Author: Pulse Assent

Arts Minister John Glen has placed a temporary export bar on a rare book with unique annotations to provide an opportunity to keep it in the country.

Workes, an annotated collection of writings by Ben Jonson, is at risk of being exported from the UK unless a buyer can be found to match the asking price of £48,000.

Ben Jonson (1572-1637) is hailed as the most important writer of the English Renaissance after Shakespeare, having lived and worked in an age of great social change that produced some of the finest works of English literature.

This extraordinarily rare volume is the only known example of a document showing how a play by Ben Jonson was prepared for performance. Material that tells us about the performance of pre-Restoration plays is extremely scarce.

This volume occupies a unique place among surviving materials because of the nature and range of its annotations to Epicoene, or The Silent Woman – including stage directions, details of props, and textual corrections – which collectively do not fall into any category previously known to scholars of seventeenth-century theatre. The volume is therefore of outstanding interest to the study of English theatrical history.

A product of a period when plays were seen not as finished pieces, but as perpetual works in progress, this volume has the potential to change scholars’ understanding of how plays were transmitted from the page to the stage and back again.

Arts Minister John Glen said:

This fascinating book shows how Ben Jonson’s works evolved and were translated to the stage.

I hope that we can keep it in the UK to enrich the study of English theatrical history and learn more about the performances of his work.

The decision to defer the export licence follows a recommendation by the Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art and Objects of Cultural Interest (RCEWA), administered by The Arts Council.

RCEWA member Peter Barber said:

The annotations in this volume shed uniquely detailed light on how one of the hit comedies of the seventeenth century might actually have been performed.

Samuel Pepys thought The Silent Woman ‘the best comedy that ever was wrote’ and this book enables us to go the theatre with him. It must remain in this country.

The RCEWA made its recommendation on the grounds of the annotated volume’s outstanding significance for the study of English theatre in the seventeenth century and, in particular, for the study of Ben Jonson’s plays in performance.

The decision on the export licence application for the book will be deferred until 5 February 2018. This may be extended until 5 May 2018 if a serious intention to raise funds to purchase it is made at the recommended price of £48,000.

Organisations or individuals interested in purchasing the book should contact the RCEWA on 0845 300 6200.

A photo of the book can be downloaded via our flickr site.

ENDS

Notes to editors

1. Details of the book are as follows:
   A second edition of volume 1 of Ben Jonson, The Workes of Benjamin Jonson (first published c1620; this edition 1640, published in London by Richard Bishop to be sold by Andrew Crooke). The volume has been rebound in plain sprinkled calf, probably around 1900. It measures (cm) 30 x 19 x 6. There are some small tears, repairs, and staining, but the book is generally in good condition.
2. The Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art and Objects of Cultural Interest is an independent body, serviced by The Arts Council, which advises the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport on whether a cultural object, intended for export, is of national importance under specified criteria.
3. The Arts Council champions, develops and invests in artistic and cultural experiences that enrich people’s lives. It supports a range of activities across the arts, museums and libraries – from theatre to digital art, reading to dance, music to literature, and crafts to collections. www.artscouncil.org.uk.

During October, there were four new detentions of foreign flagged vessels in a UK port. Six vessels remained under detention from previous months. A total of eight vessels remain under detention at the end of October.

1. In response to one of the recommendations of Lord Donaldson’s inquiry into the prevention of pollution from merchant shipping, and in compliance with the EU Directive on Port State Control (2009/16/EC as amended), the Maritime and Coastguard agency (MCA) publishes details of the foreign flagged vessels detained in UK ports each month.

2. The UK is part of a regional agreement on port state control known as the Paris Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control (Paris MOU) and information on all ships that are inspected is held centrally in an electronic database known as THETIS. This allows the ships with a high risk rating and poor detention records to be targeted for future inspection.

3. Inspections of foreign flagged ships in UK ports are undertaken by surveyors from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency. When a ship is found to be not in compliance with applicable convention requirements, a deficiency may be raised. If any of their deficiencies are so serious they have to be rectified before departure, then the ship will be detained.

4. All deficiencies should be rectified before departure if at all possible.

5. When applicable, the list includes those passenger craft prevented from operating under the provisions of the EU Directive on Mandatory Surveys for the safe operation of regular Ro-Ro ferry and high speed passenger craft services (1999/35/EU).

Notes on the list of detentions

• Full details of the ship.
  The accompanying detention list shows ship’s International Maritime Organization (IMO) number which is unchanging throughout the ship’s life and uniquely identifies it. It also shows the ship’s name and flag state at the time of its inspection.
• Company.
  The company shown in the vessel’s Safety Management Certificate (SMC) or if there is no SMC, then the party otherwise believed to be responsible for the safety of the ship at the time of inspection.
• Classification Society.
  The list shows the Classification Society responsible for classing the ship only.
• Recognised Organisation.
  Responsible for conducting the statutory surveys: and issuing statutory certificates on behalf of the Flag State
• White (WL), Grey (GL) and Black lists (BL) are issued by the Paris MoU on 01 July each year and shows the performance of flag State.

SHIPS DETAINED IN OCTOBER 2017

Vessel Name: APELLA

GT: 662

IMO: 7607613

Flag: Sierra Leone (Black List)

Company: 4M Lojistir Hizmetieri Ltd

Classification Society: PSCO

Recognised Organisation: PSCO

Recognised Organisation for ISM Doc: PSCO

Recognised Organisation for ISM SMC: PSCO

Date and Place of Detention: 27th October 2017 at Plymouth

Summary: Twenty deficiencies with eighteen grounds for detention

Defective item	Nature of defect	Ground for Detention
01137 – Civil liability for Bunker oil pollution damage cert	Missing	Yes
01139 – Maritime Labour Certificate	Missing	Yes
01106 – Document of Compliance	Missing	Yes
01122 – International ship security certificate	Missing	Yes
01113 – Minimum Safe Manning Document	Entries missing	Yes
01123 – Continuous Synopsis Record	Invalid	No
01209 – Manning specified by the Minimum Safe Manning document	Not as required	Yes
01214 – Endorsement by flagstate	Missing	Yes
07110 – Fire fighting equipment and appliances	Not properly maintained	No
05118 – Operation of GMDSS	Lack of familiarity	Yes
10112 – Electronic charts (ECDIS)	Not as required	Yes
10116 – Nautical publications	Missing	Yes
18201 – Fitness for duty – work and rest hours	Not as required	Yes
04108 – Muster List	Not updated	Yes
01326 – Stability information booklet	Not approved	Yes
01315 – Oil record book	Entries Missing	Yes
11116 – Distress flares	Expired	Yes
13102 – Auxiliary engine	Not as required	Yes
11104 – Rescue boats	Not properly maintained	Yes
07105 – Fire doors/opening in fire-resisting divisions	Missing	Yes

This vessel was still detained on 31st October 2017

Vessel Name: BLUE ALFA

GT: 1887

IMO: 7921007

Flag: Denmark (White List)

Company: Blue Star Line

Classification Society: RINA

Recognised Organisation: RINA

Recognised Organisation for ISM Doc: DNV GL

Recognised Organisation for ISM SMC: DNV GL

Date and Place of Detention: 29th October 2017 at Aberdeen

Summary: Fifteen deficiencies with five grounds for detention

Defective item	Nature of defect	Ground for Detention
02109 – Permanent means of access	Not properly maintained	No
10105 – Magnetic compass	Not as required	No
10105 – Magnetic compass	Not as required	No
10105 – Magnetic compass	Not as required	No
10104 – Gyro compass	Inoperative	No
18408 – Electrical	Not as required	No
01101 – Cargo ship safety equipment (including exemption)	Not properly filled	No
10109 – Lights, shape, sound signals	Inoperative	No
01201 – Certificate – for master and officers	Missing	Yes
10133 – Bridge operation	Lack of familiarity	Yes
10110 – Signalling lamp	Missing	No
07125 – Evaluation of crew performance (fire drill)	Lack of training	Yes
07125 – Evaluation of crew performance (fire drill)	Lack of training	Yes
18201 – Fitness for duty, work and rest	Unfit for duty	No
15150 – ISM	Not as required	Yes

This vessel was still detained on 31st October 2017

Vessel Name: SENSEI

GT: 13865

IMO: 9084229

Flag: Panama (White List)

Company: Karlog Shipping Co Ltd

Classification Society: NKK

Recognised Organisation: NKK/QRS

Recognised Organisation for ISM Doc: DNV GL/QRS

Recognised Organisation for ISM SMC: QRS

Date and Place of Detention: 29th October 2017 at Aberdeen

Summary: Eighteen deficiencies with six grounds for detention

Defective item	Nature of defect	Ground for Detention
10127 – Voyage or passage plan	Not as required	Yes
10114 – Voyage data recorder (VDR)/Simplified Voyage data recorder (S-VDR)	Not as required	Yes
05114 – Reserve source of energy	Not as required	Yes
11124 – Embarkation arrangement survival craft	Not properly maintained	Yes
11102 – Lifeboat inventory	Not as required	No
04109 – Fire drills	Lack of control	Yes
15150 – ISM	Not as required	Yes
18305 – Hospital accommodation (Sickbay)	Not as required	No
03108 – Ventilators, air pipes, casings	Damaged	No
10138 – BNWAS	Inadequate	No
11131 – On board training and instructions	Lacking of training	No
10109 – Lights, shapes, sound-signals	Not as required	No
05116 – Operation/maintenance	Not as required	No
07106 – Fire detection and alarm system	Not as required	No
11117 – Lifebuoys incl. provision and disposition	Not as required	No
10126 – Record of drills and steering gear tests	Not as required	No
07105 – Fire doors/openings in fire-resisting divisions	Not as required	No
01140 – Declaration of Maritime Labour Compliance (Part I and II)	Invalid	No

This vessel was released on 20th October 2017

Vessel Name: RUYTER

GT: 2528

IMO: 9374674

Flag: Netherlands (White List)

Company: V D Innovation BV

Classification Society: BV

Recognised Organisation: BV

Recognised Organisation for ISM Doc: RINA

Recognised Organisation for ISM SMC: RINA

Date and Place of Detention: 15th October 2017 at Warrenpoint

Summary: Eight deficiencies with four grounds for detention

Defective item	Nature of defect	Ground for Detention
04102 – Emergency fire pump and its pipes	Inoperative	Yes
02106 – Hull damage impairing seaworthiness	Holed	Yes
13102 – Auxiliary engine	Insufficient power	Yes
13102 – Auxiliary engine	Not as required	No
10138 – BNWAS	Malfunctioning	No
10117 – Echo sounder	Inoperative	No
10135 – Monitoring of voyage or passage plan	Not as required	No
15150 – ISM	Not as required	Yes

This vessel was released on 26th October 2017

DETENTIONS CARRIED OVER FROM PREVIOUS MONTHS

Vessel Name: REGGAE

GT: 1567

IMO: 8500408

Flag: Panama (White list)

Company: Voda Denizcilik Ve Districet Ltd

Classification Society: NKK

Recognised Organisation: NKK

Recognised Organisation for ISM Doc: National Shipping Adjuster Inc

Recognised Organisation for ISM SMC: NKK

Date and Place of Detention: 27th June 2017 at Leith

Summary: Nineteen deficiencies with four grounds for detention

Defective item	Nature of defect	Ground for Detention
07112 – Emergency escape breathing device and disposition	Not as required	No
18425 – Access/structural features (ship)	Missing equipment	No
04109 – Fire drills	Lack of training	No
04108 – Muster List	Incomplete	No
10105 – Magnetic compass	Not readable	No
09232 – Cleanliness of engine room	Insufficient	No
15150 – ISM	Not as required	No
03108 – Ventilators, air pipes, casing	Damaged	No
02101 – Closing devices/watertight doors	Inoperative	No
07105 – Fire doors/openings in fire-resisting divisions	Not as required	No
18203 – Wages	Not according SEA	Yes
11117 – Lifebuoys incl. provision and disposition	Missing	No
02105 – Steering gear	Not as required	No
11108 – Inflatable liferafts	Insufficient	No
01220 – Seafarers’ employment agreement (SEA)	Not as required	Yes
18314 – Provision quantity	Insufficient	Yes
18204 – Calculation and payment of wages	Not according SEA	Yes
10116 – Nautical publications	Not updated	No
13102 – Auxiliary engine	Missing	No

This vessel was still detained on 31st October 2017

Vessel Name: SECCADI

GT: 1596

IMO: 9123295

Flag: Panama (White list)

Company: Voda Gemi Isletmeciligi AS

Classification Society: NKK

Recognised Organisation: National Shipping Adjusters Inc

Recognised Organisation for ISM Doc: NKK

Recognised Organisation for ISM SMC: NKK

Date and Place of Detention: 20th June at Runcorn

Summary: Eleven deficiencies with six grounds for detention

Defective item	Nature of defect	Ground for Detention
12220 – Seafarers’ employment agreement (SEA)	Not as required	Yes
18203 – Wages	No records	Yes
18203 – Wages	Missing	Yes
18203 – Wages	Not according to SEA	Yes
18203 – Wages	Not adequate	Yes
18201 – Fitness for duty – work and rest hours	Not as required	No
18313 – Cleanliness	Signs of vermin	No
18314 – Provision quantity	Insufficient	Yes
18308 – Furnishing	Damaged	No
18302 – Sanitary Facilities	Damaged	No
15150 – ISM	Not as required	No

This vessel was released on 10th October 2017

Vessel Name: TAHSIN

GT: 1598

IMO: 9055187

Flag: Panama (White list)

Company: Voda Denizcilik IC Dis Tacaret Ltd

Classification Society: NKK

Recognised Organisation: NKK/NASHA

Recognised Organisation for ISM Doc: NKK

Recognised Organisation for ISM SMC: NKK

Date and Place of Detention: 2nd June at Sharpness

Summary: Twelve deficiencies with eight grounds for detention

Defective item	Nature of defect	Ground for Detention
18327 – Ventilation (working spaces)	Inoperative	Yes
10116 – Nautical publications	Missing	Yes
01214 – Endorsement by flagstate	Missing	No
01220 – Seafarers’ employment agreement (SEA)	Invalid	Yes
11128 – Line-throwing appliance	Expired	No
11129 – Operational readiness of lifesaving appliances	Expired	No
01202 – Certificate for rating for watching	Missing	Yes
18203 – Wages	Not according SEA	Yes
10111 – Charts	Missing	Yes
05106 – INMARSAT ship earth station	Not as required	Yes
15150 – ISM	Not as required	Yes
03104 – Cargo & other hatchways	Damaged	No

This vessel was still detained on 31st October 2017

Vessel Name: MALAVIYA SEVEN

GT: 3001

IMO: 9087312

Flag: India (Grey List)

Company: GOL Offshore Ltd

Classification Society: IRS

Recognised Organisation: IRS

Recognised Organisation for ISM Doc: IRS

Recognised Organisation for ISM SMC: IRS

Date and Place of Detention: 5th October 2016 at Aberdeen

Summary: Five deficiencies with five grounds for detention

Defective item	Nature of defect	Ground for Detention
07105 – Fire doors/openings in fire resisting divisions	Not as required	Yes
07113 – Fire pumps and its pipes	Not as required	Yes
18203 – Wages	Missing	Yes
01220 – Seafarers employment agreement (SEA)	Invalid	Yes
18204 – Calculation and payment of wages	No records	Yes

This vessel was still detained on 31st October 2017

Vessel Name: SEA TRIDENT

GT: 964.

IMO No: 7393169.

Flag: PANAMA (white list)

Company:

Classification Society: Expired

Recognised Organisation: Expired

Recognised Organisation for ISM DOC:

Recognised Organisation for ISM SMC:

Date and Place of Detention: 17 June 2016, West Cowes

Summary: Seventeen deficiencies with seventeen grounds for detentions

Defective item	Nature of defect	Ground for Detention
01101 – Cargo ship safety equipment cert	Expired	Yes
01102 – Cargo Ship safety construction cert	Expired	Yes
01104 – Cargo ship safety radio cert	Expired	Yes
01108 – Loadline cert	Expired	Yes
01117 – IOPP (International Oil Pollution Prevention cert	Expired	Yes
01119 – International Sewage Pollution Prevention cert	Expired	Yes
01124 – International Air Pollution Prevention cert	Expired	Yes
01137 – Civil liability for bunker oil pollution damage cert	Expired	Yes
01199 – Other certs (Certificate of class)	Expired	Yes
01201 – Certificates for master and officers	Missing	Yes
10111 – Charts	Not updated	Yes
10116 – Publications Nautical	Not updated	Yes
11108 – Inflatable liferafts	Expired	Yes
11116 – Distress flares	Missing	Yes
07109 – Fixed fire fighting extinguishing installation	Not as required	Yes
07110 – Fire fighting equipment & appliances	Not as required	Yes
01140 – Declaration of Maritime Labour Compliance	Missing	Yes

This vessel was still detained on 31st October 2017

Vessel Name: CIEN PORCIENTO (General Cargo)

GT: 106.

IMO No: 8944446.

Flag: Unregistered.

Company: Open Window Inc.

Classification Society: Unclassed.

Recognised Organisation: Not applicable.

Recognised Organisation for ISM DOC: Not applicable.

Recognised Organisation for ISM SMC: Not applicable

Date and Place of detention: 4 March 2010, Lowestoft

Summary: Thirty deficiencies including seven grounds for detention

This vessel was still detained on 31st October 2017

Notes to Editors

• The MCA is a partner in the Sea Vision UK campaign to raise awareness and understanding of the sea and maritime activities. Sea Vision promotes the importance and economic value of the sector and works to highlight the exciting range of activities and career opportunities available to young people within the UK growing maritime sector at www.seavision.org.uk

• Follow us on Twitter: @MCA_media

For further information please contact
Maritime and Coastguard Agency Press Office, on:
+44 (0) 2380 329 401
Press releases and further information about the agency is available here.

Solicitor General Robert Buckland QC MP will be visiting the University of Law (ULaw) in Chester today (6 November) to meet law students and take part in a Streetlaw session with local school pupils.

His visit marks the start of National Pro Bono Week, a nationwide campaign to raise awareness of the important work done by legal professionals and the voluntary sector to help people gain access to justice.

The Solicitor will visit the University of Law’s pro bono department at the Chester campus and will meet with students working with the National Centre for Domestic Violence (NCDV) which provides a free, fast emergency injunction service to survivors of domestic violence.

As part of the programme students are given full training to interview the clients over the phone and then fill in the necessary forms online that would allow injunctions to be issued. The work often leads to them acting as Mackenzie friends which involves assisting and advising a litigant in person, in the preparation of their case and during the hearing.

The Streetlaw event will see school children learning about the legal issues related to filming at school and then posting the footage online via social media.

The Solicitor General, Robert Buckland, QC MP said:

“It’s fantastic to meet future lawyers offering advice through pro bono initiatives. Many start their pro bono work while they are students and continue that important commitment throughout their careers.

“Pro bono work provides a vital contribution to our society and helps legal professionals maintain strong connections to the community.

“The Streetlaw programme is helping to educate the next generation of lawyers, while providing participants with important knowledge on legal issues that relate to them.”

Carol Draycott, Dean of The University of Law(ULaw)’s Chester campus, said:

“At ULaw we are committed to providing our students with first-hand practical experience and through our pro bono programme we have been able to help a number of people who might otherwise not have easy access to legal advice.

“We are honoured that the Solicitor General has taken time to visit us during such an important week designed to promote and highlight the voluntary work done by legal professionals.”

Streetlaw is a national, public legal education project that is delivered by law students in universities across England and Wales. The students deliver interactive and engaging legal workshops that aim to educate community groups and school children about the law as it relates to them.

A business delegation including of some of the UK’s best advanced manufacturing and innovation companies will head to China this week to boost growing bilateral trade and investment ties.

Minister for Trade and Export Promotion, Baroness Rona Fairhead, and Minister for the Northern Powerhouse, Jake Berry, will be joined by 100 leading business figures from across the Northern Powerhouse, Midlands Engine and the East of England to represent Britain at the Chinese International Industrial Fair (CIIF), where the UK has been named Country of Honour.

The UK and China enjoy strong trade links, with bilateral trade increasing by 8.9% last year to more than £59 billion, and goods exports to China rocketing by 32%.

Ministers believe there is huge potential to build on this progress and expand trade ties, especially for smaller businesses based in the East of England, Midlands and the North. The trade mission to Shanghai has been designed to showcase these companies and demonstrate what they have to offer to their Chinese counterparts.

Delegates include:

• Johnson Matthey, a global leader in sustainable technology who have made a strong commitment to support the Chinese alternative energy vehicle industry
• Liverpool Vision, who are seeking to attract further Chinese investment into the Liverpool City Region through city-city links
• Domino Printing, a provider of coding and marking solutions for Chinese enterprise, who are looking to build on their relationships which have been established since 1995

Baroness Fairhead will also meet with prominent UK businesses based in China to explore how the Department of International Trade can continue to expand support for new exporters as well as companies with an existing presence in the Chinese market.

China’s services imports have more than tripled since 2010, making China already the second largest importer of services worldwide. China’s middle class is expected to number 600 million by 2020, greater than the current entire population of the European Union, presenting unrivalled opportunities for UK business.

Minister for Trade and Export Promotion, Baroness Rona Fairhead, said:

UK exports to China are growing strongly, but it’s clear that there is still vast untapped demand for British goods and services in the Chinese market.

The opportunities for growth are there, and we will continue to use trade missions not only to build the UK culture of exporting, but also to help businesses of all sizes forge ties and cultivate relationships with potential buyers and investors.

As part of his visit Jake Berry will be attending the Northern Powerhouse Day that the Chinese International Industrial Fair is holding along with key members of the UK delegation.

Minister for the Northern Powerhouse, Jake Berry, said:

Northern Powerhouse businesses have so much to offer so it’s fantastic to see them at this year’s Chinese International Industrial Fair in Shanghai, demonstrating the strengths and opportunities for investment in the region.

This trade mission represents an exciting opportunity for the UK and China to build on an already flourishing commercial relationship.

The CIIF is the flagship event for advanced manufacturing in China, with more than 2,500 exhibitors and 160,000 visitors. It covers new energy vehicles, big data, robotics, aerospace and clean energy amongst other innovative technology.

As the Country of Honour, the UK trade mission will demonstrate the strength of British advanced manufacturing and emphasise that Britain is open for business as we prepare to exit the European Union.

The UK pavilion will exhibit the very best of the UK business, featuring companies including Jaguar Land Rover, Rolls Royce, Graphene Institute, Shadow Robotics and McLaren.

Baroness Fairhead will also visit Chongqing where she will attend the China-UK graphene standards working group, promoting the UK’s leading role in the research, development of and commercialisation of graphene.
UK companies are already benefiting from the use of the innovative material, which is 200 times stronger than steel, and it is expected to open up vast new markets around the world for British businesses.

Further information

Contact the DIT Media and Digital Team on 020 7008 3333

Follow us: @tradegovuk, gov.uk/dit

The Secretary of State is in Brussels to continue his engagement with key stakeholders in between Brexit negotiation rounds. Mr Brokenshire will inform and update leading EU figures on the current political situation in Northern Ireland as well as emphasising the unique issues affecting NI as the UK prepares to leave the EU.

The Secretary of State will meet Michel Barnier, the European Union’s Chief Brexit Negotiator, and update him on talks to form an NI Executive and the remaining political challenges Northern Ireland faces in relation to exiting the EU.

He will also hold meetings with Sir Julian King, the British European Commissioner, to discuss the latest security developments in Northern Ireland, and Phil Hogan, the European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, to discuss Northern Ireland’s agricultural interests in view of Brexit.

The Secretary of State will use the opportunity to update MEPs, including those from across the island of Ireland, on talks to restore an Executive at Stormont and discuss the unique economic, social and political context of Northern Ireland in view of Brexit.

Speaking ahead of his visit, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Rt Hon James Brokenshire MP said:

My visit to Brussels today comes at an important time. Negotiations are underway and we want to secure an agreement that delivers for all parts of the UK, including Northern Ireland.
“As Secretary of State I am fully committed to ensuring that, as negotiations progress, the interests of Northern Ireland are protected and advanced, through the development of specific solutions to address its unique circumstances.

Of course it would be better if there were an Executive in place, with whom we could also engage directly, and that is why we are working to ensure the resumption of stable devolved government in Northern Ireland. I and my department will continue to advocate for Northern Ireland’s interests and needs at the heart of Government.

We are going to make the most of the opportunities that our departure presents to Northern Ireland – getting out into the world and doing business right across the globe, while at home building a UK that works for everyone.

As I have said previously, the UK Government fully recognises the shared history that exists between the people on the island of Ireland as well as between Ireland and Great Britain so maintaining the Common Travel Area and preserving the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreements are top priorities for us.

Northern Ireland is the only part of the UK to share a land border with an EU member state, and we recognise the flow of traffic across the border on a daily basis for people going about their daily business is essential as we move forward. There must be no physical infrastructure at the border.

I believe that specific solutions can be found to Northern Ireland’s unique circumstances, and the UK Government will do all in its power to secure an outcome that works for all parts of the United Kingdom. I will be reinforcing this message during my discussions.

During a keynote speech Mr Brokenshire will tell members of the European Policy Centre, EU officials and the assembled media that Northern Ireland is immeasurably in a better place today than it was 20 years ago but we must continue to tackle the challenges of today. A full transcript of the Secretary of State’s speech will be published upon delivery.

UK Government Ministers Robin Walker and Alun Cairns will today (6 Nov) meet with a panel of Welsh businesses, universities and the voluntary and farming sectors in Cardiff as part of ongoing engagement on the opportunities and challenges of exiting the EU.

This meeting will follow an evidence session with the National Assembly for Wales where the ministers will answer questions on the EU Withdrawal Bill.

The visit is part of an ongoing programme of engagement with all parts of the UK on Brexit, and builds on recent visits to Wales by the First Secretary of State Damian Green, Environment Secretary Michael Gove and International Trade Secretary Liam Fox.

Secretary of State for Wales Alun Cairns said:

As we continue to make decisive steps towards our exit from the EU, we are committed to bringing all of the UK with us – ensuring that every sector’s voice is heard and that every nation is able to flourish from day one of departure.

The people of Wales want to make Brexit a success and both the Welsh Government and UK Government want the same thing – we want Wales to prosper and we want an agreement for the whole of the UK with the European Union. As we leave the EU, Wales will share the benefits of the UK’s new role as a strong, global, free-trading nation.

That is why we are stepping up our engagement with key sectors in Wales throughout the exit process. I’m delighted to welcome Robin Walker to Cardiff today to continue those discussions.

Minister at the Department for Exiting the EU, Robin Walker said:

We are committed to securing a deal that works for the entire United Kingdom, enabling Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and England to fully embrace the opportunities our EU exit offers.

As we continue our unprecedented level of engagement on Brexit, I look forward to hearing from key sectors in Wales about their priorities for Brexit and to updating them on negotiations and the progress of the Withdrawal Bill.

The Withdrawal Bill is a key piece of legislation in the national interest which will convert EU law to UK law on exit day, ensuring we leave the EU with certainty, continuity and control. The Bill will enter committee stage on November 14th.

The Secretary of State for Wales established the Expert Panel to work with him to deliver a smooth and orderly exit from the EU in Wales. The third meeting today builds on the constructive conversations they have already had, helping to contribute to the UK’s negotiating position.

NOTES

• The Ministers will be appearing in front of the National Assembly for Wales’ Constitutional and Legislative Committee and External Affairs and Additional Legislation Committee.