Arts groups at risk of closure as a result of spending cuts
Cuts in public spending will have a major impact on arts and heritage organisations and some may be forced to close, as reported in 'Funding of the Arts and Heritage’ (HC 464-I).
The Arts Council has already cut its administration budget by over 50% in recent years and is set to achieve a further 50% as the Government makes savings across the board.
Management of military supplies to Afghanistan requires improvement
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) is failing to meet its performance targets for goods delivery to the UK’s largest military operation in Afghanistan, as reported in 'The Use of Information to Manage the Logistics Supply Chain: Ministry of Defence’ (HC 827).
Despite an overall reduction in time taken to ship supplies to troops in Afghanistan, there is significant room for improvement as only 54% of shipments made were received in time of their target.
Best practice for protests considered by Human Rights committee
The Joint Committee on Human Rights (JCHR) has reported on the policing of recent protests in central London including the preparations put in place for the large-scale 'March for the Alternative' which occurred on 26 March 2011.
'Facilitating Peaceful Protest’ (HL Paper 123 / HC 684) encouraged cooperation between the police and organisers prior to the Trades Union Congress (TUC) march, and the planned involvement of human rights observers in the control room on the day of the march itself.
Budget for 2011 promotes growth and fairness
The ‘Budget 2011’ (HC 836) comprises of goals to encourage sustainable growth and deliver fairness by rebalancing the economy.
The document focuses on plans to reform the tax, benefit and pensions system to become the most competitive in G20 with positive effects evenly shared across the country.
Predictions made for UK economy over next five years
The report 'Economic and Fiscal Outlook: March 2011' (Cm. 8036) sets out forecasts for the period to 2015-16 and assesses whether the Government is on course to meet medium-term fiscal objectives.
The organisation that compiled the report, the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR), was established to provide independent and authoritative analysis of the UK's public finances.
Uncertainty as to whether sixth form education is cost-effective
Increased spending on education for 16 to 18-year-olds has been reflected by improved student achievements but it is not clear whether the system is value for money (VFM) overall.
'Getting Value for Money from the Education of 16- to 18-year-olds’ (HC 823) details the National Audit Office's (NAO) assessment of the VFM status of education for sixth form students.
Health services must not be compromised despite plans to save billions
Productivity levels in the National Health Service (NHS) must be significantly improved despite £20 billion year-on-year savings until 2014-15.
'Management of NHS Hospital Productivity’ (HC 741) finds that Government spending on the NHS has increased by 70%, from £60 billion in 2000-01 to £102 billion in 2010-11 with around 40% spent on services provided by acute and foundation hospitals but level of service has not reflected this.
Treasury Committee recommends new tax policy approach to encourage growth
The prospect of a more predictable, stable and simplistic tax policy system proposed by the Government would be beneficial but should be outlined fairly.
In the report 'Principles of Tax Policy’ (HC 753), the Committee attempts to identify underlying values for tax policy and considers how they could best support growth as the Government has not done enough to clarify this.
Report finds that UK Border Agency’s immigration system could be more cost effective
The Points Based System for immigration which considers workers for their level of skill was designed well overall but could be vastly improved, especially in regards to value for money.
The report 'Immigration: the Points Based System - Work Routes: Home Office - UK Border Agency’ (HC 819) highlights the system’s shortfalls and makes a number of recommendations on how it could be improved.
Special needs services to receive largest overhaul in 30 years
Proposals for the biggest programme of reform for education and health support for children with special educational needs (SEN) and disabilities in 30 years have been released in the report 'Support and Aspiration: A New Approach to Special Educational Needs and Disability’ (Cm. 8027).
Committee recommends a cut in ministers to reflect smaller Government
The work of ministers has been reviewed to assess the current quality in Parliament for a possible cut to help the public sector tackle the UK’s deficit.
In 'Smaller Government: What do Ministers do?’ (HC 530), the Public Administration Select Committee (PASC) argues that the Government appoints too many ministers and should reduce their number by the middle of the Parliament, as it devolves real power and responsibility to local communities.
Extensive review of police pay considers implications of cutbacks
With over 80% of police force budgets spent on staff pay, making efficiency savings in this sector will be incredibly challenging, as detailed in the 'Independent Review of Police Officer and Staff Remuneration and Conditions’ (Cm. 8024).
Reviewer Tom Winsor must ensure that pay and conditions and the structures around them are optimised given the current state of public finances.
Scientists should be involved in assessing risk to prevent national emergencies
The Science and Technology Committee has stressed the importance of using scientists at the outset of planning for national risks to suggest well-informed preventative measures.
The report 'Scientific Advice and Evidence in Emergencies’ (HC 498) used examples of previous national crises to illustrate the importance of using scientific advice and evidence when the Government and scientific advisory system are put under great pressure to deal with atypical situations.
Committee analyses cancer patient services since announcement of strategy for reform
The report 'Delivering the Cancer Reform Strategy’ (HC 667) examines the performance levels of the Department of Health and NHS in delivering cancer services.
Explanation of how transport expenditure will strengthen the economy required
The Transport Committee calls on the Government to publish a White Paper on its transport strategy, explaining in particular how spending on transport will deliver economic growth and development.
Such a strategy must set objectives for all transport spending and explain the criteria Ministers will use to decide between different claims on limited financial resources, as detailed in 'Transport and the Economy’ (HC 473).