Pulse.Assent

The members of the Troika (Norway, the United Kingdom, and the United States) recently traveled to Sudan, Ethiopia, Uganda, South Sudan, and Kenya in support of the efforts of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) to urgently convene a High-Level Revitalization Forum (HLRF) for the Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan.

The Troika remains appalled by the dire economic, security, human rights, and humanitarian crisis being inflicted on the long-suffering people of South Sudan as a result of the conflict that their political leaders have generated and fuelled. The HLRF is a critical opportunity to make urgent progress. All parties have a responsibility to the citizens of this young country to participate constructively and be open to real compromise.

As a first priority, all parties must end hostilities as a sign of commitment to the HLRF – as they have pledged to do. The Government of South Sudan, in particular, must cease its pursuit of military victory and make good on its promise to end all obstruction of humanitarian assistance. The Troika also calls on the armed opposition to end all military activity and lift any barriers to humanitarian access.

The Troika strongly supports the calls that we heard from voices across South Sudan and the region for the HLRF to be inclusive, reflecting the interests of all parties, regions, and groups in South Sudan, including young people and women. The Troika emphasizes that all parties to the conflict must negotiate in good faith and work to amend sections of the Agreement that no longer reflect the reality of conditions in South Sudan, particularly those related to power sharing, timelines, and transitional security arrangements. A key goal for the HLRF should be monitored, effective security arrangements durable enough to stop the conflict, improve the human rights and humanitarian situation, and support a political process that produces an agreed path to viable elections. There must also be clear consequences for those who violate the agreement.

Alongside regional and international partners, the Troika will continue to identify and hold responsible those who work against peace, including through economic and other sanctions. They will also act against those who use their positions to fuel conflict and steal from the South Sudanese people and those who facilitate their illicit financial activities.

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First Secretary of State Damian Green MP said today that real progress is now being made in the Brexit talks between the UK and Scottish governments.

He was speaking after the latest bilateral talks in Edinburgh with the Scottish Secretary David Mundell MP and Scottish Government Ministers John Swinney MSP and Michael Russell MSP. The discussions are to ensure that the necessary arrangements are in place under the EU (Withdrawal) Bill for distributing powers returned from the European Union and identifying where common frameworks will be required.

Damian Green said:

We have come a long way in a few months. The two governments are now making real progress in ensuring that all parts of the UK are ready for the extra powers that are coming back from the EU to the UK.

We all accept that UK frameworks will be required in certain areas to protect the vital advantages of the UK domestic market. Ministers and civil servants on both sides are now getting into the deep detail of how we put in place the best arrangements for the day we leave the EU. I am confident we can keep up this momentum and have a successful Joint Ministerial Committee (JMC) with all the devolved administrations in London next month.

The UK and Scottish Government ministers met in Edinburgh in August, then again in London on 25 September, where they discussed a set of principles to guide the discussions. These principles were agreed at a meeting of JMC (EN) on 16 October, and the Prime Minister and First Minister held a constructive meeting on 14 November.

The Minister began with a tour of Pasta Foods Ltd – a successful dried pasta and healthy snack manufacturer in Norfolk – where he was pleased to hear the company’s optimism for the opportunities created by our exit from the EU.

He later co-hosted an EU-exit roundtable in Great Yarmouth alongside the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Sajid Javid, attended by stakeholders and prominent businesses including Norfolk County Council, Peel Ports, Proserv, and Bernard Matthews.

The Minister heard about the opportunities and challenges that the UK’s exit from the EU could pose to the region and how stakeholders and businesses are preparing.

Minister for Exiting the EU, Steve Baker said:

We remain absolutely committed to achieving an ambitious Brexit deal that works, not only for Norfolk, and the East of England, but for every region in the UK.

Hearing from businesses and stakeholders across a region that voted decisively to leave the EU, was not only informative but also hugely valuable, and I was struck by their optimism for the future.

As we proceed through the negotiations we will go on hearing from stakeholders, to ensure that our discussions are informed by the views of every region of the UK, and each sector of our economy.

Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Sajid Javid said:

Today’s visit is an important part of my ongoing discussions with local authorities and their partners as the UK prepares to leave the EU.

I was delighted to see first-hand the excellent work local authorities, LEPs and businesses are doing to promote growth and skills in Great Yarmouth and the East of England.

It was great to see the enthusiasm from local leaders who want to make our exit from the EU a success for the communities they serve.

I want to understand the challenges and opportunities they may face in the coming months and years and I am committed to doing everything possible to support them.

In recent months the Government has stepped up its engagement with businesses across the UK to ensure the voices of British businesses are heard and reflected throughout the exit process.

On 27 November 2017, Yorkshire Water Services Limited appeared at Sheffield Crown Court and pleaded guilty to charges relating to a water pollution incident in Doncaster which led to the deaths of several hundred fish.

They were fined £45,000 and ordered to pay Environment Agency costs of £24,762.56 as well as a victim surcharge of £120.

Proceedings were brought by the Environment Agency following the pollution incident in April 2014 where raw sewage was discharged from the defendant company’s pumping station at Sandy Lane, Belle View in Doncaster, South Yorkshire into a water course and ultimately into 2 local ponds.

The discharge of sewage resulted in a raised level of ammonia in the water of the ponds and a reduced level of dissolved oxygen for a considerable period of time. The pollution from the illegal discharge was traced for over 3.5km downstream from the pumping station and a large number of fish died due to the toxic effects of ammonia.

Yorkshire Water Services Limited operates the pumping station under an environmental permit, and is required to ensure the site operates correctly. There was a breach of conditions of the permit on this occasion which caused an unlawful discharge.

Richard Moore, Team Leader at the Environment Agency said:

Safeguarding the environment is an essential part of how all water companies must operate. The sentencing in this case shows we will continue to take companies to task where they fail to meet environmental standards.

• Business Secretary Greg Clark has welcomed an agreement between G20 nations to tackle overcapacity in the global steel market
• reached during a G20 Ministerial Meeting in Berlin today (30 November 2017), the agreement outlines actions to limit impact of subsidies and measures which distort steel market
• Greg Clark, representing the UK, one of 33 ministers present from G20 nations at meeting

Business Secretary Greg Clark attended the G20 Global Forum on Steel Excess Capacity in Berlin today (30 November 2017).

The meeting, which included leaders from across 33 member economies representing more than 90% of global steel production and capacity, negotiated and unanimously agreed important policy principles and recommendations. This will provide the G20 Global Forum with an ongoing mandate to ensure that those countries that offer unfair subsidies are properly addressed.

Global steel overcapacity and unfair support by some nations remains a significant challenge to the long-term prosperity of the steel industry.

Following the agreement, Greg Clark said:

The meeting I attended representing the UK today was in response to the Prime Minister’s call for a ministerial meeting to speed up efforts to tackle excess steel capacity, at the G20 Leaders’ July Hamburg Summit.

The meeting agreed numerous actions by all G20 nations to tackle unfair subsidies and support measures that lead to a distorted steel market. It is now important that all G20 members deliver and honour the commitments made today.

Following the ministerial meeting today, all members have agreed to information sharing and a number of comprehensive policy solutions to address excess capacity.

Further information on the agreement can be found here.

Small food and drink companies have the chance to win a share of £50,000 funding in the first competition aimed at pushing the boundaries in food business innovation to kick-start the next generation of food production.

The voucher scheme has been launched by Defra, through its Food Innovation Network (FIN), which connects food and drink producers with world-class facilities such as test-kitchens, laboratories and the expertise to help them create new and innovative products and production methods.

Global demand for food is projected to grow 60% by 2050 – the Government is committed to making sure Britain, with its scientific know-how and flair for innovation and quality, is in a superb position to take advantage of this.
Micro, small and medium sized food and drink businesses will be able to compete for one of 10 £5,000 FIN vouchers – with matched funding from industry – by pitching their innovative projects to a ‘dragons den’ panel of industry and technical experts.

The winners will be those who demonstrate their ideas are novel, achievable and support business growth. The money will allow food producers to invest in a wide range of innovative projects, such as reducing the use of water in growing vegetables, and creating new business opportunities.

Food Minister George Eustice said:

Our thriving food and drink industry needs to be innovative in order to be resilient and globally competitive.

Some of our most innovative food businesses are smaller companies and each has unique challenges, from prolonging the shelf life of their products to developing new sources of protein.

This new fund is aimed at helping support small businesses with a bright idea to develop their concepts in partnership with researchers or academic institutions.

The competition, run on behalf of Defra by the Knowledge Transfer Network (KTN), will support projects of three to six months.

Applicants will need to submit an initial two-minute video pitch and a short description setting out their innovative business opportunity.

All ideas will need to demonstrate the need for research and development, innovation in the proposed solution, path to commercial application(s), nature of market opportunity and value for money.

The advice and guidance Environment Agency staff gave to businesses on the Astonfields Industrial Estate, Stafford, will ensure that local businesses manage their hazardous waste and materials to help prevent pollution in the future.

In this unannounced day of action, more than 50 businesses were visited and inspected by Environment Agency staff. The inspections checked a number of things, including how hazardous materials are stored, how they are disposed of, whether the site and its drains are maintained and if businesses know what to do if something did spill into surface water drains.

James Perry, from the Environment Agency’s Hazardous Waste Team, explains why it’s important to reduce the risk of pollution:

Hazardous materials used in industrial processes can be washed into the surface water drains by rain. These drains usually flow directly into a brook or a river which means hazardous materials can pollute the water, causing a problem for fish and other aquatic life. In serious cases, a pollution can also affect other businesses who use the water for their industrial processes or even affect drinking water.

By offering advice and guidance on measures businesses can take to reduce the risk of pollution, we’re seeking to make sure the owners have robust processes in place to prevent a pollution and know what to do if something goes wrong. This is really important; at the Environment Agency we follow the ‘polluter pays principle’, so if something does happen, the company responsible will have to pay the costs of clean up and recovery.

The Marston Brook flows near the industrial estate and has suffered from low levels of pollution from materials washed into it from surface water drains for a number of years. It is hoped this day of action will reduce the level of pollution seen in the Marston Brook.

If anyone is concerned about the business practices at any site, or if there is a pollution in a river or brook, please contact the Environment Agency’s 24/7 incident hotline on 0800 80 70 60.