7220posts
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Creating a smokefree generation and tackling youth vaping: what you need to know
The Prime Minister has set out plans to build a better and brighter future for our children. This includes the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, which was announced in the King’s speech on 7 November 2023 and introduced to Parliament on …
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Renters (Reform) Bill
There has been continued coverage around the Renters (Reform) Bill. This landmark legislation will provide a fairer private rented sector and deliver on the manifesto commitment to ban Section 21 evictions. The Bill is progressing through the House of Commons …
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Greener services hack day: Part two
In the second post of a two-part blog, content designers Natalie Smithson and Sandeep Dhaliwal report on the outputs of the recent hack day, led by Defra’s planet-centred design (PCD) team.
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Join us at our virtual Digital Recruitment Days and explore your next career move
We’re holding our next Digital Recruitment Days virtually, on 25 and 26 April! Do you work in engineering, user research or interaction design, and are looking for a fulfilling and impactful career opportunity? Join us online, meet our teams and potentially get hired.
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What’s past is prologue; looking back on the past decade of the RPC
As the RPC says thanks and goodbye to departing member Jonathan Cave, he shares some thoughts on the evolution of better regulation in the UK over the past decade.
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Supporting every learner using the National Tutoring Programme
Executive Headteacher at the Imperium Federation, Meic Griffiths, shares his experience using the National Tutoring Programme (NTP) to support pupils at the federation.
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Webinar follow up: uplands
On Wednesday 27 March, we held a webinar on the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) and Countryside Stewardship (CS) schemes for upland farmers. In this post, we summarise what we covered and include links for you to learn more.
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Meet the Modern Civil Service: Jim Harra
Hello! Welcome to another interview in the Meet the Modern Civil Service series. The aim of this series is to showcase the people in the civil service who are driving innovation, whether that be through being a learning champion, …
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What is whooping cough and is there a vaccine?
This blog post was last checked and updated in September 2024. Whooping cough, also known as pertussis, is a highly contagious bacterial infection that mainly affects the lungs and airways. Whooping cough is sometimes known as the 100-day cough because …
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Webinar follow up: livestock and grassland
We recently held a webinar for livestock and grassland farmers in England. In the webinar, we gave an overview of the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) offer and how the scheme supports both productivity and the environment. We also covered the Animal Health and Welfare Pathway and the grants on offer through the Farming Equipment and Technology Fund. In this post, we summarise what we covered and include the recording and links for you to learn more.
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The name's Thor - PD Thor!
Meet Thor, one of Gibraltar Defence Police’s four legged officers who are specially trained and must be healthy, of good temperament and most importantly, be bold and courageous! The talents of our canine companions are still an invaluable crime-fighting tool …
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Trees and biodiversity net gain on small sites
Amanda Newsome, Biodiversity Net Gain Advisor and Jim Smith, Urban Forestry Advisor at the Forestry Commission explore how integrating trees into new developments can contribute towards delivering biodiversity net gain.
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The Rural Payments Agency Podcast: Episode 9
Welcome to the ninth episode of The RPA Podcast. In our latest episode, we discuss the opening of the claim window for existing Countryside Stewardship revenue and Environmental Stewardship agreements with CS processing manager Gregg Bulman. We discuss how farmers …
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The Rural Payments Agency Podcast: Episode 9 Transcript
Executive Summary Item 1: Gregg Bulman a Countryside Stewardship Processing manager, runs us through opening of the claim window for existing Countryside Stewardship revenue and Environmental Stewardship agreements as well as giving an update on Delinked Payments. The claim window …
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How to choose a business rates agent
In this blog, we set out what look for when choosing an agent, how to avoid scams and the standards we expect agents to follow.
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Preparing for the requirement to mediate in small claims: What you need to know
Mediation is soon to be an integral part of the small claims process, meaning parties will need to attend an appointment to try and resolve their case ahead of having a court hearing. Rosemary Rand, Deputy Director and Service Owner for Civil, and Chris Kane, Head of the Small Claims Mediation Service, explain why the service is changing and what the benefits are.
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ACRE (Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment) seeks veterinary expertise
Are you committed to public service and motivated to contribute to purposeful scientific debate with a significant practical application? Do you have a proven track record of achievement in research and expertise in biotechnology-derived veterinary medicinal products and vaccines? ACRE …
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Windrush Schemes Factsheet – February 2024
We are determined to put right the terrible injustices faced by some people from the Windrush generation and the wider Commonwealth, which happened under successive governments. The Windrush Scheme ensures members of the Windrush generation can get the documentation they need to …
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Improving environmental outcomes in Protected Landscapes
In this post, Catherine Brabner-Evans gives an introduction to Protected Landscapes, as well as an insight into the action Defra is taking to meet targets within these landscapes to halt and reverse the decline in nature.
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Royal Gibraltar Regiment leadership day
Yesterday, Wednesday 10 April 2024, as part of the continued development of the Royal Gibraltar Regiment (RG) soldiers and officers, the RG’s recruiting team ran an impactful and inspiring leadership day in Devil’s Tower Camp. Over 50 soldiers and officers …
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Acting on the recommendations of the Dartmoor Review
Last year, ministers commissioned an independent review into protected site management on Dartmoor. Chaired by David Fursdon, the review was undertaken with advice and input from a panel of expert advisers, local farmers and stakeholders. The review aimed to help us better understand how we can work with farmers to deliver much-needed environmental improvements on Dartmoor, balancing this alongside agricultural production, public access and cultural and natural heritage. Today we published our response to the report.
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Welcoming the Government response to the Independent Review of Protected Site Management on Dartmoor
Since publication of the Independent Review, Natural England has been working hard to rebuild trust and understanding with Dartmoor farmers. We have actively listened to commoners, land managers and partners, and we are seeing signs of improved relations and a …
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Can 6,700 Practice and Process subscribers be wrong?
Practice and Process, our monthly newsletter for professional customers, is celebrating its first birthday with a brand new section – find out more and, if you haven't already, subscribe today.
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Arriving gear up
It was on the 8th of April 1944 that an RAF Wellington Bomber crash landed on Gibraltar’s runway. Mystery surrounds exactly why the plane crashed just over a year before the end of World War II. But six members of …
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Unpaid carer's leave: your right to look after yourself
Caring at home and work is tough I know from my own experience how challenging it can be juggling a busy work life and looking after a family member, in my case my mum at the end of her …
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Scaling data standards to support local government
One major challenge councils face is unconnected technology solutions that can’t share data with each other. This has a real world impact, as described by a council officer during our Future Councils pilot: “We have a disjointed view of our …
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Reducing methane emissions to help combat climate change
The Environment Agency has set out in one place what it is doing to help reduce methane emissions in England, bringing together all their work in a new Methane Action Plan (2024-26). Mark Ellis-Jones, the national Climate Change and Energy …
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Farming rules for water: The importance of Nutrient Management Planning in farming
Following last week’s blog about soil testing, we’re now looking at another area where we often find issues during a farm inspection – nutrient management planning. Around 30% of farms we inspected last year weren’t able to provide evidence of …
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Explainer: data supporting government’s work to improve building safety
We regularly receive media enquiries about the progress of our remediation programmes and see coverage in the media. In addition to our media statements and regular data publications, this blog sets out various statistics relating to building remediation for journalists …
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Coverage of the launch of the Water Restoration Fund
Today we look at media coverage of a new £11m fund for local water quality projects.
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Water Restoration Fund: grants now available
Groups of farmers in England can now apply for a grant to improve freshwater habitats. Through the new Water Restoration Fund, local groups can apply for funding to bolster their capacity and capabilities for delivery of on-the-ground projects which improve the water environment. In this post, we'll explain how the fund works.
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PropTech Innovation Fund: how it's helped identify barriers to adoption of digital engagement tools and the role of government and partners to reduce them
Through Rounds 1-3 of the PropTech Innovation Fund, we have funded 65 pilots involving 47 different LPAs. This blog post outlines the top five barriers identified through our pilots and research. If these are addressed, we believe they will help enable the adoption of digital engagement tools at scale.
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Storm Henk: grants available for affected farmers
If you suffered damage to your land during Storm Henk that was uninsurable, the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) will contact you about financial support to help cover the costs of returning your land to the condition it was in before flooding occurred. In this post, we'll give an overview. Post updated 12 April.
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Launching our Water Restoration Fund
In this post, the Environment Blog team discuss the launch of the Water Restoration Fund and what this fund means local for communities.
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Anneke helps the UK NSC navigate the complexities of genetics
Anneke helps the UK NSC navigate the complexities of clinical genetics evidence in screening when public expectations about the ability of genetics to predict ill health are running high.
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Primary school offer day 2024: Everything you need to know
Parents of three and four-year-olds will soon find out what primary school has offered their child a place for the next academic year. The majority of pupils will be offered a place at one of their preferred primary schools, while …
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Coverage of Ministerial Direction on waste incineration facilities
Today we are looking at coverage following the Ministerial Direction on waste incineration facilities.
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Operation Temperer Factsheet
What is Operation TEMPERER? Operation TEMPERER is a joint contingency operation to provide military support to the police in extreme national emergency circumstances, such as surge support for a major domestic terrorist attack or threat. Defence personnel will always be …
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Drawing from personal experiences to improve children’s social care
In this blog, a member of the Children’s social care National Practice Group (NPG) explains how her own personal experience of the care system has helped support the development of a National Framework for children’s social care.
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Law enforcement torch run visit to the Gibraltar Defence Police
On Friday 5 April 2024, the Gibraltar Defence Police were delighted to host the European Co-ordinator for Special Olympics at Northgate House, Gibraltar Defence Police (GDP) Headquarters. Mr Jan Branderhorst and his wife, who are from the Netherlands, were on …