Green Party: Government decision to take only 350 child refugees is an ‘absolute disgrace’

8 February 2017

The Green Party has responded to the Government’s announcement it will take only 350 lone child refugees instead of a proposed 3000 [1].

Jonathan Bartley, Green Party co-leader, said:

“This announcement, which the Tories have tried to sneak out just before recess, is an absolute disgrace. This is nowhere near the 3000 originally proposed by Lord Dubs and it equates to less than one per local authority in the UK. Any claim by the Prime Minister to be a compassionate Conservative is utterly undermined by the dereliction of duty to some of the most vulnerable people in the world. The Government should have been doing far more to support local authorities. I have visited Calais and seen firsthand the horrifying daily risks the children there faced and how desperate for safety they were. This is a national scandal, which disgraces us all. The Government should hang its head in shame.”

Notes:

  1. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/feb/08/dubs-scheme-lone-child-refugees-uk-closed-down

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News story: Update on biosecurity measures to protect against Avian Flu

The government has today set out initial plans to update temporary measures in place to reduce the risk of avian flu in England, after the current Prevention Zone expires on 28 February 2017.

Based on the latest situation and current scientific advice from the Chief Veterinary Officer, from 28 February the government anticipates adopting a more targeted approach with mandatory biosecurity measures across the country and continued housing or range netting in higher risk areas. These measures would be reviewed at the end of April.

Currently, anyone who keeps poultry or captive birds is required by law to house them, or otherwise keep them separate from wild birds, to reduce the risk of disease spreading. This requirement remains in place until 28 February and guidance on how to comply is available online.

The proposed temporary measures are designed so keepers can allow birds outside from 28 February, whilst still taking reasonable precautions against avian flu during the current outbreak. A final decision will be confirmed at the end of February.

Public Health England advises that the risk to public health from avian flu is very low and the Food Standards Agency has said there is no food safety risk for UK consumers.

Chief Veterinary Officer Nigel Gibbens said:

Effective disease control will always be our priority. Based on the current situation, we believe mandatory biosecurity across England, combined with targeted housing or range netting in higher risk areas, is the best option to control disease, protect birds’ welfare and ensure consumers can buy free range products.

We have acted swiftly to limit the spread of H5N8, including requiring all birds to be housed or kept separate from wild birds. The twelve week housing requirement has allowed keepers time to introduce stricter biosecurity measures and our intention now is to lift this from 28 February. Current rules on housing still remain in place until then, but we are setting out plans now to give people time to prepare. We will keep this decision under review.

H5N8 continues to circulate in wild birds and poultry keepers must remain vigilant. This proposal does not mean a return to business as usual and we will continue to do everything we can to reduce the risk from this disease.

Updated measures from 28 February 2017

From 28 February all keepers of poultry and other captive birds must continue to follow Defra’s guidance on maintaining good biosecurity and keep a close watch on the health of their birds.

All keepers of poultry and captive birds must also continue to keep their birds separate from wild birds. They will be able to do so in one of the following ways:

  • Housing – keepers in all areas of England may choose to keep their birds housed. Eggs and some poultry from these birds will no longer be free range.

  • Total netting / aviaries / covered runs – keepers in all areas of England may construct covered runs or use netting to keep birds separate from wild birds. Eggs and poultry from these birds will be free range provided they meet all other criteria.

  • Supervised access to enclosed outdoor areas – keepers outside the ‘higher risk areas’ will be able to allow birds outside, provided certain strict biosecurity conditions are met. Eggs and poultry from these birds will be free range provided they meet all other criteria.

Poultry keepers with more than 1,000 birds will have to meet additional biosecurity measures including identifying clearly defined areas where access is limited and vehicles, equipment and footwear must be disinfected.

Anyone planning to allow their birds outdoors from 28 February must take action now to reduce the risk of infection from birds being let outside by following guidance published today.

We are working with industry on ways to robustly enforce these measures. Outbreaks cause birds to suffer, damage businesses and cost the UK taxpayer millions. Due to the significant potential impact of disease spread, we expect a high level of compliance from all poultry and captive bird keepers.

Higher Risk Areas

While the risk of H5N8 remains high across the country, areas close to substantial inland or coastal bodies of water, where significant numbers of wild birds collect, are at an even higher risk. In these areas, the risk is considered too great to move to the alternative biosecurity package and compulsory housing or total netting will continue to be mandatory.

We have published guidance to indicate where these areas are likely to be, based on current risk levels, to allow keepers time to prepare. We expect around 75 per cent of poultry keepers to be unaffected. An interactive map will be available from tomorrow which will show, in detail, locations likely to be designated as higher risk.

In these higher risk areas, where keepers choose to house birds rather than net them, eggs and some poultry from these birds will no longer be classed as free range.

Background information

  • H5N8 Avian Flu has been confirmed at three linked premises on a commercial game farm in Lancashire, at three separate poultry farms in Lincolnshire and in backyard flocks in North Yorkshire and Carmarthenshire.

  • The current housing restrictions under the Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) will expire on 28 February 2017 twelve weeks after their introduction on 6 December 2016. Under EU regulations, birds can be housed for up to twelve weeks and their produce be called free range. Above twelve weeks, products from these birds can no longer be called free range if they are still housed.

  • The measures set out today are proposed based on current levels of disease risk and scientific advice. Measures may change between now and 28 February, but keepers should use the measures set out now for planning purposes.




News story: Civil news: faster answers to questions on means assessments

Spotlight on means assessments in the second of a series of articles highlighting quicker ways to give you answers and save time.

Nearly a quarter of all calls to our customer services helpline were about means assessments in January 2017.

Many of the questions asked could have been answered more quickly by referring to CCMS training website.

For example, a recent news article on the training website with the most common questions received about means assessments covers these topics:

  • requesting a review following reassessment
  • rejected applications or amendments because of means assessment discrepancies
  • entering wage slip information in CCMS
  • using the DWP checker

A link to the article is below.

Quick guides

The ‘quick guides’ have a wealth of information to help you. For example, these ones on the training website are of particular interest for issues highlighted above:

Provider Quick Guides: Managing Live Cases – see ‘Submit a Case Enquiry’

Provider Quick Guides: Making an Initial Assessment – see ‘Resubmit a rejected application’ and ‘Means assessment: Entering wage slips’

Further information

Common Queries – Means Assessment – news article

CCMS training website




Carl Sargeant announces £4.4 million for advice services

£2.2 million will support the delivery of services which can offer direct advice relating to welfare benefits, housing, debt, money management and discrimination.

A further £2.2 million will be awarded to Citizens Advice Cymru to deliver the Better Advice, Better Lives Scheme. The scheme encourages benefit take-up for families with disabled children, for those living in deprived areas whose health is likely to be affected by poverty, and for council tax and housing benefits. 

Carl Sargeant said:

“Advice services are an important part of our efforts to tackle poverty. They provide practical support to people who are struggling financially or need help regarding their benefits or housing. I am pleased to guarantee this funding for the next financial year. During the first half of 2016-17 advice organisations responded to over 33,150 requests for information and advice which illustrates how beneficial these services are.

“I am also pleased to secure funding for Citizens Advice Cymru to deliver the Better Advice, Better Lives Scheme for 2017-18. A key feature of the project is that it is referral based and delivered in community settings which means it reaches disadvantaged groups and people who are less likely to seek advice themselves. Since the start of this project in 2012, the scheme has helped over 171,000 people.”




Press release: FOREIGN FLAGGED SHIPS UNDER DETENTION IN THE UK DURING JANUARY 2017

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

  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 JANUARY 2017

Vessel Name: SKYLINE BARGE 17

GT: 1175

IMO: 9482275

Flag: Netherlands ( White list)

Company: Skyline Barge Ravestein BV

Classification Society: LR

Recognised Organisation: N/A

Recognised Organisation for ISM Doc: N/A

Recognised Organisation for ISM SMC: N/A

Date and Place of Detention: 31st January 2017 at Portsmouth

Summary: Six deficiencies with three grounds for detention

Defective item Nature of defect Ground for Detention
01108 – Loadlines (including exemption) Missing Yes
02103 – Stability/strength/loading information & instruments Missing Yes
01131 – International AFS Certificate Missing Yes
01132 – Tonnage certificate Missing No
01117 – International Oil Pollution prevention certificate (IOPP) Missing No
01119 – International sewage pollution prevention certificate Missing No

This vessel was still detained on 31st January 2017

Vessel Name: SEA EMPEROR

GT: 8503

IMO: 9383601

Flag: Marshall Islands (White list)

Company: Petrochem General Management SA

Classification Society: BV

Recognised Organisation: BV

Recognised Organisation for ISM Doc: BV

Recognised Organisation for ISM SMC: BV

Date and Place of Detention: 28th January 2017 at Fawley

Summary: Nine deficiencies with one grounds for detention

Defective item Nature of defect Ground for Detention
18203 – Wages Not according to SEA (not paid) Yes
01220 – Seafarer’s employment agreement Not available No
01224 – Certificate for rating able seafarer deck/engine and electro technical Missing No
01214 – Endorsement by flag state Missing No
10111 – Charts Missing No
18427 – Ships occupational health & safety policies and programmes Not as required No
18412 – Personal equipment Not as required No
18412 – Personal equipment Missing No
15150 – ISM Not as required No

This vessel was still detained on 31st January 2017

Vessel Name: FANFARE

GT: 9611 IMO: 9388895

Flag: Antigua & Barbuda (White flag)

Company: Peter Doehle Schiffahrts-Kg

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: 16th January 2017 at Liverpool

Summary: Six deficiencies with three grounds for detention

Defective item Nature of defect Ground for Detention
11101 – Lifeboats Damaged Yes
11113 – Launching arrangements for rescue boats Not as required No
04114 – Emergency source of power- Emergency generator Not as required Yes
04103 – Emergency, lighting, batteries and switches Not as required No
01199 – Other (certificates) Other No
15150 – ISM Not as required Yes

This vessel was released on 18th January 2017

Vessel Name: SALIX

GT: 2120 IMO: 8520446

Flag: Cook Islands (Black list)

Company: Wakes & Co Ltd

Classification Society: Polski Regestr Statkow (PRS)

Recognised Organisation:

Recognised Organisation for ISM Doc:

Recognised Organisation for ISM SMC:

Date and Place of Detention: 16th January 2017 at Ellesmere Port

Summary: Ten deficiencies with three grounds for detention

Defective item Nature of defect Ground for Detention
14104 – Oil filtering equipment Not as required Yes
18408 – Electrical Unsafe No
18314 – Provisions quality Missing No
02106 – Hull damage impairing seaworthiness Dented No
10127 – Voyage or passage plan Not as required No
03105 – Covers (hatchway, portable, tarpaulins, etc) Not properly maintained Yes
11117 – Lifebuoys incl. provision and disposition Not as required No
07116 – Ventilation Not as required No
15150 – ISM Not as required Yes
18306 – Sleeping room, additional spaces Not as required No

This vessel was released on 20th January 2017

Vessel Name: BBC CORAL

GT: 12838 IMO: 9563720

Flag: Antigua & Barbuda (White list)

Company: W. Bocksiegel Reederei

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: 9th January 2017 at Tyne

Summary: Nineteen deficiencies with seven grounds for detention

Defective item Nature of defect Ground for Detention
01199 – Other (certificates) Other No
01104 – Cargo Ship Safety Radio (including exemption) Survey out of window No
01108 – Load Lines (including exemption) Survey out of window No
01102 – Cargo Ship Safety Construction (including exempt.) Survey out of window No
01101 – Cargo Ship Safety Equipment (including exemption) Survey out of window No
01117 – International Oil Prevention (IOPP) Survey out of window No
01124 – International Air Pollution Cert Survey out of window No
18425 – Access/structural features (ship) Not as required No
10111 – Charts Missing Yes
01139 – Maritime Labour Certificate Invalid Yes
18421 – Guards – fencing around dangerous machinery parts Missing equipment Yes
01140 – Declaration of Maritime Labour Compliance (Part I and II) Missing Yes
10127 – Voyage or passage plan Not as required Yes
18415 – Entry dangerous spaces Not as required Yes
07105 – Fire doors/openings in fire-resisting divisions Not as required No
11117 – Lifebuoys incl. provision and disposition Not as required No
18416 – Ropes and wires Not as required No
15150 – ISM Not as required Yes
10114 – Voyage data recorder (VDR/Simplified Voyage data recorder (S-VDR) Not as required No

This vessel was released on 11th January 2017

DETENTIONS CARRIED OVER FROM PREVIOUS MONTHS

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 31st January 2017

Vessel Name: SEA TRIDENT

GT: 964.

IMO No: 7393169.

Flag: PANAMA (white list)

Company: Gardline Shipping Ltd, Great Yarmouth, UK.

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 31st January 2017

Vessel Name: SOUTHERN STAR

GT: 4450.

IMO No: 9212448.

Flag: COOK ISLANDS (black list)

Company: Coralot Consulting Ltd.

Classification Society: International Naval Surveys Bureau (INSB).

Recognised Organisation: INSB.

Recognised Organisation for ISM DOC: INSB.

Recognised Organisation for ISM SMC: INSB

Date and Place of Detention: 04th April 2016, Chatham, Orpington.

Summary: Six deficiencies with two grounds for detention

Defective item Nature of defect Ground for Detention
01201 – Certificates for masters and officers Invalid Yes
15150 – ISM Not as required Yes
13101 – Propulsion main engine Not as required No
01123 – Continuous synopsis record Missing No
01113 – Minimum safe manning document Not as required No
14119 – Oil and oily mixtures from machinery spaces Lack of familiarity No

This vessel was still detained on 31st January 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 31st January 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.