Biggest doctor’s union backs new government deal with GPs to fix the front door of the NHS and bring back the family doctor Slashing red tape and cutting box ticking targets will free up GPs and take the first steps to end the 8am scramble for appointments Reforms will be backed by increased funding to reverse years of under investment in General Practice Agreement with the BMA on the GP contract for the first time in four years is a reset of relations after recent collective action that has blighted the health service For the first time in four years,…
Author: HM Government
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Good morning. Thank you very much for coming, and on a personal note thank you to the Greater Manchester Authority for hosting us. It is very good to be back in Manchester. I spent four happy and formative years here as a student, half a century ago. Manchester was a lively, energetic, and forward-looking place, and that has not changed. I have come back to visit in various roles and whenever I have, I am struck by how much the city has changed, how much it has regenerated itself and how much it has developed and grown in every sense…
The public, environment groups, investors and others are invited to share their views from today (27 February) on future changes to the water sector. How customer bills are set, environmental regulation, the financial resilience of water companies and how to attract long-term investment in the sector are among the areas where the Commission is seeking views. The wide-ranging Call for Evidence is open for views from all interested parties until 23 April. The Independent Water Commission will make its final recommendations to both UK and Welsh Governments this summer. Sir Jon Cunliffe, Chair of the Independent Water Commission and Former…
The two-year project has used drone technology combined with Artificial Intelligence (AI) to monitor seal populations and their pups off the coast of Norfolk. In December 2024, a team of specialists from Natural England launched a drone over the beach at Winterton-on-Sea in Norfolk. Instance segmentation (a type of AI), was then used to automatically detect individual seals from the drone imagery and distinguish between adult seals and whitecoat pups, even when grouped closely together. The survey identified over 8,500 seals along an 8 kilometre stretch of shoreline, in comparison to a volunteer-led ground count which recorded more than 6,200…
The Trade Remedies Authority (TRA) has today (Tuesday 25 February) published initial findings, proposing that anti-dumping and countervailing measures on organic coated steel (OCS) imported from China be maintained for an additional five years, until May 4, 2029. In its Statements of Essential Facts (SEF), the TRA found that dumping and subsidisation would likely recur if the measures were removed, potentially causing injury to UK industry. The measures have been largely effective, usually keeping Chinese imports below 1,000 tonnes annually since 2013. Tata Steel UK (TSUK) is the sole producer of OCS in the UK, manufacturing it at the Shotton facility…
Urgent homelessness funding, previously tripled, has now been increased sixfold for this year to reach more people Extra cash boost will see thousands of struggling people avoid homelessness, with councils stepping in early to help prevent evictions and secure accommodation Builds on the government’s Plan for Change to deliver the biggest increase in tenant protections and affordable housing in decades, ensuring safe and secure housing for all Thousands on the brink of homelessness will receive lifechanging support to remain in their homes, thanks to new emergency funding of £30 million for homelessness services announced today. Today’s funding is targeted at…
UK-India trade talks kick off in New Delhi today with Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds meeting with Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal Deal aims to deliver economic growth and bring Indian economy – world’s third largest by 2028 – within reach for more UK businesses Push to attract investment will take place in financial capital Mumbai and tech hub Bengaluru by Investment Minister Poppy Gustafsson The relaunch of talks on a UK-India trade deal will take place today [Monday 24 February], as UK ministers arrive in India to negotiate a huge economic prize helping to deliver on the growth agenda.…
Transformational commitment to support investment in Grangemouth community through National Wealth Fund. Project Willow to report shortly on long-term future of industrial site. Grangemouth Training Guarantee to support refinery workers into new jobs – as part of the Plan for Change. The National Wealth Fund will provide £200 million of investment to new opportunities in Grangemouth as part of a major intervention to ensure the long-term future of the industrial site, the Prime Minister announced today [Sunday 23 February]. The funding will be available for co-investment with the private sector to help unlock Grangemouth’s full potential and secure our clean energy future. The UK…
Children and vulnerable people who are exploited by gangs for criminal purposes will receive greater protection, with two new criminal offences set to be introduced by the government next week. Landmark legislation will be brought forward to ban cuckooing, a highly exploitative practice where criminals seize control of a vulnerable person’s home without consent to conduct illegal activities like drug dealing. Another new offence will be created against adults who use a child to commit criminal activity. Both of these measures will be part of the government’s landmark Crime and Policing Bill, which is set to be introduced in Parliament…
Government delivers on its manifesto commitment to roll out extra urgent appointments across the country “Dental deserts” where patients struggle to get appointments targeted Plans mark first step towards rebuilding NHS dentistry – with government also set to deliver supervised toothbrushing to improve children’s oral health Hundreds of thousands of people across England will soon be able to access urgent and emergency dental care as the government and NHS rolls out 700,000 extra urgent appointments, Health Minister Stephen Kinnock announced today (Friday 21 February). Delivering on the government’s manifesto pledge, NHS England has today written to integrated care boards…