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Press release: Relatives of Argentine soldiers killed during the Falklands War visit the Argentine cemetery at Darwin

More than 200 relatives of 90 recently identified Argentine soldiers who lost their lives in the 1982 Falkland war visited the Falkland Islands today (Monday 26 March) to visit their newly marked graves.

As part of a joint project between the UK, Falkland Islands and Argentine Governments and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), a forensic team exhumed, analysed and documented the remains in each of the unidentified graves in the Argentine cemetery at Darwin in the Falkland Islands.

Argentina’s Secretary for Human Rights, Claudio Avruj, will accompany the families. Retired British Army Colonel Geoffrey Cardozo, who was responsible for burying the Argentine dead with sensitivity and respect immediately after the conflict, will also accompany the group.

Minister of State for Europe and the Americas, Sir Alan Duncan MP said:

I welcome this visit to the Argentine cemetery at Darwin by family members of the recently identified Argentine soldiers. This important humanitarian project, facilitated by the International Committee of the Red Cross, will provide some comfort to the families of the deceased. When visiting the cemetery the families will find their loved ones properly identified and in a place of great dignity.

I am grateful to the Falkland Islands Government who coordinated the visit, in cooperation with the Argentine Families Commission, and with support by the UK and Argentine Governments. It marks an important development in the UK-Argentina relationship and demonstrates what can be achieved with a positive and constructive relationship.

Notes for Editors:

  • The visit will include a religious ceremony jointly conducted by Auxiliary Bishop of Buenos Aires, Bishop Eguia Segui, and the Right Reverand Abbott Hugh Allan from the United Kingdom.
  • Brigadier Baz Bennett, Commander of the British Forces South Atlantic Islands, will deliver military honours for the ceremony. A Scottish Piper and a British military guard will be present.
  • The DNA identification project was funded by the UK and Argentine Governments. This is a humanitarian initiative that we support in line with our wider obligations under international law.
  • In the UK-Argentina Joint Communique of 13 September 2016, both countries expressed their full support for a DNA identification process in respect of unknown Argentine soldiers buried in the Falkland Islands.
  • Over a seven week period (7 June – 20 August 2017), an ICRC forensic team exhumed, analysed and documented the remains of each of the unidentified soldiers. 90 Argentine soldiers were positively identified.

Further information

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Link: Press release: Relatives of Argentine soldiers killed during the Falklands War visit the Argentine cemetery at Darwin
Source: Gov Press Releases

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The Land Transaction Tax (Transitional Provisions) (Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2018 / Rheoliadau Treth Trafodiadau Tir (Darpariaethau Trosiannol) (Cymru) (Diwygio) 2018

These Regulations amend the Land Transaction Tax (Transitional Provisions) (Wales) Regulations 2018 to make further transitional provision in respect of a specific case where a fixed term lease continues for a period of more than a year after its contractual termination date (a period known as “holdover”), and is subsequently renewed and backdated to a day during holdover.

Mae’r Rheoliadau hyn yn diwygio Rheoliadau Treth Trafodiadau Tir (Darpariaethau Trosiannol) (Cymru) 2018 er mwyn gwneud darpariaeth drosiannol bellach mewn cysylltiad ag achos penodol pan fo les cyfnod penodol yn parhau am gyfnod o fwy na blwyddyn ar ôl ei dyddiad terfynu contractiol (cyfnod a elwir yn gyfnod “dal drosodd”), ac yn cael ei hadnewyddu a’i hôl-ddyddio wedi hynny i ddiwrnod yn ystod y cyfnod dal drosodd.

Link:

The Land Transaction Tax (Transitional Provisions) (Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2018 / Rheoliadau Treth Trafodiadau Tir (Darpariaethau Trosiannol) (Cymru) (Diwygio) 2018

Source: Legislation .gov.uk

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Press release: Invasive species week: Floating pennywort a spreading menace

Reports of floating pennywort in our rivers and lakes have reached a record high with 50 tonnes of the invasive plant being removed from the River Thames by the Environment Agency in 2017.

Fast-growing plants like floating pennywort can spread into the wild if they are not properly disposed of when removed from garden ponds ponds. The Be Plant Wise campaign has handy tips for gardeners on how to prevent this from happening.

Lord Gardiner, the Biosecurity Minister, will see the effects of floating pennywort on Little Britain lake, Hillingdon, and hear about the work being carried out to prevent this plant from spreading further in the River Colne on Monday, 26 March 2018.

He will also see new signs being put up to encourage fishermen and boaters to Check, Clean, Dry their equipment and clothing to avoid spreading invasive species.

Biosecurity Minister, Lord Gardiner said:

Invasive species pose a real threat to our country’s native plants and animals and cost the economy at least £1.8 billion a year.

The Check, Clean, Dry campaign is playing a key role in raising awareness of these threats – helping to prevent new arrivals and stopping the spread of invasive species already here. It is great to see the whole community of river users supporting this programme to protect the future of our precious native species.

As well as following the Check, Clean, Dry advice, people can help by reporting sightings of invasive plants through the PlantTracker app.

Lord Gardiner’s visit comes as part of a wider push by government to promote Invasive Species Week. The week is an annual awareness-raising campaign organised by the GB Non-Native Species Secretariat (NNSS) and Defra to get members of the public thinking about simple steps they can take to stop the spread of invasive species which threaten Britain’s plants and animals.

Find out more on non-native species.

Below are the themes for Invasive Species Week, which runs until 29 March 2018.

  • Monday 26 March – Ornamental plants. Be Plant Wise and raising awareness of invasive plants.
  • Tuesday 27 March – Hitchhikers. Information on the ways that recreational water users, field workers and anyone out in the countryside can help to prevent the spread of INNS, in particular promoting Check Clean Dry.
  • Wednesday 28 March – Exotic pets. Owners are asked to make sure they never release pets, or allow them to escape, into the wild.
  • Thursday 29 March – #getINNSvolved – on the last day of Invasive Species Week tell us how you are getting #getINNSvolved.

Link: Press release: Invasive species week: Floating pennywort a spreading menace
Source: Gov Press Releases

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Press release: Awareness campaign for Sheffield City Region Mayoral election begins

A campaign to raise public awareness of the Sheffield City Region Mayoral election starts today (26 March 2018).

The campaign will give residents in Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield information on the election and how to vote in it. The campaign will run across social media, in radio advertisements and in posters at numerous locations across the Sheffield City Region.

Similar awareness campaigns ran across the UK ahead of Mayoral elections in Greater Manchester, Liverpool City Region, West of England, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough and Tees Valley regions last year.

The campaign will end on 11 April with the election taking place on 3 May.

Once elected, the Mayor of the Sheffield City Region will become a major figure in the political life of the South Yorkshire region, acting as an ambassador promoting the region as a great place to live, work, visit and invest in.

Dave Smith, Managing Director of the Sheffield City Region said:

I urge all residents in South Yorkshire to make sure you are registered and able to vote in the election of a Sheffield City Region Mayor on the May 30.

See more information on the Sheffield City Region Mayoral election and how to vote.

Further information

The Sheffield City Region deal was agreed on the 2 October 2015 between the government and civic leaders from South Yorkshire.

Sheffield City Region was one of 38 towns, cities, counties and regions which submitted ambitious proposals to Westminster to take control of how public money is spent in their area.

The mayor will oversee a range of powers devolved from government including responsibility over transport budgets; franchised bus services and strategic planning while the deal also includes additional devolved powers for the area’s Combined Authority.

This includes a new gain share deal within an envelope of £30 million a year for 30 years – giving Sheffield the power to use new funding to boost local growth and invest in local manufacturing and innovation.

The new mayor will act as Chair to the Sheffield City Region Combined Authority and will exercise a range of powers devolved from central government including:

  • responsibility over the region’s transport budget, with a multi-year settlement to be agreed at the Spending Review
  • responsibility for franchised bus services, which will support the Combined Authority’s delivery of smart and integrated ticketing across its councils
  • responsibility for an identified Key Route Network of local authority roads that will be collaboratively managed and maintained at the city region level by the Combined Authority on behalf of the mayor
  • powers over strategic planning

The Sheffield City Region Combined Authority, working with the mayor, will also receive the following powers:

  • control of a new gain share deal, like that agreed with Greater Manchester and other areas, within an envelope of £30 million a year for 30 years – giving Sheffield the power to boost local growth and invest in local manufacturing and innovation
  • responsibility for chairing an area-based review of 16+ skills provision and devolved 19+ adult skills funding from 2018 to 2019
  • joint responsibility with government to co-design employment support for the harder-to-help claimants, many of whom are currently referred to the Work Programme and Work Choice
  • more effective joint working with UKTI to boost trade and investment, and responsibility to work with government to develop and implement a devolved approach to the delivery of national business support programmes from 2017
  • 17 July and 18 September 2017 – at meetings of the Combined Authority, Barnsley and Doncaster did not give agreement to progress with the consultation – the next stage needed to implement the devolution deal
  • in order to have these powers transferred to them the 4 South Yorkshire councils need to do all that is necessary to fully implement the Sheffield City Region as soon as possible; this would require them to first undertake the consultation on these devolved powers

Office address and general enquiries

2 Marsham Street

London
SW1P 4DF

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Link: Press release: Awareness campaign for Sheffield City Region Mayoral election begins
Source: Gov Press Releases