Natural England and the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs have updated the nutrient neutrality calculators guidance. The updates reflect the list of wastewater treatment works under a duty to meet specified nutrient removal levels and updated advice for the Poole Harbour catchment. The updates also correct a small number of minor data errors.

The government’s 10 Year Health Plan for England outlines a regulatory shift to position the NHS as a global leader in digital health and life sciences. Regulatory reforms will accelerate clinical trial setup, with a goal of reducing set-up time to 150 days by March 2026, and support adoption of genomics, wearables, and robotics. A new Health Data Research Service (HDRS), backed by £600m, will enhance access to NHS data for research. The plan positions the NHS as the world’s most AI-enabled health system, integrating AI into clinical pathways and administrative functions, with regulatory oversight expanding to ensure safe deployment. NICE’s technology appraisal process will expand to cover devices, diagnostics, and digital tools. Genomic initiatives include universal newborn sequencing and large-scale adult genome studies. Access to medicines will be reformed through outcome-based pricing models and expanded use of public-private partnerships.

Harriet Hanks, counsel, and Emily Bloxsome, associate, at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer discuss and comment on the reflection paper published by the UK Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) regarding the UK’s MedTech strategy.

The UK government has published its Industrial Strategy, setting out a ten-year vision to, among other aims, position the UK as the world’s most innovative full-service financial centre by 2035. The strategy identifies financial services as one of eight high-growth sectors critical to national renewal and economic resilience. A dedicated Financial Services Sector Plan, due on 15 July 2025, will outline reforms including those to streamline financial services regulation, cut red tape for FinTech firms and reform capital markets.

Law360: The government is seeking feedback on the potential benefits and risks for pension savers and the economy if the pension market becomes more consolidated with larger schemes managing more assets. The call for evidence will close on 25 September 2024 and is part of the first phase of the government's broader pensions review.

The Work and Pensions Committee (WPC) wrote to the Minister for Pensions, Paul Maynard MP, on 11 December 2023 following concerns that the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) had failed to adequately communicate the impact of the new State Pension on people with large Guaranteed Minimum Pensions (GMPs) who reached State Pension age between 2016 and 2021 and stood to receive less under the new State Pension than under the old system. Concerns were also expressed about the lack of government clarity on how such affected individuals might be eligible for compensation, or the proper process to apply for it. The Minister responded to the WPC in a letter dated 9 January 2024 which has now been published on the WPC website. The Minister has acknowledged that, while the DWP chose to focus on certain fundamental messages to provide reassurance to the public on the change, it should also have provided timely, well signposted, and accessible information to individuals about all the features of the change to the new State Pension system. However, the Minister also stated that the DWP does not consider that impacts experienced by individuals with GMPs due to the ending of the additional State Pension and who reached State Pension age from 6 April 2016 to be maladministration.

The Work and Pensions Committee (WPC) wrote to then Minister for Pensions, Laura Trott MBE MP,  on 19 July 2023 following concerns expressed about the proposed new defined benefit (DB) scheme funding regime being introduced by the government, particularly in relation to its potential impact on open DB Schemes. The new Minister for Pensions, Paul Maynard MP, responded to the WPC in a letter dated 18 December 2023 which has now been published on the WPC website. The Minister for Pensions states that, while there is no need for a separate regime for open schemes which would instead leave the system open to inappropriate gaming, such schemes should also not be forced into an inappropriate de-risking journey. The government will be making it explicit in the new revised draft Scheme Funding and Investment Strategy Regulations that open schemes can take account of both new entrants and future accruals in setting their funding plans. The Pensions Regulator will also be ensuring in their revised DB funding Code that open schemes are more prominently referenced and highlighted. The Minister states in the response letter that new Scheme Funding and Investment Strategy Regulations are to be laid before Parliament in the 'New Year'.

A provision in a loan agreement, which allows payment to be received for a certain period of time after the actual due date. During this period, no late fees will be charged and late payment will not result in default or cancellation of the loan.

Immigration analysis: This immigration analysis considers the impact of Dilpreet Singh v SSHD, concerning refusals of Graduate Route applications where the applicants' university sponsor had not notified the Home Office that the applicants had successfully completed their courses before the applications were submitted. Home Office guidance requiring caseworkers to contact sponsors could not be interpreted so as to override the Immigration Rules or permit post-application notification to satisfy the Rules. The court also rejected arguments based on procedural fairness, emphasising that the Points-Based System is intended to operate through clear and objective requirements.

An increase in state pension based on graduated National Insurance contributions paid between 1961 and 1975.

A state earnings-related scheme that started on 3 April 1961 and terminated on 5 April 1975. It was possible for members to be contracted out in respect of this. Contracted-out benefits by reference to it are known as equivalent pension benefits (EPBs). It was replaced by the state earnings-related pension scheme (SERPS).

A school which selects pupils on ability, usually at age 11+.