During June, there were seven new detentions of foreign flagged vessels in a UK port. Four vessels remained under detention from previous months. A total of seven vessels remain under detention at the end of June.

1. In response to one of the recommendations of Lord Donaldson’s inquiry into the prevention of pollution from merchant shipping, and in compliance with the EU Directive on Port State Control (2009/16/EC as amended), the Maritime and Coastguard agency (MCA) publishes details of the foreign flagged vessels detained in UK ports each month.

2. The UK is part of a regional agreement on port state control known as the Paris Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control (Paris MOU) and information on all ships that are inspected is held centrally in an electronic database known as THETIS. This allows the ships with a high risk rating and poor detention records to be targeted for future inspection.

3. Inspections of foreign flagged ships in UK ports are undertaken by surveyors from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency. When a ship is found to be not in compliance with applicable convention requirements, a deficiency may be raised. If any of their deficiencies are so serious they have to be rectified before departure, then the ship will be detained.

4. All deficiencies should be rectified before departure if at all possible.

5. When applicable, the list includes those passenger craft prevented from operating under the provisions of the EU Directive on Mandatory Surveys for the safe operation of regular Ro-Ro ferry and high speed passenger craft services (1999/35/EU).

Notes on the list of detentions

• Full details of the ship. The accompanying detention list shows ship’s International Maritime Organization (IMO) number which is unchanging throughout the ship’s life and uniquely identifies it. It also shows the ship’s name and flag state at the time of its inspection.
• Company. The company shown in the vessel’s Safety Management Certificate (SMC) or if there is no SMC, then the party otherwise believed to be responsible for the safety of the ship at the time of inspection.
• Classification Society. The list shows the Classification Society responsible for classing the ship only.
• Recognised Organisation. Responsible for conducting the statutory surveys: and issuing statutory certificates on behalf of the Flag State
• White (WL), Grey (GL) and Black lists (BL) are issued by the Paris MoU on 01 July each year and shows the performance of flag State.

SHIPS DETAINED IN JUNE 2017

Vessel Name: REGGAE

GT: 1567

IMO: 8500408

Flag: Panama (White list)

Company: Voda Denizcilik Ve Districet Ltd

Classification Society: NKK

Recognised Organisation: NKK

Recognised Organisation for ISM Doc: National Shipping Adjuster Inc

Recognised Organisation for ISM SMC: NKK

Date and Place of Detention: 27th June 2017 at Leith

Summary: Nineteen deficiencies with four grounds for detention

Defective item	Nature of defect	Ground for Detention
07112 – Emergency escape breathing device and disposition	Not as required	No
18425 – Access/structural features (ship)	Missing equipment	No
04109 – Fire drills	Lack of training	No
04108 – Muster List	Incomplete	No
10105 – Magnetic compass	Not readable	No
09232 – Cleanliness of engine room	Insufficient	No
15150 – ISM	Not as required	No
03108 – Ventilators, air pipes, casing	Damaged	No
02101 – Closing devices/watertight doors	Inoperative	No
07105 – Fire doors/openings in fire-resisting divisions	Not as required	No
18203 – Wages	Not according SEA	Yes
11117 – Lifebuoys incl. provision and disposition	Missing	No
02105 – Steering gear	Not as required	No
11108 – Inflatable liferafts	Insufficient	No
01220 – Seafarers’ employment agreement (SEA)	Not as required	Yes
18314 – Provision quantity	Insufficient	Yes
18204 – Calculation and payment of wages	Not according SEA	Yes
10116 – Nautical publications	Not updated	No
13102 – Auxiliary engine	Missing	No

This vessel was still detained on 30th June 2017

Vessel Name: TOBA

GT: 44200

IMO: 9710543

Flag: Marshall Islands (White list)

Company: Seaways Maritime International SA

Classification Society: DNV GL

Recognised Organisation: DNV GL/NKK

Recognised Organisation for ISM Doc: NKK

Recognised Organisation for ISM SMC: NKK

Date and Place of Detention: 19th June 2017 at Liverpool

Summary: Sixteen deficiencies with three grounds for detention

Defective item	Nature of defect	Ground for Detention
18203 – Wages	Not according to SEA	Yes
18204 – Calculation and payment of wages	Missing	No
18205 – Measures to ensure transmission to seafarer’s family	Not adequate	No
01220 – Seafarers’ employment agreement (SEA)	Not as required	Yes
01220 – Seafarers’ employment agreement (SEA)	Invalid	No
01140 – Declaration of Maritime Labour Compliance (Part I and II)	Missing	No
11104 – Rescue boats	Not properly maintained	No
01308 – Records of seafarers’ daily hours of work or rest	Incorrect entries	No
11104 – Rescue boats	Not properly maintained	No
18314 – Provisions quantity	Insufficient	No
11101 – Lifeboats	Not properly maintained	No
07118 – International shore connection	Not as required	No
11117 – Lifebuoys inc. provision and disposition	Not as required	No
03199 – Other (load line)	Not as required	No
03103 – Railing, gangway, walkway and means of safe passage	Not properly maintained	No
15150 – ISM	Not as required	Yes

This vessel was still detained on 30th June 2017

Vessel Name: ARUCAS

GT: 3660

IMO: 9197492

Flag: Malta (White list)

Company: Domitia Di Navigazione SRL

Classification Society: RINA

Recognised Organisation: RINA

Recognised Organisation for ISM Doc: RINA

Recognised Organisation for ISM SMC: RINA

Date and Place of Detention: 15th June 2017 at Newhaven

Summary: Twenty seven deficiencies with four grounds for detention

Defective item	Nature of defect	Ground for Detention
01113 – Minimum safe manning document	Invalid	Yes
01125 – Engine International air pollution prev. cert	Missing	No
10101 – Pilot ladders and hoist/pilot transfer arrangements	Damaged	No
18321 – Heating, air conditioning and ventilation	Inoperative	Yes
10111 – Charts	Missing	No
10111 – Charts	Not updated	No
10199 – Other (navigation)	Other	No
13101 – Propulsion main engine	Not as required	No
13199 – Other (machinery)	Other	No
10127 – Voyage or passage plan	Not as required	No
01315 – Oil record book	Not properly filled	No
07199 – Other (fire safety)	Other	No
15150 – ISM	Not as required	Yes
04114 – Emergency source of power – Emergency generator	Not as required	Yes
11112 – Launching arrangements for survival craft	Not as required	No
09232 – Cleanliness of engine room	Insufficient	No
18324 – Cold room, cold room cleanliness, cold room temperature	Not as required	No
13199 – Other (machinery)	Other	No
18304 – Lighting (accommodation)	Damaged	No
07112 – Emergency escape breathing devices and disposition	Inoperative	No
18499 – Other (Health protection, medical care)	Other	No
11108 – Inflatable liferafts	Not properly marked	No
18314 – Provisions quantity	Insufficient	No
01324 – Material safety data sheets (MSDS)	Missing	No
18412- Personal equipment	Missing	No
04108 – Muster list	Not updated	No
02122 – Openings to cargo area, doors, scuttles	Not as required	No

This vessel was released from detention on 28th June 2017

Vessel Name: BBC VELA

GT: 7223

IMO: 9347853

Flag: Antigua & Barbuda (White list)

Company: Juengerhams Heavy-Lift Fleet Services GMBH & Co

Classification Society: NKK

Recognised Organisation: NKK

Recognised Organisation for ISM Doc: NKK

Recognised Organisation for ISM SMC: NKK

Date and Place of Detention: 19th June at Aberdeen

Summary: Fifteen deficiencies with four grounds for detention

Defective item	Nature of defect	Ground for Detention
18417 – Anchoring devices	Damaged	No
01307 – Maximum hours of work or minimum hours of rest	Entries missing	No
03105 – Covers (hatchway, portable, tarpaulins, etc.)	Damaged	Yes
18407 – Lighting (working spaces)	Missing	No
07109 – Fixed fire extinguishing installation	Not as required	No
07116 – Ventilation	Inoperative	No
01140 – Declaration of Maritime Labour Compliance (Part I and II)	Not properly filled	No
07114 – Remote means of control (opening, pumps, ventilation, etc.) Machinery spaces	Inoperative	Yes
01315 – Oil record book	Entries missing	No
02107 – Ballast, fuel, and other tanks	Not as required	No
15150 – ISM	Not as required	Yes
07114 – Remote means of control (opening, pumps, ventilation, etc.) Machinery spaces	Inoperative	No
11124 – Embarkation arrangement survival craft	Not properly maintained	No
18417 – Anchoring devices	Damaged	No

This vessel was released on 21st June 2017

Vessel Name: SECCADI

GT: 1596

IMO: 9123295

Flag: Panama (White list)

Company: Voda Gemi Isletmeciligi AS

Classification Society: NKK

Recognised Organisation: National Shipping Adjusters Inc Recognised Organisation for ISM Doc: NKK

Recognised Organisation for ISM SMC: NKK

Date and Place of Detention: 20th June at Runcorn

Summary: Eleven deficiencies with six grounds for detention

Defective item	Nature of defect	Ground for Detention
12220 – Seafarers’ employment agreement (SEA)	Not as required	Yes
18203 – Wages	No records	Yes
18203 – Wages	Missing	Yes
18203 – Wages	Not according to SEA	Yes
18203 – Wages	Not adequate	Yes
18201 – Fitness for duty – work and rest hours	Not as required	No
18313 – Cleanliness	Signs of vermin	No
18314 – Provision quantity	Insufficient	Yes
18308 – Furnishing	Damaged	No
18302 – Sanitary Facilities	Damaged	No
15150 – ISM	Not as required	No

This vessel was still detained on 30th June 2017

Vessel Name: KASTER

GT: 2452

IMO: 9390094

Flag: Antigua & Barbuda (White list)

Company: Wessels Reederei GMBH

Classification Society: DNV GL

Recognised Organisation: DNV GL

Recognised Organisation for ISM Doc: DNV GL

Recognised Organisation for ISM SMC: DNV GL

Date and Place of Detention: 7th June at Sharpness

Summary: Five deficiencies with two grounds for detention

Defective item	Nature of defect	Ground for Detention
10104 – Gyro Compass	Inoperative	Yes
11131 – On board training and instructions	Not as required	No
01113 – Minimum Safe Manning Document	Entries missing	No
01215 – Application for endorsement by flagstate	Missing	No
15150 – ISM	Not as required	Yes

This vessel was released from detention on 10th June 2017

Vessel Name: TAHSIN

GT: 1598

IMO: 9055187

Flag: Panama (White list)

Company: Voda Denizcilik IC Dis Tacaret Ltd

Classification Society: NKK

Recognised Organisation: NKK/NASHA

Recognised Organisation for ISM Doc: NKK

Recognised Organisation for ISM SMC: NKK

Date and Place of Detention: 2nd June at Sharpness

Summary: Twelve deficiencies with eight grounds for detention

Defective item	Nature of defect	Ground for Detention
18327 – Ventilation (working spaces)	Inoperative	Yes
10116 – Nautical publications	Missing	Yes
01214 – Endorsement by flagstate	Missing	No
01220 – Seafarers’ employment agreement (SEA)	Invalid	Yes
11128 – Line-throwing appliance	Expired	No
11129 – Operational readiness of lifesaving appliances	Expired	No
01202 – Certificate for rating for watching	Missing	Yes
18203 – Wages	Not according SEA	Yes
10111 – Charts	Missing	Yes
05106 – INMARSAT ship earth station	Not as required	Yes
15150 – ISM	Not as required	Yes
03104 – Cargo & other hatchways	Damaged	No

This vessel was still detained on 30th June 2017

DETENTIONS CARRIED OVER FROM PREVIOUS MONTHS

Vessel Name: ANA M

GT: 16270

IMO: 928154

Flag: Liberia (White list)

Company: Zigana Gemi Isletmeleri AS

Classification Society: BV

Recognised Organisation: BV

Recognised Organisation for ISM Doc: N/A

Recognised Organisation for ISM SMC: N/A

Date and Place of Detention: 30th May at Avonmouth

Summary: Nine deficiencies with four grounds for detention

Defective item	Nature of defect	Ground for Detention
10107 – Automatic radar plotting aid (ARPA)	Inoperative	Yes
01109 – Fire drills	Lack of training	Yes
04110 – Abandon ship drills	Lack of training	Yes
11102 – Lifeboat inventory	Not as required	No
01311 – Survey report file	Not updated	No
01307 – Maximum hours of work or minimum hours of rest	Not as required	No
01220 – Seafarers’ employment agreement (SEA)	Invalid	No
06105 – Atmosphere testing instrument	Missing	No
15150 – ISM	Not as required	Yes

This vessel was still detained on 30th June 2017

Vessel Name: MALAVIYA SEVEN

GT: 3001

IMO: 9087312

Flag: India (Grey List)

Company: GOL Offshore Ltd

Classification Society: IRS

Recognised Organisation: IRS

Recognised Organisation for ISM Doc: IRS

Recognised Organisation for ISM SMC: IRS

Date and Place of Detention: 5th October 2016 at Aberdeen

Summary: Five deficiencies with five grounds for detention

Defective item	Nature of defect	Ground for Detention
07105 – Fire doors/openings in fire resisting divisions	Not as required	Yes
07113 – Fire pumps and its pipes	Not as required	Yes
18203 – Wages	Missing	Yes
01220 – Seafarers employment agreement (SEA)	Invalid	Yes
18204 – Calculation and payment of wages	No records	Yes

This vessel was still detained on 30th June 2017

Vessel Name: SEA TRIDENT

GT: 964.

IMO No: 7393169.

Flag: PANAMA (white list)

Company:

Classification Society: Expired

Recognised Organisation: Expired

Recognised Organisation for ISM DOC:

Recognised Organisation for ISM SMC:

Date and Place of Detention: 17 June 2016, West Cowes

Summary: Seventeen deficiencies with seventeen grounds for detentions

Defective item	Nature of defect	Ground for Detention
01101 – Cargo ship safety equipment cert	Expired	Yes
01102 – Cargo Ship safety construction cert	Expired	Yes
01104 – Cargo ship safety radio cert	Expired	Yes
01108 – Loadline cert	Expired	Yes
01117 – IOPP (International Oil Pollution Prevention cert	Expired	Yes
01119 – International Sewage Pollution Prevention cert	Expired	Yes
01124 – International Air Pollution Prevention cert	Expired	Yes
01137 – Civil liability for bunker oil pollution damage cert	Expired	Yes
01199 – Other certs (Certificate of class)	Expired	Yes
01201 – Certificates for master and officers	Missing	Yes
10111 – Charts	Not updated	Yes
10116 – Publications Nautical	Not updated	Yes
11108 – Inflatable liferafts	Expired	Yes
11116 – Distress flares	Missing	Yes
07109 – Fixed fire fighting extinguishing installation	Not as required	Yes
07110 – Fire fighting equipment & appliances	Not as required	Yes
01140 – Declaration of Maritime Labour Compliance	Missing	Yes

This vessel was still detained on 30th June 2017

Vessel Name: CIEN PORCIENTO (General Cargo)

GT: 106.

IMO No: 8944446.

Flag: Unregistered.

Company: Open Window Inc.

Classification Society: Unclassed.

Recognised Organisation: Not applicable.

Recognised Organisation for ISM DOC: Not applicable.

Recognised Organisation for ISM SMC: Not applicable

Date and Place of detention: 4 March 2010, Lowestoft

Summary: Thirty deficiencies including seven grounds for detention

This vessel was still detained on 30th June 2017

Notes to Editors

• The MCA is a partner in the Sea Vision UK campaign to raise awareness and understanding of the sea and maritime activities. Sea Vision promotes the importance and economic value of the sector and works to highlight the exciting range of activities and career opportunities available to young people within the UK growing maritime sector at www.seavision.org.uk

• Follow us on Twitter: @MCA_media

For further information please contact Maritime and Coastguard Agency Press Office, on: +44 (0) 2380 329 401 Press releases and further information about the agency is available here.

Speaking on Thursday 6 July 2017 at the British Chambers of Commerce Business and Education conference, Secretary of State for Education Justine Greening said:

Thank you Adam for that warm introduction. I’m delighted to be here.

Education and business. I can’t think of a more powerful combination. And I can’t think of a more important time – to bring education and business together.

You in the British Chamber of Commerce recognise that. That partnership is what this summit is all about. It’s why we’re here today.

Most of my working life has been in business, until politics.

My first job was in Morrison’s supermarket.

I worked at Murphy’s Engineering in Rotherham in the summer as a student, processing invoices.

After that I became an accountant and spent 15 years in industry – before I was privileged enough to become an MP.

I know you heard from the leader of the opposition earlier today.

I don’t know if he’s ever done a day’s work in industry or business. He can speak for himself. But I have.

I’ve been on a journey – and it taught me three things:

Firstly, how important my education has been.

Secondly, how much untapped potential and talent there is in our country.

And thirdly, how critical business is for enabling that talent – for unlocking it.

That’s why this amazing job – Secretary of State for Education – is so important to me. Because as a state school kid, I can improve the system for children who follow me – the children in school right now.

But also, I have the chance to bring together our common aims.

Great companies need great people. And my Department has a mission to give our young people the very best start – to become those great people.

It’s about social mobility. Something that’s been part of my life – and I’m sure many of your lives.

It’s about opportunity.

It’s about reducing inequality.

It’s about making the most of ourselves as a country.

And we can only succeed in that mission if we work together.

And that’s what I want to talk about today.

How a skills partnership – between government and business – can create a skills revolution.

Because that’s what we need. Never more than now. A skills revolution for Brexit Britain. That’s the real strategy on migration.

It’s time to set ourselves a collective challenge – to develop our home grown talent. Talent that I believe is spread evenly across our country.

What does that practically mean?

What do we need to do?

A skills revolution need a technical education revolution.

One that lifts up the quality and prestige of further education and technical education in our country.

One that delivers on opportunity – through work based apprenticeships.

One that strengthens college-based education – and the technical routes that young people can take.

And we need a cultural shift across our country. A mind-set change – to recognise that opportunity. To reassert that businesses have the ability to spread opportunity. And that this is a precious commodity.

Let me take these in turn.

I’ll start with technical education and further education – because it’s here I feel that we have the furthest to go.

It’s clear to me that our further education sector needs more support. That mean smarter decision making on the ground – to raise standards – so that everyone who attends college receives quality provision.

That’s why we’ll continue to support colleges as they follow through on the Area Review recommendations – that will make significant steps towards placing our colleges on a firm financial footing.

But I want to put further support in place – to increase quality across the sector to the level of our best colleges.

So I am establishing a Strategic College Improvement Fund to help weaker colleges to up their game – with focussed support. Pilots for this fund will begin in the Autumn Term – and I will set aside £15 million over the next two years.

Quality provision also means drawing on the talents of the sector’s outstanding leaders – so I will ask the FE Commissioner – Richard Atkins – to take on an expanded role to support colleges in raising standards.

Richard has an exceptional record – including making Exeter College one of the best in the country.

And I want more of the sector’s top talent to be able to contribute to the wider system.

So I will also establish a programme for National Leaders of Further Education – to badge the best principals and senior leaders across FE. These leaders will be empowered to spread their expert knowledge, as well as mentor and support weaker parts of the system.

But there is more long term support we can put in place. We need to do more for teachers in technical education – those career professionals who will lead the teaching of the new routes.

So over the next year I will bring forward a package of support for teachers in FE.

As set out in the government’s manifesto, this will include a dedicated programme to help industry experts join the profession – building an ever close link between business and education.

And I will explore options for investing in further research into teaching methods – research that is beginning to reap dividends for our school teachers.

And I need your help. Because our young people in colleges need your expertise.

These measures will help every FE college to be ready for the next phase of our technical education reforms. For the next stage of our skills revolution.

The aim here is clear. To move beyond the current system – to a streamlined set of just 15 technical skills routes. Each route will be a pathway to skilled employment.

As part of these routes we will introduce a new certificate – the “T-Level” – which will be a gold standard for technical and professional excellence. Offered alongside apprenticeships, they will form the basis of our new technical education system.

And because we need to beat countries with the best technical education – countries like Germany, Denmark, the Netherlands and Norway – we need to invest in more hours of skills training, in better quality skills training, to rival their offers.

That’s why the Chancellor announced additional funding for T-Levels as part of the March budget – rising to over half a billion pounds per year. The CBI called it a “breakthrough budget for skills”.

Delivering these reforms will be a challenge.

I am clear there is only one way to get this right – through a genuine partnership between business, government and education professionals.

This means we need a collective plan. One plan. One team for skills.

So in the Autumn I will bring together top leaders from the business community – to agree the overall shape of the reforms.

This summit is only the beginning. Because businesses and colleges will be in the room at every single point – so we drive the skills revolution together.

And one of the main areas of focus will be the high quality work placements – that are a component of every T-Level. These will help to prepare young people for skilled work. Our research shows they are beneficial to businesses, colleges and young people.

But I can’t do that important piece of work without you. I need your help again. T-Levels will only work, only be successful, if we can deliver these work placements together.

We made a public commitment in the Spring Budget to fund work placements – and we will draw on the £50m we received – to start this work in April 2018.

Of course, our T-Level offer isn’t remotely happening in isolation. T-Levels are college based technical routes, but they follow on from our reforms to apprenticeships.

These are moving in the right direction. The launch of the apprenticeship levy this year – together with wider apprenticeship funding reforms later this year – are important next steps.

I want to get the rollout of this new system right – particularly so that small and medium sized businesses are properly supported to provide apprenticeships.

None of this is easy. I know we’ve a tendency to focus on where we can do better. But let’s not lose sight of how far we’ve already come.

We are on our way to 3 million apprenticeships – working in partnership with British business. This is a big achievement. And today I can announce that we have reached over one million starts since May 2015.

So for the first time, we now have the building blocks of a potentially world class technical education system. Coming on the heels of our apprenticeship reforms. Strong work based routes. Strong college based routes. Investment in colleges and their staff – to fulfil their potential – and unlock the talents of all our young people.

But there is more to do.

Finally, I said this means a collective mind-set shift. A cultural change. And it does. Now is the moment for skills.

All of us need to ask ourselves what more we can do to create opportunity for young people – to develop them.

Many of you are already doing that in spades. Thank you.

But we need to win the skills argument across the whole of British business – that developing British human capital is probably the single biggest lever of economic growth this country has.

The conversations we have, the encouragement we give, the extra challenge that speeds up career development.

It’s ironic isn’t it. That the heavy lifting of the skills revolution will happen out of sight. In a million little moments. The chat over the photocopier. The forwarded email. The word of advice. Each one makes a difference. Lifting someone up. Businesses up and down the country – lifting the nation’s skills.

Many of you are the exemplars. Organisations like the Federation of Small Businesses. You’re the ones that have already got this. I think I’m preaching to the converted.

But let’s go out there and preach to the unconverted.

I want to create an army of skilled young people for British business. But I need your help. Government can’t do it alone.

I know what it is like in business day to day. Making the P&L work, the numbers add up. Keeping investors happy. The next deal to shore up revenues. The next budget setting process.

I know that for many companies there are a million reasons to put off decisions on our skills. But pushing them down the road is pushing our country’s future down the road.

That’s what it is going to take.

It’s how we’ll shift the dial. Not just on skills, but also on social mobility.

I cannot tell you how important I believe this is for the future. It is important for our economy.

To boost our productivity – so we are right up there with the highest performing economies.

It is important for our society.

To lift up areas of the country with a strong tradition of technical education and skills. To level the playing field – and provide skilled workers for companies who can’t find them.

And it’s important for our politics.

Because for too long we have been content to import the skills we need rather develop them at home.

We know that migration has never been so high on the political agenda. So our response has to be a bold plan for tackling the skills needs of our country.

Because unlocking our home grown talent is the best way to keep migration down.

It’s important for the wellbeing of our country as a whole.

So the skills revolution is about setting out what works. How it works. And why.

Getting companies that are happy to take great workers to realise that they must play a role in skilling them up further.

You know as well as anyone the potential of taking rough diamonds and polishing them up. And none of us want to waste that potential.

You’re not. So others need to do their bit – in building the human capital of our country.

So I want every company to step forward to help. Offer an apprenticeship. A work placement. Or support the fantastic work of the Careers Enterprise Company. To add your knowledge and expertise to the skills revolution.

Because we need a lot more skilled workers – from catering to digital. More trained coders. More engineers. More modern construction experts. All the skills that Britain needs.

Britain as a country has been accelerating – generating jobs and growth. More people working than ever before. More women working than ever before.

But as an economy – as a country – we’ve got another gear in us. So we now need to shift up. To our top gear.

I am committed to working with the business community – a community I was part of for so long – on how to make this skills revolution happen. I want it changed in a generation.

It’s our generation that will steer this country through Brexit and beyond.

We have no time to lose.

We need to be determined, resolute. Our skills revolution will be Britain’s greatest challenge.

But it’s a challenge we can and must rise to.

There will be those in our politics, in our society, who see business as part of the problem. But I know you’re part of the solution.

It was business that gave me the opportunities that were so priceless.

There will be those who cannot see beyond the problems – the difficulties of today. And yes, let’s deal with these difficulties.

But we also have to lift our sights from where we are today – and look to where we need to get to. What we are aiming for.

A skills revolution. A technical education revolution. That is how we meet those challenges – head on. It’s how we build our future.

And it’s how we put our country’s destiny fully in our people’s hands.

The Rt. Hon Alan Duncan, Minister of State for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office said:

This led to over 5,500 new jobs being created providing security and stability to thousands of families.

In another record year, the UK attracted 2,265 foreign direct investment projects which led to the creation of nearly 15,000 new jobs across the country.

UK Government Minister Dr Ian Duncan said:

Today’s figures show that Scotland and the whole of the UK is continuing to be an attractive destination for foreign investors who are recognising that our skills and world class industries are second to none.

We want this trend to continue and see even more investment, and I would encourage businesses to work with the UK Government’s Department for International Trade who support businesses to reach markets around the world through their global network of embassy-based trade experts.

International Trade Secretary, Liam Fox, said:

These results are great news for Scotland. As world leaders across a range of sectors including life sciences, oil and gas and financial services, it’s great to see foreign investors recognising the country’s excellence.

As an international economic department, the Department for International Trade will continue to promote the UK as a whole to potential investors and support Scottish Development International to attract inward investment.

The figures published today show that the US retains the top spot accounting for 577 projects of all inward investment projects to the UK. China (including Hong Kong) remains in second place with 160 projects and last year’s third place India is joined by Australia and New Zealand in joint third place with 127 projects each.

Demonstrating the diversity of the UK’s economy, sectors that performed particularly well include technology, renewable energy, life sciences and the creative industries which all saw an increase in the number of projects.

As part of the government’s drive to attract inward investment, in January this year the department launched a major global marketing campaign – Invest in GREAT Britain and Northern Ireland – to promote the UK’s offering to international investors.

To date, the campaign has generated 1.4 million page views of the invest section of the great.gov.uk digital service and recorded over 540 prospective investor enquiries.

The independent expert panel on safety has advised further testing as the next step to be conducted in helping landlords to ensure the safety of their buildings.

These large scale tests will help establish how different types of Aluminium Composite Material (ACM) panels in combination with different types of insulation behave in a fire.

The results of these tests will help landlords make decisions on any further measures that may need to be put in place to make their buildings safe following the Grenfell Tower fire. These tests will be undertaken by the BRE and will not require any new samples from buildings.

Earlier this week the panel brought together a group of technical experts from a wide range of professions and organisations. The group discussed the processes that had been followed to identify whether buildings had ACM panels and the advice provided to building owners on interim measures and agreed that these were the right first steps.

The further tests – which will look at 3 different types of ACM cladding combined with different types of insulation – will be in accordance with British Standard 8414 in line with the panel’s advice. This involves building a 9 metres tall demonstration wall with a complete cladding system – including panels and insulation – fixed to it, and then subjecting it to a fire that replicates a severe fire in a flat breaking out of a window and whether it then spread up the outside wall.

In addition, the Expert Advisory Panel recommended issuing further practical advice on immediate steps landlords can take to identify their wall materials including insulation, which will be published shortly.

The government has now commissioned the Building Research Establishment to undertake these tests as a matter of urgency. The results will be made publically available. Landlords will be expected to take their own professional advice on what is required for their buildings in the usual way.

The expert panel has concluded that 6 combinations of cladding systems should be subjected to the BS8414 test procedure. The detailed design of each of the 6, will be reviewed by the panel to ensure that it is representative of the systems that are in common use including the way it is fixed.

The 6 systems will incorporate each of the 3 common types of aluminium composite material panels, with core filler materials of unmodified polyethylene, fire retardant polyethylene, and non-combustible mineral. The 2 insulation materials used in the testing will be rigid polyisocyanurate foam or non-combustible mineral wool.

This is stock footage of large scale testing

Further practical advice on immediate steps landlords can take to identify their wall materials including insulation will be published on www.gov.uk/dclg.

The appointment of the Expert Panel was announced on 27 June 2017. The initial meeting of the Expert Advisory Panel took place on Friday 29 June. Following that meeting the Panel called together experts on Monday 3 July 2017.

Read the Explanatory note on safety checks and testing published on 30 June and the advice provided to building owners on interim measures published on 22 June.