In response to the PPE procurement scandals during the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic, Spotlight on Corruption (SOC) has called for the introduction of a new 'corruption in public office' offence and permanent establishment of the domestic corruption unit within the City of London Police, supported by long-term funding commitments. These recommendations form part of a broader package of reforms aimed at preventing cronyism in public contracts and ensuring greater accountability in public procurement. The proposals come in the context of significant failures in managing conflicts of interest during the pandemic, particularly in relation to the VIP lane for PPE procurement, where suppliers were ten times more likely to secure contracts than through standard channels, despite delivering PPE that was frequently unusable and significantly more expensive.

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has published the findings of its multi-firm review into share buybacks conducted by UK listed equity issuers. The review focused on how banks structure, market and execute buybacks, particularly for FTSE 350 issuers and assessed the outcomes delivered to issuers and the conduct of banks involved. The FCA analysed 165 buybacks worth £40bn executed by seven banks over an 18-month period, alongside engagement with issuers, investors and trade associations.The review found that buybacks have become a more prominent method of capital return, especially post coronavirus (COVID-19), and that banks generally delivered fair outcomes. However, the FCA identified areas for improvement in how banks educate issuers and disclose product features and potential outcomes. The FCA will consider feedback on UK Listing Rules and Market Abuse Regulation (MAR) in future regulatory reviews.

The UK Covid-19 Inquiry's sixth report finds that adult social care was inadequately protected during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, with all four UK governments initially prioritising hospitals over the care sector. The Inquiry concludes that adult social care appeared to be an afterthought and that claims of a ‘protective ring’ around care homes from the outset did not reflect the lack of protective action in the early weeks of the pandemic. It identifies failures involving hospital discharges, isolation guidance, personal protective equipment (PPE), visiting restrictions and regulatory oversight. More than 43,000 deaths involving COVID-19 were recorded in care homes between March 2020 and July 2022. The report makes eight recommendations to improve pandemic preparedness and protection of adult social care.

Welcome to the 30 June 2022 highlights from the Immigration team, which provides links to key news stories from the last week, as well as a round-up of new and updated content in Immigration.

The Cabinet Office has published the communiqué from the tenth Interministerial Standing Committee (IMSC) meeting, held via videoconference on 20 November 2025. The IMSC is one of the structures of intergovernmental relations agreed by the UK government and devolved administrations. It brings together strategic considerations affecting many different portfolios and discusses cross-cutting international issues. It is led by the relevant ministers from the four governments of the UK with responsibility for intergovernmental relations. At the meeting, the IMSC discussed the UK coronavirus (COVID-19) Inquiry Module 2ABC report, community cohesion challenges, strategic priorities for the UK government’s Budget and principles of good intergovernmental working in relation to UK government legislation. It also discussed ongoing work to develop a Memorandum of Understanding on the Sewel Convention and received updates on Interministerial Group activity. The next meeting is scheduled for early 2026 and will be chaired by the UK government.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is set to introduce new legislation in Parliament aimed at tackling welfare fraud on an unprecedented scale. The Public Authorities (Fraud, Error & Recovery) Bill proposes several stringent measures, including the power to disqualify benefit cheats from driving for up to two years if they refuse to repay debts exceeding £1,000. The DWP will also be granted authority to apply for search warrants, seize evidence and recover funds directly from bank accounts of non-benefit claimants who owe money. Additionally, the time limit for civil claims against coronavirus (Covid-19) fraud will be doubled to 12 years, enhancing the government's ability to investigate and recover fraudulent payments. These measures are expected to save £1.5bn over five years and form part of a broader £8.6bn fraud reduction strategy.

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has published its Occasional Paper 67 which evaluates liquidity in the UK corporate bond market. The report utilises updated MiFID II (Directive 2014/65/EU)transaction data from 2018 to 2024 to examine market liquidity, dealer inventory risk, and yield spreads during a period of significant economic disruption. It documents a marked deterioration in liquidity immediately following the onset of coronavirus restrictions in 2020, followed by a prolonged phase of persistent challenges from mid-2021 to mid-2023 amid rising inflation and increased interest rates. Despite these adverse conditions, the analysis indicates a strong recovery in 2023 and 2024, as reflected by rising transaction volumes, enhanced liquidity measures, and reduced yield spreads. The study also addresses the impacts of Brexit, pandemic-related disturbances, and central bank interventions, providing a basis for informed regulatory policy designed to improve market transparency and resilience.

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

This week's edition of Life Sciences weekly highlights includes news that the Court of Appeal dismissed an appeal upholding the finding that the marketing authorisation of a Parkinson’s disease treatment was for a single active ingredient and not for a combination of active ingredients (Newron Pharmaceuticals v Comptroller), as well as, news that the British pharmaceutical industry recommended measures to be implemented in the Spring Budget on 6 March 2024, the DHSC announced £10m funding for eight innovative medtech companies and the HRA published its response to proposed revisions to the Declaration of Helsinki. Also included is news that the UK, Australia and Canada are collaborating to pilot a Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) Single Inspection Program and the industry body representing EU Notified Bodies recommended lowering the device risk classification of coronavirus (COVID-19) diagnostic tests post-pandemic, among other news about EMA updated guidance and an ASA ruling finding breach for an ADHD product’s FaceBook ad.

This week's edition of Public Law weekly highlights includes analysis of the Public Law implications of the new Labour government, coverage of the landmark Elections and Elected Bodies (Wales) Bill and new guidance documents for the Procurement Act 2023 Define phase. This edition further includes updates on coronavirus (COVID-19), constitutional and administrative law, judicial review, subsidy control and State aid, public procurement, management and strategic planning and other Public Law updates. Cases this week include the judgment for a case where it was considered whether civil servants can be prohibited from carrying out instructions contrary to international law and analysis of a case which considered fee-paid judges, qualifying judicial offices and discrimination against part-time workers.

The Education Secretary, Gavin Williamson, has announced the second wave of a competition, backed by £120m worth of funding, to open eight new employer-led art Institutes of Technology (IoT), bringing the total to 20 across England. IoT's bring together further and higher education providers and offer 'higher technical STEM education and training... in key sectors such as digital, construction, advanced manufacturing and engineering, which will play a key role in helping to rebuild the economy' after coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The competition is open to all regions of the country without an existing IoT. The first wave of the competition saw 12 IoTs selected in areas such as the South West, Midlands, Yorkshire, the North East, and London.

The West Midlands Traffic Commissioner has revoked the operator's licence of The Pipe Corporation and disqualified both the company and its sole director, Darren Sockett, from holding or obtaining a licence for six months. This decision follows two public inquiries which revealed significant breaches of legal obligations, including the improper display of vehicle identity discs and failure to maintain written maintenance records. The Commissioner found that the director had made deliberately false statements during the inquiry, particularly in attempting to blame coronavirus (COVID-19) for administrative lapses. Despite acknowledging some positive steps taken by the operator, including engaging a transport consultant and initiating staff training, the Commissioner deemed the breaches and lack of trustworthiness too severe to allow continued operation under the licence.