Tag Archives: GB

image_pdfimage_print

News story: Crime news: helpline and email change for National Crime Team

Call 0121 232 5500 and use new single email from 27 February 2017 for enquiries to our National Crime Team.

A new number of 0121 232 5500 must be used from 27 February 2017 when calling the National Crime Team(NCT) and the Criminal Applications Team(CAT).

NCT will also only have a new single email – see below.

When should we use the helpline?

The new single telephone number of 0121 232 5500 should be used for enquiries about criminal legal aid applications, hardship and complex means assessments. For example, defendants who are self-employed from 27 February 2017.

What are the opening hours?

9am to 5pm Monday-Friday – excluding bank holidays.

Why is this happening?

We’re making this change because providers have asked us to make it simpler to contact us.

In the past, for complex means assessments providers have been asked to contact our teams in either the Nottingham or Liverpool offices.

The change will also allow us to manage calls more efficiently, which should improve our service.

New NCT email

From 27 February all emails for the attention of NCT should be sent to:

Nationalcrimeteam@legalaid.gsi.gov.uk

CAT emails

These should still be sent to the office dealing with the application.

BirminghamCAT@legalaid.gsi.gov.uk

LiverpoolCAT@legalaid.gsi.gov.uk

NottinghamCAT@legalaid.gsi.gov.uk

read more

Press release: Expert advisory group appointed to the automatic enrolment review

The review will consider the success of automatic enrolment to date, and explore ways that the ground-breaking policy can be further developed. Three themes will be considered as part of this:

  • coverage
  • engagement
  • contribution levels

The 3 chairs will be:

  • Ruston Smith, Trustee Director at Peoples’ Pension
  • Jamie Jenkins, Head of Pensions Strategy at Standard Life
  • Chris Curry, Director of the Pensions Policy Institute

Richard Harrington, Minister for Pensions, said:

Automatic enrolment has been a huge success but there is still significantly more work to do if we are to set the next generation on a path to a financially secure retirement.

This is why I am delighted to announce this expert advisory group who will work closely with government to look at what we can do to build on our success.

Ruston Smith, Trustee Director at Peoples’ Pension leading on providing advice on the theme of engagement, said:

Auto enrolment has been a game changer – over 7.1 million people have been automatically enrolled into a workplace pension so that they have the opportunity to save.

I’m delighted to join the advisory group that will be providing advice, insight and challenge to DWP on the review of automatic enrolment, and to lead the group’s work in how best to engage with current and future savers.

Simple and compelling engagement will be critical in helping people of all ages make the right choices for their future.

Jamie Jenkins, Head of Pensions Strategy at Standard Life, leading on providing advice on the theme of coverage, said:

Auto enrolment has enjoyed unparalleled success so far in helping millions more people start saving for their retirement. The behavioural nudge works.

As it approaches its fifth anniversary, it is a great time to review the coverage it provides. It is crucial that employers continue to play a pivotal role in its success, but that the review also looks at the savings needs of those individuals currently not benefitting.

It is a great privilege to take a leading role in this next stage of auto enrolment, and I look forward to working with the Department for Work and Pensions and the many stakeholders to explore the policy options available.

Chris Curry, Director at Pensions Policy Institute leading on providing advice on the theme of Contributions, said:

I am delighted to be asked to contribute to the review, and I am very much looking forward to helping the Department for Work and Pensions build on the successful introduction of automatic enrolment.

One of the greatest challenges that we face is in ensuring that individuals save enough to be able to enjoy their retirement, and it is very important that we collect strong and robust evidence on which to base any decisions concerning the appropriate long term contribution levels to workplace pensions.

The review will look to ensure that workplace pensions continue to meet the needs of individual savers, and employer, while remaining fair, affordable and sustainable for future generations. The department will publish a final report later this year.

Terms of reference for the 2017 automatic enrolment review advisory group (PDF, 85.5KB, 2 pages)

How to respond to the review

Please send your views about the review by 22 March 2017 to:

2017automatic.enrolmentreview@dwp.gsi.gov.uk

or

AE 2017 Review Team
Private Pensions Directorate
Department for Work and Pensions
First floor, Caxton House
Tothill Street
London
SW1H 9NA

More about the membership

Ruston Smith

Ruston Smith has been Group Pensions Director at Tesco and CEO of Tesco Pension Investment. His other roles include Chair of the PLSA, Trustee Directorships at People’s Pension and Standard Life and he is a Governor of the Pensions Policy Institute.

Jamie Jenkins

Jamie Jenkins is Head of Pensions Strategy at Standard Life. He was heavily involved in the work on the Retail Distribution Review and the resultant changes in sales practices across the industry. He previously led the Corporate Pensions Operation. He sits on a number of regulatory and trade body councils and advisory groups.

Chris Curry

Chris Curry is director of the Pensions Policy Institute. Prior to becoming director at the Pensions Policy Institute, Chris was Research Director between 2002 and 2013. He was previously Senior Economist at Association of British Insurers between 2000 and 2002 and an Economic Adviser at the Department for Work and Pensions between 1992 and 2000.

Media enquiries for this press release – 0203 267 5144

Follow DWP on:

read more

Green Party: Better Care Fund is the latest on a long list of the Government’s NHS failures

8 February 2017

The Green Party has responded to a report showing Government plans to join up the social care and health sectors to save money and work for hospitals are failing [1].

Jonathan Bartley, Green Party co-leader, said:

“The Government appears to be in total denial about its consistent and repeated failures around our NHS, and what is at their heart.  So far the Better Care Fund looks to have been a waste of time, money and effort.  It simply hasn’t achieved its stated goals of savings and reducing emergency admissions, with emergency visits soaring and hospital workloads bigger than ever.

“While we welcome a joined up approach between social and health care this project simply isn’t delivering and it won’t as long as cash flow worries mount. The Government should urgently review the specific problems around the fund. But it must also face up to the wider issue of chronic under investment in health and social care.

“This is just the latest on a growing list of failures within the NHS, contributing to a growing crisis.  The Government must commit to easing the pressure on both healthcare professionals and patients who are all suffering under the current mismanagement of what should be, and could be a flagship health service.”

Notes:

  1. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-38894593

Tweet

Back to main news page

Let’s block ads! (Why?)

read more