WIREDGOV

Statement from the Department of Health and Social Care and Public Health England on the coronavirus situation in Wuhan, China.

The National Lottery Community Fund is today announcing £3.7 million of grants to over one hundred projects that are helping tackle the big issues affecting communities across Northern Ireland such as domestic violence and isolation.

When talking about nutrition, my preference is to avoid the word ‘diet’ as it has too many negative connotations for lots of people. 

A new online resource for measuring natural capital is available.

Report by Professor Gordon Findlater, Inspector of Anatomy, detailing inspection outcomes and duties undertaken.

Provides an update on South Western Railway and outlines precautionary measures being taken by the department to ensure the continuation of services.

The Information Commissioner’s Office yesterday published its final Age Appropriate Design Code – a set of 15 standards that online services should meet to protect children’s privacy.

This document is a Written Ministerial Statement by the Secretary of State Baroness Morgan of Cotes relating to the acquisition of JPI Media Publications Limited by DMGT.

The de-escalation between the US and France offers a chance for OECD countries to secure a sustainable global solution.

Prime Minister Johnson and President Kenyatta met at Downing Street on 21 January where they agreed a new strategic partnership and issued a joint statement.

Ground-breaking technology to be used to support pupils with special educational needs and disabilities and help unlock the potential of every child.

MPs should back proposals to prevent EU citizens with settled status facing severe difficulties accessing healthcare, housing, and employment a coalition of groups representing EU citizens, immigrants and landlords argue.

Blog posted by: Civil Service Blog Team, 21 January 2020 – Categories: A Brilliant Civil Service, Skilled people.

The new record high employment rate is at 76.3%, with the unemployment rate not lower since 1974. Wage growth has outpaced inflation for the 22nd consecutive month.

Being organised and methodical helps you control the chaos that is an inevitable part of life and helps you to remain calm in the face of challenges.

Across the market, 7 out of 10 overdraft users will be better off or see no change, when new rules on overdrafts, introduced by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), come into force in April. 

To protect human health and the environment, the Environment Committee objected on Tuesday to a EC proposal allowing lead in recycled PVC.

This will allow police to deliver on the people’s priorities and recruit first wave of 20,000 additional officers.

Serious violent and sexual criminals will face more time behind bars under Government plans to better protect the public and restore confidence in the justice system.

British High Commissioner to Rwanda, Joanna Lomas, writes on the importance of this year for Rwanda's economic, trade, financial and agricultural development on the back of the UK-Africa Investment Summit.

Scottish National Investment Bank Bill passes stage 3.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson met Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta at Downing Street.

Stress is a normal part of life and a little stress can be a good thing, because it often motivates us to get on with the job in hand. 

Six innovative projects are set to uncover the multiple, uncertain and wide-ranging impacts Artificial Intelligence (AI) could have on our society, culture and economy.

Conor Burns MP, Minister of State at the Department for International Trade (DIT), spoke at an event in the margins of the UK-Africa Investment Summit.

According to new ONS statistics published this morning, UK average weekly earnings (AWE) expanded by 3.4 per cent excluding bonuses in the three months to November compared to the year before, and by 3.2 per cent if bonus payments are taken into account.

Alister Jack responds to January 2020 labour market figures.

National Archive are pleased to announce our new digital capacity building strategy, ‘Plugged In, Powered Up’, which will support the archives sector meet its digital ambitions. The strategy sets out an exciting plan of programmes, training and resources that will be delivered from now until 2022.

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) Board yesterday confirmed its approach to future trade negotiations featuring food and feed, contributed to the development of the National Food Strategy, and signed off a long-term strategy to improve life for people with allergies and intolerances.

Kirsty Williams, Minister for Education, keynote speech at the Policy Forum for Wales conference, 21 January 2020.

Minister of State for Africa Andrew Stephenson's speech at UN Global Compact event on 17 January 2020.

Blog posted by: Civil Service Blog Team, 21 January 2020 – Categories: A Brilliant Civil Service, Improved outcomes.

The Conference on the future of Europe is a new initiative looking at what legal changes are needed to better prepare the EU for the future. It is expected to run for two years, involving a cross-section of society to give people the chance to contribute.

Businesses can apply for a share of £2 million to work with Canadian partners on new technologies that could improve farm productivity and reduce pollution.

Lindsey Fussell, Ofcom’s Consumer Group Director has responded to the CMA’s super-complaint update.

The UK has invested millions in clean technology across Africa, to support the continent's growing energy needs.

A new plan for veterans and their families has been published by the Scottish Government.

Blog posted by: Civil Service Blog Team, 21 January 2020 – Categories: A Brilliant Civil Service, Health & Wellbeing, Improved outcomes.

The Government has announced that a new building safety regulator will be established, as part of a new package of measures designed to improve building safety in residential blocks.

Blog posted by: Richard Duffield, Senior Consultant at GeoPlace, 21 January 2020.

The CMA has reported on the progress made in tackling the loyalty penalty that impacts millions of people.

There are a whole host of reasons why you might encounter challenging students, and often, the reasons behind their behaviour aren’t entirely clear.

Residential street chargepoint funding doubled and plans increasing access to real-time information released.

New statistics released by the Chief Statistician show rising household wealth in recent years, while wealth inequality remained high.

Neil is head of project management and capabilities for Sellafield Ltd. 

A man who ran illegal waste sites – dangerously hoarding hundreds of tonnes of waste tyres – has been handed a 12 month suspended prison sentence.

techUK welcomes the new strategy & encourages further collaboration with suppliers for its ambition and vision to be realised.

Environment Agency launches campaign to highlight the impact flood damage has on mental health, advising people on the importance of signing up to flood alerts.

CyberFirst Trailblazers and Adventurers event saw schoolchildren from across London at the NCSC.

Tougher sentences, an end to early release and a review of the management of convicted terrorists among measures announced to strengthen the UK’s response to terrorism.

Companies House has been recognised as achieving customer service excellence, by meeting the Customer Service Excellence standard.

Blog posted by: Civil Service Blog Team, 21 January 2020 – Categories: A Brilliant Civil Service.

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab yesterday met Venezuelan interim-President Juan Guaidó in London.

Blog posted by: Adam McCullough – ITSM expert, 21 January 2020.

A new contract has been signed to boost training services for Rotary Wing pilots.

Proposals put forward for teacher starting salaries to rise to £26,000 this September, building towards £30,000 by September 2022.

The Chief Statistician has released figures on fuel poverty, energy efficiency, the condition of housing, the Scottish Housing Quality Standard (SHQS) and other key descriptors of the occupied housing stock in Scotland. 

The Secretary of State has appointed Andrew Latchmore, Paul Mancey, Monica Turner as Trustees of the Royal Armouries for four years from 18th November 2019 to 17 November 2023.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson yesterday met President Sisi of Egypt in Downing Street.

From 16 December 2019, edible cannabis products are permitted to be sold in Canada. These must comply with new regulations for edible, inhalable & topical products, designed to reduce the risk of accidental consumption or overconsumption.

Customers can discover how water companies plan to improve services while also cutting bills over the next five years, when the Consumer Council for Water (CCW) meets in Sheffield on Monday (27 January).

The NHS has revealed the first nine frontline NHS staff members who have been selected to become the ‘Faces’ of a campaign to promote the NHS App to patients.

TED, the global community that brings together the world’s leading thinkers to share ideas, created TEDx, a programme of local, volunteer-led events that bring together people to share a TED-like experience – and so TEDxNHS was born.

With just ten days until the UK leaves the EU, Rural Affairs Minister, Lesley Griffiths has reassured farmers she is working hard to ensure they have the information and certainty they need to plan for the future.

UK joins 33 other states to adopt a renewed commitment following an International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance meeting.

The Eastern Europe and Central Asian Network Roadshow will be in Oxford, Coventry, Manchester and London from 28-31 January.

Bystanders performed CPR on 64% of people who suffered a cardiac arrest outside of hospital last year, a record figure.

International Development Secretary's speech given yesterday at the closing session of the UK-Africa Investment Summit.

When it comes to self-care, research and data implies the most important element is sleep.

The Secretary of State has appointed Imran Gulamhuseinwala OBE and Joanne Prowse appointed as Board Members of the Charity Commission for three years from 14th November 2019 to 13 November 2022.

The launch of the Veterans Strategy in November 2018 acknowledged the importance of supporting and empowering those who have served us in our Armed Forces.

Blog posted by: Andrew Cullinane, 21 January 2020 – Categories: A Brilliant Civil Service, A great place to work, Skilled people.

Cllr Ian Hudspeth, Chairman of the Local Government Association’s Community Wellbeing Board, responded to a report by the Commission for Equality in Mental Health on tackling the unequal risks of mental ill health 

Details of the investigations concluded in the last month have been published today by the Electoral Commission.

In today’s politics update we look at the latest from MHCLG on fire safety, Lords’ backing for an amendment to provide EU citizens with settled status with a physical document to prove it, latest on the shared accommodation rate and the findings of a new report on Universal Credit. 

Blog posted by: Nora Gudev, Monday, 20 January 2020.

Schools across the country are using iAchieve to support the implementation and delivery of NCFE qualifications. 

27 deals worth over £6.5bn from across the African markets were yesterday signed at the UK-Africa Investment Summit.

The TRUTHS satellite mission will increase confidence in climate change forecasts by developing a climate and calibration laboratory in space.

The Secretary of State has appointed Carol Hui, Robin Frewer, Peter Gowers, Karin Sheppard as Board Members to the BTA for 5 years from 6th January 2020 to 5th January 2025.

Over the past year, building on work with our partners and conversations with a wide range of people, we have asked: what if we could change the lens through which we see our world – from individualism, competition, hierarchy and heroic leadership, to collaboration, mutuality, networks and shared leadership? What if this became the dominant way of working? What difference would this make?

New report from the CIPD calls on organisations to train managers to be more effective at managing conflict at work

Parliament is fighting to protect the rights of EU citizens in the UK and of British citizens in the EU after Brexit.

Blog posted by: Mark Rowland, 21st Jan 2020.

Ofsted's Chief Inspector Amanda Spielman discusses the quality of education, training and care services in England at the launch of Ofsted's Annual Report today.

International agreement comes into force to protect the culturally significant wreck site.

Campaign launched to tackle the stigma around periods.

Matthew Burton is the head teacher at Thornhill Community Academy in Dewsbury and appeared on Channel 4’s Educating Yorkshire. 

The Court of Appeal has upheld the CMA’s finding that a golf equipment supplier acted illegally by banning online sales of its products.

Cllr David Renard, the Local Government Association’s housing spokesman, responded to a housing design audit conducted by UCL for CPRE and the Place Alliance 

IM will consider specific aspects of the charity’s management and future.

techUK members have been awarded £3.4m in funding from DASA.

A summary of 27 commercial deals worth over £6.5bn from across the African markets invited to the UK-Africa Investment Summit.

An evaluation led by NHS Health Scotland has found that action to reduce school-related costs is effective in helping more schools to be sensitive to poverty and more children to participate in school.

Statement given yesterday by Ambassador Karen Pierce at the UN NGO Committee.

Education Minister confirms decision on religion, relationships and sexuality education and announces plans for ‘sensitive and careful implementation’

The Prime Minister has appointed Guy Weston as Business Trustee of the Imperial War Museum for four years from 4th November 2019 - 3rd November 2023.

The Parliament's internal market and consumer protection committee is behind the initiative as its members want a common charger for smartphones, tablets, e-book- readers, smart cameras and wearable technology.

RoSPA has launched new guidance aimed at helping self-employed gig economy workers, such as couriers and taxi drivers, stay safe on the road.

Former care home worker John Davies was yesterday jailed for 24 years for sexually abusing three underage girls between 1975 and 2007.

Anne Longfield, Children’s Commissioner for England, has responded to today’s report by the Chief Inspector of Prisons.

A school exchange scheme is being extended as part of plans for Britain's outward-looking education ambitions after the UK leaves the EU.

First Minister stresses importance of international links.

Cllr Judith Blake, Chair of the LGA’s Children and Young People Board, responded to an Education Policy Institute report on the impact of major government policies affecting the early years sector over the past 15 years 

Rural communities across Herefordshire and Worcestershire have something to celebrate this Village Halls Week thanks to support from The National Lottery Community Fund, the largest funder of community activity in the UK.

IEA Head of Lifestyle Economics Christopher Snowdon responded to calls from Action on Sugar to extend the sugar tax to pre-mixed alcoholic drinks 

On Thursday the constitutional affairs committee will vote on its recommendation to Parliament on whether it should approve the EU-UK withdrawal agreement. The final vote by all MEPs during a plenary scheduled is currently scheduled for 29 January and will take place if the UK has fully ratified the agreement by then.

Blog posted by: Paul Jones – Technical Specialist, Serco, 17 January 2020.

This year's annual report finds the overall quality of education and care in England is good and improving, but chief inspector warns against complacency.

Macsween is celebrating its first export to the US in half a century with the launch of its vegetarian haggis for Burns Night.

Property factor removed from the register.

Two men who were part of a group that defrauded investors, many of whom were elderly and some who parted with their hard earned savings, have now been ordered to pay back £434,835.73 to those they swindled or face additional time in prison.

Nearly 1 in 3 adolescent girls from the poorest households around the world has never been to school, according to a new UNICEF paper launched yesterday as education ministers gathered at the Education World Forum and as leaders prepare to convene at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting.

Blog posted by: Civil Service Blog Team, 16 January 2020 – Categories: A great place to work.

A new paper from the neoliberal think tank the Adam Smith Institute argues that the problem with the High Street has been totally misunderstood. 

Prime Minister Boris Johnson met President Paul Kagame at the UK-Africa Investment Summit.

While the initial furore seems to have abated after the US killing of Major General Qassem Soleimani, the head of Iran's elite Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Quds Force, the ripple effects will continue to spread across the region.

The UK’s Department for Digital Culture, Media and Sport launches scheme to develop next generation of African start-ups.

Blog posted by: Stephen Mordue, 20 January 2020.

Members of the public are invited to have their say on a permit application to place fish barriers across the entrances to Hoveton Great Broad in Norfolk as part of a restoration project.

Rejects future based on a low-wage, low job security, low regulation economic model, which would lead to growing inequality.

The Secretary of State has appointed Stephen Hawker, Martin Howard, Professor Phillip Johnson, Dr Leon Litvack, Helene Pantelli, David Rossington, and Martin Uden as Council Members of ACNRA for terms of between two and fours years from 21st October 2019.

According to the latest annual figures, buses in England travelled a distance of 1.18 billion miles in 2018/19 – down from 1.33 billion in 2008/09.

A new report from the Institute for Government has found that continued turnover of ministers and civil servants could disrupt the delivery of government projects and policies.

Socitm is delighted to announce it has appointed Dave Sanderson as its regional director for the North. His region primarily covers the North of England, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

The UK is partnering with five African countries to mobilise private sector investment in quality, environmentally-friendly infrastructure projects.

Blog posted by: Sunchana Johnston, 20th January 2020.

Department for Transport seeks views of local airports on regional connectivity.

EU citizens living and working in Scotland make an invaluable contribution to our society, culture and economy, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said yesterday.

The health commitments made by the government in the general election last month are at risk of being no more than a ‘pipedream’ without greater support and investment in primary care.

Mark Littlewood, Director General at the Institute of Economic Affairs commented on Oxfam’s latest report ‘Time to Care’ 

Regulator found All Nations Community Centre was running a bar which was not charitable.

Hundreds of lives will be spared every year in England thanks to a more sensitive cervical screening test rolled out as part of the NHS Long Term Plan.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson met President Museveni of Uganda during the UK-Africa Investment Summit.

Ambitious new proposals which would lead to all new homes in Wales being heated and powered only from clean energy sources from 2025, making them more energy efficient and cheaper to run, have been set out by the Welsh Government.

Business rates avoidance is costing local services an estimated £250 million a year, a new survey by the Local Government Association has revealed.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson met Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari at the UK-Africa Investment Summit.

Support for businesses in the UK and Africa to develop trade and investment links.

New legislation ensuring that any child witness in the most serious criminal cases will have their evidence pre-recorded came into force yesterday (20 January 2020).

Rejuvenated equipment and tools will be put to good use in projects around the world, thanks to the efforts of an Association for Project Management (APM) volunteer.

This report asseses the current prison system and recommends that the new Government should focus on four areas: sentencing policy, the prison estate, safety, and the workforce. 

British High Commissioner to Ghana, His Excellency Iain Walker, writes on the UK-Ghana prosperity partnership to accelerate a shared Ghana Beyond Aid vision.

NEPO is holding free one to one Navigating the Portal Sessions for suppliers in Newcastle on 4th February.

Following an open recruitment exercise, the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media, and Sport has selected Rhodri Williams as her preferred candidate for the Chair of S4C.

Reporting on workforce-related issues needs to improve to meet investor needs and reflect modern-day workforces according to a new report from the Financial Reporting Council’s (FRC) Financial Reporting Lab (the Lab).

The Secretary of State has appointed Sarah Fowler, Nadine Tomson, and Andy Wood as Board Members of VEAB for 5 years from 6th January 2020 to 5th January 2025

Transport for London is teaming up with ten partners from across the freight industry to launch London FreightLab; one of three challenges in this year's Mayor's Civic Innovation Challenge.

Nikolai Petrov on the key takeaways from the Russian president's latest move.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson opened the UK-Africa Investment Summit.

Powerful new orders coming into force  today will enable police forces to better protect victims of stalking.

Her Royal Highness will visit Sierra Leone at the request of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office from Wednesday 22 to Thursday 23 January 2020. 

UK Government supports huge boost to UK investment in Africa, as UK-Africa Investment Summit is held in London.

Trainee teachers and students in Africa will receive 1,000 used Scottish Government computers thanks to a partnership with the Turing Trust charity.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson met President Vladimir Putin at the Libya conference in Berlin.

Students studying to become paramedics, radiographers and physiotherapists will be among those receiving the new financial support from September.

Statement from HM The Queen (18 January 2020).

Village Halls Week: Government scheme supports vital hubs for rural communities.

Automation is commonplace in sectors such as financial services; project delivery is a late adopter. What is automation all about and how will it impact us?

Two people have been arrested in Slough by National Crime Agency officers as part of an international investigation into people smuggling.

We are delighted to be supporting Big Energy Saving Week (BESW), which began yesterday. BESW is a national campaign, which aims to help people cut their energy bills, as well promoting the types of financial support available to those that need it.

The Ford Bridgend Taskforce is making real and tangible progress in delivering for the workforce and the local community following Ford’s decision to close its Bridgend plant later this year.

Arts Minister Helen Whately has placed an export bar on a set of 18th century scientific drawings valued at £2.5 million.

 As Tolstoy said: “If you look for perfection, you’ll never be content.” But how does the pursuit of perfection begin? Like success, it is surely rooted in failure.

The RLA has opposed plans put forward by Cardiff Council to renew an additional HMO licensing scheme in the city.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson will make the case for the UK as the ‘investment partner of choice’ for African countries at a major investment summit today.

NHS mental health director Claire Murdoch recently (18 January 2020) called on gaming companies to crack down on gambling addiction risks by banning loot boxes from their products.

The Department for International Trade and the Department for International Development hosted Start-up Night Africa in partnership with the Lionesses of Africa

The Winner of the 2019 Trench Gascoigne Essay Prize, the Royal United Services Institute’s (RUSI) annual competition awarded for original writing on contemporary issues of national and international defence and security, has been announced.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson had a bilateral meeting with President Emmanuel Macron at the Libya conference in Berlin.

The Government Equalities Office is calling for sexual harassment victims to share their stories, in one of the largest surveys of its kind ever to be carried out.

FSCS Plan and Budget outlines expected management costs and the latest forecast of potential claims volumes. Also outlined are initial forecasts for the levy financial services firms will pay next year, as well as any supplementary levy that may be due.

Ash Dieback, a serious fungal disease affecting ash trees across the country, has infected many of the woodlands on the Salisbury Plain Training Area.

Free period products are to be made available to all schools and colleges in England, as the Department for Education launches its fully funded scheme.

Views on outputs, future prospects, obstacles, solutions and government initiatives.

Association for Project Management (APM) has partnered with the Institute for Government to deliver an event about ‘How to deliver major government projects’ featuring a keynote speech by Nick Smallwood, Chief Executive Officer of the Infrastructure and Projects Authority (IPA) and Head of Government’s Project Delivery Function.

MI5 Director General Sir Andrew Parker gave an interview to the Financial Times, in which he stressed the need for MI5 to engage with the accelerating impact of technology to stay ahead of the threat. 

With 2 weeks to go until the 31 January Self Assessment deadline, HMRC recaps the strangest and most imaginative excuses and expense claims received over the past 10 years.

Karen Wheeler will oversee RWM's radioactive waste management services and the delivery of a long-term solution for the UK’s higher activity radioactive waste.

​International Trade Secretary, Liz Truss, has set out how vital industries will benefit from free trade after Brexit.

Dr Bill Mitchell OBE, Director of Policy at BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT said: “We agree with the Royal College of Psychiatrists that access to data from social media firms is vital; it will give us the evidence on which to base future policy that keeps young people safe.

We have begun an investigation into the actions of Lancashire Constabulary during the arrest of a 34 year-old man in Accrington on Wednesday 8 January 2020.

How the Wales Health Impact Assessment Support Unit used the Public Health Skills and Knowledge Framework to review their training strategy and shape practice.

Businesses can apply for a share of up to £37 million to support projects that look at ways to radically reduce waste from plastic packaging.

Charity watchdog disqualifies trustees of dog charity for serious misconduct

Applications are now open for anyone who believes they may have paid too much for some court services between April 2014 and March 2018.

A man who was part of a Vietnamese organised crime group responsible for smuggling migrants from Vietnam to the UK has been arrested in East Sussex by the National Crime Agency.

Lesley Griffiths, the Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs has congratulated Wales’ thriving Food and Drink Sector for achieving record turnover figures.

This year, Ordnance Survey (OS) is selecting its corporate charity slightly differently. As well as asking employees to nominate local charities, it is inviting charities to apply themselves.

Abbey College Cambridge is using NCFE’s Accreditation Services to gain recognition and endorsement for their International Foundation Programmes (IFP).

Twenty-eight organisations have been shortlisted for this year’s North West Coast Research and Innovation Awards.

Proposals to legislate non-surgical services.

A Welsh charity has been awarded new funding to support disabled people and prepare them for the potential impacts which the UK’s exit from the EU may have on their day-to-day lives.

A blog by Simon McDougall, ICO Executive Director of Technology and Innovation

Today the Home Secretary joined Merseyside Police on a county lines raid funded by a new £25 million package of measures.

UK membership body opens applications for new members and fellows, deadline for application 24 February 2020

Finance Minister Rebecca Evans has called on the UK Government to devolve Air Passenger Duty (APD) to Wales following the announcement of a UK review into APD and regional air connectivity.

A website which provided access to more than 12 billion personal credentials to cyber criminals for as little as $2 per day has been taken down following an investigation led by the National Crime Agency (NCA), in collaboration with international law enforcement partners.

Regulator finds trustee board had ineffective oversight of trustee that misused position

The Ash Archive initiative is a major step towards maintaining and restoring ash in the British landscape.

Community groups and charities across the north have taken part in the 'Transform a Pacer' competition.

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace and German Defence Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer discuss European and wider international security.

A teenage fraudster who scammed thousands of pounds from a vulnerable pensioner in Medway has been jailed.

Approved digital health and care app and website developers can now integrate NHS login into their products thanks to a new toolkit launched by NHS Digital.

Implications on Scottish Budget.

techUK has today opened nominations for members to join its Cloud Leadership Committee which is holding re-elections for the first time. The Committee is elected every two years to steer the development of action orientated projects, thought leadership campaigns and public policy engagement in order to drive the UK cloud computing market forward.

Larotrectinib (also called Vitrakvi and made by Bayer), a new treatment for a range of cancers, can’t be recommended for use in the NHS because at its current price, it doesn’t have the potential to be cost-effective.

TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady commented on government plans announced today (Friday) to survey victims of sexual harassment in the workplace to inform policy 

This week’s publication of the inquiry into the catastrophic failures to protect very vulnerable children in Greater Manchester is another reminder of how agencies and authorities whose job it is to protect those at risk have too often let them down.

Councils across England are being reminded about the financial support they must provide to foster carers’ school transport expenses following an investigation by the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman into Wolverhampton council.

Announcement comes as African government and business leaders arrive in London ahead of the UK-Africa Investment Summit.

Health Secretary accepts recommendations.

Community pharmacy teams have the potential to play a greater role in health promotion and prevention says NICE, in a new draft quality standard.

Wireless charging for electric taxis to start in Nottingham.

The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman has made the rare move to issue a further report because Medway Council has not implemented the Ombudsman's recommendations or followed the correct process to disagree with them.

Open Europe's David Shiels looks at the return of devolution in Northern Ireland and considers the role of the restored Executive in the next phase of the Brexit negotiation.

The two PFI (Private Finance Initiative) hospitals that Carillion was building at the time it collapsed – Royal Liverpool University Hospital and Midland Metropolitan Hospital – are currently due for completion several years late.

The EU’s discussions with Poland and Hungary have not yet led these countries to realign with the EU’s founding values, Parliament warned on Thursday.

UK-first trial of artificial intelligence technology from Vivacity Labs makes it much easier for TfL to understand how people cycling and walking are using the road network.

A new unit will bring together law enforcement agencies and UK environmental regulators to target waste criminals.

Another potentially life-extending drug combination for some people with advanced breast cancer will now be available on the Cancer Drugs Fund (CDF) following its approval by NICE in final guidance published recently (15 January 2020).

Blog posted by: Louise Weaver, Thursday, 16 January 2020.

Alzheimer’s Research UK has launched an ambitious spending plan for the government’s ‘Dementia Moonshot’ funding pledge – with the charity outlining six priority research areas that must receive investment, if we are to find a life-changing treatment.

The Bank of England (the Bank), Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the Working Group on Sterling Risk-Free Reference Rates (RFRWG) yesterday published a set of documents, outlining priorities and milestones for 2020 on LIBOR transition.

Scottish groups share £5m of National Lottery funding.

Her Majesty The Queen has approved the appointment of 114 new Queen's Counsel.

A new report by Public Health England shows that HIV transmission in the UK has continued to fall.

Applications will be taken in advance for Scottish Child Payment to help with expected high demand.

A Local Government Association spokesperson responded to the Department for Education publishing new advice to councils on adoption practices

This week, the Government proposed detailed regulations for enforcing mandatory five-year electrical safety checks in the private rented sector in England from July this year. 

The Prime Minister’s decision to tackle the gang leaders who are targeting our kids through a cross-government Cabinet committee should be applauded.

The head of mental health care in England has written to the heads of top gambling firms, demanding urgent action to tackle betting-related ill health.

A Surrey Police officer who forged an emotional relationship with a teenager has been found to have committed gross misconduct following an Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) investigation.

Figures published yesterday show the number of students from Wales enrolled at universities in the UK increased by 2.6% last year.

Councils should review adoption practices so that potential adopters are not wrongly turned down from offering children a stable home.

The UK is boosting support to female entrepreneurs in Africa, helping them overcome barriers to starting businesses and connecting them to global market.

Scottish universities ‘ahead of schedule’ on closing deprivation gap.