HC 484 - Power Outages and Extreme Weather Conditions in the West of Scotland

HC 484 - Power Outages and Extreme Weather Conditions in the West of Scotland PDF Author: Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Scottish Affairs Committee
Publisher: The Stationery Office
ISBN: 0215071972
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 98

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Book Description
The local authority and power company response to the severe weather of 2013 in Kintyre, Arran and Wigtownshire shows that important lessons have been learned and improvements put in place since the Committee last reported on this issue, in August 2012. The Committee is satisfied that all three councils affected by the severe weather have in place robust contingency planning for emergencies, which proved effective. Crucially, the compensation for those left without power - with all the damage that can cause - has been brought into line with the rest of the country. The Committee's conclusion's included that: emergency plans should prioritise accessing mobile phone base stations to restore lost signals; the A83 is a vital artery for the Kintyre peninsula and the decision to upgrade it to a trunk road is an important one, as this will allow the resources of Transport Scotland to be deployed to keep it open during extreme weather conditions; the new Hunterston-Kintyre transmission line will mean there will be two transmission lines serving the Kintyre peninsula, so the failure of one of the lines will not see Kintyre & Arran cut off from the power network; and caring for vulnerable members of the community is another statutory responsibility of local authorities: local authorities have done a great deal of work to expand their databases and identify those who are in need but councils should also do more to support the community groups that are engaging local people in the process of caring for the vulnerable

HC 484 - Power Outages and Extreme Weather Conditions in the West of Scotland

HC 484 - Power Outages and Extreme Weather Conditions in the West of Scotland PDF Author: Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Scottish Affairs Committee
Publisher: The Stationery Office
ISBN: 0215071972
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 98

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Book Description
The local authority and power company response to the severe weather of 2013 in Kintyre, Arran and Wigtownshire shows that important lessons have been learned and improvements put in place since the Committee last reported on this issue, in August 2012. The Committee is satisfied that all three councils affected by the severe weather have in place robust contingency planning for emergencies, which proved effective. Crucially, the compensation for those left without power - with all the damage that can cause - has been brought into line with the rest of the country. The Committee's conclusion's included that: emergency plans should prioritise accessing mobile phone base stations to restore lost signals; the A83 is a vital artery for the Kintyre peninsula and the decision to upgrade it to a trunk road is an important one, as this will allow the resources of Transport Scotland to be deployed to keep it open during extreme weather conditions; the new Hunterston-Kintyre transmission line will mean there will be two transmission lines serving the Kintyre peninsula, so the failure of one of the lines will not see Kintyre & Arran cut off from the power network; and caring for vulnerable members of the community is another statutory responsibility of local authorities: local authorities have done a great deal of work to expand their databases and identify those who are in need but councils should also do more to support the community groups that are engaging local people in the process of caring for the vulnerable

HC 1130 - Legacy Report

HC 1130 - Legacy Report PDF Author: Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons. Scottish Affairs Committee
Publisher: The Stationery Office
ISBN: 0215085663
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 25

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Book Description
In this report the Committee has set out key elements of its work over the 2010-15 Parliament. The Committee believes that it is crucial that select committees follow up their work and do not simply see the publication of a report as the end of the process of scrutiny. Scrutiny should not end with the Dissolution of Parliament. The Scottish Government was clear that the 2014 referendum on independence would be a once generation event, but that does not mean that the relationship between Scotland and the rest of the United Kingdom will remain unchanged. The recommendations of the Smith Agreement will be implemented during the course of the next Parliament. The major package of legislation, and the revised fiscal framework that will accompany it, will require careful and detailed scrutiny, as will any proposals to go further that the Smith Commission envisaged.

HC 571 - Our Borderlands - Our Future: Final Report

HC 571 - Our Borderlands - Our Future: Final Report PDF Author: Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons. Scottish Affairs Committee
Publisher: The Stationery Office
ISBN: 021508554X
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 53

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Book Description
This inquiry investigates key issues that affect the daily lives of those people who live in the south of Scotland. The Committee held informal seminars in Galashiels, Peebles and Dumfries, in May and June 2014, in order to identify the key issues facing businesses, communities and individuals in the south of Scotland. Several of the issues raised in the meetings focused on the social and economic needs of the residents of the south of Scotland, many of which related to devolved functions which are the responsibility of the Scottish Government. However, some crucial issues were raised which were a direct consequence of the policies and responsibilities of the UK Government, specifically for example, in relation to employment issues. The inquiry will seek to examine the bigger picture, and to address two central questions: i) Are the current structures working as effectively as they could for the benefit of the people of the south of Scotland? ii) How can the UK and Scottish Governments work together with Local Authorities to deliver appropriate and effective policies to support economic development and growth in the south of Scotland?This document sets out the specific terms of reference for the inquiry, raising questions and issues on which the Committee would welcome written evidence.

HC 1292 - The Impact of the Bedroom Tax in Scotland: Developing the DHP Cap

HC 1292 - The Impact of the Bedroom Tax in Scotland: Developing the DHP Cap PDF Author: Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Scottish Affairs Committee
Publisher: The Stationery Office
ISBN: 0215072820
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 20

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Book Description
The Committee calls once more for a clear commitment from the Scottish Government that it will use its chosen method of mitigating the effects of the bedroom tax - Discretionary Housing Payments or DHPs -- to mitigate all the financial impact of the bedroom tax, both past and present, on tenants in Scotland. The Government confirmed in a letter to the Committee, from David Mundell MP, that Scottish Ministers will be allowed to set the statutory cap on DHPs in Scotland, allowing them to increase the amount paid through DHPs to cover all of the loss caused by the bedroom tax if they choose to. The Committee welcomes this, and the Scottish Government's commitment to make additional funding available for mitigation. The Committee says both Governments should expedite the necessary procedures which will enable the Scottish Government to lift the cap on DHPs in Scotland as quickly as possible.

HC 928 - Impact of the Closure of City Link on Employment

HC 928 - Impact of the Closure of City Link on Employment PDF Author: Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons. Committees on Impact of the closure of City Link on Employment
Publisher: The Stationery Office
ISBN: 0215084500
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 41

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Book Description
There will always be those who lose out when a company goes into administration and cannot cover all of its debts. However, the current system does not represent the appropriate balance, since those who have given secure credit to a company are cushioned from the full impact of an insolvency, because the losses are borne by those who work for a company on a self-employed basis, or as contractors or suppliers. Under the current rules it is clearly in the financial interest of a company to break the law, and ignore the statutory redundancy consultation period, if the fine for doing so is less than the cost of continuing to trade, especially since this fine will anyway be paid by the taxpayer. However, while the financial calculation is simple, ignoring the consultation period has a high human cost that appears not to have featured in the decision making process at City Link. Employees were denied a reasonable notice period in which to seek alternative employment and instead, at a time of financial uncertainty, have to pursue a court claim for lack of consultation if they wish to be compensated. While there were differences of opinion as to whether or not City Link could be made viable, and the desired level of return could be achieved, the Committees regret that Better Capital felt its investors' interests could only be protected at the expense of the future of City Link and continued employment for its workers

HC 1241 - The Referendum on Separation for Scotland: Scotland's membership of the EU

HC 1241 - The Referendum on Separation for Scotland: Scotland's membership of the EU PDF Author: Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Scottish Affairs Committee
Publisher: The Stationery Office
ISBN: 0215072839
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 52

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Book Description
Today Scotland's interests in the European Union are represented by the UK which, as one of the largest Member States, has the voting power and leverage to influence decisions to the benefit of Scotland. In leaving the UK, a separate Scotland would lose this advantage. A separate Scotland is likely to have its application to join the EU accepted - but not within the self-imposed timetable of 18 months, nor with the terms, that the Scottish Government is proposing. The proposal that Article 48 of the Treaty on European Union could be used to provide for Scottish membership is not supported by any other EU state; senior EU figures have ruled it out and it is opposed by the United Kingdom Government - which would, under this process, have to initiate it. The additional and exceptional demand for the ability to discriminate against UK students with respect to tuition fees would be voted against by the UK Government and is therefore almost certain not to be met. Furthermore, insufficient attention has been paid to the need to negotiate the UK's retention of VAT zero rating on a wide range of goods. As a separate Member State, not only would Scotland cease to benefit from the UK rebate (currently worth in the region of £300 million per year to Scotland) but it would have to contribute to it. In these circumstances Scottish voters need a more realistic alternative perspective of how joining the EU would be achieved, and what its likely terms and timetable would be.

HC 1291 - Blacklisting in Employment-Update: Incorporating the Government's Response to the Sixth Report of Session 2013-14

HC 1291 - Blacklisting in Employment-Update: Incorporating the Government's Response to the Sixth Report of Session 2013-14 PDF Author: Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Scottish Affairs Committee
Publisher: The Stationery Office
ISBN: 0215072812
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 24

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Book Description
This is the third report from the Scottish Affairs Committee on blacklisting in the construction industry in Scotland. The earlier interim reports published as 9th report, session 2012-13 (HC 1071, ISBN 9780215056832) and 6th report, session 2013-14 (HC 543, ISBN 9780215069535). The 9th report focused specifically on the work of The Consulting Association (TCA) and considered the issue of compensation for those workers who had been blacklisted. Significant progress has been made in highlighting and addressing issues relating to blacklisting: the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) has launched its own investigation; many victims of blacklisting are bringing individual case to the High Court and a new compensation scheme, the Construction Workers Compensation Scheme (TCWCS), for blacklisted workers has been launched by eight of the companies that used the services of TCA. The 6th report aimed to identify ways of moving forward, both by addressing the crimes of the past and by identifying rules and structures to prevent such widespread and systematic exclusion of workers from employment from ever happening again. In this third interim report the Committee welcomes the significant progress which has been made in both revealing the practice of blacklisting, and in seeking redress for the victims, and families of the victims, of this odious practice. The Committee will continue to explore what more could be done to redress the crimes of the past and to ensure that reform in the industry to eradicate this practice is genuine, effective and comprehensive in its effects.

Managing the Risks of Extreme Events and Disasters to Advance Climate Change Adaptation

Managing the Risks of Extreme Events and Disasters to Advance Climate Change Adaptation PDF Author: Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
ISBN: 1107025060
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 593

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Book Description
Extreme weather and climate events, interacting with exposed and vulnerable human and natural systems, can lead to disasters. This Special Report explores the social as well as physical dimensions of weather- and climate-related disasters, considering opportunities for managing risks at local to international scales. SREX was approved and accepted by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) on 18 November 2011 in Kampala, Uganda.

The Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate

The Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate PDF Author: Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
ISBN: 9781009157971
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 755

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Book Description
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is the leading international body for assessing the science related to climate change. It provides policymakers with regular assessments of the scientific basis of human-induced climate change, its impacts and future risks, and options for adaptation and mitigation. This IPCC Special Report on the Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate is the most comprehensive and up-to-date assessment of the observed and projected changes to the ocean and cryosphere and their associated impacts and risks, with a focus on resilience, risk management response options, and adaptation measures, considering both their potential and limitations. It brings together knowledge on physical and biogeochemical changes, the interplay with ecosystem changes, and the implications for human communities. It serves policymakers, decision makers, stakeholders, and all interested parties with unbiased, up-to-date, policy-relevant information. This title is also available as Open Access on Cambridge Core.

Climate Change and Water

Climate Change and Water PDF Author: Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change / Working Group Technical Support Unit
Publisher:
ISBN: 9789291691234
Category : Climatic changes
Languages : en
Pages : 200

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Book Description
The Technical Paper addresses the issue of freshwater. Sealevel rise is dealt with only insofar as it can lead to impacts on freshwater in coastal areas and beyond. Climate, freshwater, biophysical and socio-economic systems are interconnected in complex ways. Hence, a change in any one of these can induce a change in any other. Freshwater-related issues are critical in determining key regional and sectoral vulnerabilities. Therefore, the relationship between climate change and freshwater resources is of primary concern to human society and also has implications for all living species. -- page vii.