Policy Statements and Initiatives
Defra: The Myth – The Mail on Sunday reported that the flood budget will be cut by more than £700m over the next 4 years. The Truth – The previous plans hadn’t been given the green light by the Treasury.
No money had been committed to fund the plans, which means they couldn’t have gone ahead anyway. Defra expect to spend at least £2.1bn on flooding & coastal erosion over the next 4 years, only a slight decrease on the £2.36bn spent over the last 4 years.
No money had been committed to fund the plans, which means they couldn’t have gone ahead anyway. Defra expect to spend at least £2.1bn on flooding & coastal erosion over the next 4 years, only a slight decrease on the £2.36bn spent over the last 4 years.
WAG: An exercise programme to help people reduce their risk of developing chronic health conditions has proved to be cost-effective following a major evaluation undertaken by Cardiff & Bangor universities. The Welsh National Exercise Referral Scheme enables GPs and other health professionals to refer patients at risk of chronic disease to a structured exercise programme that will help them to improve their health.
Patients at risk of illnesses such as heart disease or those with mental health issues have access to a 16-week programme, where they can train with a fully qualified exercise professional who provides advice & support on becoming more active.
Press release ~ The evaluation of the National Exercise Referral Scheme in Wales ~ Welsh National Exercise Referral Scheme
BIS: The Government has published a policy statement giving further detail on its plans to secure the long-term future of the Post Office.
10DS: The Prime Minister has published business plans that set out in detail the work of Government for the next 4 years. The plans include data such as financial information, Structural Reform Plans and departmental priorities. A searchable database of business plans has also been launched, along with information on departmental structures & salaries, ministerial meetings & hospitality and a range of other data.
Press release (includes links to individual Dept. BPs) ~ PM’s speech on Business Plans ~ Visit the online transparency database
DECC: The Government has announced that the carbon capture and storage (CCS) demonstration programme - the three projects that will follow the first demonstration - will be open to projects on gas-fired power plants as well as coal-fired power plants.
WAG: Fresh plans to improve sexual health services and reduce teenage pregnancies & sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in Wales have been published.
The Assembly Government plan highlights the importance of prevention, education, individual responsibility, and access to healthcare services. It also aims to promote a culture where people feel able to discuss and ask questions about sexual health and relationships openly.
The Assembly Government plan highlights the importance of prevention, education, individual responsibility, and access to healthcare services. It also aims to promote a culture where people feel able to discuss and ask questions about sexual health and relationships openly.
Press release ~ Sexual Health And Wellbeing Action Plan For Wales, 2010-2015 ~ WAG: Sexual Health and well-being ~ All Wales Sexual Health Network ~ All Wales HIV Network
DfE: Education Secretary Michael Gove has announced a pioneering new 5-year partnership with China to train 1,000 more Mandarin teachers for secondary schools in England. Mr Gove launched the joint programme between the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust and Hanban (the Confucius Institute Headquarters).
Mandarin is an increasingly popular subject choice for young people at GCSE but in England there are currently only around 100 qualified Mandarin teachers, and only 16% of secondary schools offered Chinese language teaching in 2009.
Defra: The Government has published ‘An action plan for driving sustainable operations and procurement across government’.
Press release ~ An Action Plan for driving sustainable operations and procurement across government ~
CO: 12 groups including Bolton Lads and Girls Club, the Football League Trust and the Challenge Network have been selected to run the first National Citizen Service (NCS) pilot projects. Francis Maude, Minister for the Cabinet Office, said that over 11,000 16-year-olds would benefit from the scheme next summer. The NCS pilots will trial a variety of different approaches to running the scheme.
NCS will be a 7 to 8 week voluntary programme including a 2-week residential element involving tough physical challenges and a community element, where young people will develop social action projects to help their communities. In the future, the Government wants every 16-year-old to have the chance to take part in this scheme.
MoD: Defence Secretary Dr Liam Fox launched a new forum last week of 11 northern European countries to improve Britain's defence & security co-operation with our northern European neighbours.
The first forum of its kind, consisting of the Nordic and Baltic States plus Germany and Poland, will enable the UK to engage with countries who are not members of both NATO and the EU. This is a continuation of the UK's drive to deepen bilateral & multilateral relations with our European neighbours.
The first forum of its kind, consisting of the Nordic and Baltic States plus Germany and Poland, will enable the UK to engage with countries who are not members of both NATO and the EU. This is a continuation of the UK's drive to deepen bilateral & multilateral relations with our European neighbours.
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