A man who sexually assaulted a young girl has today been immediately imprisoned after the Solicitor General, Robert Buckland QC MP, referred his sentence under the ULS scheme.

Kevin Ryan, 64, sexually assaulted a 12-year-old girl, groping her under her clothing. The crime was reported after the victim’s mother found her crying in her room. The assault has had a considerable, lasting impact on the victim.

Ryan was originally sentenced at Warwick Crown Court in April, where he was given a sentence of 2 years’ imprisonment suspended for 2 years. Yesterday, after the Solicitor General’s referral, the Court of Appeal increased his sentence to 3 years imprisonment.

Commenting on the sentence increase, the Solicitor General said:

Ryan acted without consideration for the significant and long-lasting emotional damage it would cause his victim. I am pleased that the Court of Appeal has agreed with my referral, and hope this increased sentence will bring some comfort to the victim and her family.

There is up to £40 million of funding available for businesses to collaborate with an academic or research organisation and a graduate on a Knowledge Transfer Partnership.

Translating academic thinking into business success

A Knowledge Transfer Partnership can focus on any technology or industry area and last between 12 and 36 months.

Funding can help UK businesses to bring in a graduate, who will work on an innovation project. This will enable organisations to turn academic thinking into business change, support growth and future development.

Businesses should have a specific project in mind when they are applying. If a business already has a relationship with a university, college or research and technology organisation they can choose to work with them, or contact the network of Knowledge Transfer Advisers to help find a partner. Advisers can also offer additional project support including with the application.

Applications should:

• include information about the participants
• set out the objectives of the project
• explain what the project is proposing to do
• outline the deliverables for the graduate

Programme information

• applications for Knowledge Transfer Partnerships are open throughout the year
• the deadline for applications for this round is 19 September 2018. If you miss the deadline for one round you will automatically be entered into the next
• any size business or not-for-profit organisation may apply
• projects can last between 12 and 36 months
• the amount of grant you can get for your project and your contribution will depend on the size of your business. Typically:
  • small and medium-sized enterprises contribute around £35,000 per year, about one-third of the project costs
  • large businesses contribute about £55,000 per year, or half of the project costs

The new ‘UKRI Science, Research and Academia’ scheme, which allows non-EEA researchers, scientists and academics to come to the UK for up to 2 years, opens today (Friday 6 July), the Immigration Minister has announced.

The new scheme, which is being added to the Tier 5 (Temporary Worker – Government Authorised Exchange (GAE)) visa route, has been introduced to reflect and encourage the ongoing growth of the research sector in the UK.

It will be operated by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and will mean that they, along with 12 approved research organisations, such as the Natural History Museum, are able to directly sponsor highly skilled individuals, such as specialist technicians, to work and train in the UK.

The sponsor organisations will be monitored by UKRI as the scheme owner and they will also require individual Tier 5 sponsor licences.

Immigration Minister Caroline Nokes, said:

I recognise the crucial contribution science makes to the UK economy and society and I am determined that the UK will continue to welcome leading scientific and research talent from around the world.

The UK is a world leader in research and innovation and these changes will make it easier for international researchers to work and train in the UK.

We must have an immigration system that makes sure we can attract leading international talent and benefit from their knowledge and expertise.

UKRI brings together the 7 research councils, Innovate UK and Research England.

UKRI chief executive Professor Sir Mark Walport, said:

Research and innovation is inherently international, as are the unprecedented 21st century challenges we must address.

Global collaboration through the movement of talented people plays an essential role in meeting these challenges and this new scheme will provide further support for international researchers to work and train in the UK.

The Tier 5 GAE is the principal visa route by which non-EEA nationals who wish to undertake training and work experience are able to come to the UK. The route allows individuals entering the UK through this scheme to stay for up to 2 years.

The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) will monitor the activity of the scheme on a regular basis with UKRI, to provide assurance that it is meeting the criteria for a Tier 5 scheme.

This initiative demonstrates the government’s commitment to making the UK a dynamic, open, globally-trading nation and builds on other recent reforms to the visa system, including:

• doubling the number of visas available on the Exceptional Talent route to 2,000 per year
• a new Start-up visa route which will replace the Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur) route and widen the pool of candidates who can apply to launch a new business in the UK beyond graduates endorsed by higher education institutions
• removing doctors and nurses from the Tier 2 cap

Further details on the approved Tier 5 GAE schemes can be found online.

Development is proposed for ‘Wylfa Newydd’, a new nuclear power station at Wylfa, Anglesey, North Wales in the United Kingdom (UK). An application for development consent has been accepted for examination by the UK’s Planning Inspectorate, on behalf of the Secretary of State.

The generating station would have an electrical output of approximately 3,100 megawatts (MW), provided by two Advanced Boiling Water Reactors. If development consent is granted, construction would take approximately seven years, with operation likely to commence around 2027. Further information about the project can be found in the development consent application documents which are available on the Planning Inspectorate’s website.

In accordance with the Infrastructure Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2017, the Secretary of State has carried out a screening assessment of likely significant effects on the environment in other states under those Regulations.

The Secretary of State has identified a potential likely significant effect on the environment in the Republic of Ireland. The Secretary of State is of the view that the Proposed Development is not likely to have significant effects in any other states outside of the UK.

Taking into account the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) in a Transboundary Context (the Espoo Convention) and the UNECE Convention on access to information on environmental matters (the Aarhus Convention), the UK Government has chosen to inform all signatory states and their public of the Proposed Development and invite their participation in the decision making process.

The public in any other state who may be interested in this Proposed Development can (if they so choose) provide their representation(s) to the examination of any application by registering as an ‘interested party’. The process for doing this is explained in The Planning Inspectorate’s Advice Note 8.2.

By registering as an ‘interested party’, members of the public in any other state are afforded the same ability as the UK public to participate in the process should they wish to do so. Any person may register.

The closing date for registration as an ‘interested party’ is on 13 August 2018 at 11:59 pm (Greenwich Mean Time)

ENDS

Notes for Editors

Planning Inspectorate role

On 1 April 2012, under the Localism Act 2011, the Planning Inspectorate became the agency responsible for operating the planning process for nationally significant infrastructure projects (NSIPs) in England and Wales.

NSIPs are usually large scale developments such as new harbours, power generating stations (including wind farms and nuclear power stations), and electricity transmission lines, which require a type of consent known as ‘development consent’ under procedures governed by the Planning Act 2008 (and amended by the Localism Act 2011).

In England, the Planning Inspectorate examines applications for development consent from the energy, transport, waste, waste water and water sectors. In Wales, it examines applications for energy and harbour development, subject to detailed provisions in the Act; other matters are for Welsh Ministers.

Any developer wishing to construct an NSIP must first apply for consent to do so. For such projects, the Planning Inspectorate examines the application and will make a recommendation to the relevant Secretary of State, who will make the decision on whether to grant or to refuse development consent.

The Espoo Convention

The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) in Transboundary Context was adopted in 1991 in the Finnish city of Espoo and entered into force on 10 September 1997.

The Espoo Convention sets out the obligations of signatory parties to assess the environmental impact of certain activities and in doing so, notify and consult other parties on all major projects where the project under consideration is likely to have a significant adverse environmental impact in that state.

The Aarhus Convention

The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-Making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters was adopted on 25 June 1998 in the Danish city of Aarhus (Århus) at the Fourth Ministerial Conference as part of the “Environment for Europe” process. It entered into force on 30 October 2001.

The Aarhus Convention establishes a number of rights of the public (individuals and their associations) with regard to the environment. The Parties to the Convention are required to make the necessary provisions so that public authorities (at national, regional or local level) are able to participate in environmental decision making.

The application, submitted by Horizon Nuclear Power for a proposed nuclear power station to be located adjacent to the existing power station at Wylfa A, on the Isle of Anglesey in Wales was accepted by The Planning Inspectorate for examination on 28 June 2018.

The generating station would have an electrical output of approximately 3,100 megawatts (MW), provided by two Advanced Boiling Water Reactors. If development consent is granted, construction would take approximately seven years, with operation likely to commence around 2027. Further information about the project can be found in the development consent application documents which are available on the Planning Inspectorate’s website.

The public and those interested in the proposal can register with the Planning Inspectorate until midnight on 13 August 2018.

People can register easily online.

Alternatively, they may call The Planning Inspectorate’s helpline: 0303 444 5000 for a printed registration form, which must be completed and returned by 13 August 2018.

Sarah Richards, Chief Executive of The Planning Inspectorate said. “This is an opportunity for people to play a part in the planning process and influence the outcome. We encourage people to get involved by registering as an interested party. By doing so, people will be able to participate fully in the examination of this proposal”.

Those who register will be entitled to provide evidence in writing to support their representation, to attend the Preliminary Meeting, to request an open floor hearing and to speak at other hearings where appropriate.

A copy of the application together with further information about the proposal and how to register to make a relevant representation is available on The Planning Inspectorate website.

Ends

Journalists wanting further information should contact the Planning Inspectorate’s Press Office, on: 0303 444 5004 or 0303 444 5005 or email: pressoffice@pins.gsi.gov.uk

More information on this application, including details of the developer’s website, is available in National Infrastructure’s Programme of Projects. Visit: the Projects page.

Notes to editors:

• The Planning Inspectorate is an agency of the Ministry for Housing, communities and Local Government (MHCLG) and operates within the policy framework prescribed in the Planning Act 2008, secondary legislation and the National Policy Statements.

The process in a snapshot

There are six key stages within the process. The summary below provides examples of when and how people have an opportunity to provide evidence to the Planning Inspectorate.

Pre-application

Key activities:

• Project development / developer’s pre-application consultation and publicity.
• Environmental impact assessment preparation and scoping, where required.

Public involvement:

• Have their say on the proposal to the developer through their pre application consultation

Acceptance by the Planning Inspectorate on behalf of the Secretary of State

Key activities:

• The Secretary of State has 28 days from the day after receipt to decide whether or not an application should be accepted for examination

Public involvement:

• Details will be posted at the Planning Inspectorate’s website on how to register as an interested party – if an application has been accepted for examination and publicised by the developer.
• Opportunity to legally challenge a decision not to accept an application.

Pre-examination

Key activities:

• Single Inspector or a Panel of Inspectors appointed.
• Preliminary Meeting called and held.
• Procedure and timetable set for examination.

Public involvement:

• Register to say what you agree or disagree with in the application
• Submit your representation
• View application documents submitted by the developer on the Planning Inspectorate website
• Attend the Preliminary Meeting
• Say how the examination should be conducted.

Examination

Key activities:

• A maximum of six months to carry out the examination

Public involvement:

• Submit more detailed comments in writing
• Comment on what other people have said
• Request and attend an open-floor hearing
• If being held, request to speak at open-floor and / or issue specific hearing(s)
• Comment on the local authority’s Local Impact Report – detailing the impact of the scheme on the local area.

Decision

Key activities:

• A maximum of three months for Planning Inspectorate to issue a recommendation to the relevant Secretary of State, with a statement of reasons.

• The relevant Secretary of State then has a further three months from receiving the recommendation in which to issue the decision.

Post decision

Key activities:

• Six weeks for any legal challenge.

Public involvement: Opportunity to challenge.