WIREDGOV NEWSLETTER ARCHIVE
X-Box game console controller helps protect our troops |
The first ever demonstration of a UK-US unmanned military vehicle convoy has taken place as part of the 'Last Mile' logistics to front-line troops. Dstl together with the U.S. Army Tank Automotive Research, Development & Engineering Center (TARDEC) and the U.S. Army Armament Research, Development & Engineering Center (ARDEC) have demonstrated unmanned trucks formed into driverless convoys, unmanned aerial vehicles, and a robotic all-terrain 4x4 steered via a remote tele-operator. As a result, the Coalition Assured Autonomous Resupply (CAAR) demonstration showed initial capability in unmanned tactical resupply incorporating a combined line-haul convoy, autonomous ‘last-mile’ ground & air capabilities. |
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Dstl: US and UK Armies lead the way in world-first for robotic vehicles Arnie is ‘back’ and helping the Dstl Autonomy on the frontline: Last Mile challenge winners announced Royal Navy tests unmanned fleet of the future Dragonfire: Laser Directed Energy Weapons Dstl to develop Active Protection System technology AI & machine learning for Defence at the D&S Accelerator MOD and ASV Global sign agreement for unmanned surface vehicle software |
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Even more important than Global Warming |
Good management of antibiotics can half the number of people picking-up drug-resistant infections in hospital, new data suggests. Research, published in the Lancet, has found antibiotic stewardship programmes can reduce the number of hospital infections caused by multidrug-resistant bacteria by 51%. It also shows the number of people experiencing drug-resistant infections decreases further when infection control measures, such as good hand hygiene, are followed. NICE says healthcare professionals should select the dose, length of treatment & type of administration (for example, tablets or injection) that is right for the person and the infection. This stewardship helps to fight resistance because it preserves the usefulness of antibiotics. |
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NICE: Use antibiotics effectively to reduce drug-resistance ESRC: Tackling antibiotic resistance: researchers slash survey costs with satellites Hospitals are not ‘doing their bit’ to reduce need to use antibiotics They were used successfully BEFORE antibiotics were developed! Test children’s urine before prescribing antibiotics for UTIs, says NICE Saving antibiotics – supporting decisions Challenge Prize cash supporting GP surgery to fight antibiotic resistance More care should be taken when prescribing antibiotics for pneumonia |
Wales & England to follow, as with plastic bags? |
The UK Supreme Court has ruled that minimum unit pricing for alcohol, which was passed overwhelmingly by the Scottish Parliament in 2012, can now proceed. Following the unequivocal backing of the highest court in Scotland – and a referral to the European Court of Justice – the UK Supreme Court has now dismissed an appeal by the Scotch Whisky Association & others, ruling that the proposed minimum unit pricing policy is appropriately targeted, lawful and proportionate. Prior to implementing the policy, Ministers will now conduct a consultation on the proposed 50p per unit price and refresh the Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment (BRIA) that is required by Parliament. The Scottish Government anticipates setting the minimum unit price at 50p per unit, subject to the outcome of the consultation and the refreshed BRIA. |
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ScotGov: Alcohol minimum unit pricing to go ahead WAG: Increase in alcohol-related deaths in Wales – new report shows IEA: Decision on minimum alcohol pricing disappointing & will hit poorest the hardest Alcohol often cheaper than water in shops! Time to ‘call time’ on cheap booze BMJ: Evidence for the effectiveness of minimum pricing of alcohol Alcohol Minimum Pricing | Alcohol Focus Scotland Alcohol Minimum Pricing - Centre for Retail Research, Nottingham UK Alcohol: minimum pricing - Commons Library briefing - UK Parliament |
RTB beyond its ‘sell by’ date? |
The LGA is warning that Right to Buy itself is under threat, and that the scheme will grind to a halt if LAs are not given the financial powers to replace sold homes & build additional council houses. Councils are only allowed to keep a third of all receipts from sold RTB homes and are prevented from borrowing to make up the shortfall. Further complex rules & restrictions are also hampering the ability of councils to rapidly replace homes. As a result 12,826 homes were sold off under the scheme in 2016/17, with councils only able to start 4,475 homes in replacement. |
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LGA: Councils forced to sell off enough homes to house Oxford, without ability to borrow-to-build LGA responds to IPPR report on local authority house-building LGA responds to Government housing announcement NIESR: UK’s obsession with housing wealth could be making the country poorer CLG: Sajid Javid's speech on the housing market CLG: More homes delivered as government outlines housing vision |
SME Supplier Locator update... |
UK Government and public sector spend with SME’s is continually on the increase and by 2020, it is the stated intent of Cabinet Office that £1 of every £3 spent on government contracts goes to SME’s. The past 5 years have seen government make a priority of getting money through its supply chain into the hands of SMEs, by both setting targets and introducing new procurement mechanisms. Against this backdrop, the WiredGov Supplier Locator service has been developed specifically to embrace the SME Agenda and provide the ideal platform for SME’s to promote their services, solutions, accreditation and success stories directly to our ever increasing audience across all government and public sector verticals and Tier 1 suppliers. |
The UK’s future prosperity is ‘under threat’ |
BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT welcomes the Royal Society report (After the Reboot: Computing Education in UK Schools) - published recently. The report states that computing education across the UK is patchy & fragile. Many teachers aren’t confident enough to teach the subject and the number of female pupils opting to take the subject remains very low. The Institute strongly supports the report’s recommendations that steps must be taken to address these issues which are vital if the UK is going to remain competitive: In England, all schools need to put in place arrangements to meet the requirements of the Key Stage 4 national curriculum for all pupils. Steps must be taken improve gender balance in computing. Measures also need to be put in place to ensure there is a strong supply of computing teachers entering the profession and to provide support to existing teachers, with and without expertise in computing. |
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BCS Welcomes Royal Society Report Concentrate on positive opportunities, not ‘maybe’ downsides Much more than one step ahead of the class now Government backed scheme helps train 2m people in digital skills Universities & colleges across England to work on 27 new degree apprenticeship development projects Computing A-Level grades are on the rise but the numbers taking subject remain low National Lottery boost for young digital leaders changing communities PC&PE: School teacher shortages worsening, Committee report finds Computing At School launches new resources to develop computing subject knowledge Computing Curriculum Tool Kit Launched for School Leaders Innovative Computing Science resource to reach all NI primary schools Baffled by geek speak? BCS can help... BCS calls on Head teachers to ensure their school offers a great computing education Top graduates to get up to £30k to train to teach core subjects |
We desperately need them! |
The NCSC is supporting the next generation of cyber security experts through funding & training.
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NCSC: Tech-savvy students urged to join fight protecting UK from cyber attacks DCMS: New online challenge will test teenagers’ cyber security skills With more females than males going to University! Many more than 23 Apprentices will be required to meet the UK’s need for cyber security experts |
And so they should! |
Broadband & landline customers will get money back from their providers when things go wrong, without having to claim it, following an Ofcom review. |
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Ofcom: Automatic compensation for broadband & landline users Citizens Advice responds to Ofcom's automatic compensation scheme for broadband customers |
Start them off with good habits |
New example menus & recipes have been published to help early years providers plan healthy, tasty meals for young children. |
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DfE: Healthy eating guidance published for the early years sector As usual, ‘one size does not fit all’ |
Self-care is more ‘affordable’ care |
Engaging & empowering people to look after their own health better is the theme of this year’s Self Care Week which launched recently. |
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NHS England: Encouraging people to embrace self-care for life Trouble is many of us stopped living healthily in middle-age! We won’t be able to afford the NHS unless we ‘solve’ this problem Longer independent living is vital for the NHS funding ‘crisis |
At some point ‘infirmities’ mean we cannot self-care |
First Secretary Damian Green has announced that the government will publish a Green paper on Care & Support for older people by summer 2018. |
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CO: Government to set out proposals to reform care & support LGA responds to Independent Age report on social care funding LGA - Almost 60p in every £1 of council tax could be spent on social care by 2020 |
Who helps the ‘helpers’? |
It’s not only service users who experience emotional distress which can lead to feelings of helplessness & frustration but also the staff supporting them. PIE considers the needs of both. Research “Going further back: Earlier action on multiple needs to prevent homelessness” published last month, illustrates once again the role of psychological trauma in homelessness & states. “Peoples motivation and ability to engage with services are heavily impacted by experiences of trauma in childhood and beyond.” Psychologically Informed Environments (PIE) offer a practical framework for working with individuals who have experienced complex trauma. A service which intentionally considers “…the thinking, emotions, personalities and experience of its participants,” in its delivery & design can be described as a PIE. |
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Homeless Link: PIE - a practical framework to support people through trauma |
Won’t ‘satisfy’ national objectors |
Communities near sites, approved for the safe & clean extraction of shale gas, will benefit from a share of the proceeds through a new ‘Shale Wealth Fund’. Local communities across the country will choose how they spend up to £1bn of additional funding on local projects, under proposals unveiled recently. Those living in the North & the Midlands – where there are significant shale gas reserves – are set to benefit first. The fund, which will provide up to £10m for each local community, will empower local decision making. |
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HM Treasury: Communities to decide how to spend shale cash windfall |
What have we missed? |
The Supplier Standard, currently in beta, describes what government expects from the digital & technology companies we work with and, equally, what they should expect from government. As part of the development of the Supplier Standard, in partnership with Crown Commercial Service (CCS), we ran a consultation from September to December last year. GDS will now be running a series of workshops as part of a second round of consultations. They will focus on how the ideas that came up during the first round can be put into practice. |
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Explains why Brexit ‘Remoaners’ only communicate possible ‘Downsides’ and not solutions / benefits |
People's responses to risk are shaped by the way that such risks are communicated. Communicating risks effectively can defuse concerns, mitigate disaster situations and build trust with public institutions & organisations. This POSTnote defines the often misunderstood concepts of risk, uncertainty & hazard and describes the key stakeholders communicating it. It examines the factors that shape how people perceive & respond to such risks and summarises evidence on effective risk communication strategies. |
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Just what we need for post-Brexit |
A new online platform to promote & enable university-business collaboration, konfer, has been officially launched. Including well over a million pieces of data including research, researchers, facilities, equipment, funding & support, the online tool has been designed to help businesses find opportunities for collaboration. |
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HEFCE: New web tool launched to promote university-business collaboration |
Part of our industrial history |
Work has this week started on English Heritage's major conservation project to save the Iron Bridge. Built in 1779 over the River Severn in Shropshire, the Iron Bridge was the first single span arch bridge in the world to be made of cast iron. It was a turning point in British engineering and the predecessor of today's railways & skyscrapers. Now English Heritage has begun a major project to clean, conserve & repair the 378 ton masterpiece. But the charity needs your help and has teamed up with Crowdfunder to raise the final funds needed. A €1m donation from the Hermann Reemtsma Foundation has helped start the fundraising appeal, but the charity is now calling on the public to help raise the final funds needed to complete the work. |
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English Heritage: Call for Public Support to help save the Iron Bridge |
Can one really sleep safely at night? |
Almost 40% of battery-powered smoke alarms failed to activate in residential fires in England in the past year, prompting a warning. LGA: Safety warning amid worrying smoke alarm 'failure rate' |
Toys, not monsters under the bed! |
A NCSC has welcomed a report published by Which? that reported vulnerabilities with the I-Que Intelligent Robot, Toy-fi Teddy, Furby & CloudPets cuddly toys. NCSC welcomes report into security of connected toys |
Enabling retention of gas for power generation, cooking & heating? |
The burning of natural gas for heating contributes 14% of the UK’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Decarbonising, or reducing the carbon content of the UK gas supply is one option for reducing the emissions from heating. This POSTnote looks at the contribution that two alternative gases, hydrogen and biomethane, in achieving this goal. |
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Did you have to pay for industrial justice? |
All those eligible for employment tribunal fee refunds can apply now, following a successful opening phase of the scheme. |
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MOJ: Applications open for employment tribunal fee refunds as scheme rolls out Opening stage of employment tribunal fee refund scheme launched IEA: Employment tribunal fees effective in saving unnecessary costs Record numbers of working people bringing employment disputes Access to justice damaged by courts & tribunals fees changes 3 in 4 working mothers say they’ve experienced pregnancy & maternity discrimination TUC: PM must agree stronger workers’ rights to restore lost trust |
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