Download or read book House of Commons Welsh Affairs Committee The Work Programme in Wales HC 264 written by Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Welsh Affairs Committee and published by The Stationery Office. This book was released on 2013-11-04 with total page 110 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: 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

Download or read book House of Commons Welsh Affairs Committee The Impact of Changes to Housing Benefit in Wales HC 159 written by Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Welsh Affairs Committee and published by The Stationery Office. This book was released on 2013-10-17 with total page 140 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: 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

Download or read book House of Commons Welsh Affairs Committee Pre Legislative Scrutiny of the Draft Wales Bill HC 962 written by Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Welsh Affairs Committee and published by The Stationery Office. This book was released on 2014-03-03 with total page 60 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: 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.

Download or read book Work of the Committee 2008 09 written by Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons. Welsh Affairs Committee and published by The Stationery Office. This book was released on 2010 with total page 56 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Work of the Committee 2008-09 : Third report of session 2009-10, report, together with formal Minutes

Download or read book Representation of consumer interests in Wales written by Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Welsh Affairs Committee and published by The Stationery Office. This book was released on 2012-01-10 with total page 60 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: 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

Download or read book Welsh prisoners in the prison estate written by Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Welsh Affairs Committee and published by The Stationery Office. This book was released on 2007-06-06 with total page 244 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Committee undertook this inquiry to address concerns about the imprisonment of Welsh prisoners outside Wales. At present there are only four prisons in Wales, all in the South, and there is little provision for juveniles and no prisons for women. The overcrowding means that Welsh prisoners have a reduced chance of serving their sentence near home and reduces the chances of successful resettlement on release. The Committee believe there should be new prison places in North Wales, separate provision for young offenders and a new approach to women prisoners along the lines suggested by Baroness Corston. The report also address concerns about support services for mental illness amongst prisoners, the amount of Welsh language provision and education services.

Download or read book Proposed National Assembly for Wales Legislative Competence Housing and Local Government Order 2010 relating to sustainable housing written by Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Welsh Affairs Committee and published by The Stationery Office. This book was released on 2010-02-03 with total page 72 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The effect of this proposed LCO would be to devolve wide-ranging legislative competence for social housing policy to the National Assembly for Wales. The terms of the proposed Order include the provision of social housing, provision by local authorities of caravan sites for use by gypsies and travellers, measures to tackle homelessness, and council tax payable in respect of dwellings that are not the main residence of an individual. The current proposal is a revision of an earlier, much narrower, affordable housing LCO laid before Parliament in 2008, which was criticised because the terms of the LCO went much wider than the policy purposes described to us by the Minister in her evidence. The Committee believes that there is indeed a demand in Wales for comprehensive social housing legislation for Wales, to include the regulation of social housing providers and reform of tenure law. It concludes that the current Order is a logical extension of the current devolution settlement and, with minor technical changes outlined in this Report, is content that it should proceed. The Committee reiterates its continuing concerns about the naming of LCOs. There is now a number of draft or proposed Orders with similar titles. The recommendation is that LCOs should be given a simple title which conveys the actual subject of the Order to the general reader.

Download or read book Journals of the House of Commons written by Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons and published by . This book was released on 1825 with total page 1094 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Proposed National Assembly for Wales Legislative Competence Housing Order 2009 Relating to Domestic Fire Safety written by Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons. Welsh Affairs Committee and published by The Stationery Office. This book was released on 2009 with total page 60 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Incorporating HC 1110, session 2008-09

Download or read book Energy in Wales written by Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Welsh Affairs Committee and published by The Stationery Office. This book was released on 2007-12-17 with total page 126 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Committee's major inquiry into Energy in Wales was published on 20 July 2006 (HC 867-I 2005-06) did not cover open cast mining. However there was a proviso that "should open cast mining in Wales be extended further, an in-depth assessment of the environmental impact of that process would be worthwhile". Following representations by the Opnecast Coal Committee of Wales and groups opposed to such developments the Committee decided to undertake this follow-up inquiry. It also took evidence on the development of sustainable technologies and measures to encourage microgeneration.

Download or read book The State of the Nations 2008 written by Alan Trench and published by Andrews UK Limited. This book was released on 2017-05-24 with total page 272 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The State of the Nations 2008: Into the third term of devolution in the United Kingdom is the sixth publication of a major research programme into devolution in the United Kingdom, published on behalf of the Constitution Unit at University College London. The focus of this volume is on the devolved elections of May 2007, analyzing the outcome in terms of both the immediate aftermath and longer-term implications. In particular, it will consider influences on policy-making, finance, the UK Parliament and the resolution of intergovernmental disputes. This book replaces the previously-announced volume The State of the Nations 2007

Download or read book The Proposed National Assembly for Wales Legislative Competence Local Government Order 2009 written by Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Welsh Affairs Committee and published by The Stationery Office. This book was released on 2010 with total page 72 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The proposed National Assembly for Wales (Legislative Competence) (Local Government) Order 2009 is the twelfth Legislative Competence Order on which the Welsh Affairs Committee has reported. The Order will give the Assembly powers in respect of the structures and work of local government in Wales at all levels. The Welsh Assembly Government has requested this power because it wishes to develop and strengthen the role of community councils and councillors in Wales. The proposed Order will allow the Welsh Assembly Government to fulfil its commitment to seek legislation to address issues identified in the 2003 'Aberystwyth Report'. The Committee agrees that a clear need for the proposed LCO has been identified and is consistent with the Government's commitment to build up the capacity of town and community councils. The proposed Order is drafted in broad and accessible terms with the minimum of exceptions and interpretation. The Committee is concerned, however, that there are now many terms used to describe the various tiers of local government in Wales and agree with the suggestions put forward that the Minister should speedily undertake a review of terminology relating to local government. Specifically the term 'community' is cited as having various meanings dependent on context. Furthermore, given that there have already been several LCO proposals identified in terms of local government, to call this the National Assembly for Wales (Legislative Competence) (Local Government) Order introduces the potential for confusion. A title such as 'National Assembly for Wale (Legislative Competence) (Community Councils) Order or similar is suggested

Download or read book Pre appointment Hearing with the Government s Preferred Candidate for Chairman of the S4C Authority written by Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons. Culture, Media, and Sport Committee and published by The Stationery Office. This book was released on 2011 with total page 28 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In this report the Welsh Affairs and Culture, Media and Sport committees approve the appointment of Huw Jones as Chairman of S4C, the Welsh language national broadcaster. The two committees held a joint pre-appointment hearing with Huw Jones, the Government's preferred candidate for Chairman of the S4C Authority. This followed earlier reports from both committees expressing concern for the future independence of S4C after new governance and funding arrangements with the BBC were introduced - Welsh Affairs Committee: S4C: fifth report of session 2010-12, HC 614 (ISBN 9780215559449) and Culture, Media and Sport Committee, BBC Licence Fee Settlement and Annual Report, fourth report of session 2010-12, HC 454 (ISBN 9780215559654). The committees are satisfied that Huw Jones has demonstrated the high degree of professional competence and personal independence required for the post. They recommend that the Minister proceed with the appointment.

Download or read book The Standing Orders of the House of Lords Relating to Public Business 2005 written by Great Britain: Parliament: House of Lords and published by The Stationery Office. This book was released on 2005-05-23 with total page 56 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This publication contains the Standing Orders of the House of Lords which set out information on the procedure and working of the House, under a range of headings including: Lords and the manner of their introduction; excepted hereditary peers; the Speaker; general observances; debates; arrangement of business; bills; divisions; committees; parliamentary papers; public petitions; privilege; making or suspending of Standing Orders.

Download or read book Pre legislative scrutiny of the draft Gambling Licensing and Advertising Bill written by Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Culture, Media and Sport Committee and published by Stationery Office. This book was released on 2013-05-01 with total page 92 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Around 80% of online gambling in the UK is conducted with operators which are not licensed here. In December 2012 the Government published a very short draft Gambling (Licensing and Advertising) Bill to require overseas gambling operators to obtain a Gambling Commission licence. The overseas-based remote gambling operators generally opposed the Bill, on the grounds it was unnecessary for consumer protection, might drive consumers to cheaper unlicensed operators and was principally intended to bring overseas operators within the UK's tax regime. Much of the UK-based gambling industry, sports bodies and organisations working to combat problem gambling supported the principle of the Bill. Almost all those who gave oral or written evidence to the Committee raised the issue that the enforcement regime would have to be rigorous in order to provide any of the benefits to consumers. The Committee supports the principle that gambling should be regulated on a ’point of consumption' basis. The Committee also notes the concerns raised about taxation of the online industry. The Government stated that the ability to bring all operators serving UK consumers within the tax net is a consequence, but not the prime motivation, of the draft legislation. The Committee notes in this regard that, in setting a tax rate for remote gambling, the Treasury should bear in mind that too high a rate would be liable to drive customers and companies into the unregulated, black market.

Download or read book From Depression to Devolution written by Leon Gooberman and published by University of Wales Press. This book was released on 2017-02-01 with total page 281 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Throughout the twentieth century, Wales underwent rapid and far-reaching economic upheavals on such a scale that few avoided their impacts – from recessions, war, changing fortunes within the iconic steel and coal industries, the rise and decline of manufacturing, as well as the gradual rise to dominance of the service sector – the changes were as dramatic as was the intensity of attempts to deal with their consequences. Wales was a laboratory for government intervention in the economy, ranging from the attraction of investment and the clearance of land made derelict by industry, to the regeneration of urban areas. This is the first book to focus on these actions and to outline why, how and with what effect governments intervened, and it contains timely commentary as economic performance remains one of the most important issues facing contemporary Wales.

Download or read book Cross border provision of public services for Wales written by Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Welsh Affairs Committee and published by The Stationery Office. This book was released on 2010-03-11 with total page 200 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Working practices between the UK and Welsh Assembly governments in relation to cross-border policies appear much improved since the Committee's earlier reports on this subject. But a number of outstanding issues remain in transport, health and further and higher education. On transport the Committee welcomes the planned electrification of the Great Western Main Line. However, the Department for Transport appears to have washed its hands of any strategic responsibility for cross-border roads. The A483 is the clearest example of a road vital for travel within Wales but which is not important to the English region in which it is located, and as a result loses out on funding. The Committee stresses the need for comparative data on which to build solid research comparing NHS performance in the devolved nations. More needs to be done to raise public awareness of the differences in services people can expect to receive on both sides of the border. Transparency of information is vital. Research proposals in the UK Government's Higher Ambitions strategy for higher education make no reference to nations other than England, despite the UK-wide research remit of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. The Committee calls for details about how research funding proposals apply to all four nations.