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Category: Great Britain

  • MIL-OSI: New Sleep Apnea Mouth Guard Over the Counter for 2025 – Latest OTC MouthGuard and Mouthpiece for Sleep Apnea OSA from AirSnore

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Glasgow, United Kingdom , June 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) —

    Finding an effective, accessible solution for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) can be life-changing. While CPAP machines are often prescribed, they’re not always comfortable or convenient for everyone.

    Over-the-counter oral appliances for sleep apnea have emerged as a practical and popular alternative, and among these, AirSnore stands out as a highly recommended option that has been introduced to the market.

    Designed to help users breathe more easily at night, AirSnore combines an easy-to-use mouthpiece with a unique blend of natural drops, offering a two-part system for enhanced results.

    Sleep better tonight with AirSnore, the over-the-counter answer to sleep apnea!

    AirSnore: A Highly Recommended Over-the-Counter Mouth Guard for Sleep Apnea

    • Comprehensive two-part system: AirSnore tackles sleep apnea and snoring by combining a dentist-inspired mouthpiece with therapeutic natural drops.
    • Opens the airway for better breathing: The mouthpiece gently moves your jaw forward, helping to prevent the airway blockages that cause sleep apnea.
    • Simple at-home fitting process: Easily mold the mouthpiece with the boil-and-bite method—no specialist appointments needed.
    • Supports restful sleep for sleep apnea sufferers: AirSnore is designed to reduce nighttime breathing interruptions, helping you wake up refreshed.
    • Natural, calming drops: The AirSnore Drops use eucalyptus, lavender, and other essential oils to clear nasal passages and make breathing easier.
    • No bulky machines required: Enjoy an effective sleep apnea solution without the discomfort of masks, hoses, or forced air.
    • Backed by user success stories: Many people with sleep apnea and snoring have reported quieter nights and more energetic days after switching to AirSnore.
    • Buy with confidence: Order directly from the official AirSnore website for authentic products, special offers, and a 60 day money-back guarantee.

    Say goodbye to restless nights—choose AirSnore for a simple, effective sleep apnea solution!

    What is AirSnore?

    AirSnore is a mandibular advancement device (MAD) available without a prescription. This mouthpiece is engineered to gently move the lower jaw forward while you sleep, helping to keep the airway open. 

    Unlike some competitors, AirSnore is designed for comfort and easy customization at home, making it ideal for those looking for an effective but non-intrusive solution to OSA and chronic snoring.

    How Does AirSnore Work?

    Sleep apnea, especially obstructive sleep apnea, is often caused by the soft tissues in the throat relaxing and collapsing during sleep, which blocks the airway and disrupts breathing. 

    The AirSnore mouthpiece addresses this by gently repositioning the lower jaw forward. This slight adjustment prevents airway obstruction, allowing air to flow freely to the lungs throughout the night.

    The AirSnore mouthpiece is made from medical-grade materials and is molded at home using a simple boil-and-bite process. This ensures a secure, personalized fit for maximum comfort and effectiveness. The device is also designed to be easy to clean and maintain.

    Tackle sleep apnea with an easy, over-the-counter solution—try AirSnore!

    Unique Two-Part System: Mouthpiece and Drops

    One of AirSnore’s standout features is its two-part system. In addition to the mouthpiece, AirSnore offers a proprietary blend of natural drops. These drops are applied to the chest, neck, and under the nostrils before bedtime.

    The AirSnore Drops are formulated with a combination of essential oils, including sunflower seed oil, eucalyptus leaf oil, lavender oil, peppermint leaf oil, and Scots pine leaf oil. 

    These ingredients are well-known for their soothing, anti-inflammatory, and decongestant properties. 

    The drops open up the airways, relieve sinus congestion, and promote relaxation—making it easier to breathe and fall asleep, especially for those with nasal congestion or mild respiratory issues that may worsen sleep apnea symptoms.

    The Science and Clinical Evidence

    While AirSnore itself is an over-the-counter device and not a prescription medical treatment, the principles behind mandibular advancement devices are well-supported in clinical literature. Numerous studies have shown that MADs could significantly reduce the severity of OSA, decrease snoring, and improve sleep quality—particularly in individuals with mild to moderate OSA.

    As for the drops, the essential oils in AirSnore Drops have been the subject of various clinical studies:

    • Eucalyptus oil is known for its decongestant and anti-inflammatory effects, which clear nasal passages.
    • Peppermint oil has shown promise in reducing upper respiratory tract congestion.
    • Lavender oil is widely recognized for its calming and sleep-promoting properties.
    • Scots pine oil and sunflower seed oil have also demonstrated anti-inflammatory and soothing effects in studies of respiratory health.

    Together, these ingredients may support easier breathing and deeper, more restful sleep.

    What Do Users Say About AirSnore? Customer Reviews

    Many users report positive experiences with AirSnore, noting both the comfort of the mouthpiece and the soothing effects of the drops:

    “I’ve tried several anti-snoring products, but AirSnore is the only one that actually worked for my sleep apnea. It’s comfortable to wear, and I wake up feeling rested.”
    — James P., AirSnore customer

    “The drops are a game changer for me. I used to wake up stuffy every morning, but now my sinuses are clear and I sleep through the night.”
    — Rebecca L., AirSnore user

    “I was skeptical at first, but after a week with AirSnore, my partner says my snoring has almost disappeared. I feel more energetic during the day, too.”
    — Chris T., Verified Purchaser

    Over-the-counter relief for sleep apnea is here—get AirSnore now!

    Why AirSnore is Highly Recommended for OSA

    AirSnore’s combination of a clinically proven mandibular advancement device and a unique blend of natural, science-backed drops makes it a top choice for those seeking relief from OSA symptoms. Its over-the-counter availability, ease of use, and positive customer feedback set it apart from other mouth guards on the market.

    While severe sleep apnea should always be evaluated by a healthcare professional, AirSnore offers a practical, affordable, and effective solution for many who suffer from mild to moderate OSA or disruptive snoring. For those looking to improve their sleep quality and overall well-being, AirSnore is a product worth considering.

    Where to Buy AirSnore

    AirSnore is available for purchase exclusively through the official AirSnore website. Buying directly from the manufacturer ensures you receive a genuine product, access to the latest deals or bundle offers, and full customer support.

    Currently, AirSnore is not available in pharmacies, retail stores, or on major third-party marketplaces like Amazon or eBay. Purchasing from unofficial sources exposes you to counterfeit products or void any money-back guarantees and warranty protections.

    When ordering from AirSnore.com, you benefit from:

    • Secure online ordering and multiple payment options
    • Discreet shipping to protect your privacy
    • Frequent discounts and bundle deals (mouthpiece and drops together)
    • A 60-day money-back guarantee, allowing you to try AirSnore risk-free
    • Responsive customer support for any product or order inquiries

    To ensure you receive the authentic device and the best possible customer experience, always purchase AirSnore directly from its official website.

    Introduction to Obstructive Sleep Apnea

    Obstructive sleep apnea, or OSA, is much more common than many people realize. It silently affects millions of adults, often going undiagnosed. If you have OSA, your breathing repeatedly stops and starts during the night—sometimes without you even knowing.

    This can leave you feeling groggy, unfocused, or irritable during the day, and it’s not just about being tired. Left untreated, sleep apnea could raise your risk for serious health issues like high blood pressure, heart disease, and even diabetes.

    The most common treatment for sleep apnea is something called a CPAP machine, which uses gentle air pressure to keep your airway open while you sleep. While CPAP can be incredibly effective, not everyone finds it comfortable.

    Wearing a mask all night and dealing with the noise or maintenance can be overwhelming for some people.

    That’s why more and more people are turning to oral appliance therapy—like mouth guards—especially if their sleep apnea is on the milder side.

    These devices are small, easy to use, and don’t require electricity or a mask. If you or someone you love is struggling with sleep apnea, understanding all your options—including mouth guards, help you make the best decision for a healthier, more restful sleep.

    What are the Sleep Apnea Treatment Options?

    A range of effective treatments are available for sleep apnea, each designed to keep the airway open and improve sleep quality. The main options include medical devices, dental appliances, and lifestyle changes. Here’s a brief overview of the most common approaches:

    CPAP Machines

    The Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machine is often considered the gold standard for treating moderate to severe sleep apnea. This device works by delivering a steady stream of air through a mask, which keeps your airway open throughout the night. While highly effective, some people find CPAP machines cumbersome or uncomfortable to use, especially at first.

    Oral Appliances

    For individuals with mild to moderate sleep apnea, or those who struggle with CPAP machines, oral appliances are a popular alternative. There are two main types:

    • Mandibular Advancement Devices (MADs): These are custom-fitted dental devices that gently push your lower jaw forward. By repositioning the jaw, MADs keep the throat muscles and tissues from collapsing, which reduces airway obstruction.
    • Tongue Retaining Devices: These appliances hold the tongue in a forward position, preventing it from blocking the airway while you sleep. They are less common than MADs but can be helpful for certain individuals.

    Oral appliances are less intrusive than CPAP machines and are often preferred for their comfort and portability. Research shows they can significantly improve sleep quality, reduce loud snoring, and ease symptoms like daytime sleepiness.

    Lifestyle Changes

    In some cases, simple lifestyle modifications make a big difference. These may include:

    • Weight Loss: Excess weight, especially around the neck, increases the risk of airway obstruction.
    • Changing Sleep Positions: Sleeping on your side rather than your back can help keep the airway open.
    • Avoiding Alcohol and Sedatives: These substances relax the muscles of the throat, making airway collapse more likely.
    • Quitting Smoking: Smoking irritates and inflames the airway, worsening sleep apnea symptoms.

    Consulting a Sleep Specialist

    It’s important to remember that sleep apnea treatment is not one-size-fits-all. Consulting with a qualified sleep specialist or dentist trained in sleep medicine is the best way to determine the most effective therapy for your unique situation.

    A professional will assess the severity of your condition and guide you to the options—whether medical devices, dental appliances, or lifestyle changes—that will offer the greatest benefit.

    Types of Mouth Guards for Sleep Apnea

    If you’re exploring mouth guards as a way to manage sleep apnea, you’re not alone. Many people are turning to these small, simple devices for a better night’s rest. There are two main types you’ll come across:

    Mandibular Advancement Devices (MADs) are the most common. These mouth guards work by gently moving your lower jaw forward while you sleep. That slight shift opens up your airway, making it less likely to collapse and interrupt your breathing. If you snore or have mild to moderate sleep apnea, a MAD might be a great fit.

    Tongue Retaining Devices (TRDs) take a different approach. Instead of moving your jaw, they hold your tongue in place so it doesn’t slide back and block your throat. This is especially helpful if your tongue is the main culprit behind your snoring or apnea.

    Some mouth guards are custom-fitted by a dentist, which means they’re made just for you and your unique bite. Others, like AirSnore, are available over the counter is fitted at home. While custom devices tend to be more precise, many people find over-the-counter options comfortable, affordable, and convenient.

    How Sleep Apnea Mouth Guards Work

    You might wonder how such a small device can make such a big difference. The answer is surprisingly simple. Sleep apnea mouth guards either move your jaw forward or keep your tongue from falling back. This helps keep your throat open while you sleep.

    When your airway stays open, air flows smoothly—snoring is reduced, and those scary pauses in breathing are less likely to happen. People who use mouth guards often find they wake up less groggy and feel more refreshed during the day. It’s a low-tech solution with real, noticeable results.

    What are the Benefits of Using a Mouth Guard for Sleep Apnea

    One of the best things about mouth guards is how easy they are to use. Unlike CPAP machines, which can be bulky and require a power source, a mouth guard just slips into your mouth before bed. No hoses, no noise, no fuss.

    Here are some of the benefits people appreciate:

    • Comfort and convenience: Tiny, portable, and easy to clean.
    • Better sleep: Less snoring and fewer interruptions mean deeper rest.
    • More energy during the day: Improved sleep quality leads to less tiredness.
    • Healthier heart: Treating sleep apnea lower blood pressure and reduce other health risks.
    • Customizable fit: Especially with custom-made devices, you get a fit that’s tailored to you.

    If you travel often or don’t like the idea of wearing a mask at night, a mouth guard might feel like a breath of fresh air—literally!

    How to Choose the Right Mouth Guard for OSA

    Picking the right mouth guard is a personal decision. Start by thinking about what matters most to you: Is comfort your top priority? Are you hoping to save money? Do you need something you can buy right away, or are you willing to wait for a custom device?

    It’s also important to consider the severity of your sleep apnea. Mouth guards work especially well for mild to moderate cases, but might not be enough for severe cases.

    Talking to a sleep specialist or dentist can be a big help. They will guide you through the pros and cons of each type, offer advice on fit and materials, and help you avoid common pitfalls. Their experience can make your search a lot less overwhelming.

    Getting a Custom-Fitted Mouth Guard for Sleep Apnea

    If you decide to go the custom route, here’s what you can expect. First, your dentist will take impressions of your teeth—think of it like making a mold for a retainer or sports mouth guard. These impressions are sent to a lab, where your mouth guard is crafted just for you.

    When it’s ready, you’ll try it on and your dentist will make sure it fits just right. Sometimes it takes a few tweaks to get the comfort and effectiveness spot on. Follow-up visits ensure everything stays comfortable and keeps working over time.

    Mouth Guard Effectiveness and Safety

    Mouth guards are life-changing for many people. They’re proven to help with snoring and mild to moderate OSA, and lots of users report feeling more rested and alert.

    However, they aren’t the answer for everyone. If your sleep apnea is severe, or if you have dental issues like loose teeth or jaw pain, you’ll want to talk to a professional before trying a mouth guard. And even after you start using one, regular check-ins with your dentist or sleep doctor keeps things on track and catch any problems early.

    With the right guidance and a little patience, a mouth guard could be the simple, effective solution that helps you finally get the restful sleep you deserve.

    Don’t let sleep apnea disrupt your life—discover how AirSnore can help you sleep soundly again.

    FAQ on OTC Sleep Apnea Mouth Guards

    1. What is the best mouth guard for sleep apnea?

    The best mouth guard is usually a custom-fitted mandibular advancement device, but high-quality options like AirSnore can also be effective.

    2. Can a mouth guard help with sleep apnea?

    Yes, mouth guards can help by keeping your airway open and reducing breathing interruptions while you are asleep.

    3. Does a mouth guard help with sleep apnea?

    Mouth guards are proven to help many people with OSA, especially in less severe cases.

    4. Does mouth guard help sleep apnea?

    Yes, specially designed mouth guards are a recognized treatment for sleep apnea.

    5. Are mouth guards effective for everyone with sleep apnea?

    Yes, for most people.  They may not work for everyone, especially those with severe sleep apnea or certain dental conditions. Consult a healthcare professional for advice.

    • Company: AirSnore
    • Contact: Don England
    • Email: support@airsnore.com
    • Phone Support:UK: +44 20 4572 4051 (9am–11pm GMT) US: +1 888-823-5131 (4am–6pm EST)
    • Address: 12 Payne Street Glasgow G4 0LF United Kingdom

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    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: Spending review delivers big boosts for health and defence – but Rachel Reeves is focused on investment

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Linda Yueh, Fellow in Economics/Adjunct Professor of Economics, University of Oxford

    UK chancellor Rachel Reeves has delivered the government’s spending review, setting out its plans and priorities for the next three years. The aim of the review is of course to allocate spending over that time period – but this government is keen for economic growth and so has directed the funds to try to boost GDP. This approach could work but is particularly challenging in an uncertain global environment.

    The parameters of the UK’s fiscal policy were set in the budget last October and the spring statement in March when the chancellor confirmed her fiscal rules, which allowed borrowing only for investment. Day-to-day spending on public services like the NHS and schools has to be met by tax revenues.

    As a result of an earlier tweak to the fiscal rules, public investment – spending on things like roads and hospitals – will total about £113 billion from now until nearly the end of this parliament.

    Many investors and creditors will have been looking out for this boost, as the UK has lagged behind comparable economies partly due to its lower levels of investment. The announcements have the potential to bring in private funding if more investors see an opportunity to benefit from increased economic growth, particularly if the UK’s relatively high energy costs are also addressed.

    Also in line for government investment is social and affordable housing. The announcement of £39 billion for this sector in England was a centrepiece of Reeves’ announcement. Coupled with planning reforms, the independent Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) judged in March that this could indeed boost growth.

    There will be more money for social housing – £39 billion over ten years in England.
    Irene Miller/Shutterstock

    In terms of day-to-day spending, health and defence received the biggest increases among government departments because of, respectively, pressures on the NHS arising from COVID-19 and the ageing population, and from geopolitical challenges like the war in Ukraine.

    Both departments, though, also have the potential to raise economic growth. Rates of economic inactivity (people who aren’t in paid work, for example) in the UK have not fallen back to their pre-COVID levels as they have in other major economies such as the US, France and Germany. Improving health services, cutting waiting lists and widening access to mental health support could help get more people back to work, which would boost employment and support growth.

    And on defence, spending in this area has the potential (depending greatly on the type of spend) to create technology that could eventually boost the nation’s productivity. GPS, for example, was developed by the US Department of Defense, as were many innovations now used in smartphones. Boosting UK defence spending to 2.6% of GDP by 2027 and investing in technology has the potential to unlock advances in equipment for the UK.

    Who loses out?

    This is not to say that increasing the settlements to other government departments would not support growth too. But some of those departments, including the Home Office, Foreign Office and transport, are now facing cuts in real terms to their spending. And they may find themselves under even more pressure should GDP growth slow.

    This is because of the chancellor’s fiscal rule about funding current spending from taxes. This would mean cuts if these receipts fall as a result of slowing growth, since Reeves has very little “fiscal headroom” (spare cash) to ensure she can meet her rules – only £9.9 billion.

    But the reverse may also prove to be true. Should investment in research and development (£22.6 billion per year by 2029‑30), renewable energy and infrastructure, alongside planning reforms, increase GDP growth, then the chancellor may find that she has more funding to allocate to day-to-day departmental spending to support public services.

    However, it takes time for investment to generate growth. OBR forecasts only expect increased growth of around 1.7% to 1.8% in the second half of this parliament. But those growth forecasts pre-date the US president Donald Trump’s tariffs announced in April, which are causing turmoil in global trade.

    This is why it is even more important for the UK to raise domestic economic growth through investing in people, technology and productivity. To govern is to choose, as the saying goes, and the government will hope that these are the right trade-offs to have made in order to grow during such shaky times. Despite the uncertain global picture, the chancellor has laid some promising foundations. Now the challenge will be delivering the growth.

    Linda Yueh does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Spending review delivers big boosts for health and defence – but Rachel Reeves is focused on investment – https://theconversation.com/spending-review-delivers-big-boosts-for-health-and-defence-but-rachel-reeves-is-focused-on-investment-258746

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Leader’s Report – June 2025

    Source: Scotland – City of Edinburgh

    Latest news from the Council Leader Jane Meagher.

    Driving attainment in our schools

    As we near the end of the school term, I want to begin by recognising the hard work and achievements of our children, young people, teachers and school staff throughout the year.

    I was particularly pleased to hear that the attainment of our school leavers has improved across almost all measures, with the gap narrowing between the performance of the most and least disadvantaged young people in our schools.

    These results are due, at least in part, to our curriculum pathways programme, which offers our secondary pupils the opportunity to enjoy a varied and engaging school day while seeing clear connections to future career opportunities.

    Our construction, roofing and stone carving courses, for example, help students in S4 to S6 to develop practical skills while also gaining qualifications that help them to map out a career path beyond school. It’s testament to this work that 95% of our school leavers are now going on to positive destinations.

    To all of our pupils who recently sat their exams, I wish you all the best of luck with your results in August. Pupils, teachers and staff have put in a tremendous amount of hard work preparing for exams and I know many parents, carers and wider family members will also have been encouraging their children to do their best.

    And to our school leavers, I wish you the very best as you embark on your next journey, whether in the workforce or further education.

    Cleaner, greener travel

    Earlier this month we marked one year since we began enforcement of our Low Emission Zone (LEZ). With Clean Air Day (19 June) coming up next week, this anniversary is a timely reminder of the importance of restricting the most polluting vehicles and improving air quality in our busy city centre.

    Air pollution is associated with between 29,000 and 43,000 deaths a year in the UK alone, with both the World Health Organisation and the UK Government citing it as the largest environmental threat to our health. It was reassuring then to hear both NHS Lothian and Asthma + Lung UK praising our scheme.  

    The good news is we’re seeing wider benefits across our network with the Institute of Occupational Medicine finding a statistically significant shift towards active travel and public transport in the six months following LEZ enforcement.

    Recent data suggests further positive outcomes from new active travel projects such as Leith Connections (20% increase in pedestrian numbers) and Leith Walk (40% increase in cycling numbers), with Cycling Scotland also reporting record journeys on the City Centre West to East Link (CCWEL) and at Picardy Place.

    Meanwhile Edinburgh Trams and Lothian Buses both continue to report improving passenger numbers and performance following their respective Operator of the Year accolades at the National Transport Awards 2024.

    Building a strong and stable third sector

    Tackling poverty remains a key priority for us – but we can’t achieve this without the third sector. Yet worryingly, with funding becoming ever scarcer, our population growing and more people struggling with the cost of living, many charities are in a precarious position.

    It’s clear to me that we need to find a more sustainable way forward for a sector that brings so much good. That’s why we’ve asked the Edinburgh Partnership to conduct a review of how it supports and works with third sector organisations across the city, and ultimately to find solutions for improving funding certainty in future years.

    We want to hear about how we can make it simpler, provide more stability, and collaborate to help those who need this sector’s support most. Please share your views on our Consultation Hub. Results will be shared with everyone who takes part and with the third sector, before being reported to our next Policy and Sustainability Committee in August.

    Farewell Sir Tom

    I was saddened to hear of the passing of Sir Tom Farmer last month. A proud Leither, generous philanthropist and true son of Edinburgh whose influence reached far beyond our city’s boundaries.

    Sir Tom was a recipient of the Edinburgh Award, and his handprints remain immortalised in the City Chambers Quadrangle, a lasting tribute to a life of service, innovation, and generosity. Best known as the founder of Kwik Fit, he transformed the automotive industry, building a business that grew to over 2,000 locations across 18 countries and, of course, owned a majority stake in Hibernian FC for 28 years. I have no doubt he was looking down proudly as Hibs Ladies clinched the league title for the first time in 18 years.

    Yet, his legacy extends well beyond his entrepreneurial success. Born in Leith in 1940, his roots in the community remained strong throughout his life. His service was recognised with a knighthood in 1997, and again in 2009, when he was made a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (CVO) for his charitable work. He also received the Carnegie Medal for Philanthropy and was named a Knight Commander with Star of the Order of St Gregory the Great, an honour bestowed by the Pope.

    Sir Tom’s final journey took him through the streets of Leith, past Easter Road Stadium, where hundreds of Hibs fans gathered to pay tribute to a man whose kindness, leadership and civic pride have left a lasting mark.

    Summer in the city

    The busy summer season is upon us once more. The city has already enjoyed the Edinburgh Children’s Festival, with the ever-popular Meadows Festival taking place last weekend.

    Looking ahead, the city is gearing up for a colourful and joyful celebration next weekend as the annual Pride Edinburgh march brings thousands together in the heart of the Capital. Pride is an important date in the city’s calendar and honours the diversity, history and dignity of our LGBT+ community. 

    Then, later this month, all eyes will turn to Ingliston for the Royal Highland Show (19–22 June), a highlight of Scotland’s summer and a showcase of rural life, food, and culture.

    The coming weeks will see the city filled with music, art, and performance, starting with the Edinburgh Castle concert series and the Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival in July. As we move into August, the city becomes the world’s stage with the Edinburgh Festival Fringe – boasting 3,350 shows and 265 venues this year – the International Festival, Book Festival, Art Festival, Film Festival, and the iconic Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo.

    I’m also very much looking forward to the reopening of the Filmhouse on 27 June following a lengthy and well-coordinated campaign to save and refurbish it. I know this was a cause very close to the heart of our late friend and colleague, Val Walker, and how much joy this would have brought her.

    Our world-renowned festivals and events sustain our reputation as a global cultural capital, with the positives extending well beyond entertainment. You need look no further than the £200 million our Winter Festivals brought to the local economy last year.

    They also bring real energy and excitement to the city, alongside lasting benefits to our businesses, communities and local charities. From next July, they will help to raise even more (as much as £50 million per year) for the city, courtesy of our visitor levy. We’re continuing to make good progress towards its introduction and have just given our views to the Scottish Government on a potential Cruise Ship Levy, which could be worth a further million pounds to the city each year.

    Stay Different

    Of course, these events require meticulous planning and coordination to limit the inevitable pressure on the city and our residents – and I want to extend my thanks to the many colleagues across events, waste, public safety and our partner organisations, for ensuring they remain safe, inclusive, and successful.

    Another way we can relieve the pressure is to encourage visitors (and residents!) to leave the beaten track and explore the many other wonderful attractions we have across the city. That’s the message of our new destination visitor marketing campaign Stay Different, which reminds visitors that Edinburgh is a year-round destination and there is much to discover in our local neighbourhoods and beyond.

    A revealing glimpse into our past

    As if we didn’t have enough to do this summer, I’m very much looking forward to exploring three standout shows that offer powerful glimpses into our past.

    At the St Giles’ Cathedral, Edinburgh’s First Burghers: Revealing the Lives and Hidden Faces of Edinburgh’s Medieval Citizens presents an extraordinary mix of science, history, and storytelling. Marking the joint 900th anniversaries of Edinburgh and St Giles’ Cathedral, this unique exhibition brings to life the medieval citizens buried at the site and allows us to see the faces and learn the stories of some of our earliest residents.

    At the City Art Centre, meanwhile, John Bellany: A Life in Self-Portraiture showcases more than 80 works by one of Scotland’s most important modern artists. With never-before-seen sketchbooks and artworks displayed across two floors, this is a compelling insight into a life lived through art.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Chancellor pledges at least £445 million of rail investment as part of biggest ever Welsh funding boost

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Chancellor pledges at least £445 million of rail investment as part of biggest ever Welsh funding boost

    Major transport upgrade to drive growth and unlock economic potential across Wales, as UK Government delivers on Plan for Change.   

    Spending Review: Investing in Wales’ future.

    • Investment is part of comprehensive spending package to invest in UK’s renewal, creating thousands of jobs in clean energy, manufacturing and defence  
    • The Welsh Government will receive the largest real terms settlement since devolution began in 1999, with an average settlement of £22.4 billion per year, enabling the Welsh Government to deliver for working people in Wales.

    Working people across Wales will benefit from better access to jobs and opportunities thanks to a Welsh rail investment worth at least £445 million announced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves today as part of the UK Government’s Spending Review which will invest in UK’s renewal.

    The transformative rail package will reconnect Wales’s industrial heartlands, improve commuter journeys and drive economic growth in communities that have long suffered from poor transport links.  

    The package will invest in both north and south Wales, fixing level crossings, building new stations, and upgrading existing lines  

    This strategic rail investment forms the cornerstone of the UK Government’s plan to reconnect, reindustrialise and renew Wales – addressing decades of underinvestment in critical infrastructure that has held back the Welsh economy.  

    The rail upgrades will specifically link centres of advanced manufacturing excellence in North Wales and improve vital connections between Cardiff and Bristol, making it easier for businesses to invest and for workers to access employment opportunities.  

    Alongside this major transport investment, the Spending Review delivers significant backing for Wales’s key industrial sectors.  

    In Port Talbot, a combined investment of up to £580 million will secure the future of steelmaking while transforming the port into a clean energy hub. Within this, £500 million for Tata Steel’s new Electric Arc Furnace will protect 5,000 jobs while reducing carbon emissions.  

    Secretary of State for Wales, Jo Stevens, said:  

    This UK Government is investing in Wales’ future and driving economic growth across the country.  

    We promised we would deal with the historical under-investment in Wales’ rail network and the funding announced today in this Spending Review shows we are delivering on that pledge.  

    Along with a record financial settlement for Welsh Government to improve public services, £118m more to help keep coal tips safe and investment in growing industries like aerospace, we are backing Wales’ potential and delivering for working people.”    

    Growing Wales’ domestic aerospace and defence industries  

    Speaking in the House of Commons today, the Chancellor reaffirmed the government’s commitment to increase defence spending to 2.6% of GDP by April 2027, backing our Armed Forces, creating British jobs in British industries, and prioritising the security of Britain when it is most needed.  

    The Spending Review also backed Welsh industry by continuing investment in the defence industry right across the UK, including Wales.  

    Wales’s aerospace and automotive industries, already employing over 15,000 people, also stands to gain through UK-wide funding announced for the advanced manufacturing sector, enabling the development and delivery of ultra-low and zero-carbon emission vehicles and aircraft.   

    Coal tip safety   

    The Spending Review also confirms a further £118 million between 2026-27 and 2028-29 for the Welsh Government to maintain the safety of disused coal tips, on the back of £25 million already committed in 2025-26 during 2024 Autumn Budget. The money will see tips secured, homes protected and land unlocked for housing, industry and recreation.   

    The UK Government also pledged continued support for Welsh Investment Zones in Cardiff City Region and Wrexham and Flintshire, which will receive £160 million each over 10 years, driving growth and jobs.  

    Supporting Welsh businesses  

    The new Industrial Strategy and Public finance Institutions will collaborate with the devolved governments and local stakeholders to drive growth across the UK. Through the Nations and Regions Investment programme the British Business Bank is delivering £130 million across Wales to break down access to finance barriers and drive economic growth.  

    Local growth funding  

    A new local growth fund, and investments in up to 350 deprived communities across the UK, will maintain the same cash level as in 2025-26 under the Shared Prosperity Fund. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and the Wales Office will work with local partners to ensure money goes to projects that matter to local people. This investment will help drive growth and improve communities across all parts of Wales.  

    A record settlement for Welsh public services  

    The Welsh Government will receive the largest settlement in real terms since devolution in 1999, with an average settlement of £22.4 billion per year to deliver against the priorities of working people in Wales.  

    This comprehensive investment package is further delivery of the UK Government’s promise to invest in Britain’s renewal and ensure that economic growth benefits every part of the United Kingdom.

    ENDS

    Updates to this page

    Published 11 June 2025

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  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Exciting new future for leisure unveiled

    Source: Scotland – City of Perth

    The updated proposals include two exciting options for the new PH2O facility at Thimblerow in Perth city centre — both of which include flumes and enhanced leisure water features. These options respond directly to the instruction of Councillors to explore leisure water provision at the site, while still being affordable and aligned with the Council’s strategic priorities.

    Council Leader Grant Laing said: “This is a really positive step forward. We asked officers to explore how we could deliver a leisure water offer that meets the ambitions of our communities — and they’ve delivered. These proposals show that we can do that while staying true to the principles agreed by Council last September: delivering the greatest impact from our capital investment and ensuring best value for our residents.

    “PH2O at Thimblerow will be a fantastic new facility for Perth, and we should never lose sight of the fact that building there means that we can continue to keep Perth Leisure Pool open and maintain access to swimming in Perth right up to the moment it transfers to the new facility.

    “And by making the most of the funding previously allocated for PH2O, we’ve also created the opportunity to do even more to secure the future for sport and leisure across Perth and Kinross. The proposals being put before Council will also allow us to identify the funding to progress with much-needed upgrades and improvements to the pools in Kinross and Crieff, as well as providing a funded pathway to a sustainable future for Bell’s Sports Centre.”

    The report also outlines a proposal to allocate part of the Glover Street site — which will be freed up once PH2O at Thimblerow opens — to Capability Scotland. This would allow the charity to relocate from its current Upper Springland site, securing its future in Perth and offering new supported accommodation in the city centre.

    Depute Leader and Convener of the Economy and Infrastructure Committee Eric Drysdale said: “This is a great example of how joined-up thinking can deliver real benefits for our communities. Not only are we investing in leisure and wellbeing, but we’re also creating an opportunity for the valued service provided to residents and other clients at Capability Scotland to thrive in the heart of our city.

    “This is about more than buildings — it’s about creating a supportive and welcoming environment in our communities where everyone can live life well.”

    The proposals will be considered at a meeting of Perth and Kinross Council on Wednesday 18 June 2025, and include:

    • £74m for PH2O at Thimblerow with:
      • 25m 8-lane swimming pool with movable floor
      • 12.5m x 8.5m teaching pool
      • 5.5m flumes
      • Extended splashpad/aquatic children’s play space
      • Holiday and weekend inflatables in the main pool
      • Indoor play area (Clip n’ Climb/ soft play or other family play activity)
      • Games hall (6 court)
      • Fitness gym
      • Studio 1,2,3 (flexible)
      • Café
    • £10m for Bell’s Sports Centre to fund delivery of the transformed facility, including the costs of essential RAAC and asbestos removal work. Confirms that the development and future use of Bell’s Sports Centre should be as an unheated, covered sports pitch/ events space as supported by 60% of respondents to a public consultation on the subject.
    • £13.2m investment in energy efficiency and building upgrades at Live Active Loch Leven (Kinross) and Strathearn Community Campus (Crieff) to sustain the life of of both facilities for a further 20 years, and reduce the emergency consumption by 75% and 80% respectively. 

    Together, these proposals represent a sustainable, future-focused investment in leisure across Perth and Kinross — one that supports health and wellbeing, strengthens communities, and brings new life to the city centre.

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  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Chancellor “knows know the price of everything and the value of nothing.” say Greens in response to Spending Review

    Source: Green Party of England and Wales

    by Green Party

    Responding to the Spending Review, Green Party Co-Leader, Adrian Ramsay MP, said,

    “Today’s Spending Review shows we have a chancellor who seems to know the price of everything and the value of nothing. While today Reeves may have balanced her spreadsheet, it is done on the backs of some of the worst off in our society. The proof is in how many will still be feeling worse off as the cost-of-living crisis bites hard.

    People want to feel pride in Britain again, and for this, they need real hope. Hope only comes from seeing how things will improve through real investment in the everyday services we all rely on.

    Despite the rhetoric in the chamber, it is clear that this Spending Review represents a squeeze in many frontline budgets. With education, for example, where many schools are already being forced to make difficult budget cuts, core school budgets are set to rise by just 0.6% – well under that of inflation. It is hard to see this money ever reaching our teachers and children in the classroom. Equally, I am horrified to see real-term cuts to Defra funding, just as the impact of climate change is starting to affect our communities. Now is the time to invest in climate resilience and preparedness.”

    He continued, “These ‘tough decisions’ are actually ‘Labour’s political choices’. They are choosing to leave the economy tilted towards those with considerable wealth. Our front-line services continue to deteriorate through a political choice of decline by design. By introducing a wealth tax on the super-rich, we could instead properly invest in our children’s future. We could give them the education they deserve and start now to invest in the climate resilience and preparedness they will need throughout their lives as the climate crisis unfolds.”

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  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Sunderland’s potential rugby stars of the future have come face to face with one of the sport’s top trophies.

    Source: City of Sunderland

    Local schoolchildren enjoyed a day to remember getting up close to the Women’s Rugby World Cup trophy when it visited Barnes Park as part of its tour of the city.

    The iconic silverware was in Sunderland ahead of the city hosting the opening match of the Women’s Rugby World Cup at the Stadium of Light on the evening of Friday 22 August.

    World Rugby unveiled the new trophy last month to tie in with the start of the 100-day countdown to the opening match of the tournament in Sunderland which will see England’s Red Roses take on the USA.

    The trophy’s visit to Sunderland marked the culmination of a nationwide tour of all eight host cities and towns as excitement continues to build for the record-breaking tournament.

    Around 150 youngsters from Barnes Junior School and Broadway Primary School got the see the trophy and put their rugby skills to the test when it visited Barnes Park.

    They are among almost 800 hundred pupils in primary and secondary schools across Sunderland who have been introduced to the game of rugby as part of the Active Sunderland Community Impact Programme in the lead up to the tournament’s opening match in their home city.

    Councillor Beth Jones, Cabinet Member for Communities, Culture and Tourism at Sunderland City Council, said: “Hosting the opening match of this record breaking tournament is incredibly exciting for our city and we want one of its lasting legacies to be the impact it has on growing the game in Sunderland and inspiring more girls and boys to take up the sport.

    “We know that being active is really important, with all sorts of benefits for our physical and mental wellbeing and it’s been fantastic to see so many pupils in schools across Sunderland embracing the game and enjoying everything it has to offer. 

    “So it was really special for pupils who have been learning all about the game and the skills needed to play it, to come face to face with the trophy the world’s top rugby teams are going to be competing to win this summer.”

    The ongoing work in the city’s schools has included an Active Sunderland Rugby Skills event last October, with another  planned for 2 July.

    T1 rugby sessions – a new non contact style of rugby, with an emphasis on fun, fitness and inclusion – have also been delivered to 600 students in primary schools and 180 in secondary schools, along with a series of festivals for different year groups.

    During its visit to Sunderland, the trophy also stopped at Hylton Castle and at the Sunderland Food and Drink Festival in Keel Square where people had the opportunity to have their photo taken with it and the bespoke RWC Defender Trophy Tour Vehicle.

    Leader of Sunderland City Council, Councillor Michael Mordey said: “It was fantastic to have the trophy visiting Sunderland as we get ever closer to hosting the opening match of the Women’s Rugby World Cup on 22 August.

    “Having the opening game here is a brilliant opportunity to showcase our city on the international stage.

    “It was also great to see our own young players, who could well be the next generation of top rugby stars, demonstrating their own rugby skills during the trophy’s stop offs at Barnes Park and Hylton Castle, and to see so many people coming along to Keel Square to see the trophy for themselves.”

    The 2025 tournament is the biggest Women’s Rugby World Cup in history after selling more than 300,000 tickets – more than twice the total attendance at the last tournament in New Zealand in 2021.

    Tickets for the tournament are competitively priced from £10 for adults and £5 for children. This means a family of four can enjoy an evening at the Women’s Rugby World Cup Opening Game for £30. To find out more about the Women’s Rugby World Cup, how to get tickets and how to get involved in free rugby activities in Sunderland visit:Rugby World Cup 2025 – MySunderland

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  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Spending Review presents challenges

    Source: Scottish Government

    Funding for Scotland falls behind UK Government departments.

    The UK Spending Review fails to deliver for Scotland, Finance Secretary Shona Robison has said.

    Spending levels for public services will fail to offset the impact of proposed cuts to welfare support and the rise in National Insurance contributions, the Finance Secretary warned in response to the Chancellor’s statement.

    Shona Robison said: 

    “This Spending Review is business as usual from the UK Government, which is yet again treating Scotland as an afterthought and failing to provide us with the funding we need.

    “Today’s settlement for Scotland is particularly disappointing, with real terms growth of 0.8% a year for our overall Block Grant, which is lower than the average for UK Departments. Had our resource funding for day-to-day priorities grown in line with the UK Government’s overall spending, we would have £1.1 billion more to spend on our priorities over the next three years. In effect, Scotland has been short-changed by more than a billion pounds.

    “This all comes on top of the UK Government’s failure to fully fund their employer National Insurance increase, depriving us of hundreds of millions of pounds in funding, and their proposed cuts in support for disabled people that will push 250,000 people into poverty, including 50,000 children.

    “It is also disappointing that despite apparent briefing to media in advance, we are still awaiting clarity on funding for the vital Acorn project in the North East of Scotland.

    “We made extensive representations to the UK Government on our priorities for the Spending Review, including calls for an end to spending that bypasses devolution, but there has been limited opportunity to engage with them. It appears that the continuation of local growth funding – which fails to match the European Structural Funds it was supposed to replace – will come directly from Whitehall, yet again bypassing devolved governments.

    “We will now take the time to digest the detail of this statement and will set out our formal response on 25 June as part of the Medium Term Financial Strategy.” 

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  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Steve Reed National Trust 130th Anniversary Dinner speech

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Speech

    Steve Reed National Trust 130th Anniversary Dinner speech

    Defra Secretary of State Steve Reed addressed the National Trust’s 130th Anniversary Dinner on Tuesday 10 June

    Thank you for inviting me to your celebration today.

    I’d like to thank Hilary, Rene, National Trust staff and the thousands of volunteers around the country for the work you do. And wish the National Trust a happy 130th birthday.

    I’m one of the 5 million people who have a National Trust membership card like this one.  We all have a special place we love to visit. For me, it’s Sissinghurst Castle in Kent.

    I love the beautiful gardens designed by the writer and poet Vita Sackville-West and her husband Harold Nicolson.

    Vita opened her gardens for everyone to enjoy in the late 1930s, with visitors putting a shilling into an old tobacco tin under the entrance archway.

    This special place was donated to the National Trust in the 1960s, and it continues to welcome thousands of visitors every year. Admittedly seeing some inflation since Vita’s time!

    As we have heard from Hilary, the National Trust is not just about preserving the past. It is carrying out vital work to prepare for the future.

    The Frogmead Restoration project on the Sissinghurst Estate is restoring biodiversity – increasing flora and fauna, attracting wetland birds, bolstering the dragonfly population and allowing frogs to return to the area.

    It is also reducing flood risk in the Medway catchment, protecting homes and livelihoods.

    We need more projects like this so we can adapt to our changing world.

    We make many competing demands on the finite amount of land that’s available to us.

    Nature underpins everything. Our economy, our communities and our livelihoods. 

    But we have become one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world.

    Restoring nature is a key pillar of the Government’s Plan for Change.  That’s essential because we human beings are not merely observers of nature, we are an intrinsic part of it. When we destroy nature, we are ultimately destroying ourselves, and we can’t let that happen.  

    The National Trust’s new strategy to 2035 that will be pivotal in helping us restore nature. But the Government must play our part too. 

    I’ve just arrived back this afternoon from the UN Oceans Conference in Nice.  I was proud to announce a consultation on banning bottom-trawling in our Marine Protected Areas. We can’t go on wiping out precious marine habitats just because they’re out of sight beneath the sea. 

    The oceans cover two thirds of our planet. If we are serious about protecting nature, we must protect our seas and the life and ecosystems they sustain.  

    This afternoon, my colleague Emma Hardy has told the same conference that the UK will introduce legislation this year to ratify the Global Oceans Treaty so we are part of the first group of nations coming together to protect biodiversity in the seas beyond national jurisdictions. 

    And yesterday, my colleague Matthew Pennycook announced that the Government will update national planning policy to ensure swift bricks are incorporated into new buildings. They make a massive impact on expanding bird populations.  We will make sure that now happens in new developments right across the country. 

    Those three initiatives have been announced in the past 24 hours alone. But we know there’s much more to do.

    We are committed to increasing access to nature for everyone, whether that’s hiking in our beautiful countryside, swimming in clean rivers, lakes and seas, or taking a lunchtime stroll around the park.  

    We will create nine new National River Walks, plant three new National Forests and support communities to create new parks and green spaces in their neighbourhoods.

    We’ve already announced the first new national forest between the Cotswolds and the Mendips which will see 20 million trees planted in the coming years.

    It’s a national scandal that our rivers, lakes and seas are choked by record levels of pollution. We’re cleaning them up with new laws to ban bonuses for water bosses who oversee catastrophic pollution incidents, and bringing in over £100bn of private sector funding to upgrade the broken pipes that are the primary cause of sewage leaks.   

    We’ve saved more than 40 thousand miles of footpaths and historic rights of way so they can continue to be used by the public.

    And we are making protected landscapes, national trails, forests and countryside more accessible with our £33 million ‘Access for All’ programme.

    I look forward to working with the National Trust to develop this work and open up more of our beautiful countryside for everyone to enjoy.

    I know that we need to speed up nature’s recovery.

    I asked Dan Corry to lead a review into environmental regulation. He pointed out that a very large proportion of applications come from organisations like the National Trust, the RSPB and others who have to wait months despite having a proven track record in protecting nature. 

    So we are going to speed things up by giving them the power to approve their own applications.

    I’m delighted that the National Trust is a frontrunner for this.

    The National Trust and Natural England, along with the Forestry Commission, are working together in the Peak District to pilot one of two ‘Nature Enterprise Zones’ – the other is in North Devon.

    These zones will pilot this new approach, reviewing and testing how we can streamline and simplify the system so the National Trust can do more on protected sites, restoring species, and improving land management. 

    The Peak District Nature Enterprise Zone will span over ten thousand hectares of National Trust land. It will include trees, peat, grassland, farming, and it will open up nature to more people.   

    I’m excited about this pilot, and we’ll learn from it how we can expand the approach more widely.   

    Collaboration like this is vital to protecting nature.  We are all links in a chain, and we have to pull together to get the outcomes we want to see. 

    I want to thank the National Trust for your continued engagement with Defra.

    I know the Minister for Nature, Mary Creagh, was thrilled to be part of the historic moment at Purbeck when beavers were reintroduced into the wild in England.

    We’ve fully banned bee-killing pesticides as a step towards helping pollinators recover, which will also support the bird populations that depend on them as a food source.

    We are working with farmers to move towards regenerative farming that focuses on improving the soil so it needs less artificial fertiliser, fewer pesticides, and has more organic matter that helps retain water.  

    Approaches like this aren’t just good for nature and good for water quality, they’re good for farm businesses because they reduce input costs but increase food production and food quality sustainably. 

    Many people at this gathering are helping shape the first-ever Land Use Framework for England. A rather boring title for an incredibly exciting initiative that will provide the most sophisticated land-use data and toolkit ever published in our country’s history. 

    It will allow us to expand nature across whole landscapes while ensuring land is used more rationally for the many other demands we make of it for food, energy and housing. 

    The partnership between us is critical as we work together to restore nature for future generations.  We’ll have to overcome tensions and disagreements from time to time. But this is a government that aspires to be the best government for nature this country’s ever had. And you are our partners in getting there.   

    The prize before us is huge.

    Our rivers, lakes and seas cleaned up of pollution.

    Birds, pollinators and wildlife back in our gardens.

    Nature in full recovery and open to everyone to enjoy.

    Nature underpins everything that we are as a society.  It is our duty to protect it, cherish it, and restore it. 

    That’s the best 130th anniversary present we could wish for!

    Updates to this page

    Published 11 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Spending Review: Billions to back Scottish jobs

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments 3

    Press release

    Spending Review: Billions to back Scottish jobs

    UK Government’s Plan for Change delivers record settlement for Scottish Government with an extra £9.1 billion over the SR period to deliver public services

    Working people across Scotland will benefit from significant investment in clean energy and innovation, creating thousands of high-skilled jobs and strengthening Scotland’s position as the home of the United Kingdom’s clean energy revolution.  

    The UK Government has confirmed £8.3 billion in funding for GB Energy-Nuclear and GB Energy in Aberdeen. This is alongside an increased commitment to the Acorn Carbon Capture, Usage and Storage project, which will receive development funding.   

    The Spending Review, outlined today, Wednesday 11 June, announces targeted investment in Scotland’s most promising sectors to grow the economy and put more money in working people’s pockets.  It delivers an extra £9.1 billion over Phase 2 of the Spending Review, through the Barnett formula.

    The government also confirmed £25 million for the Inverness and Cromarty Firth Freeport.   

    These investments are part of a wider package, with funding for hydrogen production projects at Cromarty and Whitelee.

    Secretary of State for Scotland, Ian Murray, said:  

    Putting more money in the pockets of working Scots by investing in the country’s renewal is at the heart of this Spending Review and our Plan for Change.

    The Chancellor has unleashed a new era of growth for Scotland, confirming billions of pounds of investment in clean energy – including new development funding for Acorn – creating thousands of high-skilled jobs.

    Scotland’s leading role at the heart of UK defence policy has been strengthened and there is also significant investment in our trailblazing innovation, research and development sectors.

    And the Scotland Office will work with local partners to ensure hundreds of millions of pounds of new targeted support for Scottish communities and businesses goes to projects that matter to local people. This means that the UK Government is now investing almost £1.7 billion in dozens of important growth schemes across Scotland over 10 years.

    To maximise the benefit of recent trade deals with India, US and the EU we are continuing the Brand Scotland programme to promote inward investment opportunities boosting Scottish exports of our globally celebrated products.

    And we are delivering a record real-terms funding settlement for the Scottish Government with an extra £9.1 billion over the Spending Review period through the Barnett formula. That’s more money than ever before for them to invest in Scottish public services like our NHS, police, housing and schools.

    This is a historic Spending Review for Scotland that chooses investment over decline and delivers on the promise that there would be no return to austerity.

    Investment in Scotland to strengthen UK defence  

    Speaking in the House of Commons today, the Chancellor reaffirmed the government’s commitment to increase defence spending to 2.6% of GDP by April 2027, backing our Armed Forces, creating British jobs in British industries, and prioritising the security of Britain when it is most needed.  

    The long-term future of the Clyde is secured through an initial £250 million investment over three years which will begin a multi-decade, multi-billion pound redevelopment of HM Naval Base Clyde through the ‘Clyde 2070’ programme.   

    Investing in innovation and R&D  

    Scotland will also become home to the UK’s largest and most powerful supercomputer, with up to £750 million committed to its development at Edinburgh University. This world-class facility will give scientists across all UK universities access to extraordinary computer power, further strengthening Scotland’s research and innovation capability.   

    The UK Government is backing Scottish industry with a share of increased UK-wide R&D spending set to grow from £20.4 billion in 2025-26 to over £22.6 billion per year by 2029-30. Scotland will also benefit from a £410 million UK-wide Local Innovation Partnerships Fund.  

    Targeted support for Scottish communities   

    The government is also investing £160 million over 10 years for Investment Zones in the North East of Scotland and in Glasgow City Region, and confirming £452 million over four years for City and Growth Deals across Scotland.  

    A £100 million joint investment for the Falkirk and Grangemouth Growth deal with the Scottish Government (£50 million from UK Government and £50 million from Scottish Government), demonstrating the UK Government’s continued commitment to the Grangemouth industrial area.  

    A new local growth fund, and investments in up to 350 deprived communities across the UK, will maintain the same cash level as in 2025-26 under the Shared Prosperity Fund. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and the Scotland Office, will work with local partners and the Scottish Government, to ensure money goes to projects that matter to local people. This investment will help drive growth and improve communities across Scotland.  

    Supporting Scottish businesses  

    The National Wealth Fund (NWF) is trialling a Strategic Partnership with Glasgow City Region to provide enhanced, hands-on support to help it develop and finance long term investment opportunities. The NWF has already made its first investment in Scotland with £43.5 million in direct equity for a sustainable packaging company, which is to build its first commercial-scale manufacturing facility near Glasgow.  

    Through its Nations and Regions Investment programme the British Business Bank is delivering £150 million across Scotland to break down access to finance barriers and drive economic growth.  

    The settlement also allocates £0.75 million each year to champion our ‘Brand Scotland’ trade missions to promote Scotland’s goods and services on the world stage and to encourage further growth and investment.

    A record settlement for Scottish public services   

    The Government has been clear that local decision-making against local priorities is central to delivering growth.   

    The Scottish Government will receive the largest real terms settlement since devolution began in 1998, with an average £50.9 billion per year between 2026-27 and 2028-29, enabling the Scottish Government to deliver for working people in Scotland.  This includes £2.9 billion per year on average through the operation of the Barnett formula, with £2.4 billion resource between 2026-27 and 2028-29 and £510 million capital between 2026-27 and 2029-30. 

    This investment and record settlement is made possible by the tough but necessary decisions taken in the October Budget.

    Updates to this page

    Published 11 June 2025

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  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Cabinet reshuffle is no excuse for delays on climate plan

    Source: Scottish Greens

    11 Jun 2025 Climate

    Scotland’s carbon budgets must be published now.

    More in Climate

    Cabinet reshuffle can no longer be used as an excuse to delay publication of Scotland’s first carbon budgets, says Scottish Greens co-leader Patrick Harvie MSP.
     
    Today, the First Minister confirmed that Gillian Martin will remain in her role as Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy, with Mairi McAllan returning from maternity leave in a new role as Cabinet Secretary for Housing.
     
    Mr Harvie said:

    “The delay in setting Scotland’s first carbon budget has already caused serious concern, and some had blamed it on the imminent reshuffle.
     
    “Now that Gillian Martin has been made permanent in the job she was covering for, this can no longer be the explanation.
     
    “It’s urgent that she comes to the Chamber in the days ahead to explain the delay and to publish the Government’s proposals immediately. There is no time to waste.
     
    “We welcome Mairi McAllan back from maternity leave. She will also have a critical role to play here, and must restore boldness to Government action on both rent controls and clean heating that the Greens kick started, but which the SNP have watered down ever since.”

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  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Major sustainability upgrade work completed at three Coventry leisure centres

    Source: City of Coventry

    Coventry City Council, in partnership with CV Life, has successfully completed a series of major sustainability improvements at three of the city’s leisure centres.

    The leisure centres were awarded almost £750,000 in grant funding from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and National Lottery through Sport England’s Swimming Pool Support Fund earlier this year to carry out the work.

    The Alan Higgs Centre, Centre AT7 and Xcel Leisure Centre have all benefited from a range of energy efficiency upgrades designed to reduce carbon emissions, lower running costs and support Coventry’s wider climate goals.

    The Alan Higgs Centre has newly installed solar panels funded by a £250,000 grant, whilst Centre AT7 has seen the installation of solar panels alongside a full replacement of fluorescent lighting with energy-efficient LED alternatives, supported by a £270,000 grant. LED lighting has also been installed at Xcel Leisure Centre and its building management system has been upgraded, thanks to the centre being awarded a grant of £220,000.

    Cllr Kamran Caan, Cabinet Member for Public Health and Sport, said: “It’s fantastic to see that this important work has been carried out at three of the city’s most popular leisure centres.

    “Making our leisure centres more energy efficient is really important as it helps to keep costs down, meaning the centres remain affordable and accessible.

    “High-quality and well-maintained facilities play a key role in supporting the health and wellbeing of our communities. Thanks to this funding, people will enjoy safe and modern spaces to exercise for years to come.”

    Councillor Jim O’Boyle, Cabinet Member for Jobs, Regeneration and Climate Change, said: “These energy-efficiency upgrades are fantastic and will benefit everyone who uses these facilities.

    “Going green is important as we move towards net zero, and thanks to the grant funding our most well used leisure centres now have solar and LED lighting. This is a win, win as it will save money and reduce the carbon footprint of both centres.”

    The improvements are projected to reduce energy bills by approximately £140,000 per year across the three sites.

    Steve Wiles, Chief Operating Officer at CV Life, said: “Amid increasing operational costs and the instability of energy prices, the recent funding from Sport England has been a welcomed investment in the future of our centres.

    “This support has enabled us to implement energy efficient technologies that will significantly reduce our electricity consumption. Cost savings aside; the investment plays a vital role in supporting our long-term commitment to environmental sustainability.

    “By lowering our carbon footprint and improving energy efficiency, we are taking firm steps toward achieving our environmental sustainability goals and ensuring our facilities remain both financially and environmentally resilient for years to come.”

    The funding was allocated to centres in communities with the highest need. The allocation of funding aligns with Sport England’s national funding scheme aimed at supporting public leisure centres with swimming pools across the country.

    For more information about the Swimming Pool Support Fund, please visit the SPSF webpage

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  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: expert reaction to R&D elements of the Spending Review

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Scientists comment on the R&D elements of the Spending Review, as announced by the Chancellor.

    Adrian Smith, President of the Royal Society, said:

    “The Chancellor has today backed British science with the commitment of £86bn over the next four years. This is a welcome show of support for the UK’s outstanding science base. In difficult circumstances this will give some certainty to those looking to lead research and invest in the UK.

    “It is good to see the Government recognise the skills gap, but we need a fundamental reset to maths and data education, for all ages, to equip young people with the skills they need for modern well-paid jobs. The Chancellor’s speech also had a welcome emphasis on a clean and secure energy future for the UK.

    “While today’s commitment to protecting the research and innovation budget is encouraging, we continue to lag behind our competitors in the G7 on research and innovation investment when we should be looking to lead. We must also go further to attract and retain global talent. The UK’s sky-high upfront visa costs are an unnecessary deterrent at a time when our competitors are rolling out the welcome mat for the brightest minds.”

     

    Steve Bates OBE, CEO of the UK BioIndustry Association (BIA), said:

    “The Chancellor’s investments in R&D through UKRI and scaling life science companies through the British Business Bank is a huge vote of confidence in our sector’s ability to drive economic growth.

    “Investments into life sciences and AI will transform drug discovery and deliver greater NHS efficiency, the Health Data Research Service could make the UK the go-to destination for health innovation, while new funding for medicines manufacturing will help us attract internationally mobile investments to the UK and create well-paid rewarding jobs across the country.

    “Greater operational freedom and budget for the British Business Bank will allow it to play an even greater role in boosting our venture capital ecosystem and complementing the Chancellor’s pension reforms to increase investment in Britain’s growth sectors. This is the critical element of the Chancellor’s Plan for Change that really must be delivered to the full, with no stone left unturned.

    “We await the Industrial Strategy and Life Sciences Sector Plan later this month to see the full details of how the spending plans announced today will be delivered in reality, and look forward to working in partnership with Government to make every penny count for Britain’s economy, people and patients.”

     

    Professor Dame Ottoline Leyser, UKRI Chief Executive, said:

    “This multi-year settlement confirms the government’s continued commitment to the critical role of research and innovation in delivering a high-productivity, high-growth economy, improving public services and creating high-quality jobs across the UK. 

    “Over the coming months we will work with the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on the allocations process to ensure we can best support the research and innovation critical for the UK’s prosperity.” 

    Dr Joe Marshall, Chief Executive of NCUB said: 

    “We welcome the Government’s ongoing recognition that research and innovation are at the heart of sustainable economic growth. The headline commitment to an £86 billion R&D budget over four years is critical. Our analysis shows that every £1 invested in research leverages an additional £4 from business in the long term — generating profound economic, social, and cultural benefits for the UK. 

    “The Spending Review shapes not only the scale of funding for research, innovation, and skills but also its strategic direction. We applaud the pledge to extend R&D impact across the whole UK — notably through the new Local Innovation Partnerships Fund in England and reforms following the Green Book Review. The guidance for developing Local Growth Plans in England rightly references the critical importance of involving local businesses, higher education providers and bodies such as UKRI.”  

    “The allocation of the £86 billion research budget reveals important priorities. The substantial increase in defence-related R&D spending — rising from £1.7 billion in 2025/26 to £2.4 billion in 2028/29 — signals a shift in the research landscape that will have significant implications for the kinds of projects funded.” 

    “While the commitment to R&D funding is welcome, it is vital that key risks within the research and innovation system are addressed. UK universities play an indispensable and multifaceted role but continue to face severe funding pressures. The Chancellor’s acknowledgement that our universities are a national asset was encouraging, yet proper, sustained investment is essential to enable universities to drive UK innovation and progress forward.” 

     

    Dr Alicia Greated, Executive Director, Campaign for Science and Engineering (CaSE), said:

     “The Chancellor’s speech today has brought welcome confirmation of the announcements made at the weekend that the UK R&D budget is being protected in tough fiscal circumstances. Supporting UK R&D is an essential way to generate growth in the economy, ensure excellence in UK universities and research institutes, stimulate private sector innovation, and improve lives and livelihoods across the UK.

    “It is important that we now consider the full detail of the spending review publications, as well as, critically, future departmental allocations. CaSE will be working to analyse the plans and assess the impact they will have on the R&D sector, particularly as there are several promising new initiatives that will need accounting for alongside existing commitments””

    Declared interests

    The nature of this story means everyone quoted above could be perceived to have a stake in it. As such, our policy is not to ask for interests to be declared – instead, they are implicit in each person’s affiliation.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: UK Spending Review locks in decades of austerity

    Source: Scottish Greens

    11 Jun 2025 Finance

    Labour could choose to tax the rich, instead they’re making more cuts to vital sectors

    More in Finance

    The UK Labour Government’s Spending Review will lock in many years of austerity and drive people further into poverty and hardship, warn the Scottish Greens.

    Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ announcement saw £52 billion of spending in total promised for Scotland, but noted losses to the budgets for crucial devolved areas such as transport, environment and rural affairs, while increasing spending in reserved areas such as defence and nuclear energy. 

    Labour also made no indication of scrapping the harmful policies that exacerbate widespread poverty across Scotland and the wider UK.

    Responding to the publication of the UK Government’s Spending Review, Scottish Greens co-leader Patrick Harvie MSP said:

    “The UK Spending Review should be a chance for the UK Government to ditch some of the most damaging policies that have driven people across the UK into poverty and hardship.  

    “Despite the shiny capital announcements made so far, Labour’s ideologically driven, self-imposed borrowing rules will still lock in austerity for many years to come.  

    “The UK Government could choose to tax the wealthiest in society – millionaires and billionaires – and raise more than £24 billion a year. 

    “Just like their Tory predecessors – Labour remain all too happy to balance the books through slashing support for some of our most marginalised communities – all while allowing the rich to get even richer. Scotland has had enough of mitigating bad decisions made by Westminster. 

    “The Scottish Greens are not scared of taking on vested interests and ensuring that the wealthiest in society and the big polluters pay their fair share. 
     
    “We’ll soon see what hand the Spending Review deals for Scotland’s budget. 

    “The Scottish Government must now show the boldness that’s been missing from both governments so far, especially on the action needed now to tackle the climate emergency, instead of relying on techno-fixes that are still on the drawing board.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Badger TB vaccinations increase to a record high

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    News story

    Badger TB vaccinations increase to a record high

    Record levels of badger vaccination as part of new approach to move towards non-lethal disease control

    Badger TB vaccinations increased to a record high by 24% across the country last year, as part of a major drive to increase badger vaccination and end the badger cull. It’s part of significant progress made in a range of areas to deliver on its manifesto pledge to end badger culling by the end of the Parliament.  

    A total of 4,110 badgers were vaccinated against the devastating animal disease in England last year, an increase of over 1,000 from 2023. 

    The government is also accelerating the rollout of the badger vaccination further with the launch of a new Badger Vaccinator Field Force coming into force next year which will increase badger vaccination at pace to drive down TB rates and protect badgers.  

    In addition, projects supporting farmers to carry out badger vaccinations themselves are set to launch later this year, with a revolutionary new programme working with the NFU and the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) in Cornwall.

    The push is part of the government’s plans to end the badger cull through a range of measures to control Bovine TB including a wider rollout of the badger vaccine and trials of a cattle vaccine. 

    Latest figures released today show a significant reduction in the number of badgers culled over the past year as vaccinations increase. The number of badgers culled in England in 2024 fell by 12% compared to 2023 and is now less than half the number culled at the peak of the policy. 
     
    Bovine TB remains one of the most difficult and intractable animal health challenges faced by the livestock sector in England today. Over 278,000 cattle have been compulsorily slaughtered and over 230,000 badgers have been killed in efforts to control the disease, costing taxpayers over £100 million every year.

    Farming Minister Daniel Zeichner said:  

     “Bovine tuberculosis has devastated British farmers and wildlife for far too long.   

     “It has placed dreadful hardship and stress on farmers who continue to suffer the loss of valued herds and has taken a terrible toll on our badger populations.    

     “We promised a comprehensive TB eradication package, which will allow us to end the badger cull by the end of this parliament, and that this what we are delivering – with today’s figures showing the clear progress we are making.” 

    Chief Veterinary Officer Dr Christine Middlemiss said:     

     “Bovine tuberculosis is one of the most difficult and prolonged animal disease challenges we face, causing devastation for farming communities.     

     “The disease is on a very positive downward trajectory following years of hard work, as vaccinations continues to increase and we remain committed to take a data-led and scientific approach as we transition to fully adopting non-lethal control methods for managing this insidious disease.” 

     Last August, this government announced plans for the first comprehensive new TB eradication strategy in a decade, to end the badger cull and drive down Bovine TB rates to save cattle and farmers’ livelihoods, working with farmers, vets, scientists and conservationists to rapidly strengthen and deploy a range of disease control measures. Work to end the badger cull began immediately, with progress already made on key scientific and evidence-based initiatives to support the transition:  

    • The first major badger population survey in over a decade began in February, with the first round of fieldwork now complete. Further surveying will resume later this year to assess badger abundance and population recovery following widespread culling since 2013.  
    • Continuing cattle vaccination field trials with the next phase launching this summer.  
    • Reconvening the expert panel lead by Sir Charles Godfray, who led the 2018 government review. The panel is assessing if new evidence could influence the original conclusions of the report. 

     The next phase of cattle vaccination field trials is launching this summer. Cattle keepers interested in participating in this world leading initiative are encouraged to register their Expression of Interest or email TB.Advice@apha.gov.uk. More information is available about how to take part in field trials.  

    The work on the world-leading cattle vaccination trails continues to attract international interest. At the World Organisation of Animal Health General Session in May 2025, international trading partners welcomed the UK’s progress on the development of a TB cattle vaccine and showed keen interest in its potential to contribute to global eradication programmes.  

     Today’s announcement ensures the government meets its manifesto commitment and charts a new course in protecting both the farming community and wildlife from the devastating impacts of bovine TB.  

    Additional information:

    • Summary of badger control monitoring during 2024 including badger vaccination can be found here
    • Summary of supplementary badger control monitoring during 2024 can be found here
    • Existing cull processes will be honoured to ensure clarity for farmers involved in these culls whilst new measures can be rolled out and take effect. Limited supplementary badger culls will be allowed in 2025 to help reduce TB outbreaks reoccurring whilst we transition towards increased vaccination.

    Updates to this page

    Published 11 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: MVV Environmental gets permit for Canford energy from waste site

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    MVV Environmental gets permit for Canford energy from waste site

    Environmental permit sets out strict conditions on operation of the proposed site at Poole in Dorset

    An environmental permit sets the conditions which MVV Environmental Ltd must adhere to when operating the site. 

    Following extensive public consultation, the Environment Agency has granted an environmental permit to the operators of a proposed energy from waste site in Poole, Dorset today.

    In reaching the decision, after considering all feedback from the local community and interested groups, the agency agreed that MVV Environmental Ltd, of Canford Resource Park, Arena Way, Magna Road, Poole, Dorset, had met all of the necessary criteria required for the environmental permit to be issued.

    A spokesperson for the Environment Agency said:

    We have carefully considered all of the submissions and feedback we received during our public consultations, and we thank everyone who took the time to contact us with their views.

    This permit will ensure that robust levels of environmental protection are applied. Our permitting decision process is objective and based on the applicant demonstrating they will meet the legal requirements outlined in the permit.

    Where an application meets the requirements of the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations (2016) the agency must issue a permit. An environmental permit sets the conditions which MVV Environmental Ltd must adhere to when operating the site.  It covers the management and operation of the site and the control and monitoring of emissions.    

    When the Environment Agency considers a permit application, it reviews the design of the proposed site, how it will be operated, the emissions it will generate (to air, water and land) and whether it will meet the required standards. Partner organisations, including the UK Health Security Agency, are also consulted as part of the process.  

    Issues such as suitability of the location, operating hours and traffic management are matters for the planning authority, not the Environment Agency. The Environment Agency can only consider issues covered by the environmental permit and can only refuse a permit application based on technical information.   

    The planning process and permitting process are separate and neither one depends on the other. The Environment Agency can issue a permit without planning approval, and planning approval can be issued without a permit decision. However, MVV Environment Ltd cannot start operating before both have been granted.

    The final permit and decision document can be viewed online and also on our public register.

    You can also request these documents by calling our Customer Contact Centre on 03706 506 506 or by emailing WessexEnquiries@environment-agency.gov.uk.

    Updates to this page

    Published 11 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Unfit officers to be banned from major law enforcement agencies

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    News story

    Unfit officers to be banned from major law enforcement agencies

    Disgraced officers from law enforcement agencies are to be blocked from joining police forces in the government’s drive to raise standards within law enforcement.

    Getty Images.

    Disgraced officers from national law enforcement agencies will be blocked from joining local police forces, as the government continues its drive to raise standards and conduct within law enforcement.

    The Home Office introduced legislation yesterday to provide for a dedicated National Crime Agency (NCA) barred and advisory list within the landmark Crime and Policing Bill, as part of the Plan for Change.

    This new measure will ensure that individuals dismissed from the NCA for gross misconduct are prevented from re-entering policing or any other law enforcement role.

    In addition to the NCA, the legislation will also establish new barred and advisory lists for other special police forces, including the British Transport Police (BTP), Civil Nuclear Constabulary (CNC), and Ministry of Defence Police (MDP). Each force’s list will be maintained by its respective authority, and law enforcement employers across England and Wales will be required to check these lists before hiring.

    Where an individual is on the barred list, law enforcement agencies will not be able to employ them. Where an individual is named on the advisory list, the employer will be obligated to take this into consideration as part of the recruitment process. 

    Expanding the number of agencies with these lists will tighten recruitment standards across law enforcement and prevent those who have been dismissed from re-entering the system in a different role. 

    Policing Minister, Dame Diana Johnson said:

    The public deserve to know that those tasked with protecting them meet the highest standards.

    Under our Safer Streets mission, and our Plan for Change, we are restoring confidence in policing by removing those who undermine it.

    This new measure ensures that officers who abuse their position in the NCA cannot resurface in other areas of policing — we will continue taking every possible step to protect the integrity of our law enforcement agencies.

    Assistant Chief Constable, Kerry Smith, Civil Nuclear Constabulary’s lead for Professionalism, said:

    We welcome the government’s move to close this legislative loophole. It will prevent those officers who fail to uphold our rigorous standards from being employed again within policing and law enforcement.

    We maintain robust vetting and professional standards, but in the rare instance of one of our officers being dismissed for gross misconduct, these measures will ensure that there is a process to ensure the public are protected and we can maintain trust and confidence in policing.

    The move follows a 2023 inspection by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS), which found that some former NCA officers dismissed for gross misconduct had been able to join police forces due to gaps in current vetting procedures. The new legislation will close this loophole, further aligning the NCA with the existing police barred and advisory list system.

    The NCA barred and advisory list will be UK-wide and will be maintained by the NCA with support from the College of Policing. Police forces and other UK-wide law enforcement bodies will be required to consult the list before making recruitment decisions, ensuring that those dismissed for serious misconduct cannot re-enter the system through the back door.

    The new legislation forms part of a series of government reforms to boost public confidence in policing as part of its Safer Streets Mission and Plan for Change. It follows reforms to the Police Appeals Tribunal which will also be included in the Crime and Policing Bill, in addition to enhanced vetting and dismissal procedures that have been announced recently.

    Updates to this page

    Published 11 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Inspection reform: Education Secretary responds to Ofsted HMCI

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Correspondence

    Inspection reform: Education Secretary responds to Ofsted HMCI

    Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson’s letter about inspection reforms responding to His Majesty’s Chief Inspector Sir Martyn Oliver.

    Applies to England

    Documents

    Letter to Ofsted about education inspections consultation response and board appointment

    PDF, 123 KB, 2 pages

    Details

    Bridget Phillipson responds to Sir Martyn Oliver about Ofsted’s consultation response on proposed changes to education inspections being published in September 2025.

    This letter confirms:

    Read Ofsted’s letter.

    Updates to this page

    Published 11 June 2025

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    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Education inspection reform: letter from HMCI to Secretary of State for Education

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Correspondence

    Education inspection reform: letter from HMCI to Secretary of State for Education

    Chief Inspector, Sir Martyn Oliver, updates the Education Secretary on feedback received from the consultation about proposed changes to education inspections.

    Applies to England

    Documents

    Education inspection reform: letter from HMCI to the Secretary of State for Education

    PDF, 104 KB, 4 pages

    Details

    His Majesty’s Chief Inspector (HMCI), Sir Martyn Oliver, has written to the Secretary of State for Education about the feedback received on proposed education inspection changes and what will happen next.

    Read the Education Secretary’s response to the Chief Inspector.

    Updates to this page

    Published 11 June 2025

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    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Secretary of State condemns civil disorder

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Secretary of State condemns civil disorder

    The statement follows the disorder in Ballymena

    Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Hilary Benn

    The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Hilary Benn, said:

    I utterly condemn the terrible scenes of civil disorder in Ballymena, and other reported disorder, over recent days. There is no place for this kind of violence in Northern Ireland.

    The PSNI must be given the time they need to properly investigate the distressing incident concerned.

    There is absolutely no justification for the disgraceful attacks we have seen on PSNI officers, and on people’s homes and property.

    This appalling violence and vandalism must cease immediately, and those involved will be brought to justice.

    I pay tribute to the PSNI, and those personnel from the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service, who have worked in difficult conditions over the past few days to keep people safe.

    I also express my gratitude to those community leaders who are working hard night and day to bring this disorder to an end, and to seek ways in which their area can thrive, rather than be a site of destruction.

    Updates to this page

    Published 11 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI: Global Billion Dollar Oncology Industry Experiencing Substantial Growth Driven by Increasing Cancer Incidences

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    PALM BEACH, Fla., June 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — FN Media Group News Commentary – The global oncology market is undergoing rapid growth, mainly due to the increasing number of cancer cases around the world. The World Health Organization estimates there will be over 35 million new cancer cases by 2050, a massive 77% increase from the estimated 20 million cases in 2022. This rising occurrence of cancer has been attributed to lifestyle changes in an increasingly geriatric population in both developed countries and emerging economies. Environmental factors such as pollution and the high penetration of microplastics, a potential carcinogen, are also contributing to the growing number of cancer cases. As the global burden of cancer continues to go up, government and private organizations are increasing funding in both healthcare infrastructure and investment into research and development of therapeutics and potential cures for various kinds of cancers. Many federal early detection programs have been launched with large players in the pharmaceutical sector looking to increase the number of clinical trials and drug discovery studies undertaken. These innovations are propelling market expansion, with the sector expected to witness significant growth in the coming years as new technologies and therapies continue to emerge. A new research report from BioSpace, said the global oncology market size was USD 321.19 billion in 2024, and calculated at USD 356.20 billion in 2025 is expected to reach around USD 903.81 billion by 2034, growing at a CAGR of 10.9% for the forecasted period. the development of the global healthcare infrastructure and cancer continuing to be one of the leading causes of death worldwide drives growth in the global oncology market. Active oncology biotech and pharma companies in the markets this week include Oncolytics Biotech®Inc. (NASDAQ: ONCY) (TSX: ONC), Novartis AG (NYSE: NVS), BioNTech SE (NASDAQ: BNTX), Arvinas, Inc. (NASDAQ: ARVN), Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE).

    The report said: “Innovations in cancer treatments include advancements in immunotherapy and precision medicine (which include targeted therapies), and the various applications of artificial intelligence. Some examples of novel oncological treatments include kinase and checkpoint inhibitors, monoclonal antibodies, and CAR-T cell therapy. These therapeutics mobilize the body’s immune system in new ways to fight cancer. As early diagnostic techniques improve, certain kinds of cancers, such as breast cancer, melanoma, and thyroid cancer, can be cured more frequently. Techniques such as liquid biopsy, biomarker-based testing and breakthroughs such as next-generation sequencing (NGS) are enhancing the ability to diagnose cancer at an early stage. As investment continues to grow in the oncology sector, new treatments are expected to improve the remission and survival rates of patients battling this disease and provide a boost to growth in the global oncology market.”

    Oncolytics Biotech®Inc. (NASDAQ: ONCY) (TSX: ONC) Names New CEO to Accelerate Momentum in Immunotherapy Programs — Oncolytics Biotech ® Inc., ($ONCY $ONC), a leading clinical-stage company specializing in immunotherapy for oncology, today announced the appointment of Jared Kelly as Chief Executive Officer and a member of its Board of Directors.

    Mr. Kelly is a successful biotech executive who has proven expertise in transformative deals and corporate strategy. Most recently, he played a central role in orchestrating the sale of Ambrx Biopharma to Johnson & Johnson for $2 billion. Prior to Ambrx, he advised multiple leading-edge biotech companies on M&A and licensing transactions at highly respected law firms, including Lowenstein Sandler LLP and Kirkland & Ellis LLP. He is a JD and LLM graduate of Georgetown Law.

    “Mr. Kelly’s vision and track record is an extraordinary fit with the standout clinical data pelareorep has generated to date,” said Wayne Pisano, Chair of Oncolytics’ Board of Directors and outgoing Interim CEO. “We believe Mr. Kelly’s well-documented ability to prioritize clinical program development, execute successful financings, and attract the attention of large industry peers will help maximize Oncolytics’ potential to deliver transformative outcomes for patients and exceptional value for investors.”

    Mr. Kelly added, “Pelareorep’s clinical data across multiple tumors is striking and represents the potential for a true backbone immunotherapy to address many in-need indications. Importantly, the data show that pelareorep creates a robust immunologic response in difficult tumors and increases survival in a patient population where survival has historically evaded most patients. With a renewed focus and sharpened clinical development plan, we believe we will move pelareorep forward effectively and efficiently to a place where potential partners will see the value of a de-risked immunotherapy. I am excited to get to work accelerating development and unlocking significant value for stakeholders.”

    Pelareorep, an intravenously-administered immunotherapeutic agent, has been granted FDA Fast Track designation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (mPDAC) and HR+/HER2- metastatic breast cancer (mBC). It has delivered compelling results in mPDAC, a high-value indication with significant unmet need. In Phase 1 and 2 trials involving more than 140 mPDAC patients, pelareorep has delivered a >60% objective response rate in tumor evaluable patients in the most recent study, which is more than double the benefit observed in historical control trials, and, separately, two-year survival rates 4-6 times those observed in control patients or against the benchmark in prior studies.

    In mBC, pelareorep recorded a meaningful survival benefit in two randomized Phase 2 studies of over 100 combined mBC patients, IND-213 and BRACELET-1. Phase 2 objective response rate data in second-line or later unresectable squamous cell carcinoma of the anal canal (SCCA) patients continue to exceed historical data for treatment with a checkpoint inhibitor alone. These consistent efficacy signals, in combination with multiple chemotherapies and checkpoint inhibitors, uniquely position pelareorep as a high-potential asset for further development in-house and/or through strategic partnerships. Pelareorep also has a well-defined and favorable safety profile based on data from >1,100 patients across multiple tumor types.

    As a material inducement to Mr. Kelly’s appointment as Chief Executive Officer, and in accordance with NASDAQ Listing Rule 5635(c)(4), Mr. Kelly has been awarded an initial stock option grant exercisable for 2,850,000 shares with an exercise price of CAD$0.57, vesting equally over three years. He also received a performance-based stock option grant exercisable for 1,900,000 shares with an exercise price of CAD$0.57, which will vest upon the achievement of certain financing objectives. All stock option grants have a term of 5 years from the date of grant. The Company also granted Mr. Kelly restricted stock units, which will entitle him to receive that number of Common Shares equal to 2% of the Company’s then outstanding common shares upon the Company entering into a definitive agreement for certain transactions providing for the acquisition of the Company or the exclusive license of pelareorep. Each of these awards is intended to align Mr. Kelly’s long-term incentives with the creation of shareholder value. CONTINUED… Read these full press releases and more news for ONCY at: https://www.financialnewsmedia.com/news-oncy/

    Other recent oncology developments in the biotech industry of note include:

    Novartis AG (NYSE: NVS) recently announced topline results from a pre-specified interim analysis of the Phase III PSMAddition trial. The trial met its primary endpoint with a statistically significant and clinically meaningful benefit in radiographic progression-free survival (rPFS) with a positive trend in overall survival (OS) in patients with prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA)-positive metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer (mHSPC) treated with radioligand therapy (RLT), Pluvicto™ (lutetium (177Lu) vipivotide tetraxetan), in combination with standard of care (SoC) versus SoC alone1. In PSMAddition, the SoC is a combination of androgen receptor pathway inhibitor (ARPI) therapy and androgen deprivation therapy (ADT)3.

    Almost all mHSPC patients ultimately progress to metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC)4. There is a need for additional treatment options with novel mechanisms of action that further delay progression, prolong OS and improve disease control compared to the current SoC, while showing a favorable safety and tolerability profile.

    BioNTech SE (NASDAQ: BNTX) and Bristol Myers Squibb (BMY, “BMS”) recently announced that the companies have entered into an agreement for the global co-development and co-commercialization of BioNTech’s investigational bispecific antibody BNT327 across numerous solid tumor types. Under the agreement, BioNTech and BMS will work jointly to broaden and accelerate the development of this clinical candidate.

    BioNTech’s BNT327, a next-generation bispecific antibody candidate targeting PD-L1 and VEGF-A, is currently being evaluated in multiple ongoing trials with more than 1,000 patients treated to date, including global Phase 3 trials with registrational potential evaluating BNT327 as first-line treatment in extensive stage small cell lung cancer (“ES-SCLC”) and non-small cell lung cancer (“NSCLC”). A global Phase 3 trial evaluating the candidate in triple negative breast cancer (“TNBC”) is planned to start by the end of 2025. Preliminary data from ongoing trials underscore the potential for combining anti-PD-L1 and anti-VEGF-A – two well-established therapeutic targets – into a single molecule to deliver synergistic clinical benefits for patients across multiple tumor types.

    Arvinas, Inc. (NASDAQ: ARVN) and Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE) recently announced detailed results from the Phase 3 VERITAC-2 clinical trial (NCT05654623) evaluating vepdegestrant monotherapy versus fulvestrant in adults with estrogen receptor-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (ER+/HER2-) advanced or metastatic breast cancer (MBC) whose disease progressed following prior treatment with cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) 4/6 inhibitors and endocrine therapy. These data, which were highlighted in the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO®) press briefing and selected for Best of ASCO, will be presented today in a late-breaking oral presentation (Abstract LBA1000) and have been simultaneously published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

    In the trial, vepdegestrant demonstrated a statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement in progression-free survival (PFS) among patients with an estrogen receptor 1 (ESR1) mutation, reducing the risk of disease progression or death by 43% compared to fulvestrant [Hazard Ratio (HR)=0.57 (95% CI 0.42–0.77); 2-sided P<0.001]. The median PFS, as assessed by blinded independent central review (BICR), was 5.0 months with vepdegestrant versus 2.1 months with fulvestrant. Investigator-assessed PFS was consistent with the BICR-assessed PFS. In patients with ESR1 mutations, vepdegestrant demonstrated a consistent PFS benefit over fulvestrant across all pre-specified subgroups. The trial did not reach statistical significance in improvement in PFS in the intent-to-treat (ITT) population, with a median PFS of 3.7 months for vepdegestrant versus 3.6 for fulvestrant [HR=0.83 (95% CI 0.68–1.02); 2-sided P=0.07].

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    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: New business venture benefits from HOIL support – Remotely Operated Vehicles –The Future Of Underwater Operations?

    Source: Scotland – Highland Council

    Highland Opportunity (Investments) Limited, HOIL has recently provided Sgùrr Access and Marine Services Limited with loan assistance towards their start-up costs for a new business venture based in Kyle of Lochalsh.   HOIL, The Highland Council’s business loan company offers loan support to Highland based businesses and community organisations, who can benefit from straightforward loan conditions and a tailored offer to support their project. 

    Sgùrr Access and Marine Services Limited approached HOIL for a loan to support initial investment start-up costs for a new business venture.The loan funds provided were used to purchase specialised equipment to carry out Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) inspection services for the aquaculture and marine leisure sectors across Scotland, but particularly on the West Highland coast.

    Sgùrr Access and Marine Services Limited is a newly established company  which is based in Kyle of Lochalsh.  They provide ROV mooring and marine infrastructure inspection services as an alternative to commercial divers.  The use of ROV technology delivers cost-effective, enhanced safety and accurate inspection services, which are essential for aquaculture companies, mooring associations and local authorities managing marine infrastructure.

    Chair of HOIL, Councillor Paul Oldham, said: “I welcome this opportunity to help Sgùrr Access and Marine Services Limited get their business underway as it seems like they have found a good market to be able to service in a new way. I wish Lewis every success.

    “The Opportunity Fund from HOIL provides accessible and affordable finance for start-ups and growing businesses across the Highlands and is one of several funds we can use to help projects across the area.”

    Lewis MacLeod, Director of Sgurr Access and Marine Services Limited added: “The loan I received from HOIL was instrumental in helping me launch my ROV inspection business in the Highlands. I have  been able to invest in high-quality equipment and cover initial setup costs, which would have been difficult to fund on my own. Thanks to their early backing, I was able to get the business off the ground quickly and start delivering cost-effective, high-resolution inspection services to clients across Scotland.”

    To find out more about the support HOIL can provide businesses with visit here or email 

    11 Jun 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: A traffic-light system for dogwalkers could protect breeding birds, seal pups and other wildlife

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Sarah Crowley, Senior Lecturer in Human and Animal Geography, University of Exeter

    Monkey Business Images/Shutterstock

    Like millions of people, we have experienced the physical and mental health benefits, as well as the simple enjoyment, of a daily dog walk. However, amid the UK’s growing population of dogs (around 13.5 million at the latest estimate), recent reports have highlighted growing concern about how dogs affect wildlife and ecosystems.

    Potential issues include disturbance or active chasing of wildlife, spreading of diseases and parasites, and water pollution from flea and tick treatments.

    By collaborating with more than 40 organisations from the Wildlife Trusts to the Dogs Trust, we have created a new guide to explain and help manage the effects of dog walking on biodiversity, based on current evidence.

    The Renew programme, a research collaboration between the University of Exeter and the National Trust, takes a “people in nature” approach to address complex challenges like this. We reviewed the existing scientific literature and mapped the relationship between current dog densities and England’s protected habitats.

    We found that dog walking can have negative environmental consequences including substantial effects of disturbance, pollution and disease in some places.

    Get your news from actual experts, straight to your inbox. Sign up to our daily newsletter to receive all The Conversation UK’s latest coverage of news and research, from politics and business to the arts and sciences.

    We then discussed these findings in workshops with specialists in dog behaviour, biodiversity conservation and land management. We explored what dog walkers and landowners can do to minimise the disturbance of wildlife and ecosystems, while still enabling public access to natural spaces for people and their dogs.

    One of our key findings was that different organisations and landowners take very different approaches to managing dog walking on their sites, which is inconsistent and can be confusing for dog walkers. There are also multiple voluntary codes for responsible dog walking, including the countryside code, the Kennel Club’s canine code, the National Trust’s canine code, and Forestry England’s dog code.

    While these codes often share central principles, they differ in specific guidance and level of detail. To address this, land managers could take a more standardised approach to managing dog walking – based on a shared code for dog walkers, and different zones of access for land managers.

    A green pawprint sign would indicate where dogs don’t have to be kept on leads.
    Soloviova Liudmyla/Shutterstock

    We recommend such a zoning approach should employ a traffic-light system, highlighted by coloured pawprints. Green zones would welcome dogs without restriction and ideally provide dog-friendly facilities.

    Amber zones would require “paws on paths” (that is, keeping dogs on marked trails) and, in the presence of livestock, dogs on leads. Red zones would indicate sensitive sites in which dogs aren’t allowed, such as areas of lowland heath where birds nest on the ground or beaches where young seal pups are resting.

    Zone colours might change depending on the time of year – this is already common on beaches, which often have seasonal dog restrictions. As long as the signage is clear, our idea is that wherever a dog walker finds themselves, they will know what is expected of them.

    More zones, less disturbance

    Some organisations and sites, including Dorset Dogs and the Holkham Hall estate in Norfolk, already use zoning approaches to reduce incidences of wildlife disturbance. But as was recently demonstrated by the legal battle over wild camping on Dartmoor, public access to land is a sensitive topic in the UK. Restrictions meet resistance because they can impinge on what for many is considered a basic freedom – to access the outdoors with one’s dog.

    Consequently, meaningful engagement with dog owners and local communities when designing zoning is vital. Perhaps counterintuitively, simply increasing restrictions on access to land may actually exacerbate disturbance from dog walking, as people, dogs and protected areas become crowded together in the same landscapes.

    A zoning approach that also involves creating new green pawprint zones for off-lead dog walking, where access elsewhere is restricted, would ensure that no access to wild places is lost overall.

    The effects of dog walking on the environment are linked to broader social and cultural factors, including people’s knowledge and skills when it comes to managing their dogs’ behaviour. But other factors include the availability of facilities such as dog poo bins, and the widespread use of “spot-on” flea and tick treatments – pesticides that are applied directly to the fur and can contaminate the environment more than medication given orally.

    In our Paws for Thought workshops, the research team found that emphasising how the health of people, animals and ecosystems are all interconnected resonated with our participants more than focusing on wildlife protection alone.

    Dogs are vital companions for many of us – but unfortunately, their presence and behaviour can cause problems for other species. Rather than demonising dogs and their owners as environmental threats, collaborative, evidence-based approaches can help create accessible spaces for people, dogs and wildlife.

    Don’t have time to read about climate change as much as you’d like?

    Get a weekly roundup in your inbox instead. Every Wednesday, The Conversation’s environment editor writes Imagine, a short email that goes a little deeper into just one climate issue. Join the 45,000+ readers who’ve subscribed so far.

    Sarah Crowley works at the University of Exeter and receives funding from the UKRI as part of the Renew programme.

    David Bavin receives funding from UKRI and National Trust.

    Professor Matthew Heard receives funding from UKRI and National Trust.

    – ref. A traffic-light system for dogwalkers could protect breeding birds, seal pups and other wildlife – https://theconversation.com/a-traffic-light-system-for-dogwalkers-could-protect-breeding-birds-seal-pups-and-other-wildlife-258035

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Outbreaks of Koi herpesvirus (KHV) disease in 2025

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Outbreaks of Koi herpesvirus (KHV) disease in 2025

    The Fish Health Inspectorate (FHI) have found Koi herpesvirus (KHV) disease in fish at the following sites in England and Wales

    KHV is a serious viral disease of fish and is a listed disease in the United Kingdom. It affects all varieties of common and ornamental carp species (Cyprinus carpio) and can result in large scale mortalities. Fish with KHV disease may show the following signs, especially when water temperatures are between 16 to 28 °C:

    • necrotic (white or brown) patches on the gills

    • rough patches on the skin and sloughing mucous

    • sunken eyes

    You must contact the FHI if you suspect an outbreak of KHV. This includes fish with the above signs, or deaths of carp or carp hybrids.

    There is no risk to public health.

    Sites with KHV disease must undergo a formal monitoring programme immediately following the outbreak. The FHI visit these sites to look for evidence of disease and to inspect compliance with the conditions of the statutory controls in place.

    Confirmed designation

    If a notifiable disease is confirmed, FHI places controls to limit the spread of disease (these are known as confirmed designations). The following conditions are applied under disease controls:

    • No person may, without the previous consent in writing of the FHI, move any aquatic animal including eggs, and gametes, into, out of or within a confirmed designation area.

    • Disposal of dead aquatic animals, including eggs and gametes, must be by an approved method for disposal of Category 2 animal-by-product waste in compliance with local Environmental Health department requirements

    • Notify the Fish Health Inspectorate immediately should mortalities re-occur or spread to other waters/facilities within the designated area.

    • Notify the FHI in advance of all intended physical changes to sites within the designated area – such as site boundaries, number or size of waters, use of the site. FHI written permission will be required beforehand for all such changes.

    • All requests for consents required under this Confirmed Designation Notice must be submitted to the FHI with a minimum of 5 working days’ notice.

    New outbreaks

    When laboratory testing confirms KHV disease at a site, the FHI place statutory controls to limit the spread of the disease. These controls restrict movement of aquatic animals.

    Disease controls have been applied at:

    Halfpenny Green Vineyard Pools, Stourbridge, West Midlands – 11 June 2025

    PDF, 251 KB, 5 pages

    Diseases controls lifted at:

    You can:

    Background

    Koi herpesvirus disease (KHV) is a listed disease under The Aquatic Animal Health (England and Wales) Regulations 2009. KHV outbreaks have been subject to statutory controls in the UK since 2007. The UK maintains a surveillance programme for this disease.

    When the FHI confirm an outbreak, they take steps to control and, wherever possible, remove the disease. This may involve movement controls on susceptible species in the affected area, enhanced biosecurity, culling of fish, and cleaning and disinfecting of the premises.

    Once statutory controls are in place the site operators must write to the FHI to get permission to move live fish into, out of, or within the designated area, and to make material changes to the site or site activities. This also applies to fish eggs and gametes.

    Updates to this page

    Published 11 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Housing placed at the heart of Cabinet

    Source: Scottish Government

    First Minister announces changes to Ministerial team.

    Tackling the housing emergency will be at the heart of the Scottish Cabinet, First Minister John Swinney has announced.

    Màiri McAllan has been appointed as Cabinet Secretary for Housing upon her return to government from maternity leave. Ms McAllan has responsibility for all aspects of housing policy, including heat in buildings.

    This appointment will ensure government action is focused on tackling the housing emergency and providing energy efficient homes for the future – helping stimulate economic growth, deliver Net Zero commitments and tackle child poverty.  

    Gillian Martin has been appointed as Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Energy, having held the portfolio during Ms McAllan’s maternity leave.

    Following the death of Christina McKelvie in March, Maree Todd will become Minister for Drugs and Alcohol Policy, while retaining her existing responsibility for Sport. Tom Arthur has been appointed as Minister for Social Care and Mental Wellbeing.

    Housing Minister Paul McLennan has requested to leave the Scottish Government and he does so today. Acting Minister for Climate Action Alasdair Allan will leave Government at the end of this week, having indicated that he only wished to serve on an interim basis.

    Excluding the Law Officers, the overall size of government reduces to 23, down from 27 in May 2024.

    First Minister John Swinney said:

    “Scotland’s strengths lie in our people, our communities and our resolve to leave a better future, and better country for the next generation. As First Minister, I am firmly focused on leading a government that unlocks the potential for every person in Scotland to thrive.

    “I have made changes to the Cabinet which will further enable us to realise that potential. Màiri McAllan has been tasked with tackling the housing emergency, including ensuring we have energy efficient homes to help bring down bills and tackle the climate emergency. These are two of the biggest challenges facing people across the country and I want them to know they have a government firmly on their side and focused on delivering real change.

    “Following the sad passing of Christina McKelvie, I have asked Maree Todd to take on responsibility for Drugs and Alcohol Policy. This government has shown it is not afraid to take bold measures to prevent harm and death, and we must redouble our efforts.

    “I want to thank Paul McLennan and Alasdair Allan for the service they have provided to me, the government and to the people of Scotland. They both held two very important Ministerial appointments in housing and climate action and have helped to drive forward progress in tackling two issues which are central to Scotland’s long-term success as a nation.” 

    Background

    The changes mean the Scottish Cabinet now consists of twelve, the majority of whom are women. Further changes mean the Ministerial team reduces to eleven, from fourteen.

    The Scottish Cabinet is as follows:

    • First Minister John Swinney
    • Deputy First Minister, with responsibility for Economy and Gaelic, Kate Forbes
    • Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government Shona Robison
    • Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills Jenny Gilruth
    • Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs Angela Constance
    • Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice Shirley-Anne Somerville
    • Cabinet Secretary for Transport Fiona Hyslop
    • Cabinet Secretary for Housing Màiri McAllan
    • Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Energy Gillian Martin
    • Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands Mairi Gougeon 
    • Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care Neil Gray
    • Cabinet Secretary for Constitution External Affairs and Culture Angus Robertson

    Màiri McAllan has been on maternity since 1 July 2024. Gillian Martin was acting Cabinet Secretary Net Zero and Energy, with Alasdair Allan temporarily assuming responsibility for Climate Action. Màiri McAllan maternity cover – gov.scot

    Christina McKelvie, Minister for Drugs and Alcohol Policy, passed away in March 2025.  First Minister pays tribute to Christina McKelvie MSP – gov.scot

    Tom Arthur was previously Minister for Employment and Investment. His investment responsibilities will be assumed by Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes, while Richard Lochhead’s extended responsibilities see him become Minister for Business and Employment.

    Paul McLennan has left government today. Alasdair Allan will leave his post at end of this week.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Chancellor announces record investment to rebuild National Health Service

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments 3

    News story

    Chancellor announces record investment to rebuild National Health Service

    The Chancellor has today (Wednesday 11 June) announced a record £29 billion investment to get the NHS back on its feet and fit for the future.

    • Rachel Reeves announces record £29 billion funding boost to get the NHS back on its feet and fit for the future.
    • New investment includes up to £10 billion on technology and digital transformation, GP training to deliver millions more appointments and rolling out mental health support to all schools.
    • Reeves tells the House of Commons: “There’s no strong economy without a strong NHS.”

    New investment announced at the Spending Review will enable the NHS to deliver on the government’s Plan for Change to cut waiting lists, improve patient care and modernise services.

    Up to £10 billion allocated towards technology and digital transformation, thousands more GPs to be trained and funding allocated to deliver an additional 700,000 urgent NHS dentist appointments a year.

    The funding boost came as the Chancellor unveiled a Spending Review to deliver Britain’s renewal, with record investment in the country’s security, health and economy.

    Security

    The Chancellor confirmed a £11 billion real-terms increase in defence spending over the spending review period, backing our Armed Forces, creating British jobs in British industries, and prioritising the security of Britain when it is most needed.

    Today’s funding will provide the Ministry of Defence with the resources and capital necessary to start delivering the Strategic Defence Review, rebuilding the armed forces and investing heavily in UK intelligence capabilities. This includes £15 billion for a nuclear sovereign warhead programme, supporting over 9,000 jobs in the UK, £7 billion of infrastructure funding for a once-in-a-generation renewal of military accommodation, and £6 billion for munitions, investing in supply chains and factories in the UK and generating over 1,000 jobs and export potential. 

    At least £280 million a year will also be invested into border security by 2028-29, including into the Border Security Command, to tackle people-smuggling gangs running small boats. Funding of at least £400 million a year by 2028-29 will speed up the process of asylum processing, increase appeals capacity and continue asylum returns alongside ending the costly use of hotels for accommodation.

    Police spending power will see an average 2.3% real terms increase over the Spending Review period as the government puts police back on the beat in communities across England and Wales, supporting the government’s Plan for Change commitment to put an additional 13,000 police officers, PCSOs and special constables into neighbourhood roles.

    Growth

    Roads, infrastructure and towns outside of London and the South East will receive investment to ensure Britain’s renewal is one that is truly national. Revisions to the Treasury’s Green Book announced by the Chancellor mark a new approach to appraisal in the public sector, one which will enable the more effective assessment of place-based interventions. 

    The Chancellor announced £15.6 billion funding in total by 2031-32 for local transport projects in England’s city regions and £2.3 billion from 2026-27 to 2029-30 for local transport improvements outside of these nine regions, improving everyday journeys for all. The Chancellor announced a further £2.5 billion to connect Oxford and Cambridge through the continued delivery of East-West Rail and confirmed she will set out plans to take forward work on Northern Powerhouse Rail in the coming weeks.

    Funding announced today will deliver upgrades to Cardiff Central station, reduce journey times between Manchester and Leeds through continued investment in the TransPennine Route Upgrade, and progress the delivery of Midlands Rail Hub, enhancing connections from Birmingham across the West Midlands and to other regions.

    The Chancellor also confirmed the biggest boost to social and affordable housing in a generation, confirming £39 billion of investment over ten years through a new Affordable Homes Programme, turbocharging the Plan for Change commitment to get the country building and deliver the 1.5 million homes Britain needs.

    This significant settlement represents the first time in living memory that the government has set out a programme that provides ten years of certainty – giving the sector the confidence to deliver for now and for the future of housing in Britain and turning the tide on the housing crisis in this country.

    Today’s Spending Review also supports the development of home-grown, clean power to deliver energy security by committing £14.2 billion for Britain’s first state-funded nuclear power station since 1988 in Sizewell C, providing over £2.5 billion for one of Europe’s first Small Modular Reactor programmes and allocating £9.4 billion to UK carbon capture and storage over the Spending Review period – all while supporting Britain’s acceleration to net zero and driving growth.

    The Chancellor also confirmed additional funding for up to 350 communities, especially those in deprived areas, through Plans for Neighbourhoods – giving new long-term regeneration funding and supporting councils in their fightback against graffiti and fly-tipping across Britain.

    The government will also establish a Growth Mission Fund to expedite local projects that are important for growth but have been forgotten, such as Southport Pier, Kirkcaldy’s seafront and High Street, and a new sports quarter in Peterborough.

    In the coming weeks, the government will release its Infrastructure and Industrial Strategies – providing the certainty and stability sectors need to invest and work to drive our growth mission.

    Devolved nations

    The devolved administrations will receive their largest real terms settlements since devolution began in 1998, enabling them to deliver on local priorities that matter most to communities.

    The Scottish Government will receive an average extra £2.9 billion across the duration of this Spending Review through the operation of the Barnett formula. In recognition of Scotland’s unique needs, they will have 20% more to spend per individual than comparable UK Government spending for people in the rest of the UK.

    The Welsh Government will benefit from an average extra £1.6 billion over the Spending Review period through the Barnett formula to deliver against the priorities of working people in Wales, and 20% more to spend per individual than comparable UK Government does for people in the rest of the UK.

    The Northern Ireland Executive will receive an average extra £1.2 billion through the Barnett formula, 24% more to spend per person than the comparable UK Government spending in the rest of the UK, reflecting Northern Ireland’s unique circumstances.

    These record settlements are made possible by the tough but necessary decisions taken in the October Budget.

    Updates to this page

    Published 11 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Strabane Gears Up for a Spectacular Summer Jamm Festival

    Source: Northern Ireland – City of Derry

    Strabane Gears Up for a Spectacular Summer Jamm Festival

    6 June 2025

    Strabane is set to come alive this Saturday, June 7th, as the Summer Jamm Festival transforms the town into a vibrant hub of family fun and local talent. Running from 12pm until late, the festival offers a diverse lineup of attractions and events for all ages.

    The town centre will be bustling with activities including the Kidz Farm petting zoo, dinosaur encounters, urban sports demonstrations, and interactive drumming circles. Castle Place will feature BMX biking, parkour workshops, and graffiti art sessions, while Castle Street hosts the Roar Roar Dinosaurs baby dinosaur petting zoo. Main Street will offer live music, market stalls, and performances by local arts groups such as Class Act, Much Ado Stage School, and Encore PAA. The Alley Theatre will present the FizzWizzPop Magic Show, face painting, and arts and crafts workshops.

    As dusk falls, Strabane’s pubs will come alive with the inaugural Music Trail, featuring performances by local artists across venues including Christy’s Bar, The Railway Bar, Dicey’s Bar, and The Farmers’ Home. Artists such as DJ Ryan Doc, Adam Dolan, The Brambles, and Louis McTeggert will showcase the town’s rich musical heritage. The Music Trail begins at 4pm and offers attendees a unique opportunity to experience Strabane’s diverse musical scene in an intimate setting.

    A highlight of the festival is the Bear Run ’74 Supercar event, featuring a stunning display of luxury vehicles, including the Lamborghini Revuelto, known for its impressive performance. The supercars will be showcased on Railway Street, providing a thrilling spectacle for attendees and raising funds for the Mayor’s chosen charities, PIPS Suicide Prevention Derry and The Castlederg Patient and Comfort Terminally ill fund.

    Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Cllr Ruairí McHugh, expressed his excitement for this weekend’s festivities.

    “Summer Jamm has become a cornerstone of our community calendar, bringing together businesses, residents and visitors alike to celebrate the best of Strabane. This year’s festival showcases our town’s creative spirit, local talent, and warm hospitality. It’s a wonderful opportunity for families to enjoy a day of fun and for everyone to support our local businesses. It will be one of my first engagements as Mayor and I am really looking forward to getting out and about to meet you all.”

    To facilitate the event, the following roads will be closed to traffic from 7am to 7pm on Saturday, June 7th: Railway Street,Main Street, Castle Street and Castle Place.

    Traffic diversions will be in place with alternative routes signposted. Visitors are advised that streets will be busy with lots of activities taking place in and around the town centre, so motorists should use the town centre car parks or, if possible, travel to the event using public transport. Please note that Canal Street car park will be closed to facilitate Cullen’s Fun Fair. Disabled parking will be available in the car parks at Canal Basin North, Railway Street, Butcher Street, and in Upper and Lower Main Street.

    For more information, please visit  www.derrystrabane.com/summerjamm

    For all updates and detailed schedules, visit the official Summer Jamm website or follow the event on social media.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Fun for Just £1 This Summer at Derry and Strabane Leisure Centres

    Source: Northern Ireland – City of Derry

    Fun for Just £1 This Summer at Derry and Strabane Leisure Centres

    6 June 2025

    Families across Derry and Strabane can look forward to an action-packed summer as the Council launches its exciting seasonal programme of activities – all at unbeatable value.

    Returning again this year is the hugely popular £1 Summer Offer, running from 1st July to 31st August. This initiative gives young people under 18 access to a wide range of daytime activities – all for just £1 – at Council leisure centres across the city and district.

    Available from Monday to Friday until 5pm, the offer includes swimming and a variety of court and pitch-based activities such as:

    • Tennis
    • Badminton
    • 5-a-side football
    • Table tennis
    • Basketball
    • Squash
    • Selected pitch activities (T&Cs apply)

    The initiative is part of Council’s wider sports development programme, aimed at encouraging children and young people to stay active, try new sports, and enjoy healthy fun throughout the summer – without breaking the bank.

    Karen McFarland, Director of Health and Community at Derry City and Strabane District Council, said:

    “The £1 Summer Scheme offers a fantastic variety of activities to keep children and young people engaged, active, and entertained throughout the holidays. It’s a great way for them to discover new interests while staying healthy and having fun.

    Importantly, the affordable £1 price point helps ease the financial pressure on families looking to keep their kids busy over the summer break.”

    The scheme will be available at the following Council leisure centres:

    • Bishops Field
    • City Baths
    • Foyle Arena
    • Brooke Park Leisure Centre
    • Derg Valley Leisure Centre
    • Melvin Sports Complex
    • Riversdale Leisure Centre
    • Templemore Sports Complex

    Please note: Activities must be booked on the day of play. Advance bookings are not available.

    Separate from the £1 Summer Scheme offer, children and young people can also avail of the Council’s Intensive Swim Lessons over the summer months. Online and in-house enrolment will be available from the following times next week:

    Monday 9th June

    Foyle Arena – Online from 9am, inhouse from 10am

    City Baths – Online and inhouse from 11am

    Tuesday 10th June

    Templemore Sports Complex – Online from 9am, inhouse from 10am

    Riversdale Leisure Centre – Online from 9am, inhouse from 10am

    For full details on the summer programme and to stay up to date with all the latest offers, visit:
     www.derrystrabane.com/services/leisure

    You can also follow your local leisure centre on Facebook for regular updates.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Mayor McHugh looking forward to welcoming West Indies cricketers to Derry and Strabane

    Source: Northern Ireland – City of Derry

    Mayor McHugh looking forward to welcoming West Indies cricketers to Derry and Strabane

    11 June 2025

    Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Councillor Ruairí McHugh, is looking forward to welcoming the West Indies international cricket team to the Council area this week for their three game Twenty20 series with Ireland at Bready Cricket Club.

    The games are taking place on June 12th, 14th and 15th at the Magheramason club and Mayor McHugh will attend the opening game on Thursday before hosting a civic reception in the Guildhall for both teams on Friday.

    The North West Cricket Union have received Council’s National Events Fund to help host the event and Council’s Environment team have also provided floral arrangements, hanging baskets and planters for the games.

    “I am delighted to see world class cricket returning to Derry and Strabane with the arrival of the West Indies team for these three high profile games,” said Mayor McHugh.

    “The North West Cricket Union have shown great ambition in developing Bready Cricket Club as an international level ground and it’s a valuable opportunity for us to showcase our region as a host for elite level sports events.

    “The event will attract thousands of visitors to the City and District over the weekend and millions of viewers across the world so the positive impact it will have for our hospitality sector and on our international profile is significant.” 

    The games will all begin at 3pm and tickets, priced at £15 each, are available to buy now on the Cricket Ireland website at cricketireland.ie 

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Derry City and Strabane District Council Wins Prestigious RTPI Northern Ireland Planning Excellence

    Source: Northern Ireland – City of Derry

    Derry City and Strabane District Council Wins Prestigious RTPI Northern Ireland Planning Excellence

    11 June 2025

    Derry City and Strabane District Council has been awarded the prestigious RTPI (Royal Town Planning Institute) Northern Ireland Award for Planning Excellence 2025 in the category of Excellence in Planning for Heritage and Culture, in recognition of its transformative Clooney Terrace Cannon Regeneration Project.

    The award, announced yesterday at the RTPI Welcome Celebration Event at Malone House, Belfast, celebrates the Council’s leadership and collaborative approach in revitalising the historic Clooney Cannon site into a vibrant, accessible public space that respects and enhances the area’s rich heritage.

    Delivered in partnership with the Bonds Street Community Association and Clooney All Saints Church of Ireland, the £215k project, which was funded by Department for Communities, has successfully breathed new life into a site of significant cultural and historical value in the Waterside area. The scheme, completed in 2024, included extensive environmental improvements such as the restoration of the historic Crimean War-era cannon, installation of new seating, planting, lighting, and interpretive signage. A new pathway now connects the cannon site to the adjacent church garden, with improved access points, new boundary railings, and sympathetic lighting that integrates and highlights both heritage assets.

    The project was fully funded by the Department for Communities and reflects a broader strategy of heritage-led regeneration and placemaking within the district.

    Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Cllr Ruairí McHugh, welcomed the award win:
    “We are absolutely delighted to receive this recognition from the RTPI. It is a powerful endorsement of what can be achieved through genuine community partnership and thoughtful planning. The Clooney Cannon project not only honours our shared past but also creates a lasting space that will benefit local residents and visitors alike for generations to come. I’d like to take this opportunity to say a huge well done and congratulations to everyone involved in this impressive project.”

    The RTPI Northern Ireland Awards for Planning Excellence celebrate innovation, leadership, and impact in planning across the region. The Clooney Terrace Cannon Regeneration Project stood out among a competitive field for its thoughtful integration of heritage and community needs, showcasing the power of planning to shape meaningful, inclusive spaces.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –