Falklands : Stanley Retail Price Index Review
Submitted by Falkland Islands News Network (Juanita Brock) 25.07.2010 (Article Archived on 08.08.2010)
The policy Unity of the Falkland Islands Government has launched a review of the Stanley Retail Price Index is planned to begin on 1 September 2010 and run until the end of August 2011.
Stanley Retail Price Index Review
Starting 1 September 2010
A review of the Stanley Retail Price Index is planned to begin on 1 September 2010 and run until the end of August 2011.
Representative households will be randomly selected and contacted during July, with the aim of obtaining 150 households in Stanley to record their daily household expenditure for four months in the year (and larger purchases over the complete year). They will be provided with specially prepared forms or computer data entry spreadsheets for those households with computers, to simplify the process. This information will be used to compile an up-to-date Retail Price Index for Stanley. An incentive payment will be available for participating households.
The review is being carried out because the current index, which is based on a review undertaken in 1996-97, may no longer accurately reflect what the average Stanley resident buys on a day-to-day basis. At the last revision, services such as broadband and mobile phones were not available. In addition, the range of goods available, the buying patterns and the structure of the population have altered since then.
Ensuring the index is as accurate as possible is important, particularly as it is used as a basis for cost of living wage and charge increases.
Synergy Information Systems Limited, which undertook the previous survey and regularly monitors the current index, has been commissioned to carry out the review on behalf of the Government. The identity of the volunteers and the information on their expenditure will be confidential. The participation of a wide range of people will be important to ensuring the success of the project so that the new index accurately reflects the cost of items purchased by typical Stanley residents.
Please contact Michael Poole in the FIG Policy Unit (28427) or Nikki Buxton at Synergy Information Systems (22051) for more information.
Stanley Retail Price Index Review
Starting 1 September 2010
A review of the Stanley Retail Price Index is planned to begin on 1 September 2010 and run until the end of August 2011.
Representative households will be randomly selected and contacted during July, with the aim of obtaining 150 households in Stanley to record their daily household expenditure for four months in the year (and larger purchases over the complete year). They will be provided with specially prepared forms or computer data entry spreadsheets for those households with computers, to simplify the process. This information will be used to compile an up-to-date Retail Price Index for Stanley. An incentive payment will be available for participating households.
The review is being carried out because the current index, which is based on a review undertaken in 1996-97, may no longer accurately reflect what the average Stanley resident buys on a day-to-day basis. At the last revision, services such as broadband and mobile phones were not available. In addition, the range of goods available, the buying patterns and the structure of the population have altered since then.
Ensuring the index is as accurate as possible is important, particularly as it is used as a basis for cost of living wage and charge increases.
Synergy Information Systems Limited, which undertook the previous survey and regularly monitors the current index, has been commissioned to carry out the review on behalf of the Government. The identity of the volunteers and the information on their expenditure will be confidential. The participation of a wide range of people will be important to ensuring the success of the project so that the new index accurately reflects the cost of items purchased by typical Stanley residents.
Please contact Michael Poole in the FIG Policy Unit (28427) or Nikki Buxton at Synergy Information Systems (22051) for more information.
On 21st June a small panel was established to look into the allegations made in a letter to the Independent that was published on Friday 11th June. That panel comprised Miss Jenny Corker MBE J.P. in the Chair, Councillor Bernice Olsson, Mr Graham Sim OBE, and Mrs Carol George. The purpose of the panel was “To produce as accurately as possible a time-lined record of what actually happened during the treatment of Lisa.”
The panel’s report, signed by all four members has been completed and has been studied by all Councillors. We have agreed that although in its present form the report provides the time-lined record sought, the panel rightly felt itself unable to pass comment on any medical issues.
Councillors also are well aware that the report dealt only with a narrow subject, and in view of the broader issue of confidence in the health service they have agreed that the following actions are taken:
All the papers relating to the incident, including the medical files, will now be forwarded to an appropriate external independent medical expert, who will provide us with a view of the medical side of the case. When the final report is received it will be discussed by Councillors and a further statement made.
We will be devising and instituting a proper complaints procedure in the hospital that will be operational by 1st November. It is planned that all government departments dealing with the public will have such procedures by April 1st2011. In the meantime we will be initiating an interim procedure in the health sector as soon as possible and that will be the subject of a separate press statement.
On the wider issue of the suitability of our health sector in terms of the assets and skills that are deployed and whether expectations are being set too high, we believe that a regular external audit regime should be put in place as happens in other spheres within SHG. We will be considering how this can be achieved and what the cost implications are before bringing it to Council.
I must thank the members of the panel for their diligent and useful work, as well as all the hospital staff who have been totally cooperative throughout.
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