£1 Million Funding To Local Authorities To Tackle Binge Drinking

The Parliamentary Information Office of the Parliamentary Yearbook is currently gathering news items for major features in the next edition on the impact of alcohol abuse

A new £1 million fund to give local communities the tools they need to tackle binge and underage drinking was announced last month by the Government's Champion for Active Safer Communities, Baroness Newlove.

This came at the same time as the Government launched a brand new nationwide Change4Life campaign designed to expose the fact that drinking slightly over the lower-risk alcohol guidelines can seriously impact long term health. The TV adverts highlight that regularly drinking around two large glasses of wine or two strong pints of beer a day triple the risk of developing mouth cancer and double the risk of developing high blood pressure.

Figures today show an ever-growing cost of alcohol to the NHS which currently stands at £2.7bn a year, including £1bn on accident and emergency services. £2.7bn equates to £90 for every taxpayer in the country. This is part of a wider cost to society from alcohol of between £17 billion and £22 billion per annum. In 2010/11 alone there were 200,000 hospital admissions with a primary alcohol-related diagnosis, 40 per cent higher than in 2002/03. The number of patients admitted with acute intoxification has more than doubled to 18,500 since 2002/03.

The Prime Minister said early last month:

“Every night, in town centres, hospitals and police stations across the country, people have to cope with the consequences of alcohol abuse. And the problem is getting worse. Over the last decade we’ve seen a frightening growth in the number of people – many under-age – who think it’s acceptable for people to get drunk in public in ways that wreck lives, spread fear and increase crime.

“This is one of the scandals of our society and I am determined to deal with it. As figures today show the NHS is having to pick up an ever-growing bill – £2.7bn a year, including £1bn on accident and emergency services alone. That’s money we have to spend because of the reckless behaviour of an irresponsible minority.

“Across the country local hospitals, ambulance crews and the police are rising to the challenge. We must help them to do so and will be setting out how through the forthcoming Alcohol Strategy. Whether it’s the police officers in A&E that have been deployed in some hospitals, the booze buses in Soho and Norwich, or the Drunk Tanks used abroad, we need innovative solutions to confront the rising tide of unacceptable behaviour.

The announcement of the new fund came on the day Baroness Newlove published her latest report 'Building Safe, Active Communities: Strong foundations by local people', which is a collection  of inspiring, yet practical lessons from those who are changing their neighbourhoods for the better, providing good advice, and highlighting some of the barriers that have stifled their growth. In her interim report to Government published in July last year, Baroness Newlove identified tackling problem drinking as her most urgent priority and she will continue to sharply focus on this in the months ahead. This new fund will give ten successful communities - based on models of grass roots projects already delivering for their neighbourhoods - the resources to really get to grips with problem drinking and deal with it, head on.

The Parliamentary Information Office of the Parliamentary Yearbook will report on the distribution of the fund and its success as this becomes evident.

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

National High Speed Rail Network

The Parliamentary Information Office of the Parliamentary Yearbook is currently gathering news items for major features in the next edition on transport and the environment

Following one of the largest consultations in the Department for Transport’s history, Transport Secretary, Justine Greening announced last month that, contentious that it may be, Britain will have a national high speed rail network providing vital new capacity and faster journeys across the country from 2026.

There was five months of intensive engagement, 41 days of road show attended by almost 33,000 people and systematically going through the evidence and the alternatives, it was clear that the argument in favour of HS2 was compelling.

A modern, fast reliable, railway that will:

•    Transform connections between our cities, regions and the Continent.
•    Truly rebalance our economic geography, with a legacy of jobs, growth and opportunity for generations to come.
•    And change the way we travel, just as the first railway did in the 19th century.

HS2 will be a Y-shaped rail network with stations in London, Birmingham, Leeds, Manchester, Sheffield and the East Midlands linked by high speed trains conveying up to 26,000 people each hour at speeds of up to 250mph.

High speed trains will also connect seamlessly with the existing West Coast and East Coast main lines to serve passengers beyond the HS2 network in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Newcastle, Durham, York, Darlington, Liverpool, Preston, Wigan and Lancaster.

It will be built in two phases. The first will see construction of a new 140 mile line between London and Birmingham by 2026. The second phase will see lines built from Birmingham to Leeds and Manchester by 2033. A formal consultation on second phase routes will begin in early 2014 with a final route chosen by the end of 2014.

Transport Secretary Justine Greening said:

“A new high speed rail network will provide Britain with the additional train seats, connections and speed to stay ahead of the congestion challenge and help create jobs, growth and prosperity for the entire country.

“HS2 will link some of our greatest cities – and high speed trains will connect with our existing railway lines to provide seamless journeys to destinations far beyond it. This is a truly British network that will serve far more than the cities directly on the line.

“HS2 will deliver up to 26,000 more seats for rail passengers each hour and journey times slashed by as much as half. By attracting passengers off existing rail lines, roads and domestic air services, its benefits will be felt far beyond the network. No amount of tinkering with our Victorian rail infrastructure will deliver this leap in capacity.

“It is not a decision that I have taken lightly or without great consideration of the impact on those who are affected by the route from London to Birmingham. I took more time to make this decision in order to find additional mitigation which now means more than half the entire 140-mile line will be out of sight in tunnels or cuttings. I am certain this strikes the right balance between the reasonable concerns of people living on or near the line, who will be offered a generous compensation package, and the need to keep Britain moving.

“More than a century ago the Victorians built railways that continue to serve us to this day and just over 50 years ago the post-war generation chose to invest in motorways, bringing higher road capacity and faster journeys to millions. Both transformed the economic and social fabric of this country: HS2 is our generation’s investment in Britain and our children.”

The Parliamentary Information Office of the Parliamentary Yearbook will continue to report on the progress of HS2 as we go through the months ahead.

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

Uk Government To Provide Interim Funding For Shetland And Stornaway Etvs

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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

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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.”

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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.

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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