Greens help secure historic vote on tax dodging

28 February 2017

Molly Scott Cato, Green MEP for the South West, has welcomed a historic vote on clamping down on tax dodging, as committee members in the European Parliament today voted for a number of key Green demands [1]. By an overwhelming majority (87-1), MEPs voted for a revision of the Anti-Money Laundering Directive, which will tighten rules on trusts and transparency. Molly Scott Cato is a member of the Economics committee in the European Parliament. She said:

“There is growing outrage about the way wealthy people are able to offshore their money so they can avoid paying tax. A strengthened anti-money laundering law – which requires transparency from financial and legal companies in the management of the assets of the wealthy – will help to tackle this immoral and often illegal activity.

There was strong support for a Green proposal for a public register of property ownership to show who is the beneficial owner of land and property. Dr Scott Cato said:

“This is a significant win for the Greens. In London and elsewhere dirty money is laundered through the purchase of property so it is crucial to have public information on who benefits from its ownership.”

Molly Scott Cato has challenged the UK government to declare their support for the measures as the country prepares to leave the EU. She said:

“We have already seen that Amber Rudd was involved in offshore trusts in the Bahamas and now we have had the Chancellor and Prime Minister suggesting the UK will take on even more of the character of a tax haven after Brexit.

“As a British MEP I will be keeping my eye on the UK government in the European Council, where the decision will be taken by qualified majority so they will not have a veto.”

“But the government needs to realise that refusing to follow these strengthened EU laws on financial transparency could increase the destructive impact of Brexit on The City. This is because in order to register trusts in EU member states, or for clients in those countries, British legal and financial firms will still need to stick to these laws.”

Dr Scott Cato concluded:

“Today’s votes show that it is Greens that are leading on key agendas concerned with social justice and economic accountability.”

Notes

[1] MEPs on the European Parliament’s Economic & Monetary Affairs Committee and Civil Liberties Justice & Home Affairs Committee 

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News story: Oscar success: UK cutting-edge music technology in the mix

La La Land – awarded Best Original Music Score – features a next-generation synthesizer, developed by ROLI with support from Innovate UK.

The Dalston-based music company’s innovative Seaboard GRAND has gained widespread attention with La La Land, dominating the film and television awards season for its soundtrack.

ROLI has revolutionised the piano keyboard by replacing white and black keys with a continuous, touch-responsive surface. Its ’keywaves’ are sensitive to initial strike force, pressure and left–right finger placement.

The instrument is used in a seminal scene with Ryan Gosling’s character, Sebastian, joining a band fronted by musician John Legend. It marks the upturn of his career as the jazz purist comes to accept that the music he loves needs to evolve to gain a broader audience and survive.

As well as the Oscar, the film won a Golden Globe for Best Original Score and British Academy Film Award for Best Film Music.

Innovate UK has a long history with ROLI. We first supported the company on research and development for the technology that underpins the Seaboard. ROLI has also received grants from Innovate UK for further projects, including proof of concepts and prototyping. We continue to work with the team today.



News story: Spotlight on the Accelerator Enduring Challenge

The Defence and Security Accelerator recently launched the Enduring Challenge.

At the event Harriett Baldwin MP, Minister for Defence Procurement launched the Innovation Initiative’s £6 million Accelerator Enduring Challenge and invited suppliers with innovative ideas to apply to our fast-track route to research funding.

Harriett Baldwin interview

Accelerator advantage

Innovation Partner, Jim Pennycook, explained how the MOD’s new Defence and Security Accelerator selects the best ideas and supports and nurtures them through to exploitation.

Our aim is to help suppliers translate their research into products which we can ultimately use to keep the UK and its Armed Forces safe and secure.

Jim Pennycook interview

Defence and Security application

We asked our military advisers what they hope the Accelerator will bring to front line services and what they want the suppliers to keep in mind when developing their new product or service.

(Military Advisers interviewhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pv3pntJ6gVE

Find out more about the Enduring Challenge.



News story: Animal medicines seizure: Johnston Agro Supplies

Johnston Agro Supplies, Enniskillen, County Fermanagh. The following products were seized as they are not authorised in the UK:

  • 3 packs Albex 10% (1litre)

  • 2 packs Albex 10% (2.5 litres)

  • 1 pack Albex 10% (5 litre) batch

  • 2 packs Triclaben 10% (2.5 litre)

  • 194 Endogard Plus tablets for dogs (batch)

This is an offence under Regulation 27 (Supply of an unauthorised veterinary medicinal product) of the Veterinary Medicines Regulations.



News story: 2017 Clinical Excellence Awards round opens

The latest round of National Clinical Excellence Awards opened on Tuesday 28 February 2017 and will close at 5:00pm Tuesday 25 April 2017.

Applicants need to submit the completed online application form to ACCEA by the deadline. To do this, once the application is complete, click ‘submit to ACCEA’. Failure to do this means that the application will not be accepted for the 2017 national awards round. Please make sure that your contact details are up-to-date.

Clinical Excellence Awards recognise and reward NHS consultants and academic GPs who perform ‘over and above’ the standard expected of their role. They award quality and excellence, acknowledging personal contributions. The number of new national awards in the 2017 round will remain at 300 for England.

All applications, new or renewal, must be made on the online system. The Advisory Committee on Clinical Excellence Awards (ACCEA) has published guidance for applicants, assessors, nominators and employers.

You will need to put in a renewal application if:

  • you received your current award in the 2013 round
  • your award was last renewed in 2012 (awarded in 2008, 2003, 1998)

In some cases, consultants will be renewing out of the usual cycle. Awards are reviewed earlier if there is a change in job, or a significant change in job plan.