Buckinghamshire Council: Local Plan intervention letter
Local Plan intervention: letter from the Minister of State for Housing and Planning, Matthew Pennycook MP, to Buckinghamshire Council. Source link
Five new teams in Anglia to protect waterways from pollution
The Environment Agency (‘EA’) has assembled its largest ever team of investigators, enforcement officers and lawyers tackling water pollution, significantly strengthening its enforcement capability as part of a drive to build a tougher regulatory culture. The regulator has increased its water enforcement workforce almost fivefold – from 41 roles in 2023 to 195 by March, […]
CMA fines Euro Car Parks £473k for failure to comply with legal information notice
The penalty is the first issued under the CMA’s new fining powers Information notices are often used to gather evidence as part of assessing whether the CMA should open an investigation – it is a legal obligation to comply with such notices, they are not optional The CMA has not opened an investigation into whether […]
UK–Southeast Asia Tech Week 2026 Highlights Expanding UK–Malaysia Digital and Technology Partnership
The United Kingdom aims to reinforce its commitment to digital and technology collaboration with Malaysia and the wider region through UK–Southeast Asia Tech Week 2026, held in Kuala Lumpur from 11 to 13 February. Organised by the UK Government in partnership with key stakeholders including the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC), the British Malaysian Chamber […]
Record year of drug seizures made by Border Force
Seizures of ketamine, cannabis and nitrous oxide are at an all-time high following a record-breaking year of interceptions by Border Force and police. Cocaine interceptions by police are also at record levels with 23,706 seizures in the year to March 2025. Almost 150 tonnes of illegal drugs – equivalent to two Boeing 737s – with a street value of £2.6 billion was seized by Border Force. This is a 40% increase on the total quantity seized in the previous year and the highest since records began. Border Force […]
20 million illegal erectile dysfunction pills seized as MHRA warns against risky online buys
Nearly 20 million illegally traded erectile dysfunction pills have been seized in just five years – equivalent to a single dose for three in every four adult men in the UK – as the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) warns people not to risk their health by buying unauthorised medicines online. Between 2021 and 2025, the MHRA’s Criminal Enforcement Unit seized around 19.5 million doses of […]
Bristol’s apprentices celebrated as the future of the defence industry
Defence Minister celebrates National Apprenticeship Week with visit to Babcock in Bristol. 4% growth means defence supported 25,000 apprenticeship roles nationally in 2025, with the Armed Forces among the top providers. Biggest defence skills investment in decades as £182 million package creates well-paid roles from cyber security to submarine engineering. Applications to become one of the five Defence Technical Excellence Colleges […]
Connect Fund awards nine community projects over £80,000
Projects to bring together young Northern Ireland performers and Welsh National Youth Opera alumni to stage operas, and to enable a local charity to work with the Eden Project in Cornwall, are among the latest nine projects to receive over £80,000 funding from the Northern Ireland Office’s (NIO) Connect Fund. The Northern Ireland-based community and […]
Communities set to benefit from 13 new bathing spots proposed across England
Communities across the country could soon benefit from thirteen new designated bathing spots, giving local people greater confidence to enjoy the rivers and beaches they cherish, Water Minister Emma Hardy announced today. The proposals include the first ever designated bathing spot on the River Thames in London, which marks a vast transformation in water quality across […]
Environment Secretary speech on food security, resilience and standards
Good evening, bonsoir, mesdames et messieurs. Distinguished guests, colleagues and friends. Thank you for welcoming me to Paris this evening. And thank you Andrew for that kind and rather cheesy introduction. Je suis ravie d’etre ici ce soir avec vous. Paris occupe une place toute particulière dans mon cœur. J’ai travaillé en France dans ma […]