May92017
Updated: New EEE producer public register has been published.
2018 registers of EEE producers, approved exporters and approved authorised treatment facilities. Plus a list of WEEE producer compliance schemes and their contact details.
May92017
Shri Rao Inderjit Singh took over as the Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilizers here today.
May92017
The Welsh Government will amend its Trade Union Bill, at Stage 2 of the Bill’s passage through the National Assembly, to ensure current arrangements remain in place with regards to devolved public services.
The Trade Union (Wales) Bill will, when enacted, reverse the effect of certain provisions in the UK Government’s Trade Union Act 2016, in order to protect and promote the successful Welsh model of social partnership.
The decision to introduce an amendment to the Bill follows a UK Government consultation on revoking the current legal position where employers are unable to use temporary workers to provide cover when staff take industrial action.
This would apply to industrial action taken by workers in all sectors, including workers employed in the public sector in Wales.
The Welsh Government has since consulted on whether the current position should be maintained in devolved public services and has subsequently decided to amend the Trade Union Bill to prevent the UK Government from legislating in this area.
Speaking ahead of today’s Stage 1 Debate on the Trade Union Bill, the Cabinet Secretary said:
“We have long said that the UK Government’s position is counterproductive -leading to prolonged, protracted disputes, greater confrontation and more disruption to some of the most vulnerable users of our vital public services.
“Although the UK Government has yet to enact legislation on agency workers, we have taken the necessary steps to ensure that, if they choose to do so, devolved public services would remain unaffected and that the current legal position would remain the same. We are acting to retain the status quo.
“Our Bill and the amendment we are introducing both have the very clear backing of the Assembly’s Equality, Local Government and Communities Committee, with strong support for the proud tradition of constructive social partnership we have here in Wales. We are not prepared for this to be partnership to be jeopardised.”
May92017
As the General Election approaches it is important that individuals and organisations consider their protective security provisions, they remain vigilant and report suspicious behaviour and items to police at the earliest opportunity. The UK threat level remains at SEVERE, meaning an attack is highly likely. Terrorist groups and individuals continue to encourage individuals to plan and mount attacks in the UK, particularly against symbols of the State and crowded places. Low sophistication, low complexity methodologies are the simplest to execute and require little or no training. We urge the public to be alert but not alarmed and the police service and our partners are doing everything we can to help protect the security of citizens, communities, public institutions and businesses.
There is also valuable advice to assist individuals in keeping themselves safe, although it’s important to remember that a key principle of personal security is that the individual must carry the main responsibility and remain vigilant. Whilst it is impossible to provide advice for every eventuality, there is generic advice available from various sources. We would like to direct organisations to the [UK National Counter Terrorism Security Office (NaCTSO) website] (https://www.gov.uk/nactso) where a range of protective security guidance is available.
Further protective security guidance is available on the website for Centre for the Protection on National Infrastructure (CPNI) including guidance for personnel security through a staff vigilance campaign.
The message is clear – ‘don’t worry, don’t delay, just act’ In an emergency call the police dial 999.
Protective security advice is available on the NaCTSO website in the guidance ‘Recognising the terrorist threat’ and advises on:
The Suzy Lamplugh Trust provide advice for those individuals and groups who are campaigning and canvassing.
Can be obtained through local authorities or the Electoral Commission The College of Policing Authorised Professional Practice (APP) have produced guidance on Maintaining order and preventing undue influence outside polling stations. The APP outlines the necessity for Returning Officers and their respective Police Force to initiate early contact in planning for the Election. The Electoral Commission provide a variety of guidance products, including a handbook for Polling Station staff at www.electoralcommission.org.uk.
Is available from the Centre for Protection of National Infrastructure
May92017
9 May 2017 – A group of United Nations human rights experts have “strongly” condemned the murder of a prominent journalist and human rights defender in Maldives and called on the authorities to conduct a public inquiry into the killing and bring those responsible to justice.
Yameen Rasheed – an outspoken critic of the Government who wrote about alleged public corruption and human rights violations – was found stabbed in the stairway of his home in the capital, Malé, on 23 April.
“We strongly condemn the killing of Mr. Rasheed and we urge the Government of the Maldives to take action now to promote and protect the rights of their people to express their views freely,” the experts said in a news release issued by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).
Mr. Rasheed was also at the forefront of a campaign calling for accountability over the disappearance of another journalist and human rights defender, Ahmed Rilwan, who has not been seen or heard from since 8 August 2014.
According to OHCHR, he had received numerous death threats, which he had reported to the police, but apparently no action was taken to protect him.
This murder is the latest in a series of attacks against journalists and human rights defenders expressing liberal views. The killings come against a backdrop of rising religious intolerance in the Maldives and reports suggest that most of the attacks have gone unpunished.
In the news release, the rights experts recognized that the Maldivian authorities have started an investigation and arrested two individuals.
However, they stressed that the “extreme seriousness” of the attack warranted “a thorough and independent public inquiry […] bringing to bear all of the resources of law enforcement and focusing on Mr. Rasheed’s murder and the disappearance of Mr. Rilwan.”
Further in the release, the experts also noted that the island nation’s authority must take seriously their obligation to promote a free and safe space for all forms of expression.
It is the Government’s responsibility […] to take active steps in law and practice to promote toleranceRights experts
On 27 April 2017, four days following his statement condemning the murder of Mr. Rasheed, the President of Maldives reportedly stated in a public meeting that any speech that mocks Islam cannot be tolerated or protected under freedom of expression, read the release.
“It is the Government’s responsibility,” the UN experts emphasized, “to take active steps in law and practice to promote tolerance.”
They also voiced concern over a legislation that uses religion and social norms to restrict freedom of expression in ways that are incompatible with the obligations of the Maldives under international law.
“We call on the Government to revise this legislation and other restrictive measures and to show a sincere commitment to human rights and democracy,” they stressed.
The UN human rights experts issuing the appeal included:
Special Rapporteurs are appointed by the Geneva-based UN Human Rights Council to examine and report back on a specific human rights theme or a country situation. The positions are honorary and the experts are not UN staff, nor are they paid for their work.