News story: New Foresight project to investigate the future of mobility

The project will explore the opportunities and implications arising from the future transport system in the UK.

Technological developments and disruptive business models will have a significant impact on how people and goods move around the UK over the coming decades. The Government Office for Science’s new Foresight project will investigate how these issues will affect the transport of people and goods up to 2040.

Commenting on the project, Sir Mark Walport, Government Chief Scientific Adviser, said:

Understanding what the future of transport could hold is important for society and government.

Policy makers need to think about the longer term future of transport in order to make informed decisions today to shape the way people and goods move in the future.

The Foresight Future of Mobility project will help policy makers to think about the future of transport by providing the latest scientific evidence and tools.

The project is developing evidence in the following areas:

  • the interaction between people, technology and data
  • new transport business models
  • alternate transport futures

These areas will develop over the course of the project.



News story: China IP Roadshow 2017

The UK Intellectual Property Office is holding a UK-wide intellectual property roadshow run by Tom Duke, the UK’s IP Attaché to China.

The annual China IP roadshow will run from 18 to 20 September 2017 and this year will visit Glasgow, Edinburgh, Leeds, Barnsley, Liverpool and Manchester.

Based in the British Embassy Beijing, Tom supports over 200 UK companies each year to protect and enforce IP in China. He will draw on this experience to provide practical advice on a range of ventures in China, including exporting, manufacturing, investment (in China, the UK and third countries), collaborative research, technology licensing and creative projects.

China IP Roadshow events are open to large and small business, and cover all industry sectors. The events will cover all major aspects of IP: patents, trade marks, designs, copyright and trade secrets. All sessions will be interactive with opportunities to comment, ask questions and network with other participants.

The dates and locations for each city are provided below, along with links to further information and registration pages. All events are free of charge.

Monday 18 September 2017

In partnership with Scottish Enterprise, the China IP Roadshow will begin with events in Glasgow and Edinburgh.

Glasgow

  • time/date: 10am-12:30pm (including networking lunch), Monday 18 September 2017
  • venue: Scottish Enterprise Glasgow office, Atrium Court, 50 Waterloo Street, Glasgow
  • more information and sign-up details are available

Edinburgh

  • time/date: 2:30pm-4:30pm, Monday 18 September 2017
  • venue: Scottish Enterprise Edinburgh office, Apex House, 99 Haymarket Terrace, Edinburgh
  • sector focus: IP and retail, including food and beverages, healthcare, personal care, cosmetics and fashion.
  • more information and sign-up details are available

Tuesday 19 September 2017

We are delighted that for the first time the China IP Roadshow will visit Yorkshire for events in Leeds and Barnsley. Events will be held in partnership with the Business and IP Centre (BIPC) Leeds, the Barnsley Business and Innovation Centre (BBIC), the IP Yorkshire blog and 4-5 Gray’s Inn Square.

Leeds

Barnsley

  • time/date: 2:30pm-5pm, Tuesday 19 September 2017
  • venue: Barnsley Business and Innovation Centre, Wilthorpe and Head Office, Innovation Way, Barnsley
  • more information and sign-up details are available

Wednesday 20 September 2017

The China IP Roadshow will visit Liverpool for a meeting held in partnership with Invest Liverpool, before returning to Manchester for the third year running, working with partners the China-Britain Business Council (CBBC).

Liverpool

  • time/date: morning , Wednesday 20 September 2017
  • venue: TBC, Liverpool city centre
  • a sign up page will be published shortly. For more information and to be notified when registration is open please email Monica Su

Manchester

  • time/date: 2:30pm-6pm (including early-evening networking reception), Wednesday 20 September 2017
  • venue: TBC, Manchester city centre
  • more information and sign-up details are available

If you require further information on the 2017 China IP Roadshow please contact Monica Su



News story: MHRA response to the final report of the Mesh Oversight Group

Patient safety is our highest priority and we sympathise with women who have suffered complications after surgery.

We are committed to helping address the serious concerns raised by some patients. We have undertaken work to assess the findings of studies undertaken by the clinical community over many years, as well as considering the feedback from all sources in that time.

What we continue to see is that evidence supports the use of these devices in the UK for treatment of the distressing conditions of incontinence and organ prolapse in appropriate circumstances. This is supported by the greater proportion of the clinical community and patients.

In common with other medical device regulators worldwide, none of whom have removed these devices from the market, we are not aware of a robust body of evidence which would lead to the conclusion these devices are unsafe if used as intended.

We actively encourage patients and healthcare professionals to report complications associated with these implants through the Yellow Card Scheme.

The final report of the NHS England-led Mesh Working Group can be found on the NHS England website.



Press release: Change of Her Majesty’s Ambassador to Iraq

2014 – present Muscat, Her Majesty’s Ambassador 2014 UK Special Envoy for Syria 2012 – 2013 UK Special Envoy to the Syrian opposition 2012 Shrivenham, Higher Command and Staff Course 2010 – 2011 Sana’a, Her Majesty’s Ambassador 2009 – 2010 Baghdad, Deputy Head of Mission 2007 – 2009 Dubai, British Government Arabic Spokesman 2005 – 2007 FCO, Deputy Head, Security Policy Group 2004 – 2005 FCO, Deputy Head (Political), Iraq Group 2003 Baghdad, Deputy Head, British Office 2002 – 2003 Cabinet Office (secondment), Iraq Analyst, Assessments Staff 1999 – 2002 Special Unpaid Leave (Academic Sabbatical) 1996 – 1999 Riyadh, First Secretary (Economic) 1993 – 1996 Khartoum, Second Secretary (Political, Press and Public Affairs) 1991 – 1993 London and Cairo, Full-time Arabic Language training 1990 – 1991 FCO, Assistant Desk Officer Iran, Middle East Department 1989 Joined FCO


News story: Local Authority workshops announced

The Surveillance Camera Commissioner is delighted to announce that a series of half day workshops on compliance with the surveillance camera code of practice will be held this autumn in a number of locations across England and Wales.

These free workshops are targeted at Local Authorities and we invite CCTV managers and their managers, compliance officers, data protection officers, community safety managers and officers to register for one of these events. As well as any one else who has responsibility for all forms of surveillance including CCTV, body worn video, automatic number plate recognition and unmanned aerial vehicles.

We will be looking at the importance of the self assessment tool, third party certification, single point of contact and developing registers of all surveillance systems used within local authorities.

This will be a great opportunity to meet the commissioner and ask him any questions you may have on complying with the code.

A detailed agenda for the events will be available nearer the time.

Cardiff

Wednesday, 27 September 2017, 9:30 to 14:00

Willcox House, Dunleavy Drive, Cardiff, CF11 0BA

Register

London (to be confirmed)

Wednesday, 11 October 2017, 9:30 to 14:00

Richmond and Wandsworth Councils, Frogmore, London, SW18 1JA

Register

Nottingham

Wednesday, 18 October 2017, 9:30 to 14:00

The Woodlands, Norton Street, Radford, Nottingham, NG7 3NA

Register

Liverpool

Wednesday, 8 November 2017, 9:30 to 14:00

Queen Mary Room, The Cunard Building, Water Street, Liverpool, L3 1QX

Register

Leeds

Wednesday, 26 November 2017, 9:30 to 14:00

Civic Hall, Millennium Square, Calverley Street, Leeds, LS1 1UR

Register