Rebecca Long-Bailey comment on Colman’s factory closure in Norwich

Rebecca
Long-Bailey MP, Labour’s Shadow Business Secretary, commenting on the closure of
Colman’s mustard factory in Norwich, said:

“The
closure of Colman’s in Norwich is a blow not only to the workers at Colman’s
and their families but to the town and region more generally.

“Despite
their claims to the contrary, the Government haven’t done anywhere near enough
to stop this closure.

“This
highlights exactly why we need a Labour government with a forward thinking
industrial strategy to attract and keep firms in the UK.”



Press release: Boston man faces hefty fine for fishing without a licence

The Environment Agency is reminding anglers of the importance of having a fishing licence, after a Boston man was ordered to pay more than £600 for fishing without one.

Aivis Putnins, aged 32, of St Bedes Drive, Boston, was proved guilty in absence at Northampton Magistrates’ Court on 21 December 2017.

The defendant was found to be using unlicensed fishing instruments on the River Witham, Boston, on 20 August 2017, in breach of the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act (1975).

Following the verdict, Steve Powell, Enforcement Team manager for the Environment Agency, said:

It’s important that all anglers understand how seriously the courts take these offences and we hope it will act as a deterrent for any angler thinking of fishing without a licence.

All the money raised from licence sales is used to protect and improve fish stocks and fisheries, benefitting anglers. Those cheating the system will be prosecuted.

Every year across the country, thousands of anglers are prosecuted by the Environment Agency for not having a fishing licence. The agency and its partners work to catch illegal anglers in the act.

As well as swindling other anglers, fishing illegally can harm wildlife and carries a hefty penalty. Getting caught without a licence could land you with a fine of up to £2,500.

Any angler aged 12 or over, fishing on a river, canal or still water needs a licence. An annual licence costs from just £30 (concessions available) and is available from GOV.UK or by calling the Environment Agency on 0344 800 5386 between 8am and 6pm, Monday to Friday.

Anyone with information about illegal fishing activities can contact the Environment Agency Incident Hotline on 0800 80 70 60 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
Notes to editors:

Mr Aivis Putnins was ordered to pay a fine of £440, costs of £171, and a victim surcharge of £44. The total penalty was £611.



NHS figures show winter crisis is worsening

The NHS crisis is worsening.

The latest figures show that hospitals are facing the highest pressures so far this winter.

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State aid: Commission approves Greek auction scheme for renewable electricity

Commissioner Margrethe Vestager, in charge of competition policy, said: “Greece will bring down costs for renewable energy with competitive auctions to support renewable electricity generation. This is very good and the scheme will facilitate Greece’s efforts to reach its 2020 climate goals.”

Under the scheme Greece will organise regular, competitive auctions to grant support to renewable energy sources:

  • In 2018, Greece will organise separate auctions for wind and solar installations in order to determine their market potential.
  • As of 2019, joint auctions for both wind and solar installations will be held to increase competition and reduce the cost for consumers of renewable energy in Greece.

State support for other renewable energy technologies will be subject to auctions as soon as they become more mature in the Greek electricity market, i.e. when they reach a predefined level of market penetration. Moreover, Greece will evaluate the bidding processes in 2020, before designing bidding processes for the period 2021-2025.

The Commission has assessed the scheme under EU State aid rules, in particular the 2014 Guidelines on State Aid for Environmental Protection and Energy. The Guidelines require competitive auctions for renewables support since 2017, so as to ensure that the use of public funds is limited to the minimum and there is no overcompensation. On this basis, the Commission concluded that the Greek auctioning scheme will boost the share of electricity produced from renewable energy sources, in line with EU environmental objectives, while any distortion of competition caused by the state support is minimised.

 

Background

Today’s decision follows the Commission’s decision of November 2016 which approved a support scheme for the production of electricity from renewable energy sources and high efficiency cogeneration in Greece (SA.44666).

The Renewable Energy Directive established targets for all Member States’ shares of energy renewable energy sources in gross final energy consumption by 2020. For Greece, that target is 18% of domestic energy supplies produced from renewable sources by 2020.

More information on today’s decision will be available, once potential confidentiality issues have been resolved, in the State aid register on the Commission’s competition website under the case number SA.48143. The State Aid Weekly e-News lists new publications of State aid decisions on the internet and in the EU Official Journal.



Daily News 04 /01/ 2018

State aid: Commission approves Greek auction scheme for renewable electricity

The European Commission has found a Greek auction scheme for the production of electricity from renewable sources and high efficiency cogeneration to be in line with EU State aid rules. The scheme will further EU energy and climate goals whilst preserving competition. Commissioner Margrethe Vestager, in charge of competition policy, said: “Greece will bring down costs for renewable energy with competitive auctions to support renewable electricity generation. This is very good and the scheme will facilitate Greece’s efforts to reach its 2020 climate goals.” Under the scheme Greece will organise regular, competitive auctions to grant support to renewable energy sources. The Commission has assessed the scheme under EU State aid rules, which require competitive auctions for renewables support since 2017, so as to ensure that the use of public funds is limited to the minimum and there is no overcompensation. On this basis, the Commission concluded that the Greek auctioning scheme will boost the share of electricity produced from renewable energy sources, in line with EU environmental objectives, while any distortion of competition caused by the state support is minimised. The full press release is available online in EN, FR, DE and EL. (For more information: Lucía Caudet – Tel. +32 229 56182; Yizhou Ren – Tel.: +32 229 94889)

Concentrations: la Commission autorise l’acquisition du contrôle conjoint de neufs parcs éoliens espagnols par Mirova-Eurofideme 3 et General Electric

La Commission Européenne a approuvé, en vertu du règlement sur les concentrations, l’acquisition du contrôle en commun d’Idesamgar SL et Idesamgar SL 1, qui détiendront neuf projets de parcs éoliens en Espagne, par Mirova-Eurofideme 3, société basée en France, et General Electric, basée aux États-Unis. Mirova-Eurofideme 3, détenue par Banque Populaire Caisse d’Epargne, est un fonds capital-risque qui investit pour des acteurs institutionnels notamment dans les énergies renouvelables, les actions durables et les obligations “vertes”. General Electric est une entreprise mondiale active sur le marché de l’investissement dans le secteur de l’énergie, et dans la production et l’entretien de générateurs d’énergie hydroélectrique, éolienne et solaire. La Commission a conclu que la concentration envisagée ne soulevait pas de problème de concurrence en raison de son impact limité sur le marché. L’opération a été examinée en vertu de la procédure simplifiée de contrôle des concentrations. De plus amples informations sont disponibles sur le site internet concurrence de la Commission, dans le registre public des affaires sous le numéro d’affaire M.8716. (Pour plus d’informations: Lucía Caudet – Tel. +32 229 56182; Maria Sarantopoulou – Tel.: +32 229 13740)

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