Sep72017

Youngsters given taste of world class engineering opportunities in Wales

Welsh Government

Since the end of June, TRJ, appointed by Aston Martin Lagonda  to assist in the conversion of the  Superhanger at the  Aerospace Business Park (ABP)in St Athan, have been working closely with local schools where pupils are able to join in a ‘bridge building exercise’ promoting the benefits of STEM subjects and the construction and engineering industries. 

Economy Secretary, Ken Skates said: 

“I’m pleased that Aston Martin and one of their key suppliers at St Athan have engaged with the local community and are now making an important contribution to the education of our young people and their understanding of industry.  The future prosperity of Wales depends not only on the success of companies like Aston Martin but also on building the skills we need to support a vibrant economy.    

“We, along with Aston Martin, are committed to making St Athan a world leading manufacturing facility, by producing cars that Wales can be proud of. This investment in our economic infrastructure will be key to us achieving this goal. The planned investment by the Welsh Government in the Business Park and associated infrastructure was one of the key decision making factors in our assessment of the St Athan site.”

Karen Botting, Senior Manager – Learning and Development said:

“Aston Martin will offer a number of exciting career path opportunities at its new manufacturing facility and will be opening its apprentice programme in St Athan from 2019.  School visits such as the visit to Cowbridge Comprehensive are an excellent opportunity for our apprentices to meet with pupils, and to explain exactly what future careers are available at Aston Martin.”

Aston Martin are planning a full engagement programme with education establishments for 2018.

Alison Rees, Business Development & Community Liaison Manager for TRJ:

“This is a great opportunity for both companies to demonstrate what they have to offer, especially to the pupils of local schools who would be considering apprenticeships in the near future. 

“We are extremely grateful to pupils and teachers at Cowbridge Comprehensive who gave us a warm welcome when we visited the school to deliver two sessions of the ICE Bridge (Institution of Civil Engineers’ Bridge ) to two groups of pupil, showcasing the dynamics of Civil Engineering.  We look forward to future opportunities with Cowbridge and other schools in the area.”

Since Aston Martin Lagondas decision to choose Wales as the main location for the manufacturing of its new DBX crossover vehicle, TRJ have been playing an active part in ensuring the community benefits of this landmark economic development project are felt throughout the local area.  

Welsh Government will also be supporting TRJ, facilitating a ‘meet the buyer day’ where local trades and suppliers will be encouraged to make themselves known to TRJ, the main contractor to Aston Martin, allowing the local supply chain to be extended further.

Sep72017

Accident victims with serious injuries must receive the compensation they deserve – Burgon

Labour

Richard Burgon MP, Labour’s Shadow
Justice Secretary,
commenting on the announcement that the Government will change the way
compensation pay-outs are calculated, said:

“This proposal by the Government
must be scrutinised very closely.

“Accident victims with serious
injuries must receive the compensation they deserve to live their lives to the
fullest and there will be real concerns that such victims are set to lose out.

“The Government claims that this
move could see motorists benefit from lower car insurance premiums. Ministers
must ensure any savings to the motor insurance industry that result from these
proposals are passed on to hard-pressed motorists rather than lining the
pockets of executives.“

Sep72017

Sturgeon refuses to rule out tax hikes for Scotland’s workers

Scottish Conservatives
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7 Sep 2017

Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson MSP speaking during First Minister's Questions held in the Scottish parliament, Edinburgh today. 09 June 2016. Pic - Andrew Cowan/Scottish Parliament

Nicola Sturgeon has refused to rule out introducing tax hikes which would hit basic rate taxpayers right across the country.

At First Minister’s Questions today, Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson invited her to echo previous SNP pledges that there would be no increases.

However, Ms Sturgeon dodged the issue, instead saying her party would treat the prospect of heavy increases with “an open mind”.

This directly contradicts what both she and the SNP manifesto said before the most recent Holyrood elections, where it was acknowledged that such a move could lead to a loss of revenue.

Earlier this week, the First Minister hinted at tax increases as part of her Programme for Government.

That prompted warnings today from business leaders, including the Scottish Chambers of Commerce and the Scottish Retail Consortium, that raising income tax could even drive Scotland back to the brink of recession.

Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson said:

“Nicola Sturgeon’s message is loud and clear – she’s coming for the pay packets of workers right across Scotland.

“The First Minister made a promise not to increase income tax rates for basic rate taxpayers, and now she’s going back on it.

“She needs to listen to business leaders who are telling her unequivocally that, if Scotland has higher income tax rates than the rest of the UK, it will be bad for the economy.

“Jacking up taxes on working families and businesses in Scotland will damage the Scottish Government’s stated objective to get the economy growing again.

“Doing so will damage Scotland’s reputation as a good place to do business, and stifle the ambitions we all share for the country.”

Nicola Sturgeon promised not to increase income tax for basic rate taxpayers:
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/nicola-sturgeon-rules-out-raising-income-tax-rate-if-snp-is-re-elected-a6926786.html

She also made the same pledge to the SNP conference (30 mins 55 secs):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R31ObvBPRm0

However, today she refused to rule out doing exactly that, and hinted at the measures in Tuesday’s Programme for Government:
http://www.scottishconservatives.com/2017/09/ruth-responds-to-snps-programme-for-government/

And earlier this week, SNP MSP Mark McDonald also failed to detail the SNP’s proposals on tax when asked on Scotland Tonight. He said: “Well, I think we’ve set out our position very clearly that what we don’t want to see is those in the lowest paid positions having to pay more tax and the part of James Kelly’s answer that was missing, of course, was that the Labour party’s position in relation to income tax going into the last election was that they would have seen those people having their tax bills increased.”

Sep72017

Solveig Wollstad returns as National Member for Sweden at Eurojust

EU

​The Hague, 7 September 2017

Solveig Wollstad was appointed for a second term as National Member for Sweden at Eurojust, commencing June 2017.

After receiving an LL.M. from the University of Lund in 1983, Ms Wollstad began her career as a prosecutor in 1987, when she joined the Swedish Prosecution Authority.

Ms Wollstad was promoted in 2001 to Chief Public Prosecutor and Head of the International Public Prosecution Office in Linköping, leaving to become National Member for Sweden at Eurojust from January 2004 through September 2007. She was then Eurojust´s representative at the EU Police Chiefs Task Force, as well as involved with relations with Europol and third States and a member of the Trafficking Team.

From September 2007 to September 2014, Ms Wollstad returned to Sweden as Chief Public Prosecutor and Head of the International Public Prosecution Office for the south of Sweden in Malmö, dealing with serious organised national and transnational crime, mutual legal assistance in criminal matters, arrest warrants and extradition.

Ms Wollstad then served as Head of the East Public Prosecution Area (Eastern Region) of the Swedish Prosecution Service and as Head of  five District Prosecution Offices from October 2014 to May 2017, before returning to Eurojust in June 2017.

In her very long and varied legal career, Ms Wollstad has served as expert in several EU projects on judicial cooperation, contact point for Sweden with the EJN, member of the National Supervisory Board of the Swedish Customs Authority, member of the National Council on Police and Judicial Cooperation, the Swedish Public Prosecution Authority’s contact person for the IAP, Member of the Swedish Board of the AIDP, and Member of the Prosecutor General of Sweden’s National Management Board for the Swedish Prosecution Authority.

Ms Wollstad has also served as expert on many Swedish governmental committees.

On her second appointment to Eurojust, Ms Wollstad said:

‘I am very happy to return to Eurojust after 10 years, especially in this beautiful new building. I have always been a supporter of the work of Eurojust, and at this time, with the EPPO and Brexit, we have additional challenges to face.

We must use our wealth of experience to focus on practical casework, operational issues and teamwork, and how to change legal instruments. Eurojust is fortunate in having a large administrative support staff, including a new Operational Unit, allowing the National Members to focus on their core tasks. I am optimistic that we can achieve much more by working together.’

Sep72017

Solveig Wollstad returns as National Member for Sweden at Eurojust

EU

​The Hague, 7 September 2017

Solveig Wollstad was appointed for a second term as National Member for Sweden at Eurojust, commencing June 2017.

After receiving an LL.M. from the University of Lund in 1983, Ms Wollstad began her career as a prosecutor in 1987, when she joined the Swedish Prosecution Authority.

Ms Wollstad was promoted in 2001 to Chief Public Prosecutor and Head of the International Public Prosecution Office in Linköping, leaving to become National Member for Sweden at Eurojust from January 2004 through September 2007. She was then Eurojust´s representative at the EU Police Chiefs Task Force, as well as involved with relations with Europol and third States and a member of the Trafficking Team.

From September 2007 to September 2014, Ms Wollstad returned to Sweden as Chief Public Prosecutor and Head of the International Public Prosecution Office for the south of Sweden in Malmö, dealing with serious organised national and transnational crime, mutual legal assistance in criminal matters, arrest warrants and extradition.

Ms Wollstad then served as Head of the East Public Prosecution Area (Eastern Region) of the Swedish Prosecution Service and as Head of  five District Prosecution Offices from October 2014 to May 2017, before returning to Eurojust in June 2017.

In her very long and varied legal career, Ms Wollstad has served as expert in several EU projects on judicial cooperation, contact point for Sweden with the EJN, member of the National Supervisory Board of the Swedish Customs Authority, member of the National Council on Police and Judicial Cooperation, the Swedish Public Prosecution Authority’s contact person for the IAP, Member of the Swedish Board of the AIDP, and Member of the Prosecutor General of Sweden’s National Management Board for the Swedish Prosecution Authority.

Ms Wollstad has also served as expert on many Swedish governmental committees.

On her second appointment to Eurojust, Ms Wollstad said:

‘I am very happy to return to Eurojust after 10 years, especially in this beautiful new building. I have always been a supporter of the work of Eurojust, and at this time, with the EPPO and Brexit, we have additional challenges to face.

We must use our wealth of experience to focus on practical casework, operational issues and teamwork, and how to change legal instruments. Eurojust is fortunate in having a large administrative support staff, including a new Operational Unit, allowing the National Members to focus on their core tasks. I am optimistic that we can achieve much more by working together.’