Designed to equip soldiers with a fighting and competitive edge in modern warfare, the integration of Robotics and Autonomous Systems (RAS) will exploit ‘human-machine-teams’ through a combination of autonomous, robotic and artificial intelligence technologies.

Examples of how the Army may deploy RAS in the future include using uncrewed, computer-driven vehicles to provide situational awareness or deliver aid to remote regions. They will also be able to rapidly deploy counter-drone capabilities to survey areas of land and use a wide range of sensors and effectors that can see, shift or shoot across the whole battlefield.

Chief of the General Staff, Sir Mark Carleton-Smith said:

The future British Army will draw on innovation, cutting-edge technology and play its part in Defence’s ambition to become more sustainable and environmentally friendly.

Our Future Soldier initiative will see more versatile and increasingly deployable land forces in the face of evolving threats.

As part of its Future Soldier initiative, the British Army will also shortly publish the ‘Approach to Electrification’.

Spanning the next 15 years, the strategy is focussed on an increase in the use of batteries, sustainable energy and hybrid electric drive technologies across the Army’s vehicle fleet.

Electrification of the battlefield will increase operational advantage and change the way land forces operate in the future, enabling significant advances in stealth mode capabilities with reduced thermal and noise signature.

Outlined in the recent Defence Command Paper, innovation will be at the forefront of a future Army. This is further supported by the £24 billion increase in spending over four years, as announced by the Prime Minister last November.

Assistant Head of Plans for Ground Manoeuvre Capability, Colonel Simon Ridgway OBE said:

This approach to electrification will set out how the Army intends to take advantage of the opportunities provided by sustainable technology for land capabilities.

It will ensure the Army’s electrical infrastructure is ready to meet the electrical demand required on the battlefield of the future. Delivering effect needs the right power, in the right place, at the right time and using hybrid vehicles will make it easier to get the power to where it needs to be.

The Army has already invested £10 million fitting hybrid electric drives to Man SV, Jackal and Foxhound vehicles with their performance currently being evaluated. Trials of pre-production models are due to take place, including assessments on how to fully recharge electric uncrewed, autonomous systems. The hybrid vehicles are due to be rolled out to the Field Army for use in training and on operations.

Patients using topical corticosteroid creams to treat conditions such as eczema or psoriasis are reminded to do so in accordance with advice from their healthcare professional, after a national review found that people using topical steroid for long-periods of time can suffer severe skin withdrawal symptoms.

Although this is very infrequent reaction, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is advising anyone experiencing skin redness or burning sensations after they have stopped using these creams or ointments to seek advice from their health professional before using these products again.

Topical corticosteroids are medicines applied directly to the skin to treat conditions such as eczema or psoriasis. Patients can experience topical steroid withdrawal reactions after using these products at least daily for long periods of time. It is not unusual for skin conditions to flare up or return shortly after stopping topical corticosteroids. However, very infrequently, a severe type of topical steroid withdrawal reaction can occur, which may also be known as red skin syndrome or topical steroid addiction.

Signs of severe topical steroid withdrawal reactions include redness of the skin which can be a spectrum of pink to purple, or as darkening of the normal skin tone, depending on the skin tone of the individual. Other signs include burning or stinging, intense itching, peeling of the skin, or oozing open sores. These signs may occur days or weeks after stopping treatment and are known to occur after as little as 2 months of continuous treatment in children. Examples of topical steroids include beclometasone, betamethasone, clobetasol, hydrocortisone, mometasone, and triamcinolone.

Alison Cave, Chief Safety Officer of the MHRA said:

When used correctly, topical corticosteroids are a safe and effective treatment for conditions such as eczema and psoriasis. However, a withdrawal reaction following long term use of these products can lead to skin redness and a burning sensation worse than the original skin condition. These reactions can be hard to distinguish from the original skin condition.

Patients should follow their healthcare professional’s advice on where, how often and for how long to use topical corticosteroids. Patients experiencing symptoms after stopping their topical steroid treatment should contact a healthcare professional for guidance. We advise anyone experiencing potential withdrawal symptoms to speak to their healthcare professional before starting to use these products again. Suspected adverse side effects can be reported to us through the Yellow Card scheme.

Andrew Proctor, Chief Executive of National Eczema Society said:

Many children and adults rely on topical corticosteroids to manage eczema inflammation. As with other treatments though, they can have side-effects including after you stop using them. It’s very important people know how to use topical corticosteroids safely and effectively. We urge people who are affected to read the newly published patient safety leaflet and to speak to their doctor or other prescriber if they have questions and concerns.

To coincide with National Eczema Week the MHRA is publishing the outcome of a comprehensive national review, which included assessment of published clinical research, reported drug reactions and advice from skin charities and organisations. Product information for topical corticosteroids is being updated to include safety warnings on withdrawal reactions. We have developed a patient safety leaflet to support patients and health care professionals, which includes advice on how to reduce the risk of severe reactions.

Healthcare professionals should:

• prescribe the lowest potency of topical corticosteroid needed to effectively treat the skin disorder

• consider reducing the strength or frequency of application gradually if topical corticosteroids have been used for a prolonged time

• make sure patients know how to use it safely and effectively, especially on sensitive areas

• report all suspected adverse drug reactions to the Yellow Card scheme, including after discontinuation of topical corticosteroids

For further information on using topical corticosteroids safely please see the full Drug Safety Update article and Patient Safety Leaflet.

Matthew Roberts (50), from Salcombe in Devon, was handed a 9-year directorship disqualification by the courts for allowing two property companies to trade with a lack of commercial probity.

During the proceedings, the court heard that in August 2017 the High Court wound up BBH Property 1 Limited and BBH Property 2 Limited following a petition by the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.

The Official Receiver was appointed Liquidator and following further enquiries it was uncovered that Matthew Roberts was the director of several investment companies, including BBH Property 1 and BBH Property 2.

From 2013 to 2015, Roberts targeted high net-worth individuals and ‘sophisticated investors’, promising their investments would develop part of an entertainment complex.

Based on the site of a former convent at Woodchester, near Stroud, the Convent complex would include a hotel, music venue, members club and spa.

Between November 2013 and May 2014, BBH Property 1 raised over £1.3 million. Investors were told this funding would be used to buy 4 of the Convent’s properties, with the promise that their money was secured because BBH Property 1 would own the properties free of any debt.

£200,000, however, was used to purchase only one of the properties, while over £880,000 was transferred to an unconnected company. This meant that the investors did not have the promised security for their money.

BBH Property 2 operated in the same way. The company raised £900,000 while Mr Roberts was a director and a total of £3.4 million between February 2014 and March 2015, promising investors ‘free of debt’ purchase of 3 properties at the Convent. The list of targeted properties included the property BBH Property 1 had already purchased.

BBH Property 2, however, did not purchase any properties. From the money raised by investors, £140,000 was transferred to the same company BBH Property 1 had paid money into, and £300,000 was paid for the benefit of a third person connected to Matthew Roberts.

Matthew Roberts appeared at the High Court on 9 July 2021. He had previously changed his name by deed poll to August Richard Templar.

This does not affect his disqualification order, which began on 30 July 2021 and means that Matthew Roberts cannot, directly or indirectly, be involved in the promotion, formation, or management of a company without the permission of the court.

John Matthews, the Assistant Official Receiver, said:

Matthew Roberts used the two property companies as vehicles to raise millions of pounds that was claimed to be for the purchase of specified properties as part of a grand re-development project. The money raised, however, was not used for that specific purpose and this meant the investors did not have the security that they had been promised.

9 years is a significant period to be removed from the corporate arena and should serve as a warning to other directors operating investment schemes that you could be disqualified for several years.

August Richard Templar is of Salcombe, Devon and his date of birth is 15 February 1971. At the time of the misconduct that led to the disqualification his name was Matthew Richard Roberts. On 3 November 2017 he changed his name to August Richard Templar by a Deed of Change of Name.

BBH Property 1 Limited (company number 08675992) incorporated in September 2013.
BBH Property 2 Limited (company number 09012571) incorporated in April 2014.

These were two of 13 companies that were wound up in the High Court in August 2017

The disqualification order was pronounced by Deputy Insolvency and Companies Court Judge Schaffer in the High Court. Deputy Official Receiver John Matthews appeared for the Official Receiver and the defendant represented himself.

The disqualification order specifically relates to Roberts’ actions as director of BBH1 and BBH2, and not to any of the other companies he was director of. It does not pertain to any other companies based at the Convent complex.

August Templar was (as Matthew Richard Roberts) subject to a bankruptcy order from 3 September 2014 to 3 November 2017, at which date he was discharged from bankruptcy.

Persons subject to a disqualification order are bound by a range of restrictions.

Further information about the work of the Insolvency Service, and how to complain about financial misconduct.

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