UK and US deepen regulatory cooperation on medical devices
MHRA and FDA announced strengthened cooperation on medical device regulation to support faster access to safe, innovative technologies for patients in both countries. The regulators will explore mutual recognition mechanisms, reduce duplication for manufacturers, and streamline approval processes while maintaining independent safety standards. The UK MedTech sector employs over 195,000 people.
GOLD FARM Trade Mark Opposition Decision
The UK Intellectual Property Office issued decision O/0288/26 in a trade mark opposition case concerning the mark GOLD FARM (Figurative) in Class 31. The Hearing Officer N Barratt issued a ruling on grounds under Sections 5(1), 5(2), and 5(3) relating to earlier trade marks and identical marks.
AUTOFLIGHT Trade Mark Opposition Decision
UK Intellectual Property Office issued decision O/0291/26 dismissing or upholding an opposition against the AUTOFLIGHT (Figurative) trade mark application across multiple Nice Classes (07, 09, 12, 39, 40, 42). The decision was issued by Hearing Officer Ms L Nicholas on 31 March 2026.
Kersaall Figurative Mark Trademark Opposition
UKIPO issued Decision O/0290/26 on 31 March 2026 regarding the Kersaall figurative trademark opposition (Class 03). Hearing Officer Ms S Wallace considered grounds under Sections 5(1), 5(2), and 5(3) concerning likelihood of confusion, distinctive components, and imperfect recollection.
TEA TONIC trade mark opposition
The UK Intellectual Property Office issued decision O/0289/26 on 31 March 2026 regarding the opposition to registration of the TEA TONIC (Figurative) trade mark in Classes 21 and 30. Hearing Officer Mrs L Stephens considered grounds under Sections 5(1), 5(2) and 5(3) relating to earlier trade marks, distinctive components, composite marks, and descriptive elements, as well as revocation and proof of use issues.
FCA and Bank Seek Taskforce Members for Transaction and Post-trade Reporting Harmonisation
The FCA and Bank of England jointly seek expressions of interest from market participants to join a new Transaction and Post-trade Reporting Taskforce. The taskforce comprises three working groups (Policy, Strategy, and Architecture) that will assess opportunities to harmonise transaction and post-trade reporting requirements under UK MiFIR, UK EMIR, and UK SFTR. Applications close on 23 April 2026.
Salisbury NHS Trust awards radiopharmaceutical supply contract
Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust has awarded a £313,299.60 (inc. VAT) contract to University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust for the supply of pre-prepared radiopharmaceutical kits under the Procurement Act 2023. The direct award contract runs from 15 April 2026 to 31 March 2027, with a standstill period ending 15 April 2026. This is a routine contract award notice with no new regulatory obligations.
ECDIS Upgrade for Border Security Patrol Vessels
The UK Home Office Border Security Command Maritime has issued a preliminary market engagement notice under the Procurement Act 2023 seeking supplier input on ECDIS (Electronic Chart Display and Information System) and Gyro Compass upgrades for four Cutters and up to six Coastal Patrol Vessels. The estimated contract value is £200,000 with works planned October 2026 to March 2027. Suppliers must respond by April 24, 2026.
University compliance software contract award notice
Cardiff Metropolitan University awarded a below-threshold contract to Enroly Ltd for CAS Shield compliance software. The contract is valued at £204,688.60 including VAT over 3 years (April 2026 to March 2029). The procurement was conducted under the Procurement Act 2023 using a below threshold procedure without competition.
Off Site Biodiversity Net Gain Units Procurement
Sunderland City Council has awarded a contract for off-site Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) units at Houghton Depot to Wild Capital 1 Ltd. The contract value is £216,144 including VAT over a 30-year term. Five SME suppliers submitted tenders in this open procurement procedure under the Procurement Act 2023.
Non-Emergency Patient Transport Services Tender - UCLH and RNOH - CANCELLED
University College London Hospitals NHS FT and Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Trust cancelled a £85.2M tender for non-emergency patient transport services before the submission deadline. The procurement covered two lots: Core Patient Transport Services including HDU (£73.2M) and Mental Health Transport Services (£12M). Notice identifier: 2026/S 000-031167.
Landscape Planning Services Contract Award
North Northamptonshire Council has awarded a below-threshold contract for landscape planning services to Place Services (Essex County Council) under the Procurement Act 2023. The contract covers review of the Northamptonshire Landscape Character Assessment and related sensitivity assessments for housing, employment land, and renewables sites. Contract value is £32,613.60 excluding VAT for the period 23 February 2026 to 31 May 2026.
Sport Wales Switchgear Upgrade Contract Award
Find a Tender Service published a contract award notice for Sport Wales for switchgear upgrade works at the Sport Wales National Centre in Cardiff. Knox & Wells was awarded the contract valued at £191,305.91 including VAT, with works scheduled from April 1 to May 15, 2026. The procurement was conducted under an open competition procedure below the relevant threshold.
National Lottery Community Fund PR Contract Award
The National Lottery Community Fund awarded a PR support contract for Glasgow Commonwealth Games outcomes to Run Communications Limited. The contract is valued at £456,250 excluding VAT (£547,500 including VAT). The six-month contract runs from 1 May 2026 to 31 October 2026 under the Procurement Act 2023 open procedure.
College of Policing Contract - Operation Soteria Pillar 5
The College of Policing awarded a £51,150 contract to London Metropolitan University for Operation Soteria Pillar 5 services, including police response to sexual violence training and support for implementing the Soteria National Operating Model. The contract was signed on 23 March 2026 and runs for 9 days (23-31 March 2026). This below-threshold procurement was awarded without competition under the Procurement Act 2023.
Full Colour Black v Banksy - Libel Claim Costs Order
The High Court ordered Full Colour Black Limited (trading as Brandalised) to pay Banksy and Pest Control Office Limited costs on the indemnity basis after finding the company's libel claim was 'unreasonable to a high degree' and pursued to pressure Banksy regarding his anonymity. The case was discontinued by FCB after Mr Justice Nicklin found the defamation claim had 'without any real prospect of success'.
UK coercive control law gap beyond intimate relationships
A Guardian opinion piece highlights a gap in UK coercive control law, which was criminalised in 2015 for intimate relationships but does not cover religious groups, political organisations, or other non-intimate settings. Author Barbara Speed profiles Rachael Reign's case against the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God, where police reportedly could not act due to the relationship not falling within the law's scope. The article documents advocacy efforts calling for legislative extension of coercive control offences.
Operation Soteria Pillar 3 Police Training Contract
The College of Policing Limited awarded a £33,000 contract to the University of Glasgow for Operation Soteria Pillar 3 services related to police response to sexual violence. The contract runs from 2 March to 31 March 2026 and covers training support, implementation assistance, and digital maintenance for the Soteria National Operating Model.
Kent NHS MSK physiotherapy AI service tender notice
Kent NHS MSK physiotherapy AI service tender notice
Non-Emergency Patient Transport Services Tender
University College London Hospitals NHS FT and Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Trust issued a tender notice for Non-Emergency Patient Transport Services valued at £102.24 million (including VAT). The procurement is structured in two lots: Lot 1 for core patient transport including HDU (£87.84M), and Lot 2 for mental health transport services (£14.4M). The contract runs from June 2027 through May 2033 with a possible 36-month extension to May 2036.
Food Inspection Services Tender
Isle of Wight Council has published a tender notice for food inspection services under the Food Safety Act 1990. The contract has an estimated value of £60,000 including VAT for a 3-year term (June 2026 to June 2029) with a possible 24-month extension. Bids must be submitted electronically by 12 May 2026 at 2:00pm.
£1.6B Continence Care Contract Awarded to 19 Suppliers
UK Government awarded a £1.6 billion NHS continence care contract to 19 suppliers across 4 lots under the Procurement Act 2023. The contract covers disposable pants/shaped pads, other disposable products, washables, and sensor technology. Awarded suppliers include Abena UK Limited, Attends Ltd, Essity UK Ltd, HARTMANN, Medline Industries Limited, and Ontex Healthcare Limited.
Kingston University awards building consultancy framework across 6 lots
Kingston University Higher Education Corporation published a contract award notice for its KU Estates Building Consultancy Framework under the Procurement Act 2023. The framework covers 6 lots across architectural, engineering, project management, surveying, and fire safety consultancy services, with 21 suppliers awarded across the lots. This is a routine procurement notice informing the market of the completed tender process.
Open University Elsevier Journals Subscription via Jisc Framework
The Open University awarded a £1.65M contract (including VAT) to Elsevier B.V. for online journal subscriptions under the Elsevier Read and Publish 2026-2028 framework arranged by Jisc Services Ltd. The contract runs from February 2026 through December 2028. This is a contract award notice under the Procurement Act 2023 published on the UK Find a Tender portal.
Highways Support Services Contract Award
Rochdale Borough Council published a contract award notice for highways support services valued at approximately £16.7M (£13.3M + £3.4M) under the Procurement Act 2023. The framework covers two lots: highways and drainage labour, and traffic management, with contracts awarded to multiple suppliers per lot.
Turner & Townsend National Highways Contract Modification
National Highways Limited published a contract modification notice (F20) for Turner & Townsend's project management and design team services contract in Kent. The original contract (No. 15577) was awarded on 25 March 2026 with a value of £7,479,594.62. The notice modifies the scope to include additional CPV code 72224000 (Project management consultancy services).
Non-Emergency Patient Transport Services Procurement Termination
University College London Hospitals NHS FT and Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Trust have terminated a procurement for non-emergency patient transport services (UCLH-7264) covering two lots: Core patient transport including HDU and Mental Health Transport Services. The decision not to award the contract was made on 2 April 2026 because the procurement procedure will be revised to reflect a Competitive Flexible Procedure approach.
Operation Soteria Pillar 6 - Police Response to Sexual Violence Research Contract
College of Policing Limited awarded a £39,600 contract to Birkbeck College for Operation Soteria Pillar 6 under the Procurement Act 2023. The contract covers police response to sexual violence, including delivery of the Soteria National Operating Model across UK police forces. The 23-day contract runs from 9 March to 31 March 2026.
Statutory Appeals Validity When Court Fees Unpaid
The Court of Appeal in Eskander v General Medical Council [2026] EWCA Civ 372 ruled that statutory appeals may be validly 'brought' within statutory time limits even when court fees are not paid, provided other formalities are satisfied. The Court extended its reasoning from Siniakovich v Hassan-Soudey (wrong fee paid) to cover cases of no fee payment, holding the distinction between 'imperfect' and 'absent' compliance cannot be logically maintained.
Plan 2 Student Loans Age Discrimination Analysis
Chloe Reddock examines whether the variable RPI+3% interest rate applied to Plan 2 student loans (average debt £53,000) could constitute indirect age discrimination under the Equality Act 2010 and ECHR Article 14. The Treasury Committee has launched an inquiry into Plan 2 repayment terms covering borrowers from September 2012 to July 2023.
AI Tools ChatGPT Copilot Impact on Law Religion UK Blog Traffic
Law and Religion UK blog published analysis of how AI tools (ChatGPT, Copilot) affect web traffic referrals. WordPress analytics show AI referrals remain minimal (0.28% to 1.1%) compared to search engines (26.8% to 37.8%) and social media. UK readers constitute 68.9% to 79.5% of traffic.
Dyslexia in the Legal Profession: Painting the Picture
An educational article from Neurodiversity in Law examines how dyslexia, affecting approximately 10% of the UK population, provides unique strengths in legal practice across England and Wales. The piece discusses the duty of legal employers under the Equality Act 2010 to make reasonable adjustments and highlights cognitive advantages including narrative reasoning, big-picture thinking, and holistic problem-solving that dyslexic legal professionals often demonstrate.
EHCP Legal Guide for Neurodivergent Children and Young People
Neurodiversity in Law published a practical guide explaining Education, Health and Care Plans under the Children and Families Act 2014 for neurodivergent children and young people aged 0-25. The guide clarifies key definitions under Section 20 (special educational needs) and Section 21 (special educational provision), emphasizing that formal diagnosis is not required to access support. While a February 2026 Policy Paper proposes reforms including a tiered support system, the 2014 Act remains the primary legislation.
Skilled Worker Dependant Visa Guide - Graduate-Level Roles and Restrictions
The UK Home Office implemented changes to Skilled Worker Dependant visa rules in July 2025, restricting dependants to those whose main visa holder is in a graduate-level role (RQF 6 and above). Visa holders whose profession is on the Temporary Shortage Occupation List cannot sponsor dependants unless transitional provisions apply. Care workers face additional restrictions on dependant sponsorship.
Bar Council proposes specialist courts for rape cases
Bar Council proposes specialist courts for rape cases
BSB Enforcement Process Consultation Outcomes
The Bar Standards Board published feedback on its July-October 2025 public consultation on proposed changes to Enforcement Regulations in Part 5 of the BSB Handbook. Key outcomes include granting BTAS greater case management powers, introducing automatic witness anonymity for sexual allegation cases, and resetting the Fitness to Practise regime. A second consultation on draft regulations will follow in Spring 2026, with new regulations expected to take effect from early 2027.
High Court Judge Formal Warning for Judgment Delays, Cleared of AI Use
The Judicial Conduct Investigations Office issued a formal warning to Mr Justice Derek Sweeting for judicial misconduct due to delays in handing down judgments in two cases—one 11 months after hearing and another eight months after hearing. The Lord Chancellor and Lady Chief Justice accepted the recommendation. The judge was cleared of using AI in drafting judgments despite serious drafting errors found in one case. This follows a prior formal advice issued in September 2023 for another delayed judgment.
CPS Left Without Counsel After Chambers Confusion
The Court of Appeal in R v OEM and another [2026] EWCA Crim 411 upheld a defendant's appeal against the Crown Court's refusal to adjourn a serious burglary trial. The CPS was left without counsel after a barrister's communication failure with her former chambers about a brief. Lord Justice Edis said the Crown Court should have been given more detail about CPS efforts to find counsel and found HHJ Grout was wrong to disregard the reasons for prior adjournments.
Civil Procedure Guidance on AI-Generated Fake Legal Authorities
Civil Procedure News (The White Book Service) issued guidance on AI-generated fake legal authorities in litigation, referencing the Upper Tribunal's show cause notice in Ayinde [2025] EWHC 1383 and Munir [2026] UKUT 81. The guidance warns that uploading client information to public AI tools risks breaching legal professional privilege and confidentiality. Courts expect qualified legal professionals to verify all AI-generated citations before submission.
Weekly Balance Sheet Report
The Bank of England published its weekly statistical report for 1 April 2026, showing reserves balances of £645,085mn and notes in circulation of £97,061mn. The report provides updated balance sheet data comparing the current week to the previous week (25 March 2026), with reserves decreasing by £2,523mn and notes in circulation increasing by £415mn.
Adjust Self-Employment and Property Income for MTD
HMRC published guidance explaining how self-employed individuals and property income earners should adjust their digital records before submitting MTD-compatible tax returns. The guidance covers claiming reliefs like Rent-a-Room relief (up to £7,500), making tax adjustments for disallowable expenses, and accounting adjustments for prepayments and accruals under traditional accounting methods.
MTD Income Tax Scheme Eligibility for Sole Traders and Landlords
HMRC published guidance on the Making Tax Digital for Income Tax scheme, which introduces mandatory digital record-keeping and quarterly reporting for sole traders and landlords. The scheme is being phased in based on income thresholds: those with qualifying income over £50,000 must comply from 6 April 2026, with lower thresholds following in subsequent years.
Welsh MTD guidance creating digital income records
HMRC published Welsh-language guidance on creating digital records for Making Tax Digital for Income Tax. The guidance explains how self-employed individuals and property businesses must create and store digital records of income and expenses using MTD-compatible software, submit quarterly updates to HMRC, and maintain digital links between record-keeping and submission software.
Adjusting Self-Employment and Property Income for MTD
HMRC has published guidance on Making Tax Digital (MTD) for Income Tax, explaining how self-employed individuals and property income owners should adjust their digital records before submitting their Tax Return. The guidance covers claiming reliefs and allowances such as the Trading Income Allowance and Rent-a-Room Relief (up to £7,500), making tax adjustments to remove non-allowable expenses, and accounting adjustments for prepayments and accruals.
Making Tax Digital Income Tax guide for sole traders
HMRC published guidance on Making Tax Digital for Income Tax requirements for sole traders and landlords. The new digital reporting system will be introduced in stages based on qualifying income thresholds: those with income over £50,000 must start quarterly digital reporting from April 2026, with subsequent thresholds of £30,000 from April 2027 and £20,000 from April 2028.