Month: December 2017

Rising levels of employment are a clear demonstration that Wales is open for business, Secretary of State for Wales, Alun Cairns said today (13 December).

Figures published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show that the employment rate in Wales has increased 0.5% across the quarter.

The statistics show:

• The unemployment level is up 6,000 (0.4 percentage points) over the quarter. The rate in Wales is now 4.7%, which is above the UK average of 4.3%
• The employment level in Wales is up 2,000 (0.5 percentage points) on the quarter. The employment rate is now 72.8%, which is still below the UK average (75.1%)
• Total employment for the UK is down 56,000 (0.2 percentage points) on the quarter but up 325,000 (0.7 percentage points) on the year. The employment rate is now 75.1%
• Total UK unemployment is down 26,000 (0.1 percentage points) on the quarter and down 182,000 (0.6 percentage points) on the year. The unemployment rate is now 4.3%, the joint lowest it has been since 1975

Secretary of State Alun Cairns said:

Whilst it is great to see that employment levels have increased there is still more that needs to be done to ensure employment levels are sustainable.

The UK Government is working hard to create the right conditions for economic growth, investment and jobs in Wales by implementing policy such as scrapping the Severn Tolls. We will continue to do more to demonstrate the strength of the Welsh economy to business.

I’m convinced that increasing exports to new markets will not only grow the Welsh economy but will create jobs across Wales. I’m doing everything I can with the support of my cabinet colleagues to help companies in Wales maximise their exporting potential.

Museums and galleries across England will be able to apply for a share of £4 million to improve exhibition spaces and increase accessibility, Arts Minister John Glen announced today.

The scheme – jointly funded by DCMS and the philanthropic Wolfson Foundation – is designed to improve the quality of displays, enhance exhibition spaces and increase access.

Since the partnership began in 2001, ten rounds of grants have helped fund 343 renovation and improvement projects at 107 museum groups and galleries. The 11th round is currently underway and is supporting an additional 39 museums.

John Glen, Arts Minister said:

This Fund is a wonderful example of how government and philanthropic organisations can work together to benefit our diverse museum sector.

These grants are an important boost to the sector, improving the visitor experience and making our world-leading collections open to as many people as possible.

Paul Ramsbottom, Chief Executive of the Wolfson Foundation said:

This programme demonstrates how philanthropy and government can work fruitfully together in partnership and we are grateful to DCMS for matching our funding. The range and quality of collections in our museums and galleries is one of the great cultural assets of this country. The aim of the Fund is to create even better visitor experiences for those viewing these wonderful collections. These are projects that are often difficult to fund from other sources, and we are delighted to be continuing our investment.

Applications will be open in spring 2018, with an announcement of successful grants expected next December.

ENDS

Notes to editors:

About the Wolfson Foundation:

The Wolfson Foundation is an independent charity that supports and promotes excellence in the fields of science, health, education and the arts. All awards are given on the basis of expert review. Over £800 million (£1.7 billion in real terms) has been awarded to more than 10,000 projects throughout the UK.

Removing these will facilitate the closure of the North Sea gas storage facility, which has been deemed unsafe by its operator.

In June this year the facility’s operator, Centrica Storage Limited (CSL), announced that it intended to close the plant due to its age, physical deterioration and the associated safety risks, plus the high cost of refurbishing the facility to make it workable.

The facility’s owners, Centrica plc (Centrica) and Centrica Storage Limited (CSL), requested that the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) remove historic undertakings – designed to ensure competition in the sector – as part of the closure process.

Following a review the CMA has decided to release CSL and Centrica from the undertakings. Agreement to the closure by the Oil and Gas Authority is still required.

Martin Cave, Chair of the Inquiry Group, said:

After a public consultation on our provisional findings the CMA has made the final decision based on the age and degradation of the gas wells and other facilities at Rough. These mean it is no longer capable of safe operation for gas storage without substantial refurbishment.

Present and anticipated market conditions were also considered, which meant the level of investment required to meet the legal obligation to operate safely was not economically viable.

These considerations have led to our final decision that the undertakings are no longer required, and so will be removed.

Further details can be found on the CMA’s case page.

Notes to editors

1. The CMA is the UK’s primary competition and consumer authority. It is an independent non-ministerial government department with responsibility for carrying out investigations into mergers, markets and the regulated industries and enforcing competition and consumer law. For CMA updates, follow us on Twitter @CMAgovuk, Facebook, Flickr and LinkedIn.

2. The Rough undertakings were first given by Centrica Storage Ltd and Centrica plc following Centrica plc’s acquisition in 2002 of the Rough gas storage facility and have been subsequently amended following Competition Commission reviews in 2006 and 2011 and a review by the CMA in 2016.

3. The Rough undertakings were accepted by the Secretary of State under section 88 of the Fair Trading Act 1973. By virtue of paragraph 16 of Schedule 24 to the Enterprise Act 2002, and The Enterprise Act 2002 (Enforcement Undertakings and Orders) Order 2004 (SI 2004/2181), the CMA has the ability to supersede, vary or release certain undertakings accepted under the Fair Trading Act 1973; this includes the Rough undertakings. This power is exercisable in the same circumstances, and on the same terms and conditions as applied to the Secretary of State under the Fair Trading Act 1973; namely that by reason of any change of circumstances the undertakings are no longer appropriate and need to be varied, superseded or released.

4. The group of CMA panel members acting as decision-makers in the review are Martin Cave (Chair), Anne Fletcher, Jayne Scott and Jon Stern.

5. Any businesses or individuals that have concerns about compliance with the commitments can contact the CMA by email general.enquiries@cma.gsi.gov.uk or by phone 020 3738 6000.

6. Media enquiries to the CMA should be directed to press@cma.gsi.gov.uk or 020 3738 6337.