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“Our latest Small Business Index (SBI) highlighted that one in five FSB members see regulation as one of the major barriers to their businesses growth.
“This puts an even greater burden on the RPC in independently assessing the impact and benefits of proposed regulation that can negatively impact small businesses.
“The FSB continues to be the leading voice in championing the great work the RPC does. In particular, its efforts to hold those Government Departments, which produce new regulation, to account by improving the quality of Regulatory Impact Assessments.
“We hope that Government continues to value the role of the RPC by ensuring that it is sufficiently resourced and at the heart of improving the regulation agenda.”
“In this period of significant transition and change, it is vital that any regulatory changes which impact the UK’s business communities are justified and rational.
“The Regulatory Policy Committee plays a crucial role in providing scrutiny, a task that will only grow in importance as we embark on the UK’s withdrawal from the EU. Government departments must be extremely careful in making and implementing regulatory changes which may have unintended consequences. In this time of uncertainty, businesses need as much regulatory continuity as possible to sustain confidence and investment.”
“We welcome this report. Once again the RPC is showing that the issue is not about what we regulate or deregulate, it’s about how we can make the system for all of society. That means that we need to gain a consensus for strong, effective regulation that is enforced appropriately and having a body such as the RPC to oversee the process is invaluable”. Terry Scouler Chief Executive of EEF, the manufacturers’ organisation, said:
“The critical work of the committee is particularly important as we prepare to leave the EU and as the effectiveness of regulatory regimes come under greater scrutiny. Good regulation is important for business and society. As this report highlights, independent scrutiny to ensure all red tape is fit for purpose and achieves the right outcomes is as important now as it ever was. I’d like to congratulate the committee and its chairman on the progress they have made.”
“The Regulatory Policy Committee continues to play a crucial role in holding government to account on its deregulatory commitments – a key issue for the CBI and many of our members. Thanks to its scrutiny, businesses can be confident that regulation is grounded in a strong evidence base.”
A fund launched to help struggling families who adopt some of the country’s most vulnerable children has reached almost 18,000 homes, providing much-needed emotional support.
Announcing the success of the Adoption Support Fund on Wednesday (2 August), Minister for Children and Families Robert Goodwill also confirmed that a further £5 million will be invested in a number of innovative projects across the country, designed to improve families’ experiences of adoption.
It is part of a government drive to deliver the best possible services for vulnerable children.
Robert Goodwill, Minister for Children and Families, said:
Every parent wants their child to grow up feeling loved and understood, and anyone with the commitment and compassion to adopt a child should have the backing of a strong support network. We know that caring for these young people, particularly those with more complex needs, can be a struggle at times.
With the right therapeutic support, children and families will be able to embrace the new life ahead of them, and I’m delighted that the Adoption Support Fund has supported so many thousands of people already, as part of our plan for a fairer society.
The Adoption Support Fund, launched across England in May 2015, pays for care that helps children to settle in with their adoptive families. This support can include:
In total, £52 million has been released through the fund so far, reaching 22,000 children and 18,000 families. Many more families stand to benefit, as the government has increased the fund to £28 million in 2017/18.
The announcement comes as an independent report shows that parents believe access to the fund has improved their lives, including through improved child behaviour and mental health.
Lorna Sandbach, along with her family, is one of those to benefit from the fund. When Lorna and her husband adopted siblings, they were 14-months and two-years-old respectively, and had experienced extreme trauma in their early lives that they still remember clearly. When Lorna’s eldest began reception last year he struggled to settle in.
The family found out about the fund and after initial assessments with a child psychiatrist, they began a year of therapy.
Lorna Sandbach, Adoption Support Fund recipient, said:
It has been life-changing. My daughter is letting us love her in a way she never did. At first, she was terrified, and now she trusts that we will come back for her at the end of the school day. Before, my son would not talk because he didn’t feel confident – but now that’s started to change. He is forming friendships and fitting in.
The 16 projects funded through the Practice and Improvement Fund include three Regional Adoption Agencies, which will develop new Centres of Excellence for adoption support. They will bring together social care, health and education experts to provide a co-ordinated assessment and support offer for families.
These Centres of Excellence will be based in:
The Government is continuing to implement Regional Adoption Agencies (RAAs) across the country, to bring about long-term improvement to the adoption system. There are now three RAAs operating in England – One Adoption West Yorkshire, Aspire Adoption and Adoption Counts.
Notes to editors
Up to £12 million is on offer to UK businesses for projects that support the development of healthcare technologies and processes.
Innovate UK and the Medical Research Council (MRC) are to invest up to £12 million in new and novel healthcare solutions.
There are 2 competitions for UK micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the latest round of the Biomedical Catalyst. These are for feasibility and early stage projects.
We are looking to support the development of innovative healthcare technologies and processes such as:
These are for exploring and testing the commercial potential and feasibility of ideas. Up to £2 million is available.
These are for testing a well-developed concept and showing its effectiveness in a relevant environment. Up to £10 million is available.
The Biomedical Catalyst is a partnership between Innovate UK and the MRC. It aims to support the most innovative life sciences opportunities regardless of the scientific approach. It also wants to de-risk academia and industry being able to take forward innovative scientific ideas.
Secretary of State for Wales Alun Cairns will underline the strong cultural bonds between Wales and Japan at a dinner to mark a milestone anniversary for a Tokyo based business forum.
Clwb Hiraeth was founded in 1982 by senior executives of Japanese corporations who had worked and lived in Wales and had since returned to Japan. The aim was to champion business ties between the two nations.
35 years on and the club has helped to maintain and strengthen not only the business bonds, but the social links between those who formed close friendships in Wales.
Welsh Secretary Alun Cairns is in Japan visiting leading international companies to discuss the great potential for further inward investment in the United Kingdom.
He will mark Clwb Hiraeth’s anniversary at a dinner in Tokyo where he will address the members and reiterate the importance of preserving the business ties between the nations to help secure the future prosperity of both countries.
Japanese companies have given Wales a lasting legacy, not just industrially, but culturally as well.
Japan has never underestimated Wales. It is one of the best places to do business and I know that Clwb Hiraeth has worked tirelessly to ensure other business leaders, universities and communities throughout this country understand just how much Wales has to offer.
I congratulate the club on its 35 years of important service to Japan and Wales. I wish it every success in the years to come as we continue to strengthen the bonds between us.
The first chairman of Clwb Hiraeth was Mr Yamaguchi of Takiron – the first Japanese company to invest in Wales.
Over its 35 year history, members of the club have acted as unofficial ambassadors for Wales. They meet regularly, hold a number of social events, celebrate St David’s Day, and endorse Wales to other potential investors and business people.
Japan’s business ambitions have also been matched by the ambition of its sportsmen on the rugby pitch. Like Wales 20 years before it, the country is readying itself to host the 2019 Rugby World Cup. And while the two countries may often face one another as adversaries on the field of play, Alun Cairns will highlight the affinity each nation has with the game as another key catalyst for many more years of mutually beneficial business.
The strong cultural and sporting links between our two great nations have provided a strong backdrop for a successful and lucrative trade and investment partnership.
Rugby has the ability to define us as a nation and we know that success for the Welsh rugby team has a measurable economic impact. We look forward to seeing the world gather in Japan in 2019 and seeing our sporting, trading and cultural partnerships take deeper root over the years to come.