Politics

image_pdfimage_print

Housing and Armed Forces sectors thanked for help on Housing Pathway for Veterans

The pathway aims to prevent homelessness amongst ex Service personnel and help them find suitable accommodation.

Echoing one of the eight ‘asks’ of Welsh Government in the Royal British Legion’s 2016 Wales Manifesto – Live On – Building a better future for the Armed Forces Community in Wales.

Carl Sargeant said:

“I take very seriously the responsibility we have to those members of our communities who have served, or are still serving, in the Armed Forces. Helping them to find suitable accommodation is an important part of the much broader and wider package of support which helps them to settle back into our communities.

“We will continue our work to implement the Housing Pathway, particularly amongst organisations working on the front line of homelessness. We also aim to do more to raise awareness, with the publication of advice for veterans. This will build on the contents of the Pathway. It will be targeted at those due to be discharged from duty as well as those who were discharged at some point previously. It will include advice cards for those who are sleeping rough. The Pathway will also be shared widely amongst organisations providing support for the Armed Forces community in Wales.

“I am grateful to all the organisations who have worked with us on these developments. In collaboration with The Armed Forces Expert Group and partner organisations, we will continue to support and provide effective services for our Armed Forces community in Wales.”

Antony Metcalfe, Area manager for The Royal British Legion Wales said:

“The Royal British Legion welcomes the new Housing pathway for the Armed Forces community and the commitment the Welsh Government has shown in addressing the issues around housing support for the Armed forces community in Wales.

“The Legion called for such a pathway in our Welsh Assembly election manifesto 2016, following a national conversation we held with the Armed forces community in Wales, who told us that accessing clear housing advice and support was difficult and that too often they were being given inconsistent advice which was leaving them confused about access to housing in their local areas. This document should now help provide clear information for the Armed Forces community but also be used as a training resource for housing professionals so that everyone is clear about housing support that can be expected and delivered.”

read more

Welsh Government • •

Press release: Mozambique learning of UK Oil and Gas expertise

UK expertise in Oil & Gas at the centre of Mozambique Minister’s visit

The Mozambican Minister for Mineral Resources and Energy, Leticia Klemens, paid this February a four-day official visit to the United Kingdom, at the invitation of the British Government.

The visit program was centred mainly on the minister’s participation at the SubSea Expo 2017 Conference and Exhibition, which took place place 1 to 3 February in Aberdeen, Scotland – one of the most respected in terms of Oil & Gas expertise centres in the world.

The visit program included several meetings with representatives of the British Government and the private sector in London. The visit has been stimulated by UK’s expertise in Oil & Gas and by existing opportunities for cooperation and exchange of best practice. British High Commissioner in Mozambique, Joanna Kuenssberg, accompanied the Minister in the visit.

By collaborating and working with British experts and companies, Mozambique can maximize its potential in the sector and ensure that exploitation of mineral and energy resources has a positive impact on the country’s economic and social development. At the conference, the minister spoke of Mozambique’s energy sectors potential focusing on the business environment, the opportunities and challenges.

Apart from this, the minister joined by representatives of the National Petroleum Institute (INP) and the National Hydrocarbons Company (ENH) in a visit to the subsea international exhibition, attended by more than 150 organizations from various areas of expertise in the Oil & Gas sector.

Yet in Aberdeen, the minister visited Robert Gordon University, which has a top-of-the-range oil operations simulator. Oil companies use this type of equipment to create a more concrete notion of the infrastructure needed for gas exploration and production.

In the field of education, minister Klemens and the High Commissioner of Mozambique in the United Kingdom, Filipe Chidumo, interacted with Mozambican students learning different specialties on oil and gas. Some of these students have been in the UK on a Chevening scholarship, offered by the British Government.

The minister yet called on Aberdeen Lord Provost George Adam to strengthen partnership and cooperation between the municipalities of Aberdeen and Pemba.

In London, minister Klemens was welcomed by the FCO Minister for Africa, Tobias Ellwood, and also met the Minister of International Trade, Greg Hands, and the Prime Minister’s Commercial Envoy to Mozambique, Richard Benyon.

The program closed with meetings with international companies in the energy sector and a speech by the minister, organized by Chatham House – Royal Institute for International Affairs. The minister spoke about Mozambique’s context and interact with British companies and experts.

Notes for Editors

  • On Aberdeen and Pemba: there have been two projects funded by the British government, which aimed to train Pemba Municipality officials on skills to attract more investment.

  • Richard Benyon, Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy to Mozambique and also a member of the British Parliament, made his first visit to Mozambique in September 2016.

  • David Mundell, who is the Secretary of State for Scotland also paid a visit to Mozambique in February 2016.

  • (Chevening scholarships)[www.chevening.org]: for the 2016/17 school year, seven Mozambicans were awarded with scholarships from the UK government, two are in Scotland.

For further information, please contact:

Inayah.Sultan@fco.gov.uk

Sonia.Muchate@fco.gov.uk

read more

HM Government • • •

News story: Ian Ackerley appointed new NS&I Chief Executive

“I’m proud to be given the opportunity to lead NS&I and look forward to joining the team”, says newly appointed NS&I Chief Executive Ian Ackerley.

The Chancellor has appointed Ian Ackerley as the new Chief Executive of NS&I (National Savings and Investments).

Announcing the appointment Simon Kirby, Economic Secretary to the Treasury, said:

Ian Ackerley’s extensive experience in retail financial services and effective leadership skills make him the ideal candidate to be the next Chief Executive of NS&I.

NS&I sits at the heart of our savings sector and Ian will play a key role in shaping the next phase of NS&I’s digital transformation so that it continues to deliver for millions of savers across the UK.

Ian Ackerley said:

Like many people across the UK, I grew up with NS&I: my first savings were in Premium Bonds, which were bought for me as a child. It is a brand I have long admired – particularly for how it has transformed itself into a 100% direct business without losing the trust and loyalty of its customers. I’m proud to be given the opportunity to lead NS&I and look forward to joining the team.

read more

HM Government • • •

Press release: Kerry Ingredients UK Limited paying £127,000 over pollution incident

The Environment Agency has accepted an offer of more than £127,000 for an enforcement undertaking from Kerry Ingredients UK Limited following a pollution incident in the River Cam in Gloucestershire.

The incident, which took place in June 2014, resulted in the deaths of more than 200 fish.

As a result, a financial contribution of £127,975 is being shared between Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust (£40,451), Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (£19,766), Severn Rivers Trust (£52,758) and Bristol Zoological Society (£15,000)

The Environment Agency’s ability to accept Enforcement Undertakings was extended in 2015 to a far wider range of offences. The Environment Agency is increasingly using this method of enforcement for suitable cases to swiftly restore the environment, improve practices of the offending company and avoid longer criminal court cases. However prosecutions will still be taken, particularly in the most serious cases.

The Kerry case is one of a number revealed today in which charities will receive more than £1.5 million for projects benefitting wildlife and the environment as a result of enforcement action by the Environment Agency.

Peter Kellett, Legal Director for the Environment Agency said:

We take pollution incidents very seriously and the payments of £1.5 million we’re announcing today are the result of our firm but fair enforcement action and will benefit people and the environment across the country.

Enforcement Undertakings allow those who commit offences to restore the environment and to take steps to prevent a recurrence. When appropriate, they allow a quicker resolution than a prosecution and help offenders who are prepared to take responsibility for their actions to put things right with their local communities.

read more

HM Government • • •

News story: Domain name scam

Information about the latest domain name scam and what you should do if you receive a phone call.

We have been alerted to a new domain name fraud which involves businesses being contacted by phone from an organisation claiming to be the “Trade Marks Intellectual Property Office”. Their aim is to panic people into buying domain names.

This is a scam.

Some businesses have received follow up invoices such as this copy Domain name scam invoice (PDF, 74.7KB, 1 page)

If you receive similar calls or invoices please report them to Action Fraud.

Action Fraud is the online reporting portal for all instances of alleged fraud affecting UK citizens and businesses and it is operated by the City of London Police who are the UK lead Force for the investigation of fraud. Attempts to mislead people into buying domain names falls under domain name fraud. Reports are collated and analysed by the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau (NFIB) and depending on a scoring matrix together with an assessment of available evidence, they can be sent to an individual police force for investigation.

The NFIB also send out industry alerts when new methods or techniques to defraud companies are identified.

read more

HM Government • • •