Big Society is hampered by lack of a clear implementation plan
'The Big Society' (HC 902-I) by the Public Administration Select Committee (PASC), warns that the Big Society project is hampered by the lack of a clear implementation plan, leading to public confusion about the policy agenda, eighteen months into this administration.
PASC has yet to see how the Government will engage charities and voluntary groups who wish to deliver public services. The Government must address the barriers such bodies experience in the contracting and commissioning system, which means developing a plan to address roles, tasks, responsibilities and skills in Whitehall departments.
Gang violence prevention plans outlined in report
Analysis of gang and youth violence has been made by a team of senior ministers since the August disruption and their suggestions of how to tackle the national problem have been set out in a report.
Initiatives detailed in 'Ending Gang and Youth Violence: A Cross-Government Report’ (Cm. 8211) will act as a platform for intensive support required for the areas most affected by gang violence.
Mull of Kintyre tragedy conclusions published
‘The Mull of Kintyre Review’ (HC 1348) examines previous reports, evidence and information relating to the fatal helicopter crash which caused 29 deaths on the Mull of Kintyre in 1994.
On 02 June 1994, RAF Chinook Helicopter ZD576 crashed whilst transporting 25 members of the Northern Ireland security and intelligence community from RAF Aldergrove in Northern Ireland to Fort George near Inverness.
Dilnot suggests cap on adult social care contributions
In support of fair funding for adult social care in England, Chair of the Commission on Funding of Care and Support Andrew Dilnot proposes a cap of £35,000 for individual care costs.
The Dilnot report, 'Fairer Care Funding: the Report of the Commission on Funding of Care and Support', sets out recommendations for a balanced and sustainable funding system for adult social care in England.
Restriction urged on sexualised content available to children
An independent review calls for the media and businesses to take more care to prevent children from being exposed to parts of adult culture that could damage the innocence of childhood.
'Letting Children be Children: Report of an Independent Review of the Commercialisation and Sexualisation of Childhood' (Cm. 8078) details that nine out of ten parents believe children are forced to mature too quickly as a result of sexual and commercial content readily available for young people to view.
White Paper outlines initiatives to encourage giving
In a bid to heighten the number of people who give time and money to causes they support, the Cabinet Office has compiled a number of ideas to simplify the process of giving.
'Giving White Paper' (Cm. 8084) aims to make it easier and more compelling for people to contribute to charitable organisations; through donations and volunteering.
Proposals for adult social care law reform outlined
The Law Commission recommends the most far-reaching reforms of adult social care law seen for over 60 years in its report 'Adult Social Care’ (HC 941).
For the first time, older people, disabled people, those with mental health problems and carers will be clear about their legal rights to care and support services under new proposals. Local councils across England and Wales will also have clear and concise rules to govern when they must provide services.
Government seeks cultural change through a more giving society
The Government wishes to decentralise the responsibility of taking social action by increasing the number of individuals and communities giving back to society, whether fiscally or through voluntary contributions.
The ‘Giving Green Paper’ details the idea of building a ‘Big Society’: a country in which people are in more control, supported to pursue their collective and individual goals, and are less reliant upon the state.
Police should be given more control to stop drink and drug inflicted accidents
'Drink and Drug Driving Law' (HC 460) calls for the police to be given an additional power to permit preliminary breath tests as part of any designated drink drive enforcement operation.
Current statistics show that 18% of all drivers killed in road accidents are over the drink-drive limit (in 2007, based on coroners’ data), but that only approximately 3% of drivers in the UK are stopped and tested for alcohol compared to the European average of 16%.
Growth in lower life expectancy in England’s deprived areas
Health inequalities between the rich and poor in England are increasing, as discussed in ‘Tackling Inequalities in Life Expectancy in Areas with the Worst Health and Deprivation: Department of Health’ (HC 186).
The Department of Health has made a serious attempt to improve life expectancy in poorer areas of the country but will fail to reach targets set out in 2000 by 10% if current trends continue for 2010.
Committee suggests that street availability of cocaine has not been affected by enforcement
Cocaine is a dangerous drug linked to heart disease, long-term erosion of cognitive brain function, and has extremely toxic effects when combined with alcohol. In 2008 some 235 sudden deaths were associated with cocaine.
Cocaine powder use in the UK has quintupled from 1996 to 2008-09, contrary to the overall trend in illicit drug use in the UK. Any successful policy against cocaine must address both supply-side enforcement and demand reduction.
Work and Pensions Committee calls for the establishment of a Welfare Commission
In this report, 'Decision Making and Appeals in the Benefits System (HC 313)' the Work and Pensions Committee reiterates its call for the establishment of a Welfare Commission to create a fairer and simpler benefits system that claimants can understand and the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) can administer more accurately.
The report concludes that the vast majority of decisions DWP makes are accepted by claimants and lead to the right benefits being paid on time to those who are eligible. However, the level of official error in the benefits system has increased substantially since 2000-01.
Green Paper sets out measures to help families cope in times of difficulty
The demographic and social changes of the last 30 or 40 years have been profound and have led to much greater diversity in family patterns. However the evidence is clear that it is strong, stable relationships between adults in the home - parents, grandparents and other caring adults - and among all these adults and the children in a family, that have the biggest impact on children's happiness and healthy development.
'Support for All: The Families and Relationships Green Paper’ (Cm. 7787) sets out a wide range of measures to support all families as they bring up their children and to help families cope with times of stress and difficulty.
Curb alcohol consumption by rising prices urges the Health Committee
This report 'Alcohol' (HC 151-I) calls for a radical change in the Government's approach to the health and social problems caused by the rising consumption of alcohol in England and Wales.
Consumption per head has nearly tripled since 1947, and 31% of men and 21% of women are drinking hazardously (more than 21 units per week) or harmfully (more than 50 units per week). It is estimated alcohol abuse in England and Wales kills 30-40,000 people a year and costs the economy £55bn. Excessive consumption also leads to serious accidents, disorder, violence and crime.
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.
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.
UK Immigration Statistics for 2005
Immigration control regulates the entry and refusal of
entry of passengers into the UK; the conditions of stay and any variations
following entry; settlement and deportation. In 2005 the estimated number of
international arrivals from outside the Common Travel Area rose by 5% while
asylum applications, excluding dependants, fell by 24%.
Only 56 % of calls to DWP call centres
answered
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) delivers
benefits, pensions and employment services to 28 million customers in Britain.
In 2004-05, the DWP spent £190 million using contact centres to provide
customer services.
Following a National Audit Office (NAO) report
'Delivering
Effective Services through Contact Centres' (HC 941), the Committee has
examined the cost-effectiveness, accessibility and quality of customer services
provided.
"Banking the unbanked": promoting financial
inclusion
Financial exclusion can impose significant costs on
individuals and be a barrier to employment and enterprise.
Many people
are still facing problems in opening basic bank accounts and operating them to
maximise their value.