Guidance: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV): symptoms, transmission, prevention, treatment
The symptoms, means of transmission, best means of prevention and treatment of RSV.
The symptoms, means of transmission, best means of prevention and treatment of RSV.
Seeking views on the updated UK plan for shipments of waste.
Regulators are clearing the runway for drones to transport vaccines and other live-saving drugs, in a ground-breaking venture funded by government.
The project, to be run by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), is one of 21 bold new initiatives backed by the government’s Regulators’ Pioneer Fund to propel cutting-edge innovation across the UK.
The Fund supports projects led by regulators and local authorities that help support the country’s regulatory environment to keep pace with technological advances of the future – benefiting both entrepreneurs and consumers.
Using its grant, the CAA will develop world-first standards for special containers that will allow drones to safely carry sensitive goods like medical products, so that remote communities can access critical supplies without delay. At present, there is no regime anywhere in the world for testing and approving these containers to make sure that they do not leak even in the event of a crash.
The aviation regulator has also received money to create a service for the public to report safety concerns about drones, while Oxfordshire County Council has won funding to help innovators understand their legal requirements when setting up new trials in the drone industry.
Business Minister Lord Callanan said:
Good regulation should spur entrepreneurship, not stand in its way, and this Fund will keep the UK at the cutting-edge of innovation.
The projects we are supporting could pave the way for exciting developments across a range of sectors, from drone technology to healthcare, all of which will bring benefits to British businesses and consumers alike.
In total, 21 projects received a share of £3.7 million of funding, and winning projects include:
This investment comes on top of the £10 million awarded by the Fund from 2018 to 2020, which saw approximately £700,000 provided to the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency to develop synthetic datasets, supporting the development of cutting-edge medical technologies to fight coronavirus (COVID-19) and cardiovascular disease.
The Fund is part of wider government work on regulation. This includes the recent Reforming the Framework for Better Regulation consultation and the Better Regulation Committee, chaired by the Chancellor, which is driving an ambitious reform agenda to ensure the UK’s regulatory framework is fit for purpose and delivers the government’s strategic objectives.
The funding was awarded following an assessment process conducted earlier this year. The full list of winning applicants in this round of funding, subject to agreement of contracts, are:
A public engagement asking for views on new plans for a cycling and walking route to be created on the south coast has entered its final week.
National Highways launched the engagement on plans for a six-mile long route which will link Chichester with Emsworth along the A259 on 22 July.
The route, which is currently part of the National Cycle Network route 2, will link into the Centurion Way (former railway conversion) and other local routes on the Manhood peninsula towards Chichester.
The improvement will also link several schools, and will enable more people to leave their cars at home and cycle or walk safely to work or school, helping to improve air quality in the area.
National Highways project manager Adrianna Chirovici said:
There’s just one week to go of this engagement and I urge anyone interested in the scheme to visit our virtual exhibition to find out more about the proposals and share their thoughts with us. Peoples’ feedback on our proposals will help us develop plans and deliver improvements which will benefit health, safety and the wider environment.
For full details of the engagement and how to get involved please visit the West Sussex County Council website. The engagement is set to finish on Thursday 23 September when the team will start the process of analysing all feedback and continue to develop the proposals to maximise the benefits for everyone.
Members of the public should contact the Highways England customer contact centre on 0300 123 5000.
Journalists should contact the Highways England press office on 0844 693 1448 and use the menu to speak to the most appropriate press officer.
Published 16 September 2021
Collision between train and part of lorry at Penistone, South Yorkshire, 27 August 2021.
At around 08:48 hrs on 27 August 2021, a passenger train travelling from Huddersfield to Sheffield struck the stabiliser leg of a lorry parked next to the track. The lorry’s stabiliser legs were deployed as its crane was being used to lift portable welfare facilities onto its flatbed. There were no injuries, but the lorry and the train were both damaged.
We have undertaken a preliminary examination into the circumstances surrounding this incident. Having assessed the evidence which has been gathered to date, we have decided to publish a safety digest.
The safety digest will be made available on our website in the next few weeks.
Published 16 September 2021