Pre-charge engagement work payment fees

News story

New payment fees to cover work completed for pre-charge engagement are being introduced today (7 June 2021).

The Contract Amendments to the Specification and Standard Terms have been published.

CWA and associated Crime Lower reporting Guidance has been updated to include a new code, INVM, to bill this work.

Amendments have also been made to the Criminal Bills Assessment Manual.

Summary of the changes

Pre-charge engagement refers to voluntary engagement between the parties to an investigation after the first police (PACE) interview, and before any suspect has been formally charged, undertaken in accordance with the Attorney General’s guidelines on disclosure.

The fees remunerate solicitors who act on behalf of suspects engaged in this process, these will be remunerated on an hourly rates basis with an upper costs limit of £273.75. Where can I find out more?

Chapter 9 of the Standard Crime Contract sets out the contractual rules which apply to the new fee.

Further information

Standard Crime Contract 2017 – see new section in chapter 9 for amendments

Criminal Bills Assessment Manual – see new section 5.16 for claiming details

CWA Guidance – See updates in sections 2, 5 and 7.

Criminal Legal Aid (Remuneration) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2021 – to view regulatory changes introducing new fees

Criminal Legal Aid Review – MOJ consultation hub

Attorney General’s Guidelines on Disclosure 2020

Published 7 June 2021

Consultation on the UK’s future regime for exhaustion of IP rights

News story

The UK government has launched a consultation to collect views on the UK’s future regime for exhaustion of intellectual property (IP) rights.

Exhaustion of IP rights is the technical term for the rules that underpin parallel trade. Parallel trade is the cross-border movement of goods that have already been placed on the market in a specific geographic territory. If a business moves, sells or relies on goods such as books, car parts or toiletries that have already been first placed on the market in another territory, the consultation is likely to be important to them.

Prior to 2021, parallel goods were able to move freely in both directions between the UK and EEA. Since 1 January 2021, the UK no longer participates in the EU’s regional exhaustion system, and a legal default has come into effect. The consultation considers what the UK’s future exhaustion regime should be, and if there is to be a change, how any potential changes could be implemented.

The government is interested in responses from businesses, representative organisations, civil society organisations, legal practitioners and creators of new products, technology or creative works.

Please see the UK’s future exhaustion of intellectual property rights regime consultation for further information and how to respond.

Published 7 June 2021

Surge testing to be deployed in Calderdale

Press release

Working with the local authority, NHS Test and Trace is providing additional testing in areas across the Todmorden, Park and Warley wards of Calderdale.

NHS Test and Trace – in partnership with the local authorities – is launching additional testing and genomic sequencing in Calderdale. Additional testing is being offered in the Todmorden, Park and Warley wards of Calderdale.

This surge testing is being deployed from Tuesday 8 June following the identification of a small number of confirmed cases of the B.1.617.2 (Delta) variant. All the confirmed cases have been instructed to self-isolate and their contacts have been identified.

Everyone aged 12 and over who lives or works in these areas is strongly encouraged to take a COVID-19 PCR test, whether they are showing symptoms or not.

Enhanced contact tracing will be used for individuals testing positive with a variant of concern (VOC). This is where contact tracers look back over an extended period to determine the route of transmission.

By using PCR testing, positive results are sent for genomic sequencing at specialist laboratories, helping us to identify COVID-19 cases with a variant of concern and then prevent their spread.

If you have symptoms you should book a free test online or by phone. You can then go to a testing site or have a kit sent to your home. If you have no symptoms, you should visit your local authority’s website for more information.

People in this area should continue to make use of free twice-weekly rapid tests, commonly known as lateral flow devices, alongside the PCR test as part of surge testing.

Published 7 June 2021

Government gears up for roll out of greener fuel with national awareness campaign

government launches national advertising campaign ahead of the rollout of greener E10 petrol
petrol blended with up to 10% renewable ethanol could cut carbon emissions equivalent to taking 350,000 cars off the road every year
E10 petrol rollout could also create up to 100 jobs in the north east of England as we build back greener

Fuel pumps up and down the country will look different this summer as a nationwide information campaign on the introduction of E10 petrol kicks off.

Aimed at raising awareness of the greener fuel and how its rollout will help the UK to build back greener, the campaign – which will begin in mid-June – will be seen on fuel pump labels and in targeted digital, radio and social media advertising.

As well as promoting the benefits of E10 – which is petrol blended with up to 10% renewable ethanol, making it greener than existing petrol – the campaign will encourage motorists to check their vehicle is compatible with the fuel.

The campaign launch comes ahead of the introduction of E10 across all UK petrol stations in Great Britain from September, potentially cutting transport CO₂ emissions by 750,000 tonnes a year – equivalent to the annual uptake of a forest the size of the Isle of Wight.

Transport Minister, Rachel Maclean, said:

The rollout of E10 is the latest in a string of measures we’re taking to cut road emissions, reduce pollution and keep us on track to meet our ambitious net zero by 2050 target.

This campaign will not only make drivers aware of the changes we’re making, but will also show millions of motorists how E10 introduction plays a part in helping reduce carbon emissions and build back greener with every tank of petrol.

As well as playing a part in the UK’s ambitions to decarbonise transport and hit net zero, the rollout of E10 petrol will boost job opportunities across the country. So far, securing up to 100 jobs in the north east of England, following the reopening of AB Sugar’s Vivergo plant, and increasing production at existing biofuel plants, such as Ensus.

The introduction of E10 will see renewable ethanol in petrol double from the current petrol blend E5, which contains no more than 5% ethanol, further reducing emissions from millions of cars in line with our climate change targets.

A small number of older vehicles, including classic cars and some from the early 2000s, will continue to need E5 fuel, which is why supplies of E5 petrol will be maintained in the super petrol grade. We are advising motorists to use the new E10 compatibility checker to see if their vehicle is compatible.

PM call with Prime Minister Khan of Pakistan: 7 June 2021

News story

Prime Minister Boris Johnson spoke to the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Imran Khan.

The Prime Minister spoke to the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Imran Khan, this afternoon.

The Prime Minister began by expressing his condolences following the tragic loss of life in the train crash in Sindh.

The leaders discussed the current situation in Afghanistan. They agreed on the need to ensure a long-term future of peace and stability in the country. The Prime Minister reiterated that the UK would continue to use the diplomatic and development tools at our disposal to support the Government of Afghanistan.

The Prime Minister and Prime Minister Khan also covered the need to take action to cut carbon emissions and protect biodiversity ahead of the UK-hosted COP26 Summit later this year. The Prime Minister congratulated Prime Minister Khan on the success of the UN World Environment Day event, which Pakistan hosted with the UN this weekend.

The leaders also discussed the shared fight against coronavirus and resolved to work together to defeat the pandemic in our countries and around the world.

Published 7 June 2021