Print magazine: December 2008

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  Is 'serious' enough?

  ‘A serious man for serious times’ has been Gordon Brown’s rallying cry in recent weeks as he focuses all of his energies on the slowing economy. He will very soon need to show that he sees the broader picture, says John Curtice

  Ask the wrong question and you won't get the right answer

  The present inquiries into the death of Baby P will leave us no wiser than those into the death of Victoria Climbie eight years ago believes Eileen Munro. Can we start asking the right questions?

  With Hutton in charge, what now for defence?

  The appointment of John Hutton to defence and a strengthened ministerial team at the MoD together suggest that Brown is taking defence seriously, says John Gearson. What are his plans for Britain’s armed forces?

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  A Net loss we just can't afford

  The Data Sharing Review which reported in the summer has not been properly thought through, says Alexander Howard, and some of its recommendations would be damaging to Internet users and to commerce

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  Yes, we can weather the storm

  Responsible business is successful business, believes Peter Mandelson. He outlines a model of government and business cooperation in tough times to ensure that corporate responsibility and its benefits are not the casualty of recession.

  Is Corporate Responsibility still relevant?

  Corporate responsibility delivers improved performance in both the short and the long term, believes Stephen Howard — and presents the evidence.

  A game of trust

  Corporate responsibility is for Camelot not an optional add-on but rather the core of its business, commercial director Martin Pugh tells editor Roderick Crawford

  A lack of insight

  Imagine if the bailed-out banks had been able to better understand how they were creating wealth. Good sustainability reporting would have allowed them to do just that, says Patrick Mallon

  Business integrity does not need more red tape

  Jonathan Djanogly believes that CR must be a key building block in economic recovery, and that too much legislation hampers CR rather than promotes it.

  Speaking with one voice

  There is a new consensus between Labour and the Conservatives on corporate responsibility, believes Mallen Baker, and this is in large part the result of business taking the lead and bringing government with them.

  These unsung heroes of CSR do not need more regulation

  SMEs are an overlooked but vitally important sector when it comes to responsible business, says Roger Barker, and government must encourage them by keeping regulatory requirements to a minimum.

  Britain needs talent

  It has never been so important to develop the skills and talent of UK plc, and businesses that do not invest in training are more likely to fail, says Graham Bann — so we need to rise to the 'talent challenge'.

  Business as usual

  Boots has always been a pioneer of UK corporate responsibility. Now, thanks to its merger with Alliance UniChem, it has been able to take its tried-and-tested process worldwide, discovers Roderick Crawford

  Sustainability will drive our recovery

  If corporate responsibility and sustainibilty become embedded in a company across its personnel, rather than grafted on, they offer tangible benefits that make them a potential driver of recovery, believes David Grayson.

  We waste not, they want not

  Sustainable development is regarded as a lifestyle choice by many in the UK. But the decisions we make each day add up to a profound impact on the world’s least developed nations

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  UK auto: it’s time to go green

  If the recession is not too deep and regulations are put in place for the 'greening' of the car industry, the car industry will survive the crisis, says David Bailey

  The right answer for water might lie in Scotland

  Competition is poised to bring benefits to water customers, but the approaches being taken north and south of the border are very different, as Steve Hobson explains

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