A landmark new outreach centre has been officially unveiled today (14 September) at Humberhead Peatlands National Nature Reserve (NNR) in Yorkshire.

Opened by Natural England and backed by £3 million of government funding, the new outdoor laboratory facility includes an educational centre for visitors, local schools and universities helping to establish the reserve as a focal point for the local community.

Research at the site will help us understand how NNRs influence the environment way beyond their physical boundaries, boosting wildlife and providing wider benefits to society such as carbon storage and support for rural economies.

The opening of the new research centre marks the one year anniversary of the launch of an ambitious National Nature Reserve strategy, which brings together government, wildlife charities, NGOs and private landowners to help stimulate recovery across England’s native wildlife by creating conditions to enable wildlife to ‘brim over’ from nature reserves into the wider landscape.

Environment Minister, Thérèse Coffey said:

The transformation of the Humberhead from scarred industrial landscape to Britain’s single largest restored lowland peatland is a fantastic example of how by working together to restore ecological processes we can boost wildlife, improve access to the great outdoors and create new opportunities for the local economy.

Our National Nature Reserves are seen as a role model for conservation around the world and our ambitious strategy will see them flourish, helping us deliver on our ambition to leave the environment in a better state than we found it.

Over the last year the government has invested over £5 million to improve, expand and create NNRs. Natural England is committed to ensuring the future of these nationally important wildlife sites and has worked with partners to identify 80 additional priority landscapes across the country, which as they are developed, will form part of a new Nature Recovery Network of connected wildlife-rich habitats.

Representatives from the 53 conservation organisations involved in the delivery of the joint strategy, today gathered at Humberhead Peatlands NNR to reflect on the success of the programme so far.

Andy Clements, Chair of the NNR Partnership and Natural England Board member said:

The NNR Strategy builds on the solid achievements of half a century of hard work- it reinforces what we have done well, such as here on the Humber by restoring wetlands, bringing a fresh emphasis to the role of premier wildlife sites and restoring biodiversity in the wider landscapes.

This strategy forms part of the government’s 25 Year Environment Plan, which sets out how we will improve the environment for future generations by creating richer habitats for wildlife, using our land more sustainably, and connecting more people with nature. Natural England, the government’s advisor on the natural environment, is a key part of creating and delivering the plan.

Chief Executive of the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, Rob Stoneman said:

Reconnecting people with their landscape and involving them in actions, is one of the main aims of our Landscape Partnership. Through working with 13 partner organisations, to restore and enhance 200 hectares of priority habitat, rare species will be protected including; crane, marsh harrier and nightjar.

With the NNR at its core we are connecting to other wildlife rich areas, so local people and future generations will hear the enigmatic call of the bittern or the incredible sight of a marsh harrier casting a shadow overhead.

International Development Secretary Penny Mordaunt joined Secretary of State for Education Damian Hinds and Love Actually director Richard Curtis to launch the Connecting Classrooms through Global Learning programme on Thursday 13 September 2018 at St Joseph’s School in Wandsworth, London.

To mark the launch of the programme – which is co-funded by the British Council and unites pupils in the UK with school children in Africa, Asia and the Middle East – the visitors joined in the ‘World’s Largest Lesson’ , which saw Year 6 students at St Joseph’s link up with pupils at the Marka Prep Girls’ School N2, in the Marka refugee camp in Jordan.

International Development Secretary Penny Mordaunt said:

The Connecting Classrooms through Global Learning programme is a win for the UK and a win for the developing world. Children and teachers in the participating countries are learning from each other and creating lasting friendships.

I have been really moved to hear the stories of children taking part in the programme learning how much they actually have in common, how alike they are. I also know from my travels, how much teachers in developing countries value the support and knowledge of British teachers.

The Connecting Classrooms through Global Learning programme has been designed to build long-term partnerships between schools and communities in the UK and countries around the world. The previous Connecting Classrooms programme involved more than 5,000 schools working in partnership and reached more than 1 million children between 2015 and 2018. DFID and British Council’s new programme builds on elements of Connecting Classrooms and the Global Learning Programme. It will increase awareness and understanding of global issues and different cultures by reaching a further 3 million pupils for a period of three years.

It will also train 60,000 teachers and school leaders in the UK and developing countries to equip pupils with the knowledge and skills to live and work in a global economy.

The Connecting Classrooms through Global Learning programme is part of an initiative that introduces the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals, also known as the Global Goals, to students and teachers in the UK and around the world. The goals are designed to deliver a more sustainable future for all and include tackling hunger, providing clean water and affordable clean energy.

Secretary of State for Education Damian Hinds said:

Today was a great opportunity to see how Connecting Classrooms is making a difference in schools around the world. At St Joseph’s I saw children of different faiths and backgrounds working together and learning from each other. That kind of collaboration is a lesson for us all.

It is absolutely vital that we share the very best of our education system and learn from the very best of others. Only in doing so will we get closer to forging a global understanding of what education can achieve.

Richard Curtis, a UN advocate for the Sustainable Development Goals, also added:

The Global Goals are an ambitious plan to eradicate extreme poverty, tackle the threat of climate change, and end inequality by 2030 so that future generations can live peacefully and sustainably together. It would be a wonderful thing for children to really know about them – to get them in their DNA – so they themselves can be part of the solution. This can’t happen without schools and teachers getting involved because they are so important in giving children perspective on the world they live in.

It’s great to see the UK taking a creative approach to involving our children in the Goals; these school partnerships will encourage children to develop real relationships with others around the world and give them an amazing opportunity to learn from each other and see how the Goals apply to everyone, home and abroad.

During yesterday’s lesson students worked together to share ideas and design the world they would like to live in by the year 2030 – the deadline set for the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals to be achieved. The lesson ended with guests and students making personal pledges of action on what they could do to achieve the Goals.

Sir Ciarán Devane, Chief Executive, British Council, said:

Connecting Classrooms through Global Learning provides our young people with an opportunity to develop the knowledge, skills and understanding they need to thrive in an increasingly global society.

The partnership between St Joseph’s School and Marka Girls’ School N2 in Jordan shows the huge impact these connections can have on pupils, teachers and the local community. We hope schools across the UK and around the world will sign up to take part.

Research has shown that ‘school linking’ can increase the quality of teaching and learning in the schools involved, improving both pupil engagement and teacher motivation.

Notes to editors

• The Connecting Classrooms through Global Learning programme will offer grants to fund visits by UK and developing country teachers to the partner school. Mobile digital platforms (such as WhatsApp and Zoom) will also be used to enable classroom-to-classroom activities between teachers and pupils.
• The scheme is jointly funded and delivered by the British Council who will contribute £17m. DFID will contribute £21m.
• The programme is for children aged between 7-14 yrs. Schools can sign up by going to the British Council’s website and selecting the part of the programme they are interested in, or by emailing schools@britishcouncil.org.

It will operate in the following countries.

Region	Country
Sub Saharan Africa	Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe
South Asia	Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan, India
MENA	Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, Yemen, Occupied Palestinian Territories, Tunisia, Egypt, Morocco
East Asia	Burma

What’s the difference between Connecting Classrooms through Global Learning and Connecting Classrooms?

Connecting Classrooms through Global Learning builds on key elements of DFID’s most recent development education programmes: the Global Learning Programme (2013-18) and Connecting Classrooms (2015-18).

From the Global Learning Programme it adopts a focus on global learning and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a wide range of UK schools; a tailored approach to each of the four nations of the UK in order to align with their curricula; encouraging the formation of school clusters in order to achieve economies of scale and improve standards through peer learning; providing funding for supply cover so that teachers can access training; and encouraging local community action in line with the SDGs.

From Connecting Classrooms, it retains a focus on partnerships between schools in the UK and overseas, the provision of high-quality materials through the Schools Online website, advocacy and awareness raising of key educational issues overseas, and accreditation for schools through the International Schools Award (ISA). The programme will also continue to place emphasis on strong monitoring and evaluation.

In addition, Connecting Classrooms through Global Learning contains a number of new elements:

• funding for reciprocal visits, so that overseas teachers can now visit partner schools in the UK, and help bring their country to life for UK pupils providing training to teachers on running equitable and sustainable partnerships;
• the creation of a virtual partnerships platform for schools that are unable to take part in face-to-face partnerships;
• a focus on training overseas teachers to develop their pupils’ skillset for the global economy e.g. entrepreneurial skills;
• encouraging partnered schools to make local progress on an SDG as a shared project;
• teacher training overseas to be aligned with DFID’s 2018 education policy, with a focus on education quality and inclusion;
• accreditation for teachers and mapping other relevant awards for schools (such as UNICEF’s Rights Respecting School Award) to the ISA framework so that schools are duly recognised for their work on development education issues;
• in the UK, building on local community links and utilising local resources such as local NGOs, Development Education Centres, civil society organisations, higher education institutions, businesses, Regional Centres for Expertise, and encouraging Commonwealth Scholars, DFID staff, and returnees from the International Citizen Service and Voluntary Service Overseas programmes to visit local schools and discuss their experiences with pupils; and
• a focus on a smaller number of priority countries, whilst adding Lesotho, given its strong links with Wales.

Good morning everyone.

I am absolutely thrilled to to be here, at my first London Fashion Week since becoming Minister for the Creative Industries in January this year.

Fashion is incredibly important to me personally. It is important to the government and I think you will probably know it is important to our Prime Minister who wears British fashion whenever she can.

I want to thank Caroline Rush and everyone here at the British Fashion Council, for ensuring London Fashion Week is once again heart and centre of the international fashion calendar.

UK fashion is an industry admired across the world and I am really proud to be associated with it.

The UK is a global fashion capital and home to world-renowned brands like Alexander McQueen, Erdem and Sophia Webster. As well as up-and-coming labels like Alexa Chung.

The wool trade once accounted for over 80 per cent of our exports and powered the industrial revolution.

Now your industry is worth over £32 billion, has created almost one million jobs and is powering the government’s new industrial strategy.

That’s nearly a million people whose livelihood depend on the creativity of this industry and many more buying, selling and marketing British fashion the world over.

They all depend on the creativity, talent and sheer hard work that this sector delivers month-by-month.

This Government is committed to giving creative firms across the country the support they need to compete on the global stage.

To help these businesses fulfil their globals ambition my department recently announced over £4 million for the new Creative Industries Trade Board which funds fantastic projects like the British Fashion Council’s London Show Rooms in Paris.

As well as trade, the British Fashion Council also does incredible work to nurture, support and grow both domestic and international talent, that’s so important to your industry.

I’m so delighted to be here wearing Mother of Pearl which is one of the designers really supported by the British Fashion Council.

Our innovative designers and fashion houses showcase the nation’s creative zeal, which is why Government is determined to do all we can to support this hugely successful sector and work with the British Fashion Council to ensure access to international talent through our new exceptional talent visa.

I know Brexit is responsible for a great deal of uncertainty and concern but one thing that keeps me going is the creativity in this country, exemplified by your industry, knows no borders.

I would like to thank, as Caroline Rush did, her team and the many people working behind the scenes to create this astonishing event

London Fashion Week has been going for 35 years and remains as important and trend-setting as ever. And I know that this will be the case for many years into the future.

Thank you for having me.

During August, there were five new detentions of foreign flagged vessels in a UK port, three vessels remained under detention from previous months. A total of three vessels remain under detention at the end of August.

1. In response to one of the recommendations of Lord Donaldson’s inquiry into the prevention of pollution from merchant shipping, and in compliance with the EU Directive on Port State Control (2009/16/EC as amended), the Maritime and Coastguard agency (MCA) publishes details of the foreign flagged vessels detained in UK ports each month.

2. The UK is part of a regional agreement on port state control known as the Paris Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control (Paris MOU) and information on all ships that are inspected is held centrally in an electronic database known as THETIS. This allows the ships with a high risk rating and poor detention records to be targeted for future inspection.

3. Inspections of foreign flagged ships in UK ports are undertaken by surveyors from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency. When a ship is found to be not in compliance with applicable convention requirements, a deficiency may be raised. If any of their deficiencies are so serious they have to be rectified before departure, then the ship will be detained.

4. All deficiencies should be rectified before departure if at all possible.

5. When applicable, the list includes those passenger craft prevented from operating under the provisions of the EU Directive on Mandatory Surveys for the safe operation of regular Ro-Ro ferry and high speed passenger craft services (1999/35/EU).

Notes on the list of detentions

• Full details of the ship. The accompanying detention list shows ship’s International Maritime Organization (IMO) number which is unchanging throughout the ship’s life and uniquely identifies it. It also shows the ship’s name and flag state at the time of its inspection.
• Company. The company shown in the vessel’s Safety Management Certificate (SMC) or if there is no SMC, then the party otherwise believed to be responsible for the safety of the ship at the time of inspection.
• Classification Society. The list shows the Classification Society responsible for classing the ship only.
• Recognised Organisation. Responsible for conducting the statutory surveys: and issuing statutory certificates on behalf of the Flag State
• White (WL), Grey (GL) and Black lists (BL) are issued by the Paris MoU on 01 July each year and shows the performance of flag State.

SHIPS DETAINED IN August 2018

Vessel Name: LUZERN

GT: 27900

IMO: 9240794

Flag: Switzerland (White list)

Company: Massoel Shipping

Classification Society: NKK

Recognised Organisation: DNV-GL

Recognised Organisation for ISM Doc: DNV-GL

Recognised Organisation for ISM SMC: DNV-GL

Date and Place of Detention: 7th August 2018 at Belfast

Summary: Six deficiencies with one ground for detention

Defective item	Nature of defect	Ground for Detention
08416 – Ropes and wires	Damaged	No
10109 – Lights, shapes and sound signals	Damaged	No
06104 – Lashing material	Inadequate	No
07101 – Fire Protection and Structural integrity	Inadequate	No
07101 – Fire Protection and Structural integrity	Inadequate	No
15150 – ISM	Not as required	Yes

This vessel was released on 10th August 2018

Vessel Name: VIKINGFJORD

GT: 526

IMO: 7382627

Flag: Norway (White list)

Company: Myklebushhaug Management AS

Classification Society: NA

Recognised Organisation: NA

Recognised Organisation for ISM Doc: BV

Recognised Organisation for ISM SMC: Norway

Date and Place of Detention: 8th August 2018 at Grimsby

Summary: Fourteen deficiencies with Two grounds for detention

Defective item	Nature of defect	Ground for Detention
01108 – Loadline (Including exemptions)	Invalid	Yes
01214 – Endorsement of flag state	Missing	No
10111 – Charts	Missing	No
01308 – Records of seafarers’ daily hours of work or rest	False	No
10111 – Charts	Missing	No
10105 – Magnetic compass	Missing	No
07199 – Other (Fire safety)	Other	No
08499 – Other (Health protection, medical care	Not as required	No
08499 – Other (Health protection, medical care	Not as required	No
07199 – Other (Fire safety)	Other	No
08199 – Alarms other	Other	No
07199 – Other (Fire safety)	Other	No
07199 – Other (Fire safety)	Other	No
15150 – ISM	Not as required	Yes

This vessel was released on 9th August 2018

Vessel Name: SIEM COMMANDER

GT: 2807

IMO: 9420150

Flag: Norway (White list)

Company: Siem Offshore AS

Classification Society: DNV-GL

Recognised Organisation: DNV-GL

Recognised Organisation for ISM Doc: DNV-GL

Recognised Organisation for ISM SMC: DNV-GL

Date and Place of Detention: 10th August 2018 at Falmouth

Summary: Six deficiencies with three grounds for detention

Defective item	Nature of defect	Ground for Detention
04617– Sulphur content of fuel used	Not as required	No
10615 – Fuel change over procedure	Missing	No
07115 – Fire dampers	Inoperative	Yes
11113 – Launching arrangements for rescue boats	Not properly maintained	Yes
11131 – On board training and instructions	Not as required	No
15150 – ISM	Not as required	Yes

This vessel was released on 12th August 2018

Vessel Name: TUNGOR

GT: 7138

IMO: 9570638

Flag: Liberia (White list)

Company: Fenco- West Ltd

Classification Society: BV

Recognised Organisation: BV

Recognised Organisation for ISM Doc: RMRS

Recognised Organisation for ISM SMC: Liberia

Date and Place of Detention: 13th August 2018 at Ellesmere Port

Summary: Ten deficiencies with two grounds for detention

Defective item	Nature of defect	Ground for Detention
09232 – Cleanliness of the engine room	Insufficient	Yes
14607 – Quality of fuel oil	Not as required	No
13103 – Gauges, Thermometers etc	Missing	No
07106 – Fire detection and alarm system	Not as required	No
10101 – Gyro compass	Inoperative	No
18409 – Dangerous areas	Not as required	No
11105 – Rescue boat inventory	Not as required	No
07120 – Means of escape	Not as required	No
07105 – Fire doors/openings in fire – resisting divisions	Not as required	No
15150 – ISM	Not as required	Yes

This vessel was released on 23rd August 2018

Vessel Name: H&S PRUDENCE

GT: 1556

IMO: 9226188

Flag: Netherlands (White list)

Company: EEMS Werken

Classification Society: BV

Recognised Organisation: BV

Recognised Organisation for ISM Doc: BV

Recognised Organisation for ISM SMC: BV

Date and Place of Detention: 13th August 2018 at Immingham

Summary: Twelve deficiencies with one ground for detention

Defective item	Nature of defect	Ground for Detention
01315 – Oil record book	Not properly filled	No
08011 – General alarm	Malfunctioning	No
01336 – Certificate of documentary evidence of financial security for repatriation	Not as required	No
10101 – Pilot ladders hoist/pilot transfer	Missing	No
10118 – Speed and distance indicator	Missing	No
10127 – Voyage or passage plan	Not as required	No
14109 – Fire drills	Lack of knowledge	No
15150 – ISM	Not as required	Yes
01308 – Record of seafarers’ daily hours or rest	False	No
18426 – Exposure to harmful levels of ambient factors	Not as required	No
16105 – Acess control ship	Not as required	No
01220 – Seafarers’ employment agreement (SEA)	Invalid	No

This vessel was released on 23rd August 2018

DETENTIONS CARRIED OVER FROM PREVIOUS MONTHS

Vessel Name: POSEIDON

GT: 1412

IMO: 7363217

Flag: Iceland (White list)

Company: Neptune EHF

Classification Society: NA

Recognised Organisation: NA

Recognised Organisation for ISM Doc: DNV-GL

Recognised Organisation for ISM SMC: DNV-GL

Date and Place of Detention: 19th July 2018 at Hull

Summary: Ten deficiencies with two grounds for detention

Defective item	Nature of defect	Ground for Detention
01199 – Other certificates	Other	No
01218 – Medical	Incorrect language	No
02106 – Hull damage impairing seaworthiness	Holed	Yes
07113 – Fire Pumps	Insufficient Pressure	Yes
07103 – Divisions – Decks, bulkheads and penetrations	Not as required	No
12107 – Ballast, fuel and other tanks	Not as required	Yes
07105 – Fire doors/openings in fire resisting divisions	No
01101 – Cargo Ship Safety Equipment (including exemption)	Missing	No
01102 – Cargo Ship Safety Construction (including exemption)	Missing	No
01104 – Cargo Ship Safety Radio (including exemption)	Missing	No

This vessel was still detained on 31st August 2018

Vessel Name: TECOIL POLARIS

GT: 1814

IMO No: 8883290

Flag: Russian Federation (Grey list)

Company: Tecoil Shipping Ltd

Classification Society: RMRS

Recognised Organisation: RMRS

Recognised Organisation for ISM DOC: RMRS

Recognised Organisation for ISM SMC: RMRS

Date and Place of Detention: 6th June 2018 at Immingham

Summary: Twenty-Seven deficiencies with eight grounds for detentions

Defective item	Nature of defect	Ground for Detention
01123 – Continuous synopsis record	Entries missing	No
01218 – Medical certificate	Missing	No
01320 – Garbage record book	Incorrect	No
01308 – Record of seafarers’ daily hours of work or rest	False	No
04110 – Abandon ship drill	Insufficient frequency	No
10105 – Magnetic compass	Inoperative	Yes
10128 – Navigation bridge visibility	Not as required	No
10104 – Gyro compass	Inoperative	Yes
11122 – Radio life-saving appliances	Inoperative	No
11129 – Operational readiness of lifesaving appliances	Not as required	Yes
04109 – Fire drills	Lack of communication	No
10127 – Voyage or passage plan	Not as required	Yes
10123 – International code of signals – SOLAS	Missing	No
15150 – ISM	Not as required	Yes
05110 – Facilities for reception of marine safety inform.	Not as required	No
05199 – Other (radiocommunication)	Other	No
11104 – Rescue boats	Not properly maintained	Yes
11101 – Lifeboats	Not ready for use	Yes
10101 – Pilot ladder and hoist/pilot transfer arrangements	Unsafe	No
06105 – Atmosphere testing instrument	Not properly maintained	No
07105 – Fire doors/openings in fire resisting divisions	Not as required	No
01117 – International Oil Pollution Prevention (IOPP)	Invalid	Yes
14604 – Bunker delivery note	Not as required	No
01315 – Oil record book	Not properly filled	No
02105 – Steering gear	Not properly maintained	No
02108 – Electrical installations in general	Not properly maintained	No
11134 – Operations of life saving appliances	Lack of familiarity	No

This vessel was still detained on 31st August 2018

Vessel Name: CIEN PORCIENTO (General Cargo)

GT: 106.

IMO No: 8944446.

Flag: Unregistered.

Company: Open Window Inc.

Classification Society: Unclassed.

Recognised Organisation: Not applicable.

Recognised Organisation for ISM DOC: Not applicable.

Recognised Organisation for ISM SMC: Not applicable

Date and Place of detention: 4 March 2010, Lowestoft

Summary: Thirty deficiencies including seven grounds for detention

This vessel was still detained on 31st August 2018

Notes to Editors • The MCA is a partner in the Sea Vision UK campaign to raise awareness and understanding of the sea and maritime activities. Sea Vision promotes the importance and economic value of the sector and works to highlight the exciting range of activities and career opportunities available to young people within the UK growing maritime sector at www.seavision.org.uk

• Follow us on Twitter: @MCA_media

For further information please contact Maritime and Coastguard Agency Press Office, on: +44 (0) 2380 329 401 Press releases and further information about the agency is available here.