Following Hong Kong’s use of regulations under emergency legislation, which will come into effect on 5 October, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said:
Political dialogue is the only way to resolve the situation in Hong Kong. While governments need to ensure the security and safety of their people, they must avoid aggravating and instead reduce tensions.
Refunds are being offered to those who were charged more than was necessary for certain deputyship fees charged for any period between 1 April 2008 and 31 March 2015.
Due to difficulty in predicting costs as the number of deputyships rose faster than expected, the fees charged did not match how much it cost OPG to supervise. Since 1 April 2015, clients have not been overcharged.
The Ministry of Justice, which sets OPG’s fees, has now launched a refund scheme for those who paid higher fees for the qualifying period. The scheme will be run by OPG and does not apply to fees paid to either OPG Scotland, the Office of Care and Protection in Northern Ireland or the Court of Protection.
If you are a former client now able to make all your own decisions, the former client’s attorney or acting on behalf of someone who has died, then you will need to apply for a refund.
Only one application form needs to be completed for each former client; OPG will then find all qualifying fees paid by them during the period.
Full guidance for those applying is available online and there is a dedicated refunds helpline for those who need it. If you, or someone you are acting for, thinks they may be eligible please visit www.gov.uk/deputyship-refund for more details and to apply.
For those who don’t have internet access or need help with their refund please contact OPG on 0300 456 0300* and select option 6 to speak to a member of the refunds team. The scheme is open for 3 years so there’s plenty of time to apply.
*Lines are open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 9am to 5pm and Wednesday from 10am to 5pm. Please select option 6 if calling. Visit www.gov.uk/call-charges for call charges.
The following unauthorised product was seized following a routine inspection of a veterinary practice:
The UK authorised version of Busol is used to induce ovulation and improve conception rates in cattle, horses and rabbits.
This is not a UK authorised product.This is an offence under regulation 26 (Possession of an unauthorised veterinary medicinal product) of the Veterinary Medicines Regulations 2013.
The Ksh 4.3 billion bond, a first for East Africa, is a milestone in Kenya’s transition to a low-carbon economy, and national vision of being a centre of financial excellence in the region.
The UK has been working with the Kenyan government to develop capital markets and attract the private finance needed to deliver on the Big 4 Agenda. Since 2015, UK aid has funded FSD Africa’s work with the Capital Markets Authority and their green bond programme, which created the regulatory framework for green bonds in Kenya.
Speaking at an event celebrating the bond closing, British High Commissioner to Kenya Jane Marriott said:
I am delighted to help mark the arrival of East Africa’s first ever green bond here in Kenya today, which has been delivered with support from the UK.
This brings together two of the UK and Kenya’s partnership priorities: strengthening our economic partnership and working together to respond to climate change.
This bond will result in Ksh 4.3 billion supporting a Big 4 Agenda priority, investing in affordable, environmentally friendly housing for 5,000 students in Nairobi. This is great news for young Kenyans continuing their educations, and good news for the planet we share.
Issued by Acorn Holdings, the bond has been certified as green by the UK Climate Bonds Initiative due to its expected contribution to reducing carbon emissions, after funding and support from UK aid. The bond is also the first Kenyan corporate bond rated by an international ratings agency.
UK aid funded GuarantCo has also provided a partial guarantee to reduce the risk to investors who buy into the bond. This helped to raise the full amount of the bond and make it a success.
UK Secretary of State for International Development Alok Sharma said:
The UK is mobilising private sector investment to help African nations make the most of their enormous potential. We are leading the way in the listing of green bonds, with over 100 bonds listed on the London Stock Exchange.
The growth of the green bond market in East Africa is supporting vital climate resilient infrastructure and helping provide 5,000 students in Kenya with environmentally-friendly, affordable housing. I look forward to building on this success at the UK-Africa Investment Summit next year.
CEO of Acorn Holdings Ltd Edward M. Kirathe said:
Acorn is delighted to have successfully pioneered the issuance of Green bonds in Kenya. We are truly grateful for the unprecedented support we have received from UK DFID supported entities – especially GuarantCo and FSD Africa without which it would not have been possible to bring this bond to Market.
This is an example of how the UK is sharing its experience of delivering clean growth, having cut our emissions by over 43% whilst growing the economy by 71% since 1990. The UK was the first country to introduce legally binding emission reduction targets through the 2008 Climate Change Act.
Andrew Jenkins, Director of mobility data and analytics company Arity, has today (Friday 4 October) been appointed as the government’s new Fintech Envoy for Northern Ireland.
Fintech is one of the fastest growing sectors in the UK economy, and Northern Ireland is increasingly recognised as an important destination for new development and investment in Fintech, with over 36,000 people employed in the financial services sector.
Mr Jenkins will become the lead ambassador for Northern Ireland’s thriving Fintech sector, promoting it as a place for firms to develop and grow their business. The appointment, made by the Economic Secretary to the Treasury, John Glen, underlines the UK government’s unwavering commitment to the Union as the UK prepares for Brexit, as well as promoting Northern Ireland as a great place to do business.
The Economic Secretary to the Treasury, John Glen, said:
Fintech is vital to the future of financial services, and we want every corner of the UK to be able to harness its power.
I want to congratulate Andrew on taking up his new role as Fintech Envoy, where he will play a critical role in helping the sector to grow and flourish in Belfast and beyond.
I have no doubt that he will build on the success of the existing envoys in ensuring that we remain a world leader in Fintech and at the cutting edge of the digital revolution.
Fintech Envoy for Northern Ireland, Andrew Jenkins, said:
I am honoured to be chosen as the Fintech Envoy for Northern Ireland, where I will collaborate with the sector here to harness our incredible potential to lead the region and beyond in Fintech expertise and offerings.
I will work to bring together business and civic leaders to invest in leading edge technologies and applications, focusing on emerging capabilities in blockchain, artificial intelligence and data security, to further grow the sector in Northern Ireland.
Our mandate as part of the UK Fintech strategy is to capitalise on what we have already have in place here in Northern Ireland. With strong government support, close collaboration between big companies and start-ups and a world class workforce, Northern Ireland has the potential to become the best place in the world to start and build a Fintech company.
Financial Technology – or Fintech – refers to the new innovations made in financial services which are giving people greater choice and control over their finances. This includes areas like digital banking, payment technologies, peer-to-peer lending and crowdfunding platforms.
Mr Jenkins has more than 20 years of experience in the technology sector, including the financial services, utilities, insurance, telecoms and transportation sectors. In his current role at Arity, a company founded by The Allstate Corporation, he leads work to harness mobility data to create more relevant and safer mobility experiences for everyone. He will take over the role from Georgina O’Leary, who was appointed to the role in May 2018.
He will join the current envoys based around the UK in championing the power of Fintech:
Fintech is the apps, computer programs and other technologies that support and improve how we bank and access finance. It encompasses innovation in financial services such as crowdfunding, e-banking, payment technologies, peer-to-peer lending, and cryptocurrencies.
Fintech is one of the fastest growing sectors in the UK economy, contributing nearly £7 billion to GDP and employing 76,500 people across the country. The UK has been independently ranked as the world’s leading hub for Fintech – the best place in the world to start and grown a Fintech firm.