Morgan celebrates 100 days as first minister

14 November 2024
Morgan celebrates 100 days as first minister
Eluned Morgan marks 100 days as first minister.
Since her appointment on 6 August, the Welsh Government has completed the roll-out of free school meals to all primary school pupils; provided above-inflation pay awards to thousands of public sector workers; invested £28 million to bring down the longest hospital waits.
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Government funding for UK tech scale ups

14 November 2024
Government funding for UK tech scale ups
Four tech scale up companies have been announced as the winners of the Unicorn Kingdom Pathfinder Awards (UKPA) - the largest global awards for tech scale up companies.
The awards are hosted by the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) and look for the most promising businesses in tech.
The finalists came from four categories: AI, Cyber Security, Connected and Automated Mobility (CAM) technology and Digital Trade Solutions.
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More than 1,000 public sector locations connected to GM One Network

13 November 2024
More than 1,000 public sector locations connected to GM One Network
Nearly 1,200 public sector sites across Greater Manchester are now connected to the GM One Network.
The GM One Network provides fast and reliable digital infrastructure for essential public services, with schools, community centres, fire stations and traffic control signals across Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM), Bury, Rochdale, Stockport and Oldham local authorities all signed up.
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Scottish Housing Planning Hub to unlock delivery of new homes

13 November 2024
Scottish Housing Planning Hub to unlock delivery of new homes
A new Housing Planning Hub is set to increase the rate at which homes with planning permission are delivered in Scotland.
It is hoped this will stimulate housing supply and support economic growth.
The hub is set to be operational in early 2025.
There will also be three times the number of current student bursaries available to encourage more future planners and address staff shortages.
Public finance minister Ivan McKee said: “Planning has not created the housing emergency, but it can help us to find solutions to the challenges we are facing.
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Government announces new climate goals

13 November 2024
Government announces new climate goals
The government has announced new climate goals, including reducing emissions by 81 per cent by 2035 compared to 1990 levels.
The announcement came at the COP29 summit in Azerbaijan.
The government believes that tackling the climate crisis is essential to national energy security, economic growth and protecting current and future generations.
It is hoped the announcement will strengthen the UK’s position as a place for investment in the technologies and jobs that are driving growth across the world.
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New legal powers to revitalise high streets

13 November 2024
New legal powers to revitalise high streets
Councils will be given new powers to bring life back to high streets and transform shops that have been empty for a long time.
High Street Rental Auctions (HRSAs) will give businesses and community groups a right to rent neglected town-centre commercial properties.
HRSAs will allow local leaders to put the leases of empty properties up for auction in an attempt to stop disengaged landlords from sitting on empty properties for more than 365 days in a 24-month period.
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G-Cloud 14 goes live

12 November 2024
G-Cloud 14 goes live
The latest iteration of the G-Cloud agreement has launched for customers to buy from.
Buyers are able to access tens of thousands of cloud hosting, cloud software and additional support services.
90 per cent of the suppliers on G-Cloud 14 being small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and 70 per cent of the total suppliers are classified as micro and small organisations.
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Mayor of London calls for investment in affordable homes

12 November 2024
Mayor of London calls for investment in affordable homes
The Mayor of London has called for more investment in housebuilding.
New research, commissioned by City Hall, London Councils, Trust for London and the G15, has highlighted the impact improving housing affordability could have on London’s productivity and the government’s growth agenda.
The research shows that a one per cent increase in housing affordability in London could yield a boost of £7.3 billion in economic output over a decade.
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Government announces incentives for offshore wind

12 November 2024
Government announces incentives for offshore wind
On the first day of COP29, the prime minister has announced that the UK will lead the world in the pro-growth clean energy transition.
Offshore wind developers are set to be incentivised to invest in the UK’s historic industrial heartlands, coastal areas and oil and gas communities, and in turn boost green jobs, and support sustainable factories.  
The Clean Industry Bonus will come with a provisional £27 million per Gigawatt of offshore wind projects.
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GOV.UK One Login making apprenticeships easier

12 November 2024
GOV.UK One Login making apprenticeships easier
The GOV.UK One Login is making securing and completing an apprenticeship easier for apprentices and their employers.
The apprenticeship service is now fully transitioned onto the one platform and as a result, has simplified the way employers, apprentices and training providers interact with the government.
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