BACHO / SHUTTERSTOCK News LGA launches investigation into trading standards future Fifth of tested retailers sell cigarettes to kids Smaller grocery stores, newsagents and petrol stations are most likely to sell tobacco products to under-18s, a testpurchase operation, coordinated by CTSI, has found. CTSIs Enhancing Local Tobacco Control report was commissioned by the Department of Healths tobacco policy team and includes details of 352 test purchases across nine regions in England. While most retailers complied with the law, almost one in five businesses illegally sold cigarettes to children. Commenting on the report which looks at the harm caused by underage tobacco sales, and the work being done to prevent it CTSI chief executive Leon Livermore, said: More than 200,000 children aged 11 to 15 start smoking each year Trading standards plays a front-line role in preventing children from obtaining cigarettes and developing a habit that is detrimental to their health and a costly burden to the health service. ADISA / SHUTTERSTOCK The Local Government Association (LGA) has launched its own investigation into the future of trading standards, following the publication of CTSIs new vision for the profession. CTSI has argued that, after signicant cuts to trading standards, the current delivery model is broken. Its vision called for the creation of strategic trading standards authorities, potentially to operate outside of existing local government structures. The LGA, however, has said that while it recognises some of the challenges outlined by CTSI it believes the starting point for this type of discussion must be the services activities and the outcomes they contribute to, rather than structures. Its investigation aims to: G Analyse what local government needs from its trading standards service, with reference to the current state of the service in England and what it can practicably be expected to deliver in the context of further funding reductions G Explore and assess the options for the future of the service, with a view to outlining a series of recommended next steps to explore and take forward The report will develop a comprehensive picture of the current state of the service, in terms of statutory duties, service activities, resourcing and structures, and the key outcomes this supports. It will also seek the views of councillors and senior local government managers on what authorities need from its trading standards services. The project will run concurrently with the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BISs) review of how trading standards contributes to competition policy and better regulation which was announced in the governments productivity plan in July. It is anticipated that the conclusions from the LGA and BIS reviews will be brought together at an appropriate point in the work. The LGA expects to publish a nal report summarising the discussions, outcomes and any planned further activity on the issue. To submit information or views, or to nd out more about this piece of work, contact project lead Ellie Greenwood on ellie.greenwood@local.gov.uk Peer makes move to protect NHS Car dealers ran 100,000 scam Two West Sussex rogue car dealers have been sent to prison for running a 100,000 scam, after one of the biggest trading standards investigations of recent years run by West Sussex Trading Standards, with National Trading Standards support. Lucien Munn, 52, of Copthorne, was sentenced to three years, and Linda Atrell, 48, of East Grinstead, was given a 21-month sentence by a judge at Hove Crown Court in July. Both were previously convicted at Brighton Crown Court of charges under the Fraud Act, the Forgery and Counterfeiting Act 1981 and the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008. Under a range of trading names using classifieds ads publications AutoTrader and Gumtree the pair had been advertising and selling hundreds of cars written off by insurance companies. To carry out the scam, they falsified service histories and deliberately gave customers the impression that they were dealing with a private seller. An amendment to the Cities & Local Government Devolution Bill could stop the transfer of regulatory or supervisory health functions from national bodies to combined authorities or other public bodies. Moved by former Labour health minister, Lord Warner, during a House of Lords debate, the amendment would prevent the transfer of such functions from national NHS bodies such as Monitor the regulator for health services in England and the Care Quality Commission, which is the independent regulator of all health and social care services in England. During the third reading of the devolution bill in the upper house, Lord Warner said: The bill was never designed for the devolution of NHS functions. It is a bill for devolving, essentially, local government functions away from central government. It is not designed for devolving functions from a 67-year-old, iconic National Health Service, with a large number of statutory duties placed on a minister, supported by a bevy of national bodies and requirements, and strong public expectations of adherence to national standards and rules. Warner said he believes his amendment goes further than two other amendments introduced by the government to address safeguarding concerns. He added: The bill needs an override provision such as this if the essentially national character of the NHS is not to be lost. During the debate, Baroness Walmsley said that, despite amendments three and four being introduced, many concerns still remained about accountability, information service standards and supervision. The bill will now go to the House of Commons for its consideration.