Appointment Extension: Local Government Superannuation Committee

The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has extended the appointments of four Members of the Northern Ireland Local Government Officers’ Superannuation Committee (NILGOSC).

The extensions of appointments of Peter Caldwell, David Jackson MBE, Linda Neilan and Peter McMurray will take effect from 1 October 2019 for a period of six months or until permanent Committee Member appointments are made, whichever is earlier.

In the absence of Northern Ireland Ministers, these extensions were made possible by powers under the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation and Exercise of Functions) Act 2018.

The Northern Ireland Local Government Officers’ Superannuation Committee (NILGOSC) was established in April 1950 to operate a pension scheme for the local councils and other similar bodies in Northern Ireland. The pension scheme is a defined benefit pension scheme. NILGOSC is the corporate body responsible for the administration of the Scheme and is a non-departmental public body, sponsored by the Department for Communities.

The member positions are eligible for a daily allowance of £123 for a minimum commitment of two days per month.

This appointment has been made in accordance with the Commissioner for Public Appointments for Northern Ireland Code of Practice.

All appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process. However, the Commissioner for Public Appointments for Northern Ireland requires political activity of appointees to be published.

Mr Peter Caldwell is the treasurer of Apex Housing Association Board of Management and a member of the NI Federation of Housing Associations Board. Previously he was Senior Manager with the former Western Health and Social Services Board with responsibility for business planning and performance management, skills and experience of which he brings to the Committee. He holds no other public appointments and has had no political activity in the last 5 years.

Mr David Jackson MBE is the Chief Executive of Causeway Coast and Glen Borough Council. He was previously the Head of Support Services at Coleraine Borough Council, prior to which he was a senior manager with PriceWaterhouseCoopers. He brings skills relating to risk management, communications and financial planning to the Committee. He holds no other public appointments and has had no political activity in the last 5 years.

Mrs Linda Neilan is the Group Accounting Manager and Senior Finance Business Partner for Translink with responsibility for management and financial accounting, payroll and ticketing. A Fellow of Chartered Accountants Ireland, Linda spent her early career with Deloitte and is currently a member of the LGPS (NI) Scheme Advisory Board. She brings a range of financial skills and corporate governance experience to the member role. She holds no other public appointments and has had no political activity in the last 5 years.

Mr Peter McMurray is the Lead Representative in Education for GMB the Union. He is also Branch Secretary and represents the GMB in a number of associated Councils, Committees and Forums, and brings this sectoral knowledge to the Committee. Through his role, he helps increase employees’ understanding of the benefits of belonging to the NILGOSC Scheme. He holds no other public appointments and has had no political activity in the last 5 years.

Smart funding: open to innovative businesses from any sector

Smart is Innovate UK’s open grant funding programme. Up to £25 million is available to support the best game-changing and commercially viable ideas across a whole range of technology areas.

Projects can focus on any area of technology and on any area of the economy including arts, design and media, creative industries, and science and engineering.

Projects in support of one of the grand challenges in the UK government’s Industrial Strategy are welcomed but this is not necessary.

Innovate UK Smart grants

Game-changing ideas

The competition will support a range of projects from short feasibility studies to larger research and development projects and experimental development lasting up to 3 years.

Applicants must show they have:

a game-changing idea that could lead to commercially viable new products, processes or services
a strong business plan and a plan to deliver significant economic impact

Competition information

the competition opens on 17 October 2019, and the closing date is at midday on 8 January 2020
businesses of any size may apply
we expect projects to vary in size between £25,000 and £2 million
a briefing event will be held on 24 October 2019

£163 million economic package for Northern Ireland

Mid South West and Causeway Coast and Glens in Northern Ireland are to benefit from a £163 million share of UK Government funds to support local growth.

In July, the Prime Minister announced Northern Ireland would benefit from a share of a new £300 million UK Growth Deals fund, designed to support economic growth, create jobs or invest in local projects.

Confirming that Northern Ireland is to receive over half of this funding, Rt Hon Julian Smith MP, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, said:

Today’s announcement will help level up support for growth, helping to create jobs and boost local economies. It will boost the support we give to towns and cities in Northern Ireland and ensure no corner of the country is left behind. Every part of Northern Ireland now benefits from Growth or City Deal funding thanks to the UK Government.

We need to get Brexit done and get Stormont back up and running so we can continue to invest in communities across Northern Ireland.

The funding will be allocated to Mid South West Northern Ireland and Causeway Coast and Glens allowing them to benefit from the UK’s overall economic growth. It will mean that every corner of Northern Ireland is now backed by a UK Government Growth or City Deal.

The latest announcement builds on £400 million already invested in both Belfast and Derry-Londonderry.

Austria Brexit vocabulary

For more detailed information for UK nationals in Austria, see Living in Austria

Anmeldebescheinigung

Registration certificate for EU/EEA/Swiss nationals required within four months of arriving in Austria. Available from the local Bezirkshauptmannschaft or Magistrat (the MA35 in Vienna). Can be replaced upon application after 5 years of continuous legal residence with a Bescheinigung des Daueraufenthalts, although this is not compulsory.

Will cease to be valid if the UK leaves the EU without a deal but will be important evidence when applying for a new residence permit.

More information.

Aufenthaltskarte

Residency document for third country nationals with a close family relationship to an EU/EEA/Swiss citizen. Can be replaced after 5 years of continuous legal residence with a Daueraufenthaltskarte.

Will cease to be valid if the sponsoring EU citizen is a UK national and the UK leaves the EU without a deal but will be important evidence when applying for a new residence permit.

More information (in German).

Bescheinigung des Daueraufenthalts

Optional registration certificate for EU/EEA/Swiss nationals available after five continuous years of legal residence in Austria. The follow-on document from the Anmeldebescheinigung.

Available from the local Magistrat (in Vienna the MA35) or Bezirkshauptmannschaft.

The Bescheinigung des Daueraufenthalts will cease to be valid if the UK leaves the EU without a deal but will be useful evidence when applying for a new residence permit.

Bezirkshauptmannschaft

Local authority responsible for processing applications for residency documents. In regional cities, this is the role of the Magistrat – in Vienna the MA35.

Brexit Begleitgesetze

A series of laws passed by Austria’s national and regional governments in early 2019 to minimise disruption if the UK leaves the EU without a deal.

Brexit Hotline

The Austrian Government has set up a special hotline for questions about Brexit: +43 (0) 800 222 666 (free of charge within Austria). You can also email: service@bka.gv.at

Citizens’ Rights

The overall heading for the parts of Brexit that are directly related to your rights to live, travel, work and access public services in EU/EEA countries.

Daueraufenthalt – EU

Residence document available to third country nationals after five consecutive years of residence in Austria. This will be one of the residence statuses available to British nationals in the event of a no-deal. See here (in German) for further information.

Must be renewed every 5 years. Income and language requirements normally apply, although language requirements will be waived for UK nationals applying within 6 months should the UK leave the EU without a deal.

Daueraufenthaltsbescheinigung

See Bescheinigung des Daueraufenthalts.

Daueraufenthaltskarte

Residence document for third country nationals with a close family relationship to an EU/EEA/Swiss citizen. Available after 5 years of continuous residence and valid for 10 years.

Will cease to be valid if the sponsoring EU citizen is a UK national and the UK leaves the EU without a deal, but will be important evidence when applying for new residence permit.

More information (in German).

Frontier workers

Frontier workers are EU, EEA and Swiss citizens who regularly commute to another country because they are employed or self-employed in one country but live elsewhere. For example, someone living in Germany but working in Austria.

Legitimationskarte / Legitimation Card

Residence card for diplomats and employees of international organisations such as the UN, OSCE, EU, etc., and their dependants. More info here.

Living in Austria guide

The place to go for the UK Government’s guidance on living in Austria. If and when anything changes in the rights of UK nationals to live in Austria, we will update this page. Please sign up for updates.

MA35

The department of Vienna’s regional government responsible for immigration and nationality. The office for EU nationals is in the 12th District: Arndtstraße 67, Stiege 1, 1. Stock, 1120 Wien (map).

If the UK leaves without a deal, the regional offices of the MA35 will be responsible for your residence permit application. More information is available on this presentation from the Austrian government.

Outside of Vienna this is the role of the Bezirkshauptmannschaft or the local Magistrat.

Magistrat

Local authority responsible for processing applications for residency documents. Outside of cities, this is the role of the Bezirkshauptmannschaft and in Vienna the MA35.

Meldebestätigung (Meldezettel)

Residence registration form you need to apply for within 3 days of moving into a new home, or arriving in Austria.

Technically, the Meldezettel is the form you fill in to apply for a Meldebestätigung, but the Meldebestätigung is commonly referred to as a Meldezettel.

Outreach events

Events organised by the British Embassy for UK nationals in Austria, where you can ask representatives of the UK and Austrian governments questions about Brexit.

More info on outreach events in Austria.

Rot-Weiß-Rot Karte – plus (RWR+)

Residence permit available to UK nationals resident in Austria if the UK leaves the EU without a deal. Must be renewed annually.

UK nationals resident in Austria before Brexit are exempt from the standard language test and the income requirements when applying for a “Rot-Weiß-Rot Karte – Plus”.

More information here.

Third-country national

Someone who is not a national of an EU/EEA country or a Swiss national.

Withdrawal Agreement

The agreement negotiated between the EU and UK on how the UK should leave. This has not been passed by the UK parliament. Citizens’ Rights was one of the areas covered by the agreement.

UK-Taiwan trade talks boost agriculture, energy and pharma sectors

UK-Taiwan bilateral trade grew to £6.6 billion last year and ministers pledged to continue strengthening trade links. In today’s talks (Tuesday 1 October) ministers agreed to work together on the UK’s application to export British lamb to Taiwan. Discussion also focused on market access issues and ways to boost cooperation on offshore wind, pharmaceuticals and financial services.

The ministers also celebrated the one year anniversary since Taiwan allowed imports of quality British pork in August 2018. More than £4.58 million of British pork has been exported to Taiwan in the first year.

International Trade Policy Minister Conor Burns said:

During today’s talks we discussed a range of issues, including the need to overcome restrictive market access barriers, encourage export and investment and strengthen the UK-Taiwan trade relationship.

Taiwan is one of the fastest growing export markets in Asia and there are huge opportunities for British businesses in a variety of sectors including offshore wind, financial services and food and drink.

As we prepare to take back control of our trade policy, it is more important than ever that we maintain and grow these important trade relationships globally.

Trade cooperation on energy is bringing significant opportunities to UK companies. Taiwan is planning to increase its renewable energy production from 4% to 20% of supply by 2025, much of it from offshore wind farms, and as the world’s leading offshore wind producer, the UK is poised to be a key partner in this. More than 18 UK companies in the offshore wind supply chain have already set up offices in Taiwan to further develop the market.

Deputy Minister of Economic Affairs Mei-Hua Wang said:

The UK is one of Taiwan’s major trading partners in Europe. Although Brexit creates uncertainty for the business community, it also comes with many opportunities for enhancing bilateral cooperation between the UK and Taiwan.

In the trade talks, both sides committed to enhance cooperation on areas such as fintech, green finance, smart cities, and upholding the rules-based multilateral trading system – the WTO.

The first UK Taiwan trade talks took place in 1991 and have happened almost annually since.
Taiwan is the third largest market for single malt whisky exports and the sixth largest overall worth £168 million in 2018.