Noakes was sentenced after pleading guilty to 4 charges relating to the manufacture and sale and supply of an unlicensed medicine (GcMAF), and one count of money laundering.

Globulin component Macrophage Activating Factor (GcMAF) is a product made from human blood, sold by a Guernsey-based company called Immuno Biotech, headed by David Noakes.

GcMAF was advertised as a ‘miracle cure’ for a range of conditions including cancer, HIV and autism. There is no scientific basis for any of Noake’s claims about the product and the court heard Noakes made approximately £10 million from the sale of GcMAF between 2012 and 2015.

GcMAF was sold through various European websites and UK patients may have bought it from one of these websites. Following MHRA’s investigation, production has now stopped.

Noakes’ sentencing comes after an MHRA investigation spanning more than three years, beginning in January 2015.

David Noakes statement by MHRA

Following concerns about the product raised by the Guernsey medicines regulator, the MHRA carried out an unannounced inspection of the company’s production site in Milton, Cambridgeshire, where the product was manufactured.

The inspection uncovered that unlicensed manufacturing was taking place, the site did not meet Good Manufacturing Practice standards and that the blood plasma material used to make the product was not suitable for human use, labelled as: “Not to be administered to humans or used in any drug products”.

The MHRA seized more than 10,000 vials at the site to the value of £5.5 million, and warned people not to purchase GcMAF.

Noakes was circulated as wanted by the MHRA in 2015. By this time Noakes had relocated his business to France, but in February 2017 following a tip off was arrested by Dorset police, having flown into Bournemouth Airport in his own private aircraft from Cherbourg, France.

Noakes’ ex-wife, Loraine Noakes, received a six month sentence, suspended for two years and 150 hours unpaid work after pleading guilty to the sale and supply of unlicensed medicines.

Rodney Smith, who manufactured the product, was sentenced to 8 months in prison. Emma Ward, who also manufactured the product, received a 6 month sentence, suspended for 2 years and 150 hours unpaid work.

Brian Hall, who attempted to take GcMAF out of the UK, will be sentenced at a later date.

MHRA Head of Enforcement, Alastair Jeffrey, said:

Today’s sentencing marks the culmination of a complex three-year investigation by MHRA to protect public health.

Our investigation team worked relentlessly to bring David Noakes and his associates to justice, for putting public health at risk through the unlicensed manufacturing and sale of GcMAF products. The product was manufactured using blood plasma that was clearly marked as not to be administered to humans or used in any drug products”.

We strongly advise people not to use unlicensed products such as GcMAF, which may pose a significant risk to health.

To make sure you get the best advice in relation to your health, visit your GP or other health professional, get a correct diagnosis and buy medicines from a legitimate high street or registered pharmacy. If you’re buying medicines online, make sure you buy from a site which is properly regulated and displays the distance selling logo.

Patient safety is our highest priority and we will continue to track and prosecute criminals who exploit public health for their own gain.

The government’s flagship Northern Powerhouse Partners Programme has welcomed 2 new members from Lancashire today.   ‘Lancashare’, based in Preston, uses an online sharing platform to pool the county’s resources in one place to make life, and work, easier for as many people as possible.

The sharing platform is filled with local suppliers, jobs, training providers, tenders, events, awards, networking events, news, offers, discounts, advice, information and funding from across Lancashire.

New branches are also being rolled out throughout the Northern Powerhouse including Manchester (Manceshare) and Yorkshire (Yorkshare).

The latest public sector Northern Powerhouse partner is Blackpool Airport Enterprise Zone – a 144 hectare site incorporating the expanding Blackpool Airport and surrounding commercial areas – close to the Irish Sea in Blackpool, Lancashire.

The airport continues to play an important role in making the Enterprise Zone one of the most successful in the country. The Enterprise Zone also forms part of the Lancashire Advanced Manufacturing and Energy Cluster – a government backed initiative to make Lancashire one of the leading regions in the UK in the advanced manufacturing and energy sectors.

Northern Powerhouse Minister, Jake Berry MP, said:

As Minister for the Northern Powerhouse and, of course, a proud Lancashire lad, I am delighted to welcome these 2 latest members of our Northern Powerhouse Partners Programme.  

Lancashire’s growing economic strength is testament to the dynamic and ambitious organisations across the private and public sectors who are working hand-in-hand with government to turn our Northern Powerhouse vision into a reality.

Lisa Edge, Director, Lancashare said:

Two years ago, I gave up my beloved career to stand in the middle of a county and ask businesses to ‘buy in’ to a new concept of becoming the most collaborative county we can be. Two years later, I am so proud of the amazing businesses here and being officially approved as a Northern Powerhouse partner – that is way beyond what I imagined what we could achieve in that time and is testament to the incredible businesses of these amazing counties.

Neil Jack, Chief Executive of Blackpool council said:

We share many of our aims and objectives with the Northern Powerhouse and so it makes perfect sense to collaborate, learn from and support like-minded companies, institutions, organisations and sectors across the North.

We are already playing our part in promoting the region and have strong ties with Lancashire University and its Health Innovation Campus, and Lancashire Energy HQ; Blackpool & The Fylde College’s flagship training centre, delivering the next generation of engineers and technicians through renewable and low-carbon energy generation, as well as providing traditional oil and gas training and skills for the future.

The Northern Powerhouse Partners Programme is a key part of creating the Northern Powerhouse. Government is building a network of partners who all believe strongly in the economic potential of the North and support the need for a combined effort by government and business to realise that potential.

The addition of Lancashare and the Blackpool Airport Enterprize Zone brings the total number of Lancashire members to 20 with partners including Grandma Singletons Dairy who export their renowned cheeses to markets around the globe, Vincents Solicitors who joined the Partners Programme this month, and RLR Motorsport who are the 2018 European Le Mans Series (ELMS) LMP3 Champions.

There are nearly 200 businesses and organisations signed up to the Partners Programme. Prospective partners can email NorthernPowerhouse@communities.gov.uk for more information about the Partners Programme and how to apply.

• Blackpool Airport Enterprise Zone
• Blackpool and Fylde College
• Burnley Bondholders
• Cotton Court Business Centre
• Cuadrilla
• Grandma Singletons (Singletons Dairy)
• Groundswell Innovation
• Lancashare
• Lancashire LEP
• Lancaster University
• Marketing Lancashire
• North & Western Lancashire Chamber of Commerce
• Northern Automotive Alliance
• Recycling Lives
• RLR M Sport Ltd.
• Samuel James Group
• Transdev Blazefield
• University of Central Lancashire
• Vincents Solicitors
• Workhouse Marketing

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In the framework of the Joint Statement signed in London on 14 July 1999, the Joint Communiqué of 13 September 2016 and the letters presented by both Governments in February 2018, the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is pleased to announce agreement with the Government of the Argentine Republic on an additional air link between South America and the Falkland Islands.

Following a detailed commercial process, agreement has been reached for a weekly LATAM flight from Sao Paulo to Falkland Islands (MPN), with a stopover in Cordoba, Argentina once a month in each direction.

It has also been agreed to hold annual bilateral air services discussions between the relevant authorities. This will include options to review further connectivity for passengers, cargo and mail services between the Falkland Islands, Argentina and continental South America, recognising that building closer links represents a shared goal.

The additional air link will greatly benefit the people of the Falkland Islands and support their economic development. It will also engender wider engagement and provide economic benefit for the region.

Published 27 November 2018

The species is protected by law, and the project team needed to ensure the animals could be relocated to new accommodation so that work could start on the vital upgrade, which will improve journeys for the 120,000 drivers who use this busy route every day.

So specialist teams set about designing and building a new badger sett from scratch. The result was a new home spanning 10 metres and comprising four nesting chambers and connecting pipes. The new sett is dug into the ground to replicate, as far as possible, typical excavations associated with badgers.

Smart motorway project sponsor Peter Smith said:

It’s really important that as we work to improve people’s journeys, we also protect the environment. We knew from our extensive surveys that we had a family of badgers living next to the motorway and, as a protected species, we needed to relocate the animals with as little distress as possible.

As with any scheme, we worked closely with specialist consultants to build the animals a new habitat that would replicate their former surroundings. We do everything we can to ensure the local environment is protected throughout the programme of works. The badgers have settled in well to their new home and we’re pleased to be able to play a part in protecting wildlife near the major road network of England.

The Road Investment Strategy (RIS) states that by 2020 Highways England must reduce the rate of loss of biodiversity, and by 2040 it must deliver a net gain in biodiversity.

The RIS also includes a ring-fenced environment fund of some £300 million to cover the period of 2015 to 2020, which includes funds for biodiversity projects.

Elsewhere, a new otter fence has been installed on the A64 in Yorkshire to prevent the animals crossing the road which could result in incidents and delays.

We’ve also joined forces with Stover Country Park and Devon County Council to deliver a giant reedbed filter system which will help to keep water clean at Stover Lake and provide valuable habitat for wildlife. The sustainable scheme, also supported by Natural England, is designed to capture and filter water run-off from the A38, nearby industrial sites and farmland before it enters the lake.

Work on the M6 motorway upgrade is set to be completed by March 2020.

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.

Colleges, schools and post-16 providers are being encouraged to have their say on how new T Levels – a once in a generation opportunity to put technical education on a par with our world class A Levels – are funded through a three month consultation launched today, Tuesday 27th November.

T Levels will be the technical equivalent of A Levels combining classroom theory, practical learning and an industry placement. The first T Level courses in education & childcare, construction and digital will be taught in over 50 further education and post-16 providers from September 2020. A further 22 courses will be rolled-out from 2021 onwards covering sectors such as finance & accounting, engineering & manufacturing, and creative & design.

T Levels are being developed with the industries who will benefit from the skills these qualification will provide. We are working with more than 200 businesses, including Fujitsu, Skanska, and GlaxoSmithKline, to help design the course content to make sure young people taking T Levels are equipped with the knowledge and skills that employers value.

T Levels will be backed by an additional half a billion pounds of investment every year when the new qualifications are fully rolled out. The consultation sets out how the Government intends to distribute the increased funding, including:

• Recognition that T Levels will be larger, more stretching programmes and will therefore attract more funding than existing study programmes.
• Proposals for different rates of funding for different T Levels to reflect variations in size.
• Confirmation that additional funding will be provided to support T Level students who have not yet met the minimum English and Maths requirement so they can continue to gain these vital skills.
• Details of how funding will be allocated to help providers set up the industry placements which will be a key element of the new T Level programmes
• Providing extra funding for T Level students who are aged 18 to ensure that they can have the hours that are needed for larger fixed T Level programmes

Apprenticeships and Skills Minster Anne Milton said:

Our A Level qualifications are recognised as some of the best in the world, it is now time to deliver the same for technical education. T Levels are central to that.

These courses have been designed with leading employers so we know that they will not just meet the needs of industry but ensure students are learning the skills and getting the experience needed to land a great job in a skilled profession, go onto a higher level apprenticeship or maybe university.

Now is the opportunity for the further education providers who will be on the ground delivering these courses to have their say. I want them to help us shape this system. Their view is critical so that we make sure T Levels give young people the technical skills they need and our economy the workforce it needs

The Government also recently announced an extra £38 million to support the first T Level providers to invest in high quality equipment and facilities. As well as this, the Government is investing £20 million to support the further education sector to prepare for new T Levels. This includes the £5 million Taking Teaching Further programme, which aims to attract more industry professionals to work in the sector, and the £8 million T Level Professional Development offer to help teachers and staff prepare for the roll-out of the new qualifications.