The latest Investing Matters Podcast with Jean Roche, Co-Manager of Schroder UK Mid Cap Investment Trust has just been released. Listen here.
HBR presently has the capital to be included in the FT250 but it won’t happen for six weeks. Promotions and demotions to and from the index occur quarterly in March, June, September, and December (around the third week).
Price is back to where we were in February, and still no positive news on sales or the JV.
I wrote to my MP, again: Further to my email yesterday afternoon I have learnt that in the Commons Nadhim Zahawi, in response to a Neale Hanvey question said:
“If the honourable gentleman knows of any UK Companies that are worth looking into, either in his constituency or elsewhere, please let my department know.”
I cannot believe that Mr Zahawi is working in a Department and is not aware of the four major diagnostic companies in the UK all providing better results than any Company from China. To add insult to injury two of those Companies, Omega and Abingdon, have had contracts with HMG who have failed to pay for services rendered. The no. 1 diagnostic Company in the world, for identifying the Covid virus, including the Delta variant, is Avacta.
Could you please provide your Honourable Colleague with the necessary information which he seeks.
Constituents of Wetherby can contact your MP:
Alec Shelbrooke MP
@AlecShelbrooke
·
20 Mar 2020
COVID-19: If you are a constituent requiring my help please do not send tweets or Facebook messages, instead please send a quick email with your details to alec.shelbrooke.mp@parliament.uk. That way I can get back to you quicker and deal with your case more effectively. Thank you
Over the last few week my MP, John Glen, has been quite fair in responses to me, all of which I have posted on this board. My latest to him has been:
Further to my email yesterday afternoon I have learnt that in the Commons Nadhim Zahawi, in response to a Neale Hanvey question said:
“If the honourable gentleman knows of any UK Companies that are worth looking into, either in his constituency or elsewhere, please let my department know.”
I cannot believe that Mr Zahawi is working in a Department and is not aware of the four major diagnostic companies in the UK all providing better results than any Company from China. To add insult to injury two of those Companies, Omega and Abingdon, have had contracts with HMG who have failed to pay for services rendered. The no. 1 diagnostic Company in the world, for identifying the Covid virus, including the Delta variant, is Avacta.
Could you please provide your Honourable Colleague with the necessary information which he seeks.
Further to my message on this BB on the 15th at 17.02 I have received a further email from my MP:
I understand that the Government is planning to diversify the supply of lateral flow devices and has begun to deploy other products in some settings, including the Orient Gene device. This will be expanded over the coming months and I will be following developments closely.
As mentioned in my earlier email, the tests in use are vigilantly monitored and have been through robust trials in Porton Down to ensure their efficacy. I agree that we could benefit from using domestic products, but Innova’s tests have been deemed fitting for the task at hand.
To which I have responded:
It is ironic that China was responsible for the pandemic and was in pole position to supply the Lateral Flow Test through Innova. In fact this test was in place before the Chinese admitted there was a major problem. It has cost the UK Government over £3.2bn in bringing these ineffective tests to these shores. Now the Government are proposing to use the Orient Gene test, another one supplied from China.
The UK has an excellent diagnostic industry as can be borne out by the purchase of Mologic by the Bill and Melinda Gates/Warren Buffet consortium. If the UK is not careful companies like Avacta, Novacyt, Omega and Abingdon will all fall into foreign hands. Who can blame them when the Government constantly ignore them in favour of foreign rubbish. The Avacta test has the best sensitivity in the world. Perhaps a few days in isolation may help Boris come to his senses (but I doubt it).
Thank you again for your response, keep up the good work whilst your boss has also got his feet up!
Speedic, no need to shout about it, but if you do so at least get your English right.
“An after Hrs RNS to shut the trolls up for good” - would be a miracle.
The £10m placing at 30p was when the price was 33p. I bet they thought that they were on a winner. I wonder how they feel now the price is 27p? No news and appears to be going no where except down.
Further to my email earlier today, I find that the Government has today given a further tender to Innova (Chinese test through Pasadena):
https://bidstats.uk/tenders/2021/W28/754843819
This is disgraceful.
The Government obviously has its eyes closed to the UK diagnostic industry and is spending billions on foreign rubbish. However, the UK industry will succeed without UK support and when the UK comes cap in hand they will find all sales have been made elsewhere. I have been a lifelong supporter of the Tories but I now wondering if Boris and Co. have lost the plot.
I wrote to my MP in Wiltshire on the 9th July and got the following response which seems to tow the party line:
"Thank you for taking the time to contact me about LFT kits used in the UK.
I appreciate that you feel concerned about the suitability of Innova as the current supplier of NHS Test and Trace lateral flow devices. In December last year, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) provided the DHSC with an Exceptional Use Authorisation (EUA) which permits NHS Test and Trace to deploy the repurposed Innova COVID-19 as a self-test device as a test to detect infection in asymptomatic individuals.
In light of the US Food and Drug Administration’s warning about LFDs, it is right that a full risk assessment was undertaken by DHSC, as legal manufacturer of the devices in the UK, and that the MHRA undertook a thorough review to ensure that they were satisfied with the assessment and any action proposed. Following what the MHRA has described as a satisfactory outcome of the review, Exceptional Use Authorisation was extended to 28th August 2021.
I have been assured by my colleagues in the Department for Health and Social Care that the tests have been through the rigorous Porton Down assessment process and robust quality assurance processes are in place. While I note your comments about these tests, I am satisfied that they have met the necessary standard and share the Government’s confidence in these tests.
These tests have helped to save thousands of lives by identifying asymptomatic cases of COVID-19. Around 1 in 3 people who have coronavirus never show any symptoms but may still be infectious. This means they could be spreading the virus without realising it and so asymptomatic testing is a vital tool as we work towards ending this pandemic.
I understand that you think we could do better with testing, and I agree to the extent that improvement is always possible and desirable. I know that my colleagues in the DHSC are continuing to research and develop self-administered tests in order that we are using the highest quality technology.
Thank you again for taking the time to contact me."
At 21.40 this evening Christian Fraser talked to Edward DeMauro from Rutgers New Jersey University about a COVID breath test. They see potential in it but it needs a lot more research.
My MP is John Glen (not he who went to the moon although I did mention moonshot). He is part of the Treasury team who also has a deep interest in health. Previously he has answered any questions so I’ll wait for a reply. If one is forthcoming I’ll post it on here.
Thanks NU, I missed the Proactive Interview.
On the 28th April the Company quoted (in respect to their potential JV in China):
‘ On or before closing, the parties will negotiate, agree, and execute a number of definitive agreements for the Joint Venture which are expected to be signed by 30 June 2021 with the JV becoming operational by 1 September 2021. ’
We have heard nothing.
This is the email:
You recently signed the petition “Ban Water Companies discharging raw sewage into water courses.”:
https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/582336
A group of MPs called the Environmental Audit Committee is investigating water quality in rivers.
The Committee is particularly interested in urban pollution, and the responsibilities of water companies. It is taking evidence on topics including the best ways of measuring river water quality, the impact of plastic pollution, and how consumers can be encouraged to change their behaviour to help reduce pollution.
So far the MPs have questioned expert academics, non-governmental environmental organisations and environmental campaigners, in two evidence sessions the Committee has held as part of its wider inquiry.
Find out more about the Committee's inquiry, including details of the sessions held so far, on its website:
https://committees.parliament.uk/work/891/water-quality-in-rivers/
Follow the Committee on Twitter for updates:
https://twitter.com/CommonsEAC
What is the Environmental Audit Committee?
The Environmental Audit Committee is a group of MPs which examines how the UK Government's policies contribute to environmental protection and sustainable development.
It's a cross-party Committee and is independent of the Government. You can find out more about the Committee on the UK Parliament website:
https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/62/environmental-audit-committee/
The Environmental Audit Committee is a ‘select committee’. Find out how Select Committees work:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_2RDuDs44c
Thanks,
The Petitions team
UK Government and Parliament
Number currently at 28,862.