Tag Archives: HM Government

It was the first opportunity for the NDA’s recently appointed Chief Executive Officer David Peattie and Chairman Tom Smith to meet collectively with a wide range of individuals, including representatives from all communities hosting the 17 NDA sites.

David Peattie said:

Maintaining strong relationships with our stakeholders is vitally important to the NDA and to me personally.

I am committed to meeting and listening to as many people as possible from the communities around our sites, and those further afield who have a real and genuine interest in our mission to decommission and clean up the UK’s nuclear sites.

Davie Peattie, NDA CEO

The event aimed at encouraging discussion about the NDA’s work, including how it manages the radioactive waste held on its sites. In ‘The Big Waste Debate’, UK and international nuclear industry experts shared views alongside renowned academics, authors and critics of the industry.

An exhibition and workshops were set up for local community groups, including charities and small businesses, to share ideas and highlight the achievement of enterprises that had received funding from the NDA’s socio-economic budget.

The second day was devoted to discussing support for socio-economic initiatives, which is part of the NDA’s mission to decommission and clean up the UK’s civil nuclear legacy. NDA representatives explained how i it was committed to using all resources available, including financial support, to ensure a positive lasting impact in the communities where it operates.

The NDA’s Head of Stakeholder Relations, Bill Hamilton, said:

I’m delighted about how well the event has gone and about the open, honest and constructive dialogue that’s happened over the last 2 days.

Our stakeholders come from as far afield as the north of Scotland, Ireland, Austria, the Isle of Man and the south east of England. To get them all together in one place to discuss our decommissioning mission in this way is a first and has been extremely valuable for the NDA.

Highlights from NDA Stakeholder Summit Day 1

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At the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday 19 September, the Prime Minister announced new domestic measures and an investment of £20 million in the new Global Fund to End Modern Slavery. In total the UK will double its development spending on modern slavery to £150million, enabling more work in collaboration with source and transit countries.

Speaking at an event hosted by Alliance 8.7 at the General Assembly, immediately after the Prime Minister’s announcement, International Development Secretary, Priti Patel, joined in the call for further action to tackle modern slavery.

Priti Patel also welcomed the “wake-up call” provided by new global estimates, which show that if all enslaved people were brought together in a single country, it would be the 34th most populous country in the world, ahead of Poland and Canada.

International Development Secretary, Priti Patel, said:

The UK’s call to action is on behalf of some of the most victimised, brutalised, exploited people in the world.

I recently met young female victims of trafficking at a safe house in Lagos, and heart-breaking testimonies like theirs vividly demonstrate that modern slavery is a scourge that needs to be eradicated.

In Nigeria, as well as many places around the world, we are stepping up our efforts and rising to this challenge – we will not accept a world where human beings are bought and sold.

Notes to editors:

• Pictures and B-Roll: Please see video and picture content from DFID modern slavery programmes in Nepal, as well as personal testimonies from victims and vulnerable people supported through UK aid.
• For photo credit, AD is Anna Dubuis/DFID and SM is Steph Moor/DFID.

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After opening the day’s trading in Central London, Mr Ellwood co-signed the agreement which sees the London Stock Exchange Group join a number of FSTE 100 companies who are already signatories to the Covenant, including BAE Systems, Marks & Spencer and Vodafone.

By signing, the London Stock Exchange Group commits to upholding the key principles of the Armed Forces Covenant, pledging to support reservists and create career pathways through the MOD’s Career Transition Partnership (CTP).

As part of the agreement, the London Stock Exchange Group will promote that they are an armed forces-friendly organisation, advocating the armed forces to their business networks and ecouraging support for the military community.

Defence Minister Tobias Ellwood said:

This signing is a significant step for the London Stock Exchange Group, which is set to be a strong advocate for the benefits of employing our talented Defence people in businesses across the UK.

These pledges will seek to open the door to new career pathways for veterans and provide flexibility for reservists – ensuring the Armed Forces community is not disadvantaged by their service and sacrifice for our country.

To celebrate the signing of the Armed Forces Covenant, the London Stock Exchange Group hosted a special market opening ceremony in London this morning. The event was attended by existing and prospective signatories of the Armed Forces Covenant at a networking breakfast for small and medium enterprises.

London Stock Exchange Group’s pledges include:

• Being an armed forces-friendly organisation which values the skills that military training and experience can bring to their diverse talent base.

• Seeking to support the employment of veterans, of all ages, by linking the Career Transition Partnership (CTP) to their careers website.

• Endeavouring to offer a degree of flexibility in granting leave for Service spouses and partners before, during and after a partner’s deployment, subject to operational requirements.

To date the Covenant has been signed by more than 1,800 organisations, including businesses and charities, all of which have set out their support for members of the armed forces community employed by them or accessing their products and services.

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The International Development Secretary, Priti Patel, has warned that the United Nations system is simply not adapted to the challenges of today, in the face of unprecedented humanitarian challenges, protracted crises and mass displacement.

This frank warning came at the UN General Assembly, at a UK-led event on reforming the development system. At the event, Priti Patel supported the strong reform agenda of the new Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, and urged him to be bold in demanding changes to ensure the organisation better delivers for the worlds’ poorest.

The International Development Secretary, Priti Patel, said:

Against the backdrop of unprecedented humanitarian crises, the international system is, frankly, not coping – it’s not fit for purpose.

While the objectives and goals of the UN are timeless, the structures and system we have today was cobbled together over years, and it is time for change.

Nothing emphasises these problems like the sickening and atrocious sexual abuses carried out under the UN flag – it will not be tolerated.

The UK is putting our money where our mouth is, and to ensure these critical reforms are not ignored, a third of our spending will be dependent on UN agencies making the changes needed to remain relevant in the 21st century.

The current UN system is hampered by a multiplicity of agencies, organisations, funds and programmes, unable or unwilling to collaborate, share resources or embrace innovation. Worst of all, despicable child rape, sexual exploitation and abuse has been carried out under the UN flag by peacekeepers and in peace operations.

The International Development Secretary announced that from next year almost a third of DFID funding to UN agencies will be dependent on improved results and progress on reform priorities:

• UN agencies will have to demonstrate effective collaboration, greater transparency and accountability.

• For all major emergencies, agencies will have to demonstrate that effective accountability and feedback mechanisms are in place.

• We will demand more effective and efficient delivery of assistance to the vulnerable – including greater use of cash transfers. Cash, rather than flying in food and other supplies, is more efficient, it enables those in need to choose how to support themselves. Crucially, it helps build local markets.

• We are also calling on the UN to collaborate more closely with the private sector, the engine of job creation around the world.

The International Development Secretary also made a stark call to put the stamping out of child sex abuse and child rape at the top of the UN’s agenda. This followed confirmation by the UN Secretary General in March that UN peacekeepers and civilian staff faced allegations of over 140 cases of sexual exploitation and abuse this year.

She stated in no uncertain terms that UN agencies must be fully transparent about any and all accusations made against their staff, contractors and implementing partners.

The British government puts the protection of children from rape, sexual abuse and sexual crimes at the top of its priorities. Any agency that receives funds from the UK must have the strongest possible measures in place to protect vulnerable populations, especially children, and to ensure the prevention, detection and prosecution of abusers.

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You can apply to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA), if you were injured as a result of this incident. You can also call the CICA helpline on 0300 003 3601. We will consider your application under the Criminal Injuries Compensation Sc… read more