WIREDGOV NEWSLETTER ARCHIVE
We wish our reader’s a Happy New Year with this first newsletter of 2019. Please note that in addition to covering press releases of the last week, it also includes some of the more interesting items that were published during the Xmas break.
Readers please note that:
Not all items published in the last week are listed for each news source, but note that when you click on an item, scrolling down it will also display the last 7 day’s items for that channel (if item clicked on has less than 10 articles in that period, then the last 10 articles will be displayed regardless of date)
A news source may be listed in more than one section if the different items cover different topics (ex.; ScotGov may be listed in General …. & Health, …. & Policy…. & Consultation …. & ICT …. and Business …… sections
We will try to ensure that we list at least one item per news source (if they have published any in the past week)
If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is! |
Cold calls about pensions are now illegal in some circumstances following a change in the law. Unsolicited calls are the most common method for companies who operate pension scams to contact people and new legislation introduced by the government from 09 January 2019 aims to tackle this. For further information, read the ICO’s updated guidance for businesses in the telephone marketing section of the guide to the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations (PECR). The ICO have also updated their nuisance calls advice for the public. If you think you have received a call like this, you can report the details to the ICO here. |
Researched Links: |
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Do we really need the EC to tell us what’s right for workers? |
New legislation to upgrade workers’ rights has been introduced– including a day one statement of rights for all workers, setting out leave entitlements & pay. The government has set out the biggest package of workplace reforms for over 20 years with ambitious reforms to ensure the UK leads the world in meeting the challenges of the changing world of work. The announcement takes forward 51 of the 53 recommendations made by Matthew Taylor in his review of modern working practices, some of which we have gone further than the review. The reforms set out in the Government’s Good Work Plan will cement the UK’s status as a world leader in workers’ rights now & well into the future and will be the first country in the world to address the opportunities & challenges of the gig economy and the changing world of work, and its impact on a modern economy. The government is also committing to legislate to improve the clarity of the employment status tests to reflect the reality of the modern working relationships. In addition, the government has published the Low Pay Commission’s letter on potential options to address the issue of ‘one-sided flexibility’, which the Taylor Review described as the issue where some businesses have transferred too much business risk to the individual. |
Researched Links: |
BEIS: Upgrade to workplace rights - getting work right for British workers & businesses BEIS: Government announces new Code of Practice to tackle sexual harassment at work WAG: Ethical Code of Practice reaches 150 milestone Unfortunately it is a real issue for smaller businesses Self-employment is not always by choice Did you have to pay for industrial justice? What if men took career breaks and had ‘Care’ responsibilities? |
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. Against this ambitious 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. Recent arrivals to the SME Supplier Locator service include:
Click here to find out more. |
The End of the World is Nigh, but not just yet |
A nearby galaxy is headed on a collision course with the Milky Way, scientists have warned, which could cause Earth’s solar system to be shunted out of its galaxy into the depths of space. UK astrophysicists have led the STFC-funded research, which was published recently (04 January 2018), that predicts that one of the smaller satellite galaxies orbiting the Milky Way is going to collide with our galaxy in 2bn years’ time. This collision is much sooner than the predicted impact between the Milky Way and another neighbouring galaxy, Andromeda, which scientists say will hit our galaxy in 8bn years. |
Researched Links: |
STFC: Milky Way headed for catastrophic galactic collision course Read more about this paper on the Durham University website |
Editorial commentary; Brexit vote – What price democracy? |
The current state of affairs seems a far cry from her Lancaster House speech in January 2017, when the PM vowed that the UK would not have partial membership of the EU that ‘leaves us half-in, half-out’. As well as accessing the links below, we recommend that readers read our ‘More contributions to the Brexit process’ section to gain a fuller picture of what is currently happening in preparation for a ‘No Deal’ and for detailed analysis of the potential consequences of May’s deal by independent experts from outside the political bubble. |
Researched Links: |
B4B: May-Barnier Withdrawal Agreement. Not the End of the Story B4B: Dangers of the Withdrawal Agreement B4B: The Political Ethics of Brexit OE: ‘Suspending’ Article 50: What options does the UK have? OE: Accepting Labour MPs’ amendment sends a useful political signal |
- General News, Charities & Third Sector
- Health, Social Care and Homelessness
- National & Devolved Policy Statements & Initiatives, Legislation / Legal
- Consultations
- Reports and Other Publications not listed in other sections
- EU Legislation, Initiatives, etc.
- ICT and Data Management / Security
- Business and Other Briefings / News – (Government Funding Opportunities)