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Tag: 2022

  • Deirdre Hargey – 2022 Comments on DUP Boycott of Stormont

    Deirdre Hargey – 2022 Comments on DUP Boycott of Stormont

    The comments made by Deirdre Hargey, the Sinn Fein Minister for the Communities, on 17 August 2022.

    News today that gas prices will rise again by up to 30% in October is another kick in the teeth for people whose bills are already through the roof.

    There is £435 million sitting in a Stormont bank account that can help ease the pressures people are facing, but it cannot be spent because the DUP are blocking an Executive.

    People are bewildered that a DUP minister is attending meetings to find workarounds to get the £400 energy payment out to households when the obvious solution is for him and his colleagues to get back to work around the Executive table.

    I am calling on DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson to end this cruel boycott of government and stop punishing ordinary workers and families who are struggling to pay their bills. Their refusal is a dereliction of duty.

    Sinn Féin is ready to form an Executive today, to work with others, and put money in people’s pockets to tackle the cost-of-living emergency.

  • Caoimhe Archibald – 2022 Comments on Supporting Businesses in Northern Ireland

    Caoimhe Archibald – 2022 Comments on Supporting Businesses in Northern Ireland

    The comments made by Caoimhe Archibald, the Economic Spokesperson for Sinn Fein, on 16 August 2022.

    We are in the midst of a cost-of-living emergency which has reduced the ability of workers and families to buy even basics with some people facing the choice between heating or eating.

    This has had a knock-on effect on retailers who have experienced the biggest drop in sales in ten years which has resulted in businesses closing their doors as they struggle to cope with rising costs, particularly of energy bills.

    Inflation is at a 40-year high and workers and families are struggling with ongoing rises to the price of food, fuel and electricity.

    There is a real onus on the British Government to allocate funding to support our businesses and protect jobs, to date they have failed to take any action to help businesses.

    The reduced rate of VAT should also be reintroduced for businesses that had it reduced during the pandemic, including bars and restaurants.

    The British government must get real on the impact of the soaring cost of living and cost of doing business.

    The DUP should end its boycott of our democratic institutions so we can get money out to those who are struggling.

  • Colm Gildernew – 2022 Comments on GP Availability Crisis in Northern Ireland

    Colm Gildernew – 2022 Comments on GP Availability Crisis in Northern Ireland

    The comments made by Colm Gildernew, the spokesperson for Sinn Fein on health, on 16 August 2022.

    It is concerning to hear how surgeries are struggling to cope in our growing health crisis.

    We have news of several GP practices in Belfast applying to close down access to new patients joining them.

    Too many patients are not getting the care they need while others struggle to get to see a doctor at all and urgent action is needed to address this.

    We need an Executive up and running now to invest an extra £1 billion in the health service to recruit more doctors and nurses, to help people who can’t get access to a GP and are stuck on waiting lists.

    The DUP should end its boycott of government now, form an Executive and stop blocking this money being put into our health service.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Big Ben’s return in earshot as Parliament provides further updates on Elizabeth Tower conservation

    PRESS RELEASE : Big Ben’s return in earshot as Parliament provides further updates on Elizabeth Tower conservation

    The press release issued by the Houses of Parliament on 18 July 2022.

    UK Parliament has today provided further information on timelines for the Elizabeth Tower conservation project, including setting out final works and testing required ahead of project completion.

    The restoration of the Elizabeth Tower is now in its final stages and on track to complete in October, with the return of Big Ben’s ‘bongs’ also expected by then.

    The works undertaken to the Great Clock’s mechanism and its components represent the most intensive conservation in its history. Earlier this year, internal works in the Tower had been planned in a different sequence, which allowed us to forecast the permanent reconnection of the bells earlier than full project completion.

    However, teams working on the Clock will now allow for a further period of sustained testing, specifically on the quarter bells – providing them with an opportunity to fine-tune this priceless example of Victorian engineering before all the bells are brought back into regular service.

    Once tests of the quarter bells have been completed Parliament will be able to announce a specific date for when the bells will be heard permanently.

    No compromises can be made when it comes to the safety and security of one of the world’s most important and iconic buildings. These are delicate works, which must all be delivered at a great height, in a confined space, and within the middle of a busy, working legislature. Parliament’s overriding priority is the completion of the project to schedule, on time and to the highest quality. It remains on track to do so.

    Next steps in the conservation project and updates on visitor access

    Earlier this year, the Great Clock’s Victorian mechanism was successfully re-installed and has been functioning correctly for several months. The final stage in the Great Clock’s restoration will be the return of Big Ben’s ‘bongs’ – ringing out across London accompanied by the Tower’s quarter bells, which chime the famous ‘Westminster Melody’.

    Once testing has been completed on the Great Clock and the bells have been brought back into regular service, the conservation of the Elizabeth Tower will be complete. Over the Summer, key infrastructure components such as power and data infrastructure will have been connected and fire safety systems installed – including the complex sprinkler system and fireproofing that will help safeguard this historic building.

    Soon after, the lighting systems in the Tower will also be completed, with the clock dials’ new energy-efficient LED illumination in operation. The new lighting system behind the dials will have the ability to change colour when required. The Ayrton Light – which shines when either House is sitting – will also then be re-connected to the power supply and light up Westminster once more.

    Parliament will then resume ownership of the building and begin to prepare it for future use. The installation and testing of new exhibition spaces, workshops and tour routes is expected to be completed in the Winter. Parliament expects to welcome its first visitors back inside the Elizabeth Tower soon after, in Spring 2023. More information on the visitor offer will be provided in the coming months.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Will Harding appointed as a Member of the Ofcom Board

    PRESS RELEASE : Will Harding appointed as a Member of the Ofcom Board

    The press release issued by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport on 17 August 2022.

    Will Harding

    Will Harding has almost 30 years’ experience in the media industry.

    He started his career as a management consultant with KPMG, before spending 5 years at BBC Worldwide (now BBC Studios) where he worked across the BBC’s commercial and international operations. He left the BBC in 2000 to help launch ask.com in the UK and then moved to Sky, where he rose to become Commercial and Operations Director of Sky’s new media business. He joined GCap Media plc in 2006 as Group Strategy Director. Following Global Media & Entertainment Ltd’s acquisition of GCap in 2008, he was appointed Global’s Chief Strategy Officer and joined the main Global board. During his time at Global, Will was responsible for establishing the Global Academy, a state school in Hayes in west London for young people from all backgrounds wanting to start a career in the creative industries. Will stood down from the Global Media and Entertainment Ltd board in December 2020.

    Since 2021 Will has been a Non-Executive Director of Primedia, the leading Africa- focussed media and advertising group, and a Trustee of the Baker Dearing Educational Trust. He is married with three children and lives in south west London.

    Remuneration and Governance Code

    Members of the Ofcom Board receive £42,519 per annum. This appointment has been made in accordance with the Cabinet Office’s Governance Code on Public Appointments. The appointments process is regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. Under the Code, any significant political activity undertaken by an appointee in the last five years must be declared. This is defined as including holding office, public speaking, making a recordable donation, or candidature for election. Will Harding has declared no such activity.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Rachel Baillache and Rupen Shah appointed to the Board of UK Sport

    PRESS RELEASE : Rachel Baillache and Rupen Shah appointed to the Board of UK Sport

    The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 17 August 2022.

    Rachel Baillache

    Appointed as a Board Member (Chair of Audit and Risk Committee) from 01 September 2022 until 31 August 2026.

    Rachel is a general sports enthusiast. She is currently the Senior Independent Director at the LTA where she chairs the Audit and Risk Committee. She is also the LTA Board sponsor for Inclusion and Diversity. Rachel is also an Independent Non-Executive Director of Somerset County Cricket Club where she Chairs the Audit and Risk Committee. She is the Chair of the mental health charity Minds@Work.

    Rachel was a partner at KPMG for over twenty years where she served as an audit partner and for eight years, until her retirement, she was also a member of KPMG International’s Global Executive serving as the global head of people, performance and culture and as the executive responsible for global communications. She has worked extensively abroad living in continental Europe, Asia and Africa. She is a qualified chartered accountant and was a fellow of the chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.

    Rupen Shah

    Appointed as a Board Member from 01 September 2022 until 31 August 2026.

    Growing up a stone’s throw away from Wembley Stadium, it was almost impossible for Rupen not to be inspired by elite sport from an early age. Whether it was an England home international or FA Cup Final day, the excitement generated in the local area cemented his passion and enthusiasm for it. Rupen is now a powerful advocate for sport and believes in the transformational effect it can have on people’s lives and society.

    Qualifying as a chartered accountant with KPMG, Rupen spent several years working strategically with high profile clients and also completed a secondment to India. He went on to become the Chief Financial Officer of the Football Foundation, the UK’s largest sports charity set up by the Government, The FA and Premier League. Rupen combines substantial expertise in commercial, charity and public finance with a real grasp of the challenges participants face when engaging and competing in sport.

    Alongside his professional journey, Rupen developed a longstanding relationship with Arsenal FC for over a decade, which included several voluntary and part-time roles. This saw him deliver local community programmes, coaching clinics in 14 countries and coaching elite female players in the Academy, many of whom have now become, and will become, Lionesses.

    Rupen now enjoys mentoring the next generation of talented sport enthusiasts, spending time with his family and travelling the world. He also continues his charitable work to tackle inequalities through trustee roles in sport and beyond, including Women In Sport and The Legal Education Foundation.

    Remuneration and Governance Code

    This role is remunerated at £218 per day. These appointments have been made in accordance with the Cabinet Office’s Governance Code on Public Appointments. The appointments process is regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. Under the Code, any significant political activity undertaken by an appointee in the last five years must be declared. This is defined as including holding office, public speaking, making a recordable donation, or candidature for election. Rachel Baillache and Rupen Shah have not declared any activity.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Andrew Hochhauser QC appointed as Chair of RCEWA

    PRESS RELEASE : Andrew Hochhauser QC appointed as Chair of RCEWA

    The press release issued by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport on 17 August 2022.

    Andrew Hochhauser QC

    Appointed for a four year term commencing 17 September 2022.

    Andrew Hochhauser is a QC at Essex Court Chambers, a Deputy High Court Judge, a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, Hon Counsel to the Dean and Chapter of Westminster Abbey and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. He specialises in commercial and employment litigation.

    As well as a LLM from the LSE, he has an MA from the Courtauld Institute of Art, where he studied British Modernism.

    He is a former Trustee of the V&A, a Bencher and (in 2021) the former Treasurer of the Hon Soc of Middle Temple, Chair of the Samuel Courtauld Trust and an ex officio member of the Board of the Courtauld Institute of Art, Chair of Paintings in Hospitals (until January 2023), a Governor of the University of the Arts London, a Trustee of the National AIDS Trust, the V&A Foundation, the Aurora Orchestra, Orchestra for the Earth and a Director of Ensemble Plus Ultra. He was Chair of Dance Umbrella from 2007-2014 and thereafter a Governor of the Central School of Ballet. He is currently on the Board of Ballet Black.

    Remuneration and Governance Code

    Members of RCEWA are not remunerated. This appointment has been made in accordance with the Cabinet Office’s Governance Code on Public Appointments. The appointments process is regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. Under the Code, any significant political activity undertaken by an appointee in the last five years must be declared. This is defined as including holding office, public speaking, making a recordable donation, or candidature for election. Andrew Hochhauser QC has declared no activity.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Support for farmers on dry weather impacts

    PRESS RELEASE : Support for farmers on dry weather impacts

    The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, on 17 August 2022.

    More support for farmers has been set out today to help them deal with the impacts of some of the driest weather for decades, Defra has confirmed today (17 August).

    The measures mean that they will have the option to relax rules in their agri-environment scheme agreements, to make it easier to provide vital food for livestock. The changes come into effect from today and last until the end of 2022, and allow agreement holders in the Countryside Stewardship or Environmental Stewardship schemes to take steps such as cutting or grazing additional areas of land to help ease shortages of bedding, fodder, grazing or forage crops.

    A full list of these easements has been published by the Rural Payment Agency (RPA) and includes steps, such as allowing ‘buffer strips’ and field corners to be cut early. Guidance for farmers in hot and dry weather has also been made available to inform farmers how to record the adjustments they have made.

    The new rules will help increase access to bedding, fodder, grazing or forage in ways that limit its environmental impact. Forage crops – those fed to livestock or plants grown to then be cut for food – are also being impacted as less silage is made and farmers are feeding stocks to their livestock now, instead of saving them for the winter months.

    It comes as last week, the Environment Agency declared drought status for large parts of England, including the South West, South East and East, with Yorkshire added on Tuesday 16 August.

    Environment Secretary George Eustice said:

    “We are better prepared than ever before for these unprecedented dry conditions, but many farmers are concerned about water supplies and the impact on their crops and livestock.

    We are therefore introducing temporary easements on agri-environment schemes to give them the flexibility to respond.”

    Paul Caldwell, chief executive of the Rural Payments Agency, said:

    “We know that farmers are facing pressures as they deal with the consequences of these exceptionally dry conditions, and we hope these practical steps will help farmers safeguard food production and help with animal welfare.

    We are committed to supporting agreement holders as much as we can during this difficult period and help ensure that they can maintain existing environmental commitments.”

    Through its agriculture monitoring groups and working closely with industry organisations Defra is continuing to assess the impacts from dry weather and is considering what further steps can be taken in the coming weeks.

    Defra recognises long term planning for on-farm water infrastructure is needed, which is why in November 2021 the Rural Payments Agency launched the Water Management grant, where £10 million was provided for farmers to improve on-farm water management, such as water reservoirs and new irrigation systems. Further rounds of funding for new applicants will open in the autumn.

    Last month, the Rural Payment Agency also issued guidance on how to deal with difficulties arising from unusual weather on how to deal with difficulties arising from unusual weather affecting farming schemes, including Countryside Stewardship, Environmental Stewardship, Farm Woodland Premium Scheme and the Woodland Grant Scheme.

    The Environment Agency is working closely with farmers to support the industry and a package of measures to help with access to water has been introduced in order to safeguard food production and animal welfare without causing harm to the environment. These include options for farmers to access water, including through the use of short term water rights trading between licence holders and allowing flexibility with abstraction licences where the Environment Agency can ensure that the environment and other users will be protected. Where there is a real or imminent threat to crops and livestock, farmers should contact the EA to discuss availability of water.

    There is no immediate threat to food supply as a result of the current hot weather, and the UK has a high degree of food security built on supply from diverse sources, strong domestic production as well as imports through stable trade routes.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Government requests consultations with EU on participation in EU science programmes

    PRESS RELEASE : Government requests consultations with EU on participation in EU science programmes

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 17 August 2022.

    The UK Government has initiated formal consultations with the EU, with the aim of finalising UK participation in EU science and research Programmes. This follows persistent delays by the EU in implementing the agreement reached under the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA).

    The UK Government wrote to the European Commission on 16 August 2022 to request consultations on finalising the UK’s participation in EU Programmes (Horizon Europe, Copernicus, Euratom Research and Training, Fusion for Energy) and access to programme services (Space Surveillance and Tracking) as soon as possible.

    The UK’s participation was agreed with the EU under the TCA in 2020, which was clear that it would take place at the earliest opportunity when the relevant EU legislation was finalised. This timeline was vital so that UK researchers and businesses would be able to fully participate from the beginning of the respective EU Programmes. But it has now been over 18 months since the TCA was agreed and the EU has refused to proceed with the UK’s association.

    The UK Government has engaged extensively with the EU in an effort to resolve this issue. It is clear that the EU is not fulfilling the agreement reached. Association to these Programmes remains the UK’s preference, but the EU’s delays are creating intolerable uncertainty for researchers and businesses in both the UK and EU Member States. That is why the Government is taking action to start consultations with the aim of finalising UK participation. This is a mechanism agreed in the TCA to resolve issues between the UK and EU.

    Supporting the UK’s research and development sector through this period and ensuring continued collaboration remains the Government’s priority. That is why, in parallel to starting consultations, the UK continues to develop bold and ambitious plans for domestic alternative arrangements should the EU continue its refusal to meet its commitments. The UK Government released a publication on 20 July 2022 setting out further detail on these plans. If the delays continue, the UK Government will be forced to decide whether to put in place these arrangements.

    Now more than ever the UK and the EU should be working together to tackle our shared challenges from net zero to global health and energy security. The UK Government is ready to work together with the European Commission to resolve this issue and looks forward to constructive engagement during consultations.

     

  • Boris Johnson – 2022 Comments on the Infected Blood Scandal

    Boris Johnson – 2022 Comments on the Infected Blood Scandal

    The comments made by Boris Johnson, the Prime Minister, on 17 August 2022.

    While nothing can make up for the pain and suffering endured by those affected by this tragic injustice, we are taking action to do right by victims and those who have tragically lost their partners by making sure they receive these interim payments as quickly as possible.

    We will continue to stand by all those impacted by this horrific tragedy, and I want to personally pay tribute to all those who have so determinedly fought for justice.