Following the driest June since 1925 and a dry July, farmers have reported water supply concerns which could affect the irrigation of crops and welfare of livestock. Ahead of the National Farmers Union’s drought summit today (Wednesday 1 August), the Environment Agency issued guidance to farmers detailing options to flex abstraction licences in serious cases.

The arrangements will allow farmers to trade water allowances – as set out in their abstraction licence – on a short-term basis, without the need to change their licence. The EA will fast-track the process to enable farmers to act quickly and arrangements will be agreed locally where the EA is satisfied that there will not be any adverse effects on the environment or the rights of other lawful water users. The EA also monitors river flow and will maximise access to water when it is available, such as following heavy rain.

In severe cases where there is a real or imminent threat to crops and livestock, the EA may temporarily allow additional, emergency abstraction. Each case will be assessed to minimise impacts to the environment or the rights of other water users.

Paul Hickey, head of water resources, Environment Agency said:

We know that farmers are facing considerable pressures in responding to drought conditions and we want to support them by allowing them to flex their abstraction licences in the most serious cases to safeguard food production and animal welfare.

We must also balance farmers’ needs with those of wildlife and other water users so we will only allow these arrangements where we are satisfied there won’t be any adverse effects on the environment.

As the hot, dry weather is set to continue we urge everyone to use water wisely to protect the environment and help prevent the need for water restrictions.

The Environment Agency will continue to carry out compliance checks on abstraction licences to ensure that abstractors keep to their licences and any agreed flexible arrangements.

The temporary arrangements do not apply to water companies as they are able to use a variety of drought measures defined in law to manage droughts and public water supply. The Environment Agency works closely with water companies to ensure they are following drought plans and implementing actions to conserve water in a timely way.

Notes to Editors

It is up to abstractors to ensure that they use water wisely, efficiently and have sufficient water for their needs.

Any flexible arrangements will be one-off, limited to this event. If any abstraction outside a licence is likely to need to re-occur, licence holders must apply to vary the licence at the earliest opportunity.

It is important that water abstraction licence holders check their licence details – licence holders can now view and manage water abstraction licences online

The Environment Agency can review hands off flow conditions more frequently to allow abstractors to take advantage of any peak flows when significant rainfall occurs.

Use of water company headroom by other abstractors where this is sustainable. Southern and Anglian Water have said that in principle this can be provided and we are awaiting details from the companies on their proposals.

Just in time for Yorkshire Day, the government is today (1 August 2018) revealing that it’s Yorkshire which is the top exporter of manufacturing goods outside of London.

Official figures show that for every 10,000 residents in Yorkshire in 2017, there were 22 exporting companies – more per person than anywhere else in the Northern Powerhouse as well as more than Scotland and Wales. Between 2016 and 2017, exports from Yorkshire also surged by 14% – the strongest growth from across the Northern Powerhouse.

One explanation for the table-topping export figures is Yorkshire’s strong and enduring industrial base. Almost 10% of the region’s workforce is employed in manufacturing.

From Siemens UK investing up to £200 million in a state-of-the-art train factory in Goole to Sirius Minerals announcing a revolutionary mineral transport system in Wilton creating billions of pounds in exports, Yorkshire continues to build on its reputation as the beating industrial heart of the North.

The region also boasts the highest proportion of exports going to Sub-Saharan Africa as well as above UK average exports going to Latin America and the Caribbean.

Yorkshire’s high export figures can be attributed to the wide variety of goods and products the region produces in a diverse number of industries – from advanced manufacturing to traditional farming – exports of food and animals were valued at nearly £1 billion in 2017, and exports from this sector grew by 11.6% between Q1 2017 and Q1 2018.

The county is also home to the headquarters of Tata Steel, Northern Foods, Northern Monk Brewery Co, a world-renowned farming industry and some of the most iconic household brands like Fox’s biscuits and Cravendale milk.

Northern Powerhouse Minister, Jake Berry MP, said:

This Yorkshire Day, let’s recognise the tremendous achievements of the entrepreneurs, business owners, manufacturers and innovators who are leading the charge of the Northern Powerhouse with an export-driven economy at its heart.

Yorkshire has a rapidly growing network of businesses who are part of our Northern Powerhouse partners programme. These latest figures show what can be achieved when government and business work together and I encourage local companies of all sizes to join our coalition of private and public sector partners taking the Northern Powerhouse forward.

Minister for Investment, Graham Stuart, said:

Today, more and more local Yorkshire companies are seizing the enormous global opportunities which exist across the world, with consumers admiring the creativity, quality and ingenuity of Yorkshire made goods.

For those who are considering exporting, help is instantly accessible from the Department for International Trade, with online tools available at great.gov.uk. From sporting success to growing exports, Yorkshire has an enormous amount to offer and as a Yorkshire MP I take great pride in the success of local businesses exporting goods and services from the Northern Powerhouse across the globe.

Exporting businesses across the region are also backed by the government’s Local Enterprise Partnerships with 3 rounds of Growth Deal funding totalling £145.9 million going towards projects which kick-start growth and promote job creation.

Based on publically available HMRC data for Yorkshire and the Humber which covers most (but not all) of the historic county of Yorkshire, and parts of Lincolnshire.

The Northern Powerhouse is government’s vision for a super-connected, globally-competitive northern economy with a flourishing private sector, a highly-skilled population, and world-renowned civic and business leadership.

The Northern Powerhouse Partner Programme is an essential part of creating the Northern Powerhouse. Government is looking to build a network of partners who all believe strongly in the economic potential of the North, and support the need for a combined effort by government and business to realise that potential. There are currently over 145 businesses and organisations signed up to the partner programme.

Prospective partners can email NorthernPowerhouse@communities.gsi.gov.uk for more information about the Partners Programme and how to apply.

Businesses in Yorkshire and the Humber who have announced their partnership with government on the Northern Powerhouse include:

• University of Sheffield
• Walker Morris LLP
• York, North Yorkshire and East Riding LEP
• Yorkshire Building Society Group
• Zikodrive
• aql
• AA Recruiting
• CMS
• Creating Inclusive Cultures
• Drax Power Ltd.
• Ernst & Young
• Lambert Smith Hampton
• Leeds Bradford Airport
• Leeds City Region LEP
• Make It York – (DCLG/GCS Local)
• Medilink – Matt, BPT
• Mills & Reeve LLP
• North Invest – Jacquelyn Goddard
• Rugby Football League
• Sheffield City Region LEP
• Sheffield Hallam University

The Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI), Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and Innovate UK are inviting organisations to come forward with game-changing ideas in civil aerospace.

This is done through the UK Aerospace Research and Technology Programme, a £3.9 billion joint government and industry investment in projects that will make the UK more competitive in civil aerospace.

There is around £150 million available each year to support the best ideas. This is one of a series of regular calls for projects.

Businesses and researchers can put forward expressions of interest to carry out innovative projects. The best ideas will be invited to apply for funding.

Ideas must deliver UK aerospace strategy

We are looking for projects that help the UK to meet its technology strategy for aerospace.

Priority areas include:

• strengthening the UK’s whole-aircraft design and system integration capability for future generations of civil aircraft
• developing smart, connected and more electric aircraft
• ensuring the UK is a global leader in large complex structures, particularly wings
• advancing more efficient propulsion technologies, particularly large turbofans

Competition information

• the competition opens for expressions of interest on 6 August 2018, and the deadline is midday on 22 August 2018
• successful applicants will be invited to make a full funding application. The approval process typically takes at least 6 months
• organisations can work alone or in partnership with other businesses and researchers
• project costs and duration should be in proportion to the objectives
• businesses could attract up to 70% of their project costs
• you will need to sign up to the ATI framework agreement to be eligible to apply