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The UK Chancellor delivered the Autumn Budget today (Wednesday 30 October 2024)

Rain Newton-Smith, CBI Chief Executive responds to Autumn Budget 2024

Labour life peer Lord Mendelsohn has joined the Adam Smith Institute (ASI), a leading economic policy think tank, as a Patron

An Official Statistics in Development publication for Scotland.

Wendi Shepherd, Deputy Director of Health Protection for Public Health Wales, statement on UK case of Clade I Mpox

The National Statistician granted exceptional pre-release access to hourly pay data from the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE), which were published on 29 October 2024.  

A case in which police credibility has been questioned has been referred to the Court of Appeal by the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC).  

Raising employer National Insurance Contributions could result in workers facing pay cuts if companies try to keep their staff costs fixed. 

An Official Statistics Publication for Scotland

First phase of bold plan will see new free-to-use and accessible toilets introduced, alongside continued refurbishment of existing toilets across TfL network

John Foster, CBI Chief Policy and Campaigns Officer, responds to increase in National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage

Siva Anandaciva, Chief Analyst at The King’s Fund, commented on an announcement from The Treasury that there will be new funding to kickstart delivery of two million extra NHS appointments

First Minister and Scottish Chambers of Commerce issue joint call for investment to support growth.

As delegates from around the world meet in Cali, Columbia for Biodiversity COP16, the Deputy First Minister with responsibility for Climate Change, Huw Irranca-Davies, recently had a chance to speak to pupils in Ysgol Gyfun Aberaeron to see what action they are taking to protect nature and why.

A conviction of a 14-year-old boy with potential modern slavery and county lines connections has been referred to the Crown Court by the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC).  

Private sector firms expect no change in activity over the next three months (weighted balance of -1%), according to the CBI’s latest Growth Indicator. This marks the second consecutive rolling-quarter where survey respondents did not expect any growth over the near-term. 

Even if the government’s rumoured royal commission on adult social care goes ahead, it would not be the first attempt to crack the issue of social care through royal warrant.

Sarah Hammond, Chief Crown Prosecutor for CPS Mersey-Cheshire, said: “The Crown Prosecution Service has authorised two further charges against Axel Muganwa Rudakubana, 18, from Banks in Lancashire.

CTSI welcomes the clarity provided in the Government’s response to the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) market study into housebuilding calling for a single mandatory consumer code and a new homes ombudsman scheme.

Wales Office Minister Dame Nia Griffith and Deputy First Minister Huw Irranca-Davies, have attended commemorations of the liberation of ‘s-Hertogenbosch in 1944 by the 53rd Welsh Infantry Division.

The CIPD says investment in local 'trailblazers' could help tackle ill health-related inactivity

Re-discover the key topics explored during this week of activity in May.

The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland invites expressions of interest for appointment to the Board of the International Fund for Ireland.

Comedian and musician Bill Bailey has recorded special station announcements, while actor, author and presenter Ross Kemp will support the collections at Charing Cross Underground station on London Poppy Day

The Secretary of State for Wales has visited Associated British Ports and Dow in Barry as part of the UK Government’s mission to deliver economic growth.

Earlier yesterday, Julia Jones gave evidence to Module 3 of the UK Covid-19 Inquiry on behalf of John’s Campaign, Care Rights UK and the Patients Association.

Appointment of Mark Emerton as Judicial Member for the Senior Salaries Review Body.

Hundreds of Army cadets will try their hand at solving military-base challenges with STEM during their October half term.

Chancellor announces pay rise for over 3 million workers next year, as National Living Wage rises by 6.7%.

New research from This Girl Can highlights the impact of safety concerns during the darker months on women's ability to get active.

Guidance aimed at protecting the tech sector from National Security threats.

A new report by the National Audit Office (NAO), ‘Lessons learned: a planning and spending framework that enables long-term value for money’ has called for a cultural shift in the way government sets out its public spending plans to ensure long-term value for money. 

TUC General Secretary Paul Nowak yesterday commented on the (Tuesday) annual employee earnings data published by the ONS, which show that wages barely grew between 2010 to 2024.

On 13 September 2024, the Charity Commission opened a Statutory Inquiry into Bradford based Al-Hikam after the charity failed to comply with an Official Warning issued by the regulator.

Scotland’s Chief Statistician yesterday published Homicide in Scotland, 2023-24.

Israel’s recent strikes on Iran’s military infrastructure signal the vulnerability of Tehran’s air defences and expose the limitations of its regional deterrence strategy.

As tens of thousands take to the streets to protest the election results, Georgia faces a familiar crisis – with a few key differences.

Durham County Council, a local authority covering a vast rural area, is dedicated to enhancing the lives of its residents through proactive initiatives and services.  

Three IOE academics are among a team of 12 independent experts appointed to the Department for Education's newly established Science Advisory Council.

Excellent progress has been made on works to restore the Menai Suspension Bridge.

Recently, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has launched an Artificial Intelligence (AI) Lab to help firms navigate the challenges of AI adoption.

A grade A listed octagonal church in Renfrewshire is set to be bought by the local community following a £233,300 grant from the Scottish Land Fund.

The NRLA is delighted to announce that Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, will deliver the keynote speech at the forthcoming NRLA Annual Conference on 6th November 2024.

A study involving RAL Space scientists has been selected by NASA as one of two proposals they are considering for a $1 billion astrophysics mission.

The UK has assumed the Chair of the Committee on Earth Observation Satellites.

The companies have been ordered to pay fines and costs in excess of £90,000 for causing trade effluent to pollute 3 kilometres of a Worcestershire brook.

The UAE's designation as a major US defence partner enhances its strategic position in the Gulf, bolstering ties with Washington amid Middle Eastern instability.

As US public opinion hardens, the Democratic party takes a tougher stance, and Donald Trump proposes mass deportations, Latin American leaders note a lack of long-term policy.

An Official Statistics in Development Publication for Scotland.

Israel’s war aims are overambitious. Without narrowing its goals in Gaza and Lebanon, it risks military overstretch and political fallout, weakening its strategic position.

The Serious Fraud Office is working with City of London police to make it easier for victims to report fraud.

National Crime Agency investigators have arrested five men in Luton and London in connection with the seizure of more than half a tonne of cannabis at Birmingham Airport.

Statement on ICO’s work to protect children online (29 October 2024).

YPO are thrilled to be partnering with Wakefield Council to be the main sponsor of this year’s Light Up Wakefield.

Environment Agency publishes mid-programme report for its £200 million Flood and Coastal Innovation Programmes

The South West Heritage Trust, one of our National Portfolio Organisations, has secured a hoard of 2,584 pennies valued at £4.3 million for permanent public access and enjoyment – making it the largest and most valuable treasure acquisition recorded to date.

Members of the Five Eyes intelligence partnership yesterday launched Secure Innovation, shared security guidance to help protect emerging technology companies from a range of threats, particularly those from nation-state actors.

The UK Spectrum Policy Forum (UK SPF) is pleased to announce that Smith Institute was chosen as the primary consultancy partner for the AI study on spectrum management.

An Official Statistics Publication for Scotland.

Blog posted by: John Edwards, the Information Commissioner, 28 October 2024.

A narrow win for either side could make things worse. The rest of the world should be prepared for a disruptive transition.

Evri and Yodel customers are the least satisfied with their experience when it comes to contacting parcel firms for help, Ofcom has found, while Amazon and DHL are the best performers.

Newly opened National Quantum Computing Centre will be home to new quantum computers, designed to push the boundaries of what is possible with the technology.

An Official Statistics Publication for Scotland.

Looking ahead to the Chancellor’s Budget, techUK’s Head of Digital Economy dives into what techUK members should expect from the Labour Government’s first Budget in 14 years.  

UK Government and the European Union have formally concluded technical negotiations on the UK-EU Competition Cooperation Agreement. 

August 1 2024 proved a landmark day for adult education with the all-new, Education and Skills Funded Agency (ESFA) funded, Adult Skills Fund (ASF) replacing the former Adult Education Budget.  

Clear warning to unregistered boat owners on the Thames as owners failed to register their boats despite warnings. More to face court in coming months.

Statement by UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell

New funding to promote regional products.

We and several global counterparts are highlighting how social media companies can better protect personal information, as concerns grow about mass scraping of personal information within social media platforms, including to support artificial intelligence systems.

Hundreds of people with a rare form of blood cancer could be set to benefit after NICE recommended a new targeted treatment for use within the Cancer Drugs Fund today (Tuesday, 29 October).

A grade A listed octagonal church in Renfrewshire is set to be bought by the local community following a £233,300 grant from the Scottish Land Fund.

Matthew Taylor responds to Treasury trail of autumn budget announcements.

In this article we’re talking about the mistakes that people often make about FSCS. These are the topics we most often get questions about and they’re also things that have been misreported about us over the years.

Go Prosecute, a brand-new development programme for newly qualified barristers to gain invaluable prosecution experience, has been launched by the Crown Prosecution Service.

Chancellor confirms the NHS will receive funding needed to deliver extra 40,000 elective appointments per week

The £3 fare cap will keep bus travel affordable while ensuring it is fair to taxpayers.

Looking ahead to the Chancellor’s Budget, techUK’s Head of Digital Economy dives into what techUK members should expect from the Labour Government’s first Budget in 14 years.  

Ahead of the Chancellor’s Budget announcement on Wednesday 30 October, the CIPD is calling on the government to increase apprenticeship opportunities for young people, encourage innovation, and improve labour market enforcement

A former Metropolitan Police Service officer is due to make his first appearance in court charged with misconduct in public office.

Following the 10 successful years of the Cyber Essentials scheme, more businesses urged to strengthen cyber security protections

London's DVS is leading the way in reducing the risk to vulnerable road users caused by lack of driver vision in larger HGVs

New roads, railway lines and offshore windfarms could be delivered more quickly and easily, powering economic growth, according to a new independent report.

Ahead of Budget later this week, the Chancellor pledges work and welfare overhaul so people who can work, do work.

Consultation on proposed changes to improve the planning system for large energy projects in Scotland.

First Minister writes to Unison to encourage meaningful dialogue.

Retail sales volumes fell at a modest pace in October, after slight growth last month, according to the latest CBI Distributive Trades Survey. Some firms noted consumers were holding back on their spending due to uncertainty surrounding the Autumn Budget.

A former Sussex Police officer is due to appear in court this week charged with multiple offences, following an Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) directed investigation.   

The Caerphilly 2035 Placemaking Plan outlines bold and ambitious plans to enhance and regenerate the area of Caerphilly and Caerphilly County Borough Council has received significant investment from the Welsh Government to identify opportunities encourage growth and improve their town centre offer.

The FCA has fined Mr Käärmann, the CEO of Wise plc and senior manager of Wise Assets UK Ltd, £350,000 for breaching a senior manager conduct rule.

A man who used a computer programme and AI technology to alter photographs of real children to create sexual abuse images, and encouraged the rape of children via the internet, has been jailed.

Information Commissioner John Edwards has today urged organisations across the country to recognise the real-world impact of data breaches - and the devastating effects they can have on people’s lives.

techUK is excited to announce its latest report, UK Tech SMEs: Driving Economic Growth and Innovation.

The Budget will deliver more affordable housing, ensure social housing is available for those who need it and turbocharge the delivery of 1.5 million homes.

The biggest reform of the Ministry of Defence in over 50 years to fix what the Public Accounts Committee calls the ‘broken’ defence procurement system and to strengthen UK Defence, has been launched by the Defence Secretary.

Strengthening incentives for cross-government working; a sharper focus on long-term outcomes; and better transparency are the hallmarks of an improved approach to government planning and spending, according to a new National Audit Office (NAO) report. 

 Cllr Louise Gittins, Chair of the Local Government Association responds to the Government’s housing announcements

Minister for Europe, North America and UK Overseas Territories, Stephen Doughty, comments on the OSCE ODIHR preliminary findings on the 26 October Georgia elections.

One year on since Israel’s invasion of Gaza.

The Deputy First Minister, Huw Irranca-Davies and Wales Office Minister, Dame Nia Griffith, have attended commemorations of the city’s liberation from the Germans in 1944 by the 53rd Welsh Infantry Division.

Defence Secretary John Healey paid tribute to the thousands of personnel and military veterans across the country as he made a poppy wreath for Remembrance.

Nearly 6 out of 10 (59%) business leaders say that staff have had to take time off in the last year because of problems accessing public services, according to new TUC polling published today (Monday).  

The UK has strengthened trade and investment ties with some of the world's fastest growing economies at the Commonwealth Head of Government Meeting in Samoa

Chancellor confirms steps to protect education and early years priorities as part of her first Budget.

New website and toolkit launched ahead of next annual celebration of skills and apprenticeships

Analysis a 3.6% revenue increase will only keep the NHS standing still puts historically low investment into perspective.

The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) is calling on Network Rail to work with the industry as a whole to improve train punctuality and reliability for passengers and freight across its Eastern region.

CMA takes Emma to court after it fails to address all of the CMA’s concerns about misleading practices.

The latest annual reports on the dental public health programmes delivered by NHS Community Dental Services in Wales have shown that the programmes have recovered well from the pause during the pandemic. 

Jisc joins techUK, bringing expert support to schools, colleges, and trusts in cybersecurity and digital strategy. Learn how this partnership is set to drive impactful change across the education sector.

Cllr David Fothergill, Chairman of the Local Government Association's Community Wellbeing Board, responded to the CQC State of Care report

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

As outlined in new the existence of capital gains tax (CGT), which is the tax on the difference between the acquisition price of an asset, and its price on its realisation or sale, is actively harming the UK’s growth prospects. It is increasing the cost of capital, meaning that less of it is being invested in machinery and technology in the UK, reducing productivity and wages

Esteemed artist and Turner Prize 2024 nominee Claudette Johnson launches a new mural at Brixton Underground station

In the year since the Online Safety Act received Royal Assent, techUK members have made wide ranging product updates and introduced new safety features to improve their services and better serve users. 

The CQC raised a number of concerns, particularly in relation to children's services.

An 80-year-old German man has been charged with smuggling class A drugs after a consignment of methamphetamine was found in his suitcase, in a National Crime Agency investigation.

International Government Donors from the UK, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Qatar and the United States have released a joint statement marking the 10th anniversary of the White Helmets in Syria.

Siva Anandaciva, Chief Analyst and Interim Co-Director of Policy at The King’s Fund, responded to the Care Quality Commission’s (CQC) State of care report 

UPDATE: Jia Xin Teo was sentenced to life imprisonment, to serve a minimum of 17 years, on 25 October 2024.

This is a summary of what was said by UNICEF Spokesperson James Elder – to whom quoted text may be attributed - at today's press briefing at the Palais des Nations in Geneva

The FCA has published the results of a survey to better understand how firms record and manage allegations of non-financial misconduct. 

In the wake of comments from Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer MP implying that landlords do not fit the Government’s definition of ‘working people’, the NRLA has published a statement questioning this suggestion.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves is in Washington D.C. for her first IMF Annual Meetings, where she will say that the Budget is about investing in future growth.

The latest weekly flu surveillance data published by UKHSA today shows flu case numbers are twice as high among school children, aged 5 to 14 years.

Consultation opens during Care Experience Week.

The Data Use and Access Bill, introduced on 23 October, is a welcome effort from the new Government to unlock the power of data and marks an important step in modernising the UK’s data protection framework. Building on its predecessor – the Data Protection and Digital Information (DPDI) Bill – this new legislation retains many core provisions while introducing some important changes.

We’re proud to have teamed up with the Royal Society of Arts (RSA) and the Creative Industries Policy and Evidence Centre (Creative PEC) to launch a new report setting out a bold vision for our creative industries.

Research led by Dr Jennifer Rode and Professor Martin Oliver (IOE) with postgraduate students found children enjoy and can safely drive mobile telepresence robots, which boosts participation and play – and could create more inclusive opportunities for distance-learning students.

The planned roadworks on the A470 at Talerddig which are due to begin on 31 October will be paused until the New Year.

UK Government urged to remove limit on funds raised for good causes.

An investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) found that Derbyshire Constabulary officers used reasonable force to restrain a man and try to prevent him swallowing drugs, before he later died in hospital.  

The UK has successfully delivered more than 12,500 ration packs and 79 battlefield medical kits to the Lebanese Armed Forces.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and The Rt Hon Sir Keir Starmer KCB KC MP, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, met today on the sidelines of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Apia, Samoa.

A new insurance fraud charter was announced at the latest Joint Fraud Taskforce meeting.

Nicholas Coates, Deputy Chief Crown Prosecutor for CPS West Midlands, said: “The prosecution has issued an indictment and Deng Chol Majek will now face counts of murder and possession of an offensive weapon following a stabbing at Bescot Stadium railway station.

The Care Quality Commission’s (CQC’s) annual assessment of the state of health and social care in England looks at the quality of care over the past year.

On 23rd ​October, the Home Secretary announced the Government’s intention to review the police accountability systems and outlined new measures in a statement in the House of Commons. 

Ghoulish celebrations, passports to adventure and Nos Galan Gaeaf games are all on offer over the half term holiday as part of the upcoming Welsh Museums Festival.

Government announces England's first-ever heat network zones, supporting businesses and building owners to benefit from low-cost, low-carbon heating.

A further billion pounds of investment will be injected into the British economy as the Prime Minister continues his drive to attract foreign business back to the UK.

The NRLA welcomes the Welsh Government’s publication of its “Fair Rents & Adequate Housing” white paper, which proposes measures that it believes can help improve the supply and condition of rental properties over the coming years.

Final guidance published by NICE recommends HeartLogic and TriageHF for remote monitoring of people diagnose with heart failure.

A new safety campaign to raise awareness about the dangers of buying faulty and unsafe e-bikes, e-scooters and components such as batteries has been launched

However, the impact of the exercise heavily relies on participating organisations investing time and effort to assess and review data matches effectively.

The CMA announces a new growth-focused work programme from its Microeconomics Unit alongside publication of its third State of Competition report.

The Global Online Safety Regulators Network (GOSRN) has published a regulatory index, which provides a comparison for how international online safety regulators are approaching their respective regulatory duties.

This report sets out the financial state of colleges in England since 2010 and analyses the key future challenges they face.

Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service should urgently review how it carries out its prevention activity, the fire inspectorate has said.

New analysis into the Housing Revenue Account for the LGA, delivered in partnership with the NFA and ARCH, and delivered by Savills, has found that the future of council housing finances hangs in the balance as increasing pressures push budgets to the brink.

North Hertfordshire District Council has not done enough to protect neighbours from noise pollution from a nearby business, the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman has found.

The NCSC is encouraging UK organisations to take immediate action to mitigate a vulnerability affecting Fortinet FortiManager (CVE-2024-47575) and to follow the latest vendor advice.

The escalating costs and poor standards of accommodation provided to people seeking asylum in the UK can be halted and reversed by ending national outsourcing contracts with private companies and instead decentralising budgets and powers to regional bodies, according to a new report from the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR)

NERC has commissioned UK environmental science centres to review the uncrewed aerial systems landscape in support of low-carbon environmental science research.

Cllr David Fothergill, Chairman of the Local Government Association’s Community Wellbeing Board responded to the Government's announcement of a ban on single-use vapes