News story: Defence Secretary announces latest wave of cadet units in schools

Schools across the UK will benefit from the latest round of openings, including three in East Anglia, two in the East Midlands, four in Greater London, one in the North East, four in the North West, one in the South East, six in the West Midlands, three in Yorkshire & Humberside, one in Scotland and one in Wales.

The announcement came as the Defence Secretary had the opportunity to meet cadets at Phoenix Collegiate School in West Bromwich and see first-hand the new skills that students have gained.

Speaking at the event, Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson said:

Being a cadet offers students unrivalled opportunities to develop new skills, enjoy unforgettable life experiences, and be inspired by our world class Armed Forces.

I’m delighted to announce a new round of cadet units in schools across the UK, showing our commitment to ensure students from all backgrounds have the chance to fulfil their potential.

The cadets I met today impressed me with their confidence, problem solving and teamwork – skills that will stand them in good stead in the future.

Phoenix Collegiate was approved in the last wave of cadet units, and has been on parade now for over a year.

The latest round of cadet units ensures the Government remains on target to have a total of 500 running in the UK by 2020. 418 cadet units are already up and running and this latest wave takes the total approved units to 453. Many are opened in less prosperous areas where opportunities for cadet units were previously limited.

The Cadet Expansion Programme is backed by £50 million funding from Libor fines, which covers set up costs, uniforms, equipment and training.
The benefits of the cadet experience were highlighted in an independent report published by Northamptonshire University, which found that being a cadet can increase social mobility and help disadvantaged children reach their potential.

Robert Goodwill MP is also conducting independent research into how schools can best utilise their cadet units; assessing the benefits of having a military ethos and values in schools provides to its pupils. The findings will be completed by the end of September 2018.



Nikola Dobroslavic appointed European Committee of the Regions rapporteur for the EU long-term budget

Cities and regions also discussed cross-border cooperation, low-emission mobility and the Urban Agenda

​How to boost growth and cohesion in EU border regions and how to deliver on low-emission mobility, as well as the state of implementation of the Urban Agenda were the main topics discussed during the meeting of the commission for territorial cohesion policy and the EU budget (COTER) of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR). Also on the agenda was the appointment of the member responsible for shaping the position of cities and regions on the future EU budget.

 

On 2 May, the European Commission will present the proposal for the next EU long-term budget. During the commission meeting, COTER members appointed Nikola Dobroslavic (HR/EPP), Prefect of Dubrovnik-Neretva County, as rapporteur for the “MFF framework beyond 2020 package” with the task of shaping the position of regions and cities on the financial plan for the future of Europe over the next decade.

The local and regional representatives also adopted three opinions, which will move to the CoR plenary session on 4-5 July for final discussion and adoption by the full CoR assembly.

– The potential of EU border regions is at the heart of the draft opinion drawn up by János Karácsony (HU/EPP), Member of Tahitótfalu Council. The rapporteur points out that legal, administrative, physical and cultural obstacles need to be addressed in order to strengthen cooperation between EU border regions. The complexity of the current systems is a particular burden on local and regional authorities and deters small-scale projects or small associations and NGOs from applying for support despite having excellent project proposals.

He further defends a strong budget for European Territorial Cooperation (ETC) under the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), as “supporting ETC initiatives offers extremely high European added value by boosting economic growth and cohesion, as well as by building a better EU for citizens,” said Mr Karácsony.

– Cross-border cooperation also plays an important role in the draft opinion on low-emission mobility drawn up by Michiel Scheffer (NL/ALDE), member of the executive council of the province of Gelderland. He argues that cities and regions need to cooperate with neighbouring and cross-border regions to keep the infrastructure interoperable when changing to alternative fuels. Only if the infrastructure for alternative fuels and services such as public transport remain accessible and reliable, will consumers be willing to support the change.

The rapporteur further calls on the European Commission to provide for enough budgetary resources to support the regional deployment of alternative fuels infrastructure and clean vehicles, and to promote EU-wide economies of scale to make the transition affordable for local and regional authorities. He also points out that changes in transport systems must account for regional differences in traffic density and distances.

“Spatial and urban planning can promote the use of clean forms of mobility such as walking, cycling, public transport and electric cars. We also need to be aware of the fact that these forms of transport are not an option everywhere. We should not discriminate against remote or peripheral areas through higher costs for accessing the European network which would undermine territorial and social cohesion,” said Mr Scheffer.

– Achieving sustainable and efficient urban mobility is only one of the priorities of the Urban Agenda for the EU, which started with the Pact of Amsterdam in May 2016. Cork city Councillor Kieran McCarthy (IE/EA), focuses in his draft opinion on the assessment of the implementation of the Urban Agenda, and calls on the EU institutions to reaffirm their commitment and place the process on a formal footing.

“The Urban Agenda offers too much potential to improve the way in which our cities will work in future to be restricted to a mere high quality networking exercise . It must instead be recognised as a binding political declaration, with tangible investments and outcomes which have real legitimacy and an impact on legislation,” said Mr McCarthy.

Also on the agenda of the meeting was a presentation on the progress of Territorial Impact Assessment activities by DG REGIO and JRC and an initial exchange of views on port reception facilities for the delivery of waste from ships, which will feed into the draft opinion by Spyros Spyridon (EL/EPP), Municipal Councillor of Poros.

Contact:

Carmen Schmidle

Tel. +32 (0)2 282 2366

Mobile +32 (0)494 735 787

carmen.schmidle@cor.europa.eu



Press release: Plymouth trio banned from waste trade for fly-tipping around Cornwall

Three men from the Plymouth area have been banned from the waste trade for fly-tipping in Cornish beauty spots.

Wayne Plummer, of Burrator Avenue, Princetown, Ashley Brown, of Tollox Place, Plymouth and Michael Baggally, of Wolseley Road, Plymouth, were all given Community Orders requiring 100 hours of work after admitting the illegal deposit of household, industrial and commercial waste and not being registered waste carriers.

They dumped waste, including old sofas and carpets, in scenic locations, even setting fire to it on one occasion.
All 3 were ordered to pay £520 compensation and given a Criminal Behaviour Order for 5 years, preventing them from being involved in the waste business.

Baggallay, who had his hearing for sentencing adjourned pending a mental health assessment to establish his fitness for work, appeared at Plymouth Magistrates Court on Monday 23 April 2018. Plummer and Brown were both sentenced on 10 April 2018.

The prosecution followed a joint investigation between the Environment Agency, which took the lead role, South Hams Council, Plymouth City Council, Cornwall Council and Devon and Cornwall Police.

A spokesperson for the Environment Agency, said:

This criminal behaviour was premeditated and planned and the environmentally-sensitive locations were chosen by the defendants for their remoteness in order to better escape detection.

A spokesperson for South Hams District Council, where some of the waste was tipped, said:

I’m delighted that we’ve been able to work with the Environment Agency and other local authorities to secure a conviction in this instance.

I hope this sends a message that fly-tipping will absolutely not be tolerated, and we will prosecute offenders.

On 2 November 2016, Cornwall Council was alerted to fly-tipping in the car park at Cremyll on the Rame Peninsula that included sofas and carpets. Further offences followed in January 2017 at Little Lane in Bovisand and two days later near Torpoint.

The final offence happened at Hooe Road in Plymstock when waste was dumped on a public footpath and set on fire. Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue attended.

Evidence found at 3 sites linked the waste to all 3 men. The total clean-up cost was more than £5,000.

Note to the Editor:

Businesses and members of the public have a duty of care to ensure that their waste is properly dealt with. They should always check that the company removing their waste is registered as a waste carrier and ask for evidence it will be properly dealt with. Always ask for a receipt. If a waste collection company can’t satisfy you on this, don’t employ them. These simple steps can stop fly-tippers in their tracks.



News story: MSPs discover more about Europe’s largest military exercise

Exercise Joint Warrior includes more than 11,600 military personnel from 17 nations and is directed from the Maritime Operations Centre at HMNB Clyde, Scotland’s largest military establishment.

The purpose of the visit today (April 27 2018) is to help MSPs to better understand the range of social and welfare issues relevant to Scots-based armed forces personnel, and their families.

Launched by the Parliament’s Presiding Officer Ken Macintosh MSP and the Ministry of Defence in April 2017, the Armed Forces Visit Programme has already had successful fact-finding visits to the Army’s Glencorse Barracks, Penicuik, RAF Lossiemouth, Moray and Royal Marine Condor, Arbroath.

The MSPs will find out how HMNB Clyde and military training areas across Scotland are used by the Royal Navy, Army and RAF to train together across air, land, sea and cyber domains, practicing “high-end” war-fighting between near-peer adversaries.

The Joint Warrior training scenarios involve multiple sovereign nations disputing resources and territories; counter-terrorism and anti-smuggling activity; information warfare; and evacuation operations. This year it is running from 21 April until 4 May.

The group also found out more about the developments at HMNB Clyde which will see it be the sole home of the UK Submarine Service from 2020 and their visit included time in a submarine control room simulator.

Naval Regional Commander Captain Chris Smith said:

The Armed Forces Visits programme helps MSPs find out more about the role and purpose of the military communities across Scotland and the issues that are important to them.

Although Defence is clearly reserved to Westminster, the Scottish Parliament’s policies and decisions affect the day to day lives of all of our Scots-based service personnel.

In addition to being home to the Submarine Service from 2020, Scotland is home to an Army Infantry Operational, Engagement and Resilience Brigade, the RAF’s Quick Reaction Alert interceptors (North) and submarine hunting Maritime Patrol Aircraft flying from Lossiemouth.

The MOD has around 10,000 sailors, soldiers and air personnel living permanently in Scotland, supported by 8,000 reservists and civilians. Scottish industry benefits from Defence spending £1.5bn with it each year, supporting 10,500 private sector jobs in Scotland. The Defence Board confirmed in February 2017, that £1.7 billion would be invested to upgrade Scottish military bases over the next decade.

List of attending MSPs

  1. Mr Richard Lochead, Scottish National Party Member for Moray

  2. Mr Lewis Macdonald, Scottish Labour Member for North East Scotland

  3. Ms Jackie Baillie, Scottish Labour Member for Dumbarton

  4. Mr Maurice Corry, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party Member for West Scotland

  5. Mr Graham Simpson, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party Member for Central Scotland

  6. Ms Annie Wells, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party Member for Glasgow

  7. Mr Jackson Carlaw, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party Member for Eastwood

  8. Mr Murdo Fraser, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party Member for Mid Scotland and Fife

  9. Ms Michelle Ballantyne, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party Member for South Scotland

  10. Mr William Bowman, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party Member for North East Scotland

  11. Mr Brian Whittle, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party Member for South Scotland

  12. Mr Gordon Lindhurst, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party Member for Lothian



ESMA publishes translations for Guidelines on transfer of data between TRs

27 April 2018

Guidelines and Technical standards

Post Trading

The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) has issued today the official translations of its Guidelines on transfer of data between Trade Repositories (TRs).

National Competent Authorities (NCAs) to which these Guidelines apply must notify ESMA whether they comply or intend to comply with the Guidelines, within two months of the date of publication by ESMA of the Guidelines in all EU official languages.