Suzy Davies appointed as a Member of the S4C Board

News story

The Secretary of State has appointed Suzy Davies for a four year term from 1 August 2022 to 31 July 2026.

A qualified lawyer, Suzy followed careers in arts marketing and as a senior solicitor with ten years service as a Member of the Senedd, which included a term as Shadow Minister for Culture, Heritage & the Welsh Language.

Since then, she has been an advocate for tourism in Wales, as Chair of the Wales Tourism Alliance, and continues to campaign on greater equality as a board member with Women’s Equality Network. She is also a member of Colegau Cymru board and the Children’s Commissioner’s audit and risk board.  A founder member of the Wales International Film Festival, she is now a member of the Iris Film Festival Board.

Born in Swansea, Suzy was raised in Bridgend, the Cynon Valley, Cardiff and Brecon.  After working in Swansea, Newton and Aberystwyth, she settled in the Dyfi Valley where her family has a farm and tourism business, and where she learnt Welsh.

Remuneration and Governance Code

Members of the S4C Board receive £9,650 per annum. This appointment has been made in accordance with the Cabinet Office’s Governance Code on Public Appointments. The appointments process is regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. Under the Code, any significant political activity undertaken by an appointee in the last five years must be declared. This is defined as including holding office, public speaking, making a recordable donation, or candidature for election. Suzy Davies has declared that she was a Member of the Welsh Assembly from 2011 until 2021 and was Chair of the Conservative Women’s Org/Women 2 Win Wales.

Published 10 August 2022



Social care staff to benefit from improved career options and training

  • Government working with adult social care sector on plans to support staff development and wellbeing
  • Workforce Development Fund to continue throughout 2022/23 helping staff to improve their skills

Hundreds of thousands of training opportunities will be available for social care staff to develop their careers over the next three years as part of the government’s £500million support package.

This comes as the Workforce Development Fund is confirmed for an additional year (2022/23) offering stability ahead of new and improved training opportunities.

In 2020/21 the Workforce Development Fund, financed by the Department of Health and Social Care and disseminated by Skills for Care, helped more than 14,000 care workers from more than 2,300 establishments to progress their careers despite the pressures of the pandemic.

The government is working in partnership with the social care sector on plans for staff training and support including creating a new knowledge and skills framework to ensure clear paths to progress.

As part of this the government will be speaking to training suppliers and the social care sector about potential contracts to develop the best possible learning and development opportunities from April 2023, using some of the £500 million announced in the Spending Review.

These learning and development opportunities will include:

  • New financial support to help adult social care employers with the costs of continued professional development (CPD) for registered nurses and other allied health professionals
  • A brand new Care Certificate qualification, ending the need for care workers to repeat this training when they move roles. The government will fund more than 100,000 training places for new care workers to complete this new qualification
  • Developing a digital hub and skills passport for the workforce. This will help provide a voluntary register of staff and verified records of skills and qualifications when moving between providers

By better supporting careers and staff wellbeing potential care workers are more likely to apply and current workers are more likely to want to remain in the profession.

Minister for Care and Mental Health Gillian Keegan said:

Dedicating your life to caring for others is not just a job, it is a calling but it also needs to be a career.

We know how hardworking social care staff are and they deserve our support in developing their skills through training.

Better training ultimately means better care for residents and a better future for staff.

The new framework will set out the knowledge, skills, values, and behaviours people need to work in adult social care.

It will also set out career structures and clear pathways for development within roles, as well as creating more routes for progression.

For level 5 managers there will be additional funding to assist with further qualifications.

All registered managers who do not hold a level 5 or equivalent qualification will be able to access a funded Diploma in Leadership and Management in Adult Care.

The government will also invest in level 2, 3 and 4 qualifications to ensure individuals working across social care have the option of taking up qualifications.

Chief Nurse for Adult Social Care Deborah Sturdy said:

A key priority when I took on this role was to improve training and career opportunities for our hard working staff.

Providing care is a skill which requires nurturing and if we want to retain the best of the profession we need to care for them too.

The skills framework will offer progression and improved opportunities which all our staff deserve.

For those who wish to remain in their existing roles but develop new skills there will be professional development opportunities.

Additional training will include developing skills to help with diabetes, stroke awareness, mental health and care for people with a learning disability and autistic people.

Leadership training will be available to build a culture of continued professional development across all sizes of care providers.

The Workforce Development Fund will continue this year to provide funded training to adult social care employers in England to support the development of their staff at all levels, offering funding for a wide range of qualifications, learning programmes and digital learning modules.



Student Loans Interest Rates and Repayment Threshold Announcement

The Department for Education (DfE) today (10 August 2022) confirmed annual updates to interest rates and repayment thresholds for Income Contingent Student Loans, and the interest rates and deferment threshold for Mortgage Style Student Loans.

Income Contingent Student Loans

Undergraduate loans

Income Contingent Student Loans for pre-2012 (Plan 1) loans

The interest rate on pre-2012 income-contingent repayment student loans is RPI or the Bank Base Rate + 1%, whichever is lower. The low interest rate cap is in effect, and therefore the rate to be charged from 1 September 2022 will be the Bank Base Rate (1.75%) +1%, that is, 2.75%. This rate may be adjusted during the year, if and when the Bank Base Rate changes.

If the low interest rate cap no longer applies during the year the interest rate on Plan 1 Income Contingent Repayment Loans during the period 1 September 2022 until 31 August 2023 will be 9%, the applicable rate of RPI for the period 1 September 2022 to 31 August 2023.

Please monitor this website regularly as the rates may change during the academic year.

From 6 April 2023, the repayment threshold for pre-2012 (Plan 1) loans will rise to £22,015.

Income Contingent Student Loans for post-2012 (Plan 2) loans

Interest rates for post-2012 income contingent student loans vary between RPI and RPI +3%, depending on your circumstances. These rates are subject to any caps to reflect the Prevailing Market Rate.

Prevailing Market Rate cap:

From 1 September 2022 until 31 August 2023, the interest rate for borrowers on a post-2012 (Plan 2) loan will be a maximum of 7.3%, as announced by DfE Ministers on 11 June 2022.

From 1 September 2022 to 30 November 2022:

The interest rate will be 6.3% for all post-2012 (Plan 2) loans, reflecting a further reduction of the Prevailing Market Rate.

From 1 December 2022 to 31 August 2023:

The interest rate will be 7.3% as announced on 11 June 2022.

The income threshold for post-2012 (Plan 2) from April 2023 will be £27,295.

Postgraduate Loans

The Interest rate for Postgraduate Master’s or Doctoral loans is RPI plus 3%. This rate is subject to any caps to reflect the Prevailing Market Rate.

Prevailing Market Rate cap:

From 1 September 2022 until 31 August 2023, the interest rate on a Postgraduate Master’s or Doctoral loan will be a maximum of 7.3%, as announced by DfE Ministers on 11 June 2022.

From 1 September 2022 to 30 November 2022:

The interest rate will be 6.3% for Postgraduate loans, reflecting a further reduction of the Prevailing Market Rate cap.

From 1 December 2022 to 31 August 2023

The maximum interest rate will be 7.3% as announced on 11 June 2022.

The income thresholds for Postgraduate Masters and Doctoral Loans to apply from April 2023 will be announced in due course.

Mortgage Style Loans

From 1 September 2022 until 31 August 2023, the interest rate for mortgage style loans will be RPI, that is,9%.

The deferment threshold for mortgage style loans will be £35,092.

Any queries from borrowers who have mortgage style loans should be addressed to their loan administrator.



Foreign flagged ships detained in the UK during July 2022 under Paris MOU

During July, there were three new detentions of a foreign flagged vessel in a UK port.

  1. In response to one of the recommendations of Lord Donaldson’s inquiry into the prevention of pollution from merchant shipping, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) publishes details of the foreign flagged vessels detained in UK ports under the Paris MOU regime each month.

  2. The UK is part of a regional agreement on port state control known as the Paris Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control (Paris MOU) and information on all ships that are inspected is held centrally in an electronic database known as THETIS. This allows the ships with a high risk rating and poor detention records to be targeted for future inspection.

  3. Inspections of foreign flagged ships in UK ports are undertaken by surveyors from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency. When a ship is found to be not in compliance with applicable convention requirements, deficiencies may be raised. Depending on the inspection findings, the vessel may be liable for detention in these cases.

Notes on the list of detentions:

  • Full details of the ship:

The accompanying detention list shows ship’s International Maritime Organisation (IMO) number which does not change throughout the ship’s life and uniquely identifies it. It also shows the ship’s name and flag state at the time of its inspection.

The company shown in the vessel’s Safety Management Certificate (SMC) or if there is no SMC, then the party otherwise believed to be responsible for the operation of the ship at the time of inspection.

The list shows the classification society responsible for classification of the ship only.

Responsible for conducting the statutory surveys and issuing statutory certificates on behalf of the flag state.

The deficiencies listed are those marked as Grounds for Detention. Further details of other deficiencies can be provided on request.

SHIPS DETAINED IN JULY 2022

Vessel Name: ELISE

GT: 1917

IMO: 9454462

Flag: Antigua and Barbuda (white list)

Company: Van Dam Scheepvaartbedrijf

Classification society: RINA Services S.p.A.

Recognised organisation: RINA Services S.p.A.

Recognised organisation for ISM Doc: RINA Services S.p.A.

Recognised organisation for ISM SMC: RINA Services S.p.A.

Date and place of detention: 02nd July at Grimsby 2022

Summary: Thirteen deficiencies with two grounds for detention

Defective item Nature of defect Ground for Detention
07125 – Evaluation of crew performance (fire drills) Lack of familiarity Yes
15150 – ISM Not as required Yes

This vessel was released on 11th July 2022.

Vessel Name: TORO

GT: 23235

IMO: 9208124

Flag: Liberia (white list)

Company: Peninsula Energy FZE

Classification society: Bureau Veritas

Recognised organisation: Bureau Veritas

Recognised organisation for ISM Doc: Bureau Veritas

Recognised organisation for ISM SMC: Bureau Veritas

Date and place of detention: 5th July 2022 at Royal Portbury 2022

Summary: Thirty-seven deficiencies with eight grounds for detention

Defective item Nature of defect Ground for Detention
07111- Personal equipment for fire safety Not as required Yes
03102- Freeboard marks Not as required Yes
07125 – Evaluation of crew performance (fire drills) Lack of familiarity Yes
10112- Electronic charts (ECDIS) Not as required Yes
10116 – Nautical publications Missing Yes
11122- Radio life-saving appliances Batteries Expired Yes
18314- Provisions quantity Not as required Yes
18316- Water, pipes, tanks Not as required Yes

This vessel was still detained 31 July 2022

Vessel Name: WILSON BLYTH

GT: 2446

IMO: 9124419

Flag: Barbados (white list)

Company: Wilson Ship Management AS

Classification society: Bureau Veritas

Recognised organisation: Bureau Veritas and DNV

Recognised organisation for ISM Doc: DNV

Recognised organisation for ISM SMC: DNV

Date and place of detention: 19th July 2022 at Greenock

Summary: Two deficiencies with two grounds for detention

Defective item Nature of defect Ground for Detention
01306 – Shipboard working arrangements Not as required Yes
15150 – ISM Not as required Yes

This vessel was released on 22nd July 2022

DETENTIONS CARRIED OVER FROM PREVIOUS MONTHS

Vessel Name: LIVA GRETA

GT: 851

IMO: 8801072

Flag: Liberia (White list)

Company: Greta Marine Ltd

Classification society: RINA Services S.p.A.

Recognised organisation: RINA Services S.p.A.

Recognised organisation for ISM Doc: N/A (Issued by Flag)

Recognised organisation for ISM SMC: N/A (Issued by Flag)

Date and place of detention: 24th June 2022 at Corpach

Summary: Five deficiencies with two grounds for detention

Defective item Nature of defect Ground for Detention
02106- Hull damage impairing seaworthiness Holed Yes
03103- Railing, gangway, walkway and means for safe passage Damaged Yes

This vessel was still detained on 31st July 2022

Vessel Name: SHEARWATER

GT: 342

IMO: 6822216

Flag: Comoros (Black list)

Company: No ISM Company as under 500GT

Classification society: N/A

Recognised organisation: International Register of Shipping

Recognised organisation for ISM Doc: N/A Under 500GT

Recognised organisation for ISM SMC: N/A Under 500GT

Date and place of detention: 30th June 2022 at Leith

Summary: Seven deficiencies with four grounds for detention

Defective item Nature of defect Ground for Detention
07109- Fixed fire extinguishing installation Not as required Yes
07113- Fire pumps and its pipes Inoperative Yes
07113- Fire pumps and its pipes Inoperative Yes
11104- Rescue boats – Insufficient Yes

This vessel was still detained on 31st July 2022

Vessel Name: TEK

GT: 1997

IMO: 9368637

Flag: Barbados (white list) at the time of detention.

Company: Ege Denizcilik Mursel Teksen

Classification Society: Bureau Veritas

Recognised Organisation: Bulgarian Register of Shipping and Bureau Veritas

Recognised Organisation for ISM DOC: Bulgarian Register of Shipping

Recognised Organisation for ISM SMC: Bulgarian Register of Shipping

Date and place of detention: 23rd May at Ipswich

Summary: Seventy-Eight deficiencies with fifteen grounds for detention

Defective item Nature of defect Ground for Detention
10127 – Voyage or passage plan Incomplete Yes
10117 – Echo Sounder Inoperative Yes
18312 – Galley, Handlingroom (Maintenance) Not Hygienic Yes
18315 – Provisions Quality and Nutritional Value Rotten Yes
18324 – Cold Room, Cold Room Cleanliness, Cold Room Temperature Not Hygienic Yes
07111 – Personal Equipment for Fire Safety Not as Required Yes
07101 – Fire Prevention Structural Integrity Not as Required Yes
07105 – Fire Doors/Openings In Fire- Resisting Divisions Not as Required Yes
18407 – Lighting (Working Spaces) Inoperative Yes
04103 – Emergency Lighting, Batteries and Switches Not as Required Yes
10109 – Lights, Shapes, Sound-Signals Missing Yes
18326 – Laundry, Adequate Locker Not as required Yes
18305 – Hospital Accommodation (Sickbay) Not as required Yes
05118 – Operation of GMDSS Equipment Lack of Familiarity Yes
15150 – ISM Not as required Yes

This vessel was still detained on 31st July 2022.

Vessel Name: POSEIDON

GT: 1412

IMO: 7363217

Flag: Iceland

Company: Neptune EHF

Classification society: N/A

Recognised organisation: N/A

Recognised organisation for ISM Doc: DNV

Recognised organisation for ISM SMC: DNV

Date and place of detention: 19th July 2018 at Hull

Summary: Ten deficiencies with two grounds for detention

Defective item Nature of defect Ground for Detention
02106 – Hull damage impairing seaworthiness Holed Yes
07113 – Fire pumps Insufficient Pressure Yes

This vessel was still detained on 31st July 2022

Vessel Name: TECOIL POLARIS

GT: 1814

IMO No: 8883290

Flag: Russian Federation (Grey list) at the time of detention

Company: Tecoil Shipping Ltd

Classification society: RMRS

Recognised organisation: RMRS

Recognised organisation for ISM DOC: RMRS

Recognised organisation for ISM SMC: RMRS

Date and place of detention: 6th June 2018 at Immingham

Summary: Twenty-seven deficiencies with six grounds for detentions

Defective item Nature of defect Ground for Detention
10105 – Magnetic compass Inoperative Yes
10104 – Gyro compass Inoperative Yes
11129 – Operational readiness of lifesaving appliances Not as required Yes
10127 – Voyage or passage plan Not as required Yes
15150 – ISM Not as required Yes
11104 – Rescue boats Not properly maintained Yes
11101 – Lifeboats Not ready for use Yes
01117 – International Oil Pollution Prevention (IOPP) Invalid Yes

This vessel was still detained on 31st July 2022

Vessel Name: CIEN PORCIENTO

GT: 106

IMO No: 8944446

Flag: Sweden (White list)

Company: Open Window Inc

Classification society: Unclassed

Recognised organisation: N/A

Recognised organisation for ISM DOC: N/A

Recognised organisation for ISM SMC: N/A

Date and place of detention: 4 March 2010, Lowestoft

Summary: Thirty deficiencies including seven grounds for detention

This vessel was still detained on 31st July 2022

For further information please contact

Maritime and Coastguard Agency Press Office, on:

+44 (0) 203 8172222.
Follow us on Twitter: @MCA_media

Press releases and further information about the agency is available on the Web at www.gov.uk



British High Commission hosts Sheku Kanneh-Mason and the Kanneh-Mason family

World news story

Britain’s most exciting classical music performers, Sheku Kanneh-Mason and the Kanneh-Mason family will be joining British High Commissioner H.E. Vicki Treadell for a reception in their honour.

Britain’s most exciting classical music performers, Sheku Kanneh-Mason and the Kanneh-Mason family will be joining British High Commissioner H.E. Vicki Treadell for a reception in their honour. The event at Westminster House, the High Commissioner’s residence in Canberra will celebrate this fantastic modern British talent with invited guests. It takes place on International Youth Day, 12 August.

Sheku Kanneh-Mason shot to global fame after his mesmerising performance at the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in 2018. He won the BBC Young Musician award in 2016, and the first cellist in history to reach the top 10 of the UK album charts. Sheku is also one of seven siblings, all extraordinary instrumentalists, who have been described by Simon Cowell as the world’s most talented family.

British High Commissioner to Australia, Vicki Treadell said:

I am delighted to welcome Sheku and the Kanneh-Mason family to Australia during their much anticipated tour and celebrate their extraordinary talent.

This exciting moment follows the UK-Australian Season of Culture, a huge creative and cultural exchange which sought to answer the question ‘who are we now’. The Kanneh-Masons epitomise the diversity, creativity and talent that exists across modern Britain.

Andrew McKinnon said:

This is the largest tour the family has undertaken outside of the UK. I am very proud to be presenting these exceptional young British musicians, who are already winning the hearts of Australian audiences, with the critic for the respected Limelight magazine saying of their debut concert in Perth that the family’s performances are a must-see

This is the first Australian tour by Sheku and the Kanneh-Masons. Sheku will be joined by his sister Isata, now one of Britain’s leading young pianists, in a performance of greatly loved sonatas for cello and piano. In the second half of the program he will be joined by the entire family. The program will feature works by Schubert, Liszt, Mendelssohn, Shostakovich, Gershwin and other popular composers.

  • Sheku Kanneh-Mason performing at the Royal wedding
  • Isata Kanneh-Mason celebrates Clara Schumann
  • Isata Kanneh-Mason performing ‘Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child’ by Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, from her second solo album ‘Summertime’. Listen: https://uma.lnk.to/sfq3Ss2UPR
  • The Kannah-Masons – http://www.kannehmasons.com/
  • Sheku Kannah-Mason – https://shekukannehmason.com/
  • Isata Kannah-Mason – https://www.isatakannehmason.com/
  • The Kanneh-Masons are Isata, 25 (piano), Braimah, 24 (violin), Sheku, 23 (cello), Konya, 21 (piano and violin), Jeneba, 19 (piano and cello), Aminita, 16 (violin and piano), and Mariatu, 12 (cello and piano).
  • Sheku plays a 1700 Matteo Gofriller cello, kindly on loan from an anonymous syndicate of private investors.
  • All tour details at Andrew McKinnon Presentations www.amck.com.au

Published 10 August 2022