Vets: help us to improve the Special Import Service

News story

We are looking for veterinary surgeons to trial an early version of our new Special Imports Service (SIS) to be launched early next year.

We will be launching our new Special Imports Service (SIS) early next year.

The updated website will provide enhanced functionality when applying for certificates and enable accessibility from mobile devices. To ensure we have got this right we are looking for veterinary surgeons to trial an early version.

If you are a veterinary surgeon and can help please email Mat Cason m.cason@vmd.gov.uk or call 07874 649504.

The research is conducted via remote video call for approximately 30 minutes and at a time that suits you.

Published 14 June 2021

Call for papers: Insolvency Research and Technical Conference

The conference will take place on 19 November 2021 and the purpose is to:

provide a platform for current insolvency research and technical discussion
facilitate a stronger link between academia, the insolvency sector and policy-makers
encourage comment and feedback from interested parties

The working title and theme of the conference are:

Forward Thinking: Insolvency strategies for a post-pandemic economy

We invite all scholars, researchers, postgraduate students, insolvency practitioners and others with interests in insolvency law and related areas to participate by submitting for presentation at the conference:

an academic research paper OR
a technical issue relating to insolvency practice

The Insolvency Service welcomes submissions in all areas of personal and corporate insolvency, whether UK or international in focus. Preference will be given to submissions that look beyond the response to Covid19; we are looking for new and exciting perspectives on the future of insolvency law and regulation.

The deadline for submission is Friday 23 July. For selected papers, a draft of the full paper to be presented at the conference will be required by Friday 22 October.

Research submissions will be considered by a panel comprising academics from the field of insolvency law and representatives from the Insolvency Service. Technical submissions will be considered by a panel comprising representatives from the Insolvency Service.

The conference will be hosted at Aston University, Birmingham and we anticipate that presenters and a limited number of delegates will be able to attend in person. The conference will also be available to delegates via video conference.

Conference Format

We expect that up to 8 submissions will be featured at the conference. Presenters will have approximately 20 minutes to introduce their research paper or chosen technical issue. Additional time for discussion and Q&As will be available.

Submission of Abstracts

Those wishing to make a submission should prepare an abstract (not exceeding 500 words) and send it to: keverne.howell@insolvency.gov.uk. Please indicate in your covering email whether you are submitting a research paper or a technical issue for discussion.

Your covering email should also include your name, firm/affiliation/role (where applicable), email and telephone number. This information will be removed when the abstract is forwarded to the relevant panel for consideration. Please ensure the abstract does not contain information or acknowledgments that could reveal your identity, firm or affiliation.

Further Information

If you have any queries, please contact Laura Bardsley laura.bardsley@insolvency.gov.uk

Industrial action at DVLA: Monday 14 June to Friday 18 June

News story

The scheduled dates for industrial action at DVLA and how it will affect the processing of paper applications.

Industrial action is scheduled to take place between Monday 14 June and Friday 18 June that will directly affect DVLA’s service. There will be delays in processing paper applications. There is no need to phone to chase up your application during this time as we are dealing with all paper applications as quickly as possible and in the order in which they are received.

Our online services are available and are the quickest and easiest way to deal with us. For information and to access our services, go to www.gov.uk/browse/driving

Published 14 June 2021

Government increases licence fees for gambling operators

News story

The Government has today published its response to a consultation on proposals to increase the fees payable by gambling operators to the Gambling Commission.

Government publishes consultation response on increases to Gambling Commission fees
Increase see a 55 per cent uplift in fees for online operators
New fees will deliver additional resource for Gambling Commission to address industry concerns

The Government has today published its response to a consultation on proposals to increase the fees payable by gambling operators to the Gambling Commission.

The increased fees announced today, which were last revised in 2017, will help the Gambling Commission respond to new risks and technological developments, as well as the increasing cost of its existing regulation.

The revised fee structure will also help it to address areas for improvement identified by the National Audit Office and the Public Accounts Committee, such as improving its use of data and intelligence, and ensure effective regulation of the gambling industry.

The changes include a 55 per cent increase in the fee bands for annual operating licences for online operators, which will take effect on 1 October 2021. Fee bands for land-based operators will increase by 15 per cent, with these increases coming into effect on 6 April 2022 in recognition of the impact that COVID-19 closures have had on these businesses.

The uplift in fees will provide the Gambling Commission with greater resources to tackle new challenges such as product and payment innovation. This new structure will mean that the Gambling Commission is better equipped to deal with the changing landscape of the gambling industry which has become increasingly global in nature. The regulator will also be better placed to address the risks associated with unlicensed operators and the need to protect consumers and the industry from ‘black market’ encroachment.

In addition to the rises to fee bands for annual operating licences, all application fees will increase by 60 per cent and discounts for being licensed for multiple activities will be removed.

The ongoing Review of the Gambling Act 2005 is looking at the Commission’s powers and resources to ensure the regulatory framework around gambling is fit for the digital age.

ENDS

Notes to editors:

The consultation ran from 29 January to 26 March 2021 and received responses from a cross-section of the gambling industry, as well as academic and clinician researchers and the House of Lords group Peers for Gambling Reform.
A statutory instrument will be laid to bring these changes into effect.
The Gambling Act Review call for evidence closed in March and responses are currently being carefully considered. A White Paper setting out findings will be published by the end of the year. The Review will also consider the future flexibility of the Gambling Commission’s fees.

Published 14 June 2021

Exam Procedures Review Service in Summer 2021 – consultation on the Terms of Reference

News story

Ofqual is consulting on proposed revisions to the way the Exam Procedures Review Service (EPRS) will operate for qualifications awarded in summer 2021.

Ofqual has today (14 June) published a consultation on proposed changes to the Terms of Reference for EPRS which will affect relevant qualifications awarded in summer 2021 only.

EPRS is an Ofqual process to consider whether an awarding organisation followed an appropriate process when it determined the learner’s result and when it considered any review or appeal in respect of that result.

The proposed changes in the consultation will only affect the relevant qualifications awarded in summer 2021. The changes concern how EPRS will operate this year and who may make an application.

Anyone wishing to respond to our consultation can fill out a short survey accessible from the consultation page, which is open until 11:45pm on Monday 28 June.

Published 14 June 2021