text:
Commons: 21 January 2019
Home Department
Volume 653: debated on Monday 21 January 2019
Security Agreements: European Union
(Oldham East and Saddleworth) (Lab)
1. What recent discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on future security agreements with the EU. (908644)
The Secretary of State for the Home Department
(Sajid Javid)
I have regular conversations with Cabinet colleagues on a range of matters. The deal that the House considered last week confirmed the commitment of the UK and the EU to a new security partnership and included a transition period. In considering a way forward, we must focus on ideas that deliver the same benefits, are genuinely negotiable and have sufficient support in the House.
Title V of the draft withdrawal agreement describes the ongoing police and judicial co-operation between the UK and the EU on criminal matters. Given that it has taken 30 months to agree the 13-page section on security and that the section covers only the transition period, why should we have any confidence in this Government completing negotiations to ensure this country's future safety and security by the end of next year?
Security is an absolute priority for the Home Office, which is why it should come as no surprise to the House that all capabilities on which the UK would wish to co-operate with the EU are covered in the political declaration. If the hon. Lady wishes to continue that kind of co-operation, the best thing to do is to support the deal.
Sir Desmond Swayne
(New Forest West) (Con)
What estimate has my right hon. Friend made of the intervention by Sir Richard Dearlove and General Guthrie?
I read the intervention carefully a week ago. Although I have huge respect for those two individuals and listen to them on many issues, I think that they are completely wrong in their assessment.
(Normanton, Pontefract and Castleford) (Lab)
The last time the Home Secretary appeared before the Home Affairs Committee, he told us that, in the event of no deal,
"we will be as safe—if we are talking about the SIS II system, for example, as we were just now",
and said that Schengen Information System II is merely a "nice to have"—those were the words he used. Since then, the Met Commissioner has said that losing access to SIS II
"will be more costly undoubtedly, slower undoubtedly, and potentially, yes, put the public at risk."
The National Crime Agency has also said that there is
"a risk that this country will be less safe as a result."
What is the Home Secretary's assessment of the risk to the country, particularly in policing and security terms, from no deal, and why is his assessment different from that of the police?
The right hon. Lady will know that paragraph 87 of the political declaration talks about how the UK and our EU partners will work together to consider continuing arrangements for missing and wanted persons, and on other issues, such as criminal information exchange. Today we are lucky to live in a very safe country. Under our assessment, I am confident that, whether we have a deal or no deal, we will continue to be a very safe country.
(Dover) (Con)
The arrival of 39 suspected migrants via crossings in just the last two days is a considerable concern to my constituents in Dover and Deal. When will the Home Secretary next meet his French counterpart to discuss this matter? Will the Home Office carry out round-the-clock aerial surveillance urgently? Can he confirm the date on which the two cutters in the Mediterranean will return to be on station to secure our border?
My hon. Friend is absolutely right to raise this issue. We have started to deploy aerial surveillance of the English channel since I declared a major incident. While we await the arrival of the two cutters in early February, we have increased the presence of vessels, including with help from the Royal Navy. I will be meeting my French counterpart, Minister Castaner, this week.
Sir Edward Davey
(Kingston and Surbiton) (LD)
Further to the question asked by the right hon. Member for Normanton, Pontefract and Castleford (Yvette Cooper), the police have said that direct access to EU databases such as SIS II are mission critical for their work in tackling criminals and terrorists. What guarantee can the Home Secretary give the House today that, after the transition period, Britain and the police will still have access to these mission-critical databases?
I agree with the right hon. Gentleman that those databases are important, which is why it is very good that we have an agreement in the political declaration to consider how we can keep using such arrangements. Again, if he is that concerned, he should support the deal.
Mr Philip Hollobone
(Kettering) (Con)
Is it not the case that our closest security and intelligence partnership is with the United States and the "Five Eyes" signatories, none of which are members of the European Union; that our closest defence partnership is with NATO, not the EU; and that, whether we leave the EU with or without a deal, we will be signing a security and intelligence arrangement with the EU?
My hon. Friend is absolutely right to highlight the importance of the security relationship we have with many other countries, including, of course, with our "Five Eyes" partners—that is a critical relationship—and the NATO alliance. That does not take away from the fact that we also want to continue co-operating with the EU, and I am sure that we will.
(Delyn) (Lab)
Can the Home Secretary help me, please? The European Court of Justice has oversight of the European arrest warrant, SIS II, Europol and Eurojust. He says that we will have arrangements with all three; how does he cross the Prime Minister's red line on those issues?
That is quite straightforward. If the right hon. Gentleman takes the time to read the political declaration, he will see that it refers to establishing arrangements—for example, for the quick and efficient surrender of individuals. They are not necessarily exactly the same instruments, but we have done this in a way that is consistent with our taking back control of our laws.
Ms Diane Abbott
(Hackney North and Stoke Newington) (Lab)
I have listened with great care to the Home Secretary. He will be aware that the EU insists on treaty arrangements governing key aspects of international security, justice and policing. Without a treaty, courts have no legal basis to implement arrest or extradition warrants, and cannot allow access to criminal and other databases to third countries. The danger is that there will be a mutual loss of the European arrest warrant and the UK will no longer be able to access the Europol database in real time. How does he justify putting the security of the nation at risk in this way?
The Government have suggested to the EU—if the deal gets through Parliament, this is what will be looked at—having an internal security treaty between the UK and the EU because, as the right hon. Lady quite rightly says, it is best to have these arrangements on a proper legal footing and it makes sense to do that through treaty-type arrangements. I have to say again, however, that if she is really concerned about continued co-operation, she should support the deal.
County Lines Drugs Operations
(Bristol East) (Lab)
2. What steps his Department is taking to prevent young people from becoming involved in county lines drugs operations. (908645)
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department
(Victoria Atkins)
We have provided £3.6 million for a new national county lines co-ordination centre to enhance the intelligence picture and to support efforts to identify and safeguard victims. The centre launched in September last year and carried out its first week of action in October, leading to more 500 arrests and more than 300 people safeguarded.
I was pleased to see it reported recently that the Government are treating the victims of county lines as victims of modern slavery. That is a helpful approach, but I have two concerns. One is that children who have been excluded from school are particularly at risk. My second concern relates to housing. What conversations are Ministers having with their counterparts in the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to make sure that children who are at risk are not housed back in the area where the people who have persecuted them live?
Victoria Atkins
I thank the hon. Lady for her continued focus on modern slavery. She is absolutely right that this is not just about policing, although of course that is a vital part of our treatment of serious violence and county lines. It is about taking a holistic approach, which is why the Home Secretary chairs the serious violence taskforce, which brings together local government, national Government and all the relevant agencies. That can make a real difference in the lives of young people who may be vulnerable to the gangsters.
Eddie Hughes
(Walsall North) (Con)
In November, West Midlands police was granted a cash boost of £1.8 million to help to deal with gangs and violence. Does the Minister endorse the work of the charity Redthread to prevent youngsters from joining gangs and becoming drug dealers?
I am delighted to endorse the work of Redthread, a charity we support not just in the midlands, but in London and Nottingham. I have been delighted to visit accident and emergency departments where Redthread is in operation. Its workers reach out to young people when they are in A&E departments, at what they call the teachable moment. That is exactly the sort of positive voluntary work we need.
Vicky Foxcroft
(Lewisham, Deptford) (Lab)
Will the Minister update us on the Government's public health approach to tackle serious violence? I am not asking for an update on the serious violence strategy, the Offensive Weapons Bill or the youth endowment fund. I have been following those very closely, but I cannot find anything about the Government's public health approach, as announced at the Conservative party conference. Perhaps the Minister can update us now.
I thank the hon. Lady for her assiduous focus on this important topic. I am grateful to her for her work on the Youth Violence Commission. We are due to consult on the public health duty, a legal duty that will apply across the board to help to embed a public health approach in our treatment of serious violence.
Rachael Maskell
(York Central) (Lab/Co-op)
16. It is clear, in the light of so many fatalities in the criminal justice system and in the community, that the war on drugs is not working, so will the Minister set out what steps she is taking along the lines of the public health framework to ensure that fatalities are reduced and that public health workers work together with the criminal justice system? (908661)
The hon. Lady will know that we have recently announced an independent review of the 21st-century drugs market. Indeed, only last week I had the pleasure of visiting a drug treatment centre in south London to see the important work of doctors and health professionals to help those who are sadly addicted to these very harmful substances.
Louise Haigh
(Sheffield, Heeley) (Lab)
For the victims of county lines and youth violence, the trauma from their experiences will be devastating, yet far too often police forces and mental health trusts do not work together to make sure that their needs are automatically assessed, leaving children extremely vulnerable and at risk of being re-exploited. Will the Minister commit to working with her colleagues with responsibility for mental health to ensure that all such victims receive an automatic referral to mental health services? Will she commit to coming back to the House at the earliest opportunity with a full update on progress against the wider serious violence strategy?
The hon. Lady will know that we are very conscious of the impact that mental health issues can have, not only on the immediate victims of serious violence but, of course, in respect of the ramifications further afield for communities affected by serious violence. A great deal of work is going on to help people with mental issues who are being dragged into county lines, in particular. Indeed, my right hon. Friend the Minister for Policing met the relevant Minister in the Department of Health and Social Care only last week to discuss this issue.
Unsolved Crime
Tracy Brabin
(Batley and Spen) (Lab/Co-op)
3. What recent assessment he has made of trends in the level of unsolved crime. (908646)
Stephen Morgan
(Portsmouth South) (Lab)
13. What recent assessment he has made of trends in the level of unsolved crime. (908657)
The Minister for Policing and the Fire Service
(Mr Nick Hurd)
In the year to June 2018, the proportion of recorded crime that was closed with no suspect identified was 47%—a similar proportion to that in the previous year.
Charge rates in West Yorkshire have fallen for some key crimes, with charges for sexual offences as low as 4%—among the lowest in the country. The chair of the National Police Chiefs' Council has said that this is because of fewer officers and staff. The Government's decision to raise money through an increase in council tax means that West Yorkshire will be able to raise almost the same as Surrey, despite having double the population. Will that really meet local need?
Mr Hurd
I am sure that, given the seriousness of the point the hon. Lady raises, she will welcome the fact that rates of prosecutions and convictions for rape and sexual offences are at their highest ever level. She also asked about funding, and she wants more resources for her local police force, so I hope that she will support the proposed police funding settlement that will, if the NPCC uses the flexibility, provide an additional £28.5 million for her local police force.
In Hampshire, just 4% of sexual offences and just 14% of robberies now result in a charge. Can the Minister honestly tell the people of Portsmouth that after losing 1,000 police officers and a staggering £70 million in central Government funding, my city's streets are safer?
The hon. Gentleman also refers to the conviction rates for rape and sexual offences, which are at record levels. They are low in percentage terms—unacceptably low—but we are making progress, and it is incredibly important that we do so, because one of the success stories of the past few years has been in encouraging vulnerable victims of so-called hidden crime to come forward. I hope that the hon. Gentleman would welcome that and that, given his concern about seeing Hampshire police properly funded, he will vote for the proposed police funding settlement, which would see police funding for his local force double.
(The Wrekin) (Con)
The Minister will know that in Telford and Wrekin there is currently a call for not only an independent inquiry but a council-led inquiry into unresolved crimes relating to child sexual exploitation. Will the Minister join me in calling on the council to get on with that inquiry and to release information so that the victims can finally get justice?
I thank my hon. Friend for raising that issue. When he raised it before, he heard a clear "get on with it" message from the Home Secretary at the Dispatch Box. I repeat that, and I am more than happy to offer to meet him and anyone relevant to discuss the matter.
(Richmond Park) (Con)
Hon. Members will know from today's papers that there has been yet another stabbing in London—this time in Kew in my constituency. I am pleased to say that the victim is now expected to make a full recovery and I thank the local police for their full and rapid response. Will my right hon. Friend acknowledge, please, that increased crime in the capital is a source of huge anxiety? Will he reassure my constituents not only that getting to grips with it is a top Government priority, but that he is doing everything he can to work with both the Met and the Mayor of London on a co-ordinated and full response?
I can certainly give my hon. Friend that assurance, because it is one of the biggest public safety challenges that we face as a city and as a country. I am meeting the Mayor later this evening to discuss this in person. My hon. Friend wants more resources: an additional £100 million of investment is going into the Met police this year and the proposed funding settlement will see an additional £172 million of public money going in to support the Met. That is alongside all the other work that we are doing on the Offensive Weapons Bill, stop-and-search and everything else that he wants to see. I cannot think of a higher priority for the Department at this moment.
David Duguid
(Banff and Buchan) (Con)
4. What plans he has for the UK's future immigration system. (908647)
(Stafford) (Con)
Gillian Keegan
(Chichester) (Con)
11. What plans he has for the UK's future immigration system. (908655)
(York Outer) (Con)
On 19 December last year, the Government published a White Paper that set out our principles and plans for a future skills-based immigration system. The future system will focus on high-skills, welcoming talented and hard-working individuals who will support the UK's dynamic economy and enabling employers to compete on the world stage.
I thank my right hon. Friend for his response. When we leave the common fisheries policy, as he will be aware, we take back control of our waters and our fish. We can expect at that point an expansion of the seafood processing sector in my constituency of Banff and Buchan, an area of very low unemployment. Will he therefore assure me that our future immigration policy will, if required, facilitate the sourcing of skilled seafood processing workers from outside the UK?
My hon. Friend is right to highlight the opportunities that Brexit will bring for certain industries. I can assure him that the immigration White Paper does contain proposals to bring medium-skilled workers into the scope of skilled workers and also to introduce a temporary workers' route at all skill levels. I hope that that offers him some reassurance.
Will my right hon. Friend assure me that the skills-based immigration system will not fall foul of an arbitrary salary cap? This is important in many sectors. In research—I declare an interest as I am on the board of a university—very highly skilled researchers are often not paid anything like £30,000 at the beginning of their career, but we need them for our university and research sector.
My hon. Friend is right to raise that issue. He may know that we made our visa offer for academics even more generous last year. Those changes have been warmly welcomed by the research community. I can assure him that we will engage with employers in the higher education sector and others before we determine any future salary thresholds.
Chichester is home to a fresh food industry worth £1 billion, and its businesses rely on European workers. One grower in my constituency reached 1.5 million picking hours last year, and with no mechanical alternative for picking soft fruit, any restriction in accessing labour will curtail growth. Will my right hon. Friend assure me that our post-Brexit immigration policy will ensure that such businesses will be able to get the workers that they need?
I understand the importance of the fresh food industry to my hon. Friend's constituency. We are piloting a scheme to bring in workers from outside the EU to work in this industry, and our immigration White Paper proposed a temporary work route, allowing workers to come to the UK to work in jobs for up to a year at any skill level.
Will the Secretary of State assure me that he will listen to North Yorkshire farmers and those in the agricultural sector who wish to retain access to seasonal workers after Brexit? Will he confirm how the pilot will be assessed and that changes to numbers will be reviewed?
I can tell my hon. Friend that, first, the pilot will test the effectiveness of our immigration system, alleviating seasonal labour shortages during peak periods of production while ensuring that there is a minimal impact on local communities. We will fully assess the outcome of the pilot, but I am happy to give him the assurance that he seeks.
(Dulwich and West Norwood) (Lab)
It is impossible to consider the future of the immigration system without considering the injustices that the immigration system has meted out in the past. In relation to the compensation scheme for Windrush citizens who have been unjustly and unlawfully treated by the Home Office, is the Home Secretary aware of reports that unscrupulous law firms are approaching Windrush victims and seeking to represent them in relation to the compensation scheme on the basis of a commission rate of more than 25% of the compensation awarded? Will he condemn that utterly predatory and exploitative practice and take steps to ensure that 100% of the compensation awarded by that scheme, when it is finalised, will go to the victims, who have already suffered enough?
It is very important that we have a fair compensation scheme in place. The work that Martin Forde, QC, has done independently is excellent; we will announce more on that soon. I join the hon. Lady in condemning those unscrupulous firms that are thinking only about lining their pockets, and not about the victims.
Janet Daby
(Lewisham East) (Lab)
Can the Home Secretary say what progress he has made regarding compensation for victims of the Windrush scandal?
The hon. Lady will know that a consultation on the subject recently closed; it was extended at the request of Martin Forde, the independent chairman appointed to look into the matter. We are now working through the responses across Government, and we will announce more details soon.
Stuart C. McDonald
(Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East) (SNP)
Tens of thousands of families have been split by the Prime Minister's draconian anti-family immigration rules. How many more families will be destroyed by the Home Secretary's proposals to extend those rules to EU family members? Should we not be getting rid of these rules, rather than extending them?
The hon. Gentleman may be aware that in the withdrawal agreement in the Prime Minister's deal, there is an extensive section on guaranteeing citizens' rights. I believe that what we have agreed with the EU is very generous. No one has any interest in splitting any families. We must do everything we can to welcome those EU citizens who have made their home in the United Kingdom.
Can the Home Secretary tell us how the settled status scheme will work for EU nationals ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom, but working in the offshore oil and gas industry, or the merchant marine? Can he confirm that the fact that many of those people work outside the 12-mile limit for more than six months in the year will not be a barrier to their inclusion in the settled status scheme?
One of the reasons why we piloted the scheme was to look at any issues that might come up before the full launch, which is expected in April. The pilot has just closed; we published the results today. It looks at precisely such issues as the one that the right hon. Gentleman has brought up. We will look into that carefully.
(Manchester, Gorton) (Lab)
This morning, the Government launched the largest stage of the settled status roll-out. If just 5% of those who need settled status fail to apply for it, 175,000 people in the UK will have insecure immigration status, or no status at all. The British Medical Association found that 37% of EU doctors are not even aware of the settled status scheme. What are the Government doing to make sure that EU citizens know that they need to register for settled status to avoid a repeat of the Windrush scandal?
The hon. Gentleman might be interested to know that in a recent test—we have just published the results—out of 30,000 applicants, 70% were granted settled status; 30% were granted pre-settled status. None was refused. Almost 80% said that they found the application process very fair and easy to complete, so the process is working well, although he is right to highlight the question of what it might look like once it is fully open. We are making sure, through a huge comms campaign, that we get through to everyone who needs to know about the scheme. We are, for example, working with employers; I visited one such employer, GSK, just last week.
Immigration Detention Estate
Layla Moran
(Oxford West and Abingdon) (LD)
5. What recent assessment he has made of the size of the (a) current and (b) future immigration detention estate; and if he will make a statement. (908648)
The Minister for Immigration
(Caroline Nokes)
The Government are committed to using the detention estate sparingly, and only when necessary. We have taken a systematic approach to modernising and rationalising the detention estate, so that we ensure that we have the geographical footprint and resilience required to meet our future needs. By this summer, the detention estate will be almost 40% smaller than four years ago, and of significantly higher quality.
I welcome very much the closure of Campsfield House; I have been campaigning for its closure for a very long time. However, it happened very quickly, so lots of workers are now worried about where they will find a job. The local community is desperate to know the plans for the site once Campsfield is totally run down.
I am glad that the hon. Lady identified her involvement with the Close Campsfield campaign. I am conscious that she was at many of the protests calling for the closure of Campsfield. We are developing options for the future use of the site following the end of the contract, which was, in any case, scheduled to end in May 2019. Although the employment of Mitie staff is a question for Mitie, the company has provided assurances that it is actively engaged with its staff on redeployment options within its business. All detainees have been transferred to other centres where they will be held in decent and dignified conditions.
Alison Thewliss
(Glasgow Central) (SNP)
7. What recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of the EU settlement scheme. (908651)
The hon. Lady raises the question of how the EU settlement scheme is working. Of course, we know that EU citizens make a huge contribution to our economy and society, and we want them to stay. The first two phases of beta testing have successfully concluded, and the wider public implementation of the scheme has gone live today.
I have received a worrying pattern of news about EU citizens in my constituency being denied universal credit because they are deemed not to have the right to reside. This is happening despite the Department for Work and Pensions having access to work history records and other evidence to the contrary. Is this an example of the hostile environment extending to EU citizens before Brexit has even happened, and will the EU settlement scheme have any impact on this?
The EU settlement scheme is a really crucial part of making sure that the 3.4 million EU citizens living here can absolutely evidence their right to stay here through a digital status in line with 21st-century requirements. The hon. Lady will have heard my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary talk in positive terms about how important this scheme is. We have now opened the final phase of testing before the whole scheme goes live at the end of March.
Mrs Maria Miller
(Basingstoke) (Con)
The Government are right to be working hard to secure a Brexit deal, but if no deal is reached, can my right hon. Friend reassure EU citizens living in our county of Hampshire and elsewhere in the UK that their rights will still be guaranteed? This is important and it needs to be clear, not just to citizens but to businesses as well.
Picking up on the final part of my right hon. Friend's question, last summer we launched the employer toolkit to enable employers best to communicate to their employees the settled status scheme. She is right to point out the concerns that many may have about the event of no deal. I would like to reassure her that across Government we are working incredibly hard to avoid a no-deal outcome. However, the Department for Exiting the European Union was very clear about the protections afforded to EU citizens in the event of no deal, and we believe that our offer to them is generous. Deal or no deal, the scheme will open publicly at the end of March, and it is crucial that as many citizens as possible apply.
Mr Barry Sheerman
(Huddersfield) (Lab/Co-op)
The Minister knows that this is an increasingly complex area. I have had many letters from constituents concerned that they will be impacted by the immigration health surcharge. Who is going to have to pay this, and is it going to be increased along the lines foreshadowed in the press?
The hon. Gentleman will know that we did increase the immigration health surcharge. That was an important manifesto commitment that the Conservative party made to make sure that those who are using NHS services are also contributing to the NHS. The settled status scheme has deliberately been designed to be simple, not complicated. It is really important that EU citizens only have to prove their identity, prove their residence, and confirm that they do not have criminality. In the second phase of private beta testing, it has been very plain that the vast majority of people going through the scheme—in the region of 80% or so, I believe—have been able to confirm their residence of five years without any reference to additional information other than their records with Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs or their DWP records.
(Monmouth) (Con)
As somebody who is married to an EU citizen, I think that these proposals are entirely fair and proportionate, and are in marked contrast to the outrageous scare stories that were put about by some people, in and out of this House, who are fanatical about remaining in the European Union.
I absolutely agree with my hon. Friend. I am sure that his wife will be going through the process very soon indeed. In fact, some of the best advocates for the simplicity of the EU settled status scheme have been those who have already gone through it, and we have had very positive feedback on the first two phases of testing.
Immigration: Scottish Economy
Martyn Day
(Linlithgow and East Falkirk) (SNP)
8. What assessment he has made of the potential effect on the Scottish economy of the policies set out in the White Paper, "The UK's future skills-based immigration system". (908652)
The Government's immigration White Paper sets out the principles of an immigration system that will work in the best interests of the whole of the UK. As my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary has made clear, the White Paper is the start of the conversation. I look forward to ongoing engagement with stakeholders in Scotland over the course of this year.
The Scottish policy chair at the Federation of Small Businesses has said:
"The UK Government's obstinate approach to immigration is a clear threat to many of Scotland's businesses and local communities. These proposals will make it nigh impossible for the vast majority of Scottish firms to access any non-UK labour and the skills they need to grow and sustain their operations."
Is he wrong?
The hon. Gentleman is right to point out the importance of our engaging with business groups and stakeholders across Scotland. I was delighted to meet the CBI in Scotland in a business roundtable back in the summer, and that engagement will continue. I would also like to point out that the independent Migration Advisory Committee was very much of the view that Scotland's economic situation is not sufficiently different from the rest of the UK to justify a very different migration policy.
Mr Paul Sweeney
(Glasgow North East) (Lab/Co-op)
Does the Minister accept that the idea of a skills-based immigration system is undermined by having an arbitrary salary threshold, which should be scrapped in favour of an honest assessment of the real skills demand across different sectors in the economy?
I would gently point out that it was not an arbitrary salary threshold; it was the one put forward by the independent Migration Advisory Committee. It is, of course, important that we engage with business and employers across the whole of the United Kingdom, and we will use the next 12 months to do so.
Joanna Cherry
(Edinburgh South West) (SNP)
My hon. Friend the Member for Linlithgow and East Falkirk (Martyn Day) has referred to the concerns of the policy chair of the Federation of Small Businesses in Scotland. The chief executive of the Scottish Tourism Alliance, Marc Crothall, has said:
"There is no doubt that the government's plans will exacerbate the existing recruitment crisis considerably, placing our tourism industry and what is one of the most important economic drivers for Scotland in severe jeopardy."
Is he wrong as well?
The hon. and learned Lady will be aware that the Migration Advisory Committee, which is independent of Government, made the point that it did not see the case for a wide range of sectoral schemes. In fact, it made the case that perhaps only in agriculture was one appropriate. However, it is important that we continue to engage with all businesses and sectors. I am sure she will be delighted to know that the tourism industry in Wales has already beaten a path to my door, and I look forward to Scotland doing likewise.
Clearly the tourism industry in Scotland are very unhappy with the proposals, and I beg to suggest that they know more about their industry than the Migration Advisory Committee. The reality of the situation is that people in businesses across Scotland are dismayed by the UK Government's approach to immigration. Scotland already has different policies and approaches on taxation, climate change, tuition fees and social care. If those major areas of policy can be devolved and implemented to suit Scotland's needs, why can immigration not be devolved? I would like to know the Minister's views, rather than the Migration Advisory Committee's views.
I am sure the hon. and learned Lady recalls my appearance before her at a Select Committee, where I made it clear that my view was that immigration policy was a matter reserved to the United Kingdom Government.
Laura Pidcock
(North West Durham) (Lab)
9. What assessment he has made of the correlation between changes in the number of firefighters and fire service response times. (908653)
Response times to fire have increased gradually over the last 20 years. At the same time, as the hon. Lady knows, the number of fires and deaths from fire has, thankfully, fallen. There is no clear link between response times and firefighter numbers.
I thank the Minister for his response, but last month a report by Her Majesty's inspectorate of constabulary and fire and rescue services found that fragmentation was resulting in a postcode lottery of 999 response times and standards, which simply is not fair on the public or on firefighters. What steps is the Minister taking to introduce a consistent national framework of standards across fire and rescue services, to provide a proper benchmark against which inspections can take place?
The independent inspection of the effectiveness of our fire service found that 10 of the 14 fire services inspected were rated good for effectiveness, including their response to emergencies. We are driving up standards and finding out what "good" looks like through independent inspection, the creation of the standards board and robust local accountability, including the chance for local police and crime commissioners to take over governance. That framework will drive up standards across the fire service, which is what everyone wants.
(Lincoln) (Lab)
Rising response times are not the fault of firefighters, chief fire officers or local politicians. They are the result of this Government's austerity agenda, which has led to 10,000 fewer firefighters protecting our communities. Council leaders such as those in South Yorkshire, where £12.5 million has been slashed since 2010, have explained to the Minister that this Government's austerity measures will risk the public's safety—they have made that clear. Will he explain how sustained cuts to fire service budgets, which force a reliance on small, one-off, un-earmarked—note the distinction—reserves, provide a sufficient basis for a responsive and well-resourced service? Will he commission a review?
I would say to the hon. Lady that we have fewer firefighters because we have had 46% fewer fires over the past decade. What I would also say to her, which I said to all the fire chiefs this morning, is that I am absolutely determined that, in the next comprehensive spending review, the fire service gets the resource it needs to continue to be world class.
Anna Soubry
(Broxtowe) (Con)
I met the chief fire officer and the chair of the fire and rescue authority in Nottinghamshire on Friday, and they made no complaint about their funding level. They have had to make a series of reductions, and they have done it extremely well, without any risks increasing at all to the people of Nottinghamshire. They want to make sure that their funding is retained, and I do not expect the Minister to comment on that. However, does he agree with me that our fire services have done remarkable things, with cuts in their budgets, without any risk to the public at all?
I said exactly that to the fire chiefs today. Through austerity, they have made changes, and they should be commended on their leadership during that period. Their spending power will grow by 2.2% next year, and they sit on reserves worth 42% of their spending power. I repeat to my right hon. Friend what I said to them today: I am determined to ensure that, in the CSR, our fire service is properly resourced.
Economic Crime
(Brecon and Radnorshire) (Con)
12. What steps he is taking to tackle economic crime. (908656)
The Minister for Security and Economic Crime
(Mr Ben Wallace)
The Government have concentrated on bringing law enforcement together alongside regulators to focus ruthlessly on tackling dirty money and economic crime. In the next 18 months, we will invest over £48 million to bolster capabilities, including in the establishment of the National Economic Crime Centre.
Does my right hon. Friend agree with me that, by bringing together specialists across both the public sector and the private sector to tackle this, we can use the best of our experience to maintain our status as a global financial centre?
Mr Wallace
Yes, I agree with my hon. Friend. It is in all our interests to ensure that our financial sector and country tackle financial crime. The global scale of it demands that all of us play our part to burden-share, which is why the serious and organised crime strategy last year specifically committed to ensuring the widest response from both Government and the private sector.
Nick Thomas-Symonds
(Torfaen) (Lab)
A year ago, the Government introduced unexplained wealth orders to tackle the laundromat of dirty money in this country. It is reported that the National Crime Agency has identified 140 cases in which such an order would be appropriate, but only one order has been imposed in the past year. Why are the Government afraid of using the tools available to them?
I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for giving me the opportunity to clarify some of his remarks. First, those orders were not introduced—enacted—until April last year, so they have not been used for a year; and two, not one, have been used. At the same time, the Criminal Finances Act 2017 brought into existence asset-freezing orders. In one year, since April, we have seen asset-freezing orders used 200 times alone in the Metropolitan police, freezing over £40 million. I assure him that the use of unexplained wealth orders will continue. However, he will know as a lawyer that the courts and the judiciary have to get used to understanding them, and we have to understand how the courts interpret the legislation; but he should not worry, the asset-freezing orders are doing their job, as will the unexplained wealth orders.
Andrea Jenkyns
(Morley and Outwood) (Con)
15. What plans he has to tackle vandalism. (908660)
We have reformed and strengthened the powers available to local areas to tackle antisocial behaviour, including vandalism, through the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014. Six powers are available to the police, local councils and other agencies, including the civil injunction and public spaces protection orders, which set out how a public space can be used.
Over the Christmas period, the Outwood memorial hall in my constituency was vandalised, the community centre and war memorial were damaged, and the possessions stolen include a wheelchair used by the Outwood stroke club. This is a truly sickening crime that has caused great distress to our community. What plans does my hon. Friend have to increase the sentences for those found guilty of such offences?
I am sure that the whole House is sorry to hear about that appalling incident, and I fully understand the distress that it must have caused my hon. Friend's constituents. Everyone has the right to feel safe in their local community. Robust legislation is in place to tackle such crimes, from the antisocial-behaviour powers in the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, to criminal damage offences—and, indeed, violence offences, if those are appropriate on the facts of the case.
Stephanie Peacock
(Barnsley East) (Lab)
Residents and businesses in Hoyland have recently been subjected to a distressing wave of serious crime, including vandalism, break-ins and theft. That reflects the fact that there are nearly 600 fewer South Yorkshire police officers on our streets as a result of this Government's cuts. Can the Minister confirm that Barnsley will not get a penny from the Government in this year's funding settlement to recruit more frontline officers? Will she think again?
I am sorry to hear about the experiences in the hon. Lady's constituency and I hope that she will therefore be supporting the Government's funding settlement, which is coming towards us and will help give up to £970 million more to policing, with the help of police and crime commissioners.
Online Crime: Company Responsibility
John Lamont
(Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk) (Con)
18. What steps he is taking to ensure that tech companies tackle serious crimes perpetrated on their platforms. (908663)
Tackling serious crime online is one of our highest priorities. We are increasing our investment in law enforcement and will set out plans to legislate in the online harms White Paper, jointly led by the Home Office and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport. It will set clear responsibilities for tech companies to keep UK citizens safe online, including protection from serious online crime.
Technology is at the root of a great deal of serious crime in the United Kingdom. I know that the Minister understands that and will want to work with tech firms to fight against crime committed online. However, does he rule out the suggestion made by some people, including Sir Timothy John Berners-Lee, the inventor of the worldwide web, that if significant change is not forthcoming from the tech firms, we should regulate them?
Sir Tim Berners-Lee is ultimately right in the sense that, yes, if communications service providers fail to respond to abuse of the internet, they will need to see an increase in existing regulation. We are considering a full range of possible solutions to address the issue, including a regulatory framework as well as broader legal and regulatory changes, where necessary.
(Crawley) (Con)
19. What steps he is taking to tackle serious violent crime. (908664)
We launched the serious violence strategy last year; it has culminated in detailed work, stretching across Government. It includes the Offensive Weapons Bill and the serious violence taskforce. In addition, we want to build resilience for young people into the future, so we will be launching a £200 million youth endowment fund to intervene on children and young people at risk of serious violence. Shortly, we will consult on a new duty to underpin the multi-agency approach on public health.
Sussex police and crime commissioner Katy Bourne was recently successful in getting a grant of almost £1 million from the Home Office—I thank the Department for that—to specifically address serious offences among young people. May I have an assurance that Crawley will continue to remain a focus of such support to combat serious offences?
I congratulate police and crime commissioner Katy Bourne; it is always a pleasure to work with her. That was one of 29 projects awarded a total of nearly £18 million from the early intervention youth fund. The project in Crawley helps engage positively with children under 18 at risk of committing serious violence. The project will establish a network of coaches, drawing together the various agencies working with those young people—again, very much underpinning our approach to tackling serious violence: that we should all be concerned about this matter and working together on it.
Ellie Reeves
(Lewisham West and Penge) (Lab)
The Home Office-funded Violence and Vulnerability Unit report of 2018 noted that a reduction in services that offer positive activities to young people, such as youth services and school clubs, has left a vacuum that gangs are moving into. Does the Minister agree that supporting vulnerable young people and protecting them from county lines requires a cross-departmental approach with funding to back it? That has all too often been missing under the austerity agenda.
I am pleased that the hon. Lady recently met my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary to discuss this issue. As she will know from the serious violence strategy, the taskforce and our intention to consult shortly on a public health duty, the Government take our work to tackle serious violence very seriously.
Order. The hon. Member for Colchester (Will Quince) was focused intently upon his electronic device, and I am sure he found it thoroughly captivating, but I gently point out to him that he has a question that is not unadjacent to that with which we are dealing now, and that he might care to shoehorn his inquiry into the present.
Will Quince
(Colchester) (Con)
No. 21, Mr Speaker.
No. What I mean is blurt it out now man!
21. Will the Minister join me in welcoming the £664,000 allocated to Essex from the Home Office early intervention youth fund? Will the Secretary of State keep the situation under review while ensuring that Essex police have the resources required to continue to tackle this issue? (908666)
I am delighted that Essex is one of 29 projects across the country that have received money under the early intervention youth fund. The project in Essex will help to support the violence and vulnerability project. As we know, it is the vulnerability of young people that often places them so starkly in the path of those gangsters who want to exploit them.
Dr Rosena Allin-Khan
(Tooting) (Lab)
After a worrying upward trend in violent crime in Tooting, I held a crime summit that brought together the police, local authorities and community groups. That kind of joined-up, multi-sector working is essential in tackling violent crime. Will the Minister tell me what the Government are doing to ensure that we work with local groups at the heart of the community to stamp out violent crime?
I am delighted that the hon. Lady has taken that approach in her constituency. I have to say that the Government are very much leading on it. I am delighted, for example, that the Mayor of London sits on the taskforce chaired by the Home Secretary. Our approach is that we cannot arrest our way out of this. We want to intervene at an early stage to stop these young people from getting into the clutches of these criminals in the first place.
T1. If he will make a statement on his departmental responsibilities. (908684)
The public testing phase of our EU settlement scheme was launched today. It is open to all resident EU citizens with a valid passport, allowing us to further test the scheme ahead of full roll-out by April.
We have also announced a significant increase in police funding for the next year. Police and crime commissioners are consulting on plans to recruit around 1,200 extra officers, which is potentially the biggest increase in officer numbers in 10 years.
Finally, we have published our draft domestic abuse Bill to support victims, tackle perpetrators and improve services.
Like me and many others in north Kirklees, the Home Secretary will have been shocked and concerned to hear last week about the 55 local arrests in relation to child sex abuse. This vital investigation will put extra strain on the police and the local authority, whose resources are already stretched to breaking point. Will the Home Secretary give my constituents a cast-iron guarantee that the police will have the resources they need to protect victims in the long and short term? Will he also ensure that the perpetrators are brought to justice, with which I am sure the House would agree?
The hon. Lady is absolutely right to raise that case. The Government, local police forces and others such as the National Crime Agency have a huge focus on child sexual exploitation and abuse. She has raised the horrific case in Kirklees. I assure her that we want to ensure that all the necessary resources are available. The recent police settlement for this year will certainly help, but there is more to be done, including with the tech giants and those who groom our children online.
(Thirsk and Malton) (Con)
T2. Will the Home Secretary join me in welcoming the High Court judgment in the Kotey-Elsheikh case—they are also known as the ISIS Beatles? Does he believe that the judgment vindicates the position he took in the face of fierce criticism in the House and further afield? (908685)
I, of course, welcome the High Court judgment, which upholds my decision on all grounds. I hope that hon. Members who at the time claimed that my decision was inconsistent with long-standing Government policy take their time to reflect on it. With the situation changing on the ground in Syria as we speak, I will do all I can to protect our country and to bring suspected terrorists to justice.
Carolyn Harris
(Swansea East) (Lab)
I am pleased that the Government have finally announced that they have introduced the draft domestic abuse Bill. Cross-examination of survivors by perpetrators will now be outlawed, but more scrutiny of the family courts is needed. Will the Minister commit to including in the Bill an independent inquiry into the culture, practice and outcomes of the family courts in connection with child contact cases, and to listening to the children?
I thank the hon. Lady for her great example of cross-party consensus, which is very much to be welcomed at the moment. It is great to hear that she welcomes the introduction of this important draft Bill. It is a draft Bill because we will have pre-legislative scrutiny of it, and the idea that she has suggested I am sure will be looked at by the Joint Committee.
(Congleton) (Con)
T4. Investigations by the Independent Office for Police Conduct can take many years, meaning that officers often put their lives on hold although two thirds of gross misconduct cases are subsequently not proven. Do Ministers share my concern about that, and what can be done to address it? (908687)
I certainly share my hon. Friend's concern. There is widespread frustration among our police officers about that. She will share my view that, obviously, robust investigation of misconduct is important, but we want the IOPC to focus on the most serious cases and to process those investigations faster. That is exactly what we see happening.
(Erith and Thamesmead) (Lab)
T3. The Home Office has a service standard to deal with indefinite leave to remain applications of six months, unless they are complex, when there is no timescale at all. Reviewing my casework, I noticed the worrying trend of cases being badged complex just before the six months, and therefore having no service standard at all. Will the Minister let me know the current percentage of applications that are badged complex compared with each of the previous eight years? (908686)
The hon. Lady asks a very specific question about figures. I am very conscious that service standards can sometimes drive behaviours that we would not want to see, with caseworkers deliberately choosing cases that are less complex to deliver. Sometimes it has been the case that complex cases have not received the attention that we want. We are working incredibly hard in UK Visas and Immigration, across the piece of visas and applications for asylum and leave to remain, to ensure that we drive down waiting times. If she would like to see me to discuss any particular cases, I will be delighted to talk to her about them.
T5. As the Minister might have seen, Oxford University recently suspended grants from telecoms firm Huawei due to security concerns. In the same week, Germany joined the growing number of our allies and intelligence partners by blocking the company from its 5G network. Will Britain take similar action? (908688)
My hon. Friend is right to raise this. A cross-Government approach is looking at safeguarding our telecoms networks. It would be inappropriate for me to mention any particular company by name, but I can say that I very much share her concerns and I believe that we should work with our allies on a co-ordinated approach.
Paula Sherriff
(Dewsbury) (Lab)
T7. Further to the question of my hon. Friend the Member for Batley and Spen (Tracy Brabin), last week we saw a further 55 arrests regarding historical and horrific child sexual offences in Kirklees. I have to press the Secretary of State: exactly when will we see the extra resources put into Kirklees so that those offences and others can be fully investigated and the victims of crime can have the necessary protection and support? (908691)
I want to make sure that police forces across the country, including West Yorkshire, have the resources that they need to deal with this priority. I am sure that the hon. Lady will welcome the draft police settlement, which I think has an additional almost £30 million for her local force, which will go to help with that absolute priority.
Julian Knight
(Solihull) (Con)
The percentage of convictions secured for domestic abuse is at its highest since 2010. What more can the Department do to ensure that we get more prosecutions and thereby more convictions?
I have listened carefully to what my hon. Friend said. The resources and the settlement that has been announced, with the additional almost £1 billion for police forces in England and Wales, will certainly help, but more can be done making sure that the police have the powers that they need.
Liz Twist
(Blaydon) (Lab)
T8. Last November, Tyne and Wear MPs joined together in Westminster Hall to raise the funding problems of the Tyne and Wear fire and rescue service. The Minister undertook to meet the chief fire officer. Will he update us on progress in resolving those problems? (908692)
I thank the hon. Lady—[Interruption]—and the House for that welcome. I recently met the leadership of Tyne and Wear, an excellently led force, and it will be receiving an increase in core spending of 1.5% this year. My undertaking to her, as to all fire chiefs, is that I will work with them to build the evidence base to put in a credible bid in next year's comprehensive spending review to make sure that our fire service continues to be well resourced and world-class.
T6. The domestic violence Bill really is an outstanding piece of legislation, and I am pleased it has been getting a warm welcome from both sides of the House, but I am hearing anecdotal evidence that the East Midlands Ambulance Service—and indeed Nottinghamshire police —is not properly using the existing laws. If that turns into hard evidence, would the Minister agree to meet to see what progress we can make? (908689)
I am extremely grateful to my right hon. Friend for raising this point, and I pay tribute to my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister, for whom this Bill and helping victims of domestic abuse are a personal priority. I would be delighted to meet my right hon. Friend, not least because we share the same ambulance service, and I would like it to be doing right by victims of domestic abuse.
(Bethnal Green and Bow) (Lab)
T9. The Government have cut 21,000 police officers, which is the cause of violent crime doubling. Knife crime and antisocial behaviour have brought misery and terror to our communities. Is it not time the Home Secretary got a grip on law and order and invested in our police service before he fast becomes known as the Home Secretary for crime and disorder? (908693)
The hon. Lady will know that action is required on many fronts to fight the rise in serious violence, and that is why we have our serious violence strategy, which includes more than 60 different measures. On resources, if that is what she really believes, the best thing is for her to support the Government's police settlement.
Ms Esther McVey
(Tatton) (Con)
I, too, welcome the Government's domestic abuse Bill and the announcements today. Will the Minister meet me to discuss issues of continuing emotional abuse where a couple have divorced but share the parenting of their children? Constituents of mine in that situation have some very practical suggestions for reducing such emotional bullying.
Very much so. The Bill is just part of our response to tackling domestic abuse; there is a range of non-legislative measures as well. Including emotional abuse in the definition of domestic abuse will help victims of this terrible crime, and I would be delighted to meet my right hon. Friend.
Jamie Stone
(Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD)
In the remotest parts of the United Kingdom, EU health workers are filling vital roles that might otherwise remain unfilled. Will the Government assure me that these crucial people will be allowed to remain at no cost to themselves?
The hon. Gentleman will know that, in the second private beta testing phase of the EU settled status scheme, we made a political priority of those working in NHS trusts and the universities sector. He is absolutely right to point out the vital role that EU citizens play within our health service, and of course he will have heard the Home Secretary and I say repeatedly that we want them stay and are determined to make it as easy as possible for them to do so.
(Corby) (Con)
People in Corby and east Northamptonshire want to see more police out on the beat, catching criminals and deterring crime. What difference does my right hon. Friend believe the additional funding recently announced will make to achieving that objective?
We are proposing the biggest increase in police funding since 2010. Almost every force in the country is now actively recruiting and delivering what the public want, which is more officers on the streets and more investigators bearing down on crime.
The National newspaper this morning reports on a female constituent who has been detained and is due to be removed tomorrow despite court papers having been lodged at the Court of Session at the start of the month. Is this the hostile environment in action, and either way will the Minister meet me urgently so that we can secure the immediate release of this constituent?
I am, of course, very happy to meet the hon. Gentleman to discuss this case. He will be conscious that it would be inappropriate for me to discuss it on the Floor of the House, but I will meet him privately immediately afterwards.
Helen Whately
(Faversham and Mid Kent) (Con)
In the coming months, fruit farmers in my constituency plan to welcome thousands of migrant workers from the European Union. Will my right hon. Friend assure me that, in the event of a no-deal Brexit, these workers will still be able to come to make sure we can pick and pack our fruit?
My hon. Friend will be aware that, in addition to the rights of EU citizens, which we have secured, we are also piloting a seasonal agricultural workers scheme for those in the soft fruit and growing industries, about which she has spoken to me several times. I am happy to reassure her that we wish that pilot to be successful and will work with her growers to make sure it is.
James Frith
(Bury North) (Lab)
Mrs Amodio and her husband came to live in Bury over 60 years ago. Mrs Amodio had to sign the Official Secrets Act when she worked at Bury police station. Now retired, she and her husband have been told by this Government to register, apply and pay for settled status. She feels unwelcomed and angry. Will the Secretary of State confirm this policy, and what has he to say to them? Does he agree that we become lesser versions of ourselves as a country with such mean-spirited policies?
The Government have made it absolutely clear that we welcome all EU citizens who have made their homes here and have contributed so much to our nation. We want to have a scheme in place that shows they are welcome, and we will reflect on what is being said and see how we can continue to improve the scheme.


O n Friday, 2nd March 2012 people from around the world will celebrate the Women's World Day of Prayer with a service by the Christian women of Malaysia.
Our local ecumenical service will be held on Friday, 2nd March at 7.30pm in St. Mary's Church, Mellor.
Although organised and led by women and girls, this is a day of prayer for everybody – men, women and young people are all welcome at the service and to join us for .refreshments afterwards.
We meet this year in the Narthex of St. Mary's Church at 12.45pm(following the Lent Service) for lunch before taking a shortened version of the Service to local care homes – if anyone would like to come for lunch and join us as we visit one of the homes please speak to Margaret Baldwin 812360 or Rita Gorman 812566.


text:
Athens: Responsibility claim for arson attack on ministerial building in the neighbourhood of Neos Kosmos
April 19, 2012 by actforfreedom | 0 comments
http://en.contrainfo
'Among so many nights, so many rocks, so many killed – s/he said –
you, Revolution, opened up the wide avenues for a universal meeting. […]
If nothing else we gained – s/he said – at least we learned
that we shall meet tomorrow.'
Yannis Ritsos, No Politics
We claim responsibility for the attack of April 9th, 2012, on the building that housed the Special Secretariat of Public Administration and Electronic Government, located on the corner of Kallirrois and Theofilopoulou streets in Neos Kosmos ('New World', in the southwestern part of the city of Athens).
The Special Secretariat of Public Administration and Electronic Government is empowered to manage 'malfunctions' of public administration in terms of shaping and implementing the state policy on human resources, structures and systems of the public sector. Recently, PASOK MP and current minister of Administrative Reform and e-Government Dimitris Reppas, along with the rest of the heads of executive ministries, took part in discussions with the IMF/ECB/EU Troika on labour issues, such as layoffs and suspension of staff, as well as working conditions in the public sector (wage cuts and flexibilization of working hours).
We integrate our attack into the context of practical resistance against structures of dominance, seeking to contribute towards that end, which will lead to an ultimate deconstruction of the existent.
The dominance is watching the social consensus' destabilization, at a rapid pace, as a result of the generalized systemic crisis, and knowing that the social–class struggles are increasingly intensifying the forms of resistance, not only aims at the military destruction of revolutionary forces and every single fighter, but also seeks the de-signification of the fight itself and its ultimate assimilation by the very system. It is the revolutionary movement's duty to transform this entire process under a rebellious perspective, keeping an open war against the State and the Capital, and constantly highlighting the political and classist features of the crisis nowadays. The formation of a front without tutelage from the ranks of the oppressed will eventually build levees against the plans promoted by the dominance, having the ultimate aim of social revolution for the overthrow of capitalism, which is able of being reproduced through its destructive and inhumane structure and function.
Functional and basic cell of this front is the revolutionary violence, a political choice that is neither an end in itself, nor an existential outlet for the fulfillment of (self-)referentiality, but is used as a liberating means of struggle against the violence of the capitalist edifice. State violence is a daily condition of capitalist society. It is expressed on many levels and in all aspects of everyday life. It is demonstrated directly, by the obvious, the repressive state apparatuses of army and cops, but also indirectly, by labour coercion, the relationship between employment and consumption, the standardization of everyday life, social inequalities, racial segregation, poverty and wretchedness.
Analyzing today's conditions and making retrospection to the history of capitalism, our political projectuality becomes much clearer now in the eyes of every individual: Capitalism must be overthrown. Only then will capitalism stop being reproduced through its crises, by which it can shape new relentless living conditions. Real freedom will emerge where there will be no coercion, where work will not be converted into a commodity but will stand as an end in itself and a means allowing each person to express their creative abilities. Thus, only by promoting capitalism's overthrow, through the social revolution, will we be able to move towards a classless society, of equality and freedom.
We dedicate this blow to the four fighters, comrades Kostas Sakkas, Giorgos Karagiannidis, Alexandros Mitroussias and Stella Antoniou, who are being held in pretrial detention since December 4th, 2010. The first three have gone on hunger strike demanding the release of the anarchist comrade Stella Antoniou on health grounds, as well as the lifting of the new vindictive prosecutions against them.
Revolutionary Action
Categories: Sabotage & Attack | Tags: Alexandros Mitroussias, anarchists, anti-capitalist campaign, April, arson attack, class war, GIORGOS KARAGIANNIDIS, hunger strike, KOSTAS SAKKAS, labour reform, ministry, Neos Kosmos, public sector, resistance, social revolution, Solidarity, Stella Antoniou | Permalink

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


CLIVE CHRISTIAN is a British luxury interiors and perfume company. Identica commissioned Chris Mitchell to redraw their client's much loved, historic Coat of Arms. In order to feature on the CLIVE CHRISTIAN perfume packaging to best advantage, Chris redrew the original Coat of Arms as a hand crafted beautiful vector illustration, in full colour and single colour. Craft diligence was rewarded as shown in the majestic gold fleck embossed printing on packaging.


text:
Showing posts with the label Department of Finance
CROOKS IN SUITS STEALING FROM PLANNING (Evidence included)
The mounting trend of corruption at the National Planning Department remains unabated as Secretary Koney Samuel and his FAS – Corporate Services Division, Loma Pamea collaborate and collude to loot and rob the Department mercilessly. The few reported cases of fraudulent payments and corrupt deals by the two senior officers are believed to be only a tip of ice-bag. You could recall a K2 million cheque payment was reported to have been released in late 2018 to the Southern Highl ands Provincial Treasury, implying an element of strong intention to defraud the State through collusion and conspiracy by the two senior officers in connection with the handling of the payment. In that case, Secretary Koney Samuel and the FAS Loma Pamea were believed to have collaborated and colluded to fraudulently initiate, approve and release the K2 million payment knowing too well K1 million portion would eventually be transferred from the transiting Southern Highlands Provincial Government Ac
PNG STRONGLY DEFENDS WITHHOLDING OF IMF ARTICLE IV REPORT TO COVER FOR MISSING K6.3 BILLION KINA
by PAUL FLANAGAN SUMMARY The IMF report indicates the O'Neill government has overstated the growth rate in the PNG economy by 12.7 percentage points during its term. Primarily by 5.9 percentage points in 2014 and a further 5.2 percentage points in 2015 (see graph below). The IMF indicates the PNG economy is K6.3 billion smaller in 2017 than claimed by the government (and K5.4 billion smaller in 2016). This means the debt to GDP ratio is 33.5% in both 2016 and 2017 according to the IMF – above the 30% limit set in the Fiscal Responsibility Act. The greatest concerns about economic management relate to BPNG's control of the foreign exchange rate and reserves with more breaches of international norms than admitted. The Governor of the BPNG should explain serious discrepancies between his statements on 25 January (full page adds in the local press on 26 Janaury) and what the IMF report actually stated on 27 January (see below). While commending the government for its actions in
GOVERNMENT SPENT K10 BILLION ILLEGALLY THIS YEAR
by PNGBLOGS Prime Minister Peter O'Neill and Treasurer Patrick Pruaitch have been caught out in a massive Constitutional breach over state borrowings and repayment of the national debt in 2015 and 2016. Their failure to comply with Section 209 of the Constitution means all domestic debt – Treasury Bills and Inscribed Stock - issued in both years, and repayment of that debt, is technically illegal. The unlawful amount involved will be about K10 billion by the end of this year. The Constitutional breach and the failure to acknowledge and correct it highlights the incompetence and lack of integrity of the Prime Minister and Treasurer. It highlights the complete disregard by the Prime Minister and his Regime for the laws of Papua New Guinea, including the Mama Law. The Constitutional breach was identified by blogger Kessy Sawang, a financial analyst and former Deputy Commissioner of Papua New Guinea Customs Service, and Head of Secretariat of the Tax Review Se
"BRING YOUR FILES TO COURT" - MARAPE
by JAMES MARAPE MP Good evening all who are friends with me on FB. My last FB post was in my disgust in the manner in which Paul Paraka Lawyers (PP lawyers) without conscience to the harm they do to name and reputation of others continue to bring in questionable claims for settlement by State. Today ( 1st of March 2016) PP lawyers asks me to apologize and withdraw the statement I wrote on the basis that they had secretly without many of us knowing, had a Supreme Court order of 11 July 2014, in the decision of their 2006/2007 matter against state ( SCR 15 of 2006 and SCR 3 of 2007). His letter reminded me and I quote him " Order # 3 all persons or parties connected directly or indirect in respect of all matters emanating or arising from the investigation and disputes over the PP legal bills, including those involved in the relevant court proceedings, police investigations and members of the public at large are restrained and prohibited from making or publishing any m
BREAKING NEWS: PAUL PARAKA SEEKS K24 MILLION PAYMENTS
by STEVEN ANDRE The law firm at the centre of fraud allegations involving the Prime Minister and many other high-ranking people in PNG is 'striking again'. In a letter dated 26 th January 2016, Paul Paraka writes to Secretary for Finance, Dr Ken Ngangen, for some outstanding payments of K24.1 million. The bills comprised of a K12.940 million principal amount as purportedly confirmed by two National Court Orders in 2007 and interest component of K11.170 million. Mr Paraka claims that the bills were cleared by the Solicitor General in 2005 and two National Court orders subsequently confirmed it. He claims that the bills were not paid in the past because there were some Supreme Court cases pending and now that the cases had been concluded in July 2014, the Department of Finance is legally obliged to make these payments, failure to which would result in contempt of court proceedings. Mr Paraka refers to a letter by the Attorney General Ano Pala dated 6 th July 2014 to then Co
LAWYER FELIX KANGE AND HIS CORRUPT MILLIONS
POST COURIER Department of Finance officials received more than K2 million in "consultation" fees in a case that has landed a private lawyer in hot water. According to documents tendered in the Waigani National Court, the payments were made by the lawyer to facilitate the release of two cheques, which were the payments for the East Awin land in the North Fly District of Western Province. This land was bought by the National Government in 1983 to resettle the West Papuan refugees and the payments were made in 2008 with the first K4 million released in January and another K6.8 million in December, from which the landowners received K1.4 million. The landowners from the Homuku, Pesegai, Witigi Kukub, Witime, Yesa. Ukya, Kuse Ide, Kuga and Modia Kuga clans sued their lawyer Felix Kange of Kange Lawyers early this year for the balance of their money. The matter had gone before National Court Judge, Justice Ambang Kandakasi who ordered the Kange and another defendant,


text:
(510) 865-7350 Mon - Fri 08:30 a.m. - 05:00 p.m.
Gregory A. Silva
Robyn S. Ginney
Sarah Schulze
Pre-Divorce or Pre-Marital Planning
Child and Spousal Support
Crab Cove Visitor Center
Beautiful beaches left as nature meant them, it's increasingly rare in America; but California is still known for its natural beauty. An example of a California's natural beauty can be seen at the Crab Cove Visitor Center in Alameda, CA. Located at 1231 McKay Ave, Alameda, CA 94501, this beach is one of the best settings in the state where you can put your mind at ease, relax, and take in all that the west coast has to offer. Here's all about the Crab Cove Visitor Center, from past to present in all of its natural glory.
Even as far back as the end of the 19th century, the beach where the Crab Cove Visitor Center now sits was a hot spot for visitors. Back then, it was apart of what's known as Neptune Beach, where people from around the Alameda area flocked to behold the natural sights and environments of the beach. Being such a popular spot made businesses follow the crowd to the beach, where they employed every sort of trick from concerts to balloon rides to get an edge over their competition while trying to dominate the beach-driven commerce.
But the fun and games would take its toll on the environment, which is what necessitated a restoration project for the beach. Starting in the 1980s and again in the 2010s, major efforts were put forth to restore the beaches that had almost completely eroded. By building a series of groins and by moving countless tens of thousands of cubic yards of sand, local efforts managed to restore the beach to its relatively natural state.
The beach is now named after one of its biggest advocates, assemblyman Robert W. Crown. Crown was tragically killed in a traffic accident, and in honor of his efforts for the area, the beach was renamed to Crown Memorial State Beach. Crown saw the importance of the beach to the local area and went great lengths to preserve the 2.5 mile stretch of land. It might be thanks to his efforts more than others that projects were started to protect and preserve the parkland.
At the Crab Cove Visitor Center on the beach, there are several public attractions that entertain and educate Californians. Exhibits here display the history of the beach and tell about the aquatic life in the local area through interactive displays. An 800-gallon aquarium lets visitors get an up-close look at various examples of sea animals from the local waters. Educational programs are hosted here for school children that inform them of the environment and the importance of nature.
In a lot of ways, Crown Memorial State Beach can tell you about California's constant fight to preserve nature. This fight rewards us with the preservation of beautiful beaches that will continue to be enjoyed for generations. Certainly, it's worth stopping by the Crab Cove Visitor Center if you're in the area to have a look at what this precious beach is all about. It's a classic spot in the Alameda area that has been at the heart of their culture for ages.
Getting to Silva & Associates from Crab Cove Visitor Center
via Constitution Way
Head north on McKay Ave
Take Constitution Way to Mariner Square Dr
Turn right onto Central Ave
Turn left onto 8th St
Continue onto Constitution Way
Keep right to continue on Mariner Square Dr
Turn right onto Marina Village Pkwy
Turn right
Slight right
Divorce can be complicated. We can handle it.
info@silva-lawoffice.com
1301 Marina Village Parkway, Suite 330, Alameda, CA 94501
Guardianships / Conservatorships
© 2020 Silva & Associates. All Rights Reserved. Terms and Conditions | Privacy Policy


text:
Weekend Warrior's Guide To Montalban
Bernard L Supetran
Every urbanite look forward to Saturdays to unwind after a weeklong toil in the concrete jungle. And every true-blue adventurer would seek solace in nature—hike the mountains or soak in a body of water, be it a sea, falls or river.
Just half an hour away away at the eastern doorstep of the metropolis is Rodriguez town (formerly Montalban), Rizal province, often overlooked by the executive class looking for glitzy hotels and restaurants. The good thing is that this old-time getaway is unbelievably inexpensive and you can enjoy an eventful weekend even if payday is still somewhere down the road.
Here are some of the must-see places of this leisure and adventure weekend haunt.
1. Pamitinan Protected Landscape
Montalban's iconic attraction, the place is loosely called "Wawa", named after the sitio of Bgy. San Rafael where the twin mountains of Pamitinan and Binacayan proudly stand. According to Pinoy folklore, this twin peak is where the legendary giant Bernardo Carpio was trapped and prevented them from colliding. The 608-hectare Instagrammable Landscape covers Montalban Gorge, the Pamitinan Cave where Andres Bonifacio together with 7 Katipuneros declared independence from Spain on April 12, 1895, a year before the Philippine Revolution broke out. The cave still bears Bonifacio's inscription of "Viva La Independencia De Filipinas" in one of the chambers. The mountain is also a favorite for rock climbers because of its limestone crags and breath-taking panorama at the top. A recognizable feature in the area is the American-era Wawa Dam which used to provide water supply to Manila until 1962. The dam is ideal for picnics, bathing and hydromassage. You can also do a river cruise and interact with the Dumagat tribesmen as boatmen and tour guides.
Mounts Binacayan and Pamitinan | Photo by Jojo Dueñas
2. Mountaineering
Montalban, which incidentally means "white mountain", is an outdoors person's paradise with its array of mountains which are ideal even for greenhorns. Among the peaks worth conquering are Hapunang Banoy, Paruwagan, Susong Dalaga, and Balagbag, which is part of the Sierra Madre range. If it's your lucky day, you might spend a good portion of your trek spotting TV, movie and sports celebrities along the way. Tucked within those mountains are caves with amazing stalactice at stalagmite formations.
Puray Falls
3. Waterfalls
While scaling mountains, you might as well do a related adventure—chasing waterfalls—which abound in the town because of its rugged terrain. Dip in the rejuvenating ice-cold pools from the falls of Puray, Biteng Uhay, Payaran, Tu-Ay, and Karugo tucked in the lush vegetation which shuts you off from the outside world.
Avilon Zoo bird show
4. Avilon Zoo
Foray into this man-made safari, which is perhaps the biggest and best in the country. This 7.5-hectare animal park started in 1992 by Joaquin Gaw as an offshoot of his hobby of collecting exotic animals. A good number of these animals were imported from various countries, with the zoo built painstakingly built over a period of years before being opened to the public. It boasts a collection of nearly 3,000 animals comprising of 500 species, which include, mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fishes, and plants with emphasis on Philippine endemic species. A much-awaited activity is the regular bird show which is usually done for groups.
Coco Mountain Resort
Rancho Luisito Resort
5. Inland Resorts
If you are with kids, you can cool off in the scores of resorts which are surprisingly innovative and to some extent, sophisticated. Among the noteworthy resorts are Costa Abril known for its wave pool, Rancho Luisito for its zipline, giant pail and slides, and outdoor wall, and Noah's Park for its hanging bridges and team-building facilities. Coco Mountain, themed like an Australian surf camp, is a favorite chill out place for its grilled specialties and open-air bar fronting a stunning mountainscape.
7. Hilltop View
Get a commanding view of the undulating terrain of Montalban and neighboring towns at night at Hilltop Garden, a Greek-motifed events place, which has a gazebo for social events and a spacious one-bedroom suite for overnight stay.
Kristal-G Chef's Special Pizza
6. Food Trip
It might not be your ideal destination for gourmet food, but Montalban surely has a couple of interesting homegrown dining outlets you can write home about. Kristal-G Ristorante which serves Italian-Filipino Cuisine and all-time favorites is a hands-down choice for its cozy interiors, good food, and acoustic music. Its sister café, Coffee & Pastry Shop by Chef G, is the local brand where you should get your caffeine fix. Tia Goye Kutsinta is one of the oldest and most recognizable stores in town which offers the famous Pinoy kakanin—kutsinta and bibingka galapong—which is perhaps the best-tasting you can sink your teeth into. Ivy Kris looks like the typical airconditioned canteen, but wait till you have sampled their dishes, especially its desserts like halayang ube, cassava cake and leche flan, and merienda food like puto pao, palabok and halo-halo. A local favorite is a nondescript carinderia in Bgy. San Rafael called "tilapyaan" which only offers sinigang na tilapia for lunch. There are also a couple of kambingan eateries which serve an assortment of goat dishes such as papaitan and kaldereta.
Street Dance reliving Bernardo Carpio's legend
7. Festivals
Aside from weekends, the best time to visit is during tourist events where is an array of activities where you can mingle with the locals. Pamitinan Festival, held on the third week of December, which celebrates the municipal foundation day of Montalban is worth looking forward to with the motocross tournament, Hammock Festival, and the street dance showdown depicting the legend of Bernardo Carpio. Manggagawa Festival is a local fest on May 1 in honor of St. Joseph the Worker, patron of Bgy. San Jose, and features street dancing competition where laborers and the barangay's way of life are highlighted. For history buffs, there are commemorative events every April 12 and November 30 at Pamitinan Cave to memorialize the libertarian legacy of Andres Bonifacio.
8. Rodriguez House
Take a glimpse of the ancestral home of the eminent Senate President and statesman, Eulogio "Amang" Rodriguez, whom the town is named after. Built in the traditional Spanish bahay na bato (stone house) architecture, this so-called "living museum" has undergone very little physical repair over the decades, and is inhabited by the descendants of late patriarch of the political clan. The mansion showcases his memorabilia including a portraits, personal effects and vintage car at the ground floor.
For more information, contact Rodriguez-Montalban Tourism on Facebook.
montalban


The Brew in a Bag method is a technique that combines all the steps of all grain brewing into one vessel, saving on time, floor space and expense. This kit includes all the crushed malt, hops and yeast you need to make 3 US gallons (11.4L) of Irish Red ale with your BIAB setup.
Click here for full recipe instructions.
Irish Red Ales are known for being a smooth, easy-drinking malt-forward ale with a universal appeal. A base of 2-row barley with a blend of four specialty malts creates a complex character finished with the subtle earthiness of US Goldings hops.
Tasty enough but don't think I would make it again.


Bioware holds to its promise to release its upcoming MMO in 2011, with only 11 days to spare.
After what seems like ages, Bioware has finally bitten the bullet and announced the final release dates in North America and Europe for the long-awaited and much anticipated The Old Republic.
On December 20 (just five days before Christmas; I guess Bioware isn't banking too much on huge holiday sales) the game will be released in the US and Canada, and two days later across the pond in Europe.
The subscription price is nothing terribly surprising, and in fact has the exact same pricing structure as the game that will (as always) be the MMO's primary competitor: World of Warcraft. So that's $14.99 a month, $41.97 for three months, and $77.94 for a six month subscription. Translated for those readers of a more European persuasion, that's €12.99, €35.97, and €65.94 respectively.
I'm not sure what will be more heartbreaking: the crushed spirits of unfortunate gamers unable to get their mitts on a copy of the game when it is released, or the downtrodden and pitiful expressions on the faces of countless family members when gamers ditch Christmas in favor of lightsabers and Wookies.


2.0 (Hindi) has shown good hold on second day (Friday) at box office as early trends for the day is coming in. Film has registered an occupancy drop of around 15-20% in comparison to first day. This kind of drop is acceptable as today is a normal working day.
Good hold on Friday also means film has a good chance now of showing jump on Saturday and may be further jump on Sunday. This means a good to very good extended first weekend total is on cards.
2.0 opened to around 25-30% occupancy in Morning shows today. Film showed minimal jump in Noon to register occupancy of 30-35%. Film however registered big growth from Evening onward. This is a good sign and it means family audiences are coming out to watch the film. As per latest film is reporting an occupancy of 60% which is same as day one.
Early trends suggest, film second day business is heading towards 16-17 crore nett mark. These are early estimates from limited samples right now. Still lot of shows are left for the day and also major interior reports are awaited for the day. Hence, final count will vary accordingly.
Not good enough for a big film.
first day 20 second day 15 crore four day weekend total 65-70 crore lifetime will be 120 max. distribution rights of hindi version sold on 80 crore. verdict flop.
Khans ki movie hoti, tab ye comment nahi karta tu. That's typical from u guys.
It's good sign for non holiday film.saturday & Sunday Hugh collection possible.
People may be waiting to watch at weekend Saturday and Sunday.
I have a feeling Saturday and Sunday could be huge collection.
Lol people are so eager to blame Akshay. If it had broken some records then Akshay wouldn't have got any credit.
Normal day late advance booking bla bla bla.. What a excuse before releasing people expecting it will break BB2 hindi Record BB2 also no holiday. Again Akshay fail in North belt being a huge budget film with huge hype wom review all positive still less business than first day is clearly indication people not interested such Hollywood copy type film... Saturday Sunday Monday will crash next week kedarnath will take some screen of 2.0.
It was never going to break Bahubali 2 record. Craze pf Bahubali 2 was on an another level.
Akshay in a big budget movie never works.
I was expecting atleast 45 crores in 2 days and 90 crores extenede weekend but this is beyond science.
39 cr in two days is decent considering it's weekdays. Saturday 25cr and Sunday 35 cr will make 100 cr in 4 days. 150 cr in first week and 250 cr lifetime is achievable. BLOCKBUSTER!
115 crore gross worldwide on opening day. Single day 100 crore + worldwide gross. Aamir Khan + Salman Khan combined cannot do that. First bahubali 2 and now 2.0 south is ruling. Bollywood make good movies or stop making it. Now name doesn't matter whether you are salman aur aamir. Content is the king.


text:
Accounting and AuditingSecurities
SEC to scrutinize company accounting for impact of climate
In February, then-Acting SEC Chair Allison Lee directed the staff of Corp Fin, in connection with the disclosure review process, to "enhance its focus on climate-related disclosure in public company filings," starting with the extent to which public companies address the topics identified in the interpretive guidance the staff issued regarding climate change in 2010. (See this PubCo post.) In March, the SEC announced the creation of a new Climate and ESG Task Force in the Division of Enforcement. (See this PubCo post.) How else does this new ESG focus play out? On Wednesday, Bloomberg reported, Lindsay McCord, Corp Fin Chief Accountant, in remarks to the Baruch College spring financial reporting conference, said that the SEC staff are also "scrutinizing how public companies account for climate-related risks and impacts to their business based on existing accounting rules." So, in addition to refreshing their understandings of the 2010 guidance, companies will also need to take a hard look at the how environmental issues could affect their financials.
Cydney Posner	on May 6, 2021
Yesterday, as reported by Reuters and the WSJ, SEC Chair Gary Gensler told the House of Representatives Financial Services Committee, in a hearing focused primarily on stock market volatility and gamification, that he expected the SEC to propose new rules on corporate climate risk disclosures in the second half of 2021, after weighing public comment it sought earlier this year.
According to McCord, as they conduct reviews of SEC filings, the staff will consider the impact of environmental matters in the application of current accounting standards, such as the standards for asset retirement, environmental obligations and loss contingencies. In that regard, at the same conference, Acting SEC Chief Accountant Paul Munter referred the audience to FASB guidance, issued in March, regarding the intersection of ESG and financial accounting standards, which addresses accounting as well as management disclosures. In that guidance, the FASB staff set the stage by observing that
"[w]hen applying financial accounting standards, an entity may consider the effects of certain material ESG matters, similar to how an entity considers other changes in its business and operating environment that have a material direct or indirect effect on the financial statements and notes thereto. Some industries may be more affected than others (for example, some industries may be more affected by certain environmental matters, such as changes in environmental regulations). The way in which an entity may consider the effects of ESG matters varies based on the accounting standard being applied and the nature and significance of the ESG matter. Some ESG matters may directly affect amounts reported and disclosed in the financial statements, for example, through the recognition and measurement of compensation expense. Other ESG matters may indirectly affect the financial statements; for example, an entity may suffer reputational damage from an environmental contamination that reduces sales. Other ESG matters may not have any material effect on the financial statements. In addition, an entity may consider certain ESG matters as an input to an accounting analysis; for example, a material decline in demand during the reporting period may be a consideration when estimating future cash flows used in a long-lived asset or goodwill impairment analysis. Lastly, risks and opportunities related to ESG matters may have an unfavorable, favorable, or neutral effect on financial statements."
As discussed below, the FASB guidance addresses a number of GAAP topics and provides illustrative examples of how they might "intersect" with ESG.
Going concern. Management is required to evaluate regularly whether there is substantial doubt about an entity's ability to continue as a going concern within one year. In a "going-concern" evaluation, in addition to other relevant material factors, the new FASB guidance indicates that management "may consider the effects of environmental matters (for example, increased compliance costs related to enacted emissions regulations)."
Risks and uncertainties. Existing FASB guidance requires qualitative disclosure about risks and uncertainties that could significantly affect the amounts reported in the financial statements in the near term (one year or less). Unsurprisingly, this new staff guidance suggests that a company may determine that environmental matters present material risks to the company in the near term and, therefore, may need to provide disclosures under that guidance. In addition, disclosure may be required regarding significant estimates that may be particularly sensitive to change. If it is reasonably possible that assumptions about the future will result in a material change to the carrying amount of assets and liabilities in the near term, the company may need to disclose the nature of the uncertainty and indicate that it is at least reasonably possible that the estimate will change in the near term. Companies are encouraged to disclose the factors that could cause the estimate to change, as well as any risk reduction techniques (such as insurance).
Inventory. Inventory that is measured using a method other than LIFO or the retail inventory method is subsequently valued at the lower of cost and net realizable value. The guidance provides that estimates of "net realizable value could be materially affected by, for example, a regulatory change that renders inventories obsolete, a significant weather event that causes physical damage to inventories, a decrease in demand for an entity's goods resulting from changes in consumer behavior or an increase in completion costs because of raw material sourcing constraints."
Impairment. The guidance states that the direct or indirect effects of an environmental matter could give rise to an impairment of intangibles, such as goodwill or other indefinite-lived intangibles, as well as tangible assets. For example, the guidance provides that changes in environmental regulations could adversely affect an entity's operations or could affect the assumptions used to calculate fair value. Environmental matters could also affect the estimated useful life of a finite-lived intangible asset, such as client relationships or developed technologies. For example, a more energy-efficient product could have been developed in replacement of a legacy product based on a less energy-efficient technology, or a green technology may have been acquired but may not have been as successful commercially as expected. Tangible assets, such as property, plant and equipment, are subject to depreciation. In that case, the estimated salvage value or useful life of those assets could be affected by the introduction of more energy-efficient products. In addition, when impairment indicators are present, a long-lived asset must be evaluated for recoverability. Environmental matters that could indicate impairment of a manufacturing plant might include, for example, material declines in market demand for products or changes in regulations that adversely affect the company.
Contingencies/asset retirement obligations. The guidance addresses environmental matters in the context of loss and gain contingencies. When accounting for environmental obligations, the company is required to consider relevant regulatory, legal and contractual requirements. Although general or unspecified business risks are not eligible for loss contingency accruals, certain environmental obligations, such as "regulatory requirements to remediate land contamination or fines imposed by the government for failure to meet emissions targets," could require accruals, obligating the company to disclose the nature of the contingency as well as, where applicable, that the amount accrued could change in the near term. For unrecognized loss contingencies, the company must estimate the possible loss or range of losses or state that an estimate could not be made. Environmental matters could also affect the accounting for asset retirement obligations, such as "those related to (a) a legal obligation to remove a toxic waste storage facility at the end of its useful life or (b) a regulatory requirement to decommission a nuclear power plant or an offshore drilling platform." Gain contingencies, such as a potential insurance recovery, are typically not recognized "until all contingencies are resolved and the amount is realized or realizable."
Tax/Other. Environmental regulations could affect estimates of future taxable income, for example, where costs are projected to increase to comply with environmental regulations. Environmental matters could also affect fair value measurements as well as accounting measurements under various industry guidance.
Posted in: Accounting and Auditing, Securities
Tagged in: climate change financial impact, fasb
Under Armour's failure to disclose order "pull forwards" comes under fire at the SEC
Tackling the underrepresentation of women of color on boards