In the first Cabinet meeting since the election, ministers discussed the forthcoming Queen’s Speech, including the legislative programme required to deliver the best possible Brexit deal for the whole United Kingdom.
Ministers also received an update on the appalling terrorist attacks in Manchester and London during the general election campaign. The Home Secretary and the Health Secretary praised the extraordinary response of the police and emergency services to both incidents.
Cabinet also discussed the ongoing talks with the DUP to secure a confidence and supply arrangement.
Businesses can apply for a share of £15 million to support disruptive innovation in any technology area with potential to generate growth.
Innovate UK has up to £15 million for game-changing, cutting-edge or disruptive innovation projects that leads to new products, processes or services.
The open programme
This funding is part of a regular series of open competitions that support good ideas with market potential, no matter where they come from.
Projects can come from any technology, science, engineering or industrial area. They can fit in with any of Innovate UK’s priority sectors – emerging and enabling technologies, health and life sciences, infrastructure systems, and manufacturing and materials – or be outside.
Funding is available for a wide range of projects, from feasibility studies to experimental development that is closer to market.
Priority will be given to proposals that are likely to lead to sustainable growth in productivity or develop products and services that will access new markets overseas. All projects should demonstrate the potential to generate commercial impact and economic growth.
- the competition is open, and the deadline for registration is 9 August 2017
- projects must be led by a business, either working alone or with partners
- total project costs can range between £25,000 and £1 million, and projects can last between 6 and 36 months
- businesses could attract up to 70% of their eligible costs, depending on their size and the type of project
- only one project application may be submitted per applicant per competition round
We condemn the announcement of yet further settlement units in the West Bank. Settlements are illegal under international law, and not conducive to peace. This spike in settlement activity makes a two state solution, with an Israel that is safe from terrorism and a Palestinian state that is viable and sovereign, harder to achieve.
| 2016 – present |
FCO/Department for International Trade, Head, Trade Diplomacy Unit |
| 2014 – 2016 |
FCO, Head, Economic Growth and Business Department |
| 2010 – 2014 |
UK Trade and Investment (UKTI), Director for Trade and Investment, British High Commission, New Delhi |
| 2008 – 2010 |
UKTI, Director Asia |
| 2006 – 2008 |
FCO, Head, Engaging with Islamic World Group |
| 2004 – 2006 |
Riyadh, Deputy Head of Mission and Consul-General |
| 2003 – 2004 |
UKTI, Director Trade and Investment, Saudi Arabia |
| 2001 – 2003 |
FCO, Deputy Head, Middle East Department |
| 1997 – 2001 |
FCO, UK Mission New York, First Secretary (Finance) |
| 1995 – 1997 |
FCO, Head, Iraq Section, Middle East Department |
| 1993 – 1995 |
FCO, Head, Conventional Arms Exports, Non-Proliferation Department |
| 1989 – 1993 |
Kuwait, Third then Second Secretary (Political) |
| 1987 – 1989 |
Language training (Arabic) |
| 1986 – 1987 |
FCO, Assistant Desk Officer, Middle East Peace Process, Near East and North Africa Department |
The Rt Hon David Mundell MP has been reappointed as Secretary of State for Scotland.
The Secretary of State said:
“I am delighted and honoured to have been reappointed Secretary of State for Scotland.
“The Scotland Office has a key role to play as we face the huge tasks that lie ahead of us.
“We need to secure the right Brexit deal for Scotland and the whole of the UK, and we also need focus on how we bring back powers from Brussels in a way that works best for the Scottish economy.
“We need to work closely with the Scottish Government, and to do that effectively we will need to forge a much more constructive relationship, one based not on politics and press releases but on what is best for Scotland. I’m confident that can happen. My door is open and I hope, now the election is over, we can reset the relationship between Scotland’s two governments.
“As before, my door also remains open to all those interest groups and business sectors that have a stake in Scotland’s success. I’m looking forward to working with everyone as we look to the future together.”