Notice: RH20 4HP, Island Gas Limited: environmental permit applications advertisement

The Environment Agency consults the public on certain applications for waste operations, mining waste operations, installations, water discharge, radioactive substances activities and groundwater activities. The arrangements are explained in its Public Participation Statement

These notices explain:

  • what the applications are about
  • where you can visit to see the applications
  • when you need to comment by

The Environment Agency will decide:

  • whether to grant or refuse the applications
  • what conditions to include in the permits (if granted)


News story: Home Secretary commissions major study on EU workers

As part of the major study, the government’s independent advisers on migration will also look at how the UK’s immigration system should be aligned with a modern industrial strategy.

The Home Secretary has today (27 July) asked the government’s independent advisers on migration to complete a detailed assessment of the role of EU nationals in the UK economy and society.

Amber Rudd has commissioned the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) to examine the British labour market, the overall role of migration in the wider economy and how the UK’s immigration system should be aligned with a modern industrial strategy.

The commission represents an extremely important piece of work, with free movement ending when we exit the EU. Plans for the UK’s future immigration system are being developed which will enable the government to control the flow of migration from Europe.

The Home Office will ask the MAC to focus the study on patterns of EU and EEA (European Economic Area) migration, considering regional distribution; skill levels; industry sectors and the role of the self-employed, part-time, agency, temporary and seasonal workers.

Home Secretary Amber Rudd said:

Leaving the European Union gives us the opportunity to take control of immigration from the EU. We will ensure we continue to attract those who benefit us economically, socially and culturally.

But, at the same time, our new immigration system will give us control of the volume of people coming here – giving the public confidence we are applying our own rules on who we want to come to the UK and helping us to bring down net migration to sustainable levels.

The study I am asking the Migration Advisory Committee to complete is a major step in ensuring we create a system that works in the best interests of the country.

The Home Secretary also underlined there will be an implementation period when the UK leaves the EU to ensure there is no ‘cliff edge’ for employers or EU nationals in the UK.

In addition to the MAC commission, there will be an extensive cross-government programme of engagement over the coming months with stakeholders from a number of sectors, including business, industry, trades unions and educational institutions.

The MAC, which comprises of a group of internationally recognised experts in their field, will assess and build on the internal cross-government work that has already been completed.



Press release: Applications open to create 1,600 new special free school places

More than 1,600 new special free school places will be created across England as 19 local authorities invite applications to run new special free schools.

It will mean 19 new schools, providing high quality provision for children with special educational needs and disabilities, will be built through the government’s ambitious free schools programme that provides choice, innovation and higher standards for parents.

Organisations ranging from successful Multi-Academy Trusts to specialist charitable organisations can now apply to the 19 local authorities, setting out how they will be able to meet the specification for each project. Criteria have been developed by the local authorities, in conjunction with the Department for Education, to ensure they meet the needs of each local community and provide much-needed places for special educational needs and disability (SEND) pupils.

Among the special free school specifications published today are:

  • A 200-place school with both early years and post-16 places for pupils between the ages of three and 19 in the Borough of Bedford.
  • A 100-place school with post-16 provision for pupils between the ages of five to 19 with complex communication and interaction needs, Autism spectrum disorder and other social and mental health needs in Doncaster.
  • A 125-place school for pupils between the ages of four and 16 with social communication needs and Autism spectrum disorder in Hampshire.
  • A 150-place school with early years and post-16 provision for pupils between the ages of two to 19 with Autism spectrum disorder in Croydon.

Schools System Minister, Lord Nash, said:

Free schools are providing many good new school places in response to the needs of communities across the country. This process will give local authorities the chance to identify expert organisations with proven track records in SEND provision to run special schools that will help hundreds of children fulfil their potential.

The new schools are part of the most-recent wave of free schools approved in April, and are separate from government plans to open 30 free schools in partnership with local authorities – as recently announced by Education Secretary, Justine Greening. Since 2015, the government has committed £5.8 billion of basic need funding to deliver the school places needed by 2020.
Applications close on 24 November.

Notes to Editors

  • On 12 April 2017, the Department for Education announced the approval of 131 new free schools, including approval of plans to launch special free school competitions in Bedford, Blackpool, Bradford, Cheshire East, Croydon, Doncaster, Enfield, Essex, Hampshire, Havering, Herefordshire, Hounslow, Manchester, Portsmouth, Redbridge, Sheffield, South Gloucestershire, Suffolk and Sunderland.
  • More than 9 in 10 free schools have been approved in areas where a need for more school places has already been identified, and the remainder have been created by local communities deciding they wanted more choice. Free schools are ensuring more parents have access to a good local school place for their children.
  • There are currently 346 open free schools, 38 studio schools and 48 university technical colleges, which will provide over 234,000 places when at capacity.

DfE enquiries

Central newsdesk 020 7783 8300

General enquiries 0370 000 2288



Press release: UK Ambassador: we are a proud partner of the Lebanese army

Within the framework of the High Level Steering Committee, British ambassador to Lebanon Hugo Shorter and John Rath representing the American Ambassador, accompanied by UK and the US Defence attachés Chris Gunning and Daniel Mouton, met with the Commander of the Lebanese Armed Forces General Joseph Aoun to discuss the Land Border Security Project.

The UK is a proud partner of the LAF, and we want to help the LAF build on its record of success. In recent months, we have seen the LAF conduct successful and complex counter-terrorism operations, make significant progress on securing Lebanon’s borders with Syria, and protect Lebanese communities and Syrian refugees from the dreadful impacts of the Syrian civil war.

As we approach Army Day, we celebrate the fact that this is an army that has transformed itself over the last decade, and which commands not only the respect of the Lebanese, but also of the international community. Today the LAF is capable of exercising control and ensuring security over all Lebanese territory.

Only a strong state, with a strong LAF at its heart, can over the long term guarantee Lebanon’s stability, its democracy and its model of coexistence. Only the LAF can act with the consent of all the Lebanese people, and in line with the Constitution and relevant Security Council resolutions. The UK supports the LAF because it is the only legitimate defender of Lebanon.

Part of our discussions today also touched on the importance of human rights and accountability within the LAF, as a key ingredient of operational effectiveness and public respect. I am pleased that the LAF too see respect of human rights as a priority as part of its vision of being a modern, professional armed force.



News story: Independent report on Kent Oyster Farm published

Independent experts commissioned by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency have produced a report looking at navigational risks in relation to oyster farm activity in the Whitstable area.

The report, which has been published on the Marine Management Organisation’s website, concludes that the farm’s operations are acceptable as a low risk to marine navigation. It recommends mitigation to reduce the risk even further, although acknowledging that the farm’s owners have already adopted this in some instances.

Assessing navigational risk

In response to questions from members of the public the MMO previously agreed to work with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency and Trinity House to assess how oyster racks in the area may affect local navigation and safety.

Marine licensing legislation

The MMO’s investigations under its marine licensing remit are still ongoing.

The MMO has a difficult task in managing competing uses of the marine area. It has previously explained its remit and the legislation it enforces relating to this development, specifically under the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009.

The MMO has committed to reviewing its guidance around marine licence exemptions to take into account learning from this issue.


Marico report
(PDF, 2.46MB, 60 pages)