WIREDGOV

A new public awareness campaign, launched yesterday by the Electoral Commission, is urging voters across Scotland to make sure they are ready for changes to how we vote at UK Parliament elections.

Final phase of implementing the flagship policy to commence, marking a crucial step in the global response to illegal migration.

An Albanian man who organised small boats crossings for migrants, including children as young as five, has been jailed after a National Crime Agency investigation.

The Court of Appeal in Northern Ireland has today quashed a conviction for murder, after a referral by the Criminal Cases Review Commission.

People in Scotland have received more than £30 million via two Scottish Government benefits to help them deal with increased energy costs this winter, new statistics have shown.   

SAPIENT enables interoperability of artificial intelligence (AI) enabled sensors, combined with intelligent fusion and sensor management.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak yesterday announced the largest-ever military aid package to Ukraine on his visit to Poland.

The NHS Digital Weight Management Programme is helping patients referred to the service to lose over 8 pounds, new research shows.

Alliance countries need better understanding of the risks to their undersea infrastructure, and improved signalling to deter Russian sabotage and hybrid attacks.

On 28 March, the UK-Georgia Cyber Partnership (UKGCP) launched a Georgian language version of research shedding light on the experience and perception of cybercrime and online harms in Georgia.

As Children’s Commissioner, I have a duty to promote and protect the rights of all children. But I have a particular duty, and feel a profound responsibility, towards those who are not living with their own families.

There is just one day left to apply for a free Voter Authority Certificate, for voters who do not have another accepted form of photo ID they can use in a polling station.

DASA seeks novel methods of testing and evaluating for the future of defence.

The Government Communication Plan 2024/25 sets objectives for some of the most recognisable brands in the country.

A new Performance Archery Centre has officially opened at Lilleshall National Sports Centre, in Shropshire.

Launched yesterday, the Government Communication Plan 2024/25 outlines how communicators across government will support the Prime Minister’s priorities.

The CMA has won an important legal challenge in the High Court after the CAT refused to grant it a domestic search warrant as part of a cartel investigation.

New EU fruit and vegetable rules will create further differences in how fruit is sold in Great Britain and Northern Ireland, according to the European Scrutiny Committee’s latest report.

Leading experts have been appointed to oversee the department's work to transform the UK into a science and technology superpower.

More child and vulnerable adult witnesses involved in serious criminal trials will have access to specialist suites to pre-record evidence, away from the courtroom, following a further £2 million investment from the Scottish Government.

Blog posted by: Vicky Wills, Chief Technology Officer, Exclaimer, 22 April 2024.

Fund will help groups of farmers investigate how they can better manage water for use in time of drought, helping to safeguard food security.

The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA), in collaboration with its subsidiary Nuclear Waste Services (NWS), has awarded two contracts to establish an innovative partnership for the enhanced management of asbestos waste.

This data provides information about the number and types of applications that HM Land Registry completed in March 2024.

As tensions between the US and China continue to grow and efforts to ‘friend-shore’ supply chains gather pace, Australia is being forced to make a difficult choice when it comes to the future of its critical minerals strategy.

In a speech delivered yesterday, the FCA's Chief Executive Nikhil Rathi announced the regulator's plans to examine how Big Tech firms’ unique access to large sets of data could unlock better products, more competitive prices and wider choice for consumers and businesses.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak spoke to Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy this morning.

New legislation will provide extra protections for victims' counselling notes during criminal investigations.

The incentive is backed by £200 million investment to support schools and colleges attract and retain the excellent teachers they need in vital subjects.

The supply and sale of wet wipes containing plastic will be banned across the UK following overwhelming support during public consultation, with 95% of respondents agreeing or strongly agreeing with the proposals.

Boat-owner’s challenges 'relentless' – Environment Agency.

The Deputy Prime Minister will lead a 300+ strong delegation to the Saudi GREAT FUTURES flagship event in Riyadh on 14 and 15 May 2024.

Public Health Wales (PHW), in conjunction with Revolution-ZERO, yesterday published a report which highlights the potential to reduce carbon emissions from microbiology laboratories by investigating ways to reduce single-use plastics.  

The Minister for Social Care Dawn Bowden has welcomed the launch of the new National Office for Care and Support, which marks another important step towards a National Care Service in Wales.

The Culture, Media and Sport Committee recently (19 April 2024) published the Government’s response to its report on gambling regulation.

It’s Stephen Lawrence Day today (22 April). Which means that, this year it has been 31 years since he was mindlessly killed in a south London street. Eltham to be exact.

The Director General of the National Crime Agency and European Police Chiefs are calling for industry and governments to take urgent action to ensure public safety across technology platforms.

Beijing’s diplomatic activism shows it is worried Iran–Israel tit-for-tat may undermine Saudi–Iran reconciliation.

UK astronaut Rosemary Coogan says she is proud to be a step closer to space after a graduation ceremony today (22 April 2024) following her European Space Agency training.

The UK is to become the first country in the world to proscribe the Terrorgram collective, with draft proscription order laid against the group today.

Blog posted by: Daniel Roberts, Senior Policy Manager, 22 April 2024.

Nick Price, Head of the CPS Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division yesterday commented on charges against two men alleged to have breached Official Secrets Act on behalf of China.

More than one million faster broadband connections have been delivered to homes and businesses across Scotland, backed by £1 billion of publicly-driven investment.

Since its signing in 2014, the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement has faced some delays in its implementation. However, with Beijing showing no signs of curtailing its aggressive behaviour in the South China Sea, recent years have seen an uptick in security cooperation between Manila and Washington.

More than 700,000 eligible individuals have booked an appointment to get their spring Covid-19 vaccine since the National Booking System opened on Monday (15 April).

Rashik Parmar MBE FBCS Group CEO BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT has been awarded the Freedom of the City of London on behalf of the BCS.

Four new Welsh language feature films are to be supported for development as part of Creative Wales’ Sinema Cymru Fund.

GAD provided recommendations for HM Treasury's guidance on climate scenario analysis for government and public bodies. We looked at approaches for each factor.

PM Rishi Sunak's press statement on the next stage of the plan to stop the boats.

The UK warmly welcomes the significant progress made with our partners the US and Australia to advance the AUKUS trilateral partnership, working together for a free and open Indo-Pacific and thereby enhancing stability, security, and prosperity in the region.

Blog posted by: Catherine Day, 19 April 2024 – Categories: A Brilliant Civil Service, A great place to work.

We are expanding our support to help stakeholders understand and use the regulatory framework for single source defence contracts.

Professor Arthur Chapman joins the Commission on Countering Online Conspiracy in Schools launched last week by the Pears Foundation and Public First.

Conventional, publicly capitalized financial instruments are the only way to mobilize private finance on a very large scale.

Teacher vacancies have increased in nearly nine in 10 (86%) English local authorities since 2010, according to new TUC analysis published recently (Friday).

Organisations can apply for the Smart Shipping Acceleration Fund to use AI for projects that make UK waters safer, operations smoother and air cleaner.

Our strategy for transforming genomic medicine across Scotland from 2024 to 2029.

Recently, Friday 19 April, the NCSC officially announced Richard Horne as the incoming Chief Executive Officer (CEO), succeeding Lindy Cameron who stepped down earlier this year.

The UK Government will introduce new world-leading legislation to ban wet wipes containing plastic.

As a Wave 2 provider, New College Swindon has been delivering the Health T Level to their students for three years.

The government has announced measures making it easier for police to apply for stalking protection orders, meaning more victims will be protected earlier.

More than £100 million is being invested in improving public transport and encourage economic growth, the Cabinet Secretary for North Wales and Transport, Ken Skates has said.

The Digital, Data, and Technology (DDaT) Conference hosted by the National Fire Chiefs Council is a pivotal event designed to bring together senior leaders and practitioners in the fire service sector.

The latest figures released last week in the government’s annual State of the Estate report, highlight the significant progress being made to make the public estate more sustainable and efficient.

We have published a thematic review looking at law firm understanding of best practice to avoid getting involved in strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs).

Parliament to consider tax to raise more funding to fix unsafe cladding.

Ruth Rankine said that people are sicker than they were and have more complex healthcare needs.

Andy Cook, CEO of the CSJ commented on Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s keynote policy speech about welfare reform at the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ)

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has begun an investigation into contact West Yorkshire Police (WYP) and Greater Manchester Police (GMP) had with Kulsuma Akter in the weeks before she was fatally stabbed in Bradford.

Two men who attempted to smuggle migrants from the UK to France in the back of a lorry have been sentenced following a National Crime Agency (NCA) investigation.

Ensuring access to information and advice.

Lang Banks, director of WWF Scotland responded to the Scottish Government’s announcement on future climate action

No fines for sanctions breaches have been levied as a result of the 2022 sanctions against Russia since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, correspondence from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) reveals.

High pressure will influence the UK’s weather this weekend, but what does that mean for the thousands of people running the TCS London Marathon?

Infant school children are increasingly online and given more digital independence by parents, according to Ofcom’s annual study of children’s relationship with the media and online worlds.

Minister for the Indo-Pacific will be visiting Beijing and Hong Kong, as well as Shanghai and Tianjin.

A British video gamer who faked a hostage situation in a telephone call to U.S authorities that resulted in a man being left with life-changing injuries has been sentenced.

This Sunday 21st April, the 44th London Marathon takes place. With a world record of more than half a million hopefuls that have applied, it has become ever important for participants to share their journey around the city’s landmarks with their friends and family. Of course, just relying on spotting a runner’s face or individual number on their chest amongst this many people would be difficult, so how do the organisers solve this problem?

In a major speech today [Friday 19 April], the Prime Minister unveiled a package of welfare reform measures to tackle the unprecedented rise in economic inactivity and ensure our benefits system is better targeted at those who need it most.

UK Chancellor Jeremy Hunt chaired a meeting of the “Five Finance Ministers” of Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Scotland’s first genomic medicine strategy will focus on cancer and rare conditions.

On 16 April, Sweden’s Foreign Minister, His Excellency Tobias Billström, joined a roundtable discussion at RUSI to discuss Sweden’s foreign policy priorities.

Following completion of a report from the independent review by Chris Henley KC into the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) handling of the Andrew Malkinson case, CCRC Chairman Helen Pitcher OBE has offered Mr Malkinson an unreserved apology.

Blog posted by: Sarah Corlett, 18 April 2024 – Categories: Engineering, Mission delivery, Recruitment, Skills.

We have issued a reprimand to Clyde Valley Housing Association in Lanarkshire after personal information was accessible to other residents on an online customer portal. 

Micro, small and medium-sized businesses in the retail, hospitality, and leisure sectors can now check if they are eligible for Welsh Government funding to help them reduce their running costs.

The way people use, think and feel about different types of media is constantly changing. In our latest media literacy research, we take a deep dive into how people across the UK are navigating an increasingly online world.

The Prime Minister has outlined a package of sweeping reforms to put work at the heart of welfare and deliver on his “moral mission” to give everyone who is able to work, the best possible chance of staying in, or returning to work.

The graves of five soldiers of The York and Lancaster Regiment, most of whom went missing in France in the weeks before the end of World War One, have now been marked more than a century after their deaths.

HMRC has just published a PIN to seek industry guidence to help define the requirements of future market competition.

An Accredited Official Statistics Publication for Scotland.

The proportion of UK graduates who found work straight out of university fell by nearly 30% between those born in the late 70s to those a decade younger, finds a new study led by a UCL researcher.

The Charity Commission has launched a statutory inquiry following concerns over how charitable funds have been used by a now sanctioned individual.

CBI yesterday responded to Scottish Government statement on carbon emissions targets.

Government publishes new data showing 195,355 children benefitting from government-funded childcare for two-year-olds in successful April launch.

The Scottish Government is stepping up action to tackle climate change with a suite of new policies on transport, including increasing the number of electric vehicle chargers, and land use.

As recent arrests in Turkey demonstrate, the glamourous lives of social media influencers can be the perfect cover for fraud, money laundering and financial crime.

A report was recently (17 April) launched marking two years of a first-of-its-kind fund that supports a range of organisations investigating new and innovative assessment methods. 

Weekly national influenza and COVID-19 report, COVID-19 activity, seasonal flu and other seasonal respiratory illnesses.

British Army soldiers are a step closer to getting their hands on one of Europe’s most lethal tanks – the Challenger 3 - the Defence Secretary has announced.

Businessman applied for two Bounce Back Loans and failed to disclose existence of first loan to liquidators

Gross misconduct has been proven against a former Dorset Police Special Constable, following an investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) into offensive messages he shared in a WhatsApp group with colleagues.

Ofcom’s policy lead for the protection of children talks about tackling online harm at its roots.

The adoption of artificial intelligence into industry is reshaping the project management landscape. The impacts of AI on project management are already being felt. MIGSO-PCUBED, a global consultancy in project, programme, and change management, is among the leaders when it comes to applying AI to projects. Their Intelligent Project Prediction tool leverages machine learning and analytics to predict how projects will perform.

Children in care and those receiving support from children’s social care share the same hopes and dreams as their peers: they want to be supported to reach their aspirations in the same way as any other children. Like all children, they want a loving, stable home, a brilliant education and grown-ups who love them into adulthood.

A trial of drugs to treat gut damage caused by malnutrition in children in Zambia and Zimbabwe has identified a potential drug that promoted intestinal healing.

We are investigating the involvement of Kent Police officers prior to a fatal road traffic collision at junction 30 of the M25 on Sunday 14 April 2024. 

Regular measles statistics updates issued by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).

We know that our members are committed to developing their staff so that they thrive in their roles and deliver the best possible services to those they support.

Director of the Welsh NHS Confederation responds to the latest NHS performance data for Wales.

Scientists have found a potential treatment strategy for an aggressive type of leukaemia by targeting enzymes used by cells to sense and adapt to oxygen levels.

John Foster, CBI Chief Policy and Campaigns Officer, responds to Oliver Dowden's speech about economic security

National Drought Group confirms water resources are healthy in first meeting this year

Following the news that the Renters (Reform) Bill will be making its way back to the House of Commons for the report stage of the legislative process, the NRLA has issued a statement setting out why MPs must ensure the Bill makes the transition into law as soon as possible.

Delivered by the Deputy Prime Minister

Today (Thursday 18 April) the UK has sanctioned a further seven individuals and six entities who have enabled Iran to conduct destabilising regional activity, including its direct attack on Israel.

Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden and Education Secretary Gillian Keegan host EdTech roundtable in the heart of government.

A man who sent suspicious packages containing white powder to schools, retail outlets and shopping centres has been jailed.

The Office of Rail and Road’s report, published today, finds some disabled passengers experience accessibility difficulties with the rail complaints process. There is also a lack of awareness of how to seek redress for booked assistance failures.

We recently announced that the Department of Health and Social Care asked us to take a lead on ICETRs for the next 2 years.

The Serious Fraud Office’s strategy, launched on 18th April 2024, sets our organisation’s direction, shaping our values, approach and goals over the next five years.

The world teeters on the edge of a wider conflict in both Ukraine and the Middle East. In Gaza, Kharkiv and Khartoum, life is ‘solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short’.

Prosecutors charged 10 per cent more hate crime cases in the final three months of 2023, statistics out today (April 18) show.

Support should be prioritised over punishment when helping young people who want to quit vaping, according to public health experts. 

Home Office criminal and financial investigators arrested 4 suspected people smugglers.

More than 43,000 claims have been received by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) since 2019 for total pensions losses reaching almost £2billion when authorised financial providers and advisors went out of business, according to new analysis of FSCS claims data, with four out of five made by men.

Participating teams and mentors from our North East Regional Network have been hard at work since November to conceptualise, plan and deliver projects as part of the region’s first ever Project Management Challenge competition.

Each year, from June-October, polar climate scientists from the Met Office produce a series of monthly sea ice briefings for the government and the general public.

The judgement shows litigation can be used to hold governments to account on their climate ambitions – but much will depend on policy outcomes.

The Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee (PACAC) today publishes the Government’s response to its report on scrutiny of international treaties.

Consultation on VAT relief on everyday charitable donations will be launched before 23 July 2024.

Deputy Prime Minister warns UK is “in cyber and economic contestation with an increasing range of state and non-state actors”.

CBI yesterday responded to inflation data – April 2024.

A speech delivered by Secretary of State for Science, Innovation, and Technology, Michelle Donelan, at the Manufacturing Technologies Association exhibition on Tuesday 16 April.

Marking 50 years since its formation, YPO, one of the UK’s largest public buying sector organisations, is celebrating a golden milestone with a celebration event, a national tour of local authorities and a significant dividend for member councils.

On Tuesday 16 April, the Centre for Financial Crime and Security Studies (CFCS) at RUSI changed its name to become the Centre for Finance and Security (CFS).

Help keep our people safe as we push the boundaries of cutting-edge science and technology.

A new Care Certificate for social care workers is being launched in June 2024. Craig Wade, Sector Manager for Health and Social Care, explains what it is, who the care certificate is for, and where to get it. 

UK and Vietnam agree closer cooperation to stop the boats.

Cabinet Secretary response to latest NHS Wales performance data – February and March 2024.

A man who set alight two elderly worshippers as they left mosques in London and Birmingham has been sentenced to a hospital order - and cannot be released without the approval of the Secretary of State. 

Fines and costs dwarf licence price as anglers caught in Southampton, Bermondsey and West Drayton

Annual report for 2023 produced by the Independent Chair of the Police Negotiating Board for Scotland (PNBS).

As delivered by Rt Hon Victoria Atkins MP, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care (16 April 2024).

Recently I completed a two-day visit to the Middle East, where escalating violence continues to take an unconscionable toll on the lives of children.

Integrated care systems are enabling the improvement of dementia diagnosis by supporting collaborative working across the health and care system, new research from health and care think tank The King’s Fund finds. 

Parliament agrees continuation of policy and increase to 65p.

Residents and businesses in mid-Wales have helped to create a world-first initiative to by taking part in the trial of a digital deposit return scheme (DDRS).