Working with the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI), Netmums, and the Child Accident Prevention Trust (CAPT), the Office is warning against buying second rate toys with 12 simple checks when buying for children.

The variety of toys on offer means the occasional second-rate product can sneak onto the market, so always complete these 12 checks when buying for kids.

1. Look for the CE symbol: This means the manufacturer has assessed the toy for safety.

2. Check it’s for kids: Festive novelties can look like toys. Keep them away from kids.

3. Reputation matters: Buy from suppliers who have a good reputation for safe and reliable toys. They’ll be required to meet high standards and can answer your questions.

4. Beware of bargains: Jumble and car boot sales are a great place to get a good deal, but it’s worth taking extra care. Worn or old toys may no longer be safe.

5. Check age restrictions: Toys are clearly marked with age restrictions. It’s important to follow these as they relate to risks such as sharp points or choking hazards.

6. Consider special needs: When checking age restrictions, remember that children with special needs might be more vulnerable, and make sure to shop accordingly.

7. Choking hazards: Small parts and loose or shedding fabric or hair can be a choking hazard.

8. Loose parts: Loose ribbons on toys and costumes can also be dangerous, especially if a child is left unsupervised. Think before you buy.

9. Inspect your toy boxes: Check toys you already own to see if they’re too worn. Wear and tear can expose sharp edges or filling. If it’s a family favourite, get the toy properly repaired.

10. Supervise when you need to: Some toys like chemistry sets need an adult on hand during playtime. Read all the instructions so you know how to control any hazards.

11. Tidy up: Boxes, plastic bags and wire can be a hazard. Clear away all packaging once everything’s unwrapped.

12. Celebrate a safe Christmas: Completing these checks when you shop in store and online can save you a lot of stress later. Just make sure to remember batteries (and dispose of these safely too)!

Help spread the word by downloading the A5 leaflet (PDF, 523KB, 2 pages) leaflet and Poster (PDF, 1.08MB, 1 page) poster. If you’re on Twitter, follow @OfficeforSandS and #12rulesofChristmas

Published 10 December 2018

• Package of transparency and anti-corruption measures to address the abuse of Scottish Limited Partnerships that has been linked to money laundering
• Measures will bring greater transparency and more stringent checks to those registering a Limited Partnership
• Annual filing requirements will ensure Companies House has accurate information on all UK limited partnerships

Measures to increase transparency and prevent abuse of limited partnerships, which some criminals have used to launder dirty money through the UK were unveiled today (10 December), as the government published its response to the consultation on the reform of Limited Partnership law.

Scottish Limited Partnerships (SLPs) and Limited Partnerships (LPs) are used by thousands of legitimate British businesses, particularly the private equity and pensions industry, which invest more than £30 billion a year in the UK. However, there are concerns that they are being abused by criminals following large-scale money laundering scandals.

Business Minister Kelly Tolhurst said:

The UK has always had world leading corporate standards making us a dependable place to invest and start and grow a business. We are committed to continually enhancing our business environment and as part of that we constantly keep under review our governance arrangements – making sure that people have confidence in our corporate standards.

These proposals will increase transparency, by ensuring these arrangements can still be used legitimately to invest by pension funds and investors while preventing abuse.

The UK is taking strong action in the international fight against money laundering and today’s proposals will increase best practice amongst businesses.

New filing requirements for all Limited Partnerships will make them more transparent with their information, preventing their abuse while enabling investors to continue to use them legitimately and invest in the UK. The key proposals are:

• those registering Limited Partnerships must demonstrate they are registered with an official anti-money laundering supervised agent, such as an accountant or a lawyer, or an overseas equivalent;
• the Limited Partnership must demonstrate an ongoing link to the UK, for example by keeping its principal place of business in the UK;
• all Limited Partnerships must submit a confirmation statement at least every 12 months to Companies House to ensure their information is accurate and up to date;
• Companies House will be given powers to strike off dissolved Limited Partnerships and Limited Partnerships which are not carrying on business.

The proposed reforms will apply to all Limited Partnerships in the UK. In addition to requirements that are in place for Scotland, the reforms will also include new reporting requirements for Limited Partnerships in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. This will confirm that the information they have placed on the register is up to date and correct.

Last year, the government introduced laws requiring SLPs to report their beneficial owner and make their ownership structure more transparent, seeing an 80% reduction in the number registered and today’s reforms seek to raise standards further.

UK Government Minister Lord Duncan said:

The UK Government continues to take the abuse of Scottish Limited Partnerships very seriously and will do everything necessary to crack down on crime lords exploiting them to launder dirty money.

This latest package will deliver greater transparency and more stringent checks. It builds on measures we’ve already brought in to close loopholes in their use while ensuring legitimate companies can continue to choose SLPs as a way to invest in the UK. The interest and protection of citizens is of the upmost importance to the UK Government and these reforms will ensure Scotland and the rest of the UK remains a great place to work and invest in.

Today’s announcement comes ahead of a broader package of reforms to Companies House to ensure it is fit for the future and continues to contribute to the UK’s business environment – the best place to start and grow a business. The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy plans to consult on these reforms in the new year.

The UK is already taking a leading role on the world stage to improve corporate transparency and was recognised by NGO Transparency International as one of only four G20 countries with the highest rating for cracking down on anonymous companies.

The UK has worked to improve transparency and tackle money laundering through:

• introducing draft laws this summer for a world-first public register which will require overseas companies that own or buy property in the UK to provide details of their ultimate owners;
• making the UK’s company register public in 2015, making it one of the most open and transparency company registers in the world – viewed two billion times last year – meaning company information is under constant scrutiny;
• introducing a register of People of Significant Control in 2016, which now includes 4.6 million names. The register was expanded in 2017 to include Scottish Limited Partnerships;
• launching the government’s new Serious and Organised Crime Strategy on 1 November, investing at least £48m in 2019/20 in law enforcement capabilities to tackle illicit finance and enhance our response to serious and organised crime.

1. Limited Partnerships are formed by at least two partners, one of which must be a general partner – who is liable for any debts incurred – and one limited Partner – who has limited liability but cannot play a role in how the partnership is run. Scottish Limited Partnerships differ to Limited Partnerships elsewhere in the UK as they have legal personality, which allows the partnerships itself to enter into contracts, take on debts or own property. In a Limited Partnership in England and Wales or Northern Ireland a limited partnership cannot do this in its own name, it is done in the name of the partners.

2. In July 2018, the government laid draft laws setting out that foreign companies and other legal entities owning UK properties will be required to reveal their ultimate owners on the world’s first public register of overseas entities’ beneficial ownership

Teachers and social workers will get advice to improve vulnerable children’s wellbeing, behaviour and school attendance, as the Education Secretary vows to tackle their significantly worse educational outcomes.

The adversity and trauma experienced by children in need of help from social workers, alongside the instability in their home lives, is shown to have a lasting impact on their educational outcomes, which has a knock on impact on their adult life.

New data shows that that in 2016/17 one in 10 state school pupils had a social worker within the previous six years of their life, and data published early in the year showed that the average GCSE attainment for these children is nearly half that of other pupils.

To tackle this, today (Monday 10 December) the Department for Education has published findings of how professionals who work with vulnerable children can better identify children in need, understand the impact of their traumatic experiences, and what schools and social care can do to help these children benefit from a positive experience of education that opens up future opportunities.

Today’s publication provides teachers and social workers with advice to help improve attendance, behaviour and wellbeing, such as adjusting how they manage vulnerable children’s behaviour and adapting how they speak to the child.

Education Secretary Damian Hinds said:

It’s a measure of a good society how we treat children who are most in need of our support. If we truly aspire for all children to succeed, whatever their background, we cannot ignore the stark reality of the poorer outcomes for this group of children who have already been through more than we would want our own children to experience.

There is no reason why we should have a lower aspiration for a child in need of help or protection than we do for their peers. Whether it is making sure a child has a consistent and trusted member of staff or taking the time to speak to a child the morning after they have witnessed domestic abuse, I hope this practical advice can help those leaders in schools and social care, alongside our hardworking teachers and social workers, understand how we can collectively do to more to support these children. Together, we can help them have greater opportunities to fulfil their potential.

The department launched a call for evidence in March and heard from over 600 school and social care professionals about how they support children in need of help and protection in education.

The vast majority of these children already receive support in school, but by better understanding their needs and backgrounds, this support can be better targeted. The interim Children in Need of Help and Protection review published today shares a new bank of extensive good practice that professionals have identified to support children to thrive in education and achieve better outcomes.

The findings highlight effective ways to achieve this, including:

• training for professionals to recognise the lasting impact of trauma and adversity on children’s school attendance, learning, behaviour and wellbeing;
• better information sharing and multi-agency working between schools and other local agencies on the child’s family circumstances; and
• inclusion in school and making proportionate adjustments to promote better outcomes – such as teachers adapting how they communicate with vulnerable children and how they manage their behavior.

The most common factor in children needing help and protection from social care is domestic abuse, which was identified in more than half of social workers’ assessments last year.

The findings highlights how one initiative, Operation Encompass, has helped children exposed to domestic abuse, with police swiftly alerting a school safeguarding lead of an incident by the next morning. School staff will then speak to the child that day and decide how to best support the child, such as giving them time to calm down or not reprimand them for being late or missing homework.

Katie Ghose, Chief Executive of Women’s Aid, said:

An estimated 160,000 children in England are currently living in households where domestic abuse is taking place. Children do not just witness domestic abuse, they experience it. It has a devastating impact on them, affecting their wellbeing and development and sometimes even putting their lives at risk. No child should face domestic abuse alone and their voices must now be heard. That’s why we welcome the Education Secretary’s pledge to change this.

We look forward to working with the Department for Education to ensure that there is an improved awareness about domestic abuse and its impact on children among school staff; specialist training for all school staff is the first step to achieve this. Our partnership with Operation Encompass shows how better information sharing and collaboration between agencies, like the police and schools, can greatly improve the support made available for children. By working together, we can ensure that all child survivors are listened to, believed and supported.

In addition to having poorer academic attainment on average, children in need of help and protection are three times more likely to have special educational needs (SEN), at least five times more likely to be excluded, and three times as likely to not be in education, employment or training after the age of 16.

Alongside the Children in Need review, the department is working to improve support for children with additional needs in school – through an externally-led review of exclusions, improved special educational needs (SEN) support, and transforming support for children and young people’s mental health. Action across government is also tackling the causes of why children are in need – through the domestic abuse bill, tackling serious violence, and prioritising prevention of health problems.

Sam Royston, Director of Policy and Research at the Children’s Society, said:

Vulnerable young people who have had difficult childhoods need better help as they prepare for adult life and too often, the help they do get falls away when they turn 18 – even though their difficulties do not.

This important review recognises the challenges that children in need face during this tricky transition to adulthood and how these can harm their education.

The department is also investing in a What Works Centre for Children’s Social Care, which aims to develop and test new approaches, such as placing social workers in schools to provide holistic support for vulnerable children.

A similar initiative exists in Stoke-on-Trent, partly funded through the department’s £72m, Opportunity Area programme, where the ‘Better Together’ project ensures that every primary and secondary school in the city is linked with a social worker and an educational psychologist.

The Education Endowment Foundation is also working with the What Works Centre to gather evidence on improving the educational outcomes of children in need and the department will continue to work with both on building a robust evidence base of best practice.

The Government will table an amendment to the Fisheries Bill which will enshrine its commitment to secure a fairer share of fishing opportunities for UK fishermen.

The amendment would place a legal obligation on the Secretary of State, when negotiating a fisheries agreement with the EU, to pursue a fairer share of fishing opportunities than the UK currently receives under the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP).

This would overhaul the current system where UK fishermen have received a poor deal that is based on fishing patterns from the 1970s. On average between 2012 and 2016 other EU Member States’ vessels landed in the region of 760,000 tonnes of fish (£540 million revenue) annually caught in UK waters; whereas UK vessels landed approximately 90,000 tonnes of fish (£110 million revenue) caught in other Member States’ waters per year in the same time period.

As well as strengthening the law, the Environment Secretary announced £37.2 million of extra funding to boost the UK fishing industry during the Implementation Period. This is in addition to the existing European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) funding, which at €243 million over seven years is broadly equivalent to £32 million a year. The Government and Devolved Administrations have already committed to match the EMFF funding with around £60 million, so the extra funding will support more projects and the sector will benefit by a total of £320 million.

Mr Gove has also committed that the Government will put in place new, domestic, long-term arrangements to support the UK’s fishing industry from 2021, through the creation of four new schemes comparable to EMFF to deliver funding for each nation. The Devolved Administrations will lead on their own schemes.

Environment Secretary Michael Gove said:

We are taking back control of our waters and will secure a fairer share of fishing opportunities for the whole of the UK fishing industry as we leave the EU. The amendment to the Fisheries Bill will give legal weight to this commitment.

New funding will boost the industry as we become an independent coastal state, preparing it to receive a greater share of future fishing opportunities.

The new schemes will be introduced after EMFF has closed in 2020. Details of these will be set at the 2019 Spending Review. In England, the scheme will:

• support innovation – in technologies to enhance economic growth, reduce environmental impact and improve fishing safety
• improve port infrastructure – so more fish can be landed in UK ports, and help the sector take advantage of new export opportunities after exit
• boost coastal communities – by providing benefits to areas that depend on a vibrant and profitable industry, and
• help the sector adjust – to new arrangements on access and fishing opportunities by improving capacity and capability to exploit new export opportunities and markets.

NHS trusts will instead be required to invest in new technology to replace outdated systems.

The ban on buying fax machines takes effect from January 2019. They will be phased out by 31 March 2020. NHS organisations will be monitored on a quarterly basis until they declare themselves ‘fax free’.

A freedom of information request revealed in July that more than 8,000 fax machines are still being used by the NHS in England

From April, NHS organisations will be required to use modern communication methods, such as secure email, to improve patient safety and cyber security.

It is part of the Health and Social Care Secretary’s tech vision, to modernise the health service and make it easier for NHS organisations to introduce innovative technologies.

Digital services and IT systems will soon have to meet a clear set of open standards to ensure they can talk to each other across organisational boundaries and can be continuously upgraded.

Any system that does not meet these standards will be phased out and the government will look to end contracts with providers who do not understand these principles for the health and care sector.

Richard Corbridge, Chief Digital and Information Officer at Leeds Teaching Hospital, said:

Turning off the fax is a step in the delivery of integrated care and a leap forward in putting healthcare information in the right hands every time it is needed.

We don’t underestimate the enormity of the challenge to remove all our machines in such a short time frame, but we simply cannot afford to continue living in the dark ages.

The ‘axe the fax’ campaign aims to empower staff rather than disarm them and so far the feedback has been positive – staff are recognising that on the one hand we have hugely innovative technology being implemented in the trust and on the other we have technology that hasn’t existed for decades in other industries.

Richard Kerr, Chair of the Royal College of Surgeons Commission on the Future of Surgery, said:

Earlier this year, work undertaken for the RCS’s Commission on the Future of Surgery revealed that NHS hospital trusts own over 8,000 fax machines. This is absurd.

Advances in artificial intelligence, genomics and imaging for healthcare promise exciting benefits for patients. As these digital technologies begin to play a bigger part in how we deliver healthcare it is crucial that we invest in better ways of communicating the vast amount of patient information that is going to be generated.

Most other organisations scrapped fax machines in the early 2000s and it is high time the NHS caught up. The RCS supports the ban on fax machines that will come into place in March 2020.

Since we published our data on NHS fax machines, we’ve seen a number of trusts pledge to ‘axe the fax’. They have proved that, with the right will and support, it is possible to modernise NHS communications.