Press release: Gedling MP looks at Nottingham’s flood defences

Gedling Member of Parliament Vernon Coaker has visited the Holme Sluices at Colwick, Nottinghamshire to find out more about the Trent flood defences and the work of the Environment Agency.

The MP met with EA officials, led by Louise Cresswell, Area Director for the East Midlands, to see how the sluices work in protecting properties from flooding and how they maintain levels in the River Trent during times of low flow.

He also discussed the general work of the EA including the ambitious plan to improve fish passage for all species in the lower River Trent.

The EA are seeking support for the Trent Gateway Project which aims to open up 8 barriers on the river which presently block fish migration.

At present, the EA has funded the design of a possible fish pass at Colwick sluices and are working in conjunction with Nottingham City Council on a proposed Heritage Lottery Fund bid to build a visitor hub at Colwick Country Park.

Louise Cresswell, Area Director, East Midlands, said:

The visit of one of our local MPs was a great opportunity to talk about how the EA works to improve the environment for everybody.

We took time to show how the sluices work and to explain the flood defences for the area generally which protect a huge number of people and properties, including many in his own constituency.

The Trent Gateway Project is an ambitious plan to improve fish passage on the River Trent. Our aspiration is to open up all of those 8 weirs for passes which will increase the fish populations both coarse and salmon.

Vernon Coaker, Member of Parliament for Gedling, said:

It was a fascinating visit and gave me a better understanding of the River Trent and how it works.

The Environment Agency are doing some great work and it is important that we continue to work together for the good of the local area.

I feel very passionately about protecting our local environment and I was pleased to hear all about the Trent Gateway Project which is an ambitious project but one that will benefit everybody by helping to improve the environment.



Today’s inflation figures are further bad news for working households – Peter Dowd

Peter Dowd MP,
Labour’s Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury, responding to today’s
inflation figures by the ONS, said:

“Today’s inflation
figures are further bad news for working households. Inflation remains around a
five year high, while real earnings are still lower than in 2010, following
seven years of Tory economic failure.

“The next Labour
government will introduce a £10 per hour Real Living Wage to tackle the
wages squeeze, and build a high wage, high skill economy for the many, not the
few.”



The pound climbs against the dollar to its level in February 2016 before the referendum

This week the pound has reached $1.38, a level it was at in late  February 2016 before the vote on leaving the EU. Its steady climb has received less attention than its previous fall, and is not usually attributed to Brexit in the way some try to explain any decline post the vote. This is a curious asymmetry in the commentary. I also wonder why they thought the pound often fell against other currencies when we were in the EU with no plans to leave.

Various contributors to this site keep alleging that trade would be very difficult under WTO rules with the rest of the EU. They need to explain how it is we have smooth trade with non EU countries at the moment under those same EU rules. They also ignore the fact that our current border  for trade with the rest of the EU is a currency, Excise, VAT, anti smuggling and pro safety border requiring a range of checks and illustrating how much of this work these days is done by electronic manifest and checks that do not delay the flow of goods.



New guidance on processing of applications for regulated products

An administrative guidance published today sets out the principles that EFSA follows when processing applications for regulated products. This is part of EFSA’s continuous efforts to support applicants throughout the life-cycle of their applications.

The guidance enhances the transparency of the procedure and ensures that a coherent, sound, systematic and efficient process is carried out in compliance with each piece of sectorial legislation. The document describes:

  • the general workflow of applications;
  • the key steps of the scientific risk assessment process;
  • the mechanism for suspending, restarting or extending an assessment, the conclusion of the scientific risk assessment process and the publication of the scientific output.  

The administrative guidance does not apply to pesticides processes nor to the re-evaluation of food additives. EFSA regularly updates administrative guidance to take account of amendments to legal acts, changes to guidance documents, and experience gained in the handling and assessment of applications. Applicants are therefore advised to consult the latest published version of the document available on the EFSA website.

EFSA receives around 500 mandates on applications for regulated products every year. These are governed by more than 34 EU directives and regulations and follow 39 workflows.



New guidance on processing of applications for regulated products

An administrative guidance published today sets out the principles that EFSA follows when processing applications for regulated products. This is part of EFSA’s continuous efforts to support applicants throughout the life-cycle of their applications.

The guidance enhances the transparency of the procedure and ensures that a coherent, sound, systematic and efficient process is carried out in compliance with each piece of sectorial legislation. The document describes:

  • the general workflow of applications;
  • the key steps of the scientific risk assessment process;
  • the mechanism for suspending, restarting or extending an assessment, the conclusion of the scientific risk assessment process and the publication of the scientific output.  

The administrative guidance does not apply to pesticides processes nor to the re-evaluation of food additives. EFSA regularly updates administrative guidance to take account of amendments to legal acts, changes to guidance documents, and experience gained in the handling and assessment of applications. Applicants are therefore advised to consult the latest published version of the document available on the EFSA website.

EFSA receives around 500 mandates on applications for regulated products every year. These are governed by more than 34 EU directives and regulations and follow 39 workflows.