Insider reports

CLIMATE CHANGE PROJECTIONS The first Projections in Practice conference discussed how the UK Climate Projections 2009 (published recently by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) illustrate the extent of the changes the UK could face if nothing is done to cut greenhouse gas emissions – warmer and wetter winters, hotter and drier summers, increased risk of coastal erosion and more severe weather.

ANTI-DISCRIMINATION TREATY In May it was announced that a major UN treaty that will enshrine the human rights of disabled people will soon be ratified by the UK. Covering all aspects of life, including health, education, employment and access to justice, the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) reaffirms that disabled people have - and should be able to enjoy - their human rights on an equal basis with non-disabled people.

One of the excellent aspects of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games is the growing interest and participation in sport. Sport England, for example have recently challenged innovators from ‘both within and beyond the sport sector’ to come forward with ideas that will help shape the community of sport over the next decade. Giving opportunities to transform grassroots sport and help encourage us to ‘help create a lasting sporting legacy from the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.‘

In September 2008, representatives from 20 African Governments, members of civil society, African and other regional organisations concluded that negotiations on an ATT should commence within the United Nations (UN) as a matter of urgency. In early October 2008, representatives of the Caribbean Community and Common Market (CARICOM) states recommended that negotiations on an ATT should commence within the UN as soon as possible, but no later than 2010, and that these negotiations should lead to the creation of an effective ATT, which would promote human security and development. In late October 2008, at the First Committee of the UN, a total of 116 countries co-sponsored the Resolution calling for further work during 2009 in the UN towards an ATT; 147 countries voted in favour, 18 abstained and 2 voted against. This is even stronger support than at the same stage in 2006. Throughout this period there has been sustained strong support for an ATT from civil society, non-governmental organ

WESTMINSTER HALL DEBATE On the 24th March I took part in a debate in Westminster Hall on the Rural Economy. Since being elected in 1997 I have always been very keen to improve my knowledge of the rural economy and issues surrounding living in a rural constituency. The key areas of housing, transport and jobs keep coming back and we need to action on them. I firmly believe that we must address the rural economy with the same policies as the urban economy; they are not two separate forces but are interlinked and must be addressed together – but the scale and sensitivity is different.

In January the Government published its response to the July 2008 report ‘Equitable Life: a decade of regulatory failure’ published by Parliamentary Ombudsman Ann Abraham on her investigation into the prudential regulation of the Equitable Life Assurance Society. The report was the second delivered by the Ombudsman and was based on a four-year inquiry.

The (Consumer Price Index) CPI fell from 4.1 % in November to 3.1% in December. This change was largely due to the reduction in the rate of VAT.

Read about GM Crops and Organic Farming

The existing British constitution is contained in a wide range of written documents - tracing back to the Magna Carta in 1215 - and common law.

Class 3 Mechanically propelled invalid carriages that are able to exceed a speed of 4 mph but unable to exceed a speed of 8 mph on the level that are intended for use on the roads/highways are required to be registered with the DVLA.