We are opening tenders for new 2018 civil legal aid contracts across all categories in mid-September 2017.

This follows publication of the government’s policy consultation response to contract procurement proposals for the Housing Possession Court Duty Scheme (HPCDS).

Face to face and CLA timetable

The tender process to procure new face to face and Civil Legal Advice (CLA) contracts will open in mid-September 2017.

The tender will be open for 8 weeks, closing in November.

We expect to notify bidders of the outcome of sucessful:

• face to face tenders in March 2018
• CLA tenders in May 2018

HPCDS timetable

The tender process for HPCDS contracts will follow on from a number of market engagement events which will run in August and September. Dates and locations will be confirmed shortly.

During August we will also engage the consultative bodies in a consultation on the proposed 2018 HPCDS contract.

The tender for HPCDS contracts will then open in October. It will run for 6 weeks before closing in November.

The LAA expects to notify bidders of the outcome of their tenders in June 2018.

Contract extensions

It will be necessary to extend current contracts beyond 31 March 2018 as follows:

• Some face to face and CLA telephone advice contracts – 5 month extension with new contracts starting 1 September 2018
• HPCDS schedules – 6 month extension with new contracts starting 1 October 2018

We will be writing to notify providers of the contract extensions in due course.

Further information

HPCDS Policy consultation process – government response

Legal aid civil tender 2018 – information for organisations interested in delivering face to face civil, and/or specialist legal advice by telephone from 2018.

A new competition for 2018 will make up to £10 million available to UK organisations to work with Chinese partners.

Greeted by thousands of people lining the Portsmouth seafront, the 65,000-tonne carrier was met with the warmest of welcomes as she arrived in her home port this morning.

Sailors lined the flight deck of the largest warship ever built for the Royal Navy as she passed Portsmouth’s Round Tower. HMS Queen Elizabeth was also greeted with a flypast from the Fleet Air Arm, including Wildcat and Merlin helicopters and Hawk jets.

Secretary of State for Defence Sir Michael Fallon said:

Today we welcome our mighty new warship, HMS Queen Elizabeth to her home for the very first time. She is Britain’s statement to the world: a demonstration of British military power and our commitment to a bigger global role.

The thousands of people across the UK who have played a part in building her and her sister ship, HMS Prince of Wales, should be immensely proud as our future flagship enters Portsmouth. She has made good progress in sea trials and will now embark on the next phase of preparations that will see the return of Britain‘s carrier strike ability.

When she enters service she will help keep Britain safe at a time of increased threats, able to fill multiple roles from providing air power anywhere at any time to fight future campaigns, supporting allies or delivering humanitarian aid.

The Carrier programme has brought together the best of British industry, with construction taking place across six cities and involving more than 10,000 people. This includes 700 businesses and suppliers, 800 apprentices and nearly 8,000 jobs at shipyards around the UK.

The UK has 11 state-of-the-art F-35 Lightning II jets and 120 UK personnel training in the United States. By the end of this year that will be 14 jets, with trial flights from the carrier’s deck on track to begin next year.

Captain Jerry Kyd, the Commanding Officer of HMS Queen Elizabeth, said:

HMS Queen Elizabeth’s first entry into her home port of Portsmouth is an historic, proud and exciting occasion, not only for those of us serving in her, but also for the wider Royal Navy, the city of Portsmouth and the entire nation.

The UK’s future flagship, as well her sister ship HMS Prince of Wales, will be powerful symbols of Britain’s outward facing global character and ambition. The Royal Navy has a very special relationship with Portsmouth dating back half a millennium and both carriers will ensure the Navy’s city remains the focal point of our great nation’s maritime power for generations to come.

The ship will berth at the newly-named and upgraded Princess Royal Jetty at Her Majesty’s Naval Base Portsmouth, which will be home to both of the Royal Navy’s new aircraft carriers. The second, HMS Prince of Wales, will be officially named in a ceremony at Rosyth next month.

The berth has been upgraded and strengthened to support the carriers as part of a £100 million raft of infrastructure upgrades which took place ahead of the arrival of the ship.

A total of 3.2 million cubic metres of sediment, equivalent to 1,280 Olympic swimming pools has been removed from the harbour and approach channel, making it wide and deep enough to accommodate the enormous 65,000 tonne ships.

Sir Peter Gershon, Chairman of the Aircraft Carrier Alliance, said:

I am incredibly proud to witness HMS Queen Elizabeth arrive at her home port of Portsmouth Naval Base having successfully completed the first phase of her sea trials programme.

Over 10,000 people have come together to bring HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales to life, from early design to the magnificent ships they are today. It is thanks to their industrious endeavours and pride that we have achieved this historic moment in the programme to bring HMS Queen Elizabeth into service.

We’re excited to complete the remainder of her test and commissioning programme before delivering her to the Royal Navy by the end of the year.

Leading Airman Liam Forgeron, 28, from Portchester, is an aircraft handler on board HMS Queen Elizabeth. He said:

Being a local lad, I am extremely proud that Portsmouth will now be the base port for the nation’s future flagship.

The historic port has a long and proud association with the Royal Navy and the arrival of HMS Queen Elizabeth will cement this relationship for a further 50 years. As a Royal Navy aircraft handler, serving on board this mighty vessel is a real honour, as I too get to make history in my home town.

Both aircraft carriers are being delivered by the Aircraft Carrier Alliance, a partnership between the Ministry of Defence and industry.

Carrier Key Facts

• Each carrier weighs 65,000 tonnes and is 280 metres in length.
• Top speed is upwards of 25 knots.
• The carriers will have a crew of around 700, increasing to1,600 when a full complement of F-35B aircraft and four Crowsnest helicopters are embarked.
• The flight deck is 70 metres wide and 280 metres long – enough space for three football pitches
• Each carrier keeps 45 days’ worth of food in its stores.
• Each carrier is made up of 17 million parts.
• There are 364,000 metres of pipes inside each of the Ships.

ENDS

Notes to Editors

• Imagery is available at Defence Imagery
• For more information contact the MOD News Desk on 0207 218 7907 or Royal Navy communications officer Sam Bannister on 023 9262 5256 or email sam.bannister@royalnavymail.mod.uk.
• For the latest news follow us on Twitter at @DefenceHQ.
• Keep up with news and updates from the Royal Navy and Royal Marines by following @RoyalNavy on Twitter.

Twenty seven Filipino future leaders were awarded the prestigious Chevening Scholarships by the British government to study a one-year postgraduate course in the UK.

Funded by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and local partner organisations Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI), Unilever Philippines, Megaworld Foundation, GlaxoSmithKline Philippines and HSBC, the Chevening scholarships enable outstanding emerging leaders to pursue a one-year master’s degrees in their field of expertise at any UK university. The programme provides leaders a unique opportunity to advance academically, develop professionally, build networks, and explore the UK and its culture through fully-funded scholarships.

Ambassador-designate to the Philippines Daniel Pruce said:

Home to some of the world’s best universities, the UK’s higher education sector promotes the exchange of information and ideas, as well as the building of networks. Chevening enables emerging leaders from the Philippines to deepen their knowledge, expand their networks while immersing themselves in the UK culture. I congratulate the Chevening scholars from the Philippines and wish them the very best of luck with their studies in the UK.

This is the most diverse group of Chevening scholars from the Philippines. The scholars will be pursuing a wide variety of fields ranging through Health Policy, Sustainability and Environmental Policy, Security and Peace studies, Islamic Finance, Finance, Data Analytics, Material Engineering, Transport, Gender studies, law, Film and Media Arts.

The Chevening scholars are: Stephanie Tan, Micheline Rama, Bai Baraguir, Christian Yap, Cristina Villaraza, Danilo Vidad, Kristal Gazmen, Mary Baylosis, Richard Bolisay, Ben Kalaw, Ira Zamudio, Julius Cesar Alejandre, Antoinette Ramos, Loraine Gallevo, Renee Karunungan, Carmela Maranan, Twyla Rubin, Chiara Zambrano, Jam Usman, Miguel Paala, Camille Aromas, Carla Nochesada, Gerry Alcantara, Zayra Abraham, Geisha Sanchez, Francis Tiopanco and Carolyn Bonquin.

For more information on Chevening scholarships, visit the official website Applications are open for 2018/19 until 7 November 2017.

Contact

Patricia.Chengliong@fco.gov.uk

Notes to the Editor:

Chevening began in 1983 and has developed into a prestigious international awards scheme. Chevening Scholars come from over 160 countries and territories worldwide (excluding the USA and the EU), and more than 1,500 scholarships were awarded in 2017/2018. There are over 48,000 Chevening Alumni around the world who comprise an influential and highly regarded global network.

The name ‘Chevening’ comes from Chevening House in Sevenoaks, Kent – currently the joint official residence of the UK’s Foreign Secretary.

More information is available at the official website

Britain is working with Sierra Leone to coordinate rescue efforts for victims of “devastating” mudslides and torrential flooding that have killed more than 300 people in and around the capital Freetown.

International Development Secretary Priti Patel said the UK also stands ready to provide further assistance, with many victims trapped in homes buried under tons of mud.

On Monday, the West African nation’s national broadcaster said the death toll had risen above 300, but this does not include those buried alive in their homes and more bodies are expected to be found as floodwaters recede.

The Red Cross estimates 3,000 people have been left homeless by the disaster, with the figure expected to rise, while communications and electricity have also been affected.

Ms Patel said:

I am deeply saddened by the devastating landslides and flooding in Freetown, Sierra Leone which have claimed innocent lives.

My thoughts are with all those affected at this tragic time.

From stopping the Ebola outbreak in its tracks to helping the country rebuild after this deadly disease, the UK continues to stand by the people of Sierra Leone.

We have pre-positioned vital aid supplies and helped prepare the country’s response to disasters.

We are already working with the government of Sierra Leone to coordinate the rescue efforts and are ready to provide further assistance to those in need.

Ends