Policy Announcements, Tuesday 27 March

Government  

• Ed Miliband, Minister for the Third Sector, today launched the Government's search for a partner to deliver a new £1.2m Innovation Exchange - a programme to support the third sector's capacity to innovate. The Innovation Exchange programme - being put out to tender today by the Office of the Third Sector (OTS) in the Cabinet Office - aims to provide third sector innovators with access to the people and potential capital they need to make their ideas a reality.  
• Secretary of State for Work and Pensions John Hutton today announced a comprehensive review of the health of the working age population, assessing current health levels and providing a benchmark against which to measure future workplace health improvements.  

Liberal Democrats  

• The Lib Dems launched a parliamentary campaign to extend the right to request flexible working to all parents with children under the age of 18. An online petition has been launched, and an Early Day Motion tabled in Parliament. Liberal Democrat Women and Small Business Spokesperson, Lorely Burt MP's ****Flexible Working Bill will also receive its First Reading in the House of Commons on Tuesday. Currently, parents can only request to work flexible hours if their youngest child is under the age of six. The Liberal Democrats propose raising this age to 18.