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Business Standard
3 days ago
- Business
- Business Standard
Banks' supervisory data quality index improved in March 2025, says RBI
RBI reports sDQI for scheduled commercial banks improved to 89.3 in March 2025; small finance banks scored above 90, reflecting higher data accuracy and compliance BS Reporter The Supervisory Data Quality Index (sDQI) of scheduled commercial banks (SCBs) improved to 89.3 in March 2025 from 86.8 in March 2024, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) said on Wednesday. The sDQI measures data quality in terms of accuracy, timeliness, completeness, and consistency in the submission of regulatory returns by banks. According to the RBI, a score between 80 and 90 is considered 'acceptable', while a score between 70 and 80 indicates that improvement is required. Any score below 70 is deemed 'not acceptable', and a score above 90 is considered 'good'. In March 2025, state-owned banks, private sector banks, and foreign banks recorded sDQI scores in the '80–90' range, whereas small finance banks reported scores above 90, placing them in the 'good' category. The sDQI for SCBs covers 87 banks and assesses the quality of key regulatory returns, including: * Return on Asset-Liability and Off-Balance Sheet Exposures (ALE) * Return on Asset Quality (RAQ) * Return on Operating Results (ROR) * Risk-Based Supervision Return (RBS) * Liquidity Return (LR) * Return on Capital Adequacy (RCA)
Scoop
13-06-2025
- Health
- Scoop
Experts Warn Regulatory Standards Bill Threatens Future Public Health Laws
Article – RNZ One of the experts said it would have a 'chilling effect' on public health measures. , Reporter Public health experts are worried the government's proposed Regulatory Standards Bill will act as a disincentive for future law-makers to limit harmful industries. A group of scholars in health and policy have worked together on a briefing, titled 'Regulatory Standards Bill threatens the public interest, public health and Māori rights'. It's authors are Jonathan Boston, Michael Baker, Andrew Geddis, Carwyn Jones and Geoffrey Palmer. The Regulatory Standards Bill was introduced to Parliament in May, and is now being considered by the finance and expenditure committee. It would set up a Regulatory Standards Board to consider how legislation measures up to the principles. It was part of ACT's coalition agreement, and in putting the bill forward, party leader David Seymour said: 'In a high-cost economy, regulation isn't neutral – it's a tax on growth. This government is committed to clearing the path of needless regulations by improving how laws are made.' The bill wants politicians to show their workings, he said. 'This bill turns the explanation from politicians' 'because we said so' into 'because here is the justification according to a set of principles'.' But Baker said the bill had prompted a large number of concerns, not least from a public health perspective. He said it was problematic that the bill failed to mention public harm in its ethical framework, which was needed to balance out private benefits. Another issue was the 'takings or impairment principle'. The bill in its current form would allow commercial interests, such as the tobacco or alcohol industries, to seek compensation – paid with public money – if any future legislation caused them to lose money. Baker explained this would have a 'chilling effect' on public health measures. He said it would make it less appealing for governments to create any new legislation aimed at protecting public health which could negatively impact harmful industries, which might then seek compensation. This could include the denicotinisation of cigarettes, alcohol restrictions like sponsorship bans, controls on unhealthy food and drink such as limiting marketing to children, and clean air provisions such as mandating emissions reductions by industry. This bill would mean taxpayers paid to compensate these businesses for the money lost because of moves to protect public health. 'And that's going to make it very difficult for any groups – even governments – promoting new public health laws and regulations, that are intended to protect the public interest.' The briefing notes that, rather than this being a by-product of the legislation's overall goal, it 'appears to be the Bill's intention'. Seymour response Seymour accused Baker of 'alarmism'. 'What the bill actually says is that if a politician or government department wants to pass a regulation that infringes on your private property rights, they'll need to justify why. Inconsistency with the principles does not prevent any new legislation from being passed. All it requires is transparency to the taxpayer. That's not radical, it's democratic accountability. If a policy is justified, it will stand up to scrutiny.' 'The Regulatory Standards Bill will help New Zealand get its mojo back. It requires politicians and officials to ask and answer certain questions before they place restrictions on citizens' freedoms. What problem are we trying to solve?' Seymour asked. 'What are the costs and benefits? Who pays the costs and gets the benefits? What restrictions are being placed on the use and exchange of private property?' 'This Bill turns 'because we said so' into 'because here's the evidence'.'
West Australian
02-06-2025
- General
- West Australian
Clever Brunswick farmer turns the table on foxes with chicken coop creation
A clever Brunswick farmer has turned the table on foxes using a new chicken coop creation to lure the predatory pest into traps. In the past four months Brunswick landholder Mike Jack has managed to catch four foxes without any kind of bait, using the foxes' natural behaviour against it. Mr Jack's hand-built chicken coop has been designed to be fox proof — impossible to dig under or break into — and is fitted with an automatic door so the chooks can put themselves to bed each night. However, the coop's best feature is a custom slot for a trap to fit into. With a few star pickets for stability, each evening Mr Jack opens the trap door leaving foxes to think the coop is ripe for the picking. 'They sneak around the pen and lo and behold — there's a nice hole in the side. They can't help themselves,' he said. 'It's logical. I was thinking about how I wanted to bait the trap, but most people use a dead chook or something like that. I didn't want anything stinking up the place.' With the foxes caught alive and there being no need for bait, the trap is humane and had no ill effects on his hens or egg-laying, Mr Jack said. He told the Reporter he was concerned the trapped foxes would be an added stress to his chooks, but he has seen no change in the chicken's behaviour. 'They don't seem to care,' he said. Mr Jack sourced the trap from Peel-Harvey Biosecurity Group after seeing it at a local agricultural show. 'I was at the Harvey or Waroona show, saw PHBG's tent, and noticed the fox trap — it was longer and better quality than most of what you see out there,' he said. As a recognised biosecurity group, PHBG offers a free lending library of pest control equipment to help landholders tackle invasive species besides foxes, including rabbits, feral pigs and weeds. 'I asked if I could buy one, but when I said I was a local landholder, PHBG offered to drop it off, for free — that was brilliant,' Mr Jack said.
Edinburgh Reporter
28-05-2025
- Business
- Edinburgh Reporter
Dunbar flat owner loses bid to carry on letting
A Dunbar flat owner who claimed the majority of her guests were 'professional' and letting her property was good for the local economy has lost her appeal to carry on renting. Leanne Montgomery appealed to Scottish Ministers after East Lothian Council refused to grant a change of use for her second floor flat on the High Street to a short term let. She told them use of the holiday flat 'helped the economy', however the Scottish Government Reporter ruled its local impact was irrelevant. And they said the flat owner had provided no evidence that it was mainly used by professionals, as had been claimed. Dismissing the appeal, they said: ' In assessing the appeal I am only able to consider whether or not the use as a short term holiday let represents a material change from the legitimate established use of the property as a flat. 'Any assessment which considers the merits of the use would need to take place through an application for planning permission.' East Lothian Council refused the application for a certificate of lawfulness, which would mean planning permission was not needed, to operate the holiday flat, because they said a shared stairwell with other residents in the block meant it was a material change of use. And the Reporter agreed with their position saying the frequent arrival and departure of guests in the flat would impact on residents who used the same hallway. They also dismissed claims that the majority of guests at the flat were 'professionals' who were there to work in the town. They said: 'The appellant contends that most visitors are professionals who visit the area to work a nine to five job for a the very short period of time they are in the area. 'I have been provided with no specific reasoning as to why the property would appeal to professionals in particular and I have been provided with no evidence to substantiate this claim..' The Reporter ruled the impact of guests at the short term let was a material change of use and the council had been correct to reject the application for the certificate. By Marie Sharp Local Democracy Reporter Like this: Like Related
Edinburgh Live
28-05-2025
- Business
- Edinburgh Live
East Lothian flat owner loses appeal over 'professional' holiday lets
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info A Dunbar flat owner who claimed the majority of her guests were 'professional' and letting her property was good for the local economy has lost her appeal to carry on renting. Leanne Montgomery appealed to Scottish Ministers after East Lothian Council refused to grant a change of use for her second floor flat on the High Street to a short term let. She told them use of the holiday flat 'helped the economy', however the Scottish Government Reporter ruled its local impact was irrelevant. And they said the flat owner had provided no evidence that it was mainly used by professionals, as had been claimed. Dismissing the appeal, they said: " In assessing the appeal I am only able to consider whether or not the use as a short term holiday let represents a material change from the legitimate established use of the property as a flat. "Any assessment which considers the merits of the use would need to take place through an application for planning permission." East Lothian Council refused the application for a certificate of lawfulness, which would mean planning permission was not needed, to operate the holiday flat, because they said a shared stairwell with other residents in the block meant it was a material change of use. And the Reporter agreed with their position saying the frequent arrival and departure of guests in the flat would impact on residents who used the same hallway. They also dismissed claims that the majority of guests at the flat were 'professionals' who were there to work in the town. They said: "The appellant contends that most visitors are professionals who visit the area to work a nine to five job for a the very short period of time they are in the area. "I have been provided with no specific reasoning as to why the property would appeal to professionals in particular and I have been provided with no evidence to substantiate this claim.." The Reporter ruled the impact of guests at the short term let was a material change of use and the council had been correct to reject the application for the certificate.
