This document sets out the Government's reply to the Culture, Media and Sport Committee's report on the preparations for the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (HCP 69-I, session 2006-07; ISBN 9780215032140) published in January 2007. Amongst its findings, the Committee's report raised concerns over the rising costs of the project and the Government's intention to draw increased contributions from the National Lottery and the London Council Tax to meet any budget shortfall, as well as the need for legacy use to be identified for each new permanent Games venue. The Committee's report concluded that it remained confident that London can host a Games as good as any before, but that more needs to be done if the UK is to achieve all of the potential benefits. The Government's detailed response to the Committee's 49 recommendations are made under the headings of: land preparation; staging the Games; security; contingency planning; cost increases; lottery funding; land values; the sporting and community legacy of the Games; regeneration; venues; sporting participation; tourism; training camps; branding; the Cultural Olympiad; and the legacy for the nations and regions.
A report by the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee (HCP 72, session 2006-07, ISBN 9780215032249), published in January 2007, raised a number of concerns regarding the lack of fairness and transparency in the operation of Call TV quiz shows. These quiz shows encourage viewers to take part in live broadcasts by sending in answers either by a text message or by calling a premium rate telephone service, with the broadcaster keeping a proportion of the call revenue. The Committee's report raised a number of concerns over the lack of fairness and transparency in the operation of these shows in relation to consumer protection and concluded that they should constitute gaming under the Gambling Act 2005. This document sets out the Government's response to the Committee's report, in which the Government notes its concern that recent reports which have highlighted continued failures in the operation of premium rate services across a range of interactive programmes have damaged public confidence in broadcasting. ICSTIS (the industry-funded regulatory body for all premium rate charged telecommunications services) will introduce a stronger regime of monitoring and inspection to improve regulation of the sector, whilst Ofcom (the independent regulator and competition authority for the UK communications industries) has announced that, in addition to investigating specific complaints, it will be undertaking an inquiry into the systematic failures of compliance in this sector.
This report sets out interim assessments of the progress made by the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) against its Public Service Agreement (PSA) performance targets as agreed in the 2004 Spending Review, together with progress against the Department's efficiency target and the outstanding targets from the 2002 Spending Review. This report is supplementary to the Departmental Report 2006 (Cm. 6812, ISBN 0101681224).
This Interim report on digital Britain has been produced by a Steering Board for two Government departments, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform. Divided into six sections, it looks specifically at the following areas: digital networks; digital content; universal connectivity and equipping everyone to benefit from digital Britain, along with an introduction and conclusion. The conclusion sets out a number of goals that the Government would like to aspire to by 2012 and before publishing a final report. Those goals include: universal participation in the broadband world; highly capable and robust networks; a world leading position in the communications and creative industries and a high quality digital delivery of essential public services. In all there are 24 recommendations within this report, and the Government has set out five key measures, which are: achievement of universal connectivity; a set of digital networks (wired and wireless); a digital economy; compelling programmes and online content; public service transactions which form part of the Government's objectives in acheiving the goals. Organisations and individuals interested in joining the discussion about digital Britain should register at digitalbritain@berr.gsi.gov.uk.
This year's accountability hearings focused on three areas of particular interest: the arrangements for revalidation of doctors, which are to commence on 3 December 2012, and associated matters such as patient involvement and examination of the language competence of doctors; the professional leadership activity undertaken by the GMC in the last year; and the regulation activity undertaken by the GMC, including the establishment of the Medical Practitioner Tribunal Service. The Council is performing effectively in its two roles of defining and applying standards for the medical profession and providing a focus of professional leadership. The outcome of the Law Commission's consultation on professional regulation in the health and care sector, which proposed a formal role for the Health Committee in the accountability structures, is still awaited. Specific concerns included that whilst there has been some progress on the amendment of domestic legislation which restricts the language testing of doctors this is no substitute for the revision of the European legislation which presently prohibits language testing of doctors on a national basis. There have also been continued upward trends in complaints against doctors received by the GMC, and the Committee expects to examine in 2013 the outcomes of further research the GMC has commissioned into these trends. The Committee feels that the present 15-month target for the GMC to complete 90% of its fitness to practise cases should be lowered to 12 months. The Committee also welcomes proposed legislation to enable the GMC's investigatory arm to appeal against decisions made by the MPTS where the outcome of a hearing is disputed
This paper puts forward policy proposals based on a consultation exercise launched in December 2009 by Margaret Hodge, Minister for Culture. The proposals presented are grouped under 6 main aims gleaned from the exercise: to drive the quality of all library services up to the level of the best; to reverse the current trend of decline in library usage and grow the numbers using the library service; that the library service is able to respond to limited public resources and public pressures; to ensure that all libraries respond to a 24/7 culture; that all libraries grasp the opportunities presented by digitisation; and to demonstrate to citizens, commentators and politicians that libraries are still relevant and vital.
Following the Machinery of Government changes in June 2007 three new departments were set up in place of the Department for Education and Skills and the Department of Trade and Industry. This 2007 Autumn Performance Report identifies the targets applicable to the Department of Children, Schools and Families (DCFS) and charts its progress against the Spending Review 2004 (SR04), Public Service Agreement (PSA) targets and introduces a new suite of Comprehensive Spending Review Public Service Agreements (CSR07). There is also a chapter on targets from the Spending Review 2002 PSA targets that are still outstanding.
The UK's export controls of objects of cultural interest are aimed to strike a balance between the need to protect the heritage, the rights of owners and the encouragement of a thriving art market. This is the fifth annual report on the operation of export controls on objects of cultural interest which covers the period 1 May 2008 to 30 April 2009. As well as the Reviewing Committee report, it includes descriptions of 22 individual export cases that were referred to the Committee by expert advisors.
This book provides a historical analysis of the government financing of science, engineering and technology. It describes the relationship between the funders and performers of research and reports on business R&D expenditure. Key data on the output and employment of science graduates is summarised and tables also show how the UK compares with the rest of the world. This handbook is a successor to the Annual Review of Government Funded research and Development.
This publication draws together statistics from a wide range of government departments and other organisations to paint a broad picture of British society today and how it has been changing. Chapters focus on: population; households and families; education and training; the labour market; income and wealth; expenditure; health; social protection; crime and justice; housing; environment; transport; and. lifestyles and social participation. Each chapter has tables, charts and explanatory text. Data sources are given below each table and chart. Contact telephones are given for each chapter and a list of useful website addresses is included for the first time. This edition of Social Trends also includes a feature article,200 years of the census of population written by the first editor of Social Trends. Social trends is aimed at a wide audience including policy makers in the public and private sectors, service providers, local government, journalists and other commentators, academics and students, schools and the general public.
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