Policy Statements and Initiatives

DCLG: Race and Faith Minister Phil Woolas has pledged to step up action to eradicate anti-Semitism in a report strongly condemning the increase in incidents in the , which outlines new work to:

Press release ~ All-Party Parliamentary Inquiry into anti-Semitism ~ Governme nt response ~ Local Crime and Disorder Partnerships ~ Connectin g Community Plus grant scheme ~ Faith Capacity Building Fund ~ Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) ~ Commission on Integration and Cohesion ~ Board of Deputies ~ Commission for Equality and Human Rights ~ Holocaust Educational Trust ~ Holocaust Memorial Day Trust ~ Guidance for Higher Education providers to help Tackle Violent Extremism in the name of Islam on Campus ~ Anti-Semitism and Xenophobia Today


Defra: The Forestry Commission's Woodfuel Strategy for England, launched by Biodiversity Minister Barry Gardiner, aims to boost the woodfuel market with an extra two million tonnes of wood a year by 2020, saving 400,000 tonnes of carbon annually - the equivalent of taking 550,000 cars off the road.

The publication of the Strategy will be followed up by a detailed implementation plan in the summer.
Press release ~ Woodfuel Strategy for England (3.9Mb) ~ Forestry Commission – Woodfuel ~ Defra: Industrial Crops - Energy ~ Forest Research - Woodfuel Information Pack ~ Forest Research - Woodfuel ~ Wood Energy Scotland ~ Wood Fuel Wales

DCLG: The Government is working with local authorities and lenders to make it easier for their leaseholders - people who own former council flats - to pay their share of the cost of bringing them up to modern standards, such as with new roofs and windows.

Works of repair, maintenance & improvement now being undertaken by local authorities and by their associated arms length management organisations (ALMOs) are generating substantial major works bills - some recent ones for as much as £58,000.

The Government considers that more can be done to help leaseholders to deal with high bills through available payment options, with minor enhancements & additions - if they are managed sensitively and flexibly.
Press release ~ Assessment of the impact of the cost of repairs for Right to Buy leaseholders ~ DCLG - Decent Homes ~ Social Sector Working Party ~ Leasehold Advisory Service ~ Service Charges and other issues ~ HouseProud

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