The age of the payment parking machine could be coming to an end, as new national parking data standards were revealed today (30 May 2019). By introducing the new standards, the government’s ambition is for all parking data released by local councils and companies across the country to use the same language, supporting the development of apps to make parking easier for drivers.

Created by the Alliance for Parking Data Standards (APDS) and funded by the Department for Transport, the standardised data could lead to smoother and easier payment methods right across the country and could transform the way we park as the Oyster card transformed the way we travel in London.

The announcement follows the publication of the government’s Future of mobility: urban strategy, and is a world-first for parking. By helping to streamline the parking experience and making it easier for drivers to find a suitable parking place, the standards could ultimately free up crucial space, easing congested cities and boosting British high streets.

Future of Mobility Minister, Michael Ellis, said:

We are on the brink of a revolution for the future of transport, with ground-breaking technologies creating huge opportunities for cleaner, cheaper, safer and more reliable journeys.

We now need to ensure the infrastructure surrounding these technologies is in place and can accommodate these innovations. The new parking data standards will bring government, private organisations and technologies together to ensure a smoother parking experience for drivers.

Chair of the British Parking Association and Chair of the APDS, Nigel Williams, said:

The new standards will enable the next generation of apps and connected cars to find a parking space, park and pay – with little or no intervention from the driver. The involvement of the British Parking Association in APDS has ensured that the UK is at the forefront of innovation to improve the customer experience of parking.

Local Government Minister Rishi Sunak said:

Hunting for a parking space and then checking if you have the right change to pay for it isn’t the best start to any shopping experience, but it can be the reality more often than not.

An intelligent parking system will not only make life easier for commuters, but could also improve footfall to our town centres – meaning both people and local businesses benefit.

To support the introduction of the standards, 4 research and development projects in Manchester City Council, Oxfordshire County Council, Cambridgeshire County Council and across a consortium of South Essex Councils will receive a share of £1 million to start putting the APDS standards into practice, with a further 7 projects being commissioned to identify ways to open up local authority data.

The development of the parking language will make it easier for local authorities and private companies to exchange data, ensuring cars of the future navigate both driver and passengers to an available space based on the price, quality of the space, safety of the space and availability of on-site services — including being near to electric chargepoints.

The announcement is another milestone for the government’s Future of Mobility Grand Challenge, which aims to tap into the extraordinary innovation across the country in order to improve everyday journeys.

Prime Minister Theresa May has welcomed the findings of an independent review.

Our report on the fatal capsize of the fishing vessel Nancy Glen on 18 January 2018, is now published.

The report contains details of what happened, the subsequent actions taken and recommendation made: read more.

A safety flyer to the fishing industry summarising the accident and detailing the safety lessons learned, has also been produced.

Prime Minister Theresa May has welcomed the findings of an independent review.

Further and higher education must work better for students, universities and taxpayers, the Prime Minister will say as she welcomes the publication of an independent review into post-18 education.

The Prime Minister ordered the review specifically to ensure young people have more choice, can access the highest quality courses, and receive the best possible value for money.

An expert panel – led by Philip Augar – has today (30 May 2019) published 53 recommendations for Government.

While their report says there are overwhelming strengths to the UK’s education system, the Prime Minister strongly agrees with a number of the issues identified.

In particular, she calls for a reintroduction of student maintenance grants to support those from low income families. The report is clear that a minimum grant of £3,000 per year for the lowest income families would see debt for these students reduce by over £9,000.

Whilst those from disadvantaged backgrounds are more likely than ever to go to university, the Prime Minister will also say progress is too slow. Last year, some universities failed to improve their intake of students from disadvantaged backgrounds for the first time in more than a decade.

The report says the removal of maintenance grants is deterring some less well-off young people, and recognises strong concerns about the highest levels of debt being incurred by disadvantaged students following grants being abolished.

She is expected to say:

I was not surprised to see the panel argue for the reintroduction of means-tested maintenance grants both for university students and those studying for higher technical qualifications. Such a move would ensure students are supported whichever route they choose, and save those from the poorest backgrounds over £9,000.

It will be up to the Government to decide, at the upcoming Spending Review, whether to follow this recommendation.

But my view is very clear: removing maintenance grants from the least well-off students has not worked, and I believe it is time to bring them back.

The Prime Minister will also say that we must significantly increase support for further education.

Despite the Government boosting education or training places for every 16 to 19-year old, rolling out T Levels, and creating high-quality apprenticeships, she will say more must be done for the 50 per cent of young people who do not go to university.

In Germany, 20 per cent of 25-year-olds hold a higher technical qualification – yet the figure in the UK is just four per cent.

She will argue that:

By failing to equip more of our young people with the technical skills they will need to compete in the jobs of the future, we have hampered our national ability to compete on the world stage.

So reinvigorating FE is vital if we are to help all our young people develop the skills they need to get on – and if we are to truly make a success of our modern industrial strategy.

The PM is also expected to say that:

Making a success of FE is not just about increased funding – it’s about giving these young people a genuine choice about their education.

So more also needs to be done to ensure that further and technical options are every bit as attractive a path for students as more academic options – including by reforming the sector so that colleges can thrive.

The Prime Minister will also call for reform to tuition fees to ensure value for money for students and the taxpayer. She will say that while the majority of courses provide good outcomes for students, this is no longer true across the board, and many courses do not cost £9,000 per student per year to teach.

She will say:

There is much to be said for the panel’s proposal to cut fees and top up the money from Government, protecting the sector’s income overall but focussing more of that investment on high-quality and high-value courses.

I know there are some, including the Labour Opposition, who will reject this finding because they want to abolish fees altogether.

Such a move would be regressive and destructive – hurting our institutions and limiting the opportunities for our young people.

But the Prime Minister also agrees that universities must continue to be properly funded, so that teaching grants for high value courses are protected.

In conclusion, the Prime Minister is expected to say:

I have always believed and I still truly believe that, if this is to be a country that works for everyone, then we have to make education work for everyone.

But only by taking action now will we be able to deliver the lasting change and improvements we need in further and higher education.

And give every child and young person in this country the education they need to reach their true, incredible potential.

The Government will now consider the panel’s proposals carefully, and engage further with stakeholders and students, before finalising its approach at the Spending Review.

The government published its consultation on corporate transparency and register reform on 5 May 2019.

The register plays a vital role in contributing to the UK’s economy, and these reforms will allow us to do even more.

What the consultation is about

This package of reforms is a big milestone for Companies House and will be the most significant change since the register was created in 1844.

The government’s vision, set out in the Industrial Strategy, is for the UK to be the best place to start and grow a business. The proposed reforms will help us to achieve this vision and to do more to provide a transparent and attractive business environment in the UK.

The changes will give us the powers we need to combat economic crime and improve protection for people running businesses, while minimising additional administrative burdens.

To support and implement the proposals in this consultation, we’ll be transforming the way we work at Companies House and making sure we’re fit for the future.

Watch our video – Have your say about the future of Companies House

The proposals

The consultation has 4 main themes.

 1. Knowing who’s setting up, managing and controlling companies

We’re proposing that directors, people with significant control (PSCs) and those filing information should have their identity verified. We’re also considering whether more information should be disclosed about shareholders.

2. Improving the accuracy and usability of data

The proposals will result in better quality information on the register. Proposals include extending the powers of Companies House to query information before it’s entered on the register and making it easier to remove inaccurate information.

 3. Protecting personal information

The proposals will allow us to change the way we store and control access to personal information. Access to the register will be carefully managed, allowing only identified or authorised people to file information. Sensitive information will also be better protected.

4. Improving the detection of possible criminal behaviour

We’ll be able to improve the cross checking of our data against data held by other organisations. We want to see the exchange of intelligence made easier so we can quickly identify possible criminal behaviour.

You have until 5 August 2019 to respond to the consultation and tell us what you think. We look forward to hearing your views.