Jobseekers will have to account more clearly for their efforts to find work and will be given a weekly timetable of tasks to complete, as part of the Claimant Commitment which rolls out nationwide from this autumn.

From October, around 100 jobcentres a month will begin using the Claimant Commitment with new jobseekers, until it is in place across the country.

This new form of Jobseeker’s Agreement will set out more fully a benefit recipient’s responsibilities in order to receive state support. Those who fail to comply with their responsibilities risk losing their benefits.

A personal statement setting out what they will do to prepare for and find work will be based on the discussion between the jobseeker and their adviser. They will renew the commitment on a regular basis.

The new commitment is an important part of the cultural transformation that Universal Credit will bring and will place a strong focus on the responsibilities that claimants must fulfil.

Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Iain Duncan Smith said:

This is about redefining the relationship between benefit claimants and the state. The welfare state will support people when they fall on hard times, but in return they need to meet some contracted responsibilities agreed with a Jobcentre Plus adviser.

For those people on Jobseeker’s Allowance, looking for work should be a full time job. It is fair and reasonable for the taxpayer to expect that claimants should do everything within their power to get into work.

It’s a fair deal people will have to sign up to in return for receiving support from the state. Our reforms are ushering in a new culture of conditionality and the Claimant Commitment lies at the heart of this.

The Claimant Commitment is backed by a strict compliance regime to ensure jobseekers do all they can to have the best chance of finding paid work quickly. Those who fail to comply with their responsibilities risk losing benefit.

Building on the current form of the Jobseeker’s Agreement, the Claimant Commitment sets out more details of the requirements of claimants and information about the consequences of failing to meet these.

More information

The Universal Credit Claimant Commitment has been successfully trialled since April this year – as part of the early running of Universal Credit in the Manchester area.

Universal Credit replaces income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Income Support, Working Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit and Housing Benefit and it will be rolled out nationally by 2017.

For Jobseeker’s Allowance claimants, Jobcentre Plus advisers and claimants agree a Jobseeker’s Agreement Claimant Commitment, based on their individual circumstances, which will clearly set out the jobseeker’s responsibilities to find work.

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Towns and cities in England are set to benefit from £5 million of funding to reduce pollution from local buses, Local Transport Minister Norman Baker has announced today (29 August 2013).

A total of 11 local authorities have been awarded grants from the Department for Transport’s Clean Bus Technology Fund, which will allow almost 400 buses to be upgraded.

Local Transport Minister Norman Baker said:

The funding we are providing will help clean up emissions from older buses in some of our most polluted urban areas, with all the health benefits that brings.

This will lead to real improvements in air quality on some of our most polluted streets, as well as helping to stimulate jobs and growth in the bus and environmental technology industries. I look forward to seeing how these initiatives are taken forward, and to the delivery of real results very soon. I hope that other parts of the country will adopt similar measures in the near future.

Improving air quality is important for the coalition government, as is economic growth. This scheme will benefit the environment as well as helping create and sustain jobs in British companies, allowing them to develop and market new clean technologies here and abroad.

Environment Minister Lord de Mauley said:

This funding boost will bring real improvements to air quality around the country which is good news for the environment and our health.

I am keen to embrace new technology and encourage local authorities to share their experience so that others can follow suit.

DfT has already provided £5 million of funding, match-funded by the Mayor, to fit 900 London buses with exhaust after-treatment technology, which is already delivering significant reductions in pollution in the capital. The funding announced today (28 August 2013) will allow local authorities in other parts of England to clean up their buses in similar ways, delivering similar benefits.

Notes to editors

The £5 million Clean Bus Technology Fund was launched on 5 June 2013. Thirty-one local authorities in England (outside of Greater London) bid for grants of up to £1 million to support upgrading buses with pollution-reducing technology on the routes where air quality does not meet European Commission standards. After careful assessment, 11 authorities have now been awarded grant to upgrade 392 older buses operating in areas with poor air quality, with 5 types of technology.

Funding was awarded based on 5 main criteria:

• whether bids fit objectives of establishing the best technologies and developing the retrofit industry
• air quality impact
• value for money
• deliverability
• whether they offered cross-cutting benefits such as encouraging economic growth

Local and transport authorities were free to consider a variety of ‘off-the-shelf’ technologies such as exhaust after-treatment, conversion to hybrid propulsion or cleaner low carbon fuels, or look to develop new technologies, providing they demonstrated the high likelihood of success in improving air quality.

Winning schemes include a mix of proven technologies like Selective Catalytic Reduction and new technologies such as hybrid flywheel, which can deliver up to 20% fuel reduction and harmful emissions; gas engine replacement and other innovative modifications. Local and transport authorities are expected to work with the bus operators in taking their new projects forward and DfT will be following their progress.

DfT is already providing another £5 million, match-funded by the Mayor, to upgrade 900 older London buses by March 2014 with exhaust after-treatment technology. The programme is already showing promising results with initial tests showing reductions of up to 88% of harmful emissions.

Reducing pollutant emissions from older buses, in particular oxides of nitrogen (NOx), demonstrates the coalition government’s commitment to improved air quality in our towns and cities, and meeting EU air quality standards.

The success of projects supported under this scheme, may inform the launch of similar schemes in future.

The Clean Bus Technology Fund is in addition to the £12 million funding announced in May 2013 for 213 new low carbon buses in the latest round of the Green Bus Fund.

The Basharan bridge, which was first built in 2010, crosses the Chah-e Anjir wadi and links local communities in the Basharan and Babaji areas.

The bridge allows farmers from Babaji to move their produce to markets in Lashkar Gah, and makes moving between the economic hubs of Lashkar Gah and Gereshk more efficient. More locally, the bridge also makes it easier for children to attend school in Basharan.

The bridge had been damaged by an improvised explosive device laid by insurgents earlier this year. The sappers, from 5 Squadron of 22 Engineer Regiment, mounted a 2-day operation to fix the bridge permanently so it can remain in place.

Captain George Andrews said:

My troop worked hard on the task, despite the heat, and we could all see what it meant to the local people as a small crowd had gathered by the time we had done.

Lieutenant Colonel Jason Kerr, Commanding Officer of 22 Engineer Regiment, said:

It was very satisfying to repair the Basharan bridge which is used regularly by locals in the area. The engineers have been busy this tour not only reinforcing existing British bases across Helmand but also removing some as our profile across the province has reduced.

It’s a real indicator of progress when we close or handover a base – it shows the Afghans just don’t need us there anymore.

Security for Lashkar Gah district has been provided by the local Afghan police since transitioning from UK forces in 2011. Lance Corporal Nick Stearn, from the 2nd Royal Tank Regiment, served in the area in 2011. Speaking about the differences between then and now, he said:

On my last tour we were constantly engaged in fire fights around the area and the district centre was usually deserted. Now it feels secure and the streets are busy, with markets flourishing.

The UK currently has approximately 7,900 Service personnel in Afghanistan, reducing to 5,200 by the end of 2013. The majority of British Service personnel are based in Helmand province.

Minister for Africa Mark Simmonds said:

I welcome the announcement of a new electoral timetable in Madagascar, following the decisive action of the Madagascar Special Electoral Court in revising the list of Presidential candidates. I strongly encourage all Malagasies to respect the decision of the Supreme Electoral Court and to work together to respect the electoral process in support of democratic, free and fair elections.

I would like also to express my appreciation for all the efforts made by Southern African Development Community (SADC) mediator Chissano and Commissioner Lamamra of the African Union to return Madagascar to internationally-recognised constitutional government.

Further information

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The UK will support more women in Afghanistan to take part in local and national elections, to build up democratic participation and female leadership.

The new funding will encourage women to vote and more candidates to take part in the 2014 presidential and provincial elections as well as the 2015 parliamentary elections.

It will also help more than 50 female members of parliament and 100 female provincial councillors with training in essential political skills, such as developing strategies, negotiating, campaigning, fundraising, leadership and decision making.

Despite recent progress in women’s rights in Afghanistan, women still face very significant challenges, from physical violence to psychological abuse. A 2012 survey by the Asia Foundation found that almost half (46%) of those surveyed believed men should advise or be consulted before a woman votes.

The pledge of £4.5 million to increase women’s participation in democracy was announced by Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander this week during his visit to the country.

Mr Alexander heard from Afghan women about how they are seeking to overcome the challenges they face and play an active role in the country’s upcoming elections.

Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander said:

To truly rebuild Afghanistan, we have to get women voting and standing for election. Women are the key to building a democratic and safe country. They are the future of Afghanistan. Having taken Afghanistan out of the hands of terrorists, we are now working hard to return it to the people. This extra funding will help women lead the way.

At a roundtable discussion with women from Helmand, including councillors, Mr Alexander heard about the vital role women, young people and civil society will play in the country’s upcoming elections. He also discussed the significant challenges faced by women seeking an active role in politics.

The UK government is already one of the main donors helping Afghan democracy organisations to conduct extensive electoral observation. This new support is in addition to the £12 million already pledged by the UK to help build confidence in the Afghan electoral process.

Mr Alexander also met with secondary school girls who talked about the challenges of increasing the number of girls in secondary education and the growing importance of women and girls in Afghanistan’s society.

During the visit, he saw how the UK’s recent pledge of £47 million will help get girls in some of the poorest rural areas of Afghanistan access to a quality education through the Girls’ Education Challenge Fund.

The funding, over 3 years, will invest in innovative approaches to improve girls’ education from early childhood through to secondary school and will aim to get more than 250,000 Afghan girls into education.

He added:

Education is a key part of improving the lives of Afghanistan’s women and girls. It is critical to upholding women’s rights and improving their job opportunities. There are no short-term, quick-fix solutions.

Around 6 million children regularly attend school. This includes well over 2 million girls, compared with virtually none under the Taliban. The support which the UK is providing to education and female participation in elections will play a big part in improving the lives of generations of Afghan women and girls.

The £47 million Girl’s Education Challenge Fund is investing in girls’ education in some of the poorest areas of Afghanistan. The programmes will support a teacher apprenticeship scheme that will help girls move from secondary school into teaching, supporting the next generation of girls; and will increase the involvement of parents and the community in how girls are learning; and will provide a ‘second-chance’ literacy programme for older girls who missed schooling.

The UK government is committed to ensuring that the gains made in recent years – including in education – can be built upon for the future. It has agreed to provide £178 million of development funding every year until at least 2017.

The British High Commissioner to Cameroon, H.E Bharat Joshi announces the holding of the first ever United Kingdom-Cameroon Joint Commission on 2 September 2013 in London.

The Joint Commission will provide a platform to discuss bilateral political, economic and consular relations at Ministerial level, strengthening relationships between the UK and Cameroon. The Joint Commission will be followed by a Trade Forum on 3 September which will advertise the potential of Cameroon to British Businesses and demonstrate the success that British Business in Cameroon has had to date.

The Cameroonian delegation, led by the Cameroon Minister of External Relations, H.E Pierre Moukoko Mbonjo, will also meet with UK’s Minister for Africa, Mark Simmonds, and British Companies during their visit to the UK.

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The government is investing £2.85 million into a trial of paperless ticketing as it starts its multi-million pound push to deliver smart card technology to rail passengers across the south east, Transport Minister Norman Baker announced today (30 August 2013).

Train operator c2c, which operates between Fenchurch Street, Shoeburyness and the Essex coast, will upgrade ticketing systems at all of its stations outside London, paving the way for passengers to start using smart cards in the region. This will be rolled out on services outside London from January and those into the capital from April.

The pilot is the first major step for the Department for Transport’s £45 million south east flexible ticketing scheme, which has been launched to promote seamless and convenient travel across the region.

Transport Minister Norman Baker said:

Smart ticketing is the passport for more efficient and flexible travel for passengers and I want to see this technology rolled out as far and as quickly as possible.

This pilot with c2c is a vital step in making that ambition a reality and will be used as a benchmark to drive innovation across the rail network for years to come.

We want to build a stronger economy in a fairer society and this will not only help the tens of thousands of passengers who use these services every day but will also deliver benefits to our economy by getting commuters to their places of work quickly and on time.

Passengers will benefit immediately from the switch to smart ticketing because:

• they trigger automatic ticket gates more quickly and reliably
• it will be easier to buy tickets online and collect them at stations
• they will help to shorten queues at ticket offices
• they are much more durable than paper tickets and do not wear out as quickly

The Department for Transport will evaluate the results of the pilot as part of government plans to roll out smart ticketing across the entire south east region by the end of 2015.

c2c currently operates 26 railways stations, including the commuter hubs of Southend and Basildon , serving 90,000 passengers daily.

c2c Managing Director Julian Drury said:

We’re delighted that passengers on c2c will be the first to benefit from the government’s expansion of smart ticketing across the south east. We are already the first train company to have ticket barriers in place at every single station, and we’ll be working closely with the Department for Transport over the next few months to ensure c2c passengers can enjoy a simple and flexible ticketing system which lets them beat the queues and makes their journeys easier from early next year.

Commuters can currently use the Oyster smart card for the majority of rail journeys in London.

Local Government Secretary Eric Pickles today (30 August 2013) highlighted the ‘hypocrisy’ of councils pleading poverty when they have trebled their cash reserves over the last 10 years.

New statistics published show that councils have increased their cash reserves by over 20% in real terms since 2010 to 2011. Reserves now stand at over £19 billion – an increase of £2.6 billion in the last year alone.

Mr Pickles called on local authorities to consider whether such substantial reserves are necessary at a time when they should be focusing on protecting frontline services for residents and making sensible investments for the longer term.

Councils account for a quarter of all public spending. In total councils are forecast to spend £102 billion in 2013 to 2014 - up 4% from their forecast the year before.

The figures also show that councils’ in-house spending continued to rise by a further 2% despite repeated calls by ministers to reduce administration costs and overheads.

Local Government and Communities Secretary Eric Pickles said:

There are no rules that specify minimum or maximum levels of reserves and people will be surprised that while councils are hoarding billions in their piggy banks some are pleading poverty and raising Council Tax.

While it is sensible for local authorities to maintain a healthy cushion, such substantial reserves are completely unnecessary and should be tapped into to ensure councils can protect frontline services and keep Council Tax down for hardworking people.

Councils should also be making creative use of reserves to address short-term costs, such as restructuring or investing now to realise savings in the longer-term.

Further information

1. See the Local Authority Revenue Expenditure and Financing England 2012 to 2013 statistical release.

2. In 2013 to 2014 councils are budgeting to spend £102.2 billion in England on Revenue Expenditure, an increase from £98.4 billion in 2012 to 2013.

3. Official statistics released last month show that councils are continuing to forecast to make £635 million profit from parking charges and fines in 2013 to 2014. The figures also showed that councils will make £34 million more in net income from parking charges this year than in 2012 to 2013.

The application for the construction of a single carriageway 3.8km long extending from Whorral Bank on the A197, to the north east of Morpeth, westward to the A1 trunk road to include separate cycleway/footway was submitted on 15 July 2013 and the decision to accept the application to proceed was made on 7 August 2013 in accordance with section 55 of the Planning Act 2008 (as amended by the Localism Act 2011).

The public and those interested in the proposal can register with the Planning Inspectorate between 29 August 2013 and 4 October 2013.

People can register easily online. Alternatively, they may call The Planning Inspectorate’s helpline: 0303 444 5000 for a printed registration form, which must be completed and returned by 4 October 2013.

Sir Michael Pitt, Chief Executive of The Planning Inspectorate said. “This is an opportunity for people to play a part in the planning process and influence the outcome. We encourage people to get involved by registering as an interested party. By doing so, people will be able to participate fully in the examination of this proposal”.

Those who register will be entitled to provide evidence in writing to support their representation, to attend the Preliminary Meeting, to request an open floor hearing and to speak at other hearings where appropriate.

A copy of the application together with further information about the proposal and how to register to make a relevant representation is available on The Planning Inspectorate website.

Ends Journalists wanting further information should contact the Planning Inspectorate Press Office, on: 0303 444 5004 or 0303 444 5005 or email: pressoffice@pins.gsi.gov.uk

Notes to editors:

• Under the Localism Act, the IPC was abolished on 1 April 2012 and its work transferred to the Planning Inspectorate. A new national infrastructure directorate has been created within a restructured Planning Inspectorate.

• From April 2012, the relevant Secretary of State became the decision maker on all national infrastructure applications for development consent. At the end of the examination of an application, which will still be completed within a maximum of six months, the Planning Inspectorate will have 3 months to make a recommendation to the relevant Secretary of State who will then have a further 3 months to reach their decision.

• The Planning Inspectorate, National Infrastructure Programme of Projects details the proposals which are anticipated to be submitted to the Planning Inspectorate as applications in the coming months.

The process in a snapshot

There are six key stages within the process. The summary below provides examples of when and how people have an opportunity to provide evidence to the Planning Inspectorate.

Pre-application

Key activities:

• Project development / developer’s pre-application consultation and publicity
• Environmental impact assessment preparation and scoping, where required

Public involvement:

• Have their say on the proposal to the developer through their pre application consultation

Acceptance by the Planning Inspectorate on behalf of the Secretary of State

Key activities:

• The Secretary of State has 28 days from the day after receipt to decide whether or not an application should be accepted for examination

Public involvement:

• Details will be posted at the Planning Inspectorate’s website on how to register as an interested party – once an application has been accepted for examination and publicised by the developer
• Opportunity to legally challenge a decision not to accept an application

Pre-examination

Key activities:

• Single Inspector or a Panel of three or more Inspectors appointed
• Preliminary Meeting called and held
• Procedure and timetable set for examination

Public involvement:

• Register to say what you agree or disagree with in the application
• Submit your representation
• View application documents submitted by the developer on the Planning Inspectorate website
• Attend the Preliminary Meeting
• Say how the examination should be conducted

Examination

Key activities:

• A maximum of six months to carry out the examination

Public involvement:

• Submit more detailed comments in writing
• Comment on what other people have said
• Request and attend an open-floor hearing
• If being held, request to speak at open-floor and / or issue specific hearing(s)
• Comment on the local authority’s Local Impact Report - detailing the impact of the scheme on the local area

Decision

Key activities:

• A maximum of three months for Planning Inspectorate to issue a recommendation to the relevant Secretary of State, with a statement of reasons
• The relevant Secretary of State then has a further three months from receiving the recommendation in which to issue the decision

Post decision

Key activities:

• six weeks for any legal challenge

Public involvement:

• opportunity to challenge

He will take up the role in January 2014 and succeeds Richard Gillingwater who has been chairman since April 2010.

Graham Wrigley comes to CDC with extensive experience of investing in developing and developed markets. He had a 17 year career with the one of the world’s largest private equity firms, Permira, and has served as Chairman of Aureos, a major investor in small and medium sized enterprises in Africa, Asia and Latin America.

He has also been a Director of CASHPOR, a microfinance institution which targets the poorest people in India, and is an Associate Professor at INSEAD, one of the world’s leading business schools.

Announcing the appointment, International Development Secretary Justine Greening said:

I am very pleased to announce that I have appointed Graham Wrigley as the new Chair of CDC. His considerable experience as a successful investor, helping small enterprises to grow into profitable businesses, and his demonstrated commitment to working in developing countries make him the ideal candidate to lead CDC in the implementation of its new strategy.

CDC’s investment in promising businesses which can create jobs is crucial if we are to generate the growth developing countries need to escape poverty.

Graham Wrigley, CDC’s new Chairman said:

I’m delighted to be joining CDC at such an exciting time for the organisation. The high calibre team at CDC is making enormous progress delivering the new strategy, which will create jobs and support the growth and building of businesses in some of the world’s poorest countries.

Investing successfully in challenging places as well as demonstrating the impact of these investments requires a long term horizon and enormous patience, so there is plenty more to do. I am looking forward to working alongside the Board and the executive team to fully realise the vision that has been agreed with DFID.

Richard Gillingwater, CDC’s outgoing Chairman, said:

I’m delighted that Graham Wrigley will be the next Chairman. He is taking over at an exciting time, with a new strategy for CDC and a much invigorated leadership team. I wish him well.

Graham Wrigley will join the Board, subject to formal approval from the FCA, in October 2013 as a non-executive director and will become Chairman at the start of 2014.

Graham Wrigley joins CDC as the organisation embarks on a new strategy that is focused on supporting the growth of businesses to help achieve significant job creation across Africa and South Asia.

Launched last year, CDC’s new strategy gave it the mission to support the building of businesses throughout Africa and South Asia to create jobs and make a lasting different to people’s lives in some of the world’s poorest places. CDC will work more flexibly and creatively to meet the need for capital by using a full range of investment approaches, including direct equity, debt and guarantees alongside its existing funds business.

CDC will also measure its impact over time, in particular how investments contribute to job creation. New investments will solely benefit businesses in Africa and South Asia, where over 70 per cent of the world’s poor live and where only 25 per cent of those of working age have formal jobs.

In London, women from black ethnic backgrounds and mothers born outside of the UK are significantly more likely to breastfeed despite many living in deprived circumstances. Young mothers in London are significantly less likely to breastfeed than older mothers and areas with predominantly white British communities have higher drop-off rates.

The report includes the following key findings:

• 87% of mothers in London initiated breastfeeding in the first few days after birth compared to 74% for England

• the percentage of mothers in London initiating breastfeeding has risen significantly in recent years

• despite high levels of breastfeeding initiation in London there was variation across boroughs with rates ranging from 94% to 71%

• 68% of mothers in London partially or exclusively breastfed 6 to 8 weeks after birth compared to 47% for England

• by 6 to 8 weeks after birth, 40% of mothers in London breastfed exclusively compared to 32% for England

• the ‘drop-off’ rate for mothers ceasing to breastfeed 6 to 8 weeks after birth was 23% in London compared to 36% for England. However, drop-off rates across London ranged from 9% to 32%

Dr Yvonne Doyle, regional director for Public Health England (PHE) London, said:

Breastfeeding is free and known to provide multiple health benefits for both mother and child which extend into adulthood. It is great news that London mothers are more likely to start breastfeeding than those in other parts of the country and this may be due to effective local initiatives or that London has a number of minority communities who are leading the way.

There is an opportunity to create a breastfeeding-friendly city in London but ongoing work is needed locally to integrate breastfeeding initiatives with wider public health strategies and with other local services for mothers and babies.

Despite these encouraging rates, improvements in breastfeeding are still needed in some areas in London, particularly in the inequalities that exist between mothers from different backgrounds.

The report shows that many women who start to breastfeed are often not continuing to do so two months after the birth. It is also important to note that a large proportion of women who breastfeed when their baby is born do not do so exclusively and may top up breastfeeding with formula milk. Exclusive breastfeeding is recommended for the first 6 months of a baby’s life and the challenge now is to provide a culture and environment in London that reduces drop-off rates and supports mothers to breastfeed exclusively.

Ends

Notes to editors:

1. The full report - ‘Progress in Breastfeeding in London: 2013 report’ - will be available on the PHE London Knowledge and Intelligence Team website on Friday 30 August.

2. The PHE London Knowledge and Intelligence Team (formerly the London Health Observatory) together with the former London Health Improvement Board (LHIB) conducted a joint initiative to analyse breastfeeding data, examine local evidence and share local breastfeeding practice in London. The ‘Progress in Breastfeeding in London: 2013 report’ is the outcome of that work.

3. Particular local initiatives may explain the high initiation and prevalence rates of partial breastfeeding in London but nearly all are unevaluated and their impacts unknown.

4. Methodology: a semi-structured survey was sent to London breastfeeding leads in acute NHS trusts and former primary care trusts (PCT). Survey responses were combined with an internet literature review for each London PCT, local authority and acute NHS trust.

5. Breastfeeding definitions: ‘Initiation’ - the percentage of mothers who put their baby to the breast or give any breast milk within the first 48 hours of birth. ‘Prevalence’ - the percentage of mothers who are giving their babies breast milk at 6 to 8 weeks of age. Infants may also be receiving formula milk or any other liquids or food. ‘Exclusive breastfeeding’ - the percentage of mothers who are only giving their babies breast milk at 6 to 8 weeks of age. Infants are NOT receiving formula milk, any other liquids or food. ‘Breastfeeding drop-off’ - the percentage of mothers initiating breastfeeding minus the percentage of infants being breastfed at 6 to 8 weeks, divided by the percentage of mothers initiating breastfeeding.

6. More information about breastfeeding is available on the NHS Choices website.

7. Public Health England’s mission is to protect and improve the nation’s health and to address inequalities through working with national and local government, the NHS, industry and the voluntary and community sector. PHE is an operationally autonomous executive agency of the Department of Health.

One of the Royal Navy’s fleet of brand new air defence warships – Dragon was designed with a flight deck which can accommodate many different types of aircraft.

And, to demonstrate this versatility, SH-60 Seahawk helicopters from the US Navy and US Marine Corps and all 3 types of Royal Navy helicopter – the Lynx, Merlin and Sea King – have all operated from the ship in the space of a week.

The flight deck, which remains unmanned throughout take off and landing, also has an automation and signalling system – involved in launching and recovering aircraft – that can land helicopters as large as a Chinook on board.

This flexibility gives the Type 45 an unrivalled capability amongst her counterparts in the Royal Navy and other forces operating in the region. HMS Dragon and her sister ships can operate aircraft with specialist roles in everything from maritime security to airborne early warning – which is vital to give awareness of the surrounding environment.

Lieutenant Commander Jason White, the Principal Warfare Officer on board HMS Dragon, said:

Our sensors are highly sophisticated and provide plenty of information about the operating environment. We can gather much more information to make earlier and better decisions by working and operating with these aircraft. The challenge we have is in adapting our procedures to make the most out of our mutual capabilities.

Working with the Sea King Airborne Surveillance and Control helicopter has also allowed us to build on our knowledge of air activity in the Gulf by giving us the full surface picture, enabling us to know what is going on for hundreds of miles around.

Dragon has also been able to experience how aircraft from other nations operate and how foreign navies do similar operations but in different ways. One such chance was in a joint fast-roping exercise between Dragon’s Royal Marines boarding party and a US explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) team based on board the USS Nimitz.

Royal Marine Captain Guy Filmore was impressed by what he saw. He said:

They operate in a very different way to us but it definitely works; their EOD capability really complements our specialist boarding role and it would be good to work with them again and carry out joint exercises.

Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin has today (30 August 2013) announced two new appointments to the board of National Air Traffic Services (NATS), the UK’s leading air traffic management provider.

Richard Keys and Iain McNicoll CBCBE have been appointed as non-executive partnership directors on the board of NATS. Baroness Brenda Dean of Thornton-le-Fylde has also been reappointed to the same role.

Mr McLoughlin said:

To have secured such high quality and experienced individuals for the NATS board is excellent news.

Iain McNicoll was previously Air Marshal and Deputy Commander-in-Chief Operations in the Royal Air Force and his technical expertise will be invaluable to the company. Richard Keys will bring extensive commercial and financial experience to the board. And Brenda Dean, who has been reappointed, has a strong background in industrial relations. I know that all three appointments will be extremely beneficial to the business.

I would also like to record my appreciation for the commitment and professionalism of Sigurd Reinton and Andrew White, who are retiring as Partnership Directors. Mr Reinton and Mr White have served for six and seven years respectively, and both have made significant contributions to NATS in their time as partnership directors.

Mr Reinton and Mr White’s appointments ends on 31st August 2013.

Richard Keys’ and Iain McNicoll’s appointments will be effective from 1st September 2013 and are for a period of three years. Baroness Dean’s two-year reappointment will come to an end on 25th July 2015.

On 17th July, Equalities Minister Maria Miller spoke about the Government’s gender equality initiatives at an event coordinated by the UK National Committee for UN Women to mark the first anniversary of the Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs) in the UK. WEPs are a joint initiative between UN Women and the UN Global Compact offering businesses guidance on how to empower women in the workplace, marketplace and community.

The attendees included senior representatives from organisations across a range of industries, including Anglo American – who also hosted the event, Accenture, Opportunity Now, and members of the UN Women UKNC Corporate Advisory Group.

The Equalities Minister praised the principles, which are designed to complement national and regional gender equality initiatives and provide guidance for businesses operating in global markets.

The UK National Committee (UKNC) for UN Women is the voice for UN Women in the UK, supporting the work of UN Women in its mission for gender equality and the empowerment of women. Working with Government, parliamentarians, corporate partners, and civil society it is focused on influencing and raising awareness to create change in the treatment of women and girls here in the UK and throughout the world. It supports UK-based businesses to implement the WEPs, both through educational and developmental services.

The UKNC for UN Women is supporting British businesses to empower women at work through the seven principles of the WEPs devised by global businesses in partnership with UN bodies. The principles offer guidance on how to empower women in the workplace, marketplace and community. The principles are actively being implemented by over 550 companies around the world to promote gender equality. In the UK, an increasing number of high profile and forward thinking CEOs are signing up to the WEPs Statement of Support.

The WEPs work with the Government’s Think, Act, Report initiative, which now has 125 leading organisations signed up covering almost two million employees across the UK.

There are areas where businesses can benefit from the guidance of the WEPs beyond their UK operations. For example, the WEPs encourage businesses to respond to and tackle violence against women as it affects women throughout their global supply chains, to support gender equality within procurement and commissioning policy and practice, and to consider the gender equality implications of corporate activity within communities in multiple countries and in their advocacy at local levels.

Jan Grasty is the President of the UK National Committee for UN Women.

Learn more about the WEPs and how your business can benefit

• Email Elaine Mitchell-Hill, Corporate Development at UN Women National Committee UK: elainemh@unwomenuk.org
• Visit the UKNC for UN Women website and register to receive their eNewsletter.
• Follow them on Twitter at @UNWomenUK

Find out more about Think, Act, Report

Companies signed-up to Think, Act, Report are committed to greater transparency around women in the workforce, including on issues such as recruitment, retention, promotion and pay.

• See a full list of the companies and details of their public information

On 17 July, at a full day hearing at the United Nations headquarters in Geneva, the UK Government was examined on its implementation of the UN Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).

During the examination, the UN CEDAW Committee, a body composed of 23 independent experts on women’s issues from around the world, focused on the UK’s progress in implementing the Convention and the recommendations that were made by the Committee in 2008.

The government responded to nearly one hundred questions on how it was tackling a diverse range of issues that affect women, including gender stereotyping and prejudice; prostitution; female representation in political and public life; nationality and asylum; education; employment; health; benefits; law and family life and violence against women and girls.

In preparation for the examination the Committee had invited non-government organisations (NGOs) and women’s groups from across the UK to send in reports highlighting the topics on which they thought Committee should scrutinise the government. Over 20 reports were received by the Committee and many of the issues raised in the reports were reflected in the Committee’s questions.

Following the examination, the Committee published its Concluding Observations on the UN website outlining their recommendations for the UK to undertake in order to advance its compliance under the convention. These recommendations covered a wide range of issues, including women’s access to justice; sex education in schools; the impact of austerity measures on women; equality in the labour market and engagement with NGOs.

Find out more

• Opening Statement of the UK Government Head of Delegation, Helene Reardon-Bond
• Web cast of full proceedings
• UN Press Notice summarising the examination dialogue
• UN CEDAW Committee’s concluding Observations and Recommendations (Word download 133 kB)

Welcome to the August edition of the Women’s Engagement newsletter.

One of our top priorities as a ministerial team is to champion women in business and promote their contribution to economic growth. The Womens Business Council report, published in June this year, set out a number of recommendations for both business and government to help women to thrive in employment. This autumn we will be publishing an action plan to turn it into reality.

We are particularly keen to drive up girls’ aspirations, to help them think more broadly about their career choices and not be put off by gender stereotypes that may make them think that certain careers, or certain school subjects, are not for them.

Earlier this month I hosted a roundtable to talk about how we can encourage more girls to consider careers in STEM occupations, such as engineering and technology.

It is shocking that only 8% of engineers working in the UK are women, and women make up only 12% of engineering and technology undergraduates. This is of course a huge waste of potential talent. In order for more women to enter these professions we must address the low numbers of girls opting to study physics and maths beyond their GCSE years. LadyGeek is doing great work with schools to inspire girls to become technology pioneers via their Little Miss Geek campaign.

Employers have a role to play, too. If workplaces are not designed in a way that will allow women to thrive then we will continue to see women dropping out of certain professions and moving to other areas that offer a more flexible environment.

We have a number of further engagement activities planned for the coming months on the theme of raising girls aspirations. We must ensure that young women are not restricted in their career choices by stereotypes of job roles and that they are aware of the vast and varied employment opportunities that are open to them.

NPIS, which is commissioned by Public Health England (PHE), is a poisons advisory service for healthcare professionals working in the NHS in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The service’s annual review, which is published today (30 August 2013), says that between April 2012 and March this year phone calls to experts about ‘legal highs’ went up 49%, from 116 in 2011 to 2012 to 173 in 2012 to 2013, and searches for information on ‘legal highs’ on NPIS’ online database TOXBASE, climbed by 128%, from 1125 to 2561 in the same period.

Professor Simon Thomas, Director of NPIS’ Newcastle unit, said:

Two years ago we reported that queries around treatments for mephedrone, an at-the-time popular ‘legal high’ had tailed off after the government took steps to ban it.

This year we’ve seen rises in queries about other ‘legal highs’. Many of these are variations on existing illegal substances. Although they may not be illegal to possess, users should not think this means they are safe for human use – far from it.

People should be aware that as many of these products are relatively new there is much less information available about their safety.

Some legal substances can be as, and sometimes more, hazardous than their illegal counterparts. These substances are also dangerous because it can be hard to identify their active constituents and there is lack of experience of their adverse effects, making it difficult for treating clinicians to manage people experiencing toxic effects effectively.

Remember just because it is legal does not mean it is safe.

This year’s review also confirmed an increase in calls about, and numbers of patients being treated for, carbon monoxide poisoning, from 248 in 2011 to 2012 to 434 in 2012 to 2013. Also throughout the year more than 50,000 calls were made to NPIS on a variety of topics and its online database TOXBASE was used more than 1.6 million times.

The review also mentions that 2013 marks the 50th anniversary of NPIS and in 2012 to 2013, just as in 1963, accidental child poisonings in the home prompted a large proportion of calls to the experts.

Professor Thomas, said:

In 1963 about two thirds of the phone calls made to NPIS concerned children exposed to various household products.

In 2013 accidental poisonings of children in the home remain a significant concern, with almost 14,000 telephone enquiries received about children under 5, representing almost 30% of the calls we received.

Simple steps can make a big difference. Safe storage of medicines and other hazardous household products in their original childproof containers, locked away separately from food and drinks can help parents and carers reduce the risk of children coming into contact with substances that might harm them.

The way our service works has changed hugely over the last 50 years but what has not changed is our ability to be able to spot emerging trends and flag them with the government, regulators, public health professionals and clinicians.

Although the way we deliver our service today is very different from when NPIS was set up 50 years ago, the focus of what we do – providing expertise to frontline doctors and nurses for the best possible treatment of patients – is unchanged.

Ends

Notes to Editors

• Read the new NPIS annual review. Copies can be emailed on request and experts are available for interview, call 01235 825 406 or 01235 825 405 for details.

• NPIS is a clinical toxicology service for health care professionals working in the NHS. It is endorsed by the Department of Health (DH) and commissioned by PHE. It provides expert evidence-based advice on all aspects of acute and chronic poisoning, supporting best practice in the diagnosis and management of patients who may have been accidentally or deliberately poisoned, whether by ingestion, injection, inhalation or skin or eye contact. For more information visit the NPIS website.

• PHE commissions 4 units of NPIS at Birmingham, Cardiff, Edinburgh and Newcastle to provide information and support on the diagnosis and management of poisoning to health care professionals in the UK.

• In 1963 to 1964 NPIS handled more than 2,000 phone enquiries; last year their experts handled more than 50,000.

• Public Health England’s mission is to protect and improve the nation’s health and to address inequalities through working with national and local government, the NHS, industry and the voluntary and community sector. PHE is an operationally autonomous executive agency of the Department of Health.

www.gov.uk/phe

“I am very sorry to hear the sad news that Seamus Heaney has died. Seamus was undoubtedbly one of the greatest literary voices the island of Ireland has ever produced and a great ambassador for Northern Ireland. It is some consolation that his spirit will live on through his legacy of work and that future generations will continue to be inspired by his distintive poetic voice. I offer my sincere condolences to the family and friends he leaves behind.”

A Downing Street spokesperson said:

The Prime Minister met the Chief Minister of Gibraltar Fabian Picardo today. The meeting reaffirmed the existing strong and historic bonds between the UK and Gibraltar and the Prime Minister repeated his commitment to stand shoulder to shoulder with the people of Gibraltar.

They discussed the unacceptable delays at the Spanish/Gibraltar border and agreed that these are damaging to the people and economies of Gibraltar and Spain. They agreed that efforts should remain concentrated on finding a diplomatic solution, in line with the Foreign Secretary’s proposals last year for ad hoc dialogue.

It is nearly time for the ‘Desert Rats’, as members of 7th Armoured Brigade are known, to return to the desert. Although, this time, the desert that the famous brigade will be heading to is in Helmand province, where they will be taking over the role of Task Force Helmand (TFH).

The deployment on Operation Herrick 19 will see personnel from all 3 Services working closely with 3/215 Brigade of the Afghan National Army. And, as is the norm, the media were invited to Salisbury Plain to see some of the skills that the Rats have honed over an extensive period of pre-deployment training.

Media days tend to illustrate the main role that the troops will be playing during their tour. Not long ago the event would have had a dramatic pyrotechnic theme as troops displayed their patrolling and soldiering skills; helicopters would worry their way into contested areas to pick up the wounded.

The media day for Herrick 18 on a snow-swept Salisbury Plain focused on troops working with the Afghan Army and Police, advising and mentoring them and helping them to develop their skills.

Yesterday, 29 August, the main event was the drawdown of a forward patrol base, which will be an important feature of Herrick 19. Brigade Commander, Brigadier James Woodham, said:

In preparation for the tour I visit Afghanistan often to talk to those doing the job there at the moment, and it is clear to me that there has been great progress.

The Afghan Army in Helmand are without doubt showing themselves to be brave, competent and able to plan and conduct their own complex operations, the vast majority of which are conducted with no support from ISAF.

The police have clearly benefited from the concerted training effort over the years.

The success that has been seen in transferring responsibility for security to the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) and the development of public trust in their government has meant that the current Task Force has been able to press ahead with disengagement and to close those bases for which there is no longer any operational need:

I fully expect that this process will continue,” said the Brigadier. “As a result the force that I deploy with will be smaller. As I take over, the full force numbers will be about 6,000, falling to 5,200 by the end of the year.

Brigadier Woodham said that he expected Herrick 19 would see the ANSF continuing to develop and that TFH would work with them only when required, with the focus being on increasing their independence and sustainability:

I fully expect in my time to conclude the process of closing and transferring the UK’s bases in Helmand. And as this process takes place we will be able to redeploy more of our people and equipment back to the UK and to Germany.

Which is why the showpiece of the day was the breaking down of a patrol base. Of course, in itself this is nothing new. British troops have been breaking down bases for generations.

But, whereas in years gone by the field guns and equipment would have been moved out on horseback, yesterday it was an upgraded RAF Chinook Mk4 helicopter, dubbed the workhorse of the skies, that took the strain of lifting a 105mm light gun, while a demountable rack offload and pickup system (a big army lorry) hauled away the more standard items.

An Apache attack helicopter provided air cover while an outer ring of Ridgback armoured vehicles and an inner platoon of soldiers held the ground secure as sappers dismantled a watchtower.

It was an important reminder that, while this tour for UK troops will be less kinetic and more advisory than in the past, basic soldiering skills must nevertheless be maintained to the highest level:

What you will see today is our chance to polish our skills, before using them for real in Helmand,” said Brigadier Woodham. “I’m pleased to say that the training progression has gone from strength to strength, and the training my soldiers have received has been first class, hugely realistic and challenging.

The training for Afghanistan which has been delivered by the Army has been really well-focused; we don’t just roll out the same training as last time. The training organisations work really hard to reflect the sorts of roles that the troops are going to do.

All the way through it was clear that Herrick 19 was going to be different. Therefore that’s been bedded into all the training courses and exercises and I’m confident that our soldiers are prepared for whatever will come their way.

That was certainly an opinion that was echoed by the soldiers manning the stands:

It’s my first tour,” said Lance Corporal James Carstairs, part of a 2 Medical Regiment combat medical team. “I feel prepared for everything to do with my job, and I’m very comfortable about going.

Another first-timer will be reservist Lieutenant Jabez Crisp, a watchkeeper in 2 Logistic Support Regiment. It will be his job to keep a close eye on the movements of the logistic convoys as they supply troops and bring back kit and equipment from those bases that are closing or being handed over. He said:

I admit to a healthy level of stage fright. But I’m very ready to go.

There was another army asset that could not be displayed on the day, but to which the Brigadier wanted to pay tribute:

I must mention some unsung heroes, our families,” he said, “for on the eve of deployment they too are preparing for the challenges that lie ahead. But they are not alone. Each unit has on hand a dedicated team to assist and help make the time pass as painlessly as possible.