The survey is aimed at individuals from a range of professions that are most typically aligned to the role of planning inspector including (but not limited to) town planners, legal professionals, surveyors, architects and civil engineers.

In particular, we would most like to hear from anyone who has previously considered a career as a planning inspector (band 1), for example during a previous recruitment campaign, but decided not to apply.

The research will provide valuable data to help us refine our recruitment strategy so that it is suited to a diverse range of potential candidates.

Take part in the research

Complete the online survey (it takes less than 5 minutes). Survey closes on 20 May 2022.

Your response will be anonymous and will not be used for any other purposes than to inform our attraction and recruitment strategy.

About the planning inspector role

The band 1 planning inspector role is an entry level role, which is a busy and varied one dealing with planning appeals – typically around 3 cases per week.

A planning inspector considers evidence for each appeal and decides whether the proposal is allowed or not. The role involves travel across England to undertake site visits with most of our work in London and the South East. After training, planning inspectors may also undertake more complex casework and hear evidence via hearings and inquiries.

It is predominantly a home-based role which offers a considerable amount of flexibility in how work is scheduled and how you manage your work. Chartered or full membership of a relevant professional body is a mandatory pre-requisite for applying as is willingness to travel frequently.

Starting salary is £41,015 rising to £47,664 after completion of a 12 to 18 month training programme.

For further information about the role:

Read more about the work we do

Thank you, Mr Chair. Since Russia’s illegal and unprovoked invasion of Ukraine on 24 February, week after week we have seen the brutality of Russia’s actions.

The Russian Federation has attempted, in vain, to legitimise its war. This includes in the southern city of Kherson, where Russia has sought to assert its control of the city and surrounding areas through installing a pro-Kremlin administration. So far this administration has stated a return to Ukrainian control is “impossible” and announced a four-month currency transition to the Russian rouble from 1 May. These statements are likely indicative of Russian intent to exert strong political influence in Kherson over the long term.

We are further appalled by reports that Russia intends to stage a referendum in Kherson oblast, in an attempt to provide a pretext for consolidating its control over the area. We saw this in 2014, when Russia held an illegitimate referendum on the accession of Crimea into the Russian Federation to retrospectively justify its seizure of the Peninsula. This so-called referendum was conducted in a heavily militarised environment and was clearly illegal under the Ukrainian Constitution.

The international community refused to recognise the result in Crimea in 2014. We must continue to condemn any referenda Russia attempts to illegitimately conduct on Ukrainian soil. The people of Kherson have bravely demonstrated their sovereign will to resist and remain part of Ukraine. We remain fully committed to the Ukrainian people’s right to determine their future.

As my Foreign Secretary set out in her Mansion House Speech last week, we need a new approach, one that melds hard security and economic security, one that builds stronger global alliances and where free nations are more assertive and self-confident. As such, we must double down on our support for Ukraine.

As part of this, the UK will carry on supplying Ukraine, alongside our partners, with weapons, funding and humanitarian aid. We will continue to provide these in response to requests from the Ukrainian Government. We have provided £220 million in humanitarian aid. To date we have also sent over 90,000 ration packs, over 10 pallets of medical equipment, more than 3,000 pieces of body armour, over 80,000 helmets and much more including communications equipment. We have also provided anti-tank missiles, Air Defence systems, and anti-structure munitions.

On 3 May, the UK announced that we will be providing a new package of military aid worth £300 million, to support Ukraine’s ongoing defence against Russia’s illegal invasion. The package includes electronic warfare equipment, a counter battery radar system, GPS jamming equipment and thousands of night vision devices.

We are also sending a fleet of protective armoured vehicles to Ukraine, to safely evacuate civilians from shelled areas in eastern Ukraine. The vehicles will also be used to transport officials from Ukrainian ministries to temporary command posts set up for government work and the rebuilding of key infrastructure, such as energy supplies, in besieged areas. The Ukrainian police and the National Guard will also utilise the fleet to rebuild vital railway lines in the east of Ukraine.

Mr Chair, We provide this support because Ukraine’s victory is a strategic imperative for all of us. Our collective security is under threat by Russia’s actions. And we will continue to support Ukraine until we have achieved our long-term goal: to ensure that no-one will ever dare to attack it again.

In the words my Prime Minister used when speaking to Ukraine’s Parliament earlier this week, this is about Ukrainian democracy against President Putin’s tyranny. It is about freedom versus oppression. It is also about right versus wrong. And that is why Ukraine must win.

Thank you. I kindly request that you attach this statement to the journal of the day.

• A special one-off addition to the annual Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service created in honour of Her Majesty The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee

The Government has today announced a special one-off addition to the annual Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service (QAVS), in honour of Her Majesty the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.

Her Majesty has displayed a life-long commitment to public service throughout her 70-year reign, and the annual QAVS is the highest award given to small volunteer groups across the UK. Awardees cover a wide range of activities such as dementia support clubs, community theatres and therapeutic garden projects.

The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Award for Volunteering will now shine a spotlight on 20 national charities working to empower young people aged 16-25. The number 20 has been chosen to reflect 20 years of QAVS.

A special judging panel has been convened for the award, comprising civil society sector experts and youth representatives including Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson, Fionnuala Jay O’Boyle and Ndidi Okezie.

Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries said:

Since The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service was set up 20 years ago to commemorate the Golden Jubilee, thousands of hard working local volunteer groups across the UK have been recognised for benefiting their communities.

We’re delighted to be extending our recognition this year to some outstanding national charities through this special Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Award for Volunteering.

We want to celebrate the important work done by national charities to empower young people with the skills they need to develop and grow. This is a fitting way to recognise the 70 years of selfless service Her Majesty has given to this country.

Sir Martyn Lewis CBE, the QAVS Chair said:

Her Majesty’s faithful service to the nation over 70 years has been an inspiration to us all and is mirrored by countless acts of volunteering happening each day across the UK.

For this special Jubilee Award we are looking forward to celebrating outstanding work with young people, helping them to flourish and be the best they can be. It’s a theme that’s important to all of us and is close to Her Majesty’s heart.

The Platinum Jubilee Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service is now open for applications until 17 June. Nationally registered charities helping young people (aged 16-25), who have had a national impact either on a UK-wide, or England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland basis are invited to apply.

A judging panel including sector experts and young people will select 20 winners to be announced in The Gazette in October. Winners will be presented with this special award at a ceremony in November.

Recent QAVS winners include:

Small Acts of Kindness who provide practical gift bags to lonely and socially isolated older people in Hertfordshire and signpost them to support services.

Equation in Nottingham who deliver projects in schools and the community to help prevent domestic abuse and encourage healthy relationships.

Gurnos Men’s Project in Glamorgan who get disengaged young men involved in community volunteering and horticulture, as well as helping them improve core skills.

Second Wave Centre for Youth Arts in London who run creative projects with young people and work with them to explore key issues such as knife crime and grooming.

Friends of M.V. Freedom in Dorset who take disabled people out to sea on a specially adapted boat.

Via Wings in County Down who provide a wide range of support to those in need, including a food bank, teenage supper club, homework support, learning, and counselling.

Westhill & District Men’s Shed in Aberdeenshire where socially isolated men can share skills, make friends and work together on repairing/refurbishing projects for the community.

Notes:

Nominations for the 2023 QAVS awards are now open until 15 September 2022.

More information and an application form

More information on the main QAVS award

The awardees for the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service 2022 will be announced on 2 June.

Mr President, Excellencies, colleagues,

“To take effective collective measures for the prevention and removal of threats to peace” – this was the commitment we made in the first sentence of the first article of the United Nations Charter.

But today, two billion people live in countries affected by conflict. Russia’s war of choice in Ukraine has increased that number, and wrought untold suffering on the people of a peaceful country.

The United Kingdom stands with the overwhelming majority of countries around the world in deploring Russia’s aggression and calling on President Putin to cease his senseless war.

Mr. President, few conflicts today are so unequivocal. More often, they are driven by a mixture of political, economic, social and environmental factors. But the vast majority are preventable. And prevention is where we need to focus, if we are to live up to the commitments of the Charter.

This means investing in peacebuilding. This is why we are here today. Because instability jeopardises development and puts lives and livelihoods at risk.

The United Kingdom has been steadfast in its support – political and financial – for United Nations peacebuilding. We have contributed over 230 million dollars to the Peacebuilding Fund since its inception. But the Fund is still sustained by only a handful of major donors. Others need to step up.

As co-Chair of the Group of Friends of the PBF, the United Kingdom is deeply committed to the Fund. But the Fund is not a silver bullet. National governments and international development partners all need to play their part. This includes the UN development system.

The United Kingdom is also working to advance prospects for innovative financing for peacebuilding. And to deepen strategic partnerships with the international financial institutions. In addition to our multilateral contributions, our deep bilateral partnerships focus on durable peace and inclusive development, rather than quick fixes that risk saddling countries with unsustainable debt.

Today, the world can quite literally no longer afford the cost of conflict. The current global economic climate is straining both stability itself, and the resources available to support that stability. This is a dangerous spiral. We need to explore all possible solutions. And we need to increase impact across all resource strands.

The United Kingdom remains fully committed to maximising investment in UN conflict prevention and peacebuilding.

Thank you