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"Any time, any place, any way"
Author: Reform
Publication date: August 2009
The report calls for investment in value for money infrastructure projects such as increasing the length of trains, allowing cars to use the hard shoulder on motorways and basing new aviation infrastructure at existing sites rather than new builds. The report also calls for the abolition of various transport regulators such as the Office of Rail Regulation, the Civil Aviation Authority and the Highways Agency.
"Re-energizing Britain - Promoting investment in our energy future" (PDF)
Author: Nigel Hawkins
Publication Date: August 2009
The report calls for the Government to be pro-active in securing planning approvals and the necesary funding for the construction of new nuclear power stations. The report argues for greater diversification of fuel sources and suppliers given the expected dependence on Russian gas supplies in the next few decades.
"On the Wrong Track - the impact of European Union legislation on Britain's railways" (PDF)
Author: John Petley
Publication date: August 2009
The paper contends that there is an ever-increasing volume of legislation emanating from Brussels in relation to the operation of railways. The author argues that this legislation is being used to undermine nation state railway operations and is another reason why the UK should withdraw from the EU.
"Taxpayer Funded Lobbying and Political Campaigning"(PDF)
Author: Matthew Sinclair
Publication date: August 2009
This report exposes the £37million of taxpayers' money which was spent on funding lobbying and political campaigning in 2007-8. This amount is spent by both national and local government and think tanks and public affairs companies have been among the beneficiaries. Whilst this is an unnecessary waste of taxpayers' money, the author also criticises the fact that people are being forced to pay for views they may seriously disagree with. The report also claims that this money is designed to distort decision making in favour of the interests and ideological pre-occupations of a narrow elite. A future Conservative Government has pledged to scrap this funding and in the eyes of the author of this report such a move can't come soon enough.
"The Case Against Boosting MPs Pay"(PDF)
Author: The Taxpayers' Alliance
Publication date: August 2009
This report rebuts the commonly held view that the recent scandal over parliamentary allowances to MPs is caused by their basic salary remaining low. The report suggests that even taking into account the basic salary for a backbench MP they receive a wage which puts them in the top 3% of earners in the UK. Furthermore the report notes that many MPs who hold frontbench positions receive considerably more than this and the report details the generous pension arrangements and the golden farewells which MPs are entitled to. It is also reported that UK MPs receive a higher basic salary than MPs in all EU countries with the exception of Austria, Ireland and Italy.
"Lasting Change or Passing Fad? Problem Solving Justice in England and Wales"(PDF)
Authors: Greg Berman, Aubrey Fox and Ben Ullmann (Editor)
Publication date: 21 August 2009
This paper looks at the US concept of "problem-solving justice" and whether it can be effectively transposed in the UK. Consideration is given to its likely impact on the rights of victims of crime, the behaviour of offenders and improving public safety.
"Educating Rita - a model to address inadequate state support for part-time students" (PDF)
Authors: Anna Fazackerley, Professor Claire Callendar, Julian Chant and David Wilkinson
Publication date: 18 August 2009
The report calls for a better financial settlement for the third of undergraduates who are part-time students. The authors are critical of the fact that part-time students have to pay their fees upfront and 90% receive no financial help from the Government in contrast to full-time students. The report makes the point that if part-time students did receive some financial support then some full-time students might be persuaded to go part-time and have a job as well thus helping the economy. The report recommends bringing part-time students' eligibility for a partial tuition fee grant into line with full-time students and syphoning off funding from the Government's £150million University Challenge scheme.
"School quangos - A blueprint for abolition and reform" (PDF)
Authors: Tom Burkard and Sam Talbot Rice
Publication date: 13 August 2009
The report analyses the role of the leading quangos associated with education and details how the functions of these quangos can either be abolished, or transferred to the Department of Children,Schools and Families, or moved out of state ownership. The report calls for the abolition of the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority and the Training and Development Agency.
"The Rise of China" (PDF)
Author: Rosalba Junginger
Publication date: 4 August 2009
The report discusses the success of China's economy and contrasts it with the failure of the Chinese Government to enact significant political reforms and their poor human rights record. The report warns of an increasing anti-American sentiment among radical nationalists in China who are blaming the US for the global financial crisis and the potential for disorder to arise as a result.
"Benefit simplification - how and why it must be done" (PDF)
Author: David Martin
Publication date: 3 August 2009
The report calls for an integrated system of administering benefits to remove complexity and inefficiency in the benefits system. The author argues that creating a single agency to administer benefits will assist those who are genuinely entitled to receive benefits by increasing transparency and reduce the scope for benefit fraud.
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