Policy Announcements, Thursday 21 June

Government

• Hotchpotch of business support schemes to be simplified, says DTI Radically simplifying the number of business support schemes from 3000-plus to well under 100 is at the centre of new proposals to help small business announced by Small Business Minister Margaret Hodge today. The proposals will address the wide concern among small firms who frequently tell Government they are confused by the array of business support schemes currently available. They are to be worked up closely with business during a 12-week consultation period which will also draw on the views of Regional Development Agencies (RDAs), local authorities, chambers of commerce and others.
• The Cabinet Office is today launching its public sector better regulation strategy, which aims to identify and reduce the bureaucratic burden on the front line. The aim is to find practical ways to lessen the main administrative and regulatory burdens on the front line, without creating more bureaucracy in order to do so.   Transport Secretary Douglas Alexander underlined the Government's commitment to sustainable biofuels today, as he launched a consultation on an environmental reporting system for this type of fuel and a package of measures to complement the reporting requirement. The consultation is a key part of work on the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO), which means that by 2010, 5% of all the fuel sold on UK forecourts should come from biofuels. This is expected to save 1 million tones of carbon a year, the equivalent of taking 1 million cars off the road.  
• The government has unveiled a £305m package aimed at improving the prospects of children in care. Education secretary Alan Johnson and children's minister Beverley Hughes announced that big businesses will provide funding to give looked after children private tutors, apprenticeships and management training. The four-year package includes a separate annual education budget of £500 per child to prevent children falling behind and a £2,000 university bursary. Their education will be overseen by a "virtual school head" who will work with teachers and local authorities to monitor progress.