The UK Covid-19 Inquiry has published its first report and recommendations on Module 1. This report focuses on the state of the UK’s central structures and procedures for pandemic emergency preparedness, resilience and response. The report found various significant flaws including, but not limited to, emergency planning being complicated by the many institutions and structures involved, a flawed approach to risk assessment and a failure to fully learn from past civil emergency exercises and outbreaks of disease.

The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care between 9 July 2018 and 26 June 2021, Matt Hancock, gave evidence to the UK COVID-19 Inquiry on 21 November 2024. Module 3 looks into the governmental and societal response to coronavirus (COVID-19) as well as dissecting the impact that the pandemic had on healthcare systems, patients and health care workers. This includes healthcare governance, primary care, NHS backlogs, the effects on healthcare provision by vaccination programmes and long diagnosis and support.

As a result of coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, investment funds have faced challenges both operationally and as a result of significantly increased volatility in global markets. The pandemic, in combination with high volatility and inherent valuation issues that it has triggered, has led to large market corrections and a deterioration of liquidity risks, which in turn has prompted stress in different parts of the financial system, including in some segments of the investment fund sector. These issues are summarised in a joint committee report on risks and vulnerabilities in the EU financial system, which was published by the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) and the other European Supervisory Authorities (ESAs) in September 2020. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has published guidance setting out its expectations regarding funds in light of coronavirus. While it acknowledges the significant challenges firms are facing in the current environment, it nevertheless expects them to continue to uphold the best interest of their investors at all times. ESMA and the Investment Association (IA) have also published guidance, and

ARCHIVED: This Practice Note has been archived and is not maintained. This Practice Note is a summary of the key legal developments of relevance to personal injury and clinical negligence practitioners as of 16 December 2020. For the most recent horizon scanner, reference should be made to PI and Clinical Negligence horizon scanning—overview. Coronavirus (COVID-19) To stay ahead of the fast-moving changes in the courts’ processes and procedures necessitated by the pandemic and for industry guidance on how to manage cases during the pandemic including medical examinations, service and limitation, see Practice Note: Coronavirus (COVID-19) implications for PI and clinical negligence [Archived]. For details on recent developments in this area for Pi and clinical negligence claims, see: • Association of British Insurers and Association of Consumer Support Organisations further extend Statement of Intent to 15 January 2021​—see: LNB News 02/12/2020 24 • Coronavirus (COVID-19)—Foreign Process Section’s availability update (November 2020) • RCJ fees office to reopen to public from 7 December 2020—LNB News 27/11/2020 57 • In-person medical examinations

This week’s edition of Public Law weekly highlights includes a hand-picked summary of news analysis, legal updates and case law from the world of Public Law. These highlights include the latest updates on UK-EU relations, judicial review, constitutional and administrative law, equality and human rights, state security and intelligence, state accountability and liability, subsidy control and State aid, and information law. This edition features the House of Lords European Affairs Committee’s recommendation for parliamentary debate on the UK-EU agreement concerning Gibraltar and its significant post-Brexit implications, the House of Lords Constitution Committee’s concerns over retrospective restrictions on political donations in the Representation of the People Bill, and the UK Covid-19 Inquiry’s findings of systemic failures in protecting adult social care during the pandemic, with recommendations for improving future preparedness. It also features analysis of R (Witness IIA126) v Chair of the Afghan Inquiry, on the limits of disclosure in judicial review proceedings involving sensitive national security material and the importance of balancing procedural fairness with confidentiality, plus further updates.

We have assumed that the question refers to a hypothetical winding-up petition presented as at the time of writing, and not at any earlier date. We therefore do not address the position in relation to a winding-up petition heard as at the time of writing, but having been presented prior to 1 October 2021. As is well-known, the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic prompted the passing of legislation which placed (and continues to place) restrictions on the presentation of winding-up petitions. Those restrictions are found in Schedule 10 to the Corporate Insolvency and Governance Act 2020 (CIGA 2020). So far as

Commercial analysis: The case of Advanced Multi-Technology for Medical Industry v Uniserve Ltd was a dispute arising out of agreements relating to the procurement of Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) including medical masks during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. It raised a number of contractual issues, including misrepresentation and authority to act on behalf of another individual/entity and to bind them legally. Written by Iain Sharp, partner, and Reema Shour, professional support lawyer, both at Hill Dickinson LLP.

The Insolvency Service has published its monthly insolvency statistics for February 2024 on company and individual insolvencies. The data shows that 2,102 company insolvencies were registered, 17% higher than February 2023 and also higher than when government support measures were in place in response to coronavirus (COVID-19) as well as pre-pandemic levels. For individuals, the total number of insolvencies in February 2024 was 10,136, 23% higher than in February 2023.

This week’s edition of PI & Clinical Negligence weekly highlights includes a Court of Appeal decision which held that it could enforce compliance with the pre-action protocol for low value road traffic accident claims. We also consider a High Court decision where claims by factory workers for contracting COVID-19 during the pandemic were reinstated. In addition, we have our usual round-up of other news, cases, webinars and New Law Journal articles of interest.

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) and HM Courts & Tribunals Service has launched a new £1m marketing campaign to recruit 4,000 magistrates to help tackle the backlog of criminal cases caused by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. According to the MoJ, this campaign marks the largest recruitment effort in the 650-year history of the magistracy. Magistrates are expected to dedicate a minimum of 13 days a year service on a voluntary basis.

The Insolvency Service has published its monthly insolvency statistics for June 2024 on company and individual insolvencies. The data shows that 2,361 company insolvencies were registered, 17% higher than in June 2023 and much higher than when government support measures were in place in response to coronavirus (COVID-19) as well as pre-pandemic levels. For individuals, the total number of insolvencies in June 2024 was 10,395, 33% higher than in June 2023.

Immigration analysis: Partner Jennifer Stevens, PSL team co-ordinator Joshua Hopkins and paralegal Milo Grounds of Laura Devine Immigration look at the ‘unsuitable’ requirement for Tier 2 (General) migrants to obtain written confirmation from their employer that they will be required in the role for the ‘foreseeable future’, when applying for indefinite leave to remain. The article also looks at how employers may refuse to provide the confirmation, amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.