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Author: Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Welsh Affairs Committee
Publisher: The Stationery Office
ISBN: 9780215040268
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 60
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Book Description
Consumer advocacy plays an important part in the Welsh economy. Organisations including Consumer Focus Wales and Citizens Advice represent consumers' interests in their dealings with businesses, industry regulators and the UK and Welsh Governments. A significant aspect of their work is to ensure that consumers receive a fair deal in their daily lives. Advocacy is particularly important to those termed the most vulnerable in Welsh society. The Government announced its plans in October 2010 to abolish Consumer Focus Wales and to transfer some or all of its functions to Citizens Advice Cymru. The final decision will be taken once Ministers have considered the findings of the public consultation. But this delay has caused on going uncertainty and the Committee calls on the Government to publish without delay its detailed plans. MPs are not wholly persuaded by the Government's reasons for abolishing Consumer Focus Wales, but recognise that given the current financial situation there is a strong case for examining whether consumer interests are represented in the most efficient and cost-effective way. However, the Government should provide guarantees that the best features of Consumer Focus Wales are protected in any successor body, including: statutory independence from interference by ministers or its parent organization; a "Welsh focus" and the present level of funding. As consumer matters fall increasingly under the responsibility of the National Assembly for Wales, the committee calls for a review, on whether to devolve responsibility for consumer affairs to the National Assembly for Wales and that The Commission on Devolution in Wales should consider this matter when it reviews the powers of the National Assembly for Wales
Author: Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Welsh Affairs Committee
Publisher: The Stationery Office
ISBN: 9780215040268
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 60
Get Book Here
Book Description
Consumer advocacy plays an important part in the Welsh economy. Organisations including Consumer Focus Wales and Citizens Advice represent consumers' interests in their dealings with businesses, industry regulators and the UK and Welsh Governments. A significant aspect of their work is to ensure that consumers receive a fair deal in their daily lives. Advocacy is particularly important to those termed the most vulnerable in Welsh society. The Government announced its plans in October 2010 to abolish Consumer Focus Wales and to transfer some or all of its functions to Citizens Advice Cymru. The final decision will be taken once Ministers have considered the findings of the public consultation. But this delay has caused on going uncertainty and the Committee calls on the Government to publish without delay its detailed plans. MPs are not wholly persuaded by the Government's reasons for abolishing Consumer Focus Wales, but recognise that given the current financial situation there is a strong case for examining whether consumer interests are represented in the most efficient and cost-effective way. However, the Government should provide guarantees that the best features of Consumer Focus Wales are protected in any successor body, including: statutory independence from interference by ministers or its parent organization; a "Welsh focus" and the present level of funding. As consumer matters fall increasingly under the responsibility of the National Assembly for Wales, the committee calls for a review, on whether to devolve responsibility for consumer affairs to the National Assembly for Wales and that The Commission on Devolution in Wales should consider this matter when it reviews the powers of the National Assembly for Wales
Author: Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Welsh Affairs Committee
Publisher: The Stationery Office
ISBN: 9780215062734
Category : Architecture
Languages : en
Pages : 140
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Book Description
The costs of housing benefit currently makes up more than a tenth of the UK Government's expenditure on welfare, with costs forecast to reach £25 billion by 2014-15. The Government's policy on under-occupation came into force in April 2013 and it is estimated that 40,000 tenants in Wales will be affected; representing 46% of working age housing benefit claimants living in the social rented sector. This is the highest proportion of any region in Great Britain. There could therefore be a shortage of one and two bedroom homes in Wales to re-house everyone who wants to downsize. If local authorities are struggling to find alternative smaller accommodation for Government should undertake a speedy review of this policy. It is also increasingly urgent for the Welsh Government to continue with its house-building programme, with a particular focus on the building of smaller sized properties: obviously this is a long-term solution that would require additional resources. If no social housing is available, tenants may need to move to the private rented sector and private rental costs would need to be monitored. The costs of moving disabled households who require adaptations are also a concern. There may be a case for exempting disabled households from the policy. The Government's proposal to pay housing benefit direct to social tenants under Universal Credit may result in some tenants being unable to manage their rent payments. The Committee recommends that the Government provide for housing benefit to be paid direct to the landlords in certain circumstances, for example after a specified period of non-payment
Author: Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Welsh Affairs Committee
Publisher: The Stationery Office
ISBN: 9780215041845
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 64
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In this report the Welsh Affairs Committee says that investment opportunities have been missed by the lack of a dedicated trade promotion agency. The abolition of the Welsh Development Agency (WDA) has reduced Wales's visibility in the global market place. Nearly five years on, the WDA remains one of the most recognisable of all Welsh brands. The Welsh Government must urgently consider how it can be used to promote more clearly Wales's global identity. The Committee argues for the establishment of a dedicated trade promotion agency, either sitting within the Welsh Government or as a private sector vehicle. Such a body should have a mix of skills with an emphasis on private sector experience. Wales does not have sufficient resources to work alone in attracting inward investment nor the advantages that UK Trade & Investment, the UK Government department with lead responsibility for trade and investment, has in terms of resources and networks. The Welsh Government must engage with politicians in the UK Government to maximise opportunities to attract inward investment to Wales and so improve the long-term prospects of the Welsh economy. The UK Government and the Welsh Government must work together effectively, and work with education providers and industry, for the improvement of the Welsh economy and the Welsh people.
Author: Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Welsh Affairs Committee
Publisher: The Stationery Office
ISBN: 9780215069313
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 60
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Book Description
The draft Wales Bill was published following the recommendations of the Silk Commission in November 2012. It sets out to devolve tax and borrowing powers to the Welsh Government and National Assembly for Wales, make changes to the electoral arrangements of the National Assembly for Wales, and clarify and update the devolution settlement. The Government hopes that the provisions in the draft Wales Bill will enable devolved governance in Wales to become more accountable. The cross-party Committee believes partial devolution of income tax to the Welsh Government should be put to the people of Wales in a referendum. The cross-party Committee also has sympathy with the argument that the issue of "fair funding" must be resolved before any income tax powers are devolved so that Wales is not unfairly disadvantaged. The issue of fair funding - how the size of the block grant from the UK Government is determined, currently by the Barnett formula which has long been criticised as providing an unfairly low allocation to Wales - needs to be examined and should not wait until after the 2015 General Election. The National Assembly for Wales should have power to decide its own Assembly term length, rather than this being decided at Westminster. The Committee recommends the clause in the draft Bill which permanently extends the length of the Assembly from four to five years should be scrapped and replaced with provisions that give the National Assembly the powers to determine the length of its own electoral term.
Author: Nicholas Bamforth
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
ISBN: 0199670021
Category : Law
Languages : en
Pages : 427
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Book Description
Accountability in the context of constitutional and administrative law is a complex concept. This book examines the legal framework of public institutions in light of contemporary accountability debates, the role of human rights in public accountability, accountability in regulation, and the operation of accountability in multi-layered government.
Author: Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Welsh Affairs Committee
Publisher: The Stationery Office
ISBN: 9780215063359
Category : Law
Languages : en
Pages : 110
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The Work Programme is the latest government-contracted employment programme, which aims to support long-term jobseekers into work and off unemployment benefits. Launched in June 2011, the Work Programme replaced a number of previous welfare-to-work programmes and consolidates employment support for a very wide range of jobseekers into a single mainstream programme. Providers, who are predominantly commercial companies, provide support to participants, and receive payments for finding participants sustained employment. In Wales one in nine people who joined the Work Programme in its first two years found sustained employment (defined as 13 or 26 weeks). This is the lowest rate in Great Britain, though not much lower than the average. The Committee's conclusions include: Working Links Wales and Rehab Jobfit-the two providers operating in Wales-must ensure that both they and their subcontractors have specific measures in place to support lone parents; and that Work Programme participants in Wales-unlike those in England-cannot access European Social Fund training and skills courses which is hampering the performance of the Work Programme in Wales and ultimately the opportunities available to the long-term unemployed. Similarly, DWP must enable participants to exit the Work Programme if required in order to access Jobs Growth Wales. The key issue here seems to be that there is a lack of flexibility in and between the various programmes set up to get people into work, and that this lack of flexibility appears to be more marked in Wales
Author: Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons. Welsh Affairs Committee
Publisher: The Stationery Office
ISBN: 0215072960
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 44
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Shale gas represents an opportunity for Wales but it must not come at the expense of Wales's natural environment. Both the UK and Welsh Governments must consider environmental risks, including the traffic and noise caused by commercial shale gas operations as well as the visual impact and other environmental risks associated with fracking. The issue of treatment, transportation and disposal of wastewater is a growing concern: toxic and radioactive water must not be allowed to contaminate water courses. The Government forecasts that nearly 70% of the UK's gas supply will be imported by 2025. It is vital that the UK identifies new sources of gas if it is to safeguard the UK's security of supply. Shale gas production across the UK is currently at the exploratory stage and there is no good data yet on the amount of shale gas in Wales. Should considerable reserves of shale gas be present-as industry representatives predict-it could be a decade before a viable shale gas industry is created in Wales. The UK Government and the Welsh Government should work with commercial companies and others to provide a reliable range of estimates of shale gas available in Wales and assess the overall impact of shale gas supply on the level and mix of energy produced in Wales and the UK. The Welsh Government should also begin to consider how the employment opportunities presented by shale gas production could be maximised
Author: Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Welsh Affairs Committee
Publisher: The Stationery Office
ISBN: 9780215054074
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 172
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This Report examines whether the level of support provided to Armed Forces veterans in Wales - both immediately before they leave the service and once they return to civilian life -is adequate. The key recommendation is that the Welsh Government take forward proposals to establish a network of 'one-stop shops' for veterans across Wales. A great deal of support is available for veterans in Wales, but often a lack of awareness means that support is not taken up. A one-stop shop for veterans would be a convenient way for veterans to access information and receive advice on a range of important issues, such as housing, finances and employment. To avoid duplication, however, the Welsh Government needs to take into account the support launched or planned by local authorities as part of their Community Covenants. There should also be better co-ordination of the work done by the many charities supporting veterans. In the light of recent court cases which have illustrated the need for vigilance to prevent fraudsters taking advantage of the public's willingness to give to veterans' charities there should be much more stringent inspection of charities' finances. There is also concern about charities providing treatments for complex psychological issues that do not meet NICE guidelines. The regulation of charities may be insufficiently robust in this area. The Charity Commission should insist that veterans' charities which offer medical, psychological or counselling services provide documentation from the relevant professional bodies to confirm that they have the appropriate endorsement for the services they offer
Author: Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons
Publisher: The Stationery Office
ISBN: 9780215048387
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 442
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Book Description
On cover and title page: House, committees of the whole House, general committees and select committees
Author: Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Welsh Affairs Committee
Publisher: The Stationery Office
ISBN: 9780215054616
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 130
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Book Description
Problems with key M4 transport route continue to risk damage to Welsh economy. The route has suffered from under-investment and congestion for too long. The UK and Welsh Governments must work together to find attainable, funded solutions to these problems. The Committee also says the high toll on the Severn Crossing is still hampering the development of businesses in Wales and deterring inward investment to Wales and the UK Government should bring forward proposals for reducing it. The Committee also welcomes the new investment in cross-border rail links into Wales but the exclusion of South Wales from the HS2 proposals means businesses and people may relocate eastwards across the border. The development of a high speed rail link from Wales to England would be an important boost to the Welsh economy and help to achieve the aim of successive Governments of rebalancing the UK economy. There are good examples of joint working between the two governments to secure improvements to strategic cross-border routes, and especially welcome is the almost £2 billion of rail investment on the electrification of the Great Western Main Line and a proposed new rail link to Heathrow Airport. But the Committee says it is unclear why the Welsh Government should be entitled to a "Barnett" consequential payment in respect of the Crossrail project but not HS2. It also notes that rail connectivity between North and Mid Wales and England has been overlooked for too long and calls for more frequent rail connections from Mid Wales to England.
