ACMD public evidence request on cognition enhancers

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ACMD public request for written evidence on cognition enhancers (also known as ‘nootropics’ or ‘study drugs’).

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The ACMD are inviting relevant stakeholders to provide submissions of written evidence to support its workstream on cognition enhancers (also known as ‘nootropics’, or study drugs).

The workstream aims to explore the prevalence, patterns and motivations for the use of cognition enhancers in the UK. The workstream will focus on, but not be limited to, the drugs modafinil, methylphenidate and dexamfetamine, and the harms to those who use these drugs outside of prescribed medical use.

If you would like to submit written evidence please get in touch with the ACMD Secretariat at acmd@homeoffice.gov.uk by Friday 31 July.

You should include a brief description of the organisation you represent, and the type of information you can provide.

The ACMD are particularly interested in hearing about prevalence of use and health and social harms relating to non-medical use of modafinil, methylphenidate and dexamfetamine in the following:

  • school and university student populations
  • competitive sporting environments
  • workplace environments

Published 6 July 2020




New member announced for Ofqual Board

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The independent regulator announces new appointment to its Board.

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Ofqual has announced that Dr Catherine McClellan has joined its Board, with effect from 1 June 2020.

Dr McClellan is Director of Assessment & Psychometric Research at the Australian Council for Educational Research, a not-for-profit research organisation that aims to create and promote research-based knowledge, products and services that can be used to improve learning across the lifespan.

She has also worked internationally in various research and development roles including the Educational Testing Service in Princeton, New Jersey.

Roger Taylor, Chair of Ofqual, said:

“I am delighted to welcome Catherine to the board. Ofqual undertakes incredibly technical, research-driven work so it is vital that we have access to the very best expertise from home and abroad.”

“Catherine brings an international perspective which, combined with her considerable knowledge and experience, will contribute greatly to Ofqual’s work, not least at a time when we are working at speed to develop new approaches to assessment.”

In addition, Hywel Jones and Frances Wadsworth have been re-appointed to the Ofqual Board for a further 2 years (to March 2022), and Dame Christine Ryan for a further 3 years (to March 2023).

Appointments to the Ofqual board are made by the Secretary of State for Education, and board members sit for a term of 3 years. Information about the work of the board and its membership can be found here.

Published 6 July 2020




New HMRC Deputy CEO and Second Permanent Secretary appointed

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Angela MacDonald appointed as Deputy Chief Executive and Second Permanent Secretary at HM Revenue and Customs.

Angela MacDonald

New HMRC Deputy CEO and Second Permanent Secretary Angela MacDonald

The Cabinet Secretary, with the approval of the Prime Minister, has approved the appointment of Angela MacDonald as the Deputy Chief Executive and Second Permanent Secretary at HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC). The post has been vacant since Jim Harra took over as First Permanent Secretary and Chief Executive in October 2019.

Angela is currently Director General for Customer Services Group at HMRC – a role she has held since 2017.

Angela’s tenure in her current role has seen significant improvements and modernisation in our customer services across the board through putting the customer’s needs at the heart of our strategy.

Cabinet Secretary, Sir Mark Sedwill, said:

I am delighted that Angela has been appointed as Second Permanent Secretary at HMRC. Her blend of operational experience, gained in a variety of leadership roles both in the Civil Service and in the private sector, will be invaluable as she joins Jim Harra in leading HMRC’s 65,000 people through the next phase of the organisation’s ambitious transformation programme. I look forward to welcoming Angela to the Permanent Secretaries’ group.

Jim Harra, HMRC Chief Executive and first Permanent Secretary, said:

I’d like to congratulate Angela on her appointment – I’m thrilled to have her join me in leading this fantastic organisation at such a critical time. Angela succeeded in a tough competition for this role, and she brings a proven commitment to creativity and operational excellence with her as she moves on from her time leading our Customer Services Group.

Angela MacDonald, Director General Customer Services Group, said:

This is a fantastic opportunity for which I’m tremendously grateful. I’m so proud of what we’ve delivered over the last few months as we’ve come to the aid of businesses and individuals right across the UK. That dedication and innovation is clear to see in each and every team within HMRC and I now look forward to taking on this new challenge as we move forward together.

Angela will take up her new role on 1 August 2020, and a competition will soon commence to appoint a successor to lead HMRC’s Customer Services Group.

Published 6 July 2020




Maritime Safety Week 2020

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Our Chief Inspector, Captain Andrew Moll, makes a statement at the start of this year’s Maritime Safety Week.

Maritime Safety Week and MAIB Logo's

As the Chief Inspector of the MAIB I am very pleased to be supporting Maritime Safety Week. At the Branch we are all too accustomed to seeing the aftermath of accidents, many of which have had tragic consequences. Our investigations aim to learn the lessons from these events to try and prevent a re-occurrence. However, for the casualties of our investigations, our findings and the lessons learned will have come too late. It is therefore very refreshing to be taking a pause from the reactive nature of our work, to focus more widely on preventing future accidents.

As I highlighted in my Annual Report for 2019, the number of accident reports raised was almost unchanged from the previous year, and nearly two-thirds of MAIB investigations were into accidents that involved loss of life. That is not to say that nothing is being done, as there is lots going on to improve matters. The Fishing Industry Safety Group and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency are collaborating well across a range of areas to improve safety in the commercial fishing industry, and the UK Harbour Masters Association along with Port Skills and Safety have been concentrating on improving safety around our ports and harbours. Most of these initiatives are driving safety improvements from the top down, but I hope that Maritime Safety Week also provides the opportunity for improvements to be made from the bottom up. Across the industry, whether it is reviewing work procedures, servicing equipment or practising emergency responses, making time for safety is time well spent; it will lead to safer ships, reduce the risk to the environment and save lives.

Published 6 July 2020




AAIB Publishes 2019 Annual Safety Review

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The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) has published its Annual Safety Review covering Branch activity for 2019.

AAIB HQ

The AAIB received 826 occurrence notifications in 2019 and opened 37 field investigations, eight of which were into fatal accidents in the UK resulting in 10 deaths. A further 124 investigations were opened by correspondence.

The AAIB published two special bulletins, 29 field investigation reports and made 12 safety recommendations. In addition, 153 significant safety actions were taken by manufacturers, operators and regulators to address safety issues identified during AAIB investigations. This demonstrates the considerable range and scale of the safety action already taken or planned by the industry and regulators in response to AAIB investigations.

In 2019 all the fatal accidents that were investigated in the UK involved general aviation aircraft or gliders with the most common factor being loss of control in flight. The most common factor in commercial air transport accidents and serious incidents was system/component failure or malfunction.

In terms of its global reach, the AAIB appointed an accredited representative to 96 overseas investigations, including 45 involving UK registered aircraft. The Branch deployed to investigations in Belgium, the USA, Ethiopia, Chile, UAE, Italy, Portugal, Montserrat and Kazakhstan.

In addition to its investigation work, AAIB:

  • Created a new case management system that allows better management of investigations from notification to closure and will provide a useful archive of safety data
  • Introduced a ‘record only’ option for some less serious occurrences to focus AAIB expertise and investigation resources where the safety benefit is greatest
  • Began publishing field investigation reports online individually as well as in the monthly Bulletin, enabling it to reduce overall timescales to publication

The Annual Safety Review also includes:

  • A summary of a stakeholder review undertaken
  • An article about how the Branch conducts underwater search and recovery
  • Details of the Branch’s global reach
  • Safety recommendations made and responses received
  • Safety actions taken

Read the Annual Safety Review.

Published 6 July 2020