NewzIntel.com

Category: Great Britain

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Australia – Newcastle Airport lands sustainability funding – CBA

    Source: Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA)

    CommBank supports the growing gateway to the Hunter with a $235m Green Sustainability-Linked Loan.

    Newcastle Airport has successfully converted $235m of funding from CommBank to support sustainability initiatives over the next five years.

    CommBank acted as sole coordinator in the deal and will provide funding through an innovative Green Sustainability-Linked Loan (GSLL). The Green Loan component can fund energy efficient buildings, renewable energy, energy efficiency, pollution prevention and control, electric vehicle transportation and biodiversity initiatives.

    The Sustainability-Linked Loan ties interest rates to performance on three sustainability outcomes, building on existing achievements:

    Set and work towards a science-based target for reducing scope 3 emissions, caused indirectly throughout the airport’s supply chain. As part of this, the airport will work with airlines and tenants to reduce supply chain emissions installing infrastructure to support stakeholders to meet their goals, collaborating on mutually beneficial initiatives and advocating for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) alternatives for the aviation industry.

    Maintaining the third-highest level in Airport Carbon Accreditation (ACA), one of only two airports in Australia to do so. The ACA independently assesses and recognises the efforts of airports to manage and reduce their carbon emissions. Newcastle Airport’s accreditation showcases its commitment to sustainable practices and environmental stewardship.

    Waste reduction – committing to reducing waste to landfill for the entire airport precinct by collaborating with precinct stakeholders, investing in diversion initiatives and waste education programs.

    The new loan builds on Newcastle Airport’s commitment to achieving net zero scope 1 and scope 2 carbon emissions by 2030. Some of the important ways the airport has progressed on its commitment include:

    Designing and building energy efficient structures: the new terminal build has received a 5-Star Green Star ‘Designed’ Record of Achievement from the Green Building Council of Australia. Innovation hub Astra Aerolab buildings under development are also targeting the same accreditations. The expanded terminal at Newcastle Airport achieving a 5 Star Green Star rating is a testament to its high level of sustainability and environmental performance.

    Renewable energy: new carpark roof now supports 1236 solar panels.
    New partnership with an Australian renewable energy retailer, allowing energy requirements to be met entirely through renewable sources. This is a significant step towards the airport’s commitment of achieving net zero scope 2 emissions well ahead of its original 2030 target.

    Newcastle Airport CEO Dr. Peter Cock thanked CommBank for its support and said the loan funding will play a crucial role in delivering the airport’s sustainability promise and is fundamental to its commitment of being the airport the region deserves.

    “The people of the Hunter have high expectations,” Dr Cock said. “Ongoing investment in energy-saving and green initiatives is a key driver of Newcastle Airport’s leadership in the sustainable energy space. The Hunter is a region in transition, and Newcastle Airport is committed to enabling that shift towards our region and nation achieving net zero.

    “Our partnership with CommBank contributes to global sustainability efforts and aligns with our goal to become the green gateway to NSW.”

    CommBank General Manager Regional and Agribusiness Banking, Vanessa Nolan-Woods, said: “We’re delighted to continue our ongoing partnership with Newcastle Airport and play a role in helping to support the growth and sustainability of the Hunter and Newcastle region.

    “Newcastle Airport is already making strong progress in the transition to net-zero and its desire to set ambitious new environmental targets as part of this new funding arrangement demonstrates a continued commitment to achieving sustainable outcomes and the development of a world-class gateway to the Hunter region.”

    Commenting on CBA’s commitment to the region, Ms Nolan-Woods said: “We have expanded our Business Banking and customer support teams on the ground to better support growth in the region. We are also incredibly proud of our specialist sustainable finance team who work with our bankers and their customers to help them innovate and accelerate sustainability objectives.”

    CBA is committed to supporting the aviation and transport sectors with sustainable finance. Recent transactions include:

    • Dysons Group: Structured financing to support electrification of bus fleet following Victorian Government’s award of 10-year metropolitan bus contract.
    • GoZero Group: Asset finance to support GoZero school bus electrification in New South Wales
    • North Queensland Airport: Sustainability-Linked Loan tied to better biodiversity outcomes and partnership with First Nations peoples.

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Plaid Leader sets sights on government with vision for healthier Wales

    Source: Party of Wales

    Plaid leader promises a government with both immediate impact and a vision for long-term change toward a healthier, wealthier Wales

    Plaid Cymru Leader Rhun ap Iorwerth MS will today address his party’s Annual Conference in Cardiff, criticising 25 years of Labour leadership and spelling out his vision for a healthier and wealthier Wales.

    Rhun ap Iorwerth MS will set out Plaid Cymru’s commitment to “break the cycle of short-term thinking which shortchanges Wales”. On key issues of the economy, education and health, he’ll promise action to implement immediate improvement but set out the need for longer term change that Wales desperately needs.

    In health that means a pledge that under a Plaid Cymru Government, spending on preventative health measures will increase every year.

    He will also announce that a Plaid Cymru Cabinet would include a Minister for Public Health, “ensuring a truly national mission of creating healthier lives which in turn deliver substantial savings.”

    Describing the NHS as “born on Labour’s watch” with a promise of a “rebirth under a Plaid Cymru government” Rhun ap Iorwerth MS is expected to say:

    “My government will break the cycle of short term thinking which shortchanges Wales.

    Unlike Eluned Morgan, I will acknowledge that some things are  broken but more importantly I’ll be determined that nothing is beyond repair.

    My government will not consider issues in isolation. Silo working helps no one when one decision so often affects another.

    Unlocking our economic potential will need major improvements in education attainment, but another bedrock of a healthy economy is a well Wales – its people active in body and mind.

    This year, as waiting lists grew – Labour for some inexplicable reason cut the amount it spends on preventative health policies.

    Friends, this is short-term thinking with long term pain guaranteed. It feeds the problem as opposed to solving it, putting further pressure on front line staff, filling our hospitals with ever sicker patients.

    Plaid Cymru will reverse the thinking, it’s something I’m determined to do , ensuring the NHS is fit for its centenary celebrations and beyond.”

    The Plaid leader will launch a new approach to preventative health as part of wider NHS changes by saying:

    “For too long, Labour’s priority has been managing people’s pain but I want to keep people healthy and I can announce that in the first 100 days of a Plaid Cymru government we will bring forward a new budget – based on the principles of a healthier, wealthier Wales – with a promise that spending on preventative health measures will increase every year

    No more sticking plaster, no more blaming the individual, no more passing the buck.

    This is grown-up government – taking responsibility, empowering people and protecting the NHS.

    And we have an enormous task ahead of us. On improving the NHS estate, we’ll go further than the last 8 Labour Health Ministers, clearing the emergency maintenance backlogs over the duration of the next Senedd term. Only this week, a critical incident was declared at the Princess of Wales Hospital in Bridgend because of serious long-term damage to its roof. We have to have an NHS estate fit for purpose!

    We’ll introduce a target focused cancer contract for every patient and reform the governance of the NHS, bringing standards back where they should be and waiting lists down.

    And with a new Minister for Public Health, we’ll put the ‘N’ back in the NHS – ensuring a truly national mission of creating healthier lives which in turn deliver substantial savings.

    Our treasured National Health Service – born on Labour’s watch, given a rebirth by the Plaid Cymru government I will lead.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Social Media Summit address

    Source: Australian Executive Government Ministers

    Good afternoon,
     
    Thank you, Premier Peter Malinauskas for inviting me to speak on behalf of the Prime Minister, the Honourable Anthony Albanese.
     
    It is wonderful to be in Adelaide for this joint Summit focussed on a very important discussion taking place nationally, and around the world.
     
    I acknowledge the Traditional Owners – the Kaurna people – and pay respect to Elders past and present. I extend this to First Nations people attending.
     
    Thank you to New South Wales Premier Chris Minns for hosting Day One of the Social Media Summit in Sydney.
     
    And thanks to you – the experts, academics, policy makers and young people – who have come together to share your insights and experiences in this space.
     
    A space that has evolved exponentially over decades.
     
    Australia’s first Minister for Communications was known as the Postmaster General.
     
    Established at Federation, the Minister’s responsibilities were the provision of postal and telegraphic services throughout Australia.
     
    It wasn’t until 1975, when its Department’s name changed to reflect the rise in electronic media.
     
    Fast forward to today, and the internet continues to undergo significant change; as do the challenges faced by governments and regulators.
     
    We are now raising the second generation of digital natives.
     
    Social media is ubiquitous and a normal part of life for many young people.
     
    It can be a source of entertainment, education and connection with the world – and each other.
     
    But we are also seeing social harms affecting young people.
     
    And it is for this reason that we are here today.
      
    The Albanese Government understands parents and communities are concerned about the harmful impacts of social media and want action.
     
    Social media has a social responsibility. We know they can – and should – do better to address harms on their platforms.
     
    Governments around the world are grappling with this.
     
    No government, no regulator and no law can protect every child from every threat, every day.
     
    But we must work together to support our children to be happy, healthy and safe.
     
    The number one priority of the Albanese Government is the safety of Australians, including online.
     
    Australia is a world-leader when it comes to online safety, and I want to acknowledge the terrific work of our eSafety Commissioner, Julie Inman Grant.
     
    Online safety has traditionally been an area of bipartisanship in Australia, and that has served us well.
     
    Our Government is taking action on a number of fronts.
     
    Today, I will step out the Commonwealth’s approach to legislating a national minimum age for social media access – our latest effort to address online safety.
     
    This is significant reform.
     
    And we will work with State and Territory governments, regulators, experts, industry and the community.
     
    Today, I will cover three things:

    • The pragmatic approach we are taking to social media age limits;
    • The design principles that will underpin our reforms;
    • And, finally, how this aligns to our whole-of-government approach to improving online safety.

    As a mother of two young daughters, I understand that parents worry about the amount of time their children spend on social media.
     
    Research released by eSafety yesterday explored children’s use of online services, including social media, in 2024.
     
    The Social Media Pulse Survey found a significant number of children aged 8-12 are spending time on digital platforms.
     
    84 per cent reported using at least one online service, including social media or messaging services, since the start of this year.
     
    While the proportion of overall users increased with age, a significant majority – three quarters – have accessed an online service by 8 years old.
     
    More than two-thirds of children aged 12 have their own accounts.
     
    As parents, we also worry our children may unintentionally access harmful, distressing and age-inappropriate content on their feeds.
     
    We know that almost two-thirds of 14 to 17 year-olds have viewed extremely harmful content online including drug abuse, suicide or self-harm, as well as violent and gory material.
     
    A quarter have been exposed to content promoting unsafe eating habits.
     
    This is unacceptable and must be addressed.
     
    As Communications Minister, I have been engaging with a wide range of stakeholders in this space – and I have learned a lot.
     
    Young people tell me social media allows them to connect and feel socially included.
     
    It can be an entry point to health and mental health support, a creative outlet, or a platform for legitimate children’s programming.
     
    But young people also understand the need for protection.
     
    Survey data released by the Minns Government in the lead-up to the Summit highlighted widespread community concern. 87 per cent of survey respondents said they support age limits for social media.
     
    The national conversation has seen a range of ages proposed. We welcome this input.
     
    Let me also take the opportunity to acknowledge the extensive work of former High Court Chief Justice Robert French.
     
    Our age assurance trial is evaluating technologies that could be effective to age-limit access to social media platforms from 13 up to 16 years.
     
    And preventing people under 18 from accessing online pornography.
     
    The trial includes targeted stakeholder consultation and consumer-focussed research looking into attitudes towards different technologies, and issues of privacy, security and accessibility.
     
    The Albanese Government has also brought forward the independent review of Australia’s Online Safety Act by a year.
     
    This critical and comprehensive body of work is looking at how to ensure our regulatory settings keep pace with emerging online harms and are fit for purpose.
     
    I look forward to receiving the final report in coming weeks.
     
    The Albanese Government has asked the States and Territories for their views on what the age for social media access should be, including evidence from a youth development perspective.
     
    The Prime Minister wrote to the Premiers and Chief Ministers last week seeking views on this, and a range of related matters, including:

    • Community appetite on the role for parental consent as a factor for age limits and permissions;
    • On grandfathering arrangements for existing account holders;
    • The need for a safety net or exemption for support services like mental health and education;
    • And what state-based supports they have available for children – particularly those who are vulnerable or isolated – to connect and access services away from social media.

     
    No solution will be perfect, and consensus on the ‘right’ age is unlikely.
     
    Young people are digitally savvy and will find ways to circumvent controls.
     
    But we can’t let the ‘perfect’ be the enemy of good – we need to make progress to ensure our safeguards keep improving.
     
    This is about protecting young people, not punishing or isolating them or their parents.
     
    It is letting parents know that we are in their corner when it comes to supporting their children’s health and wellbeing.
     
    I am conscious of the pressure on parents in trying to oversee when and how their children use social media.
     
    Establishing an age limit for social media will help signal a set of normative values that support parents, teachers, and society more broadly.

    For this reason, a key design principle of the Commonwealth’s legislative approach is to place the onus on platforms, not parents or young people.
     
    Penalties for users will not feature in our legislative design.
     
    Instead, it will be incumbent on the platforms to demonstrate they are taking reasonable steps to ensure fundamental protections are in place at the source.
     
    Our approach will ensure the eSafety regulator provides oversight and enforcement.
     
    We are also considering an exemption framework to accommodate access for social media services that demonstrate a low risk of harm to children.
     
    The aim of an exemption is to create positive incentives for digital platforms to develop age-appropriate versions of their apps, and embed safe and healthy experiences by design.  
     
    We are conscious of the harmful features in the design of platforms that drive addictive behaviours.
     
    This is why we will set parameters to guide platforms in designing social media that allows connections, but not harms, to flourish.
     
    We will set a 12-month implementation timeframe to provide industry and the regulator time to implement systems and processes.
     
    And we will review these measures to ensure they are effective and delivering the outcomes Australians want.

    Our strategic objective is clear: social media must exercise a social responsibility.
     
    This is the approach we are taking across government.
     
    As Communications Minister, I am working to curb seriously harmful misinformation and disinformation from being spread at speed and at scale on social media. An issue I know was raised by young people at the Summit yesterday. 

    Efforts to improve online safety for all Australians are being taken across the Albanese Government. 
     
    The Minister for Industry and Science is supporting businesses and organisations to safely and responsibly use and innovate with AI.
     
    The Attorney General has criminalised the non-consensual sharing of deep-fake material and he is seeking to criminalise ‘doxxing’ – that is when a victim’s identity, private information or personal details is shared without consent.
     
    Myself and the Minister for Social Services, Amanda Rishworth, are making dating apps safer through a world-leading voluntary code developed by industry to better protect their users.
     
    I am progressing Classification Scheme reforms to address violent and misogynistic adult content that reinforces unacceptable attitudes towards women.
     
    And, finally, I amended the Basic Online Safety Expectations determination to ensure the best interest of the child is a primary consideration in service design.
     
    These changes also go to the systems that power content delivered by algorithms that influence what Australians see.
      
    The Albanese Labor Government is a reformist government.
     
    We are not afraid to tackle difficult reforms or hold big tech to account.
     
    Platforms are not above the laws of this land.
     
    In legislating a minimum age to access social media, we are laying the challenge at the front door of social media companies to do better.
     
    We will work with you: the experts, academics, industry, premiers, parents and young people to progress these important reforms.
     
    And support young Australians to be safe and to thrive, now and into the future.
     
    Thank you.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: The government’s social media ban for kids will exempt ‘low-risk’ platforms. What does that mean?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lisa M. Given, Professor of Information Sciences & Director, Social Change Enabling Impact Platform, RMIT University

    BAZA Production/Shutterstock

    In a speech to the New South Wales and South Australian government social media summit today, Federal Minister for Communications Michelle Rowland announced more details of how the federal government’s proposed social media ban would actually work.

    The government first announced the ban last month, shortly after SA said it will ban children under 14 from social media. But experts have heavily criticised the idea, and this week more than 120 experts from Australia and overseas wrote an open letter to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and state and territory premiers urging a rethink.

    Despite this, the government appears to be ploughing ahead with the proposed ban. The details Rowland announced today do not meaningfully address many of the criticisms made over the past few weeks.

    In fact, they actually raise new problems.

    What are the details of the social media ban?

    In her speech, Rowland said the government will amend the Online Safety Act to “place the onus on platforms, not parents or young people” to enforce the proposed social media ban.

    The changes will be implemented over 12 months to give industry and the regulator time to implement key processes.

    The government says it “will set parameters to guide platforms in designing social media that allows connections, but not harms, to flourish”. These parameters could address some of the “addictive” features of these platforms, for instance by limiting potential harms by prioritising content feeds from accounts people follow, or making age-appropriate versions of their apps.

    The government is also considering an:

    exemption framework to accommodate access for social media services that demonstrate a low risk of harm to children.

    The problem with “low risk”

    But allowing young people to access social media platforms that have a demonstrated “low risk of harm” is fraught with issues.

    Risk is difficult to define – especially when it comes to social media.

    As I explained earlier this year around potential harms of artificial intelligence, risk “sits on a spectrum and is not absolute”. Risk cannot be determined simply by considering a social media platform itself, or by knowing the age of the person using it. What’s risky for one person may not be risky for someone else.

    How, then, will the government determine which social media platforms have a “low risk of harm”?

    Simply focusing on technical changes to social media platform design in determining what constitutes “low risk” will not address key areas of potential harm. This may give parents a false sense of security when it comes to the “low-risk” solutions technology companies offer.

    Let’s assume for a moment that Meta’s new “teen-friendly” Instagram accounts qualify as having a “low risk of harm” and young people would still be allowed to use them.

    The teen version of Instagram will be set to private by default and have stronger content restrictions in place than regular accounts. It will also allow parents to see the categories of content children are accessing, and the accounts they follow, but will still require parental oversight.

    But this doesn’t solve the risk problem.

    There will still be harmful content on social media. And young people will still be exposed to it when they are old enough to have an unrestricted account, potentially without the support and guidance they need to safely engage with it. If children don’t gain necessary skills for navigating social media at an early age, potential harms may be deferred, rather than addressed and safely negotiated with parental support.

    A better approach

    The harmful content on social media platforms doesn’t just pose a risk to young people. It poses a risk to everybody – adults included. For this reason, the government’s heavy focus on encouraging platforms to demonstrate a “low risk of harm” only to young people seems a little misguided.

    A better approach would be to strive to ensure social media platforms are safe for all users, regardless of their age. Ensuring platforms have mechanisms for users to report potentially harmful content – and for platforms to remove inappropriate content – is crucial for keeping people safe.

    Platforms should also ensure users can block accounts, such as when a person is being bullied or harassed, with consequences for account holders found to engage in such harmful behaviour.

    It is important that government requirements for “low-risk” accounts include these and other mechanisms to identify and limit harmful content at source. Tough penalties for tech companies that fail to comply with legislation are also needed.

    The federal government could also provide extra resources for parents and children, to help them to navigate social media content safely.

    A report released this week by the New South Wales government showed 91% of parents with children aged 5–17 believe “more should be done to teach young people and their parents about the possible harms of social media”.

    The SA government appears to be heeding this message. Today it also announced a plan for more social media education in schools.

    Providing more proactive support like this, rather than pursuing social media bans, would go a long way to protecting young Australians while also ensuring they have access to helpful and supportive social media content.

    Lisa M. Given receives funding from the Australian Research Council. She is a Fellow of the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia and a former President of the Association of Information Science and Technology.

    – ref. The government’s social media ban for kids will exempt ‘low-risk’ platforms. What does that mean? – https://theconversation.com/the-governments-social-media-ban-for-kids-will-exempt-low-risk-platforms-what-does-that-mean-241120

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Housing boost for North East communities as Combined Authority deepens strategic ties with Homes England

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Housing ambitions to support people across the North East boosted by Strategic Place Partnership between local leaders and national agency

    Credit: North East Combined Authority

    North East Combined Authority (NECA) and Homes England, the government’s housing and regeneration agency, have signed a Strategic Place Partnership that will support the region to realise its housing ambitions.

    Teams from NECA and the Agency will work together for the long-term to unlock locally-led plans to create new homes within thriving places for people across the region.

    This includes drawing on Homes England expertise and resources, including land, legal powers and funding, underpinned by the development of a shared business plan aligned to local priorities

    The agreement deepens existing local-national partnership working between NECA, North East local authorities and the Agency, with funding and expertise already supporting a range of projects including Forth Yards in Newcastle3 and West Park in Sunderland4.

    Mayor of the North East Kim McGuinness said:

    Everyone in the North East deserves a place they are proud to call home, and that is why I have made housing a key plank of my plans as Mayor. Indeed, this announcement follows closely from the news we have invested £4.5m to support the regeneration of Horden in East Durham5.

    Signing the Strategic Place Partnership with Homes England will allow us to take some of our biggest brownfield sites and turn them from eyesores into the homes and communities people need.

    It’s an opportunity to turbocharge development across the region by working with the Agency and our local authorities to create new homes that are affordable, energy efficient, and where people can thrive.

    Homes England Chief Executive Peter Denton said:

    A strategic place partnership isn’t a ceremonial bit of paper. It signals a long-term commitment where regional and national teams work together for the benefit of communities, to achieve the visions of local leaders who understand what people local to the area want and need to thrive.

    My colleagues and I are excited to deepen our ties with the combined authority to help accelerate progress. We are united by a passion to get things done in the right way, in the right places, to help ensure successful, sustainable regeneration and more affordable, quality home for thousands of people in the North East.

    The Agency is proud to be supporting NECA to achieve its housing vision through the SPP, with similar partnerships in place with regional authorities including South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, the West Midlands and Greater Manchester.

    ENDS

    Notes to editors

    About Homes England

    Homes England is the government’s homes and regeneration agency. We drive the creation of more high-quality homes and thriving places so that everyone – no matter their background – has a place to live and thrive. We work in partnership with thousands of public and private bodies including local authorities, home builders, developers, affordable housing providers, commercial real estate companies  and financial institutions to make this happen. For more information visit: Homes England – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

    About North East Combined Authority

    The North East Combined Authority (North East CA) was formed on 7 May 2024. It is led by Elected Mayor Kim McGuinness and the Cabinet and covers the seven local authority areas of County Durham, Gateshead, Newcastle, North Tyneside, Northumberland, South Tyneside and Sunderland.  For more information visit http://www.northeast-ca.gov.uk

    Homes England acquires Quayside West as part of wider Newcastle regeneration – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

    Sunderland residents set to benefit from new homes after fresh investment supports city centre regeneration plans – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

    Mayor makes first steps to deliver new generation of social housing with County Durham investment (northeast-ca.gov.uk)

    Attached pictures caption: Mayor of the North East Kim McGuinness and Homes England Chief Executive Peter Denton launched a new partnership agreement between the organisations during a visit to the Newcastle Training Hub for bricklaying and groundworker apprenticeships.

    Contact information

    For further information, imagery or interview requests please contact media@HomesEngland.gov.uk or 0207 874 8262.

    Updates to this page

    Published 11 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Lord Provost Bill Campbell Blog #28

    Source: Scotland – City of Dundee

    Hello and welcome to my End of Month Blog #28 as the Lord Provost of Dundee.

    After having taken time off from carrying out events in August due ill health, from the beginning of September I returned to active duties and seen some of the fantastic activities and events taking place in the city.

    Activities over September included:

    • On Thursday 5th, I attended the Consular Corps in Scotland Summer event in Edinburgh. I was very keen to attend this event to meet with the many Consuls based in Scotland, some of whom I had previously met, and some of whom this event facilitated me meeting some of the recently appointed Consuls for the first time. Events such as this allow me to carry out part of my duties as Lord Provost which include promoting Dundee internationally;
    • I attended the Annual Dundee Submarine Memorial Service at the Dundee International Submarine Memorial on Saturday 7th. I laid a wreath during the Service on behalf of the City and followed on to a reception at the Apex Hotel where I spoke with representatives from the Royal Navy, Dutch and French Navies, and Officers from Dundee Sea & Royal Marines Cadets;
    • On Sunday 8th, Depute Lord Provost Kevin Cordell attended and officially opened the 2024 Dundee Cyclathon. This was the landmark 20th anniversary of the Cyclathon;
    • Following an invite from a Modern Studies 1st Year class at St Paul’s RC Academy, I took part in a Question & Answer session on the role of Lord Provost of Dundee on Wednesday 11th. I was delighted to visit the class and take part in the Q&A which was a very enjoyable experience with wide-ranging and very interesting questions put to me;
    • On Thursday 12th, I attended the Order of Malta’s 2024 Scottish Mass and Investiture at St Margaret’s Chapel which is situated not far from the Meadows area in Edinburgh. I was honoured to be invited to attend and following the Mass, there were Order of Merit presentations of medals to Scots who had assisted with work over many years;
    • The Lady Provost and I attended the Nine Incorporated Trades of Dundee Glovers Dinner & Annual General Meeting on Friday 13th at the Woodlands Hotel. I have been honoured to have been regularly associated with The Nine Incorporated Trades of Dundee since becoming Lord Provost and am I hugely appreciative of their support. As Lord Provost, I was part of a Q&A event at this Dinner;
    • On Saturday 14th, the Lady Provost and I attended a service in the Congregational Church in Dundee to lay up the previous Standard for The War Widows Association and welcome in the new Standard. I had the great honour of making a speech during the Service in the Congregational Church;
    • The Lady Provost and I attended a performance of Snake in the Grass at Dundee Rep on Wednesday 18th. This was a superb performance from an amazing cast and we were engrossed in this play from start to finish;
    • On Thursday 19th, I was delighted to be asked to give a welcome speech and present the 25 Year Long Service Awards to employees of Tayside Contracts at this year’s Tayside Contracts Long Service Recognition Ceremony in the City Chambers;
    • I was very grateful to be invited by David Dorward, MBE, DL to attend the fifth birthday event on the evening of Thursday 19th for Launch It (Dundee) who support enterprising young founders and is based in Kandahar House in the city centre. David, as the chairperson, very kindly showed me around the facilities and I had the opportunity to meet with a number of current and former attendees;
    • On Saturday 21st, I attended the 140th Anniversary Celebratory Dinner for the Ye Amphibious Ancients Bathing Association (YeAABA) which was formed in 1884. This was a superb event held at Forbes of Kingennie with special stories, awards and great conviviality with the very large attendance contributing to an excellent atmosphere. I was delighted to be asked to make a speech at this event. My congratulations to YeAABA on reaching this magnificent milestone;
    • I attended the Dundee Design Festival at Michelin Scotland Innovation Parc (MSIP) on Sunday 22nd. I was delighted to be invited for a preview of Scotland’s National Festival of Contemporary Design which showcased the work of over 180 Scottish designers and design companies. MSIP provided a stunning backdrop to this amazing festival which I hugely enjoyed;
    • On the morning of Wednesday 25th, I had the pleasure of providing a Civic Welcome in the City Chambers to a group of just over 20 visitors from the Isle of Lewis as part of their visit to Dundee and Fife. They arrived at the Civic Floor for a Civic Tour and I was delighted to greet them all individually on behalf of the City as well as exchange gifts;
    • On the afternoon of Wednesday 25th, I took the Citizenship Ceremony in the Committee Rooms in City Square;
    • On the afternoon of Thursday 26th, I gave a Civic Reception to the Salvation Army in Dundee in the City Chambers;
    • Depute Lord Provost Kevin Cordell welcomed the Scottish Ambulance Service to the City Chambers for their Awards Ceremony on the evening of Thursday 26th;
    • The Lady Provost and I attended the Nine Incorporated Trades of Dundee Biennial Dinner on Friday 27th where I replied to a toast to the City of Dundee. This was an evening celebrating Raymond Edwards’ successful term as Deacon Convener and the impressive heritage of the Nine Incorporated Trades of Dundee and how they contribute to the city;
    • I attended an event at Holyrood marking the 25th Anniversary of the Scottish Parliament on Saturday 28th of which included an address by His Majesty The King and an introduction by the Rt Hon Alison Johnstone MSP, the Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament. The celebration also included music from the Gaelic Cóisir Alba from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and a performance from over 90 young people brought together by Sistema Scotland.

    Outwith the events outlined above, this was a very busy month of activities which included a number of visits to the capital and a variety of meetings and additional events held within the city.

    For updates as they occur, you can find the latest Lord Provost news and activities on both Facebook and Twitter/X.

    Thank you for taking the time to read my Blog.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Northern Ireland: Journalists, lawyers and NGOs urged to make surveillance concerns known to KC-led investigation 

    Source: Amnesty International –

    One week left to respond to Angus McCullough KC call for evidence

    ‘We now need answers to wider questions about the full extent of police use and misuse of secret surveillance powers in Northern Ireland. The McCullough Review can help provide those answers.’ – Patrick Corrigan 

    Journalists, lawyers and activists in Northern Ireland who suspect they have been spied on by the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) should make a complaint to the McCullough Review before the October 18 deadline, Amnesty International said today.

    The McCullough Review is an independent inquiry into PSNI surveillance of journalists, lawyers, non-governmental organisations and police oversight bodies, led by London lawyer Angus McCullough KC. The review was commissioned by Chief Constable Jon Boutcher after campaigners raised concerns following evidence disclosed at the Investigatory Powers Tribunal pointed to potential widespread use of covert surveillance powers by the police.

    The call for evidence issued by McCullough has a deadline of 5pm on Friday 18 October 2024 and Amnesty is encouraging affected parties to contact the review before the cut-off date.

    Patrick Corrigan, Northern Ireland Director of Amnesty International, and a member of the McCullough Review group of experts and stakeholders, said:

    “The evidence disclosed to the Investigatory Powers Tribunal investigating spying on Barry McCaffrey and Trevor Birney has pointed to worrying surveillance practices by the PSNI in relation to journalists, lawyers and the office of the Police Ombudsman.

    “We now need answers to wider questions about the full extent of police use and misuse of secret surveillance powers in Northern Ireland. The McCullough Review can help provide those answers.

    “It is important that anyone who falls within the remit of the review and has information or evidence that they may have been subject to covert surveillance by the PSNI contacts McCullough.

    “It will also be crucial for former or serving police officers to bring what they know to this investigation. The Chief Constable has already committed to full cooperation with this review and we would encourage anyone with evidence to make it known via the confidential questionnaire on the McCullough Review website.

    “While this review does not have all the powers of a statutory public inquiry – and we may still need such an inquiry – it can play a hugely important role in shining a light on hitherto shadowy practices and point to potential breaches of human rights of surveillance targets.”

    View latest press releases

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: One day until Dinosaur Trail takes over city centre

    Source: Scotland – City of Aberdeen

    An exciting new dinosaur trail is set to roar into Aberdeen’s city centre tomorrow.  

    Local businesses taking part gathered today to mark one day until the Iconic Bricks Dinosaur Trail begins, a two-week event from 12th to 27th October with free parking available in two city centre car parks. 

    Aberdeen City Council Co-Leader Councillor Christian Allard said: “We are delighted to welcome the Iconic Bricks Dinosaur Trail into Aberdeen throughout the school holidays. 

    “This is set to be an exciting trail that all ages can follow and I would like to extend my thanks to all the businesses involved. There are lots of ways to access the city centre, including free weekend parking in certain places.”  

    Education and Children’s Services Convener Councillor Martin Greig said: “The Iconic Bricks Dinosaur Trail is a great way for families to come together to explore and enjoy our vibrant city centre. 

    “This will hopefully be a fun and memorable experience that will encourage people to make the most of their city centre throughout the year.”

    Visitors and locals will be able to discover 18 brick dinosaur models located in various city centre businesses, including a Stegosaurus, Triceratops and adorable baby dinosaurs. 

    Participants will be able to get an insight into how each model is made and learn more about the creations, including how many bricks were used to build the model and learn a fun dinosaur fact. 

    There will also be a Hidden Lego Minifigure Trail, where small Lego figures have been hidden across ten shop windows around the Upperkirkgate and Belmont Street area for people of all ages to find in a treasure-hunt style challenge. 

    Once each minifigure is found, there is the chance to enter into a prize draw to win an Aberdeen Gift Card worth £20. 

    Additional activities including dinosaur-themed bookbug and storytelling sessions will take place throughout the October Holidays in businesses hosting the trail.  

    The Iconic Bricks Dinosaur Trail has received £30,000 from the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. 

    Free weekend parking will be available in the Denburn and Frederick Street car parks throughout the October holidays and the first weekend in November. Parking for £1 will be available after 5pm at Virginia Street, the Gallowgate, Frederick Street, Summer Street, Chapel Street, West North Street, and the Denburn. Normal charging rates will resume from 8am. 

    For more information on the event and travelling into the city centre, visit our website. 

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: NHS Pay

    Source: Scottish Government

    Pay increase formally offered to Resident Doctors

    An incremental pay increase offered to Resident Doctors, formerly known as Junior Doctors, and Dentists in Training will ensure NHS Scotland remains an attractive place to work and train in, Health Secretary Neil Gray has said.

    If accepted by trade union members, the investment of more than £64 million in 2024-25 will see an 8.5% pay increase backdated to 1 April 2024, with a further 2.3% increase applied from 1 October 2024. 

    The offer will make significant progress towards tackling pay erosion and is in line with the shared aims of the multi-faceted 2023-24 pay deal, which included commitments to contract reform and work on a pay bargaining review mechanism.

    Health Secretary Neil Gray said:

    “Following weeks of constructive engagement with BMA Scotland, I am pleased to have agreed a pay offer that will ensure that our Resident Doctors, and Dentists in Training continue to feel valued while allowing NHS Scotland to remain the place of choice for them to work and train in.

    “I want to express my thanks again to Scotland’s hardworking Resident Doctors, and Dentists in Training. I am pleased we have been able to work together to honour the agreement from 2023-24, with this offer making significant progress towards resolving pay erosion.

    “I am grateful for the continued efforts around the table and, with the unions now consulting their members, I hope it will be accepted.”

    BACKGROUND

    This pay deal represents a £64.1 million investment and means a doctor at the start of their career will receive a salary increase of £3,418 in 2024-25. For those at the end of their training, the rise will be £7,088 over the same period. 

    The starting salary for a Dentist in Training will increase by £4,239 in 2024-25. For those at the end of their training, the rise will be £5,902 over the same period. 

    New 2024-25 Pay Scales

    Resident Doctors

     

    Pay Point

    Pay Scale 2023/24

    Pay Scale  01 April 2024

    % Uplift

    £ Uplift

    Pay Scale  01 October 2024

    % Uplift

    £ Uplift

    Cumulative % increase

    Total £ Increase

    Foundation year 1

    0

    £31,082

    £33,724

    8.5%

    £2,642

    £34,500

    2.3%

    £776

    11%

    £3,418

    Foundation year 1

    1

    £33,024

    £35,831

    8.5%

    £2,807

    £36,655

    2.3%

    £824

    11%

    £3,631

    Foundation year 1

    2

    £34,964

    £37,936

    8.5%

    £2,972

    £38,808

    2.3%

    £873

    11%

    £3,844

    Foundation year 2

    0

    £38,553

    £41,830

    8.5%

    £3,277

    £42,792

    2.3%

    £962

    11%

    £4,239

    Foundation year 2

    1

    £41,075

    £44,566

    8.5%

    £3,491

    £45,591

    2.3%

    £1,025

    11%

    £4,516

    Foundation year 2

    2

    £43,597

    £47,303

    8.5%

    £3,706

    £48,391

    2.3%

    £1,088

    11%

    £4,794

    Doctors in training

    0

    £40,995

    £44,480

    8.5%

    £3,485

    £45,503

    2.3%

    £1,023

    11%

    £4,508

    Doctors in training

    1

    £43,504

    £47,202

    8.5%

    £3,698

    £48,287

    2.3%

    £1,086

    11%

    £4,783

    Doctors in training

    2

    £47,007

    £51,003

    8.5%

    £3,996

    £52,176

    2.3%

    £1,173

    11%

    £5,169

    Doctors in training

    3

    £49,126

    £53,302

    8.5%

    £4,176

    £54,528

    2.3%

    £1,226

    11%

    £5,402

    Doctors in training

    4

    £51,680

    £56,073

    8.5%

    £4,393

    £57,362

    2.3%

    £1,290

    11%

    £5,682

    Doctors in training

    5

    £54,235

    £58,845

    8.5%

    £4,610

    £60,198

    2.3%

    £1,353

    11%

    £5,963

    Doctors in training

    6

    £56,793

    £61,620

    8.5%

    £4,827

    £63,038

    2.3%

    £1,417

    11%

    £6,245

    Doctors in training

    7

    £59,384

    £64,432

    8.5%

    £5,048

    £65,914

    2.3%

    £1,482

    11%

    £6,530

    Doctors in training

    8

    £61,903

    £67,165

    8.5%

    £5,262

    £68,710

    2.3%

    £1,545

    11%

    £6,807

    Doctors in training

    9

    £64,461

    £69,940

    8.5%

    £5,479

    £71,549

    2.3%

    £1,609

    11%

    £7,088

    Dentists in Training

    Pay Point

    Pay Scale 2023/24

    Pay Scale  01 April 2024

    % Uplift

    £ Uplift

    Pay Scale  01 October 2024

    % Uplift

    £ Uplift

    Cumulative % increase

    Total £ Increase

    Min

    38,553

    £41,830

    8.5%

    £3,277

    £42,792

    2.3%

    £962

    11%

    £4,239

    1

    41,075

    £44,566

    8.5%

    £3,491

    £45,591

    2.3%

    £1,025

    11%

    £4,516

    2

    43,597

    £47,303

    8.5%

    £3,706

    £48,391

    2.3%

    £1,088

    11%

    £4,794

    3

    46,117

    £50,037

    8.5%

    £3,920

    £51,188

    2.3%

    £1,151

    11%

    £5,071

    4

    48,638

    £52,772

    8.5%

    £4,134

    £53,986

    2.3%

    £1,214

    11%

    £5,348

    5

    51,158

    £55,506

    8.5%

    £4,348

    £56,783

    2.3%

    £1,277

    11%

    £5,625

    6

    53,679

    £58,242

    8.5%

    £4,563

    £59,581

    2.3%

    £1,340

    11%

    £5,902

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: TUV supports court action to save the Boyne Bridge and challenges Translink attitude to architectural charity

    Source: Traditional Unionist Voice – Northern Ireland

    Statement by TUV MLA Timothy Gaston:
    “TUV has supported the campaign to preserve the Boyne Bridge for years and commends Billy Dickson BEM for the phenomenal effort he has put into the grassroots efforts to keep this historic part of Belfast’s heritage.
    “The demolition of the bridge will cause massive disruption to traffic flow in the city, regardless of whether Translink wins in the courts.
    “It is disgusting that Translink should seek to threaten the Ulster Architectural Heritage Society, a charity, with a £100,000 per week bill if they dare to challenge the demolition of the bridge in court.
    “This is a matter I will be raising with the Minister for Infrastructure by way of a priority written question which I will submit today.”
    Note to editors
    Mr Gaston’s question is as follows:
    To ask the Minister for Infrastructure to make representations to Translink asking them to drop their threat to seek £100,000 a week costs from the Ulster Architectural Heritage Society should they go ahead with court action seeking to preserve the Boyne Bridge.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: UK government seals further £225 million investment in Teesside renewables industry with financing deal

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    One of the largest factories in the global offshore wind sector will expand and support even more jobs after UK Export Finance worked with Korean investors to secure new financing.

    • UK Export Finance and Korea Trade Insurance Corporation have guaranteed new financing for a major South Korean investment into Teesside.

    • This has unlocked new £225 million in financing from Standard Chartered Bank and HSBC UK for SeAH Steel Holding’s construction of a wind tech factory near Redcar. 

    • The financing supports an additional investment which will help the mega-factory to produce wider range of components for the offshore wind sector and meet latest industry demands.

    Based in Teesside, one of the world’s largest offshore wind technology factories will become even bigger after new government support for a South Korean investor. 

    Supported by backing from UK Export Finance (UKEF), SeAH Wind UK has now made an additional £225 million investment into wind technology manufacturing in Teesside. This brings their total investment into the site at Teesworks Freeport up to £900 million. 

    This was made possible after SeAH Steel Holding received financial guarantees from UKEF and Korea Trade Insurance Corporation (K-Sure) – the UK and South Korean export credit agencies – meaning that it could access £225 million in new financing for its ongoing factory build. 

    UKEF and K-Sure first supported the project in 2023. New support brings their joint backing for this project up to £590 million, with Standard Chartered Bank and HSBC UK providing the finance. 

    Wind monopiles act as the foundation for most offshore wind turbines and are critical to the growth of the global renewable energy sector. Upon completion of the factory, SeAH Wind UK will export to US and European markets. 

    New financing means that the factory will be able to produce even bigger monopiles and a wider range of products to meet industry demands, supporting the UK’s place in the global offshore wind supply chain. 

    The project will create up to 750 jobs by 2027 – a milestone in the development of a thriving offshore wind and renewables industry in North-East England.  

    Chris Sohn, Chief Executive of SeAH Wind UK, said: 

    With the proactive support of UKEF, our project is progressing smoothly. As we approach the completion of the factory construction, we are committed to ensuring its successful finalisation. We aim to become the first monopile manufacturing company in the UK and make a significant contribution to the UK economy.

    Tim Reid, CEO of UK Export Finance, said: 

    This investment shows that there is international confidence in the UK economy and its ability to support the industries of tomorrow.

    UK Export Finance is helping to secure overseas investment in Teesside and around the UK through its financing offer. By working with HSBC UK, Standard Chartered and K-Sure to support investment into this project, the government is bolstering North-East England’s position as a leader in renewable energy expertise.

    Ian Stuart, CEO of HSBC UK, said: 

    We are delighted to provide our continuing support to SeAH Group for its new offshore wind monopile manufacturing factory in Teesside, North-East England. Through its expanded manufacturing capabilities, the factory will significantly contribute to the needs of the offshore wind industry and play an essential role in addressing the growing demand for renewable energy. This project underscores the importance of export finance in helping our clients grow their operations globally and facilitating their journey to net zero.

    Yoshi Ichikawa, Head of Structured Export Finance for Europe, Standard Chartered, said:  

    We are proud to build on our previous financing provided in November 2023, to support SeAH Group’s additional investment and enhancement of the UK supply chain in the wind sector. It is an example of the important role we play in helping our clients and sectors to make credible progress on their net zero ambitions, while supporting economic development across our markets.

    SeAH Wind UK, a subsidiary of South Korean steel company SeAH Steel Holding, announced its decision to invest and broke ground at Teesworks Freeport in 2022.  

    The ongoing construction has already created major contracts for the UK supply chain in manufacturing, construction and logistics, including a £100 million contract for British Steel. 

    UKEF’s support was provided under the Export Development Guarantee (EDG) product, which is available for overseas companies investing in new UK exporting opportunities and has also secured a major investment into Welsh paper manufacturing at Shotton Mill, Deeside.

    Notes to editors

    • UKEF’s Export Development Guarantee (EDG) helps companies who export from or plan to export from the UK access high-value loan facilities for general working capital or capital expenditure purposes. 

    • Of the new financing, UKEF guaranteed over £157 million whilst K-Sure guaranteed over £67 million.  

    • This follows previous financing worth £367 million in 2023, of which £257 million was guaranteed by UKEF and £110 million by K-Sure.

    Contact

    Media enquiries:

    Updates to this page

    Published 11 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Island Voices lecture series explores the theme of ‘Home’

    Source: Northern Ireland – City of Derry

    Island Voices lecture series explores the theme of ‘Home’

    11 October 2024

    A series of literary lunchtime lectures are currently running in the Tower Museum as part of Derry City and Strabane District Council’s Island Voices programme.

    This year the lectures will explore the theme of ‘home’ in the work of local writers from the English, Irish and Ulster-Scots traditions.

    Island Voices features talks by Belfast-born Réaltán Ní Leannáin, Maureen Boyle from Sion Mills, and Alan Millar from the Laggan Valley in East Donegal, the series will explore identity and belonging within the context of our shared languages of English, Irish and Ulster-Scots.

    Irish Language writer Réaltán Ní Leannáin opened the series with a lecture entitled ‘From Burgu to Belfast’.

    The next lecture on Thursday, 24 October will feature Sion Mills writer Maureen Boyle speaking about ‘Writing ‘Strabane’ – Blessing a Town Into Poetry’.

    In 2018 Maureen was commissioned by Radio 4 to write a poem on the town her family came from for a series called ‘Conversations on a Bench’.  In this talk, Maureen will explore the process of the poem’s creation, the motivation to write it, the research involved and the process of translating research into poetry.

    The final lecture in the series features Alan Millar with his talk ‘Hame an awa – Scots wurds in Irish toonlands’. It will take place on Thursday, 28 November.

    Born and reared in the Laggan of East Donegal, Alan Millar will explore the interconnections of locality and language running through his own work, using as his touchstone the glossary and subscribers list of Newton-Cunningham poet George Dugall’s ‘The Northern Cottage’, published exactly 200 years ago this year. The glossary, filled with Ulster-Scots dialect still spoken today, is layered through with many words now lost to the Laggan, but still alive in other places, creating a sense of shared Scots language, running past into present, between Fintown and the Shetlands.

    Encouraging people to attend the series of lectures Cllr Lilian Seenoi Barr, Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council said: “Home means something different to each individual. It doesn’t always have to be a place, home can be a feeling in your heart or even a memory of a time when you felt safe.  Home is so important to us all and I would encourage everyone to go along to these lectures to see how central the theme is to all the voices which call our island home.”

    Pól Ó Frighil, from Derry City and Strabane District Council’s Languages Team, which organises the event, added: “We are delighted to have these three incredible writers joining us for Island Voices this year. The backgrounds and life experiences of Réaltán, Maureen and Alan mean they each have a unique concept of ‘home’ and it will be wonderful to see how this has translated into their works.

    “We hope that our programme of lectures adds to the greater public understanding of the unique literary traditions of English, Irish and Ulster-Scots.” 

    All talks in the series are free but booking is essential. Each one will begin at 1pm and there are light refreshments available from 12.30pm. To book your place please contact the Tower Museum, T: (028) 7137 2411 or email [email protected] 

    Further information: Pól Ó Frighil, Languages Team, Derry City and Strabane District Council, [email protected]

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Paddy Tyre Tribute Concert Planned for the Guildhall

    Source: Northern Ireland – City of Derry

    Paddy Tyre Tribute Concert Planned for the Guildhall

    11 October 2024

    The life and music of Derry man Paddy Tyre will be celebrated at a special concert in the Guildhall on December 5th.

    Paddy, well-known throughout the City and District, passed away suddenly on July 8th, just hours after he and his family met with the Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Councillor Lilian Seenoi Barr. The family had requested the meeting to seek the mayor’s support for a charity walk organised by Paddy’s daughters, Rosin Hamill, Aoife Tyre and granddaughter Kirstie Hamill, to raise funds for the Foyle Down Syndrome Trust. Rosin and Aoife’s children, Zara and Tiernan, were both born with Down Syndrome just 11 days apart 

    Tragedy struck after their visit with the mayor, as Paddy passed away suddenly that evening. In honour of Paddy’s memory, Mayor Barr committed to hosting a concert – it is planned for the day before Paddy would have celebrated his 76th birthday.

    Reflecting on the day, Mayor Barr said: “Paddy was such a warm, engaging man, and we shared a wonderful afternoon in the Mayor’s Parlour. He spoke with so much love for his family and music. We even laughed about his ‘famous’ bacon and egg pub breakfast, which he promised to make for me. His passing that same evening was such a shock, and my heart broke for his family. Organising this concert to honour Paddy feels like a fitting way to remember someone who brought so much joy through music.”

    Helping to organise the concert on behalf of the Tyre family is Paddy’s daughter Rosin, she explained: “We were brought up with music, it was such an integral part of our family and our daily lives, so this concert is a very fitting way to remember our daddy. After Zara and Tiernan were born music became even more important to us as we have seen the effect music has on them. It has helped their social skills, their language skills, their mobility… everything really. Zara was her Granda’s princess, and he waited patiently on her each day to play one of her many favourite nursery rhymes that was always jazzed up using a bass guitar, we had nursery rhyme time like no other. Tiernan loved to watch his Granda play the guitar and has now started to play himself, following in his Granda’s footsteps. With the proceeds from this concert going to charity this is their Granda’s last way of supporting the charity that has and will continue to support both his grandchildren. We are obviously all dealing with losing our dad so suddenly, but planning this concert is really helping us. Music was so important to daddy, and we are getting such strength from it now.” 

    Paddy’s wife Evelyn added: “Paddy’s love for music has always been there, and I remember buying him his first guitar in 1970 from local music shop Deery’s. The first band he played in was The Saints, and music has always been a massive part of our marriage, family and home.” 

    In his heyday Paddy Tyre was a member of the Derry Showband scene and even performed in a play that was written about the Showbands in the Rialto, after this he made his living gigging and playing in venues all around the country. As he settled into retirement it was the Strabane-based Music to Your Ears Group where Paddy found a new home. Made up of men who love to sing and perform together, Paddy found a camaraderie which he cherished. He performed regularly with the group bringing back to life many of the tunes he had enjoyed in his showband days. 

    Fittingly, it is now the Music to Your Ears Group who will lead this tribute to Paddy. Led by Eamon Lynch and Mickey Joe Harte the group will perform on the Guildhall stage and will also provide the backing for other musicians on the night. Performers confirmed so far include many who Paddy played with over the years including, Legacy, Jim McDermott, Damian McAdams, Martin McColgan and Son, along with a special performance from the Foyle Down Syndrome Group. 

    Paddy’s children will also be performing on the night in a very personal tribute to their dad. There will also be pre-recorded performances from young Zara and Tiernan. 

    Rosin added, “We had so much support already, from the musicians and bands which Daddy worked with over the years and have agreed to perform on the night, and from local people already asking where they can get tickets. 

    “All proceeds from the concert will be split between the Foyle Down Syndrome Group and the Mayor’s charity – The Bud Club. My mum Evelyn, and all of us as a family, are very grateful to the mayor for giving us the opportunity to host an event like this in our daddy’s memory, we hope people come along to support the charities and enjoy the music.” 

    Tickets are £10 and are available from Foyle Down Syndrome Trust, Thrift Charity Shop in Northside Shopping Centre, from any family member or by contacting [email protected].

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Tourism Conference inspires collaboration and growth

    Source: Northern Ireland City of Armagh

    Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council held its annual 2024 Tourism Conference on Thursday 10th October at the Game of Thrones Studio Tour in Banbridge, bringing together local businesses and industry leaders to highlight local strengths, network and discuss the latest trends and innovations for the sector.

    The conference programme featured a diverse line up of speakers including John McGrillen, Chief Executive, Tourism NI, Helen McGorman, Head of Trade Engagement, Tourism Ireland, Nicola Lyons, Head of Production, Screen NI and Leann Duffy, Head of Marketing and Sales, Game of Thrones Studio Tour.

    Opening the 2024 Tourism Conference, Chair of ABC’s Economic Development & Regeneration Committee Alderman Paul Greenfield said,

    “I am delighted to welcome local businesses from across the Borough to learn about the latest developments and innovations from Industry leaders and hear from those passionate about the future of the sector.

    Our local tourism and hospitality stakeholders are vital in the growth and sustainability of the sector. We hope today inspires continued collaborative working between businesses as well as with Council for the shared goal of a thriving tourism destination.”

    With a focus on the power of continued collaboration, the conference provided an opportunity for local tourism and hospitality providers to meet face to face, share information and learn from industry experts on the opportunities available from sector organisations such as Tourism Northern Ireland and Tourism Ireland and also as part of the developing Screen Industry in Northern Ireland.

    Sustainability was a key theme for this year’s conference, highlighting the importance of becoming leaner and greener, consumer trends around sustainable travel and what that means for businesses on the ground. Discussions explored new opportunities in the sector, as well as ways in which tourism can continue to evolve and adapt in the face of challenges.

    ABC Council is committed to drive tourism for the borough by providing memorable and unique visitor experiences, particular welcome was extended to the Borough’s new Experience Development Programme participants, some of whom are new to the Tourism sector and in attendance. It is through these initiatives ABC Council continues to showcase its culture and stories, celebrating local food and orchard produce and delivering world class signature events to a domestic, national and international audience.

    The Tourism Conference 2024 was compered by former broadcaster and journalist Karen Patterson.

    The Council provides ongoing support to local tourism and hospitality providers through the Tourism, Arts and Culture Department. For more information and advice contact:

    *protected email*

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: BBC belatedly acknowledges they shouldn’t have claimed Jim Allister stole North Antrim Westminster seat

    Source: Traditional Unionist Voice – Northern Ireland

    Statement by TUV leader Jim Allister:

    “Later today the BBC will belatedly acknowledge on one of its own platforms for the first time that they should not have claimed that I had “stolen” the North Antrim Westminster seat.

    “This was something TUV drew to the attention of BBC Northern Ireland immediately after the broadcast of the offending news bulletin back in July and we did receive a private acknowledgment that this should not have happened. Now, however, the BBC have conceded that they need to acknowledge that what they said was wrong on one of their own platforms. I do not accept the BBC’s feeble contention that because we passed the private acknowledgement of an error to the News Letter they could decide not to publish anything on their own corrections and clarifications page before now. The fact that they will publish a correction later today is a tacit admission on their part that they knew such an approach could not be defended had TUV escalated our complaint to OfCom.”

    Note to editors

    The text which will appear on the BBC’s Corrections and Clarifications page later today reads as follows:

    News (10am), Radio Ulster, 5 July 2024

    Complaint

    In the course of correspondence about BBC Northern Ireland’s coverage of Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV) during the general election campaign and subsequently, a representative of the party complained about a report in this bulletin which said “in the big shock of the night, the Paisley stronghold of North Antrim was stolen by the TUV leader Jim Allister”, on the basis that the word “stolen” was inappropriate and (in comparison with the neutral language used in the same report about seats gained by other parties) indicative of bias. The ECU considered the complaint in the light of the BBC’s editorial standards of accuracy and impartiality.

    Outcome

    On the day after receiving the complaint Kevin Kelly, BBC Northern Ireland’s Head of News and Current Affairs replied:

    We accept that the word used in this instance was wrong. It was/is factually incorrect and has a meaning wholly other than that which was intended. We did not mean to imply that there was anything inappropriate about Jim Allister MP’s election to Westminster, but were seeking to convey something of its significance in news and other terms.

    In the absence of anything in this bulletin or other items of post-election coverage which suggested impropriety in connection with the TUV’s victory in North Antrim, the ECU agreed with Mr Kelly that the word in question should be understood as an attempt to reinforce the surprising nature of the result rather than an indication of bias. It also agreed, however, that its use had been inappropriate and, in this context, out of keeping with the BBC’s standards of accuracy. While the ECU would normally expect the BBC to make a public acknowledgement of a misstep of this kind, it noted that the contents of Mr Kelly’s letter had been published in the Belfast News Letter while the matter was still under consideration by the management of BBC Northern Ireland. In the particular circumstances the ECU considered that the promptness of Mr Kelly’s private acknowledgement taken together with the circulation it had been given as a result of publication in the Belfast News Letter sufficed to resolve the issue of accuracy.

    Resolved

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  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Statement from the Secretary of State on Growth Deals

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    The statement follows the Secretary of State’s meeting with Council representatives

    Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Hilary Benn with the various Council representatives at today’s City Deal meeting.

    Speaking after a meeting in Dungannon with representatives from local councils regarding the Mid South West and Causeway Coast and Glens Growth Deals, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Hilary Benn MP, said:

    I am grateful to the council officials for the constructive discussions on the Mid South West and Causeway Coast and Glens Growth Deals and for highlighting their views on the current situation.

    Since being appointed as the Secretary of State, I have witnessed the passion, skills and determination of businesses wanting to make Northern Ireland a more prosperous place.

    Both the Mid South West and Causeway Coast and Glens Growth Deals are crucial to promoting economic growth. Everyone in Northern Ireland understands that. 

    However, the Government are facing a £22 billion black hole in the public finances that we have inherited from the last Government, and we have to review existing commitments in the run-up to the Budget on the 30th October.

    In the meantime I will endeavour to work closely with Deal partners, and the Northern Ireland Executive, on the City and Growth Deals programme and to ensure Northern Ireland has the tools needed to drive growth.

    Updates to this page

    Published 10 October 2024

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  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: New appointments to board of Infected Blood Compensation Authority

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Six non-executive directors with experience in healthcare, finance and local government have been appointed to the board of the Infected Blood Compensation Authority.

    The government has made a selection of important appointments to the board of the Infected Blood Compensation Authority (IBCA) today.

    Six non-executive directors (NEDs) have been appointed to the board of IBCA, an independent authority which will deliver compensation to victims of infected blood.

    Three NEDs have been appointed by the Minister for the Cabinet Office, Nick Thomas-Symonds, and three have been appointed by Interim Chair of IBCA, Sir Robert Francis KC.

    So far, the government has paid over £1 billion in compensation to victims of infected blood, and remains committed to start delivering final compensation payments by the end of the year.

    The government has already established a comprehensive compensation scheme in law, which was based on recommendations from the Infected Blood Inquiry and Sir Robert Francis KC.

    These appointments meet the requirements of the Victims and Prisoners Act 2024, which states that IBCA is to consist of non-executive members among other roles.

    The six NEDs are:

    • Russell Frith, Chair of IBCA Audit & Risk Committee, Former Assistant Auditor General of Audit Scotland
    • Deborah Harris-Ugbomah, Founder and President of Lean In London; with extensive experience in risk, assurance and corporate compliance in financial services and the public sector
    • Paula Sussex, Chief Executive Officer, OneID and former CEO, Student Loans Company
    • Gillian Fairfield, Chair of the Disclosure and Barring Service
    • Sir Rob Behrens, outgoing Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman in the UK
    • Helen Parker, former Deputy CEO of WHICH? and a committee member of HealthWatch England

    In their roles, they will provide constructive challenge to the IBCA board, which will support IBCA’s decision making as it delivers compensation to the community.

    Minister for the Cabinet Office, Nick Thomas-Symonds, said:

    I am delighted to welcome six new non-executive directors to join the board of the Infected Blood Compensation Authority.

    Their appointments are another important step in establishing IBCA and preparing to deliver compensation which too many people have waited too long to receive.

    This government is doing everything possible to deliver compensation quickly, and in many cases deliver life-changing sums to people infected and affected by this scandal.

    Interim Chair of the IBCA, Sir Robert Francis KC, said:

    At the Infected Blood Compensation Authority, we are fully committed to building an organisation that delivers compensation to those impacted by contaminated blood and blood products.

    We recognise that those entitled to compensation have already waited far too long, and we are building the Authority at speed to ensure the timely and efficient delivery of this crucial service.

    To achieve this, it is vital that we have the right people working together within IBCA. Our newly appointed non-executive directors bring a wealth of experience, knowledge, and expertise that will guide us as we develop an organisation grounded in candour, compassion, and transparency.

    Each of our non-executive directors brings unique skills and insights from diverse industries and disciplines, ensuring that IBCA is well-equipped to deliver the best possible service to the community we serve.

    Ends

    Updates to this page

    Published 10 October 2024

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  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Council keep focus on sunbed premises with test purchasing

    Source: Northern Ireland City of Armagh

    Environmental Health staff from Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council have welcomed the steps taken by local businesses to stop persons aged under 18 from using sunbeds at their premises.

    Over recent months, council staff carried out test purchases in ten businesses which provide sunbeds and found one sale to a person aged under 18.

    It is illegal for under-18s to use a sunbed on commercial premises, and it is the responsibility of the local council to enforce these laws.

    A spokesperson for ABC Council said their Environmental Health staff remain committed to enforcing the legislation as well as highlighting the potential health risks of tanning beds, to both young people and parents.

    “The risks of using sunbeds are very real and very serious. Using a sunbed, even once at any stage during your life increases your risk of developing melanoma by 20% compared to someone who has never used a sunbed. And this risk increases by 1.8% with each additional time you use a sunbed,” said the council spokesperson.

    “We remain committed to the inspection of sunbed premises in our borough and welcome the fact that the vast majority of our local businesses are compliant, but we don’t want to see any sales at all to people aged under 18 and we will continue to work towards that.

    “Businesses that don’t follow the law on sunbeds are issued with a fixed penalty notice of £250 and non-payment can result in a court case, and if convicted, this can result in a fine up to £5,000.”

    For further information on sunbed safety legislation – please visit http://www.armaghbanbridgecraigavon.gov.uk/business/sunbed-safety/ If you have any concerns about a sunbed business in your area, please contact the Environmental Health Department at the Council on 0330 056 1011.

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  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Pupils fair-tricket wi winning Scots Bairns Book o the Year

    Source: Scotland – City of Aberdeen

    A book written in Doric by pupils at Riverbank School about a naughty herring gull has won Scots Bairns Book o the Year at the Scots Language Awards.

    ‘Summer e Magic Scurry’ was written by the Primary 5F class at the school with the book launch held on 28 March 2024.

    The book tells the story of a herring gull that does all the things a ‘scurry’ – the Doric word for a gull – usually does, but then, using magic, takes the pupils on an adventure to various places. It includes a facts section, in which the scurry answers questions asked by the children, such as “Why don’t they perch on trees?” and “Do gulls pee?!”

    The pupils were able to create their Doric book thanks to Aberdeen City Council’s Creative Fund programme, with support from writer Jackie Ross and illustrator Aaron Gale from Doric Books.  The children learned all about gulls from members of the Zoology Department at the University of Aberdeen.

    Councillor Martin Greig, the Convener of Aberdeen City Council’s Education and Children’s Services Committee, said: “I am delighted that the hard work and enthusiasm of the Primary 5F pupils at Riverbank School has been recognised with this national award.  Working together as a team to create the book was a positive experience for the pupils. The project offered some great opportunities to learn about writing and language. The young people found out more about the animals, the environment and local history.

    “I am especially grateful for the amazing support and help given to the young people in this project. The Council’s Creative Fund has clearly been put to good use. The award is richly deserved.”

    Councillor Jessica Mennie, Vice-Convener, of the Education and Children’s Services Committee, said: “To win first place in the Best Children’s Book category at the Scots Language Awards is fantastic. Many congratulations to all the pupils involved in writing the book and to everyone who supported them.”   

    Carol Baxter, Depute Head Teacher, Riverbank School, said: “This project was, truly, cross-curricular. From literacy to numeracy – the writing of the story to the costings of things, from art to printing – the illustrating of the book to how the book was put together and published.

    “Grace Farquharson, the class teacher, coordinated the project and the whole class participated in all of the activities.  Everyone at Riverbank School is so proud of their award-winning achievement.”

    Jackie Ross, Co-Director, Doric Books, said: “Doric Books is fair trickit at Summer e Magic Scurry won best bairns’ book. We really enjoyed working with P5F and are so pleased that the class’s hard work has been recognised through this award. It’s a really fun wee book.”

    The book is £10 and is currently available to purchase directly from Riverbank School, or online at  https://doricbooks.com and from The Owl at Number Two, 4 Beechgrove Terrace, Rosemount, Aberdeen.

    The award for Scots Bairns Book o the Year, is sponsored by the Scottish Government.

    The Scots Language Awards event was held in Cumnock Town Hall on Saturday 14 September 2024. 

    Photo (from Left to Right): Alistair Heather, Scots Language activist and columnist, presented the Scots Bairns Book o the Year award to Jackie Ross, Co-Director, Doric Books; and Grace Farquharson (holding the award), Class Teacher, Riverbank School.   

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  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Construction starts on new healthcare facility for British Army at Leuchars Station

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    A ceremony in Fife marked the start of construction for a new medical and dental centre at Leuchars Station.

    Representatives from the British Army, Graham Building North and Defence Medical Services at the groundbreaking event. Copyright: Graham Building North.

    A ceremony has been held to mark the start of construction for a new medical and dental centre at Leuchars Station in Fife.

    The construction contract, worth nearly £22 million, was awarded by the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) to Graham last year. 

    The new building will replace the aging current medical and dental centre, which was built in 1936. Once the replacement facility is complete, medical personnel and patients will transition over to the new medical and dental centre and Graham will demolish the old building.

    Once complete, the new facility will be of sufficient size to cater for the increasing number of personnel forecast to be based at the station in the coming years, as it is to become the Army’s hub in Scotland. Around 3,700 personnel at the British Army establishment and their dependents will benefit from the new building, which will house physical rehabilitation and mental health facilities as well as GP and dental services.

    The building has been carefully designed to be as sustainable as possible, including through thermal efficiency, solar panels, air source heat pumps and provision of four electric vehicle charging stations. Building materials have been selected not only on the basis of suitability but also to reduce carbon impact on the environment. It is hoped that the building can be an example of sustainability in construction of future MOD medical and dental centres.

    Shaun Purdy, DIO’s Project Manager, said: 

    While the current medical and dental centre has hosted great medical care, it is important that we continually strive to improve and modernise. This new, larger facility will ensure that personnel and their families continue to receive the best possible care in the future in a modern clinical practice.

    Working closely with Defence Medical Services, UK Strategic Command and partners it was agreed that a brand-new building is by far the best solution and will provide the sort of high-quality medical and dental care our personnel deserve. 

    It will provide a modern building suited not only for patients, but also for our dedicated professional medical staff.

    Major TB Gray, Station Quartermaster, said: 

    It has been 10 years since the Army took ownership of Leuchars Station from the RAF and the troops returned from Germany to make Fife their permanent home. The new healthcare facility is one of many ongoing and planned multi-million-pound projects which will see Leuchars transform from an ageing RAF site into the largest Army Garrison in Scotland. 

    Our medical provision required a full new build, which when finished will support the Leuchars service community and dependents alike. This shows that the MOD is serious in the development of Leuchars into a modern Garrison with state-of-the-art facilities to support its operational capability.

    Surgeon Commodore Andy Nelstrop, Cdr Defence Primary Healthcare, said: 

    Delivering expert healthcare to our Armed Forces and ensuring that they are able to see a medical professional quickly is a priority for all those who work within Defence Primary Healthcare. 

    It is fundamental that all our medical personnel and patients can work and be treated in a modern environment and have access to the latest equipment and resources, which is why the construction of this new centre is so important. 

    It is just one part of our ongoing programme to ensure everyone in our military receives the primary healthcare they deserve, and I am delighted that all those based at Leuchars will soon be able to benefit from this fantastic facility.

    Chris MacLeod, Graham Building North’s Regional Director, said:

    We are delighted to be continuing our longstanding relationship with Defence Infrastructure Organisation to help deliver new and improved health and wellbeing facilities for the military personnel and their families at Leuchars.

    Updates to this page

    Published 10 October 2024

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  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Scottish Secretary pledges to take action on poverty

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Ian Murray welcomes recommendations by Joseph Rowntree Foundation and vows to work with Scottish Government to tackle associated issues and break down barriers

    Scottish Secretary Ian Murray spoke at the launch of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation’s (JRF) annual report into poverty in Scotland this week [7 October].

    The report, summarised here, found that one million people in Scotland are living in poverty and that one in four of them are children. Recommendations were made to overhaul the social security system to tackle the problem and, in particular, for the UK and Scottish Governments to work together to make the process smoother in terms of reserved and devolved policy areas.

    An excerpt follows from the remarks made by the Scottish Secretary at the event: 

    I want to outline some of the steps that the new UK Government is taking to reduce poverty in Scotland and across the whole of the UK.

    We are committed to working together with the Scottish Government, and to reset the relationship between our two governments. Because, as this latest report highlights, it is vital that we can deliver on behalf of the people of Scotland.

    I’ve spent a lot of time with organisations such as Poverty Alliance to understand fully the complexities of what’s happening. 

    Having one million people in poverty – a quarter of those children – is really sobering. But I think the most sobering thing is that none of us are surprised, and that really should be the thing that we need to tackle in terms of policy.

    We are only 95 days into this new government and we’ve already done a lot of engagement to make sure we can develop these policies, whether it be in social security or regarding the underlying parts of poverty. 

    With the Budget coming up on 30 October, the Chancellor has been clear on two things. One is the economic inheritance that we’ve got to try and deal with and that those with the broadest shoulders will carry the majority of what needs to be done to grow the economy for all parts of our country.

    Reducing poverty across all sections of society, particularly child poverty, is in our DNA. We did it before. Unfortunately, we’re going to have to do it again. 

    We will be publishing our Employment Rights Bill this week to fundamentally transform work and pay. It will ban exploitative zero-hour contracts, outlaw fire and rehire and will make sure that the National Minimum Wage becomes a genuine living wage.

    It’s still sobering that two-thirds of children in poverty are in households where one or both adults are working full time, and that means that there’s a big problem with pay. We hope that our New Deal for Working People will start to resolve some of those issues.

    I think it’s also important to highlight our Universal Credit review, which will look at everything from the two-child cap to housing allowances.

    We’ve also launched our Child Poverty Task Force, chaired jointly by the Secretaries of State for Education and the Department of Work and Pensions. It looks at all the other big issues that are around in terms of poverty.

    Yes, it’s about the social security system, Universal Credit, but it’s also about housing, educational attainment, health inequalities, pay in the workplace, progression and skills. It’s about those underlying causes of poverty that are inherent in our society that we need to find a way to resolve once and for all.

    Having grown up on a council estate, I know that having that security of tenure of a house was the bedrock in which the family was built, and without that it’s difficult to see how you can get yourself out of poverty.

    Housing is devolved, but both governments are working very closely together to make sure that we can resolve the housing emergency that’s been declared across a lot of our local authorities. 

    We’ve made a good start over the last 95 days. There will be bumps in the road, because these are fundamental challenges, but the whole culture of the new government is to try and resolve these issues. 

    We want to make sure the system can work better, and joint working is really important in this area. There’s no reason why Social Security Scotland and the DWP can’t work jointly in terms of the delivery of social security, to make sure that we get the best out of both systems for the benefit of everyone who needs to access that system. 

    Regarding the low update of benefits by ethnic minorities, I think that’s a huge challenge for us. Not just finding those individuals and families, but actually being able to engage with them and get them what they deserve to be claiming. That’s a huge battle for us all to try to work together and resolve.

    We’ve got four big priorities as a new government and as a Scotland Office. Growth is the number one priority, but that also feeds into our green agenda, which is our second priority. Our third one is Brand Scotland to try and increase our exports, to improve our businesses and create more jobs. And the fourth one, which attached the first three, is the eradication of poverty.

    That’s something that myself and Ministerial colleague Kirsty McNeill are fundamentally committed to doing. We can only do that by all of us – devolved governments, the UK Government and organisations like JRF working together. We must find ways we can not only make the system better, but make sure that those who require access to the system, get access to that system and get the funds and support they deserve.

    There’s a huge amount of work to be done and this report gives us that very sobering starting point.

    Updates to this page

    Published 10 October 2024

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  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Scottish Government Accounts 2023-24

    Source: Scottish Government

    Consolidated accounts given unqualified audit opinion.

    The Scottish Government accounts for the last financial year have been given an unqualified audit opinion. 

    In 2023-24 Ministers were required to make tough choices to navigate the “most challenging financial situation since devolution”.

    The Scottish Government’s accounts record total spend of £53,980 million. An underspend of £277 million – around 0.5% of the overall budget – has been carried over in full to be spent in 2024-25.

    Finance Secretary Shona Robison said:

    “Since this government took office, we have consistently managed our fixed budget responsibly and I am pleased the annual accounts have been given an unqualified audit opinion for every one of those years.

    “The last financial year was among the most challenging since devolution, and we have responded to higher inflation and cost of living pressures by making tough decisions to protect the most vulnerable in society.

    “The Scottish Government cannot overspend on its Budget, and in 2023-24 we left a small underspend to ensure we could manage any unexpected funding pressures. Every penny of this has been allocated for spending in 2024-25.

    “We will continue to work to ensure the sustainability of Scotland’s finances as we prioritise our spending towards eradicating child poverty, growing the economy, tackling the climate emergency and improving Scotland’s public services.”

    Background

    The Scottish Government Consolidated Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2024 – gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

    The Public Finance Minister recently updated Parliament on the Scottish Government’s ten-year programme of reform to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of our public services, and prioritise prevention. Together this will improve outcomes, promote equality and ensure fiscal sustainability.

    Letter from the Minister for Public Finance to the Convener of 23 September 2024 (parliament.scot)

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  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Deputy Prime Minister launches first-ever Mayoral Council

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    First-ever Mayoral Council meeting held in Newcastle-upon-Tyne to discuss the future of devolution

    Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner today (October 10) chaired the first-ever Mayoral Council – hosted in the North East – to discuss how best to shift power away from Westminster and into communities. 

    Regional mayors were invited to the roundtable at The Common Room in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, to share their views on the development of the upcoming English Devolution White Paper. This will set out the government’s plans to widen devolution to more areas and deepen the powers of existing mayors and their combined authorities, ensuring they have the tools needed to boost economic growth. 

    The Deputy Prime Minister established the Mayoral Council to strengthen the relationships between central government and the mayors, ensuring those with skin in the game are involved in discussions concerning devolution and the White Paper has the fingerprints of local people on it. 

    Three days ahead of the International Investment Summit, the first Mayoral Council meeting will focus on investment and growth, with plans underway to devolve a range of powers across areas like planning, skills, transport, and employment support. This is a key moment to ensure everyone is collectively playing their part to maximise the opportunity the Summit presents for the whole of the UK.   

    Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner said:

    It’s been fantastic to kick-off the first Mayoral Council today, ensuring our mayors have a proper seat at the table as we shape the future of English devolution.

    We want to learn from those who are already seeing the game-changing benefits of devolution as we work to shift more power away from Westminster and back into our communities, where it belongs.

    The Council will meet every quarter and will allow for increased partnership working, helping to further bring regional insight to national policy, and ensure everyone is aligned with the government’s mission to boost economic growth.

    Ministers across government will also be invited to future sessions to strengthen that relationship between the government and mayors, who have previously been asked to develop ambitious long-term Local Growth Plans focused on the key growth priorities for their region that will support shared national growth and deliver the national industrial strategy. These plans will be focused on the biggest opportunities and most challenging constraints to growth, and the government will work hand-in-hand with the mayors to take them forward. 

    The meeting will help to shape the White Paper, which will set out a presumption in favour of devolution with an enhanced devolution framework, giving local leaders the tools they need to deliver for their communities, alongside stronger governance structures and clearer accountability.

    The meeting comes ahead of the Council of the Nations and Regions in Scotland, which will see the Prime Minister bring together First Ministers, Northern Ireland’s First Minister and deputy First Minister and regional Mayors from across England, as the UK Government forges new partnerships, resets relationships and seizes the opportunity to secure long term investment with the aim of boosting growth and living standards in every part of the UK.

    Updates to this page

    Published 10 October 2024

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  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Sustainable action to tackle rising prison population

    Source: Scottish Government

    Emergency legislation to be introduced.

    Emergency legislation will be introduced to Parliament to contribute to the sustainable long-term management of Scotland’s prison population, Justice Secretary Angela Constance told MSPs.

    The Bill, to be introduced in November, will propose a change to the release point for short-term prisoners serving sentences of less than four years. At present they are released at the halfway point of their sentence. Under these new proposals they will be released after serving 40% of their sentence, with prisoners serving sentences for domestic abuse or sexual offences excluded from the changes.

    The Justice Secretary said the wellbeing of victims and the safety of communities will be a priority when implementing the measures, and the Scottish Government will engage directly with victims organisations.

    The proposals, scheduled to come into effect from February next year, would apply to both those currently in prison and those sentenced in future. If backed by Parliament, it is estimated the changes could result in a sustained reduction to the prison population of between 260 and 390.

    The proposals in the legislation would also give Ministers powers to change the point of release under licence conditions for long-term prisoners serving sentences of four years or more. This follows the recent public consultation on long-term prisoner release, which highlighted various areas requiring more in-depth consideration with partners.

    While not currently proposed, contingency planning for the emergency early release of short-term prisoners is being undertaken, should it be needed to ensure the health and welfare of prison staff and prisoners during a continuing rise in the prison population.

    In her Parliamentary statement, Ms Constance underlined the importance of public safety and putting in place a sustainable long-term strategy to tackle the rising prison population.

    Speaking after delivering her statement, the Justice Secretary said:

    “I am prioritising actions that can deliver a sustained reduction to the prison population. Public safety remains paramount, which is why I am focusing on short-term prisoners only and with built-in exemptions.

    “I recognise the concerns that may arise from victims and their families and I am committed to working closely with victim support organisations on key issues.

    “The measures I have outlined are necessary to support prisons to continue to function effectively and I remain grateful to Scottish Prison Service staff for their continued resilience. We must ensure that we have a prison estate which houses those who pose a risk to the public and provides the full range of support needed for people to leave on a better path and never turn back.”

    These prison management measures follow yesterday’s announcement that victims of crime will receive improved support, advice and information under reforms to the Victim Notification Scheme that entitles victims or close relatives of homicide victims to certain information about the person responsible for the crime.

    Background

    Justice Secretary’s statement to parliament

    Latest prison population figure – 8,322 as of Thursday 10 October

    Long-term prisoner release consultation and analysis

    The arrangements announced in Parliament build on a range of other measures already taken to deal with the high prison population, including strengthening the availability of community-based sentences, which figures indicate can be more effective in reducing re-offending among those who have committed less serious offences.

    These measures include:

    • increased Scottish Government funding for community justice, up by £14 million in 2024-25, to £148 million in total
    • to address high numbers of individuals in prison on remand, for example ahead of trial or pre-sentence, introducing electronically-monitored bail, with the expansion of bail supervision to all areas. Usage of bail supervision is now at record levels
    • implementing measures in early July 2024 to enable courts to take into account time spent on electronically-monitored bail when sentencing, as Parliament legislated for in the Bail and Release from Custody (Scotland) Act 2023

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  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Christmas festivities set to return

    Source: Scotland – City of Aberdeen

    Aberdeen is set to sparkle over the festive period as a new light trail is added to the Christmas programme later this year. 

    Residents and visitors will be able to enjoy the return of traditional festive favourites including the Christmas Parade, Aberdeen Christmas Village including the Curated in the Quad Christmas Market, and festive lighting in Union Terrace Gardens. 

    The events line-up includes: 

    • Aberdeen Christmas Village – Thursday 14 November to Tuesday 31 December 2024

    • Christmas Light-up Trail – Thursday 14 November to Tuesday 31 December 2024

    • Curated in the Quad Christmas Market at Marischal College – Weekends only (Friday to Sunday) from 15 November to 22 December 2024

    • Aberdeen Christmas Parade and Charlie House Santa Run – Sunday 17 November 2024 

    • Nativity Scene – Monday 2 December 2024 to Sunday 5 January 2025 (Blessing Event: 2 December) 

    • Carol Concerts – Saturday 14 December, David Welch Winter Gardens, Duthie Park

    Aberdeen Lord Provost, Dr David Cameron said: “The festive events that will be taking place across the city are always so well received and I enjoy seeing all ages enjoying what the city has to offer. 

    “Each year the events taking place offer something for everyone and it is always great to see families out enjoying the festivities. It also encourages more people to come into the city centre and visit local businesses.”

    The new Christmas Light-up Trail will see 12 light features located across the city centre, with families able to discover them all while taking some fabulous Christmas selfies.

    The Aberdeen Christmas Parade will feature a new route this year due to closures on Union Street Central. The Parade will begin as normal at Albyn Place and turn onto Union Terrace before finishing at His Majesty’s Theatre. 

    Ian Littlewood, Codona’s Operations Director, said: ‘We are really excited about the event this year. The new layout and huge number of extra stalls at the Curated in the Quad Christmas Market is going to look spectacular’. 

    Adrian Watson, chief executive of Aberdeen Inspired, said: “As the song says, Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year – and Aberdeen’s Christmas celebrations are among the most wonderful in the country. After all, last year’s Aberdeen Christmas Village was ranked the fifth best in the UK. 

    “I have no doubt this year’s will be just as sparkling, thrilling and magical – all the elements that make Christmas in Aberdeen so special. Adding to that will be the unique Curated In The Quad festive market – 50% bigger than last year – that will showcase the finest producers and creatives in the north-east, raise money for the vital work of Charlie House, all while bringing thousands of people into the city centre to boost local shops, bars, restaurants and businesses.” 

    All events are subject to planning and licensing permission. Full details of the Christmas in Aberdeen events will be announced shortly via our website. 

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  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Thousands of pupils receive support to boost school attendance

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Government makes significant expansion to size of attendance mentoring to get thousands more persistently absent pupils back in school

    Thousands more pupils will benefit from the support of a specialist attendance mentor as the government ramps up work to tackle the epidemic of school absence. 

    Persistent absence across the country has increased since the pandemic, with around one in five pupils across the country currently missing 10% or more of school.

    Backed by £15 million, the government will expand the investment and reach of attendance mentoring to reach 10,000 more children and cover an additional 10 areas with some of the worst attendance rates across the country. Nottingham, Ipswich and Blackpool are among the new areas that will benefit from the expansion.

    The original programme, which has been running since 2022 in five pilot areas, sees attendance mentors provide one to one support to persistently absent pupils including those with SEND or mental ill health to break down the barriers to attendance, getting them back in the classroom, learning and thriving.

    The new mentoring programme builds on the government’s plan to deliver free breakfast clubs in every primary school, with delivery starting in up to 750 schools from as early as April 2025. This is one of many programmes that will make sure children start the day ready to learn to ensure they leave school with the best life chances.

    Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson said:

    Tackling the national epidemic of school absence is non-negotiable if we are to break down the barriers to opportunity so many young people face.

    For too long persistent absence has held back young people across the country and denied them the life chances that they deserve: this government is gripping this generational challenge facing our schools.

    This significant new investment will help thousands of children back into the classroom and marks an important step towards truly turning the tide on persistent absence, helping us drive high and rising standards in every school.

    Pupils on the programme will be supported over a 12 to 20 week period and will have a specific plan to help them, developed by the mentor.

    This might include helping pupils to manage anxious feelings, developing their confidence and self-esteem, establishing more consistent routines at home and supporting pupils to access support from wider services.

    The programme will be run by delivery partners, Etio, a specialist consultancy that is already running a number of successful education projects in England, including the National Centre for Excellence in the Teaching of Mathematics.

    UK Managing Director at Etio, Dr. Gordon Carver said:

    Etio has been awarded the Attendance Mentoring Pilot Expansion (AMPE) project by the DfE, which aims to improve attendance and produce a robust evidence base for what works. The project is expected to yield important sector insights for tackling one of the most pressing issues in education. Headed up by Etio Project Director, Laura Bell, and a brilliant team behind her, we are keen to begin this important work. 

    The pilot programme has already successfully supported pupils with a wide range of challenges including low-level anxiety, special educational needs, poor attitude to learning and complex family circumstances. The pilot evaluation showed improvements in individual pupils’ attendance, wellbeing, home routines, and engagement at school.

    To make sure the new contract also provides the opportunity to build a more robust evidence base around what works, the department has appointed the Youth Endowment Fund (YEF) to oversee a full external evaluation of the programme.

    Children’s Commissioner, Dame Rachel de Souza said:

    As Children’s Commissioner, children tell me all the time that they want to be in school, so this investment is a welcome step in addressing some of the barriers to attendance. These barriers are varied and complex: unmet mental health or SEND needs, family commitments such as being a young carer, or a disengagement from school that needs special care to resolve. 

    I remain deeply concerned by the rate of severe and persistent absences, which have not yet returned to pre-pandemic levels. Attendance mentors can be an important part of the solution, by being a trusted person working closely with children and their families. 

    I have seen through my role as Chair of Greater Manchester Local Attendance Action Alliance how shared objectives, learning from what works and focusing on meeting every child’s needs means we can see real progress. Attendance must be a shared and top priority. Only when we ensure every child can engage with education, will we truly break down the barriers to opportunity. 

    The programme builds on the government’s statutory Working together to improve school attendance guidance which takes a ‘support first’ approach to managing school absence, by working with children and their families to address their specific barriers to regular school attendance.

    The government is committed to tackling the root causes of absence including by providing access to specialist mental health professionals in every secondary school, introducing free breakfast clubs in every primary and ensuring earlier intervention in mainstream schools for pupils with special needs.

    Updates to this page

    Published 10 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: UK climate finance helps reduce more than 105 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions globally

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    The UK’s International Climate Finance (ICF) has helped 110 million people adapt to the effects of climate change.

    • Reduced or avoided over 105 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions, and avoided 750,000 hectares of ecosystem loss, according to official analysis released today.

    • Climate finance has helped to mobilise £8.4 billion of public and £7.8 billion of private finance for climate change.

    The UK’s International Climate Finance (ICF), helps developing countries limit and manage the impacts of climate change, mitigate further global warming from emissions and avert, minimise and address loss and damage.

    The results published today demonstrate the transformational impact of the UK’s International Climate Finance from 2011, ensuring developing countries have access to clean energy and innovative technology to drive the global transition to net zero, while supporting the most vulnerable countries who are experiencing the worst impacts of the climate crisis. Over the last 12 years, the UK has:

    • Supported over 82 million people with improved access to clean energy.
    • Avoided or reduced 105 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions, equivalent to taking all UK cars off the road for approximately 1 year and 7 months.
    • Avoided 750,000 hectares of ecosystem loss, the equivalent to more than 1 million football pitches.

    Through UK International Climate Finance, UK aid is investing in innovative solutions to tackle climate change, such as energy efficiency and forestry across the Global South to demonstrate their commercial viabilities:

    • The Climate Public Partnership (CP3) programme has been addressing the dual challenge of both climate challenge and access to clean, affordable energy by building a public-private partnership to unlock private investments. By investing in private equity funds, including £50 million to the Catalyst Fund, over a portfolio of 124 projects, UK aid successfully mobilised over £86 million of private finance to date.

    • In Madagascar and Indonesia, UK aid is helping to protect, restore and sustainably manage mangrove forests while reducing the poverty of the coastal communities that rely on them. By working together with national governments, local communities and the private sector, the Blue Forests Programme developed green business opportunities based on sustainable mangrove forestry and fisheries management and helped protect around 58,000 hectares of mangrove forests and delivered around 660,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide savings. 

    These results come as the UK has taken swift action at home to tackle the climate crisis and provide energy security for British families and businesses. The UK is first major economy to set a landmark goal in delivering clean power by 2030. In the space of a few months the Government has already:

    • Lifted the ban on onshore wind in England to roll out a new supply of clean and cheap power.
    • Delivered the most successful renewables energy auction to date, securing enough clean power to supply the equivalent of 11 million homes.
    • Introduced Great British Energy, creating the next generation of skilled jobs and protecting family from volatile fossil fuel prices that helped drive the cost of living crisis.
    • Consented unprecedented amounts of nationally significant solar – 2GW – more than the last 14 years combined.

    The UK will use that strong action at home to accelerate global action at the COP29 summit in Baku, raising ambition to agree a new financial target to support developing countries in tackling climate change.

    Minister for International Development, Anneliese Dodds said:

    International climate finance is at the heart of our climate and development objectives and our Mission to be a clean energy superpower.

    Our work – and the billions in private finance it has unlocked – will help the most vulnerable who are experiencing the worst impacts of the climate crisis and enable partners to meet the objectives of the Paris Agreement. 

    Our programmes are making a positive difference to people’s lives and helping to build a liveable planet for all, now and in the future.

    UK Climate Minister Kerry McCarthy said:

    The UK has played a key role in supporting the most vulnerable communities across the globe in tackling climate change while alleviating poverty and improving access to cleaner energy sources.

    But there is more work to do, and unlocking greater global climate finance is crucial in addressing the needs of developing countries who are on the frontline of the crisis.

    That’s why the UK will be pushing for an ambitious finance goal for climate aid at COP29. We will continue to champion the voices of those most affected and we will lead from the front in speeding up the global transition to net zero.

    UK Minister for Nature Mary Creagh said:

    We have a responsibility to tackle the biggest challenges facing our planet. This means putting nature loss and climate change at the forefront of the global agenda.

    We are seeing an unprecedented decline in species and the loss of some of the world’s richest and most diverse ecosystems. Our climate programmes play a vital role in protecting and restoring nature and supporting the communities most affected by this crisis.

    These results come ahead of this year’s UN climate summit COP29 in Baku, which will see countries come together to negotiate a new financial target for supporting developing countries in their climate actions, known as the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG).

    In addition to UK ICF, the UK’s world leading expertise on green finance and net zero industries is supporting developing countries achieve their own climate goals through leveraging private sector funds. Since 2011, the UK has helped mobile £7.8 billion of private finance for climate change purposes.

    The £11.6 billion commitment for the ICF remains the government’s intention as we undertake the spending review. Speaking at the UN General Assembly on 27 September the Prime Minister made clear the UK would continue to be a leading contributor to international climate finance.

    Background

    • The UK’s International Climate Finance is funded by Official Development Assistance (UK aid) from FCDO, DESNZ and DEFRA.
    • UK International Climate Finance (ICF) is a portfolio of investments with a goal to support international poverty eradication now and in the future, by helping developing countries manage risk and build resilience to the impacts of climate change, take up low-carbon development at scale and manage natural resources sustainably. Through annual publications the ICF sets out results from these investments against a set of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).
    • To find out more about International Climate Finance
    • UK International Climate Finance results 2024

    Updates to this page

    Published 10 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Apple debuts the first scripted film captured in Apple Immersive Video

    Source: Apple

    Headline: Apple debuts the first scripted film captured in Apple Immersive Video

    October 10, 2024

    UPDATE

    Apple debuts the first scripted film captured in Apple Immersive Video and reveals new immersive films for Apple Vision Pro

    New episodes, films, series, and concerts captured in Apple Immersive Video are set to debut later this year, with more coming early next year

    Today, Apple revealed new episodes, films, series, and music performances captured in Apple Immersive Video that will debut on Apple Vision Pro for free. Apple Immersive Video is a remarkable media format that leverages ultra-high-resolution 3D video and Spatial Audio to put viewers in the center of the action.

    Submerged, the first scripted short film captured in Apple Immersive Video, written and directed by Academy Award-winning filmmaker Edward Berger, is now available. Next month, Apple and The Weeknd will launch a breathtaking immersive music experience celebrating the seven-time diamond-certified artist’s highly anticipated new album, Hurry Up Tomorrow. With Concert for One, a new concert series set to debut later this year, fans will experience intimate performances from the world’s biggest artists, beginning with a special set from the award-winning British singer-songwriter RAYE. New episodes of Adventure, which follows pioneering athletes as they take on awe-inspiring challenges, will also release this year.

    Submerged

    This immersive fiction thriller, available to Apple Vision Pro users around the world for free, invites viewers onto a WWII-era submarine and follows its crew as they wrestle to combat a harrowing attack. This adrenaline-pumping thrill ride showcases the unique storytelling experiences made possible by Apple Immersive Video.

    “Apple Immersive Video allows Apple Vision Pro users around the world to experience the next generation of sports, documentaries, and music performances. With Submerged, an immersive film from visionary director Edward Berger, we’re excited to premiere the next generation of narrative filmmaking,” said Tor Myhren, Apple’s vice president of Marketing Communications. “Vision Pro places you in the middle of the story — inside a densely packed submarine, shoulder to shoulder with its crew. That deep sense of immersion just wasn’t possible before, and we can’t wait to see how it inspires filmmakers to push the boundaries of visual storytelling.”

    “Apple Immersive Video is a wonderful new medium that expands the horizon of storytelling,” said Edward Berger, director of the Academy Award-winning All Quiet on the Western Front and the upcoming, critically acclaimed Conclave. “Apple Vision Pro inspired me to tell a story in a way that just wasn’t possible before, and in the process, it changed the way my team and I think about creating a story. This immersive technology pioneered by Apple is going to change the future of filmmaking.”

    Shot on location in Prague, Brussels, and Malta over three weeks, Submerged was filmed using a full-scale 23-ton submarine set made with real steel, brass, and metal that was modeled after WWII-era vessels. Significant portions of the set were built to withstand being fully submerged, and featured practical camera traps and special effects that were uniquely rigged to expose Apple Immersive Video cameras to sparks, steam, water, and fire without breaking viewers’ sense of immersion. Cast members who might appear out of frame or focus in a 2D feature were meticulously scripted, and participated in extensive stunt rehearsals, including freedive training in dive tanks and open water, to maintain continuity and realism. Fans can go behind the scenes of Submerged with a short film that shows how the cast and crew crafted this immersive, action-packed drama exclusively for Apple Vision Pro.

    2024 NBA All-Star Weekend

    Next Friday, basketball fans will enjoy an immersive short film of the 2024 NBA All-Star Weekend, featuring the Rising Stars, the Slam Dunk contest, the first-ever NBA vs. WNBA 3-Point Challenge, “Stephen vs. Sabrina,” and highlights from the All-Star Game.

    Concert for One

    Concert for One is the first music series captured in Apple Immersive Video, bringing fans closer to their favorite artists than ever before. The inaugural performance comes from six-time BRIT Award winner RAYE, who alongside her 20-piece band offers her blend of R&B, jazz, and pop to viewers from the best seat in the house.

    Adventure

    After stepping into thin air above Norway’s breathtaking fjords with highliner Faith Dickey, and traversing the streets and rooftops of Paris with the world’s leading parkour group, viewers are invited to swim alongside freediver Ant Williams while he attempts to best his record for the longest distance under ice with just a single breath. The next episode of Adventure, “Ice Dive,” will debut in the U.S. in December.

    Early next year, viewers can experience the shores of Majorca, Spain, where world-class sport climber Kai Lightner tackles his biggest challenge yet: free-solo climbing over the secluded and rocky coves, where one slip will send him into the raging sea.

    Elevated

    In the next episode of Elevated, “Maine,” available early next year, viewers will experience a crisp autumn in New England, with a stunning journey along winding coastlines and above breathtakingly beautiful rivers.

    These new episodes, films, series, and concerts join the growing Apple Immersive Video catalog available today, which includes Alicia Keys: Rehearsal Room, Boundless, Elevated, Prehistoric Planet Immersive, Wild Life, and more — all available from the Apple TV app on Apple Vision Pro.

    Availability

    • Apple Vision Pro is available in Australia, Canada, China mainland, Hong Kong, France, Germany, Japan, Singapore, the U.K., and the U.S.
    • Users in these countries and regions can enjoy a free demo of Apple Vision Pro at their local Apple Store and receive an extended preview of Submerged upon request beginning Monday, October 14.
    • Apple Immersive Video is available at no additional cost from the Apple TV app in Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, France, Germany, Japan, Singapore, the U.K., and the U.S. Users in China mainland can access Apple Immersive Video from the Migu Video and Tencent Video apps, which are available to download for free from the App Store for Apple Vision Pro.
    • New Apple Immersive Video episodes and films debut in U.S. English with subtitles in additional languages. Title availability varies by country or region.

    Press Contacts

    Zach Kahn

    Apple

    zkahn@apple.com

    Andrea Schubert

    Apple

    a_schubert@apple.com

    Apple Media Helpline

    media.help@apple.com

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Public opinion sought on 2025-28 Draft Gambling Policy Statement

    Source: Scotland – Highland Council

    Members of the public are being invited to comment on a Draft Gambling Policy Statement for the coming years 2025-28.

    The Highland Council is consulting on the draft policy statement on behalf of The Highland Licensing Board under the Gambling Act 2005.

    At a meeting of the Highland Licensing Board on 8 October 2024, Board Members approved the publication and issue of the proposed consultation Draft Policy Statement as a formal consultation draft.

    The Consultation Draft Statement of Policy can be viewed on the Council’s website at: http://www.highland.gov.uk/gambling.

    Every three years, the Highland Licensing Board is required to publish a statement of the principles that they propose to apply in exercising their functions under the Gambling Act 2005.

    Any consultation responses must be submitted by 6 December 2024 by email to licensing@highland.gov.uk or by letter to:

    Claire McArthur, Clerk to the Licensing Board, Council Offices, High Street, Dingwall IV15 9QN.

    10 Oct 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: New West Wyalong key worker accommodation set to welcome health staff

    Source: New South Wales Government 2

    Headline: New West Wyalong key worker accommodation set to welcome health staff

    Published: 10 October 2024

    Released by: Minister for Regional Health

    Healthcare workers in West Wyalong can now access modern, fit-for-purpose accommodation, with three new units completed at West Wyalong Health Service, delivered as part of the NSW Government’s Key Worker Accommodation (KWA) Program.

    The three units are located on the hospital grounds, and will provide a safe, modern and comfortable place for healthcare workers who have relocated to West Wyalong and are still establishing themselves in the community.

    The pre-manufactured units were delivered in August, with the connection of services, furnishing, fencing and landscaping now complete. 

    Each unit is fully furnished and self-contained, and features a screened verandah, light-filled living and dining area, modern kitchen, bedroom with ensuite, and internal laundry.  Parking spaces and secure access are also provided.  

    West Wyalong Health Service is expecting the first occupants to move into the accommodation units shortly. 

    The Murrumbidgee Local Health District is one of three regional local health districts to benefit from the NSW Government’s $45.3 million investment to deliver accommodation for health workers under the KWA Program. 

    New accommodation units are also being delivered at Finley, Leeton and Narrandera, with units expected to be delivered to these sites before the end of the year.  

    Quotes attributable to Regional Health Minister Ryan Park: 

    “It’s exciting to see these units fully established on the West Wyalong Health Service site after being manufactured offsite and delivered on the back of trucks only two months ago.

    “Ensuring these units are available removes a barrier to finding accommodation for healthcare workers wanting to work at West Wyalong Health Service, meaning recruiting and retaining staff will be easier.

    “Recruitment is one of the biggest challenges facing rural and regional hospitals across Australia, which is why we are committing a further $200.1 million to increase key health worker accommodation in the state.”

    Quotes attributable to Labor Spokesperson for Cootamundra Stephen Lawrence MLC: 

    “Affordable, accessible accommodation is a key factor in attracting and retaining health workers and I am looking forward to the West Wyalong community welcoming the first workers into the units and the health service.

    “Investments like this underpin the Minns Labor Government’s focus on strengthening and supporting our highly skilled health workforce to ensure NSW’s regional and rural communities have access to high quality healthcare close to home.”

    MIL OSI News –