grant Shapps. 16 councils will receive a share of more than £200,000 funding for helping injured military personnel return to a home that meets their needs & adapt to their new life.
Press release & links
 
WAGSupport for families who are affected by parental substance misuse will be expanded to all areas of Wales, Deputy Minister for Children & Social Services Gwenda Thomas has announced. The roll out of Integrated Family Support Services (IFSS) across Wales is a key priority for the Welsh Government, supporting children & their families overcome the difficulties of parental substance misuse.
Press release & links
 
WAG: A crack-down on drivers who abuse the Blue Badge disabled parking system is being launched by the Welsh Government.  It involves the introduction of new style windscreen badges that are FREE for individual blue badge holders in Wales.  The badge has many additional security features that will make them much harder to forge or use fraudulently.
Press release ~ WAG: Blue Badge Scheme
 
DfE: A slimmed down & more focused Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) for children aged 0-5-year-olds has been published by Children’s Minister, Sarah Teather.  The new EYFS, which will take effect from 1 September 2012, focuses on getting children ready for education and increasing the attainment of all children, particularly those from deprived backgrounds.
 
The Government also pledges to go further.  Where there are examples of regulation & paperwork that are not necessary to safeguard children, drive up quality or promote child development, they will be removed.   The revised curriculum reduces the number of early learning goals from 69 to 17.
Press release & links
 
CLG: A new Mayors Cabinet that will ‘ensure elected city mayors have a voice at the heart of Government’ was announced recently by PM David Cameron & Cities Minister Greg Clark. The Cabinet will provide city mayors with a direct route to the Prime Minister and other senior Ministers and provide a forum for cities to exchange ideas, highlight new innovations and lobby for the interests of their city.
 
On the 3 May 2012 ballot boxes will open in Birmingham, Bradford, Bristol, Coventry, Leeds, Manchester, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, Nottingham, Sheffield and Wakefied for local people to decide whether to have directly elected mayors. Leicester has already elected a mayor and Liverpool will hold an election for a mayor on 3 May 2012.
Press release & links
 
DfE: Over the next 2 years an offer of FREE universal parenting classes, face-to-face & online, will be available to all parents of children aged 5 years and under, in Middlesbrough, High Peak in Derbyshire, and Camden in London. 

The classes are designed to strengthen parenting skills, and to encourage parents to feel that it is normal to get help in the first few years of their child’s life – just as they do in antenatal classes before their child is born.
 
Press release & links
 
ScotGov: A pioneering strategy to connect Scotland’s entire network of museums & galleries in a drive for greater collaboration, innovation & creativity has been unveiled by Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop.   The National Strategy for Scotland’s Museums and Galleries is a ‘framework designed to maximise the sector’s reach, growth and potential’ over the next 10 years.
Press release & links
 
WAG: Government support for the Welsh drinks industry has been strengthened by the publication of the Welsh Government’s Action Plan for the Welsh Drinks Industry, outlining how WAG will support future growth for the Welsh drinks industry.
Press release ~ Drinks Industry Action Plan ~ Drinks Industry ~ Food for Wales, Food from Wales 2010:2020
 
CLG: Towns across the country got their applications in ahead of last week's deadline in the hope of becoming Portas Pilots. Ministers revealed the unexpectedly high level of interest whilst announcing that the Government is accepting virtually all the recommendations put forward by Mary Portas last December.
 
The Government has issued its formal response to the Portas High Street Review.  Grant Shapps confirmed Ministers are accepting the vast majority of Mary's recommendations - but that they intend to go further with a 'Portas-Plus' response.
Press release & links
 
BISNew standards for apprenticeships will come into force for all age groups from August 2012, subject to consultation with providers & employers, as a further measure to drive up quality:
* For those aged 19 & over apprenticeships will last between 1 to 4 years unless prior learning or attainment has been recorded
* Apprenticeships for 16-18 year olds will last a minimum of 12 months without exception
 
Also, from last week, a new grant to encourage SMEs to take on apprentices will be made available. The NAS is offering up to 40,000 Apprenticeship Grants to SMEs (employing less than 250 employees), to the value of £1,500, that recruit their first apprentice aged 16 to 24 years old.
Press release & links
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