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Summer vacation employment plays an important role in the financial survival of students in higher education. Examines what job search methods are used and questionnaire evidence is analysed to establish how success in job search is dependent on a number of control and job search variables. Finds that for students seeking temporary full‐time employment, a search process including either the use of Job Centres and/or responses to newspaper advertisements increases the probability of gaining work. However, females were found to be less likely to gain full‐time temporary work than males. The success of those students seeking part‐time employment was improved by the use of a private employment agency. A mature student was found to be more likely to obtain a job in all of the models.

A number of internal and external pressures in UK local government have led to the examination of different options for internal organisation and management. A particular pressure has recently been the reorganisation of local government towards the creation of new unitary local councils. The review of non‐metropolitan local government from 1992 to 1996, and the creation of unitary authorities in a number of areas from 1995 to 1998, forced local authorities to examine their own organisation. This article considers the impact of local government reorganisation on the structures and management of the organisations concerned. The discussion concentrates upon pressures towards centralisation and decentralisation. The extent to which structural reorganisation has led local government to “decentralise” is considered in a number of senses: the expansion of the parish and community council level, changes to internal management, and area‐based initiatives. Drawing directly from current research, the authors examine competing trends towards decentralisation and centralisation and, specifically, identify a renewed focus upon corporate management as a whole. The importance of this new corporatism is then assessed.

This is targeted at the “soft dollar” industry. It explores to difficult “dos” and “don'ts” of compliance policies and procedures. It is a practical “Q&A” discussion of the many gray areas of legal compliance.

Measuring psychological change in offenders with intellectual disabilities undergoing psychological therapy presents the clinician with a variety of challenges. They include finding measures sensitive enough to measure the often modest cognitive changes that take place over the course of psychological therapy and finding measures appropriate to use with this client group. Little is known about the use of alcohol in offenders with intellectual disabilities. Repertory grids, based on Kelly's (1955) theory of personality, have been shown to be an adaptable, sensitive, reliable and valid measure of psychological change. Two case examples are used to show how repertory grids can be used to assess the treatment gains made by patients undergoing different (though similar) psychological interventions aimed at reducing alcohol misuse.

The purpose of this paper is, for English acute NHS hospitals, to investigate how they operate their governance systems in the area of secondary care contracting and identify the key determinants of relationship building within the contacting/commissioning of secondary care focusing upon non‐price competitive behaviour.

A survey instrument was designed and mailed to a sample of all acute NHS hospitals in England of whom 35 per cent responded. This survey was then analysed using logit techniques.

The analysis suggests that: those NHS Trusts offering volume discounts, non‐price competitive incentives or having a strong belief in performance being by “payment by results” criteria are significantly more likely to offer augmented services to secondary care purchasers over and above contractual minima; those NHS Trusts strongly believing in the importance of non‐price factors (such as contract augmentation or quality) in the contracting process are more likely to offer customisation of generic services; and those NHS Trusts using cost‐sharing agreements to realign contracts when negotiating contracts or who strongly believe in the importance of service augmentation in strengthening relationships, or that increased hospital efficiency is the most important aspect of recent NHS reform are more likely to utilise default measures to help realign contracts.

This paper fills a gap in the area of non‐price competition in English NHS acute secondary care contracting.

Reviews new applications of robots in the automotive industry. Describes new compact robot designs which can fit into very small spaces and provide greater flexibility in the body shop. Outlines how paint shop technology is evolving to make greater use of robots. Highlights pioneering applications of robots for machining and laser welding.

Part I of this series appeared in the Summer 2002 issue of The Journal of Investment Compliance. It addressed the regulation of wrap fee programs under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (“Investment Company Act”) and the requirements of Rule 3a‐4 thereunder, which must be met so that a wrap fee program is not deemed to be an investment company. Part I also discussed certain issues arising under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (“Advisers Act”), including how program sponsors and any third‐party portfolio managers generally are viewed as investment advisers and are subject to the Advisers Act. Part II discusses additional Advisers Act issues such as suitability, fees, and advertising. It also briefly reviews issues arising under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Exchange Act”) and the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”). The information provided in Part II assumes that readers have some basic familiarity with Part I.

The obligation to seek best execution on behalf of clients is not a new issue for investment advisers but one which has received increased scrutiny by the SEC's Office of Compliance Inspections and Examinations (OCIE). This article discusses an adviser's duty to seek best execution and offers suggested guidelines from regulators and industry advocates when developing and implementing best execution policies and procedures. It also illustrates different trading analyses and sample controls that advisers may wish to consider when establishing a best execution monitoring program.