New marketplace opens for public sector AI

9 September 2020
New marketplace opens for public sector AI
The new Artificial Intelligence Dynamic Purchasing System, from CCS, offers a route to buy artificial intelligence services in the public sector.

Clarke resigns from government for personal reasons

9 September 2020
Clarke resigns from government for personal reasons
Minister for Regional Growth and Local Government Simon Clarke has resigned from the government for personal reasons.
Writing to Prime Minister Boris Johnson, the MP for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland cited the need to ‘balance my own life against the demands of office’, but said that he would continue working as an MP.
As Minister for Regional Growth and Local Government, his brief included the local authority resilience forum's Covid-19 response and devolution.

Urgency needed to tackle childhood obesity

9 September 2020
Urgency needed to tackle childhood obesity
It is not clear whether the government’s plan to tackle rising childhood obesity will be able to make the step change needed in the timescale available.

Cleaner air could boost economy by £1.6bn

9 September 2020
Cleaner air could boost economy by £1.6bn
A new study has revealed that aligning to WHO air quality targets could boost the UK economy by £1.6 billion each year.

Councils should improve communication with taxpayers

8 September 2020
Councils should improve communication with taxpayers
The government has published the results of an independent review into the effectiveness of local authority financial reporting and audit regimes.

Free electric bike trials for commuters in Leeds

8 September 2020
Free electric bike trials for commuters in Leeds
As part of an initiative to promote sustainable travel, commuters in Leeds can now borrow an electric bike free of charge for up to two weeks.

£1.3m for mental health services in Wales

8 September 2020
£1.3m for mental health services in Wales
Welsh Health Minister Vaughan Gething has announced additional mental health support that anyone in Wales can access when they need to.
Supported by £1.3 million of funding, the package includes a new online Cognitive Behaviour Therapy course and other online and phone support services.

Government urged to back digital climatetech sector

8 September 2020
Government urged to back digital climatetech sector
A new report from techUK is calling on government to back the UK’s emerging digital climatetech sector.
The report, How to make the UK a digital clean tech leader, has been launched during London Tech Week, and argues that further, and deeper, carbon emission reductions enabled by digital technologies are in reach.
New research reveals digital technologies already in the field could deliver a 15 per cent increase in UK carbon emissions abatement by 2030 whilst adding £13.7 billion Gross Value Added (GVA) to the UK.