FIRST MEETING OF SCOTTISH ETV GROUP “CONSTRUCTIVE”

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The Secretary of State for Scotland Michael Moore described the first meeting of the Scottish Emergency Towing Vessel Group in Edinburgh this afternoon as "a positive step in the right direction".

He was speaking after chairing the group which is investigating potential long-term solutions for emergency towing cover in waters around the Northern and Western Isles. The original contract ended a fortnight ago and the UK Government announced it had secured interim funding for three months to cover the ETVs. The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) awarded the new 90-day contract to JP Knight last Friday. The tugs were back on station at the weekend.

The Scottish ETV Group saw representatives of Shetland, Orkney, Highland and the Western Isles Councils as well as the MCA, Department for Transport, Marine Scotland, KIMO and the Chamber of Shipping discuss the outline approach to the issue. The Scotland Office Minister David Mundell also attended.

Michael Moore said: "This was a practical and constructive first meeting. We are determined to do everything we can to find a viable, long term alternative. Our discussions today were focused on what Scotland needs from its ETVs and what the options may be in finding a long-term replacement. We worked well across a wide range of interests and I am confident we can put the huge level of expertise and experience represented on the Group to good work."

The Convener of Orkney Council Stephen Hagan welcomed today's meeting on behalf of the Group.  He commented: "We are pleased that the Government is looking for a long-term solution and we are happy to play our part to work towards that.  We are hopeful that we can reach an outcome that is mutually acceptable."

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No Plans to Devolve Energy Policy in Wales

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Speaking following a Westminster Hall debate on energy policy in Wales, Wales Office Minister David Jones said “There is no compelling evidence to support such a change.  Developers of new energy projects in Wales need a streamlined decision-making process that can be relied on.

“The current system provides that.  We do, of course, need to ensure that the views of local communities are heard when decisions, particularly in relation to wind farms, are taken.  The current system does that, and the Welsh Government’s TAN 8 advice is one of the factors taken into account before a decision is reached.”

Minister of State for Energy and Climate Change, Charles Hendry, said:  “The Government’s policy on this is absolutely clear: subject to the Localism Bill receiving Royal Assent, we believe that the right decision maker for major energy infrastructure in England and Wales is the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change.  We believe that a streamlined planning system that minimises delay and unpredictability and ensures investor confidence is best delivered through a unified planning system for major energy projects in England and Wales.

“While I welcome today’s debate as a contribution to the discussion on this issue, I hope that the Government’s position is clear on why there will be no change to the existing process.”

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A Modern NHS – putting patients and health professionals in the driving seat

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Following the summer recess, the Government will today take further steps in its plans to put patients at the heart of the health service and make the NHS world class.

The Health and Social Care Bill will return to Parliament today to discuss the Government’s plans to modernise the NHS and to safeguard it for the future.

The Bill’s core principle of modernising the NHS is to create a stronger health system:

    * where the Secretary of State will continue, as now, to promote and be accountable for a comprehensive health service;
    * driven by health professionals, not Whitehall and bureaucracy;
    * where patients and the public are in the driving seat of their care, supported with more choice, information and control;
    * with greater integration of services;
    * with a new ‘Duty of Candour’, a contractual requirement on providers to be open and transparent in admitting mistakes, and;
    * That’s focused on prevention and tackling the causes of poor health and health inequalities.

In addition, the Government has previously outlined safeguards that protect against price competition, privatisation and private companies ‘cherry-picking’ profitable NHS business.

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Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology

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I have just been notified of this opportunity for students registered for a PhD in a science, science policy, technology or an engineering subject. I have to confess I am not sure of the detail of how it works but there is a link below which you can go to find out more information – seems a very interesting one-off opportunity.

The Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology (POST) is an Office of the two Houses of Parliament (Commons and Lords), set up in 1989 and charged with providing balanced and independent analyses of science and technology-based issues of relevance to Parliament.

Most of the UK research councils and several learned societies have special collaborative schemes with POST which enable doctoral students who are supported by them to undertake parliamentary fellowships.  In the past, POST has had numerous approaches from doctoral students who do not qualify for such support, such as students on university fellowships or those sponsored by other councils or learned societies. It is to provide an opening for such persons that the Parliamentary Science and Technology Information Foundation  (PSTIF) has decided to initiate, to mark POST’s 20th anniversary, a special Open Fellowship at POST.

This Fellowship provides the opportunity for a UK-based PhD student to undertake a 3 month placement at POST, with the aim of working on a science policy topic of interest to the Fellow and POST through the production of a short briefing note (POSTnote) for Parliamentarians or by other activity, such as assistance to a parliamentary committee of either the House of Commons or House of Lords.

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Terrorism Prevention and Investigation Measures Bill

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Today the Home Office fulfilled its earlier commitment to publish draft terror legislation to be used in exceptional circumstances.

The review of counter-terrorism and security powers in January this year concluded that there may be exceptional circumstances where it would be necessary for the Government to seek Parliamentary approval for additional measures.


The Enhanced Terrorism and Investigation Measures Bill follows acknowledgement in the government's review of CT powers, published in January, that enhanced measures are necessary in extraordinary circumstances.

In a statement to Parliament in January the Home Secretary Theresa May made clear the need for additional security measures in exceptional circumstances.

She said: 'We want to prepare for this possibility while ensuring that such powers are used only when absolutely necessary.

'So we will publish, but not introduce, legislation allowing more stringent measures, including curfews and further restrictions on communications, association and movement.

'These measures will require an even higher standard of proof to be met and would be introduced if in exceptional circumstances they were required to protect the public from the threat of terrorism.

'We will invite the Opposition to discuss this draft legislation with us on Privy Council terms. These powers would be enacted only with the agreement of both Houses of Parliament.

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Minister Praises Thriving Oil and Gas Sector

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Energy Minister Charles Hendry today used a speech to the Offshore Europe Conference in Aberdeen to highlight the continued importance of the North Sea to the UK’s economic prosperity, and to declare the UK’s oil and gas industry open for new business.

In his speech the Minister also announced two major developments in the UK Continental Shelf. These are:

• consent for Chevron’s Aberlour well – the company’s third deepwater exploration well off the west and north of Shetland, which will use the hi-tech drilling ship the Stena Carron
• approval of BP’s Field Development Plan for Kinnoull, which will be connected to the company’s Andrew platform and produce up to 45,000 barrels of oil a day

Speaking at the Offshore Europe Conference in Aberdeen, Energy Minister Charles Hendry said:

“Since we started exploring and producing in UK waters, we have been at the leading edge of a worldwide industry. And we still are. This year is shaping up to be our best year for new developments in at least a decade.

“The developments announced today on Aberlour and Kinnoull and the level of interest here at the conference are clear evidence that the UK oil and gas sector continues to thrive."

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RESTORING OUR ENVIRONMENT FOR THE NEXT GENERATION

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The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Caroline Spelman, has this afternoon announced that the Government is prioritising the needs of the countryside, after over a decade of neglect, with three principle goals.

Reconnecting the countryside with the Government; better protecting the natural environment; playing our part in cutting the deficit and generating economic growth.

Speaking at Conservative Party Conference in Manchester, Caroline Spelman said:

"This is a Government is prepared to act. And act in the interests of the long term. Nowhere is it more vital than for the environment. Our generation has a duty to restore it for the next. Our children, and theirs, depend on us getting it right. And what's more, this government and this country should be leading by example."

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