Update on IPO services

Following government advice on measures to tackle the spread of the coronavirus, we are able to confirm that our services are mainly unaffected at present.

Our people are our top priority. The majority of our staff are equipped to work from home and are doing so to avoid unnecessary travel and social contact. Our sites remain open for essential work that can only be undertaken on site.

Online services

We are still able to process fees, paper forms, faxes and paper correspondence. But, we ask customers to use our online services whenever possible. This will give us the best chance of continuing to deliver our services.

For services that are not available online, we have created an email address called paperformcontingency@ipo.gov.uk which can be used instead of faxing, or posting documents to us. For now, our fax machine is still operating. We will review this and will let you know if we are going to shut the fax service down. Please do not send duplicate copies to the email and fax. This will slow down the processing of yours and others’ forms.

Hearings service

Aldgate Tower where we undertake Tribunal hearings is currently not operational.

We will continue to operate hearings via telephone, Skype or other virtual methods
No further physical hearings will be booked or take place until 1 June 2020 (this date will be kept under review)
Parties will be contacted over the next few days if their current hearing arrangements need to change

We will continue to update this page with any changes to services, as well as providing more details as they develop.

Published 19 March 2020
Last updated 23 March 2020 + show all updates

23 March 2020
Update to services including new email address for correspondence.
19 March 2020
First published.

UK personnel to drawdown from Iraq

Following the COVID-19 outbreak, there has been a reduced requirement for training from the Iraqi Security Forces and a subsequent pause in the Coalition and North Atlantic Treaty Organisation training missions in Iraq. The Ministry of Defence has therefore decided to redeploy some of its personnel back to the United Kingdom (UK).

The training mission, which the UK has conducted alongside Global Coalition partners since 2014, has been paused for 60 days as a precaution due to the global pandemic.

The UK will retain key military personnel throughout the country to ensure the Iraqi Government, Global Coalition and UK national interests are appropriately supported.

The troops returning home will remain at readiness for a range of potential deployments across the world, while having the opportunity to support loved ones facing the challenges of the virus.

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said:

In recent months the tempo of training has significantly declined, which means that I am in a position to bring back the current training unit to the UK.

There remains a significant footprint of UK Armed Forces within the coalition and elsewhere. We are committed to building Iraq’s security capacity through our membership of the Global Coalition that has proved so effective and will continue to support the Iraqi Government in achieving stability.

While Daesh no longer holds any territory, its corrupt ideology persists as a threat to the country and region. The UK remains committed to the complete defeat of Daesh through our enduring support to the Government of Iraq and membership of the Global Coalition.

CMA publishes annual plan

The plan is published during disruption caused by Covid-19.

The CMA is working hard to keep pace with the fast-moving events around the spread and containment of Covid-19, with all its staff now working from home if possible and all meetings and hearings being conducted remotely via teleconferencing or telephone, to ensure the safety and well-being of its staff and all those it engages with.

Within these constraints, the CMA will continue to do its utmost to ensure that the UK public is protected from anti-competitive practices, transactions and unfair trading.

Published 19 March 2020
Last updated 19 March 2020 + show all updates

19 March 2020
First published.

Second generation UK search and rescue aviation programme (UKSAR2G)

There is a new page for all information on UKSAR2G. Please follow this link. Information on this page will be updated as the programme evolves.

The MCA, through HM Coastguard, provides a national 24-hour maritime and coastal search and rescue (SAR) emergency response service throughout the UK.

HM Coastguard provides support to all blue light emergency services, as well as other government departments and agencies, through the deployment of its search and rescue helicopters and planes.

Since 2013, the UKSAR helicopter service has been delivered by Bristow helicopters ltd. From ten strategically located bases around the UK, rescuing over 4,500 people since the service started in 2015. This contract is due to finish in 2024.

UKSAR2G is the second-generation programme that will take account of how the current UKSAR helicopter service has evolved and will seek to understand other emergency services’ requirements and needs to shape a highly collaborative and innovative solution. UKSAR2G will work from first principles to develop a more tailored and modern means of delivering vital search and rescue capabilities in a more cost-efficient and innovative way.

Procurement timetable

Procurement activity	Dates
Market engagement (details about how to register for engagement will be published on the portal)	March 2020 to October 2020*
Publication of the OJEU notice	January – March 2021*
Procurement cycle (precise procurement procedure to be confirmed)	January 2021 to December 2022*
Contract award	December 2022*
Service commencement	30th September 2024*

* These dates are currently indicative and are subject to changes

Procurement portal

A procurement portal is being developed, where interested parties can register and gain access to documents relating to the procurement.

Further information

Post implementation review

UKSAR Helicopter statistics

Search and rescue (UKSAR) framework

HM Coastguard search and rescue

MCA news and communications

If you have any questions and queries, please contact UKSAR2G@mcga.gov.uk

In this video Damien Oliver, Commercial & Programmes Director at the MCA and the Senior Responsible Owner of the UKSAR2G programme, offers some more insight into the programme and its objectives

An online event for industry has been held by those overseeing the second generation UK Search and Rescue aviation programme (UKSAR2G). For those unable to be present, we have included the video of the event.

Three million granted status under the EU Settlement Scheme

The Home Office has today (19 March 2020) announced that more than three million have been granted status under the EU Settlement Scheme, according to the latest internal figures.

The milestone was reached less than a year after the EU Settlement Scheme was launched to the public. The three million have now secured their rights in UK law, and can continue to live and work in the UK with no change to their daily lives.

Detailed official statistics show there have been more than 3.34 million applications to the scheme up to the end of February 2020 with more than 3 million applications from England, 166,300 from Scotland, 54,500 from Wales and 55,400 from Northern Ireland.

Minister for Future Borders and Immigration Kevin Foster said:

EU citizens have made huge contributions to our country. It’s good news over three million have now been granted status and will be able to continue to call the UK home for decades to come.

Home Office caseworkers have regularly been processing up to 20,000 applications a day. The highest number of applications processed in one month was in October 2019 when more than 400,000 people were granted status.

A wide range of support is available online, over the phone and in person to help EU citizens apply. There are over 1,500 Home Office staff working on the EU Settlement Scheme with 250 Settlement Resolution Centre staff in place to provide assistance to applicants with any questions about the scheme or who need help applying.

Last year, the Home Office awarded £9 million funding to 57 charities across the UK who have helped hundreds of thousands of vulnerable people already. A further £8 million of funding was announced earlier this month to help vulnerable EU citizens apply.

Chief Executive of PKAVS Paul Graham said:

We are pleased to be working with the Home Office to support vulnerable people in Perth and Kinross with their applications to the EU Settlement Scheme.

Through our free helpline, our events programme, and individual support, we have been able to provide vital assistance to those who need it most to help them secure their status under UK law.

Additional support is also available to those EU citizens in the UK who do not have the appropriate access, skills or confidence to apply. This includes over 300 assisted digital locations across the UK where people can be supported through their application and over 80 locations where people can have their passport scanned and verified.