We are pleased to announce our new Simplifi Solutions website has now gone live and is available from today.

The new website will allow users to find information on our products and sign-up for newsletters.

The new version of Simplifi 1.2 is now available for users.

Among a new look updates inlcude a quicker reponse time and faster loading, risk definitions for compliance ratings and the ability to attach notes and documents to aspects.

The EU Commission’s 2050 low-carbon roadmap released last week needs to raise Europe’s sights beyond its current 2020 emission reduction targets. While the EU has agreed that emissions must be reduced by at least 80% by the middle of the century, it has not so far set out how to do it. We believe it’s vital such a plan starts now rather than in forty years’ time, and is a plan that can stimulate the right investment in low-carbon infrastructure and technology, putting Europe on track for a low-carbon future. Now is the right time to discuss the most cost-effective route to achieving our 2050 goals, maximising growth, jobs and prosperity throughout Europe. We are not starting from scratch; the EU has already cut emissions by 17% from 1990 levels by 2009.

The Commission’s roadmap demonstrates both that the current 20% target is not a cost-effective route to the 2050 goal, and that we already have the tools and policies to cut emissions by 25% domestically. The European Energy Efficiency Plan in particular is welcome and shows the big impact reducing energy consumption can have. The case to move to a 30% target by 2020 is now stronger as a result. At a time when the price of oil is soaring, putting in place an ambitious plan for Europe’s low-carbon future has wider benefits than tackling climate change. It will increase the continent’s resilience against oil price spikes and reduce its dependence on imported energy. And it will help Europe compete with emerging economies in the fast-growing markets for green goods and services. We know that some industries are worried about how they will adapt, but solutions are available. In the best traditions of European co-operation, we can work together to overcome these challenges. We call on all member states to enter into this urgent debate on Europe’s future and agree how the roadmap is put into action – ensuring that Europe gets to the front of this low-carbon race, rather than falling behind.

Climate change will bring opportunities for economic growth if British businesses think now about how climate change will affect them, Environment Minister Lord Henley said today. The message came at the launch of a new interactive online tool designed by Defra and the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) to prepare businesses for both climate risks and opportunities. The Climate Resilience Toolkit is a quick and simple online tool available on the Business Link website for businesses wanting to increase their resilience to the changing climate, or explore possibilities for growth by taking advantage of the opportunities climate change will bring. The toolkit provides a tailored report for each business to help it focus on what it should be doing to prepare, such as checking the robustness of its supply chain, the threat of flooding to premises and possible changes in customer demand for products.

Environment Minister Lord Henley said: “Climate change will have impacts on all UK businesses, such as the availability of resources, demand for different products, and the increased threat of floods, drought and other extreme weather. But smart businesses that take action now to limit the risks and identify the opportunities climate change could bring will steal a march on their rivals. “The Climate Resilience Toolkit we have developed with CIMA is an excellent tool for quickly and simply assessing areas in your business that could be affected by climate change.”

Ofgem has today confirmed new rules that mean energy suppliers must give consumers at least 30 days advance notice before putting up their prices. The changes come into effect on 28 April 2011. This means that suppliers have 30 days in which to put these changes into practice. Andrew Wright, Ofgem’s Senior Partner for Markets, said: “Today’s changes will again show that we are serious about making sure suppliers play it straight with consumers. We believe that 30 days advance notification of price increases, coupled with our new proposals for more transparency and an end to complex tariffs, will give consumers more power to make informed switching choices.”

Currently energy suppliers have up three months in which to notify consumers after putting up their prices. Ofgem’s changes mean that suppliers will have to give 30 days advance notice of any price increases. This new rule also applies to any changes to a contract which will leave the customer significantly worse off. Ofgem also recently reminded suppliers that when they write to each individual customer to inform them of such changes they must be able to explain how it will affect them specifically. This reform builds on Ofgem’s proposals published last week following its review into the retail energy market. Ofgem is overhauling the market to tackle poor supplier behaviour, sweep away confusing tariffs and break the stranglehold of the Big Six on the energy market. http://www.ofgem.gov.uk/Pages/MoreInformation.aspx?file=30%20day%20rule%20280311.pdf&refer=Media/PressRel

Tata Steel, one of the world's largest steel manufacturers, has announced plans to turn a plant in Wales into an energy efficient model of the future. The global giant - which operates in 26 countries - will reduce the power demands of its Port Talbot location by such significant levels, it claims, that the energy saved could be used to power 20,000 homes.

To do this, Tata will invest £53m in a new cooling system designed to harness the extreme temperatures generated through steel production, which can reach up to 1500 degrees Celsius. The cooling system will create steam which in turn will power turbines; generating up to 15 per cent of the plant's energy - or 10MW of electricity. Much of the work will coincide with further upgrades taking place at the plant, starting in 2012.

A £550 million funding deal for greening business is being offered by the Carbon Trust and Siemens. The new finance, which was announced in April, could be worth up to £550 million over the next three years. As the Government drags its feet on launching its much heralded green bank the trust and Siemens have launched their own green finance drive.

Investing in energy efficient equipment makes sound business and environmental sense, especially with the easy, affordable and flexible Energy Efficiency Financing scheme brought to you by Carbon Trust Implementation Services (CTIS) and Siemens Financial Services. Carbon Trust Implementation Services and Siemens Financial Services have combined forces, and together are offering leases, loans and other financing options to all types of organisations seeking to reduce their energy use. New, more efficient equipment should lower energy bills and with payments calculated so that they can be offset by the anticipated energy savings, the financing option is designed to pay for itself.

We have just come back from attending this year’s Sustainability Live exhibition at the NEC and it was a great success for us. We would like to thank all of our friends and members who turned up to say hello and look at the new software updates we will be bringing out shortly.

We would also like to thank all of the new customers who we met at the show and say thanks for your time in looking at our great new Simplifi compliance tools. For those that missed the show and those that want more details on up and coming events with Simplifi please join us on our Facebook and Twitter pages where we will be posting more details (links can be found at the top of this page)

The Government’s waste review sets out the following priorities: • Consult next year on introducing a landfill restriction on wood waste, review the case for introducing landfill bans on other materials, such as metals, textiles and all biodegradable waste. The Government will work with industry to drive innovation in reuse and recycling in these products before the start of any bans; • Accelerate recycling and reducing waste creation in the first place by providing incentives for householders, recycling-on-the-go schemes, better services for businesses and voluntary responsibility deals focussing on the hospitality industry, paper, direct mail, textiles, and construction waste; • Scrap unfair bin fines and taxes while bringing in powers to deal with repeat fly-tipping offenders and genuine nuisance neighbours; • Crack down on illegal fly-tippers who persistently and recklessly pollute the environment and countryside. We will introduce appropriate powers to seize vehicles, and look at penalties that might include offenders clearing up items they have dumped; and • Consult on increased recycling targets to 2017 for plastic, steel, aluminium and glass. Targets will be consulted on and agreed in time for the 2012 Budget;

Waste going to landfill has nearly halved since 2000, with household recycling rates now at 40 per cent and business rates at more than 50 per cent. But more needs to be done, which is why the Government will publish a follow-up zero-waste action plan on waste prevention in December 2013, to check progress and address further developments under any new EU regulation. The Anaerobic Digestion strategy and action plan has also been published this month, which will enable a thriving industry to grow in England over the next few years, delivering new green jobs as well as new green energy. Energy and Climate Change Minister Greg Barker said: “Letting rubbish and waste rot in landfill is madness when we can use it to power our homes and cars. We are already making it financially attractive to turn waste into electricity under the Feed-in Tariffs scheme and soon there’ll be similar incentives to generate heat too. The Anaerobic Digestion Strategy and Action Plan will help us unlock the potential to get more energy from waste to reduce emissions in the fight against climate change.” The Government Review of Waste Policies in England 2011 is available here: www.defra.gov.uk/publications/2011/06/14/pb13540-waste-review/

Proposals to make the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme simpler, easier and more straightforward have been outlined. The CRC scheme started in April last year to reduce carbon emissions in businesses through energy efficiency improvements.

Following recent discussions with businesses, industry, other scheme participants and regulators the proposals will result in a CRC scheme which: - Is simpler, reducing administrative burden on businesses - Provides greater certainty to participants about how they comply with the CRC Allows greater flexibility for businesses in how they take part Reduces the overlap between the CRC and other government climate policies.

A proposed Energy Efficiency Directive is set to make energy generation from waste plants more efficient by making combined heat and power (CHP) with district heating the default option. The European Commission (EC) is proposing that all new and refurbished thermal electricity generation facilities should be fitted with high efficiency heat recovery equipment.

Through encouraging siting of generation stations near to sites of heat demand, the directive aims to exploite cogeneration opportunities as a key mechanism for increasing energy efficiency across the EU. The EC also suggests that CHP electricity should benefit from priority grid access and dispatch to bring it on par with electricity from other forms of renewable generation.The directive would also require member states to establish national plans for district heating and cooling and that this should be incorporated into local spatial plans to coordinate the deployment of heat loads close to the point of demand.

The Environment Agency is the first enforcement body to use new civil sanctions - against an organisation that broke environmental regulations - as an alternative to criminal prosecution. The Environment Agency has accepted an offer of £21,000 from Invensys PLC - an engineering and information technology company headquartered in London - for packaging waste offences. This funding will be given to specified organisations to drive environmental improvements in local communities. In addition to implementing a string of improvements to comply with Packaging Waste Regulations, the company has offered to fund “environment improvements and community benefits” equivalent to the cost of the offences committed - including a local authority led community recycling initiative. In addition, the cost of the Environment Agency investigation and future monitoring are covered. By using civil sanctions in this way the Environment Agency is using its enforcement powers to ensure compliance and drive environmental improvements from regulatory breaches.

Environment Agency Director of Environment and Business, Ed Mitchell said: “Civil sanctions are an alternative to criminal prosecution for less serious environment offences - such as breaking packaging waste regulations. They allow us to secure regulatory compliance from organisations, eliminate any financial gain from non-compliance and get them to react responsibly to the offending. Organisations can make reparations that focus on environmental improvements and providing benefits for the local people affected by the offences. Adding civil sanctions to our enforcement toolkit saves the Environment Agency time and money - freeing up our legal resources to prosecute more serious environmental offenders.” They are available for some, but not all, of the offences the Environment Agency enforce and started being used on 4 January 2011.

As October has so many new items which come into force we have featured the key ones in this newsletter with a quick breakdown of each one. You can a full detailed description for each piece of legislation in the Simplifi Compliance software where they will also be sorted by relevance to you.

We also have all of the regular features this month with new legislation published in September and details of consultations closing in October.

DESCRIPTION: These Regulations provide for the period within which, and the manner in which, appeals under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 and the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 are to be brought, and also make provision for the advertising of those appeals and for the appeal procedures.

DESCRIPTION: These Regulations amend the Access to the Countryside (Dedication of Land) (England) Regulations 2003, which provide for the steps to be taken when land is dedicated under section 16 of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000.

DESCRIPTION: These Regulations amend the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2010 by substituting a Schedule 23 to provide a modernised and transparent framework for the regulation of radioactive substances and to demonstrate clearer compliance with Council Directive 96/29/Euratom laying down basic safety standards for the protection of the health of workers and the general public against the dangers arising from ionizing radiation.

DESCRIPTION: These Regulations specify the maximum amount by weight of biodegradable municipal waste that is allowed to be sent each target year to landfills for the United Kingdom.

DESCRIPTION: The following provisions of the Planning Act 2008 (so far as they are not yet in force) shall come into force, in relation to England and Wales and, to the extent specified in section 240(4) of the Act, to Scotland, on 1st October 2011— (a) sections 14(1)(p) and 30; and (b) section 153 and Schedule 6.

DESCRIPTION: These Regulations prohibit the sale of tobacco from an automatic machine.

DESCRIPTION: These Regulations amend the Radioactive Substances Act 1993 (“the Act”) in order to align it more closely with the structure and terminology used in the Basic Safety Standards Directive

DESCRIPTION: This Order revokes and replaces a series of exemption orders made under the Radioactive Substances Act 1993 (“the Act”) and its predecessor (the Radioactive Substances Act 1960) in order to

DESCRIPTION: This Order revokes and replaces a series of exemption orders made under the Radioactive Substances Act 1993 and its predecessor (the Radioactive Substances Act 1960) in order to rationalise the current system of exemptions and align this more closely with the structure and terminology used in the Basic Safety Standards Directive. The Order confers certain exemptions from the requirement to register under certain sections of the 1993 Act if the material in question complies with the relevant standard conditions.

DESCRIPTION: These Regulations amend the Single Use Carrier Bags Charge (Wales) Regulations 2010. They are made under the Climate Change Act 2008, apply in relation to Wales and come into force on 1 October 2011.

DESCRIPTION: These Regulations make provision about a minimum amount which sellers of goods in Wales must charge for single use carrier bags.

DESCRIPTION: These regulations amend the Smoke Control Areas (Authorised Fuels) (England) Regulations 2008 (2008/514) to add two new fuels to the list of fuels declared to be authorised fuels for the purposes of Part III of the Clean Air Act 1993.

DESCRIPTION: This Order revokes and replaces with amendments the Smoke Control Areas (Exempted Fireplaces) (England) Order 2011 (S.I. 2011/714).

DESCRIPTION: These Regulations prescribe types of development for the purposes of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990. The prescribed development now includes minor operations relating to electric vehicle charging points and the installation of domestic microgeneration equipment.

DESCRIPTION: These Regulations amend the Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisements) (England) Regulations 2007 (“the Regulations”) (S.I. 2007/783) which provide for the controls on the display of advertisements.

DESCRIPTION: This Order amends Part 40 of Schedule 2 to the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995 (S.I. 1995/418). This Part confers permitted development rights for the installation of certain microgeneration equipment on a dwellinghouse or within its curtilage. Some of these rights also apply to a block of flats. Where permitted development rights apply, no specific application for planning permission is required.

DESCRIPTION: New requirement for the planning authority to consult with the Crofters Commission on the terms of certain planning applications provided by The Town and Country Planning (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Scotland) Regulations 2011

DESCRIPTION: This Order, which extends to England and Wales, varies Schedules 5 and 8 to the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. Schedule 5 lists animals protected under section 9 of that Act, and Schedule 8 lists plants protected under section 13 of that Act.

DESCRIPTION: These Regulations amend the Plant Health (Import Inspection Fees) (Scotland) Regulations 2005 (“the principal Regulations”). The principal Regulations implement Article 13d of Council Directive 2000/29/EC (O.J. L169, 10.7.2000, p.1) (“the Council Directive”) which requires Member States to charge fees to cover costs occasioned by the documentary checks, identity checks and plant health checks of certain imports of plants, plant products and other objects from third countries.

DESCRIPTION: These Regulations revoke and replace the Plant Protection Products Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2005. These Regulations, in respect of Northern Ireland, provide for the enforcement of Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning the placing of plant protection products on the market and repealing Council Directives 79/117/EEC and 91/414/EEC (“Regulation 1107/2009”) and of certain provisions of these Regulations.

DESCRIPTION: These Regulations amend the Pollution Prevention and Control (Scotland) Regulations 2000.

DESCRIPTION: These Regulations transpose certain provisions of Directive 2008/110/EC on safety on the Community’s railways.

DESCRIPTION: The Department is exercising the power conferred by section 12(1) of the Waste and Contaminated Land (Amendment) Act (Northern Ireland) 2011 for the first time. This Order brings into operation on 17th October 2011 the provisions of the Waste and Contaminated Land (Amendment) Act (Northern Ireland) 2011 listed in the Schedule.

DESCRIPTION: ECWVTA legislation will apply to vehicle category: Light vans and trucks built in one stage or first stage of a multi-stage build. Minibuses, buses and coaches built in multiple stages.

DESCRIPTION: These Regulations amend the Factories Act (Northern Ireland) 1965 and the Office and Shop Premises Act (Northern Ireland) 1966. The principal purpose of these Regulations is to remove the requirement for notification of occupation of a factory and office and shop premises under the respective acts. It also removes the requirement to keep a general register under the 1965 Act.

The Energy Performance of Buildings (Certificates and Inspections) (England and Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2011

The Motor Vehicles (Construction and Use) (Amendment No. 3) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2011

Feed-in Tariffs (Specified Maximum Capacity and Functions) (Amendment No.3) Order 2011

The Carriage of Dangerous Goods and Use of Transportable Pressure Equipment (Amendment) Regulations

The Storage of Carbon Dioxide (Amendment of the Energy Act 2008 etc.) Regulations 2011

The Waste and Emissions Trading Act 2003 (Amendment) Regulations 2011

The Town and Country Planning (Inquiries Procedure) (Scotland) Amendment Rules 2011

The Planning etc. (Scotland) Act 2006 (Listed Buildings) (Saving Provisions) Order 2011

The Smoke Control Areas (Authorised Fuels) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2011

The Landfill Allowances Scheme (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2011

The Nitrates Action Programme (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2011

Control of Pollution (Oil Storage) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2011

The Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004 (Authorised Operations) Order 2011

The Control of Volatile Organic Compounds (Petrol Vapour Recovery) (Scotland) Regulations 2011

The Carriage of Dangerous Goods and Use of Transportable Pressure Equipment (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2011

These Regulations revoke and re-enact and update, with amendments and savings, Part II of the Environmental Impact Assessment (Scotland) Regulations 1999. These Regulations apply in relation to Scotland only. The Regulations impose procedural requirements in relation to the consideration of applications for planning permission under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 and in relation to enforcement of planning control.

Coming into force: 1st June 2011. These Regulations affect: Development consent in Scotland

The Waste Management Licensing (Scotland) Regulations 2011

The Recycling, Preparation for Re-use and Composting Targets (Definitions) (Wales) Order 2011

The Landfill Tax (Amendment) Regulations 2011

The Aviation Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading Scheme (Amendment) Regulations 2011

The Climate Change Levy (General) (Amendment) Regulations 2011

The Climate Change Levy (Fuel Use and Recycling Processes) (Amendment) Regulations 2011

Historic Environment (Amendment) (Scotland) Act 2011

The Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) (Scotland) Regulations 2011

The Radioactive Substances Exemption (Scotland) Order 2011

The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (Application outside Great Britain) (Variation) Order 2011

The Climate Change Levy (Suspension of Transport Exemption) Order 2011

The Climate Change Levy (Suspension of Recycling Exemption) Order 2011

The Marine Licensing (Exempted Activities) (Scottish Inshore Region) Order 2011

The Merchant Shipping (Ship-to-Ship Transfers) (Amendment) Regulations 2011

The Offshore Petroleum Activities (Oil Pollution Prevention and Control) (Amendment) Regulations 2011

The Renewables Obligation (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2011

The Renewables Obligation (Scotland) Amendment Order 2011

The Waste (England and Wales) Regulations 2011

The Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Amendment (Scotland) Regulations 2011

In September the HSE infoline will be closed and RIDDOR reporting will move to online forms but telephone reporting will continue. Businesses will still be able to notify fatal and major incidents and injuries by phone following changes to reporting arrangements. However from 12 September 2011, all other reportable work-related injuries and incidents under RIDDOR (the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995) will move to a predominantly online system, with a suite of seven forms available on HSE's website to make the statutory reporting process quick and easy.

HSE report that more than half of reportable injuries are already notified to HSE through the website and this proportion has been increasing steadily over the past seven years. Taking advantage of the growing use of the internet allows HSE to be more efficient in the way it works. HSE do recognise, however, that people reporting a traumatic event still need that personal interaction so the notification of fatal and major incidents and injuries will still take place by phone. In a move to improve efficiency further and deliver value for taxpayers, HSE's Infoline telephone service, which currently provides a basic information service to callers, will end on 30 September 2011.

The Energy Information Regulations 2011

The Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading Scheme (Nitrous Oxide) Regulations 2011

The Building Regulations 2010 (SI 2010/2214)

The Storage of Carbon Dioxide (Termination of Licences) Regulations 2011

The Damages (Asbestos-related Conditions) Act (Northern Ireland) 2011

The Air Navigation (Dangerous Goods) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2011

The Conservation (Natural Habitats, etc.) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1995

The Environmental Liability (Prevention and Remediation) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2011

The Pollution Prevention and Control Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003 (SR 2003/46)

The Aquatic Animal Health (Scotland) Regulations 2009 (SSI 2009/85)

The Feed-in Tariffs (Specified Maximum Capacity and Functions) (Amendment No.2) Order 2011

The Railways (Safety Management) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2011

The Ozone-Depleting Substances (Qualifications) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2011

The Controls on Ozone-Depleting Substances Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2011

The Climate Change Act 2008 (Credit Limit) Order 2011

The Waste Management Licensing Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003 (SR 2003/493)

The Environmental Protection (Controls on Ozone-Depleting Substances) Regulations 2011

TITLE: Closes: Proposed Amendment to Merchant Shipping (Safety of Navigation) Regulations 2002

DESCRIPTION: The MCA has produced a draft Statutory Instrument (SI) to amend the Safety of Navigation Regulations: - to require compliance with new regulation 19-1 of Chapter V of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) - to make it an offence to proceed, or attempt to proceed, on a voyage without complying with regulation 19-1 and - to require compliance with regulation 34-1 which was substituted for regulation 34(3) of Chapter V of SOLAS.

TITLE: Consultation closes on EU air quality legislation

DESCRIPTION: The objective of the consultation is to gather views and additional information on the effectiveness, strength and weaknesses of EU air quality legislation, in particular as regards Directive 2008/50/EC on ambient air quality and cleaner air for Europe and Directive 2004/107/EC relating to arsenic, cadmium, mercury, nickel and polyaromatic hydrocarbons in ambient air. This consultation marks the beginning of a broad consultation on the review of EU air policy foreseen to end in 2013 at the latest.

TITLE: Closes: Streamlining the planning process for nationally significant wastewater transportation infrastructure projects

DESCRIPTION: This consultation seeks views on including proposed major sewers within the existing streamlined planning process for other major infrastructure projects, by introducing secondary legislation.

TITLE: Closes: Targeted Consultation on Proposed Amendments to the Biofuel (Labelling) Regulations 2004

DESCRIPTION: This consultation proposes amendments to the Biofuel (Labelling) Regulations 2004. These regulations will transpose Article 21(1) of Directive 2009/28/EC, the “Renewable Energy Directive” (RED). The Article requires that where transport fuels (for all modes) contain more than 10% biofuel by volume, this should be indicated at sales points. Implementation of Article 21(1) of the Directive will help to inform consumers whose vehicles may not be suited for higher levels of biofuel. Furthermore, it will allow consumers with compatible vehicles to identify fuels with high biofuel content more easily.

TITLE: Closes: Public Consultation on 20 potential Substances of Very High Concern

DESCRIPTION: The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has published proposals to identify 20 chemicals as Substances of Very High Concern (SVHCs) and thus as possible candidates for authorisation. From the last publication six months ago, the number of dossiers has more than doubled. The detailed proposals are available on the ECHA website. Interested parties are invited to comment on the proposals by 13 October 2011.

TITLE: Closes: CD235 - HSE proposal for extending cost recovery

DESCRIPTION: This consultation sets out the HSE proposal to replace the Health and Safety (Fees) Regulations 2010 to reinstate existing fees and to extend the range of activities for which HSE recovers costs. In addition to reinstating existing fees the proposed Fees Regulations would place a duty on HSE to recover costs where dutyholders are found to be in material breach of health and safety law. Costs will be recovered from the start of the intervention where the material breach was identified, up to the point where HSE’s intervention in supporting businesses in putting matters right has concluded.

TITLE: Closes: The future of the advisory committee on hazardous substances

DESCRIPTION: This consultation seeks views on (i) the proposed abolition of the Advisory Committee on Hazardous Substances (ACHS) as a statutory Non Departmental Public Body, as provided for under the Public Bodies Bill currently before Parliament, following the Government’s Arms Length Body Review; and (ii) the Government’s preferred option to simultaneously reconstitute this body as a new expert scientific committee. We are also seeking views on proposed new Terms of Reference, and a name, for the successor body.

TITLE: Hazardous Waste Consultation closes

DESCRIPTION: The Hazardous Waste National Policy Statement (NPS) sets out the strategic need and justification of Government policy for the provision of Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs) for hazardous waste. This will be used to guide decisions on development consent. The purpose of the consultation is to give stakeholders the opportunity to comment on the draft NPS and the framework it sets for those planning decisions.

TITLE: Closes: Feed-in Tariff (FIT): “Generating equipment” consultation

DESCRIPTION: The FIT Amendment Order 2011 now regulates to address the use of refurbished or used generating equipment. This consultation sets out Ofgem‟s views on the term “generating equipment” and seeks views. Responses due by 21 October 2011.

TITLE: Closes: Consultation on the simplification of the Climate Change Agreements Scheme

DESCRIPTION: Current Climate Change Agreements expire in March 2013. However, the Government announced in the 2011 Budget that “the scheme will continue until 2023, subject to State aid approval, and a consultation on simplifying the scheme will be published this summer”. This consultation therefore presents a number of proposals to deliver significant improvements in energy efficiency while reducing burdens on business including the complexity and overlap of climate change industry policy. It is estimated that the proposals set out in this consultation will provide financial benefits to business in the range of £2.4M to £3.4M during the life of the scheme.

TITLE: Closes: Draft guidance on the treatment of waste by thermal desorption

DESCRIPTION: The draft guidance document is applicable to installations and mobile plant that undertake thermal desorption as a Part A(1) activity listed in Schedule 1 of the Environmental Permitting Regulations (England & Wales). It aims to set out the additional indicative Best Available Techniques (BAT) requirements that the EA expect regulated facilities to meet for these activities as an addendum to existing Sector Guidance Note S5.06.

TITLE: Closes: Amendments to the Marine Licensing Exemptions Orders

DESCRIPTION: Amendments to the Marine Licensing Exemptions Orders: Of the three issues that have arisen since the orders were implemented, the first is relates to the licensing of small scale removals such as sediment sampling. The second relates to the use of chemical and oil treatment substances below the surface of the sea. The third relates to the retrieval of objects accidentally deposited on the seabed.

TITLE: Closes: CD237 - Proposals on Revised Control of Asbestos Regulations

DESCRIPTION: This consultation sets out HSE's proposals to introduce revised Control of Asbestos Regulations to implement the changes required to comply with the European Commission's reasoned opinion on the UK Government's transposition of Directive 83/477/EEC as amended by 2003/18/EC on the protection of workers from the risks of exposure to asbestos at work. The reasoned opinion confirms the European Commission's view that the UK has not fully implemented Article 3(3) of the Directive which provides for the exemption of some types of lower risk work with asbestos from three requirements of the Directive: notification of work; medical examinations; and record keeping.

TITLE: Biodiversity 2020: Developing indicators for measuring success

DESCRIPTION: This document discusses the technical issues and options for developing a set of headline indicators to track progress with the new Strategy for England‘s Wildlife and Ecosystem Services (Biodiversity 2020). It also invites comments on the scope and detail of the indicators.

TITLE: Closes: Government proposal to abolish the Inland Waterways Advisory Council

DESCRIPTION: This consultation seeks views on the proposed abolition of the Inland Waterways Advisory Council as a statutory Non Departmental Public Body, as provided for under the Public Bodies Bill currently before Parliament, following the Government‘s Arms Length Body Review.

Defra is proposing to implement a charging scheme to enable the Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI) to recover the cost of regulatory work undertaken on behalf of the water industry. This informal consultation provides the water industry, and any organisation or individual who may have an interest, to comment on the proposed implementation of the scheme.

http://www.defra.gov.uk/consult/2011/10/24/dwi/

This consultation outlines ONR's proposed approach to the definition of 'bulk quantities' of radioactive matter. The nuclear site licensing regime currently applies to a set of defined activities, which include the storage of bulk quantities of radioactive matter. However, there is no clear definition of what constitutes bulk quantities of radioactive matter, storage of which would need to be licensed.

http://www.hse.gov.uk/consult/condocs/cd-onr-bulk.htm?ebul=consult/sep11&cr=02

Calls for comments are requested on a restriction proposal for four classified phthalates, DEHP, BBP, DBP and DIBP. The six-month public consultation on the restriction report will conclude on 16 March 2012. ECHA, however, encourages interested parties to send in their comments by 16 December 2011.

http://www.hse.gov.uk/reach/news.htm

This consultation is a continuation of the one circulated between 14 December 2009 and 7 March 2010. It outlines the direction of policy the MCA wishes to pursue in amending the BML Regulations having taken into consideration the responses received from the first consultation.

http://www.dft.gov.uk/mca/mcga07-home/shipsandcargoes/consultations/mcga-currentconsultations/ds-stc-consultation-2010.htm

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) is planning to introduce standard rules for the permitting of petrol vapour recovery activities for the loading and unloading of petrol into stationary storage tanks at petrol stations and also the refuelling of motor vehicles, regulated under Pollution Prevention and Control (Scotland) Regulations 2000 (PPC).

http://www.sepa.org.uk/about_us/consultations.aspx

Following the adoption of the Nagoya protocol on Access to genetic resources and Benefit sharing (ABS) on 29 October 2010, the Commission has undertaken steps towards its implementation and ratification by the EU. Within this scope the Commission is launching a consultation of stakeholders to explore the possible effects of the Protocol and to gather concrete proposals on the practical challenges of the implementation.

http://ec.europa.eu/environment/consultations/abs_en.htm

This consultation covers the Environment Agency charging proposals for Environmental Permitting, abstraction and Emissions Trading charging schemes from 2012-2015. The Environment Agency are seeking views from charge payers, trade associations and other interested parties on our major proposals.

https://consult.environment-agency.gov.uk/portal/ho/finance/charges2012

Despite being hidden from view, groundwater is beneath our feet at all times. It is a vital resource that plays many roles in our lives and environment. However pollution and increasing demand for water is putting the resource under pressure. The EA have revised their Groundwater Protection Principles, under Part 4 of GP3 as a result of legislative changes and this is your opportunity to give your views.

https://consult.environment-agency.gov.uk/portal/ho/waterqual/gp3/water

This consultation invites comments on the Government’s proposals for the tariff levels available for renewable electricity generation from solar PV installations of 250kW or below under the Feed-in Tariffs scheme (FITs). This consultation applies to England ,Wales and Scotland only

http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/consultations/fits_comp_rev1/fits_comp_rev1.aspx

The Environmental Permitting Regulations 2010 provide for the setting of fees and charges for Local Air Pollution Prevention and Control (LAPPC) and Local Air – Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (LA-IPPC) at levels that will recover costs of local authorities of implementing the system. This Government consultation relates to the LAPPC and LA-IPPC fees and charges in England and will be of interest to the 19,000 or so businesses who hold LAPPC and LA-IPPC permits, such as chipboard and glass manufacture, foundries, and animal renderers, to crematoria, paint manufacture, larger furniture works, petrol stations and high street dry cleaners, and to their local authority regulators. The Welsh Assembly Government will be consulting separately on these charges.

http://www.defra.gov.uk/consult/2011/09/29/industrial-plant-1109/

The Carbon Trust has announced that its 0% loan scheme for small to medium-sized enterprises is due to close at the end of this month. Loans range from £3,000 to £100,000 and the amount of CO2 that must be saved per £1,000 of loan value stands at 2t CO2.

Projects which may qualify for a loan include air conditioning, lighting, solar thermal systems, heat recovery, refrigeration, materials handling equipment or power factor correction. Each project is assessed on its potential to deliver real energy savings. The programme will close imminently, however, as there are still funds remaining, the Carbon Trust is inviting businesses to continue to apply and applications will be considered on a first come, first served basis. Following the programme’s closure, the Trust will continue to provide green finance to UK businesses and in April it will be moving to a partnership with Siemens Financial Services. In addition, 0% loans will continue to be available on a first come, first served basis to sites in Wales and Northern Ireland. The final deadline for receipt of applications for the current programme (should funding remain available until this date) is 28 March 2011. Applications may be submitted online at the Carbon Trust website

For the purposes of this guidance reference to “small turbines” refers to those which are between 15 and 50 metres in height to blade tip. This guidance deals specifically with the siting and design aspects of proposals for small turbines, although there are clearly other issues to be taken into consideration when installing such developments. It is envisaged that this guidance will form an annex to the already published SNH “Siting and Designing Windfarms in the Landscape” guidance.

Closes: 1st April More information: http://www.snh.gov.uk/docs/A516125.pdf

Regulations to charge a fee for approval of offshore oil and gas installations and pipelines decommissioning programmes. This Government consultation invites views on proposals to charge a fee for approval of offshore oil and gas installations and pipelines decommissioning programmes under the Petroleum Act 1998.

Closes:22nd June
More information: http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/consultations/og_decommiss/og_decommiss.aspx

A waste data strategy for Scotland is being developed in accordance with the requirements of Scotland’s Zero Waste Plan which was published in June 2010. This consultation seeks views on the overall aims, vision and scope of this proposed strategy, notably on the waste data requirements, issues, outcomes and timescales identified therein, and the way in which the management and reporting of waste data collected by all organisations in Scotland can be improved.

Closes: 2nd May More information:http://www.sepa.org.uk/about_us/consultations.aspx

Implementing the Environmental Noise Directive in Wales

The Welsh Assembly are consulting on the procedures we propose to follow when implementing certain aspects of the environmental noise action plans published in January 2009 in line with the requirements of the Environmental Noise Directive. In particular, they are seeking views on proposed approach to identifying “quiet areas” in agglomerations (large urban areas) and priority areas linked to high levels of road traffic and railway noise.

The Waste Protocols Project is a joint partnership between the Environment Agency and WRAP (Waste and Resource Action Programme). The project is launching this online consultation to invite industry to comment and feedback on the draft Quality Protocol, in order to highlight its potential impact.

This consultation sets out the amendment to regulation 3(2) of the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995 (RIDDOR) proposed by Lord Young in his report "Common Sense, Common Safety". If adopted, the period of incapacitation after which an injury to a person at work must be reported to the enforcing authority, will change from over three to over seven days. It seeks views on the proposal itself and on the impacts that it would have if it became law.

This consultation seeks views on how the Welsh Assembly intend developing marine planning in Wales in line with their powers and responsibilities under the Marine & Coastal Act 2009.

This short consultation is to seek your comments on the proposal to introduce a new Water Environment (Controlled Activities) Fees and Charges (Scotland) Scheme 2011. This is necessary because the Water Environment (Controlled Activities) (Scotland) Regulations 2005 have been replaced by the 2011 Regulations.

This is a technical change in so far as the conditions and charges will not change and CAR charges will not be increased from the 2010/11 level however, the 2011 Regulations are numbered differently from the 2005 Regulations. We have concluded that in order to avoid confusion and make the transition into the new Regulations it is best to introduce a new CAR charging scheme to align with the 2011 Regulations at the earliest opportunity.

The Carriage of Dangerous Goods and Use of Transportable Pressure Equipment Regulations 2009 (CDG 2009) need to be amended to recognise a new European directive on transportable pressure equipment. This is an informal consultation document to consult interested parties.

This consultation seeks views on the proposals for new regulations that will require certain water and sewerage infrastructure projects to be put out to competitive tender by English water and sewerage companies (undertakers).

The overall aim of this European standard is to provide organizations a methodology for collecting and analysing energy data with the purpose of establishing and comparing energy efficiency between or within entities.

It may lead to reductions in total energy use and consequently reductions in costs and emissions of carbon dioxide. This standard addresses the general aspects of benchmarking. This does not include the definition and establishment of sector specific benchmarks.

This Act makes provision for the compulsory registration of all reservoirs to which the Act applies (referred to in the Act as “controlled reservoirs”). It provides for SEPA to assess the risk (in terms of adverse consequences and probability) of an uncontrolled release of water from each registered reservoir. Different regulatory controls apply to controlled reservoirs with different risk designations. It regulates the construction of reservoirs, imposing a system of inspections, reports and certificates overseen by an engineer appointed from an approved panel. Panels of appropriately qualified engineers are to be established by the Scottish Ministers. It also sets out requirements for the supervision and periodical inspection of controlled reservoirs, as well as creating incident reporting obligations and making provision about the retention of appropriate records.

It gives SEPA the power to serve enforcement notices and to step in and take certain actions where reservoir managers have failed to do so, as well as giving SEPA the power to act in an emergency to protect people or property from an escape of water from a controlled reservoir. It also enables the Scottish Ministers to make provision for SEPA to use various civil enforcement measures, intended to enable SEPA to enforce the Act in a proportionate manner. Part 2 of the Act amends the Water Environment and Water Services (Scotland) Act 2003 to enable the creation of criminal offences to support regulations to be made under section 22 of that Act concerning the remediation and restoration of the water environment.

The objective of this Act is to improve the quality of the local environment by giving district councils additional powers to deal with litter, nuisance alleys, graffiti and fly posting, abandoned and nuisance vehicles, dogs, noise and statutory nuisance. The Act will be supported with a significant and comprehensive programme of subordinate legislation and guidance all of which will be subject to further detailed consultation exercises.

Part 1 of the Act makes provision for Gating Orders, Part 2 makes provision for Vehicles, Part 3 makes provision for Litter, Part 4 makes provision for Graffiti and Other Defacement; Part 5 makes provision for Dogs, Part 6 makes provision for Noise, Part 7 makes provision for Statutory Nuisances and Part 8 contains miscellaneous and supplementary provisions.

This Act makes provision for the regulation of Planning in Northern Ireland. It sets out certain obligations on district councils such as the making of and keeping of development plans, it also empowers them to grant planning permission in relation to a development. The Act allows for the creation of Regulations concerning the making of an application for planning permission, its assessment and granting of planning permission or the making of an appeal where permission has been refused.

It makes provision for the creating or maintaining of simplified planning zones as well as other provisions in regard to listed buildings, tree preservation and the storage of hazardous substances. The storage of hazardous substances on, over or under land requires the consent of the council (in this Act referred to as “hazardous substances consent”) unless the aggregate quantity of the substance is less than the controlled quantity. A number of new Regulations or Orders will follow this Act to ensure its requirements, obligations and duties are fully implemented.

This Consultation seeks views on the Government's proposals to introduce new regulations transposing the greenhouse gas intensity reduction requirements of European Directive 2009/30/EC (which amends Directive 98/70/EC, commonly known as the Fuel Quality Directive).

For each of the Impact Assessments associated with the consultation paper please open up the embedded excel spreadsheet and print that separately if you need a printed version of the information produced for the table headed Annual Profile of monetised costs and benefits in the section headed Evidence Base (for summary sheets).

The Renewable Energy Directive (RED) requires the UK to ensure that 10% of the energy used in transport is from renewable sources in 2020, as well as requiring the introduction of mandatory sustainability criteria for biofuels. This Consultation considers the implementation of the RED by amendments to the Renewable Transport Fuels Obligation.

For each of the Impact Assessments associated with the consultation paper please open up the embedded excel spreadsheet and print that separately if you need a printed version of the information produced for the table headed Annual Profile of monetised costs and benefits in the section headed Evidence Base (for summary sheets).

In July 2010 the Welsh Assembly Government Minister for Environment, Sustainability and Housing issued a consultation on the development of a Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management (FCERM) Strategy for Wales.

Views are now sought on the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) of the strategy, which is presented in the SEA environmental report. The SEA aims to ensure that appropriate consideration is given to the environment during the development of the FCERM strategy for Wales. The SEA identifies the significant environmental effects (positive and negative) of the strategy, makes recommendations for mitigation and enhancement opportunities and includes proposals for monitoring.

The National Marine Plan will shape national objectives and policies surrounding Scotland’s coastal and marine management.

Regulations to charge a fee for approval of offshore oil and gas installations and pipelines decommissioning programmes.

This Government consultation invites views on proposals to charge a fee for approval of offshore oil and gas installations and pipelines decommissioning programmes under the Petroleum Act 1998.

DESCRIPTION: A consultation document has been issued seeking your views on whether regulations should be introduced to make it mandatory for some UK companies to report on their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions or whether the Government should continue to encourage measuring and reporting of GHG emissions on a voluntary basis. Section 85 of the Climate Change Act 2008 requires the Government to make regulations, under the Companies Act 2006, by 6 April 2012 requiring the directors’ report of a company to include information about GHG emissions as is specified in regulations, or to lay a report before Parliament explaining why no such regulations have been made. No decision has yet been made. This consultation aims to inform Ministers’ decision on whether to introduce regulations. The consultation document considers four different options, including a voluntary approach, designed to promote more widespread and consistent reporting by companies of GHG emissions. Your views are sought on the questions that are asked at the end of the document on the four options presented and on the potential requirements of mandatory reporting, if introduced.

Closes: 5/07/2011

DESCRIPTION: Consultation letter seeking respondents' views on issues surrounding development of competition for part funded connections, by making price control revenue available to Independent Connections Providers.

Closes: 13/07/2011

DESCRIPTION: The aim of this consultation is to gather your views on the proposed guidance on how the implementation of the Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 2000 (as amended) in England and the Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 2010 in Wales contributes to the implementation of the Water Framework Directive 2000/60/EC (“WFD”). The purpose of this joint Drinking Water Inspectorate and Environment Agency document is to provide clarity and guidance. It also sets out the responsibilities of the Drinking Water Inspectorate for England and Wales in relation to the drinking water regulations and those of the Environment Agency in relation to the WFD. The Drinking Water Inspectorate is inviting comments from the water industry and other interested parties.

Closes: 22/07/2011

DESCRIPTION: The EA are seeking your views on revised sets of standard rules and generic risk assessments for waste operations and installations that we intend to make available under the Environmental Permitting Regulations.

Closes: 22/07/2011

DESCRIPTION: The Government has established an Independent Review of Health and Safety legislation. The review will consider the opportunities for reducing the burden of health and safety legislation on UK businesses while maintaining the progress made in improving health and safety outcomes. This review - under the chairmanship of leading risk management specialist Professor Ragnar Löfstedt - is due to make recommendations to Ministers by the end of October 2011.

Closes: 29/07/2011

DESCRIPTION: This Consultative Document sets out the proposal from HSE to implement the European Commission's 3rd Indicative Occupational Exposure Limit Values (IOELV) Directive (2001/161/EU) through the national system of Worker Exposure Limits (WELs). The proposed limits for 19 substances are based on recommendations by the European Commission’s Scientific Committee on Occupational Exposure Limits (SCOEL), which has considered the scientific information available on each substance. The limits proposed by SCOEL have all been subject to six-month EU-wide public consultation.

Closes: 04/08/2011

DESCRIPTION: This draft Guidance document for the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI), a new Government scheme to promote the uptake of renewable heat, sets out how Ofgem intends to administer the scheme and invites comments from stakeholders.

Closes: 05/08/2011

This draft Guidance document for the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI), a new Government scheme to promote the uptake of renewable heat, sets out how Ofgem intends to administer the scheme and invites comments from stakeholders.

05/08/2011

Defra is consulting on updated draft air quality plans that set out the action taken and being planned at national, regional and local levels to meet the annual and hourly EU NO2 limit values in England as soon as possible. These, along with relevant air quality plans from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will form the basis of the UK notification to the European Commission in September 2011. The UK notification will seek, for those parts of the country where there is sufficient evidence, to postpone for up to 5 years from January 2010 the compliance date for the NO2 limit values.

05/08/2011

Views are invited on updated draft air quality plans that set out the action taken and being planned at UK, Scottish and local levels to meet the annual and hourly EU NO 2 limit values in Scotland as soon as possible. These, along with air quality plans from England, Wales and Northern Ireland will form the basis of the UK notification to the European Commission in September seeking for those parts of the UK, where there is sufficient evidence, to postpone for up to five years from January 2010 the compliance date for the NO 2 limit values.

05/8/2011

The Government is consulting on changes to employment law to encourage a more fair and flexible approach at work. The consultation seeks views on a new system of flexible parental leave which will allow mothers and fathers to share leave, and give parents and employers greater choice about how leave is taken; on how to extend the right to flexible working to all employees; on changes to the Working Time Regulations as a result of European cases about the interaction of annual leave and sick leave; and on tackling unequal pay through requiring employers who lose an Employment Tribunal case on equal pay to carry out a pay audit.

Closes on: 08/08/2011

Under the Tender Regulations, Ofgem has to assess the costs for transfer value. The interest component currently has a cap. This document explains why the Authority is minded, subject to consultation responses, to amend the cap rate from 1 September 11.

Closes: 12/08/2011

Proposed modifications to gas and electricity supply licences to bolster existing protections for all consumers, particularly vulnerable consumers, in light of early moves by suppliers to install smart meters.

Closes: 12/08/2011

In this consultation, SEPA are seeking views on how the National Flood Risk Assessment informs the identification of areas for flood risk management planning. responses to the consultation will help scotland better plan and co-ordinate actions to reduce the impact on our communities, the economy and the environment, making us more resilient to the impacts of flooding.

Closes: 15/08/2011

Under the domestic legislation that transposes the Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC) and Groundwater Daughter Directive (2006/118/EC), the UK environment agencies are responsible for considering whether a potential pollutant should be determined to be a hazardous substance or a non-hazardous pollutant. These recent changes in legislation mean that the method formerly used to determine the classification of substances under the old Groundwater Directive (80/68/EEC) needs to be revised. This is the formal consultation on the proposed (new) methodology to determine whether a potential pollutant is a hazardous substance or a non-hazardous pollutant.

Closes: 24/08/2011

Under the domestic legislation that transposes the Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC) and Groundwater Daughter Directive (2006/118/EC), the UK environment agencies are responsible for considering whether a potential pollutant (a substance liable to cause pollution) should be determined to be a hazardous substance or a non-hazardous pollutant. These recent changes in legislation mean that the method formerly used to determine the classification of substances under the old Groundwater Directive (80/68/EEC) needs to be revised. This is the formal consultation on the proposed (new) methodology to determine whether a potential pollutant is a hazardous substance or a non-hazardous pollutant.

Closes: 24/08/2011

The Secretary of State for Transport, in his role as the competent authority in Great Britain (GB), the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSENI) and the Department of Justice in NI (DOJNI), as the competent authorities in NI, may grant certain exemptions from the requirements and prohibitions relating to the transport of dangerous goods. Where exemptions are granted, there is a legal obligation to publish them in the respective GB and NI versions of the Carriage of Dangerous Goods: Approved Derogations and Transitional Provisions (AD&TP). This document needs updating to remove obsolete derogations and recognise new ones.

Closes: 30/08/2011

The Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2011

The Landfill (Maximum Landfill Amount) Regulations 2011

The Plant Protection Products (Fees and Charges) Regulations 2011

The Plant Protection Products Regulations 2011

The Smoke Control Areas (Exempted Fireplaces) (England) (No. 2) Order 2011

The Supply of Machinery (Safety) (Amendment) Regulations 2011

The Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisements) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2011

The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (Amendment) (England) Order 2011

The Single Use Carrier Bags Charge (Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2011

Plant Protection Products Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2011

The following Bills are currently going through Parliament and are due to be read during November:

DESCRIPTION: 2nd reading: House of Commons - A Bill to promote energy efficiency; to require local authorities to publish sustainable energy plans; to make provision for a transfer of functions to principal councils; and for connected purposes.

DESCRIPTION: A Bill to exempt self-employed persons engaged in low hazard activity from the requirement to produce a written risk assessment.

DESCRIPTION: A Bill to reduce the duties on employers to report matters under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995.

DESCRIPTION: A Bill to make provision regarding local authority powers to require developers to deposit funds in the form of a bond to be used if the local area is not maintained properly; and for connected purposes.

DESCRIPTION: A Bill to exempt employers from the requirement to produce a written risk assessment in respect of low hazard workplaces and the premises of those working from their own home with low hazard equipment.

DESCRIPTION: A Bill to introduce qualification requirements for health and safety consultants; to provide accreditation for such consultants; and for connected purposes.

DESCRIPTION: A Bill to make provision to require factors other than cost to be considered for schemes for the transmission of high voltage electricity where infrastructure would impact on the visual and other amenity of a landscape; to provide that in certain cases such infrastructure be installed by visually unobtrusive works; to require that public consultation be undertaken and inform the selection of the method and technology for the transmission infrastructures used.

The UK Government will support an initiative to build Sustainable Development Goals, which will focus international attention on the need to sustainably manage the world’s natural resources, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg and Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman announced today. UK support for initiating a process to develop Sustainable Development Goals was revealed following meetings in London today between Mr Clegg and President Santos of Colombia, and between Mrs Spelman and Colombian Environment Minister Frank Pearl.

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said: “The future of the human race depends on the careful management of natural resources. As global population increases, and economies and societies advance, so we must better manage our planet’s resources to ensure a sustainable future for generations to come. Failure to meet that challenge will result in immense suffering. “I welcome President Santos’s initiative, challenging world leaders to establish Sustainable Development Goals and look forward to working closely with the Colombian government and our international and EU partners to develop this idea in the run-up to the Rio+20 summit in June next year.”