The UK government is setting aside £2.6 million for new satellite and drone technology that could deliver essential supplies during the coronavirus lockdown. The UK Space Agency (UKSA) is funding new solutions to deliver equipment such as test kits, masks, gowns and goggles for frontline NHS staff. The joint initiative with the European Space Agency could lead to vital equipment soaring through British skies via drones to support the NHS in tackling COVID-19. Companies can submit their proposals, including ideas for deployment and a pilot phase, on the European Space Agency (ESA) website. The UK's space industry is also looking for ways to combat the spread of coronavirus and preventing future epidemics using satellites.

Neath Port Talbot Council is understood to have become the first local authority in Wales to use a robot to process back office administration. The council has been trialling the new technology, known as Robotics Process Automate (RPA), to process Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks and update employee information. At a personnel committee meeting head of resources Sheenagh Rees told councillors the robot had helped clear a backlog of data inputting within a matter of weeks. She said: "Since 2013 there has been a 50% reduction of administration staff in HR but we have only had increasing demand for our services. "The reason we were interested in using RPA was because it could help us deal with a high volume of work we weren't able to do.