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The reinforced rules will ensure stronger safeguards & controls on the sale of dangerous chemicals that can be misused for the production of home-made explosives.

A dating fraudster has revealed how they were able to take advantage of people looking for love online by creating fake accounts, obtaining information from social media profiles and building trust.

Gavin Williamson gave a speech at the 2019 Munich Security Conference outlining the UK's commitment to NATO and European security.

Scheme will provide vital extra capacity on Plymouth’s road network and help cut journey times.

The Welsh Government is pressing ahead with plans to introduce a 50p minimum unit price for alcohol in Wales following a public consultation, Health Minister Vaughan Gething announced today.

Following the vote, the EU is one step closer to putting in place a Europe-wide framework for screening foreign direct investment.

Liz Truss attends Finance Ministers Quadrilateral meeting in Cardiff and visits local engineering firm.

Ensuring markets work in people’s favour is a priority for the CMA, which yesterday published its annual plan.

The 2019 war disablement pension rates have been announced.

The Environment Agency has released thousands of fish to give stocks a boost and encourage people to go fishing.

Subsidy for direct flights between City of Derry Airport and London Stansted confirmed to continue to May 2021.

An investigation has been launched after a man and a woman driving on the wrong side of the road, following a police pursuit, died in a head-on collision with a coach.

A global network of gravitational wave observatories will be upgraded to almost double its sensitivity, the lead science funding agencies of the United Kingdom and United States announced today.

The CMA has welcomed a judgment from the Court of Appeal today upholding its fine on Balmoral Tanks for illegally exchanging price information.

Welsh Finance Minister Rebecca Evans and Scotland’s Finance Secretary Derek Mackay have called on the UK government to provide clarity on post-Brexit funding, future budgets and public sector pensions, ahead of a meeting with Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Liz Truss in Cardiff today.

Action Fraud, the national fraud and cyber crime reporting centre, is warning half term holiday makers to avoid fraudulent flight ticket sellers as they use new tactics.

The EC, the European Parliament and the Council havereached a provisional agreement on the EC’s proposal to establish a European Labour Authority (ELA).

A review of the UK House Price Index statistics for 2018 for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Stakeholder teams from across the Ministry of Defence gather in Portsmouth to discuss the future programme for DASA’s Get the Ship in Shape competition.

Plans for public-sector land to be developed, which aim to bring forward 10,000 new homes, 14,000 new jobs and save taxpayers £37million in running costs.

Communities in the Highlands and Islands have been awarded more than £2 million to find new ways to improve people’s lives and services.

The UK and USA sign an agreement to continue existing arrangements which help facilitate goods trade between the two nations.

The research agency Populus is conducting our annual Customer Satisfaction Survey and will be contacting a sample of customers over February and March 2019.

The second phase of the Criminal Cases Review Commission’s internal review of disclosure is now well underway with more than twenty detailed reviews completed.

Staff from the Environment Agency and Trent Rivers Trust have been showing their love of nature this Valentine’s Day, helping plant over 1,700 trees on farmland.

Public Health England and NHS England lead coalition of over 40 organisations to step up fight against the nation’s biggest killer.

The Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC) has delivered a snub by pushing ahead with an ‘extortionate’ registration fee hike, despite receiving a 38,000-signature petition protesting at the 18% increase.

The European Parliament, the Council of the EU and the EC reached a political deal on the first-ever rules aimed at creating a fair, transparent & predictable business environment for businesses and traders when using online platforms.

The WEEE Fund is seeking expressions of interest to carry out research into the fate of waste electricals and electronics by 15 March.

£3 million to be spent in 16 boroughs, towns and cities across England to encourage more people to get involved in local issues.

The NICE Scientific Advice team, working with the Science Policy and Research team at NICE, has provided its first piece of advice on the design of a patient preference study.

The commitment that the Lincolnshire Police leadership team has shown in improving its service to vulnerable children, now needs to lead to better outcomes, a report by HMICFRS into the force’s child protection capability warned yesterday.

First Minister Mark Drakeford yesterday announced the St David Awards finalists for 2019.

Dstl aims to attract new small and medium sized enterprises to work in Defence science

Blog posted by: Christian F. Nissen – CFN Consult, 14 February 2019.

This article supplements NPA 19/01, 25 January 2019. The article does not replace NPA 19/01 or regulation contained within the MAA Regulatory Publications.

Package of measures backed by £12 million investment.

The trade and investment agreements between the EU and Singapore have received the approval of the European Parliament. The Parliament has also given its green light to the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement.

On the 4th February, the Children’s Commissioner took part in a Channel 4 Dispatches programme. The documentary was aired alongside the publication of the Children’s Commissioner’s own report into home education.

NHS chief Simon Stevens yesterday challenged vehicle manufacturers to help “blue lights go green” and cut air pollution by developing more environmentally friendly ambulances.

Our investigation looking at the contact between West Yorkshire Police and man at a hotel in Huddersfield has made significant progress.

Transport and Economy Minister Ken Skates joins students in Coleg Cambria, Wrexham, today (Thursday 14th) to celebrate the enhancement of the popular MyTravelPass young persons’ discount scheme.

Nearly £250 million of housing deals will deliver almost 25,000 more homes.

Social Security Secretary calls for views in final weeks of consultation.

The Minister for Employment yesterday talked about the progress of the Fuller Working Lives strategy at 'The STIR conference 2019: The 100 Year Life'.

The European Parliament and the Council agreed on the EC's proposal for decentralised & simplified technical rules, giving fishermen a stronger say in deciding on the best measures for sustainable fishing adapted to their specific needs.

According to new research, less than half of people in the UK set their social media to private.

No single power can ‘fix’ the current turmoil in the Middle East. Still, there may be scope for Russia–Europe cooperation in managing the region’s ills.

The NHS must stop relying on pen and paper and should use modern, secure forms of communication instead, Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock has said.

TfL today announced that a contract for London Underground track renewals will be awarded to Balfour Beatty.

HMRC is encouraging married couples and people living in a civil partnership to sign up to the tax free break, which is worth up to £238 this year.

Love is in the air in Worcestershire as a dating and friendship project for people with learning disabilities has received a boost from The National Lottery Community Fund, the largest community funder in the UK.

Carbon dating is the ‘gold standard’ technique applied by archaeologists worldwide to date objects made from organic materials from over the past 50,000 years. However, this can be a very costly process and archaeologists can wait months for samples to be analysed, a timescale that can disrupt research programmes and cause frustration all round.

Legislation laid today will prevent EU vessels from carrying out pulse fishing in UK waters post Brexit.

A hundred students took part in an event hosted by the UK Space Agency to showcase the wide range of careers available using satellite data to monitor and manage our planet.

The government is making changes to existing secondary legislation to make it easier for the first integrated care providers (ICPs) to be set up.

Chris Skidmore yesterday spoke at the launch of the UPP Foundation Civic University Commission's report, looking at the value of universities to their local areas.

The UK HPI shows house price changes for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Wildcat and Apache helicopters will be deployed to Estonia this year, Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson announced at a meeting of NATO Defence Ministers in Brussels.

The European Parliament, the Council of the EU and the EC have found a political agreement to make the copyright rules fit for digital era in Europe and bring tangible benefits to all creative sectors, the press, researchers, educators, cultural heritage institutions, and citizens.

Scottish Government stepping up ‘no deal’ preparations.

The European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority (EIOPA) welcomes the agreement reached by the European Parliament and the Members States on the proposal for a Pan-European Personal Pension Product, the PEPP.

According to figures released this morning by the ONS, consumer price index inflation fell by 0.3 percentage points to 1.8 per cent in the year to January 2019.

Statement given yesterday on behalf of Saudi Arabia, UAE, UK and US.

Scott Mitchell, the husband of acting legend Barbara Windsor, has today issued a Valentine’s Day call for people to heed NHS advice and check loved ones for signs of dementia.

DWP email addresses are changing from 31 March 2019.

Economy and Transport Minister Ken Skates officially open the Newtown bypass yesterday which has been delivered ahead of schedule.

One hundred and nineteen children were released by an armed group in South Sudan Tuesday, bringing the total number of those freed since the conflict began to more than 3,100. 

The EC has adopted its new list of 23 third countries with strategic deficiencies in their anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing frameworks.

A former bank building in Huntly, Aberdeenshire is to become a hub for small businesses, self-employed workers and micro businesses as a move towards regenerating the town centre and creating local employment.

In a unique partnership between the UK and the US, the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) and the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) in collaboration with the Wright Brothers Institute (WBI), are inviting individuals and teams from across industry, academia and the general public to take part in a special hackathon.

Pearson and NCFE have been awarded contracts to deliver the first three T Levels from 2020.

Scientists, engineers and technicians at Daresbury Laboratory are playing a key role in building ground-breaking new technologies that will enable a major upgrade of the ALICE experiment, one of the four main detectors at the Large Hadron Collider at CERN.

Cllr Richard Watts, Chair of the Local Government Association’s Resources Board, responded to the LGiU/MJ survey into local government finance 

In a new report, Eurojust takes an in-depth look at the experience on the ground in cross-border asset recovery investigations in the EU between January 2014 and March 2018.

techUK is delighted to announce the new Council members.

A £9 million cash injection to speed up the locally-led building of new garden towns and villages across the country has been announced.

Britain needs urgent investment in skills and training, says TUC 

Blog posted by: Mark Prince and Claire Watson, 13 February 2019 – Categories:Design, Live services, User research.

Blog posted by: Andy Bell, Deputy Chief Executive, Centre for Mental Health, 13 February 2019.

The Council underlines that the budgetary procedure for 2020 will be the last of the programming period 2014-2020.  In this regard, the budget will play an important role in the delivery of the Union's objectives & priorities under the multiannual financial framework (MFF).

Following the terrible news of the reported death of a baby from ingestion of liquid nicotine, RoSPA is reminding parents to be vigilant with their e-cigarettes and keep them and their refills out of the reach of young children.

Scientists from across five countries will collaborate on ambitious research to gain a deeper understanding of the relationship between humans and their environment in achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Blog posted by: Martin Stretton – Director, NOVO (programme and change management), 13 February 2019.

Ofgem is consulting on issuing URE Energy with a final order for being in breach of the Renewables Obligation Order 2015. 

Agreement would create a package of measures aimed at improving the railways for all users on match days.

The Commonwealth Partnerships for Antimicrobial Stewardship (AMS) scheme has selected 12 projects to run across Uganda, Tanzania, Ghana and Zambia.

Brexit uncertainty impacting Scotland’s economy.

Cllr Anntoinette Bramble, Chair of the Local Government Association’s Children and Young People Board, responded to analysis by the National Deaf Children’s Society warning that England’s deaf children are falling behind their hearing classmates at GCSE level 

Harry Evans, researcher at The King’s Fund, commented on the Topol review into technology and the health care workforce

EU member states are committed to strengthening the supervisory framework for European financial institutions.

Blog posted by: Collaborate CIC, 13 February 2019.

We are thrilled to announce that NCFE has been awarded the contract by the Institute of Apprenticeships and Technical Education (the Institute) and the Department for Education (DfE) to be the delivery partner for the Education and Childcare T Level.

New legislation to exempt care leavers from paying council tax will come into force from 1 April 2019, Finance Minister Rebecca Evans announced yesterday.

Major conference will raise funds to vaccinate millions of the world’s poorest children.

The UK Government must compensate farmers in the event of a ‘No Deal’ Brexit, Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing has said.

Four new commissioners have been appointed to the government’s Building Better, Building Beautiful Commission.

The decision concerns the proposed acquisition by Air France-KLM of a 31% joint-controlling interest in Virgin Atlantic Limited, which leads to joint control over Virgin Atlantic by Air France-KLM, Delta Air Lines Inc. and Virgin Group.

Minister for Sport Mims Davies yesterday set out her priorities for increasing access to sport and improving health and wellbeing

Blog posted by: Chloe Smith, 13 February 2019 – Categories: Civil Service Leaders.

The police will receive new powers to investigate hostile state activity as new the Counter-Terrorism and Border Security Act becomes law.

Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson speech outlining the future direction of the UK armed forces.

The Finance Bill 2018-19 receives Royal Assent.

Health Minister Stephen Hammond has invited air ambulance charities in England to apply for a new £10 million fund for upgraded equipment and facilities.

The Foreign Secretary, with US Secretary of State Pompeo, will co-host a Quad meeting to discuss the Yemen crisis, in Warsaw later today.

The Duke of Cambridge has today become Royal Patron of The Passage, which is the UK’s largest resource centre for homeless and insecurely housed people.

In January the PLUS Project ran a Spotlight event on trans awareness and homelessness. The day was supported by LGBTQ+ housing specialist Stonewall Housing and CliniQ, a London-based trans health and well-being service.

Tenants will be protected from unfair letting fees and will see their tenancy deposits capped at 5 weeks’ rent.

 Germany’s armed forces are beset by problems, and procurement difficulties are proving to be intractable.

Business owners will now find it easier to buy terrorism insurance that will pay-out if they lose custom in the wake of a terror attack because they cannot trade or are prevented from accessing their premises.

Two Technology Associations Partner to Facilitate and Enhance Trade, Strategic Partnering, Innovation, Entrepreneurship, Joint Ventures and FDI Between UK & North...

Emergency UK aid package to deliver medicine and clean water to those affected by crisis in Venezuela.

The European Union Committee has published its second report in its new role scrutinising Brexit-related treaties.

Given the increasing risk that the UK may leave the EU on 30 March this year without a deal (a “no-deal” scenario), the EC has adopted a proposal to help mitigate the significant impact that such a scenario would have on rail transport & connectivity between the EU and the UK.

The Welsh Government’s New Treatment Fund, which speeds up patient access to the latest, potentially life improving and life-prolonging medicines, continues to go from strength to strength - that was the message from Health Minister Vaughan Gething as he celebrated two years of the Fund being available in Wales.

Statement by Commissioner Günther H. Oettinger on the Decision by the European Ombudsman of 11 February 2019 on the EC's appointment of a new Secretary-General

The remit of the Biometrics and Forensics Ethics Group has been expanded to provide independent review of the use of large data sets by the department.

Full, substantially unredacted documents relating to underwriting agreement now published online as part of TfL's continued commitment to transparency.

The latest news round-ups from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.

An additional £20 million will be invested in extra support to help GPs with the cost of running their practices, making a total investment of £50 million over the next two years.

techUK’s Georgina Maratheftis & Jessica Russell take a look at transforming local public services with a place based approach and invite members for their views.

Statement given yesterday by Ambassador Jonathan Allen, UK Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, at the Security Council Briefing on Ukraine.

Once the EC adopts the work programme for the European Defence Industrial Development Programme, it will launch calls for proposals under the EU budget for 2019-2020. This will help pave the way for the future European Defence Fund for the period 2021-2027.

Following the huge success of the first Mayor’s Community Weekend last year, communities across the West Midlands are being given double the cash to host celebrations this summer. 

These two guidelines set out an antimicrobial prescribing strategy that aims to optimise antibiotic use and reduce antibiotic resistance.

People showing erythema migrans, the characteristic skin rash associated with Lyme disease, can be diagnosed without the need for blood tests, NICE says in new guidance.

Independent review says the average time to decide a planning appeal inquiry could be slashed from 47 to 26 weeks.

100 staff to help those who need it most by the end of the year.

The speech was given to the House of Commons on 12 February 2019.

The European Parliament and the Council have reached a political agreement on the EC’s proposal to facilitate cross-border access to financial information by law enforcement authorities.

The EU Home Affairs Sub-Committee publishes its report 'Brexit: the Erasmus and Horizon programmes', highlighting the impact Brexit will have on UK participation in the EU’s international exchange and research and innovation programmes.

Natural England outlines proposals to extend Suffolk Coast and Heaths Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

New figures show that road congestion cost the UK economy £8billion last year – highlighting the need for local solutions to tackle the issue, as recommended in the UK’s first-ever National Infrastructure Assessment.

New laws bolster powers for police and prosecuting authorities to access data held overseas.

Guest blog, CCS: The Technology Products & Associated Services OJEU is to be released to the market very shortly and the briefing outlined some exciting changes for the...

The Cairncross Review into the future of the UK news industry has delivered its final report, with recommendations on how to safeguard the future sustainability of the UK press.

Organised crime groups led by married couples or families are running pension scams worth millions of pounds.

‘Upskirting’ perpetrators face two years in prison and being placed on the sex offenders register, as a new law making the act a specific criminal offence yesterday (Tuesday 12 February) received Royal Assent.

The government’s ‘Every Day Is Different’ campaign will help fill the 110,000 vacancies in the adult social care sector.

Ordnance Survey and a team of world-leading aeronautic engineers are developing a highly innovative solar powered, High Altitude Pseudo Satellite (HAPS) that is going to change the face of Earth observation and the way we map our planet.

Stagecoach Group will continue to operate train services on the East Midlands rail franchise.

Charity regulator opens investigation into charity over safeguarding and governance concerns.

Simon McDougall, Executive Director for Technology Policy and Innovation, invites adtech industry stakeholders to a fact-finding forum.

Deputy Minister for Health and Social Services, Julie Morgan, has announced changes to the way care is delivered for people previously in receipt of the Welsh Independent Living Grant to ensure they get the support to live independent lives.

Scanners funded by UK aid have helped the Ugandan Revenue Authority make one of the largest seizures of wildlife contraband the country has ever seen.

We're working with the Alzheimer’s Society to help people with dementia live active lives.

The pioneering project run by the Forestry Commission and Environment Agency is once again being offered in the North East and Yorkshire.

Prime Minister Theresa May met Prime Minister Muscat at Downing Street.

The Criminal Cases Review Commission has referred the drink driving conviction of William Smith to the County Court in Northern Ireland.

Release of additional provisions to the HS2 bill, plus associated environmental information.

The UK’s role as a leading partner on the global F-35 programme has received another huge boost today.

Victoria Atkins chaired a meeting of the National Retail Crime Steering Group to discuss how to protect retail workers from abusive and violent incidents.

Consultation on draft statutory guidance on measures to protect taxi and PHV passengers.

Blog posted by: Steve Wood – Service manager, GovWifi, 12 February 2019 – Categories: Common Technology Services (CTS).

Organisations are invited to submit ideas that promote competition and innovation in the UK aerospace industry.

There is a lot in the news about 'upskirting' - find out what it's all about and why the law is changing.

Follow online our conference on elections and online manipulation.

techUK and its members are committed to continuing to work with all parties to consider both the analysis and recommendations set out in the Cairncross Report.

Statement given yesterday by Ambassador Jonathan Allen at the Security Council Briefing on Threats to International Peace and Security Caused by Terrorist Acts.

Older people in many parts of Scotland are today celebrating a £1.4m National Lottery cash boost that will help them get out of their homes and into their communities for tea dances, lunch clubs, men’s sheds, fitness classes and much, much more.

Under the Paris Agreement, almost all governments worldwide have agreed to collectively limit global warming to 'well below' 2°C, and to 'pursue efforts' to limit this warming to 1.5°C. 

Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock yesterday spoke at the Royal Society of Medicine following the publication of the Topol Review.

We commented on the Energy & Climate Intelligence Unit’s report on Zero Carbon Homes.

Prime Minister Theresa May gave a statement to the House of Commons on Brexit.

The European Parliament and the Council have reached a provisional agreement on the EC's proposal for a Regulation on the transparency and sustainability of the EU risk assessment in the food chain.

Blog posted by: Paul Wilkinson – GamingWorks, 11 February 2019.

Programme already supports 7,000 jobs and over 2,000 businesses have HS2 contracts.

We have concluded an investigation into Greater Manchester Police (GMP) following the death of a 52 year-old man from Rochdale.

A new, modern vest for London Underground station staff has been launched this week.

Cllr Simon Blackburn, Chair of the Local Government Association’s Safer and Stronger Communities Board, responded to new guidance on taxi and minicab licensing published by the Department for Transport 

The International Trade Secretary signed the UK-Switzerland agreement in Bern with Swiss Federal Councillor, Guy Parmelin. 

It is no secret that in London – and in other global cities like San Francisco – a shortage of affordable studios, rising rents and the insecurity of short-term leases threatens the future of the capital’s creative workforce and artist community.

Ministry of Justice response to Public Accounts Committee's sixth recommendation in its report Transforming courts and tribunals, Fifty-Sixth Report of Session 2017 to 2019.

Disabled employees will be able to benefit from almost £60,000 a year to assist them at work.

Cllr Richard Watts, Chair of the LGA’s Resources Board, responded to the IFS report on the Spending Review

Blog posted by: Luke Heselwood, 11 February 2019.

Natural England announces the notification of two Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) to protect fungi in Dorset and Halesowen.

Angelica experienced abuse aged 12. She shares her story and talks about her role in developing NICE guidance.

Proceeds of the new surcharge would be put towards measures to tackle rough sleeping.

Rules would make sure that drivers are fit to carry passengers.

Zero Hour workers twice as likely to work “health risk” night shifts – TUC analysis.

A discussion paper and checklist has been launched to help improve the way decision-makers are held to account

Philip Hammond is yet to confirm how much money will be made available to be allocated among departments at his forthcoming Spending Review. This decision, which may well be announced in the Spring Statement on 13 March, could be one of the most important non-Brexit policy decisions to be made in the current Parliament.

The Home Secretary yesterday (Monday 11 February) announced 2 new initiatives to steer vulnerable young people away from a life of serious violence.

Action Fraud is warning the public to spot the signs of romance fraud ahead of Valentine’s Day.

Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson outlined the future role of the UK’s Armed Forces in a speech at RUSI yesterday.

Up to £10 million to help commercial deployment of tidal projects.

Cllr Mark Hawthorne, Chairman of the Local Government Association’s People and Places Board, responded to the report by the Civic University Commission, which sets out the place of universities in civic life

A IEA new report on the UK's housing crisis

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has awarded a new £71 million contract to support existing customs compliance work, as it moves inland pre-clearance checks to new multi-purpose sites.

Blog posted by: Mike Bridges, 11 February 2019 – Categories: Diversity and inclusion.

Teenagers accounted for more than 1,000 admissions to hospital as a result of assaults with a knife or sharp object last year, NHS figures show.

A chief inspector alleged to have engaged in sexual activity while on duty with a former victim of crime as well as with a fellow officer will face a gross misconduct hearing.

techUK will be holding a Campaign Week series for its insights blogs for SME Week from 11 -15 March 2019 and we would be delighted to have you contribute to it.

Devil-may-care directors who recklessly put workers’ pensions at risk will face up to 7 years in prison or unlimited fines.

The Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) is running an event to encourage collaboration across the Invisible Battlespace competition.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has engaged business leaders and promoted Scottish firms abroad, while visiting Canada and the United States this week.