Children with limb loss will benefit from a further £1.5 million investment into sports and activity prosthetics.

The announcement is the next stage of a government fund that has supported 220 disabled children since its launch in March 2016. It means more children who have suffered limb loss or who were born with a limb deficiency will benefit from prosthetics such as running blades. The fund will also support research and innovation to improve prosthetic technology.

Minister of State for Care, Caroline Dinenage, said:

Sport and activity are so important to any child’s health, wellbeing and confidence, and today’s announcement should help many more disabled children to fulfil their sporting ambitions.

Hundreds have already benefited from the fund, and this additional investment will now help us to open up even more possibilities for children with limb loss, and hopefully ignite in them a lifelong passion for sport.

Kiera Roche, chief executive of LimbPower, the national disability sports organisation for people with limb impairments, said:

LimbPower is delighted with the incredible news that the Department of Health and Social Care will continue the fund for a further 2 years.

The impact this has had on the 220 children who have so far received their activity limbs is immeasurable.

Children just want to be able to join in and feel included, especially at school and in the community, and this means playing and taking part in P.E. and games.

The overriding messages we have received from children and parents is that they can be included, join in, run and jump just like their friends. They can be children and not patients.

Trinity Mirror plc took over part of Northern & Shell Media Group Limited, including the Express and Star newspapers, in February 2018.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) will now assess whether this deal could significantly reduce competition within the UK media sector, in line with its merger guidance.

The deadline for the initial decision is 7 June 2018. Further details, including how interested parties can submit evidence, are available on the investigation case page.

Our efforts to crack down on the diversion of Prescription-Only Medicines (POM) onto the black market are working, as recent figures highlight a drop in large scale orders of prescription medicine.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) analysed bulk orders of diverted medicines* between January – May 2017 compared to January – May 2016. The figures show:

• trading of Diazapam is down by 64%
  • trading of Nitrazepam is down by 24%
  • trading of top strength Temazepam is down by 20%
  • trading of Zolpidem is down by 14%.

We recently updated the public about the diversion of medicines onto the criminal market, said to be worth up to £200m. Our enforcement team is running 17 active investigations, and we are disrupting organised criminal networks diverting medicines from the legitimate supply chain onto the illegal market.

44 arrests have been made thus far, for offences such as possession with intent to supply a controlled drug, and offences under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

Last year, Mohammed Urfan pleaded guilty to charges of unlawful supply of class C controlled drugs contrary to section 4(3) a Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 and a suspended sentence of 18 months imprisonment was imposed on him, with a requirement that he carry out 260 hours of unpaid work.

Alastair Jeffrey, MHRA Head of Enforcement, said:

It is a serious criminal offence to sell medicines outside of the regulated supply chain and the latest figures show our unabated efforts to identify and prosecute criminals are having an effect.

The criminals involved are exploiting people to make money and have no concern about the health and wellbeing of people who buy the medicines.

We will work tirelessly to investigate and prosecute those breaking the law.

Prescription only medicines are potent and should only be taken under medical supervision.

Over £600,000 has been awarded to 8 standout schemes, including projects that train women to become leaders in their communities, and events that celebrate the lives of prominent suffragettes.

The funding announced today is part of the Centenary Grant Scheme’s £1.1 million Large Grant Fund, which is available to large-scale schemes up to a value of £125,000 that aim to increase young people’s engagement with democracy and encourage more women to take part in public life.

Minister for Women, Victoria Atkins, said:

It is vital that we honour the legacy of the brave and determined women who fought for the equal rights of women and men, and have paved the way for the freedoms we enjoy today.

I am delighted to be awarding funding to these innovative, exciting projects that will inspire women and young people from all over the country, and follow national celebratory activity that has already begun under the small grant scheme.

I am determined that this government will continue to open up modern politics and build a diverse political system that reflects the nation it serves.

The grant scheme is part of a £5 million centenary fund created by the government to celebrate the centenary and to open up public life to more people.

The Government Equalities Office is leading a programme of activities across 3 themes that celebrate 100 years of women’s suffrage, educate young people about its significance, and encourage more women to participate in public life so that they have an equal voice in the decisions that affect them.

The rest of the funding will be spent on:

• the first ever statue of a woman in Parliament Square – Millicent Fawcett
• initiatives to encourage more people to participate in politics
• smaller-scale local events and activities in Centenary Cities, which are 7 cities and towns in England with a strong suffrage history

• Saathi House
• Good Things Foundation
• The British Federation of Film Societies
• National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty
• Jacksons Lane will work in 3 Haringey schools’ sixth forms to create 3 learning installations exploring women’s rights and role in society
• YWCA England and Wales
• Essex Cultural Diversity Project
• Feminist Archive

Prime Minister Theresa May will today announce that £70 million of investment will be earmarked to transform Alexander Stadium into a world-class athletics venue for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.

The stadium will host athletes from across the Commonwealth competing in track and field, as well as the opening and closing ceremonies.

The Prime Minister, whose visit comes as Birmingham gets ready to take on the baton from the Gold Coast at the closing of the Commonwealth Games this Sunday, will announce the investment while visiting Alexander Stadium, where she will meet young athletes hoping to be the stars of future Games.

Prime Minister Theresa May said:

Birmingham’s dynamism, diversity and ambition capture exactly what it is to be part of the Commonwealth and I’m sure that in four years’ time, the people of this city will host an incredible event which showcases the very best of Britain to the world.

The investment I am announcing today will transform the stadium into a state-of-the-art facility benefitting the local community and the region well beyond 2022.

Birmingham was awarded the right to host the Commonwealth Games last year after the city impressed the Commonwealth Games Federation with its ambitious bid to create a lasting sporting legacy with its focus on inspiring young people and celebrating the diversity of the Commonwealth.

Plans are underway for Alexander Stadium’s capacity to increase from 12,700 to 40,000 in time for the Commonwealth Games, and to retain 20,000 permanent seats after the event.

The revamped stadium will also include new community sports facilities within the new stand, a permanent warm-up track and a new conference meeting space created to host business and cultural events after the Games.