News story: New director for Emergency Services Mobile Communications Programme

A new programme director has been appointed with immediate effect to implement the UK’s new communications infrastructure for emergency services.

Bryan Clark joins the Emergency Services Mobile Communications Programme (ESMCP) after working in the technology sector for more than 30 years, previously serving as Director of Digital and Change at Her Majesty’s Prisons and Probation Service.

Before entering the public sector Mr Clarke was the CEO of Sumerian Europe Ltd, and he previously spent 15 years as Partner and European CIO of KPMG. Earlier in his career, Mr Clarke held numerous technical and management roles including project management, analytics consulting and product management.

Bryan replaces Gordon Shipley who is leaving ESMCP after 5 years as Programme Director.

Joanna Davinson, Chief Digital, Data and Technology Officer for the Home Office said:

Bryan’s experience will be invaluable in leading the programme as it moves into its vital delivery phase.

Gordon Shipley played a crucial role in driving the programme forward, from its inception in 2013 to where it is today. We would all like to thank Gordon for his achievements, and we wish him well for the future.

Bryan Clark added:

I am delighted to have the opportunity to lead the programme delivering the Emergency Services Network at such an important time and look forward to working closely with the 3 emergency services, and colleagues across the Home Office and in other government departments, and in the Scottish and Welsh administrations.

Our emergency services deserve the best technology we can provide to help them do their often difficult and demanding job, and I am passionate about delivering value for money and ensuring that technology delivers what the business needs.

I look forward to the challenge of making sure the new network can enable the emergency services to become more efficient and make the day-to-day jobs of individuals on the front line easier. I am very excited to take up this amazing role and build on the excellent work done to date.

Press release: UK Minister for Africa visits Angola to strengthen UK-Angola ties

UK Minister for Africa at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and Minister of State at the Department for International Development.

On her arrival in Luanda, Minister Harriett Baldwin said:

I’m delighted to be in Angola for my first visit and I look forward to discussing with government ministers and civil society representatives how we can work closer together on issues important to the UK and Angola. This includes economic cooperation, demining, and women’s empowerment, all in support of shared prosperity.

I am also interested in how our countries can work together to combat the terrible illegal wildlife trade, following the recent Giants Club meeting in Botswana which I attended alongside Angolan representatives, and ahead of the major conference we are hosting in London this October.

Notes:

Minister Harriett Baldwin is the UK’s Minister for Africa at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and Minister of State at the Department for International Development. She is responsible for Africa, consular policy and international crime.

Published 12 April 2018

Press release: UK Minister for Africa visits Angola to strengthen UK-Angola ties

On her arrival in Luanda, Minister Harriett Baldwin said:

I’m delighted to be in Angola for my first visit and I look forward to discussing with government ministers and civil society representatives how we can work closer together on issues important to the UK and Angola. This includes economic cooperation, demining, and women’s empowerment, all in support of shared prosperity.

I am also interested in how our countries can work together to combat the terrible illegal wildlife trade, following the recent Giants Club meeting in Botswana which I attended alongside Angolan representatives, and ahead of the major conference we are hosting in London this October.

Notes:

Press release: Security in the Gulf is vital to keeping Britain safe

In UAE Defence Secretary met with His Excellency Mohammed Ahmed Al Bowardi, Minister of State for Defence, to thank leadership for their support to UK operations

In the UAE, Gavin Williamson met with the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Mohammed bin Zayed, and his Emirati counterpart, Mohammed Ahmad Al Bowardi, reaffirming the historic and very successful defence relationship. He also commended the role the UAE, a Global Coalition partner, has played in the fight against Daesh.

Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson said:

Our long-standing and deep relationship with our Gulf partners epitomises Britain’s global outlook. Be it through our involvement in the Duqm port project in Oman or the opening of the Naval Support Facility in Bahrain, we are committed to regional security and stability.

Gulf security is our security and what happens in the Gulf has a direct impact on the security of the British public at home.

The Defence Secretary also visited personnel on board HMS Middleton and HMS Bangor, which were alongside at Port Zayed. Mr Williamson reiterated how grateful he was for the access and facilities that the UAE provides the UK. The UAE is the most visited port globally by the Royal Navy, highlighting the value Britain places on this relationship in its support to regional stability and security.

In Oman, Mr Williamson met the Minister Responsible For Defence, Badr bin Saud al Busaidi, to discuss the potential embedding of Omani officers to work and train alongside UK Armed Forces as Loan Service Personnel. It will be a unique arrangement for the UK as it does not currently have any other Loan Service Personnel embedded with our world renowned Armed Forces.

They also reviewed the work taking place at the Duqm port facilities which, in time, will host UK warships and is large enough to welcome the UK’s future flagships, aircraft carriers HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales. They also discussed Exercise SAIF SAREEA 3 which will be the largest UK-Oman joint exercise for 15 years. Almost 5,500 British troops from all three services will train side by side with the Sultan’s Armed Forces, sharing experiences and trialling new concepts.

Notice: DE74 2SA, East Midlands International Airport Limited: Environmental Agency led permit variation advertisement

The Environment Agency consult the public on certain applications for waste operations, mining waste operations, installations, water discharge and groundwater activities. The arrangements are explained in their Public Participation Statement

These notices explain:

what the Environment Agency led variation is about
when you need to comment by