Emergency bill to strengthen Covid-19 plans

18 March 2020
Emergency bill to strengthen Covid-19 plans
The Department of Health and Social Care will introduce new laws to help ministers respond effectively to the progress of the coronavirus outbreak.

Brexit talks on hold amid coronavirus outbreak

18 March 2020
Brexit talks on hold amid coronavirus outbreak
A UK government spokesman has confirmed that talks to agree a UK-EU trade deal have been put on hold due to the coronavirus outbreak.
Negotiating teams, led by David Frost and Michel Barnier, were due resume talks on 18 March, but a statement said that the meeting will not go ahead ‘in the way we did in the previous round’.

Single use plastics to be banned in Wales

18 March 2020
Single use plastics to be banned in Wales
Single use plastics are to be banned in Wales as part of wider measures to make Wales the world’s top recycling nation.

£3.2m emergency coronavirus support for rough sleepers

17 March 2020
£3.2m emergency coronavirus support for rough sleepers
Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick has announced a £3.2 million emergency funding to help rough sleepers to self-isolate.
The funding, in addition to the £492 million committed in 2020 to 2021, will be available to all local authorities in England and will reimburse them for the cost of providing accommodation and services to those sleeping on the streets to help them successfully self-isolate.

GMCA to boost fibre optic connectivity offering

17 March 2020
GMCA to boost fibre optic connectivity offering
Greater Manchester is partnering with Virgin Media Business to deliver fibre optic connectivity to more than 1,500 public service sites.

Electoral reforms would bring elections into 21st century

17 March 2020
Electoral reforms would bring elections into 21st century
The Law Commissions have argued that electoral reforms would reduce confusion and bring elections into the 21st Century.
Having published reforms to simplify, clarify and improve electoral law, the Law Commission of England and Wales and the Scottish Law Commission argue that the current state of electoral law in the UK has become increasingly fragmented and difficult to use. Many of the laws are found in the Representation of the People 1983 Act which originates from Victorian-era legislation.