Tag Archives: HM Government

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News story: Minister Burt visits Iraq to underline UK support

During his visit Mr Burt congratulated Iraqi leaders for the professionalism of the Iraqi Security Forces and the courage of the Iraqi people.

He met with Iraqi leaders including President Massum, Prime Minister Abadi and Foreign Minister Jaafari. Mr Burt also met with Deputy Special Representative for the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq, Lise Grande, as well as key international partners and UK military personnel.

Mr Burt emphasised that the collapse of Daesh in Mosul represents a major step forward in the global fight against international terrorism. He also stressed the importance of following up the military success with stabilisation and humanitarian assistance in liberated areas, progress on a lasting political solution, and efforts to rebuild the local economy.

Commenting on his trip, Minister Burt said:

Visiting Iraq was an important opportunity for me to congratulate personally Iraqi leaders, their security forces, and all Iraqis, on their victory in Mosul.

It is vital that the international community stands by Iraq as it begins the painstaking task of rebuilding and reconciling so that families can return home safely. And I’m proud that the UK, as part of the Global Coalition will continue to play a leading role in providing military, humanitarian and stabilisation support to the government of Iraq. I was pleased to thank some of our Armed Forces directly for their contribution.

We will also continue to work closely with Iraq and our international partners to promote reconciliation and economic development, to foster long-term peace and stability.

Further information

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HM Government

News story: The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport Appoints David Blyth to the Board of the Theatres Trust

The Rt Hon Karen Bradley MP has appointed David Blyth to the Theatres Trust Board for a three year term from 1 July 2017.

David Blyth has been involved in theatre and arts entertainment management for over thirty five years in both the commercialised and subsidised sectors. In 1987 David joined the management team of the local authority run Fairfield Hall Arts Complex in Croydon and over the next five years was Head of Operations. He joined The Ambassadors Woking as General Manager in 1992 and became Head of Operations for the Company in March 1997, while retaining the role of Chief Executive of the Ambassadors Woking. In February 2000 he joined the board of ATG as Operations Director. He subsequently relinquished the role as Chief Executive of Woking in September 2006 to concentrate on the expanded position of Operations and Buildings Development Director. In March 2011 he was appointed as Ambassador’s Property Director, with responsibility for their portfolio of 39 venues across the UK, America and Australia. David retired from Ambassador Theatre Group in 2015. Since his retirement David has become the Chairman of the Marina Theatre Trust in Lowestoft.

Theatres Trust Trustees is not remunerated. These appointments have been made in accordance with the Cabinet Office’s Governance Code on Public Appointments. It is a requirement of the Code that political activity by those appointed is declared. David Blyth has declared that he has not carried out any political activity.

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HM Government

News story: Culture Secretary appoints new Historic Royal Palaces (HRP) Trustee

Sue Wilkinson MBE has been appointed as a Trustee of HRP for three years from 1 August 2017.

Sue is Chief Executive of the Reading Agency. Before this she was Director of UK Academic and Government Alliances at Elsevier. She has held a number of prominent roles within the arts and education. Sue read history at Clare College Cambridge, trained as a teacher and did a post-graduate course in museum education at the University of Leicester. As Director of Policy at the MLA she created the groundbreaking quality and impact framework, Inspiring Learning for All, which is now used in museums, archives and libraries all over the world. While at MLA she worked with public libraries and their partners to deliver a wide range of programmes, and with local museums to establish, and secure funding for the Renaissance in the Regions programme. She was awarded an MBE for services to museum education in 2014. Sue is also a trustee of the Yorkshire Sculpture Park.

The role is not remunerated. 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. Sue has declared no such political activity.

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HM Government

News story: UK extends training of Ukrainian Armed Forces

The Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon has confirmed this will provide Ukrainian personnel with enhanced skills to protect themselves against these threats – a key cause of injuries and fatalities – now and into the future in the Donbas.

Since the beginning of the Donbas conflict in March 2014, 2,700 Ukrainian servicemen have been killed and a further 10,000 injured. 128 UAF have been killed this year alone.

Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon said:

We continue to stand side by side with our Ukrainian friends in the face of Russian belligerence and aggression. This training, defensive in nature, will help protect Ukrainian troops against the threats that they face on a daily basis. By stepping up our training programmes we are sending a clear message that we support the people of Ukraine and are firmly committed to its sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity.

Last week, Sir Michael also announced that the UK has directly trained over 5,000 members of Ukraine’s Armed Forces in 14 locations away from the Donbas.

Since 2015, over 1,300 British personnel have been deployed in support of Operation ORBITAL. Drawing from eleven different regiments, including two squadrons of reservists, they have been training the Ukrainian Armed Forces in a number of skills such as the identification of mines and IEDs, medical care and logistics. Last year, Sir Michael confirmed that the training mission will continue until at least early 2018.

The new training elements confirmed today will be rolled out later this year.

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HM Government

News story: David Davis’ opening remarks at the start of second round of EU exit negotiations in Brussels

It’s good to be back in Brussels, to open the next formal round of the negotiations.

We made a good start last month, and as Michel says we are now getting into the substance of the matter.

As you’ve heard, it’s four categories; the issue of citizens rights, the issue of finance, the issue of separation issues and of course, separately, Northern Ireland.

For us it is incredibly important that we now make good progress, that we negotiate through this and identify the differences so that we can deal with them, and identify the similarities so we can reinforce them.

And now, it’s time to get down to work and make this a successful negotiation.

Thank you very much indeed.

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HM Government