In this report, from the North East Regional Committee (HCP 169, session 2009-10, ISBN 9780215542731), renewable industries could lead a recovery in the North East's manufacturing industry. The Committee states that the region is well placed to benefit from the growing global market for green technologies, but warns that British innovation and ideas could be lost as other countries benefit from quicker commercial development and implementation. World-class renewable energy companies in the North East - such as the New and Renewable Energy Centre (NaREC) at Blyth, the North East Process Industries Cluster (NEPIC) on Teesside, and NETPark, the North East Technology park in County Durham - could put the region at the forefront of the Government's efforts to turn the UK into a low-carbon economy. The Committee warns though, that the UK's cumbersome and slow planning process poses a significant risk to long-term development in the North East as businesses from countries like China seek quicker, guaranteed sites elsewhere in Europe. The report also states that the Government should explore incentives to encourage local development of renewable and clean energy. Also, underinvestment in transport links is proving detrimental to investment in the region.
The document contains written evidence submitted to the Committee in relation to its scrutiny of the Government's proposals for the creation of elected regional assemblies in England, as set out in the draft Bill (Cm 6285, ISBN 0101628528) published in July 2004. This draft Bill seeks to implement the policy proposals contained within the Government's White Paper (Cm 5511, ISBN 0101551126) published in May 2002, as part of its overall agenda of constitutional reform and devolution. Written evidence includes memoranda from the Electoral Commission, the Greater London Authority, the Trades Union Congress (TUC), the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) and the Association of Police Authorities; as well as from a number of regional bodies, local councils and local government bodies, charities and regional business organisations.
The Committee decided to take evidence on the steel industry after Corus's and parent company Tata's decision to mothball Teesside Cast Products at Redcar and Lackenby. Evidence outlined the serious economic devastation that would occur if the TCP plant were mothballed. The number of those made unemployed as a consequence will climb above 4,000. The Committee states that the central priority must be to find a way to return the plant to operation as soon as possible and to maintain the jobs of a highly skilled workforce until what may well be a temporary downturn has been worked through. The short-sighted decision by Corus to close the rolling mill at Redcar and Lackenby has left it unable to response flexibly to changes in the world steel market in a way that would guarantee continued production on Teesside as indeed they were warned it would. The proposal of possibly rolling slab produced at Teesside at the mill in Llanwern, South Wales has been put forward and the Committee urges the Government to continue to work with Tata and Corus and the union on both sites to explore fully the potential of this idea
The Committee's report was originally intended to improve the draft Regional Assemblies Bill (Cm 6285, ISBN 0101628528) published in July 2004. Although the draft Bill is now unlikely to proceed through Parliament in the near future, the report identifies key points which the Government should consider if, in the light of the result of the referendum in the North East in November 2004, it decides it wishes to return to the issue of introducing elected regional assemblies. The report discusses a range of issues including: the powers and resources of regional assemblies; their relations with local and central government; policy areas such as economic performance, skills development, transport and housing; funding aspects; constitutional and electoral issues, including the voting system used; and stakeholder participation. The Committee concludes that any future legislation needs to be more ambitious than the draft Bill to create regional bodies that are fit for their purpose.
This report from the Select Committee on Modernisation of the House of Commons (HCP 282, session 2007-08, ISBN 9780215521675), focuses on regional accountability. The Governance of Britain Green Paper (Cm. 7170, ISBN 9780101717021) put forward proposals for improved democractic accountability and scrutiny of the delivery of public services in the English regions. The Committee, in this report, has concluded that there is clear evidence of an accountability gap at regional level. Regional Development Agencies (RDAs), although accountable to ministers, still conduct many activities that are not subject to a regular, robust scrutiny, and the Committee believes more should be done to monitor the delivery of services. With this in mind, the Committee recommends the establishment of a system of regional select committees, with one select committee for each of the administrative regions in England, with the exception of London. Further, the Committee recommends that up to two regional grand committee meeting should take place in each session for each of the 8 regions. To avoid an adverse impact on House Members' other commitments, membership of regional committees should consist of 10 Members in total. This report therefore sets out a desirability of establishing new structures within the House of Commons to improve regional accountability and Parliamentary scrutiny.
The Driver and Vehicle Operator (DVO) Group is part of the Department for Transport and is made up of four agencies: the Driving Standards Agency, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), the Vehicle Certification Agency (VCA) and the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA). It was established in 2003 to promote closer collaboration between the agencies and to develop modernised co-ordinated services in order to deliver improved customer services and value for money. The Highways Agency is an executive agency of the Department for Transport and is responsible for operating, maintaining and improving the strategic road network in England. Issues considered in the Committee's report include how the agencies contribute to departmental objectives and policy, issues of accountability and transparency, agency funding and accounts, shared systems and co-ordination.
The Committee's report was originally intended to improve the draft Regional Assemblies Bill (Cm 6285, ISBN 0101628528) published in July 2004. Although the draft Bill is now unlikely to proceed through Parliament in the near future, the report identifies key points which the Government should consider if, in the light of the result of the referendum in the North East in November 2004, it decides it wishes to return to the issue of introducing elected regional assemblies. The report discusses a range of issues including: the powers and resources of regional assemblies; their relations with local and central government; policy areas such as economic performance, skills development, transport and housing; funding aspects; constitutional and electoral issues, including the voting system used; and stakeholder participation. The Committee concludes that any future legislation needs to be more ambitious than the draft Bill to create regional bodies that are fit for their purpose.
Incorporating HCP 972-i, ii, iii and iv, session 2003-04. An earlier volume of written evidence on this topic published as HCP 972-II, session 2003-04 (ISBN 0215019393). The draft Bill was published in July 2004 as Cm 6285 (ISBN 0101628528)
This White Paper sets out the Government's proposals for a Marine Bill designed to establish a new UK-wide strategic system of marine planning to balance conservation, energy and resource needs, based on the principle of sustainable development and working with the devolved administrations. Key provisions of the proposed Bill will be: the creation of a new Marine Management Organisation (MMO) to provide a holistic approach to marine policy covering planning, licensing and enforcement issues; a more streamlined, transparent and efficient marine licensing system; new mechanisms to supplement existing tools for the conservation of marine ecosystems and biodiversity, including marine conservation zones for important species and habitats that cannot be protected under European law; and reform of the management of inshore fisheries and recreational sea angling, including stronger enforcement powers and the recovery of costs of fishing vessel licence administration.
The White Paper aims to set the stage for the upcoming free votes on the composition of a future House of Lords. It has therefore been drafted to reflect arguments in a balanced way and take account of discussions in the Cross-party Working Group on Lords Reform. It also sets out the way a hybrid House (where 50% of the members were elected and 50% appointed) might work. The Paper is organised under the following sections: background; current steps towards reform of the House of Lords; international comparisons; a reformed chamber: principles of composition; a reformed chamber: elected, appointed or hybrid; a reformed chamber: a statutory appointments commission; a reformed chamber: membership; a reformed chamber: transition.
The document contains written evidence submitted to the Committee in relation to its scrutiny of the Government's proposals for the creation of elected regional assemblies in England, as set out in the draft Bill (Cm 6285, ISBN 0101628528) published in July 2004. This draft Bill seeks to implement the policy proposals contained within the Government's White Paper (Cm 5511, ISBN 0101551126) published in May 2002, as part of its overall agenda of constitutional reform and devolution. Written evidence includes memoranda from the Electoral Commission, the Greater London Authority, the Trades Union Congress (TUC), the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) and the Association of Police Authorities; as well as from a number of regional bodies, local councils and local government bodies, charities and regional business organisations.
In this report, from the North East Regional Committee (HCP 169, session 2009-10, ISBN 9780215542731), renewable industries could lead a recovery in the North East's manufacturing industry. The Committee states that the region is well placed to benefit from the growing global market for green technologies, but warns that British innovation and ideas could be lost as other countries benefit from quicker commercial development and implementation. World-class renewable energy companies in the North East - such as the New and Renewable Energy Centre (NaREC) at Blyth, the North East Process Industries Cluster (NEPIC) on Teesside, and NETPark, the North East Technology park in County Durham - could put the region at the forefront of the Government's efforts to turn the UK into a low-carbon economy. The Committee warns though, that the UK's cumbersome and slow planning process poses a significant risk to long-term development in the North East as businesses from countries like China seek quicker, guaranteed sites elsewhere in Europe. The report also states that the Government should explore incentives to encourage local development of renewable and clean energy. Also, underinvestment in transport links is proving detrimental to investment in the region.
Eighteen months since the Arab Spring began, there has been extraordinary progress in Egypt, Tunisia and Libya. Yet many challenges still lie ahead, not least the need to support and reform the economies of these Arab Spring states. In 2011, the G8 Deauville Partnership identified $38 billion of funding available to support reform. The UK must use its leadership in the EU and G8 to ensure that we deliver on our promises. The Government needs to learn lessons from its experience in anticipating and handling the Arab Spring. Questions arose about the FCO's staffing levels, linguistic expertise and information gathering in the Middle East and North Africa region, although diplomats understood well the long-term problems in the region. The report welcomes the Government's recent moves to establish contacts with Islamist parties in the region and calls for deeper engagement to demonstrate at an early stage the UK's support and assistance for democratically elected leaders who respect human rights and democratic reforms.The BBC's Arabic Service further highlighted the importance of the BBC World Service in providing an independent news service and enhancing the UK's standing in the region. The Committee welcomes the Government's decision to reverse planned cuts to the Arabic Service last year, expresses concerns that cuts made elsewhere in the World Service will prove detrimental to the national interest, and urges that there be a sustained investment in the World Service
This report, from the Select Committee on Modernisation of the House of Commons, presents the first inquiry into the Governance of Britain, all issued as Command Papers and published in 2007: (Cm. 7170, ISBN 9780101717021; Cm. 7175, ISBN 9780101717526; Cm. 7192, ISBN 9780101719223; Cm. 7210, ISBN 9780101721028; Cm. 7231, ISBN 9780101723121; Cm. 7235, ISBN 9780101723527; Cm. 7239, ISBN 9780101723923). It considers Parliament's role in scrutinising the proposed legislative programme, including arrangements for publication and debate as well as wider consultative strategies. The Committee has set out a number of conclusions and recommendations, including: the Committee believes that the use of plain English in the Draft Legislative Programme is to be commended, and the Government should consider extending the approach to programmed Bills on a trial basis; that the Government's main non-legislative plans should be included in the Draft Legislative Programme, alongside the list of proposed bills, in order that a full programme of government is available for scrutiny; that there is a benefit to be derived from the presentation of the Government's legislative programme as a whole and that the Draft Legislative Programme should be published earlier in the year, preferably before Easter, so that select committee scrutiny and public consultation can be carried out more effectively; that the Draft Legislative Programme should be the subject of a separate debate in Parliament.
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