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The Northern Ireland Assembly’s Committee for the Economy is inviting individuals and organisations to share their views on the Regional Balance Bill. 

Last week (3 July 2026), Jeremy White, Head of Consultancy at Homeless Link, had the privilege of speaking at a National Housing Federation event, focusing on supported housing strategies and the all-important needs assessments now required of all local authorities.

The government has a moral obligation to reverse the decision to freeze the threshold at which student loans are repaid, a new report published by the Treasury Committee says.

An international form of Andy Burnham’s ‘Manchesterism’ could strengthen UK foreign policy by making it inseparable from outcomes in UK regions.

Homeless Link is looking to further develop the National Homelessness Skills Framework, a key resource to support the learning and development of the housing and homelessness workforce.

Private (Pte) Robert Leonard Lock, from Littleport, near Ely, Cambridgeshire, buried in France recently, on the eve of the first day of the battle in which he was killed. Identification was made through DNA testing nearly 110 years after he went missing in action.

Local news outlets can now apply for grants of up to £125,000 to support their long-term financial sustainability

The Assembly’s Committee for Education has published its recommendations following an inquiry into the provision of Relationship and Sexuality Education (RSE) in schools in Northern Ireland.

European allies and Canada will try to ease recurring tensions with President Trump by stepping up in a rebalanced alliance: NATO 3.0. But transatlantic unity remains fragile.

Disagreements over the Iran war and defence procurement threaten to turn the annual summit into another theatre for division and distract from the threat from Russia.

One million. That’s the figure driving leaders to take action across multiple sectors following the release of the Young People and Work Interim Report in June 2026.  

Ambassador Holland recently (02 July 2026) condemned Russia’s ongoing aggression, highlighting rising civilian casualties, cultural destruction and reports of conflict-related sexual violence, while exposing persistent disinformation. He criticised Russia’s disinformation and conduct in the OSCE and underlined that such actions must not be normalised.

Transport for London's (TfL's) Art on the Underground programme launches its 42nd pocket Tube map cover, by internationally renowned artist Ellen Gallagher.

Children, young people and their families will be placed at the heart of social care inspections under plans announced today, as Ofsted launches a public consultation on reforming 2 key inspection frameworks.

Somewhere in England right now, a person is weeks from release. 

Conditions are expected to be less humid than during June’s heatwave, with lower peak temperatures and fewer exceptionally warm nights.

The Crown Court has today quashed the conviction of Shabaz Ahmed following a referral from the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC).

Ahead of Secretary of State Peter Kyle’s appearance on Tuesday 7 July, the Business and Trade Committee has asked the Department to reconsider the Government’s “inadequate” response to proposals to improve UK plans for small business growth.

Formula 1’s regulator uses a diverse toolkit of rules and penalties to deliver multiple objectives. This could hold lessons for financial regulators as they respond to a rapidly evolving financial system.

Our skills system is undergoing rapid change, driven by the need to respond to shifting economic demands, evolving technologies, and widening social inequalities. 

Announcing the laying before Parliament of the final proposed text of the amended national policy statement for ports (06 July 2026).

An independent evaluation conducted by The Lines Between on the impact of the community climate action hubs.

The review sets out how AI could reshape retail financial services for consumers, firms, markets and regulators by 2030 and beyond.

The Housing Secretary's speech at Lloyds Banking Group's Social Housing Forum on 6 July 2026.

First Minister Rhun ap Iorwerth today set out his ambition for Wales to become a world leading cycling tourism destination.

Around a million families are being urged to protect their children against the spread of measles and other potentially deadly childhood illnesses, as part of a new NHS vaccination drive.

An official statistics publication.

Find out how we are using the Procurement Act 2023 (PA23) to create better outcomes for SMEs and VCSEs.

We are facing a storm of geopolitical instability, economic coercion, AI and climate change – and it’s likely to get worse. But by working more closely with Europe and seeking greater co-operation outside the big trading blocs, Britain can build global alliances to secure the future of its people, writes Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper.

Children in youth custody will be better protected through stronger safeguarding, dedicated social workers, tougher vetting and independent oversight

Councils must remain central to the future of adult social care, with reforms nationally supported, but locally led, and person-centred with a strong focus on prevention, the Local Government Association (LGA) says today.

Opening today (Tuesday 7 July 2026) the six-week call for evidence will gather views on: modernising the earnings limit to reduce the impact of the current cliff edge, improving predictability for carers with varying incomes, and better supporting those with work and caring responsibilities.

Firms including M&S, Nationwide, ITV, Microsoft UK and Cloudflare are some of the first to pledge to strengthen their cyber defences.

Half a million-pound financial penalties introduced in latest crackdown on polluting water companies

Families could be eligible for between £125 to £200 per learner for support with school uniform costs, classroom essentials like pens and bags and to help pay for clothing for enrichment activities.

The existing yellow heat-health alert for the East Midlands, West Midlands, East of England, London, South East and South West will be escalated to amber

Joint statement from the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Finland and Poland

From September, 1,400 more schools get free breakfast clubs, branded uniform costs are capped, saving families up to £1,000 a year on school costs.

Bradford, Manchester, Bristol, London and Birmingham are the first cities to host annual ‘Energising Britain’ events.

The UK is sanctioning Russian actors involved in the development of deadly toxins Novichok and Epibatidine, linked to the deaths of Alexei Navalny and Dawn Sturgess.

Business volumes in the financial services sector dropped at a rapid pace in the three months to June, following a temporary recovery in Q1, according to the latest CBI Financial Services Survey.   

Statement from Rachel Watson, Director General of the IOPC, on the Police Leadership Commission report.

A major rollout of new artificial intelligence (AI) tools across the NHS is being accelerated to help cut waiting lists and improve care for millions of patients.

Sir Ciarán Devane said it will play a key role in plans to transform the NHS and improve productivity.

Parents and carers are being alerted to the growing threat of children's images shared online being manipulated into AI generated sexual abuse material. 

The £22 million government investment will replace dozens of Victorian arches to avoid the risk of collapse and ensure the road is safe for the next 100 years.

Public Health Wales and Cardiff University have signed a new three-year agreement to work together on research that can help improve health and reduce health inequalities in Wales. 

New NHS staff standards will make employers accountable for tackling racism, violence and sexual harassment, with results published in league tables.

Two new council tax bands for homes worth more than £1 million.

NATO air policing conducted by F-35 jets from European aircraft carrier for first time in boost to High North security.

Following a successful pilot, rape and sexual assault survivors across all of England and Wales will have the right to ask for their cases to be reviewed before a final decision to offer no evidence is made.

The UK’s multi-billion-pound conference, exhibition and trade fair sector risks falling behind overseas competitors and missing out on valuable economic opportunities unless there is a new focus and commitment to funding from government.

 APCC Chair Emily Spurrell responds to the findings and recommendations of the Police Leadership Commission led by Lord Blunkett and Lord Herbert

The first victims of rape have seen cases continue following second review as a pioneering pilot reaches the one-year mark – the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has said.

New rules include a cap on donations from those who've lived overseas and tougher checks on company donations.

More than 300,000 residents in supported housing and temporary accommodation will no longer face a drop in income when increasing their working hours, under new rules laid in Parliament today [Monday 6 July].

Government steps up action to protect children with toy safety rules

APCC Addictions and Substance Abuse Joint Leads are supporting Alcohol Awareness Week 2026 (6-12 July) to raise awareness of alcohol-related harms and concerns about recent policy changes.

The Environment Agency has launched an investigation into the illegal dumping of waste on land in Bradford, West Yorkshire.

A temporary export bar has been placed on two prehistoric handaxes representing some of the oldest human settlements in Britain

The landowner and three waste carriers have been convicted for waste dumping, with the latest defendant told to pay over £11,000.

Ruth Fuller, WWF’s Chief Advisor on Climate Change responded to the World Meteorological Organization’s forecast that El Niño conditions will strengthen rapidly over the coming months, increasing the likelihood of extreme weather events 

Chief Executive Vijay Rangarajan on the Electoral Commission’s response to the Rycroft Review into countering foreign financial influence and interference in UK politics:

Long-term budget reductions and continued uncertainty about Northern Ireland’s funding are impacting the Police Service of Northern Ireland’s (PSNI) operational capacity, the policing inspectorate has said.

Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, extends TfL bus and tram fare freeze until 1 November 2026, alongside his brand new Weekend Hopper fare being introduced over school holidays, making travel cheaper and easier than ever this summer

The Northern Ireland Assembly’s Committee for the Economy is seeking views on the Renewable Electricity Generation Bill as part of its scrutiny of the legislation.

Councils in England are facing a £7 billion funding black hole within three years opening up a gap so large it is more than the current council spend on roads, transport, homelessness and housing services combined. 

In the wake of a new report from the Housing, Communities & Local Government Select Committee on PRS housing conditions, the NRLA has published its response to the report's key takeaways.

A new report has found that, while high-volume consumer claims can provide an important route to redress, many people experience problems or are unclear about what they have signed up to.

The NHS Modernisation Bill (Health Bill) provides a legal basis for the abolition of NHS England and other measures set out in the 10 Year Health Plan.

18,771 new homes in East Anglia, Lincolnshire and the Home Counties closer to being built

Cllr Gerald Vernon-Jackson, Chair of the Local Government Association’s Children, Young People and Families Committee, responded to Ofsted’s plan to tackle unregistered children’s homes

The £4.6 billion contract awarded to industry joint venture Edgewing, funded jointly by the three partner nations, will advance the next stage of the aircraft's design.

The TUC has today (Friday) launched a new skills initiative bringing together unions, employers, and education providers to tackle Britain’s deepening skills crisis.

Two teenage boys who raped two girls and filmed their crimes in Fordingbridge will now spend time in custody after the Attorney General referred their sentences to the Court of Appeal.

Northumbrian Water pays £550,000 for environmental improvements following two separate pollution incidents.

Top ranking apprenticeship employers have been revealed after the publication of the new leaderboard – with BAE Systems topping the list for 2026.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has issued its first ever Prohibition Notice against an occupational health service provider, following findings that inadequate health surveillance was putting workers at risk of serious and irreversible harm.

The Henry Smith Foundation is inviting applications from organisations and partnerships supporting refugees, people seeking asylum and other migrants to strengthen services that help newcomers rebuild their lives, feel at home and become active members of their local communities.

The Culture Secretary visited the Museum of Liverpool yesterday to celebrate entires to the UK Town of Culture competition

The Environment Agency has secured £50,000 from Yorkshire Water Services for not releasing enough water into the environment from two reservoirs.

Three men have been charged with people smuggling offences following an investigation by the National Crime Agency.

If you run a retail business, the chances are that protecting your business from crime is something you think about every single day. Theft, violence towards staff, aggressive behaviour – these are daily pressures that can affect your livelihood, your employees' wellbeing, and your ability to keep the doors open.

The government’s reforms to renters’ rights are welcome but further steps are needed to protect tenants, including the most vulnerable, says the cross-party Housing, Communities and Local Government (HCLG) Committee in a report published today.

We have launched a public consultation on additional new rules designed to make sure clients are being kept informed and up-to-date should they need to make a complaint to a regulated law firm.

Patients are to receive at least 3 weeks’ notice from the NHS for all new planned medical appointments, under plans to overhaul patients’ experiences of the health service.

Free, classroom-ready lesson plans on the rule of law are now available to every school in England and Wales, following a new partnership between the Attorney General's Office, Oak National Academy and the Association for Citizenship Teachers.

A coordinated national law enforcement response has been announced today to tackle the evolving threat of organised sexual offending and domestic abuse perpetrated in person and shared online by predominantly males against females. known as organised drug-facilitated sexual assault (ODFSA).

The Health and Social Care Committee has urged the next Prime Minister to confirm that full proposals to fix adult social care should be published before 2028 and that work to implement reforms must not be delayed to the next general election.

New reforms confirmed today to speed up the approval process for major infrastructure projects.

Pubs and bars will be able to stay open until 5am on Monday morning so England fans can come together to watch the World Cup last-16 match against Mexico. 

After serious safeguarding concerns at a Bright Horizon nursery came to light in September 2025, Ofsted began an extensive programme of regulatory activity across the 247 nurseries in the Bright Horizons group.

Nearly 200 workplaces have signed up to be “Vanguards” preventing people dropping out of work due to ill-health, in a new milestone for the programme.

NHS patients could access cutting-edge medicines potentially months earlier under a series of pioneering pilots

HMRC publishes its Transformation Roadmap update.

An ICO spokesperson responds to the announcement of a government review into the use of non-corporate communication channels

The FCA has found that people holding legacy pension products, now closed to new savers, could be receiving poorer value than those in newer ones.  

The Food Standards Agency has published the results of its sixth annual retail surveillance survey. 

GAD partners with disaster protection experts to review regulations and financial models, strengthening disaster risk insurance for Pacific Island nations.

Director of the Welsh NHS Confederation, Darren Hughes, responds to the Cabinet Minister’s statement on health and care winter preparedness 2026/27.

Ofcom is proposing changes to how it regulates the BBC. The aim is to strengthen protections for audiences, particularly as people increasingly access BBC content online.  The changes follow an extension of our powers in the Government’s BBC Mid-Term Review.

The start of July has marked “Death Day” as a leading think tank warns that the number of babies born in England and Wales every year will now be outpaced by deaths

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has launched an investigation following the death of a man who fell ill in Stoke-on-Trent city centre.

Twenty-five inflatable boats which were being shipped to people smuggling gangs operating in the English Channel have been intercepted in Bulgaria.

The LGA responds to a National Audit Office report on the progress of English devolution.

Mary-Ann Stephenson, Chair of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, responds to the UK government's Immigration and Asylum Bill

This comment provides initial analysis of announcements in July 2026 on teacher pay, pensions and school funding.

Last week, the Welsh Government laid new regulations to introduce Automatic Voter Registration (AVR) across all 22 Welsh local authorities ahead of the 2027 local elections.

The Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) paid over 14,000 individual customers, responded to major firm failures and recovered more than £34m in 2025/26. It also implemented the increased £120,000 deposit protection limit, protecting even more of people’s savings. 

Significant ongoing delays in signing off Clackmannanshire Council’s audited annual accounts mean its leaders are making major decisions about the future without fully understanding its financial position.

The Vera C. Rubin Observatory’s Legacy Survey of Space and Time has begun, with every frame of this cosmic movie set to be more vivid than ever.

Siva Anandaciva, Director of Policy, Events and Partnerships at The King’s Fund, responded to reports that the Defence Investment Plan will draw from NHS capital budgets

New application process for Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier opening environmental schemes to more farmers

UK and Greek tourism ministers meet in London to sign tourism cooperation agreement

Veterans to benefit from increased support as part of the new £50m VALOUR support system.

The appointment of an Independent Reviewer of the Use of Non-corporate Communications Channels in Government

The Welsh Government is encouraging more older people across Wales to claim the financial support they are entitled to, helping ensure more money reaches those who need it.

The UK is scaling up its humanitarian response to Venezuela following the devastating earthquakes on 24 June

Apology comes with £4 million package of support which includes easier access to adoption records

Ofsted has today outlined a change in its approach to tackling unregistered children’s homes, designed to stop unsafe and unlawful placements and to address issues of sufficiency in the children’s social care system.

A response to the 'National Lottery Good Causes: Fund What Matters To You,' Call for Evidence, announced yesterday by the Government, from our CEO David Knott

As Trump and Netanyahu fall out over Iran war – and how to end it – the Israeli prime minister is caught between US pressure and domestic opinion ahead of crucial elections.

The FCA is proposing to simplify how platforms, advisers and wealth managers communicate the costs of investing while reminding firms to communicate with consumers about investing in plain English.

Thousands more people at risk from a virus which causes pneumonia and other serious lung infections will be able to get vital protection on the NHS this winter.

Blog posted by: Leanne Cummings, Director for GOV.UK Products and Services, 1 July 2026 – GDS team, GOV.UK, GOV.UK app.

An additional £2.5 million is being invested to expand free after school activity clubs for primary school children from low-income families, starting this August.

With a new incoming Prime Minister and persistent small boat arrivals, Secretary Mahmood turns Home Office attention to the politicised and misunderstood UK asylum system.

The Digital Poverty Alliance (DPA) yesterday launched its 2026 Schools Census Report, Smartphones Aren’t Enough: Every Child Needs a Laptop, at Parliament, setting out new evidence on why smartphones cannot be treated as a fair substitute for regular access to a suitable keyboarded device.

Sellafield Ltd has committed £195,990 to the Great North Air Ambulance Service, funding 30 life-saving missions across West Cumbria.

UK Senior Military Advisor, Colonel Joby Rimmer condemns the contradiction between Russia's rhetoric of dialogue and its continued aggression, and calls for an immediate ceasefire and meaningful negotiations (01 July 2026).

TUC commends the Senedd's vote rejecting Reform UK's motion to scrap Wales's Nation of Sanctuary Plan.

Blog posted by: Tristan Thomas, Director, CustomerFirst, 1 July 2026 – Digital Centre.

The Government has launched a 12 week UK wide Call for Evidence on National Lottery Good Causes. It aims to check that this funding works well for the public, meets community needs, and is easy to access.

The exceptional warmth was driven by an intense and record-breaking heatwave at the end of the month, following a much cooler and unsettled start.

Speaking at the Remaking the State Annual Conference in London, Communities Secretary Steve Reed yesterday set out reforms to put more power in the hands of communities.

What the Defence Investment Plan means for techUK members.

Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister's keynote speech given yesterday at the Re:State annual conference.

On Monday 29 June the Homeless Link team headed to Parliament to share the findings of our flagship annual report, Support to End Homelessness.

The CBI is pleased to announce that Professor Mark Power, Vice Chancellor and Chief Executive Officer of Liverpool John Moores University, will become the next Chair of the CBI North West Regional Council.

Business Secretary Peter Kyle yesterday spoke at the UK Session of the Big Market for All: Export to China event on 1 July 2026.

New funding has been made available to support people impacted by gambling-related mental health problems in Scotland.

The B&Q Foundation supports UK charities working to improve the lives of people in need by funding projects that make homes safe, welcoming, and comfortable. 

Just over 75,000 students in England sat Pearson's A Level maths exams but failures in design and delivery of the assessments caused significant public concern.

The Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) today [Thursday 2 July] published a plan for change in response to a report of an inspection of its casework, carried out by His Majesty’s Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate (HMCPSI).

Fraudster exploited victims during two-year period

Homeless Link responds to the CHAIN annual report for 2025/26

The FCA has announced Kirsty Cooper will take up the role as Chair of the Listing Authority Advisory Panel (LAAP). Clare Woodman and Matt Hammerstein have been reappointed as Chair of the FCA Markets Practitioner Panel and Chair of the FCA Practitioner Panel.

We welcome the publication of HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate’s independent inspection, which provides a thorough and constructive assessment of the Criminal Cases Review Commission’s casework.

Water companies should be seizing more opportunities to raise awareness among households of the potential financial and environmental benefits of smart water meters, according to new research by the Consumer Council for Water (CCW).

The Government wants to understand how Lottery funding can continue to reflect people’s priorities, reach the communities that need it most and make funding easier to access.

People with polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS) should have their condition diagnosed sooner and be offered an annual review to monitor symptoms, treatment and long-term health risks, according to our draft guideline published for public consultation yesterday..

The Welsh Government has announced a £50,000 donation to the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) Venezuela Earthquake Appeal, following the devastating twin earthquakes that struck the country last week.

New data reveals 32,100 “Phantom NEETS” are being left to drift without help, with up to half of 16 and 17-year-olds unaccounted for in one area.