High speed rail network proposed by the Department for Transport
In January 2009, the Government established High Speed Two Ltd (HS2 Ltd) to consider the options for a new high speed rail network in Britain, starting with a costed and deliverable proposal for a new line from London to Birmingham.
HS2 Ltd's report concludes that there is a strong business case for a new London to Birmingham line, and sets out detailed recommendations for the design of its route, together with a range of options for how it might be extended to serve other conurbations.
More work must be done on improving prisoner reconviction rates, says NAO
More than 60,000 prisoners serve sentences of under 12 months each year at a cost to National Offender Management Service (NOMS) of around £300 million. These prisoners tend to have more previous convictions than other offenders with an average of 16 previous convictions each and, as a group, they also have a high level of homelessness, joblessness and drug and alcohol problems.
NOMS is successfully keeping the vast majority of short-sentenced prisoners safe and well - a notable achievement in a time of prison overcrowding - but is currently struggling to manage this group effectively, in part because most spend six weeks or less in prison. However the provision of daytime activity for them is generally inadequate to meet HM Inspectorate of Prisons' standards for a healthy prison.
Decision on retention of DNA records must balance public safety against individual privacy recommends report
As a result of growing concern about the increasing size of the police National DNA Database, the Committee decided to take evidence on the subject. This process however was largely overtaken by the introduction of the Crime and Security Bill on 19 November 2009.
'The National DNA Database’ (HC 222-I) now focuses on two main issues:
- the principle of retaining DNA profiles taken from individuals arrested but not subsequently charged or from those charged but not convicted; and
- the lack of consistency in decisions to remove from the database their profiles.