Tenant Fees

Make provision prohibiting landlords and letting agents from requiring certain payments to be made or certain other steps to be taken; to make provision about the payment of holding deposits; to make provision about enforcement and about the lead enforcement authority; to amend the provisions of the Consumer Rights Act 2015 about information to be provided by letting agents and the provisions of the Housing and Planning Act 2016 about client money protection schemes; and for connected purposes.

Link: Tenant Fees
Source: Public Bills

Press release: Women offered NHS breast screening after missed invitations

The decision follows analysis by Public Health England (PHE) dating back to 2009, which found that a number of invitations for a final test had not been sent out to women, between their 68th and 71st birthday. The total number of older women affected since 2009 is estimated to be approximately 450,000.

The routine NHS breast screening programme invites more than 2.5 million women every year for a test, with women between the ages of 50 to 70 receiving a screen every 3 years up to their 71st birthday. Around 2 million women take up the offer.

The problem was identified in January 2018 whilst reviewing the progress of the age extension trial (AgeX). It then became apparent that a similar impact has resulted from long term problems with the routine programme as well. In addition, some local services have not invited everyone for a final screen in the 3 years before their 71st birthday.

PHE has carried out a thorough investigation including a detailed analysis of data going back to 2009 and has been advised by experts and clinicians. The fault has now been identified and fixed and women who did not receive their final routine invitation and are registered with a GP are being contacted and offered the opportunity to have a catch up screen. All of these women will be contacted by the end of May 2018. Women can seek advice by calling the helpline on 0800 169 2692. We anticipate that all rescreens will be completed by the end of October 2018 and extra capacity is being identified so that routine screening will not be affected.

Dr Jenny Harries, PHE Deputy Medical Director said:

On behalf of NHS breast screening services, we apologise to the women affected and we are writing to them to offer a catch-up screening appointment. They and their families’ wellbeing is our top priority and we are very sorry for these faults in the system.

A complex IT problem with the breast screening invitation system has led to some women not being invited for their final screen between their 68th and 71st birthdays. We have carried out urgent work to identify the problem and have fixed it. Additional failsafe systems have been introduced to ensure the problem does not reoccur.

The NHS breast screening programme is a world leading prevention service for women in England detecting around 18,400 cancers per year and saving 1,300 lives.

Local breast screening services are currently working closely with NHS England and PHE to ensure that all of the women affected are contacted and offered the opportunity for a screen.

The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care has commissioned an independent review of the NHS breast screening programme to look at issues, including its processes, IT systems and further changes and improvements that can be made to the system to minimise the risk of any repetition of this incident.

The review will be chaired by Lynda Thomas, Chief Executive of Macmillan Cancer Support and Professor Martin Gore, Consultant Medical Oncologist and Professor of Cancer Medicine at The Royal Marsden, and is expected to report in 6 months.

Background

  1. It is estimated that 450,000 women since 2009 were not invited for a screen and 309,000 women were not invited for a screen and are alive.
  2. The long term clinical research trial called AgeX, led by Oxford University, is ongoing to assess reliably the risks and benefits of offering an extra screen to women aged 71 to 73 and between 47 to 49 years.
  3. All women that were not sent an invitation for their final screen will be given the opportunity for a new screening appointment. All women under 72 years old who are affected will receive an appointment letter informing them of their time and date. Women aged 72 years old and above will be able to contact a dedicated helpline to discuss whether a screen could benefit them.
  4. There are 79 local NHS breast screening services across the country. Women are routinely screened every three years, with the number of women invited per screening service ranging from 25,738 to 254,645.
  5. An independent panel concluded in 2012 that, while routine breast screening at ages 50 to 70 confers significant benefit to UK women, the advantages and disadvantages of starting breast screening at younger or older ages were uncertain. A clinical trial, AgeX led by Oxford University, is ongoing to assess reliably the risks and benefits of offering an extra screen to women aged 71 to 73 and between 47 to 49 years.
  6. The total number of women screened in 2016 to 2017 was 2.2 million (2,199,342). The number of women invited was 2.9 million (2,959,979).
  7. In developing its response to this issue, PHE consulted an expert clinical group including radiologists, consultant breast surgeons, oncologists and epidemiologists.

Public Health England press office

Link: Press release: Women offered NHS breast screening after missed invitations
Source: Gov Press Releases

Press release: Fresh Aid Match round opens – giving charities the chance to double donations

UK Aid Match brings charities, the public and UK government together to collectively change the lives of some of the world’s poorest people. It also gives the British public an opportunity to engage with international development issues and have a say in how UK aid is spent.

The Department for International Development welcomes proposals for the latest £20 million round of UK Aid Match from charities working on the following issues: disability, health, women’s empowerment, youth employment, prosperity, modern slavery, girls’ education, plus oceans and plastics.

This will be the first time the public will be able to double their donations to charities tackling the scourge of plastics waste in the world’s oceans.

Penny Mordaunt, International Development Secretary, said:

This is a very exciting step for UK Aid Match as, for the first time, we are asking for proposals to tackle the huge problem of ocean plastics. This is a clear sign of the British public’s passion and energy to fight against global plastic waste.

I’m looking forward to seeing the innovative solutions, which charities will bring to this global issue. I am sure the UK public will continue to show their incredibly generous support for the UK Aid Match scheme.

In the last five years, UK Aid Match has supported 42 charities and run projects in 22 countries, which have benefitted more than 19million of the world’s poorest people. The government has matched every public donation made to these charities pound for, helping them go further in changing and saving lives.

One of the many charities which have had their donations matched by the UK government funding is Action Against Hunger. Through UK Aid Match funding, they were able to raise ÂŁ2million for their most recent appeal #HealthyMumsHealthyKids.

Action Against Hunger will use this money to support mums-to-be and children in Senegal where one in five children are stunted and 30% of all child deaths are due to malnutrition. This programme will ensure young people, pregnant women and children get the right food they need to avoid a lifetime of damaging effects from poor nutrition.

Executive Director of Action Against Hunger, Jean-Michel Grand, said in support of Aid Match:

We were thrilled public donations to our #HealthyMumsHealthyKids appeal were matched by the UK Government last year. Our generous donors were encouraged by the government’s pledge to double every pound they gave to improve the health of mothers and children in Senegal. The Aid Match scheme is a fantastic way for people who believe in a world free from hunger to double the impact they make on the lives of malnourished children around the world.

To find out more and enter UK Aid Match please visit: www.ukaidmatch.org Each charity appeal must run for up to three months and raise up to a maximum of ÂŁ2million, subject to a due diligence assessment.

Notes to editors

UK Aid Match brings charities, the British public and the UK government together to collectively change the lives of some of the world’s poorest and most vulnerable people.

It is designed to provide opportunities for the UK public to engage with international development issues and have a say in how UK aid is spent, whilst boosting the impact of the very best civil society projects to reach the poorest people in developing countries.

For every ÂŁ1 donated to a UK Aid Match charity appeal, the government will also contribute ÂŁ1 of UK aid, to help these projects go further in changing and saving lives. UK Aid Match is funded from the international development budget, for donations made by individuals living in the UK.

The first phase of UK Aid Match, launched between 2013 and 2016, funded 59 appeals. An estimated 3.6 million people in the UK donated to match-funded appeals. A total of ÂŁ120m went to 42 charities, operating in 22 countries and running projects including health, education and water, sanitation and hygiene which are expected to benefit 19 million people.

Round 1 of the second phase of UK Aid Match will match 25 appeals running between September 2017 and June 2018. An estimated ÂŁ30 million will be matched.

The latest UK Aid Match funding round (Phase 2 Round 2) will be launched on 17 April 2018. It will open for applications on 30 April 2018 with a deadline for concept notes by 25 May 2018.

From 12 February 2018 the Fund Manager for UK Aid Match has been MannionDaniels, working in consortium with Oxford Policy Management (OPM), Education Development Trust (EDT), Royal Tropical Institute (KIT), and the Social Change Agency (SCA).

For more information on the fund, or to make an application, please visit the UK Aid Match website

General media queries

Follow the DFID Media office on Twitter – @DFID_Press

Link: Press release: Fresh Aid Match round opens – giving charities the chance to double donations
Source: Gov Press Releases

Press release: Foreign flagged ships detained in the UK during April 2018

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

  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 APRIL 2018

Vessel Name: GHETTY BOTTIGLIERY

GT: 25063

IMO: 9232034

Flag: Italy

Company: Giuseppe Bottiglieri Shipping Company S.p.A.

Classification Society: RINA

Recognised Organisation: RINA

Recognised Organisation for ISM Doc: FLAG

Recognised Organisation for ISM SMC: FLAG

Date and Place of Detention: 10th April at Portbury

Summary: Fifteen deficiencies with two ground for detention

Defective item Nature of defect Ground for Detention
18305 – Hospital accommodation(Sickbay) Not as required No
14615 – Fuel change-over procedure Not as required No
04114 – Emergency source of power – Emergency generator Not as required No
09232 – Cleanliness of engine room Insufficient No
13103 – Gauges, thermometers, etc Inoperative No
13102 – Auxiliary engine Not as required No
07105 – Fire detection and alarm system Not as required No
18424 – Steam pipes, pressure pipes, wires (insulation) Not as required No
07106 – Fire detection and alarm system Inoperative No
11101 – Lifeboats Not properly maintained No
11102 – Lifeboat inventory Not as required No
06105 – Atmosphere testing instrument Not properly maintained No
04109 – Fire drills Lack of training Yes
06106 – Cargo transfer – Tankers Not as required No
15150 – ISM Not as required Yes

This vessel was released on 16th April 2018

Vessel Name: CELTICA HAV

GT: 1537

IMO: 8422022

Flag: Bahamas

Company: HAV Ship Management NorRus AS

Classification Society: DNV GL

Recognised Organisation: DNV GL

Recognised Organisation for ISM Doc: DNV GL

Recognised Organisation for ISM SMC: DNV GL

Date and Place of Detention: 4th April 2018 at Swansea

Summary: Three deficiencies with two ground for detention

Defective item Nature of defect Ground for Detention
02106 – Hull damage impairing seaworthiness Holed Yes
10127 – Voyage or passage plan Not as required Yes
10111 – Charts Not updated No

This vessel was still detained on 30th April 2018

DETENTIONS CARRIED OVER FROM PREVIOUS MONTHS

Vessel Name: ANNA

GT: 39709

IMO: 9255593

Flag: Bahamas (White List)

Company: Adelfia Navigation SA

Classification Society: LR

Recognised Organisation: LR
Recognised Organisation for ISM Doc: LR

Recognised Organisation for ISM SMC: LR

Date and Place of Detention: 31st March at Immingham

Summary: Fifteen deficiencies with two ground for detention

Defective item Nature of defect Ground for Detention
15150 – ISM Not as required Yes
10127 – Voyage or passage plan Not as required No
11101 – Lifeboats Inoperative Yes
10101 – Pilot ladders and hoist/pilot transfer arrangements Missing No
04109 – Fire drills Lack of control No
02105 – Steering gear Not as required No
04108 – Muster list Incomplete No
05105 – MF/HF Radio installation Not as required No
01331 – Collective bargaining agreement Missing No
11117 – Lifebuoys incl. provision and disposition Not as required No
18432 – Risk evaluation, training and instruction to seafarers Missing No
11124 – Embarkation arrangement survival craft Not properly maintained No
18416 – Ropes and wires Damaged No
11116 – Distress flares Insufficient No
11103 – Stowage and provision of Lifeboats Not as required No

This vessel was released on 5th April 2018

Vessel Name: K DADAYLI

GT: 5751

IMO: 9513191

Flag: Panama (White List)

Company: Dadaylilar Denizcilik Nakliyat

Classification Society: RINA

Recognised Organisation: PHRS
Recognised Organisation for ISM Doc: PHRS/BV

Recognised Organisation for ISM SMC: PHRS/BV

Date and Place of Detention: 26th March at Immingham

Summary: Twenty nine deficiencies with four ground for detention

Defective item Nature of defect Ground for Detention
01316 – Cargo Information Missing information No
07199 – Other (fire safety) Other Yes
09235 – Fitness for duty – work and rest hours Rest hours insufficient No
10101 – Pilot ladders and hoist/pilot transfer arrangements Missing No
04108 – Muster list Incomplete No
10127 – Voyage or passenger plan Lack of information No
11131 – On board training and instructions Missing information No
11131 – On board training and instructions Lack of training No
11117 – Lifebuoys incl. provision and disposition Not as required No
05104 – MF Radio installation Not as required No
07111 – Personal equipment for fire safety Not properly maintained No
18418 – Winches & capstans Inoperative No
03108 – Ventilators, air pipes, casing Not as required Yes
18432 – Risk evaluation, training and instruction to seafarers Missing No
03113 – Bulwarks and freeing ports Not as required No
11105 – Rescue boat inventory Not as required No
11104 – Rescue boats Missing equipment No
15150 – ISM Not as required Yes
01333 – Ship specific plans for the recovery of persons from water Incomplete No
11104 – Rescue boats Not properly maintained No
05116 – Operation/maintenance Not properly maintained No
06105 – Atmosphere testing instrument Missing No
03108 – Ventilators, air pipes, casings Not properly maintained Yes
04103 – Emergency, lighting, batteries and switches Inoperative No
07114 – Remote means of control (opening, pumps, ventilation, etc.) Machinery spaces Not as required No
07106 – Fire detection and alarm system Not properly maintained No
11101 – Lifeboats Not ready for use No
07125 – Evaluation of crew performance (fire drills) Lack of familiarity No
07106 – Fire detection and alarm system Not as required No

This vessel was released on 3rd April 2018

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 30th April 2018

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 30th April 2018

Correction:

• The DEEPSEA WORKER, IMO 7905285 released on 29th March 2018:
SMC certifying authority should have read Flag (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines) not DNV GL. Please accept our apologies for the mistake.

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.

Link: Press release: Foreign flagged ships detained in the UK during April 2018
Source: Gov Press Releases

Press release: EA to allow surface water management variation at Preston New Rd

Permission to vary arrangements for the management of surface water drainage at Cuadrilla’s Preston New Road site in Little Plumpton have today (01 May) been granted by the Environment Agency.

The decision follows a rigorous assessment of Cuadrilla’s proposals, as well as all comments submitted during a public consultation.

Cuadrilla is required to remove and process rainwater that falls on its Preston New Road site and the variation to the permit sets out the conditions that must be followed in order to manage this process.

Steve Molyneux, environment manager for Lancashire, said:

After completing a thorough assessment of Cuadrilla’s application and all of the responses to our public consultation, we are satisfied that the regulatory controls in place provide a high level of protection for people and the environment.

My team will now enforce the conditions we have set to ensure the ongoing protection of the local water courses.

Link: Press release: EA to allow surface water management variation at Preston New Rd
Source: Gov Press Releases