This Order is made following a review under section 148AD(1) of the Social Security Administration Act 1992 (c. 5) (revaluation of new state pension debits and credits).
Link: The State Pension Debits and Credits (Revaluation) (No. 2) Order 2017
Source: Legislation .gov.uk
Support for farmers will be simplified under plans announced by Environment Secretary Michael Gove today, with the country’s decision to leave the EU providing a once in a lifetime opportunity to refocus how we support farmers and landowners.
Speaking at the Country Land and Business Association’s (CLA) annual Rural Business Conference, the Secretary of State set out how Defra will make practical and pragmatic changes to existing farm support systems, streamlining the process to free up farmers to focus on what they do best.
Speaking after the conference, Environment Secretary Michael Gove said:
Today I have set out plans to improve our current schemes, starting with simplifying support for farmers to protect and enhance our landscapes and countryside.
But these measures are just the beginning – the first steps towards a simplified system of support. Over the coming weeks and months, we’ll be working closely with our farmers to make sure we listen to what they want as we design a new approach and realise our vision for the future of UK food and farming outside the EU.
Acknowledging the daily challenge farmers face within the EU’s burdensome Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), the Secretary of State said the current system of farm support is inefficient, ineffective, inequitable, and environmentally harmful. He outlined the need to change the way we invest in our countryside so farmers can more readily access support to protect wildlife, enhance the environment and improve land use.
As a first step, the Environment Secretary announced simplifications to the Countryside Stewardship scheme through the creation of four new streamlined offers which will launch in January next year. These new offers will have a much simpler application process – half as much paperwork as before – so it will be easier for farmers and land managers to apply and deliver environmental benefits on their land. Further details on this will be shared later this week.
CLA President Tim Breitmeyer said:
Farmers and landowners want to continue providing the country with high quality, affordable food while protecting the environment and supporting wildlife. We welcome the Secretary of State’s commitment to streamlining and focusing support into the areas most needed, and we look forward to working with him to drive up participation in crucial schemes to protect and enhance landscapes and the environment.
Jenna Hegarty, Head of Land Use Policy at RSPB said:
We welcome the Secretary of State’s ambition to make Countryside Stewardship more effective, which will allow more farmers to help wildlife on their land. This is a crucial step towards realising his aim to refocus agriculture policy to provide clear benefits for people, nature and the future of farming.
The Secretary of State also spoke about the opportunities for UK farmers and food producers to take advantage of changing consumer tastes and reap the rewards of quality and provenance in production. He celebrated measures set out in the government’s Industrial Strategy to work towards a food and drink sector deal and announced further support including a further £45 million top up to the RDPE Growth Programme to help rural business development, food processing and rural infrastructure projects.
The government will look to publish an Agriculture Bill in 2018 and will consult with all those who have an interest in the success of the UK food and farming industry in the New Year.
We have already pledged to match the support farmers currently receive from the CAP until the end of this parliament and set out the intention to go on supporting farmers where the environmental benefits of that spending are clear.
Link: Press release: Environment Secretary streamlines support for farmers
Source: Gov Press Releases
People living in Mytholmroyd are being urged to vote on which wall finish they would prefer as part of the new £30m flood alleviation scheme in their village.
Information leaflets about the consultation on the section of wall between Caldene Avenue Bridge and Whitehouses are being delivered to around 2,000 households along with a token they can use to choose which of 2 design options they prefer.
Sample panels of the 2 stone wall finishes have been built by stone masons for residents to view in the carpark outside Mytholmroyd community centre.
Boxes will be placed at the local post office and community centre in the village for people to post their token to indicate their choice.
The 2 alternative finishes were put together following discussions with a landscape group, made up of local residents and interested parties, helping to shape the scheme.
Helen Batt, Environment Agency director for the flood schemes in the Calderdale area, said:
Our project team has worked closely with the landscape stakeholder group and architects to come up with these two designs following feedback that residents would prefer us to use natural, traditional materials which are in keeping with the local environment. We thought it would be good to let the whole village choose between the two options and have a say on the final design.
The consultation will run from Monday 4 December to Sunday 10 December. Three drop-in sessions are being held at Mytholmroyd community centre during the consultation for residents to talk to the project team. The sessions are planned for Monday 4, Wednesday 6 and Thursday 7 December, between 3pm and 8pm.
The final decision will be submitted as part of the planning application for area F of the scheme which stretches from Caldene Bridge to Hawksclough Bridge.
The Environment Agency provides free warning of the risk of flooding from rivers. Sign up for this service, find out if your home is at risk and keep up to date with the latest situation by visiting www.gov.uk/flood or call Floodline on 0345 9881188.
To know what to do when you receive a flood warning and view our three point flood plan visit floodsdestroy.campaign.gov.uk
Link: Press release: People of Mytholmroyd can vote on design of flood wall
Source: Environment Agency
Environment Agency field operatives will roll out up to 120 metres of temporary defence barriers, in partnership with Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service officers. This will be the first joint exercise of its kind in the south west, although the fire service has previously helped deploy barriers during live incidents.
The exercise will take place at the Ashley Road recreation ground, next to the River Avon, from 10am to 1pm. Teams will deploy 3 types of barriers and seepage pumps to practise their joint response to flooding.
Robbie Williams, Environment Agency Operations Manager for the Wessex Area, said:
We are investing to reduce flood risk in Salisbury as part of a £2.5 billion investment nationally to better protect 300,000 homes by 2021.
Salisbury is at risk from flooding from 5 rivers running into the city and their close proximity to homes and businesses, so it’s important we limit the overall impact and extent of flooding, and keep people safe.
Joint exercises like this will help us be better prepared for any future incidents as we’ll be able to deploy the barriers more quickly and efficiently when flooding is expected, helping to protect communities and the local economy.
Jason Moncrieff, Station Manager for Salisbury, Wilton and Amesbury, said:
Across our area, Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service has a number of communities at high risk of flooding. It is great to have this opportunity to work closely with Environment Agency colleagues, both to test how we can support them when flooding is expected, but also to better understand how they work and the defences they have available.
The exercise site is 1 of 4 areas in the city where temporary defence barriers would be deployed in a real life river flooding incident.
These measures are supported by the Salisbury Operating Flood Working Group, which launched a multi-agency flood plan outlining the city’s emergency response last year. Volunteer wardens were also recruited by Salisbury City Council to act as the eyes and ears of the community for any flood risks.
Partner agencies and some schools have been invited to observe the exercise, including Wiltshire Council, Salisbury City Council, Wiltshire Police and wider members of the Wiltshire and Swindon Local Resilience Forum.
One of the Environment Agency’s new Incident Command Vehicles will also be on site recording footage of the exercise. The WiFi-enabled vehicle acts as a mobile incident room and a temporary headquarters for staff out in the field, enabling better site management, situational awareness and visibility in flood risk communities.
Local residents will be informed about the exercise in advance and invited to stop by to find out more. Ashley Road and the formal footpath around the edge of the recreation ground will still be accessible to users.
Residents can sign up to receive flood alerts by phone, email or text message. Residents can register online or by calling the 24-hour Floodline on 0345 988 1188.
There are 3 types of barriers. The Innero and Geodesign barriers are aluminium frames which expand into shape before being lined with plastic sheet to create a waterproof wall, with the Floodstop barrier being a plastic structure linked together for more specific deployments.
Three teams of 8 people (6 Environment Agency, 2 fire service) will rotate on the hour between each barrier type, overseen by site controllers.
The Salisbury Operational Flood Working Group members are Salisbury City Council, Wiltshire Council, the Environment Agency, Salisbury Cathedral, Salisbury BID (Business Improvement District) and Highways England.
The media are invited to attend the exercise at 11am on Tuesday 5 December and carry out a brief tour of the site and carry out photo/filming/interview opportunities with approved spokespeople from the Environment Agency and Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service. Please confirm your attendance with the Environment Agency press office by emailing communications_wessex@environment-agency.gov.uk.
On arrival the media should report to the information stand on site, to be signed in and given high visibility jackets for safety and identification purposes. Press officers will assist with this process. Please note, the Environment Agency cannot accept any liability if health and safety procedures are not followed.
Link: Press release: First joint exercise with the fire service in the south west to test flood defence barriers
Source: Environment Agency
A Bill to reform the Universal Credit application process; to make provision about advice and assistance for claimants, and arrangements for payments; and for connected purposes.
Link: Universal Credit (Application, Advice and Assistance)
Source: Public Bills
These Regulations amend the Ecodesign for Energy-Related Products Regulations 2010 (S.I. 2010/2617) (“the 2010 Regulations”) and partially implement Commission Regulations (EU) Nos 2016/2281, 2015/1189 and 2015/1185.
Link: The Ecodesign for Energy-Related Products (Amendment) Regulations 2017
Source: Legislation .gov.uk
This Order provides that the statistics produced, or to be produced, by the persons listed in the Schedule are official statistics for the purpose of Part 1 of the Statistics and Registration Service Act 2007 (“the Act”). Part 1 establishes the Statistics Board which is responsible for promoting and safeguarding good practice in gathering and assessing official statistics. “Official statistics” is defined in section 6(1) of the Act and includes, in subsection (1)(b)(iii), statistics as specified by order made by the Welsh Ministers.
Mae’r Gorchymyn hwn yn darparu bod yr ystadegau a gynhyrchir, neu sydd i gael eu cynhyrchu, gan y personau a restrir yn yr Atodlen yn ystadegau swyddogol at ddiben Rhan 1 o Ddeddf Ystadegau a’r Gwasanaeth Cofrestru 2007 (“y Ddeddf”). Mae Rhan 1 yn sefydlu’r Bwrdd Ystadegau sy’n gyfrifol am hyrwyddo a diogelu arferion da o ran casglu ac asesu ystadegau swyddogol. Diffinnir “official statistics” yn adran 6(1) o’r Ddeddf ac mae’n cynnwys, yn is-adran (1)(b)(iii), ystadegau a bennir drwy orchymyn a wneir gan Weinidogion Cymru.
Link:
Source: Legislation .gov.uk
The ICO’s Steve Wood provides privacy tips on buying smart devices this Christmas.
Link: The 12 ways that Christmas shoppers can keep children and data safe when buying smart toys and devices
Source: ICO .org.uk
A Bill to require the Secretary of State to set, measure, enforce and report on air quality targets; to make provision about mitigating air pollution, including through the use of clean air zones; to make provision about vehicle emissions testing; to restrict the approval and sale of vehicles with certain engine types; and for connected purposes.
Link: Clean Air Bill: Presentation
Source: Public Bills
