LONDON, May 21 -- The government of the United Kingdom issued the following news: At around 00:45 on 28 April 2026, a driver was seriously injured during a shunting operation at Carstairs station, South Lanarkshire. The shunting operation involved two separate portions of the Caledonian Sleeper service. These were train 1C11, from Edinburgh, and train 1M11, from Glasgow. After the two portions had been coupled together, the locomotive from train 1C11 was detached, to allow the combined train t...
LONDON, May 21 -- The government of the United Kingdom issued the following news: More children will grow up in stable homes with people who know and love them, as the government sets out how it will deliver the biggest overhaul of children's social care and child protection policy in a generation. The Implementation Plan for Children's Social Care, published today, follows the passage of the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026, the most ambitious piece of child protection legislation in...
LONDON, May 21 -- The government of the United Kingdom issued the following news: The Government Actuary Fiona Dunsire has completed a consultation with HM Treasury on the Public Service Pensions (Valuation and Employer Cost Cap) Directions 2023 as amended by the Amending Directions (PDF, 204KB). These set out how the 2024 valuations should be undertaken for the public service pension schemes and ensure that the valuations can be completed using updated assumptions. The results of the 2024 va...
LONDON, May 21 -- The government of the United Kingdom issued the following news: We are inviting tenders for an unlimited number of 2027 Peer Reviewer contracts, for services to commence from 1 March 2027, in the following categories of law: * Crime * Family * Housing * Immigration and Asylum; and * Mental Health All contracts will end on 28 February 2037 (subject to rights of early termination). Application Period and Key Dates The application period will remain open until on or around 4 ...
LONDON, May 21 -- The government of the United Kingdom issued the following news: Cities and regions are to benefit from a major program of regeneration as government stepped up delivery of its regional growth agenda at the UK Real Estate Investment & Infrastructure Forum (UKREiiF) this week. Building on her approach set out earlier this year in her Mais Lecture, the Chancellor emphasised the government's focus on backing city regions, working in partnership with mayors and local leaders, and ...
LONDON, May 21 -- The government of the United Kingdom issued the following news: Dame Sarah MacIntosh DCMG has been appointed United Kingdom Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations at New York, in succession to Dame Barbara Woodward DCMG OBE. Dame Sarah will take up her appointment during the summer of 2026. Curriculum vitae Full name: Sarah MacIntosh 2025 to 2026 British High Commissioner to Australia 2022 to 2024 Prime Minister's Adviser on International Affairs an...
LONDON, May 21 -- The government of the United Kingdom issued the following news: * Business Secretary announces new funding packages for chemicals and ceramics sectors, boosting stability and economic resilience. * £350 million Critical Chemicals Resilience Fund will support strategically important producers and sites, strengthen critical supply chains and help support thousands of skilled jobs. * Ceramics package worth £120 million will back energy efficiency, decarbonisation and lo...
LONDON, May 21 -- The government of the United Kingdom issued the following news: * This will help families afford life's little treatsandhelp them tomake memories- from a meal out to avisitto a theme park or the cinema- at a time when rising costs are putting pressure on household budgets. * Free bus travel for children aged 5-15 in EnglandinAugust will further support families to getout and aboutthis summer. * The Government will work with eligible businessesto get thescheme up and running. *...
LONDON, May 21 -- The government of the United Kingdom issued the following news: * Families across the UK will pay less for children's meals in restaurants, kid's tickets to cinemas and theatres, and entry to a wide range of attractions thanks to Government action. * Throughout summer, VAT will be temporarily cut to help reduce the cost of days out and support businesses by increasing footfall as government launches Great British Summer Savings scheme. * Move is latest in government drive to s...
LONDON, May 21 -- The government of the United Kingdom issued the following news: At around 13:47 on 4 May 2026, the 12:09 Leeds to Nottingham service, operated by Northern, was involved in an overspeeding incident at Trowell North and South Junctions in Nottinghamshire. At these junctions, the train was routed over five sets of points for a diverging route which had a permitted speed of 30 mph (48 km/h). The train traversed the first set of points at 70 mph (112 km/h) and was still travelling...