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Policy and Intelligence Newsletter - 4 May, 2021

The articles below have been drawn together by the policy and analytical community within the Council. Information is correct at the time of writing, 12:00 pm on 29 April. 

Covid-19 

  • As of 28 April, a total of 14,208 people in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly have tested positive for Covid-19. A total of 469 people in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly have died within 28 days of a positive test for Covid-19. (Statistics provided by Public Health England.) 
  • The Government has announced that enough vaccine doses have been procured to begin a booster programme later this year, to help protect against new variants of Covid-19
  • 98% of people in the UK aged 70 to 84 now have Covid-19 antibodies.

Digital

  • Research by Ofcom has found that the proportion of UK homes without internet access fell from 11% at the start of the pandemic to 6% in March 2021. 1.5 million homes are still not connected. 20% of children did not have access to a suitable device for home learning over the last year, with 3% unable to do any schoolwork due to not having a device.

Economy

  • The UK economy is reportedly likely to see its strongest annual growth in several decades, with a predicted GDP expansion of 6.8%-7.8% this year.
  • The largest UK supporter of food banks, the Trussell Trust, has distributed a record 2.5 million food parcels over the last year: a 33% rise on the previous year and 128% higher than in 2015/16. Almost 1 million of the food parcels distributed over the last year went to children, a 36% rise on the previous year and 135% higher than in 2015/16.

Education and children

  • A £200 million in-person summer schools programme for secondary schools will be rolled out across the UK this year, with a recommended focus on incoming year 7 pupils: although it will be up to individual schools who attends.
  • A report from the Child Poverty Action Group has highlighted some of the persistent support gaps that exist for children and families affected by the pandemic. These include the loss of entitlement due to disability assessment delays; the treatment of earnings in universal credit; and problems experienced by families without a National Insurance number.  

Environment

  • The Government has announced there will be a new legally-binding target of a 78% reduction in carbon emissions (compared to levels in 1990) by 2035. The new target incorporates the UK’s share of international aviation and shipping emissions.

Housing

  • The charity Centrepoint has published a report on youth homelessness. Centrepoint received 33% more calls to its helpline since March 2020. In FY 2019/2020, 121,000 young people sought help because they were homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. Just 40% had their homelessness successfully prevented or relieved.
  • The Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government has reported on the condition of housing in England. The number of private renters living in overcrowded homes doubled in November and December 2020, compared to 2019. Over one in seven private renters experience overcrowding, in contrast with one in 50 homeowners.

Tourism

  • A pilot project, using cloud-penetrating satellite systems to produce live updates on congestion at tourism hotspots, will launch in Cornwall, the Lake District and Northern Ireland next year.

Consultations 

  • Ofqual is seeking views on proposed guidance relating to reviews and appeals for GCSEs, AS, A levels and some vocational/technical qualifications for 2021. Deadline: 5 May.
  • The Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights is seeking views on the human rights implications of the new Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill. Deadline: 14 May.
  • The Department for Education is consulting on the operating framework for flexi-job apprenticeships as a way to increase the number of apprentices in sectors where short-term or project-based contracts are typical. Deadline: 1 June.
  • The Parliamentary Science and Technology Committee is holding an inquiry into a new UK Space Strategy and UK Satellite Infrastructure, and is asking for written evidence from interested parties. Deadline: 23 June.
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