Speech: PM statement following talks with President Erdogan: 28 January 2017

Thank you very much Mr President and thank you for the invitation to join you for these discussions that we have had today – and very fruitful discussions between us.

Turkey is one of the UK’s oldest friends. Our relations stretch back over 400 years.

But there is much that we can do in the future to build on that relationship together.

I am proud that the UK stood with you on 15 July last year in defence of your democracy. Now it is important that Turkey sustains that democracy by maintaining the rule of law and upholding its international human rights obligations as the government has undertaken to do.

We have discussed, as the president has said, a number of important issues today from Cyprus, where we are committed to playing our parts for an early settlement, to Syria, where we are working together to fight Daesh and create the conditions for peace.

We are also agreeing to step up our work together on aviation security with a programme of shared training and information exchange.

You mentioned, Mr President, the opportunities for enhancing trade between our two countries and we discussed that. We both want to build on our existing links and I believe that doing so will be to the benefit of both our countries and for the prosperity of both our nations.

And we have agreed we will have a joint working group to prepare the ground for our post-Brexit trading relationship.

So we have covered quite a range of subjects today. What has underpinned our discussions has been the opportunity for Turkey and the UK to build on our existing relations which, as I say, have stretched back many years, to our mutual benefit for the future.

So thank you and I look forward to maintaining these talks with your Prime Minister later today.

£13m EU funding for Institute for Compound Semiconductors

A £13m EU funding boost to help put Cardiff University’s Institute for Compound Semiconductors at the forefront of 21st Century technologies has been announced by Finance Secretary Mark Drakeford.

Saturday 28 January 2017

The EU funding will help build, equip and run a state-of-the-art cleanroom at the new Institute for Compound Semiconductors (ICS), based at Cardiff University’s Innovation Campus.

ICS will turn its laboratory research into products and services by working with commercial partners to lead in developing one of the world’s key enabling technologies – Compound Semiconductors.

Finance Secretary Mark Drakeford said:

“Investing in world leading facilities so that academia and industry can collaborate and drive forward research in this sector will be an important boost to the Welsh economy.

“This EU funding will encourage high quality well-paid employment in the participating companies and the creation of spin-out companies, new start-ups as well as attracting innovative compound semiconductor companies from across the UK and Europe, all adding to increased growth and prosperity in the region.”

Compound Semiconductor technologies underpin the internet and have enabled new emerging megatrends such as Smart Phones, tablets, and satellite communications. These semiconductors are created by combining elements to produce materials with physical and chemical properties that have wide-ranging technological applications.

Professor Colin Riordan, Vice Chancellor of Cardiff University, said:

“This EU funding is a vital component in our bid to generate prosperity in South Wales through industrial innovation. By investing in high quality facilities and talented researchers, and by building long-standing commercial partnerships, Cardiff University’s Innovation System will help deliver prosperity for Wales.”

The funding award builds on long-running work between the University, IQE, Welsh and UK Government to develop a hub of compound semiconductor expertise in South Wales, including £12m from the Welsh Government to support the development of the wider ICS facility in 2015.

Dr Drew Nelson, CEO, IQE plc, said:

“The role of compound semiconductors as an enabling technology for a wide range of next generation applications from high-speed communications to autonomous vehicles is widely acknowledged worldwide, with major initiatives underway by blue-chip organisations, academic institutions and government agencies, particularly in Asia and the USA.

“In Europe, Wales is uniquely positioned with a critical mass of compound semiconductor expertise to exploit the enormous commercial opportunities that will doubtlessly be generated. Today’s announcement of £13m EU funding through the Welsh Government significantly adds weight and credibility to Wales becoming a global hub in this key enabling technology that will drive innovation over the coming years and decades.”

News story: Gender Pay Gap Reporting

Guidance for employers published

From 6 April 2017 employers in Great Britain with more than 250 staff will be required by law to publish the following four types of figures annually on their own website and on a government website:

Gender pay gap (mean and median averages)
Gender bonus gap (mean and median averages)
Proportion of men and women receiving bonuses
Proportion of men and women in each quartile of the organisation’s pay structure

To help employers, the Government Equalities Office and Acas have produced guidance on managing gender pay reporting in the private and voluntary sectors.

News story: UK and Jordan standing shoulder to shoulder in fight against Daesh

During a visit to London, where the King also met with the Foreign Secretary, Sir Michael discussed the UK’s deep and longstanding support to Jordan, an important regional ally.

As a country on the front line in the fight against Daesh, Jordan is working closely with Britain and other Coalition members to defeat the terror group. Jordan was one of the earliest contributors to airstrikes against Daesh, operating four F-16 fighters, as well as other transporter aircraft.

Following the meeting with His Majesty King Abdullah II, Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon said:

Jordan is a longstanding and key ally of the UK and an important partner in countering the shared threats we face.

We stand shoulder to shoulder in the fight against Daesh, our militaries exercise together and we’re assisting Jordan in the development to develop of its armed forces.

Through our global role we’re committed to helping Jordan in sustaining its stability which in turn makes Britain safer and more secure.

Over the last financial year, the UK, through our Conflict Security and Stabilisation Fund (CSSF), has contributed over £32 million in helping Jordan’s security, and next year we will aim to contribute a further £28 million. This funding, as well as longstanding defence engagement between the two countries, means that the UK and Jordan have a substantial defence relationship, including:

Building up Jordan’s border security, through helping develop their border surveillance capability.
200 UK forces last year participated in Exercise Shamal Storm 16, and this year British forces will work alongside a stepped up Jordanian force.
The UK leads and helps to fund Jordan’s Quick Reaction Force (QRF). The QRF is a Rapid Response force which has the ability to respond to threats at distance.
Through NATO, Britain is providing financial support to developing Jordan’s cyber defence, military exercises and information protection.