Read updates issued by the Export Control Organisation including details about imposition of arms embargoes, Open General Export Licence amendments or announcements about Control List changes.
Notice to Exporters 2013/18 The Secretary of State has decided that reporting requirements on the use of Open Licences under the Transparency Initiative will be scaled back. Read more about this important decision.
Notice to Exporters 2013/19 Changes to Open General Export Licence (Military Goods: Collaborative Project Typhoon).
Notice to Exporters 2013/20 A number of Open General Export Licences (OGELs) were amended as a result of Croatia becoming a Member State of the EU on 1 July 2013. There was a mistake in the Military Goods, Software and Technology OGEL which has now been corrected – read this Notice for details.
A 10-week public consultation for the Borough Council of King’s Lynn & West Norfolk on the draft Detailed Policies and Sites Plan began this week.
When finalised, the ‘Detailed Polices and Sites Plan’ will, in conjunction with the Core Strategy, help to govern planning decisions in West Norfolk for the next 13 years. The Core Strategy, adopted by the council in 2011, details the scale of future development and the broad locations for residential and business development. The ‘Detailed Polices and Sites Plan’ (the subject of the consultation) will identify the specific sites for that development.
The Core Strategy concluded that sites need to be allocated for 6,000 new homes to be built in the borough by 2026 and determined that the majority of growth should be accommodated by the towns, the areas immediately surrounding King’s Lynn, and larger rural hubs, which have the facilities and capacity to accommodate some expansion.
The draft plan also proposes new development boundaries in larger villages and sites which could, between them, accommodate the 875 homes that were identified in the Core Strategy for the borough’s larger villages. The number of houses allocated to each of the 54 larger villages varies from zero to 60, with the average being 16.
As well as detailing the size and precise sites for future residential and business developments, the draft ‘Detailed Policies and Sites Plan’ includes policies that would help to guide planning applications and decisions in the future. These policies cover matters such as affordable housing, development boundaries and the protection of strategic road networks.
To find out more information, on the plans and how to add your comments click here.
Draft Electricity Market Reform Delivery Plan published for consultation The government has published a consultation on the level of financial support for renewable energy. The draft EMR Delivery Plan provides details on the support mechanism and draft strike prices for renewables investors, and aims to help incentivise up to £110bn of investment in new electricity infrastructure by 2020. The draft strike prices for renewable energy will apply to onshore and offshore wind, tidal, wave, biomass conversion and solar projects. The consultation closes on 25 September. A final version of the delivery plan will be published in December.
DECC report shows UK energy imports at ‘record levels’ last year A report by the Department for Energy shows that the UK remained a net importer of energy in 2012, with a dependency level of 43% – an increase of 6.9% from 2011 levels. This was accompanied by a fall in primary energy production of 10.7% in 2012 compared to a year earlier, despite consumption rising by 1.7%. The Digest of UK Energy Statistics report shows that renewable energy accounted for 11.3% of total electricity generation in the country in 2012 – up from 9.4% in 2011.
Heavy industry exemptions from ‘green’ policies The government has introduced proposals to allow heavy industry to avoid the costs of long-term, fixed price contracts for green electricity. These proposals are designed to ensure that the UK’s energy intensive industries are not made uncompetitive or forced to move production overseas as a result of rising energy prices. The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, together with the Department for Energy and Climate Change has opened a consultation about the proposal which will run until 30 August 2013.
Smaller businesses and the energy market This month saw further progress towards creating a fairer energy market for smaller businesses. After pressure from the BCC and other trade associations, the main energy companies are starting to tackle the issue of auto-rollover; the process whereby business are automatically tied into costly long-term deals if they fail to cancel their contract within a set time. British Gas became the first energy supplier to commit to stop selling rollover contracts to business customers. If followed E.ON call for all energy companies to put an end to the practice.
Support for shale gas The UK’s fledgling shale gas industry received a boost this month when the Treasury announced that they plan to introduce a tax regime that will see shale gas producers pay 30 per cent tax on their profits, compared to the 62 per cent that the oil and gas industry has traditionally paid. The Treasury also reiterated plans to force shale gas companies to give local communities at least £100,000 per well in the hope of persuading them to allow fracking to proceed near their homes.
Oil and gas commission established An expert commission will be set up to examine how an independent Scotland could maximise the returns from North Sea oil and gas, the Scottish government has announced. A new paper has set out the SNP administration’s plans for the industry if it secures independence. The commission will be chaired by Melfort Campbell, who co-chairs Scottish Enterprise’s Oil and Gas Industry Advisory Group.
Upcoming developments
Government announcement on gas storage
Energy Bill to complete its Parliamentary stages and become an Act of Parliament
Offshore wind industrial strategy
Draft nuclear strike price to be published
Oil & gas review interim conclusions will be published in the autumn
A final version of the EMR delivery plan will be published in December.
GDP growth in Q2 2013: +0.6% on the quarter, +1.4% on the year
Services growth is +0.6% on the quarter, +2.1% on the year
Manufacturing growth is +0.4% on the quarter, -0.9% on the year
Construction output is +0.9% on the quarter, -1.0% on the year
Commenting on the GDP figures for Q2 2013, published today by the ONS, John Longworth, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) said:
“The modest, positive growth seen in the second quarter of the year shows that things are looking up. The gradual progress made by the UK economy – particularly in the services sector where exports continue to surge – is pleasing to see. Confidence among businesses is high when looking ahead to profitability and turnover, and many have intentions to take on staff later this year. Our surveys are forward looking, compared with the ONS statistics which are retrospective, so our growth predictions could end up being even more optimistic when looking at the remainder of 2013.
“Firms are feeling upbeat and are capable of expanding. More and more are adopting a ‘have a go’ attitude when it comes to exporting, which is really encouraging as this will go a long way to driving growth further still. But strong, sustained growth requires efforts from the government too, as businesses need an enterprise-friendly environment for the economic to go from good to great. New and existing exporters need more support to help them diversify into fast-growing markets, and access to finance for dynamic, growing businesses must be made more available. We must be careful not to choke off the growing optimism and confidence that is coming through, but instead be more proactive in nurturing the modest recovery that is starting to gather pace.”
David Kern, Chief Economist at the BCC, added:
“The increase in GDP was as expected, and suggests that the UK economy is likely to experience moderate growth over the next two or three years. While it is pleasing that the economy continues to grow, there is no room for any complacency, as the level of output is still 3.3% below its peak early in 2008. The services sector remains the main driver, but both manufacturing and construction are still showing year on year declines. The figures will underpin business confidence and reinforce the positive messages conveyed by our surveys. However the recovery is not yet secure and the government must make every effort to ensure that the economy can cope with unexpected setbacks. Despite signs that the eurozone may be returning to growth later this year, the international situation is still uncertain. Overall however, the figures provide a welcome, positive message.”
The Norfolk Chamber are sponsors of the EDP Business awards ‘Small Business’ section.
Caroline Williams, CEO, Norfolk Chamber of Commerce said:
As the final deadline for entriesapproaches, I would encourage allsmall businesses to take time out toenter the Small Business of the YearAward. “Winning this award will demonstrateto a wider audience what youalready know – that you are a greatcompany. It is also a great staff motivatorto collate all your good points aspart of the process and even betterwhen you win.” Click on image to view full article
Public comments are now being invited on Norfolk County Council’s draft vision to develop the former RAF Coltishall site which envisages the creation of hundreds of jobs, new housing for local people and new tourism opportunities.
The County Council is launching a public consultation today (Wednesday 24 July) to gather views on its new ‘Development Vision’ for the former airbase which outlines strategies for a number of key themes such as employment, enterprise & investment, accessibility, heritage and green infrastructure.
The consultation asks for feedback on the proposed plans by September – and invites people to make suggestions on what further opportunities should be considered.
The Vision includes concept maps and illustrations of what the site might look like if plans come to fruition over a number of years and details how the site’s important site’s rich heritage could be brought back to life.
George Nobbs, Norfolk County Council Leader and Cabinet Member for Economic Development, said: “This is one of the most exciting development projects that the County Council has ever taken on. RAF Coltishall, as it used to be known, is held in great affection by those who served there, by local residents and by the people of Norfolk as a whole. That’s why I and my colleagues are determined to treat the site with the utmost respect.
“This is not a collection of industrial units or a site for intensive development. Our aim is to make it a living breathing part of the local community that everyone involved can be very proud of. RAF Coltishall deserves no less.”
Possible opportunities to generate income which include reusing a number of the existing buildings for commercial use, returning some of the land for agriculture, creation of a large scale solar farm and areas for camping and caravanning with links potential links to the Bure Valley Railway. Providing new locations for business, some housing and the possibility of removing surplus hard standing areas for aggregate are also included.
The Council anticipates that the main runway would be retained and is clear that commercial aviation will not feature in its future plans. Proposed plans to extract some aggregate would be mainly from the Cold War runway extensions and a number of options are being explored such as the route the aggregate lorries could take to minimise disruption to surrounding villages, if planning permission is granted.
There are a number of accessibility proposals which the County Council intends to implement immediately which include making Lamas Road an access only HGV restriction through Badersfield and having a similar access weight restriction on The Faistead. There are other enhancements to access the Authority wishes to deliver which includes opening up Piggery Lane on the site to link it to community woodland trails (and possibly the road network beyond) as well as moving the main entrance to the base slightly to the east.
In response to views already submitted since Norfolk County Council bought the site some alternative regeneration options for different parts of the site have been included and the Authority welcomes feedback to further help shape its plans.
Some of the new ideas open for discussion include:
• An interpretation of the settlement of Batley Green, Scottow, which was lost when the RAF moved onto the land
• Potential for the main airfield area to be used for large scale open air events
• Private flying club, and/or Aero Homes
• Sustainable holiday park
At last night’s (Tuesday 23 July) Community Liaison Reference Group meeting (CLRG), members of the group had an early opportunity to view and feedback on the County Council’s ideas and earlier in the day members of the County Council’s Environment, Transport and Development Scrutiny Panel were also updated by officers.
Residents have until Tuesday 17 September to fill in the consultation online. The feedback received will be used to help form the finalised ‘Development Vision’ which will be adopted this autumn following further consideration by County Councillors. It is hoped that the public consultation will also be supported by a number of public exhibitions held in villages close to the former base. In addition, the Development Vision will be on display for viewing only from today until 17 September. The boards will be available to see in the site’s Guardhouse (near the entrance) Monday to Saturday between 10am and 2pm.
Exporting activity is at its highest level on record (since Q3 2007)
Export index rises by 2.85% in Q2 2013 and is 2.94% higher compared with Q2 2012
Exporters’ confidence in future turnover and profitability remains high
The latest DHL/BCC Trade Confidence Index report – which measures UK exporting activity (Export Index) and business confidence (Confidence Index) – shows that exporting activity is at its highest level since 2007. Responses from more than 1,700 businesses show that export orders and sales have increased, with confidence levels in both future turnover and future profitability also remaining high. More businesses have taken on new staff in the second quarter of this year, with many expecting to hire further in Q3.
The index number, which is calculated from the volume of export documents issued to businesses by Chambers of Commerce, now stands at 118.12. This represents an increase of 2.85% on Q1 2013 and is 2.94% higher compared with the same quarter last year.
The key findings from the report are:
Export orders for service sector businesses increased for 50% of firms to the highest figure on record. 44% of manufacturing firms increased their export orders resulting in the highest figure since Q1 2012
Nearly half of exporters (48%) said their export sales increased in Q2 2013, compared to 10% who said that they decreased
42% of manufacturing firms reported an increase in export sales – up from 36% of firms in Q1
In the services sector, 52% saw export sales increase – up from 44% of firms in Q1
More than half of exporters (51%) believe that their profitability will increase this year, and 60% believe they will see an increase in turnover
Nearly a third of firms (31%) said that they expected to increase staff this year, up from 28% in Q1 2013
The number of businesses claiming that raw material costs were adding to price pressures fell from 42% to 33% in Q2 2013. However, when broken down by size, it appears that micro firms within the service sector are still experiencing price pressures, with 46% citing this as an issue compared with only 25% in the previous quarter
Commenting, John Longworth, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), said:
“For the first time on record, these results are positive across the board. Export sales and orders have gone up, confidence is high and expectations around profitability have increased. Even more businesses have taken on new staff this quarter, with many expecting to hire again next quarter which is really encouraging. This is a tribute to UK exporters who are working tirelessly to drive growth and lead the economic recovery. “But we mustn’t take our foot off the gas. We still need more companies to take the plunge on international trade and for those who export already, to try and diversify into new markets. For this to happen, businesses need real, on the ground support to help them take their goods and services overseas. We must seize this momentum and strive towards an economy that is more than just ‘ok’, but which is truly great and outperforms our competitors.”
Commenting on the report’s results, Phil Couchman, CEO of DHL Express UK and Ireland, said:
“These historically positive results show how buoyant the SME spirit is, even in challenging times. But we must not lose sight of the reality, which is that not nearly enough small businesses in the UK are even testing the waters of international trade. “In order to encourage them, we must collectively smooth their path by providing local insight, guidance and global expertise, enabling them to sell their wares to the world. Currently, there are a number of opportunities for exporters within high growth markets – Croatia’s accession to the EU this month means increased opportunities for international trade due to the simplification of export and import customs legislation. “Our exporters require support from the government, from trade bodies, and fellow businesses to invest in new markets, if they are to lead the country back to sustainable economic growth.”
Commenting on this latest good news, Tracey Howard, International Trade Director of Norfolk Chamber said: “These latest results mirror what we have been seeing in Norfolk. Our small International Team here in Norwich have processed more export documents during Q2 than we have ever seen before. Lots of positive comments are coming from our exporting members, so the feel good factor is back! We are doing all we can to encourage more local firms to start exporting and hope to see them all coming through very soon.”
The New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership (NALEP) is currently consulting local businesses on two strategies for Norfolk:
EU Investment Strategy
NALEP has opened the consultation process to gather your thoughts and opinions about the future of growth in Norfolk and Suffolk. They are looking to Norfolk businesses to help identify the key growth priorities and where New Anglia LEP should be helping to focus future investment, both domestic and European. The consultation will remain open until the end of August 2013. For more information and to access the online survey click here.
Towards a Growth Plan
NALEP have also developed a ‘Towards a Growth Plan’ document which sets out their vision and strategy to create more jobs and greater prosperity to Norfolk & Suffolk. They would welcome your help to shape our Plan and inform the right decision-making as they focus on investment priorities and growth. The consultation will close on Friday 23 August 2013. For more information and to access the online survey click here.
This week, the BCC was cited in the House of Commons debate on National Parliaments and the EU, and in the House of Lords Finance Bill debate. The High Speed Rail (Preparation) Bill continued in the committee stage, and the BCC has highlighted the importance of investment in infrastructure projects for business.
On Wednesday, the Transparency of Lobbying, Non-Party Campaigning and Trade Union Administration Bill was published. The Bill seeks to create a Registrar of consultant lobbyists, defined as those who are wholly or mainly funded by the people they lobby for, and whose main business is lobbying. The Bill also introduces regulations to third parties campaigning during election periods, and requirements that trade unions provide information about their memberships. This Bill was debated in the Political and Constitutional Reform Committee on Thursday.
The House of Commons rose for summer recess on 18 July and will return on 2 September.
Next week, the Financial Services (Banking Reform) Bill will have its second reading in the House of Lords. The Intellectual Property Bill will enter into the report stage of its passage through Parliament. The BCC has highlighted the importance for British businesses to be able to protect their inventions across EU countries, and the creation of a design rights opinion service will enable more IP disputes to be settled without resorting to litigation. The free movement of EU migrant workers will continue to be debated in the House of Lords (EU Sub-Committee for Internal Market, Infrastructure and Employment).
The June inflation figures revealed that CPI inflation rose to 2.9%, up from 2.7% in May. The largest upward contribution came from motor fuels and clothing, partly offset by a downward contribution from air transport. The minutes of the latest MPC meeting revealed that the committee voted unanimously in favour of leaving the level of QE and interest rates unchanged. This is in contrast to the 6-3 split seen over recent months.
The latest labour market figures published on Wednesday revealed that in the three months to May 2013, unemployment fell by 57,000, and employment rose by 16,000. Retail sales rose by 0.2% in June, more modest than the 2.1% increase in May.
The public finance figures were published today and showed that public sector net borrowing (excluding temporary effects of financial interventions and the effects of the transfers from the Bank of England Asset Purchase Facility Fund) was £12.4bn, £0.5bn higher than in June 2012. Public sector net debt currently stands at 74.9% of GDP.
The first estimate released by Eurostat for the eurozone trade in goods balance with the rest of the world for May 2013 shows a €15.2 billion surplus, compared with +€6.6bn last year. EU imports from most of its major partners fell in January-April 2013 compared with last year, except for Turkey (+5) and India (+3%). The most notable decreases were recorded for imports from Norway (-16%), Japan (-14%) and Brazil (-11%). EU exports to most of its major partners grew in January-April 2013 compared to last year, except for India (-5%) and China (0%). The largest increase was recorded for exports to Switzerland (+25%).
The Presidency presented in public to the Council its work programme and priorities for agriculture and fisheries.
As regards agriculture, there was be a public debate on the state of play on the common agricultural policy (CAP) reform package after a political agreement was reached with the other EU institutions on the proposals for the direct payments regulation, the single common market organisation (CMO) regulation, the rural development regulation and the horizontal regulation.
Concerning fisheries issues, ministers reached an agreement for a full general approach on a proposal for the European maritime and fisheries fund (EMFF) within the framework of the common fisheries policy (CFP) reform package. This agreement on budgetary issues achieves the work initiated by the Council in October last year when a partial general approach was reached covering technical aspects. This will enable the Council to start negotiations on the EMFF with the European Parliament during the autumn. The Council also confirmed the political agreement on the two other proposed regulations for CFP reform: the basic provisions regulation and the market regulation.
The Commission then briefed the Council about a consultation on fishing opportunities for 2014, outlining the state of the stocks, providing a limited overview of the economic performance of the EU fleet, and committing to management using long-term plans and to management in accordance with scientific advice.
The European Parliament is in recess from this week. Business resumes on 26 August with a week of external parliamentary and committee activities. The EP press room will be closed from Monday 22 July until Friday 23 August inclusive.
Their Draft Business Plan has now been published and they are seeking views from businesses across King’s Lynn town centre on the proposals. Every business in King’s Lynn will be asked to vote on the final business plan due to be published later this year, so why not have your say in shaping the plans.
King’s Lynn BID could have a major improvement not only in King’s Lynn centre as a whole, but also your business. Please carefully consider this proposal and help them develop a better and brighter King’s Lynn.
Information Events
A series of BID information events have been planned – come along and find out about the proposed BID Business Plan for King’s Lynn, What a BID is and why businesses in King’s Lynn should get involved.
22nd July 18:00 – 19:30 Marriot’s Warehouse
25th July 12:30 – 14:00 Yours Business Network
26th July 07:30 – 08:30 The Lounge Cafe
30th July 18:00 – 19:30 Majestic Cinema
Each event will commence with a presentation followed by questions and answers. There will be plenty of opportunity afterwards to chat informally about the proposals with fellow town centre businesses. Copies of the business plan will be available at each event or click here to view it online.