Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency · Original source
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has extended the UK authorisation of the gene-editing treatment Casgevy (exagamglogene autotemcel) to children aged five and over with severe sickle cell disease or transfusion-dependent β-thalassemia. The treatment was previously authorised for patients aged 12 and over. The extension was granted to Vertex Pharmaceuticals (Europe) Ltd on 29 October 2026. About 15,000 people in the UK have sickle cell disorder.
Competition and Markets Authority · Original source
The Competition and Markets Authority has opened a Competition Act 1998 investigation into whether Meta is abusing a dominant position through commercial terms that could let it use content from news publishers' and other businesses' websites, including for AI features, without giving them a choice. Meta has paused the planned rollout pending industry consultation. CMA chief executive Sarah Cardell said the regulator is acting swiftly; no decision has yet been made on whether the law was broken.
Department for Energy Security and Net Zero · Original source
The government has approved Sea Link, a National Grid undersea electricity connection between Suffolk and Kent capable of carrying 2 GW, enough to power the equivalent of 2 million homes. Community funds of over £1 million each are planned for Kent and Suffolk. The decision follows approval of the 800 MW Great North Road Solar and Biodiversity Park near Newark and Frodsham Solar in Cheshire, bringing nationally significant clean energy projects approved since July 2024 to 39.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government · Original source
From 31 October, a new National Scheme of Delegation means straightforward planning applications in England will be decided by expert planning officers instead of waiting for committee slots. The government says 420 planners have been recruited, beating its manifesto pledge of 300. PlanAssist, an AI tool developed with Google DeepMind, Google Cloud and Faculty, cut time on key tasks by 58% in trials and will expand to 15 councils, with availability to every council by the end of 2027.
Department of Health and Social Care · Original source
More than 1,000 people have joined the government-funded FAST-Forward Boost trial, running at 39 UK hospitals, which tests whether breast cancer radiotherapy can be safely cut from three weeks to five days, potentially saving patients 10 hospital trips. Ashley Dalton MP, who is living with metastatic breast cancer, has been appointed adviser on delivery of the National Cancer Plan. First-time breast screening uptake has reached 63.6%, the highest in a decade.
Ministry of Defence and HM Treasury · Original source
Overseas companies winning UK defence contracts worth £50 million or more will be considered for a new Offsets policy requiring them to invest back into Britain, potentially up to the full contract value, through jobs, apprenticeships, factories, UK suppliers and technology transfer. Chancellor John Healey and Defence Secretary Wes Streeting announced the policy at BAE Systems Scotstoun, Glasgow, as part of the Budget's Back British approach. A new central Offset Authority will agree and monitor the agreements.
