Government outlines Equality plan
A substantial body of equality legislation has been introduced over the last four decades but such legislation has become complex and difficult to understand.
This publication, 'Framework for a Fairer Future - The Equality Bill (Cm. 7431)', sets out the Government's aims for the forthcoming Equality Bill, which will simplify and strengthen the law and introduce a new Equality Duty on the public sector.
Consultation on weekend voting begins
There is a perception that Thursday is not the most accessible day for voting and that moving Election Day to the weekend would improve access and opportunities.
This consultation paper, 'The Governance of Britain - Election Day: Weekend Voting' (Cm. 7334), aims to promote debate on the merits of moving Election Day from Thursday to the weekend and on the best way to do this for UK Parliamentary general elections, local elections in England and Wales, and European Parliamentary elections.
UK research labs need better funding and co-ordination
Possessing the high containment laboratories necessary to tackle existing and emergent infectious diseases of both humans and animals is of the utmost importance to the UK. A leak of Foot and Mouth Disease from Pirbright Laboratory in 2007 is the most recent demonstration of how devastating infectious disease can be. It is critical that such an incident does not happen again.
This Report, 'Biosecurity in UK Research Laboratories' (HC 360-I), outlines a number of shortcomings in the way capacity for high containment research is provided and highlights where the Government should take action.
Legal and political functions of Attorney General should be separated
As both a politician and an independent legal adviser, the Attorney General's roles in enhancing the administration of justice, the maintenance of the rule of the law, and the protection of the public interest have the potential to create tension with each other.
This Report, 'Draft Constitutional Renewal Bill (Provisions Relating to the Attorney General)' (HC 698), examines the Draft Constitutional Renewal Bill to see how far its provisions put into effect the recommendations of the Constitutional Affairs Committee's July 2007 Report.
Independent body should determine MPs' pay
Following a January 2008 Senior Salaries Review Body (SSRB) Report on parliamentary pay, the Government asked Sir John Baker to review the options for determining MPs' remuneration and to identify an independent mechanism for doing so in future.
This paper, 'Review of Parliamentary Pay and Pensions by Sir John Baker CBE' (Cm. 7416), presents Sir John's findings on the issue.
Party finance and spending to be reformed
This White Paper presents the Government's proposals on party funding, which follow the broad approach outlined by Sir Hayden Phillips in his March 2007 Report 'Strengthening Democracy: Fair and Sustainable Funding of Political Parties - The Review of the Funding of Political Parties'.
Conduct of Sir Nicholas and Lady Winterton examined
This Report from the Committee on Standards and Privileges, 'Conduct of Sir Nicholas and Lady Winterton' (HC 744), examines a complaint made against Sir Nicholas and Lady Ann Winterton, Members of Parliament for Macclesfield and Congleton respectively. The complaint from a Mr Gary Poole and Mr Michael Barnbrook related to the MPs respective Additional Costs Allowances (ACAs) on the rental of a property in London.
42 day detention plans examined
This Report from the Joint Committee on Human Rights, 'Counter-Terrorism Policy and Human Rights (Eleventh Report): 42 Days and Public Emergencies' (HL 116 / HC 635), comments on the adequacy of the additional safeguards that the Government has indicated it intends to bring forward to meet the human rights concerns about its proposal to extend the maximum period of pre-charge detention to 42 days.
Communities invited to host radioactive waste facilities
Published as part of the managing radioactive waste safely (MRWS) programme, this White Paper from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, 'Managing Radioactive Waste Safely: A Framework for Implementing Geological Disposal' (Cm. 7386), sets out the Government's framework for managing higher activity radioactive waste in the long-term through geological disposal, coupled with safe and secure interim storage and ongoing research and development to support its optimised implementation.
Excessive surveillance 'erodes trust', Government warned
Surveillance is defined as the use of monitoring and recording technology, along with the creation and use of databases of personal information, and the record of communications in the digital age. The potential for surveillance of citizens in public spaces and private communications has increased dramatically over the last decade, making it possible for what the Information Commissioner calls 'the electronic footprint' people leave in their daily lives to be built up into a detailed picture of activities.
This Report from the Home Affairs Committee, 'A Surveillance Society?' (HC 58-I), examines the benefits of surveillance in terms of public safety and public services, and the risks in terms of the consequences of mistakes, misidentification, and loss of sensitive information.
Plans to tackle teenage drinking proposed
This publication, 'Youth Alcohol Action Plan' (Cm. 7387), from the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF), the Home Office and the Department of Health sets out the Government's aim of addressing the problem of teenage drinking.
MoD criticised over non-operational Chinook fleet
In 1995 the Ministry of Defence (MoD) ordered 15 Chinook Mk2a helicopters from Boeing, of which six were retained as Mk2a with the other eight modified as Mk3 to meet a longstanding requirement for dedicated helicopters for special operations. Those eight Chinook Mk3 helicopters cost some £259 million and the Department took delivery of them in December 2001. Although Boeing met its contractual obligations, the avionics software fell short of UK military airworthiness standards and the helicopters have not flown in operations.
This Report from the National Audit Office, 'Chinook Mk3 Helicopters' (HC 512), examines whether the MoD has taken appropriate steps to make the eight Chinook Mk3s operational.
Improvements to Government's constitutional renewal plans suggested
In this Report, 'Constitutional Renewal: Draft Bill and White Paper' (HC 499), the Public Administration Select Committee makes constructive suggestions for improving the Government's proposals put forward in the March 2008 White Paper on Constitutional Renewal and the accompanying Draft Bill.