The Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said: The UK is watching events in Iran closely. We believe that there should be meaningful debate about the legitimate and important issues the protesters are raising and we look to the Iranian authorities to perm… read more
There has been a massive public response to the Government’s proposed ban on ivory sales – with over 60,000 responses to the public consultation, making it one of Defra’s most popular ever. Of the responses analysed so far the overwhelming majority support a ban.
In the past week more than 30,000 responses were submitted before the consultation closed.
Plans announced by Environment Secretary Michael Gove to impose a ban on ivory sales will protect elephants and help combat poaching by removing opportunities for criminals to trade illegally-poached ivory.
Unlike previous proposals, these plans cover items of all ages, not only those created after a certain date.
Environment Secretary Michael Gove said:
It is imperative we halt the decline in the elephant population to protect these wonderful animals for future generations. Ivory should never be seen as a commodity for financial gain or a status symbol and we are ready to take radical and robust action to protect one of the world’s most iconic and treasured species.
It’s incredibly heartening that so many people have contributed to our consultation. The response underlines that we are a nation which cares for wildlife. In 2018 the UK must be front and centre of global efforts to end this insidious trade.
Tanya Steele, WWF CEO said:
The scale of the public response – including over 60,000 who signed a WWF petition – shows just how strongly the British public feel about the need to end this mindless slaughter.
The UK Government must now act quickly. On average 55 elephants a day are killed. Every day we wait is a day too long.
The number of elephants has declined by almost a third in the last decade and around 20,000 a year are still being slaughtered due to the global demand for ivory.
The decline of elephants would also deprive some of the poorest countries in the world of their valuable natural capital, affecting economic growth and sustainable development.
As profits become ever greater, the illegal wildlife trade has become a transnational organised enterprise, estimated to be worth between £7 and £17 billion a year.
The ban would reaffirm the UK’s global leadership on this critical issue, demonstrating the UK’s belief that the ivory trade should become a thing of the past.
It comes as the largest market for ivory, China, has introduced a ban on all trading and processing activities which came in to force at the end of 2017.
This new ban builds on Government work both at home and overseas to tackle poaching and the illegal ivory trade. The UK military trains an elite force of anti-poachers in African countries, and Border Force officers share their expertise in identifying smuggled ivory with counterparts worldwide to stop wildlife trafficking.
In October 2018, the UK will host a fourth international conference on the illegal wildlife, bringing global leaders to London to tackle the strategic challenges of the trade. This follows the ground breaking London 2014 conference on the illegal wildlife trade, and subsequent conferences in Botswana and Vietnam.
The Government will publish a response to the consultation shortly.
read moreBill Kilby was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to International Development.
Two individuals named on 2018’s New Year’s Honours List have been recognised for their work at the Department for International Development.
Dr Phil Evans has been made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE), for his services to humanitarian relief, while Bill Kilby has been made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to International Development.
International Development Secretary, Penny Mordaunt, said:
UK Aid has saved lives and delivered hope in some of the poorest, most desperate and disaster stricken parts of the world throughout 2017. I am delighted to see that the individual contributions of Phil and Bill have been recognised in this year’s Honours and I congratulate them both.
For many, the festive season is a time for family and friends to come together. Yet so often, our humanitarian workers sacrifice this time to ensure UK aid gets to those who need it most, saving and improving millions of lives around the world.
We can all be exceptionally proud of the good that they do.
The Office for Students (OfS), the new regulator designed to champion the interests of students, promote choice and help to ensure that students are receiving a good deal for their investment in higher education, has legally come into force today (1 January).
With the legal establishment of the OfS, Education Secretary Justine Greening has also announced the final six appointments to the OfS’ 15-strong Board.
These appointments will not only reflect the diverse needs of the HE sector but will also make sure the interests of employers and students are represented by the new body, which will also hold universities to account over issues such as vice chancellor pay and free speech.
The OfS will replace HEFCE as the main regulator of higher education, and it will hold universities to account for the quality of teaching they provide.
It marks a major milestone in the implementation of the Higher Education and Research Act (2017), and the OfS will have an explicit legal duty to promote choice and consider the student, employer and taxpayer interests.
Education Secretary Justine Greening said:
The higher education sector is one of our nation’s greatest assets, and the OfS will play a vital role in ensuring our universities retain their world-class reputation for years to come.
I welcome the new OfS board members to their important new roles. Their experience and skill will be key in ensuring the OfS achieves its ambitions.
OfS Chair Sir Michael Barber said:
I am delighted to be welcoming another outstanding set of appointments. The new Board members’ broad mix of skills and experiences complement those already appointed.
I am confident that the OfS has a Board in place that is well-placed to successfully oversee the creation and guide the operation of a new organisation which will be shaping our brilliant higher education sector in the interests of students, short, medium and long term.
Minister for Universities Jo Johnson said:
The OfS will introduce a truly modern approach to regulation – one that will further enhance the reputation of our university sector.
I welcome today’s appointments, and I am confident that the OfS has a board that will champion choice and competition, and put the interests of students at the heart of regulation.
Newly appointed board members will take up posts in January 2018. They include:
These 6 board members will join those that have already been announced to form the full OfS Board of 15 members. The other board members are: Sir Michael Barber (Chair), Martin Coleman (Deputy Chair), Nicola Dandridge (CEO), Chris Millward (DfAP), Gurpreet Dehal, Kate Lander, Prof Carl Lygo, David Palfreyman, and Prof Steve West.
For more information or interview requests, please contact the Department for Education press office on 0207 783 8300
The Office for Students (OfS) was created by the Higher Education and Research Act which received Royal Assent in April 2017.
The Office for Students will have a duty to promote student interests, ensuring students have a wide range of quality options
By implementing the Government’s Teaching Excellence Framework, the OfS will hold universities to account for the quality of teaching they provide. They will shine a light on the grade inflation that we have seen tearing through the system and play a central role in pressing institutions to respect student’s rights and comply with consumer law consistently across the sector.
read moreHer Majesty The Queen has made Marine Management Organisation (MMO) non-executive board member Tony Delahunty Officer of the Order of the British Empire in the New Year’s honour list 2018 for his services to the fishing industry.
OBEs are awarded for having played ‘a major local role in any activity, including people whose work has made them known nationally in their chosen area’.
Tony is a fisherman and businessman with over 40 years’ experience of working in the inshore fishing industry. He has represented and championed fisheries management issues locally, nationally and internationally throughout his career driven by a lifelong commitment to the sustainable management of our seas.
As well as being an MMO board member he has had roles in both the public and private sectors including his appointment as National Chair of the National Federation of Fisherman; Chair of the Sussex Inshore Fisheries Conservation Authority and Vice Chair of Sussex Sea Fisheries Committee.
Tony has also been a member of Selsey Lifeboat since 1978 serving as a crew member, senior helmsman and deputy coxswain and currently serves as deputy launch authority.
On receiving his OBE, Tony said:
“I have worked as an inshore fisherman for most of life and have had the opportunity to contribute to fisheries management issues, locally and nationally and I am honoured to receive this award. Whilst I am personally very pleased, I feel that it also recognises the importance and value of the work done by the National Federation of Fishermen’s Organisation (NFFO), DEFRA and the Marine Management Organisation.”
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