DeHavilland - Definitive political intelligence

Wales Office - Welsh Secretary - "Paris Air Show a showcase for Welsh aviation sector"

Thu, 20 Jun 2013 04:03:59 GMT

Secretary of State for Wales, David Jones will meet key players in the global aviation industry and promote the strength and innovative capabilities Wales has to offer at the Paris International Air Show today (20 June 2013).

Le Bourget – now in its 50th year – is one of the world’s biggest air shows and a showcase for cutting edge engineering and technology.

The Welsh Secretary’s itinerary will focus on visits to companies with strong Welsh links, including Broughton based Airbus’s parent company EADS and BAE Systems.

The visits come in the week that the strength of the aviation industry in Britain has been thrust into the spotlight. Already this week, Airbus has confirmed orders with aircraft financing group, Doric for the purchase of 20 A380 aircraft, signed a contract for 50 additional A320 with US aircraft leasing group ILFC, and completed an order with the Lufthansa Group for 100 A320 Family aircraft. Low-cost airline Easyjet has signed a deal to purchase 135 new Airbus aircraft, and Air France-KLM has finalised a firm contract for 25 A350-900.

The orders will strengthen the busy order book of the Broughton wing factory and secures the jobs of the 6,000 strong employee roster.

The Secretary of State’s airshow itinerary will also include visits to the Aerospace Wales stand, Raytheon UK, Babcock, Thales, Hawker Beechcraft and a host of other SMEs who each have the unique opportunity to appear in front of the world’s aerospace buyers, engineers and customers.

Secretary of State for Wales, David Jones said:

The UK aerospace industry is one of our greatest success stories and we’re pulling every lever to ensure we remain at number one across Europe, fighting for every contract and every opportunity.

Government and industry need to work together to earn this success. That is why we have launched the Aerospace Industrial Strategy –a long-term strategic partnership to tackle barriers for growth, boost export opportunities and increase the high value of aerospace jobs across the country.

We want to make Britain the best place in the world for aerospace engineering, and Wales has a strong role to play in this aim.

Earlier this week, Business and Energy Minister, Michael Fallon attended the air show to announce that aerospace businesses are set to benefit from up to £90million of overall funding to develop new, advanced technologies.

Part of this is a £25million pot for small and medium sized businesses looking to get involved in collaborative research and technology projects that are consistent with the Aerospace Industrial Strategy.

Business and Energy Minister Michael Fallon said:

We have a world-leading aerospace sector underscored by our ability to excel in areas like research & development. It’s this commitment to innovation through our Aerospace Industrial Strategy that will be a crucial driver for long-term growth.

If we are to get ahead of the game we must create the right conditions now that incentivise businesses to invest in the UK and develop new, exciting products. This new funding will help to do just that and also ensure a high level of quality projects receive the support they need to get off the ground.

Earlier this week, the Secretary of State for Wales visited the British Airways Maintenance Centre in the Vale of Glamorgan. The facility provides a dedicated service and maintenance facility for British Airways’ fleet of Boeing 747, 777 and long haul 767 aircraft. It is responsible for virtually all of the maintenance and repair covering the entire fleet.

Notes to Editors

For further information, please contact Lynette Bowley at the Wales Office on 029 2092 4204

Aerospace Industrial Strategy

The Aerospace Industrial Strategy can be found at Lifting Off – Implementing the Strategic Vision for UK Aerospace, which was launched on 18 March by the Aerospace Growth Partnership.

HM Treasury - Chancellor uses Mansion House speech to set out bank recovery plan

Thu, 20 Jun 2013 04:01:48 GMT

Chancellor sets out next stage of government’s plan to take the banking system from rescue to recovery.

Delivering his annual Mansion House speech to the banking community, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne outlined the government’s plan for the partly-state owned banks, RBS and Lloyds.

He told the audience that although the economic news has been “better in recent months” and that while “Britain has left intensive care, we still need to secure the recovery”.

The Chancellor reassured the audience that the government won’t let up in its “determination to put right what went so badly wrong”.

“Nothing better signals Britain’s move from rescue to recovery than the fact that we can start to plan for our exit from government share ownership of our biggest banks”, he said.

In order to ensure a stable future for the state owned banks, the Chancellor outlined three objectives that will guide the government’s approach:

“We want to maximize the ability of these important banks to support the British economy.

“We want to get the best value for money for the taxpayer.

“And we want to do what we can to return them to private ownership.”

Although the Chancellor did not announce a fixed timetable or price for the return of the banks to the private sector, he said that the government is “actively considering options for share sales in Lloyds.”

The first sale is likely to be an institutional one, but for subsequent disposals the government will consider all options, including a retail offering to the general public.

On RBS the Chancellor made clear that the government will only sell when they feel the bank is fully recovered, and that moment is “some way off”.

However the government will “urgently investigate the case for taking the bad assets…out of RBS”.

Drawing back to the government’s three objectives, he said a bad bank will only be created if it can meet them.

“We will establish a bad bank if it meets our three objectives: if it would accelerate the path back to private ownership, deliver benefits for the wider economy and be in the interests of taxpayers.

“But if the review reveals that it would not achieve these things, then we won’t do it.”

On the timetable for the review, the Chancellor said we “want to get on with this, so we’ll conclude the review and make a decision this autumn.”

Commenting on the announcement by the Office of Fair Trading (OFT), that it is bringing forward its market review of small business banking, the Chancellor said he has asked the OFT to review the impact that new challenger banks created by Lloyds and RBS will have on “strengthening competition in small business banking”, and to identify what more can be done.

Responding to the publication of the report from the Parliamentary Commission on Banking Standards (Tyrie report), on professional standards and culture of the UK banking sector, the Chancellor said it was an “intensive and thorough piece of work”.

A full government response to the report will be published before the summer recess, but the Chancellor said that where legislation is needed, “the Banking Bill currently before Parliament will be amended to ensure the recommendations can be quickly enacted”.

BIS - UK export finance support to British exporters at 12-year high

Thu, 20 Jun 2013 04:01:39 GMT

British businesses received £4.3 billion worth of support from the government through UKEF in 2012-13 the highest in 12 years

British businesses received £4.3 billion worth of support from the government through UK Export Finance (UKEF) in 2012-13, up from £2.3 billion in the previous year, and the highest in 12 years.

UK industries including aerospace, automotive, oil and gas, and defence have benefited from export credit guarantees and insurance on transactions ranging from as little as £4,000 to as much as £2 billion. This support has enabled UK companies to export to 58 countries across the world, from Abu Dhabi to Vietnam, illustrating the UK’s strength as a global exporter.

UKEF is the UK’s export credit agency. Its £4.3 billion of support for exports is the highest since 2000-01. Support has been provided for companies of all sizes, from the very smallest micro-firms to large corporations. This includes thousands of SMEs who have benefited indirectly through the supply chains of large customers supported by UKEF.

UKEF support has included:

· £2 billion for Typhoon aircraft and spare parts to Oman

· £59 million to redevelop a hospital in Ghana for the Ghanaian Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning

· £26 million in support for satellites to Russia and

· £280,000 support for transport consultancy in Gambia.

Minister for Trade Lord Green said:

UKEF plays an important role in helping boost Britain’s exports and is contributing to the healing and rebalancing of the economy.

It’s particularly pleasing to see more SMEs taking advantage of the services and products UKEF offers, and I am sure the new network of regional export finance advisers will help more SMEs seize opportunities to export next year.

Acting Chief Executive, David Havelock, said:

Exporting is key to the UK’s economic recovery and I am delighted we have had a record year helping an ever increasing number of companies win business in diverse sectors and overseas markets.

The full range of products now available from UKEF enables us to support the financial needs of all sizes of exporters from large multinational customers through to SMEs. This is in addition to the huge number of smaller companies who benefit indirectly through the supply chains of our major customers like Airbus, BAE Systems and Rolls-Royce.

Following on from this record year I am pleased to report that our pipeline for 2013-14 in terms of large project business is the highest for many years and our short term products are gaining real traction in the SME space.

Building on the success of the past twelve months, UKEF has recently confirmed its largest ever Project Financing transaction to support a prestigious project in the Middle East, in partnership with other export credit agencies. Details will be announced later this week.

The aerospace industry was a significant beneficiary of export credit guarantees in 2012-13, with UKEF providing £1.83 billion of support, illustrating the UK’s strength as a global leader in aerospace.

Executive Vice President, Programmes and senior UK representative for Airbus, Tom Williams said:

We must not underestimate the importance of aerospace engineering and manufacturing in the UK which is highly skilled and high value work, as demonstrated by the important role we play in providing a significant contribution to Airbus commercial airliners.

The value of credit guarantees and insurance policies issued by UKEF in 2012-13 is significantly higher than previous years and highlights the export opportunities available to UK companies and the support available from government to help exporters win business overseas. UKEF earned premium income of £133 million in the year, up from £85 million last year and the highest level since 1991.

UKEF provides guarantees to banks offering loans to overseas buyers of UK goods and services and insurance to exporters against the risk of not getting paid. When banks or credit insurers are unable to provide sufficient support,UKEF can step in.

To further boost exports by SMEs, the government committed at Autumn Statement last year £1.5 billion to allow UKEF to launch a direct lending scheme, enabling it to support export loans to buyers of UK goods and services where funding is not available from the banks. This will be the first time in UKEF’s history it has been able to offer such support. The government also increased the budget for UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) and set out an ambitious package of support designed to get more SMEs exporting.

In 2011 UKEF introduced new short-term products and enhanced its insurance product to assist exporters, particularly SMEs, overcome bonding and working capital constraints and get credit insurance when not available from the private market. In 2012-13 these assisted 66 exporters including 49 small and medium sized businesses, helping them win contracts worth over £500 million. Notes to editors

1. The UKEF Annual Report and Accounts will be available online athttps://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-export-finance from Thursday 20 June.

2. For more information on UKEF products and services contact one of its network of Regional Export Advisers, details are available here:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-regional-export-finance-advisors or speak to UKEF’s Customer Service Team: telephone: 020 7512 7887, e-mail: customerservice@ecgd.gsi.gov.uk.

3. UKEF support is not limited to guarantees and insurance policies. UKEFcan also provide advice and assistance through its regional Export Finance Advisers on trade finance issues to companies of all sizes. Further advice on exporting and overseas opportunities is available through UK Trade & Investment’s network of International Trade Advisors.

4. UK Export Finance is the UK’s export credit agency. It complements the private market by providing assistance to UK businesses, principally in the form of insurance to exporters and guarantees to banks. In doing so, it works with exporters, banks and project sponsors to support UK exports to, and investments in, markets across the world.

5. The Prime Minister launched the government’s ‘Exporting for Growth’ challenge last year and the government has now set an ambitious goal to increase exports to £1 trillion per annum by 2020.

6. The government’s economic policy objective is to achieve ‘strong, sustainable and balanced growth that is more evenly shared across the country and between industries’. It set four ambitions in the ‘Plan for Growth’ (PDF 1.7MB), published at Budget 2011:

· to create the most competitive tax system in the G20

· to make the UK the best place in Europe to start, finance and grow a business

· to encourage investment and exports as a route to a more balanced economy

· to create a more educated workforce that is the most flexible in Europe.

Work is underway across government to achieve these ambitions, including progress on more than 250 measures as part of the Growth Review. Developing an Industrial Strategy gives new impetus to this work by providing businesses, investors and the public with more clarity about the long-term direction in which the government wants the economy to travel.

FCO - Foreign Secretary speech on "The United Kingdom - Stronger Together"

Thu, 20 Jun 2013 04:01:22 GMT

He will give a speech in Edinburgh setting out the clear choice, in foreign policy terms, involved when people in Scotland vote in 2014 on remaining in the UK.

Foreign Secretary William Hague will give a speech in Edinburgh today (Thursday 20 June) setting out the clear choice, in foreign policy terms, involved when people in Scotland vote in 2014 on remaining in the UK. He will argue that the UK should stay together because we achieve more together.

He will say:

“After three years as Foreign Secretary and visits to more than 70 countries, I am in no doubt whatsoever that we are safer together, stronger together and that we achieve more in the world together as the United Kingdom.

“And in this speech today, I want to describe the foreign policy issues that the Scottish people will need to carefully consider, given that the one certainty of a vote for independence is that it wouldn’t be business as usual: it would be a vote for substantial change.

… “Travelling from Afghanistan to Brazil, and from Canada to Australia, I encounter bafflement that anyone would try to break up a union that has been so resilient, so successful and so admired as ours.

“When outsiders look at the United Kingdom, they see one of the world’s most successful examples of stable democratic government, economic development and diplomatic influence.

“They speak in awe of our institutions, our civil service, and our legal systems. The admire the richness and diversity of our culture, language, history, sport and traditions, and indeed we were ranked number one in the world for ‘soft’ power in one recent global survey.

… “It is of course up to people in Scotland to decide in 2014 which way they want to go. It is my sincerest hope that Scotland votes to remain in the United Kingdom. But I am not here to make dire predictions or to issue dark warnings. However I do believe that this decision involves a clear choice in foreign policy:

“On the one hand, is continued membership of the world’s sixth largest economy, represented at the G7, G8 and G20, with a permanent seat of the UN Security Council, and an established, influential and growing diplomatic network that is increasingly focused on trade and building up links with the Commonwealth and the fastest-growing parts of the world economy.

“On the other is an uncertain future where Scots would have to face the inconvenience and tremendous burden of having to start again in world affairs, with a different passport for future generations, without that global network and enviable diplomatic position in the world, and without automatic entry to NATO and the EU.

… “The G8 Summit in Northern Ireland this week is tangible proof that the United Kingdom’s seat at the top table of international decision-making matters. We have a voice on the major issues of the day: from international trade to human rights and counter-terrorism.

“The UK is not a passive observer. We are active players. We are at the heart of global events. We help shape the world we live in, and our voice matters and it is listened to.

… “Our Embassies promote the whole of the UK – that means Scottish architectural companies, Scottish environmentally-friendly products, Scottish agricultural equipment and Scottish food, in some surprising destinations, such as the 1,000 tonnes of Scottish salmon imported into Lebanon each year with the active support of our Embassy.

“And when adventure turns to misadventure for UK nationals overseas - when there is a terrorist attack or a natural disaster, when criminals strike or British children are forced into marriage overseas - that is when we all feel the benefits of being able to turn to one of our missions in 267 posts in 154 countries and twelve territories worldwide.

… “As part of the United Kingdom Scotland derives - and will continue to derive - many benefits from being part of this global diplomatic network, instead of having to rely on inevitably fewer, smaller Embassies which would take time and resources to establish.

… “The United Kingdom is one of the few nations in the world with the global reach and influence that means that we can ‘turn the dial’ on major global issues, as we have done in recent years in Somalia.

… “For foreign policy is not just about dealing with the crises of the moment, it is about improving the condition of humanity, something we are engaged in together as a global player, and we would be less able to do that if we were not the UK.

“In all these areas the UK should stay together because we achieve more together.

… [on security] “The cost of creating new institutions would place an enormous burden on the Scottish taxpayer; it would also take years to develop the infrastructure and qualified personnel that are needed to deal effectively with the array of threats that we all face. And Scotland would lose the benefits that come from having some of the most capable and professional armed forces and intelligence services in the world. Within the United Kingdom we have one set of intelligence services and one set of armed forces, benefitting from significant economies of scale and years of institutional development now provide a far higher level of security for the Scottish people.

“So not only is Scotland safer in the UK, but the UK is one of the world’s leading nations in human rights, development and trade because we stand strongly together: a force for good in the world, with the ability to protect the interests of our citizens at home and abroad.”

FCO - Foreign Secretary condemns attack on UN compound in Mogadishu

Thu, 20 Jun 2013 03:58:24 GMT

Foreign Secretary William Hague has condemned today's attack on UN compound & applauded the efforts of Somalia's national security forces.

The Foreign Secretary William Hague said:

I deplore this attack against the heart of the UN’s operations in Somalia, in which a number of people have been killed. My thoughts are with the victims and their families, friends and colleagues. As the Prime Minister of Somalia has said, the UN are friends and partners of Somalia. They are leading efforts to provide political and practical support to Somalia and the Somali people, including life-saving humanitarian assistance. To murder staff working for the UN is utterly indefensible.

I applaud the efforts of Somalia’s national security forces with the support of AMISOM in bringing the incident under control so quickly and with such professionalism. This is a major achievement. We all owe a huge debt to the bravery of AMISOM and Somalia’s armed forces who are working side by side to defend Somalia against Al Shabaab’s wanton violence. We remain resolved to continue supporting the progress we have witnessed in Somalia over the last two years. This kind of attack does nothing to shake that resolve.

Number 10 - Peerage for Sir Mervyn King

Thu, 20 Jun 2013 03:58:20 GMT

A peerage of the United Kingdom for Life is conferred on Sir Mervyn King.

The Queen has been pleased to confer a peerage of the United Kingdom for Life on Sir Mervyn King GBE FBA upon his retirement as Governor of the Bank of England.

Notes for editors

1. Sir Mervyn King was appointed Governor of the Bank of England in 2003. He was previously Deputy Governor from 1998 to 2003, and Chief Economist and Executive Director from 1991.

2. The Prime Minister retains the right to nominate up to ten people for Life Peerages each Parliament. These are awarded to people who have given significant public service.

Number 10 - Statement following meeting between Prime Minister and King Abdullah

Thu, 20 Jun 2013 03:58:08 GMT

The Prime Minister met with King Abdullah of Jordan in Downing Street.

A Downing Street spokesperson said:

The focus of discussions between the Prime Minister and King Abdullah was the G8. The Prime Minister said he was pleased with the outcome, but there was still a long way to go on Syria.

King Abdullah said that more refugees were crossing the border every day and he expressed his concern about the effect this was having on the Jordanian state. The Prime Minister shared his concern and outlined the package of support that he had announced for the Syrian crisis at the G8 yesterday. Within the £175 million, £50 million will go to Jordan.

DfID - DFID Research - Public expenditure monitoring, social protection and inclusive growth

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 16:57:02 GMT

A recent GDN project provides an interesting backdrop of research to the 14th annual Global Development Conference being held in Manila this week

The Global Development Network’s 14th Annual Global Development Conference– Inequality, Social Protection and Inclusive Growth– is taking place from the 19th to the 21st June in Manila, the Philippines.

The conference expects around 400 participants and will see presentations from this year’s finalists from the GDN Awards and Medals ceremony. The finalists were announced earlier in the week and can be found here.

This year’s conference looks at social policies and social protection systems and how they should be considered in development policy. The conference will host discussions around how social protection can facilitate further poverty reduction and highlight its crucial role in combating social exclusion.

The conference can be followed through a live webcast here.

The conference comes just over a month after the final workshop of a majorGDN project. While the current conference looks at cross-cutting themes of inequality and inclusivity, research produced by the recent GDN programme provides an interesting and enriching perspective on specific aspects of improved social protection and government accountability.

The Strengthening Institutions to Improve Public Expenditure Accountability programme was set up in 2008 to help monitor and support capacity building in developing countries. The fundamental goal of this project was to improve development outcomes by increasing the effectiveness with which governments allocate and use their resources.

The project generated research around effective expenditure analysis and improved transparency- looking at 14 different countries it provides an interesting backdrop of research to the plenary talks this week.

Funded by the Department for International Development through theGovernance and Transparency Fund, Strengthening Institutions to Improve Public Expenditure Accountability has worked with researchers, over the last 5 years, aiming to build their capabilities around analysing public sector budgets, particularly in allocation of funds to the crucial sectors of water, education and health.

The project had 3 main objectives:

1. To support and strengthen 15 think tanks and research and policy institutions to engage in the analysis and monitoring of the quality of public expenditures, present research findings and policy alternatives for shaping policy debates.

2. To achieve internationally comparable information on public expenditures, incidence (who benefits), effectiveness, and policy reforms in the social sectors and infrastructure (education, health and water)

3. To create a peer-learning network amongst the partners, so that each may take full advantage of the opportunity to learn from the experiences of other countries in monitoring public expenditure

The programme produced a range of research outputs on the various programmes monitored, including a short series of research documentaries.

Many of the research papers deal with issues pertinent to the inclusive growth strategies being discussed at the current GDN conference, highlighting the significance of transparency in successful in-country development.

The conference provides a perfect platform to further develop and discuss the role of expenditure analysis within a broader development context. Bringing together a panel of experts in governance and economics, including individuals from the African Development Bank and the Asian Development bank, the GDN conference will look at those countries suffering from ‘structural economic vulnerability’ and discuss the importance of social protection in these contexts.

With policy simulations generated by the Strengthening Institutions to Improve Public Expenditure Accountability project highlighting the importance of expenditure analysis in assessing the value of social protection in a national context- GDN has gathered together an interesting and significant range of material which complements the ongoing discussions at this week’s conference.

FCO - FCO Minister Mark Simmonds welcomes Mali peace agreement

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 16:48:15 GMT

Mark Simmonds has welcomed yesterday’s peace accord in Mali and its potential to help build long-term peace and security in the region.

Speaking today, Foreign Office Minister for Africa Mark Simmonds said:

I welcome the announcement of the peace agreement signed in Ouagadougou last night between the Malian transitional authorities and groups representing communities in northern Mali, the National Movement for the Liberation of the Azawad (MNLA) and High Council for the Unity of the Azawad. This agreement paves the way for more inclusive governance in Mali which will help build long-term peace and security in the region.

The agreement institutes a cease-fire and commits the signatories to working closely together to deliver successful and inclusive national presidential elections in July. In the longer term, it offers a basis for a comprehensive dialogue on a range of issues to build peace and stability, whilst respecting the country’s territorial integrity.

I call on all signatories to engage rapidly and in good faith to implement the contents of this agreement and to abide by its provisions. I urge all other armed groups in northern Mali that have no connections with terrorist and criminal groups to join this agreement, and to engage with the ongoing reconciliation process, including through the work of the National Commission on Dialogue and Reconciliation. I would like to thank the international mediators, and particularly the government of Burkina Faso, for their efforts in supporting these negotiations.

FCO - Foreign Office Minister condemns attacks on students in northern Nigeria

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 16:48:08 GMT

Foreign Office Minister for Africa condemns latest terrorist attacks against students in the towns of Maiduguri & Damaturu in northern Nigeria.

Speaking today Foreign Office Minister Mark Simmonds said:

I am appalled by the fatal attacks on students in the towns of Maiduguri and Damaturu and wish to offer my deepest condolences and sympathies to the families of those killed and to those injured. There is no justifying attacks such as these which targeted young Nigerians working hard for their futures. I condemn them in the strongest of terms. The UK will offer what help we can to tackle the scourge of terrorism

Wales Office - Welsh Secretary visits British Airways Maintenance Centre (Updated 19 June 2013)

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 16:38:04 GMT

Secretary of State for Wales, David Jones has today taken a tour behind the scenes of British Airways Maintenance Centre (BAMC) at Cardiff Airport.

Mr Jones is this week marking the important contribution the aviation sector makes to the Welsh economy ahead of his visit to the International Paris Air Show (Thursday 20 June).

The Secretary of State met with Bill Kelly, General Manager Heavy Maintenance at British Airways Engineering, who escorted him on a tour of the three-bay hangar and support workshops. He later met employees currently undertaking apprenticeships at the facility.

BAMC is a dedicated service and maintenance facility for British Airways’ fleet of Boeing 747, 777 and long haul 767 aircraft. It is responsible for virtually all of the maintenance and repair covering the entire fleet.

Secretary of State for Wales, David Jones said:

Aerospace is one of our most important manufacturing industries, with Britain leading the way in Europe. The sector contributes a huge £24billion to the economy every year, includes 3,000 companies and supports 230,000 jobs across the country.

Wales, and its highly skilled workforce already play an integral role in this success, and I was delighted to have the opportunity to meet those making their own contribution to this important industry today.

BAMC is British Airways’ sole supplier of heavy maintenance on its long haul fleet, supported in this maintenance role by its sister companies: British Airways Avionics Engineering Ltd at Llantrisant and British Airways Interiors Engineering Ltd at Blackwood.

Bill Kelly, General Manager Heavy Maintenance at British Airways Engineering said:

We are extremely proud of our engineering operations in South Wales. We employ more than 1,400 highly skilled people across three world-class facilities, and are committed to ensuring the continued success of the aviation sector in the region.

Later this week, the Secretary of State will meet with major aviation companies with strong Welsh links at the International Paris Air Show, including Broughton based Airbus.

British Airways will take delivery of its first Airbus A380 in July and it will be displayed for the first time at the air show.

DfID - Sustainable finance conference and awards

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 16:37:56 GMT

Impact investment announcements and award winning projects

Last week International Development Secretary Justine Greening highlighted the importance of impact investment at the Financial Times/International Finance Coporation (IFC) Sustainable Finance Awards by announcing two new elements to the DFID Impact Programme:

· Support to set up a network of Fund Managers working on basic services such as health, education and water and sanitation. This will enable knowledge sharing and help identify opportunities for partnership and co-investment.

· Advancing Impact Management Skills (AIMS) project. As impact investment markets grow, there is a need for local expertise that goes beyond traditional investment management. DFID will work with local providers to train a new generation of impact investment professionals in Sub Saharan Africa and South Asia. This will increase local capacity, skills and expertise to develop and manage impact investments.

Justine Greening said:

Impact investment is playing a vital role in finding innovative and commercially viable solutions to some of the world’s most pressing challenges. I want to see it become a leading source of innovative finance for emerging markets, using the immense creativity of the private sector to do what it has always done, compete – to push us all forward.

The event brought together senior public and private sector decision-makers in finance and sustainability to discuss the practical steps that have to be taken to maximise the flow of capital into social and environmental projects. DFID Award for Achievement in Impact Investment

The Financial Times/IFC Sustainable Finance Awards are the leading global awards for socially and environmentally responsible banking and investment. The awards, now in their eighth year, attracted 254 entries from 161 financial institutions in 59 countries.

This year for the first time, DFID partnered with the Financial Times and the IFC to support a special award for “Achievement in Impact Investing”.

The Award recognises investment Funds and intermediaries that have a clear strategy to make financially sustainable investments with the intent to benefit the poor in sub-Saharan Africa and/or South Asia as consumers, producers, suppliers or employees.

The winner of the award, Root Capital, has provided more than $500 million in loans to more than 425 borrowers representing nearly 750,000 farmers and artisans in 40 countries in Latin America and sub-Saharan Africa. M-KOPA wins 2 awards

There was also success for DFID at the awards ceremony when the DFID-supported M-KOPA Solar won for ‘Technology in Sustainable Finance’, as well as the overall award for ‘Excellence in Sustainable Finance’.

M-KOPA’s pay-as-you-go energy technology allows poor consumers to buy energy products using mobile phones. Through this innovative business model, communities can gain access to ground-breaking new technologies that will improve their living conditions while also having positive environmental impacts. With UK government support, M-KOPA is conducting further research and development to bring down the cost of the technology and provide clean energy to the very poorest.

MoD - RAF airman receives top French medal

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 16:37:50 GMT

An RAF navigator has been awarded for heroism under fire while protecting civilians from attack by Gaddafi-regime forces in Libya in 2011.

Flight Lieutenant Ian ‘Abbo’ Abson was attached to the Armée de l’Air, the French Air Force, when he took part in the dangerous night-time missions near Tripoli that won him the Croix de la Valeur Militaire avec Etoile de Bronze (Cross of Military Valour with Bronze Star).

It is the second time the airman, now serving with the RAF’s iconic 617 ‘Dambusters’ Squadron, has received the honour from the French government; 2 years ago he received the same decoration for bravery on operations in Afghanistan when flying on a 3-year exchange posting with the French Air Force, operating the 2-seat Mirage 2000D attack fighter aircraft.

Flight Lieutenant Abson said:

I am honoured and humbled to be recognised in this way, although at the time I was just doing my job. In a way it’s a tribute to the close bonds formed between the RAF and the French Air Force in Libya and Afghanistan where we were, literally for me, fighting side-by-side.

It was a tremendous experience for me to serve with our French allies. I think we all learned a lot from each other which can only benefit both nations if we are called on to conduct future joint operations.

He was presented with the award at a ceremony in London’s exclusive Carlton Gardens, a former residence of France’s wartime leader-in-exile General Charles de Gaulle.

The award was bestowed by Antoine Anfré, the Ministre Conseiller of the French Embassy, at a ceremony 73 years to the day from that on which de Gaulle made his historic appeal to the French people to fight on in a speech broadcast by the BBC on 18 June 1940.

Monsieur Anfré said:

I am delighted to be awarding Flight Lieutenant Abson the Cross of Military Valour with Bronze Star. This prestigious decoration was created in 1956 to honour individual defence personnel who have accomplished brilliant feats outside national territory in overseas missions and operations.

In 2011, Flight Lieutenant Abson took part in the Libya campaign. It was his feat of arms during this campaign which has earned him this decoration today. It is a pleasure and honour for me to award him this insignia, which testifies to the gratitude of the French Republic, which he served with courage.

In the citation for the medal, Flight Lieutenant Abson’s French Air Force superiors praise his ‘superb military qualities’.

It goes on to say:

On 28th March, Flight Lieutenant Abson led a patrol of 4 Mirage 2000D and 2 Rafale aircraft with distinction. During a night-time bombing mission south of the Libyan capital, Tripoli, he successfully destroyed high priority enemy buildings with several laser-guided bombs while under intense threat from ground-to-air defences.

He further showed his skill on reconnaissance missions on the 14th and 17th June when he destroyed 6 Libyan military vehicles that were about to harm the civilian population.

Thanks to his great tenacity and remarkable determination under enemy fire he directly contributed to the success of the coalition forces.

Because of his courage, his sense of responsibility and his selfless acts, he should be held as an example for our nation and he merits the award of the Cross of Military Valour with Bronze Star.

FCO - Change of Governor of the Cayman Islands

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 15:57:12 GMT

Mrs Helen Kilpatrick CB has been appointed Governor of the Cayman Islands.

She will succeed Mr Duncan Taylor CBE, who will be transferring to another Diplomatic Service appointment. Mrs Kilpatrick will take up her appointment during September 2013.

Mrs Kilpatrick joined the Home Office in April 2005 as the Director General for Finance and Corporate Services. For a period during 2012 and 2013 she was the acting Home Office Permanent Secretary and Accounting Officer.

She also has extensive experience working in local government, most recently in West Sussex County Council as deputy Chief Executive and Director of Resources, where she was also Treasurer of the Sussex Police Authority, and for a number of London Borough Councils.

Mrs Kilpatrick is a chartered accountant, and a member of the CIPFA Council. She is also a Board and Finance Committee Member of Chichester Festival Theatre. Mrs Kilpatrick will transfer from the Home Office to the FCO for this appointment.

On her appointment as Governor of the Cayman Islands, Mrs Kilpatrick has said:

I am honoured and delighted to be appointed Governor of the Cayman Islands. I look forward to working in a constructive partnership with the newly elected government to ensure a safe, successful and sustainable future for the Cayman Islands.

Curriculum vitae

Personal details

Full name:

Helen Kilpatrick CB

Children:

One son, one daughter

Period

Post

2005 – present

Home Office, Director General (Finance & Corporate Services)

1995 – 2005

West Sussex County Council, Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Resources. Also Treasurer, Sussex Police Authority

1989 – 1995

London Borough of Greenwich, Controller of Financial Services

1988 – 1989

London Borough of Greenwich, Assistant Borough Treasurer

1987 – 1988

London Borough of Tower Hamlets, Chief Accountant (Technical)

1986 – 1987

London Borough of Tower Hamlets, Group Accountant (Housing)

1985 – 1986

Greater London Council, Group Auditor

1982 – 1985

Greater London Council, Graduate Trainee (Finance)

Scotland Office - Dundee makes UK City of Culture 2017 shortlist

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 14:51:05 GMT

The Secretary of State for Scotland Michael Moore has congratulated Dundee on making the shortlist for UK City of Culture 2017.

Today the Culture Minister Ed Vaizey announced that the “City of Discovery” has joined Hull, Leicester and Swansea Bay as the cities shortlisted for the award.

The four cities will now be invited to submit a final bid to the independent advisory panel by the end of September. The panel will then meet again to decide a winner which will be announced in November.

The Secretary of State said:

“Congratulations to Dundee on making the shortlist for the 2017 UK City of Culture. With a substantial waterfront transformation project underway, a number of highly regarded academic institutions combined with pioneering digital media and life sciences industries there is much for the residents of Dundee to be proud of.

“I look forward to the coming weeks and months as Dundee continues to build on what is already a very strong bid”

The Secretary of State also offered his support for Aberdeen’s qualities as a culturally rich city in spite of not making the final shortlist.

Mr Moore added:

“Whilst there will be a great sense of disappointment in Aberdeen today, it is important to remember that the bidding process has done so much to harness and highlight Aberdeen’s outstanding creative and cultural traits to a wider audience. I hope this will provide a platform to bid for a future UK City of Culture award” Note to Editors

1. The original DCMS press release and further information can be found here.

2. The eleven cities that put themselves forward for the UK City of Culture 2017 were: Aberdeen, Chester, Dundee, East Kent, Hastings and Bexhill-on-Sea, Hull, Leicester, Plymouth, Portsmouth and Southampton, Southend on Sea and Swansea Bay.

3. Derry-Londonderry was named the first UK City of Culture on 15 July 2010. More information about their programme is available here. In their year as European City of Culture, Liverpool received 9.7 million additional visitors to the city which resulted in over £735 million in additional visitor spend. Derry-Londonderry hope to have 2800 tourism jobs by 2020 as a legacy from their year as first City of Culture.

Home Office - Crime fighters rewarded in Neighbourhood and Home Watch celebration

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 14:51:01 GMT

Local crime fighting volunteers from across England and Wales have been recognised in the National Neighbourhood and Home Watch Awards.

Minister for Criminal Information Lord Taylor of Holbeach congratulated the winners at a reception in the House of Commons yesterday (18 June) for a variety of outstanding work.

Winners include OSCAR Neighbourhood Watch in Derby which was recognised for vastly improving the relationships between residents and the police.

Sussex Neighbourhood Watch search team was also selected for the ‘innovation award’ for a team of 380 volunteers who carried out a 436-day search for missing vulnerable persons and property in the area, helping bolster the police enquiry.

Innovation in crime prevention

Speaking at the event Lord Taylor said:

Recorded crime is down by more than 10 per cent under this government and I am sure the hard work of the dedicated people from the Neighbourhood and Home Watch Network has played an important part in this.

All nominations are excellent examples of innovation in crime prevention. Most importantly, these awards recognise how communities can work together to make our streets safer.

Neighbourhood Watch in the UK covers 6 million households. There are around 170,000 neighbourhood watch groups ranging from the smallest schemes covering a dozen or so homes in a single street to county-wide associations with many thousands of members.

Cabinet Office - Airports Commission Announces Public Evidence Sessions

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 14:45:02 GMT

The Airports Commission will hold public evidence sessions on 9th July 2013 in Manchester and 10th July 2013 in London.
The sessions will be chaired by Sir Howard Davies and he will be joined on the panel by the other Commissioners.

The sessions are focused on the Commission’s work assessing the nature, scale and timing of the UK’s aviation needs. They will develop the evidence base on the subjects of the discussion papers - demand forecasting, connectivity, climate change and airport operational models - published by the Commission earlier this year.

Evidence Session Timetable

July 9th - Reception Room, Manchester Town Hall, M60 2LA

09.15-11.00: Aviation and Climate Change

11.30-13.15: Aviation Demand and Connectivity

July 10th - Church House, Dean’s Yard, London SW1P 3NZ

09.15-11.00: Airport Operational Models

11.30-13.15: Airport Operational Models

Evidence Session Structure

The Airports Commission has invited three witnesses to take part, in parallel, in each session and each session will be structured as follows:

Part 1 Each witness gives a presentation setting out their key arguments and evidence. (20 minutes)

Part 2 Questions from the Commissioners to witnesses. (60 minutes)

Part 3 Statements from stakeholders in the public gallery. (25 minutes)

How to Participate

The Airports Commission invites stakeholders and the media to attend the evidence sessions. This is an excellent opportunity to hear the key issues debated in a public forum and to contribute to the debate.

Each venue is set up to accommodate stakeholders and media in the public gallery but access to each venue requires prior notification to the Airports Commission. Please notify david.elvy@airports.gsi.gov.uk whether your organisation intends to attend and the name of the person or persons representing you.

The Commission’s communications manager, David Elvy, can provide further details and he can be contacted on 0207 227 5343.

What Happens Next?
Full transcripts of the evidence sessions will be published on the Airports Commission website.
Contact
Media Enquiries
Office: 0207 944 3118
Email: DfTPressReleases@dft.gsi.gov.uk

MoJ - Appointment of Toby Pate as Member of Merseyside Probation Trust

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 14:45:00 GMT

The Ministry of Justice and Merseyside Probation Trust are pleased to announce the recent appointment of Tony Pate as a Member of Merseyside Probation Trust.

Tony joined the Trust in an advisory capacity in July 2012, having previously been Managing Director of Arena Homes, a subsidiary of the Arena Housing Group - a large Housing Association operating across the north of England. Tony has over 30 years’ experience within the housing association movement, the majority at a senior level, and was responsible for the management and maintenance of over 8,000 housing units spanning 18 local authorities. This encompassed a significant spread of types of housing, ranging from accommodation for young people and families and leasehold accommodation to specialist types of housing for particular needs groups.

Merseyside Probation Trust is one of 35 Probation Trusts across England and Wales. It supervises adult offenders who have been given a community sentence by the courts, or who have been released from prison on licence. The Trust works in partnership with numerous agencies to protect the public, punish offenders, assist victims of crime and reduce re-offending by supporting the rehabilitation of offenders. Each Probation Trust is run by a local Trust Board, selected to reflect the diversity and concerns of the community it serves.

Tony Pate’s term of office will run from 1 July 2013 to 31 March 2014, with the possibility of an extension, and the post is remunerated at the rate of £15.40 per hour. His appointment as a Member of Merseyside Probation Trust has been made in accordance with the Code of Practice for Ministerial Appointments to Public Bodies. All appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process. However, in accordance with the original Nolan recommendations, there is a requirement for appointees’ political activity (if any declared) to be made public. Tony Pate has not declared any political activity.

MoD - TA soldiers on exercise in South Dakota

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 14:38:59 GMT

British Territorial Army (TA) soldiers training in the United States have been working on a community project with US and Danish allies.

Fifty-five Reservists from Gateshead-based 72 Engineer Regiment are taking part in the 3,500-strong US training exercise known as Golden Coyote, which trains the South Dakota National Guard for overseas operations whilst working on a series of local construction projects to develop the surrounding area.

One of the construction tasks is building a new costume house for the Black Hills Playhouse which performs to over 35,000 patrons during their 3-month season.

The theatre managed to raise $150,000 for materials but were unable to fund the construction in time to replace the condemned 1930s wooden structure being used without the support of the military.

Forty-six soldiers from the US, Denmark and the UK have been allocated to the construction task, which needs to be completed within the 2-week exercise.

South Dakota Governor Dennis Daugaard took time out to visit the project and talk with some of the British reservists.

One of the soldiers Governor Daugaard met as his helicopter landed was Barnsley reservist Sergeant Derran Howe who works as a foreman for Pickfords in his civilian life.

Sergeant Howe, who has been in the Reserves for nearly 16 years, said:

It’s fantastic working on projects like this. I wish we could do more like it in Britain as it really gives you a sense of purpose to be working on something that is going to last and will benefit others.

I’ve spoken to a few of the locals and they really appreciate us being here – you can see by the way they are with you that it means a lot to them.

The job I’m doing on the build at the moment is not something I’ve done before – I’m edging the windows – but it’s not that hard, and I want to do it right so I don’t let the site manager down and obviously leave a good impression about our work.

The construction task is ahead of schedule, with secondary fitters from the US Army due to complete the task on their next camp.

Touring the site, Governor Daugaard said:

It’s great to see training being done not just in a way that builds skills but also creates value. And they are doing a great job.

Seeing the South Dakota National Guards working alongside troops from other nations is a wonderful thing because we know that in a real-world environment when there is a military need in Afghanistan or Iraq, or any other part of the world where there is conflict, we will often work together as NATO troops or as a multinational force.

So it makes all kinds of sense to practise together so we are ready when we need to serve in the real world together.

The Black Hills Playhouse project is one of several being undertaken by 72 Engineer Regiment. Other tasks include restoring 5 dilapidated bridges and building 2 new fishing piers, together with steps up a steep embankment for military veterans to use, and fitting a kilometre of safety fencing along the annual buffalo herding route through Custer State Park.

The work makes all the difference to the state-funded park in the Black Hills, which employs only 34 full-time staff to maintain its 71,000 acres of land and herd of 1,300 wild buffalo.

Ranger Jayme Severyn, who is responsible for all the building work in the park, said:

We couldn’t do everything ourselves, so it’s great having the National Guard and British Army engineers here working on the construction tasks as it frees us up to do the other things we need to do across the grounds.

The soldiers add real value to the park, but the work also allows them to practise their engineering skills. So we select projects together that will benefit their training and our requirements.

The multinational exercise, which concludes on 22 June, is one of the United States longest-running National Guard exercises. It is now in its 29th year and includes reservist contingents from the United States, Canada, the UK and Denmark.

MoD - Corporal William Savage, Fusilier Samuel Flint and Private Robert Hetherington killed in Afghanistan (Updated 19 June 2013)

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 13:42:12 GMT

It is with great sadness that the Ministry of Defence must confirm that Corporal William Savage and Fusilier Samuel Flint, both from 2nd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland, and Private Robert Hetherington, from 7th Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland, died of injuries sustained in Afghanistan on Tuesday 30 April 2013.

The soldiers were part of a patrol travelling along Route 611 between Forward Operating Base Ouellette and Patrol Base Lashkar Gah Durai in the Nahr-e Saraj district when their vehicle was struck by an improvised explosive device. They were evacuated by air to the military hospital at Camp Bastion, where it was confirmed that they had been killed in action.

Defence Secretary Philip Hammond said:

I was deeply saddened to learn of the deaths of these soldiers, each highly praised and respected by their colleagues and commanders. It is clear from the tributes paid to them that they were exceptional men who served their country with distinction. My thoughts go out to the families and friends of these brave men at this very difficult time.

Brigadier Rupert Jones, Commander of Task Force Helmand, said:

The loss of these 3 brave Scottish soldiers comes as a great blow to everyone in the Task Force, but leaves us all the more determined in our task to do justice to their memory. Their families are in our thoughts and I hope that they can draw a little comfort from the affection in which Corporal Savage, Fusilier Flint and Private Hetherington were held by their brothers-in-arms and from the courage they displayed.

Corporal William Thomas Savage, 2nd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland (2 SCOTS)

Born in Irvine on 27 January 1983, Corporal Savage enlisted into the British Army in April 2003. After completing recruit training he joined 1st Battalion The Royal Highland Fusiliers (Princess Margaret’s Own Glasgow and Ayrshire Regiment) in November 2003.

He deployed to Iraq on Operation Telic in 2004 and completed 2 previous deployments to Afghanistan on Operation Herrick 8 in 2008 and Operation Herrick 13 in 2010 with 2 SCOTS. He excelled on the Section Commanders’ Battle Course on 17 June 2011 and was promoted to full Corporal shortly afterwards. Prior to his appointment as a Section Commander in a Rifle Company he had been a member of the Regimental Police.

Corporal Savage deployed to Afghanistan on 11 March 2013. He commanded 3 Section of 1 Platoon in a District Enabling Company composed of Bravo Company Group, 2 SCOTS, part of the First Fusiliers Battle Group. He was based in Forward Operating Base Ouellette in the northern area of Nahr-e Saraj district, Helmand province.

Corporal Savage was a keen sportsman who enjoyed a variety of outdoor activities. He was enthusiastic about skiing and was a talented kayak instructor.

Corporal Savage was a shining example of a Scottish infantry soldier and was a rising star in the battalion with an extremely bright future ahead of him. He will be sorely missed by the entire battalion and will always be remembered. He leaves behind his wife, Lyndsey, who is expecting their first child.

Corporal Savage’s wife has made the following statement:

I am completely devastated by this news but extremely proud of ‘Sav’ and everything that he has achieved. He loved being a soldier!

I have lost the love of my life and the father of our son. I know his life will live on through so many amazing memories that we shared together. He will be deeply missed amongst family, friends and the regiment.

Lieutenant Colonel Robin Lindsay, Commanding Officer, 2 SCOTS, said:

We will remember Corporal William Savage as an exceptional soldier, a dedicated leader and a gentleman in the truest sense of the word. He was a classic example of a Scottish infantryman: robust, committed and blessed with a fine line in banter. He had made the battalion proud with his excellent recent performance on the Section Commanders’ Battle Course at the Infantry Battle School and he was rightly proud of his well-earned reputation as a tough combat soldier. He had proven his credentials on 2 previous tours of Afghanistan and we considered him a leading light amongst the corporals in the battalion and regiment.

Corporal Savage’s composed and professional approach had a calming influence on his platoon and he was seemingly unaffected by the dangers he faced daily in Afghanistan. He was unflappable and this example inspired his fellow soldiers. In a similar manner his bright personality lifted the spirits of those around him, particularly during difficult times.

Corporal Savage also played a full and vibrant part in wider battalion life; whether it was growing an extravagant moustache for charity or organising social events in the Corporals’ Mess, he was always at the forefront of the fun. He was very popular with us all, but particularly with our junior soldiers because of the compassion and understanding he showed them.

The loss of Corporal Savage has been a hammer blow to the battalion and the regimental family. We are all immensely proud to have known him and we will miss him dearly. He will always be remembered as a brilliant soldier and a remarkable man. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife Lyndsey and his family at this tragic time.

Lieutenant Colonel Jon Swift, Commanding Officer, First Fusiliers Battle Group, Transition Support Unit Nahr-e Saraj, said:

The loss of Corporal William Savage will be keenly felt by all in the First Fusiliers Battle Group. He arrived in Afghanistan only 7 weeks ago but he had already made a tangible difference to the combat effectiveness of his section. He was an outstanding leader who took pride in inspiring his men to follow his lead; he demonstrated compassion and courage in equal measure.

Corporal Savage’s sacrifice has deepened our admiration for the courage of those who so willingly risk their lives in order that others may hope to live in peace. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends at this most difficult of times.

Major Stephen Dallard, Officer Commanding B Company, 2 SCOTS, said:

Corporal William Savage joined B Company in January 2013 after the company was reroled to take over Forward Operating Base Ouellette. He made an immediate impression on me; relaxed in character and yet utterly professional.

Deploying on Operation Herrick 18 with a section consisting of many new Fusiliers, he led by example and managed his section with warmth and compassion; it was clear from the start that Corporal Savage was hugely popular with the men he commanded. Since arriving in Ouellette he has been a pillar of strength to his section, leading and guiding them through the initial difficult few weeks of deployment.

During the company’s final training in Camp Bastion I was able to see much more of Corporal Savage than I had managed in pre-deployment training. It was evident he was immensely respected by his peers, with most looking up to him and seeking his advice and guidance. It has been a real privilege to have commanded a Junior Non-Commissioned Officer of such quality, a man finessed with a genuine and sincere character.

Despite only serving in B Company for 4 months, he had integrated fully and become part of the Junior Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO) fabric that underpins the company. His loss is deeply felt by all and our heartfelt condolences go out to his family, in particular his wife Lyndsey, at such a devastating time.

Lieutenant Robin Hold, 1 Platoon Commander, B Company, 2 SCOTS, said:

Corporal Savage was a charismatic and enthusiastic individual. He possessed the ability to inspire those under his command due to his competence and professionalism as a soldier and through his confident personality. He was always thoughtful and caring, putting the needs of the platoon before his own.

I have worked with Corporal Savage for 6 months and during that time his diligence and ability impressed me on every level. He had so much potential to succeed in his career and I have no doubt that he would have excelled on any path he wished to take. Words cannot describe the impact that his loss will have on the platoon.

He will not only be missed as an excellent soldier but also as a well-rounded and amicable character. My condolences go out to his wife and family at this emotional and difficult time.

Warrant Officer Class One Billy Garrick, Regimental Sergeant Major, 2 SCOTS, said:

Corporal William (Sav) Savage will be remembered as a true Jock, never stuck for words and quick to reply with humorous banter. His manner was such that warming to his wide smile and endless enthusiasm was easy to do regardless of rank. My first impressions were of a man with so much to give and the bright future ahead of him was evident from the first day I met him.

He was that true Scottish soldier, never phased by the challenges that were brought upon him and quick to help others when required. A truly talented Junior NCO who led by example in all that he did; excelling at every opportunity both in the barracks and on operations. He was a true friend to those who served alongside him.

There will be a gap, not only in the Corporals’ Mess, but battalion-wide. My thoughts are with his wife, Lyndsey, the future of his child, and his family and friends at this time.

Warrant Officer Class 2 Stevie Main, Company Sergeant Major, B Company, 2 SCOTS, said:

Corporal Savage was an outstanding soldier, professional throughout, and set the high calibre of Junior Non-Commissioned Officers within B Company. A true friend to all ranks within our company and across the whole battalion. My thoughts are with his wife Lyndsey and their families. You will always be in my prayers mate.

Sergeant Saisi Vono, 1 Platoon, B Company, 2 SCOTS, said:

Sav was a good friend and comrade within the B Company Group. I have known him for years; he was a good humble person and very well respected by his peers. My friend, may your soul rest in peace and my heart goes out to your family mucker. May God bless your soul.

Corporal Connor Grant, 2 Section Commander, 1 Platoon, B Company, 2 SCOTS, said:

A true professional and a true friend. I am proud to have known him; he was taken far too soon.

Corporal Mark McLaren, 1 Section Commander, 1 Platoon, B Company, 2 SCOTS, said:

A kind, considerate and professional soldier, I feel proud and privileged to have served with him for so many years. He will be truly missed.

Lance Corporal Andy Dunsmore, Second-in-Command, 1 Section, 1 Platoon, B Company, 2 SCOTS, said:

It was a pleasure and honour having Sav as a friend and part of 1 Platoon. He was a true friend that you could rely on for any help or advice. Gonzo will be sadly missed but never forgotten.

Fusilier James O’Brien, Rifleman, 2 Platoon, B Company, 2 SCOTS, said:

Mrs Savage, it hurts me so much to write this to you on this day. I can’t begin to think how you feel right now. On 20 April, myself and William got tasked to help some contractors make the area safe. It was just me and William most days and each night for a week. We talked and laughed about so much.

He had some amazing advice which helped me so much and made me a better person and I will always be grateful for the time we spent together out in the desert, in camp or on courses. I will never forget him or the time we had together; he was the perfect man. I am so sorry for his wife Lyndsey, the baby and the family. I will never forget him. Fusilier Samuel Flint, 2nd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland

Fusilier Flint was born in Blackpool on 19 May 1991 and joined the British Army in November 2011. Following his recruit training he joined 2nd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland in June 2012 as they began their Mission Specific Training for their deployment to Afghanistan on Operation Herrick 18. He approached this training in a hugely enthusiastic and motivated manner. He was an extremely fit soldier who, although quiet, was full of humour and popular with his peers.

Fusilier Flint deployed to Afghanistan on 9 March 2013. He was a member of 3 Section, 1 Platoon in a District Enabling Company composed of Bravo Company Group, 2 SCOTS , part of the First Fusiliers Battlegroup. He was based in Forward Operating Base Ouellette in the Northern Nahr-e Saraj District of Helmand province, Afghanistan.

Fusilier Flint was a motorsports enthusiast and an avid Manchester City fan. He was dedicated to his family and spent his spare time at home in Blackpool or socialising with friends in Edinburgh.

Fusilier Flint was a vastly impressive infantry soldier and it was clear that he had an extremely promising future ahead of him. His loss has been felt deeply by all who knew and worked with him and he will live forever in their memories.

The Flint-Broughton family have made the following statement:

The whole family is completely devastated. Everyone should know that Sam loved his job and made his whole family and everyone that knew him very proud.

Sam was always the life and soul of the party, a real ladies man, witty funny, the real cheeky chappy. He was a loving son, the protective brother, courageous nephew, the caring uncle, the loyal grandson that anyone would wish to have.

We want to thank everyone for the kind tributes and strong support.

“Always in our hearts and minds, we love you Sam.”

Lieutenant Colonel Robin Lindsay, Commanding Officer, 2nd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland, said:

Fusilier Samuel Flint arrived at the Battalion at the very beginning of Mission Specific Training in June 2012 and made an immediate impression as a fit, enthusiastic, motivated and capable soldier who was quick with a smile and a laugh. Despite his young age and relative inexperience it was clear to us all that he was a soldier brimming with skill and ability. He excelled during the many exercises that his Platoon took part in during the build-up to operations and had been identified as a potential Junior Non-Commissioned Officer following the tour of Afghanistan.

Perhaps more importantly, he was quick to form deep friendships with his fellow Jocks and he was always one to help others around him and to give of himself for the benefit of his Section and Platoon. Fusilier Flint was not only committed in military life but revelled in outdoor pursuits and activities such as climbing and mountain biking. He approached everything he did with total motivation and it was clear that his ability matched his ambition. A bright future lay ahead for Fusilier Flint and it is cruel to see that future taken away from him.

We have all been immensely proud to have known and worked with Fusilier Sam Flint and he will forever be in the memory of the Battalion and of the Regiment. We bid him farewell and promise to continue his work in Afghanistan and to commemorate his sacrifice. All of us in the Battalion offer our deepest condolences to Fusilier Sam Flint’s parents, brothers, sisters and wider family during this hard and tragic period, but in particular to his brother David who serves with us in the Battalion.

Lieutenant Colonel Jon Swift, Commanding Officer, First Fusiliers, Transition Support Unit Nahr-e Saraj, said:

The loss of Fusilier Samuel Flint will be keenly felt by all in the First Fusiliers Battlegroup. Despite being a young, operationally inexperienced Fusilier on his first tour of Afghanistan, he had settled quickly into life on the frontline. He was a real character and a professional soldier with a bright future. Fusilier Flint’s sacrifice is a stark reminder that we should be so very proud of those who risk their lives so willingly in the pursuit of peace. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends at this most difficult of times.

Major Stephen Dallard, Officer Commanding B Company, 2nd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland, said:

Fusilier Sam Flint joined B Company in January 2013 and during the final stages of pre-deployment training, Fusilier Flint made a real impression on his new Platoon. Despite having only joined 2 SCOTS in June 2012 he demonstrated a real aptitude for soldiering, a trait continued into his deployment on Op Herrick 18.

A gregarious character, Fusilier Flint was often found to be the centre of any prank and had the ability to make people laugh at any time with his keen sense of humour. Genuine and loyal he was the epitome of the selfless commitment and dedication that is expected of our young soldiers today. A true friend to those serving with him, Fusilier Flint will be sorely missed by B Company. His loss is deeply felt by all of us and our deepest condolences go out to his family and friends.

Captain Euan Eltringham, Officer Commanding Fire Support Group, 2nd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland, said:

I had the pleasure of taking Fusilier Flint through his basic training at Infantry Training Centre Catterick. Very quickly after starting he stood out amongst his peers - bright, enthusiastic, fit and with a keen sense of humour. It is no exaggeration to say he was an utter joy to train and work with as he displayed a real aptitude for soldiering.

There will be many others who will be able to comment upon this aptitude, but what I found most endearing and what I want to bring out was that he was that wonderful phenomenon of a genuine, honest young man. He never had a bad word to say about anyone and upon his face would always be a beaming smile accompanied with a cheerful ‘Good Morning Sir’ whenever I ran into him. His loss will be keenly felt by the Battalion and I will miss watching him develop from the young man I met in Catterick. My thoughts go out to his family at this most difficult time.

Lieutenant Robin Hold, 1 Platoon Commander, B Company, 2nd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland, said:

Fusilier Sam Flint was one of the most genuine individuals I have ever had the pleasure of working with. There was not a single instance when I saw him other than when he was full of laughter and happiness. His personality was contagious, affecting all members of the Platoon. Although he had only been in 2 SCOTS for a short time, he had made a huge impact with his peers and his chain of command.

He intended to make a career in the Army and I have no doubt that his acute sense of judgement, determination and willingness to involve himself in every aspect of Army life would have ensured the greatest of successes. I speak for the whole Platoon when I say his loss will have an immeasurable impact. His ability and personality will be sorely missed. Our thoughts are with his family and friends who are suffering from such a tragic loss.

Warrant Officer Class 2 Stevie Main, Company Sergeant Major, B Company, 2nd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland, said:

Fusilier Flint was a Jock that you could always trust. He was very keen to learn, hard-working and always offered to help others. He had a can do attitude and he would never let you down. Sam Flint epitomised everything that being a Fusilier in the Royal Regiment of Scotland is all about.

Lance Corporal Clinton Prime, Second in Command, 3 Section, 1 Platoon, B Company, 2nd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland, said:

Today is a very sad and heartsore day for anyone who knew Sam Flint. He was a great soldier and a great friend. He was always kind and polite and it was an honour to have him in my Section. He will be sadly missed; my regards go to his family.

Lance Corporal Stewart Lyons, Fire Support Group, 2nd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland, said:

You brought a smile to my face no matter how bad a day I had and drove me nuts fixing that car. Our banter with David and Bez can never be repeated. You made us all proud. It has been an honour working alongside you and calling you my friend. You will be forever missed.

Fusilier Kieran Campbell, Rifleman, 1 Platoon, B Company, 2nd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland, said:

Sam was fun to be around, I always gave him stick for being English and joining a Scottish regiment but it never bothered him. Sam used to spend most weekends in camp as travelling home was a bit of a graft for him, I stayed some weekends to keep him company and we had a few good nights in Edinburgh.

Sam was a great friend and soldier. We both joined the Army at the same time and passed out from Infantry Training Centre Catterick on 25 May 2012. We joined the same battalion and we both found ourselves in A Company. We were lucky enough to be chosen to go to Afghanistan and even luckier to be in the same platoon and section. It is mad to think we came from Catterick to Afghanistan; I’m just sorry we can’t finish our tour together.

Flint was well-liked in our Platoon, 1 Platoon, B Company. We came to the Platoon with a new bunch of lads from another company and within the two months here we had clicked. Sam was morale for the Platoon, daft at times but always happy unless you threw anything with more than two legs in his bedspace. I can’t express in words how much I’ll miss him and how much of a loss he is for the Platoon, the Company and 2 SCOTS as a whole. We have lost a great soldier and a great friend. Rest in peace, buddy.

Fusilier Ross Fletcher, Rifleman, 3 Platoon, B Company, 2nd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland, said:

Today myself and the rest of 2 SCOTS lost a valued member of the team. Flint was a brilliant soldier and an even better mate. After being with him through training at Infantry Training Centre Catterick and onwards to A Company in the 2nd Battalion, I knew Flint’s funny and friendly nature. He has been side by side with me and Fusilier Campbell and we have had some great laughs, whether it’s dancing about doing block jobs at Catterick or having to drive seven hours to Blackpool one night because he forgot his Service Dress.

He has been a trustworthy and close friend for two years and words can’t describe our feelings. It is as if it hasn’t happened and we’re expecting to see him tomorrow saying, ‘Ay up Treacle’. Me and the rest of the boys send our greatest sympathies to Sam’s parents and his brother David but I know that he passed away doing a job he truly enjoyed. He buzzed for this job so that gives me some peace of mind.

Fusilier Robert McSkimming, Rifleman, 1 Platoon, B Company, 2nd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland, said:

Today I lost a good friend. There was never a dull moment living and working with Sam, he was always smiling and laughing and making everyone do the same. Private Robert Murray Hetherington, 7th Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland (7 SCOTS)

Born in 1987, Private Hetherington was raised and educated in Scotland where he achieved a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Geography. During his time at university he became heavily involved in the Officer Training Corps which sparked his passion for the Army. Private Hetherington enlisted in the Territorial Army in October 2006 and was mobilised to join 2nd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland for Operation Herrick 18 on 30 November 2012.

Private Hetherington was an intelligent and thoughtful soldier who was always quick with a smile. Since being mobilised he had been an extremely dedicated soldier with ambitions to attend the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst following his deployment. His intelligence and enthusiasm for soldiering made it likely that he would have excelled at Sandhurst.

Private Hetherington deployed to Afghanistan on 9 March 2013 as a Rifleman in 1 Section, 1 Platoon, in a District Enabling Company composed of Bravo Company Group, 2 SCOTS, part of the First Fusiliers Battlegroup. He was based in Forward Operating Base Ouellette in the Northern Nahr-e Saraj District of Helmand province, Afghanistan.

Outside of his Army life, Private Hetherington represented Scotland at lacrosse and had a passion for music.

Private Hetherington was a gifted soldier with a genuine natural talent for the profession. He was destined for great things, both in his military and civilian life. His loss has left a huge hole in his Section and his Platoon and he will be deeply mourned by all who knew him.

Lieutenant Colonel Robin Lindsay, Commanding Officer, 2nd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland, said:

Private Robert Murray Hetherington epitomised everything that is excellent about the Reserve Forces. He joined the Battalion after being mobilised from 7th Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland in November 2012 and took to life in the Regular Army with gusto. He threw himself into Mission Specific Training with real verve and he was immediately singled out as a highly effective infantryman; rated right at the top of his peer group in both the regular and the Reserve Forces. He was never daunted by complex situations and was praised by his chain of command for his performances throughout the Battalion’s build up training.

Private Bobby Hetherington was a thoughtful and humorous soldier who was always quick to find the fun in Army life and to keep the chain of command on our toes with his sharp wit and insightful mind. He was gregarious and open and this made him a much liked and respected member of his Platoon and the Battalion. Following Operation Herrick 18, Private Hetherington aspired to complete the Commissioning Course at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and I have no doubt that he would have excelled. It is a hard blow that such potential will not reach fruition. Private Bobby Hetherington was talented in many other walks of life too; he had a degree in Environmental Geography and played for Scotland in his favourite sport of lacrosse.

He will be sorely missed by us all in the Battalion and we take great pride in having served alongside such an impressive young man. We will never forget his sacrifice and he will forever be a part of our Battalion and Regimental family. Our best wishes and thoughts are with his family and especially his parents at this most difficult of times.

Lieutenant Colonel Peter Little OBE, Commanding Officer, 51st Highland 7th Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland said:

Private Hetherington was an outstanding soldier who was held in high regard across the Battalion and who had a very promising military career ahead of him. He was everything you would wish for in an Infantryman, and far more. He was intelligent, robust and committed, and he had the strongest leadership qualities which would have served him well during officer training at Sandhurst. He willingly volunteered as a Reservist to go to serve with his brother Battalion, 2 SCOTS, in Afghanistan. Robert will be sadly missed by all and the thoughts of all soldiers in 7 SCOTS are with his family and his friends at this time.

Lieutenant Colonel Jon Swift, Commanding Officer First Fusiliers, Transition Support Unit Nahr-e Saraj, said:

The loss of Private Robert Hetherington will be keenly felt by all in the First Fusiliers Battlegroup. Private Hetherington was on his first tour of Afghanistan and it was immediately apparent to all those who he served alongside in B Company that he was a mature, balanced and thoroughly professional infantryman as well as a model Reservist. Private Hetherington’s sacrifice has reminded us all that we should be so very proud of those who risk their lives so willingly in the pursuit of peace. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends at this most difficult of times.

Major Stephen Dallard, Officer Commanding B Company, 2nd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland, said:

Private Bobby Hetherington joined B Company from 7 SCOTS in November 2012 for its tour on Operation Herrick 18. A mature and confident soldier, Private Hetherington immediately made an impression on me. Strong, fit and intelligent, he quickly grasped the complexities of pre-deployment training and demonstrated a real aptitude for soldiering. Integrating smoothly into his new Platoon as one of only a few Army Reserve personnel attached to B Company, Private Hetherington became a key character, loved for his jokes, an infectious laugh and for his genuine and warm character. Private Hetherington put on hold his civilian career to fulfil his military ambitions; in doing so he willingly put his life in harm’s way as B Company supported the Afghan security forces. He truly touched the lives of all who got to know him; I have yet to meet a more perfect example of what the Army Reserve has to offer the wider Regular Army. A true friend to those serving with him, Private Hetherington will be sorely missed by all in B Company. His loss is deeply felt and our heartfelt condolences go out to his family and friends.

Lieutenant Robin Hold, 1 Platoon Commander, B Company, 2nd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland, said:

Private Hetherington was a mature, educated and responsible soldier. I became aware of his potential the instant I met him; he was confident, articulate and highly professional. He possessed the ability to succeed in any given task, establishing himself as a role model for the rest of the Platoon. He was always a focal point of conversation in the Platoon due to his enthusiastic and amicable nature, making him a huge asset to the Platoon in barracks and on operations. As a talented and well-rounded soldier Private Hetherington set an example for others to follow. He constantly displayed all the characteristics essential to be a successful soldier and a potential officer. His loss is an insurmountable tragedy that will be felt not only in the Platoon, but across the Regiment.

My thoughts are with his family, friends and with his girlfriend, Maeve, in these extremely difficult times.

Warrant Officer Class 2 Stevie Main, Company Sergeant Major, B Company, 2nd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland, said:

Private Hetherington was a reservist of pure quality. Very confident, with outstanding ability and enthusiastic in everything he did. His willingness to learn was second to none, it was a pleasure to have him in my Company.

Lance Corporal Russ MacLean, Rifleman, 51st Highland, 7th Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland, attached to 2 Platoon, B Company, 2nd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland, said:

I first met Bobby on a TA exercise in the south of France in the summer of 2009. I instantly bonded with him due to his infectious and riotous laugh which made even my most feeble jokes seem to be stadium stand-up comedy. Following the exercise we became firm friends. Like everyone he met, he endeared himself to my fiancée, Jen, and my daughter, Grace. He had an almost spell-binding captivation over small children who would go from shyness, hiding behind the sofa, to presenting various toys and long monologues about soft play and CBeebies. Grace would always be delighted to hear that Bobby was coming over for a visit.

Bobby, like myself, had a passion for infantry soldiering and pushing yourself to physical and mental limits. He certainly helped me get through demanding exercises with his constant stream of morale. He loved soldiering and was heartbroken when a hernia operation delayed his ambitions of becoming an officer at Sandhurst, which no doubt he would have completely excelled at.

Bobby was my best friend. He was one of the kindest and friendliest people I have ever met. He was always at the end of the phone or across the table at a pub if you had problems you needed to talk about. He was delighted to be an usher at my wedding after I told him I was getting engaged. When my pregnant fiancée had her scan last week and we found out it was a girl, Bobby was the first one I told and he was delighted.

My heart truly goes out to his family who will be as distraught as I am. He had a loving and caring family, along with his girlfriend Maeve and my thoughts are completely with them. Love you mate.

Fusilier Robbie Morton, Rifleman, 2 Platoon, B Company, 2nd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland, said:

Bobby Hetherington, for the short time I knew him, quickly became a great pal of many of the lads in B Company; kind, and always putting others before himself. He was a great laugh and always talking about his girlfriend. He will truly and sorely be missed, from the whole of B Company here in Ouellette and by myself.

Fusilier Martin Murphy, Rifleman, 1 Platoon, B Company, 2nd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland, said:

Robert Hetherington was a true friend, if only briefly, and a constant bag of morale. He was liked by all and will be sorely missed. My lasting memory will be of his infectious laugh and smile. RIP, Big Man, see you on the other side of the pearly gates.

Fusilier Connor Kelly, Rifleman, 1 Platoon, B Company, 2nd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland, said:

Private Hetherington was an exceptional soldier and will be missed by us all. It’s very sad to have lost him and my heart goes out to all his family and friends.

Fusilier Jimmy Hall, Rifleman, 1 Platoon, B Company, 2nd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland, said:

Big Bob Hetherington. A dear friend, a true gentleman, a legend who will always be remembered by all. RIP.

Defra - International conservation and environment projects receive £8 million

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 12:12:16 GMT

Some of the world’s richest environmental assets will be better protected following a multi-million pound announcement by Environment Minister Richard Benyon today.

The funding will see £8 million dedicated to environmental and conservation projects around the world under Defra’s Darwin Initiative. Around £6 million will be available for projects in developing countries and up to £2 million from the Darwin Plus fund for projects in our UK Overseas Territories.

The money can be used to fund projects that protect endangered wildlife and habitats while helping poorer communities improve their local environment and their livelihoods.

The Darwin Plus funding will go specifically towards supporting environmental and conservation projects in our 14 UK Overseas Territories, which are home to an estimated 90 percent of the biodiversity found within the UK and Territories combined.

Announcing the new round of funding, Environment Minister Richard Benyon said:

Over the years the Darwin Initiative has funded many projects across the globe - from helping to protect the critically endangered Bengal Florican bird to supporting under-threat populations of rare animals like the pygmy hippopotamus.

That is why I am so pleased to be able to announce a further £8 million to continue this legacy. This extra money will save many more vulnerable species while supporting the local communities who depend on them for their livelihoods.

The Darwin Initiative has funded projects in over 150 countries, including providing funding for vital training in Brazil so that local communities can work together to reduce Amazonian wildfires. In Ethiopia money has helped local people and poor communities protect their wild coffee forests.

More recently, funding has also helped newly discovered species such as the Burmese snub-nosed monkey, and projects working on wildlife-friendly farming in Cambodia and helping Kenyan communities conserve their coral reefs.

The Darwin Plus Fund, now in its second round, is supporting a range of projects in the Overseas Territories, including invasive lionfish control in the Caribbean, seabird monitoring in the southern ocean and a census of rare plants in St Helena.

Since its launch in 1992, the Darwin Initiative has committed £97 million to more than 800 projects in over 150 countries.

The latest call for applications for funding starts on Wednesday 19 June. For more information go to the Darwin initiative website

The Darwin Initiative assists countries that are rich in biodiversity but lack the money or technology required to meet their objectives under one or more of the three major biodiversity conventions.

The Darwin Plus: Overseas Territories Environment and Climate Fund: helps our UK OTs to conserve their often unique biodiversity and habitats as well as meet key international environmental obligations including climate change. It aims to help ensure the long-term sustainable environmental management of the Overseas Territories.

MoD - Redeployment of kit from Afghanistan

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 12:09:02 GMT

As the drawdown of UK forces continues apace in Helmand, a senior officer talks of the unprecedented redeployment of equipment taking place.

Brigadier Duncan Capps has recently completed a tour of duty in Afghanistan where he was Commander Joint Force Support (JFS). He briefed media representatives in MOD Main Building in London about the progress being made processing and redeploying kit and equipment in theatre in readiness for the drawdown of troops in 2014.

Redeployment

As UK bases close in Helmand province, or are handed over to the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF), and the number of British troops reduces, so the associated kit and equipment is being prepared either for removal from theatre or for its next role. A large proportion of it will find its way back to UK units or specialised military storage, but not all of it. Which is why the process is called redeployment, and it is one which is well on track.

But before getting into the detail of his brief, Brigadier Capps was keen to point out that while Stage 1 Redeployment (dealing with equipment in-country) could be seen now as the biggest physical task in Helmand, current operations were very much still the main effort, and would remain so until December 2014. He said:

As JFS, we provide all the logistics that are required in theatre, whether that be medical supplies, canteen and postal services, equipment maintenance and all the things you need to operate in theatre, but also we are there to field and support new equipment that is coming in, and keep the operation going. Reducing capacity not capability

Although acknowledging that the operation was changing quickly he maintained that the logisticians, known as ‘loggies’, were doing well:

Arguably, from a loggie’s point of view, this is the most challenging environment; being ‘high and hot’ means helicopters don’t like it, and we have no port. But the theatre is mature so we understand it.

We know what people require. The equipment is very reliable and we have it in sufficient numbers. Now, we are reducing the capacity, using up the stocks, but we are doing that without reducing capability.

Achieving this stock reduction without weakening the necessary support to the operational effort has been challenging, and perhaps even unprecedented, claimed Brigadier Capps. But thanks to long term planning he said that things are going well:

Even when we were creating Camp Bastion, we were designing it thinking about how we would eventually move out. Painstaking process

An £11 million infrastructure now exists to process redeployed equipment on an industrial scale, preparing it either to be returned to the UK in the best possible state, ready for reissue, or for sale or disposal.

The process is a painstakingly thorough one – vehicles are bio-washed toDefra standards, which can take up to 24 hours, containers are repaired, and redundant, low-value ammunition incinerated; although 400 tonnes of brass ammo casings, which do have value, have been salvaged, along with 100 pallets of ammo boxes valued at £250,000.

With 99% of vehicles earmarked for return to the UK, it’s a massive, but not overwhelming, task. During the period from 1 October last year to the first of June 2013, 625 vehicles have been returned to the UK, with another 300 ready to make the trip, which will be by air as far as the Al Minhad Air Base in Dubai, and then by sea. By the end of the process 2,720 vehicles will have been sent back to the UK.

The Brigadier said:

Only the white fleet, such as the land cruisers used as taxis around Bastion and Kandahar Airfield, will be left behind. At the time I left we had sold about £250,000-worth of them.

What happens to everything is decided on a rigorous value basis. There were 137 UK bases operating at the height of the conflict. Now, in central Helmand, there are only 13 remaining. Those bases which have been adopted by theANSF are handed over with all the basic things that keep a base running, such as beds and bedding, included in the transfer. Bridging equipment and Hesco walls are either being redeployed, sold under the guidance of the Defence Sales Agency, or disposed of.

Bases which are closed and handed back to the original owners present other challenges. Brigadier Capps said:

What Bosnia and Iraq and other campaigns have taught us is that you have to be absolutely crystal clear that there are no land issues and that the land is being returned to the legitimate owner.

Not necessarily a straight forward task, but so far there have been no disputes arising from base closures.

There are ecological issues too that need to be addressed. If land has been contaminated, for example by oil spillage, or buildings damaged, either the problem is put right, or suitable compensation agreed. Three-hundred tonnes of lithium batteries have been removed from theatre and 600 tonnes of ballistic glass have been demilitarised and dealt with.

But what of the more significant kit?

Well, we won’t be leaving any of our specialist and protected mobility vehicles behind,” said the Brigadier. “We can’t because of security issues, but more than that we have committed to only leaving equipment that has a full training package that can be maintained by the Afghans for a 2-year period.

But, more significantly, we are leaving the more simple kit that makes a huge difference and which will give the ANSF an edge over the insurgents, such as night-sights and Vallon mine detectors.

Concluding his brief, Brigadier Capps said:

The elegance with which we leave Afghanistan will be a measure of how good this operation has been, and I’m happy to say that, on that metric, we are in a good place.

Read more about the government’s policy of establishing stability in Afghanistan

BIS - Ministerial changes announced - Minister of State for Trade and Investment

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 11:14:11 GMT

Ian Livingston will take on the role of Minister of State for Trade and Investment in December 2013, succeeding Lord Green.

The Queen has been pleased to approve the appointment of Ian Livingston as a Minister of State jointly at the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office as of December 2013 on the retirement from government of Lord Green of Hurstpierpoint.

The Prime Minister is delighted to confirm that Ian Livingston will take on the role as Minister of State for Trade and Investment, succeeding Lord Green, later this year.

Mr Livingston, who is currently the Chief Executive of BT, will take up the role in December this year, at which time Lord Green will retire from government. As Trade and Investment Minister, Mr Livingston will continue the work Lord Green has undertaken to help Britain compete in the global race; growing the UK’s exports and attracting further investment from overseas.

The Prime Minister thanked Lord Green for his important contribution since 2011, saying:

Stephen Green has made a huge contribution to promoting trade and investment. He has led the reform and rejuvenation of UK Trade and Investment, which now assists a significantly greater number of SMEs to export around the globe. He has also helped to secure vital investments such as the redevelopment of Battersea Power Station, while pushing forward my trade policy agenda with a particular focus on the EU-US trade negotiations. I look forward to continuing our work together over the next six months and wish him the very best as he retires from government.

On Mr Livingston’s appointment he said:

I’m delighted that Ian Livingston has agreed to succeed Stephen. He is an outstanding business leader and it is a testament to the importance of this role that he has agreed to serve in the Government in this capacity. I know that he will make an invaluable contribution to this agenda as the government continues to open new trade links and grow our exports and I very much look forward to working with him.

Lord Green said:

I am proud to have served as trade minister for the past two and a half years. This has been one of the most rewarding roles of my entire career. And I am looking forward to another six months of promoting trade and investment through - among many other activities - trade missions to the Americas, Asia, and Africa. I’m very pleased the PM has decided to appoint Ian Livingston to take on this role. He is an outstanding businessman and will be an outstanding trade minister to continue this work.

Mr Livingston said:

While it has been an immensely difficult decision to step down from my role at BT, it is a huge honour to be asked by the Prime Minister to take on this role. The government has shown great commitment to the promotion of UK trade and investment. I am looking forward to the important work ahead.

Notes to editors

· Mr Livingston will succeed Lord Green as the government’s spokesman for trade and investment in the House of Lords.

· BT has today announced that Mr Livingston will be stepping down as Chief Executive from September 2013.

· The position, which is unpaid, will report to both the Secretary of State for Business and the Foreign Secretary.

· The Queen has been pleased to signify Her intention of conferring a peerage of the United Kingdom for Life on Ian Livingston.

FCO - Change of Ambassador to Panama

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 11:14:00 GMT

Dr Ian Frank Collard has been appointed Her Majesty's Ambassador to the Republic of Panama.

He will succeed Mr Michael John Holloway OBE, who has retired from the Diplomatic Service. Dr Collard will take up his appointment during December 2013.

Dr Collard joined the FCO in 2002. He has carried out a variety of roles both in the FCO and overseas, with a focus on foreign and security policy in the Middle East, Africa and Latin America. His most recent role was leading the department responsible for the UK’s relationships with the United States and Canada. During the summer of 2012, Dr Collard oversaw international aspects of the safety and security of the Olympic Games in the FCO’s Counter-Terrorism Department. Before joining the FCO, Dr Collard worked for Lloyd’s List newspaper and briefly with Imperial Oil in Canada.

On his appointment Dr Collard has said:

I feel enormously privileged to have been appointed Her Majesty’s Ambassador to the Republic of Panama. I am greatly looking forward to representing the United Kingdom, to strengthening the close and important ties between the United Kingdom and Panama, and to promoting our shared interests.

Curriculum vitae

Personal details

Full name:

Dr Ian Frank Collard

Married to:

Tamara Renée Collard

Children:

Four daughters

Period

Post

Aug 2012 – present

FCO, Head, North America Department

May 2012 – Aug 2012

FCO, Olympics Silver Command, Counter-Terrorism Department

Jul 2011 – May 2012

FCO, Head, North America Department

Aug 2008 – Jul 2011

Washington, First Secretary (Political)

Jan 2005 – Aug 2008

New York, Second Secretary (Political), UK Mission to the United Nations

Nov 2003 – Dec 2004

FCO, Desk Officer, UN/International Organisations Department

Nov 2002 – Nov 2003

FCO, Desk Officer, Middle East Department

Sep 2002

Joined FCO

DCMS - Helen Grant challenges young girls to aim high in life

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 10:52:21 GMT

Equalities Minister visits Pimlico Academy.

Equalities Minister Helen Grant today visited Pimlico Academy in London to encourage girls in their career aspirations, and urged them to consider careers in sectors that have low numbers of women such as science, technology and maths.

Addressing pupils at the school Helen Grant said:

“I am a strong believer in fairness and equality, to me, that means an individual’s ability to achieve and progress to their full potential regardless of their background.

“It is hard to decide what you might want to do in life. Most of us leave school with a pretty short menu of job possibilities, based on the jobs done by our family and friends. I urge you to really do your research – talk to people and find out all the possibilities open to you. But more importantly don’t be “put off” by some subjects just because you think that there are some jobs are just for boys.

Building on the work of the Women’s Business Council

Earlier this month the Women’s Business Council (WBC) published its report which made a series of recommendations aimed at ensuring real action by government, business and others to maximise women’s contribution to economic growth. In its response to the reportgovernment has committed to take forward a number of actions to broaden girls’ aspirations and help inform their choices at the start of their careers, including:

· working with the British Chamber of Commerce to establish self-sustaining local partnerships between schools and business, to help raise aspirations and improve the workplace skills of young people. The BCC will work closely with organisations such as the National Careers Council and the Education and Employers Taskforce to deliver these.

· supporting the development of a campaign aimed at providing parents with the tools and information to help their children make better career and subject choices.

Pimlico Academy is a non-fee paying, co-educational school for local children ages 11-18. The school runs a programme called ‘Raising Aspirations’ which encourages and supports students to set their sights and broaden their ambitions, irrespective of their background or the individual circumstances they face.

DCMS - Quartet make the shortlist for UK City of Culture 2017

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 10:30:12 GMT

Dundee, Hull, Leicester and Swansea Bay (covering Swansea, Carmarthenshire, Neath and Port Talbot) have made the shortlist to become UK City of Culture 2017.

The announcement today by Culture Minister Ed Vaizey follows a meeting of the independent advisory panel chaired by Phil Redmond at which a total of eleven bids were considered.

Ed Vaizey said:

I want to congratulate the four shortlisted cities who have made it this far, and indeed all eleven cities who put time and great effort into submitting bids. The events in Derry-Londonderry over recent weeks highlight just how much of an impact being ‘City of Culture’ can have. It brings together communities, encourages economic growth, and inspires social change and the shortlisted cities should be very proud of the bids they have put together so far.

The four shortlisted cities will now be invited to submit a final bid by the end of September. The panel will then meet again to decide a winner which will be announced in November.

Phil Redmond, Chair of the independent advisory panel said:

It was incredibly difficult to decide on a shortlist as all the bids recognised the power of culture to bring about social change and offered innovative and interesting programmes. In the end the panel thought the four short listed cities offered plans that were ambitious, realistic and would not only deliver for their communities, but would also maintain the momentum created around the success of Derry-Londonderry.

I want to thank all eleven cities for the time and commitment they have put in to their bids and look forward to hearing more from Dundee, Hull, Leicester and Swansea Bay later on in the year. Notes to Editors

1. For interview requests with the Culture Minister or Phil Redmond please contact the DCMS press office on 0207 211 2210.

3. Further background information including a list of members of the Independent Advisory Panel can be found here.

4. Derry-Londonderry was named the first UK City of Culture on 15 July 2010. In their year as European City of Culture, Liverpool received 9.7 million additional visitors to the city which resulted in over £735 million in additional visitor spend. Derry-Londonderry hope to have 2800 tourism jobs by 2020 as a legacy from their year as first City of Culture.

FCO - Change of Her Majesty's Ambassador to Spain

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 10:21:06 GMT

Mr Simon Manley CMG has been appointed Her Majesty's Ambassador to Spain, and non-resident Ambassador to Andorra.

He will succeed Mr Giles Paxman CMG LVO. Mr Manley will take up his appointment during October 2013.

Mr Manley joined the FCO in 1990 and has worked on EU, UN and security issues, in London, Brussels and New York, including two secondments to the EU institutions. He was most recently Director Europe at the FCO.

On his appointment as Her Majesty’s Ambassador to Spain, and non-resident Ambassador to Andorra, Mr Manley has said:

I am delighted and honoured to be appointed to serve the United Kingdom in these two beautiful countries. I look forward to working in Spain with one of our largest trading partners, a key ally within the EU and NATO, and holiday destination for, and home to, so many Britons.

Curriculum viate

Personal details

Full name:

Simon John Manley

Married to:

Maria Isabel Fernandez Utgès Manley

Children:

Three daughters

Period

Post

2011 – 2013

FCO, Director Europe

2007 – 2011

FCO, Director Defence & Strategic Threats

2006 – 2007

FCO, Head, Counter Terrorism Policy Department

2003 – 2006

FCO, Head, EU Economic, Ireland & Central Europe Team

2002 – 2003

FCO, Head, EU (Internal) Department

1998 – 2002

Seconded to the EU Council Secretariat’s Asia Unit

1993 – 1998

New York, Second, later First Secretary (Political), UK Mission to the United Nations

1993

Seconded to DG Competition, European Commission

1990 – 1993

FCO, United Nations Department

1990

Joined FCO

DCMS - Final 4 cities in running to be UK City of Culture 2017 announced

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 10:15:26 GMT

Dundee, Hull, Leicester and Swansea Bay shortlisted.

The announcement today by Culture Minister Ed Vaizey follows a meeting of the independent advisory panel chaired by Phil Redmond at which a total of 11 bids were considered.

Ed Vaizey said:

“I want to congratulate the 4 shortlisted cities who have made it this far, and indeed all 11 cities who put time and great effort into submitting bids. The events in Derry-Londonderry over recent weeks highlight just how much of an impact being ‘City of Culture’ can have. It brings together communities, encourages economic growth, and inspires social change and the shortlisted cities should be very proud of the bids they have put together so far.”

The 4 shortlisted cities will now be invited to submit a final bid by the end of September 2013 and the winner will be announced in November. Read more about each cities’ bid:

· Dundee

· Hull

· Leicester

· Swansea Bay (covering Swansea, Carmarthenshire, Neath and Port Talbot)

Phil Redmond, Chair of the independent advisory panel said:

“It was incredibly difficult to decide on a shortlist as all the bids recognised the power of culture to bring about social change and offered innovative and interesting programmes. In the end the panel thought the four short listed cities offered plans that were ambitious, realistic and would not only deliver for their communities, but would also maintain the momentum created around the success of Derry-Londonderry.

BIS - Six new projects to pioneer enterprise-friendly regulation

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 10:15:19 GMT

Six new projects that will pioneer new ways for regulators and businesses to work together to support growth named

Business Minister Michael Fallon today named six new projects that will pioneer new ways for regulators and businesses to work together to support growth.

The pilot projects will each receive a share of the £120,000 Regulatory Innovation for Growth fund, following a competitive application process launched in April. 71 applications were received from local authorities, local enterprise partnerships, trade associations and businesses.

Business Minister Michael Fallon said:

“These projects will demonstrate that the effective enforcement of regulation does not impose unnecessary red tape, impede ambition or stifle enterprise. They will help establish a new culture in which regulators work alongside the business community to help our firms comply with the law, achieve excellence, prosper and grow.”

The six pilot projects are:

Hope Street Centre, Liverpool – working with businesses in the care industry to develop a toolkit to help business comply with a broad range of regulatory requirements.

South Northamptonshire Council - developing a model ‘flag’ rating system for campsite operators near the Silverstone race track to improve safety and welfare standards. This system will be shared across other popular camping areas in the UK if successful.

Road Haulage Association – developing a model for trade associations to work with their members and regulators to find and create practical approaches to compliance.

Monmouthshire County Council – helping food businesses to improve hygiene, and piloting a fee-paying advice service for businesses wanting more intensive, personalised support.

Cornwall Council and the Real Ideas Community Interest Company – providing accredited training to unemployed young people in customer service skills, consumer rights and food hygiene to increase their chances of employment and improve knowledge of regulations in the workforce.

Cumbria Public Protection Group - engaging with independent businesses in the tourism sector to create a package of practical and cost-effective tools for compliance with a range of regulations.

The Regulatory Innovation for Growth funding will support the projects for six months, from July to December 2013.

The government’s Better Regulation Delivery Office (BRDO) will work with all applicants to encourage business-friendly implementation of regulation and to help them succeed in any future applications for government support. Notes for editors

1. The government’s economic policy objective is to achieve ‘strong, sustainable and balanced growth that is more evenly shared across the country and between industries’. It set four ambitions in the ‘Plan for Growth’ (PDF 1.7MB), published at Budget 2011:

· to create the most competitive tax system in the G20

· to make the UK the best place in Europe to start, finance and grow a business

· to encourage investment and exports as a route to a more balanced economy

· to create a more educated workforce that is the most flexible in Europe.

Number 10 - G8 Summit - round-up of events and announcements (Updated 19 June 2013)

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 09:47:54 GMT

A round-up of coverage of the UK's G8 Summit 2013 in Lough Erne, Northern Ireland.

The G8 Summit took place on 17 – 18 June 2013.

Catch up with all the events from the summit:

· videos from the G8 Summit

· official photos from the G8 Summit

· communiqués and other documents from the G8 Summit

· round-up of events at the G8 Summit

· further information on the G8

Key events and announcements

The Prime Minister arrived in Lough Erne on Sunday night (16 June).

G8 leaders arrived on Monday morning (17 June). View arrival photos onFlickr and video on YouTube.

The EU and US agreed to launch negotiations on a trade deal worth £10 billion to the UK. View infographic on EU-US trade agreement.

Leaders attended bilaterals in the afternoon. A global economy working session was held in the evening and a communiqué was issued.

Tuesday (18 June) began with working sessions, including one on counter-terrorism, followed by a family photo. Communiqués, action plans and theLough Erne declaration were issued.

At the end of the summit, the 2013 Lough Erne G8 leaders’ communiqué was issued, setting out the commitments made by the G8 leaders. What is the G8?

The G8 is a forum that brings together 8 global leaders to address international issues and tackle the most pressing global challenges. Find out more about the G8.

The Presidency of the G8 rotates each calendar year. The UK holds the Presidency for 2013. Read about:

· the UK’s G8 priorities

· events and achievements of the UK’s Presidency

BIS - Streamlined appeals system to support growth

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 09:21:02 GMT

Proposals to streamline the processes for businesses appealing a decision by an economic regulator or competition authority are announced

New proposals to streamline the processes for businesses appealing a decision by an economic regulator or competition authority have today been announced by Business Minister Jo Swinson.

There are concerns that the appeals process is too slow and costly in some sectors, with too much paperwork, and not enough opportunity for businesses and regulators to engage before decisions are made, impacting on economic growth. Today’s new proposals include:

· making the standard of review for appeals more consistent between sectors, focusing appeals on identifying whether regulators have made material mistakes

· providing consistency as far as possible between appeal routes in different sectors, to reduce complexity and make sure that the expertise of the main appeal bodies is used most effectively and

· measures to encourage better engagement between regulators and firms before decisions are made through better information sharing.

Business Minister Jo Swinson said:

The UK’s appeal rules work well and we have a world-class framework in place. But we also recognise that there is room for improvement to support growth.

It is only right that firms can hold regulators and competition authorities to account when they think the wrong decision has been reached. But it is in nobody’s interest that appeals end up being unnecessarily lengthy and costly.

A new streamlined system will mean that businesses see their appeals sorted quicker and that they and regulators spend less time and legal resources on disputes. Reduced delays will help build a stronger economy and provide better outcomes for consumers.

Appeals are a key way of making sure that firms have a right of challenge so that regulators and competition bodies are held to account. Over the last five years there have been more than 50 appeals of regulatory and competition decisions. It is estimated that the current appeals system costs around £22 millon per year.

However, as the recent 4G spectrum auction highlighted, appeals and the threat of litigation can delay important decisions preventing the roll out of key infrastructure developments for consumers. Recent appeals have included challenges against decisions of the aviation, water, communications and energy regulators, along with competition bodies the Office of Fair Trading and Competition Commission. The reforms address concerns that:

· appeals are lengthy and expensive for businesses and regulators, slowing down regulatory decisions and hampering growth.

· there are strong incentives for firms to appeal which has led to a significant number of appeals in some sectors such as telecoms.

· engagement between regulators and firms before decisions are made is not as good as it might be, resulting in more appeals.

· the appeal process does not put enough onus on the material errors made by regulators, allowing firms to submit burdensome and unnecessary documents to regulators.

· the appeals process differs in each sector and this can be confusing for firms. Recent appeals include:

2.6GHz spectrum

The appeal against Ofcom’s proposals for the award of 2.6GHz spectrum in 2008 took 14 months to resolve. This was a significant contribution to the delay of the auction of the 2.6GHz spectrum which was finally awarded in the 4G spectrum auction in early 2013, together with the 800MHz band. Albion Water case

An appeal in relation to one of Ofwat’s investigation led to a series of appeals and subsequent decisions by the CAT and Court of Appeal, over a period of five years (2004 – 2009). BSkyB Pay TV case

In the British Sky Broadcasting Limited (Conditional access modules) case, there were more than 35,000 pages of submissions and evidence, and 41 witnesses (including 14 experts), of whom 25 gave oral evidence. The appeal was brought in 2011 and lasted around two years in total. Notes to editors:

1. The consultation can be found at the GOV.UK website:https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/regulatory-and-competition-appeals-options-for-reform

2. The consultation will run for 12 weeks, until 11 September 2013.

3. The Budget committed that “By summer 2013, the government will consult on reforms, including:

· the grounds on which other regulatory appeals and appeals of competition decisions can be brought, to make them clearer and more consistent;

· streamlined processes and strengthened governance arrangements for the Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT) and Competition Service, and a full review of the CAT’s rules;

· bringing greater consistency across sectors, for instance, on which appeal body hears each type of appeal;

· reducing opportunities to game the system, for instance by presenting new evidence during appeals; and

· introducing fast-track procedures to achieve quicker judgments in simple cases.”

4. The regulators and competition authorities include:

· OFT

· Competition Commission

· Ofwat

· Ofgem

· Ofcom

· Office of the Rail Regulator

· Civil Aviation Authority

· Northern Ireland Utility Regulator

5. Impact Assessment estimated the cost of the current appeals system as £21.79m. The breakdown of the estimated costs to the various affected parties are £11.61m for appellants, £3.43m for regulators, £1.50m for courts/tribunals and £5.25m for interveners.

6. The appeal bodies include:

· Competition Appeal Tribunal

· Competition Commission

· High Court, Court of Session and High Court of Northern Ireland

7. The government’s economic policy objective is to achieve ‘strong, sustainable and balanced growth that is more evenly shared across the country and between industries’. It set four ambitions in the ‘Plan for Growth’ (PDF 1.7MB), published at Budget 2011:

· to create the most competitive tax system in the G20

· to make the UK the best place in Europe to start, finance and grow a business

· to encourage investment and exports as a route to a more balanced economy

· to create a more educated workforce that is the most flexible in Europe.

Wales Office - Wales Office Minister speaks at Dwr Cymru Welsh Water stakeholder event

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 09:15:01 GMT

Wales Office Minister Stephen Crabb will give the opening remarks at the Dwr Cymru Welsh Water stakeholder event

Wales Office Minister Stephen Crabb will give the opening remarks at the Dwr Cymru Welsh Water stakeholder event held in London tomorrow (19 June). The round table will feature key Welsh MPs and representatives from Dwr Cymru to discuss how water resources can effectively be managed.

The event comes in the week following the announcement that Dwr Cymru is contributing more than a £1 billion a year to the Welsh economy, according to a Cardiff Business School paper. The report also shows that for every ten jobs created by Welsh Water, a further fifteen are created in the supply chain, supporting more than 6,000 jobs across Wales.

The event is being held to mark the recent launch of Dwr Cymru’s ‘Your Company, Your Say’ consultation. The consultation, launched on 5th June is asking customers to have their say on the company’s future plans as part of the company’s £2bn investment on water and sewerage services.

Wales Office Minister Stephen Crabb said:

“I am pleased to be giving the opening remarks at the Dwr Cymru event following the launch of their consultation.

“Water is an integral part of the country’s infrastructure and has an important role to play across every sector of our economy.

“I am pleased that Dwr Cymru’s customers and stakeholders alike have the opportunity to have their say in how best to tackle the challenges and of the future. I look forward to hearing the outcome of the ‘Your Water, Your Say’ consultation and seeing the benefits for customers in Wales.”

Notes to Editors:

· Welsh Water plans £2 billion investment to maintain and improve service between 2015- 2021

· Company’s unique not-for-profit model will fund record investment

· Customer bill increases will be kept as low as possible during this period

· Customers can have their say on the plans in a series of nationwide events over the summer

HM Treasury - G8 2013 - action agreed on international tax issues

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 03:45:20 GMT

Huge step-change in international tax agreements at first G8 summit with tax at the top of the agenda

G8 leaders have committed at the G8 summit in Lough Erne to agree to further transparency on the sharing of tax information - and bring the international tax rules into the modern age.

As the summit closed the G8 leaders’ communiqué announced that they will move to establish the automatic exchange of information between tax authorities as the new global standard and will work with the OECD to develop a model for this.

The G8 leaders stated their support for the OECD’s work to tackle tax avoidance by multinational companies, and announced that they will draw up a template for global corporations to report to tax authorities where they make their profits and pay taxes around the world.

This will give governments a new tool against tax avoidance by multinationals and will be particularly helpful to the governments of developing countries.

The G8 will provide support to developing countries to collect the tax they are owed.

Following the UK’s announcement that it will establish a register of company ownership, the G8 agreed to publish action plans to require companies to obtain and hold information on who really owns and controls them, and ensure this information is available to tax authorities and law enforcement, including through central registries.

Earlier this year Prime Minister David Cameron identified tax as one of the three areas he wants to concentrate on during the UK’s presidency of the G8 - alongside trade and transparency.

The government has also announced further plans to assist developing countries in strengthening their tax systems - also known as capacity building - in order to help them claim the tax which they are owed and benefit from information exchange.

The Department for International Development (DfID) will fund a programme of international tax seminars where HMRC tax experts will share their experience and expertise on negotiating information exchange agreements with counterparts in developing countries and support them in joining in the Multilateral Convention on the sharing of tax information.

Access HM Treasury’s timeline on what the government has been doing on tax transparency in the build up to the G8 summit

NIO - Statement from the Secretary of State on security at the G8 Summit

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 03:45:17 GMT

Theresa Villiers praises the policing operation for the G8 Summit in Fermanagh

“We can now look back at one of the smoothest and safest G8 Summits in memory. But the lack of any serious public order incidents did not happen by chance - it’s a real credit to the excellent preparations put in place by the PSNI and its partners, who have done a fantastic job in ensuring the Summit was secure and peaceful.”

DoH - Final design of consistent nutritional labelling system given green light

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 03:45:04 GMT

People will now find it easier to make healthier choices about the food they eat with the new consistent front of pack nutritional label.

People will now find it easier to make healthier choices about the food they eat with the new consistent front of pack nutritional label launched today by Public Health Minister Anna Soubry.

This comes after research shows that people can end up bewildered by the different nutrition labels on food. The new label aims to make it easier for people to make healthier choices.

The consistent system will combine red, amber, green colour-coding and nutritional information to show how much fat, saturated fat, salt and sugar, and calories are in food products.

Today, MARS UK, Nestle UK, PepsiCo UK, and Premier Foods have announced that they will join all the major retailers – including Sainsbury’s, Tesco, ASDA, Morrisons, the Co-operative and Waitrose – in using the consistent label on their products. Manufacturer McCain Foods – which already uses front of pack – will be using the consistent label too.

This comes after detailed discussions with the UK governments working with the food industry, health NGOs and other partners to agree the proposed system and what the label would look like. Public Health Minister Anna Soubry said:

The UK already has the largest number of products using a front of pack label in Europe but we know that people get confused by the variety of labels that are used. Research shows that, of all the current schemes, people like this label the most and they can use the information to make healthier choices.

We all have a responsibility to tackle the challenge of obesity, including the food industry. By having all major retailers and manufacturers signed up to the consistent label, we will all be able to see at a glance what is in our food – this is why I want to see more manufacturers signing up and using the label.

Obesity and poor diet cost the NHS billions of pounds every year. Making small changes to people’s diet can have a big impact to their health and could stop people getting serious illnesses – such as heart disease – later in life.

People will be able to use the colours to understand the levels of nutrients in the food they are eating. The labels are not designed to demonise foods with lots of reds but to have people consider what they are eating and make sure it’s part of a balanced diet.

People will also at a glance be able to compare the same kinds of foods and see if there’s a healthier option – for example, if they are buying a ready meal. Which? Executive Director, Richard Lloyd, said:

For years Which? has been calling for food companies to use traffic light labels so we welcome this big step forward towards making it easier for consumers to make healthy choices. With levels of obesity and diet-related disease on the increase, it’s vitally important that people know what is in their food, and this labelling scheme will encourage food companies to do more to reduce the amount of sugar, salt and fat in popular products.

We hope that more food manufacturers will join the scheme so that their labels will be consistent and comparable to those on the front of the retailers’ own packs. Simon Gillespie, Chief Executive at the British Heart Foundation, said:

This is undeniably a first-class scheme that will make it easier for shoppers to scan the shelves and make more informed choices about what’s going in their trolley.

High levels of diet-related chronic diseases in the UK, including heart disease, mean it’s essential we have clear and consistent food labeling so people can make healthy choices.

We’re delighted all the major supermarkets are committed to the scheme and look forward to more food manufacturers signing up.

As part of the government’s work to reduce obesity levels, the Department of Health is working with industry, through the Responsibility Deal, to get business taking action to reduce the amount of calories, salt and trans fat in foods. The consistent front of pack label will be a new Responsibility Deal pledge that food and drink companies can sign up to and deliver.

Businesses that have signed up to using the new label today already account for more than 60 per cent of the food that is sold in the UK. Background information

For further press enquiries, please contact the Department of Health press office on 020 7210 5301.

The new consistent label will include the below information presented consistently per portion of food:

· The amount of energy - presented in kilocalories and kilojoules -, fat, saturated fat, salt and sugar. This will be presented as Reference Intakes - formerly known as Guideline Daily Amounts - and will show how much of the maximum daily intake a portion accounts for.

· A consistently determined red, amber or green colour-coding system (note the basis of this is per 100g not per portion except where the amount in a portion exceeds 30 percent of the RI).

Guidance for creating the new labels is available here.

Consumers are confused when more than one scheme is used and this reduces their ability and inclination to use this information

Cost benefit studies have demonstrated that front of pack labelling could be both an effective and cost saving intervention against obesity. Evidence tells us that a combined scheme of colour-coding and nutritional information is preferred by consumers and is the labelling system that consumers can most easily use to choose healthier foods.

In spring 2012, we held a consultation on which front of pack scheme should be used. The consultation was an open one, which sought all views, not just from the food industry. In October 2012, we announced our preferred system and have since worked with food industry, health and consumer charities to agree a consistent system. Companies signed up:

· Adelie Foods Group

· Aldi Stores Ltd

· Asda Stores Ltd

· Bernard Matthews

· Boots

· Britvic

· The Co-Operative

· Hain Daniels Group (New Covent Garden Soup) I* celand Foods

· Lidl UK

· Lockwoods (Mushy Peas)

· Marks and Spencer

· MARS UK

· Mash Direct

· McCain Foods

· Morrisons Ltd

· Moy Park (Poultry)

· Nestle UK*

· Ocado

· PepsiCo UK

· Premier Foods

· Sainsbury’s

· Tesco Food Stores Ltd

· URBAN eat

· Waitrose Ltd

· Young’s Seafood Limited

*Adoption of the scheme covers all Nestlé fully owned businesses in the UK, including:

· Nestlé Confectionery (all multipacks, sharing bags and chocolate blocks)

· Beverages (Nescafé Coffee Mixes, Nesquik, Aero Hot Choc and Coffee-mate)

· Food (Carnation Milks, Maggi retail, Herta)

· Nestlé Professional (beverages (not including vending), soups, sauces and bouillons and relevant food products including Maggi and Herta products)

· Licensees (cakes, cookies and ice creams will move to the hybrid where 5GDA icons are currently applied)

· Nestlé Nutrition UK, Nestlé Health Science, Nestlé Waters mostly out of scope and under different regulatory requirements.

The Public Health Responsibility Deal aims to tap into the potential for businesses and other influential organisations to make a significant contribution to improving public health by helping us to create this environment.

Since launching in 2011, the Responsibility Deal has worked with industry to achieve the following:

· over 70 per cent of the fast food and takeaway meals sold will have calories clearly labelled - almost 9,000 high street outlets by this year - with more companies signing up

· all of the major supermarkets have committed to removing artificial trans fats

· all of the major supermarkets and over half of the major high street and contract caterers are committed to further reductions in salt in over 80 categories of foods - such as bread, soups, cereals and pasta sauces;

· over 80 per cent of all alcoholic drinks on shelf will have clear labelling on units, NHS guidelines and pregnancy messages by the end of next year - with 92 companies signed up. [Early indications are that over 60 per cent of labels already carry this information].

· 31 leading food and drink companies, including Coca-cola, Mondelez International (formerly Kraft Foods UK), Nestle, Subway and all the major retailers have signed up to the calorie reduction pledge — making some strong commitments to cut and cap calories, as well as through promotional activity encouraging people to eat healthier foods.

· 34 major alcohol companies have committed to removing a billion units from sale. The initiative, which includes major brands like Echo Falls, First Cape and Heineken will see a greater choice of lower strength alcohol products and smaller measures by 2015.

FCO - UN labour organisation recognises Burmese progress on ending forced labour

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 03:42:04 GMT

Foreign Office Minister Hugo Swire today welcomed the International Labour Organization’s lifting of restrictions on Burma.

Foreign Office Minister Hugo Swire said:

I welcome this move by the International Labour Organization (ILO) to remove restrictions on Burma in recognition of the progress made there in recent years. Coming off the back of last week’s announcement by the EU that Burma would be a preferred trade partner this is further evidence that the international community is positively encouraging Burma’s efforts towards reform.

However, Burma still has a long way to go in ensuring full workers rights, and there are still existing forced labour practices which must be consigned to history where they belong. We, alongside Burma’s other international partners, will work with the Burmese authorities and the ILO to achieve this.

Thirteen years ago, the ILO placed restrictions on Burma due to its widespread use of forced labour, particularly by the military. This included a moratorium on all engagement by ILO members on engagement with Burma on any issue except forced labour. Now restrictions are lifted, ILO members will be able to offer technical advice on employment and work related issues and policies. The UK supported today’s move to lift the remaining restrictions given the significant legal and practical progress Burma has made towards ending forced labour and putting in place measures to allow trade unions and other workers’ organisations to operate freely in the country.

MoD - RAF Typhoons to get weapons upgrade

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 16:40:01 GMT

The UK's Typhoon aircraft are set to be armed with world-leading Meteor air-to-air missiles later this decade.

The announcement of the upgrade comes after an agreement was signed today, 18 June, by industry and the 4 Eurofighter nations.

During a short ceremony at the Paris Air Show, defence ministers from the UK, Germany, Italy and Spain witnessed a contract being signed betweenEurofighter and the NATO Eurofighter and Tornado Management Agencythat will see the missile system integrated onto the aircraft.

The Meteor beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile, manufactured by MBDA, is a highly-advanced long-range weapon that can be used against a range of targets. The missile will complement the missile systems already in use on the aircraft, giving pilots a greater choice of weapons depending on their mission objectives. Video footage of the Meteor beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile being successfully launched from a Eurofighter Typhoon for the first time. Copyright BAE Systems.

Minister for Defence Equipment, Support and Technology Philip Dunne, who attended the signing ceremony on behalf of the UK, said:

This is a further exciting step in the planned upgrade programme for this impressive aircraft. The entire programme is a powerful example of European government and industry collaboration in both missile technology and combat air weapon system development.

Meteor will provide the RAF with a world-leading air-to-air weapons capability and improve prospects for export of the Meteor missile and the Typhoon weapon system.

Typhoon is already delivering air defence for the UK and the Falkland Islands, and its ground attack capabilities were instrumental in allied operations over Libya. The RAF took delivery of its hundredth Typhoon aircraft earlier this year.

Over the next 10 years, MOD is to spend £18 billion on Typhoon and the Lightning II F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, 2 of the world’s most modern and capable multi-role aircraft, which will deliver the UK’s combat air capability.

DfID - British Minister calls on international community to work together to tackle Burma's forgotten crises

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 16:13:09 GMT

UK humanitarian support is making a difference in Burma but more needs to be done by the international community

Greater efforts must be made to help vulnerable people at risk from flooding and disease in Burma’s Rakhine and Kachin States and support peace talks to resolve Burma’s inter-communal conflicts, Development Minister Alan Duncan has said on a visit to Burma.

In Burma, Alan Duncan met senior ministers in the Burmese government, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, ethnic leaders and civil society groups to discuss how the UK can help to support peace talks to resolve Burma’s inter-communal conflicts and help with the country’s continued development.

During a visit to Rakhine, one year on from the start of violence that has seen 140,000 mostly Rohingya Muslims displaced from their homes, the minister saw how British support has already helped to combat the effects of monsoon rains by providing urgently-needed clean water, sanitation facilities and nutritional feeding for infants for more than 80,000 people.

Alan Duncan said:

The situation I have seen in Rakhine today is getting desperate. The monsoon rains have started with some families still living in tents, exposed to the elements and at serious risk of flooding and disease. The plight of those in Kachin is equally worrying. Humanitarian agencies in both Kachin and in Rakhine are doing what they can, but it is simply not enough and sustained access is critical.

UK humanitarian support is making a difference and we are actively looking at what more we can do, but now the international community must wake up to these forgotten crises and come together to find lifesaving support and a lasting solution.

The communities too must also work together towards a peaceful resolution. In particular, the Rohingya people must be allowed freedom of movement and freedom to work. No country can end aid dependency if some people are locked out of jobs and growth.

The Minister also raised the plight of the 80,000 people in Kachin who still cannot return home as a result of violent conflict. The UK is currently the largest bilateral humanitarian donor to Kachin State.

Notes to editors

· British support to Rakhine now totals £6.4m. £4.4m announced in May 2013 is providing:

· nearly 80,000 people with access to safe drinking water and improved sanitation facilities

· malnourished children aged 0-59 months with treatment for acute malnutrition in rural camps

· hygiene kits to nearly 40,000 people.

· British support in Rakhine is being delivered by a consortium led by Save the Children, along with Solidarites, Action Against Hunger (ACF) and the Consortium of Dutch NGOs

· The UN’s current Rakhine response and preparedness plan needs US$80 million to meet the needs of 115,000 displaced people until the end of June. The plan was 83 per cent funded as of 13 June, with $14 million still urgently needed to implement camp management, water and sanitation, and other activities to help people survive the monsoon season.

· In December 2012, the UK announced an additional £1.5 million of humanitarian support for people displaced by the conflict in Kachin. This takes the total support provided to £3.5m with the UK the largest bilateral humanitarian donor to Kachin State.

· The UN’s Kachin response is currently funded with US$ 13.9 million (27.4%) of the $50.9 million it needs to meet people’s humanitarian needs.

· There has been recent progress towards an ending of hostilities between the Kachin Independence Organisation (KIO) and the government. Political dialogue will be essential if the plight of those affected by generations of conflict is to be improved.

· Last week, the first UN international aid convoy for almost a year was able to deliver humanitarian assistance in non-government controlled areas in Kachin state. Regular and sustained access for more humanitarian aid is needed to all areas of the state.

· The UK is one of the largest bilateral donors to Burma, with a programme of over £180 million from 2011 – 2015. This is focussed on areas such as health, education and wealth creation, as well as humanitarian aid to those affected by conflict.

MoD - Royal Navy personnel qualify in US Navy roles

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 15:52:08 GMT

In a show of allied co-operation, 2 Royal Navy sailors have successfully qualified in US Navy roles on submarines and aircraft carriers.

Submariner Lieutenant Matt Main and Chief Petty Officer Stacy Gager have been working with US colleagues as part of the US-UK personnel exchange programme and long-lead specialist skills programme.

Lieutenant Main has already earned his Royal Navy ‘dolphins’ – the unique badge which signifies a qualified submariner – but on 10 June he was presented with the US equivalent after a gruelling 27-month training and qualification process.

Fully integrated into the crew of the USS New Mexico, Lieutenant Main is currently the damage control assistant and will become the assistant engineer in due course before returning to the Royal Navy.

US Navy submarine officers must qualify both forward and aft to earn their dolphins and so, for Lieutenant Main, learning to drive the submarine both surfaced and submerged has been a unique experience.

Lieutenant Main said:

It is a real privilege to serve on this fine submarine with such a professional, motivated crew.

It has been a tough process, but getting my US Navy dolphins is one of the highlights of my career and I have enjoyed every minute of it. The welcome I received when I reported on board a year ago was incredibly warm and I am proud to call these men my brothers.

Chief Petty Officer Stacy Gager is the first British sailor to qualify as an aircraft director on a US carrier after being put through an intense training programme on the USS Dwight D Eisenhower.

Chief Petty Officer Gager, who is an aircraft handler by trade, is now trained to co-ordinate a continual stream of aircraft moving around the carrier as they prepare to fly or come into land on the deck. A dangerous and intense job, the qualifications will stand him in good stead for the Royal Navy’s own future carrier strike capability.

He said:

I am really pleased. I studied whenever I could and worked hard on the deck so that I could pass their exams just as their own US sailors do, so it made me very proud to get my qualification.

I have really enjoyed the training on the US carrier – it has been exciting and something different. I wanted to do this from the first time it was mentioned and the first to be out here learning these new skills and bringing them back to the Royal Navy.

Chief Petty Officer Gager is on board the USS Dwight D Eisenhower along with 3 other Royal Navy aircraft handlers as part of a new scheme between the 2 countries called the long-lead specialist skills programme.

A further 3 sailors are on board the USS Kearsarge. The idea is for Royal Navy sailors to regain specialist operational aircraft handling skills while the Queen Elizabeth Class carriers are under construction.

RAF personnel are also included on the programme and around 300 personnel are expected to be trained by the end of the decade.

Lieutenant Commander Jon Llewellyn, aircraft handling staff officer at Navy Command HQ in Portsmouth, said the programme was invaluable for when the HMS Queen Elizabeth comes into service:

The feedback we have had from the team out there is that it has been a very valuable experience. It is pretty tough training for them and it is a feat in itself the difference in living and working in that environment.

The flight deck is one of the most dangerous places to work in the world. You have to have an awareness of everything that is going on around you – there are jet blasts coming from all around and aircraft landing and taking off.

But as far as job satisfaction goes it is very, very rewarding. They are enjoying learning the skills and putting what they already know into practice. This is what they signed up to do and they don’t get to do it very often. It is going to put us in good stead for our own carriers.

Home Office - Independent approval for undercover policing

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 15:43:14 GMT

Damian Green announces proposals for new legislation for undercover policing operations.

All long-term undercover policing operations will be independently authorised under government plans announced today.

Minister for Policing Damian Green unveiled the proposals for new secondary legislation at the Home Affairs Select Committee.

It means the Office for Surveillance Commissioners (OSC) will be notified at the start of all undercover police deployments – and must approve any lasting beyond 12 months.

The new legislation will also ensure the same long-term operations must be authorised internally by a chief constable.

Minister for Policing Damian Green said:

Undercover police operations are vital in the fight against terrorism and serious organised crime. However, covert powers must be used proportionately and only when necessary.

I announced today our intention to legislate to ensure an independent third party – the Office of Surveillance Commissioners – will provide enhanced judicial oversight of all undercover police deployments.

It means law enforcement agencies will need to notify the OSC at the outset of all undercover operations and get OSC approval for every deployment that lasts longer than 12 months.

We want the highest standards of professionalism and excellence in all aspects of policing.

The proposals follow Home Office work with the police to implement recommendations from the 2012 report into undercover policing by HM Inspectorate of Constabulary.

DfID - Largest ever UK disaster response for Syria crisis

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 15:13:14 GMT

David Cameron announces £175 million in humanitarian aid for the Syrian crisis.

Prime Minister David Cameron today set out the largest single funding commitment ever made by the UK in response to a humanitarian disaster, as he announced a £175 million emergency package for the Syrian crisis.

But the Prime Minister warned that the international community as a whole must now follow this lead. He called for:

· aid agencies to be given the unrestricted access they need to save lives in Syria

· a reduction in violence and a negotiated solution to the conflict

· the international community to follow the UK’s lead in committing to and providing long term funding

· a clear, UN-led focus on the most vulnerable in this crisis, particularly girls and women

· the UN to actively take the lead in planning and setting out a strategic, long-term response

The new funding, which the Prime Minister announced at the G8 summit, is part of a total of almost $1.5 billion in additional contributions agreed by G8 leaders to meet humanitarian needs in Syria and its neighbours. It will help to provide immediate humanitarian assistance to hundreds of thousands of Syrians in desperate need as a result of the ongoing fighting.

Critically, the UK Government will also commit funding over the next two years, beyond the life of the current UN emergency appeal, so aid and development agencies can plan a more strategic response to the protracted crisis, with predictable funding allowing them to forward plan food deliveries and keep clinics open.

Speaking after the announcement, International Development Secretary Justine Greening underlined the Prime Minister’s call on the international community to recognise the protracted nature of the Syrian crisis and follow the UK’s lead.

Justine Greening said:

An unprecedented disaster requires an unprecedented response. Today’s announcement sends a clear signal to the Syrian people and to their neighbours that they can count on the UK’s continuing support. But this is the biggest humanitarian crisis of our generation and the international community must act together.

A political solution remains key, but a long-term, co-ordinated international response is now absolutely critical to stabilise the region as it copes with huge refugee flows and to help those in need, whoever and wherever they may be.

The new commitment more than doubles UK funding for Syria to date to £348 million, the largest total sum the UK has ever committed in response to a single humanitarian crisis.

It follows a surge in the fighting and UN predictions that as much as half of Syria’s pre-crisis population of 22 million will become refugees before the end of the year.

From the £175 million in new funding announced today, which includes humanitarian and development support:

· Over £100 million will be used to respond to the new UN-led appeals launched on 7 June, the largest in the UN’s history. This will help to provide food, medical care, shelter, education and other support for those in need inside Syria and in neighbouring countries until the end of 2013.

· The UK will particularly focus on the needs of girls and women affected, pressing for strong leadership from the international system on responding to the needs of women and girls.

· Additional funding for those providing direct support to Syrians inside and outside Syria, including vulnerable host communities and countries that are hosting refugees.

· Support for UN bodies and other humanitarian agencies working both in neighbouring countries and inside Syria to prepare longer term plans to cope with increasing numbers of people in need, steadily failing infrastructure and key services, and growing refugee numbers.

Notes to editors

1. Aid agencies are currently constrained by recurring short-term funding cycles that leave them unable to proactively plan for the longer term implications of the crisis. If the international community followed the UK’s lead in committing significant funding on a long term basis, this would enable aid agencies to maintain vital basic services such as water and sanitation, health and food security, rather than only providing an emergency response as key services fail.

2. Alongside increased long-term funding, unfettered access for UN bodies and NGOs remains an absolute priority. The UK has repeatedly called on all parties to the conflict to allow these agencies the access they require in order to get on with providing life-saving assistance to those in need inside Syria.

3. There are now over four million people displaced inside Syria and over 1.6 million refugees in the region. On Thursday 13 June, new UN figures showed that nearly 93,000 people have been killed in the conflict, over 1,700 of them children under the age of ten.

4. The UN predicts that by the end of the year 10 million people – half of Syria’s pre-crisis population – will be displaced either internally or externally.

5. Conflict Pool funding in response to the Syria Crisis is not included in these figures.

6. Since DFID was established, the largest humanitarian response to date has been a total of £200m in new funding to the recent Horn of Africa Crisis, while the response to the Pakistan floods was £134 million and £140 million in emergency humanitarian and development support for the Indian Ocean tsunami on Boxing Day 2004.

Cabinet Office - G8 commitment puts open data on the global agenda for growth

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 15:13:04 GMT

The Open Data Charter was signed by G8 leaders on 18 June 2013 with the aim of driving growth and improving accountability.

The signing of an Open Data Charter by G8 leaders at their summit in Northern Ireland today puts open data firmly at the forefront of international efforts to drive economic growth and to use transparency to improve accountability, said Minister for the Cabinet Office Francis Maude.

As current G8 president and lead co-chair of the international Open Government Partnership (OGP), the UK is promoting transparency and open data on the global stage as a means to fight corruption and drive prosperity. Transparency is also at the heart of the UK government’s reforming agenda.

The Open Data Charter sets out 5 strategic principles that all G8 members will act on. These include an expectation that all government data will be published openly by default, alongside principles to increase the quality, quantity and re-use of the data that is released. G8 members have also identified 14 high-value areas – from education to transport, and from health to crime and justice – from which they will release data. These will help unlock the economic potential of open data, support innovation and provide greater accountability.

Francis Maude said:

Open data is changing the way we live and work. It is giving us more choice over how we spend, invest and use public services, allowing government to make better use of resources. The UK is a world leader in transparency and opening up government data, with over 40,000 data files on data.gov.uk. Through initiatives like the Open Government Partnership, of which we are lead co-chair, the international transparency and open data movement has come a long way in a short time.

The G8 Open Data Charter marks another milestone. The signatories have agreed a set of principles for making data as widely accessible as possible and in a form useable by all. This is a huge step forward and will be a particular boost for the innovators and entrepreneurs who can use open data to create products and businesses that will fuel growth in our economies.

Each member of the G8 will publish an open data action plan in October this year, showing how they will make more data available, in line with the charter and its principles. They will report back on their progress at future G8 summits.

On Friday, the UK committed to further releases of open data – from bodies including the Charity Commission – which when turned into applications will help citizens make more informed decisions about how they invest and the causes they support. This summer, HM Revenue & Customs will hold a public consultation on releasing parts of the VAT register as open data. One effect of new technologies to prove VAT registration could be to improve access to credit for businesses, especially small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

At the end of last week, the government also published its response to the Shakespeare Review of Public Sector Information. Francis Maude announced that the UK would take forward open data implementation plans through its OGP National Action Plan, and collaborate with data users to identify datasets, particularly those supporting economic growth, for a new National Information Infrastructure, to be released by 2015.

MoD - UK riflemen train Afghan army snipers

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 15:03:56 GMT

Afghan soldiers have been honing their sniping skills under the expert tuition of marksmen from 4th Battalion The Rifles (4 RIFLES).

A selection of crack-shot Afghan soldiers, known as warriors, from 3/215 Brigade of the Afghan National Army (ANA) have been training on the live firing ranges at Camp Bastion as the Afghan National Security Forces take the lead for the security of their fellow Afghans.

The live fire exercise marked the culmination of an intensive sniper course which involved 4 RIFLES personnel teaching the Afghans a host of advanced skills such as concealment, stalking and counter-sniping.

4 RIFLES are currently deployed to Afghanistan as the Brigade Advisory Group; they arrived in April for a 6-month tour of duty in Helmand province. The Wiltshire-based unit’s role is to train and advise the ANA as they develop further capabilities and confidence to protect communities from the threat of insurgents.

Serjeant Moses Navunisaravi, 4 RIFLES, said:

Most of the warriors had not seen this type of weapon before but they showed a real desire to learn and by the end of the training were highly competent.

We are concentrating on ‘train the trainer’ programmes. Initially there were no ANA instructors available for this course so we highlighted 3 soldiers who showed confidence with the weapon and got them to teach the lessons back to the students.

At the end of the course, all 12 soldiers were qualified marksmen.

Corporal Steve Martin, 4 RIFLES, said:

The Afghan warriors really wanted to learn the skills of a sniper and were soon shooting some tight groupings. I was impressed by how quickly they picked it up and these skills stack the odds even further against the insurgents on the battlefield.

Read more about the government’s policy to establish stability in Afghanistan

The warriors selected as snipers are picked by their kandak (battalion) commanders because of their skill and ability on the battlefield. The live firing involved shooting at numerous targets from different ranges up to 400 metres, although the snipers can effectively engage the enemy at distances far greater than this.

Lieutenant Colonel Tom Bewick, Commanding Officer of 4 RIFLES, said:

The Rifles have a strong heritage in sharpshooting, and supporting the ANAto run their own training is exactly why we are here.

This training adds an important capability to 3/215 Brigade which will improve their confidence even further.

Herrick 18 is the fourth time a Rifles battalion has deployed to Helmand province as advisors to the ANA, a role at the heart of enabling the Afghans to lead their own security.

FCO - G8 Summit - Prime Minister's remarks

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 14:55:07 GMT

The Prime Minister spoke about the commitments the G8 leaders have made at the Summit in Northern Ireland.

“As leaders of the G8, we are committed to open economies, open societies and open governments as the basis of lasting growth and stability. We have today agreed concrete steps to play our part in ensuring a safe and prosperous world.

We met at a time of continued economic uncertainty. Our urgent priority is to promote growth and jobs, particularly for the young and long-term unemployed. We will continue to nurture the global recovery by supporting demand, securing our public finances and reforming our economies to deliver growth.

Our economies together make up around half of the global economy, and we have a responsibility to support prosperity worldwide. We agreed actions in three specific areas:

· Trade - a key engine of global economic growth. We will break down barriers to trade at home and abroad by resisting protectionism and concluding a set of ambitious trade deals. In particular, we welcome the launch of negotiations for an EU-US trade agreement, the major progress towards agreeing the Trans Pacific Partnership and the launch of the EU-Japan trade agreement negotiations and we look forward to the completion of the EU-Canada trade agreement. We aim to finalise all these deals as soon as possible. We also welcome the trade and economic integration of Russia with some of the countries in the region, which will be pursued in line with World Trade Organisation (WTO) principles. We are committed to strengthening the multilateral trading system and securing a WTO deal in December that cuts bureaucracy to make it easier and faster for goods to cross borders. And we will keep our promises to help developing countries slash barriers to trade that impede growth.

· Tax systems – essential to fairness and prosperity for all. We commit to establish the automatic exchange of information between tax authorities as the new global standard, and will work with the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) to develop rapidly a multilateral model which will make it easier for governments to find and punish tax evaders. On tax avoidance, we support the OECD’s work to tackle base erosion and profit shifting. We will work to create a common template for multinationals to report to tax authorities where they make their profits and pay their taxes across the world. We will support developing countries to collect the taxes owed them, with access to the global tax information they need. We agree to publish national Action Plans to make information on who really owns and profits from companies and trusts available to tax collection and law enforcement agencies, for example through central registries of company beneficial ownership.

· Transparency – empowering people to hold governments and companies to account. We have agreed a transformative Open Data Charter to make budget data and other government information public in an easily accessible way. We will make progress towards common global reporting standards to make extractive industry payments more transparent. And we will work with resource-rich countries to help them better manage their extractive revenues so as to provide a route out of poverty and reliance on aid.

We will continue to work with the poorest countries to help lift people out of poverty by keeping our aid promises and being accountable to the public for them. We will accelerate efforts to tackle the under-nutrition that blights millions of lives. We will work closely with African governments and citizens to promote sustainable growth.

We share a commitment to work together to counter terrorism and tackle the drivers of instability wherever in the world they are found and particularly in northern Africa and the Middle East. We have identified five priority areas for action to respond to the growing threat posed by terrorists operating in the arc of instability from Mauritania to Somalia. Alongside the countries themselves, we will work together, focussing our collective political and practical support, to help governments find and dismantle terrorist networks and to build effective and accountable government.

We are committed to protecting our nationals and reducing terrorist groups’ access to funding which allows them to thrive. We unequivocally reject the payment of ransoms to terrorists and we call on countries and companies around the world to follow our lead and stamp out this as well as other lucrative sources of income for terrorists. We will help each other to resolve hostage incidents by sharing best practice in advance and offering expertise as necessary when they take place.

We strongly support the proposal for a conference to reach a political solution to the appalling conflict in Syria through full implementation of the 2012 Geneva Communiqué. We will contribute generously to the latest United Nations (UN) appeal for humanitarian help. We condemn in the strongest terms any use of chemical weapons and all human rights violations in Syria. We are committed to leading international support for Libya’s security and democratic transition and to urgent work for a lasting peace in the Middle East.”

DCMS - Tackling illegal images - new proactive approach to seek out child sexual abuse content

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 14:34:00 GMT

• IWF and CEOP will work together

• £1 million of extra funding provided by UK’s largest Internet Service Providers

Today Culture Secretary Maria Miller announced that the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) will be asked for the first time to actively seek out illegal images of child abuse on the internet, working closely with the Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) Centre. At a summit of major internet service providers (ISPs), search engines, mobile operators and social media companies, an agreement was reached that the IWF should, for the first time, work with CEOP to search for and block child sexual abuse images.

The UK’s leading ISPs – Virgin Media, BSkyB, BT and TalkTalk – today committed to provide a further £1 million to help fund this new proactive approach and to help tackle the creation and distribution of child sexual abuse material online. Additionally, all the companies present signed up to a ‘zero tolerance’ pledge on child sexual abuse imagery.

This will be the first time the IWF has been asked to take on a proactive approach to detect and act against criminal material. The IWF, working alongside CEOP, and the wider internet industry, will ensure the UK leads the way in the global battle against child sexual abuse. New funding will allow more to be done to actively search, block and remove more child sexual abuse images.

This is a fundamental change in the way that child sexual abuse content will be tackled. It is estimated that there are one million unique images of child abuse online yet only 40,000 reports are made to the IWF each year. The IWF will no longer have to wait for illegal material to be reported before they can take action, but will work with CEOP to take the fight to those behind child sexual abuse images.

Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Maria Miller said:

Until now, action has only been taken by the IWF when a child sexual abuse image is reported. Now, for the first time, the IWF has been asked to work alongside CEOP to search for illegal and abusive images and block them. This will mean more images of child sexual abuse will be tracked down and acted against.

The abuse of children is absolutely abhorrent – and that child is further violated every single time an image is circulated and viewed. The IWF and CEOP already do important and valuable work. This agreement will mean these organisations will no longer be limited to reacting to reports received. They will now have the remit and the resources to take the fight to the criminals perpetrating these vile acts.

It was agreed at the summit that:

· A new proactive role would be taken on by the IWF, working with CEOP – industry funding will increase to reflect this new role with £1 million more provided by the four major ISPs over the next four years to tackle child sexual abuse material online;

· Any relevant organisation which does not yet operate ‘splash pages’ will introduce them by the end of the month so that when someone tries to access a page blocked by the IWF, they will see a warning message (a ‘splash page’) stating that the page may contain indecent or illegal content;

· All present would sign up to a ‘zero tolerance’ pledge towards child sexual abuse content on the internet;

· The industry will report to the Culture Secretary within a month on how they can work to support the new proactive approach being taken on this issue through the use of their technology and expertise.

The summit also reviewed the considerable progress that has been made to protect children from harmful or inappropriate content online, including:

· The four main ISPs are now offering an active choice on parental controls to all new customers;

· The main public Wi-Fi providers have pledged to offer family friendly Wi-Fi in public places where children are likely to be;

· The main ISPs have committed to delivering home network parental controls by the end of the year allowing restrictions to be set - simply and quickly - on all devices in the home;

· Internet providers are now regularly telling customers about parental controls through emails and their bills;

· ISPs will email account holders when any filter settings are changed to ensure the change is approved by an adult.

The Culture Secretary will convene a further meeting, once the industry has reported on what more it can do to support this proactive approach, to ensure that real action is taking place.

Notes to Editors

The companies attending the summit were Yahoo, Google, Microsoft, Twitter, Facebook, BT, BSkyB, Virgin Media, TalkTalk, Vodafone, O2, EE and Three. They were joined by CEOP and the IWF.

The Internet Watch Foundation was established in 1996 by the internet industry. Sexually abusive images of children are primarily hosted abroad so the IWF facilitates the blocking access to this content by providing a list of child sexual abuse web pages. The IWF helps internet service providers and hosting companies combat abuse of their networks by a ‘notice and takedown’ service, which alerts them to this content so it can be removed.

The Minister of State for Policing and Criminal Justice, Damian Green, has written to the Director of Public Prosecutions today to ensure that the IWF is provided with the reassurances it needs to ensure it can carry out this proactive role.

The Zero Tolerance statement was signed by all industry organisations present. It reads:

We have a zero tolerance approach to the presence of child sexual abuse material on the internet. We will continue to work closely with Government and other parties to prevent access to this illegal content.

FCO - Rugby world cup sevens 2013

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 14:25:13 GMT

Travel advice for rugby fans travelling to Russia 28-30 June 2013

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2013 will be held in Moscow, Russia between 28-30 June at the Moscow Luzhniki Stadium. The men’s tournament is made up of 24 teams and the women’s tournament comprises 16 teams. The UK will be represented by teams from:

· England – both men’s and women’s teams

· Ireland (players from Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland) – both men’s and women’s team

· Scotland – only men’s team

· Wales – only men’s team

As well as the advice below, check out our travel advice for [Russia] (https://www.gov.uk/government/world/russia) before you travel and the Official RWC Sevens 2013’s website. Passports, Visas and Health Insurance

· British citizens need a visa to travel to Russia, and your passport should be valid for a further three months after your Russian visa expiration date

· Your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) is not valid in Russia, so travel/health insurance is essential, even if you’re only going for one night - it could save you a lot of money if you find yourself in difficulty.

· It is essential you carry your passport with your Russian visa and migration/registration card with you at all times – in particular, you’ll need to carry your passport to the match to gain entry to the stadium. The police conduct ID checks, and want to see original documentation.

· If you lose your passport or have it stolen, you should report the loss to the local police as soon as possible in the first instance and obtain a police report or confirmation of loss from the police. The British Embassy can then provide you with an emergency travel document (ETD) and advice on how to obtain an exit visa so that you can leave Russia and return home. Key Transport Tips

· Luzhniki Stadium – nearest Metro is SPORTIVNAYA/?????????? (Red Line)

· British Embassy – nearest Metro is SMOLENSKAYA/?????????? (Light Blue line; Dark Blue line)

· Domodedovo Airport – is served by a train service “AERO-Express” from PAVELETSKAYA STATION /?????????? (Metro – Brown circle line; Dark Green line)

· Sheremetyevo Airport – is served by a train service “AERO-Express” from BELORUSSKAYA STATION/??????????? (Metro – Brown circle line; Dark Green line)

· Vnukovo Airport – is served by a train service “AERO-Express” from KIEVSKAYA STATION /???????? (Metro – Brown circle line; Dark Blue line; Light Blue line)

· Stadium website with map and contacts (in Russian)

· Metro (underground) tickets can be bought for 1, 2, 5 or 11 trips – on sale in all Metro stations (COST: 1 trip – Rbl 30; 2 trips – Rbl 60; 5 trips – Rbl 150; 11 trips – Rbl 300). 90-minute tickets for travel by bus, trolleybus, tram, metro and monorail system services for a limited number of activations (1 activation = 1 metro trip + unlimited ground transportation trips within 90 minutes):

No of activations

Valid for (days)

Cost

1 activation

Day of purchase

2 activations

5 days after the first activation

100

5 activations

90 days, incl. day of purchase

220

11 activations

90 days, incl. day of purchase

450

REMEMBER to keep your ticket if you pay for more than one trip

· Bus tickets can be bought from the driver (at Rbl 100 for 4 tickets) or from silver ticket kiosks near some stops (COST: 1 trip – Rbl 25; 2 trips – Rbl 50; 5 trips – Rbl 100; 11 trips – Rbl 200).

· The Metro runs from 5:30am until 1:00am.

· Buses run from 5:30am until 1:00am.
At the Match

· Access to the stadium can be slow. There will be ticket checks and body searches at the entrance to the turnstiles. To avoid a last minute bottleneck please try to get to the stadium early.

· No bottles or cans are allowed to be brought into the ground and alcohol is banned within the stadium. Flags and banners without poles are allowed subject to message, language and content.

· Smoking is allowed in the “smoking areas”.

· Standing during the game is allowed.

Tips

· Tap water has to be boiled before drinking.

· As in any other city beware of pickpockets and bag snatchers at airports, railway stations, around the town centre and when using public transport. Only carry what you need, leave spare cash and valuables in hotel safety deposits. Pickpockets operate on the Metro and in tourist areas such as Red Square.

· Don’t smoke or drink in Red Square - it’s illegal and you will be arrested.

· Acts of theft will be prosecuted rather than fined or deported. Minimise the risks:

· Security at the Stadium will be strict and uncompromising – refrain from antagonising the police even if you believe you are in the right.

· Carry your passport at all times. The police conduct ID checks, and want to see originals.

· Carry a note of the address of your hotel (in both English and Russian) – it can help people give you directions and ensure that taxi drivers know where you want to go.

· Keep the number of valuables you carry to a minimum - passport, a credit card, your phone and some money - and ensure they are secure (not in back pockets).

· Change money at a bank, hotel, or in exchange kiosks – it is illegal to exchange money in the street.

· Carry the contact number for your travel insurer at all times

· Carry the address and telephone number of the Embassy so you can call for help.

· Leave a copy of your passport and other important documents safe in your hotel in case you lose the originals.

· Don’t carry weapons of any sort – they will be confiscated and could get you arrested. Drink and Drugs:

· Be vigilant when drinking - pickpockets may operate in some bars.

· Don’t leave drinks unattended – drink spiking is not uncommon.

· Beware of strangers offering to buy drinks for you.

· Don’t turn up drunk at the stadium – security will be tough and you will be refused entry.

· Russia operates a zero tolerance policy on the possession and use of drugs, whether hard or soft. Penalties are severe and can result in long jail sentences. What the British Embassy can do:

· If you lose your money or are robbed, the Embassy can help you transfer funds from friends or family in the UK – but cannot provide you with money in any circumstances.

· If you lose your passport or have it stolen, the Embassy can issue you an emergency travel document ETD) so that you can leave Russia.

· If you are detained or arrested in Moscow, insist on contacting the Embassy on 8 495 956 7200 (from within Moscow) or +7 495 956 7200 (if calling from a UK mobile).

· This number is available 24 hours a day. Embassy staff can make sure you are being treated fairly – BUT if you have broken the law, they cannot arrange for you to be released from detention, nor can they pay fines.

· In the case of serious injury or illness, the Embassy can help you contact a member of your family and your travel insurance company. British Embassy Moscow Contact Details

British Embassy in Moscow
Smolenskaya Naberezhnaya, 10
Moscow 121099

Website: UK and Russia

Embassy Switchboard: +7 495 956 7200
Emergency numbers

International emergency number (from your mobile): 112

Police: 02 (from Russian public phones only)

Ambulance: 03 (from Russian public phones only)

International SOS (Private, English-speaking ambulance): +7 495 937 5760

BIS - Government welcomes customer service Kitemark

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 12:10:02 GMT

Codes of practice which protect consumers and encourage businesses have been welcomed by Consumer Minister Jo Swinson.

UK-wide codes of practice which protect consumers from poor trading practices and encourage businesses to showcase exemplary customer service have been welcomed today by Consumer Minister Jo Swinson.

Speaking at the annual Trading Standards Institute conference, Jo Swinson praised the TSI for working with business and consumers to create a new Consumer Codes Approval Scheme. Under the voluntary and self-funded scheme, trade bodies can apply for their industry specific code to be approved by the Trading Standards Institute which will strengthen industry self-regulation.

Consumer Minister Jo Swinson said:

Treating consumers with good customer service and a willingness to go the extra mile are the hallmarks of a good business. The TSI approved logo will become a badge of distinction helping businesses enhance their reputation and attracting consumers to honest businesses who are raising their game and helping rebuild our economy. That is why I am delighted to endorse the new UK-wide consumer codes of conduct.

The new codes add to the host of reforms we have been introducing over the past year to empower consumers and coordinate enforcement against rogue traders, all without imposing unnecessary burdens on businesses.

The code applies to businesses ranging from energy to healthcare sectors. Businesses that subscribe to an approved trade body’s code will be required to provide consumer protection, including offering an ombudsman or arbitration to resolve disputes. Those that fail to comply once signed up could face fines or imprisonment.

The Minister encouraged all sectors of industry to join more than 15,000 current subscribers and use the commercial opportunities available from advertising their good customer practice through the TSI Approved Code Logo.

Jo Swinson also praised the work of the National Trading Standards Board which successfully helped uncover fraud worth more than £139m in its first year of operation. The new UK-wide codes and the success of the NTSB adds to the host of consumer reforms introduced by the government over the past year to support growth by helping markets work better for consumers, improving consumer protection and giving greater clarity about where consumers need to turn for help and advice. Notes to editors

1. Consumer Minister Jo Swinson will be speaking at the TSI conference in Brighton at 4.15pm on Tuesday 18th June 2013.

2. For further details on the speech please contact BIS Press Office on 020 7215 5984

3. Consumers will be able to look for the TSI Approved Code logo, or search a dedicated database at www.tradingstandards.gov.uk for a member of an approved code in their area.

4. Benefits to business from approved code:

· Code subscribers can display the TSI approved code logo. This will help promote the business as one that consumers can trust

· Business can demonstrate a higher level of customer service and added customer protection, such as a customer complaints procedure and clear pre-contractual information. This will help to attract and retain customers.

· Being part of an approved code can help drive up customer standards within certain sectors and so raise consumer trust.

5. Areas where you as a consumer will benefit from higher protection include:

· clear pre-contractual information

· deposit and pre-payment protection

· additional consumer protection for business conducted in the consumers own home

· clear complaints procedure

· Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)

6. As part of the consumer landscape reforms, the TSI have taken on responsibility for and refreshed the consumer code scheme formerly delivered by the Office of Fair Trading.

7. Nine of the OFT’s existing code sponsors transitioned to the new TSIscheme on 1 April. Inaugural trade bodies sponsoring the new code include: British Association of Removers, British Healthcare Trades Association, Debt Managers Standards Association, Institute of Professional Will Writers, Motor Codes Ltd, Renewable Energy Assurance Ltd, Robert Bosch Ltd, The Carpet Foundation and Vehicle Builders Repairers Association Ltd.

8. The government’s economic policy objective is to achieve ‘strong, sustainable and balanced growth that is more evenly shared across the country and between industries.’ It set four ambitions in the ‘Plan for Growth’ (PDF 1.7MB), published at Budget 2011:

· To create the most competitive tax system in the G20

· To make the UK the best place in Europe to start, finance and grow a business

· To encourage investment and exports as a route to a more balanced economy

· To create a more educated workforce that is the most flexible in Europe.

DfID - Syria crisis - Latest updates on UK aid (Updated 18 June 2013)

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 11:40:00 GMT

How the UK is responding to the humanitarian crisis in Syria and neighbouring countries, and how you can help

The crisis in Syria is gravely concerning. Hundreds of people are being killed or wounded every day and millions have been forced to flee.

Britain was one of the first to respond to the growing humanitarian crisis in Syria, providing vital food, medical care, shelter and other essential support to over a hundred thousand people affected by the fighting in the country and to refugees in Lebanon, Jordan, Turkey and Iraq. How you can help: Disasters Emergency Committee Syria Crisis Appeal

Responding to the launch of the DEC Syria Crisis Appeal, International Development Secretary, Justine Greening said:

“We welcome the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) appeal to do more for people in desperate need. This conflict continues to cause appalling suffering. Over four million people in Syria are in urgent need of assistance and a million refugees need humanitarian support.

“The British Government has led the international response with medical help, food, shelter and clean water but more needs to be done. Other donors must honour their funding promises and it is time that all parties to the conflict allow humanitarian access to all areas of Syria.”

Donate to the DEC Syria Crisis Appeal
How the UK has helped

In Syria, UK aid has already delivered:

· over 600,000 food packages, which have fed over 120,000 people per month

· more than 147,000 medical consultations

· 20,000 relief packages, including items such as blankets and warm clothing

In neighbouring countries, British support is providing:

· clean drinking water for more than 45,000 refugees, and food for more than 21,000 per month

· education for around 1,000 children

· clinical care and counselling for nearly 13,000 refugees, including those who have experienced trauma or sexual assault

The UK remains at the forefront of international efforts to support an effective response, led by the United Nations.

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/207521/13.06.13_DFID_Syria_Humanitarian_Programme_Summary.pdf

Views from the field

Philip Upson reports from Syrian refugee camps in Turkey where the onset of winter is making life harder for the tens of thousands who have fled the violence.

In pictures: How the UK is helping meet humanitarian needs in the region

Hear from our staff working on the ground to help coordinate UK aid Podcast: Our humanitarian adviser Liz Hughes in Jordan (Nov 2012)

Podcast: Aid expert Neil Barry reports from Syria’s border (Sept 2012) Facts and stats

· 6.8 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance in Syria

· over 4.25 million people have been driven out of their homes by the fighting to other areas of Syria

· there are now over 1.3 million refugees in neighbouring countries

· there are bread shortages, electricity shortages, rising food prices and a fuel crisis

· total UK humanitarian funding to the response is £171.1 million to date

· our humanitarian assistance is provided through neutral and impartial agencies and is wholly separate from UK support for the opposition.

· all UK funding is going to humanitarian agencies with a proven ability to operate in Syria and neighbouring countries

MoD - Afghans take security lead across Afghanistan

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 11:07:03 GMT

NATO-led forces have formally handed over the last of Afghanistan's 95 districts to Afghan security forces.

President Hamid Karzai announced the move as his countrymen officially assumed responsibility for security from the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF).

President Karzai said:

Our security and defence forces will now be in the lead. From here, all security responsibility and all security leadership will be taken by our brave forces.

The UK Secretary of State for Defence, Philip Hammond, said:

This is a significant announcement that means Afghan National Security Forces are in control of security throughout the country – all provinces, all cities, all borders – and for all of Afghanistan’s 27 million citizens.

This is a hard-fought milestone on the road to complete Afghan security responsibility, with ISAF forces now moving to a role of training, advising and assisting. I was in Afghanistan last week and I was struck by the hugely impressive progress of the Afghan forces we have trained. Now it is those forces that will lead on planning and executing operations, with ISAF troops moving into support, throughout the whole country.

Afghanistan will continue to face challenges as it builds towards becoming a secure and stable state. The Afghanistan our combat forces leave at the end of 2014 will not be perfect, but will be able to stand independently and will never again provide a haven for terrorists to attack the West. That is why we remain firmly committed to supporting Afghanistan beyond 2014 and into the future.

NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen welcomed the Afghan transition announcement, and said:

This decision marks an important milestone, when Afghan soldiers and police will take the lead for security across the country. This is a day of pride for all Afghans and the 50 nations which contribute to ISAF.

As Afghan forces step forward, ISAF’s role will shift from combat to support. We will no longer plan, execute or lead combat operations. By the end of 2014 our combat mission will be completed, and a new mission will begin.

Together with our partners, we are planning to continue to train, advise and assist the Afghan forces. And NATO will also play its part in the broader international efforts to ensure the long-term sustainment of the Afghan security forces.

Number 10 - G8 Summit Live (Updated 18 June 2013)

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 10:40:03 GMT

Watch live video from the UK's G8 Summit 2013 in Lough Erne, Northern Ireland.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=yFf5q04kaMs

Watch G8 summit videos here, including leaders’ arrivals and press conferences.

Official photos from the G8 summit

The story so far

The Prime Minister arrived in Lough Erne on Sunday night (16 June).

G8 leaders have been arriving over the course of today. View arrival photos onFlickr and video on YouTube (17 June).

The EU and US agreed to launch negotiations on a trade deal worth £10bn to the UK. View infographic on EU-US trade agreement (17 June).

In a short video, the Prime Minister spoke about the agenda and priorities for the G8 Summit: Latest news

· G8 Summit: negotiations for historic EU-US trade deal announced

· Prime Minister and Pope Francis exchange letters on G8

· PM seeks launch of trade deal to turbo-charge the transatlantic economy

· G8 and developing countries will work together to improve transparency in use of natural resources

· Open for Growth: trade, tax and transparency event

· » See all G8 announcements
Video agenda for 17 June (times in BST)

From 07.00 - 13.00: VIP arrivals into Aldergrove airport (Live)

15.45 - 16.45: UK PM welcomes leaders into Lough Erne (Live)

From 16.45: Highlights from welcome event

From 19.00: Bilateral meetings with leaders

Video agenda for 18 June (times in BST)

From 0915: Working session

1000 - 1030: Leaders Family Photo

1200 - 1215: Leaders lunch event (Live)

1530 - 1615: UK Prime Minister Press Conference

1545 - 1615: French Press Conference

1630 - 1700: Canadian Press Conference

1630 - 1700: Italian Press Conference

From 1700: Russian Press Conference

What is the G8?

The G8 is a forum that brings together 8 global leaders to address international issues and tackle the most pressing global challenges. Find out more about the G8.

The Presidency of the G8 rotates each calendar year. The UK holds the Presidency for 2013. Read about:

· the UK’s G8 priorities

· events and achievements of the UK’s Presidency