Sep112017

News story: Improving prison detection systems: apply for contracts

HM Government

The Ministry of Justice has up to £950,000 to invest in innovative projects that help to tackle the presence of drugs, drones and mobile phones in UK prisons.

Innovative ways of detecting contraband

The presence of contraband and illegal items in prison is a major issue that has been regularly highlighted in the media.

In response, the Ministry of Justice is seeking projects that can demonstrate innovative ways of detecting at least one of the following:

  • mobile phones and SIM cards, including phones with very low metal content
  • illegal substances, particularly in very small quantities
  • other contraband, including tobacco, alcohol, weapons and explosives
  • drones

Projects must aim to detect contraband in one or more of a number of circumstances including on people, concealed inside the body, in bags, in buildings, at entry and exit points, in vehicles, and in open areas.

A 2-phase opportunity

Funding for projects is under SBRI (Small Business Research Initiative) and will be in 2 phases.

Phase 1 will allow a number of organisations to develop and explain concepts. The best ideas will receive funding in phase 2 to develop them into a working prototype.

Competition information

  • the competition opens on 18 September 2017, and the deadline is at midday on 1 November 2017
  • up to £500,000 is available for phase 1 projects. These should have costs of up to £50,000 and last 4 to 6 months
  • up to £450,000 is available to develop the best ideas from phase 1 into working prototypes
  • any organisation that can demonstrate a route to market for its idea, working alone or in partnership with others, may apply
  • successful projects will attract 100% funded development contracts
  • a briefing event will be held in October

Sep112017

News story: Civil/crime news: Portal upgrade now complete

HM Government

Users should now be accessing the Portal through the link to the new LAA Online Portal.

As of 11 September 2017, all users should now be using the link to the new LAA Online Portal:

LAA Online Portal

This will be needed to access the new Portal for the:

  • Client and Cost Management System (CCMS)
  • Contracted Work and Administration (CWA)
  • Crown Court Litigator Fee online (CCLF)
  • Management Information
  • eForms

You will no longer have access to these applications through the old Portal.

Now that the upgrade is complete you should see the following improvements.

  • increased stability
  • quicker log-in times
  • more user-friendly password reset process
  • status bar for all applications, providing up-to-date information on any issues affecting performance

Using the new Portal

We recommend that you log in to the new Portal to update your security information and familiarise yourself with the features it offers and how it works.

Providing feedback

We would like to hear how the upgrade went for you. A short survey is available for you to complete. Your feedback will help us improve the communications and processes for future changes.

Further information

New Portal login page – to access the upgraded portal from 11 September

Portal upgrade guidance – advice on logging into the new Portal and frequently asked questions

Portal upgrade survey – provide us your feedback on your experiences of the portal upgrade Upgraded Portal Password Resets – a short video on what to do if you forget your password in the upgraded Portal (video will load automatically).

Portalpasswordresets@legalaid.gsi.gov.uk – to submit a password request if your password is not accepted when logging in to the new Portal (allow 24 hours for resets to be actioned)

Sep112017

Labour calls on Government to guarantee £730m funding for offshore wind & other renewable technologies – Rebecca Long Bailey

Labour

Rebecca Long Bailey MP, Labour’s
Shadow Secretary for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, commenting on the drop in offshore wind
prices, said:

“Offshore wind has
become one of the lowest cost options for delivering large-scale,
low-carbon power. It already has sufficient capacity to supply electricity to
the whole of London, Manchester and Birmingham and its price has come down by
over 50 per cent in the last two years.

"But instead of
seizing this opportunity, the Conservatives have not been clear that they are
going to fulfil their promise to allocate £730 million to offshore wind and
other renewable technologies. This risks hurting consumers who are facing sky
rocketing energy prices and weakens our capacity to tackle climate change,
which is even more urgent in the wake of devastating hurricanes, floods and mud
slides which have affected millions of people. 

"Labour calls on
the Government to guarantee the allocation of the full £730 million funding.
The next Labour government will ensure that 60 per cent of the UK’s energy
comes from zero-carbon renewable sources by 2030, including offshore wind. This
will enable us to meet our responsibilities to tackle climate change, while
creating jobs and investment in communities across the UK.”

Sep112017

Press release: New Non-Executive Director appointed at Highways England

HM Government

Highways England is responsible for operating, maintaining and improving more than 4,300 miles of motorways and main trunk roads throughout England and is delivering the Government’s £15billion Road Investment Strategy.

Alan will join the Board from today (Monday 11 September) for three years.

Alan Cumming appointed as a Highways England Non-Executive Director

Highways England chairman Colin Matthews said:

We welcome Alan to the Highways England board at this exciting time for the company as we continue to focus on safety, customer service and delivering the first Road Investment Strategy. Alan brings a wealth of experience which will also help us as we look to the next investment period and subsequent benefits for road users and the economy.

Alan currently works for Viridor, part of Pennon plc, and is the Board Director responsible for Capital Projects and Engineering; he was previously a Non-Executive Director of the Advance Manufacturing Centre at the University of Sheffield, Director of Projects for British Energy and Deputy Project Director on Hinkley Point C with EDF. He replaces Tom Smith.

Alan will be paid £28,000 for a minimum of 27 days’ work per annum. The remuneration for Alan’s roles, and that of other non-executive and senior executive posts, are published within the Highways England’s annual report each year.

General enquiries

Members of the public should contact the Highways England customer contact centre on 0300 123 5000.

Media enquiries

Journalists should contact the Highways England press office on 0844 693 1448 and use the menu to speak to the most appropriate press officer.

Sep112017

The Treasury’s admission is a clear indication that the Conservatives’ chaotic attempts to circumvent Parliament must come to an end – Dowd

Labour

Peter Dowd MP, Labour’s Shadow
Chief Secretary to the Treasury,
commenting on reports that the Government has been forced to accept the need
for a parliamentary vote on its £1 billion deal with the DUP, said:

“The Treasury’s admission of the
need for a parliamentary vote on the £1 billion DUP bribe is a clear indication
that the Conservatives’ chaotic attempts to circumvent Parliament must come to
an end.

“Hammond must come clean about
whether he intends to increase taxes, slash spending, or increase borrowing to
fund the blackhole created by the £1 billion DUP bribe and the £2 billion
u-turn on his attempt to increase National Insurance Contributions for
self-employed workers. The Chancellor could have settled this by including his
plans in Tuesday’s Finance Bill second reading, but instead he is still hiding
the public finances under a shroud.

“We do not begrudge Northern
Ireland getting the spending that it needs, but people all across the UK are
crying out for the investment, jobs, and decent pay which will only be
delivered by the next Labour Government.”