The tours focused on role of the police in our barring decision-making processes.
The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) recently hosted two virtual tours with Sussex and Essex police forces. The tours, which were facilitated by barring staff at DBS, focused on the role that the police have in providing information to DBS as part of the barring decision-making process.
In the past, police forces been provided with a tour of all barring departments at our barring office, but due to the coronavirus pandemic, recent tours have been virtual.
As an organisation, DBS has no investigatory powers, so we often liaise with police forces as part of the decision-making process when a barring referral is made.
The tours allowed the police to understand how any information they provide is used and gave them an insight into the decision-making process itself, alongside the initial risk-assessment that is carried out by DBS when we receive a referral.
Feedback from Sussex Police and Essex Police has been extremely positive, and highlighted the importance of communication between DBS and the police forces we work alongside.
There will be further tours held in the future.
Published 18 March 2021
Near miss with a track worker at Llandegai tunnel
News story
Near miss with a track worker at Llandegai tunnel, Gwynedd, 13 February 2021.
CCTV image from the train showing the tunnel portal (courtesy of Transport for Wales)
At around 12:32 hrs on 13 February 2021, a passenger train travelling at 72 mph (115 km/h) was involved in a near miss with a track worker who was carrying out work to inspect and remove icicles in Llandegai tunnel. There were no injuries.
We have undertaken a preliminary examination into the circumstances surrounding this incident. Having assessed the evidence which has been gathered to date, we have decided to publish a safety digest.
The safety digest will be made available on our website in the next few weeks.
Published 18 March 2021
Updated CMA Merger Assessment Guidelines published
Press release
Following a public consultation, the CMA has published updated guidelines about its approach to analysing mergers.
The Competition and Markets Authority’s (CMA) previous merger assessment guidelines were published in 2010 and, since then, markets have evolved and changed at a rapid pace, often making the act of assessing mergers more complex.
This requires the CMA to consider carefully its approach to the assessment of mergers to ensure that it is delivering on its duty to promote competition across the UK. The updated Merger Assessment Guidelines, published following a period of public consultation, will help to ensure that the CMA continues to protect people through its merger enforcement work. It will also help companies and their advisers to assess whether competition concerns might be raised by the CMA before they enter into a deal or purchase.
Andrea Coscelli, Chief Executive Officer of the Competition and Markets Authority, said:
Digital technologies have changed, and will continue to change, the way goods and services are sold, delivered and used by customers. What’s more, they have a strong impact on the way that businesses compete. The CMA needs to be prepared for these challenges to be able to take effective decisions for the benefit of consumers.
These updated guidelines will help ensure that, through effective enforcement, people continue to have access to the best products and services, without weakening competition or damaging future innovation. They will also provide businesses with greater clarity about how we assess mergers.
The CMA consulted on the updated guidelines between 17 November 2020 and 8 January 2021. Since the consultation closed, the CMA has considered all the responses received and has provided a summary of these and any changes made to the guidelines, as a result of the feedback.
Media queries should be directed to press@cma.gov.uk or 020 3738 6460
Published 18 March 2021
British envoy pays courtesy visit to Prime Minister Sogavare
We use some essential cookies to make this website work.
We’d like to set additional cookies to understand how you use GOV.UK, remember your settings and improve government services.
We also use cookies set by other sites to help us deliver content from their services.
Roundtable to discuss climate change in Ashgabat
17 March 2021. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan (MFA) jointly with the British Embassy in Turkmenistan organised roundtable dedicated to the 2021 UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Ashgabat.
The event was one of the its kind in Ashgabat on the run up to the COP26 conference, which will take place in Glasgow, UK in November 2021. Looking forward to the high-level conference in Glasgow, this roundtable with local and international climate change experts provided a good platform to discuss the global significance of COP26 and gave an opportunity to highlight the international expertise and initiatives, existing areas of technical support and new green/climate finance opportunities available to Turkmenistan.
In addition to providing a platform for generating new ideas and areas for international cooperation, especially in reducing greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) and transition towards low-carbon and renewable energy sources, the roundtable discussion at expert level also helped to demonstrate Turkmenistan’s efforts to tackle climate change and commitment to fulfil its obligations under global climate agreements showing current work that is taking place in the country as well as future plans.
The MFA moderated the roundtable and it was attended by representatives of, relevant ministries and departments of Turkmenistan, UK Government, foreign diplomatic missions, international organisations, research institutions, development partners and donors.
At the roundtable, the UK side was represented online by Ms Janet Rogan, COP26 Regional Ambassador Middle East and North Africa, Eastern Europe and Central Asia, COP26 Unit. Ms Rogan spoke about the UK government’s efforts tackling global climate change and UK’s priorities for COP26.
She also described what more ambitious and enhanced Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) mean and why it is important to come forward with enhancing and raising ambition in NDCs ahead of COP26.
Following the COP26 Regional Ambassador’s remarks, speeches from:
former UK Minister of Energy & Climate Change and Former Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy to Turkmenistan
Head of the Department of International Environmental Cooperation and Projects of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environmental Protection of Turkmenistan
UNDP Project Manager, Group Manager for the preparation of Turkmenistan’s Fourth National Communication to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
Country Heads of Multinational Development Banks such as ADB and EBRD
Heads of Departments of International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and International Energy Agency (IEA)
renowned Oxford University and Turkmen State Institute of Electrical Energy professors
Shell International Ltd.’s Chief Climate Change Adviser
experts from the UN’s Environment Programme (UNEP), NDC Partnership and Overseas Development Institute (ODI) gave special impetus to the event
As a result of the productive discussions, joint priorities of the Turkmen colleagues with international partners and donors were identified to activate new forms of cooperation to jointly combat climate change, taking into account the coincidence of priorities in the main areas of work.
Given the importance of the subject matter and the fact that climate change affects negatively many people and countries around the world, experts agreed it was important to learn from each other and to continue the productive dialogue and exchange of professional experience in this important area.
At the end of the roundtable, experts thanked the organisers of the roundtable and expressed hope for a brighter and greener future for all.
