Global environmental issues require UK intervention
Environmental problems have deteriorated over the last 20 years and MPs stress the need for the UK Government to assist by contributing to planning at the forthcoming conference in Rio de Janeiro.
In the report 'Preparations for the Rio +20 Summit’ (HC 1026), the Environmental Audit Committee warns that the planet's environmental problems are now much more urgent than at the first Rio Summit in 1992 and commitment to sustainable development is essential.
NHS should prove worth of expensive equipment
The Committee of Public Accounts recommends that the NHS records data to monitor the usage of high value equipment worth around £1 billion as confidence in its purchasing power is weak.
The report 'Managing High Value Capital Equipment in the NHS in England’ (HC 1469) highlights that by 2015, £20 billion of savings are required of the NHS, and the decision to spend £50 million on equipment annually over the last three years should be reinforced by monitoring use and cost.
Government must increase UK gas storage capacity
Gas storage capacity needs to be increased in the UK to minimise the potential damage from supply interruptions or price spikes, the report 'The UK's Energy Supply: Security or Independence?’ (HC 1065) finds.
The UK's current storage capacity amounts to only 14 days’ worth of gas supply - a dangerously low level compared to other areas of Europe as France has 87 days’ worth, Germany 69 and Italy 59.
Vital court evidence requires secure disclosure
The civil courts system should be reformed to allow sensitive information that could play a significant role in resolving national security cases to be divulged in a secure environment before judges.
In the ‘Justice and Security Green Paper’ (Cm. 8194), the Ministry of Justice argues that in light of recent court rulings, improvements should be made to ensure that a case is considered fairly and fully.
Petty disputes central to NHS complaints
An annual review of how the National Health Service (NHS) deals with complaints found that the most straightforward of matters are not being managed at a local level.
In the report 'Listening and Learning: the Ombudsman's Review of Complaint Handling by the NHS in England 2010-22’ (HC 1522), the Health Ombudsman resolved 15,186 complaints that were often a result of poor responses by NHS staff.
Smaller school budgets require close management
The National Audit Office warns that as school budget reductions increase it is imperative that guidance is given to make appropriate savings whilst maintaining high quality education.
The report 'Oversight of Financial Management in Local Authority Maintained Schools: Department for Education' (HC 1517) underlines the importance of effective financial management in schools as weak financial management and weak academic performance often go hand in hand.
Implications of welfare reform for local government assessed
In the report 'Localisation Issues in Welfare Reform’ (HC 1406) the Communities and Local Government Committee considers how the Government’s proposals for decentralised welfare could impact on local authorities.
The Government plans to reform UK welfare by rationalising nationwide benefits and investing in a more localised approach whereby local government can administer services that are beneficial to smaller communities.
Department must assist NHS trusts to attain foundation status
The Department of Health (DH) must advise a number of struggling National Health Service (NHS) trusts on how to meet standards required to become self-governing foundation trusts by 2014, the National Audit Office reports.
The report 'Achievement of Foundation Trust Status by NHS Hospital Trusts' (HC 1516) details that many NHS trusts are facing a range of financial, quality and governance issues in meeting foundation trust standards and DH and the NHS will now have to decide how they will deal with those facing the most severe problems.
Potential carbon budget review could hinder targets
The Government has set out a fourth carbon budget aiming for a 50% emissions reduction by 2025 but a decision to review the budget in 2014 could put this bold aim at risk, 'Carbon Budgets’ (HC 1080) reports.
The Committee on Climate Change welcomes the Government’s decision to set the fourth carbon budget in line with their recommendations, however, the Environmental Audit Committee argues that a review of the budget could be bad for business.
Foreign Office should make lasting budget cuts
A Committee has urged the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) to make sustainable savings to improve on short term solutions that were proposed to decrease a budget overspend of nearly £100 million.
The report 'Spending Reduction in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’ (HC 1284) details the FCO’s overspend of £91 million in 2009-10: whilst drastic cuts were made for recovery, the improvements were short term in nature and should be revised to help maintain vital services for the future.