You need to use version 1.22 of the bulkload spreadsheet to submit claims in Contract Work and Administration (CWA). This is now available for you to download.

The updated version has been amended in line with the Prison Law Changes that were introduced on 21st February 2018. It replaces version 1.21 which should no longer be used for submissions.

You can find out more by downloading the lastest guidance.

Published 21 February 2018

Czero Developments will build 9 serviced plots for custom build homes – the first ever custom build homes in Shropshire.

The scheme, which already has 6 of its 9 plots reserved, will be delivered at Lavender Bank in Bishops Castle, Shropshire.

Using its development facility from the Home Building Fund, Czero will provide the necessary infrastructure such as roads, drainage and utilities to deliver serviced plots for purchasers. Plot purchasers will be able to customise their homes under a design code agreed alongside the Planning Permission, before either commissioning Czero to build the home or employing their own contractor.

The local authority, Shropshire Council, is one of only 11 local authorities to have been granted Custom Build ‘Vanguard’ status by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. This project will be the first custom build scheme in the county.

Simon Linford, Director of Czero, summed up the advantage of the Home Building Fund:

Homes England uniquely understands the custom build model and the role it can play in housing delivery, particularly on smaller sites like Lavender Bank. The Home Building Fund has met a real need with this form of lending.

Chris Raybould, Senior Manager at Homes England, said:

The Home Building Fund is specifically designed to support small builders and custom builders as well as larger builders and developers. Given that custom build schemes remain scarce in number, Czero Developments had found traditional development finance difficult to obtain so we are pleased to have been able to work with them to help make this project a reality.

Homes England’s Home Building Fund helps unlock or accelerate the delivery of residential and mixed-use housing developments. For more information on how the Home Building Fund can help to grow your business or accelerate the delivery of schemes in your development pipeline visit our website.

For media enquiries contact the press office.

Four categories of prison law work are being brought into scope on 21 February 2018 through amendments to the 2017 Standard Crime contract.

These are the areas affected:

1. Pre-tariff review hearings and other advice cases for life and other indeterminate sentence prisoners before the Parole Board
2. Category A prisoner reviews
3. Directions as to a prisoner’s placement in a close supervision centre of a prison
4. Directions as to a prisoner’s placement in a separation centre within a prison

Details of contract amendments and associated training materials can be found on the Standard Crime Contract 2017 page on GOV.UK.

Updated forms and guidance

The updated forms include the CRM3 application for advocacy assistance and the CRM18a escape case claim form.

There is also an updated version of the Criminal Bills Assessment Manual, as well as the Contracted Work and Administration (CWA) Code Guidance.

Transitional arrangements

We would like the new forms and guidance to be used immediately. But we will continue to accept the previous versions of the CRM3 and CRM18a forms until 31 May 2018.

Further information

Criminal Legal Aid (Amendment) Regulations 2017

Standard Crime Contract 2017 – to download ‘overview module of prison law requirements’

Legal aid guidance – to download ‘criminal bills assessment manual’

CRM3 application for advocacy assistance form

CRM18a escape fee case claim form

CWA codes guidance – to download ‘reporting crime lower work guidance’

Agri-food tech company Saturn Bioponics’ Alex Fisher and Arnoud Witteveen.

It is predicted that 60 percent more food will be needed worldwide by 2050 to feed the expanding global population. To meet this demand, government has announced £90 million of new funding to help businesses, reseachers and industry to transform food production.

Transforming food production – part of the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund

The programme will be led by Innovate UK and the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council. It is part of government Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund.

4 areas of investment

The fund will go towards 4 areas to:

• create ‘Translation Hubs’ that bring together businesses, farmers and academics to collaborate on research projects
• support innovation accelerators to explore the potential of new technology and speed up commercialisation
• launch a new research programme to identify and build on export opportunities overseas
• fund demonstrator projects that show how innovative agri-tech ideas can be applied in real-world settings

It was announced today in a speech by Business Secretary Greg Clark to the National Farmers’ Union.

Support for innovative agri-food projects

UK businesses that are interested in finding out more about the fund as well as other opportunities in agri-food can go to a Knowledge Transfer Network (KTN) industry event.

Here you can:

• get advice on how to access funding
• attend workshops
• hear talks and case studies from previous funding winners

Published 21 February 2018

The Environment Agency is reminding anglers of the importance of having a rod licence after successfully prosecuting fourteen men last month.

The anglers were caught committing the offences in 14 separate incidents across the North East in July, August and September last year, including three in Hexham, and one each in Bellingham, Harlow Hill and Wylam. They received combined fines of £3,749, including £1,784 in costs and £300 victim surcharge. All pleaded guilty with the exception of two who were found guilty in their absence.

Rachael Caldwell, Enforcement Team Leader at the Environment Agency, said:

We’ve started the year as we mean to go on – taking strong action against illegal fishing.

The majority of anglers fish legally and purchase a rod licence. Those that don’t are cheating their fellow anglers and endangering the future of the sport. In addition rod licence cheats risk a criminal conviction, a significant fine and could lose their fishing equipment.

The Environment Agency carries out enforcement work all year round. Fisheries enforcement work is intelligence-led, targeting known hot-spots and where illegal fishing is reported.

All income from rod licence sales is used to fund Environment Agency work to protect and improve fish stocks and fisheries, including improving habitats for fish and facilities for anglers, tackling illegal fishing and working with partners to encourage people to give fishing a go.

Buying a rod licence is quick and easy – you can buy them online at Gov.uk.