I was intrigued to read in a number of papers on Tuesday, that the EU’s new trade negotiations with Australia and New Zealand are apparently a set-back for the UK. Far from it, we welcomed them.

Australia and New Zealand are important trading partners for Britain, with trade worth £16 billion a year. Its no coincidence that 2 of the earliest announcements the new Department for International Trade made in 2016 were to establish new trade dialogues with both countries.

So trade discussions with both countries are already well underway; our trade dialogues with Australia and New Zealand met as recently as last month when UK officials traveled to Wellington and Canberra. It is correct to say that we cannot formally negotiate any future trade agreements until we have left the EU, but as we have agreed with the EU itself; we can begin formal negotiations once we leave next year.

Our trade dialogues will ensure they start from a strong position, having already laid the groundwork and built a shared understanding of each other’s trade policy. They will also build on our historic links and mutual investment in each other’s economies, worth £53 billion in 2016.

But while we have ambitious plans for our own trade with Australia and New Zealand, that doesn’t mean we don’t support the EU’s ambitions.

In fact, I was at the EU trade ministers meeting in Brussels this week which agreed to start EU negotiations with both countries. I welcomed them, and the UK pledged to involve itself constructively in them, reigniting our unique bilateral relationships.

Just as the UK was one of the leading voices in the EU supporting new trade agreements with countries like Canada, so we remain the EU’s biggest free trade advocate, before and after we leave.

Trade is not a zero-sum game. The EU securing new trade agreements with Australia and New Zealand is good news for the UK, as it increases the free flow of trade around the world, which supports consumers and businesses in all countries.

EU Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom welcomed the EU negotiations “between likeminded partners” which “sends a strong signal at a time where many are taking the easy road of protectionism.”

I completely agree. As International Trade Secretary Liam Fox, and I, have made clear on our meetings with governments around the world, and at the World Trade Organisation itself, the UK will lead the global call for free trade. That means us also working with like-minded partners including the EU, as well as Australia and New Zealand.

Both countries recognise the huge value that free trade brings to prosperity and growth. New Zealand is the only country to successfully conclude free trade agreements with China, Hong Kong and Taiwan. An impressive record, which is why we hired their top trade official, Crawford Falconer, as our own Chief Trade Negotiations Adviser.

I look forward to a day when the EU, UK, Australia and New Zealand all enjoy the benefits of open and free trade with one another.

As a member state, we support the EU commencing its negotiations. But just like in cricket, it isn’t necessary to be the team that bats first.

The stepped up commitment underlines the military’s strong ties with Northern Ireland, which currently hosts around 2000 reserves and nearly 2000 regular personnel.

Mr Williamson made the announcement while visiting Northern Ireland based reservists from 152 (North Irish) Regiment, The Royal Logistic Corps and 2nd Battalion, the Royal Irish Regiment.

During the visit he also received an update on defence activities in Northern Ireland, including from 38 (Irish) Brigade, and met personnel helping keep the community safe by delivering niche explosive ordnance disposal and search support to the Police Service of Northern Ireland.

189 new reserve posts will be created, an increase of 9%, and will take overall Army reserve posts to 2100 by the end of the year.

Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson said:

Our reserves programme is immensely popular in Northern Ireland, with more than twice as many people from Northern Ireland volunteering compared to the national average.

So I’m delighted to increase the Army’s reserve numbers in Northern Ireland, underlining the military’s commitment to the entire United Kingdom.

All three services have a presence in Northern Ireland, with reserve recruitment proving to be particularly popular. More than twice as many people from Northern Ireland volunteer for the reserves compared to the national average. As well as the 1850 Army reservists, there are 110 Royal Navy and Royal Marine reserves and 130 Royal Auxiliary Air Force personnel. The popularity of the reserves programme in Northern Ireland is underlined by the fact that 502 Royal Auxiliary Air Force Squadron, which was only founded in 2012, has grown rapidly to a strength of 130.

Northern Ireland also hosts 75 cadet units, the majority of which are Army Cadets. Three schools have also recently gain approval for combined cadet forces under the Government’s Cadet Expansion Programme. A report by Northampton University last year found that cadet units increase social mobility and help children from disadvantaged backgrounds reach their potential. Cadet units in Northern Ireland have representation from children from across the community.

The Armed Forces Covenant is also being delivered across Northern Ireland and Mr Williamson received an update on the newly-formed Northern Ireland Veterans Support Office (NI VSO). The NI VSO acts on behalf of a group of service charities as a single point of contact to provide services for veterans who feel unable to access public bodies or service charities.

The MOD has also allocated £300,000 over five years to improve the capacity and capability of Local Authorities and other service providers in Northern Ireland to apply for Covenant Funding. £600,000 from the LIBOR Veterans Fund has also been allocated to the Somme Nursing Home in Belfast.

The Secretary of State today (23 May 2018) announced the appointments of Sally Cheshire, Catherine Doran and Mandy Jones as the new board members of Cafcass.

Cafcass was created under the Criminal Justice and Court Services Act 2000. The body safeguards and promotes the welfare of children involved in family court proceedings

The appointments are for a period of 3 years from 14 May 2018 to 13 May 2021.

Sally Cheshire CBE is Chair of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority, the UK’s regulator of the fertility sector and embryo research, and Chair of the North region for Health Education England. She is a Board member for Adoption Counts, one of the first regional adoption agencies in England and she is also an independent member of adoption panels in the North West.

Catherine Doran is a Non-Executive Director of the Disclosure and Barring Service, she also a Trustee and Board Member of the Over The Wall Charity which provides camps for children and young people who have life threatening illnesses.

Mandy Jones has in excess of 25 years experience working in the Civil Service in a number of high profile senior roles. She led a number of major organisational change programmes working nationally and internationally within the Home Office, Ministry of Justice and for the Cabinet Office.

These appointments have been conducted in accordance with the Cabinet Office Governance Code on Public Appointments.

They have declared no polictical activity

A Bristol man who beat his partner because he thought she was cheating on him has today had his sentence increased after the Solicitor General, Robert Buckland QC MP, referred it for being too low.

James Llewhellin, 27, beat his victim with numerous punches to the head and body, and knee strikes to the face. She suffered a fractured jaw which required the insertion of metal plates that she will have for life, a suspected broken nose and eye socket, and severe bruising to the rest of her face.

Llewhellin was originally sentenced at Bristol Crown Court in March, where he received 5 years 4 months’ imprisonment. Today, after the Solicitor General’s reference, the Court of Appeal increased his sentence to 7 years 6 months.

Commenting on the sentence increase, the Solicitor General said:

“Domestic abuse is a grave crime, and Llewhellin did lasting physical and psychological damage to his victim. I am pleased that the Court of Appeal has today agreed to increase his sentence, and hope that this brings his victim some comfort.”

The marketing authorisation holders Bio-Tech Solutions Ltd and Mr H.I. & Mrs S.J. Moulds have failed to comply with an improvement notice relating to an inspection of their pharmacovigilance system. They do not have adequate personnel, systems and facilities in place to meet their regulatory requirements for pharmacovigilance.

Veterinary pharmacovigilance is the on-going monitoring of the safety and efficacy of medicines.

The following marketing authorisations have therefore been suspended:

• Johnson’s 4Fleas Powder for Cats and Dogs 1.05% w/w Cutaneous Powder (Vm 20889/4002), Bio-Tech Solutions Ltd
• Armitage Pet Care Flea and Tick Drop for Dogs 702 mg Spot-on Solution (Vm 20205/4003), Mr H.I. Moulds & Mrs S.J. Moulds
• Easi-drop Flea and Tick Drop for Dogs 742 mg Cutaneous Solution (Vm 20205/4000), Mr H.I. Moulds & Mrs S.J. Moulds

Note: These suspensions are not due to any compliance failures by the distributors of the products: Johnson’s, Armitage or Hyperdrug; or any products for which they are marketing authorisation holder.