Politics

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News story: Defence Secretary to attend NATO meeting of Defence Ministers

Deputy UK Ambassador to NATO, Paul Johnston, announces that Defence Secretary, Michael Fallon, will meet new US Defence Secretary Mattis at NATO Defence Ministerial

This week’s NATO Defence Ministerial is the first of the year and the first chance for Allies, including our Defence Secretary Michael Fallon, to meet collectively with the new US Defence Secretary Mattis.

Secretary Mattis knows NATO well from his time as Supreme Allied Commander for Transformation, a post he took up 10 years ago. But the security environment facing NATO has itself been transformed in the intervening decade. So this week’s meeting is a chance for the 28 Allies to take stock on the challenges and opportunities we face, to the East and South of the Alliance, to reinforce the transatlantic bond and to affirm our commitment to deepening that link and our wider Allied engagement.

For the UK therefore, our priorities will be two-fold:

  • to ensure the Alliance continues to make progress on taking forward the ambitious agenda agreed at Warsaw, in particular on modern defence and deterrence towards Russia. On that front (literally), the enhanced forward presence of NATO battlegroups is deploying this Spring to the Baltic States and Poland, with the UK proud to be leading the formation in Estonia, one of our most effective Allies in the Helmand campaign; and

  • to take stock of what NATO has done since Warsaw to expand NATO’s role in addressing instability on our Southern flank and beyond, including the new NATO Training and Capacity Building activity in Iraq, helping Iraqi security forces build their ability to secure the country after the defeat of Daesh.

All this requires resources and reform.

We are one of only four Allies other than the US currently meeting the NATO target of spending 2% of GDP on defence. We support the new US Administration’s focus on this burden-sharing issue.

But a more effective Alliance is not only about money. It’s also about continuing to modernise our structures and ways of working to ensure the Alliance is capable of addressing simultaneously the complex and challenging world around us, including the scourge of terrorism.

So this week’s Ministerial will help set this year’s agenda. One where NATO builds on the achievements and decisions of the Wales and Warsaw Summits and, looking ahead to the next Summit later this year, shows it is gripping collectively the new challenges we will face together.

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HM Government • • •

Cancer survival rates improving but early detection is key – Vaughan Gething

“Our refreshed cancer delivery plan outlines our ambition to improve outcomes to be among the best in Europe.  To do this we must detect more cancers at earlier stages, so that patients can get the most benefit from the treatments available.  Our annual report outlines how health boards are reorganising services to achieve this.   


“Cwm Taf Health Board has developed a new route for patients who see their GP with non-specific symptoms, integrating primary care and hospital clinicians to work towards a swifter diagnosis.  

“Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board has significantly improved its diagnostic services; it is now one of two health organisations in the UK to introduce a digital pathology system. Coupled with Welsh Government investment in scanning technology, waiting times and travel times for patients in North Wales have significantly reduced.

“In Abertawe Bro Morgannwg, patients with a suspicious chest X-Ray are now routinely booked in for a CT scan, removing the delay involved in the GP requesting further investigations.|

“Sadly cancer is affecting increasing numbers of people in Wales.  The NHS is responding and treated 8% more people in 2015/16 compared to five years earlier; with 11% more people receiving their treatment within the cancer waiting time target.

“We have increased spending on cancer from £307million in 2011-12 to £409million in 2014-15; we have invested nearly £10million for replacement linear accelerators and allocated £15m in this year’s budgets for improvements in diagnostic technology.  

“Cancer survival continues to improve but we know there is more work to do.  We are committed to continuing to improve and to deliver the best treatment and care to people with cancer in Wales.”

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Welsh Government • •

News story: Petunia Seaways and Peggotty report published

Collision between ro-ro freight ferry Petunia Seaways and historic motor launch Peggotty on the River Humber.

MAIB’s report on the investigation of the collision between the ro-ro freight ferry Petunia Seaways and the historic motor launch Peggotty on the River Humber, UK on 19 May 2016 is now published.

The report contains details of what happened and the subsequent actions taken.

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HM Government • • •