WIREDGOV

Should Donald Trump fail to back the Lobito Corridor project, João Lourenço’s government has other partnership options in Europe and the Middle East.

New funding to bolster the government’s pledge to end all new transmissions of HIV within England by 2030 was recently (29 November 2024) announced by Prime Minister Keir Starmer, at a reception in No10 to mark World AIDS Day attended by campaigners and public health experts.

November 2024 feels like a month of two halves. Mild, dry and gloomy at first, then storms, snow and heavy rain to close.

More than 100 people from across the South East of England have come together to speak about the 10 Year Health Plan and the NHS in the region

Private sector firms expect activity to fall in the three months to February 2025 (weighted balance of -10%), according to the CBI’s latest Growth Indicator. This marks the first time this year that expectations for growth have been negative.

Climate change presents significant risks and impacts for the bodies we regulate.

David Bryceland, Project Officer within Transformation Partners in Health and Care, shares the results from their survey which explored the needs of the homelessness workforce in supporting autistic people experiencing homelessness.

UK based defence firms will be prioritised for government investment under a new defence industrial strategy.

More than 100 people from across the East of England have come together to speak about the 10 Year Health Plan and the NHS in the region

‘Environment Statistics from the Scottish Household Survey 2023’ was published today.

Now past its 1,000th day, Russia’s war on Ukraine seems set to continue. Yet new dynamics are in play and the international community needs to consider how to stabilise a potential future peace deal. 

Government announces support for the Animal Welfare (Import of Dogs, Cats and Ferrets) Private Members Bill.

A man from Exeter who distributed videos of himself sexually assaulting a young girl online has been jailed for 25 years.

The agenda and papers for the December 2024 Board meeting have been published.

techUK's survey of parents and guardians working in tech reveals room for improvement to prepare young people for the future of work.

A man was found guilty of offences against six victims, including rape, sexual abuse and assault.

Emma De Vita, Editor of Project, met with Donna Sinnick, Babcock International’s newly appointed Chief Delivery Officer, who’s job title is comparable to the Chief Operating Officer (COO) position in other organisations.

Blog posted by: Liz Bryant and Valentina Mogaji, 28 November 2024 – Categories: Justice Digital Strategy, MoJ strategy, Our services, our users, Technology.

The Deputy Prime Minister, Angela Rayner, recently (29 November 2024) delivered a speech at the Pontignano Conference in Rome in November 2024.

The SKAO has signed a memorandum of understanding with STFC with the goal of establishing an SKAO Africa programme in the next 12 months.

The Prime Minister will set out ambitious milestones for change that will deliver real, tangible improvement to the lives of working people across the country in this Parliament, later this week. 

The constant escalation of doomsday language is a distraction from more urgent and practical cybersecurity priorities.

The start of this week will see a temporary return to colder conditions with the potential for wintry hazards in the north of the UK.

The Minister of State for Care delivered a keynote speech at the National Children and Adult Services Conference in Liverpool.

The Scottish Household Survey: Trust in Public Institutions 2023 report, published today, contains the key findings of the question asked in the social survey on trust in public institutions in Scotland. 

Funding to help practices retain and recruit key staff.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) confirms additional cases of Clade Ib mpox.

Plans for a database of private rented properties risk providing little help to tenants unless it includes meaningful information. 

As the UK regulator responsible for overseeing content broadcast on TV, radio and video on-demand (VoD), Ofcom handles thousands of complaints from viewers and listeners every year, covering a range of issues.

Ofgem urged to do more to protect consumers as soaring energy costs drive billing issues

Plan for exports published.

Adult learners and mentors from St Giles Cymru have travelled to Norway to benefit from a learning exchange journey funded through the Taith programme.

State-of-the-art software enabling insurance companies to judge with unprecedented accuracy how much cash to keep in the bank will help the industry thrive.

The Online Safety Act introduces new rules to make sure children are protected from accessing pornography.

Two thirds of councils have not increased spending on youth services in the past five years, according to a new survey by the Local Government Association, highlighting the need for fresh investment in local grass-roots provision for young people.

London Fire Brigade has made significant improvements to its performance since its last inspection and is now outstanding in its response to major and multi-agency incidents, the fire inspectorate has said.

2024 was dubbed the “year of democracy”, a super election year in which, by some counts, half the world went to the polls. It shone a light on the yawning flaws in our information ecosystems, with persisting concerns about the influence of social media and now generative AI on how people communicate, consume news, and form opinions, and with allegations of foreign interference flying thick and fast.

The process map will help researchers use lessons learned from COVID-19 to speed up new vaccine development and respond to epidemics and pandemics.

Ofcom has published its annual report on the BBC, which assesses the Corporation’s performance in meeting the needs of viewers and listeners over the period April 2023 to March 2024. This includes findings following a mystery shopping exercise into the BBC First complaints process.

The survey revealed ethnic minority communicators are now disillusioned and leaving due to negative experiences.

In its response, techUK emphasised the need to embed technology, and digital and essential skills, across the curriculum.

The Culture Secretary has provided an update on the funding of the BBC, setting out how the government will review alternate funding options to secure the broadcaster’s long-term sustainability, while providing it with funding certainty for the remainder of the current Charter period.

With less than three weeks left to book COVID and flu vaccinations online, NHS chiefs are urging everyone still eligible to get protected – as the latest figures show nearly 25 million vaccines have been delivered so far.

New, modern learning facilities for East Lothian.

New Zealand will sign up to the UK’s ‘Shadow Fleet’ initiative, as part of the first annual UK-NZ Foreign Ministers’ Dialogue in London.

Former mineworkers have received their first pension increase following the government transferring £1.5 billion to the Mineworkers' Pension Scheme.

Home Secretary signs landmark joint statement with Iraq to tackle people smuggling and organised crime networks operating across the region and in Europe.

More than 20,500 portraits were provided free to public institutions across the United Kingdom to celebrate the new reign under the official portrait scheme.

Sir Martyn Oliver, Ofsted's Chief Inspector, yesterday spoke at the annual National Children and Adult Services Conference (NCASC) in Liverpool.

UK Emissions Trading Scheme continues commitments to expand the scheme and further limit carbon emissions.

Ministers call for increased agriculture and marine funding.

Europe and the US must capitalise on Iran’s vulnerabilities and time pressures to push for meaningful nuclear diplomacy before the October 2025 ‘snapback’ deadline expires.

A review is underway of the current fees that APHA charge for statutory services

Women are being urged to come forward for cervical screening as new figures show more than five million are not up to date with their routine check-ups.

A new agreement will see information, data and technical advice on maritime activity shared, to raise awareness of and prevent illegal acts.

In a UK-first, Wales now has mandatory licensing rules in place to help protect the public's health when getting acupuncture, body piercings, electrolysis, or tattoos including semi-permanent make up.

Nearly every one of Devon and Cornwall’s 155 monitored bathing waters meets the minimum standards for bathing water quality.

GAD has proposed a new approach to provide a simple comparison of the financial attractiveness of pre-arranged financing instruments.

Vulnerable people who face unfair eviction or being pushed into homelessness are among those who will benefit from the first increase in civil legal aid funding in almost 30 years, the Lord Chancellor announced today (29 November 2024).

Full list of winners for the 21st annual National Apprenticeship and Skills Awards, which took place on 27 November 2024.

Strengthening tenants’ rights and preventing homelessness.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) investigation into the actions of Avon and Somerset Police before the death of a teenager on the M5 is continuing.

The experiences of these children are absolutely – appalling – my heart goes out to them and their families. No child should ever be physically restrained under such conditions and with such a lack of compassion, especially those who are so vulnerable.

The Scottish Government will provide universal support through the introduction of Pension Age Winter Heating Payments next year ensuring a payment for every pensioner household in winter 2025-26.

New regulations to remove a local connection requirement for veterans to access social housing.

The Digital Futures 2024 report shows progress as sport and physical activity organisations begin to focus on data and AI

Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting announced plans at a Men’s Health Summit with Movember and Premier League.

A new network of scanners will drive drug discovery and diagnose patients with illnesses like cancer, Alzheimer’s and heart conditions earlier and faster.

A man complained to the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman that The Grange Care Home had agreed to refund his mother’s estate money it had received as FNC payments, but then the care home then went back on this verbal agreement and did not refund the money.

Stark differences in the online lives of men and women in the UK are revealed in Ofcom’s annual report into the nation’s digital habits.

Properly funded preventative services would mean councils, working closely with partners and people drawing on support, can maximize the impact of their resources and address community needs. This will also drive down demand for more expensive acute health and social care support.

The Office of Rail and Road has published its Rail Industry Finance statistics for April 2023 to March 2024.

The FCA has published the second phase of its consultation on proposals for a measured increase in transparency about its enforcement investigations, and set out plans for further engagement after significant concerns were raised in relation to the original consultation.

Number of daily cycle journeys has increased by five per cent since 2023, with 1.33 million daily journeys taking place in 2024

The Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) has signed a legal agreement with the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) after concerns over a workplace culture which did not adequately protect staff from discrimination and harassment.

Read the results of new survey findings from our Health and Care LGBTQ+ Leaders Network.

Stronger collaboration between water companies and water retailers is critical to ensuring business customers are empowered with the advice and practical support they need to save water.

There are a number of practical things you can do to shop safely when buying items from online marketplaces. Here are our Top Ten tips

IPPR has responded to migration and asylum statistics from the ONS and the Home Office

The fight against meningococcal B continues.

Scottish Borders Council has been highly praised. It is continuously improving, taking innovative approaches to making savings and tackling recruitment challenges. With increased demand and less money to spend, this focus on reform is vital for all councils in Scotland.

Net migration is 4 times higher than it was 5 years ago, driven by record levels of overseas recruitment as the government acts to bring numbers down.

The Taskforce will strengthen collaborative working across the UK to improve tree planting and ensure the long-term survival of woodland.

An ambitious plan to tackle racial disproportionality and safeguard fair prosecution decision-making for all has been published today by the Crown Prosecution Service.

Construction has begun on HMS Sheffield - a new warfare ship for the Royal Navy, and will be one of the world’s most advanced warships.

Shameless businesses who commit serious offences will be banned from sponsoring overseas workers to crack down on visa abuse and prevent exploitation. 

Funding reform kickstarted to fix the foundations of local government and better use taxpayer cash

Over 90 tonnes of illegal drugs have been seized by Border Force so far this year, a 92% increase on the year before, including 19 tonnes of cocaine.

Today’s interim monitoring report sets out the CMA's observations on developments in the road fuel retail market since the previous update in July 2024.

The Integrated National Transport Strategy will set out a 'people first approach' to getting people around the country.

Over £57 million paid out in last two weeks to farmers affected by 23/24 flooding

UK announces contribution to International Development Association (IDA), the World Bank’s fund for the world’s lowest income countries

Home Secretary signs landmark joint statement with Iraq to tackle people smuggling and organised crime networks operating across the region and in Europe.

The findings of a survey by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) of nearly 19,000 people who used NHS maternity services in 2024 shows some areas of improvement over the past year, particularly regarding access to mental health support. However, there remain other aspects of maternity care where people report a poorer experience and where analysis indicates a longer term decline in positive feedback over time.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has released new statistics today [Thursday 28 November] on the amount of Pension Credit applications, as well as applications processed and those claims that were successful. 

Domestic abusers will be ordered to stay away from their victims and face tougher restrictions with the launch of new protective orders today.

Billions of pounds in guarantees for housebuilders are now open for business as part of a new support package confirmed yesterday by the Housing Minister.

A company director has been jailed for his key role in a £3 million money laundering operation.

Suggestions of a possible ‘turning point’ in Sudan’s 18 month-long civil war are a drastic overstatement, albeit one exposing the limited agency and capability of key parties – both foreign and domestic.

£22.6 million invested in innovative projects across the country to support unpaid cares as well as people with care needs.

Commission Chair Sir John Armitt yesterday (27 November) wrote to the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, the Rt Hon Darren Jones MP, to set out the input which the Commission will provide to support and inform the development of the government’s ten-year infrastructure strategy; it is a response to the Chief Secretary’s letter of 7 October to Sir John.

A project by the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) looking at previously closed cases where advances in forensic science could now provide new evidence about the identity of an offender has moved into its second phase.  

Sentiment amongst retailers about their business situation over the next three months fell at the fastest pace for two years in November, according to the CBI’s latest quarterly Distributive Trades Survey.

Timothy Burcham was owed £6,000 for waste removed from a mobile home park in Paignton. But the company that owned it went into administration before paying him.

The Israeli military’s unprecedented use of brute force has changed the strategic environment, ending Tehran’s hopes of bleeding Israel through linked conflicts.

New total-body scanner supports patients through earlier diagnoses and treatment while aiding new medicines discovery.

Sentiment within the services sector deteriorated in the three months to November, according to the CBI’s latest quarterly Service Sector Survey.

Blog posted by: Terna Waya, Senior Upstream Regulation Officer, Freedom of Information and Transparency and Ribia Nisa, Team Manager, Public Advice and Data Protection Complaints Services, 28 November 2024.

The Charity Commission has unveiled a refreshed suite of guidance to help trustees protect their charities from fraud and cyber crime.

TUC General Secretary Paul Nowak recently commented on the publication of the government’s Get Britain Working white paper.

Legislation to reduce rising prison population.

Applications open for 750 schools to join ‘early adopter’ rollout and support local children to start the school day ready to learn.

IPPR has reacted to the latest news on Vauxhall’s planned plant closure and other car makers warning of jobs cuts. 

In the third episode of Unlocking Opportunities, our live show series in partnership with FE News, we turned our attention to the pressing issue of NEETs – young people not in education, employment, or training – and explored strategies to tackle youth unemployment.  

The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Liz Kendall recently (26 November 2024) delivered a speech to Parliament to present the Get Britain Working White Paper.

Vision for progress in St Andrew’s Day address ahead of 2025-26 Budget.

The CMA looked at thousands of products to see if loyalty prices offered genuine savings – the evidence says yes.

The pressing social and economic challenge posed by wealth inequality in the UK was yesterday freshly analysed in a new Institute for Public Policy Research paper. 

Find out more about how the RHC is leading on enabling innovation.

The dental recovery plan, launched in February 2024 with the aim that “everyone who needs to see a dentist will be able to,” is unlikely deliver an additional 1.5 million treatments by March 2025, which even if achieved would still mean 2.6 million fewer treatments compared to six years ago, according to a new report from the National Audit Office (NAO). 

An Official Statistics in Development publication for Scotland.

The second year of free Welsh lessons for 16- to 25-year-olds and school staff has helped even more people learn the language, with over 2,000 young people and school staff estimated to have taken up the offer during 2023-24.

The TUC and unions are today (Thursday) uniting to support a workplace day of action to call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.  

PCC Joy Allen and PCC David Sidwick respond to the Department for Culture, Media & Sport announcement of a mandatory statutory levy on gambling companies, the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners’ Joint Leads on Addictions & substance misuse

Significant progress has been made against an action plan to improve weight management support in primary and community care, according to a new report by Public Health Wales.

Ambition to halt nature loss by 2030.

Yesterday, First Minister of Wales Eluned Morgan announced a major investment summit will take place in Wales in 2025.

Tackling the harms of tobacco and vaping is a key goal of local health and care leaders.

New research by Ofwat and the Consumer Council for Water (CCW), that questioned customers whose homes were flooded with sewage, shows wastewater companies must offer more support and better resolve problems when they occur. Some customers were left to clean up the sewage themselves and often compensation did not cover the costs incurred.

Ofsted has postponed the start to its next initial teacher education (ITE) inspection cycle until the 2025/26 academic year, following a request by the Secretary of State for Education.

We'll prioritise support from our Movement Fund for sports and activities that need help to recover quickly.

Deputy First Minister outlines steps towards financing a green future.

However, it also calls for a greater ambition from government to boost the profile of apprenticeships and build better links between employers and jobcentres

A new CCS agreement that will help schools, local authorities, hospitals and other public sector organisations buy high-quality and sustainable food and drink at better value is now open for customers

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has today issued revised guidelines to improve the handling of discrimination complaints as well as highlighting how the police service needs to take immediate steps to safeguard children from adultification during their interactions.

For the first time, the British Thoracic Society (BTS), National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) have collaborated to develop a UK-wide asthma guideline.

Minister calls for right to work pilot in Scotland

The number of children’s social workers employed by councils will need to increase by 13,000 - nearly a third - over the next decade as a result of growing need for the care and support of children and young people and to reduce increasing reliance on agency staff, new research by the Local Government Association forecasts today.

A mother who hid her new baby in a drawer in her bed for three years and fed her through a syringe has been jailed.

New research by Ofwat and the Consumer Council for Water (CCW), that questioned customers whose homes were flooded with sewage shows wastewater companies must offer more support and better resolve problems when they occur. Some customers were left to clean up the sewage themselves and often compensation did not cover the costs incurred.

The FCA has fined András Sebők, former chief supply chain officer at Wizz Air Holdings plc (Wizz Air), £123,500 for trading company shares when he wasn’t permitted to, and failing to disclose his trades. 

The National Lottery Community Fund today opens a new £166 million funding stream that will give Scotland’s communities a much needed boost over the next five years. With a focus on building the strengths of people and communities in greatest need, community groups across the country can now apply to share these life changing funds. 

 Cllr David Fothergill, social care spokesperson for the LGA responds to analysis by the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services, which found National Insurance and National Living Wage increases will add an extra £1.8 billion to local councils bill for commissioning care and support.

The APCC is supporting the UN Women-led annual campaign, 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence. The campaign runs from 25 November, International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, until 10 December, Human Rights Day. The international initiative encourages civil societies across the world to advocate for the prevention and elimination of violence against women and girls (VAWG). 

This follows a recent visit to Fort Hill Integrated College in Lisburn alongside Education Secretary

Wales’s four police forces will be better supported by the UK Government as part of its mission to deliver safer streets.

New projects are set to test innovative hybrid connectivity solutions in some of the very hardest to reach places in the UK, with up to £3.5 million in government funding.

Driving forward a trend in the satellite telecommunications industry, the UK Space Agency announced today a funding call of up to £3.5 million to test innovative hybrid connectivity solutions in some of the very hard to reach places in the UK. This call is part of part of the Advanced Research in Telecommunications Systems (ARTES) programme.

Immediate financial support will be provided to people whose homes have been flooded during Storm Bert.

Non-Europeans can now apply in advance for an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) and will need one to travel to the UK from January 2025.

The ceasefire agreement between Israel and Lebanese Hizbollah offers hope, says the Foreign Secretary.

Oxford Nanopore’s breakthrough genetic sequencing tech to analyse 50,000 samples from UK Biobank, to create a world-first ‘epigenetic map’.

TfL Board to decide on package of initial charges, discounts and exemptions at meeting on 4 December

Vishay Intertechnology, one of the world's largest manufacturers of discrete semiconductors and passive electronic components, has announced that it is investing £51 million in Newport Wafer Fab, the UK’s largest semiconductor facility - bringing new product range capabilities and skilled job opportunities to Newport.

The Curriculum and Assessment review has the potential to be a landmark moment for our education system.

Unveiling the biggest reforms to employment support for a generation, Work and Pensions Secretary, Liz Kendall has today (26 November) published the Get Britain Working White Paper, marking the Government’s first major intervention to achieve an ambitious 80 per cent employment rate.

Scotland’s Chief Statistician yesterday released Recorded Crime in Scotland, year ending September 2024.

According to the FCA's latest research on consumer attitudes and behaviours towards crypto, 12% of UK adults now own crypto, up from 10% in previous findings.

Nominations are now open to celebrate the important work of prosecutors strengthening the criminal justice system, the Attorney General has announced.

Backlogs in firms’ audits of England’s 426 local authorities have led to the National Audit Office (NAO) disclaiming the 2022-23 WGA for the first time.

More than 100 people from the county visited Somerset Cricket Club in Taunton to discuss their views of the NHS

All 31 Health and Social Care Partnerships have now signed up to a programme which supports people experiencing distress.

Artwork by leading artist Rita Keegan forms the cover of the 40th pocket Tube map.

"Trust in the sector is now at a ten year high, and on an upward trajectory… The Commission itself is a global leader in charity regulation, with an authoritative regulatory voice" said the Chair of the Charity Commission at the regulator’s Annual Public Meeting today.

If you’re young, female, in an ethnic minority, have a disability or are in poor health, you are more likely to report lower mental wellbeing.

Read LexisNexis® Risk Solutions' guest insight on the future of Digital Trust.

Welsh competitors claimed an incredible 70 medals at the SkillBuild and WorldSkills UK National Finals, setting the stage for Wales hosting the event in 2025.