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The UK Government took an important step to minimise disruption and offer certainty to Welsh businesses and trading partners today taking forward the next two Brexit Bills to Parliament.

The UK Government has been working closely with the Welsh Government at all levels to ensure trade policy works for Wales and that businesses there will continue to benefit from existing trade deals after the UK leaves the EU.

The Bills will look to support Wales’ growing exports, 61% of which went to non-EU countries in 2016, and foreign investment. In the last year alone, foreign investment created over 2,500 jobs from 85 new projects.

Key measures in the Trade Bill include provisions for the UK to implement existing EU trade agreements, ensuring UK companies can continue to access major government contracts in other countries and creating a new trade remedies body to defend UK businesses against unfair and injurious trade practices.

Further tax-related elements of the UK’s trade policy will be legislated in the Treasury’s Customs Bill – Taxation (Cross-border Trade) Bill – as part of the creation of a new UK tariff regime. This includes the trade remedies and unilateral trade preferences which provide preferential trade access to UK markets for developing countries.

Following a recent meeting with the Welsh Government in Cardiff, the International Trade Secretary Dr Liam Fox welcomed the commitments as part of the new legislation to work with the Welsh Government to create trade policies which work for Wales’ businesses and consumers.

Secretary of State for Wales Alun Cairns said:

There has never been a better time for Welsh companies to trade and export overseas and this Bill will provide businesses with stability and certainty to continue doing so.

We now have the opportunity to shape our own ambitious trade and investment opportunities in Europe and beyond, and put Wales and Britain firmly at the forefront of global trade and investment.

International Trade Secretary Dr Liam Fox said:

This Bill will ensure that we support Wales’ extensive global trade, reaching out to growing international markets, with 61% if its exports going beyond the EU, while supporting its existing trade partners.

We want Wales to trade across the world on a level playing field and this Bill provides that, enabling us to continue our existing trade agreements and manage our own customs for the whole of the UK.

Trade Bill

The Trade Bill laid in Parliament today will:

• Create powers to assist in the transition of over 40 existing trade agreements between the EU and other countries;
• Enable the UK to have continued access to £1.3 trillion worth of government contracts and procurement opportunities in 47 countries – by becoming an independent member of the Agreement on Government Procurement (GPA);
• Establish a new independent UK body, the Trade Remedies Authority, to defend UK businesses against trade fluctuations and unfair trade practices; and
• Ensure the UK Government has the legal abilities for gathering and sharing trade information, as evidence to support UK businesses against surges in imports and unfair practices.

Customs Bill

The government also laid resolutions for the Customs Bill, which will enter Parliament shortly. The Bill will allow the government to create a standalone customs regime and amend the VAT and excise regimes including allowing the government to:

• Charge and vary customs duty on goods;
• Specify which goods pay what duty;
• Set preferential or additional duties in certain circumstances – for example, to support developing countries; and
• Maintain a functioning movement of goods from the day we leave the EU by continuing the VAT and excise regimes in line with the final deal reached in negotiations.

The Defence Science and Technology Laboratory’s (Dstl’s) third-year engineering apprentices have recently graduated with every single apprentice being retained by Dstl and going on to take up roles across the business.

As the recently graduated apprentices all go on to jobs within the organisation, 20 more apprentices will be joining the scheme, taking the total number currently on the programme to 53.

The 5 apprentices who successfully completed the course; Cameron Fitze, Ben Churchill, Jamie Moore, Ewan Walker and Zac Hall, have collected awards at a number of competitions, including the prestigious Tom Nevard Memorial Competition.

The team also worked with schools to talk about the benefits of doing an apprenticeship, resulting in more than 100 applicants for the 2017 intake of engineering apprentices.

Zac Hall, 20, winner of Dstl’s apprentice of the year (mechanical), said:

It’s been a really good past 3 years and I’ve learned lots. I’ve come from not knowing what engineering really was, to being able to produce parts that help people out on the front line. Winning the award has been amazing – it just shows that the hard work that I’ve been putting in has paid off.

Dstl’s outgoing Chief Executive, Jonathan Lyle, said:

The best bit of my job is to celebrate the achievements of people like this. We’re absolutely committed to our apprentice scheme and it’s fantastic that all 5 graduating apprentices have secured roles at Dstl. The Ministry of Defence and our other customers need the very best skills.

Dstl’s apprentice scheme, now in its tenth year, brings in people of all ages and backgrounds, from school leavers to those looking for a second career or a change of direction. Applications for Dstl’s 2018 apprenticeship scheme will open in January 2018. For more information, visit Civil Service Jobs or Dstl’s Facebook page.

Public Health England (PHE) has issued a fresh appeal to young women to take up the invitation of a cervical cancer test as new figures published today show a fall in the number of 25 to 29-year-old women being tested.

NHS Digital statistics show a drop in the number of women of all ages being screened but worryingly only 62% of younger women took up the invitation for a test last year.

PHE is urging all eligible women (aged 25 to 64) who are invited for cervical screening (smear tests) to take the test.

Cervical screening currently prevents 70% of cervical cancer deaths. However, if everyone attended screening regularly, 83% of cases could be prevented.

Professor Anne Mackie, PHE’s director of screening said:

It is of real concern that fewer women, particularly younger women are not being screened, with over a third of women under 30 not taking the test.

If women are embarrassed about having the test or worried about what the test results might say, they should talk to their GP who can explain why the test is important.

PHE is committed to improving screening attendance and has a programme of work which includes:

• supporting local services to encourage more women to attend screening by providing clearer information
• encouraging GPs to consider offering a variety of appointments earlier in the morning and evening, making it easier for women to attend at a time that suits them
• developing an interactive database which informs individual practices about the numbers of women they are screening and how they compare with neighbouring practices

Women aged 25 to 49 registered with a GP are invited every 3 years and every 5 years if aged 50 to 64. The test detects abnormalities within the cervix that could, if undetected and untreated, develop into cervical cancer. Studies show if the proportion of women screened was raised to 84% it could save the NHS £10 million a year as well as women’s lives.

The Cervical Cancer Screening Programme, recommended by the UK National Screening Committee, began in 1988 and the expert committee has reviewed the evidence every 3 years. The committee recommends the programme as it shows clear benefits and saves lives. Screening remains a choice, based on a woman’s individual circumstances.

Background

1. Women over the age of 64 will no longer be invited for cervical screening unless they have had a previous abnormal result that requires a further follow up.
2. PHE’s interactive screening coverage tool shows screening coverage for individual GPs and how they compare with neighbouring practices.
3. Public Health England exists to protect and improve the nation’s health and wellbeing, and reduce health inequalities. It does this through world-class science, knowledge and intelligence, advocacy, partnerships and the delivery of specialist public health services. PHE is an operationally autonomous executive agency of the Department of Health.

Today, HM Land Registry is making available, for free, data on land or property in England and Wales where the registered legal owner is a UK company or corporate body, or an overseas company.

The Commercial and Corporate Ownership Data and Overseas Companies Ownership Data contain more than 3 million rows of data and include the address, company’s name, price paid and country of incorporation along with other useful information.

By making the data available free of charge HM Land Registry is offering citizens and organisations the opportunity to scrutinise the records and discover which companies own land and property in England and Wales.

Today’s release also removes existing cost barriers that have previously restricted the use of the data. This will support growth in the property technology (PropTech) sector and among small and medium-sized enterprises.

Responding to the Government’s commitment to drive innovation in the digital economy, HM Land Registry will be opening up more of its datasets externally and across government to promote economic development, financial stability, tax collection, law enforcement and national security.

Chief Executive and Chief Land Registrar Graham Farrant said:

We are continually striving to make the best use of our hugely valuable data. Our ambition is to become ‘the world’s leading land registry for speed, simplicity and an open approach to data’. The release of two significant sets of data today marks another important milestone in that journey.

We will be releasing more datasets in high quality and accessible formats to enable them to be used by anyone with an interest in land and property, supporting the growing digital economy and adding to the nation’s geospatial intelligence.

HM Land Registry is committed to protecting the register while encouraging greater use of the data. To safeguard against possible fraud or misuse, the datasets are being released under licence and require users to register to get access.

Notes to editors

1. Registration for the datasets is available from today, 7 November. When you complete the registration process, we will contact you by email within one working day (subject to the volume of applications).
2. Find out more about the Commercial and Corporate Ownership Data (CCOD) and Overseas Companies Ownership Data (OCOD).
3. Communities Secretary Sajid Javid’s call for evidence asks for views on innovative digital solutions, including making more data available online.
4. In February 2017 the Housing White Paper “Fixing our broken housing market” committed HM Land Registry to become the world’s leading land registry for speed, simplicity and an open approach to data with an aim to achieve comprehensive registration of land in England and Wales by 2030.
5. HM Land Registry’s mission is to guarantee and protect property rights in England and Wales.
6. HM Land Registry is a government department created in 1862. It operates as an executive agency and a trading fund and its running costs are covered by the fees paid by the users of its services. Its ambition is to become the world’s leading land registry for speed, simplicity and an open approach to data.
7. HM Land Registry safeguards land and property ownership worth more than £4 trillion, including more than £1 trillion of mortgages. The Land Register contains more than 25 million titles, which show evidence of ownership, covering more than 84% of the land mass.
8. For further information about HM Land Registry visit www.gov.uk/land-registry.
9. Follow us on Twitter @HMLandRegistry, our blog, LinkedIn, and Facebook.

Contact

During his first official visits to Albania and Kosovo, the Minister will meet senior government representatives, entrepreneurs, journalists and future leaders to reaffirm the UK’s commitment to the Western Balkans and to discuss preparations for the UK-hosted 2018 Western Balkans Summit.

In Tirana, Albania, the Minister will hold discussions with Prime Minister Edi Rama, Minister of Foreign Affairs Ditmir Bushati, Interior Minister Fatmir Xhafaj and Justice Minister Etilda Gjonaj. He will discuss the UK cooperation on judicial reform, the fight against organised crime and tackling corruption.

With Interior Minister Xhafaj, the Minister will attend the launch of Albania’s Strategic Plan to tackle Organised Crime Strategy. Sir Alan will also meet Chevening Scholars and young entrepreneurs

In Pristina, Kosovo, the Minister will meet President Thaci, Prime Minister Haradinaj, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Communities and Return, and the Ministers of Justice and Internal Affairs to discuss UK support for the rule of law in Kosovo.

The Minister for Europe Sir Alan Duncan said:

My first official visits to Albania and Kosovo come at an important time, as we continue to work with our partners in the region on reform and progress.

In Albania the UK is working to help judicial reform and the fight against organised crime and corruption, as well as the country’s EU membership aspirations.

The UK has a special relationship with Kosovo. We were the first country to recognise its independence, and we remain committed to supporting Kosovo’s progress and working together on rule of law. We have a joint interest in seeing Kosovo develop into a prosperous country that is a source of stability in the region.

Further information

• Follow Foreign Office Minister Sir Alan Duncan on Twitter @AlanDuncanMP and Facebook
• Follow the Foreign Office on Twitter @foreignoffice and Facebook
• Follow the Foreign Office on Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn

BCB International is an established leader in the field of protective and survival equipment and has become a trusted supplier for troops serving in operations overseas.

The company has evolved from its early days as a cough medicine supplier, to become a major exporter of cutting-edge technologies and slick product design.

Guto Bebb will meet with the company’s Managing Director Andrew Howell to discuss how the company is branching out to new markets and developing new products for military services around the world.

UK Government Minister Guto Bebb said:

Businesses like BCB International are reaching out to international markets and putting Wales on the map.

It goes to show that a little Welsh innovation goes a long way – saving and protecting the lives of those hundreds and thousands of miles away, in often challenging and hostile environments.

There has never been a better time for Welsh companies like BCB to seize the moment and start exporting to new markets and the UK Government is standing by ready to support that aspiration.

BCB International has been designing and making specialised protective and survival equipment since 1854.

The company supplies military forces with equipment such as body armour, first aid kits and camping supplies. It exports 40 50 per cent of its products, mainly to the US, the Middle East and Europe and has a turnover of nearly £9million.

This year the company has won new business from new customers including the Canadian Defence Forces (Camouflage Face Paint), and the French (Fire Resistant Gloves) and Dutch Armies (Camp beds).

BCB has benefitted from UK Government help when it won a significant contract to supply the Ecuadorian Navy with 100 units of inflatable body armour. The country’s Navy wanted a payment guarantee and UK Export Finance stepped in to share the risk through its bond support scheme so BCB could use it as a working capital for the order and take on more business.

Andrew Howell Managing Director at BCB International said:

It is a pleasure to welcome the Minister to our premises and show him some of the quality products which are helping us capture new export business. We have exciting expansion plans which we look forward to briefing the Minister about.

Wales is already an exporting nation. There are currently more than 3,800 businesses in Wales that export, with a combined value of £13billion in the first quarter of 2017. Wales is also an attractive place for inward investment, with latest figures showing that 85 foreign direct investment projects were secured in Wales, creating 2,581 new jobs and safeguarding almost 9,000 more.

The Office of the Secretary of State for Wales has produced a dedicated exporting guide, which sets out the full range of support available from the UK Government and contains inspiring stories of companies based in Wales that are successfully exporting, to 26,000 Welsh businesses encouraging them to think about opportunities for exporting.

Attorney General Jeremy Wright QC MP will visit King’s College London University today to see the pro bono work happening there.

King’s College has recently opened a new legal advice centre that provides legal services free of charge to those who can’t afford a lawyer. The Attorney will meet law students who are carrying out pro bono work – a commitment that is often continued throughout a lawyer’s professional career.

Students will get the opportunity to talk to the Attorney about cases they have worked on at the legal advice centre and discuss their wider experiences of providing free advice to those in need.

The Attorney is the Government’s Pro Bono Champion and plays a key role in supporting pro bono work, as well as raising awareness of available services among members of the public and practitioners.

The Attorney General said:

Pro bono is an ancient legal tradition that widens access to justice and I look forward to meeting the students involved in pro bono work at King’s College.

The advice given at the newly opened clinic will help make a difference to people’s lives as well as to the communities in which they live.

These students are the next generation of lawyers, and the skills they gain now will be used throughout their careers.

The Director of Clinical Legal Education, Stephen Levett said:

Our Legal Clinic reflects the ethos of service to the wider community which underpins the work of King’s College London.

By spending time with clients and professional lawyers, our students gain first-hand experience of listening and responding to client problems. They learn skills which will put them in good stead in their future professional careers.

The money has been made available by the inshore and inland rescue boat grant fund and is the fourth round of funding under this 5-year, £5 million scheme.

Five charities across the length and breadth of Wales will use the funding to purchase new lifeboats and maritime equipment including lifejackets, helmets, boots, ropes, knives and torches.

They are:

• Ferryside Lifeboat – £7,363.20
• Loughor Inshore Rescue – £10,242.08
• North Wales Mountain Rescue Association – £28,155.44
• Porthmawr SLS – £17,380.62
• Rhoose Lifeguards – £5,679

UK Government Minister in Wales Guto Bebb said:

Wales benefits from countless volunteer and charitable organisations working round the clock to help during emergencies on our rivers, lakes and inshore waters, as well as during flooding and other extreme weather. This funding supports the vital rescue services they provide.

Supporting our volunteers remains an integral part of the UK Government’s ongoing drive for a fairer society. I am delighted to see Welsh rescue services benefitting in this latest round of funding, ensuring they have the equipment and resources they need to provide their crucial, life-saving services.

Maritime Minister John Hayes said:

Every day water rescue volunteers risk their safety to protect the lives of people across the UK. Their dedication and highly specialised skills are absolutely crucial to providing inshore and inland rescue services.

This extra money means that the volunteers and charities can purchase the lifeboats and equipment they need. It means that assistance is never far away for those in need or in distress on or around our waterways.

Since its launch in 2014, the grant has provided water rescue services up and down the UK with funding for new boats, vehicles and equipment.

A total of 62 organisations will receive a share of the £1m funding for 2017-18 after their bids were considered by an expert panel.

Chaired by the Department for Transport and made up of representatives from DfT, DEFRA, devolved administrations, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, RNLI and the Royal Yachting Association, the panel assessed bids taking into account:

• How the equipment listed supports or enhances the organisation’s rescue capability
• Evidence that the items funded represent good value for money
• Applicants were also required to match fund 10% of the costs of funded items, and to provide a letter of support from the authority that tasks them to rescues

Sir Alan Massey, Chief Executive of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, said:

These smaller, independent charities are the lifeblood of our communities, playing a vital role in supporting the daily lives of thousands of people across the UK.

We often need to remind ourselves that these brave women and men may be called at any time of the day or night to assist persons in difficulty. Those persons may be lost or injured, in trouble at sea, or needing to be rescued from fast-flowing water or floods.

It’s essential that funding like this is available to independent lifeboats so that they have the proper emergency equipment to aid in rescues. This funding will help meet their goals and ease their financial burden.