Health, Social Security and Housing Scrutiny Panel

Work programme 2008

Committed reviews:

(i) Telephone Masts (finalising). Collating progress against recommendations, to liaise with Planning, Health and JCRA to produce collaborative statement, agree possible additional recommendations; monitor launch of website.

(ii) Income Support. To receive and respond to public concerns following IS implementation, liaise with Department; to prepare interim report mid-year, main report in October.

(iii) New Directions. Department finally confirmed proposals January 2008 following appointment of new Minister and internal review. Ongoing adviser selection process for LTC immediately extended to include New Directions. Candidates short-listed and interviews took place in London February 2008. Appointment confirmed and contract signed beginning March.

(iv) Long Term Care. Review proposed October 2007 in view of delay with New Directions. Discussions with Departmental officers indicated support for possible review. Initial research initiated, scoping carried out. Potential advisers identified and contacted December 2007. Tenders received mid-January 2008. Selection process completed and interviews carried out (combined with resurrected New Directions review) February 2008. Appointments and contracts in place beginning March 2008.

Previously agreed reviews:

(i) Review of Social Housing (intended to follow progress of internal Departmental review, whose reporting date has now been now put back until 2009). A Sub-Panel response to the Planning Minister’s consultation report on rezoning land for life-long homes for the over 55s and first time buyers was released in February 2008.

Potential topics for 2008:

(i) Housing – a possible short report on housing market activity by sectors. Proposal to collect robust evidence for volume and nature of activity in market sectors causing concern to public and States members, notably share transfer, ‘J’ category and buy-to-let investment transactions.

(ii) Health – a possible report on dental treatment and related issues – to respond to increasing public concern about the costs of treatment and to investigate the negative health outcomes arising from members of the public being unable or unwilling to afford necessary dental work.