Manchester 'super casino' plan dropped
In January 2007, Manchester City Council emerged as the
winner of the contest to host Britain's first regional - or 'super' - casino.
It had been expected that Blackpool would be chosen as the location for the
venue. However, following widespread concern over the merits of the regional
casino as a method of regenerating the East Manchester area, the Government
announced in July 2007 that the plan would be reviewed.
'The Categories of Casino
Regulations 2008' specifies how a casino is to be classified for the
purposes of the Gambling Act 2005.
Limited badger cull 'could make a contribution towards the reduction of cattle TB'
Cattle TB is one of the most serious animal health problems in Great Britain today, with the number of infected cattle doubling every four and a half years and nearly 20,000 being slaughtered in 2006. The cost of the disease to the taxpayer (£80-100 million a year) and to the farming industry is unsustainable. The introduction of a new system of valuations for slaughtered cattle has proved inequitable in many cases.
'Badgers and Cattle TB: The Final Report of the Independent Scientific Group on Cattle TB' (HC 130-I) examines the possibility of implementing a badger culling scheme in response to the Report by the Independent Scientific Group on Cattle TB (ISG).
GP salaries up by average of 58% as working hours
fall
Each year general medical practices provide some 290
million consultations. The new contract which was implemented in April 2004
(increased spending began in April 2003) changed the basis for commissioning
primary care services. Instead of contracting with individual General
Practitioners (GPs), Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) commission services from some
8,325 GP practices with around 33,000 GPs.
'NHS
Pay Modernisation: New Contracts for General Practice Services in England' (HC
307) examines the negotiation and implementation of the new contract and
how well it is working in practice.
Digital Switchover scheme 'progressing well'
In September 2005 the Government, after consultation with the broadcasting industry and Ofcom, announced a programme to replace analogue television broadcasts with digital television, region by region, between 2008 and 2012.
'Preparations for Digital Switchover' (HC 306) from the National Audit Office considers how this objective is being pursued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, who have joint responsibility for delivering the policy objective.
Banking (Special Provisions) Act given Royal
Assent
'Banking (Special Provisions) Act
2008' addresses recent instability in financial markets across the world,
and in particular the events concerning Northern Rock plc.
Home Office's role in reducing the risk of violent crime considered
This Report from the National Audit Office, 'Reducing the Risk of Violent Crime'
(HC 241), focuses on the role of the Home Office in creating and implementing the appropriate legislative framework and co-ordinating local delivery in order to tackle violent crime.
Little progress in improving student retention rates
Around 28,000 full-time and 87,000 part-time students who started first-degree courses in 2004-05 were no longer in higher education a year later. There has been little improvement in student retention since 2001-02, though participation in higher education has increased from around 40% to nearly 43% of 18-30 year olds. Universities have received around £800 million over the last five years to help improve retention and participation.
In this Report, 'Staying the Course: The Retention of Students on Higher Education Courses'
(HC 322), the Committee of Public Accounts examines the progress made in improving student retention rates on higher education courses.
Medical care for the Armed Forces examined
In this Report, 'Medical Care for the Armed Forces' (HC 327), the Defence Committee investigated the provision of healthcare for the armed forces, examining six key areas including the treatment of personnel seriously wounded on operations and the procedures for caring for them, from the point of wounding to evacuation and treatment in the United Kingdom.
Gender pay gap 'worryingly stubborn'
'Jobs
for the Girls: Two Years On' (HC 291-I) seeks to examine what action has
been taken to implement the 2005 recommendations of the Women and Work
Commission concerning job segregation and the gender pay gap.
Post Office closure programme examined
'Post Office Closure Programme'
(HC 292-I), a Report from the Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Committee, examines how the Post Office closure programme is being implemented and considers areas in which it could be improved.
Use of intercept as evidence recommended
The creation of this Privy Council Review, 'Privy Council Review of Intercept as Evidence: Report to the Prime Minister and the Home Secretary'
(Cm. 7324), was announced on 25 July 2007 to 'advise on whether a regime to allow the use of intercepted material in court can be devised that facilitates bringing cases to trial while meeting the overriding imperative to safeguard national security'.
Economics of climate change policy considered
'Climate Change and the Stern Review: The Implications for Treasury Policy' (HC 231) recommends that the Government give primary consideration to the use of economic tools in combating climate change. The Treasury's policies and action in this regard were the main focus of the inquiry.
Conduct of Mr Peter Hain examined
This Report from the Committee on Standards and Privileges, 'Conduct of Mr Peter Hain' (HC 324), sets out the current state of the investigation into the conduct of Mr Peter Hain, Member of Parliament for Neath and former Secretary of State for Work and Pensions.