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PRESS RELEASE : New protest laws on face coverings and pyrotechnics [February 2024]

The press release issued by the Home Office on 8 February 2024.

Police will be given powers to arrest protesters who wear face coverings to threaten others and avoid prosecution, and pyrotechnics will be banned at protests.

The new laws will crack down on dangerous disorder, following warnings from police chiefs that some protesters are using face coverings to conceal their identities, not only to intimidate the law-abiding majority, but also to avoid criminal convictions.

Whilst police already have powers to ask individuals to remove these at designated protests, where police believe criminality is likely to occur, this new offence will empower officers to arrest individuals who disregard their orders, with those who flout the rules facing a month behind bars and a £1,000 fine.

Flares and other pyrotechnics will also be banned from protests, and protesters will no longer be able to cite the right to protest as a reasonable excuse to get away with disruptive offences, such as blocking roads.

Flares and other pyrotechnics have been used during recent large scale protests, including being fired at police officers, posing significant risk of injury. The new offence will make the possession of flares, fireworks and any other pyrotechnics at public processions and assemblies for protest illegal. Perpetrators may be forced to pay a £1,000 fine.

The measures, which will be introduced in the Criminal Justice Bill, will also make climbing on war memorials a specific public order offence, carrying a 3 month sentence and a £1,000 fine. This comes after recent incidents where individuals have broken away from large protests and scaled national monuments, demonstrating brazen disrespect to those who have given their lives for this country.

Alongside the new offences, the ability to use the right to protest as a reasonable or lawful excuse to commit some crimes would also be removed, ensuring that protest is not used as a defence for criminality such as obstructing public highways, locking on, as well as public nuisance.

Home Secretary James Cleverly said:

Recent protests have seen a small minority dedicated to causing damage and intimidating the law-abiding majority.

The right to protest is paramount in our county, but taking flares to marches to cause damage and disruption is not protest, it is dangerous.

That is why we are giving police the powers to prevent any of this criminality on our streets.

National Police Chiefs’ Council Lead for Public Order, Chief Constable BJ Harrington said:

We welcome the proposal to create new offences relating to war memorials and flares, as well as making it clear that covering your face at a protest to conceal identity is not acceptable.

These changes are in line with conversations that we have had with the Home Office to ensure that we have the powers that we need to get balance right between the rights of those who wish to protest, and those impacted by them.

Thankfully, the use of flares and pyrotechnics at public order events is rare, but they are still extremely dangerous. Safety is our number one concern when policing these events, and the effective banning of these items during protests can only help in our mission to ensure that they take place without anyone coming to any harm.

As with all policing powers, these new powers will be used when appropriate, proportionate, and necessary to achieve policing objectives.

Policing is not anti-protest, but there is a difference between protest and criminal activism, and we are committed to responding quickly and effectively to activists who deliberately disrupt people’s lives with reckless and criminal acts.

The College of Policing’s Chief Constable, Andy Marsh, said:

I welcome the new offences this legislation will provide the officers who are policing protests and working hard, in complex environments, to keep people safe.

The safety of both those protesting and others nearby trying to go about their business is the top priority and our training and guidance focuses on balancing the rights of those protesting with the rights of those affected. The new legislation is now clear that protest is not an excuse for serious disruption.

As with previous changes the College of Policing will work quickly to provide practical advice, training and support for policing to utilise these new powers.

Speaking to police chiefs at a roundtable on Tuesday (6 February), the Home Secretary thanked the police for the efforts and successes they have made in keeping the public safe during recent protests.

Since 7 October 2023, there have been more than 1,000 protests and vigils, with more than 26,000 police officer shifts between 7 October and 17 December alone, and 600 arrests.

The Home Secretary called on chiefs to continue to use all the powers at their disposal to maintain order as they meet the evolving challenges.

The measures announced today (8 February 2024) are part of the government’s ongoing crack down on disruptive protest and follow legislation passed last year which criminalises actions such as ‘locking on’ and given police the ability to stop and search protesters for items such as padlocks and superglue, if they suspect they are setting out to cause chaos.

The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 also made it easier to tackle public nuisance caused by protesters. The government is working positively with the police to ensure the powers they have to maintain order are effective and that practical and workable solutions are developed in response to any gaps that are identified within the existing legal framework.

During the most recent Just Stop Oil campaign, police figures show that 657 protesters were arrested in 2023 under the government’s Public Order Act 2023, showing that existing powers are effective in managing disruptive protests.

The measures will be introduced as amendments at the report stage of the Criminal Justice Bill in the House of Commons and will apply to England and Wales.

21/02/2024
PRESS RELEASE : Russia’s unprovoked, illegal war is an attack on Ukraine, a sovereign, democratic state and an attack on the OSCE’s founding principles – UK statement to the OSCE [February 2024]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 8 February 2024.

Ambassador Neil Holland welcomes the visit of OSCE Chair in Office, Foreign Minister Borg, to Ukraine and condemns Russia’s aggression which is in complete violation of international law.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Firstly, I would like to welcome the visit of our Chair in Office, Foreign Minister Borg, to Ukraine where the Minister underlined his support for Ukraine. We note President Zelenskyy and Foreign Minister Kuleba’s expressions of support for OSCE work, in particular on the return of Ukrainian children and the role of participating States in documenting Russia’s egregious actions against Ukraine. The UK is fully committed in supporting you to take forward these priorities.

Last week, the Russian Federation attempted to justify Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine by referencing Article 51 of the UN Charter. This Article states, quote:

‘Nothing in the present Charter shall impair the inherent right of individual or collective self-defence if an armed attack occurs against a Member of the United Nations, until the Security Council has taken measures necessary to maintain international peace and security.’

The operative clause here is ‘if an armed attack occurs against a member of the United Nations’. The only armed attack that took place in February 2022 was by Russia on Ukraine on 24 February. So, no. Russia cannot claim that its so-called ‘Special Military Operation’ is an exercise of the right of self-defence, in line with Article 51 of the UN Charter. On the contrary. It is Russia’s actions which comprise egregious violations of international law, including the prohibition on the use of force at Article 2(4) of the UN Charter. And to pretend otherwise is disinformation.

Russia’s unprovoked, illegal war is, of course, far more than an attack on Ukraine. It is also an attack on the founding principles of this organisation. These are the pillars on which European security has been built and they are principles to which all of us in this room willingly agreed. We all therefore have a duty to defend these principles. And the best way that Russia can do that right now is to withdraw from the sovereign territory of Ukraine and come back into line with the Helsinki Final Act and the UN Charter.

Madam Chair, it is Russia that started this war, and it is Russia that can choose to end this war. Thank you.

21/02/2024
PRESS RELEASE : Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy programme appointments [February 2024]
The press release issued by the Department for Business and Trade on 8 February 2024.

The Prime Minister has today made two new appointments to his Trade Envoy programme.

The appointments are:
- Tom Hunt MP to Bangladesh
- Stephen Metcalfe MP to Dominican Republic, Panama and Costa Rica
Trade Envoys support the UK economy by supporting British businesses to take advantage of the opportunities arising from the UK’s global trade agenda. They champion Global Britain and promote the UK as a destination of choice for inward investment across all regions of the UK, helping to level up the country.

The new appointments will extend the total number of Trade Envoys to 37 parliamentarians, covering 67 markets.

The Trade Envoys will work with the Department for Business and Trade’s global network to strengthen the UK’s trade and investment relationships within their appointed markets and break down barriers to doing business for UK firms.

Background
- The role as a Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy is unpaid and voluntary with cross-party membership from both Houses.
21/02/2024
PRESS RELEASE : Celebrating Apprentices in counter-fraud [February 2024]

The press release issued by the Cabinet Office on 8 February 2024.

Cabinet Office Minister, Baroness Neville-Rolfe shares her experiences of working with apprentices at the Public Sector Fraud Authority.

National Apprenticeship Week 2024 is a fantastic opportunity to shine a spotlight on the vital contributions apprentices now make in the public sector.

Apprenticeships, funded by this government, are supporting businesses to invest in high quality training and develop the skilled workforce we need for a more productive future. We foster apprenticeships across a wide range of industries, creating exciting new opportunities. They provide flexible ways to learn that meet the needs of the apprentices, both young and mature, and our employers who are crying out for specialist skills.

This year I am particularly excited to be able to celebrate the achievements of those undertaking the Counter Fraud Investigators Apprenticeship (CFIA), a trailblazing programme, developed by the Government Counter Fraud Profession in collaboration with HMRC.

During my meeting with a group of CFIA participants earlier this week, I heard about a number of groundbreaking investigations led by Brent Council, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) and The Education and Skills Funding Agency (EFSA).

The breadth of work undertaken by this group of apprentices is astounding. For example DWP combats DNA fraud in Child Maintenance cases where fraudsters have been known to use other people’s DNA, or test children who are not their own, to avoid maintenance payments.

Brent Council is tackling tenancy fraud through the National Fraud Initiative (NFI). Housed within the Public Sector Fraud Authority, it specialises in data matching to help detect and prevent fraud, for example where tenants have another property or generous balances in their private bank accounts but claiming to be destitute. It was excellent to hear how Dhruvisha, a counter fraud investigator at Brent Council, has been working with the NFI on this and has been nominated as Apprentice of the year at the upcoming Public Sector Counter Fraud Awards 2024.

The CFIA includes participants from across sectors and regions,bringing a diversity of perspective to the challenges we encounter in public sector fraud. Training is conducted by both public and private sector providers, ensuring that apprentices are imbued with cutting edge knowledge and digital skills.

I was struck by how the group had gained knowledge, skills and confidence to thrive as counter fraud professionals. The CFIA is not easy and it takes at least 2 years demanding rigorous competency and dedication. It is however a testament to the transformative power of some of our apprenticeship programmes.

21/02/2024
PRESS RELEASE : Government confirms plans to permanently remove RAAC from all schools and colleges in England [February 2024]

The press release issued by the Department for Education on 8 February 2024.

Schools and colleges to receive funding to permanently remove reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete.

Measures to permanently remove Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) from all affected schools and colleges, have today been confirmed by the Government (Thursday 8th February).

A final list of schools and colleges with confirmed cases of RAAC in schools and colleges in England has been published today. There are 234 education settings, out of 22,000, with confirmed RAAC in some areas of their buildings – around 1%.

119 of these schools will have one or more buildings rebuilt or refurbished through the School Rebuilding Programme where works to remove RAAC are more extensive or complex.

Additionally 110 schools and colleges will benefit from grant funding to remove RAAC from their buildings where works will typically be smaller in scale.

5 schools and colleges, with support from the Department, have alternative arrangements in place to address the removal of RAAC, for example the building will not be part of the school or college estate over the longer term.

Those responsible for affected school and college buildings are today receiving direct confirmation from the department on how the RAAC removal will be funded.

Education Secretary, Gillian Keegan, said:

Nothing is more important to me than the safety of every child and member of staff in school.

We will continue to work closely with schools and colleges as we take the next step to permanently remove RAAC from affected buildings.

I want to thank all schools, colleges and local authorities who have worked tirelessly with the department to ensure all children remain in face-to-face education.

The Department’s RAAC Identification programme is now complete as 100% of schools and colleges with blocks built in the target era have responded to the questionnaire.

All schools or colleges that advised us they suspect they might have RAAC have had a survey to confirm if RAAC is present.

A small number of schools and colleges are carrying out additional checks for further assurance in some spaces. The Department is working with responsible bodies to support them to complete these additional checks as quickly as possible.

In addition to the 119 schools with confirmed RAAC included in the School Rebuilding Programme, the Department has today confirmed that a further 8 schools without RAAC have also been added to the programme. The projects announced today take the total number of schools in the programme to 513. The ten-year School Rebuilding Programme is continuing to prioritise school buildings with the highest condition need across England through rebuilding or significantly refurbishing buildings.

The Government has already confirmed it will fund schools and colleges for the costs of work needed to mitigate the presence of RAAC. Today’s announcement provides certainty for individual schools or colleges in England on how the Government will support the removal of RAAC from their buildings.

Our priority will always be to ensure the safety of pupils and staff, which is why we took a cautious approach for schools and colleges. Although the technical advice does not recommend removal in all cases where it is present, we have taken a precautionary approach for the education estate in England to remove RAAC.

£1.8 billion has already been committed in capital funding this year to support schools to stay in good working order, as part of £15 billion allocated since 2015. The School Rebuilding Programme will transform over 500 schools over the next decade. A further £1.5 billion has been made available for colleges through the further education capital transformation fund.

21/02/2024
PRESS RELEASE : UK response to the President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly: UK statement to the OSCE [February 2024]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 8 February 2024.

Ambassador Neil Holland thanks the President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly for the Assembly’s important election observation role and enduring support for Ukraine.

Madam President, on behalf of the United Kingdom, welcome back to the Permanent Council. Thank you for your address.

We welcome the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s continued focus on Ukraine. As we approach two years since Russia launched its illegal, invasion we will not waiver in our support for Ukraine. We are working in lockstep with the Chair and others to ensure the war remains high on the OSCE’s agenda. We will continue to deploy the OSCE’s toolkit extensively to counter Russia’s disinformation and shine a spotlight on its illegal actions.

We see the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s role as critical in these efforts, both in terms of the PA’s Parliamentary Support Team for Ukraine, but also through parliamentarians’ engagement in Capitals. We all have a responsibility to ensure our governments recognise the enduring value of the OSCE as a forum for dialogue and conflict resolution, as well as the need to support Ukraine. In this regard, we welcome the engagement you’ve done personally, including through your visits to the participating States.

Beyond the conflict, the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly faces an unprecedented year. 2024 will prove a record-breaking year for elections globally. Over 4 billion voters across the world will head to the polls, marking a colossal exercise in democratic participation. The manner in which these elections are conducted and their outcome will have significant implications for global politics and stability, and trust in democratic institutions and processes. Many of these elections will be held in our region and we welcome the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s observation role. It is an integral part of democratic scrutiny, supporting electoral integrity and documenting whether elections are credible and inclusive. Just yesterday, OSCE PA members were in Azerbaijan observing its Presidential elections. I thank Vice-President De Ridder and Vice-Chair Gerasymov for leading the delegations and look forward to their findings.

We note the Parliamentary Assembly’s continued concerns about the institutional health of the organisation. We share these concerns. We welcome the consensus on support for Malta as this year’s Chair. We will continue to press for a more sustainable financial settlement for the organisation and work to appoint strong candidates to its four top leadership positions. Beyond this, we recognise the need for longer term solutions and political commitment to ensuring the OSCE’s effective functioning and relevance. In this regard, we welcome the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly and its members’ continued efforts in highlighting Russia’s and Belarus’ obstruction and undermining tactics.

Madam President, to conclude, the UK thanks you and the Assembly for the work you are doing. We offer our full support and look forward to continued co-operation and collaboration in 2024.

21/02/2024
PRESS RELEASE : UK extends tariff-free trade with Ukraine until 2029 [February 2024]
The press release issued by the Department for Business and Trade on 8 February 2024.

UK to support Ukrainian businesses by extending tariff-free trade until 2029.
- UK and Ukraine extend tariff-free trade on majority of goods for an additional five years.
- Move designed to help Ukrainian businesses impacted by the war and is the most generous tariff break offered by any country.
- UK Trade Minister Greg Hands and Ukraine’s First Deputy Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko to sign extension in a virtual ceremony today.
Most UK-Ukraine trade will remain tariff-free until at least 2029, thanks to an extension agreed today to support Ukraine’s long-term economic recovery from the war.

The commitment forms part of the UK’s efforts to support Ukraine following Russia’s full-scale and illegal invasion, which has disrupted supply chains and transport routes and impacted Ukraine’s ability to export goods.

The UK was the first country to remove tariffs on all its trade with Ukraine two years ago. Today’s announcement to significantly extend this existing agreement sees the UK continue that leading role, giving Ukrainian businesses and exporters much needed economic support and certainty.

UK Minister of State for Trade Policy Greg Hands will formally sign the agreement to extend the liberalisation measures with Ukraine’s First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Economic Development and Trade Yuliia Svyrydenko in a virtual ceremony today.

UK Minister for Trade Policy Greg Hands said:

This agreement provides much needed long-term economic support to Ukraine, its businesses and people – critical to its recovery from Putin’s illegal invasion.

The UK will continue to do everything in its power to support Ukraine’s fight against Putin’s invasion, for as long as is needed.

William Bain, Head of Trade Policy, British Chambers of Commerce, said:

The extension of zero tariff trading terms for a further five years for qualifying goods is a welcome development. It plays a vital part in helping Ukraine’s economy at a time when they are under huge pressure, easing supply chain access.

Alongside the Digital Trade Agreement, which aims to bolsters e-commerce trade between our countries, this extension will boost opportunities for Ukrainian business in key sectors such as oils, grains and other agri-foods.

In May 2022, the UK removed all tariffs under the UK-Ukraine Free Trade Agreement until March 2024. This precedent has been followed by similar initiatives from the EU and other partners.

This latest agreement will see tariff-free trade extended on all goods for five years, except eggs and poultry which will be extended for two years.

Ukraine has also agreed to match the UK’s approach, meaning British businesses can also benefit from tariff-free exports to Ukraine.

Tariff liberalisation forms an important part of UK Government’s overall support to Ukraine, along with the military, humanitarian and economic aid.

The Ukraine Recovery Conference held in London last year strengthened international support for Ukraine and raised over $60 billion towards Ukraine’s recovery and reconstruction.

Background
- The UK Government originally offered tariff-free trade in May 2022 on a nonreciprocal basis, with no expectation or ask of the Ukrainian Government in return, however Ukraine insisted they also remove tariffs on UK goods entering Ukraine.
- The tariff-free trade agreement signed in May 2022 was due to expire on 31 March 2024. The five-year extension of liberalisation is for all goods except for poultry and eggs, which will be liberalised for two years.
- The signing builds on the Prime Minister’s commitment that the UK will provide £2.5 billion in military aid to Ukraine in 2024/25, an increase of £200 million on the previous two years, which will include the largest delivery of drones to Ukraine from any nation. The UK has provided over £10 billion in military, humanitarian and economic support to the UK since Putin’s full-scale invasion in 2022.
21/02/2024
NEWS STORY : Speaker Apologies Over Commons Vote

STORY

Lindsay Hoyle, the Speaker of the House of Commons, has apologised after chaos in the House today over the voting on an amendment on an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. Hoyle went against protocol and selected both the labour and Government amendments, causing controversy amongst Conservative MPs.

Hoyle apologised for the confusion, saying:

“I wanted to do the best by every member of the house. “I regret how it’s ended up. It was not my intention. I wanted all to ensure they could express their views. As it was, in particularly the SNP, were unable to vote on their own proposition. It is with my sadness that it ended in this position. It was never my intention. I recognise the strength of feeling of this House and its members. I thought I was doing the right thing. I do take responsibility for my actions.”

The Labour amendment was passed in the Commons following the withdrawal from the Chamber of Conservative and SNP MPs.

21/02/2024
PRESS RELEASE : UK and Denmark establish voting rights treaty [February 2024]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 8 February 2024.

New agreement enhances and protects the rights of British and Danish citizens to stand and vote in local elections in each other’s countries.

The UK and Denmark have today (Thursday 8 February 2024) signed a treaty that secures the rights of British and Danish citizens to stand and vote in local elections in each other’s countries.

Once ratified, this agreement will ensure that British people living in Denmark and Danish citizens living in the UK have the right to choose who represents them in local government in the country where they reside.

The treaty was signed by the UK’s Ambassador to Denmark, Emma Hopkins and Nikolaj Stenfalk of the Danish Ministry of the Interior and Health, on 8 February 2024 in the British Ambassador’s Residence in Copenhagen.

In a joint statement, British Ambassador to Denmark, Emma Hopkins and Danish Ambassador to the UK, René Dinesen said:

We are delighted to reach this agreement on voting rights between the UK and Denmark. This will enhance and protect the rights to participate in local democracy of approximately 50,000 citizens who reside in each other’s countries.

As an important outcome of the UK-Denmark Joint Statement signed by our Foreign Ministers last year, this treaty demonstrates the close ties between our countries and underlines our shared commitment to democracy.

Denmark is the fifth country to sign a voting rights treaty with the UK, following treaties signed with Poland, Spain, Portugal and Luxembourg.

19/02/2024
Lucy Frazer – 2024 Speech at the Ad Association LEAD Conference

The speech made by Lucy Frazer, the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on 8 February 2024.

Good morning everyone. I want to start by recognising the significant role that you, and your sector, play in our economy and there couldn’t be a better forum for that message.

The Advertising Association, IPA and ISBA – are among the strongest voices for the ad industry in the UK and each body is recognised for being an effective champion for all of our brilliant media agencies, brands and creatives.

And it’s a pertinent week for this Conference. Because on the other side of the Atlantic, they are gearing up for one of – if not the – most important days in the advertising calendar. The Super Bowl.

Despite all that has changed with the revolution in what we watch…when we watch…and where we watch TV – this sporting moment has retained its place at the pinnacle of advertising.

With a TV audience over 100 million, the pressure to deliver compelling material is overwhelming.

Last year alone, the cost for a 30 second slot was $7 million.

But what stands out is not the cost, it’s the quality. And the adverts have become part of the event and part of the spectacle.

Ahead of today’s event I was reflecting on what makes advertising so important.

The first thing that comes to mind is the creativity that you see every day expressed through advertising – and how that creativity is the basis for one of the most successful industries in the country.

But more than that, the success of these industries actually provides: cheaper newspapers and magazines for readers to enjoy; your favourite hits on commercial radio; the ability to watch Coronation Street for free; and seeing the entire industry of podcasts setting up from nothing a few years ago and entertaining, informing and challenging us today.

None of these would be free or available at affordable prices without the work you do with adverts.

Advertising is an essential cog in the free market.

And on top of that, you arm people with the information they need to make decisions about what to buy.

I recognise – and this Government recognises – what your industry does for our economy.

Our Creative Industries are growing at twice the rate of the rest of our economy and last year accounted for £126 billion.

And advertising is a massive part of that success story. It already accounts for around 15% of Creative Industries output and all indicators suggest it will continue to grow in size.

Last year alone, Ad Association figures show the UK ad market is estimated to have grown by 6% to reach £37 billion.

This growth and value is a credit to the way our companies have become magnets for the best ingenuity, the best creativity and the best talent.

Today, in 2024, there are very few places in the world that can rival our status as a global hub for the industry.

I’m proud to be the Secretary of State responsible for the advertising industry. It’s undeniably a world-class sector.

But I believe we’re just scratching the surface of what’s possible.

When I became Culture Secretary, I made it one of my first priorities to maximise the potential of our Creative Industries.

And I want advertising to help lead that charge.

Last year I set out a Creative Industries Vision to deliver £50bn of extra economic growth, 1 million extra jobs and a pipeline of talent for 2030.

This will only be possible with Government and industry working together and with a shared purpose.

It’s a blueprint that is packed with measures, from investment in R&D to support for businesses scaling up across the country.

And a major part of it is a focus on skills.

If we want our advertising industry to thrive in the future, we need the right skills for the right jobs.

Advertising has long been an incubator for creative skills and where some of our great artists got their break.

…before Salman Rushdie wrote Midnight’s Children, he worked at Ogilvy and came up with slogans like ‘Irresistibubble’ for Aero.

…Jonathan Glazer – the English director of the haunting new portrayal of Auschwitz, The Zone of Interest – started off as a filmmaker for brands like Stella Artois and Volkswagen.

All incredible talents. All artists who originally found expression in advertising.

So through our Creative Industries Vision we’re working closely with the Department for Education on a Cultural Education Plan.

The aim of which will be to give our children greater access to culture and art at school age.

This week is also National Apprenticeships Week.

Like you, I’m determined to increase take-up of apprenticeships in advertising and marketing sectors.

And that’s why in July I co-chaired, with the Education Secretary, a roundtable exploring solutions to apprenticeship challenges and how we can make sure they are flexible and work in the interests of companies in sectors like advertising.

We’re also working closely with the Advertising Association and The Institute of Practitioners in Advertising on the Creative Careers Programme.

That programme will help encourage 11 to 18 year olds to pursue creative careers through events, panel talks and filmed content with industry leaders, and I know that the Ad Unlocked section of the programme reached around 2,500 students from 100 schools during Discover Week 2023

The programme will help highlight the range of skills that are relevant to professions like advertising in the future.

Because as we see skills in data and Artificial Intelligence are becoming more and more relevant.

And of course we must all recognise the impact of AI.

I know that, in the same way that advertising was one of the first industries to use machine learning and algorithms for more effective analytics and customer targeting advertising is already leading the way in applying AI to different parts of its day-to-day work.

From more conventional uses like making ads easier to generate and track…

Or writing marketing emails with subject lines and delivery times tailored to specific subscribers.

To less conventional uses like Heinz giving fans of its Ketchup bottle a chance to see it redesigned in an infinite range of styles, from impressionism to a stained glass Ketchup window. Or a recent campaign from Virgin Voyages that allowed users to prompt a digital avatar of Jennifer Lopez to issue customised video invitations to a cruise.

We are seeing companies across this sector beginning to innovate, experiment and embrace AI. To use AI in a positive way, and one that customises the experience for audiences.

WPP’s chief executive, Mark Read, said recently that AI will be as transformative as the internet was 30 years ago. He’s right.

And as the world’s largest advertising group, WPP has been at the forefront of investments in AI and is a company that clearly recognises that this technology should be a creativity-enhancing tool.

As a government, we want to harness the benefits of AI – right across society – to spur productivity and growth.

And I see no reason why it cannot be a force for good for UK advertising.

Advertising agencies have an enviable record of growing in response to technological shifts, not shrinking.

But we are also clear that AI – which relies purely on data – cannot replicate the creativity that can only come from a human being.

We are looking closely at how to ensure creators have the control and transparency they need over their content when it is used by AI models.

And we are committed to ensuring that AI is used responsibly.

To that end, the Advertising Standards Authority recently published their 5 year strategy for AI-Assisted collective ad regulation.

This strategy sets out how they will use their new AI-based Active Ad Monitoring system to identify and swiftly act against irresponsible online ads.

But there is work to do, across all sectors, to understand the risks associated with AI – as well as the benefits.

I want to finish by touching on our online advertising programme.

As many of you will know, tackling online harm has been a key focus for this government and this includes harms associated with advertising.

When we published the response to our consultation on the Online Advertising Programme in July, we set out a plan to build a regulatory framework that would be agile and fit for purpose.

And this included a targeted focus on tackling illegal advertising, and increasing protections for under-18s against adverts for products and services that are illegal to be sold to them.

We’re committed to doing this and there will be legislation when Parliamentary time allows.

Ahead of that though, we’ll be publishing a further consultation on the details.

And we will look carefully at the interaction with the Online Safety Act, and its fraudulent advertising duty which captures the largest online platforms and search services.

At the same time, under the leadership of people like the co-Chair, Mark Lund, the Online Advertising Taskforce is driving forward actions to raise standards.

And we continue to encourage industry to work closely with the Advertising Standards Authority, including on its principles for intermediaries and platforms.

I know this is something many of you have been involved in and that there’s collaboration across the Advertising Association, IAB UK, IPA & ISBA to address illegal advertising and improve the overall advertising landscape.

I’d like to finish by thanking you all again for the generous invitation to this important event and for your engagement with my department.

You’ve got a packed agenda and one that reflects the fact that advertising has arguably never been more influential than it is today.

I want to continue working with you in a way that is strategic and forward thinking.

And in a way that maximises the true potential of your businesses, your agencies and your brands.

So thank you again, and I look forward to continuing our work with all of you in the future.

19/02/2024