PM speaks to Swedish PM Stefan Löfven
Jun222017
PM speaks to Swedish PM Stefan Löfven
Jun222017
News story: Defence Minister Focuses on Scottish business, skills, and innovation
The MOD spent £1.5 billion with Scottish businesses last year and supports 9,700 jobs across Scotland, with the Royal Navy’s new Queen Elizabeth Carriers being built in Rosyth and new Offshore Patrol Vessels under construction in Govan and Scotstoun ahead of this summer’s Type 26 Frigate steel cut.
Mrs Baldwin met Scottish SMEs at the Defence Suppliers Forum, held at defence company Leonardo’s facility near Edinburgh. The Forum builds relationships between businesses and Government through face-to-face meetings and candid discussion.
Minister for Defence Procurement Harriett Baldwin said:
Scotland is on the front line defending the United Kingdom from growing threats on land, air, and sea; and the
Government is listening to Scottish business and building skills to keep the UK safe, secure, and prosperous.This is yet more evidence of our unquestionable commitment to defence and industry in Scotland, as our rising
defence budget and £178bn equipment plan supports Scottish business, jobs, and skills far into the future.
Following the Forum, Mrs Baldwin recognised the winners of the Raytheon SME supply chain awards at the company’s Glenrothes plant, where it employs over 600 engineers and technicians. Amongst the winners, were North Lanarkshire company, Link Cable Assemblies, who received the Enabling Business Growth Award.
Apprenticeships are a key element in creating a country where everyone has the chance to go as far as their talent and hard work will allow, regardless of background. 24 graduates and 24 apprentices joined Raytheon’s programmes this year, some of whom Mrs Baldwin met to hear about the company’s support for the Government’s focus on skills through its science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) ambassador programmes. Over 50 Raytheon STEM Ambassadors visit schools to teach pupils about aerodynamics, autonomy, and control systems.
SMEs are at the heart of the MOD’s Innovation Initiative. Backed by an £800 million fund, the Initiative encourages imagination, ingenuity and entrepreneurship. The goal is to work more effectively with businesses across the UK – and particularly with SMEs which might not normally think of themselves as Defence suppliers.
The 2015 Strategic Defence and Security Review committed to spending 25% of procurement money with SME suppliers by 2020. As part of this drive to support businesses, the MOD has launched a refreshed Supplier Portal and an improved Contracts platform linked to the Defence and Security Accelerator. The Accelerator was created to help businesses collaborate with Defence and develop new routes to market for their technology.
Jun222017
Three panda cubs born in NW China’s Shaanxi Province
Three panda cubs were born in northwest China’s Shaanxi Province last week, the provincial forestry department said Thursday.
Fourteen-year-old Yang Yang gave birth to a male cub on June 11 at Shaanxi Rare Wild Animals Rescue and Breeding Research Center. As of Wednesday, the cub weighed 320 grams.
Another panda at the center, Ai Bang, gave birth to twin male cubs on June 12. The weight of each cub has already surpassed 230 grams.
Ma Qingyi, vet at the center, said neither Yang Yang nor Ai Bang are first time mothers so they are both experienced in taking care of their cubs. The three cubs are all in good conditions.
Ma said two other female pandas at the center are expected to deliver soon.
There are currently 22 captive giant pandas and 345 wild pandas in Shaanxi. The wild pandas’ habitats cover more than 360,000 hectares and have been significantly expanded, according to statistics from the provincial forestry department.
Giant pandas are one of the world’s most endangered species and live mainly in the mountains of northern Sichuan Province as well as southern Gansu and Shaanxi provinces. A national survey released in February 2015 showed that as of the end of 2013, China had 1,864 wild pandas and 375 living in captivity.
Jun222017
New advice to protect older people from abuse
Information and Guidance on Domestic Abuse: Safeguarding Older People in Wales was developed in partnership with the Older People’s Commissioner for Wales.
The guidance offers practical advice to professionals to ensure that older people who are experiencing or have experienced abuse, have access to the best support and advice available.
It also aims to raise awareness of the issue and aid understanding of the complexities of working with older people who require care and support as a result of domestic abuse.
The Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Children said:
“Some older victims experience abuse for twice as long as younger people before seeking help, and this cannot continue. It is not acceptable for older people to suffer alone without the help of exceptional support that can be provided to them by our specialist services.
“I’m committed to working closely with partners to protect victims of domestic abuse, and I’m pleased this guidance offers practical advice to help professionals to work effectively with older people.
“Since the Violence against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence (Wales) Act came into force, we have built strong foundationsto create a stronger, more resilient sector to support individuals and families who are either at risk, or are struggling with the consequences of abuse, and we will continue to do so.”
Older People’s Commissioner for Wales, Sarah Rochira, said:
“I am pleased to have worked in collaboration with the Welsh Government to produce this much needed guidance on protecting older people from domestic abuse.
“The guidance will assist front-line professionals working across health, social care and housing to better identify, and respond effectively to, domestic abuse against older people, which affects a significant number of people every year.
“The guidance will contribute to a greater understanding of the issues faced by older people when they are the victims of domestic abuse, which is essential to ensure that the right services and support are available to them at such a traumatic time in their lives.”
Jun222017
News story: GC history and role explained at RSC meeting
The Government Chemist was invited to speak at a meeting of the Peninsula section of the Royal Society of Chemistry at Plymouth University
Selvarani Elahi, the Deputy Government Chemist, was invited as a guest speaker at the Annual Open Meeting of the Peninsula section of the Royal Society of Chemistry held at Plymouth University in May 2017.
Selvarani gave a presentation that began with the origins of the Government Chemist in the mid-19th century when professional chemistry was in its infancy. At the time eager debate took place within the newly founded scientific societies, such as the Chemical Society (now the Royal Society of Chemistry), on new discoveries and how to communicate these to demonstrate the benefits of chemistry to society.
Government first established a laboratory in 1842 with a single scientist to determine the adulteration of tobacco for excise purposes. From these humble beginnings the laboratory grew and official recognition of the importance of chemistry was established by the appointment of a Government Chemist. The Laboratory of the Government Chemist, as it was subsequently called, grew in stature to provide government departments with accurate chemical measurements and sound scientific advice to underpin a modern industrialised society.
Peninsula section of the Royal Society of Chemistry
Selvarani took the audience through the different types of cases that the Government Chemist has had to deal with over the years. She explained the work behind recent food safety and food fraud events such as the “horsemeat scandal” and the presence of peanut in a nut-free factory.
For more information about the work of the Government Chemist please contact us.