Launched in the International Year of the Salmon, the fish pass at Linton-on-Ouse, in North Yorkshire, will allow salmon and other migratory fish, including trout and eels, to bypass a weir that blocks the way to their spawning grounds.

The scheme will also present a number of benefits for the local community, providing a source of green energy from the hydropower station and a new recreational facility for paddlers and canoeists.

The project is a partnership between the Canal & River Trust, Linton Hydro Ltd, British Canoeing, Sport England, Nun Monkton Estate and the Environment Agency.

Recent years have seen an international decline in salmon and stocks in many rivers in England are at the lowest levels on record.

It is one of many schemes that the Environment Agency is undertaking nationally with partners to improve migration for salmon and boost their numbers. Improvements to water quality have also meant that the number of salmon migrating up the Humber, along the River Ouse and the River Ure to spawn has begun to increase.

Fisheries Minister Robert Goodwill said:

I was delighted to open the Linton Lock fish pass today and I would like to thank our partners for their work on finding solutions to contribute to the recovery of salmon stocks.

It is only through continuing to take concerted action, and through the co-operation of others, that we will successfully protect this iconic fish for future generations.

The pass encompasses state-of-the-art fish pass flights and an innovative lifting mechanism that moderates river flows to keep the route passable for fish while also benefitting recreational users of the river by creating a white water course for canoeists.

A series of drops and pools have been created for paddlers to practise and compete in and it is hoped that in the near future the white-water course will host slalom and freestyle competitions, attracting recreational paddlers from all over the region.

This scheme includes a new fish-friendly hydropower turbine in the form of a large, fish-friendly Archimedean screw, whose diameter of 5m (15ft) makes it the widest in the world. This innovative project was delivered by Mann Power Hydro Ltd, national hydro screw specialists who are based in North Yorkshire.

Pat O’Brien, Environment Agency fisheries technical specialist, said:

This is a fantastic partnership scheme that provides many positive environmental outcomes.

The hydropower station offers a source of green energy, it provides a new recreational facility for canoeists at a location close to York and fish passage for all species at no cost to the public purse.

The Linton Lock scheme is expected to produce around 1,870MWh of clean electricity each year which is enough to power 450 homes. A proportion of the electricity generated will go to Widdington Grange Farm, a family-owned free range chicken farm committed to sustainable farming.

Ben Seal, British Canoeing Places to Paddle Manager, said:

British Canoeing is very proud to have been part of the development of Linton White Water Course. It will be a fantastic regional facility of national significance. Its creative design fulfils both environmental and recreational needs, allowing canoeists to come and train, compete and play.

We certainly hope that this concept can be a blueprint for others to draw from in future.

Canal & River Trust, the wellbeing and waterway charity which looks after 2,000 miles of waterways in England and Wales are the navigation authority on the River Ouse.

Samantha O’Neill, from the Canal & River Trust, said:

This is a great project to help even more people enjoy the River Ouse. Our research shows that spending time by water helps make us feel happier and healthier. That’s why we’re working with partners, volunteers and communities across the country to transform canals and rivers into places where people can enjoy spending time and feel better – from boating and canoeing on the water to walking, cycling and fishing alongside.

International Year of the Salmon is a collaboration among organisations and countries throughout the Northern Hemisphere. It aims to support the conservation and restoration of wild salmon species, which are under threat worldwide.

The International Trade Secretary is visiting the World Trade Organization today in final preparations for the UK taking its independent seat as soon as we leave the European Union.

Dr Liam Fox met with key WTO figures to reinforce the groundwork for strong diplomatic relationships post-Brexit and to set out the UK’s priorities for global trade.

His top priorities include ensuring that businesses can keep trading with the UK on the same terms as they do now; supporting efforts to modernise the global trade rules so they are fit for the 21st century; and helping a wide-range of countries to benefit from the global trading system.

The UK’s programme at the WTO is on track to provide continuity for businesses through our goods and services schedules, which replicate as far as possible our existing trading terms.

In addition, WTO members confirmed last week the UK’s independent membership of the Government Procurement Agreement which will allow British businesses to continue bidding for £1.3 trillion of public sector contracts around the world.

Dr Fox has announced today that the UK will play an active and significant role in the first ever formal negotiations to update global rules for online trade, after years of informal talks on the issue.

He has also confirmed that the UK, as Chair in Office of the Commonwealth, is contributing funding for the Commonwealth Small States Office (CSSO) to help some of the world’s least developed and most remote countries to represent themselves at the WTO.

This benefits members including the Solomon Islands, Pacific Islands Forum, Guyana and Malawi.

International Trade Secretary Dr Liam Fox said:

As soon as we leave the European Union, the UK will have an independent seat at the World Trade Organization and will use this to be one of the most vocal supporters of free trade.

I would like to thank our trading partners for their support throughout more than 30 months of negotiations and cooperation. This will allow us to keep trading as closely as we do today, and I look forward to building even stronger trading relationships post-Brexit.

Top of our agenda is defending and reforming the global rules-based system. This includes modernising the trade rules and we will play an active role in the WTO’s first ever digital trade negotiations, as well as helping some of the world’s poorest countries to make their voices heard.

UK Permanent Representative to the WTO, Julian Braithwaite said:

The UK is a founding member of the World Trade Organization and the multilateral trading system that has been central to removing barriers to trade and promoting prosperity around the world.

The UK Mission in Geneva is ready to support the UK’s new role in the WTO as we leave the European Union, preserving the gains that have been achieved and extending the benefits of trade still further.

Today’s visit will help to establish strong alliances with countries that will be crucial in defending and reforming the global rules-based trading system.

Dr Fox is convening a meeting with close multilateral partners, including WTO ambassadors from Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Finally, he will meet with WTO Director General Roberto Azevêdo to discuss the UK taking its independent seat, as well how the UK will be able to support efforts to reform the WTO in the years ahead.

Backed by the Ministry of Defence and the Royal Foundation, ‘Mission Automotive’ will help veterans with specialist skills find jobs in a range of roles across the automotive sector, including in engineering, manufacturing, infrastructure and logistics.

Central to Mission Automotive is a commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant – a promise by the nation that all those who serve and have served their country should be treated fairly. This includes support for those currently serving, ex-service personnel, and their families, as part of the military community.

With full backing from the Royal Foundation of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, and the MOD, Mission Automotive will also introduce HR best practice with a focus on the wider issue of corporate responsibility.

Mission Automotive was unveiled today at the Royal Hospital Chelsea, and will be delivered by armed forces charity Mission Motorsport, in partnership with Jaguar Land Rover, DHL, Westway Nissan, Alcon and Bicester Heritage, who are all members of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).

The charity will also work with the MOD’s Career Transition Partnership to help place personnel leaving the military into jobs in the automotive sector.

Since 2014, Mission Motorsport partners have helped 1,700 veterans into new careers, 150 of whom were ex-servicemen and women categorised as wounded, injured or sick. Mission Automotive will build on this success by enabling UK industry to tap into a pool of unrealised talent. It will deliver sustainable and relevant employment opportunities, mapping military career groups to the qualifications required by the sector.

Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson said:

Engineering is one of the range of skills which personnel hone in our armed forces and can be transferred to civilian life. Mission Automotive will be instrumental in ensuring that these exceptional skills are harnessed, bolstering this vital sector of our economy and providing high skilled jobs for the ex-forces community.

Minister for Defence People and Veterans Tobias Ellwood said:

A career in the armed forces sets our people up with skills that last a lifetime, with their team work, courage and self-discipline making them an asset to any employer.

Under the Armed Forces Covenant, we all have a duty to support military personnel, both while they are serving and beyond, and I applaud Mission Automotive for their commitment to championing our people as they take the next step in their professional lives.

The Covenant is fulfilled by the UK Government, charities, businesses, and the public sector, and support covers a number of areas, including education, housing, careers, healthcare, and financial assistance. Over 3,000 businesses and organisations have now signed the Armed Forces Covenant, committing to support the careers of former and current service personnel and military partners.

James Cameron, Mission Motorsport CEO, said:

Many service leavers and veterans struggle to attain their potential, unable to recognise where they will fit into civilian careers.

Mission Automotive helps organisations to recognize, foster and retain that talent through developing and implementing their own Armed Forces engagement strategies. By promoting these positive business behaviours, the Mission Automotive initiative gives member companies the tools to unlock not only human potential, but also brand and corporate opportunities through embracing the Armed Forces Covenant.

Working as part of the MoD’s Defence Recovery Capability, our partner companies have helped over 1700 veterans into employment since the first Invictus Games in 2014. Our service men and women are a national resource, and have much to offer to society beyond their military service. By helping them and their families we boost British industry, and by association the communities in which they resettle.

Mike Hawes, Society of Motor Manufacturers Traders Chief Executive, said,

SMMT is delighted to be a partner in the launch of Mission Automotive. We have sought to support Mission Motorsport over a number of years both in terms of grant support and helping connect them and the veterans and service leavers that they support with the wider automotive industry.

The work they do is helping the industry address critical skills gaps and, more importantly, providing a new career path for ex-Service people who rapidly become an asset to the companies involved.

Environment Agency officers have contained the oil slick with oil absorbent booms and pads, and are now starting the clear up process. As oil floats on the surface of the water, these booms prevent the oil from spreading and the pads soak it up, without interfering with wildlife or the flow of the river.

Whilst the exact source of the oil has still not been established, it has been narrowed down to the nearby Balby Carr Industrial Estate area. There is no further oil coming from the drain, but protective measures will stay in place over the weekend in case the forecast rain washes more through the system.

Rosie Foster, Area Incident Controller, at the Environment Agency said:

We look to have contained the pollution for now with the booms we put out across the river so we can now concentrate on the clean-up.

It is hard to judge the environmental impact at this point, but as oil generally sits on top of the water the aquatic life below should be ok. Although we will be keeping a close eye for wildlife that has come into contact with the oil and the riverbanks for any effects.

Investigations are ongoing to find the exact source of the oil and we have taken samples to allow us to identify the exact type of oil involved. If anybody has information about where the oil came from or if a local business has had an accident that they have not yet reported to us could they please contact our helpline.

If you see pollution or fish in distress, please call the Environment Agency Incident hotline on 0800 80 70 60. Alternatively, If you suspect illegal waste activities, call the Environment Agency or report it anonymously to Crimestoppers or call 0800 555 111.

• New regulations will protect tenants’ and landlords’ money from theft or misuse while being held by property agents
• All private sector agents required to join a government-approved scheme by 1 April – or face up to £30,000 fine
• Measures will protect estimated £2.7 billion of client money held by agents

All private rented property agents will have to sign up to a government-backed scheme protecting renters’ and landlords’ money under new laws unveiled today (7 March 2019).

Housing Minister Heather Wheeler MP has brought forward new legislation to strengthen protections for money held by property agents.

Under the new regulations taking effect from 1 April, all property agents in the private rented sector will be required to join a government-approved scheme to protect their clients’ money while it is in their possession – with fines of up to £30,000 if they fail to do so.

In 2017, an estimated £2.7 billion in client funds – such as tenants’ deposits and landlords’ rental payments – was being held by letting agents. Yet currently, people may not always be able to recover their money if their agent fails to repay it, for example, due to misuse by the agent or bankruptcy.

The new requirement on agents to join an approved client money protection (CMP) scheme will stop tenants and landlords being left out of pocket when uninsured agents unexpectedly go bust or abscond with their money, giving people reassurance that their money is safe while it is with their agent.

Minister for Housing and Homelessness, Heather Wheeler MP, said:

It is not acceptable that some tenants and landlords are being put at risk of losing out financially, simply because their agent had not signed up to a scheme to protect their money.

Whilst the vast majority of agents act responsibly, this new law will prevent people from losing their hard-earned cash through no fault of their own. This will give tenants and landlords confidence and peace of mind that their money is in safe hands whilst with their agent.

Membership of a client money protection scheme is currently voluntary with approximately 60% of agents signed up. Making membership mandatory will ensure every agent is offering the same level of security, giving tenants and landlords the financial protection they deserve.

So far, 5 schemes have been approved. All private sector property agents who hold clients’ money are required to register with one of these schemes ahead of the regulations coming into force on 1 April.

Separately, a working group is also considering a new regulatory framework – including a Code of Practice and a proposed independent regulator – and the introduction of mandatory professional qualifications for all property agents.

This is all part of ongoing government action to crack down on the minority of rogue agents and drive up standards across the property agent sector, so tenants, homebuyers and sellers can be confident they are being charged fairly and getting the professional service they deserve.

These measures relate to England only.

The draft regulations were introduced on 12 June 2018 during a debate in the House of Commons by Minister Wheeler.

Client Money Protection (CMP) schemes ensure that money belonging to tenants and landlords is protected against theft or misuse by their agent and the agent going into administration while it is in their custody or control.

The CMP schemes that have so far received government approval are: CM Protect, UKALA, NALS, ARLA Propertymark and Money Shield.

We will continue to assess schemes before the 1 April deadline.

In order to join a scheme, agents will need to have a client account and appropriate professional indemnity insurance, and schemes will expect agents to have good client money handling procedures in place. Agents should contact individual schemes for more information about membership requirements.

The Housing and Planning Act 2016 introduced powers to bring in legislation to make membership of an approved or designated CMP scheme mandatory for property agents in the private rented sector.

A working group chaired by colleagues from the House of Lords was established to review how CMP was currently operating and whether to go further by making use of the powers taken through the Housing and Planning Act 2016 to make it mandatory.

Following the final report of the Working Group, the government announced its intention to accept the Group’s recommendation to make membership of an approved scheme mandatory.

Legislation to give effect to these changes (the Client Money Protection Schemes for Property Agents) (Approval and Designation of Schemes) Regulations 2018 and the Client Money Protection Schemes for Property Agents (Requirement to Belong to a Scheme etc.) Regulations 2018 was approved by Parliament on 13 June 2018.

The Client Money Protection Schemes for Property Agents (Requirement to Belong to a Scheme etc.) Regulations 2018 were signed yesterday and will come into force from 1 April 2019.

The Regulation of Property Agents Working Group is chaired by Lord Best and made up of experts from across the property sector. It is considering the entire property agent sector to ensure any new framework is consistent across letting, managing and estate agents. The group will report their findings to the government by summer 2019.