More money is being made available to improve planning services in Wales. It will include some funding for a small number of bursaries for future planners. The announcement comes just days after a committee of Westminster MPs said shortages of staff and of skills
meant planning authorities might struggle to meet Government targets on regeneration and building new homes.

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Fire and Rescue Authorities across the country are being invited to bid for a share of 130 million pounds being made available for Private Finance Initiative schemes. The PFI credits are intended to be used for long-term projects such as new fire stations or updating vehicle fleets.

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A charity has raised fears that plans to scrap Incapacity Benefit and Income Support will lead to “serious anxiety” for carers. Carers UK is concerned about the measures set out in the ‘No one written off: reforming the welfare state to reward responsibility’ Green Paper in spite of Government claims that no carers will be worse off under the proposals.

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The charity, the Disabled Living Foundation, has been named as one of the bodies chosen to try out a scheme designed to ensure good quality information is available across the health and social care sectors. Forty organisations have been selected from more than 120 applications to pilot the information accreditation scheme for the Department of Health.

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