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Press release: PM meeting with First Minister Carwyn Jones: 14 March 2018

A Downing Street spokesperson said:

After the latest Joint Ministerial Committee this afternoon, the Prime Minister met with the First Minister of Wales Carwyn Jones.

Following on from discussions in the JMC, the First Minister and the Prime Minister agreed that they should continue to work together to find an agreement on the amendment to Clause 11 in the EU Withdrawal Bill.

The First Minister also raised the Swansea Bay tidal lagoon, the devolution of Air Passenger Duty and the recent developments of the United States’ position on steel.

Link: Press release: PM meeting with First Minister Carwyn Jones: 14 March 2018
Source: Gov Press Releases

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Press release: PM meeting with First Minister Nicola Sturgeon: 14 March 2018

A Downing Street spokesperson said:

This afternoon, the Prime Minister met with the First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon ahead of the latest Joint Ministerial Committee between the UK government and devolved administrations.

The Prime Minister updated the First Minister on the Brexit negotiations and made clear her commitment to a deal that works for the whole of the UK and protects the security and prosperity of all our communities.

On devolution, they discussed the tabled amendment to the EU Withdrawal Bill that would ensure the vast majority of devolved powers will transfer directly to Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast and committed to continuing to work together to find an agreement.

The Prime Minister also provided an update on the nerve agent attack in Salisbury and thanked the First Minister for her strong support of the actions the UK Government is taking against Russia in response.

Link: Press release: PM meeting with First Minister Nicola Sturgeon: 14 March 2018
Source: Gov Press Releases

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Press release: Military grade underwater cameras working to end illegal fishing for eels in the Fens

Fisheries enforcement staff at the Environment Agency have been working with new underwater sonar technology to assess fish populations, especially where it’s hard to use classic methods like netting and electric fishing. The technology is also being put to excellent use elsewhere and giving us eyes underwater as well as above.

Our fisheries enforcement work helps to protect the environment and ensure fisheries income is generated through rod licence sales. All anglers require an Environment Agency rod licence to fish in England and Wales. The Environment Agency also lead on the enforcement of permits for migratory species like eels, smelt and lamprey. Regular auditing of these fisheries is essential to ensure protection of these iconic and in the case of eel – a critically endangered species; but also to ensure that the activity is regulated and sustainable.

Illegal eel fishing is a priority for the Environment Agency who are the lead organisation responsible for the conservation of this now endangered species. The eel stock is in decline, recruitment is at an all-time low, and exploitation of the stock is currently unsustainable. We regulate the fishing industry, which is carried out by only a handful of licensed fishermen. We also protect eel habitat, improve passage allowing ore access for eels further upstream and regulate other activities that might impact on each life stage of the species. While the West of England has issues with elver fishing – the capture of tiny juvenile eels returning from the America’s for a global market, in the East the fens provide excellent habitat for mature eels, vital in supporting this European species. Adult “silver” eels will return to the Sargasso Sea as their final life stage to spawn and much of our enforcement work protects this phase.

Our new sonar equipment has allowed us to see, with amazing clarity, where we’ve never been able to before – under the water.

This makes checking for nets, especially illegal equipment, much easier and makes us more efficient and in some cases 100% effective. A recent audit of a river near Kings Lynn resulted in a record illegal eel net seizure; 16 nets in total capable of significantly impacting an emigrating eel population – hundreds of eels were released. The nets were removed and we worked with Norfolk police to investigate the case.

Using boat mounted sonar equipment we can travel up to 10km per day, checking every inch of channel for illegal and submerged equipment. This is our greatest weapon in halting the illegal exploitation of eels and gives us a chance to completely rid waters of illegal instruments. We are using this technology to regulate other areas of illegal fishing including poaching, netting and trapping. You can see from the images how easy it is for us to spot illegal equipment, here both ends of an eel “fyke” net can be clearly seen stretching across the river channel. We use boats and specially trained enforcement staff to check traps and remove any illegal ones we find.

Anyone fishing for eels should be permitted, be fishing within the conditions of the licence, and nets must include visible and valid tags, as well as being equipped with otter guards too.

Any suspected illegal fishing activity should be reported to the Environment Agency’s Incident Hotline on 0800 80 70 60.

Anyone wishing to fish for migratory species including eels should visit
Permission to trap crayfish, eels, elvers, salmon and sea trout.

All anglers need a valid Environment Agency rod licence which can be bought using a credit or debit card by calling the Environment Agency’s telesales line on 0344 800 5386. Alternatively, they can be obtained from any Post Office or visit:
Buy a rod fishing licence

Link: Press release: Military grade underwater cameras working to end illegal fishing for eels in the Fens
Source: Environment Agency

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Press release: Change of Her Majesty’s Ambassador to Iran in April 2018

Mr Rob Macaire CMG has been appointed Her Majesty’s Ambassador to the Islamic Republic of Iran in succession to Mr Nicholas Hopton who will be transferring to another Diplomatic Service appointment. Mr Macaire will take up his appointment in April 2018.

Commenting on the appointment, Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said:

Iran has an important role to play in the Middle East region, but it is essential that it does so in a constructive way – something I made clear during my visit to Tehran in December last year. The Iran deal, signed in 2015, was a huge diplomatic success. The product of years of patient and persistent diplomacy that extinguished the threat of a nuclear-armed Iran.

In that vein, I am pleased that Rob will be applying his wealth of international experience to the leading HMG’s engagement in Tehran. We face challenges – including the ongoing cases of British dual-nationals detained in Iran – and areas for potential collaboration. I look forward to working with him across these areas.

Mr Macaire said:

I am honoured to be appointed the new British Ambassador to Iran. The UK’s continued engagement with Iran is vital to our goal of making the Middle East region a safer and more stable place. I look forward to working with the Government of Iran and with international partners to preserve the nuclear deal and deepen our bilateral relationship, through constructive engagement on human rights, trade, and seeking political solutions to the conflicts in Yemen, Syria and elsewhere.

CURRICULUM VITAE

Full name: Robert Macaire CMG

Married to: Alice Macaire

Children: Two

2016 – present Language Training

2011 – 2016 BG Group plc. Director of Government/Public Affairs and Political Risk

2008 – 2011 Nairobi, British High Commissioner

2006 – 2008 FCO, Director, Consular Services

2004 – 2006 New Delhi, Political Counsellor

2002 – 2004 FCO, Head, Counter Terrorism Policy Department

1998 – 2002 Washington, First Secretary, Middle East and Counter-terrorism

1998 FCO, Head of Sierra Leone Unit, Africa Directorate

1997 –1998 FCO, Head of Southern Africa Section, Africa Directorate

1996 – 1997 FCO, Head of MEPP Section, Near East and North Africa Department

1995 – 1996 FCO, Head of Levant Section, Near East and North Africa Department

1991 – 1995 Bucharest, Second Secretary (Know How Fund)

1990 FCO, Falkland Islands Department

Further information

Media enquiries

For journalists

Link: Press release: Change of Her Majesty’s Ambassador to Iran in April 2018
Source: Gov Press Releases

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The Social Security (Contributions) (Re-rating) Consequential Amendment Regulations 2018

These Regulations amend the Social Security (Contributions) Regulations 2001 (S.I. 2001/1004) (“the Contributions Regulations”) with effect from 6th April 2018. They are made in consequence of annual regulations setting the rate at which Class 2 National Insurance contributions are payable and which are made under section 141 of the Social Security Administration Act 1992 (c. 5) and section 129 of the Social Security Administration (Northern Ireland) Act 1992 (c. 8).

Link: The Social Security (Contributions) (Re-rating) Consequential Amendment Regulations 2018
Source: Legislation .gov.uk

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The Tax Credits and Childcare (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2018

These Regulations amend the Tax Credits (Definition and Calculation of Income) Regulations 2002 (“the Income Regulations”), the Tax Credits (Claims and Notification) Regulations 2002 (“the Claims Regulations”), the Working Tax Credit (Entitlement and Maximum Rate) Regulations 2002 (“the Entitlement Regulations”) and the Childcare Payments Regulations 2015 (“the Childcare Regulations”).

Link: The Tax Credits and Childcare (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2018
Source: Legislation .gov.uk