International Day of Forests was celebrated here today, with ‘Forests and Energy’ being the central theme of the celebrations. read more
The Government’s engagement programme for its Industrial Strategy continues today, with Ministers set to meet with universities, companies, and workers in Wales to hear their views on how to get the economy firing all cylinders.
Business Secretary Greg Clark and Wales Secretary Alun Cairns will visit General Electric (GE) Aviation in Cardiff to meet with production staff and management, before touring the plant to see the world-class services GE offers to airlines around the world.
Greg Clark, Alun Cairns and Business Ministers will then host an evening reception at Tramshed Tech in Cardiff with Welsh businesses, trade groups and local leaders, discussing the views of the Welsh business community on the priorities for a modern Industrial Strategy.
We recognise no two places in the UK are the same with each place having its own unique identity and strengths.
Through our modern Industrial Strategy we plan to build on these strengths in fields such as aerospace, technology and life sciences, to make Wales one of the most competitive areas in the UK to start and grow a business.
We launched our strategy as a Green Paper because we want this to be a conversation with businesses and employees. Today my ministerial team and I are visiting Wales to discuss how the Government can work with business and academia to deliver a high-skill economy, prepared for the future.
The UK Government’s modern industrial strategy is a plan for everyone. Wales has a strong competitive economy and by pulling together we can build on our strength to grow key sectors and business in Wales.
We need to ensure people throughout Wales benefit from the creation of a highly skilled and strong workforce; this is what the industrial strategy sets out to do.
Universities and Science Minister Jo Johnson is visiting world-leading engineering and scientific technology company, Renishaw Plc, while Lord Prior of Brampton is visiting a Tata Steel plant in Shotton and the military aerospace facility, Raytheon.
Climate Change and Industry Minister Nick Hurd is going to the Liberty Steel plant in Newport and sustainable cement manufacturer Cenin Cement in Bridgend.
Small Business and Consumer Minister Margot James will be visiting a leading microbrewery, Tiny Rebels Brewery, to find out more about its recent export successes, before visiting the largest animation production company in Wales, Cloth Cat Animation. Margot will then be part of a creative industries roundtable on the Industrial Strategy, with representatives from the creative industry in Wales.
In its Green Paper, Building our Industrial Strategy, the Government has outlined ten key pillars of focus to be discussed as part of a 12 week consultation period, inviting contributions from industries, businesses, local groups and workers across Wales.
With a clear ambition of creating an economy that works for everyone, the Green Paper contains a number of proposed announcements set to benefit the Welsh regions such as:
The Government has issued an open invitation to industries, businesses and local groups across Wales to visit the GOV.UK website and help set the priorities for a modern Industrial Strategy. The consultation period runs for 12 weeks after which the Government will consider responses before publishing a White Paper later in the year.
The Green Paper seeks views from Wales on how the Government can refine its vision to help the UK economy meet future challenges and opportunities. The 10 pillars which the Green Paper seeks feedback on are:
The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy brings together the responsibilities for business, industrial strategy, science, innovation, energy, and climate change. The Department is responsible for developing and delivering the Government’s vision for an ambitious industrial strategy, and continuing to ensure that the UK remains at the leading edge of science, research and innovation. The Department leads the Government’s relationship with business, and is responsible for improving corporate governance and securing better outcomes for consumers. We also make sure that the UK has secure energy supplies that are reliable, affordable and clean and take action to tackle climate change, working in partnership with the business community.
read moreThe NHS Wales IPFR process is the mechanism used by all health boards in Wales to make decisions on access to treatments that are not routinely available for individual patients.
The review was established in July 2016 with a particular focus on considering the “clinical exceptionality” decision making criteria for IPFR and the scope to reduce the number of IPFR panels in Wales. Central to the review was the patient perspective.
The review’s comprehensive findings were published in January and are available here.
Ahead of his Oral Statement in the Senedd this afternoon, Vaughan Gething said:
read more“My approach to this review has been to be open, inclusive and transparent from the outset involving all political parties, the public and the NHS in Wales.
“I’m pleased that the consensus is that this is a helpful piece of work that makes thoughtful and pragmatic recommendations that will help health boards deal with what are sensitive and very often complex decisions. I am particularly pleased that the patient voice has centre stage in the report.
“The good news from the report is that many aspects of the system are working well and the review group have made helpful recommendations to strengthen those and improve upon other aspects of the process.
“The review concluded that the principle for making decisions at an individual patient level about access to a treatment should be based upon the level of expected clinical benefit and whether the treatment offers reasonable value for money.
“With regards to reducing the number of IPFR panels, the review group have recommended it would not be the best way forward.
“The review has suggested improvements to the overall process to support health boards make these highly complex and sensitive decisions. This includes clarifying when it is appropriate to use the IPFR process, and strengthening quality assurance.
“I would like to thank the review group, once again, for their hard work and commitment in completing this complex piece of work. I would also like to express my gratitude to all of the patients who have been involved in the review process. The evidence they’ve provided in the workshops that have taken place across Wales has been invaluable.
“I have written to all of the health boards to confirm the implementation of the recommendations by September.
“I believe the recommendations in this report, when implemented, will have a positive impact on the IPFR process. It will make the system more easily understandable and less prone to being misused. Something I’m sure the people of Wales will welcome.”
Peter Dowd MP, Labour’s Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury, responding to this morning’s ONS statistics showing a 2.3 percent increase in inflation and the national debt at £1.7 trillion, said:
“Today’s sharp increase in the cost of living means that after seven years of Tory economic failure, it is working households and small businesses who are taking the hit with wage growth once again below price rises.
“As inflation breaks through the Bank of England’s target for the first time in more than three years, real earnings are lower than they were before the crash. At the same time this is a government that is handing out £70 billion in tax giveaways to the big corporations and the super-rich, but doing nothing for ordinary working people.
“The national debt is set to hit almost £2 trillion by the end of ten years of the Tories in government, and our NHS and social care system are in the worst crisis in their history. Only a Labour government will invest in our public services, create a fair tax system, and introduce a £10 an hour Real Living Wage.”
read moreWhen a private registered provider (such as a housing association) applies to be registered on or after 6 April 2017, we will no longer require them to certify their status.
When a disposal made by a private registered provider on or after 6 April is lodged for registration, the provider will no longer need to comply with some restrictions in the register.
These changes come into force on 6 April 2017 when the Housing and Planning Act 2016 amends the Housing and Regeneration Act 2008.
Please note we will update relevant practice guides on 6 April.
The Housing and Planning Act 2016 (Commencement No.4 and Transitional Provisions) Regulations 2017 (the TP Regulations) brings section 92 of, and Schedule 4 to the Housing and Planning Act 2016 (the 2016 Act) into force on 6 April 2017 reducing the regulatory requirements for private registered providers (mainly housing associations) in England.
Alongside this, the Housing and Planning Act 2016 (Consequential Provisions) (England) Regulations 2017 (the CP Regulations) amend section 183A and four of the standard forms of restrictions in Schedule 4 to the Land Registration Rules 2003.
Private registered providers applying to be registered as proprietor of a registered estate or charge in England on or after 6 April 2017 will no longer need to provide us with a certificate as to their status. This requirement, which will no longer appear as paragraph (1A) of rule 183A of the Land Registration Rules 2003, was designed to help us ensure we entered the appropriate form of restriction in the register. We will no longer need this information after 6 April, because the Regulator of Social Housing’s disposal consent regime in relation to private registered providers is being repealed (by section 92 of, and Schedule 4 to the 2016 Act). Rule 183A (1A) of the Land Registration Rules 2003 is being repealed by the CP Regulations.
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