The Prime Minister spoke to the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, today.

President Zelenskyy thanked the Prime Minister for his unwavering and unflinching support for the people and territorial integrity of Ukraine.

The Prime Minister reiterated that he would not yield on the issue of Ukrainian sovereignty, and gave his full support to President Zelenskyy in his efforts to end the conflict in the Donbas.

The Prime Minister underlined his message in Berlin yesterday: Russia’s readmission to the G7 and to the wider international community should not be considered until they have stopped their destabilising behaviour. He pointed to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and last year’s chemical attack on the streets of Salisbury as clear examples.

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace met with his Iraqi counterpart, His Excellency Najah al-Shammari, signing a Memorandum of Understanding.

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said:

The work our personnel are doing in Iraq to help them combat the scourge of terrorism is absolutely vital. Not only are we making a valued international partner more self-sufficient for the future, but we are also keeping our own streets safer by suppressing the spread of Daesh’s evil ideology.

However, we are under no illusions and fully recognise that the threat from Daesh and al-Qaeda is still very real. This document is a signal of our commitment to continue to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Iraq until that danger has been diminished, and also to form a longer-term defence relationship.

The UK currently has around 500 British personnel in Iraq, training and developing the skills and knowledge of local forces, as they deal with the ongoing insurgent threat from Daesh and other terrorist groups.

The deal signed today focuses on military education, while also confirming that the UK will work alongside Iraqi Security Forces to develop their intelligence structures and provide wider training and development.

In addition to targeting Daesh with airstrikes over Iraq and Syria, the UK has currently trained more than 103,000 Iraqi forces in infantry and weapons maintenance, counter IED, medical and engineering skills. This has already saved countless lives and is contributing to recent successful operations.

The Environment Agency and Derbyshire County Council will undertake repairs to help keep people and homes safe.

Work to fix a damaged section of a culvert which carries the Hogshaw Brook in Buxton is expected to start on Tuesday 27 August 2019.

The Environment Agency and Derbyshire County Council have been working in partnership to identify a solution to repair the damage to the culvert, which was discovered after recent heavy rain and flooding in the area.

The culvert runs beneath properties in the Lightwood Road area and is owned by a number of different private landowners.

But, as funding to resolve the problem through the usual channels could take some time to arrange, the Environment Agency and Derbyshire County Council have agreed to carry out the repairs and jointly cover the costs in the interests of public safety. This will ensure the repairs can be completed as quickly as possible.

A spokesperson from the Environment Agency said:

We have been working closely with Derbyshire County Council to find a suitable repair for the damaged area of the culvert and have agreed the funding to enable it to go ahead quickly. We are confident that the works will restore the culvert to a safe condition.

Councillor Simon Spencer, Derbyshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways Transport and Infrastructure, said:

We understand this has been distressing for residents so we’re pleased we’ve been able to work closely with the Environment Agency to appoint a contractor to repair the culvert at the earliest opportunity.

Derbyshire County Council is now progressing plans for the repair with their contractors and the Environment Agency will continue to provide assistance as needed.

Following completion of the repair, the Environment Agency will continue to work in partnership with Derbyshire County Council to identify potential sources of funding for a wider study of the area to look at how flood risk can be further reduced for the future.

100 employers are being recognised today by Defence Secretary Ben Wallace for their outstanding support for the armed forces community by being awarded an Employer Recognition Scheme Gold Award.

They will be presented with their awards on 12 November 2019 at the National Army Museum in London.

The Ministry of Defence’s Employer Recognition Scheme Gold Awards represent the highest badge of honour available to those that employ and support those who serve, veterans, and their families. The scheme continues to grow year on year with awardees doubling in the last 12 months, taking the total to 228.

Employers have won awards for initiatives such as employing veterans, supporting individuals transitioning out of the armed forces into a new career and providing flexibility for reservists. Included are 23 local authorities, 13 NHS hospitals and trusts and 29 SMEs.

The 100 winners have been recognised for their long-term commitment to the armed forces, with companies from the public and private sector achieving the top grade. Each has signed the Armed Forces Covenant, and where possible, engages with the MOD’s Career Transition Partnership (CTP) to promote the recruitment of service leavers, as well as honouring individual pledges of support.

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said:

These awards recognise the outstanding support for our armed forces from employers across Britain and I would like to thank and congratulate each and every one.

Regardless of size, location or sector, employing ex-forces personnel is good for business and this year we have doubled the number of awards in recognition of the fantastic support they give.

Minister for Defence People and Veterans Johnny Mercer said:

Veterans make a huge contribution to businesses across the country and it’s fantastic to see a record breaking number of organisations recognised for their support.

We’re working closely with businesses to help them further understand the huge value that veterans, reservists and military spouses can bring to their organisation.

Amazon UK has a dedicated Military Talent Acquisition team as well as hosting Military Insight Days. Doug Gurr, their UK Country Manager said:

We are delighted to have been awarded Gold in the UK Defence Employer Recognition Scheme, which is recognition of the huge contribution hundreds of UK ex-Service personnel make every day here at Amazon.

The transferable skills of veterans and reservists are a great fit for a company made up of builders, innovators and inventors. So as we continue to invent on behalf of our customers, we hope to see more come build the future with us.

Georgina Yellowlees, Director Talent Acquisition Amazon EMEA comments:

Amazon UK are exceptionally proud to receive the ERS Gold Award in recognition of our support to the armed forces. Veterans, reservists and military spouses form an extremely important part of our ever-growing workforce.

Their leadership and management skills, honed during military service, are second to none, driving our ability to keep our customer promise every day.

IED Training Solutions Ltd was set up in 2015 by two former Royal Marines and has a strong reputation in the field of risk and trauma management, drawing heavily on the team’s military training and expertise. Ian Clark the Managing Director said:

We feel honoured and incredibly proud to receive this recognition for our work and continued commitment to the Armed Forces community and supporting this community is a primary focus for IED.

The company is wholly owned and operated by former full career Royal Marines and ‘the Commando Distinction’ characteristics – versatility, value, excellence – very much underpin our business strategy.

As a national business which provides training and consultancy, we’re well placed to advocate the benefits of Reservists and service leavers. We believe the leadership and technical skills that military personnel develop during their service, prepare them well for career transition.

The 2019 Employer Recognition Scheme Gold award winners are:

• Aberdeenshire Council
• Aintree University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
• Alford Technologies Ltd
• Amazon UK
• Amazon Web Services
• AmmarM UK Limited
• Aneurin Bevan University Health Board
• Anglian Water
• Arcanum Information Security Ltd
• Ascot Care
• Auctus Management Group Ltd
• Biscoes Solicitors
• Bovis Homes
• Brighton & Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust
• Brunel University
• Caerphilly County Borough Council
• CAIS
• Carbon60
• Caterpillar Peterlee
• CDS Defence Support
• CGI UK
• Charnwood Borough Council
• City Building
• City of Edinburgh Council
• City of York Council
• Colchester Borough Council
• College of West Anglia
• Conwy County Borough Council
• County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service
• CPPC Logistic Group of Companies Ltd
• Derbyshire Community Health Service NHS Foundation Trust
• Digital Telecoms Network Academy Ltd
• East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust
• Edinburgh Napier University
• Finchale Group
• Flintshire County Council
• Focus7 International Ltd
• Foreland Shipping Limited
• G&A Security NE Ltd
• GE (UK & Ireland)
• Harrison Clark Rickerbys Solicitors
• Hartlepool Borough Council
• Hertfordshire County Council
• High Speed Two (HS2) Ltd
• HMP Whitemoor
• IED Training Solutions Limited
• Inzpire Ltd
• Jacobs UK Ltd
• KBR UK Ltd
• Knockhill Racing Circuit
• Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust
• Leidos Europe Ltd
• London Borough of Lewisham
• London Electronics Ltd
• Midlothian Council
• Morrison Utility Services
• Motivational Preparation College For Training (MPCT)
• Newport City Council
• North Tyneside Council
• North Warwickshire Borough Council
• Northumbria NHS Foundation Trust
• Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council
• OppO Recruitment Limited
• Police Scotland
• The Poppy Factory
• Qioptiq Ltd
• Rangers Football Club & Rangers Charity Foundation
• Rolls-Royce plc
• Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust
• Royal Mail Group Limited
• Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital
• Rushcliffe Borough Council
• Santander UK
• Schroders
• SecureCloud+ Limited
• South Tyneside Homes
• Sporting Force
• St Helens and Knowsley Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
• St Helens Council
• Stirling Council
• Sunderland City Council
• Sunderland Clinical Commissioning Group
• Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council
• Thales UK Ltd
• Tom Harrison House
• Trafford Council
• Travis Perkins
• TSG Marine
• University Hospital of North Midlands NHS Trust
• University of Central Lancashire
• Veolia UK
• Virgin Money
• Vodafone
• Wagtail UK Limited
• Warwickshire Police
• West Dunbartonshire Council
• West Mercia Police
• West Midlands Ambulance Service University NHS Foundation Trust
• Wood Plc
• Yodel