Local Government employers and unions have both welcomed the news of further financial support from the Government for English local authorities to help them resolve disputes over equal pay for council workers. The Local Government Minister, John Healey, said the authorities would get support next year to help manage the cost of implementing equal pay arrangements. 

The Government will be warned today that the living standards of millions of severely disabled people could fall if proposals in the Wanless Review of the future of social care are adopted. Researchers at the Universities of Essex and East Anglia will tell the Minister for Care Services, Ivan Lewis, to look at the impact of the proposals.
The Review recommends replacing some of the benefits currently paid directly to disabled people with increased funding of the care system. 

This guidance explains how third sector organizations and the roles they play will be incorporated into the new local performance framework. It also describes how the third sector contribution to supporting better outcomes will be recognized in the Comprehensive Area Assessment which will be introduced in April 2008.