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Policy options for geographic information from Ordnance Survey.

A consultation paper on the Government's proposal to open up Ordnance Survey's data relating to electoral and local authority boundaries, postcode areas and mid scale mapping information was published on 23 December 2009 by the Department for Communities and Local Government. See links below for full details.
http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/corporate/ordnancesurveyconsultation
http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/corporate/ordnancesurveytia
 

New head of property at Shareholder Executive appointed

John McCready is to head the new Property Unit within the Shareholder Executive. The new Unit will help Government Departments and the Treasury to maximise value from the state’s £370bn property portfolio.
Read full press release below
BIS Press Release - 10 December
 

Prime Minister announces radical plan to protect frontline services by streamlining government

The prime minister today published a radical programme to put the frontline first by streamlining government.

He explained how the programme contained in Putting the Frontline First: smarter government would tackle head-on the challenges and opportunities of the next decade, when the public will expect more accountability and openness and a bigger say in the in the decisions that affect their daily lives.

The proposals build on the Government’s strong track record in delivering efficiencies. We have already promised savings of £35 billion a year by 2011 on top of the £26.5bn a year already delivered through the gershon review.

Read full press release and document below:
Cabinet Office press release - 6 December 2009
Putting the Frontline first: Smarter Government

 

Post Office Banking consultation launched

Business Secretary Lord Mandelson today opened a public consultation on new financial products and services that could be offered by the Post Office.

Lord Mandelson said:

"Growing financial services at the Post Office will help secure the future of the network and give people access to a full range of banking products at an institution they trust and value."

Some of the proposals put forward include: a weekly budgeting account, a current account, a children’s saving account, business accounts, more mortgages and closer links to credit unions.

See the Post Office Banking page for more information.

 

UK Atomic Energy Authority completes sale of its commercial business, UKAEA Limited

The Government today welcomed the completion of the UK Atomic Energy Authority’s £50 million sale of 100% of its commercial arm, UKAEA Limited, to Babcock International Group.

The sale is the first transaction under the Government’s Operational Efficiency Programme, launched last year. The Programme aims to ensure more efficient and commercial operation of assets held by the public sector, including certain businesses. This aspect is being managed by the Shareholder Executive.

The sale was completed on 31 October and followed the announcement of 30 March 2009 that UK Atomic Energy Authority was seeking a buyer for UKAEA Limited. The sale of the business will help to reinforce the UK’s strong heritage in the nuclear industry and provide a platform for the further development of skills in this important marketplace. Read full press release below.
BIS Press Release

 

SHAREHOLDER EXECUTIVE 2008-09 ANNUAL REPORT PUBLISHED

The Shareholder Executive 2008-09 Annual Report was published on 18 September 2009. See the following link for the full report
BIS Press Release 18 September 2009
 

UK ATOMIC ENERGY AUTHORITY ANNOUNCES SALE OF ITS COMMERCIAL BUSINESS, UKAEA LIMITED

The UK Atomic Energy Authority today announced it has reached an agreement with Babcock International Group for the sale of 100% of its commercial arm, UKAEA Limited, for £50.0m. The sale follows the announcement of 30 March 2009 that UK Atomic Energy Authority was seeking a buyer for UKAEA Limited. The sale of the business will help to reinforce the UK’s strong heritage in the nuclear industry and provide a platform for the further development of skills in this important marketplace. The transaction is expected to close by the end of 2009. The sale process follows a strategic review performed by the UK Atomic Energy Authority following passage of the Energy Act 2004. Read full press release below
BIS Press Release 18 September 2009
 

WINNING BIDDERS FOR NDA LAND AUCTION ANNOUNCED

On 29 April 2009 the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority announced the successful conclusion of its auction process for the disposal of land adjacent to three existing nuclear sites at Bradwell in Essex, Oldbury in South Gloucestershire and Wylfa in Anglesey.

This complex process started in March 2008 when the NDA requested expressions of interest for its assets. The NDA project team working with its advisers and the Shareholder Executive developed an innovative solution designed to maximise value which has been completed on schedule. The sale of these three sites is worth up to £387 million which the NDA will use to help fund the cost of decommissioning and further its core mission.
The successful bidders are:

  • Bow Bidco Wylfa Ltd (A consortium consisting of EON UK Plc and RWE Npower Plc) for the 178 hectares (438 acres) of land at Wylfa;
  • Bow Bidco Oldbury Ltd (A consortium consisting of EON UK Plc and RWE Npower Plc) for the 48 hectares (119 acres) of land at Oldbury;
  • EDF Development Company Ltd for the 200 hectares (493 acres) of land at Bradwell.
For full details, see press notices from DECC, NDA and E.ON/RWE.

 

ORDNANCE SURVEY: NEW BUSINESS STRATEGY

A new strategy for Ordnance Survey, the business responsible for the national mapping of Great Britain, was announced in the Budget yesterday. The strategy aims to open up geospatial information for greater use in the economy and society. Further details are given below and the strategy is available for comment at http://strategy.ordnancesurvey.co.uk
ORDNANCE SURVEY: NEW BUSINESS STRATEGY
Latest news from the DCLG

 

OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY PROGRAMME (OEP) FINDINGS PUBLISHED

The findings of the Operational Efficiency Programme (OEP), a year-long programme examining operational spending in the public sector, were published yesterday showing scope for £15 billion of efficiency savings. Read full press release and final report below.
HMT Press Release - 21 April 2009
Operational Efficiency Programme: final report
 

The UK Atomic Energy Authority seeks buyers for its commercial business, UKAEA Limited

The UK Atomic Energy Authority today announced it intends to offer for sale its commercial arm, UKAEA Limited. The UK Atomic Energy Authority is wholly owned by the UK Government.
UKAEA Press Release - 30 March 2009 (doc)

 

GOVERNMENT TO SECURE FUTURE OF POSTAL SERVICE

On Thursday 26 February, the Government published a Bill and detailed policy statement to secure the future of a successful publicly-owned Royal Mail.

The Bill keeps the Post Office wholly in Government ownership, while allowing for a strategic partner to bring experience and investment to transform the Royal Mail, with the Government taking on its pension deficit.

Read full press release, which includes the detailed policy statement and the final report of the Hooper Review published in December 2008.
BIS Press Release - 26 February 2009

 

NEW COMPANY TO MANAGE GOVERNMENT'S SHAREHOLDING IN BANKS

Arrangements for managing the Government's shareholding in banks subscribing to its recapitalisation fund were announced yesterday by Chancellor of the Exchequer, Alistair Darling. The Government's investments will be managed on a commercial basis by a new arm's-length company, 'UK Financial Investments Limited' (UKFI), which is wholly owned by the Government. Its overarching objectives will be to protect and create value for the taxpayer as shareholder, with due regard to financial stability and acting in a way that promotes competition. Read full press release below.
Treasury Press Notice

 

GOVERNMENT SELLS ITS STAKE IN BRITISH ENERGY

The Government today welcomed EDF's proposed £12.5 billion takeover offer for British Energy Group plc (British Energy) and the British Energy Board's recommendation of the offer to its shareholders. The Government has committed to accept the cash offer of 774p per share for its 36 per cent stake held by the Nuclear Liabilities Fund (NLF), subject to certain conditions. Read full press release below.
BIS Press Release

 

MOD SELLS ITS STAKE IN QINETIQ

On 9 September 2008, the MOD announced the successful completion of the sale of its remaining stake in QinetiQ. See the MoD press notice for more details.
MOD Press Release

 

TRADING FUNDS ASSESSMENT DETAILS ANNOUNCED

Further details of a Government assessment into trading funds were announced today (25 June) by the Department for Business and the Treasury. The review, announced as part of Budget 2008, will be conducted by the Shareholder Executive and will consider the benefits to the wider UK economy from any potential changes to the trading funds’ business model.
Read full Press Notice
Terms of reference for the Trading Fund Assessment to be carried out by Shareholder Executive/HMT

 

NEW CHAIR TO THE NUCLEAR DECOMMISSIONING AUTHORITY (NDA)

Business Secretary John Hutton today (21 February 2008) announced the appointment of Stephen Henwood as the new Chair of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA). The appointment will take effect from 1 March 2008.
See the Press Notice for more details

 

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