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Oliver Dowden – 2023 Statement at the UN Sustainable Development Goals Summit

The statement made by Oliver Dowden, the Deputy Prime Minister, on 19 September 2023.

Your Excellencies. It is half time on the SDGs, and our collective promise is in peril.

The UK was instrumental in developing Agenda 2030 and its SDGs.

Today we recommit to them – and to reforming the international financial system that will play such a big role in helping us deliver them.

We are driving reforms of the Multilateral Development Banks including stretching their balance sheets to release over $200bn of additional finance over the next ten years.

To support this, the UK is announcing two innovative guarantees to scale up MDB lending one to unlock $1 billion in education financing and one to unlock up to $1.8 billion of climate finance for Asia-Pacific countries.

I also reiterate our support for a bigger and better World Bank, which increases voice and

representation of the poorest and most vulnerable.

We support reforms to make the MDBs more agile, more shock responsive and better able to mobilise more private investment.

We encourage MDBs and all other creditors to offer Climate Resilient Debt Clauses – pioneered by the UK – to pause debt repayments when disaster strikes.

We will continue to mobilise billions through British Investment Partnerships for energy transitions and infrastructure –$40 billion by 2027 and we will support countries to collect taxes owed to them to invest in their development, with a new £17 million package of support.

We must of course meet our global climate finance goals which is why at the G20, the Prime Minister announced $2 billion for the Green Climate Fund the biggest single commitment the UK has made to help the world tackle climate change.

We must maintain the spirit of partnership that created the SDGs as we ensure the financing and investment to deliver them.

We will do that through UK-hosted Summits on Food Security, AI, and Investment in Africa keeping up momentum through the autumn, into 2024, and all the way to 2030.

Thank you.

25/09/2023
PRESS RELEASE : UN HRC54 – UK Statement on Fact-Finding Mission on Venezuela [September 2023]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 25 September 2023.

Statement for Interactive Dialogue with the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Venezuela. Delivered by UK Human Rights Ambassador, Rita French.

Thank you, Mr. President.

We thank the Fact-Finding Mission for its update. Its work is critical to monitoring human rights violations and abuses.

The report evidences intensified targeted persecution against human rights defenders and shrinking civic space. From the sentencing of six union leaders without due process to the continued arbitrary detention of human rights defenders, fundamental rights continue to be denied. Human rights violations must stop.

The resolution of Venezuela’s humanitarian crisis requires tolerance of dissenting voices and democratic normalisation. Unconstitutionally banning opposition candidates moves Venezuela further from a solution. We stress the importance of an independent, credible electoral arbiter and the right of Venezuelans to register and vote in free and fair elections.

We understand that these incidents are not isolated but are part of a context of continuous deterioration of the rule of law. We therefore believe that the situation in Venezuela continues to warrant the attention of the international community and the mandate of the Mission remains fundamental to deliver progress on human rights.

Señora Valiñas, the UK encourages Venezuela to give effect to previous recommendations made by the Mission. What are the most urgent recommendations in the lead up to the electoral period?

25/09/2023
PRESS RELEASE : Land purchased for flagship levelling up site in Darlington [September 2023]

The press release issued by the Cabinet Office on 25 September 2023.

The government’s levelling up programme is moving further ahead today, with land for the permanent site of the new Darlington Economic Campus being purchased.

The Darlington Economic Campus (DEC) was established in August 2021 and Departments moved into Feethams House in June 2022. It currently houses 600 government staff.

Brunswick Street is the permanent site for the DEC, which is the Treasury’s second headquarters and will also accommodate the Department for Business and Trade. Construction of a new government hub will begin in October 2024 and is expected to be completed in 2026.

The hub will help grow the economy in the region with 1139 roles committed to Darlington, and 674 relocated to date. The move of Civil Service roles to Darlington is expected to generate approximately £30 million per 1,000 roles relocated in economic benefits for the town, down to increased footfall and spending from staff.

Minister for the Cabinet Office Jeremy Quin said:

Levelling up is about tangible change on the ground and the purchasing of the Darlington Economic campus land shows that the government is putting down roots in the communities we serve.

The campus will house 1400 civil servants and as the Treasury’s second headquarters is a visible signal of levelling up in action.

It will not only create job opportunities for people in the local area, it also means a Civil Servant could pursue an entire career to the top of their profession without ever moving to London.

The land purchase shows how the government is spreading opportunity across the country and putting down permanent roots in communities, as the country levels up.

The DEC is an important part of the Government’s Places for Growth (PfG) programme, which is moving roles out of London to areas across the UK.

The programme will see 22,000 roles move from London by 2030 and is part of ensuring that staff working in government are closer to the people and communities that they serve.

Parliamentary Secretary for the Cabinet Office Alex Burghart said:

The continued success of the Darlington Economic Campus shows that the Places for Growth programme is delivering high quality government jobs across the whole country.

This is good for the local area and good for the Civil Service, as it ensures that Whitehall can take advantage of the wisdom and experience from people all over the UK.

This new site will provide more capacity for civil servants to work from at least eight different government departments.

Alongside the Treasury, the Campus will house teams from the Department for Business and Trade, the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, the Office for National Statistics and the Competition and Markets Authority. They will be working alongside the Department for Education who already have a base in Darlington.

Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury Gareth Davies said:

People should be able to develop their careers within the Civil Service without moving to London and the Darlington Economic Campus is testament to that. It has a strong vision, which includes making government, policy, and delivery stronger through a diverse workforce which is more representative of the public we serve.

With this new milestone there is a real sense of momentum. The Brunswick Street space will be a boost for local growth and jobs while bringing the people of Darlington and the Tees Valley closer to the heart of government decision-making.

The building will accommodate over 1,400 civil servants in a highly sustainable, interoperable working environment. Campus locations such as the DEC provide an enduring sustainable model for PfG role relocations, enable more effective cross-Goverment collaboration and help to create a Civil Service that is more connected to and reflective of the communities it serves.

The building, which will be highly sustainable, will be designed in line with the Government Workplace Design Guide. Once complete, it will offer an effective mix of flexible work spaces to support accessibility, neuro-diversity, collaboration and wellbeing, along with refreshment hubs, home zones and meeting rooms.

Recruiting for the DEC is progressing well with several departments currently based in Feethams House, the interim DEC’s interim home. Civil servants based in the interim facility will relocate to Brunswick Street on completion of the new building, and Feethams House will be used to support the wider DEC alongside Bishopsgate House.

Clive Anderson, Director of Capital Projects said:

The Government Property Agency plays a key role in the Government’s transformation agenda ensuring that people in all part of the United Kingdom receive opportunities as part of the Levelling Up programme.

Working closely with Darlington Borough Council, Tees Valley Combined Authority and our clients, we will create unique opportunities for people across Darlington and the North East.

Investing in a land purchase and a freehold solution, gives us the opportunity to design the hub as a landmark, sustainable, placemaking building, with high levels of inclusivity enabling access by all.

It is expected the construction contract tender will be released via the CCS Construction Works Framework in Q4 2023.

25/09/2023
PRESS RELEASE : UN HRC54 – UK Statement on Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine [September 2023]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 25 September 2023.

UK statement for Interactive Dialogue with the International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine. Delivered by the UK’s Ambassador to the WTO & UN, Simon Manley.

Thank you, Mr President and welcome Commissioners.

A year ago, Russia attempted to annex Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson, following its organisation of sham referendums on sovereign Ukrainian territory.

Since then, Russia’s attempts to consolidate control in these regions have been characterised by repression, violence and a total disregard for human life. Evidence, including that collected through the invaluable work of this Commission, shows widespread and systematic atrocities committed by Russian forces, many of which may amount to war crimes.

So, we have a simple message to Russia: we see through your farcical claims that this is a war of liberation. You can’t liberate people by shelling them, nor by torturing them, nor by deporting them and their children. Just as you can’t change borders by force – no matter how many sham referendums or elections you hold.

It is time to end this war and withdraw your forces – in line with your obligations under the Charter.

Commissioners, thank you from us all for the vital work over the last 16 months.

Ukrainian children have been relentlessly targeted as part of Russia’s efforts to erase Ukrainian identity and culture – including through their large-scale forced transfer and deportation to Russia and Russian-controlled territory.

So Commissioners, are you carrying out further investigations into the forcible transfer of children, including the widely reported use of so-called “summer camps” for systematic political indoctrination?

Thank you.

25/09/2023
NEWS STORY : James Cracknell Selected as Conservative Parliamentary Candidate in Colchester

NEWS STORY

James Cracknell, the former Olympic rower, has been selected as the Conservative prospective Parliamentary candidate for Colchester. Will Quince, the current Conservative MP, has represented the constituency since 2015 and is standing down at the election. At the 2019 General Election, Quince secured a 9,423 majority over the Labour candidate Tina McKay. The constituency had been held by the Liberal Democrats between 1990 and 2015, having previously been won by the Conservative Party.

RESOURCES

Will Quince

Colchester Constituency

25/09/2023
NEWS STORY : Army Stands Down as Armed Police Officers in London Return to Work

STORY

Armed police officers have returned to work in London amidst the Government’s admission that the army might have been required to support the Met Police. 300 armed officers had turned in their permits over the last week following the decision to charge an officer with the murder of Chris Kaba. The Met Police said in a statement:

“As of lunchtime on Monday, the number of officers who had returned to armed duties was sufficient for us to no longer require external assistance to meet our counterterrorism responsibilities.”

25/09/2023
NEWS STORY : Rishi Sunak Suggests UK Can No Longer Afford HS2

STORY

Rishi Sunak, the Prime Minister, has refused to rule out rumours that the proposed section of HS2 to Manchester is to be scrapped, raising fears about the economic situation in the UK where infrastructure projects need to be cancelled. The Prime Minister has faced substantial opposition today to his suggestion that the project should be delayed including from Andy Burnham, the Mayor of Greater Manchester as well as Boris Johnson and David Cameron, two former Prime Ministers. Burnham criticised the decision, saying “you really should not take this decision without listening to the voice of people here” and adding ““scrapping HS2 rips the heart out of Northern Powerhouse Rail. Basically it would leave the north of England with Victorian infrastructure probably for the rest of this century.”

Allan Cook, a former chair of HS2, questioned the decision to cut spending on the north of the country, saying “why in the north have do we have to make a compromise?”. George Osborne, the former Conservative Chancellor of the Exchequer, and Michael Heseltine, the former Deputy Prime Minister, also criticised the Prime Minister’s decision to consider scrapping the Manchester section.

Rishi Sunak said that an announcement on the project would be made later this week. The current cost of the HS2 project is expected to be between £72 billion and £98 billion, but there are suggestions that the cost might increase to over £100 billion due to delays and changes to the plans. If completed in full, the project would be expected to fully open in the 2040s.

RESOURCES

Andrew Adonis – 2023 Comments on HS2 Delays

25/09/2023
PRESS RELEASE : Government proposals for improved system for cattle registration [September 2023]
The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 25 September 2023.

Improvements to the traceability system for cattle have been set out by the government.
Proposals will reduce red tape for farmers and pave the way for a new and improved digital cattle registration system.

Views sought in eight-week consultation on an updated system

By law all bovines in England must be registered with the British Cattle Movement Service to allow the government to identify and locate livestock in the event of an animal disease outbreak or food safety incident.

The proposals – subject to an eight-week consultation – include the use of new digital technology to remove cumbersome paper processes making the system easier to navigate and less time consuming for keepers.

These changes will enable the Government to trace disease more quickly and effectively and help safeguard national public health and food safety. This will also strengthen the UK position in international markets.

Biosecurity Minister Lord Benyon said:

“By registering their cattle, farmers and keepers play an important role in protecting the national herd from insidious diseases such as Bovine TB and Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE).

“I urge all those with an interest to respond to this consultation to help ease unnecessary administrative burdens and take advantage of digitisation, to make registration of cattle much easier.”

The government has engaged closely with industry to understand the difficulties of the current system, which also covers bison and buffalo – and how they can be resolved.

As well as the introduction of bovine electronic identification (BeID), other new proposals include a fairer and more proportionate regulatory framework, and greater flexibility such as for late registration of calves, so that farmers do not suffer financially by having them excluded from the food chain.

This consultation forms part of the wider Livestock Information Transformation Programme, which will replace the existing domestic traceability databases with one multi-species platform.

Bovines will have a new database that will make tracing individual animals quicker and easier, which will help to reduce the harm caused by a disease outbreak.

The consultation launched yesterday (21 September) will run for 8 weeks until 23:59 on 15 November.
25/09/2023
PRESS RELEASE : All storm overflows now covered by plan to clean up waterways [September 2023]
The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 25 September 2023.

Government expands plan to tackle storm overflows, including all coastal and estuary sites .
Government expands plan to tackle storm overflows, including all coastal and estuary sites

Marine protected areas and shellfish water protected areas made a priority

Plan to drive £60 billion capital investment over next 25 years – the largest infrastructure programme in water company history.

Action to tackle sewage pollution and clean up our waterways has been expanded, Environment Secretary Thérèse Coffey has confirmed today (Monday 25 September).  All coastal and estuary storm overflows are now included in the largest infrastructure programme in water company history.

The updated Storm Overflows Discharge Reduction Plan sets out stringent targets to protect people and the environment; and prioritises for early action areas used for bathing, for growing shellfish or with high ecological importance.

The additions to the Plan will also mean that Marine Protected Areas and shellfish water protected areas will also be added to the ‘high priority sites’ list, alongside Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and bathing waters.

The expanded plan will result in an estimated increase in capital investment in the water system of £60 billion to tackle storm overflows, up from the £56 billion announced in 2022.

This is part of continued action announced in the Plan for Water, which sets out government’s strategy to hold water companies to account and manage the pressures on our water resources through more investment, stronger regulation and tougher enforcement.

Environment Secretary Thérèse Coffey said:

As a coastal MP, I am determined to address the damage sewage discharges have on our coastlines.

Water companies must clean up their act and our Plan means no overflow will be left behind in our efforts to clean up our waterways.

Through more investment, stronger regulation and tougher enforcement of the water sector we will tackle pollution from every storm overflow in the country.

The expansion comes after a recent High Court ruling in favour of the government’s Storm Overflows Discharge Reduction Plan. The government won on all claims considered by the High Court, meaning the plans were considered lawful. The ruling also outlined that the government’s plan goes ‘substantially’ further than the law to drive a reduction in storm overflow discharges. We are expanding the Plan further still.

As part of robust government action, the targets set out in the Plan will now apply to every storm overflow in England – an increase from 91% coverage to 100%. The targets include requirements for water companies to:

Improve 100% of storm overflows discharging into or near every designated bathing water; and improve 75% of overflows discharging to high priority sites by 2035

Improve all remaining storm overflows, regardless of location, by 2050.

These plans strike the right balance between the need for investment and the impact on consumers. Under this Plan, there will be no changes to bills until 2025. Eliminating all discharges – as has been called for by some - could cost between £120 billion and £600 billion, increasing annual water bills by between £271 and £817 by 2049.

Storm overflows are a feature of combined sewerage systems, designed to prevent sewage backing up into properties and stop mains pipes bursting. There are strict permit conditions for when and how they should be used to protect our environment. Today’s announcement follows a six week public consultation earlier this year.
25/09/2023
PRESS RELEASE : Government announces employment support boost for over 30,000 economically inactive young people [September 2023]
The press release issued by the Department for Work and Pensions on 25 September 2023.

The expansion of the Youth Offer to inactive claimants, for the first time, will begin immediately to help young people into work and improve wellbeing.
- Department for Work and Pensions’ Youth Offer to expand, providing tens of thousands more young people support to find work.
- More young people claiming Universal Credit will have access to jobs support – including Work Coaches and interview preparation assistance.
Tens of thousands of 16-24-year-olds will be given access to additional support in finding and securing work following the expansion of the Department for Work and Pensions’ Youth Offer, it has been announced today [Monday 25 September].

Despite youth unemployment being down by over 43% since 2010, young people are more likely to be economically inactive than the rest of the population. Today’s announcement expands the DWP’s Youth Offer to economically inactive claimants, who were previously ineligible, as part of welfare reforms the Government is introducing to reduce economic inactivity and help more people back into work.

The Youth Offer is an integral part of support offered to young Universal Credit claimants which until today was only available to young people deemed closest to work. The expansion will see this support offered to thousands of economically inactive claimants – those who are seen as further away from and who face more challenges finding long term work.

This will give over 30,000 of 16-24-year-olds the option to access three types of support through the Youth Offer: additional time with a Work Coach early in their claim; access to Youth Hubs; and Youth Employability Coaches.

Evidence shows that work is an effective way to improve wellbeing. This ranges from reducing the risk of depression to improving physical health, as well as helping to build self-confidence and providing a place where people can socialise and form friendships.

Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Mel Stride MP said:

My department is introducing the next generation of welfare reforms to reduce economic inactivity and help thousands more people into work.

Expanding the Youth Offer will not only help to grow the economy, it will change lives – providing more young people with the pay, purpose and mental health advantages that we know work brings.

The Youth Offer consists of three key elements, the cornerstone of which is offering claimants additional Work Coach time early in their claim and help in referring young people to the appropriate support.

Work coaches give claimants support, guidance, and advice to get into work. This could range from identifying transferable skills which fit the local job market, updating CVs and interview coaching.

Alongside this, Youth Hubs across Great Britain give advice and guidance to young people seeking work, and some offer this help on a drop-in basis. They are located within other organisations to provide access to more services in one location.

Young claimants with more serious and complex barriers to work, such as problems with addiction or finding somewhere permanent to live also have access to Youth Employability Coaches. These coaches can provide tailored and intensive support to young claimants before, during and after they have entered work, which alongside the other aspects of the Youth Offer, help to ensure that everyone can enjoy the physical and mental benefits of good employment, regardless of their situation.

Minister for Social Mobility, Youth and Progression, Mims Davies MP said:

The best way to get on in life, improve wellbeing and make friends is through work, and the expanded DWP Youth Offer gives our young people the key tools and support they need to find fulfilling and meaningful work.

We are delivering for young people across the country, and I’m delighted that tens of thousands of them will be able to access life-changing support to progress in employment through the expanded DWP Youth Offer.

Barry Fletcher, CEO of Youth Futures Foundation said:

We welcome the extension of the Youth Offer, which will provide support to more young people in their search for a job.

Evidence shows that some groups of young people, including young parents and carers, face additional challenges in their search for work and we are pleased to see the start of the expansion today, enabling more young people to benefit from the accessibility of Youth Hubs and the guidance specialist coaches can provide.

Today’s expansion is part of the £3.5 billion package of measures announced in the 2023 Spring Statement from the Chancellor to get more people into work. This includes £485 million of investment in support for unemployed people who are on Universal Credit, as well as people working less than full time hours.

For more information about how you can apply for Universal Credit and access the Youth Offer see here.
25/09/2023