Thank you, Chair.

The United Kingdom continues its support for this proposal for the launch of the selection process and we refer to our previous statements on this agenda item. We also support the statement made by Mexico on behalf of all co-sponsors.

This month marks a year since the Appellate Body has been able to hear new appeals, and a year since Members have had recourse to a two-stage dispute settlement system. At a time when the wider trading system is under strain, ensuring the fulfilment of rights and obligations of all Members under the Dispute Settlement Understanding is essential.

We have listened carefully to concerns and recognise the need for reform. We encourage all Members to reaffirm the value of, and Members’ investment in, the rules-based multilateral trading system. We look forward to working with all Members to ensure that we do not become accustomed to the current impasse on dispute settlement.

Finding a solution and engaging in reform discussions should not stand in the way of Members accessing two-stage dispute settlement, a central pillar of the multilateral trading system. We therefore call on all Members to launch the Appellate Body selection process for all seven vacancies so we can restore the system to full functioning while we prioritise discussions on a permanent solution.

Thank-you.

Top innovators pitched their businesses and novel technological ideas to investors at an event by the Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA).

More than 45 investors attended the virtual Investment Showcase earlier this month with 14 companies presenting their innovative business opportunities and associated technologies that have the potential to offer better performance and increased capability for defence and national security – as well as offering multiple uses across other sectors.

Video of what DASA offers.

The companies were split by technology area, to allow investors to easily identify those sessions of particular interest.

The innovations on display ranged from different software that tackles fake news and reduces harmful content to innocent audiences; a medical point of care innovation that provides a diagnostic answer in ten minutes on a patient’s need for antibiotics; to drone software that could transform the signal denied autonomy aspect of the drone market; and others.

Categories showcased were:

• Cyber, Analysis and Training Software
• Medical Software and Scanning
• Advanced Materials
• Drones and Drone Software

An invited audience of investors saw each company present their business opportunity and growth plans.

All companies presenting have previously received either defence or security funding via DASA.

DASA offers our funded companies the opportunity to access business mentoring and finance advice, with pitch training a core training element.

DASA is resolute in its support of UK companies to help them reach the next level of development and funding necessary to take their innovation into the market place.

Investors who are interested in more details about UK innovations are welcome to get in touch with DASA to find out more about those companies that showcased and the associated investment opportunities.

The companies are looking at a spectrum of investment opportunities and are interested in syndicated as well as individual investments.

The Pubs Code Adjudicator (PCA) recently published the findings of its investigation into Star Pubs & Bars in which it found that Star had committed a total of 12 breaches with the result that it had frustrated the principles of the Pubs Code. As well as identifying how the company had offered stocking terms that had acted as a deterrent to tenants pursuing a free-of-tie tenancy, the PCA highlighted systemic corporate failures by Star in its approach to compliance.

Following the investigation into Star, the PCA has:

• Made 8 recommendations telling Star what they must do to make good the harm caused to tenants and to ensure that they comply with the Pubs Code (summarised below)

• Said that it will require Star to publish a letter on its website to all its tenants explaining the findings in the investigation report, what Star will do in response to the recommendations and how these measures will affect tenants from a practical point of view

• Imposed a £2 million financial penalty on Star

Star were required to report to the PCA directly, within 6 weeks, with their proposed measures to comply with the recommendations. The PCA has now received Star’s implementation plan and is currently engaging with them, including a meeting before the Christmas break, to ensure that the plan is appropriate to enable the recommendations to be implemented effectively. This will include an appropriate timetable for writing to tenants

The PCA will publish progress updates relating to the plan and monitoring delivery on the PCA’s website.

The PCA’s recommendations are summarised below.

Recommendations 1-7 focus on improvements Star must make to its current and future behaviour.

Recommendation 8 focuses on actions Star must take relating to tenancies that are already completed.

Recommendation 1:

• When making a MRO proposal Star must follow PCA advice and guidance, have evidence for the reasons why its offer is reasonable, take into account and record the factors it has relied on.

Recommendation 2:

• When serving a MRO proposal and when negotiating with tenants, Star must be transparent and provide tenants (or their representatives) with the evidence supporting its grounds for reasonableness.

Recommendation 3:

• When Star receives an arbitration award relating to compliant MRO terms or new PCA advice, guidance or investigation outcomes, Star must be proactive in considering whether MRO proposals in negotiation or arbitration contain non-compliant stocking terms. Star must be straight with tenants about that non-compliance, offer a new proposal, be as open as it can on the reasons for the change and ensure any policies and templates are updated.

Recommendation 4:

• Star’s Code Compliance Officer (CCO) role must be sufficiently supported and independent to enable the CCO to challenge decisions that may be non-compliant with the Code. The CCO’s job description should ensure the requirements of the CCO role are upheld and given primacy above other objectives.

Recommendation 5:

• Star must implement a monitoring system that supports the CCO’s statutory duties under the Code. Any new system must provide for independent monitoring, further improvements to be made and a framework which evidences the effectiveness of Star’s approach.

Recommendation 6:

• Star must ensure that its record-keeping and administrative systems can support and evidence Star’s Code compliance.

Recommendation 7:

• In the next annual training cycle Star must train all its work force on the findings from the investigation.

Recommendation 8:

• Star must carry out an audit of its completed MRO tenancies to identify any non-compliant stocking terms (because they do not fall within the definition of a stocking requirement or are unreasonable and non-compliant given the report findings). Star must offer to change those terms (or agree not to enforce them) without cost to the tenant.

End

Notes

Investigation report

Nick Whittingham, British Ambassador to Guatemala, said:

Country-specific travel restrictions are a matter for each country’s own government. Our overriding concern is always the safety and security of British nationals. We are in close touch with international partners and monitoring the situation closely. We are not aware of large numbers of travellers stranded in Guatemala at this time. British travellers should follow the guidance and requirements of the country they are in, and speak to their airlines for the latest travel options in the first instance, whilst we work to ensure commercial routes to the UK remain open. Information will be updated constantly in our website and social media channels.