Friday 17 February 2012

Uk Government To Provide Interim Funding For Shetland And Stornaway Etvs


The Parliamentary Information Office of the Parliamentary Yearbook is currently gathering news items for major features on the economic importance of our maritime and subsea industries in the next edition

The Secretary of State for Scotland Michael Moore today confirmed up to £3 million of interim funding will be provided from the UK Government for replacement tugboats in the Northern and Western Isles.  Funding will be delivered on an exceptional basis for three months to allow final attempts to secure a long-term replacement to continue.

Michael Moore said:  "I am aware of the strength of feeling on this issue expressed by communities in the Northern and Western Isles.  It is disappointing that efforts by local representatives to secure a commercial replacement for this service were unsuccessful before expiry of the contract.

"I believe it is worth a final attempt to try and find a solution, and the Scotland Office has agreed to lead the efforts.  The UK Government is to offer funding to cover replacement services for an interim period and I am speaking to local authorities today on how this should work.  Work is already underway and we are hopeful that a replacement service can be put in place as soon as practically possible.

"Everyone must be clear that this cannot be a long-term solution.  The majority of traffic in these waters is owned by private companies and we will be engaging with them and others to find a satisfactory alternative."

Commercial and salvage industry can be used by operators to assist ships in difficulty. There are a variety of means of securing this form of assistance if needed, including invoking powers to secure vessels from commercial providers. We are confident that if a vessel of this kind is required, there are sufficient commercial operators available to draw on.

The Minister will convene a meeting of a UK ETV group shortly and further details will be announced in due course

This was submitted by the Parliamentary Information Office. For more information on the Parliamentary Information Office please visit http://parliamentaryyearbook.co.uk/contactus.html & http://www.parliamentaryyearbookinformationoffice.co.uk

David Cameron Welcomes Launch Of International Gay Rights Charity


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Prime Minister David Cameron has welcomed the launch of a UK-based charity to support LGBT people suffering persecution around the world.

The Kaleidoscope Diversity Trust will work with local gay rights campaigners and lobby for equal rights in areas such as Africa and the Middle East.

Mr Cameron said LGBT equality was a “hugely important” issue for the Government and Britain should be a “global beacon for reform”.

The PM said:

“Our country has made real progress on LGB&T equality and, without forgetting how far we’ve still got to go domestically, it is right that we should now increasingly turn our attention towards bringing about change abroad.

“In some countries, it’s simply appalling how people can be treated – how their rights are trampled on and the prejudices, and even violence, they suffer. So I want Britain to be a global beacon for reform. That’s why I am delighted to send my best wishes to Kaleidoscope, and wish them well in their work.

“Be in no doubt, this is a hugely important issue to this Government. Last March, we published an update on our plan on LGB&T issues. It included fourteen areas where we want to act internationally, covering issues like asylum and protecting the rights of British citizens living, working or travelling abroad. We look forward to the contribution that Kaleidoscope will make to the debate on and progress towards equality worldwide.”

This was submitted by the Parliamentary Information Office. For more information on the Parliamentary Information Office please visit http://parliamentaryyearbook.co.uk/contactus.html & http://www.parliamentaryyearbookinformationoffice.co.uk

Pm Gives Go-Ahead For £4.5bn Uk Oil And Gas Project


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Clair Ridge project will create hundreds of jobs over the next five years and produce a vital source of domestic oil until around 2050

The UK Government today granted BP and its partners — Shell, ConocoPhillips and Chevron — approval to proceed with the £4.5 billion Clair Ridge project, the second phase of development of the giant Clair field, west of the Shetland Islands.

Speaking at the BP Headquarters in Aberdeen, Mr Cameron said:

“I am delighted to give the go-ahead for this project; this investment is great news for Aberdeen and the country and provides a massive boost for jobs and growth. It shows the confidence that there is to invest in the North Sea – we have cutting edge technology, world class skills and expertise and a UK Government that is committed to do what we can to secure future investment.”

Bob Dudley, BP’s group chief executive said:

“Although it began over forty years ago, the story of the North Sea oil industry has a long way yet to run. BP has produced some five billion barrels of oil and gas equivalent so far from the region and we believe we have the potential for over three billion more,”

The Clair Ridge project, which will install two new bridge-linked platforms with the capability to produce an estimated 640 million barrels of oil, is planned to come on stream in 2016 and will extend the production from the greater Clair area to 2050. In addition to the 600 people already working on the project, it will provide hundreds of UK engineering, drilling and oilfield services jobs over the field’s life.

This was submitted by the Parliamentary Information Office. For more information on the Parliamentary Information Office please visit http://parliamentaryyearbook.co.uk/contactus.html & http://www.parliamentaryyearbookinformationoffice.co.uk

Tuesday 7 February 2012

Students Get The Facts On Going To University In 2012



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An army of recent graduates are hitting the road to tell students about the changes to the university finance system coming into effect next year.

Graduates will lead the Student Finance Tour giving presentations to explain the new student finance system and the financial help that is available. Students and their families will also be offered one-to-one advice about going to university.

Universities and Science Minister David Willetts today joined English Literature and Drama graduate Holly Hughes at Exeter College for one of the first presentations.

Mr Willetts said:

"Recent graduates are ideally placed to give prospective students the facts about going to university. Having just graduated they can not only explain the student finance system, but they can also give that all important insight into what university life is all about.

"We want to make sure no one is put off applying to university because they do not have information about the new student finance system. Students need to know that most new undergraduates will not pay upfront costs, there will be more financial support for those from low-income families and everyone will make lower loan repayments than they do now once they are in well paid work."

Holly Hughes said:

"Going to university has given me amazing life skills and career prospects. I would recommend that anybody thinking about going should go for it!

"Anybody considering applying to university in 2012 should bear in mind that although the loan taken out will be larger than before, the repayment system is a lot easier to manage resulting in more disposable income."

The Student Finance School and College Tour aims to visit over 2,300 schools, FE and sixth form colleges across England in run up to the UCAS application deadline on 15 January 2012.

This was submitted by the Parliamentary Information Office. For more information on the Parliamentary Information Office please visit http://parliamentaryyearbook.co.uk/contactus.html & http://www.parliamentaryyearbookinformationoffice.co.uk

New Working Group To Examine Research Transparency



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Science Minister David Willetts has today announced a new independent working group to look at how UK-funded research findings can be broadened for key audiences such as researchers, policy makers and the general public.

The group will be made up of representatives from the higher education sector, research investors, the research community, scholarly publishers and libraries. It will examine how access to research findings can be made more transparent and accessible.

Speaking at the British Science Festival in Bradford, David Willetts said:

“Transparency is at the heart of the Government's agenda and it should apply to published research. We do fantastic research in the UK, of which we can be rightly proud, but I want to ensure that people are given the opportunity to know more about the projects that government funds.

“Research stimulates and fuels innovation and economic growth. So, to maximise UK innovation we need to maximise access to and the use of research findings.

“Technology developments and a desire for greater transparency are creating new demands in a rapidly changing research publications environment. The working group will be made up of a range of parties affected, and provides an opportunity for them to explore the issues that need to be addressed.”

The independent working group emerged following transparency discussions at a round table meeting convened by David Willetts. Members of the group will assess how access to research findings might be expanded in the most appropriate way - taking into account a wide range of considerations.

The group will be chaired by Dame Janet Finch DBE, Professor of Sociology at Manchester University and independent co-Chair of the Council for Science and Technology.

This was submitted by the Parliamentary Information Office. For more information on the Parliamentary Information Office please visit http://parliamentaryyearbook.co.uk/contactus.html & http://www.parliamentaryyearbookinformationoffice.co.uk

Employers And Interns Get Clarity On Minimum Wage



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Guidance providing greater clarity for businesses who offer work experience, placements and internships has been published today, as announced in the Social Mobility Strategy in April.

The updated guidance from Business Link and DirectGov includes advice on the payment of the National Minimum Wage (NMW) for work experience staff and interns, and clarifies when someone is entitled to this payment. The guidance also includes a new worker checklist for employers and examples of case studies, which aims to make sure that those who are entitled to the NMW receive it.

Entitlement to the NMW does not depend on a job title but on whether the arrangement they have with an organisation makes them a worker for NMW purposes. Where an individual is a worker - and no exemption applies – then they must be paid at least the NMW.

Employment Relations Minister Edward Davey said:

“Internships and work experience of all forms offer an excellent opportunity in helping to bridge the gap between education and the workplace. And for businesses it allows them access to a wide talent pool of some of our best and brightest who didn’t take the traditional route into a job.

“Fairness though is absolutely paramount with all placements. When a worker is entitled to the minimum wage, they should be paid it and we will continue to enforce the law. Today’s publication will help clarify this for employers and will also make sure that all interns and those on work experience placements have a better understanding of their entitlement to the minimum wage.”

In a Written Ministerial Statement to the Houses of Parliament, Edward Davey also published the Government's evidence to the Low Pay Commission for their 2012 NMW. The Low Pay Commission will report back in early 2012 with their findings and their recommendations for the NMW ratings.

This was submitted by the Parliamentary Information Office. For more information on the Parliamentary Information Office please visit http://parliamentaryyearbook.co.uk/contactus.html & http://www.parliamentaryyearbookinformationoffice.co.uk

Monday 6 February 2012

Minister Announces Quality Standard For National Careers Service



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Skills Minister John Hayes today unveils an upgraded and improved standard to underpin the new National Careers Service. The Matrix Standard will promote effective delivery of information, advice and guidance to millions of people through the new National Careers Service, which launches next April.

National Careers Service providers will be assessed against a range of criteria including service delivery, quality improvement, resources and leadership and management.

The new standard will reassure people about the quality of advice they can expect to receive, and ensure providers plan, deliver, review, evaluate and develop their service.
All National Careers Service providers will need to be accredited to the new standard by April 2013.

Mr Hayes said:

“High quality careers advice and guidance can make a real difference to people’s lives. It promotes social mobility and helps people make the educational, training and work choices that get them onto the right path in life.

“The Matrix Standard will guarantee the quality of the work of the new National Careers Service.”

Mr Hayes will make the announcement at the official launch of the updated Matrix Standard in London later today. It has been developed by a range of experts and in consultation with the careers guidance sector. The Derby based standards accreditation experts Emcq Limited are responsible for managing the assessment and accreditation process and managed the trial of the new standard.

This was submitted by the Parliamentary Information Office. For more information on the Parliamentary Information Office please visit http://parliamentaryyearbook.co.uk/contactus.html & http://www.parliamentaryyearbookinformationoffice.co.uk

Thursday 2 February 2012

The Parliamentary Yearbook Information

The Parliamentary Information Office of the Parliamentary Yearbook is currently gathering news items for major features on the economic importance of our maritime and subsea industries in the next edition

The Parliamentary Yearbook has been produced for almost 40 years and serves as an essential reference work for the Members and the staff of both Houses of Parliament, for all those who do business with the Palace of Westminster and for a wider audience in both public and private sectors.

It is a book of  two halves, one half  carrying purely factual information about Parliament and the other structured around a series of features covering topical and, in many cases, contentious issues of the day. The features are based on a mixture of fact, opinion and speculation but are essentially non-political.

Each feature is headed by a key Government, Parliamentary or public sector figure who tends  to put the "party" line. Other contributions are sought from relevant persons within the business, social and public arenas, those who are likely to have a valid contribution to make on a given topic and whose opinions will be valued in a debate.

So whilst editorial contributions must, of necessity, have a commercial value for the contributor, it is unwise to restrict a contribution to a corporate "puff". It is important to give the reader, who is sufficiently sophisticated to recognise an "advertorial", valid cause to "read on".

The following notes are for guidance only:-

    *  Try to concentrate on topical subjects but bear in mind that the book has a 1 year shelf life
    * Do not offer solutions without outlining the problem
    * Discuss the problem in "market" or broad terms
    * The audience is a powerful one and it is appropriate to use the editorial space for (non-political) lobbying
    * Use a powerful headline, descriptive of the content
    * Break the editorial, where possible, with sub heads
    * Where practical back expressed opinion with documented fact
    * Provide a clear author's by-line with job title, company name and contact details

Additional assistance can be given by our in-house editorial staff. Do not hesitate to call if we can help but do bear in mind that our editorial staff are not experts in your field.

This was submitted by the Parliamentary Information Office. For more information on the Parliamentary Information Office please visit http://parliamentaryyearbook.co.uk/contactus.html & http://www.parliamentaryyearbookinformationoffice.co.uk

Public Sector Equality Duty — Delivering the Government’s Objectives for Public Services

The Parliamentary Information Office of the Parliamentary Yearbook is currently gathering news items for major features on the economic importance of our maritime and subsea industries in the next edition

The duty was introduced via the Equality Act 2010. It covers age, sexual orientation, religion or belief, pregnancy and maternity, and gender reassignment.

Developing and implementing the policy requires public bodies to have ‘due regard’ for the following:

•    Eliminate discrimination, harassment and victimisation and other conduct prohibited by the Equality Act 2010
•    Advance equality of opportunity
•    Foster good relations between people from different groups.

The Equality Duty is designed to support good decision-making. The term ‘due regard’ refers to consideration of how public bodies’ activities affects different people. It is intended to ensure that policies and services are accessible and appropriate to all.

The duty applies to those bodies listed in Schedule 19 of the Equality Act 2010 and includes key public authorities such as local authorities, health, education, transport, police, armed forces and central government departments. The list includes many of the bodies currently covered by the race, disability and gender equality duties. Additionally, any private body that carries out public functions as well as private will be subject to the general duty, albeit with regard to the public function only.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission is responsible for encouraging and, where necessary, enforcing compliance, with both the Commission and affected persons having the right to apply to the High Court for a judicial review in matters where compliance with the general duty are in dispute.

The position of the government is that public bodies should be accountable to their service users; they need to be open about the information that they have used on which decisions are based, the objectives that they are seeking to achieve and the results.

Since 6 April 2011, the requirement to develop or publish an equality scheme will no longer be applicable. Some public bodies may continue to do so, however, if they consider it to be a useful tool to improve transparency and communication about equality outcomes. The new regulations emphasise the importance of ‘equality analysis’ rather than ‘equality impact assessment’. In other words, quality of analysis and its use in decision-making is more valuable than producing a document, which some may consider to be the end result itself. Nevertheless, public bodies are required to be transparent in their response to the Equality Duty and towards this end publish relevant information that demonstrates compliance and equality objectives set.

Collecting evidence on sexual orientation as a means of assessing the impact that policies and practices may have on individuals is one area of concern, but, it is argued, that evidence gathering and analysis serves to mitigate the possibility of developing policy on the basis of assumptions. Public bodies in this respect are advised to explain clearly why they require the data and assure recipients that strict confidentiality will be observed at all times.

Understanding how different people will be affected by their policies will, it is believed, help public bodies to become more efficient and effective and will, in turn, contribute to the government’s objectives to improve public services.

This was submitted by the Parliamentary Information Office. For more information on the Parliamentary Information Office please visit http://parliamentaryyearbook.co.uk/contactus.html & http://www.parliamentaryyearbookinformationoffice.co.uk

Over Two Million Pounds Allocated To Fund 50,000 School Cycle Training Places through the Bikeability Programme

The Parliamentary Information Office of the Parliamentary Yearbook is currently gathering news items for major features on the economic importance of our maritime and subsea industries in the next edition

Bikeability is a cycling proficiency programme designed to provide the next generation with the skills and confidence required to cycle on today’s busy roads.

The programme is based on three bikeability levels: Level 1 is initiated soon after a child has learnt to ride a bicycle; 10–11 year olds progress through to Level 2; and 11–18 year olds to Level 3. Children are encouraged to progress through all three levels and at each stage are awarded with badges and certificates.

Bikeability has received the support of more than 20 professional organisations, among them the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, as well as various cross-government departments, for example the Department for Transport, Department for Children, Schools and Families and the Department of Health.

With hundreds of thousands of bikeability badges already awarded, the aim is to have half-a-million children bikeability proficient by 2012 and, ultimately, every child given the opportunity to participate in bikeability training before leaving primary school.

The cycling revolution received substantial impetus in 2010 through the vision of London as a cyclised city and the designation of 2010 as the Year of Cycling. In this year, three major programmes were launched in the Capital: the London Cycle Hire Scheme (sponsored by Barclays bank); Cycle Superhighways and Biking Boroughs. The Mayor of London, working with Transport for London (TfL), has pledged to deliver a 400 per cent increase in cycling by 2026, compared to cycling numbers in 2001, using the aforementioned initiatives to ensure that biking across the Capital is safer and more convenient.

The cycling revolution in the Capital has received much publicity and support from major events, with the emphasis on mass participation. Sky Rides, for example, was a fun day out which effectively raised awareness of cycling as an alternative and, importantly, ‘green’ way of travelling around the city.

Outside of the Capital, Southend-On-Sea enjoyed its own cycling revolution, winning Cycle Town status back in 2009 and, consequently, receiving a £3.2mn government grant to advance the borough’s cycling facilities.

Bikeability has already benefitted by this award. The borough council has more than 29 bikeability instructors; free bikeability courses are operational in all 28 Southend primary schools, with courses extended into special schools, private schools and some secondary schools; and free cycle training is available to adults living or working in the borough.

Norman Baker, Transport Minister, said "This government is strongly committed to cycling — it is a crucial part of building a healthy and sustainable transport network for the future. That is why we have provided £11mn of funding this year for the Bikeability programme, which not only promotes the benefits of cycling as a healthy and enjoyable way of getting around but enables children to do it safely and confidently."

This was submitted by the Parliamentary Information Office. For more information on the Parliamentary Information Office please visit http://parliamentaryyearbook.co.uk/contactus.html & http://www.parliamentaryyearbookinformationoffice.co.uk
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