Following a meeting of the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) board where they agreed that there is a public interest in a statutory investigation, the Economic Secretary to the Treasury, John Glen, has agreed to use powers under the Financial Services Act 2012 to require the FCA to undertake an investigation into events at LC&F and the circumstances surrounding them.

The investigation will be led by an independent person appointed by the FCA, with the approval of the Treasury.

The Economic Secretary to the Treasury, John Glen, said:

The recent stories of those affected by the collapse of LC&F are incredibly concerning.

I want to make sure we have the strongest and safest financial system possible. By ordering this investigation, we will better understand the circumstances around the collapse and make sure we are properly protecting those who invest their money in the future.

Separately, the FCA had already started an investigation into LC&F’s financial promotions. The Serious Fraud Office, working in conjunction with the FCA, has also opened an investigation into individuals associated with LC&F.

The detailed direction that will order the independent investigation and set out its terms will take into account any issues arising, including from current regulatory and enforcement investigations, and be determined in consultation with the independent person appointed to lead it.

The direction and the investigation’s report will be laid before Parliament.

The Prime Minister has approved the appointment of Dame Heather Hallett as the new Chair of the Security Vetting Appeals Panel, with effect from 1 April 2019 for a period of four years. She will replace Sir George Newman who is retiring from the Panel after 10 years of service.

The Rt Hon Dame Heather Carol Hallett DBE was called to the Bar in 1972. In 1989 she became a QC and was the first woman to chair the Bar Council in 1998. After becoming a Presiding Judge, she was promoted to the Court of Appeal in 2005. Lady Justice Hallett acted as Coroner at the inquest into the deaths of the 52 victims of the 7th July 2005 London bombings, and was appointed by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in 2015 to conduct the “Review into On the Runs”.

Defra Ministers have appointed three new Non-Executive Commissioners to Forestry Commission England

Jennie Price CBE, Peter Latham OBE and Liz Philip have been appointed for three years commencing on 1 April 2019.

The Commissioners will play a pivotal role in establishing a strong, sustainable future for the organisation, enabling it to set out with confidence on the road to the next 100 years of forestry in England.

The Forestry Commission (FC) is a non-Ministerial Government department established nearly a century ago as a body serving Great Britain (GB). In 2013, Natural Resources Wales took over most of FC’s functions in Wales, and the Scottish Government will take over FC’s functions in Scotland this year, which means that from this point on the FC’s work will be primarily in England.

Forest Research will continue to operate across GB, and the whole FC will remain an outward looking, connected organisation, engaging with the forest industry and other national and international partners and stakeholders, and delivering research and other services to Scotland and Wales by agreement with the devolved governments.

All appointments to Forestry Commission England are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process. The appointments comply with the Ministerial Code of Governance on Public Appointments. There is a requirement for appointees’ political activity (if significant) to be declared. All three appointees have declared that they have not taken part in any political activity in the past five years.

Details about the Forestry Commission management structure can be seen at: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/forestry-commission

Biographical details:

Jennie Price

Until recently, Jennie Price was the CEO of Sport England. Jennie is a qualified lawyer and has previously been the CEO of WRAP, a Defra-supported environmental organisation specialising in recycling and resources management. She retains an active interest in sport and is Chair of the recently formed international supervisory board on integrity in tennis. She is also Chair of Youth United Foundation and a trustee of the Canal and River Trust. Jennie brings considerable expertise in engaging wide sectors of the community in outdoor activities and has an excellent understanding of the links to health and well-being.

Peter Latham

Peter Latham is currently the Chair of the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification International (PEFC), a Director of Association Technique Internationale des Bois Tropicaux (ATIBT) and a trustee of the Commonwealth Forestry Association. He was previously CEO and Chairman of the timber distributor James Latham Plc. Peter brings extensive knowledge of the timber industry and experience of successful stakeholder engagement on an international level.

Liz Philip

Liz Philip is a recently retired Principal of two agricultural colleges, including Newton Rigg in Cumbria which was established as the National School of Forestry in 1969. Liz was a founding member of the National Land-Based College and was a Chair and Board Member at Higher York, which unites the city’s education and public bodies. She is currently a governor at Selby College. Liz brings a good understanding of the complexities of farming and forestry and their contribution to the rural economy.

GPs will benefit from comprehensive indemnity cover for future NHS clinical negligence claims under a new government-backed scheme.

The Clinical Negligence Scheme for General Practice is designed to provide more stable and affordable indemnity cover for GPs. Cover will be provided automatically and at no charge to GPs.

The scheme will provide cover for all GPs and their practice teams for clinical negligence incidents, relating to provision of NHS primary medical services, occuring from 1 April 2019.

The scheme will be administered by NHS Resolution on behalf of the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care. It will allow the government to have greater oversight of costs and claims.

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has also committed to put an existing liabilities scheme (ELS) in place subject to reaching agreement with the medical defence organisations. This would cover claims for historical NHS clinical negligence liabilities.

As part of this commitment, DHSC has agreed commercial terms with the Medical Protection Society (MPS) covering NHS clinical negligence claims made against their GP members in respect of liabilities arising before 1 April 2019.

NHS Resolution will have oversight of the arrangements for the new scheme and, for an interim period, claims handling will be retained by the MPS. Discussions are ongoing with other medical defence organisations.

The introduction of the scheme delivers an important part of the GP contract for 2019 to 2020. The extra support for GPs follows commitments which made primary care central to the NHS Long Term Plan. It will help improve the recruitment and retention of GPs.

The Long Term Plan aims to bring up to 20,000 extra staff into general practice by 2023 to 2024, including pharmacists and social prescribing link workers. This would free up GPs to spend more time with patients who need them most.

Minister of State for Care, Caroline Dinenage, said:

GPs are the bedrock of the NHS and they are at the heart of delivering the Long Term Plan.

The launch of a new government-backed scheme as part of a landmark new contract demonstrates our clear commitment to supporting a sustainable future for general practice.

This new scheme will bring significant benefits to general practice staff, bringing arrangements in line with those for NHS trusts so GPs and their staff can focus on continuing to provide excellent care to patients, knowing they have comprehensive cover in place.

These new measures, including new flexible working arrangements, expanded accommodation options and new co-habitation rules are designed to modernise the armed forces and ensure the military remains a competitive employer that meets the changing needs and expectations of service personnel and their families.

As of today (April 1st) regular personnel can apply for Flexible Service, allowing them to work part-time for a defined period, and giving them the option to restrict the amount of time they would spend away from their home and their families, such as by limiting their deployability.

A new pilot scheme is to be launched that will allow service personnel more choice in their accommodation, allowing them to rent homes off base, potentially with partners, friends, or military colleagues, rather than living on site.

Finally, new policy is being introduced to allow couples in long-term relationships, including same sex couples, to live together in surplus Service Family Accommodation (SFA), subject to availability. Currently only married couples, those in civil partnerships, and those with legally dependent children can live in SFA.

Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson said:

It’s hugely important that the armed forces keep pace with modern society, creating a more attractive option to live, work and bring up a family.

By making our policies fairer and more flexible, we will help retain our diverse and talented workforce and give them greater freedom as they carry out their service.

Minister for Defence People and Veterans Tobias Ellwood said:

Personnel have told us that they want more flexible working arrangements and so I’m delighted these measures are now in place.

This new package of modern measures will help us retain personnel who want a more flexible approach to how they live, work and serve.

Flexible Service

The new legislation means personnel can apply to temporarily work part-time and restrict their separation from their home-base, should their personal circumstances change – whether it’s to care for young children or elderly relatives, or to embark on training or further education. It will also improve work life balance, and ensure the military is able to cater for an increasingly diverse work force. The operational capability of the armed forces will still come first, and will be the most important consideration when assessing all applications.

Surveys show that the impact of a military career on families and personal lives is the most important factor that might influence personnel to leave service, which is why the new measures aim to retain those with invaluable training and experience.

Future Accommodation Model

From September 2019, the new pilot for the Future Accommodation Model (FAM) will be rolled out to three military bases, starting with HMNB Clyde. The pilot, which will last for approximately three years, will also be established at Aldershot Garrison and RAF Wittering in 2020, ensuring the new policy is keeping pace with changing requirements and 21st century expectations, while also gathering evidence to inform future decisions.

The FAM will provide more choice to service personnel regarding where and with whom they live, making use of the private rental sector, alongside existing options. This means personnel will be able to live near their children’s school or their partner’s work place, if they choose, and their rent will be in broadly the same as the equivalent type of SFA.

Personnel are already supported by the Forces Help to Buy scheme which offers the opportunity to borrow up to 50% of their salary for a deposit, interest free. Currently, nearly 17,000 personnel have benefited from some £255m of loans.

Under FAM, entitlement to SFA will no longer be allocated according to the rank of individuals, but will instead focus on the size of the family, promoting fairness and ensuring homes are fit for purpose.

Cohabitation

The MOD has taken steps to broaden access to Service Family Accommodation (SFA) by amending current accommodation policy. From today, all service personnel, who have more than four years’ service in the armed forces and who are in a long-term relationship or have residential responsibility for a child will be able to apply to live together in surplus SFA at all UK bases where properties are available. This important change in policy to allow cohabitation will benefit all services and all ranks.