Mandatory housing measures for all poultry and captive birds are to be introduced to all areas of England from 00:01 on Monday 7 November, following a decision by the United Kingdom’s Chief Veterinary Officer.

The housing measures legally require all bird keepers to keep their birds indoors and to follow stringent biosecurity measures to help protect their flocks from the disease, regardless of type or size.

The order will extend the mandatory housing measures already in force in the hot spot area of Suffolk, Norfolk and parts of Essex to the whole of England following an increase in the national risk of bird flu in wild birds to very high.

Over the last year, the United Kingdom has faced its largest ever outbreak of avian influenza with over 200 cases confirmed since late October 2021. The introduction of the housing measures comes after the disease was detected at over 70 premises since the beginning of October, as well as multiple reports in wild birds.

The Chief Veterinary Officer is now encouraging all bird keepers across England to use the week to prepare, including taking steps to safeguard animal welfare, consult their private vet and expand housing where necessary.

The United Kingdom’s Chief Veterinary Officer Christine Middlemiss said:

We are now facing this year, the largest ever outbreak of bird flu and are seeing rapid escalation in the number of cases on commercial farms and in backyard birds across England. The risk of kept birds being exposed to disease has reached a point where it is now necessary for all birds to be housed until further notice.

Scrupulous biosecurity and separating flocks in all ways, from wild birds remain the best form of defence. Whether you keep just a few birds or thousands, from Monday 7 November onwards you must keep your indoors. This decision has not been taken lightly, but is the best way to protect your birds from this highly infectious disease.

Evidence shows that housing birds reduces the risk of kept birds being infected with bird flu. However, housing alone will not protect birds and all keepers must still follow the other enhanced biosecurity measures mandated by the AIPZ at all times to protect their flocks and prevent the risk of future outbreaks which is circulating in wild birds. Housing combined with stringent biosecurity measures can provide even greater reduction in risk.

The new housing measures build on the strengthened biosecurity measures that were brought in as part of the Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) earlier this month. The AIPZ means that all bird keepers need to take extra precautions, such as restricting access for non-essential people on site, ensuring workers change clothing and footwear before entering bird enclosures and cleaning and disinfecting vehicles regularly to limit the risk of the disease spreading.
The UK Health Security Agency continue to advise that the risk to public health from the virus is very low and the Food Standards Agency advice remains unchanged, that avian influenzas pose a very low food safety risk for UK consumers. Properly cooked poultry and poultry products, including eggs, are safe to eat. 

Further Information:

• Biosecurity guidance and a biosecurity self-assessment checklist have been published by Defra to assist all bird keepers in instigating and maintaining good biosecurity, which together with further updates on the latest avian influenza situation, can be found via GOV.UK/bird-flu

The addition of housing measures to the AIPZ already in force across England means all bird keepers across England must:

• housing or netting all poultry and captive birds
• cleanse and disinfect clothing, footwear, equipment and vehicles before and after contact with poultry and captive birds – if practical, use disposable protective clothing
• reduce the movement of people, vehicles or equipment to and from areas where poultry and captive birds are kept, to minimise contamination from manure, slurry and other products, and use effective vermin control
• keep records of mortality, movement of poultry and poultry products and any changes in production
• thoroughly cleanse and disinfect housing on a continuous basis
• keep fresh disinfectant at the right concentration at all farm and poultry housing entry and exit points
• minimise direct and indirect contact between poultry and captive birds and wild birds, including making sure all feed and water is not accessible to wild birds
• prevent access by poultry to ponds and watercourses and ensure that birds are kept in fenced or enclosed areas

People across the country will be encouraged to kick-start a rewarding and exciting career in the aviation sector as the government launches a brand new recruitment campaign today (31 October 2022).

Generation Aviation is part of the government’s 22-point plan to support aviation as it recovers from the pandemic and forms part of the wider aviation strategy ‘Flightpath to the future’. The recruitment campaign builds on £1.5 million announced by the government over the summer to boost recruitment into the sector.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the air transport and aerospace sectors contributed at least £22 billion to gross domestic product (GDP) each year and provided at least 230,000 jobs across all regions of the country directly. However, there are several challenges ahead, from decarbonisation to changing travelling patterns following the pandemic.

The new campaign will help to boost recruitment into the sector by:

• raising awareness of aviation careers, such as through our £700,000 Reach for the Sky programme which will fund outreach programmes and events to educate young people from all backgrounds on the opportunities on offer in aviation
• signposting training, careers and opportunities to people looking to enter or move up in the industry, including through the relaunched Aviation Skills Recruitment Platform (ASRP), which have already received £600,000 in funding
• championing the sector to celebrate its successes and promote it to a wider audience, including through the incumbent and new aviation ambassadors inspiring representatives of the aviation sector and its breadth of opportunities
• driving research and data to articulate the issues facing the sector and inform decision-making on its future resilience

For the sector to successfully adapt, it requires new skills and a robust pool of talent across a wide range of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) fields and other critical roles. This campaign will see government and industry work together to build a workforce that is open, diverse and accessible.

The campaign is being launched today at London’s Heathrow Employment & Skills Academy, where in an opening address Transport Minister Baroness Vere said:

The aim of Generation Aviation is quite simply, to build an aviation workforce fit for the future – a future that can only be realised by a new generation of aviation workers, from all corners of the country, representing the rich diversity of modern Britain.

This will be followed by several events over the coming days aimed at students, those already in other careers looking to make a future in aviation, and those already in the industry keen to progress or seek new skills and roles. Tuesday will see webinars and panels on how people can enter the industry through education pathways. Wednesday will look at early career opportunities. Thursday will look in more depth at life in the sector, and Friday will focus on accessibility, diversity and inclusion.

Heathrow’s Learning and Inclusion Director Jason Knight said:

A successful aviation sector connects countries and continents. It acts as the global gateway for leisure, commerce, and families and is a central pillar for local communities and the national economy.

Generation Aviation is a timely celebration of everything this sector provides and the opportunities we can create through career opportunities here. To support this, Heathrow has set two major targets, creating 10,000 jobs and apprenticeships and 15,000 ‘experience of work days’ by 2030.

Marcus O’Shea from Aerobility said:

We change lives by providing anyone, with any disability with access to the magic and wonder of flight. We do this because taking the controls of an aircraft drives a focus on capability and encourages our flyers to ask the question ‘If I can fly an aeroplane, what else can I do?’

It is our mission to ensure as many people as possible can access the benefits and opportunities provided by the aviation industry, which is why we are delighted to announce the Equal Skies Charter as part of the week’s activities. Equal Skies will work with the aviation industry to increase accessibility and deliver a more diverse workforce.

The week will conclude with an interview with Mike Miller-Smith MBE, the CEO of Aerobility, a charity helping people with disabilities get into flying, led by DfT Director of Aviation, Ben Smith. The government is working with Aerobility to help ensure the industry is as accessible as possible, providing over £200,000 in funding for the Virtual Aerobility programme.

Hutton, 62, of Short Cross Road, Mount Hawke, Truro, pleaded guilty at Truro Crown Court in March 2020 to 2 charges of running the business, Skip It, without an environmental permit.

One charge related to deposit and storage of controlled waste on land at Mawla, Porthtowan and the other to the deposit and storage of controlled waste, on land adjacent to a Western Power Distribution sub-station, at Penwinnick Road, near St Agnes.

The Environment Agency went back to the court with a Proceeds of Crime  application against Hutton and was awarded £198,000 on 28 October 2022. Hutton was also sentenced for the offences, fined a total of £10,000 and ordered to pay £29,000 in costs.

Hutton has a maximum of 6 months to pay up or face 18 months in prison if he fails to pay the £198,000 and 3 months imprisonment if he fails to pay the fines and costs.

Both sites being used for the business could have led to environmental harm, particularly the one close to an electricity sub-station, Judge Carr was told. The Mawla site had a bund erected around it to shield it from view by the public. Hutton had continued to operate the sites after being interviewed under caution by Environment Agency officers.

The court heard Hutton had a previous conviction for a similar offence from 2001. The judge told him: “Regulations are there for a reason. You gained a competitive advantage over others by not being licenced or permitted. You were given warnings and chances but failed to comply.”

Stephen Clark of the Environment Agency said:

Craig Hutton deliberately operated the business without the required permits, threatening the environment and earning thousands of pounds from customers.

The Environment Agency will vigorously pursue those who flout the law in this way, and who undermine legitimate businesses.

Background

Craig Hutton was charged with:

Between 22 November 2018 and 22 February 2019 Craig Hutton [and Stuart Hutton] operated a Regulated Facility, namely a waste operation including the deposit and storage of controlled waste, on land close to Mount Pleasant Eco Park, Mawla, Porthtowan, Cornwall, in respect of which no environmental permit was in force. Contrary to regulations 38(1)(a) and 12(1)(a) of the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016.

Between 5 December 2018 and 7 November 2019 Craig Hutton, operated a Regulated Facility, namely a waste operation including the deposit and storage of controlled waste, on land adjacent to Western Power Distribution sub-station, Penwinnick Road, near St Agnes, Cornwall, in respect of which no environmental permit was in force. Contrary to regulations 38(1)(a) and 12(1)(a) of the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016.

Background

British Embassy Bucharest is inviting project proposals to deliver a report (White Paper) on sustainable finance in Romania. The report should:

• analyse the current financial market
• inform about the challenges in addressing climate-related financial risks
• highlight potential areas for reform and further policy design

The report will inform the debate during the Embassy’s Sustainable Finance conference, which will be held in the first quarter of 2023.

This project is part of a wider portfolio of projects across Europe which seek to advance UK’s green finance expertise and support the international transition to a net-zero financial system. Overall, our regional effort calls for awareness about greenwashing practices, advancing the regulatory framework for sovereign green bonds and ultimately, building industry-wide capabilities.

Complementary to other regional activities, this White Paper will help inform UK experts about specific areas for cooperation and sharing of international best practice in Romania.

Objectives

The White Paper aims to:

• conduct a market analysis of the financial sector in Romania

• outline the sector’s challenges (e.g., the lack of standardized criteria, methodological challenges, data availability, lack of both capacity and human resources) of local commercial banks, pension funds, insurers, investment funds and non-banking financial institutions, in meeting the requirements for the transition to a net zero financial system (e.g., regulatory, financial disclosure, corporate governance)

• identify what does Romania’s financial services market need in terms of international best practice and how the UK’s expertise can support meeting those needs

It is aimed at fostering transparency and establishing a shared understanding amongst market participants and policy makers alike.

Deliverables

Tailored to Romania’s domestic context, the White Paper (which should be no longer than 20 pages) aims to:

• identify the major drivers of sustainable investing and determine the risks that market participants face due to environmental and social trends in Romania;

• inform on UK’s best practice on measuring and managing climate-related risks (physical and net zero transition risks)

• provide key recommendations to policymakers on how to mitigate greenwashing practices

• set out common practices and recommendations on strengthening corporate governance principles

Scope of work

The White Paper’s target audience will be policy makers, regulators, banks and listed companies’ representatives, asset managers, insurers, investment analysts, risk-management specialists, academia.

Project approach

Bidders should submit a project proposal which will be approved by the British Embassy Bucharest and will form the basis for project planning. The proposal should set out how the implementing partner will deliver activities to support the objectives set out above with an implementation plan and supporting activity-based budget.

How to bid

Our process will consist of a one-stage full bid proposal.

Bids should be completed in English. You will need to complete and submit the following documents:

Email these documents to bucharest.projects@fcdo.gov.uk and corina.petrea@fcdo.gov.uk. The subject of the email should be: Name of implementing organisation and title of the project.

The project sponsors reserve the right to request additional information from bidders before making a decision.

Activity based budgets should list the activities needed to deliver the outcomes (results) of the project.

All costs should be in Romanian New Lei (RON).

Reporting

The reports to be produced during the course of this project are to be delivered in English:

• an inception note detailing approach and proposed activities. This should also set out key stakeholders who will be engaged, a proposed schedule of activities, risks, safeguarding approach and any additional details, including a communications plan

• a mid-term interim progress report by 16 December 2022

• monthly financial reports

• following a facilitated process of commenting, the final report by 13 January 2023

Composition of the project teams

British Embassy Bucharest will nominate a Project Director, (Goran Mandic, 1st Secretary) and a Project Manager, (Corina Petrea, Senior Economics Officer) to oversee the project delivery.

Project proposals should demonstrate that the implementing partner’s staffing levels are appropriate to deliver the aims of the project and that the staff have relevant financial expertise and experience.

Timing and scope of input

The bidding round is an open and competitive process, assessed by the British Embassy in Bucharest. Results will be issued within 10 working days. Once a bid is approved, and due diligence procedures are completed, a Grant Agreement will be signed with the successful bidder.

Your organisation will be expected to sign the contract within one week of the funds being awarded. Failure to do so may result in the funds being re-allocated. The implementing organisation will be required to submit report updates and a final evaluation of the project. .

Budget

Grant applications must include an estimated budget of up to 58,285 RON.

Depending on the quality of the proposals, British Embassy Bucharest reserves the right not to grant all or part of the available funds. The Embassy also reserves the right to award a grant of less than the amount requested by the applicants. In such a case, applicants will be asked to increase the amount that they co-finance, to propose other co-financing means or to decrease the total costs without altering the substance of the proposal.

Note that there are no pre-payments. Reimbursements will be completed once activities have taken place and all receipts submitted. Implementing organisations will request repayments using an invoice (including receipts and a financial report of spend) and the repayments will be carried out during those dates agreed upon in the respective contract.

The budget should be presented in Romanian New Lei (RON). All payments will be made in RON to a bank account held in Romania.

Please send any questions regarding the call for bids to corina.petrea@fcdo.gov.uk.