Across the world we are becoming increasingly reliant on our oceans: depending on them for food, energy and livelihoods. According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, our increasing dependence on this resource will mean our global ocean economy – which includes activities ranging from shipping and fishing to renewables – will grow to reach $3 trillion dollars in 2030.

This growth will have a significant effect on the countries that line Southern Africa’s coastline. In Madagascar, which is situated on the Indian Ocean trade route that links Australia, Asia and the Middle East, ports and shipping lanes will experience an exponential increase in shipping traffic. The planting of mangroves along the eastern coast, has the potential to generate increased income for coastal communities whilst helping to mitigate the effects of climate change. And in South Africa, government investment in marine infrastructure through Operation Phakisa has the potential to create an estimated one million jobs by 2033.

Legislation and regulations that guide the sharing of maritime information – including up-to-date bathymetry (seabed mapping data), tides, navigational warnings and observations – will be key to helping these countries manage this change, as well as unlocking further potential to grow their economy in a sustainable way.

They can underpin effective marine spatial planning, allowing governments and commercial counterparts to unlock economic potential, deliver effective protection of marine species and contribute to global conservation. They support navigational safety, giving mariners the information they need to reduce the likelihood of groundings that could lead to loss of life and the degradation of delicate marine environments. And they support the sharing of vital security information that is key to reducing the threat of piracy and illegal fishing in the region.

The UK Hydrographic Office and Foreign & Commonwealth Office have worked with partners across Southern Africa to develop this regulation and legislation during a 5-day seminar. Led by government experts in maritime safety, seabed mapping and ocean science, sessions covered:

Hydrographic Services and the development of a Hydrographic Governance Implementation Plan – These sessions promoted compliance with International Obligations, identifying activities that improve the sharing of Maritime Safety Information and advice on how to maintain safety of navigation through seabed mapping. Sessions also led to discussions on the wider use of the data to support marine spatial planning, maritime infrastructure development, environmental protection and management of resources; all fundamental activities for developing a sustainable blue economy.

The creation of regional peer support networks – these sessions promoted the sharing of knowledge and best practice, whilst identifying activities, dependencies, costs and success measures that improve the sharing of hydrographic information and reduce maritime risk to life and delicate marine environments.

Commenting on the programme, Ian Davies, International Hydrographic Programmes Manager said:

This seminar was a fantastic opportunity to work with partners from UK government and around Southern Africa to help build sustainable and resilient marine economies for the future. The oceans are vital for providing these states with resources, security and livelihoods, so it’s vital that we not only help them understand and monitor these areas, but also learn how to protect them through the development of strong governance and appropriate legislation.

Thank you, Madam President,

Thank you High Commissioner for your report. We are deeply concerned by ongoing human rights violations against Rohingya, Rakhine, Shan, Kachin, and other minorities in Myanmar, and by the Tatmadaw’s culture of impunity for acts of sexual violence.

The UK is concerned by growing restrictions on freedom of expression. We call on the Government of Myanmar to lift the internet shut down in Rakhine state. The situation there should not be used to place further restrictions on Rohingya, Rakhine and other communities.

The UK is alarmed at intensified fighting between the Arakan Army and the Tatmadaw in Rakhine. This obstructs efforts to improve conditions, and makes the safe return of displaced people, including the Rohingya, impossible. The UK urges all sides to stop fighting and to protect civilians.

Accountability for atrocities is essential for peace and stability in Myanmar. We encourage the Government of Myanmar to comply with the provisional measures of the International Court of Justice, and to implement the recommendations of the Rakhine Advisory Commission and the Independent Commission of Enquiry. These are important steps towards meaningful domestic accountability.

High Commissioner, in your view, how can the International community best support accountability and justice to ensure perpetrators are held to account?

Thank you.

As part of ongoing improvements to the repayment service, the Student Loans Company (SLC) is trialling automatic bank refunds to customers who have over-repaid their student loans. Customers included in the trial will be those that did not join SLC’s Direct Debit scheme to avoid over-repaying and who have not yet responded to communications on how to claim their money back.

Customers whose student loan accounts are in credit may receive a refund if steps can be taken to successfully validate their bank account details. This will be paid directly into customers’ bank accounts and will show as ‘SLC Receipts’ on their statements.

Steven Darling, Director of Repayment & Counter Fraud said: “We are always looking at ways to improve the service that we provide, that’s why we are starting this trial, alongside other improvements to the repayment service that we’ll be introducing later this year.

“While we’re always pleased to be able to refund customers, we do not want customers to over-repay in the first place. Repaying too much is avoidable because we ask customers to take control of the final stages of loan repayment and make the switch from repaying through their salary to Direct Debit. We want all of our customers to keep their details up to date so that we can let them know when it’s their time to put a Direct Debit in place and strongly urge customers to take this action.”

The UK Government has recently announced that an improved Online Repayment Service will launch in 2020; these ongoing improvements to repayment services are made possible by the more frequent sharing of customers’ repayment information between SLC and HMRC since 2019. The new online service will make it easier than ever for customers to keep their contact information up to date so that they never miss important information about their loans. The service will also let customers see where they are in their repayment journey which will make it easier for them to manage the final stages of repayment.

As well as this advice, check out our travel advice for Spain

Passports and visas

You don’t need a visa to travel to Spain, but your passport should be valid for the proposed duration of your stay.

Remember your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) but also take out travel insurance even if you’re only going for one night. It could save you a lot of money if you get into difficulties.

You must provide photographic ID (your passport) with you at all times.

If you lose your passport, you’ll need to apply for an Emergency Travel Document online.

Getting to the stadium

The stadium is located about 20 minutes (by all forms of transport) from the centre of Barcelona. We recommend supporters to travel by train to the stadium, with regular trains available from Plaça Espanya station. The journey will take around 10 minutes to FGC Cornellà-Riera station, followed by a 10 minute walk.

Allow plenty of time to travel to the stadium and for security checks carried out. Fans are advised to arrive 2 hours prior to kick off.

At the match

Wolves’ fans should enter through external gate, access 81-83 where there will be an initial ticket check and searching; the gates will open at 17.00.

Disabled supporters will be located in the lower lever, accessed via gates 94-97.

Visiting supporters will be kept behind for around 20 minutes after the match to allow the home fans to leave.

Tips

As in any other city beware of pickpockets and bag snatchers at airports, railway stations, around the town centre and when using public transport – only carry what you need and leave spare cash and valuables in hotel safety deposits.

Tel: (0034) 933666200 www.gov.uk/world/spain

Emergency services numbers

112

Further Information

http://www.rcdespanyol.com/

http://www.wolves.co.uk/

A multi-million pound fund to help boost standards of further education across the country has been launched by Education Secretary Gavin Williamson today (Thursday 27th February).

Almost £14 million will be invested to help improve leadership and governance across the further education sector so more people receive the best education and training possible. This latest move forms part of the government’s commitment to build the skilled workforce that businesses and the country needs to thrive by unlocking talent and levelling up skills and opportunities.

The investment announced today includes:

• A £9 million College Collaboration Fund to support colleges to work together to share their knowledge, expertise and best practice to boost the quality of education and training on offer. The fund builds on the successes of The Strategic College Improvement Fund which has already helped over 80 colleges to improve the quality of teaching, strengthened their partnership working approaches and supported college-wide improvements in culture and leadership.
• Up to £4.5 million will be invested in Continuous Professional Development (CPD) programmes to support improved leadership and governance – developed by The Education and Training Foundation in partnership with the Oxford Said Business School, The Chartered Institute of Accountants in England and Wales and The Association of Colleges. The programmes will provide FE leaders and governors with tailored support in a range of areas including strategic planning, finance and working with employers to address local and national skills needs.
• £200,000 to support two Governance pilots that will test new and innovative approaches to boost the skills and improve the governance of college boards to make sure they achieve the best outcomes for students.

Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said:

Good leadership and governance are vital if we want the further education sector to continue to thrive and grow.

The FE sector is already doing amazing work to unlock talent and opportunity up and down the country.

This multi-million pound investment will empower even more FE leaders and governors to drive up standards so more students receive the high quality education and training they deserve.

Richard Atkins, FE Commissioner said:

I welcome the launch of this support offer to the governors and leaders of our FE Colleges. In order to be successful, colleges require excellent governance and leadership provided by well trained and well supported Chairs, governors, Principals, Clerks and leaders, so that learners can benefit from enrolling at great colleges. I am delighted that this offer will enable governors and leaders at all levels to access and share high quality training, development and support.

The College Collaboration Fund will be key to helping colleges to work together to develop and improve further. This expanded development programme will build upon what we already know works well in the sector. The governance review and recruitment pilots will help college governing bodies to operate, challenge and support as effectively as possible. My team and I see examples of excellent practice during our visits across the country, but we also see examples of where support is needed if standards of governance and leadership are to improve. I am pleased that we will now have this expanded range of development opportunities to offer to colleges where we see this as necessary.

David Russell, Chief Executive of the Education and Training Foundation said:

Investing in the leadership of the Further Education and training sector is a vital aspect of the professional development support that helps it thrive. The announcement of these new programmes recognises that leadership comes from a number of places within institutions, from senior leaders to middle managers and from the governors to governance professionals. In doing so, it builds on the successful programmes already developed by the ETF with Department for Education funding in recent years, strengthening leadership capacity across the sector and, ultimately, delivering improved outcomes for learners.

David Hughes, Chief Executive of The Association of Colleges said:

This investment into the further education sector is welcome news and another good sign that DfE wants to invest in and back colleges. This package will help colleges help themselves and each other – proper peer to peer support, developing the skills and knowledge of leaders and governors across the country to strengthen the great education colleges already provide. Well-run and effective colleges rely on staff at all levels, which is why it is great to see targeted funds for continuous professional development opportunities as well. This is an important part of a wider systems reform programme which will see colleges thrive and college leaders work to a bold and compelling vision for the future of FE.

Bill Watkin, Chief Executive of Sixth Form Colleges Association said:

The first two waves of the Strategic College Improvement initiative showed just how committed colleges are to helping other institutions – and how effective they are in doing so. The Sixth Form Colleges Association welcomes the announcement that there will be a second iteration of this government-funded programme which will see high-performing colleges continuing to share their strengths and strategies for success.

The National Leaders of Further Education (NLFEs) and National Leaders of Governance (NLGs) programmes will continue to provide peer-to-peer support to further education and sixth form colleges where governance and leadership can be improved.

This funding builds on the government’s ongoing work to help colleges to be well-run and resilient, so they offer the best possible education and training.

The first round of the application window for The College Collaboration Fund is open from today until 8th April 2020

We expect to announce the successful colleges from May 2020. For more information on the application process, visit here.

Further information about the governance pilots are available here and here.