Policy Statements and Initiatives

DECC: Hundreds of pounds of cash back will be available to householders in England & Wales who make energy saving home improvements under the Green Deal from 28 January 2013.
 
The Green Deal is the Government’s new initiative to transform the UK market for energy efficiency.  It will let homes & businesses pay for energy efficiency improvements, like insulation, through expected savings on their energy bills.  Households quick off the mark could get as much as £1,000 cash back.
Press release & links
 
DHDoctors in the UK are to become the first in the world to have regular assessments to ’ensure that their training and expertise are up-to-date and that they are fit to carry out their roles’, Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt announced recently.  The General Medical Council will work with employers to implement & manage the system.
 
The skills involved in treating patients, who often have an increasing number of complex conditions, the different options for treatment, and the technology involved in modern medicine has increased dramatically in recent decades.  There are now over 90,000 technologies in use across the NHS and thousands of new pieces of medical research are published on a frequent basis.
Press release & links ~ NHS Employers and NHS Confederation comment on revalidation ~ HPA comment
 
ScotGovPlans to restore Scotland’s peatland landscape will be supported with £1.7m funding from the Scottish Government. Peatlands cover about 20% of Scotland and are of international importance.  They are valuable to the economy, culture & environment, and are key habitats for much of our wildlife.  This new funding, part of the Government’s Green Stimulus package announced in this year’s budget, will support the development of a Peatland Plan for Scotland.   
Press release ~ Peat bog restoration ~ IUCN UK Peatland Programme
 
WAG:  An all age, cross-Governmental strategy for mental health & wellbeing in Wales has been launched. Together for Mental Health combines existing policy, consolidates progress to date and places the Mental Health (Wales) Measure 2010 at the heart of the strategy.  The 10-year strategy is supported by an initial 3 year delivery plan.
Press release & links
 
ScotGov: Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has updated the Scottish Parliament on the ‘Edinburgh Agreement’ signed recently between the Scottish and UK Governments
Press release & links
 
10 DS: An agreement with leading UK companies that will help tens of thousands of businesses secure increased levels of affordable finance was announced by the Prime Minister last week, in a move that will support job growth and help aspiring business get ahead.
 
The PM recently met with the leaders of some of the UK’s largest companies at Downing Street to discuss the important role they play in supporting their supply chains.  As a result of the discussion, several companies have agreed to boost this support by actively evaluating the implementation of, or continuing to offer, Supply Chain Finance.
 
The PM also announced that the Government will look to, where it can, offer this to its own suppliers, starting with the first UK Government Supply Chain Finance scheme for community pharmacies in England, unlocking up to £800m of new credit for around 4,500 pharmacy businesses, many of which are SMEs.
Press release & links ~ CBI response  
 
CLG: Hundreds of towns across the country are being offered support that will help them revitalise their high streets. Following applications by local MPs, over 300 Town Teams have signed up to become Town Team Partners, and will benefit from a package of support, which includes help from the Government as well as advice & support from leading retail experts.
Press release & links
 
ScotGov: A major public awareness campaign has been launched encouraging everyone across Scotland to think ahead & get ready for all forms of severe weather – and not just in winter – that they can face in Scotland.
Press release & links
 
DH: The Government is calling for better care for people with long-term conditions under its proposed changes to the GP contract, which have been sent to the British Medical Association (BMA) for consideration.
 
The proposals put to the BMA include possible new quality improvement schemes for diagnosis & care of people with dementia, care for the most frail or seriously ill patients, patient access to online services, and support to help people with long term conditions better monitor their own health. If the Government are unable to reach agreement with the BMA it will move to a period of formal consultation.
Press release & links
 
WAGEnabling the protection of Wales’ heritage whilst encouraging public access, enjoyment & participation is the main guiding principle behind the Welsh Government’s new Historic Environment Strategy. The strategy will set out the role of the historic environment in delivering tangible social, economic & environmental benefits for Welsh communities and will lay the foundations for the Heritage Bill,which is due to be introduced in 2014.
Press release & links
 
ScotGovFarmers in Scotland have been reminded to maintain good biosecurity, source stock sensibly and seek veterinary advice if they have concerns about the health of their stock.  The reminder follows results from surveillance from across GB (including Scotland) that indicates evidence of exposure to Schmallenberg virus in areas where it hasn’t previously been detected.
Press release & links
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