Extramural Studies (EMS) Placements at the VMD

News story

The VMD is launching an exciting new opportunity for veterinary students to attend a two-week EMS placement in July 2021.

The Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) is launching an exciting new opportunity for veterinary students to attend a two-week EMS placement, at the VMD’s offices in Addlestone, Surrey. There are 6 placements available for veterinary students who are in their final two years of study.

This new initiative gives students a comprehensive overview of the work of the VMD with a focus on areas of clinical relevance and also allows students to explore other career opportunities in the veterinary profession.

The placement will run from 5th to 16th July 2021, please note that you should only apply if you are available for the full two weeks of the placement.

The weeks will be structured with lectures and workshops, as well as a student-led journal club. Topics that will be covered include:

Introduction to the VMD
Insight into the work of the different VMD teams; Pharmaceuticals (Quality, Human and Environmental Safety, Efficacy), Biologicals, Legislation, Enforcement, Residues, Pharmacovigilance, Antimicrobial Resistance and associated policy, International Development and Training
Legal bases and authorisations of veterinary medicines
Dossier requirements to demonstrate Quality, Safety and Efficacy of the medicine
Generic medicines; bioequivalence and biowaivers
Clinical trials design and conduct
Novel therapies and blood banking
Prescribing and responsible use of veterinary medicines
Animal Test Certificates in practice
Insight into veterinary stakeholders
Benefit: risk balance

To apply please fill in the EMS application form (PDF, 92.3KB, 1 page) and e-mail to ems@vmd.gov.uk.

Applications will close on Friday 25th September 2020. All applicants will be notified of the outcome of their application by Friday 16th October 2020.

Please note, students will be responsible for their own accommodation and travel costs.

The intention is to run the placements at the VMD’s offices in Surrey, however if due to COVID-19 restrictions this is not possible the placements will be run virtually.

We look forward to receiving your applications.

Published 21 July 2020

PM meeting with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo: 21 July 2020

Press release

Prime Minister Boris Johnson welcomed US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to Downing Street earlier today.

The Prime Minister met the US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, today at Downing Street.

He welcomed the enduring strength of the UK-US special relationship and our close partnership.

Joined by the Foreign Secretary, the Prime Minister and Secretary of State discussed the importance of 5 Eyes countries taking an ambitious approach to working together on the technologies of the future.

They spoke about shared global security and foreign policy issues, including China’s actions in Hong Kong and Xinjiang, the situation in Iran and the Middle East Peace Process.

The Prime Minister and Secretary of State also underlined their commitment to negotiate a strong UK-US Free Trade Agreement that benefits the economies of both countries.

The Prime Minister reiterated the need for justice to be done for Harry Dunn and his family. He said there was a strong feeling among the people of the UK that justice must be delivered.

Published 21 July 2020

ESFA publishes its 2019 to 2020 annual report and accounts

Irene Lucas, ESFA Chair said:

Quality skills, education and training is going to be critical to our recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and we will re-double our efforts to be an organisation that supports providers and works directly with the sector to overcome challenges together to achieve this.

We will also work with determination to help the most affected; particularly those made redundant and young people from disadvantaged backgrounds, and we will use what we have learnt during this crisis to help improve the future education landscape.

Eileen Milner, ESFA Chief Executive said:

In the last few weeks of the accounting year, the sector had to start preparing for locking down due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In these extraordinary times, I would like to pay tribute to the many education institutions who are running impressive online learning facilities for their learners during the pandemic.

From providers and colleges running online classes and schools being supported by teacher resources published by Oak National Academy, it is a testament to the passion shared across the sector to secure the best outcomes for learners, even in the most difficult of situations.

ESFA continues to support the sector with the dedicated helpline, set up on 2 March. In the first month the helpline helped over 29,000 teachers, parents, students, carers and others in educational settings. In total the service has helped over 55,000.

ESFA’s annual report and accounts is available on GOV.UK.

Office of the Secretary of State for Scotland annual report

Press release

2019/2020 annual report published

The Secretary of State for Scotland and his team play a vital role in promoting the best interests of Scotland within a strong United Kingdom, and represent effectively Scottish interests at the heart of the UK Government.

The annual report and accounts of the Office of the Secretary of State for Scotland (OSSS) and Office of the Advocate General for Scotland (OAG) have been published today [21 July 2020].

The report provides an overview of a busy year from April 2019 to March 2020. Highlights include:

supporting the fight against the coronavirus pandemic, an unprecedented global crisis which has profound implications for Scotland and the whole United Kingdom. This includes helping to drive our economy recovery strategy, which will be vital in the months and years ahead
delivering a public information campaign to inform and support Scottish businesses, EU nationals resident in Scotland, and the wider public on preparing for a EU exit
working with local authorities and the devolved administration in Scotland to deliver the City Region and Growth Deal programme to boost investment, create new jobs and drive forward economic growth right across Scotland
overseeing the move to Queen Elizabeth House, the UK Government’s new flagship hub in Scotland which will open in September 2020

Commenting on the report, Scottish Secretary Alister Jack said:

I am very pleased to present our annual report and accounts to Parliament, for the first time since I was appointed to the role last year.

The past 12 months have seen a period of monumental change across Scotland and the rest of the UK. We have left the EU, are tackling a global pandemic, and are getting ready for the end of the EU transition period.

As we look forward to ensuring our economy can bounce back after coronavirus, and making the most of new global opportunities outside of the EU, the case for the Union has never been stronger. I am proud to be playing a part in sustaining and strengthening our Union.

ENDS

Notes to editors:

The annual report and accounts can be found here

Published 21 July 2020

How should competition policy react to coronavirus?

News story

IPPR has today published a paper by CMA Chairman Andrew Tyrie, discussing how competition policy can contribute to a robust and sustainable post-crisis recovery.

The paper – How should competition policy react to coronavirus? – explores the short and long term consequences of the coronavirus pandemic for markets and competition.

In the short term, Lord Tyrie argues that competition policy has a crucial role to play, both in protecting consumers from exploitative practices, and in ensuring enforcement does not stand in the way of necessary business co-operation. He explains how the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has already broken new ground, performing these functions through the creation of its emergency Coronavirus Taskforce.

In the longer term, Lord Tyrie argues that the pandemic is likely to cause enduring changes to consumer behaviour, businesses, supply chains and the regulatory environment. These changes may aggravate already rising market concentration, the growing power of digital markets and deepening public distrust of markets. This is likely to create a number of major challenges for competition policy. Among the most important of these is to ensure that the temporary subordination of competition to other policy objectives in the context of the coronavirus does not become entrenched.

CMA Chairman Andrew Tyrie said:

Coronavirus is likely to make the economy less competitive and consumers more vulnerable. The CMA has already acted on a number of short term threats, such as price gouging and breaches of consumer law. The challenge now is to put in place those measures most likely to sustain a durable economic recovery. That will require, among other things, measures to secure a more competitive economy and better protection for consumers.

Taxpayer support to business, and special exclusions from competition law, are liable to create a new group of vested interests, which would stand to benefit from continuing to be insulated from normal competitive forces after the crisis has receded. Competition authorities will need to provide robust and authoritative advice to Government on when and how crisis measures should be unwound, and on any opportunities that may arise from the crisis to address a number of pre-crisis distortions.

This paper was authored by Lord Tyrie with input from the CMA’s Chief Economist and members of the Senior Executive Team. It is published by the think tank the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR). Read more about IPPR.

Published 21 July 2020