This Library Note provides an overview of the main arguments of the ResPublica report and provides broad context to some of the issues and themes raised in it.
Debate on 21 November: ResPublica Report 'Holistic Missions Social Action and the Church of England' (379 KB , PDF)
This report sets out the case for the Church of England to play an enlarged role in civil society as an enabler of holistic, inter-personalised, localised social action. This Library Note provides background reading in advance of the debate on the report. It presents an overview of the main arguments of the ResPublica report and provides broad context to some of the issues and themes raised in it. The Note sets out background to the Government’s Big Society agenda and then considers its view of faith groups, their role in civil society and their potential as providers of public services. The Note then discusses the Church of England in relation to the Big Society agenda and concludes with some further issues raised by commentators about faith groups’ role as public services providers.
Debate on 21 November: ResPublica Report 'Holistic Missions Social Action and the Church of England' (379 KB , PDF)
The government recently announced an independent review of physician and anaesthesia associates to be led by Professor Gillian Leng. This announcement followed a debate about the use of the roles in the NHS and concerns raised by some stakeholders about patient safety. The review has been widely welcomed by stakeholders as a way to move the debate forward.
The importance of social cohesion and strong communities has often been discussed in the context of international events which have increased tensions between groups in the UK. This briefing examines what is meant by social cohesion, provides an overview of recent reports on social cohesion and communities, and sets out recent government statements on its policies to address concerns about social cohesion.
Reported retail crime has increased significantly in recent years. This criminal activity, encompassing offences such as shoplifting and assaults on retail workers, has impacted businesses, their employees and local economies. The government has outlined plans to tackle retail crime in response to this issue. This includes legislating to create a new specific offence of assaulting a retail worker and to remove the threshold on so-called “low-value” shoplifting offences.
