An investigation into Swansea University's School of Management is under way, the BBC understands.

Concerns have emerged about how the department is being run with 23 academic staff leaving since 2013.
Several past and present employees told the BBC they were unhappy with the way they were treated.
The claims have been made against the school's dean Professor Nigel Piercy. The university has declined to comment on the specific allegations.
Bethan Jenkins, AM, has called for an external review.
The School of Management is headed by Professor Nigel Piercy who began his role as dean in 2013. In the two years since, 23 academic staff - the majority at senior level - have left with several citing the way the department was being managed as the reason behind their departure.
A number of current and former staff have spoken anonymously to BBC Wales' Newyddion 9 programme for S4C alleging poor management.
One academic described the school's management as being "a dictatorship" while another told the programme there was a culture of exclusion within the school.
"Staff have been called human garbage, told we're toxic, miserable old dogs, hippy dippies... so the language is totally inappropriate for the work place. Runs totally contrary to the dignity at work policy and of course is very upsetting for those who are being referred to," they said.
"People... are excluded from meetings, activities, events... it sends a clear message that those people are not wanted and do not have a place in the future of the school," they added.
Another academic explained the reasons for leaving the school: "I left because of a change in management that I found very difficult cope with - it changed very abruptly, very dramatically and it was quite traumatic really," they said.
"There was always a looming fear, I think, that very much started to venture towards a culture of bullying.
In October 2014, students raised concerns with a petition attracting more than a thousand signatures. In February 2015, there was a demonstration calling for change.
In an internal document seen by BBC Wales, Prof Nigel Piercy wrote: "Certain senior individuals have created themselves into a cancer - that must now be removed to allow the rest of the school to survive."
Sir Roderick Evans, a pro-chancellor at the university, was asked to conduct a review into the running of the school by the university's council.  He found the complaints "were sufficiently consistent and credible as to require investigation."
BBC Wales understands that an investigation is under way.
The university said the school was going through a period of change to improve, which had seen increased applications to study at the school and it rise up the league tables.
"The staffing in the School of Management has been substantially expanded, with almost 90 new appointments, to add new teaching and research capabilities and enhanced professional services to support students," the university said in a statement.
Adding: "We cannot comment on individual cases, but we are an equal opportunities employer and take seriously any allegation of harassment and bullying."
South Wales West assembly member, Bethan Jenkins, was also contacted by individuals at the university following several incidents at the school.
She said: "It has been detrimental to their good name, and that is why others and myself are hoping we can get an external review, not an internal review, an external review to look into all of this, so that we can come to a positive conclusion."


Bury earned another point in their battle for League One survival as they drew 0-0 at home to MK Dons.

There was only one shot on target in a fairly even first half, and although mid-table Dons went closest to winning it after the break, neither side did enough to merit the three points.
That meant fourth-bottom Bury, who have the league's worst defensive record, registered back-to-back clean sheets for the first time since April but still slipped two points from safety.
Chuks Aneke curled an early effort wide for Dons before Cameron Burgess headed over for Bury.
Dons replied with Harvey Barnes testing Joe Murphy while Ben Tilney curled a free-kick just wide.
Bury's George Miller replaced the injured James Vaughan at half-time and moments after the restart the youngster had a shot from a tight angle saved.
Strike partner Tom Pope then headed over while Aneke fired straight at Murphy.
Andrew Tutte's half-volley stung the hands of Dons keeper David Martin but the visitors should have broken the deadlock as Stuart O'Keefe side-footed over from a Barnes cut-back.
Murphy then pulled off a smart save to turn over Tilney's close-range strike and ensure the game ended goalless.
Report supplied by the Press Association.
Match ends, Bury 0, MK Dons 0.
Second Half ends, Bury 0, MK Dons 0.
David Martin (MK Dons) is shown the yellow card.
Foul by Paul Downing (MK Dons).
George Miller (Bury) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Ryan Lowe (Bury).
(MK Dons) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Corner,  Bury. Conceded by George Baldock.
Attempt blocked. George Baldock (MK Dons) left footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked.
Substitution, MK Dons. Daniel Powell replaces Chuks Aneke.
Attempt saved. Ryan Lowe (Bury) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal.
Substitution, Bury. Ryan Lowe replaces Tom Pope.
(MK Dons) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Leon Barnett (Bury).
Ed Upson (MK Dons) is shown the yellow card for hand ball.
Hand ball by Ed Upson (MK Dons).
Corner,  MK Dons. Conceded by Joe Murphy.
Attempt saved. Ben Tilney (MK Dons) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the top left corner.
Attempt missed. Stuart O'Keefe (MK Dons) right footed shot from the centre of the box is too high.
Substitution, MK Dons. Maecky Ngombo replaces Kieran Agard.
Attempt saved. Andrew Tutte (Bury) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Foul by George B Williams (MK Dons).
Jermaine Pennant (Bury) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by George B Williams (MK Dons).
Tom Pope (Bury) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Attempt saved. Chuks Aneke (MK Dons) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Substitution, Bury. Jermaine Pennant replaces Scott Burgess.
Attempt saved. Dean Bowditch (MK Dons) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
(Bury) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Kieran Agard (MK Dons).
Corner,  MK Dons. Conceded by Cameron Burgess.
Corner,  MK Dons. Conceded by Taylor Moore.
Attempt blocked. Chuks Aneke (MK Dons) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked.
Attempt missed. Ed Upson (MK Dons) right footed shot from long range on the left is close, but misses to the left from a direct free kick.
Kieran Agard (MK Dons) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Taylor Moore (Bury).
George Baldock (MK Dons) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Greg Leigh (Bury).
Stuart O'Keefe (MK Dons) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Foul by Stuart O'Keefe (MK Dons).


Northern Ireland have suffered a second successive embarrassing defeat, going down to minnows Azerbaijan.

Michael O'Neill's side lost to Luxembourg in September but dominated the first half in Baku.
However, Rufat Dadasov fired in and, though Martin Paterson hit a post, Mahir Shukorov scored a free-kick after Jonny Evans saw red for kicking out.
Full qualifying tables
The loss means Northern Ireland slip behind Azerbaijan to fifth in their World Cup qualifying group.
O'Neill opted for a new-look 3-5-2 formation as Northern Ireland attempted to bounce back from the humiliating 3-2 defeat by Luxembourg.
The visitors controlled the first half in the Bakcell Arena, but failed to secure a deserved lead.
Azerbaijan keeper Kamran Agayev kept out a powerful Chris Brunt strike before producing a superb reflex save with his feet from Jamie Ward's close-range header.
The hosts offered nothing in attack until midway through the half, when they squandered two good chances within three minutes.
Dadasov fired wide from 12 yards, before the unmarked Rauf Aliyev saw his back-post volley saved by an alert Roy Carroll.
Northern Ireland were soon back on top and Agayev denied Brunt again, while Ward's shot curled over the bar.
The best chance fell to Paterson on 38 minutes, with the striker put clear by Lee Hodson, only to drag his low shot wide.
Media playback is not supported on this device
Azerbaijan took command after the break and poor marking allowed Dadashov room to sweep the ball wide from eight yards.
Oliver Norwood's lunge at Aliyev resulted in a yellow card and a suspension for the final qualifier against Israel on Tuesday.
However, the big Kaiserslautern striker made no mistake in the 58th minute, slotting past Carroll from Aliyev's low cross for the opener.
Gareth McAuley's header found the roof of the net as Northern Ireland chased an equaliser, but the main goal threat was coming from their opponents.
A fluent move on 62 minutes ended with Aliyev's long-range strike, from a Dadasov lay-off, flying just over as a lethargic Northern Ireland failed to sustain any pressure on the home goal until the dying moments.
Steve Davis picked out Paterson with three minutes left and the Huddersfield forward's volley struck the woodwork before the ball was cleared.
In a nightmare finish for Northern Ireland, McAuley received a second yellow card of the qualifying campaign to be suspended for the Israel game along with Evans, who was shown a straight red card in injury time for kicking out at Aliyev.
With the last kick of the game, Shukurov curled the resulting 20-yard free-kick into the top corner.
Match ends, Azerbaijan 2, Northern Ireland 0.
Second Half ends, Azerbaijan 2, Northern Ireland 0.
Goal!  Azerbaijan 2, Northern Ireland 0. Mahir Shukurov (Azerbaijan) from a free kick with a right footed shot to the top right corner.
Jonny Evans (Northern Ireland) is shown the red card for a bad foul.
Foul by Jonny Evans (Northern Ireland).
Rauf Aliyev (Azerbaijan) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Substitution, Azerbaijan. Badavi Huseynov replaces Rufat Dadashov.
Attempt missed. Steven Davis (Northern Ireland) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Billy McKay.
Foul by Billy McKay (Northern Ireland).
Rahid Amirquliyev (Azerbaijan) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Gareth McAuley (Northern Ireland).
Rufat Dadashov (Azerbaijan) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Attempt missed. William Grigg (Northern Ireland) header from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Oliver Norwood with a cross following a corner.
Corner,  Northern Ireland. Conceded by Kamran Agayev.
Attempt saved. Martin Paterson (Northern Ireland) right footed shot from the right side of the six yard box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Steven Davis.
Martin Paterson (Northern Ireland) hits the right post with a right footed shot from the right side of the box. Assisted by Steven Davis.
Attempt missed. Oliver Norwood (Northern Ireland) right footed shot from outside the box is too high from a direct free kick.
Hand ball by Mahir Shukurov (Azerbaijan).
Substitution, Northern Ireland. William Grigg replaces Jamie Ward.
Attempt blocked. Martin Paterson (Northern Ireland) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Jamie Ward.
Substitution, Azerbaijan. Cihan Özkara replaces Araz Abdullayev.
Oliver Norwood (Northern Ireland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Rahid Amirquliyev (Azerbaijan).
Foul by Gareth McAuley (Northern Ireland).
Rauf Aliyev (Azerbaijan) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Martin Paterson (Northern Ireland).
Rashad F. Sadigov (Azerbaijan) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt missed. Rauf Aliyev (Azerbaijan) left footed shot from the left side of the box is too high following a corner.
Corner,  Azerbaijan. Conceded by Jonny Evans.
Substitution, Northern Ireland. Billy McKay replaces Chris Brunt.
Attempt blocked. Mahir Shukurov (Azerbaijan) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Foul by Jonny Evans (Northern Ireland).
Rauf Aliyev (Azerbaijan) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Attempt missed. Chris Brunt (Northern Ireland) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the right.
Offside, Azerbaijan. Mahir Shukurov tries a through ball, but Araz Abdullayev is caught offside.
Substitution, Northern Ireland. Niall McGinn replaces Lee Hodson.
Attempt missed. Oliver Norwood (Northern Ireland) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left from a direct free kick.
Rasim Ramaldanov (Azerbaijan) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Hand ball by Rasim Ramaldanov (Azerbaijan).
Attempt missed. Rauf Aliyev (Azerbaijan) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses the top left corner. Assisted by Rufat Dadashov.


Skinny jeans can seriously damage muscles and nerves, doctors have said.

A 35-year-old woman had to be cut out of a pair after her calves ballooned in size, the medics said in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry.
She had spent hours squatting to empty cupboards for a house move in Australia. By evening, her feet were numb and she found it hard to walk.
Doctors believe the woman developed a condition called compartment syndrome, made worse by her skinny jeans.
Other hidden health risks in your wardrobe
Who, What, Why: Are skinny jeans bad for your health?
Compartment syndrome is a painful and potentially serious condition caused by bleeding or swelling within an enclosed bundle of muscles - in this case, the calves.
The condition caused the woman to trip and fall and, unable to get up, she then spent several hours lying on the ground.
On examination at the Royal Adelaide Hospital, her lower legs were severely swollen.
Although her feet were warm and had enough blood supplying them, her muscles were weak and she had lost some feeling.
As the pressure had built in her lower legs, her muscles and nerves became damaged.
She was put on an intravenous drip and after four days was able to walk unaided.
Other medics have reported a number of cases where patients have developed tingly, numb thighs from wearing the figure-hugging low-cut denim trousers - although the chance of it happening is still slim for most people.
Priya Dasoju, professional adviser at the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, said: "As with many of these warnings, the very unfortunate case highlighted is an extreme one.
"There's no need to ditch the skinny jeans just yet, simply avoid staying in the same position for too long and keep moving throughout the day. If you do suffer any prolonged pain you should of course seek help, but no-one should be alarmed by this warning or change the cut of their jeans."


AFC Wimbledon have signed midfielder Tom Soares from fellow League One side Bury for an undisclosed fee.

The 30-year-old scored 22 goals in 187 appearances for the Shakes after moving to Gigg Lane in 2012.
Former Crystal Palace and Stoke man Soares becomes Wimbledon's first signing of the January transfer window.
"Tom is very powerful, has good aerial ability and I think he is in his prime now," Dons boss Neal Ardley told the club website.
The south-west London club have not disclosed the length of Soares' deal at Kingsmeadow.
Find all the latest football transfers on our dedicated page or visit our Premier League tracker here.


Explaining why he wants the UK to leave the EU, Boris Johnson complained about "a slow and invisible process of legal colonisation, as the EU infiltrates just about every area of public policy".

There is no doubt that the 28-member EU has come a long way since six European countries founded the European Economic Community in 1958.
Their aim was to avoid another devastating war in Europe by making its countries economically interdependent.
But what began as a purely economic union has become an organisation responsible for many different areas of policy, from agriculture to transport.
At the heart of the EU are laws designed to allow most goods, services, money and people to move freely within EU member states.
The European Commission - the EU's administrative arm - is responsible for proposing and drafting EU legislation.
If draft proposals are approved by the European Parliament, representing EU citizens, and the Council of Ministers - representing member states - then the proposals become law.
The two most common types of EU laws are known as regulations and directives.
Regulations have direct and immediate effect within EU member states once they have been brought into effect at EU level.
Directives set out an EU objective, which individual countries must transpose into national legislation.
The difference can be seen in examples provided by the EU's own website.
When the EU wanted to make sure there were common safeguards on goods imported from outside the EU, it adopted a regulation.
When the EU wanted to strengthen rights for consumers across the EU - for example, by eliminating hidden charges and extending the cooling-off period - it adopted a directive.
EU law is interpreted by the Court of Justice of the European Union in Luxembourg - or the European Court of Justice, as it used to be called.
This is completely separate from the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, which interprets the European Convention on Human Rights.
However, the EU has its own Charter of Fundamental Rights.
EU institutions such as the commission, the parliament and the council are legally bound to uphold rights in the charter - as are EU governments whenever they apply EU law.
The EU court in Luxembourg interprets EU law to make sure it is applied in the same way in all EU countries and settles legal disputes between national governments and EU institutions.
Member states are required to comply with the court's rulings, and may be fined if they do not do so.
But there are limits to the EU's powers, of which the most obvious is language.
Although a common language would undoubtedly help improve trade there are no plans to impose one across Europe.
Nor has the EU tried to change the constitutional structures of its member states.
EU summits are attended by presidents, prime ministers and chancellors who lead countries with very different legal systems.
All the EU can do is to ensure that its members meet common standards of justice and democracy.
The EU's powers to make and enforce laws have a bearing on the UK's sovereignty.
When we speak of the sovereignty of Parliament, we mean the right of the House of Commons and the House of Lords - with the formal approval of the monarch - to make any laws Parliament may choose.
Parliament can be said to have given up some of its sovereignty when it passed the European Communities Act 1972, enabling the UK to join what was then the European Economic Community, at the beginning of 1973, and requiring courts in the UK to apply EU law.
Michael Gove, who also wants to leave the EU, explained at the weekend what he saw as the consequences of EU membership.
He said the UK government "cannot remove or reduce VAT, cannot support a steel plant through troubled times, cannot build the houses we need where they're needed and cannot deport all the individuals who shouldn't be in this country".
But David Cameron took a different view of sovereignty in his interview with Andrew Marr.
"Sovereignty really means: are you able to get things done? Are you able to change things, to fix things?
"You might feel more sovereign, but if you can't get your businesses access to European markets, if you can't keep your people safeâ€¦ you're less in charge of your destiny."
The prime minister also promised proposals to make clear that Parliament was sovereign.
However, his proposals are not expected to include legislation.
If Parliament is not already sovereign, then saying so will not change anything; and if Parliament is already sovereign, there seems little point in declaring it.
Mr Cameron told Parliament the agreement reached in Brussels last week would give the UK a "special status" within the EU and ensure it never became part of a European super-state.
However, those who want to leave the EU say the only sovereignty that matters is the ability to make all our laws in the UK.
And if that's what sovereignty means, it's difficult to see how it can be achieved while the UK remains part of the EU.


Dundee University scientists have developed a super-targeted method of destroying tumour cells.

Researchers have found a way to wipe out malevolent proteins in cancerous tumours without collateral damage to surrounding proteins.
The technique uses a small molecule, known as MZ1, which destroys the BRD4 protein, while leaving others intact.
Doctors said this "significant breakthrough" could provide safer treatments free from side-effects.
Dr Alessio Ciulli, from the university's College of Life Sciences, said it was an "exciting time" in the field, with further breakthroughs in similar research being made in the United States.
He said: "The ability to target BRD4 selectively is extremely important as it makes it a much more attractive target for potential treatments for diseases including cancer.
"Current approaches targeting the protein lack this degree of selectivity, which means they may be liable to create unwanted side effects and toxicity.
"This is a significant development and one which will lead to further breakthroughs in an increasingly important area of cancer research."


Mikhail Khodorkovsky went from being Russia's richest man to its most famous prisoner in a life that has to some extent mirrored the changes in modern Russia.

The former oligarch was suddenly pardoned by President Vladimir Putin and flown to Germany after spending a decade in custody on charges some believe were fabricated to block any serious political opposition to the strongman of the Kremlin.
Forbes magazine put his net worth at more than $15bn (Â£9.1bn) before his arrest in 2003. By comparison, today's richest Russian citizen, Alisher Usmanov, is valued at $17.6bn.
In the early 1990s, other Russians watched their savings eaten by inflation and the assets of their state sold off at bargain prices to those in the know.
Khodorkovsky, a former star of the Moscow Communist Youth League, was making his first millions through his own bank, Menatep.
The really big money came in 1995 when he bought the Yukos oil company at the knockdown price of $350m.
Khodorkovsky had been close to the centre of power since Soviet days, when he worked as an aide to the last prime minister of the USSR, Ivan Silayev.
In the chaotic years of Boris Yeltsin's rule, Khodorkovsky became one of the oligarchs, a small group of fabulously rich tycoons who kept close to the Kremlin as they built their businesses.
They bankrolled Yeltsin's re-election in 1996 - arguably the last presidential election in Russia where voters were offered a real choice.
Meanwhile, all around them, ordinary Russians watched the continuing decline of their living standards and their country, shaken by a disastrous war against separatists in Chechnya.
When Vladimir Putin won the 2000 election, he set about rebuilding a strong state that paid people's wages and pensions on time, and he restored an order of sorts in the war-torn south.
But there would be no going back to communism and tycoons who kept out of the new leader's political path were tolerated, even as Yeltsin's political reforms were rolled back.
Khodorkovsky is credited for his efforts to modernise Russian business practices at that time, introducing unprecedented transparency to the accounts of Yukos.
Sensing a return to one-party rule, he also funded liberal opposition parties. In February 2003 he openly sparred with Mr Putin at a televised meeting, accusing government officials of taking huge bribes.
That October, he was arrested at gunpoint and charged with tax evasion.
Six months later, Mr Putin was re-elected president, increasing his share of the vote from 53% to 71%.
Convicted of tax evasion in 2005, Khodorkovsky was sent to prison.  The billionaire found himself in a Siberian prison camp where inmates could expect to earn $0.81 a day for their labour.
Passionately denying the charges against him, he devoted his energies to clearing his name, his campaign backed by advocates worldwide.
Even when he was tried and sentenced to a second term in 2010, this time for embezzlement and money-laundering, he persevered, releasing statements from his new prison near the Arctic Circle.
In the outside world, Vladimir Putin and his allies saw their iron grip on Russia briefly loosened in 2011, when indignation at corruption boiled over into the biggest street protests since Soviet times.
Mr Putin reasserted his authority and key figures in the protest movement were hounded through the courts, on charges again seen by many as politically motivated.
After arriving in Germany, he said he would not return to Russia until he was confident he would be able to leave it again. Before his release, there had been rumours of new charges being drawn up to keep him in prison even longer.
He stressed he had been released on humanitarian grounds, and that the issue of his guilt had not been discussed, but his conviction still stands.
Khodorkovsky's fortune apparently crumbled long ago, with his business empire effectively seized by the state, but the former oligarch may have amassed moral capital in the eyes of some as a victim of injustice.
However, he said in Berlin he would stay out of Russian politics and instead work as an advocate of political prisoners in Russia and other countries.


Saracens prop Juan Figallo saw his baby son born before lunch in Stevenage, and then left to help his side to Premiership victory by teatime.

The Saracens player was told he could sit out the match against Gloucester, but insisted on racing to north London for kick-off soon after the birth.
The 27-year-old came off the bench as a 14-man Sarries side won 25-12.
"I gave him a big kiss and kissed my wife, then I asked her if I could play," the Argentine said.
"It is a big, big day for me and my family. Having a kid is the most amazing thing. This is one of the best days of my life."
Saracens director of rugby Mark McCall confirmed Figallo was "encouraged" not to play by the club, with the baby born at 11:30 GMT after a sleepless night for the new mum and dad in hospital.
"He walked into the changing room to a big roar from the players at 2.15pm," McCall said.
"At 12 we told him to stay where he was in Stevenage Hospital, that we'd manage. He hung around for 45 minutes after the baby was born and then came down. He wanted to come and help the team."
Saracens were temporarily down to 13 men in the first half, with Brad Barritt sin-binned before Schalk Brits was red carded for punching Nick Wood.
Figallo joined the action immediately after the break, with McCall praising the pack for helping Saracens move eight points clear at the top of the table with what he described as their "best win of the season".
Last Sunday, rugby league player Jamie Shaul missed the arrival of his first child to help Hull FC secure victory against Catalans Dragons.


A student has been charged with murdering a 24-year-old man who was stabbed in Essex.

Hassan Mohammed, from Camberwell in south London, was stabbed twice in York Road, Southend, on 7 July.
A post-mortem examination showed he died from blood loss from stab wounds.
Tajwar Alam, 18, of Sleaford Road in Tottenham, has been charged with his murder and possessing a bladed instrument. He will appear before Southend Magistrates' Court on Monday.
Mr Mohammed's family said: "Hassan was a very friendly, caring person.
"He grew from a boy into a man and was a protector and best friend to his family.
"He was loved by all."
A youth of 17, from north London, is also due to appear in court charged with firearms offences and possessing cannabis with intent to supply.
A second 17-year-old, from Southend, remains in custody.


Belfast Giants clinched victory over Manchester Storm on Sunday to make it two Elite League wins in two days.

Chris Higgins scored the opener for the visitors midway through the first period at Altrincham Ice Centre.
It was quickly followed by a Storm equaliser from Trevor Johnson before Matt Nickerson netted the winner with nine minutes left in the game.
The Giants, who beat Sheffield Steelers by the same scoreline on Saturday, remain second in the standings.
Jackson Whistle started consecutive games with Ryan Martinelli missing Sunday's game through injury.
Belfast dominated the opening period , outshooting the Storm 10-5 with Mike Clemente the busier of the two netminders.
Higgins netted at 11:32, assisted by Mark Garside and Michael Forney, before Johnson scored on a powerplay at 13:35.
The second period was scoreless as both Whistle and Clemente kept the scores level in a finely poised tie.
Finally, at 50:21, the Giants got the all important go-ahead goal - Nickerson, assisted by Mark Garside and Alex Foster, finished beautifully.
The Giants closed out the game in a professional manner to seal the win and avenge last month's 5-1 defeat against the same opposition.
The teams meet again at the same venue on Wednesday night in the Challenge Cup quarter-final first leg.


The leading centrist candidate in France's presidential election, Emmanuel Macron, has received a boost after allying with a veteran moderate.

He accepted the offer of an alliance from Francois Bayrou, another centrist and devout Roman Catholic.
Recent polls suggest support for Mr Macron, tipped by many to win the election, has dropped slightly.
Two of far-right candidate Marine Le Pen's staff were detained on Wednesday as part of a financial inquiry.
Her chief of staff was placed under formal investigation over the alleged misuse of EU funds to pay parliamentary assistants, French media report. Her bodyguard was also questioned.
The National Front (FN) leader, who denies any wrongdoing, dismissed the investigation as a "political dirty trick".
She enjoys a solid lead in opinion polls for the first round in April but is seen as being easily defeated in the second.
Mr Bayrou has run three times for president, winning more than 18% of the vote in the 2007 election.
Announcing that he would not stand this year, he offered to join forces with Mr Macron to prevent "the failure of France".
Ms Le Pen, he said, posed a "major and immediate threat for our country and Europe".
Welcoming the news, Mr Macron, a free-market liberal, told Reuters news agency: "The alliance proposed by Francois Bayrou... fully matches our commitment to renewal and unity."
Analysts say Mr Bayrou's support base is likely to split now between Mr Macron and his conservative opponent Francois Fillon.
A new opinion poll indicates that Mr Macron and Mr Fillon are neck and neck in the race for the all-important second place in the first round - with both on about 19%.
According to the same poll, taken before the alliance was announced, Mr Bayrou would net 5.5% while Ms Le Pen would take 26%.
In the second round, Mr Macron would beat Ms Le Pen by 61% to 39%, while Mr Fillon would also defeat the far-right candidate, but by 57% to 43%.
Early on in the campaign, Mr Fillon was viewed as the clear favourite to reach the run-off along with Ms Le Pen and win, but a scandal over payments to his family dented his image in January.
He had talks with his fellow conservative former prime minister Alain Juppe, whom he beat in the Republican party primaries, on Wednesday, Le Figaro newspaper reports.
Ms Le Pen has been accused by the European Parliament of misusing a total of some 340,000 euros (Â£289,000; $359,000), AFP news agency reports.
It is alleged that she claimed a salary for her bodyguard Thierry Legier for a bogus job and paid her chief of staff, Catherine Griset, as her EU assistant in Brussels when Ms Griset was actually working for the party.
Mr Legier and Ms Griset were taken in for questioning on Wednesday.
"The French can tell the difference between genuine scandals and political dirty tricks," Ms Le Pen responded, drawing a distinction between her case and that of Mr Fillon.
This election promises to one of the most dramatic in decades in France, a core member of the EU with the world's sixth-largest economy.
Fillon apologises over family payments
Le Pen refuses to repay 'misused EU cash'


A rear-seat car passenger has been killed and two others have been seriously injured after a car crashed into parked vehicles in Merthyr Vale.

The incident happened at about 02:40 BST on Saturday morning on the A4054 Cardiff Road.
The driver and front-seat passenger in the black Renault Laguna car were taken to Prince Charles Hospital in Merthyr Tydfil with serious injuries.
The road was closed but has since reopened.
Officers said the car had been travelling towards Merthyr from Edwardsville when it struck parked and unattended vehicles close to the junction with Gray's Place in Merthyr Vale.
South Wales Police has appealed for anyone who witnessed the incident, or may have seen the car before the crash, to contact them on the non-emergency 101 number.


A woman died after surgeons inserted a heart valve upside down.

Sheila Hynes suffered massive internal bleeding during what should have been a routine operation at the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle upon Tyne.
The 71-year-old great-grandmother never came round from the operation after the mistake caused irreversible damage to her heart.
Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has admitted the error.
Mrs Hynes died a week after the operation, having never recovered consciousness.
The family have begun legal action. Their lawyer, Nicola Evans, said she believes Mrs Hynes' right to life under the Human Rights Act was breached.
Mrs Hynes' daughter, Jan Hopper, 55, from Haltwhistle in Northumberland, said: "My life has been destroyed by what happened to my mother.
"My mother was the picture of health that week and I can remember saying to her 'mum, you look absolutely stunning'."
An inquest into the April 2015 death has been scheduled for later this year.
Mrs Hynes, a widow with seven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren, had undergone the surgery to try to improve her breathing, which was being hampered by inadequate blood flow.
Mrs Hopper said staff told her there had been a complication, but it was not until three days after the operation that the family were informed an error had been made.
She said: "We were told that putting the heart valve on the wrong way had caused her heart to balloon up and expand, and when it contracted the wall of her heart was pierced on an instrument.
"We still haven't come to terms with what happened. It has been traumatic."
The trust has admitted full breach of duty and that the error which caused Mrs Hynes' death was the insertion of the heart valve the wrong way.
A trust statement said: "Our thoughts are with Mrs Hynes' family at this difficult time and we would like again to offer our sincere condolences to them."
The trust said an investigation had been carried out but it could not comment further before the inquest.


A woman working in a Belfast off licence has been left shaken after being threatened with a knife during a robbery.

The suspect walked into the Wineflair store on the Upper Lisburn Road in Finaghy at 08:10 GMT on Saturday.
Police said a small amount of money was handed over.
The man was described as being in his 20s, about 5ft 5", of heavy build and wearing a red hat and red-hooded top.
PSNI Det Sgt Michael Hawthorne said: "I would appeal to anyone who saw a male matching this description in the Finaghy area this morning or who has any information which could assist us with our enquiries to contact detectives at Musgrave on 101 quoting reference number 300 26/11/16 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111."


Nearly six years after MI5 and armed police dramatically disrupted an al-Qaeda plot to launch suicide attacks on shoppers in Manchester, the ringleader has finally been convicted.

It has been a long and controversial journey that began with Abid Naseer's radicalisation in Pakistan and ends in a maximum security prison in the US.
But although MI5 and police in Britain have been vindicated by the verdict in a Brooklyn federal court, this is a case which has raised a number of uncomfortable questions.
Why was Naseer not tried in the UK?
This would clearly have been the preferred route given that Naseer, a Pakistani citizen in the UK on a student visa, was accused of plotting to blow up people on the streets of a British city.
However, despite carrying out one of the largest ever counter-terrorism investigations - involving the surveillance of a dozen suspects, the Crown Prosecution Service said there was not enough evidence to put any of the men on trial.
There were emails between Naseer and a suspected al-Qaeda operative in Pakistan - allegedly coded discussions about a possible imminent attack on the city centre. But crucially no explosives or chemicals were found and no gathering of ingredients to make bombs.
The authorities felt they could not risk running the surveillance operation any longer.
Police were forced to move in more quickly than planned when secret operational details written on papers held by a senior detective were photographed as he was entering 10 Downing Street for a briefing.
A subsequent report by Lord Carlile, then the government's Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation, found this would not have affected the issue of the evidence - but it criticised the lack of co-ordination between the police and the CPS during the investigation.
Why was Naseer extradited to the US?
This is one of a number of cases where critics suggest Britain is effectively sub-contracting difficult legal cases to the US - where juries are much more likely to convict terror suspects.
After the decision not to charge Naseer, the Home Office attempted to deport him to Pakistan, along with those other arrested men who had not voluntarily returned there. But the High Court blocked it because of the risk he would be mistreated.
At the same time they concluded Naseer was "an al-Qaeda operative who posed and still poses a serious threat to the national security of the United Kingdom".
So the UK authorities could not put him on trial, could not deport him and did not want him left free to roam the streets.
He spent a brief time on a control order but the dilemma was only resolved when US prosecutors announced they wanted to try Naseer in New York and he was extradited from the UK. They said - and the jury has now agreed - that he was part of a wider al-Qaeda conspiracy to attack Britain, America and Norway.
Lord Carlile told the BBC: "In every case you have to find where the most convenient forum is for the trial. That will depend on where the evidence lies.
"If the evidence lies in the United States, particularly the key evidence, then one would expect the trial to be in the United States."
What new evidence did US prosecutors have?
This has been a trial packed full of drama and interest. A string of MI5 officers wearing wigs and disguises were cross-examined by Naseer who was representing himself.
He also went toe-to-toe in court with a convicted al-Qaeda terrorist turned prosecution witness, but the two had never met.
The trial was the first to use declassified documents seized by US special forces in the raid on the Pakistan compound in which they found and killed Osama Bin Laden - the former head of al-Qaeda.
The court heard how an FBI agent waiting in a military hangar in Afghanistan for the return of their helicopter, saw Bin Laden's dead body before it was taken for burial at sea. The agent's job was to sift through the seized documents.
In a document titled Report on External Operations, one of Bin Laden's deputies told the al-Qaeda leader: "We had sent a number of brothers to Britainâ€¦ the brother determines what targets in line with what materials he can get." But none of the papers mentioned either Manchester or Abid Naseer.
Speaking exclusively to the BBC, Naseer's father, Nasrullah Jan Khattak, said: "It's easy to make accusations. They say my son is al-Qaeda but there was no proper evidence. The prosecution should have presented proof that my son was planning an attack."
Instead he claims there was testimony from surveillance officers who had observed Naseer moving around the north-west of England, saying he looked tense while on the phone.
"Whether he is happy or tense on the phone has nothing to do with al-Qaeda," said Naseer's father.
US prosecutors were not able to significantly strengthen the case against Naseer - but he was not able to adequately explain the coded email exchanges with the alleged al-Qaeda operative in Pakistan. The jury did not believe his account that this was innocent talk about trying to find a bride.
What would a British jury have made of this case? Well, that's a question to which we will never receive an answer.


A station in Stoke-on-Trent as part of the high-speed rail project "has not been ruled out", the HS2 boss says.

The government's preferred route for the second phase of the line, linking Birmingham to Manchester and Leeds, includes a spur junction at Crewe, but no stop at Stoke-on-Trent.
The council has submitted a bid and leader Mohammed Pervez said Stoke-on-Trent would become a "core city".
A decision is due later in 2014.
Alison Munroe, chief executive of HS2 Ltd, told BBC News that the public consultation had just been completed and the secretary of state would make a decision at the end of the year.
Current proposals for the Â£50bn HS2 project would allow trains to run at 225 mph (362km/h) from London to Birmingham from 2026, with branches to Manchester and to Leeds via Sheffield planned by 2032.
Mr Pervez has said the proposed station would put Stoke-on-Trent within 55 minutes of London.
Councils in Coventry, Warwickshire and rural Staffordshire are opposed to the rail plan.
"This would make Stoke-on-Trent a core city," Mr Pervez said.
"The amount of growth that will happen is unimaginable and actually, the amount of contribution the area that Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire can make to the overall economy of the UK is absolutely huge."


An investigation is to be launched into whether internet users are being charged unfairly when they use cloud storage services.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said some providers may be breaching consumer laws.
It will look into complaints that prices can go up after a customer has taken out a contract - or that the amount of data storage can be changed.
Earlier this year the ONS reported that 40% of UK adults now use cloud storage.
Users of lap-tops, mobiles and tablets are increasingly taking advantage of such services, to store photos, documents, TV programmes and films.
By storing such files in the cloud, rather than on the device itself, users get more memory, and the ability to access them from anywhere in the world.
Usually cloud storage providers offer a certain amount of memory for free, but can charge up to Â£40 a month for extra gigabytes.
Amongst the biggest providers are Dropbox, Google Drive and Apple's iCloud.
The CMA said it was particularly concerned about:
"If our review finds breaches of consumer protection laws, we will take further action to address these," said Nisha Arora, the CMA's senior director for consumer.
That could include "enforcement action using our consumer law powers, seeking voluntary change from the sector, or providing guidance to business or consumers."
The law on price transparency has been tightened since the Consumer Rights Act came into force on 1 October.
The CMA's consultation on the issue will be open until 15 January 2016, with an initial report on its findings expected in May.


A man from County Down is celebrating a new lease of life thanks to a paired organ donation scheme.

Seamus Kenny, who lives in Hillsborough but is originally from County Galway, says he is "very, very lucky" to have a new kidney after suffering from a degenerative condition for more than 15 years.
His wife Pauline was a willing donor but was not a match so they subscribed to the scheme that attempts to pair donors and recipients across the UK.
They got a match within months of enrolling with the scheme, and last June they went through surgery on the same day to complete Seamus's journey back to full health.
And, as a gesture of thanks for their treatment and care, the pair have helped raise £100,000 for the renal unit at the City Hospital in Belfast.
Seamus was diagnosed with polycystic kidney disease in 1997, although the diagnosis came as no great surprise.
His father was a sufferer, and two of Seamus's sisters and a brother also have the hereditary condition.
The disease causes cysts to form in the kidneys, and Seamus suffered a 4% annual loss in function from the time of his diagnosis.
Because of the gradual nature of the decline he only really started to notice the effects a couple of years ago.
Pauline, who is originally from County Cavan, says: "Seamus probably didn't feel any different because the decline was 4% a year, but for two years before I saw a significant difference.
"His quality of life had got quite difficult, he was tired all the time, he had no appetite, he had no energy and he looked dreadful."
A conversation with his doctor in 2011 had already raised the possibility of either a transplant or dialysis, but Pauline's incompatibility as a donor was a disappointment.
But when she said she was still willing to be a donor they entered the shared donor scheme.
Pauline adds: "It is a very well-structured scheme and lots of families find themselves in the same situation as Seamus and I were in - you want to donate to your loved one but you are not a suitable donor."
The scheme runs a computer program four times a year to try and match up couples, and Seamus and Pauline struck lucky on their second run through the system.
Seamus says: "On 7 April last year I went for my normal appointment because I was being seen regularly at that stage, every two months or every month depending on how my condition was.
"I had got a stay of execution from dialysis the month previously, and when I was told it was good news I assumed it was another stay of execution. But it was that they had found a match for us.
"We were stunned, it was like a dream come true."
The couple had two months to prepare for their surgeries, and things could not have gone better.
Pauline says: "This happens all the time, we're not that unique, lots of families have been through what we've been through.
"We went through surgery on the same day. The couple that we were paired with were in a different centre, and in the morning the donors have their kidneys removed and then they are flown at the same time, mine over to Britain and the donor kidney in Britain was flown to Belfast.
"Then the recipients, the two patients, go to theatre in the afternoon and the kidneys are transplanted."
Pauline was out of hospital within three days, and Seamus was back home after a week.
They pledged to give something back to the City Hospital, and Seamus linked up with his company, food processing and agribusiness firm ABP, for a fundraising ball.
It raised £60,000 last November, and that was supplemented by a £40,000 donation from the Goodman Foundation.
"Pauline and I received extraordinary care in the City Hospital and I am certain this money will benefit many, many others with kidney disease," adds Seamus.
The functionality of his kidney is back to about 60-70%, "but all you need is about 25% to function normally", he says.
He has been given a clean bill of health at the hospital, and considers himself "very, very lucky".


Chris Higgins scored twice as the Belfast Giants kept up their Elite League title challenge by defeating Coventry Blaze 3-0 on Sunday night.

Higgins found the net near the end of the second period and Steve Saviano made it 2-0 in the third period, Higgins then completing the scoring.
The victory completed a good weekend for the Giants, who beat Nottingham Panthers 7-4 in Belfast on Saturday.
Derrick Walser's side now prepare for a busy schedule of Christmas fixtures.
That sequence begins with the second leg of their Challenge Cup quarter-final against Manchester Storm at the SSE Arena on Tuesday evening, the score standing at 3-3 after the first leg.
Edinburgh Capitals are the visitors to Belfast for back-to-back games on Thursday and Friday.
Sunday's triumph saw the Giants close the gap on league leaders Cardiff Devils to eight points, with Belfast having two games in hand.
Stephen Murphy started in the Giants net while Ryan Martinelli sat out the game through injury.
Media playback is not supported on this device
Three goals in the third period saw the Giants take victory on Saturday, with Colin Shields, Blair Riley and Chris Higgins all on target.
The Giants led 3-2 after the first period but the Panthers were level at 4-4 after the second period of play.
Brandon Benedict, Jim Vandermeer, Alex Foster and Riley were the Giants' scorers in the opening two periods.
Jeff Brown grabbed a double for the visitors, with Brian McGrattan and Dan Spang also finding the net for Nottingham.


Egypt's top appeals court has acquitted former President Hosni Mubarak of conspiring in the killing of hundreds of protesters during the 2011 uprising.

Mr Mubarak was sentenced to life in prison after being convicted in 2012, but the case was retried twice.
Thursday's Court of Cassation ruling is final, which could mean the ailing 88 year old is freed from detention.
He has been confined to a military hospital despite having completed a three-year sentence for embezzlement.
A judge decreed in May 2015 that Mr Mubarak could be released from detention.
However, the government of President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi was reportedly reluctant to free him because of the public backlash that might accompany such a move.
Egypt's revolution: 18 days in Tahrir Square
Mr Sisi served as Mr Mubarak's military intelligence chief and led the military's overthrow of his democratically elected successor, Mohammed Morsi, in 2013.
In all, more than 800 people are believed to have been killed as security forces sought to stop protests in Cairo, Alexandria, Suez and other cities around Egypt during the 18-day uprising that forced Mr Mubarak to resign after 30 years in power.
He denied ordering the killing of protesters and insisted that history would judge him as a patriot who served his country selflessly.
Mr Mubarak's first retrial was ordered in 2013. A judge dropped the charge altogether the following year, but the Court of Cassation ordered a second retrial.
Former Interior Minister Habib al-Adly and four of his aides were also acquitted of the same charge on Thursday.
The Court of Cassation also rejected demands by lawyers of the protesters' families to pursue civil suits against Mr Mubarak.


Andrew Conway's hat-trick secured a home Pro12 semi-final for Leinster and ended Ospreys' faint hopes of forcing their way into the play-offs.

Conway crossed twice in the opening 23 minutes, but Ospreys responded with tries from Dan Biggar and Ben John to trail 14-12 at the break.
Wing Conway added his third try, and despite Ashley Beck's response, Cian Healy had the last word for Leinster.
The Irish province will now face Glasgow in Dublin in the semi-finals.
Reigning champions Ospreys needed a victory to have any hope of snatching fourth place from Welsh rivals Scarlets, but it proved a bridge too far against a slick Leinster outfit, who finish the regular season in second place in the table.
The home side, still bouncing from their Amlin Challenge Cup semi-final thrashing of Biarritz six days ago, quickly set the tone for an open and attacking encounter.
Sharp passing and inventive running angles immediately put the league's meanest defence on the back foot, resulting in two early Conway tries.
Both scores, though, should have been prevented.
Ospreys wing Ross Jones was culpable for the first after just seven minutes, allowing Fergus McFadden's grubber kick to slip through his fingers and legs near the right touchline.
Conway picked up the loose ball and had a clear run to the line. Sexton converted superbly.
Ospreys prop Adam Jones, one of five from the Welsh region named in the Lions squad this week, was the next to be found wanting defensively.
His soft tackle at the base of a lineout out allowed Leinster scrum-half Luke McGrath to break clear, and Conway was perfectly placed on his shoulder to take an inside pass to race in for a second score.
Sexton's conversion completed a breathless opening for the rampant home side, but Ospreys were in no mood to relinquish their hold on the league title without a fight.
Biggar took it upon himself to start the comeback, catching the home defence dozing with a quick tap penalty.
The fly-half had some way to go, but some more weak tackling, notably from McGrath, allowed him to wriggle his way over. He added the extras from the left touchline.
A second try soon followed as Ospreys showed they had the handling skills and dynamic runners to match their host.
A deflected clearance kick fell invitingly for Tom Habberfield and he promptly glided through the serrated defence into Leinster's 22.
Quick ball was secured from the ruck and centre Ben John had too much power for Sexton in the right corner after Tom Bearman's well-timed pass.
But three minutes either side of half-time reasserted Leinster's dominance as they established a 12-point lead that they never looked like relinquishing.
After Sexton's penalty with the final kick before the break, Conway gave the hosts the perfect start to the second half by completing his hat-trick.
Again, wing Ross Jones was caught out defensively as his opposite number collected his own kick ahead far too easily. Sexton's conversion from the right touchline went over off the left-hand post.
A second Sexton penalty extended the lead, but again Ospreys showed a commendable appetite to fight back as they sensed their grip on the title slipping away.
A marginal forward pass call denied Ashley Beck a try under the posts, but the centre's long pass then found Tom Isaacs in acres of space to cross over unopposed, with Biggar converting.
But any thoughts an unlikely late comeback were soon banished by Sexton's penalty and then replacement prop Healy produced a fitting finale to a enthralling contest by sprinting clear for the home side's fourth converted try.
Leinster: R. Kearney; Conway, McFadden, Madigan, Nacewa; J. Sexton, J. McGrath, L. McGrath, Cronin, Hagan, Cullen, Roux, Ruddock, Jennings, O'Brien.
Replacements: Goodman for Nacewa (79), Healy for J. McGrath (62), Cooney for L. McGrath (62), Strauss for Cronin (62), Bent for Hagan (68), Toner for Cullen (68), Murphy for Jennings (58).
Not Used: O'Driscoll.
Ospreys: Fussell; Haberfield, Beck, John, R. Jones; Biggar, Webb; D. Jones, Baldwin, A. Jones, A. Jones, King, Tipuric, Lewis, Bearman.
Replacements: Morgan for Fussell (70), Isaacs for R. Jones (56), Spratt for Webb (16), Bevington for D. Jones (47), Arhip for A. Jones (60), Allen for Bearman (70).
Not Used: Griffiths, Evans.
Att: 16,000
Referee: Nigel Owens (WRU)
Assistant Referees: Mark Patton, Stuart Gaffikin (both IRFU)
Citing Commissioner: Eugene Ryan (IRFU)
TMO: Alan Rogan (IRFU)


An overgrown Australian sheep affectionately named Chris has set a new unofficial world record following a hair cut from five shearers.

Welfare crews warned it risked death because it was so woolly from living in the wild for several years.
More than 40kg (88lb) of wool was removed in what the RSPCA says is the heaviest wool haul from one shearing.
National shearing champion Ian Elkins was urgently called in on Wednesday to tackle the mammoth merino.
Mr Elkins described Thursday's marathon sheering session as one of his biggest challenges, saying he had never seen anything like it in 35 years of work.
Chris the sheep had to be sedated during the very delicate operation.
Mr Elkins said he was proud Australia had claimed the title from New Zealand, likening it to "the rivalry on the rugby field".
The massive bundle of fleece tipped the scales at more than 42kg (92lb), but was revised down to 40kg (88lb) to counter the weight of the bag.
Animal welfare officials said Chris was "four-to-five times its normal size" before going under the knife.
In 2004, Shrek the New Zealand sheep was found after six years on the loose.
The animal - also a merino - later lost his giant 27kg (60lb) fleece in a televised shearing broadcast live around the world.


Time is "fast running out" on the talks to restore power sharing at Stormont, Sinn Féin has said.

Discussions have been continuing between the Northern Ireland political parties on Thursday.
Sinn Féin's Conor Murphy said there was not the "level of engagement needed" to break the political stalemate.
However, the DUP's Simon Hamilton said his party was working for the people of NI in both London and Belfast, and he remained hopeful of a resolution.
The parties have until 29 June to reach agreement and have been warned that if they cannot, direct rule could follow.
The deadline was set by Secretary of State James Brokenshire.
"We are seriously concerned given the timeframe we are operating in, given the lack of visibility in terms of the deal that's being negotiated between the DUP and the British government that time is fast running out on this process," said Mr Murphy.
"The ability to reach a conclusion to this is being greatly hampered by the approach of the British government."
However, Mr Hamilton said the DUP was hopeful that a deal to restore devolution could be reached.
"The DUP is able to multi-task and to represent the people of Northern Ireland, both in London and here in Belfast," he said.
"The DUP is focused on getting a good deal for the people of Northern Ireland, bringing stability to the United Kingdom as a whole and of course getting devolution up and running here in Northern Ireland."
The institutions collapsed amid a bitter row between the DUP and Sinn Féin about a botched green energy scheme.
The late deputy first minister, Martin McGuinness, stood down, in a move that triggered a snap election.


The Scottish Government enjoys a "more effective" relationship with UK ministers than its Welsh counterpart, MPs have said.

The constitutional committee wants ministers from the four UK nations to work more closely together in the run-up to Brexit.
Chairman Bernard Jenkin said Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland should not be a Whitehall "afterthought".
UK ministers have pledged to seek stronger relations between governments.
MPs were told by Wales' First Minister Carwyn Jones that "the level of formalised bilateral machinery" between the UK and Welsh governments was "fairly non-existent".
Mr Jones said there were examples with Downing Street "when letters have not been responded to or been responded to very late, sometimes many months down the line".
The committee said "starkly different evidence" from the Scottish Government indicated it had "a well-developed network of informal and formal bilateral relations" with UK ministers.
The report said leaving the EU "offers both risk and a fresh opportunity, and, therefore, an incentive, to develop more effective intergovernmental relations in the UK".
MPs said the emphasis should be on the UK government to nurture relationships with the devolved administrations in Cardiff, Edinburgh and Belfast.
Mr Jenkin, a Conservative MP who campaigned for Brexit in June's referendum, said the "time pressure" of negotiations to leave the EU "now forces the machinery of intergovernmental relations in the UK to be imbued with a sense of purpose".
"We cannot go on with the notion that the devolved administrations are treated as an afterthought by Whitehall, particularly as all the devolved administrations are run by different political parties," he said.
"It is, therefore, vital that the UK government's commitment to engage with the devolved administrations is meaningful and not simply a tool to allay the concerns of the Scottish and Welsh Governments and the Northern Ireland Executive," Mr Jenkin added.
In October, Theresa May promised to strengthen relations with ministers in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland ahead of a meeting of the UK's top politicians.
Mrs May said at the time she hoped it would be the start of a "new grown-up relationship".
Responding to the MPs report on Thursday, a Welsh Government spokesman said: "We very much agree with the central conclusion, that our inter-governmental machinery needs significant further development if the UK is to meet the challenges of Brexit effectively."
"We need to see a wholehearted commitment on the part of all the UK administrations to redrawing the relationship between the component parts of the United Kingdom in the post-European Union period, including both the distribution of responsibilities and the machinery of government between the four nations."
A spokeswoman for UK ministers said they were "committed to the strength of the Union and determined to make a success of Brexit".
"That means striking a deal which works for all parts of the UK," she said.
"We are working closely with the devolved administrations through the Joint Ministerial Committee process so they're fully engaged as we form our negotiating position."


Using a cheap robot, a team of hackers has cracked open a leading-brand combination safe, live on stage in Las Vegas.

The team from SparkFun Electronics was able to open a SentrySafe safe in around 30 minutes.
The robot is able to reduce the number of possible combinations from one million to just 1,000, before quickly and automatically trying the remaining combinations until it breaks in.
After the robot discovered the combination was 51.36.93, the safe popped open - to rapturous applause from the audience of several hundred hackers.
SparkFun’s Nathan Siedle told the BBC: "That was one of the scariest things we’ve done. Lots of things can go wrong, and this was a very big audience.
"We’re really happy it opened up.”
A spokeswoman for SentrySafe could not be reached on Friday.
But speaking to Wired magazine earlier this month, when the team demonstrated its method on a smaller safe, a spokeswoman for the safe maker said: "In this environment, the product accomplished what it was designed to do.
“[It] would be realistically very difficult, if not impossible, for the average person to replicate in the field.”
The latest demonstration was performed at Def Con, the largest gathering of underground hackers in the world.
The SparkFun team was not able to travel with a weighty safe, and so bought a new one that was opened up for the first time on stage.
The team joked the safe could have been cracked sooner - but they had to fill their 45-minute time slot.
The robot, which cost around $200 to put together, makes use of 3D-printed parts that can be easily replaced to fit different brands of combination safe.
It cannot crack a digital lock - although vulnerabilities in those systems have been exposed by other hacking teams in the past.
The team’s work began when Mr Siedle’s wife Alicia bought a safe on eBay that was cheap due to the previous owner not knowing what the combination was.
“She gave it to me for Christmas,” Mr Siedle said.
The mechanism in the safe consists of three dials which, when aligned, allow the safe to be opened. Each dial can be any two digit number - meaning one million potential combinations.
But the robot doesn’t simply try every combination. It is able to suss out one of the dials within 20 seconds by detecting the size of indents on the dial. In simple terms, the “solution” indent is slightly larger than the “incorrect" indents. In the demonstration, this method meant the team discovered the third and final number was 93.
The other two dials cannot be measured - but eliminating one greatly reduces the number of possible combinations.
It was made easier when the team also discovered that the safe’s design allows for a margin of error to compensate for humans getting their combination slightly wrong.
For example, if one dial is set to open at 14, using 15 and 13 will work as well. It meant the robot could check every third number, making it possible to quickly test the remaining combinations much faster than a human being.
Using this method, they could cut down the number of possible combinations to around 1,000 - a far more manageable challenge.
Before the attempt, Mr Siedle told the BBC the robot could be easily adapted to tackle any combination safe.
“We designed it for a particular type of safe, but it doesn’t really matter - you can actually 3D-print a coupler that can match any safe that you may have.”
Some SentrySafe models come with an additional lock and key, but the team was able to unlock it by using a Bic pen.
“No matter how much money you spend on a safe… nothing is impervious,” Mr Siedle said.
___________
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Championship side Brighton have signed midfielder Steve Sidwell on a one-year deal following his release by Stoke.

The 33-year-old made 19 appearances for the Seagulls last term after joining on loan in January, helping them finish third, before a play-off semi-final defeat by Sheffield Wednesday.
Sidwell played only four games for Premier League club Stoke last season.
"He knows exactly what the Championship is all about and what it takes to get promoted," manager Chris Hughton said.
"He was excellent for us in the run-in, and was a key figure on and off the pitch as one of the senior members of the squad."
Find all the latest football transfers on our dedicated page.


Stock markets on both sides of the Atlantic fell on Friday and oil sank further as fears about global oversupply mounted.

In London the FTSE 100 closed under 6,000 points as investors dumped commodities shares.
The blue-chip index ended the day 2.2% lower, down 135 points at 5,952.7.
On Wall Street the S&P 500 fell almost 2%, with the Dow Jones down 1.8% and the Nasdaq 2.2% lower.
Tim Courtney, chief investment officer of Exencial Wealth Advisors, said: "We're stockpiling commodities and demand is not picking up. It's kind of a depressing market."
The International Energy Agency said the oil glut would worsen in 2016 as demand slowed and the Opec cartel showed no signs of cutting production.
Oil prices fell further, with Brent slipping below $38 a barrel for the first time in seven years to close 4.5% lower at $37.93.
US crude ended 3.1% lower at $35.62.
Analysts said the forecast for warm weather in the US was also dampening demand.
Art Hogan, chief market strategist at Wunderlich Securities in New York, said: "About 10% of the S&P 500 is energy and commodity related, and it is a barometer for global economy. When you see such a plunge, it worries investors."
He added: "Until the oil market finds a support level, the market will remain unsettled."
The CBOE volatility index, known as Wall Street's "fear gauge", was up 19.5% at 23.1 - its highest level since early October.
Anglo-African financial services company Old Mutual slumped another 10.6% after dropping sharply on Thursday.
Jasper Lawler, an analyst at CMC Markets, said Old Mutual was abandoned by investors because of its business in South Africa.
"The worry... is that new finance minister David van Rooyen may have been put in to ramp up spending for political purposes against the best interests of the economy," he said.
The rand weakened further to a new record low on Friday, down more than 3%.
Mondi, a packaging and paper company with a South African division, slipped 3.1%, while the FTSE 250-listed asset manager Investec fell 10.8% after a similar fall on Thursday.
In London, shares in miners and oil companies including BHP Billiton, BG Group, Royal Dutch Shell, Glencore and Rio Tinto fell between 4% and 5.3%.
Anglo American was hit by a target price cut from Goldman Sachs and sank a further 8%.
Investors were also awaiting the Federal Reserve's decision on interest rates on Wednesday.
"If the Fed does not move next week, it is basically saying that the recovery is not strong enough," said Randy Frederick, managing director of trading and derivatives for Charles Schwab in Austin, Texas.
"It will definitely be a negative factor for the market."


Four people have appeared in court after a major police investigation into organised crime.

It follows raids at 20 properties across Northern Ireland - more than half of which were in Derry - that involved about 400 officers.
The charges relate to assets worth more than Â£1m that include property, cash, drugs and high value jewellery - including valuable Rolex watches.
These were seized by the PSNI over the course of Tuesday and Wednesday.
Three of the accused appeared at Londonderry Magistrates' Court on Thursday.
Mark Anthony Kelly, 41, a tyre exhaust fitter from the city, faces one charge of conspiracy to supply herbal cannabis and nine other various money-laundering offences.
A couple also appeared before the court on a total of 26 charges.
Patrick Pierce O'Connor, who was described by police as a principal member of the crime gang, is from Stoneypath in the city.
The 47-year-old faces 17 charges, relating to money-laundering, concealing criminal property and converting criminal property.
Four charges relate to Rolex watches worth Â£456,000,
He faces a further charge of possessing criminal property include a diamond ring and other high value items.
He also faces two offences of conspiracy to supply cannabis and cocaine.
The man's 35-year-old wife, Misha O'Connor, faces nine charges including acquiring and possessing criminal property, and money-laundering.
Mrs O'Connor was released on bail with strict conditions imposed.
Patrick O'Connor and Mark Kelly were remanded in custody until 20 July.
Appearing later in the day at Strabane Magistrates' Court was father-of-two Barry Fox from Dunavon Park in Dungannon.
The 36-year-old was charged with conspiracy to supply a Class B drug, entering an arrangement to acquire criminal property, converting criminal property, and possession of a Class B drug.
Mr Fox was remanded on bail to appear at Bishop Street Courthouse in Derry on 3 July.
A fifth person arrested in connection with the operation is due to appear at Belfast Magistrates' Court next month.


Jamie Vardy scored a hat-trick as Leicester City pulled off a stunning victory over an out-of-sorts Manchester City.

The Foxes were 2-0 up in five minutes as Vardy ended his 10-game run without a Premier League goal by slotting home, and Andy King curled in moments later.
It was 3-0 within 20 minutes as Vardy added another after skipping past visiting keeper Claudio Bravo, and he completed his hat-trick by intercepting a misplaced John Stones pass and finishing from a narrow angle.
Aleksandar Kolarov, with a free-kick, and Nolito scored late consolation goals for the away side.
They have now lost back-to-back league games for the first time since Pep Guardiola took over in the summer, and are four points adrift of leaders Arsenal.
For defending champions Leicester, victory ended a five-game run without a league win and moved them up to 14th.
Guardiola said this week he wanted a new rule to allow teams to use up to six substitutes - and after five minutes he may have hoped his wish was a reality.
Manchester City have kept just two Premier League clean sheets this season, and Guardiola reshuffled his formation to start with a back three of Pablo Zabaleta, John Stones and Bacary Sagna.
That strategy was swiftly scrapped, though, when his side fell 2-0 down after just 255 seconds - Kolarov was hauled out of midfield and into a hastily created back four.
The visitors, looking marginally better for the change, still managed to get caught on the break for Leicester's third and frequently put themselves under pressure by trying to play out from the back - Stones' misplaced backpass for Vardy's third the costliest example.
Their fragility could well be a result of their lack of a consistent starting XI, with Guardiola never having kept the same line-up for two consecutive games during his time at Etihad Stadium.
Suspensions for Sergio Aguero, Fernandinho and Nicolas Otamendi had forced the Spaniard to make changes here, and his side were devoid of cohesion.
For all their possession, they did not have their first shot on target until Kolarov scored a well-placed free-kick in the 82nd minute, and only salvaged further respectability when Nolito tapped in the Serb's low cross late on.
Leicester, who were a point above the relegation zone when they kicked off, were superb and, for perhaps the first time this season, showed all the hallmarks of last term's incredible title-winning campaign.
That most unlikely of championships was built on resolute defending, lightning-quick counter-attacking, Vardy's goals and Riyad Mahrez's magic - all of which were on show.
Mahrez pulled off a superb first touch to direct a high ball to Islam Slimani, who in turn slid in Vardy for the opener, and the Algerian repeated the feat when he redirected a long ball into the path of Vardy for Leicester's third.
Vardy, who scored 24 Premier League goals last season, had endured a 741-minute goal drought in the league, but took his tally for this term to five when he capitalised on Stones' error and somehow threaded a finish from the tightest of angles.
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Leicester boss Claudio Ranieri told BBC Sport: "It was the true Leicester, maybe because we have played so badly in our last few matches, but today we were so strong.
"We played smart, slowed down the tempo.
"I am very pleased for Jamie. When he finished, I said 'welcome back'."
Former Leicester defender Matt Elliott on BBC Radio Leicester: "There was a spark and zip about Leicester's play from the off. You could sense it, a freshness in the air.
"That's their best performance by some distance this season and that might just reignite their season, certainly in domestic terms."
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola told BBC Sport: "Leicester won the second balls and scored fantastic goals.
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"Football is a game with mistakes, especially today. I would never complain to my players and I will look inside myself and analyse the reason why we have problems with the second balls when they arrive.
"Our game is not bad, but in the box we have a lot of problems."
Match of the Day pundit Danny Murphy: "That's as good as I've seen Leicester this season, it was like the Leicester of last season. But City didn't half help them.
"Kolarov was supposed to be playing as a third centre-half but he played so far forward, he left Stones isolated. Zabaleta was playing in a weird in-between position and it didn't look like he knew what he was doing.
"Kevin de Bruyne appeared to be at left-wing-back. The communication and lack of line was pretty bad. Kolarov was playing his own game going forward so often. They gave Leicester so many opportunities to attack them. It could have been more.
"Fifty changes, they've made this season. It's nice to build relationships and have some familiarity. You can't keep changing players."
On Monday, both sides find out who they will face in the last 16 of the Champions League.
Manchester City will be drawn against one of Atletico Madrid, Borussia Dortmund, Juventus, Monaco or Napoli.
Leicester City will meet Bayer Leverkusen, Bayern Munich, Benfica, Paris St-Germain, Real Madrid or Sevilla.
On Tuesday, Leicester travel to Bournemouth (19:45 GMT). Manchester City host Watford the following day (20:00).
Match ends, Leicester City 4, Manchester City 2.
Second Half ends, Leicester City 4, Manchester City 2.
Offside, Manchester City. David Silva tries a through ball, but Pablo Zabaleta is caught offside.
Attempt saved. Yaya Touré (Manchester City) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Pablo Zabaleta.
Attempt blocked. Nolito (Manchester City) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Kevin De Bruyne with a cross.
Shinji Okazaki (Leicester City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Aleksandar Kolarov (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Shinji Okazaki (Leicester City).
Substitution, Leicester City. Matthew James replaces Riyad Mahrez.
Attempt missed. Nolito (Manchester City) left footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Raheem Sterling.
Goal!  Leicester City 4, Manchester City 2. Nolito (Manchester City) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Aleksandar Kolarov.
Substitution, Leicester City. Demarai Gray replaces Jamie Vardy.
Foul by Raheem Sterling (Manchester City).
Riyad Mahrez (Leicester City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Corner,  Manchester City. Conceded by Christian Fuchs.
Attempt saved. Nolito (Manchester City) header from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Pablo Zabaleta with a cross.
Pablo Zabaleta (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Shinji Okazaki (Leicester City).
Goal!  Leicester City 4, Manchester City 1. Aleksandar Kolarov (Manchester City) from a free kick with a left footed shot to the bottom right corner.
David Silva (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Christian Fuchs (Leicester City).
Goal!  Leicester City 4, Manchester City 0. Jamie Vardy (Leicester City) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right to the bottom left corner.
Substitution, Leicester City. Shinji Okazaki replaces Islam Slimani.
Raheem Sterling (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Andy King (Leicester City).
Substitution, Manchester City. Nolito replaces Ilkay Gündogan.
Fernando (Manchester City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Foul by Fernando (Manchester City).
Danny Simpson (Leicester City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt missed. Islam Slimani (Leicester City) header from the right side of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Marc Albrighton with a cross following a corner.
Corner,  Leicester City. Conceded by John Stones.
Attempt saved. Islam Slimani (Leicester City) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner.
Corner,  Manchester City. Conceded by Andy King.
Attempt blocked. Pablo Zabaleta (Manchester City) left footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Fernando.
Corner,  Manchester City. Conceded by Marc Albrighton.
Corner,  Manchester City. Conceded by Danny Simpson.
Substitution, Manchester City. Yaya Touré replaces Kelechi Iheanacho.
Substitution, Manchester City. Raheem Sterling replaces Jesús Navas.
Riyad Mahrez (Leicester City) is shown the yellow card.
Attempt missed. Ilkay Gündogan (Manchester City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Kelechi Iheanacho.


An empty train crashed into a sleeper left on the track by staff who broke safety guidelines, a report has found.

The train hit one of three wooden sleepers that fell on the track from a trailer, near Somerleyton in Suffolk.
The Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) said the crash happened on 18 June after Network Rail staff removed old sleepers and rails overnight.
Network Rail said safety rules about observation of loads were reissued to staff immediately after the crash.
A maintenance team spent the early hours of the day removing old wooden sleepers from the track between Somerleyton and Oulton Broad North station.
The report said guidelines had been flouted and no-one was given the job of ensuring "nothing fell off" the trailers.
The report said: "The authorised work plan calls for a person to be appointed to monitor the load on each trailer."
The passenger train from Norwich to Lowestoft was travelling at about 35mph (56km/h) when it hit the sleeper, just after 05:08 BST.
The driver stopped the train before getting out to inspect what it had hit.
The RAIB said he was accompanied by a second driver and they found a wooden sleeper "wedged under the front" of the train, as well as two further sleepers nearby, which they removed.
After deciding the train was fit to move, the driver continued his journey to Lowestoft at a reduced speed.
A spokesman for Network Rail said: "The safety of our network is of the utmost importance to us and we will take any steps necessary to prevent a recurrence of this incident.
"We will be studying the recommendations of the report in detail."


Prosecutors and Lord Janner's defence team agree he will be found unfit to stand trial for sex abuse charges, a court has heard.

Judge Mr Justice Openshaw told a pre-trial hearing at the Old Bailey it was "obvious and inevitable" the peer, who has dementia, would be found unfit.
The 87-year-old is accused of 15 counts of indecent assault and seven counts of a separate sexual offence, against a total of nine complainants.
He denies the allegations against him.
A fitness to plead hearing is on track to take place on 7 December, the court heard.
The former Labour MP for Leicester North West was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 2009.
At the pre-trial hearing, prosecutor Eleanor Laws QC said: "Both parties agree the defendant is unfit to plead and unfit to stand trial."
Judge Mr Justice Openshaw agreed and said: "Plainly there is a public interest in these matters and the public are entitled to know the evidence on which the finding has been made.
"Should the medical reports be made available to the press - that is a question we will need to address on 7 December."
If the judge decides the peer is fit to plead, then a full trial would take place.
But, if not, a "trial of the facts" will take place, where a jury will decide if he committed the abuse, with no finding of guilt or conviction.
The Old Bailey heard that the most likely trial date is expected to be on 11 April next year.
Updating the judge on the progress of the trial, Ms Laws said the prosecution was "on track" with the timetable set for disclosing material to the defence.
But she said there would be thousands of pages of material relating to children's homes, which the prosecution was not intending to use, but that Lord Janner's defence team was entitled to see.
The allegations against Lord Janner allegedly took place in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s.
Greville Janner was made Lord Janner of Braunstone in 1997. He remains a life peer, but has been on leave of absence since 2014.


Former Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser has died aged 84.

A statement from his office said Mr Fraser, who led the nation between 1975 and 1983, died after a short illness.
He became its leader in controversial circumstances, after the unprecedented dismissal of PM Gough Whitlam.
Once in office, he championed the rights of Indigenous Australians and refugees, a stance that put him on a collision course with his own party in later life.
The statement from his office said he "died peacefully in the early hours of the morning" on Friday.
"We appreciate that this will be a shock to all who knew and loved him, but ask that the family be left in peace at this difficult time," it added.
The constitutional crisis that led to Mr Fraser becoming prime minister in 1975 formed an integral part of his image in Australia.
As leader of the opposition he blocked finance bills for government programmes, forcing Governor-General Sir John Kerr to dismiss Mr Whitlam as prime minister.
Mr Fraser was then appointed caretaker prime minister at the head of a Liberal-Country Party coalition government until an election in December, which he won by a landslide.
Gough Whitlam's dismissal shocked the country and, with Mr Whitlam calling on his supporters to "maintain your rage", sparked off protest strikes and violent demonstrations.
In office, Mr Fraser continued some of the reforms begun by Mr Whitlam, including the introduction of legislation that returned land to Indigenous Australians in the Northern Territory.
Other achievements during his three terms of office included the creation of Australia's family court.
The Fraser government also launched the Special Broadcasting Service (SBS), a government-funded multilingual broadcaster much-loved by Australia's immigrant communities. The SBS was indicative of Mr Fraser's commitment to the rights of those born elsewhere who made Australia their home.
He was staunchly anti-apartheid, and campaigned during his leadership against the racial segregation in South Africa.
Mr Fraser's political legacy also protects Australia's greatest environmental treasure - his government declared 36,000 sq/km of the Cairns section of the Great Barrier Reef a marine park.
In later years, following his defeat by Labor's Bob Hawke in 1983, Mr Fraser adopted the mantle of the elder statesman and he became a key figure in humanitarian and diplomatic circles.
He was a staunch critic of his own party, particularly under John Howard's leadership between 1996 and 2007 because of the party's policies on rights of Indigenous Australians and refugees.
He became so disenchanted with the Liberal Party that in 2010 he renounced his membership.
Australian Prime Minister and current Liberal leader Tony Abbott, often a target of Mr Fraser's criticism, praised the former leader for his "unwavering" opposition to apartheid and "deep interest in the advancement of indigenous people".
"In a long and active retirement, he maintained a keen interest in our country's direction," Mr Abbott said.
Tributes to the former prime minister poured in from politicians across the party divide.
Many praised Mr Fraser for his efforts to create a home in Australia for refugees and to fight for the rights of those suffering racial discrimination.
Labor leader Bill Shorten said Mr Fraser had "immeasurably enriched Australia's multicultural society, offering refuge to tens of thousands of vulnerable people driven from Vietnam by the horror of war".
Former Labor Prime Minister Kevin Rudd called him "a compassionate Australian who cared for people at home or abroad who had little or nothing to protect them".
Another former leader, Julia Gillard said he "was a leader in the fight for racial equality".
"His brave stance against the evil of South Africa's apartheid helped changed the world for the better," she said.
Former Liberal Prime Minister John Howard credited the former prime minister with bringing "great integrity" to governing Australia.
"Anybody who achieves what Malcolm Fraser achieved in his life deserves respect as a quite extraordinary Australian," Mr Howard said.
Christine Milne, leader of the Greens, said Mr Fraser made an "enormous contribution to Australia" and praised him for his "compassion and dedication to building a thriving and peaceful multicultural society".


UK house prices continued to grow strongly in October, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) has said.

The cost of the average UK home rose by 0.8% in October, the ONS said, with the annual house price inflation rate rising to 7% from 6.1% in September.
That means that the average UK home now costs Â£287,000.
House prices have been growing particularly quickly in eastern England, where they rose 10.4% in the past year.
The south east of England also saw rapid growth, with prices up 9.5% over the past 12 months.
The ONS noted that the annual rate of price growth across the whole of the UK had now risen for three months in a row.
"Upwards pressure on house prices may be a result of a shortage of supply and a strengthening of demand in the housing market, a view supported by a number of house market indicators," the ONS said.
"There continues to be weak supply in the market, with the Bank of England's Agents' Summary Conditions for October reporting a shortage of properties available for sale."
The ONS figures are in the middle of a range of those produced by the various leading house price indexes, though all have shown that prices have risen in the past year.
The Nationwide said UK prices rose by 3.7% in the year to November, while rival lender the Halifax said prices were up 9%.
The Land Registry, drawing on its own data, says prices in England and Wales went up 5.6% in the year to October.
Separate figures indicated that mortgage lending continued to grow strongly in October, according to the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML).
The number of loans made to home buyers rose by 9% in October to 65,300, which was up 3% on a year ago and the second highest number since 2007.
The number of loans to first-time buyers, at 29,900 mortgages, was at its joint-highest total since August 2007, just before the onset of the banking crisis.
Paul Smee, director general of the CML, said: "Home owner and buy-to-let activity have both continued the upward trend seen last month, and the market looks set to finish the year strongly, despite taking time to gain momentum after a slow start to 2015."
"With increasing employment and the current absence of inflationary pressures in the UK, conditions for continuing demand in the housing market seem likely going into the new year."
Campbell Robb, Shelter's chief executive, said: "As house prices continue to rise, more people are losing hope of ever owning their own home and building a stable future for their families."
"Right now, millions of people across the country are stuck in expensive private renting because of our housing shortage, with barely enough money left over each month to pay for essentials, let alone save for a deposit."


MP Ann Clwyd has won the selection process to defend her Cynon Valley seat at the 2015 General Election.

The 77-year-old MP announced in February she would retire after more than 30 years in Parliament but said in September she had changed her mind.
Ms Clwyd faced three other contenders on an all-women shortlist.
Labour officials had said she would have to seek re-selection as the party had already started the process of replacing her.
The other candidates were PCS union official Katie Antippas, from Cardiff; Rhondda Cynon Taf councillor Sue Pickering; and scientist Aysha Raza, a Labour councillor in Ealing, west London, originally from Aberdare.
Ms Clwyd has represented the Cynon Valley seat in south Wales since winning a by-election there in 1984.
She said in September that local voters had asked her to reconsider her retirement, adding that she then received a "very enthusiastic" reaction to her change of heart.
It followed a row over Labour's decision to use an all-women shortlist to select her successor, which had been strongly opposed by local party officials.


WBO light-middleweight champion Liam Smith will face WBC middleweight title holder Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez in America on 17 September.

Liverpool fighter Smith, 27, said after his victory over Predrag Radosevic earlier this month that he was hopeful of a bout with the Mexican.
Alvarez's last fight was against Amir Khan in Las Vegas, with the 25-year-old winning by sixth-round knock-out.
"To headline in America is a dream I've had since I started," said Smith.
"This fight will allow me to make a name for myself in the US and show the Americans and Mexicans just how good I am.
"My next goal was to make my name across the Atlantic and this is the big stage that will enable me to do that against the biggest name in world boxing."
At present no venue has been announced for the fight.


Loyalist campaigner Jim Dowson has been given a three-month suspended jail sentence for offences linked to union flag protests in Northern Ireland.

Fifty-year-old Dowson pleaded guilty to three counts of participating in unlawful public processions in 2013.
The offences occurred during protests at the decision to limit the flying of the union flag at Belfast City Hall.
The judge ruled out imposing community service after hearing Dowson is under threat from two different sources.
Prosecutors said anyone involved in the marches in January and February 2013 broke the law because prior notice required under legislation was not given to police and the Parades Commission.
Demonstrators coming in from the east of the city passed sensitive interface locations, with disorder breaking out on some occasions.
Although it was not suggested that Dowson was involved in any trouble, Belfast Magistrates' Court heard he was captured on video taking part in three of the processions.
He was seen walking at the centre of one large crowd, and then at the head of two other marches, it was claimed.
A prosecutor said Dowson, originally from Scotland but with an address in Comber, County Down, had initially denied any wrongdoing.
"He accepted being present but disputed that they constituted a procession," the lawyer told the court.
"He said he was an Orangeman but denied knowing any notification document had to go to the Parades Commission."
A defence lawyer said that Dowson should be given credit for pleading guilty rather than fighting the charges.
The court was told that he had resisted any chance to "bang the drum" by fighting the allegations.
The defence argued that Dowson was not involved in any disorder, instead urging others not to break the law.
During the hearing, the judge questioned Dowson's suitability for community service.
But she rejected that option after hearing how the apparent threats against him could lead to others being put at risk.
Sentencing Dowson to a three-month jail term, suspended for 18-months, the judge said she considered the offences to be "serious".


More than 1,000 Hong Kong students have taken their pro-democracy march to government offices, as part of a week-long boycott of classes.

The march came a day after student leaders said 13,000 students had taken part in a rally at a university campus.
They are protesting against a decision by Beijing to rule out fully democratic elections in Hong Kong in 2017.
Brief scuffles broke out as protesters rushed towards Chief Executive CY Leung as he left the government offices.
The Hong Kong Federation of Students claimed Mr Leung had ignored students and "simply walked past them".
RTHK quoted Mr Leung's spokesman who said he intended to accept a petition letter from the students but left when the situation became chaotic.
Mr Leung told reporters that he was willing to listen to protesters' requests, but stressed that Beijing had already made its decision and Hong Kong would still have a "one man one vote" electoral system.
The students' boycott is seen as a prelude to a larger demonstration planned for 1 October, organised by pro-democracy group Occupy Central, which has vowed to block the financial district.
In August, Beijing decided that candidates for the 2017 chief executive election would first have to be approved by a nominating committee. Activists have argued that this does not amount to true democracy.
State news outlet Global Times published an editorial on Tuesday saying activists were "misguided in their anger" and that Hong Kong had more important issues to deal with, such as growing inequality.
It said continued protests "benefits nobody, whether it be the activists, the public or relations with the mainland, and will accomplish nothing good for Hong Kong".
On Monday China's President Xi Jinping stressed that the "basic principle and policy" of "one country, two systems" towards Hong Kong "has not changed and will not change", according to Xinhua.
Q&A: Hong Kong's democracy controversy


Boys who protested against a ban on shorts at their school, by wearing skirts, have won their fashion fight.

From next year boys at the school in Exeter will be allowed to wear shorts.
They were originally told shorts were not part of the uniform, despite the sunny weather.
So around 30 boys decided to protest by wearing skirts to school instead - here's what the protest looked like!.
Now the school say "as summers are becoming hotter" shorts will be brought in as uniform next year.
What a result for the fashion fighters!


Brendan Rodgers is emerging as the frontrunner to take over as manager of Celtic.

The BBC has learned the former Liverpool manager, 43, met club representatives for several hours in Scotland on Wednesday.
Earlier, Celtic's biggest individual shareholder Dermot Desmond said the club had interviewed "in excess of six" candidates.
And the Irish businessman described the Northern Irishman as "a great manager".
"We're excited about the managers we've interviewed and we've discussed," Desmond said. "Hopefully in the next few days we will decide, and enter negotiations."
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Asked whether Rodgers was one of those interviewed, Desmond replied: "I can't tell a lie.
"He's a great manager. He's proved it at Liverpool and I think he's a worthy candidate for Celtic - as all the other candidates are."
Ronny Deila's two-year tenure at Celtic ended with Sunday's 7-0 win over Motherwell.
Under the Norwegian, the club won consecutive Premiership titles, taking their current run of Scottish top-flight crowns to five, with the previous three won under Neil Lennon.
However, they have not reached the group stages of the Champions League since Lennon's time in charge.
Rodgers and Scottish former Celtic defender Malky Mackay, 44, have spoken to the club about the vacancy.
Both started their managerial careers at Watford - Mackay had a spell in charge of Cardiff City, while Rodgers was at Reading and Swansea City before joining Liverpool.
Mackay was sacked by Wigan Athletic six months before Rodgers was let go by Liverpool in October.
Four other former Celtic players - David Moyes, Roy Keane, Paul Lambert and Lennon - as well as former West Brom boss Steve Clarke have also all been strongly linked with the job.
Celtic had released a statement saying there was no preferred candidate and that they would take their time over the appointment.