Other UK News In Brief

Government Supports More Efficient Dispute Resolution

The Government has signed the first Dispute Resolution Commitment (DRC), which requires all departments and agencies to use mediation, arbitration and conciliation wherever possible before taking disputes to court. The move is part of the Government's drive to use better, quicker and more efficient ways of resolving legal disputes. The DRC will build on this and save further time, money and stress for everyone involved by reducing their legal and court costs, and in turn reducing the number of cases unnecessarily clogging up the courts. Justice Minister Jonathan Djanogly said: “I believe that government should be leading by example by resolving issues away from court using alternatives which are usually quicker, cheaper and provide better outcomes. We want people to see court as a last resort rather than a first option, and cut down on the amount of unnecessary, expensive, painful and confrontational litigation in our society. In many cases methods like mediation are simply a common sense solution which benefits everyone involved. Although they will not be suitable in every case, they are already saving taxpayers millions every year and can save much more.” The DRC will renew and strengthen the Alternative Dispute Resolution Pledge made by Government in 2001. Making more use of the wide range of options available to resolve disputes has already saved taxpayers an estimated £360 million over the last decade.

Film Policy Review Opens

The Film Policy Review panel has today opened a detailed independent survey to collect views on where film policy needs to be changed, to better support the UK film sector. Chaired by former Culture Secretary Lord Chris Smith, the review panel is made up of eight members with each leading on a specific aspect of film policy. “We want to hear from everyone involved in UK films,” said Lord Smith. “Film-makers, distributors, audiences and experts can all offer a useful perspective on how Government policy can help our film industry grow.” Objectives of the Review include: Identifying obstacles preventing the British film industry being more successful; Determining how best to set policy directions for the increased Lottery funding; Identifying ways to develop and retain UK talent: and increasing audience demand for film, including independent British film. The Review is expected to report to Creative industries Minister Ed Vaizey by the end of the year.

Britain Signs Groundbreaking International Wildlife Treaty

Britain has signed an international treaty that will create new incentives to protect wildlife while providing developing countries with better opportunities to benefit from their own natural environments. Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman said: “This agreement heralds a better deal for developing countries blessed with rich ecosystems and could pave the way for exciting, new medicinal and genetic innovations. We fought hard for a fair deal at Nagoya and we’ll shortly outline how to meet our international commitments at home through the England Biodiversity Strategy.” The Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit Sharing establishes a regime under which developing countries will allow access to their genetic resources in return for a share of the benefits for their use. It forms part of a ten-year plan aimed at preserving nature agreed by world Governments in October 2010 at the Nagoya biodiversity summit. The Protocol will enter into force 90 days after it is ratified by fifty countries. Twenty-four countries have signed to date and it is anticipated that the Protocol will enter into force before the eleventh meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, in Hyderabad in October 2012. No Party has yet ratified. The United Kingdom joined seven other European Union countries and the European Commission in signing the Protocol.

(BMcN)