Donald Kohn will serve another three-year term on the Financial Policy Committee (FPC), and Martin Taylor a further 12-15 months, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Philip Hammond announced today (7 February 2018).

Mr Kohn has previously served as the former vice chairman of the Federal Reserve, and Mr Taylor is Vice-Chairman of the Board of RTL Group and former chairman of Syngenta AG. They bring with them a deep expertise on finance, macroeconomics and monetary policy.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Philip Hammond said:

Donald Kohn and Martin Taylor have made a wonderful contribution to the Financial Policy Committee during their terms. I’m pleased that Mr Kohn will continue to be on the Committee for a further three years, and that Mr Taylor has agreed to stay on for at least another year.

I am confident that they will continue their good work in helping the Committee to identify emerging risks, taking action, and enhancing the resilience of the UK financial system.

Last year the Chancellor was informed by Mr Taylor that he did not wish to serve a further full three-year term, having already served nearly five years on the Committee and prior to that having been a member of the Independent Commission on Banking. At the request of the Chancellor and the Governor of the Bank of England, Mr Taylor has agreed to stay on the FPC for another 12-15 months. The Chancellor has therefore decided to reappoint Mr Taylor for a full term, but on the understanding that he will step down no later than June 2019.

Later this year, HM Treasury will launch a global search to identify two new external members to join the Committee in 2019. One member will replace Mr Taylor when he steps down, and the other will replace Richard Sharp whose second term expires on 31 March 2019. Mr Sharp is not eligible for a third term.

The Bank of England has also reappointed Alex Brazier, in his role as Executive Director, Financial Stability Strategy and Risk, for a further three-year term as a member of the Financial Policy Committee.

About the Financial Policy Committee

The FPC was established in 2013 and is a vital part of the government’s system of financial regulation. The FPC is the UK’s macroprudential regulator: its objective is to protect and enhance the stability of the UK’s financial system by identifying, monitoring and addressing systemic risks.

The FPC works with the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) and the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to address risks to the financial system as a whole, while the PRA and FCA have responsibility for microprudential and conduct regulation of individual firms, respectively.

34 young people from nine schools and organisations across India were recognised and presented with a top international honour after receiving their Gold Award from the International Award for Young People, India.

The Awards were presented at the Gold Award Ceremony held at the India International Centre in New Delhi on 7 February 2018, by His Royal Highness The Earl of Wessex, Chair, The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Foundation.

His Royal Highness The Earl of Wessex said:

It has been a great honour to meet such inspiring young people, hear about their Award journeys and celebrate their achievements.

Achieving your Gold Award is not an easy task – it requires commitment, tests your resilience and challenges you to step outside your comfort zone. But it also opens up many opportunities for young people and enables them to be their own agents of change, both for themselves and their communities.

Kapil Bhalla, National Director of the International Award for Young People, India, said:

The Award helps India’s young people to challenge themselves, experience life and find their purpose, passion and place in the world. The Gold Award challenges participants over 18 months and more, in five areas – physical activity, skill development, service to community and by taking them outside of their comfort zone, through an adventurous journey and residential project.

The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award is a global, non-formal education framework which challenges young people to discover their potential and celebrate their achievements. It operates in more than 130 countries and territories around the world, helping to inspire over 1.3 million young people every year.

Further information

The International Award for Young People, India – also known as The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award – is the world’s leading youth achievement Award, available to all young people aged 14-24, regardless of their background, culture, physical ability, skills and interests.

It is delivered around the world by schools, colleges, universities, employers, social clubs, uniformed and non-uniformed youth organisations, young offenders’ institutions, religious organisations, sports clubs and other civic organisations.

Founded in 1956 by HRH The Duke of Edinburgh, the Award enables young people to learn, develop and thrive through non-formal education, equipping them for life.

It challenges participants, pushing them to their personal limits and helping them to discover they are capable of so much more than they ever thought possible.

Since its launch over 60 years ago, millions of young people have participated and received Awards, with millions more benefiting from its impact in communities around the world.

In India, the Award was first introduced in 1962 and has since equipped over 100,000 young people and is delivered in more than 260 Award units, schools, universities, community organisations etc.

In 2017 alone, more than 42,000 participants were doing the Award programme in India.

The Award in India also has a strong commitment to work with young people who are considered at risk or marginalised; those with social, physical or economic challenges. The Award aims to ensure at least 20% of all enrolment encompasses young people from these backgrounds.

The International Award for Young People has established key partnerships with NGOs working within the marginalised youth sector, including rural and urban migrants with economic and social challenges and young people with special needs.

The Duke of Edinburgh`s International Award Foundation is a registered charity in England and Wales (1072453). The Foundation’s headquarters are in London and it has regional offices in the Americas, Africa, Asia Pacific and EMAS (Europe, Mediterranean and Arab States).

Media

For media queries, please contact:

Mail to: Asad Mirza

Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Flickr, Storify, Eventbrite, Blogs, Youtube, Instagram, Snapchat @UKinIndia, Periscope @UKinIndia

The Marine Management Organisation has provided an update on the investigation it began in early 2017 under the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009. This related to alleged unlicensed depositing of oyster trestles on a privately owned area of Whitstable Beach by the Whitstable Oyster Fishery Company or its manager Mr Green.

After investigation and careful consideration the MMO has concluded there was insufficient evidence to prove a criminal offence in relation to its remit under the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009.

The MMO licensing team has also considered the facts and circumstances of the deposit of trestles on Whitstable Beach and has concluded based on an independent navigational risk assessment commissioned by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency that the array of trestles do not currently constitute an obstruction or danger to navigation. This activity benefits from an exemption relating to shellfish propagation and cultivation under the Marine Licensing (Exempted Activities) Order 2011 as amended (Article 13).

The MMO is dealing with the issue in line with its compliance and enforcement strategy and does not intend to take further, retrospective legal action.

The MMO has a difficult task in managing competing uses of the marine area and appreciates there has been much public debate about the issue. It previously met with a number of local representatives, including the former MP for the area, on the matter. As it is important that the MMO carries out its duties and obligations impartially and fairly it did not feel it appropriate to open this process to a wider audience during an ongoing investigation.

Whilst this investigation has concluded the MMO will continue to monitor the situation and consider issues raised on a case by case basis.

UK Export Finance (UKEF) has made three appointments to its senior management to enhance its capability and capacity to realise the ambitions set out in its Business Plan for 2017-20.

• Richard Simon-Lewis, Head of Origination, Client Coverage, Marketing and Communications
• Adam Harris, Head of Civil, Infrastructure and Energy
• Andy Blacksell, Head of Underwriting Policy and Products

They will help UKEF implement its strategy to lead with finance, bring major international business opportunities to the UK and help UK companies better compete for business around the world.

Additional recruitment into senior roles across UKEF’s policy and operations divisions to build the department’s capacity and expertise further is planned for the coming months.

Louis Taylor, UKEF’s Chief Executive Officer, welcomed Richard, Adam and Andy to their roles, saying:

I am very pleased to announce these appointments into key positions as we look to deliver world-leading finance to help the UK’s world-leading exporters grow their business internationally.

Richard, Adam and Andy will bring the expertise, creativity and ambition required to help UKEF realise its aim to be the best export credit agency in the world.

Richard Simon-Lewis, Head of Origination, Client Coverage, Marketing and Communications

Richard will focus on seeking and securing global opportunities for UK exporters:

• helping to connect UK capability with international demand
• raising awareness of UKEF’s support among exporters and overseas buyers
• generating new business both at home and abroad
• helping to develop a new network of international advisers, to support UKEF’s overseas activity across 20 different markets

Richard commented:

In the last year, UKEF has enhanced its reputation as a world-leading export credit agency, from extending short-term finance to the UK supply chain, to expanding our overseas buyer finance to 62 local currencies. We are better placed than ever before to support UK exports.

I want to ensure UK exporters and their buyers can realise the full benefits of that, and am excited to be leading UKEF’s international drive to bring these major opportunities to the UK.

Adam Harris, Head of Civil, Infrastructure and Energy

Adam will manage and develop UKEF’s growing team of 30 specialist underwriters, responsible for delivering and enhancing UKEF’s support for the civil, infrastructure and energy sectors.

Adam commented:

I am delighted to be leading UKEF’s civil, infrastructure and energy underwriting division at an exciting time for UK exports and international trade.

By working closely with our customers and their overseas buyers, and growing our capacity to do ever more business in these vital sectors in which the UK is a recognised leader, we can help UK businesses thrive internationally.

Andy Blacksell, Head of Underwriting Policy and Products

Andy will focus on the development and delivery of products that UK exporters need to support them in making the most of trading internationally, with greater pace, efficiency and capacity.

Andy commented:

UKEF’s offering must remain agile and adaptable, so I am excited to be able to take this role to ensure our product range continues to evolve in a way that is both evidence-based and, crucially, puts the needs of UK exporters first.

Background

Richard has over 25 years’ experience in structured financing, heading up energy and infrastructure units at leading project and export institutions.

In 2016, he became UKEF’s Head of Civil, Infrastructure and Energy and led the division through a period of significant growth, as well as pioneering an innovative new ‘supplier fair’ model which has connected hundreds of UK companies with opportunities worth hundreds of millions on major international projects.

Adam began his career in the Civil Service Fast Stream, gaining experience in a range of positions, including credit risk analysis at UKEF, as well as policy at HM Treasury and HM Revenue and Customs. He spent over five years in UKEF’s aerospace underwriting division, before becoming Chief of Staff to Louis Taylor, UKEF Chief Executive, in 2016.

Andy has over 15 years’ experience at UKEF, spanning roles as a country policy officer for sub-Saharan Africa and an underwriter in UKEF’s civil, aerospace and defence sector teams, as well as managing the department’s transition through landmark changes to its governing statute in 2015.

The government has appointed Byron Davies as its first ever General Aviation Champion to help identify a network of UK aerodromes that are most important for non-scheduled flying to flourish.

Baroness Sugg made the announcement today while visiting Elstree Aerodrome to discuss the importance of private flying to the economy.

Byron Davies will lead important research and engage with fliers to identify a network of strategically important airfields to help the general aviation sector develop.

The new General Aviation Champion, who was the founding chairman of the General Aviation All Party Parliamentary Group, will deliver a report on the value of general aviation to the economy. He will also have the help of York Aviation, which has been commissioned by the government to carry out research on airfields of strategic significance.

Establishing a strategic network of aerodromes will ensure a balance between transport and housing development priorities, protecting the general aviation sector’s contribution to the UK economy.

Aviation Minister Baroness Sugg said:

Smaller airfields and the pilots who use them contribute £3 billion to our economy and support more than 38,000 jobs, be that through business jet operations, flying schools or leisure flying.

We want to preserve these benefits of general aviation and ensure appropriate and proportionate protection for the significant parts of this network that underpin that contribution.

Byron brings both passion and expertise to the role and I am confident he will work closely with fliers and researchers to shape the future of the general aviation network within the UK.

Byron Davies will work with commercial, business and leisure fliers to understand how their activity contributes to the sector.

Commenting on his appointment as General Aviation Champion, Byron Davies said:

This is an exciting opportunity for general aviation and I’m delighted to have been asked to undertake this piece of work.

The sector makes a major contribution to the economy and it’s only right that its voice is heard at all levels of government.

I look forward very much to engaging with the aviation community over the coming months.

The General Aviation Champion has been appointed for 12 months and will gather evidence of the sector’s value to the economy and the need for a protected network of airfields.

General aviation has played an important part in the valuable aviation economic eco-system. Many of today’s pilots, aircrew and engineers first came into contact and were inspired by the sector through general aviation leisure activities. At the other end of the wide general aviation spectrum the business aviation sector ensures high value individuals are able to access the destinations they need to quickly and efficiently go about their business. Business which delivers high economic value to the UK. Across the spectrum of general aviation activity research has indicated that the sector delivers in excess of £3 billion of added economic value to the UK annually, supporting in excess of 38,000 jobs.

As we seek to develop the UK’s aviation sector it will be important to ensure that we balance the economic contribution of the general aviation sector with housing and commercial priorities, and that we identify exactly how this contribution is delivered, and what constitutes the critical infrastructure that is necessary to deliver them.

The General Aviation Champion will have 2 roles, one to help government develop an understanding of these issues and the other to engage with stakeholders to ensure that understanding is grounded in the knowledge and experience of the sector. The champion will steer research into the value of the sector to the economy with the aim of providing evidence to underpin the identification and protection of a strategic network of airfields critical to the long term delivery of the sector’s economic benefit.