News round-up April 11

10 Apr 08
Four London boroughs joined Local Authorities Mutual Limited on April 1, the insurance company's first anniversary. Croydon, Camden, Haringey and Lambeth joined the three existing members - Brent, Tower Hamlets and Harrow - in the not-for-profit insurance company. Laml chair Nathan Elvery said: 'The rapid growth and development of Laml shows how we are demonstrably serving the appetite of London for meeting stringent efficiency targets while enhancing risk management.'

11 April 2008

Four London boroughs joined Local Authorities Mutual Limited on April 1, the insurance company's first anniversary. Croydon, Camden, Haringey and Lambeth joined the three existing members — Brent, Tower Hamlets and Harrow — in the not-for-profit insurance company. Laml chair Nathan Elvery said: 'The rapid growth and development of Laml shows how we are demonstrably serving the appetite of London for meeting stringent efficiency targets while enhancing risk management.'

 

Kathleen Tattersall, chair of the Chartered Institute of Educational Assessors, has been appointed as the first chair of the regulator of qualifications and examinations. Ofqual will act as the independent guardian of standards across the qualifications, tests and exam system in England. Children, Schools and Families Secretary Ed Balls said: 'Kathleen will lead Ofqual in its interim form, and, subject to legislation, she will become the regulator's first chair when it is established as an independent statutory body. We have an internationally renowned curriculum, assessment and qualifications system. But the demands on the system are growing. We have in place far-reaching programmes for reforming qualifications and tests at all levels.'

 

The Highways Agency has successfully transferred to the private sector the risks associated with procuring a digital information system for England's motorway network, the National Audit Office has ruled. But the NAO report, published on April 5, said the procurement had lasted more than twice as long as expected and two well-qualified potential bidders had dropped out during a 17-month short-listing process, leaving just two in the running. NAO head Tim Burr said: 'There are good practice lessons both for the agency and for other major public procurements.'

 

New figures from the Ministry of Justice show that almost half a million extra people have come on to the electoral register in time for the local council elections on May 1. Voter numbers are now at a record 46 million. Elections minister Bridget Prentice said: 'Our democracy only works if people vote. Democracy underlines the fabric of our society and provides a voice for those who are vulnerable and marginalised.'

 

Northern Ireland is freezing prescription charges at £6.85, Health Minister Michael McGimpsey announced last week. The devolved administration will now consider abolition of all prescription charges. The move leaves England charging more per prescription than all the devolved nations. Prescription charges were abolished in Wales in April 2007. Scotland also intends to abolish the charges, and has cut them from £6.85 to £5 as from this month. It intends to make further reductions in stages, finally eliminating charges from 2011. In contrast, prescription charges in England rose from £6.85 to £7.10 in April.

 

Rose Gibb, the former chief executive of Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust, has begun legal action in the High Court over a severance pay dispute. Gibb resigned from the trust after a Healthcare Commission report last October said that superbug Clostridium difficile was probably the main cause of the deaths of 90 patients at the trust's hospitals, a contributing factor in the deaths of a further 124, and a probable factor in another 55 fatalities. The trust agreed to give Gibb six months' salary, £75,000, as a pay-off. However, Gibb is now disputing the figure, she confirmed.

 

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