These Regulations provide for the transfer of an authorisation to issue banknotes in Scotland from The Royal Bank of Scotland plc to Adam & Company plc.
Link: The Scottish Banknote (Designation of Authorised Bank) Regulations 2018
Source: Legislation .gov.uk
Secretary of State for Wales Alun Cairns is calling on Welsh Ministers in Cardiff Bay to follow Westminster’s lead and explore the potential of implementing a ban on third party puppy sales in Wales.
It comes as the UK Government today (8 Feb) launches a call for evidence in England, seeking views on a possible ban on third party sales, which would mean anyone looking to buy or adopt a dog will either deal directly with the breeder or with one of the nation’s many animal rehousing centres.
It forms part of a package of reforms implemented by the UK Government designed to drive up welfare standards.
Wales is a nation of animal lovers and it is vital that we maintain the highest standards of animal welfare. The UK Government is serious about improving welfare in breeding establishments and at the point of sale to ensure our much loved pets get the right start in life.
The call for evidence launched today marks a further step in the UK Government’s aim to raise the bar standards in England. I would encourage the Welsh Government to carefully consider the evidence that is submitted and to explore the potential of implementing the same measures in Wales.
Launching the call for evidence on a ban in England, UK Government Environment Secretary Michael Gove invited all interested parties to share their views by 2 May 2018 on how this could best be introduced.
Link: Press release: Welsh Secretary calls on Welsh Government to take further steps to drive up animal welfare standards
Source: Gov Press Releases
United Utilities have paid £155,000 to environmental charities as part of two Enforcement Undertakings (EUs). The EUs were offered to the Environment Agency after the company admitted causing sewage to pollute two watercourses in the summer of 2016.
EUs are a new kind of restorative enforcement sanction. Polluters can make an offer to the Environment Agency to pay for or carry out environmental improvements as an alternative to any other enforcement action and the Environment Agency decides whether this is acceptable.
In July 2016, a blockage in a sewage detention tank in Whaley Bridge, Derbyshire, caused sewage to overflow to the River Goyt, resulting in discoloration to the river downstream to New Mills, and sewage fungus being deposited on the river bed for at least a kilometre. Although no fish were found to have been killed, there was a short-term but significant impact on invertebrate life and the river habitat, in which fish such as trout and bullhead normally thrive.
In August 2016, a blockage in a sewer in Millbrook, Tameside, caused an overflow through a dislodged hatch cover, resulting in a similar impact on a shorter stretch of Swineshaw Brook which runs to the River Tame.
The EU offers were accepted by the Environment Agency in October 2017 and were completed in January 2018. United Utilities made a total of £155,000 in donations to the Wild Trout Trust, the Ramblers Association and the Healthy Rivers Trust. This money will be used to fund environmental improvements and research in the affected catchments and to restore endangered footpaths.
The company also spent a further £10,000 removing rubbish from Swineshaw Brook and also paid the Environment Agency’s incident response and investigation costs in full. In response to both incidents United Utilities had acted quickly to stop the pollution and resolve the cause. As part of the EUs the company also committed to improving their infrastructure and asset maintenance schedules in order to reduce the likelihood of this happening again.
Mike Higgins, an Environment Officer with the Environment Agency, said:
Enforcement Undertakings allow polluters to positively address and restore the harm caused to the environment
and prevent repeat incidents.They offer quicker and more directly beneficial resolution than a court prosecution and help offenders who are
prepared to take responsibility for their actions to voluntarily make things right. We will continue to seek
prosecutions against those who cause severe pollution or who act deliberately of recklessly.
Please report any environmental issues to the Environment Agency’s 24 hour Incident Hotline on 0800 80 70 60.
Link: News story: Enforcement Undertakings accepted from United Utilities
Source: Environment Agency
These Regulations make provision for the disclosure of certain information by an adoption agency to another adoption agency.
Link: The Adoption and Care Planning (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2018
Source: Legislation .gov.uk
Lord Bew, Chair, Committee on Standards in Public Life said:
This is a strong, cross-party set of proposals from the working group, which offer a standard of protection and independent support in line with those that the best employers offer their staff.
We welcome the strengthening of the roles of the independent Parliamentary Commissioners for Standards and House Committees, and, for the first time, a shared and binding behaviour code.
For these proposals to fully address unacceptable behaviour, they must be rooted in the leadership, culture and practice of the House. This report is an important and welcome first step.
Link: Press release: Committee welcomes report of the Cross-Party Working Group on an Independent Complaints and Grievance Policy
Source: Gov Press Releases
The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, David Lidington, today (8 February) announced that Mr Justice Langstaff will chair the public Inquiry into the infected blood scandal.
Mr Justice Langstaff will be the full time Chair of the Inquiry from 1 May following his retirement from the High Court. In advance of this, he will be consulting further with people affected, their families and other stakeholders on the Inquiry’s terms of reference.
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, David Lidington said:
The infected blood scandal of the 1970s and 80s is a tragedy that should never have happened. We must now ensure it can never happen again.
I am determined that this independent Inquiry will give victims and their families the answers they have spent decades waiting for.
I want to ensure the Inquiry is now established as quickly as possible. I thank Justice Langstaff for agreeing to lead this important work and Government will provide him with all the support he needs.
Mr Justice Langstaff said:
Providing infected blood and plasma products to patients truly deserves to be called a major scandal. I intend through this Inquiry to be able to provide both some well-needed answers to the victims and their families, and recommend steps to ensure that its like will never happen again.
Nothing less than a thorough examination of the evidence will suffice: and the process needs to lead to a full report within the shortest timescales that such thoroughness can accommodate.
Once the further consultation on the terms of reference has taken place, the Minister for the Cabinet Office will confirm the final terms to the House of Commons.
Link: Press release: Government announces Mr Justice Langstaff will lead inquiry into the Infected Blood scandal
Source: Gov Press Releases
Link: The Homelessness Reduction Act 2017 (Commencement and Transitional and Savings Provisions) Regulations 2018
Source: Legislation .gov.uk
These Regulations make amendments to the Registered Pension Schemes (Relief at Source) Regulations 2005 (S.I. 2005/3448), which makes provision for relief from tax on payments made to scheme administrators of registered pension schemes under Part 4 of the Finance Act 2004 (c. 12).
Link: The Registered Pension Schemes (Relief at Source) (Amendment) Regulations 2018
Source: Legislation .gov.uk
This instrument amends section 8 of the Employment Rights Act 1996 (c. 18) (“the 1996 Act”), adding to the list of particulars which must be included in the itemised pay statement which an employee has a right to be given. The amendment requires an itemised pay statement to also contain information regarding the number of hours worked by the employee for which they are being paid, but only in situations where the employee’s pay varies as a consequence of the time worked.
Link: The Employment Rights Act 1996 (Itemised Pay Statement) (Amendment) Order 2018
Source: Legislation .gov.uk
These Regulations provide for the enforcement and execution of certain specified provisions of Regulation (EU) 2015/2283 of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EU) No. 1169/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council and repealing Regulation (EC) No. 258/97 of the European Parliament and of the Council and Commission Regulation (EC) No. 1852/2001.
Link: The Novel Foods (England) Regulations 2018
Source: Legislation .gov.uk
