A major research project by the UK’s Stabilisation Unit explores the vital role of political deal-making in reducing violent conflict.

Today (19 December 2018) the European Commission published a ‘no-deal’ contingency action plan.

On transport, it includes a proposal which would ensure the continuation of flights between the UK and the EU and one which would allow UK hauliers to continue to carry goods into the EU.

Their announcement demonstrates a clear commitment to future travel while offering reassurances that both sides will work to maintain UK and EU transport links.

Transport Secretary Chris Grayling said:

The European Commission’s proposals today are welcome.

We need to study the detail, but any steps to ensure UK hauliers can continue carrying goods into the EU in the event of a no deal is good news, as is ensuring flights are maintained between the UK and EU immediately after Brexit.

Whether for business or leisure, travellers can continue to book with confidence.

The UK government has already set out in our technical notices published on 24th September (2018), that we would permit EU airlines to fly to the UK and would expect this to be reciprocated.

And the UK stands ready in principle to consider taking reciprocal steps for EU hauliers coming here.

We will consider the Commission’s proposals in greater detail over the coming days.

Published 19 December 2018

The Pubs Code Adjudicator (PCA) and Deputy Pubs Code Adjudicator (Deputy PCA) have today taken a major step to level the playing field between pub-owning businesses and tenants in free-of-tie negotiations.

The PCA and Deputy PCA have for the first time published awards, providing information about the interpretation of the law and its application in individual cases considered by them within statutory arbitration proceedings. The published awards are in relation to both MRO and non – MRO issues.

This is a significant step to creating greater transparency in the arbitration process and providing equality of arms between pub companies and tied tenants. Publication of awards is intended to facilitate open, fair and informed negotiations for tied tenants, in particular on the MRO terms offered by their pub companies.

Paul Newby, Pubs Code Adjudicator, said: “Our aim is to help tenants be more informed when negotiating with their pub companies. Publication of awards will also provide a greater incentive for pub companies to engage in effective negotiations with their tenants on the issues that have already been decided by the PCA.”

Examples of themes included in the awards are:

• Terms of MRO proposals should be reasonable and be common in the free of tie market as a whole;
• As MRO negotiations are not taking place in the open market pub-owning businesses should not take advantage of the more limited negotiating power that a tied tenant who requests a MRO proposal will usually have.
• The MRO proposal should constitute an accessible option for the individual tied tenant; a pub-owning business should not make a proposal on standard terms unless it has considered the particular circumstances of the tied tenant and is satisfied that the terms are compliant in that individual case.

Fiona Dickie, Deputy Pubs Code Adjudicator, said: “Of course we will continue to consider each case on its own facts, keeping an open mind when making a decision. However, we do expect that where a decision on law has been made, that this is respected by both pub-owning businesses and tenants.”

The PCA has also published a document providing information for tenants who have received a Pubs Code award to help them consider whether there is personal or particularly commercially sensitive information they do not want to be published.

Today’s publication is the first set of awards to be published, with the PCA intending to publish in the public interest further awards to increase industry understanding about how the Pubs Code has been applied in individual cases.

The Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) has rapidly turned around the delivery of four commercial contracts to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of training and education across defence.

Within 48 hours of the initial customer meeting, DASA opened two new focus areas in their open call competition to engage the private sector in providing potential solutions. These innovative ideas were assessed and funding awarded within ten weeks of initial contact.

The Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) has identified two major training challenges to maximise the effectiveness of UK forces in future operating environments. Firstly, Dstl finds that current training and education is resource intensive and limited by location, capacity and time constraints. And secondly, the proliferation of military interconnected technology and the expected escalation in the sophistication of this technology requires deep human understanding of those interactions in order to exploit the advantages.

Jyoti Hirani, Operations Lead, DASA said:

Innovation is not just about providing shiny new technologies to our front line, but can also be in the efficiencies of how we do things day-to-day within government. If one of our customers identifies a specific area as a capability gap, we can help them to hone the requirement and develop a potential solution. DASA can deliver transformative solutions quickly that can enhance and improve the operation of our government customers.

Four contracts have been placed to the value of £342,000 and each project will be working closely with Dstl from the New Year to test, trial and investigate the practicalities and potential benefits of their innovative idea. In order to deliver the contracts quickly, DASA has accelerated processes outside normal practices.

Anita Hay, Project Manager, Delivery and Innovation, Dstl said:

DASA is a mechanism to private sector engagement and we appreciate their rapid engagement in this project. Simulation training needs to be as realistic as possible as UK Forces are deployed in difficult operational environments. Giving them the best training possible with minimal inconvenience is something Dstl strives to provide.

Funding was awarded to XPI Simulations, SimCentric Limited, Vedette Consulting Limited and Transmedia Storyteller Limited, which are all small to medium sized enterprises (SMEs) or micro SMEs. For small businesses such as these DASA funding can make a real difference to their future growth and success.

XPI Simulation’s proposal “CIRRUS – Cloud Infrastructure for Rapid Rendering to Users for Simulation” is looking to develop a totally cloud hosted synthetic environment for training.

SimCentric Limited’s proposal “A simulation testbed for high fidelity human behaviour within megacities” is going to develop a simulation engine to represent the various elements of a megacity.

Vedette Consulting Limited’s proposal “Model to Optimise Simulation Mix to Deliver Efficient and Effective Training” will provide a prototype technique to support decision makers in achieving optimum training outputs matched to current and future resources.

Transmedia Storyteller Limited’s proposal “Hybrid Warfare Rehearsal Tool” will aim to deliver software that allows warfighters to rehearse hybrid warfare strategies and tactics that span influence, information and infrastructure.