Electro Rent and Microlease rent, lease and sell equipment used to test and measure the performance of a wide range of electronic devices, used in industries such as telecommunications, aerospace and defence, utilities and information technology.

The Competition and Markets Authority’s (CMA) initial investigation has found that the companies are each other’s closest competitor in the rental of such equipment, in particular because of the value, scope and depth of their rental stock.

The CMA found that, while the combined entity may still face some constraint from the sale of testing and measurement equipment, customers are concerned about the merger and are generally unable to identify credible rental alternatives. The CMA is therefore concerned the merger could substantially lessen competition in respect of rental options for customers.

The merger will now be referred for an in-depth phase 2 investigation by an independent group of CMA panel members – unless Electro Rent is able to offer undertakings which sufficiently address the CMA’s competition concerns.

Electro Rent has until 21 June 2017 to offer proposals to resolve the competition concerns. If it does not offer undertakings, or if the CMA is unable to accept the undertakings offered, the merger will be referred for an in-depth phase 2 investigation.

The Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon has today visited some of the 1,500 British personnel currently exercising across five countries in Europe, joining NATO allies in a sign of solidarity against any potential threat.

Sir Michael met with the troops in Romania, including the UK’s 20th Armoured Brigade as part of NATO’s Very High Readiness Joint Task Force Land component, which the UK took the lead of in January this year. The approximately 500-strong British force have been deployed on Exercise Noble Jump, working alongside 14 partner nations and testing NATO’s ability to deploy forces quickly and in response to a crisis.

Elsewhere in Europe, a company of 45 Commando of the Royal Marines joined the US-led Sabre Strike exercise in Latvia and Lithuania, working alongside Norwegian and Polish forces. Troops from the Light Dragoons and amphibious engineers from 75 Engineer Regiment also joined the exercise in Poland while the Enhanced Forward Presence Battlegroup 5 Rifles exercised in Estonia.

Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon said:

The UK is playing a leading role in the NATO alliance and with around 1,500 British personnel exercising in Europe this week, nowhere can this be seen more clearly than in this region. We are standing side by side with our allies in the East, a sign of our unwavering commitment to European security.

While in the country, Sir Michael is also visiting Royal Air Force personnel deployed to Romania as part of the NATO Southern Air Policing mission.

The detachment of four Typhoon fighter jets from 3 Fighter Squadron has been based in Mihail Kogalniceanu Airbase in south east Romania since May. Deployed for up to four months, they are working alongside the Romanian Air Force to police the skies over the Black Sea.

Secretary of State for Defence Sir Michael Fallon added:

The UK is stepping up in its support for NATO’s collective defence from the north to the south of the alliance. Through this deployment, RAF planes will be ready to secure NATO airspace and provide reassurance to allies in the Black Sea region.

During his visit, Sir Michael toured the airbase and spoke with RAF personnel deployed on the Mission. The Defence Secretary also witnessed the fighter jets participate in a practice Quick Reaction Alert.

Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon visits some of the 1,500 British personnel currently exercising across five countries in Europe. Crown Copyright.

The Rt. Hon Alan Duncan, Minister of State for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office said:

A breakdown of individual hearings for court-assessed claims under the Family Advocacy Scheme (FAS) will be required for submissions after 14 August 2014.

Any FAS advocacy, including ‘bolt-ons’, should be broken down individually and no longer submitted at summary level only. This will help to speed up payments.

How will the process work?

Guidance on how to enter a breakdown of individual hearings is provided on the Client and Cost Management System (CCMS) training website – see link below.

When creating the bill, on the ‘multiple fee scheme bills’ screen, you will need to click ‘yes’ to the top option, ‘would you like to bill for FAS?’.

Alternatively, CCMS’ bulk upload feature can be used to provide the breakdown where providers already use this function.

Claims submitted from 14 August 2017 onwards that do not have this breakdown will be rejected so that they can be amended and resubmitted.

Benefits

Breaking down the fees in your online claim will:

• allow CCMS to cross-check rates and dates claimed
• reduce the need for us to ask you for further information
• simplify the process by making paper-based and online-based claims the same

This only applies to claims assessed by the court and including any advocacy under the FAS. There are no changes to submissions under other online billing schemes.

Further information

CCMS training website – see ‘court assessed bill’ under ‘closing cases and submitting bills’

CIV Claim 1A – to download checklist with evidential requirements for court assessed claims

A Downing Street spokesperson gave a statement on the Grenfell Tower fire.