Around 200 people packed into a venue in Wick, Caithness to hear about plans for future work to decommission the site. Firms of all sizes from the local area and beyond represented a number of industries ranging from engineering, construction and demolition firms to support services.

Jane Mackenzie, Head of Commercial Services, said:

Earlier this year we awarded framework contracts and, in partnership with the successful organisations, we wanted to talk to the wider supply chain about the opportunities that will now exist to support and assist them deliver their commitments. The decommissioning of Dounreay is a complex programme and no single company has all the right skills and capabilities, so that enables others to play their part and help us deliver our mission.

The framework contracts, potentially worth up to £400 million, are due to last up to 4 years with the possibility of extensions of up to an additional 3 years. Lead organisations appointed included AECOM E&C UK, Dounreay Decommissioning Framework Alliance, Dounreay Wood Alliance, Jacobs UK, Nuclear Decommissioning Ltd and Nuvia.

The first contract to be awarded under the framework arrangement is due to be announced later in the year, supporting preparations to decommission the site’s shaft and silo facilities.

Watch highlights from the event:

Supply chain day September 2019

Once the UK’s centre of fast reactor research, Dounreay is now aiming to be recognised globally for decommissioning excellence. The work is being delivered on behalf of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority by Dounreay Site Restoration Limited, a company owned by Cavendish Dounreay Partnership.

An alert has been issued to healthcare professionals to recall 1 prescription-only product; Ranitidine 150mg/10ml Oral Solution produced by the company.

A second alert has been issued for medicines available both and over-the-counter and on general sale under the branding of Zantac, Galpharm, Boots, Kirkland, and Morrisons. A full list of all the products and batches affected can be found in the MHRA drug alert here.

In both alerts, healthcare professionals and retailers have been told to stop supplying the products immediately. All remaining stock should be quarantined and returned without delay to the supplier. Patients should not stop taking their medication, and a treatment review is not necessary until the next routine appointment.

The Perrigo recall is a precautionary measure due to possible contamination of the active substance in Zantac, ranitidine, with an impurity called NDMA (N-nitrosodimethylamine) which has been identified as a risk factor in the development of certain cancers.

The MHRA is actively involved with the European Medicines Agency and other medicines’ regulators to determine the impact of what is an ongoing, global issue. On 8 October and 17 October, MHRA drug alerts were also issued regarding the withdrawal of other, prescription-only ranitidine medicines.

An investigation into other potentially impacted products is continuing and further updates will be provided as the investigation progresses. Other Ranitidine products have been quarantined, and the Department of Health and Social Care issued an alert on 15 October regarding shortages of the medicine and advice to healthcare professionals on alternative treatments. The DHSC has also added Ranitidine to a list of medicines subject to export restrictions.

Dr Andrew Gray, MHRA Deputy Director of Inspections, Enforcement & Standards, comments:

“Whilst this action is precautionary, the MHRA takes patient safety very seriously.

“Patients should keep taking their current medicines but should speak to their doctor or pharmacist if they are concerned and should seek their doctor’s advice before stopping any prescribed medicines.

“We have asked companies to quarantine batches of potentially affected medicines whilst we investigate and we will take action as necessary, including product recalls where appropriate.

“We have also requested risk assessments from the relevant companies which will include the testing of potentially affected batches.

“Currently, there is no evidence that medicines containing nitrosamines have caused any harm to patients, but the Agency is closely monitoring the situation, and working with other Regulatory Agencies around the world.”

Note to editors:

1. Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency is responsible for regulating all medicines and medical devices in the UK by ensuring they work and are acceptably safe. All our work is underpinned by robust and fact-based judgements to ensure that the benefits justify any risks.

2. MHRA is a centre of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency which also includes the National Institute for Biological Standards and Control (NIBSC) and the Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD). MHRA is an executive agency of the Department of Health and Social Care.

A new report shows the majority of England’s regulated businesses are working to protect the environment and support prosperity, although more work is needed to reduce serious pollution incidents and illegal waste activity.

Published today, the Environment Agency’s (EA) annual Regulating for People, Environment and Growth (RPEG) report reveals that greenhouse gas emissions from industry have been cut by half in the last 10 years and compliance rates of energy efficiency and emissions trading schemes are above 98%.

It also shows 92% of operators demonstrated good compliance with their environmental permit conditions. A record 72% of the waste produced by activities with permits was recovered, and high levels of bathing water quality have been maintained.

The report gives an overview of the regulatory performance of all businesses with environmental permits in England and shows the effectiveness of the EA’s regulatory approach.

Earlier this month, the EA set itself the aim of becoming a net zero organisation by 2030 – ensuring that its own activities and its supply chain are taking as much carbon out of the atmosphere as it is putting into it.

Gillian Pratt, Deputy Director at the Environment Agency, said:

Our regulation is supporting a healthier environment and safer communities. The majority of businesses we regulate are well run. But all businesses must make improvements to ensure their operations help protect the environment and local communities.

Waste crime continues to blight communities, cause environmental harm, and undercut legitimate business. Businesses need to do more to manage their risks and reduce pollution incidents.

The EA continues to target those who flout the rules with enforcement action, including prosecution. In 2018, the prosecutions brought by the EA resulted in almost £2.8 million in fines for environmental offences.

Despite good progress, the report highlights the need for businesses to do more to safeguard the environment as the number of serious pollution incidents and illegal waste sites increases.

The report highlights:

• there were 533 serious pollution incidents in 2018, 14% fewer than 10 years ago, but 27% more than in 2017
• 912 illegal waste sites were closed down by the EA last year, a 12% increase on previous year
• 896 new illegal waste sites were discovered last year, blotting the country’s landscapes and undercutting legitimate businesses

The full report is available on the Environment Agency’s website.

[unable to retrieve full-text content]A letter from Chancellor Sajid Javid to the Treasury Select Committee on the Budget

The money is part of the UK Government’s £150 million commitment to the Tay Cities Deal. The £3 million was originally allocated to acquire the RM Condor Airfield. Following the positive news earlier this year that the MoD is to retain the airfield, this money will now be reinvested in full to fund four projects in Tayside.

The new funding will support the following initiatives:

• £1.6 million for Aero Space Kinross to develop a year-round visitor attraction in the heart of Scotland;
• £1 million to establish the Crieff International Highland Centre;
• £100,000 to develop the heritage and cultural experience at Innerpeffray Library; and
• £300,000 for the University of St Andrews Stretch Dome Simulator for research and innovation into climate change, coastal ecology, clean energy and low carbon.

Aero Space Kinross (ASK) is a planned aviation, astronomy and space flight science centre, which will include an immersive 3D planetarium. It will be help support the delivery of the project and STEM education in Scotland.

The Crieff International Highland Centre will be a world centre for highland sports, dance and music.

Innerpeffray Library in Crieff is Scotland’s oldest free lending library. The funding will allow the library improve its offer to the local community by adding a nature walk, and upgrading their education facilities and visitor information.

The Stretch Dome Simulator at University of St Andrews Eden Campus is a world-leading environmental and energy research demonstrator facility. It gives scientists the ability to test theories and generate solutions in the areas of climate change, clean energy, low carbon, food security, advanced materials, coastal ecology, marine mammals and underwater acoustics. This funding comes on top of an existing £24.5 million investment from the UK Government in the Eden Campus as part of the Tay Cities Deal.

UK Government Minister for Scotland Colin Clark made the announcement today [25 October] on a visit to Innerpeffray Library. Mr Clark said:

The Tay Cities Deal will transform the region, boosting jobs and helping the economy to thrive across Dundee, Fife, Angus and Perth and Kinross.

It is great news for Angus that RM Condor is to continue as a military base, reinforcing our commitment to a strong defence presence in Scotland. It employs a large number of people, and makes a hugely significant contribution to the local community. This also means the UK Government is able to invest £3 million in four fantastic new projects across Tayside.

From space education to cutting-edge science, these projects will make a real difference. I was pleased to make the announcement at Innerpeffray Library, Scotland’s oldest free lending library, which is helping to safeguard our unique Scottish heritage.

This funding is part of the UK Government’s £150 million investment in the Tay Cities Deal. Through the UK city region and growth deal programme we have committed more than £1.4 billion to city and growth deals across Scotland, helping to create tens of thousands of Scottish jobs in the years to come.

The Chairman of Governors at Innerpeffray Library, Martyn Wade, said:

Innerpeffray is a unique library in a wonderful part of Scotland. We are delighted to receive this support which will help to ensure that more people can discover and enjoy visiting this very special place in the heart of Perthshire.

Councillor Murray Lyle, Leader of Perth & Kinross Council, said:

The news of this funding announcement for these four projects is welcome. I hope that this funding will serve each of the projects well, and will help them all move forward with achieving their individual aims and objectives; bringing much needed investment to rural areas within Perth and Kinross, St Andrews and the broader Tay cities area.

The wider city Tay Cities Deal includes £26.5 million of UK Government funding to be invested specifically in Angus. Discussions on where this will be used are on-going, with a focus on a Clean Growth Hub, developing a low carbon network and investing in agri tech innovation. There is also an additional £1 million being invested in boosting broadband speeds for people and businesses in Angus through the Deal.

The Tay Cities Region Deal is being funded by UK and Scottish Governments, each providing £150 million of new funding; additional private and public sector funding will increase this by another £400 million giving a £700 million City Region Deal delivering significant long-term benefits to the region’s economy.