Jul202017

Research and analysis: Exercise GREY SEAL

DEFRA

Exercise GREY SEAL was held over 22nd and 23rd November 2016 to test the National Contingency Plan for Marine Pollution from Shipping and Offshore Installations (NCP). Government departments, local authorities, the shipping industry and their contractors were all tested in their response to a major shipping incident resulting in offshore and onshore pollution. As well as testing the response cells described within the NCP the office of the Minister for Transport also participated.

The aim of the exercise was to test the United Kingdom’s (UK) response to a major oil spill within the UK Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

You can download a copy of the report on the exercise from this web page.

Jul202017

It is deeply concerning that the size of the Army has fallen yet again on this Government’s watch – Nia Griffith

Labour

“It
is deeply concerning that the size of the Army has fallen yet again on this
Government’s watch.

“Since
Michael Fallon became Defence Secretary in 2014, the number of fully trained
soldiers has fallen by over 7,000. That trend is simply not sustainable and it
has very real consequences for the UK’s defence capabilities.

“We
know that satisfaction with pay and service life are some of the biggest
reasons why servicemen and women are leaving the Armed Forces in their droves.

“If
the government was serious about tackling this crisis in recruitment and
retention, they would agree to lift the public sector pay cap to give our Armed
Forces the pay that they deserve.”

Jul202017

Key players gather to progress plans for  £100m Automotive Technology Park

Welsh Government

Economy Secretary, Ken Skates, chaired a meeting with industry figures from TVR, Ford, General Dynamics and IQE as well as representatives of Ebbw Vale Enterprise Zone, Blaenau Gwent Council and Cardiff University, in order to develop more detailed proposals for  the Automotive Technology Park at Ebbw Vale. 

Last month the Economy Secretary announced that the Welsh Government would invest  £100m over ten years in an Automotive Technology Park in Blaenau Gwent with the  potential to create up to 1500 new full time jobs in one of Wales’ most deprived areas. 

Today’ meeting focussed on opportunities that could create the most new jobs and maximum economic investment in the area. 

Speaking after the meeting, Economy Secretary Ken Skates said: 

“Our plans to invest £100m in an Automotive Technology Park in Blaenau Gwent have the potential to transform the local economy and create up to 1500 jobs and  I am keen to progress them as quickly as possible. 

“Today’s meeting provided an ideal opportunity to bring key players from industry, local government, academia and the local Enterprise Zone together  to agree our direction of travel and set key targets and milestones that will help drive this pivotal project forward. 

“It was a very productive meeting that confirmed our collective ambition to shape and deliver a project that can genuinely  regenerate the local economy. 

“Delivered well the project can not only create r the high quality jobs the area needs but also play a key role in shaping the future of our automotive industry here in Wales.” 

The Welsh Government will publish a full business case for the Automotive Technology Park later this year. This will draw upon the specialist advice already received from internal and external experts and reflect the views emerging from today’s meeting and from other engagement work with key partners.

Jul202017

Today’s announcement confirms that the Tories have been taking people for a ride – Andy McDonald

Labour

Andy McDonald MP, Labour’s Shadow
Transport Secretary, commenting on the Government’s scrapping of plans to electrify
the Great Western Mainline between Cardiff and Swansea, said:

“The Tories have been promising the electrification of the Great
Western Mainline from Paddington to Swansea since 2012 and today’s announcement
confirms that they have been taking people for a ride.

“The cancellation of
works means passengers will be denied the faster, greener, more reliable train
journeys they were promised, and South Wales will miss out on the economic
activity that improved rail services deliver.

“The decision betrays
a promise to South Wales and the Transport Secretary sneaking out the news on
the final day before he goes on his summer holidays adds insult to
injury. 

“The Tories do not act
in the interests of the whole UK. They have put their own survival,
finding £1 billion for a deal with the DUP, ahead of everything else
and it’s communities like those in South Wales that pay the price.”