WIREDGOV

Union body comments on Fawcett Society’s Equal Pay Day 

IEA Economics Fellow Julian Jessop comments on the rise in inflation to 2.3% in October

New electric buses charged by innovative pantograph technology now on London's roads

Services for rape, sexual abuse and trauma officially opened.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct’s (IOPC) investigation into a fatal road traffic collision involving Met Police officers in south-east London last month is progressing.  

TUC General Secretary Paul Nowak comments on today’s (Wednesday) inflation figures, which show CPI inflation at 2.3%

From the 18th November 2024, with immediate effect, the Home Office has confirmed that evictions of individuals from asylum accommodation will pause for a period of up to, but no more than, 3 days when Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP) is activated by a Local Authority. This is to support local authorities to meet their humanitarian obligation to preserve life in severe weather conditions. There is currently no end date to this renewal of policy.

Overdue reforms to Right to Buy to ensure the scheme is fairer and more sustainable.

Foreign Secretary signs new Readmissions Agreement and Defence and Security Partnership whilst on visit to Moldova.

New THINK! campaign encourages drivers to opt for 0% drinks if driving at Christmas.

It has long been known that a focus on early intervention and prevention in the early years can prevent ill health in the future. With the mental and physical health outcomes of children in England on a downward spiral, the new government’s commitment to raising ‘the healthiest generation of children ever’ has been warmly welcomed by the children’s sector. Will this sentiment be met with the action needed to address the scale of the challenge?  

New guidance for Scotland.

Ofgem is consulting on introducing a new investment fund worth between £5 billion and £8 billion that will help Britain’s energy transmission owners cut delays, control costs and beat other nations to attract international investment in the drive to net zero. 

Technology Secretary outlines priorities for Ofcom as government prepares to enforce the Online Safety Act next year.

Welsh NHS Confederation director Darren Hughes responds to Plaid Cymru's report 'The Welsh Health System: Accountability, Performance and Culture'.

Court orders Northumberland landowner to replant trees after illegal felling following Forestry Commission investigation

A vulnerable looked after child with special educational needs missed out on five and a half terms of education and didn’t receive the therapy they needed for more than two years because staff at a council-owned company, Worcestershire Children First, had such a poor grasp of the SEND system.

E.ON Next - part of the E.ON Energy Group - has paid £14.5 million after failing to provide final bills and refund customer credit balances to prepayment meter customers. 

Ofsted, the CQC, HMICFRS and HMI Probation have today published a report that finds serious youth violence is more far-reaching than many adults realise, affecting children all over England and leaving a serious impact on communities.

The Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) is inviting members of the public to its fifth annual Open Board meeting on Tuesday 26 November 2024. The public Board meeting takes place via Zoom from 10.30am until 12.30pm. The invitation is open to everyone. 

Inform techUK's thinking for the UK Government's Spending Review in Spring 2025. Below, we outline the process for members to feed in and inform our policy work.

Transport for London (TfL) yesterday announced its intention to award the new Elizabeth line operator contract to GTS Rail Operations Limited, a joint venture between Go Ahead Group, Tokyo Metro and Sumitomo Corporation. The contract will cover seven years with an option to extend for up to two additional years. 

Thousands of unpaid carers could be missing out.

BBC Studios, the BBC’s main commercial arm, has returned £1.9 billion to the BBC by substantially growing its income and profits – reaching £1.8 billion and £202 million in 2023-24 – but needs to continue to evolve in a dynamic market to meet ambitious growth plans, a new National Audit Office (NAO) report has found.   

Incidents of Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) are taking longer to tackle due to inconsistent and insufficient information sharing between agencies, in particular from housing providers to Community Safety Partnerships (CSPs), a new survey of councils has found.

The UK is expanding military support for Ukraine with funding to provide new drone capabilities, on the the 1,000th day of Putin’s illegal full-scale invasion.

Saman Kaur is a recent Education and Early Years T Level student at Sandwell College. 

An ambitious programme of reform to policing has been unveiled by the Home Secretary, marking the start of a new partnership between government and policing.

Scotland’s Migration Service, which provides information and advice for people, employers and investors, has been expanded to offer support to a wider range of individuals.

Truancy rates have risen faster in developed English-speaking countries since the Covid-19 pandemic than in non-English-speaking countries, according to a new working paper by UCL researchers.

APCC Chair yesterday opened the APCC & NPCC Partnership Summit 2024.

The development of hypersonic technology is to be accelerated under a new AUKUS arrangement – bolstering the collective security of the three nations.

Government launches independent review of Physician and Anaesthesia Associate professions, chaired by Professor Gillian Leng CBE.

Legislation proposed to deliver sustained reduction to rising prisoner numbers.

TfL updating signage at small number of stations with new line names and colours from 20 November, with the majority happening from 25 November.

The region’s right-wing populists are ready to cooperate based on mutual admiration for the MAGA project. But their effectiveness as supporters of Donald Trump’s policy is uncertain.

The NHS is providing advanced eye scans closer to home for tens of thousands of people with diabetes which could save up to 120,000 hospital appointments a year and help prevent life-changing sight loss.

We are marking our 40th anniversary by launching a digital exhibition telling the story of the most important moments in privacy and information rights over the past four decades.

Flour will be boosted with folic acid to protect hundreds of babies against serious disabilities every year. But daily supplements are still vital, urges Wales’ top doctor.

Quantum technologies, including computing, communications, and sensing, have the potential for transformative impacts.

The APCC is supporting Anti-Social Behaviour Awareness Week, held annually by the charity, Resolve.

Community leaders are urging sexually active people in Wales to order a free, confidential test kit from Public Health Wales.

Blog posted by: Louise Stevenson, 18 November 2024 – Categories: A Modern Civil Service.

The Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government, Jayne Bryant, delivered the keynote speech at the first day of the annual Community Housing Cymru conference, focussing on working with the sector to deliver more homes, recognising the key role of frontline workers and ending homelessness in Wales.

The Electoral Commission has fined the Irish Socialist Republican Party (NI) after concluding an investigation into the party’s failure to keep accounting records that were sufficient to show and explain the party’s transactions.

We're delighted to welcome Fighting Homelessness CIC as a new member of Homeless Link!

MI5 has, made a small change to its Badge to reflect the symbols of state chosen by His Majesty King Charles.

New guidance will help to design activity into our neighbourhoods and reduce congestion on the roads during school run times.

The Scottish Household Survey: Satisfaction with Schools 2023 results, published today, contains the key findings of the question asked in the social survey on satisfaction with local schools for all adults and service users.

ATACMS striking Russia provide an opportunity to inflict significant damage. To take advantage of this, however, the targets must align with a wider plan.

Report shows total quantity of antibiotics sold for livestock remains at the lowest level to date. Upticks in antibiotic use in some sectors highlight need for continued collective action.

Draft guidance issued for consultation recommends two technologies to help people manage their condition.

The FCA has banned Mr Ari Harris from working in financial services.

Report shows healthy growth across key indicators.

Hunt for criminals behind vast waste site continues.

The Prime Minister will use his trip to the G20 in Brazil this week to strengthen ties with the world’s leading economic powers to drive growth and deliver for the British people at home.

A new Counter Fraud Action Plan from exam regulator Ofqual lays out ways for organisations to work together to tackle qualification fraud.

New measures to bolster protections for elderly and disabled people relying on lifesaving alarms to call for help.

As he speaks at COP29, our chair Chris Boardman argues that the sport and physical activity sector is uniquely positioned to drive the change needed to protect our planet.

GAD’s analysis has supported the government’s work around pension reforms, which were announced by the Chancellor during the Mansion House Speech.

Should a new US administration disengage from forums like the UN, Beijing’s plans to reshape global governance will be boosted. US allies should plan accordingly.

This report was issued in November 2024 and covers the time period 1 October 2024 to 31 October 2024 inclusive.

The Prime Minister has announced that UK-India trade talks will relaunch in the new year.

Annual report showcasing the achievements of our international network of offices. Covering the reporting year 2023 to 2024, it uses case studies to demonstrate the positive impact our international activity has, and the benefits it brings to the people of Scotland.

techUK members Zaizi and Envitia explore the challenges and benefits facing One Login.

The second round of the Manchester Prize will focus on delivering new, clean energy systems.

A trio of people smugglers who made several failed attempts to transport migrants across the Channel have been convicted following a National Crime Agency investigation.

Strong and effective leadership can lead to improvements in the fire and rescue sector, fire service leaders were told recently (15 November 2024).

Scotland’s Chief Statistician today released Domestic abuse recorded by the police in Scotland, 2023-24.

The Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) yesterday published its latest Outlook levy update for 2024/25. It also provides an early indication of the 2025/26 levy.

This week (Monday 18 November – Friday 22 November) is Discover! Creative Careers Week – the annual flagship event for the wider Discover! Creative Careers programme, aiming to address some of the creative industries’ most urgent challenges and risks around skills shortages in the creative industries.

Royal Navy and Royal Air Force pilots will benefit from a cutting-edge new cruise missile, following the first successful guided firing trial of the missile.

Funding will keep fares down, protect local routes and deliver more reliable services. 

Over 50 schools share £150,000 investment to mark Book Week Scotland.

The Houthis are diversifying their alliances and deepening their military capabilities, leveraging regional conflicts and pragmatic partnerships to expand their influence beyond the Iranian-led ‘axis of resistance’.

Children in England can be deprived of their liberty in secure settings, specifically custodial settings (for youth justice reasons), secure children’s homes (for welfare reasons) and mental health units (for assessment and treatment).

A Met Police officer will appear in court this week on an assault charge after a man was Tasered and sustained serious injuries, following our investigation.

The Welsh Government will move ahead with a Deposit Return Scheme that delivers for Wales, Deputy First Minister Huw Irranca-Davies yesterday confirmed.

The Chancellor recently (15 November 2024) delivered her first Mansion House speech.

The Association for Project Management (APM) Greater Bay Area (GBA) Network proudly supported the UCEM Hong Kong Symposium 2024, themed "Sustainability in the Built Environment." 

5 ways NICE Advice can help you navigate this new opportunity alongside health technology assessment.

It has been another busy month in the connections reform space. The connections queue currently stands at 732 gigawatts (GW), a 10GW increase on the previous month. 

A rare Roman knife handle cast in the shape of a gladiator has been discovered in a river at Corbridge Roman Town on Hadrian's Wall in Northumberland.

A new Home Office unit to monitor performance of police forces will be announced by the Home Secretary this week.

Blog posted by: Neil Barnby, 15 November 2024 – Categories: Development, Digital Innovation, Digital skills, digital workshop, Innovation, Prisons, user-centred.

New powers handed to Ofsted to crack down on exploitative children's care providers and transparency to be increased around their finances.

A review of potential strategic ornithological compensatory measures, assessing their practical and ecological feasibility in the Scottish context.

Ending the war and establishing lasting peace in Ukraine is impossible without implementing practical measures to deter potential future waves of Russian aggression.

British soldiers are to receive high-tech rifle sights, helping them to better track and shoot the enemy in dark conditions.

The number of people being admitted to hospital following a stroke has risen by 28% in the last 20 years, new NHS analysis has found.

Craig Buchan and Martin Cooke, former partners of MedDen Financial Services LLP (MedDen), have been fined £6,037 and £6,020 (respectively) and banned by the FCA for recklessly breaching an asset requirement imposed on the firm.

An award-winning young designer from Swansea who is making waves with her fashion collection is encouraging others with business aspirations to seek support from Business Wales this Global Entrepreneurship Week.

A man who tried to smuggle eight firearms into the UK has been jailed for eight years and three months.

EHRC statement on changes to National Insurance

APM GBA Network Hosts Successful Gathering with Industry Leaders on 12 November 2024.

At COP29 in Baku, Minister for Development, Anneliese Dodds, recently announced an additional £30+ million investment from the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) to support the Met Office-led Weather and Climate Information Services (WISER) Africa programme.

Gulf states will continue the move to regional reconciliation but on Iran and Israel–Palestine, will look to reset the rules of engagement.

Requirements for voter identification brought in by the previous UK Government should be scrapped, the Minister for Parliamentary Business has said.

In this blog, Gill Taylor, Strategic Lead for the Dying Homeless Project and independent Safeguarding Adult Review author, talks about the Radical Safeguarding Toolkit and encourages practitioners to challenge the status quo of harm and discrimination and move towards anti-oppressive practice.

Experts from policy, politics, and research examined the challenges facing Britain’s core public services from criminal justice to the NHS, at the Institute for Government Public Services Conference, supported by UCL.

A speech delivered recently (15 November 2024) by Martin Coleman, Inquiry Chair for the CMA’s market investigation into veterinary services for household pets at the BVA Congress at the London Vet Show.

Sellafield Ltd attended a recent New Statesman Regional Development event to showcase its education outreach and early careers programmes.

The national conversation about the NHS's future took to the road, as Middlesbrough hosted the first of a series of public debates about fixing the NHS.

This report introduces a method for integrating digital aerial survey data and passive acoustic baseline data to record the abundance and distribution of marine mammals. The report applies the method in a test case study and provides recommendations on data collection.

Learners from Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Bro Edern will take part in the F1 in Schools world finals after taking the chequered flag and becoming the Welsh Champions of the UK nationals.

Public Health Wales is continuing to evaluate air quality data, to improve our understanding of the potential for harm to health of people living around Withyhedge landfill site.

The Procurement Act 2023: provides new opportunities for suppliers of goods or services to the public sector

The rail regulator has given the go ahead for new train services between Swindon, Taunton and Weston-super-Mare from the end of 2025. The regulator has also set conditions on its approval to ensure the new, co-operatively owned operator has sufficient finance and rolling stock in place in good time.

The FCA is committed to supporting growth.

Tenants will continue to struggle to find the housing they need, as new data reveals the chronic shortage of homes to rent to meet demand.

On Thursday 7 November, DSIT’s Responsible Technology Adoption (RTA) Unit and the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) published the Privacy Enhancing Technologies (PETs) Cost-Benefit Awareness Tool.

As Children’s Commissioner one of my main ambitions is that every child has access to a brilliant education: one that helps them to achieve their goals, no matter how ambitious. 

The Bank of England (BoE), Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) stand as the collective regulators to oversee the activities of critical third parties, and they issued a policy statement 12 November 2024 confirming the rules set to strengthen their use and that of other technologies within Financial Services. 

UK and Scottish Governments and Falkirk Council agree package to strengthen the local economy and create more than a thousand jobs over the next 10 years.

New financing offer further incentivises overseas buyers to choose British expertise when planning their projects.

The Adam Smith Institute is calling on the Government to use existing legislation to help fix the housing crisis

We have published our Annual Report and Accounts which sum up the work of the Government Actuary’s Department in the 2023 to 2024 financial year.

NHS leaders and their teams are working incredibly hard but there is a real risk services could become overwhelmed.

Five people, including four youths who cannot be named because of their ages, have been convicted at Bristol Crown Court of the murders of teenagers Mason Rist and Max Dixon, who were attacked and killed on the Knowle area of the city in January 2024.

Welsh Government boosts support for fuel vouchers and heat fund with additional £700,000 to help vulnerable households this winter.

On 13 November 2024 HHGL Limited and Hampden Group Limited trading as Homebase entered administration. This page gives information on how to claim redundancy or register as a creditor.

The Home Office’s quick acquisition of a new site for asylum accommodation, to meet government’s priority at the time to end the use of hotels for that purpose, led to it cutting corners and paying more than it needed to, according to a new National Audit Office (NAO) report.

The NHS is launching a search for nearly 150,000 volunteers to take part in a series of research trials that could transform cancer treatment.

A £2 billion funding package has today (Friday 15 November) been awarded to build a proposed new subsea and underground 196km cable between Scotland and the north of England which will help boost energy security, cut bills and hit Government green targets.

Data protection and effective communications to consumers in relation to retail investments and pensions 

Ben Jones, CBI Lead Economist, responded to latest GDP figures for Q3 2024

UK spearheads global efforts to combat climate change with a funding package to help developing countries transition to clean energy.

TUC General Secretary Paul Nowak has commented on today’s (Friday) GDP data which show quarterly growth slowing to 0.1% in Q3 from 0.5% in Q2.

Inspections and other measures will promote the highest standards of care and increase public confidence in the funeral sector under draft regulations laid in the Scottish Parliament.

The UK and Canada, leveraging their strengths as trusted middle powers, are well-positioned to lead in setting global AI standards, fostering ethical, responsible and innovative AI governance.

The report finds that all relevant parts of the aviation sector need to work together better when responding to major events such as the NATS technical failure.

The NHS is set to revolutionise access to cancer screening for women in a major drive to boost uptake and save thousands of lives, the head of the NHS has announced.

Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves delivered her first Mansion House speech on the evening of Thursday 14 November 2024.

Today, the Deputy First Minister with responsibility for Climate Change and Rural Affairs, Huw Irranca-Davies, has announced a further 18 sites have been given National Forest for Wales status through the latest Status Scheme round.

A report published recently (13 November 2024) by the Electoral Commission has found voters in Northern Ireland were confident that July’s UK parliamentary general election was well run but significant improvements are needed to support participation and trust in future elections.

Thousands of highly skilled jobs will be supported across the UK as the Prime Minister throws his support behind the aerospace industry.

Ofcom yesterday published the latest figures for complaints they received about the UK’s major providers of landline, mobile, broadband and pay-TV services. 

Biggest pension reforms in decades will merge Local Government Pension Scheme assets and consolidate defined contribution schemes into megafunds.

Lord Khan, Minister for Faith, yesterday delivered a speech at the Midlands Interfaith Conference as part of this year's Inter Faith Week.

More than £1.9 million has been awarded to create the entrepreneurs of the future and to increase access to business careers.

Technological innovations and international prison policies are among things being studied as part of the government’s Sentencing Review.

Although Trump favours a weaker exchange rate, his policies are likely to have the opposite effect. The risk is that the US dollar could become too strong, which is bad news for the global economy.

CBI yesterday responded to Chancellor's Mansion House speech.

Charges relate to illegal discharges and breach of environmental permit. Case adjourned for sentencing at a later date.

Proposals to simplify crofting regulation, encourage more use of common grazings and a range of other changes have received high levels of support in a recent consultation.

East West Rail will kickstart economic growth and productivity and connect communities across the Oxford-Cambridge region (14 November 2024).

Senior executives who fail to stop dangerous and illegal knives being advertised on their platforms will be held liable under new government proposal.

Members from a Peruvian Amazon nation visited Wales this week to discuss the Wampís’ vital work to protect the Amazon rainforest and how Welsh Government funding is helping to support them move to renewable energy.

Following a competitive set of elections, I am delighted to announce that techUK’s Growth Council has now elected a new Chair and Vice-Chair.

There were an estimated 66,730 serious antibiotic-resistant infections in 2023.

Creative Industries Minister calls on live music industry to introduce voluntary ticket levy on stadiums and arenas to protect grassroots music sector, including venues, festivals, artists and promoters.

Companies who receive scientific advice from our NICE Advice service may experience a faster path to guidance publication, a study has found.

New controls on the use of consultancies across government are being brought in to cut unnecessary spending and save £1.2 billion by 2026, as set out in the Autumn Statement – with departments already expected to save the £550 million committed to this financial year.

A man suspected of being a significant supplier of small boats equipment to people smugglers has been arrested, as part of an operation involving the National Crime Agency and Dutch and Belgian partners.

A package of initiatives to prevent Type 2 diabetes, reduce avoidable death and disability is part of a new approach to tackling diabetes being driven by NHS Wales. This approach is seeking to unite diabetes experts, clinicians, communities and people living with diabetes to address one of Wales’ biggest health problems. 

As part of our ongoing review of consumer protection arrangements in the legal sector, we are consulting on potential changes to how and when law firms handle client money, and how this money is protected.

The Steel Charitable Trust is a charitable grant-giving trust that makes awards to registered charities throughout the United Kingdom. The Trust has historic links with Luton and the wider county of Bedfordshire, so Trustees take particular interest in applications that benefit these areas.

The Chair of the Food Standards Agency Professor Susan Jebb has said that the way the FSA regulates the food system has to evolve to ensure it can meet the challenges of the future.

More than 1,600 people asked for their cases to be looked at by the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) last year, the highest figure since the organisation was set up. 

Siva Anandaciva, Chief Analyst at The King’s Fund, responded to the latest NHS performance data