LONDON, May 19 -- The government of the United Kingdom issued the following news: * Nearly 500 additional staff to be recruited to clear inherited backlog in the Access to Work scheme. * Comes as payment delays already eliminated and 96 percent of urgent cases cleared within 28 days. * Action taken will allow thousands more disabled people and people with health conditions to start or remain in work. Tens of thousands of disabled people needing support to move into or stay in work will have th...
LONDON, May 19 -- The government of the United Kingdom issued the following news: * Small Business Protections Bill introduced to Parliament to back small businesses with the toughestlate paymentregime in the G7 * Stronger new powers for the Small Business Commissioner to investigate,adjudicatedisputes and fine persistent late payerswith potentialpenalties worth tens of millions * New 60-day cap on payment terms for large firms, mandatory interest onlate payments, and action to ban the practice...
LONDON, May 19 -- The government of the United Kingdom issued the following news: * Interim report highlights key challenges in retirement saving across the UK with 15 million people currently undersaving for retirement. * Findings sets direction for further work to improve retirement outcomes ahead of final recommendations in 2027. * Commission set up as part of government's wider reforms to pensions system to help more people retire with dignity. The Pensions Commission has today (19 May) pu...
LONDON, May 19 -- The government of the United Kingdom issued the following news: * Transport Secretary announces new delivery timeframes and costs for HS2 after years of mismanagement * new plans could save billions in cost and years in construction time while delivering services at same speed as Japanese bullet trains * construction milestones hit ahead of schedule and back office roles slashed under reset, as analysis reveals it could cost as much to cancel the project as to complete it The...
LONDON, May 19 -- The government of the United Kingdom issued the following news: A historic £100 million will drive a crackdown on child sexual abuse, including tracking down vile grooming gang members, protecting victims and bringing offenders to justice. Perpetrators who thought they got away with horrific grooming gang offences will be held to account as closed cases are reopened. Operation Beaconport will receive a tenfold cash injection, building on the £4 million the operation...
LONDON, May 19 -- The government of the United Kingdom issued the following news: * London is set to become the global stage for progress on LGBT+ rights, with the UK announced as next host of the European International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia (IDAHOT+) Forum in 2027. * Lord Collins of Highbury, government spokesperson for equalities, is in Copenhagen for this year's forum and is scheduled to formally accept the UK as next year's host nation. * The UK announces a fundin...
LONDON, May 19 -- The government of the United Kingdom issued the following news: Adam Leddra, from Fatfield in Washington, had his sentence increased to four years after the Solicitor General Ellie Reeves KC MP referred his case to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme. The court heard that Leddra met his victim on social media in June 2012 when she was 15 years old and he was 19. Leddra began grooming the teenager online before he sexually abused the victim on several...
LONDON, May 19 -- The government of the United Kingdom issued the following news: We have a vacancy for an Accounts Clerk. Job Title Accounts Clerk Grade AO Salary & Pension £29,770 per annum with Pension Scheme Annual Leave entitlement Commencing at 25 days Role We are looking for an Accounts Clerk to join our Finance team and provide support to both Accounts Payable (AP) and Accounts Receivable (AR). This role is a great opportunity for someone who is organised, detail‑fo...
LONDON, May 19 -- The government of the United Kingdom issued the following news: * ThirteenBritish techcompanies sign contracts with defence to developcutting-edgesystems. * Companiesfrom across England, Wales and Scotland set to receive contracts worth up to £4 million for quantum sensing and autonomous systems to secure communications, spacemanufacturingand synthetic training. * Part of new scheme to grow next billion-pound British 'defence unicorns'and boost to British bu...
LONDON, May 19 -- The government of the United Kingdom issued the following news: * Government launches next step in reforms that will tackle historic unfairness and see high value properties pay their fair share * New surcharge on the top 1% of most valuable properties will put money into communities and local services across the country. * First announced at Budget 2025, the reforms will rebalance the system which has been unchanged since 1992. The government has launched a consultation t...