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International Trade Secretary Dr Liam Fox will travel to Geneva today (Thursday 16 November), home of the World Trade Organization (WTO), for a digital trade seminar.

The digital economy is playing an increasingly prominent role in global trade, and yet many of the relevant WTO rules have not been updated for 2 decades. The UK, as part of the EU, is already a leader in this area. The digital sector accounted for more than £32 billion of exports in services in 2015, a growth of almost 40% since 2010.

The seminar will explore the growing influence of digital trade on the global economy, and how best to shape and modernise global trading rules and standards to allow for the development of new technologies, such as artificial intelligence and big data. It will also address barriers and challenges to advancing this agenda for the benefit of all WTO members.

International Trade Secretary Dr Liam Fox said:

The principal WTO rules for the digital economy have not been significantly updated for over 2 decades, and yet the impact of digital technology during this period has been unprecedented.

The future of global trade will be largely shaped by the digital economy, which will unlock the vast potential of trade in the services sector. As an international economic department we can help lead modernisation reforms from within the WTO, and ensure British businesses can access a wider range of markets than ever before.

The seminar will also explore how to allow more Small Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to access e-commerce solutions and interact with a wider network of consumers in the global market in both developed and developing countries.

Ambassadors from a broad group of WTO trading nations will attend the session, which will also consider how best to promote and protect the open, free and secure nature of the internet.

The digital economy, in particular e-commerce, is an important driver for wider economic growth and helping to ensure all countries can access the benefits will enable contribution to a truly inclusive global trading system.

Dr Fox will meet with a number of ambassadors to the WTO as he continues to promote further liberalisation of global trade, with the visit signalling a continued interest and commitment to ensuring a substantive positive outcome on digital trade at the upcoming WTO Ministerial Conference in Buenos Aires scheduled for December.

Notes to editors

World Trade Organization

The WTO was established in 1994 as an international body to regulate trade and encourage nations to agree to adhere to the principle of ever-greater trading freedom.

As a founding member, on leaving the EU the UK will need to update the terms of WTO membership where, at present, all of the country’s commitments are applied through the EU as a whole. The process will mean ‘technical rectification’, by simply replicating current obligations, is the most simple and straightforward solution, and will cause the minimum disruption to trade.

Statistics

Information on Digital Sector exports taken from DCMS Sectors Economic Estimates 2017: Employment and Trade

Further information

Contact the DIT Media and Digital Team on 0207 215 2000

Follow us: @tradegovuk, gov.uk/dit

The First Secretary of State and Minister for the Cabinet Office, Damian Green, has announced today that the government will publish a green paper on care and support for older people by summer 2018. The paper will set out plans for how government proposes to improve care and support for older people and tackle the challenge of an ageing population.

As people are living longer and the population ages, the government recognises the need to reach a long-term, sustainable solution to providing the care older people need. As part of this work the government has begun a process of engagement in advance of the green paper to ensure it reflects a wide range of views and requirements. Government will work with independent experts, stakeholders and users to shape the long-term reforms that will be proposed in the green paper.

These proposals will build on the additional £2 billion over the next 3 years that the government has already provided to meet social care needs, reduce pressures on NHS services and stabilise the social care provider market in the short term.

First Secretary of State and Minister for the Cabinet Office, Damian Green, said:

“An ageing population needs a long-term solution for care, but building a sustainable support system will require some big decisions. In developing the green paper, it is right that we take the time needed to debate the many complex issues and listen to the perspectives of experts and care users, to build consensus around reforms which can succeed.”

Secretary of State for Health, Jeremy Hunt said:

“We are committed to reforming social care to ensure we can guarantee everyone dignity and security in old age. It is important we consider a wide variety of views on the future of the social care system – as our ageing population continues to grow it is absolutely vital that we get this right.”

Once the green paper is published in summer 2018, it will be subject to a full public consultation.

The MCA has launched a public consultation on measures which would address all aspects of living and working conditions on fishing vessels, including decent crew accommodation, work agreements, medical fitness of seafarers and medical care on board. Regular payment of wages or payment of another type in accordance with the fisherman’s work agreement would also be required.

In particular, implementing the International Labour Organisation’s Work in Fishing convention (ILO 188) would also give a framework for protecting all fishermen, regardless of their employment status.

Proposals have been prepared in consultation with representatives from the UK fishing federations, the Fisherman’s Mission and Nautilus International.

Sir Alan Massey, chief executive of the MCA said: ‘The UK ratified the ILO’s Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 (MLC) in 2014 and there is evidence that the MLC is making a difference in improving the working lives of seafarers worldwide.

‘Putting in place the Working in Fishing Convention would do the same for fishermen. We know there are concerns about the terrible conditions that some fishermen have been working in – sadly sometimes, even in the UK. We share those concerns as part of our commitment to safer lives and safer ships.

‘One of the most important reasons for bringing in ILO 188 is to prevent mistreatment of any sort on board, by setting out – and enforcing – the minimum standards we expect for living and working conditions for all fishermen.’

Maritime Minister John Hayes said: ‘Fishermen across the UK often brave cold and dangerous seas to bring home their much-needed catches.

‘We have a rightful duty to improve the living and working standards for these men and women who play an important role in our maritime sector and nation.

‘This industry-wide consultation will enshrine better employment conditions into UK law and help ensure that all fishermen have a fair and safe working environment.’

The Consultation closes on 12 January 2018. To see the consultation package in full please follow the link below:

Implementation of the ILO Work in Fishing Convention 2007 (ILO 188) into UKLaw

New figures out today (16 November 2017) show the number of new homes in England has risen by 15% over the past year – as government begins to see the results of efforts to get the country building.

Communities Secretary Sajid Javid welcomed the figures as he set out next steps in fixing our broken housing market and boost building more homes.

Speaking in Bristol, which in the past year has seen one of the largest increases in England – 30% – in the number of homes, he set out his vision for housing.

He also announced action against 15 local authorities that have failed to produce a local plan setting how and where they expect to meet their residents’ needs for new homes.

Communities Secretary Sajid Javid said:

These latest figures are clear evidence that this government is turning things around with over 1.1 million homes delivered since 2010.

Steps have been made in the right direction – but I want to see a giant leap, and hundreds of thousands more homes. We owe it to our future generations to fix this broken housing market and help them find a home of their own.

Whilst some councils are recognising their responsibilities and stepping up to meet the housing challenge, too many are still not acting. That’s why I’m stepping in now to make sure they act.

In 2004, the existing procedure for councils to draw up a local plan, setting how and where they expect to meet their residents’ needs for new homes was introduced.

Latest figures published today show that more than 70 local authorities still have not had a local plan adopted and 15 of these are showing particular cause for concern having missed deadlines and failed to make progress.

These 15 local authorities have now been served notice that government has begun the formal process of intervention as set out in the housing white paper.

Without a local plan in place it can mean uncertainty for local people and piecemeal speculative housing development. It can also mean the right investment in local infrastructure isn’t made.

Housing remains the government’s priority – that’s why the Prime Minister last month announced an additional £2 billion funding for affordable housing, increasing the Affordable Homes Programme budget to over £9 billion.

Other steps taken by government include the £3 billion Home Building Fund – set up to increase the number of homes built. Today we have confirmed that £1.8 million has been committed to deliver over 100,000 new homes.

Government has also provided long-term rent certainty for social landlords, creating a stable investment environment to support councils and housing associations to build more affordable homes.

Further information

See the new supply of housing statistics published today.

The 217,350 net additions over the past year resulted from: 183,570 new build homes, 37,190 gains from change of use between non-domestic and residential, 5,680 from conversions between houses and flats and 720 other gains.

The 15 local authorities we have begun the formal process of considering intervention are: Basildon, Brentwood, Bolsover, Calderdale, Castle Point, Eastleigh, Liverpool, Mansfield, North East Derbyshire, Northumberland, Runnymede, St Albans, Thanet, Wirral and York.

They will now have until 31 January 2018 to explain why they haven’t yet published a plan and provide any exceptional circumstances for why the government shouldn’t intervene. The Communities Secretary would then consider these submissions before deciding whether to use the range of powers he has to direct specific actions on these local authorities. This could ultimately see government take over the process to produce a local plan in a certain area.

Further details are set out in the written ministerial statement.

• UK and Welsh Governments introduce new water protocol for England and Wales
• Paves the way to remove the Secretary of State powers to intervene on water policy in Wales
• Protocol demonstrates how far we have come from the events of 52 years ago, which resulted in the flooding of the Tryweryn Valley
• Protocol will come into force on 1 April 2018

The UK Government has today laid before Parliament a water protocol for England and Wales which will safeguard water resources, water supply and water quality for consumers on both sides of the border.

Delivered jointly with the Welsh Government, this protocol meets a key commitment made during the passage of the Wales Act 2017 and paves the way for the Secretary of State powers of intervention in relation to water to be repealed.

Under the Government of Wales Act 2006, the Secretary of State currently holds powers to intervene if he believes an Assembly Bill, or the exercise of a devolved function, risks having a serious adverse impact on water resources, water supply or water quality in England.

The protocol replaces these intervention powers with a reciprocal agreement between the UK and Welsh Governments.

Secretary of State for Wales Alun Cairns said:

The UK Government is today acting on its commitment to deliver a water protocol so that the interests of water consumers in Wales – and those in England – are protected.

From today onwards, no action or inaction by either the UK or Welsh Governments relating to water resources, water supply or water quality should have serious adverse impacts for consumers on either side of the border.

This protocol demonstrates how far we have come from the events of 52 years ago, which resulted in the flooding of the Tryweryn Valley. Today’s agreement puts cross-border arrangements for water on a footing fit for the 21st century and underlines what can be achieved when two governments work together for Wales’ future prosperity.

These are powers which affect the lives of everyone living in Wales and are a major step towards the clearer, stronger and fairer devolution settlement that the UK Government is putting in place for the people of Wales.

Environment Secretary Michael Gove said:

Across the UK we have a shared interest in protecting our environment and delivering a Green Brexit.

The new water protocol for England and Wales is an important part of this shared interest and will make sure water resources, supply and quality are safeguarded for consumers on both sides of the border.

We must all continue to work closely together on the environment, fisheries and agriculture as powers are returned from the European Union.

The intervention powers will be repealed when the new reserved powers model of devolution put in place by the Wales Act 2017 comes into effect on 1 April next year.

You can read the protocol here.