Government and Public Sector News, February 2025

Legal insights, news and events from DWF's Government and Public Sector team delivered monthly to your inbox.

DWF monthly insight:

New Procurement Policy Notes: Transforming government payment practices: in this article, we discuss two new PPNs introduced by the UK Government (PPN 015 and PPN 018) to improve payment practices for major contracts, aiming to address late payments, enhance cash flow, and support SMEs. View >

AI Growth Zones: What do public authorities need to know about this exciting new initiative? Sir Keir Starmer has announced bold plans to make "Britain the world leader" in artificial intelligence, including the roll out of AI Growth Zones, new dedicated sites offering incentives and specialist infrastructure to encourage inward investment and the scaling up of operations by AI companies. In this article, Alexander Rose and Steve McNab look into the AI Growth Zone initiative, including the legal issues that are likely to arise from the roll out of this initiative in the coming months. View >

Inward investment by JATCO to create hundreds of new skilled jobs in the North East of England: in this article, we discuss the support provided by DWF for the leading automotive transmission manufacturer JATCO in a £47.8m inward investment project described by the British government as a "massive boost for UK motor industry". View >

Planning reform and the energy sector: An overview of recent developments: in this article, we provide a concise overview of the UK Government's major announcements regarding planning and energy, along with our assessment of whether these measures are sufficient to fulfil the Labour Party's ambitious commitments. View >

Still open for business? An international comparison of the UK's post-Budget tax regime for new residents: with the UK's non-dom regime due to end on 6 April 2025 and the UK Government now having provided more details about the replacement foreign income and gains regime, some wealthy individuals are considering European alternatives. In this article, we compare the rules in the UK, France, Italy and Spain. View >

Allotting and issuing new shares for private limited companies in England and Wales: this article sets out the key legal issues in relation to allotting and issuing new shares for private companies in England and Wales in accordance with companies law, including the process of allotment and issuance, pre-emption rights, the forms of payment for the shares and post-allotment steps. View >

DWF Data Protection Insights – January 2025: in this article, we provide our round-up of the top data protection and cyber security stories issued in January 2025 looking back at November and December 2024, together with practical advice on what we are seeing in practice. View >

How do Public Inquiries keep pace with technology whilst ensuring those at the heart of the inquiry are not unintentionally excluded? In this article, we explore the role of technology in UK public inquiries and ask the question of whether some participants could feel excluded if they don't have access to technology as part of the process.

View >

Government announces two new inquiries into grooming gangs and Southport attack, but how can the promised Hillsborough law help? In January 2025, the UK Government has announced public inquiries into the activities of UK grooming gangs as well as the murder of three children in Southport in July 2024. View >

Public Inquiries in the news: Public Inquiries are increasingly visible across mainstream media and social media. We explore what this increased exposure means for anyone involved in a public inquiry. View >

The role of technology in Public Inquiries: Public Inquiries are known for requiring a high volume of documentation. We explore the role that technology can play in ensuring that key documents are reviewed and acted upon effectively and efficiently at every stage. View >

Case law:

Public Procurement: In the Technology and Construction Court, the claimant challenged the defendant's award of a contract for urgent care services, invoking the Public Contracts Regulations 2015. The subsequent proceedings addressed the legality of the procurement process conducted by the defendant and considered the application and potential lifting of the automatic suspension imposed by the regulations. In particular, this case demonstrates the substantial evidentiary demands placed on claimants and the difficulties they encounter when opposing a request to lift the automatic suspension. One Medicare (t/a One Primary Care LLP) v NHS Northamptonshire Integrated Care Board [2025] EWHC 63 (TCC) (17 January 2025)

To read about the key findings, implications and practical considerations for firms, read an article written by our DWF colleagues and published by LexisNexis here.

Legislation:

Energy (UK): The Contracts for Difference (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/25). View >
Energy (UK): The Clean Heat Market Mechanism Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/81). View >
Local Government (England and Wales): The Council Tax Reduction Schemes (Prescribed Requirements) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/39). View >
Data Protection (UK): The Data Protection (Charges and Information) (Amendment) Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/63). View >
Levelling-up and Regeneration (England and Wales): The Combined Authorities (Borrowing) and East Midlands Combined County Authority (Borrowing and Functions) (Amendment) Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/86). View >
Public Procurement (Scotland): Public Procurement (Miscellaneous Amendment) (Scotland) Regulations 2024 (S.S.I 2024/338). View >
Public Procurement (Wales): The Health Services (Provider Selection Regime) (Wales) Regulations 2025 (W.S.I. 2025/99). View >

Other News:

Department for Business and Trade: announces a new ‘global growth team’ of UK Trade Envoys that has been appointed by the Trade Secretary to drive UK exports and investment. View >
Department for Business and Trade: announces £50 million investment deal between JATCO, Nissan and the UK Government secured to build a new manufacturing site in Sunderland. View >
Department for Energy Security and Net Zero: announces that businesses adopting emissions-cutting projects will be supported with £51.9 million as part of its Plan for Change to drive economic growth and rebuild Britain. View >
Department of Health and Social Care: announces its plans to provide a £126 million government funding boost for families to give every child the best start in life. View >
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: announces that the Government is tripling the Rough Sleeping Winter Pressures Funding from £10 million to £30 million. View >
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: announces that the new law to protect renters is one step closer to becoming a reality. View >
Welsh Government: publishes the Welsh Procurement Policy Note WPPN 001: Standard Selection Questionnaire for Works Contracts. This explains the new arrangements for suppliers to complete and submit core 'pre-qualification' information. View >

Sector events:

Look out for details of our upcoming webinars and events:

Terminating business tenancies – 11 February 2025: In this webinar, we will provide advice on termination of business tenancies and compensation payments.
Registration link >
Delivery of Regeneration Projects – 13 February 2025: Based on a discussion of "live projects", practical solutions will be offered to the legal and commercial 'bumps in the road' and how they can be overcome.
Registration link >
Sexual Harassment - As an employer are you doing enough to comply with your duty to prevent sexual harassment? – 26 February 2025: The Worker Protection (Amendment of the Equality Act 2010) Act 2023 came into force on 26 October 2024. In this webinar, we will explore the new duty requiring employers to take proactive steps to prevent sexual harassment in the workplace, including carrying out risk assessments and preventing third party harassment.
Registration link >

In case you missed it:

Defending and bringing proceedings under the Procurement Act 2023

Webinar recording >

In this webinar, Elinor Jackson, Alice Gilman, and James Lupton covered the key litigation changes arising from the introduction of the Act. The webinar provided practical advice on what are likely to be the main areas of challenge and how to bring and defend proceedings. Further, it set out the remedies available to economic operators following a breach of the Act and the time limits for bringing proceedings.

Review of the Subsidy Control Act

Webinar recording >

In this webinar, Jonathan Branton and Alexander Rose explored what has worked well, how public authorities have adopted to best navigate the new regime, and what is ripe for reconsideration.

Procurement Act 2023 – what does it mean for Scotland?

Webinar recording >

The Procurement Act 2023 will come into force in February 2025 and will apply to contracting authorities in England and Wales, as well as cross-border contracting authorities in Scotland. In this webinar, Douglas Jefferies, Orla Kerr and Claira Rodden provided an overview of the new Procurement Act 2023, and looked at what it will mean for contracting authorities in Scotland and for suppliers to the Scottish public sector.

Meet the team – Shaun Gamble

Shaun Gamble is a Senior Associate in DWF's commercial & public law team, specialising in public procurement. He is a member of DWF's Procurement Centre of Excellence.

Shaun has procurement experience in the public and private sector, gained both in-house and with leading international law firms. He advises clients on all aspects of procurement law and the procurement lifecycle. He works closely with central government, local government, wider public bodies and suppliers to the public sector.

Shaun is also a member of the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply, which is the world's largest organisation dedicated to the procurement and supply profession.

Shaun Gamble

Senior Associate, Commercial & Public Sector

Email me | +44 (0) 770 122 6412

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