Policy Statements and Initiatives

DIUS: Skills Minister David Lammy has called on major public sector employers to offer more apprenticeships to young people & adults and break down barriers preventing their take up. The move is part of the Government's drive to see 400,000 apprenticeships in England by 2020.  The Prime Minister told the TUC last month that the Public Sector should provide many more placements.
 
Responding to a House of Lords report on apprenticeships David Lammy said: "A web-based clearing service we have been trialling will help potential apprentices search nationally much more easily by job category and area and match them better to suitable employers.  It will also help employers to recruit their apprentices……..
 
Working in partnership with employers, learners and training providers, we will introduce an entitlement to an apprenticeship for every suitably qualified young person that wants one by 2013”.
Press release ~ House of Lord's Select Committee on Economic Affairs' Fifth Report - Apprenticeship: A key route to skill ~ Learning and Skills Council - Apprenticeships ~ List of Apprenticeships ~ Apprenticeships: Directgov ~ WA: Modern Apprenticeships ~ Careers Scotland - Modern apprenticeships
 
DIUS: Schools Minister Lord Adonis has launched a detailed prospectus urging universities to become engaged directly in schools and academies. It sets out how such joint working can benefit both universities and schools, with universities spearheading efforts to raise the aspirations of pupils, teachers and parents, driving up standards and supporting university applications.
 
The prospectus makes clear that universities will be able to sponsor Academies without needing to provide the usual £2m sponsorship contribution and it sets out three key ways that universities can get involved, by:
* setting up, sponsoring & managing their own academies
* supporting an academy as a co-sponsor, bringing educational expertise and
* partnering a trust school maintained by the local authority to help it expand or enhance its provision
Press release ~ Universities UK ~ Prospectus ~ Specialist Schools and Academies Trust ~ DCSF ~ DIUS
 
MoD: The MoD has completed its review of the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme's multiple injury rules and additional benefits will now be paid to the most seriously injured whose multiple injury claims have been paid since the start of the scheme in April 2005, which will bring their lump sum awards to the same level as those who will benefit from the proposed changes in future.
 
Under the new proposals, the lump sum compensation payment for the most seriously injured will be based on the full rate for all their injuries in a single incident, up to the highest lump sum of £285,000.  In addition, they will continue to receive the 100% tax-free index-linked Guaranteed Income Payment for life.
 
The changes that are proposed are now subject to a period of consultation (principally with the Central Advisory Committee on War Pensions {CAC}), which will take around 4 weeks.  Payments will be processed as quickly as possible after this consultation has concluded and the legislation has been amended, ideally before the end of the year.
Press release ~ Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS)
 
CLG: The full-set of Whitehall performance indicators that will come into force for local councils in April 2008 have been published and the government claims that it has slashed the number from 1,200 to just 198 giving councils major new freedoms to direct their focus & resources at the issues local people care about.
 
In a speech to the Society of Local Authority Chief Executives (Solace) in Cardiff, Ms Blears delivered a ‘direct challenge’ to local government saying they must use this ‘once in a generation’ opportunity to deliver better services and make a positive difference in their local community.
Press release ~ New Performance Framework for Local Authorities and LA Partners: Single Set of National Indicators ~ Local Area Agreements ~ LAA – Reward element ~ Society of Local Authority Chief Executives (Solace)
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