Statement on air strike against Houthi military facility in Yemen: 29 April 2025
On 29 April 2025, UK forces participated in a joint operation with US forces against a Houthi military target in Yemen. This action was in line with long-standing policy of the UK government, following the Houthis initiating their campaign of attacks in November 2023, threatening freedom of navigation in the Red Sea, striking international ships, […]
Scotland Office/Office of the Advocate General appointments
Susan Deacon has been appointed as lead non-executive director, and Catherine MacLeod and Andrew Kerr have been appointed as non-executive directors. The appointments have been made following a rigorous, fair and open recruitment process under the public appointment rules. The appointees join Martin Dorchester and Stuart Patrick as non-executive members on the offices’ joint management […]
Secretary of State Extends Timeframe for Legacy Investigation Reports
The Secretary of State has today signed a six month extension to a transitional provision made under the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023, to allow investigating bodies to carry out post-investigative tasks until 31st October 2025. A transitional provision was made under the Act which specified that, where all that remains to […]
Valuation Office Agency scrapped in government drive to slash inefficiencies
VOA to become part of HMRC to increase efficiency, business experience and ministerial accountability Comes ahead of government’s review of the status of hundreds of Arm’s-Length Bodies to rewire Whitehall for a more agile state Measure features as part of government’s Tax Update: Simplification, Administration and Reform (TUSAR) published today As part of the government’s […]
From concept to commercialisation: Defence Innovation Loans are open
The Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) supported by Innovate UK Loans Ltd (Innovate UK) are working together to offer Defence Innovation Loans. This service provides an opportunity for single small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with solutions to Defence themed problems to apply for a Defence Innovation Loan of between £100,000 and £1 million with a […]
HMC Vigilant preliminary assessment closure
The MAIB has undertaken a preliminary assessment into the death of a crew member from Border Force cutter Vigilant in November 2024. Following the results of the preliminary assessment and after a full coronial investigation, including a detailed postmortem and a determination by HM Coroner of death by natural causes, the Chief Inspector of Marine […]
Apply for civil legal aid – building an improved service
Some civil legal aid providers can now access: Apply for civil legal aid Section 8, Special Children Act, Public Law Family and Domestic Abuse – except Domestic Abuse Protection Orders (DAPO) – applications for legal aid in civil proceedings should be submitted through the Apply for civil legal aid portal. Apply for civil legal aid […]
Sellafield’s ’locked vault’ gives up its nuclear secrets
Waste is now being routinely retrieved from one of the world’s oldest nuclear waste stores for the first time in its history. Sellafield’s Pile Fuel Cladding Silo has effectively been a locked vault since the 1970s. That was when waste stopped being tipped into its 6 compartments. After decades of work to figure out how […]
Alex Ely has been appointed as Chair of the Museum of the Home
Alex Ely Alex is Founder Director of Mæ, an architecture and urban design studio based in London. Alex is a RIBA Chartered Architect and a Member of the Royal Town Planning Institute, he graduated from the Royal College of Art. Under his leadership, Mæ has gained international recognition for its innovative and socially responsive design […]
Reappointment of a Non-Judicial Member of the Sentencing Council
The Lord Chancellor has approved the reappointment of Richard Wright KC as a non-judicial member of the Sentencing Council with special expertise in criminal defence. The reappointment is for 3 years from 1 August 2025 to 31 July 2028. The Sentencing Council for England and Wales was set up in April 2010 to promote […]