9583posts
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Minutes published of UK NSC November 2025 meeting
The minutes have been published of the UK NSC November 2025 meeting.
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Introducing EquipoISE: an evaluation of adding multiple rare conditions to the newborn blood spot screening programme
The UK NSC has published an update on a project called EquipoISE to make it easier to develop the evidence needed to make robust recommendations on screening newborns for rare diseases.
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Building a data model for planning decisions
Every year, local planning authorities make hundreds of thousands of planning decisions. Right now, planning decisions are recorded in dozens of different formats. Find out about the work taking place to change that by creating a data standard for planning decisions.
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The Rural Payments Agency Podcast: Episode 14
Welcome to the fourteenth episode of The RPA Podcast. In our latest episode, we talk about how the Cattle Tracing System (CTS) Online is the easiest and most convenient way for cattle keepers to report their cattle births, movements and …
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Looking Ahead: Growing Life Chance Recruitment in 2026
In Going Forward into Employment (GFiE, pronounced gif-ee-) we are proud of what we achieved in 2025 and very excited for 2026. The GFiE Network of recruiting pathways is rooted in inclusion, fairness and opportunity, supporting people who face barriers …
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A Biodiversity Net Gain Solution for a High Value Brownfield Site
By David Feige, Northumberland County Council In this guest blog, David Feige, County Ecologist for Northumberland, explains the approach taken to approve a major new industrial development on a brownfield site at Cambois. The site contained a significant amount of …
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Building on the positives
Happy New Year! I hope every adult social care colleague, carer and those accessing care and support had a lovely Christmas and welcomed in 2026 with rest, reflection and renewed energy.
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UK NSC online seminar on screening effectiveness
The most recent UK NSC online seminar looked at assessing screening effectiveness, using the UK abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) screening programmes as a case study.
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What are the symptoms of adenovirus and how does it spread?
Adenovirus might not be a household name like flu or the common cold, but it's one of the most common causes of viral infections. Most people will have had at least one adenovirus infection before they turn 10, and because …
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Progress towards enabling the use of digital verification services for alcohol sales in England and Wales
In December 2024, the then Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) announced that changes would be made to the Mandatory Licence Conditions (MLCs) under the Licensing Act 2003 to allow digital verification services (DVS) to be used …
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The Future of Childhood #1: Engaging with Children and Young People
Improving outcomes for future generations What could childhood look like in 10-20 years? That’s what the Government Chief Scientific Adviser is exploring in GO-Science’s latest Foresight project: The Future of Childhood and Adolescence. We want to understand what factors might …
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Promoting ethical alternatives to monetary incentives in user research
At DBT, our research projects are based on ethical and methodologically sound foundations. We ensure that our participants are incentivised for their time and the expertise they share with us. In this blog, we share about balancing different kind of incentives for ethical user research.
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Response to claims on housebuilding and migration
Reports today suggest new homes built in this country will be required to house arriving migrants. This is scaremongering. The majority of homes that developers sell in this country are to British nationals. Nearly nine in ten social homes go …
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Launching a new Co-design Toolkit for Early Years Services
This blog launches a new co-design toolkit to support the development of services for early years. The co-design toolkit is a practical set of resources created to enable local authorities and communities to design public services together. It has been …
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Modernising democracy: Transforming the Electoral registration officer portal
The Electoral registration officer portal (EROP) is used by local authority officials responsible for maintaining accurate electoral registers, and to process millions of applications directly affecting people’s ability to vote. Learn how the Elections Digital team transformed this service, making it more efficient and better equipped to support future electoral reforms.
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UK NSC authors write journal article on the ethics of multi-cancer detection tests
UK NSC authors write journal article that explores the ethical challenge of testing for many cancers using a single test.
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Feedback invited on UK NSC’s work on screening for coeliac disease
The UK NSC is requesting feedback on screening for coeliac disease, including highlighting issues that would be useful to explore.
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New Year, New IP: why your business needs a workout plan
Starting something new can feel intimidating – whether it's walking into a gym for the first time or protecting your business's IP. Discover why IP protection matters for businesses of all sizes, and how to take your first steps.
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Changes to the childhood vaccination schedule from January 2026
The NHS childhood vaccination schedule has recently been updated to help give children even better protection against diseases. Changes include protecting children against some diseases earlier and adding vaccines that protect against more diseases.
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The King’s New Year Honours list 2026: honours for contributions to education, skills and children’s social care
More than 100 people across the UK have been named in the King’s New Year Honours List 2026 for outstanding contributions to education, skills, children’s services and social care.
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Walking the Mersey Valley Way: the first step towards nine new National River Walks
On Boxing Day, the Government announced the first National River Walk: the Mersey Valley Way. Read this post to find out reflections from Defra policy advisor's Anna Glayzer on this project.
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Inside APHA: The science blogs that shaped 2025
From hidden wildlife threats to crop-saving innovations, explore APHA’s most-read blogs from 2025, and uncover the science shaping a healthier, safer future.
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The Small Services Space One Year On: Learnings and Ambitions
The Shared Infrastructure team in Justice Digital launched an innovative new product (The Small Services Space) just over 12 months ago. It aims to support smaller teams who have a need, and desire, to modernise or mature using digital solutions …
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FiPL at four: making a difference across protected landscapes
Now in its fourth year, the Farming in Protected Landscapes programme is helping farmers and land managers in England’s protected landscapes farm more sustainably while restoring nature, heritage and access to the countryside. This post highlights what collaborative working has achieved.
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Two years of fisheries management plans: progress and what’s next
From collaboration to action, FMPs are transforming fisheries management—see what’s been achieved and what’s coming up.
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2025 in MedTech: a year of innovation, global leadership and regulatory milestones
Rob Reid, MHRA deputy director of innovation devices, at AI Airlock Connect, October 2025 As the end of 2025 rapidly approaches, I find myself searching out those articles and lists that reflect on key moments across the year. Whether it …
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Windermere Wrapped: Our Year in Review
Our teams have been busy monitoring 66 sites across Windermere and its tributaries throughout 2025. Our live monitoring equipment is deployed in seven locations and each deployment gives us countless data points about oxygen levels, temperature and other important factors that tell us how healthy the lake is.
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Animal Welfare Strategy for England published
The government has today launched a new Animal Welfare Strategy. It sets out a comprehensive programme of reforms to improve the lives of millions of animals across England, from farm animals and pets to wildlife. In this post, we’ll summarise what this means for livestock keepers and the wider rural community.
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Colorado beetle eradicated in the UK
The Colorado beetle has been eradicated from the UK thanks to APHA and Defra’s tireless work, safeguarding potatoes and other crops through surveillance, biosecurity, and public vigilance.
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Oaks and invaders: why protecting our iconic oak matters
Sam Cooke, Oak Processionary Moth Administration Officer at the Forestry Commission, reflects on the ongoing battle against oak processionary moth (OPM) and explains the integral work that is needed to manage and control it in England.
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MoD Digital Commercial End of Year message to Industry Delivering Digital Advantage Together
As we close out the calendar year, I want to take the opportunity to extend my thanks to all our industry partners for your continued commitment and collaboration in working towards delivering Defence’s outcomes. It remains another year of raising …
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Next steps for English council reorganisation
Yesterday, the government announced that English councils undergoing reorganisation have been invited to give views on postponing their local elections next May. This follows multiple councils approaching the department and requesting delays, noting that upcoming elections could undermine their plans …
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A year of transforming England’s planning system
Read about our year transforming England's planning system through new partnerships, innovations and momentum. Everything we do aims to give communities a planning system that is data-driven, efficient and accessible, supporting the government's mission to deliver 1.5 million homes this Parliament.
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Let’s Talk About the Flu Vaccine — Why It Matters More Than Ever
Winter is here. The days are short, the air is cold, and flu started circulating around 5 weeks earlier than usual this season, with a flu virus called H3N2 causing most of the cases so far. The H3N2 virus that …
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Shaping strategy: communicating CSOC's mission
India Thomson, Strategic Engagement and Outreach Lead, Cyber & Specialist Operations Command Within Cyber & Specialist Operations Command's (CSOC) Headquarters sits a team of strategists, playing critical roles in aligning the Command to Defence’s priorities and empowering personnel to see …
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Unlocking Space in Florida: UK Space Agency Takes Centre Stage at the Space Economy Summit
At the Space Economy Summit 2025 in Florida, the UK Space Agency’s Unlocking Space team, with the support of the Space and Aerospace Department for Business and Trade, brought UK expertise into direct dialogue with some of the USA’s most influential investors, innovators and government partners.
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Food waste recycling: big wins from little bins
‘Recycle, the possibilities are endless’ as the old adverts used to tell us. By sending your used metal cans, glass bottles and cardboard boxes for recycling, these materials can be turned into valuable new items and kept out of landfill, helping to protect our environment. For many households in the United Kingdom, recycling these kinds of …
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Royal Assent: Natural England and the Planning and Infrastructure Act
By Marian Spain, Chief Executive, Natural England The Planning and Infrastructure Bill received Royal Assent today. The new Act is central to the government's Plan for Change, representing one of the most significant planning reforms in a generation. The Act also represents a milestone for Natural England, giving more opportunities to to …
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The power of early intervention
Catherine Bark talks about supporting parents through trauma-informed therapy and Video Interaction Guidance to break intergenerational abuse cycles.
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British Forces Atlantic Islands Demonstrate Joint Strength in Operation SOUTHERN SOVEREIGNTY
South Atlantic Islands December 2025. In a powerful display of joint capability and commitment to safeguarding sovereignty across the South Atlantic Islands, the UK Armed Forces have successfully executed Operation SOUTHERN SOVEREIGNTY, a coordinated mission spanning South Georgia and the …