7293posts
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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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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 …
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“Leave your badges at the door.”
Matt Bradley and Helena Evangelidis explain what their Planetary Impact work is trying to achieve, and they share their passion for how we can better understand the impacts that technology is having on the planet and what each of us can do about it.
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What’s in a name (change)?
Defra Head of Security Hannah John explains how a subtle but important name change aimed at building wider awareness and understanding of our broad and important Defra remit, will at the same time enable us to grow an increased sense of belonging among all of our people.
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Major Pearce returns to the Royal Gibraltar Regiment following two years in Directorate for Overseas Bases
The Royal Gibraltar Regiment is pleased to announce the return of Major (Maj) Elvis Pearce after a two-year assignment as Staff Officer Class 2 (SO2) Gibraltar Desk in the Directorate for Overseas Bases in MOD’s Strategic Command, Northwood, United Kingdom. …
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Working together to meet government targets for tree planting in England
Ian Tubby, Head of Policy and Advice at the Forestry Commission, and Adrian Jowitt, Principal Adviser Woodland Policy at Natural England reflect on the recent CEO visit at Cranborne Estate, where Marian Spain and Richard Stanford discussed our shared vision for woodland creation.
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Working together to meet government targets for tree planting in England
Ian Tubby, Head of Policy and Advice at the Forestry Commission, and Adrian Jowitt, Principal Adviser Woodland Policy at Natural England reflect on the recent CEO visit at Cranborne Estate, where Marian Spain and Richard Stanford discussed our shared vision …
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Partnership board updated on progress with SMA screening evidence review
The UK NSC and its partners were updated on work to review the evidence for newborn screening for spinal muscular atrophy at the second meeting of the SMA in-service evaluation partnership board.
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New research project launched by the Environment Agency to monitor saltmarsh’s carbon capture and storage
The Environment Agency (EA) is part of a new research project that will monitor saltmarshes across the UK. Saltmarsh plays a significant role in mitigating climate change by absorbing and storing greenhouse gasses in their plants and sediments. As well …
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In the jungle: Operating alongside the flora and fauna of Belize
Did you know that the British Army undertakes Close Country Tropical Training within the jungles of Belize? The British Army Training Support Unit Belize (BATSUB), supported by DIO, operates on one of the MOD’s overseas training areas, which we share …
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Reflections on the first year as Head of the Government Science and Engineering Profession
Dear GSE members, it has now been one year since I took on the best job in the world, the role of Government Chief Scientific Adviser, with the remit to advise the Prime Minister and government on all things related …
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Free childcare: How we are tackling the cost of childcare
England has some of the highest quality childcare provision in the world, with 96% of early years settings rated by Ofsted as good or outstanding. But we recognise that childcare is also one of the biggest costs facing working families …
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Removing barriers in recruitment for prison leavers and people with convictions in the Probation Service
The Civil Service currently has 23 Going Forward into Employment (GFiE) Life Chance Schemes in operation across Government, using innovative approaches to recruitment and providing Individuals from a wide range of backgrounds, who face barriers to employment, with opportunities and …
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New regime to drive up decent standards for social housing residents
This week we announced the new inspection regime for social housing which will be enforced by the Regulator of Social Housing. Minister for Social Housing, Baroness Scott wrote for the Big Issue, setting out the biggest change to social housing …
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Delivering for people and planet
In 2018, the government published its 25 Year Environment Plan which outlined 10 overarching goals for improving the environment within a generation. Here are 60 ways we are delivering this for people, the planet and nature.
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RAF Rugby Union - For the love of the scrum
As the Rugby Union Inter-Services Championship draws closer, anticipation builds, with players working hard at an intensive week-long training camp in Gibraltar. In preparation for April’s Inter-Services Championships in Plymouth against the Royal Navy Masters, thirty two players from …
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A look back at the PATH-SAFE Biosurveillance Conference 2024
At the end of February, the Pathogen Surveillance in Agriculture Food and Environment (PATH-SAFE) team hosted a two-day conference to facilitate knowledge exchange within the biosurveillance community, by showcasing the innovative work that has been undertaken within the PATH-SAFE programme, and other related biosurveillance programmes.