The Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual) has launched a consultation to finalise updates to its Taking Regulatory Action (TRA) policy, building upon previous work initiated in 2019. The consultation seeks feedback on implementing decisions published in May 2021, whilst introducing new amendments not covered in the 2019 consultation. Notably, Ofqual has decided against developing fixed penalties and has incorporated select proposals from their 2021 consultation with awarding organisations. The consultation includes both the proposed revised policy wording and specific new proposals, with changes highlighted in bold or grey panels. This represents the final phase of Ofqual's policy update, which was initially delayed due to the pandemic. The consultation is open until 15 May 2025.

The Welsh Government unveiled a substantial £52.1m investment in general practice for the 2024-2025 General Medical Services (GMS) contract. This represents the largest annual investment in GMS since the pandemic. The package includes a 6% pay uplift for GPs, £12.7m for staff pay expenses, and a £23m one-off practice stabilisation payment. The agreement also introduces improvements to GP access, including enhanced NHS Wales App functionality and new contractual requirements for GPs to identify and record patient frailty and ethnicity data. Additionally, the learning disabilities annual health check will become part of unified services within the GMS contract, and changes to the coronavirus (Covid-19) anti-viral treatment pathway have been agreed upon. These measures aim to strengthen the sustainability of general practice and improve service accessibility across Wales.

The Law Society has reported on HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) decision to extend its timeline for court reform to March 2025. HMCTS is extending its timeline to consider organisational capacity, pressures on operations, feedback from staff and partners, long-lasting impacts of the pandemic, outstanding cases and the rising cost of living. The extension aims to increase efficiency and functionality of existing technology and provide a more consistent service. The Law Society noted that it had previously warned of the importance of rushing development and said that extension of plans may result in a longer development process but that costly errors and reworking will be avoided. HMCTS will be revising the Common Platform and is focused on enhancing the existing system and improving stability. Regarding the civil, family and tribunal programme, HMCTS will continue to deliver its key 2024 priorities. HMCTS will continue to improve the resilience, reliability, accessibility, comfort and environmental impact of court and tribunal buildings.

The National Crime Agency (NCA), in collaboration with NHS England, has charged two men as part of an investigation into the creation and online sale of fraudulent coronavirus (Covid-19) vaccination records. 26-year-old Waqas Hanif and 29-year-old Touqir Nasir, both from Luton, face charges under the Computer Misuse Act 1990 and Fraud Act 2006. The investigation centres on the alleged creation of nearly 2,000 fraudulent records at a Luton health centre between June and October 2021. Authorities suspect organised criminals recruited healthcare professionals to produce these records, enabling unvaccinated individuals to circumvent travel restrictions. The NCA also seized £145,000 from a safety deposit box in connection with the case. The charges underscore efforts to maintain the integrity of the UK's pandemic response and healthcare system.

The Cabinet Office has published the UK Covid-19 Inquiry’s second report and recommendations on Modules covering ‘core decision-making and political governance’ across the UK Government and the devolved nations (Modules 2 UK, 2A Scotland, 2B Wales, 2C Northern Ireland). Divided into two volumes, the report notes that the four governments’ responses were insufficient and came too late to prevent avoidable harm. Failure to grasp the scale and urgency of the threat made a mandatory lockdown unavoidable by the time it was considered, with similar ‘inexcusable’ mistakes later in 2020. The Inquiry finds the first lockdown should have been imposed a week earlier, potentially preventing around 23,000 deaths, and urges that future pandemic responses act sooner.

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) has published the final estimates of the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions from 1990 to 2023. The report indicates that in 2023, total emissions were 385 million tonnes CO2 equivalent, representing a 5% decrease from 2022 and a 53% reduction compared to 1990 levels. The electricity supply sector saw the largest reduction in emissions (20%) from 2022 to 2023, attributed to higher electricity imports and reduced electricity demand, which decreased gas use in power stations. The buildings and product uses sector also saw a 6% decline in emissions, primarily due to reduced gas consumption in residential buildings. Domestic transport remained the largest emitting sector, accounting for 29% of total emissions in 2023. UK-based international aviation bunker emissions increased by 17% from 2022 to 2023 but remained below pre-pandemic levels.

1 Introduction 1.1 This policy sets out the Company’s approach to staff vaccination against coronavirus (COVID-19). It supplements, but does not replace, the Company’s health and safety[, coronavirus workplace safety] and sickness absence policies. 1.2 This policy does not form part of any contract of employment and the Company may amend it at any time. 1.3 This policy applies to all employees, workers and contractors. 1.4 This policy has been written [following discussions OR in consultation] with [the recognised trade union OR employee representatives OR a representative group of employees]. 1.5 The information set out in this policy is taken from guidance on the NHS and other government websites that are updated frequently. While we will try to keep this policy up-to-date, we strongly recommend that all staff familiarise themselves with the relevant NHS and other guidance and check regularly for updates. We will also issue updates to staff, typically by email, if changes to the government guidance affect this policy. 2 Why we think vaccination is important 2.1 The coronavirus pandemic continues to

Digitalisation in the supply chain refers to the shift from manual, paper-based or other analogue processes to integrated digital technologies that enable the efficient movement of goods, information and finances between suppliers, manufacturers, logistics providers and customers. In practice this involves the adoption and integration of digital solutions at all stages of the supply chain from sourcing and procurement through to production, distribution and delivery. Digitalisation is achieved by using a range of technology including data analytics, automation, artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain and the Internet of Things (IoT). The importance of digitalisation has grown as supply chains have become increasingly volatile, complex, opaque and cost-intensive. Supply chains today face significant risks from factors including global disruptions (such as the COVID-19 pandemic, geopolitical tensions and trade restrictions, including tariffs), extreme weather and climate-related events, regulatory pressures and increasing expectations around transparency. In this environment, the adoption of digital technologies is becoming essential not only for operational efficiency but also to gain long-term strategic advantage. When implemented effectively, digitalisation enables businesses to predict, control

ARCHIVED: This Practice Note has been archived and is not maintained. This archived tracker was used to track the key developments, legislation, guidance and briefing notes relating to the response to coronavirus (COVID-19), focusing on updates relevant to local government between December 2021 and February 2023. For coronavirus–related local government tracker developments prior to December 2021, see Practice Note: Coronavirus (COVID-19)—local government tracker—July–November 2021 [Archived]. Legislation The Coronavirus (COVID-19)—legislation tracker [Archived] tracks domestic legislation introduced as part of the UK government’s response to the coronavirus pandemic. It includes a coronavirus SI database collating details of relevant draft and made SI’s laid before Parliament. February 2023—England Development Date Find out more The UK COVID-19 Inquiry published the recording for the second Preliminary Hearing into Module 1 of the UK COVID-19 Inquiry, which was held remotely, via its YouTube page. 15 February 2023 UK Covid-19 Inquiry publishes second Module 1 Preliminary Hearing The UK COVID-19 Inquiry has published the recording for the second Preliminary Hearing into Module 1 of the UK COVID-19 Inquiry, which was held remotely,

This tracker was focused on social care and was intended to be used to track key developments, legislation, guidance, parliamentary briefing notes and other sources of interest relating to COVID-19 and social care, where relevant to local government lawyers. It is designed to provide an easy reference point for relevant content for lawyers working in or with local authorities during the COVID-19 pandemic up until the so called ‘freedom day’ 18 July which saw the end of most formal legal restrictions.. For a navigational list of all archived local government COVID-19 trackers, see: Coronavirus (COVID-19)—local government tracker up to 18 July 2021 [Archived]. For details of current COVID-19 guidance, see Practice Note: Coronavirus (COVID-19)—local government tracker—post July 2021. Primary legislation Development When in force Find out more Coronavirus Act 2020, s 15 (and Sch 12) Brought into force by provisions below Impact of the Coronavirus Act 2020 on social care provision and social care easements Siân Davies and Rosie Scott, barristers at 39 Essex Chambers, discuss the impact of the Coronavirus Act 2020 on social care

ARCHIVED: This Practice Note has been archived and is not maintained. CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19): Many arbitral organisations have responded to the coronavirus pandemic with practical guidance and/or changes to their usual procedures and ways of working. This Practice Note deals with the requirements of an award under the 2017 International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Rules of Arbitration (2017 ICC Rules). The 2017 ICC Rules apply to any ICC arbitration commenced on or after 1 March 2017, unless the parties have agreed to submit to the rules in force on the date of their arbitration agreement (which is unlikely). The 2017 ICC Rules include: • an expedited procedure which automatically applies where the arbitration agreement is entered into after 1 March 2017 and the amount in dispute is below US$2m. In cases above this threshold, the parties must opt-in. For guidance on the ICC expedited procedure, including the requirements for awards under the procedure, see Practice Note: ICC (2017)—expedited procedure [Archived] • amended costs provisions effective from 1 January 2017. For guidance on costs in ICC

This Practice Note provides practical guidance on how to execute documents properly when one or more parties to a contract are not physically present. This is sometimes known as virtual signing or virtual closing. The Law Society has brought together a variety of established guidance on execution of documents by virtual means, execution of documents using electronic signatures, its ‘Tips on how to operate in practice’ in relation to virtual execution and the use of e-signatures, and Q&A on how to use electronic signatures and complete virtual executions: Our position on the use of virtual execution and e-signature during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. We have produced a collection that is a comprehensive, interactive resource to help users identify and work through the concepts and common issues when executing documents, including when executing documents by virtual means. Each section or phase includes practical guidance, precedent clauses and Q&As relevant to that section. For more information, see: Execution collection. Mercury Tax Case This guidance is consistent with the Law Society's guidance, made on 16 February 2010 in response to the decision