Thank you Madam Chair,

First, a big welcome to Ambassador Melono who takes up the role of Deputy Director General. You are well qualified for this key post at a vital time, and deserve strong support from all of us.

We, the States Parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention, have all committed to ‘exclude completely the possibility of the use of chemical weapons’. In order to achieve this the technical provisions of the Convention need to be relevant and up to date.

That was why our predecessors set out very clearly – in Article 15, paragraph five of the Convention – a process for considering technical changes to the Annexes to the Convention, including the Annex on Chemicals, commonly known as the ‘Schedules’. States Parties recognised from the outset that updates to the Annexes may be needed to ensure the viability and effectiveness of the Convention.

Which brings us to the substance of our meeting today, namely the joint proposal from the Netherlands, Canada and the USA to add two closely related families of chemicals to Schedule 1A of the Convention. We commend the thorough and objective review of the proposal by Technical Secretariat which confirms that:

• first: the criteria for including toxic chemicals on Schedule 1A have been met
• second: the procedural requirements of the Convention have been followed
• and third: that the proposal is consistent with the advice of the Scientific Advisory Board

We have discussed the joint proposal with the co-sponsors and I want to state very clearly that the UK fully supports it. The proposal covers the chemical weapon that was used in my country less than a year ago. It was intended to cause death and tragically it did so. The reports from the Technical Assistance Visits following the appalling events in Salisbury and Amesbury not only confirmed the identity of the substance involved, but also its high toxicity. The two closely related families of chemicals have no identified legitimate civilian use.

This Council is required to examine the proposal and notify our recommendation to all States Parties within 90 days. That deadline falls today. It is imperative that the chemical weapon used in Salisbury, together with the most closely related toxic chemicals, be included in Schedule 1A. Acting now will demonstrate the resolve of States Parties to address new types of chemical warfare agents and deter further use. I call on other Council members to support the draft decision in front of us.

Thank you Chair.

The below video, which details some of the work completed by the Disclosure and Barring Service, has been uploaded to our YouTube channel.

The video details the different levels of DBS check, what type of information may be used to carry out these checks and the importance of safeguarding.

The video can be found here.

Published 14 January 2019

Around 8,500 new houses will be built in Northamptonshire following a funding injection from Homes England, the government’s housing delivery agency.

Located within an hour of London and Birmingham and inside the Cambridge/Oxford corridor, the two new residential schemes will help create around 3,000 jobs as well as schools, leisure and commercial space.

The developments in Kettering and Wellingborough have been made possible with a £70 million loan from Homes England.

The schemes have a projected combined value of £2.5 billion over their lifetime, which is estimated to be 20 years.

The agency has agreed the loan as part of its £4.5 billion Home Building Fund, which provides development and infrastructure finance to home builders. The investment will be used to create roads, utilities and other works to enable the delivery of homes at Kettering and at phase one of the site at Wellingborough.

Kit Malthouse, Minister of State for Housing said:

“I am delighted to hear shovels are already in the ground as builders set about delivering 8,500 much-needed homes so more people can realise their home-owning dream.

“We are making the housing market work, and Homes England’s £70m loan will unlock the development so we can invest in the properties our country needs.”

Speaking of Homes England’s role in delivering the sites, Sir Edward Lister, Chairman of Homes England said:

“We’re working with partners across the country to ensure land is available to build more new homes where they’re most needed.

“Providing infrastructure upfront is key to unlocking significant housing growth and Homes England’s investment in Kettering and Wellingborough will enable two major housing projects to be delivered after many years of delay.”

Speaking on behalf of the scheme’s delivery partners, Long Harbour, Midtown Capital and Buccleuch Property, Aldred Drummond of Long Harbour added:

“The delivery partners have combined our respective expertise in planning, development, construction and finance to optimise the potential of these sites, providing much-needed homes and jobs in this superbly connected location.

“Both schemes will benefit from beautifully designed public areas and landscape, taking inspiration from the surrounding countryside.

“We are delighted that our investment, supported by Homes England, will have a positive impact on the future prosperity of this wonderful part of England.”

ENDS

For more information contact Sarah Foulkes, Communications Officer at Homes England. Tel: 0161 200 6130/ 07967 782 162 or email sarah.foulkes@homesengland.gov.uk

Investment will help create 5,500 homes in Kettering and 3,000 in the initial phase of building out a site in Wellingborough. The Developments will generate up to 3,000 jobs.

HS2 is using its scale as the UK’s biggest and most ambitious infrastructure project to set a new benchmark in construction vehicle emission standards around the UK.