News story: Powering the vehicles of the future: apply for business funding

A hybrid car tachometer.

The Advanced Propulsion Centre (APC) has up to £30 million to invest in technologies that support the long-term development of low and zero emission vehicles in the UK.

The APC is a government-industry body that aims to make the UK a global centre of excellence for low carbon vehicle development and production.

The funding is part of a 10-year, £1 billion joint government and industry investment to accelerate development of low carbon propulsion technologies and help the UK to take advantage of the huge opportunities in this field.

The competition process is delivered by Innovate UK.

Developing low and zero emission technologies

The APC is seeking projects that develop low and zero emission on-vehicle technologies for on or off-road vehicles. They must be in the following areas:

  • alternative propulsion systems
  • electric machines and power electronics
  • energy storage and energy management
  • lightweight vehicle and powertrain structures
  • thermal propulsion systems

Projects must have a proven technology concept and demonstrate that there is a clear route to market.

Competition information

  • the competition opens on 30 April 2018 and the deadline for applications is midday on 27 June 2018
  • projects must be led by a business working in partnership with others and must include an SME and a vehicle manufacturer or tier 1 supplier
  • we expect total project costs to range between £5 million and £40 million and for projects to last between 18 and 42 months
  • businesses could attract up to 70% of their project costs
  • a briefing event will be held on 7 May 2018


Detailed guide: Household waste bins: when and how councils may issue fixed penalties

The Government wishes to encourage a measured and balanced approach, where householders are not penalised for minor breaches of waste bin rules. The use of these penalties should focus on those who cause genuine harm to the local environment. It is good practice to try and inform the household about any issues on the presentation of their waste bins. For example, you could use a letter or information notice. You should do this before moving to the process of issuing penalty notices outlined here.

Where you chose to do so, you must follow these rules when issuing fixed penalties under section 46A of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

When you can issue fixed penalties

You may issue them when householders do not follow your waste collection rules, and their failure to comply does one of the following:

  • causes or is likely to cause a nuisance
  • has a negative effect or is likely to have a detrimental effect on local amenities

Examples

You can issue fixed penalties if householders put waste out so it:

  • causes an obstruction to neighbours, such as forcing people using wheelchairs or buggies to walk on the road
  • restricts access to the pavement or street, for example leaving waste receptacles (bins or bags) out for several days
  • is likely to attract vermin like foxes and rats, such as leaving bags or open receptacles out days before a waste collection
  • is unsightly (torn bags or overturned receptacles are left out)

London councils can issue penalty charges instead of fixed penalties – the same rules apply.

When you cannot issue fixed penalties

You cannot issue them for minor problems, such as when householders:

  • put something in the wrong receptacle by mistake
  • forget to close receptacle lids
  • leave receptacles out for a few hours before a collection

How to issue fixed penalties

You must follow 3 stages.

1. Written warning

Write to the householder and explain:

  • how they have broken your waste collection rules
  • how this has (or is likely to) cause a nuisance or have a negative effect on local amenities
  • what they must do and how long they’ve got to fix the problem
  • what will happen if they don’t comply
    ·
    If the householder does not comply, you can issue a notice of intent.

2. Notice of intent

Your notice of intent must name the householder and tell them:

  • they may get a fixed penalty and why
  • how much they’ll have to pay
  • they have the right to explain why they shouldn’t have to pay the penalty within 28 days of the date on the notice

3. Final notice

You can issue a final notice 28 days after the notice of intent. You must consider any responses from the householder before you do this.

The notice must name the householder and tell them:



News story: Crime news: revised AGFS fee calculator and paper forms

We’ve published a new fee calculator and paper forms for AGFS work in the Crown Court.

Revised fee guidance and documents showing offence bandings have already been made available.

These reflect the new way of calculating criminal advocate payments for Crown Court legal aid work.

Paper forms should only be used when the Crown Court online billing system is not available.

Further information

Graduated fee calculators

AF1: claim for advocate graduated fees – paper form

Legal aid: crime claim forms

Crown Court Fee Guidance – to view supporting guidance and frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Offence bandings in AGFS – to find the correct offence banding for a claim

servicedevelopment@justice.gov.uk – to submit questions about the revised AGFS



Press release: Carillion: Official Receiver’s update

Carillion: Official Receiver’s update – GOV.UK

The Official Receiver provides an update on employment within the Carillion group in liquidation.

placeholder

A spokesperson for the Official Receiver said:

A further 133 jobs have been saved with employees transferring to new suppliers who have picked up contracts that Carillion had been delivering. This takes the number of employees who have been found secure ongoing employment to more than 11,000.

Regretably 59 employees whose positions are no longer required as Carillion’s business transfers to new suppliers will leave the business.

I continue to liaise with potential purchasers for Carillion’s remaining contracts and remain committed to keeping staff, elected employee representatives and unions informed as these arrangements are confirmed.

further information:

  • In total, to date 11,093 jobs have been saved and 2,221 jobs have been made redundant through the liquidation
  • This information does not include jobs attached to contracts where an intention to purchase has been entered into but has not yet formally occurred
  • More than 3,700 employees are currently retained to enable Carillion to deliver the remaining services it is providing for public and private sector customers until decisions are taken to transfer or cease these contracts
  • Further information about rights in redundancy is available on gov.uk

Published 23 April 2018



Press release: CMA clears Co-op / Nisa merger

After closely examining all the evidence, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has found that the proposed merger does not give rise to competition concerns.

The Co-operative Group Ltd (Co-op), as a groceries retailer, and Nisa Retail Ltd (Nisa), as a groceries wholesaler, do not compete head-to-head. However, since Nisa supplies over 4,000 groceries stores, the CMA has carefully considered the potential impact of the merger on competition between shops.

During the course of its ‘Phase 1’ investigation, the CMA took into account that Nisa-supplied stores would still be free to set their own prices and decide which products to stock after the merger, and so the merged company would not be able to directly determine how they compete.

It also examined whether the merged company could raise prices or reduce service quality for retail or wholesale customers. It found that existing retail and wholesale competition made this unlikely.

This is because there are enough local alternatives to both Co-op and Nisa-supplied stores to ensure that people could still shop around to get the best value for them.

Furthermore, Nisa-supplied stores are able to choose between several different wholesalers and would be able to switch supplier if prices were to increase or the quality of service go down as a result of the merger with Co-op.

This all means that the merged company would be unlikely to be able to raise prices or offer a worse service to either stores or to shoppers.

Sheldon Mills, Senior Director of Mergers at the CMA, said:

Millions of people throughout the UK shop at convenience stores and supermarkets, and it is vital that they continue to have enough choice to get the best value for them.

After careful consideration, we’ve found that there is sufficient competition in both the wholesale and retail sectors to ensure that shoppers are not worse off.

The merger will therefore not be referred for an in-depth investigation.

Information relating to this investigation can be found on the case page.