SPADS - Last day of Parliament

[darmstadt]

Lots of little things put out today so that people won't notice them and will have been forgotten by the time Parliament reconvenes...

A Government data release of all taxpayer-funded special advisers were also published and it showed that the bill for the Government’s team of 96 spin doctors had hit £8.4m.

A third of those special advisers, known as spads, are employed by Mr Cameron, with his director of communications Craig Oliver earning £140,000 – just £2,500 less than the Prime Minister.

This is an increase of six spads since May’s General Election.

The statement also revealed that George Osborne employs 10 spads – five times more than usual for heads of departments.

[darmstadt]

You gotta pay more to go to court:

The Ministry of Justice today sneaked out the news that they are to increase a whole range of court fees. Among the rises is a 10% hike in civil court fees as well as the introduction of a range of new charges in parts of the court system which were previously not charged.

[darmstadt]

A 15% cut in the Dedicated Schools Grant

Today I am announcing details of school revenue funding for 2016 to 2017. My announcement includes the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) the Education Services Grant (ESG) and the Pupil Premium.
The distribution of the DSG to local authorities will continue to be set out in three spending blocks for each authority: a schools block, a high needs block and an early years block.
The schools block has been allocated on the basis of the schools block units of funding announced in my statement to the House on 16 July 2016. To protect schools from significant budget reductions, we will continue with a minimum funding guarantee that ensures no school sees more than a 1.5% per pupil reduction in its 2016-17 budget (excluding sixth form funding and ESG) compared to 2015-16, and before the Pupil Premium is added.
We have been able to provide an additional £92.5 million for the DSG high needs block. The high needs block supports provision for pupils and students with SEN and disabilities (SEND), from their early years to age 25, and alternative provision for pupils who cannot receive their education in schools.
The DSG early years block comprises funding for the 15 hour entitlement for 3 and 4 year olds; participation funding for 2 years old from the most disadvantaged backgrounds; and the early years pupil premium. The rates per child for this block will be maintained at their 2015-2016 level.
The ESG retained duties rate will remain at £15 per pupil. We have applied an efficiency saving to the ESG general funding rate for 2016 to 2017, and the rate will reduce from £87 per pupil to £77 per pupil. We will continue to provide a protection to limit the reduction of academies’ budgets as a result of changes to the ESG.

[darmstadt]

All 36 of them:

Written statements - UK Parliament

[BrilloPad]

All 36 of them:

Written statements - UK Parliament

23. Lube tax to be increased 100% for contractors.

[Zero Liability]

Not surprised about the courts one, they've been complaining that they're "over-burdened" for years on end.

[darmstadt]

Mind you, you can call these people Spad if you ever met one

[Zero Liability]

Only one double-barrelled surname. Whatever is the world coming to...

[pjclarke]

Osborne gives political adviser 42% rise amid public sector pay freeze | Politics | The Guardian

[vetran]

Not surprised about the courts one, they've been showing that they are completely disorganised and pissing away money for years.

FTFY