UK Government Blog

The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (No.3) (England) Regulations 2020 came into force on 18 July 2020. They give new powers to local authorities in England to respond to a public health threat caused by the incidence or spread of COVID-19. The new regulations are additional to the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (No.2) (England) Regulations 2020 …

The latest English COVID-19 emergency regulations – new powers for local authorities Read More »

This is the third in our short series of bitesize feedback notes following on from DLA Piper’s Panel Discussion Webinar held on 1 July 2020 which launched our discussions paper – “Procurement Law Reform – Let’s Start a Discussion”. This third paper now looks at the complex issues that arise in terms of procuring authorities …

Procurement Law Reform – Let’s Start a Discussion. Reform of transparency and confidentiality requirements Read More »

This is the second bitesize feedback note following on from DLA Piper’s Panel Discussion Webinar held on 1 July 2020 which launched our discussion paper – “Procurement Law Reform – Let’s Start a Discussion”. The first bitesize feedback paper summarised the discussion and inclusions in relation to the potential options for overall procedural reform in …

Procurement Law Reform – Let’s Start a Discussion. Reform of limitation rules Read More »

With a little over 200 days to go until the transition period expires, senior UK and EU figures are meeting today, 15 June 2020, for a “stock-take” summit. UK Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, will join – virtually, of course – the Presidents of the EU’s Commission, Council and Parliament, Ursula von der Leyen, Charles Michel …

Boardroom Brexit – 15 June 2020 Read More »

From 13 July 2020, the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (No. 2) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2020 (the Amendment Regulations) come into effect. The Amendment Regulations amend the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (No.2) (England) Regulations 2020 (the Coronavirus Restrictions Regulations), which now provide the core legislative basis for the remaining aspects of the lockdown in England. In …

Further English COVID-19 amendment regulations Read More »

DLA Piper’s panel discussion webinar held on 1 July 2020, launched our client discussion paper “Procurement Law Reform – Let’s Start a Discussion” Panel members from DLA Piper UK, DLA Piper Germany and Keating Chambers had a lively debate on the merits of potential options for reform and which changes might produce a better model …

Procurement Law Reform – Let’s Start a Discussion. Procedural reform Read More »

On 17 June 2020, Mr Justice Stuart-Smith handed down judgment in the 2019 Rail Franchising Litigation, one of the largest and most complex procurement and commercial judicial review claims litigated to date in the UK. In his judgment, Stuart-Smith J dismissed, in comprehensive terms, the claims against the Secretary of State for Transport (SoS) and …

The 2019 Rail Franchising Litigation – success for the Secretary of State and the Department for Transport Read More »

The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (No.2) (England) Regulations 2020 (the “Second Restrictions Regulations”) came into force on 4 July 2020. The Second Restrictions Regulations revoke the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (England) Regulations 2020 (the First Restrictions Regulations) and all of the subsequent amendment Regulations. They have effect in England, though Regulations 4 and 5 do …

The new English COVID-19 emergency regulations Read More »

The UK Cabinet Office has published a number of Procurement Policy Notes over the last three months, recognising and highlighting the immense disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic to public procurement and the wider economy: In line with our previous commentary, PPN 01/20 issues guidance confirming that in response to COVID-19, public bodies are permitted …

Public procurement in the UK during the COVID-19 pandemic Read More »

On 18 May, the Immigration and Social Security Co-ordination (EU Withdrawal) Bill sailed through its second reading in the House of Commons by a majority of 351 to 252. The bill marks a small milestone in the UK’s journey towards the end of the Brexit transition period and into the uncharted waters of a new …

The “B” word is back – Brexit pandemic planning for the new immigration system Read More »

On 19 May 2020, the UK Government published the details of its new UK Global Tariff (UKGT), which will replace the EU’s Common External Tariff following the end of the Brexit Transition Period (currently scheduled to last until 31 December 2020). As the on-going negotiations between the UK and EU for the post-Transition Period trade …

Publication of the UK global tariff Read More »

The coronavirus pandemic has led to challenges in the procurement law landscape for governments around the world, both in terms of urgent new purchases and the operation of existing public contracts. Our new COVID-19 Public Procurement Guide explains what 50 countries and multinational organisations are doing in respect of issues such as:

In the context of the global coronavirus COVID-19 outbreak, public bodies may be concerned about the applicability and impact of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (PCR) on the urgent need to procure supplies or services. Regulation 32 exemption The good news for public bodies is that the PCR contain (albeit very limited) exemptions for the …

Coronavirus COVID-19: Do the Public Contracts Regulations apply to urgent procurement needs? Read More »