Author: Pulse Assent

A No 10 spokesperson said:

The Prime Minister met the First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon in Downing Street today.

Both discussed domestic issues, including the recent allegations of improper behaviour and sexual assault in politics and agreed this behaviour was completely unacceptable. They agreed to work collaboratively to ensure that the right systems are in place to protect and support those working across the UK’s parliamentary institutions.

They spoke about the UK’s EU exit – the Prime Minister said that it remains her priority to provide certainty to businesses and people both in Scotland and across the country, as well as protecting our UK internal market.

They spoke about progress in agreeing principles on common frameworks at the recent Joint Ministerial Committee and the Prime Minister reiterated that as powers are repatriated from Brussels back to Britain there will be a significant increase in the decision-making powers for the Scottish Government and other devolved administrations.

The Prime Minister encouraged the Scottish Government to continue to work with counterparts to secure the best outcome for the people of Scotland and the whole of the UK.

The First Minister spoke about BiFab who has filed a notice of intention to appoint administrators with the Scottish Courts. The Prime Minister said this is a worrying time for the workers of BiFab and their families and the UK Government is ready to provide whatever support we can.

The Queen has been pleased to approve that Mark Lancaster TD, MP, Eleanor Laing MP, Nick Hurd MP and Sammy Wilson MP be sworn of Her Majesty’s Most Honourable Privy Council.

In Cardiff and Swansea, the 10 Ambassadors designate met with Welsh business leaders and entrepreneurs to learn more about the priorities of Welsh businesses operating overseas, and to discuss how the UK Government can further support and promote UK businesses across the globe, as well as attract future investment to Wales.

Secretary of State for Wales Alun Cairns said:

The UK Government has hundreds of embassies all around the globe, each representing Welsh citizens travelling abroad, helping to promote Wales as an inward investment destination and actively seeking export opportunities for Welsh businesses in international markets.

I’m delighted that the UK Government’s ambassadors have spent time in Wales before being posted overseas to understand the specific needs of our businesses and to gather the information required to put them in the strongest possible position to help champion Wales to countries round the world.

Whilst in Cardiff, the group visited the Senedd, and sampled the best of Welsh produce at a dinner showcasing top quality Welsh food and drink brands. The programme also included discussion with a wide range of leaders from Welsh tourism, trade and academia; at Swansea University the Ambassadors heard from the team working on the inspiring ‘Bloodhound project’ aiming to set a new World Land Speed Record of 1,000 mph, and also from expert researchers developing innovative energy solutions that will see buildings created both in the UK and in India which will generate, store and release their own power.

Kate Harrisson, due to be UK Ambassador to Lima, said:

British Embassies overseas represent the whole of the UK. This week’s visit was a great opportunity to speak face to face with a diverse range of stakeholders in Wales. I look forward to helping more Welsh businesses take advantage of the growing opportunities in emerging economies like Peru.

The Ambassadors will take up their posts early next year in countries ranging from Algeria to New Zealand, where they will play a vital role in encouraging tourism and trade opportunities, helping increase exports and growth, and providing support to UK nationals abroad.

During her three years in post, Dr McKernan has led Innovate UK through an extensive programme of work transforming the organisation and positioning it for a successful transition to UK Research and Innovation on 1 April 2018.

Ruth has been instrumental in establishing a clear plan for the organisation, particularly accelerating the growth of small to medium sized enterprises, with the introduction of both the investor accelerator and the innovation loans pilot programmes, and the development of the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund to help more UK businesses take advantage of emerging technologies.

She has also been a champion for diversity within innovation and during her tenure the ‘Women in Innovation’ campaign has seen applications from women rise from 14% to 20% in one year.

Dr Ruth McKernan said:

It has been a pleasure to work for Innovate UK since early 2015 and I am extremely proud of what we have accomplished during this time. The introduction of UK Research and Innovation is the natural transition point and an opportunity for a new leader to refine the organisation, and continue to drive business innovation in the UK.

Minister for Universities, Science, Research and Innovation, Jo Johnson said:

I would like to thank Ruth on behalf of the department for her dedicated service to Innovate UK. Ruth has implemented a substantial change programme, improving the structures and processes of the organisation while continuing to drive the benefits of innovation across the UK.

The focus on supporting and growing UK businesses will be continued as we move towards the launch of UK Research and Innovation next year to ensure the UK remains the destination of choice for research and innovation.

Sir Mark Walport, Chief Executive of UK Research and Innovation said:

It has been a tremendous pleasure to work with Ruth, who has been an excellent leader of Innovate UK. Ruth has been an excellent supporter of UK Research and Innovation and has worked closely on its design and delivery. She is leaving Innovate UK well prepared for its future as a key part of UKRI. I would like to thank Ruth particularly for her contribution to the development of the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund and wish her all the best in her future endeavours.

The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy will be launching a recruitment campaign for a successor to Dr McKernan, and the first Executive Chair of Innovate UK, shortly.

The PM’s Special Representative on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict, Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon said:

The harrowing reports of mass rape and sexual violence against the Rohingya community people in Burma are deeply disturbing.

As well as rape, gang rape, invasive body searches, and murder, the reports suggest that evidence of these crimes is being deliberately destroyed to stop those responsible being brought to justice. These abuses are a clear human rights violation and must cease immediately.

The Head of Team for the FCO’s Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative (PSVI) visited the region alongside the UN to meet with survivors, support workers, and government officials. We will also shortly be sending two experts to Bangladesh to provide further support on responding to sexual violence, including on investigating and documenting these abhorrent crimes.

The international community have united come together to deliver a global response to the dire humanitarian situation and human rights abuses. We also acknowledge the Bangladeshi government have been instrumental in helping those most in need.

Background

The Head of Team for the Foreign & Commonwealth Office’s (FCO’s) Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative visited Bangladesh alongside the UN Secretary General’s Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict, Pramila Patten. They visited Dhaka and Cox’s Bazar and met survivors, service providers and government officials.

The FCO is working with the Stabilisation Unit to deploy 2 Deployable Civilian Experts (DCE) to Bangladesh to conduct a needs assessment of the extent of reported sexual violence and service provision. The DCEs are experts in gender issues and criminal law, including sexual violence in conflict, they will look at the extent of reported incidents of sexual violence, services being provided to survivors and their families, identify gaps in service provision and make recommendations for the UK government. Part of the assessment will be a deep dive on investigation and documentation of sexual violence.

The PSVI Team of Experts (ToE) was established in 2012 to strengthen the specialist capabilities that the UK is able to bring to bear on these issues. The ToE is owned by the FCO and housed in the Stabilisation Unit, forming part of their wider Civilian Stabilisation Group, which is a roster of Deployable Civilian Experts. The ToE currently consists of criminal lawyers, policing advisers, gender based violence experts, international investigating officers, training experts, psychosocial experts, social workers, and sexual offences examiners. Each deployment is tailored to local needs and circumstances.

The ToE does not collect evidence or investigate sexual violence. Instead the deployments are designed to complement and reinforce the work of others, including governments UN and NGOs. Since November 2012 we have deployed 74 experts to 13 countries in support of 22 projects. Read further information about the ToE.

Burma is a priority country for PSVI and Women, Peace and Security including in the UK’s National Action Plan and Implementation Plan which runs from 2014 to 2017. The National Action Plan enables the government to articulate our priorities on Women, Peace and Security and co-ordinate implementation of our work at the national level.

A team working on the M5 Oldbury viaduct repair scheme is helping to transform a former derelict site into a community garden so it can be used by local charity, Ideal for all.

The derelict land, near junctions 1 and 2 of the M5 at Oldbury, is part of a programme of projects to give something back to local communities where work is currently being carried out by contractors BMV on behalf of Highways England to repair the viaduct.

Highways England is working with Ideal for All, a registered charity run by disabled people for disabled people in the Black Country, to create a fully functioning therapeutic garden and community learning space at Barlow Road in Wednesbury.

Ideal for All, through its award winning Growing Opportunities project, has already successfully developed two existing gardens; Salop Drive Market Garden (Oldbury) and therapeutic unit Malthouse Gardens (Smethwick). They are now working alongside the local community, M5 Oldbury viaduct team and Power to Change Community Business Fund to expand the project into Wednesbury (Barlow Road).

The site has already undergone phase one and one of development, being initially overgrown and unused for many years. Since the start of the Oldbury viaduct scheme, the team are carrying out further phase three development works and clearance across the Barlow road site.

In July, workers from contractors BMV attended the Ideal for All ‘volunteer day’. This involved working alongside local volunteers and project participants, weeding and hedge trimming around the existing orchard. More recently the team has been back on site carrying out some rotovating and larger scale orchard clearance work.

Highways England senior project manager, Zbigniew Twarowski, said:

We appreciate the impact that M5 Oldbury viaduct project currently has on the local community.

We are always looking to minimise the disruption, but we know that there is a limit to what we can do. We are therefore looking to create a lasting legacy for the project. We will return a refurbished viaduct but we also want to support communities and improve lives.

Ideal for All’s CEO, Khatija Patel, said:

We are excited to be working with local people, businesses and Power to Change. Together we’re working hard towards the final transformation into a full functioning local asset, complete with community gardens, accessible buildings and community spaces.

The project will provide health, mental health and wellbeing opportunities alongside employment and skills training; benefiting local people, protecting the natural environment and creating opportunities to support and sustain economic regeneration of the area.

Seeing the project develop through the generous support from the Oldbury viaduct scheme has been fantastic and we cannot thank you all enough!

Ideal for All provides a range of social and health care services for disabled people, carers and disadvantaged groups.

The aim is to help people to learn new skills and live as independently as possible, regardless of background or additional needs. The charity offers a range of services to promote independent living, health and wellbeing and employment and skills and brings people together through peer support and social events.

General enquiries

Members of the public should contact the Highways England customer contact centre on 0300 123 5000.

Media enquiries

Journalists should contact the Highways England press office on 0844 693 1448 and use the menu to speak to the most appropriate press officer.

St Thomas More Catholic Primary School received a much-needed facelift after 80 employees from 12 different organisations provided materials to carry out the work over a two-week period.

Among the many tasks achieved, communal areas were cleaned, walls and woodwork painted and 275 old coat hooks replaced with brightly coloured, matching ones. New plastic sheeting was also installed around busy places near banisters and the canteen, so they can be wiped clean more easily.

There were major improvements outside as well. Benches were given a new lease of life while planters were built out of fence posts that create a welcoming entrance to the building. The playground has had new long-lasting rubber surface laid to ensure that pupils are able to play in a safe environment.

This hugely impressive team effort was made possible through close collaboration between the various organisations working via East Midlands Asset Delivery (EMAD) for Highways England. They include maintenance and response contractor Amey, design contractor Kier and 21 other suppliers.

Amey’s Principal Operations Manager Katy Stephens, who was a key organiser of the event, said:

This was a great community involvement project which saw the many partners in EMAD really work together and get a brilliant result. Not only does this primary school in the heart of Kettering now look significantly improved but this was a wonderful opportunity for the various organisations in EMAD to further cement their working relationships. A great project which was an honour to take part in!

Highways England regional director, Catherine Brookes, joined colleagues in carrying out the facelift. She said:

We were delighted to get involved and do our bit to help the school. It’s great to see organisations coming together like this to support the local community.

Fraser Donald, Headteacher of St Thomas More Catholic Primary School, said:

I would just like to say a huge ‘thank you’ to Amey, Highways England and their suppliers for all their hard work, commitment and vision to our summer renovation project at school. The work was carried out to a high standard and I am so pleased with the fresh start they have given to all of our school family at St Thomas More. Thank you again for everything and please know that you are always welcome back – you are part of the family now!

General enquiries

Members of the public should contact the Highways England customer contact centre on 0300 123 5000.

Media enquiries

Journalists should contact the Highways England press office on 0844 693 1448 and use the menu to speak to the most appropriate press officer.