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PRESS RELEASE : New bill to modernise Business Rates system [March 2023]

The press release issued by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities on 29 March 2023.

A new bill introduced today will support businesses by modernising the business rates system to incentivise property improvements.

A new bill introduced today (Wednesday 29 March) will support businesses by modernising the business rates system to incentivise property improvements and support more frequent revaluations.

The measures being put forward review and reform business rates in England, making them fairer and more responsive to changes in the market.

The Non-Domestic Rating Bill will introduce more frequent valuations, to take place every three years instead of the current five, meaning those with falling values will see their bills drop sooner.

It will also provide new business rates improvement relief, so businesses making qualifying building improvements will not face higher business rates bills for 12 months. This will make it easier for businesses to invest with new reliefs for property improvements, providing tax breaks for businesses who are extending or upgrading their property.

Local Government Minister, Lee Rowley MP said:

The introduction of our Non-Domestic Rating Bill seeks to deliver the reforms announced during our Business Rates Review.

We are bringing the administration of the tax up to date, and making the system more responsive to changes in the economy and introducing new support to reduce barriers to business investment.

This is another step in the right direction for making sure the UK continues levelling up and supports businesses to grow and flourish.

The bill will build on recent steps to cut business rates, with £13.6 billion of support announced at the Autumn Statement, and to redistribute the tax through the 2023 revaluation.

Victoria Atkins, Financial Secretary to the Treasury, said:

I want businesses to know that the government is on their side. Businesses have asked for changes to the business rates system and we are acting, including with more frequent revaluations to make the system fairer and more responsive.

And they come on top of £13.6 billion of business rates support which resets the balance between bricks and clicks businesses, helping our much-loved high streets and communities.

Melanie Leech, Chief Executive at the British Property Federation, said:

These measures are a welcome step towards creating a business rates system that is fair for all. The British Property Federation has long-called for more frequent revaluations to help ensure the level of rates payable reflects current market conditions and structural changes in the economy.

A move from five to three yearly revaluations is a marked improvement, and we would like to see Government continuing to strive towards even more frequent revaluations in due course. The introduction of a business rates improvement relief is also a welcome boost as property owners and occupiers work together to decarbonise and futureproof older buildings and support the UK’s journey to net-zero.

Helen Dickinson OBE, Chief Executive of the British Retail Consortium, said:

Retailers welcome moving to three-yearly revaluations, meaning business rate bills will reflect underlying market conditions more quickly. Changes to valuation appeals processes and more transparency are also vital and the improvement relief will encourage more retailers to invest in their properties. These are all positive changes, but the job is not done. Government’s focus must remain on reducing the rates burden, enabling more local communities across the country to thrive.

The Non-Domestic Rating Bill has been informed by the Business Rates Review, which ran from July 2020 to October 2021.

The Bill has been introduced in parliament and will be debated in due course.

29/03/2023
PRESS RELEASE : New settlement route for Hong Kong veterans [March 2023]

The press release issued by the Home Office on 29 March 2023.

The government’s new Hong Kong Veterans Settlement route will enable Hong Kongers who served in the British military to live and work in the UK.

Hundreds of Hong Kongers who served in the British armed forces will be able to apply to settle in the UK, in recognition of their military service in the 20th century.

The government’s new Hong Kong Veterans Settlement route will be open to all servicemen and women who served in the British military prior to 1 July 1997 and their family members, including a partner or spouse and dependant children.

This will put veterans from Hong Kong on an equal footing with other members of the British armed forces who were also stationed in the territory. All those eligible will be able to apply for indefinite leave to enter, allowing them to live and work in the UK without restriction and putting them on a path to full British citizenship.

Applications for settlement are expected to open this autumn.

Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick said:

The immensely valuable contribution that many Hong Kongers made to the UK while serving in the UK armed forces is one that will not be forgotten.

We relied on these veterans to support Hong Kong’s administration and emergency services as well as in the international effort of Operation Granby, which liberated Kuwait from Iraqi forces in 1991. On every occasion, their loyalty was pivotal. It is only right that we recognise their exceptional dedication, service and sacrifice by introducing our new settlement route for Hong Kong veterans.

Today’s announcement allows those who served before 1 July 1997 to settle in the UK and live without restriction. Moreover, it means that the UK can continue to honour their service.

Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Johnny Mercer said:

I am incredibly grateful for the contribution of veterans from across the world who have served in the UK armed forces, including those from Hong Kong, who played a vital role up until the transition in 1997.

By delivering this settlement route, we rightly provide Hong Kong veterans and their families a path into a new life post-service, here in the UK.

Many residents of Hong Kong served in the British armed forces before the handover to China on 1 July 1997. Their role was to form part of the military garrison in the territory, and support Hong Kong’s administration and emergency services.

The veterans provided important roles to some of the UK’s most impactful international operations too, such as Operation Granby, which contributed to the liberation of Kuwait from Iraqi forces in 1991.

29/03/2023
Dominic Raab – 2023 Speech at the King’s Counsel Appointments Ceremony

The speech made by Dominic Raab, the Secretary of State for Justice, at Westminster Hall, London, on 29 March 2023.

It’s a great pleasure to welcome you all, as you make your declarations…

And confirm your new status as Kings Counsel, and Honorary King’s Counsel.

This is the first time in over 70 years that a Lord Chancellor has presided over the appointment of ‘King’s Counsels’, since the passing of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

Of course, for all of you, I know this is the culmination of years of hard work, dedication, and sacrifice.

The late nights working on a brief,

The weekends lost to preparing a case in court,

The countless hours spent representing your clients will now,

I hope, at long last be worth it today.

You have made it to the pinnacle of your profession,

You will be recognised for that by your peers, by the Crown,

For what is an immense achievement.

You, your families, friends, and colleagues, should rightly be very proud.

Steeped in tradition going back to the 16th Century, the KC title has long been a hallmark of excellence.

It acknowledges your experience, expertise and eminence in your particular fields of law.

And so, today’s ceremony cements your status as ambassadors for a legal system envied across the world.

And, as we celebrate your success in these historic surroundings…

Arguably the birthplace of both British justice and democracy… You are taking your own place personally in our country’s distinguished legal history.

Of course, the KC quality mark is recognised not just here in the UK, but abroad too.

It holds up our legal professionals as the best in a global market.

And it underpins the worldwide appeal of our legal system… along with our common law precedents and world-renowned independent judiciary.

Our profession is, of course, also one of the reasons the UK has become the world’s pre-eminent centre for dispute resolution.

Just to give you a flavour, in 2021, over 28,000 civil disputes were resolved through arbitration, mediation and adjudication in the UK, while more than 80 percent of the world’s maritime arbitrations are handled here.

Businesses around the world turn to us time and time again to be their counsel and courtroom… because they know that a decision from a UK court carries a global kitemark… of impartiality, integrity and enforceability.

It isn’t by luck that English and Welsh law is the choice for global business and international trade… used in some 40 percent of all global corporate arbitrations.

Nor is it a surprise that more than 200 foreign law firms, from over 40 jurisdictions have branches in the UK.

In fact, every single one of the world’s top 40 law firms has an office right here in London.

A world-beating legal system goes hand-in-hand with our world-beating legal services…

One of this country’s greatest exports – and at the heart of our future as a global, free-trading Britain.

Our legal services support the growth of global trade and investment across the whole country… contributing billions to our economy each year.

And it’s why we’re working hard to promote legal services abroad…

Targeting priority markets, like the Indo-Pacific and the United States…

And opening up market access for our legal professionals through free trade agreements… including current negotiations with India, the Gulf states, Canada, Mexico and the Trans-Pacific Partnership.

All this serves as a reminder that our KCs don’t just serve in English and Welsh courts.

They make a huge contribution to the international rule of law. Never has this been more true than today.

All the way back to Nuremberg, our legal professionals have played their part in bringing the worst war criminals to justice.

Take Hartley Shawcross KC – a formidable advocate who led the British prosecution at Nuremberg.

His opening and closing speeches widely held to be some of the finest of those historic, ground-breaking trials.

He observed that while some thought the Nazis on trial should have faced summary justice ‘…swept aside into oblivion, without elaborate and careful investigation into the part they have played…’

‘Not so would the rule of law be raised and strengthened on the international as well as upon the municipal plane…

Not so would future generations realise that right is not always on the side of the big battalions…

Not so would the world be made aware that the waging of… war is not only a dangerous venture… but a criminal one.’

I think Shawcross’s words resonate, when we consider the importance of the international rule of law… and the ‘elaborate and careful’ investigations currently underway into atrocities in Ukraine.

Nuremberg paved the way for the prosecution of war crimes and genocide in Rwanda, the former Yugoslavia and other wars and conflicts…

And our KCs have been instrumental in the development of international law in the decades since, alongside our allies.

We just need only look to The Hague to see the influence of some of the UK’s best legal minds.

Sir Geoffrey Nice, Steven Kay, Andrew Cayley and Jo Korner are just some of the exceptional British barristers to have made their mark there and beyond.

And another Brit, Karim Khan KC, is currently Prosecutor at the International Criminal Court and responsible for the investigation into atrocities in Ukraine, among other vital work he’s doing.

All of these appointments are a testament to the standard of our professionals and indeed their standing in the world.

I saw it myself – twenty years ago as a Foreign Office lawyer… I was posted to The Hague to help bring war criminals to justice at the Yugoslavian and Rwandan tribunals.

So, I know first-hand the impact the ICC and ad-hoc tribunals can have.

I remember in particular, Radovan Karadžić, the so called Butcher of Bosnia.

In 2004, as a fairly fresh faced lawyer, while serving in the Hague I negotiated a sentencing enforcement agreement between the UK and the UN.

Back then, no one thought we would get to use it…

But 17 years later, Karadžić was transferred to a UK jail cell under that agreement.

As you can imagine, I was proud to be a small part of that effort… a 30-year pursuit for justice.

Now as you will know, on 17th of March, the ICC indicted President Putin for the forcible removal of children from Ukraine. An appalling crime.

Today again, many doubters ask whether he will face the dock of a court.

We know, these cases are complex, and it will take patience.

To the doubters and the cynics I point to Karadžić, to Milošević, to Charles Taylor and others…

To know that justice is on our side, and history is on our side.

But justice doesn’t happen by accident.

It requires deeds, not just words.

That is why, a week ago today in the UK I hosted a meeting of justice ministers from around the world…

Bringing together over 40 nations to agree support for the ICC, and its independent investigation into war crimes in Ukraine.

I’m pleased we could agree that package that will support the ICC’s work in all its investigations.

But looking at the country and profession, the real success was bringing 42 other countries together to offer support…

Through the secondment of their national experts, the sharing of best practice to support the most vulnerable victims… and financial support to assist the ICC in its vital work.

This is global Britain as a force for good in the world – galvanising other nations to act.

In the same spirit, I have no doubt that many of you will go on to great things at home… and abroad… Building on the achievements of the remarkable KCs that have gone before you.

I know you will make us proud.

Today, we are also here to recognise eight candidates being appointed Honorary KCs, for outstanding contributions to the law outside of the courts.

Our first candidate, John Battle, is a driving force in the campaign for open justice and in particular filming court proceedings.

He is recognised for his extensive work with the media, Ministry of Justice, and with the senior judiciary.

Next, Professor Lionel Bently is a universally respected scholar, nominated for his role in influencing intellectual property law in this country and beyond.

Professor Richard Ekins has made a major contribution to public debate, and parliamentary deliberation, about the constitutional role of the courts…. Issues which are very close to my heart.

Then we have Professor Rosemary Hunter, a leading Family Justice scholar. Rosemary is recognised for her important work in the field of domestic abuse, which has helped to shape the law in this area.

Next, Dr Ann Olivarius, recognised for her vital role in the fields of women’s rights, sexual harassment and sexual abuse.

She was absolutely instrumental in lobbying Parliament to pass laws against so-called ‘cyber flashing’, which I am proud we have now done.

We also have Professor Richard Susskind is recognised for his important work to promote technology and innovation in legal and court services across England and Wales.

Next, James Wakefield is nominated for his work to promote better access to the Barrister profession… encouraging retention of those from under-represented groups from across our society.

Then we have Professor Julian Vincent Roberts, a leading authority on sentencing theory, policy, and practice.

His work has made a major contribution to the analysis and development of sentencing worldwide.

Last but certainly not least, there is Sir Michael Wood – a prominent member of the International Law Commission, recognised for his invaluable contribution to the teaching and application of international law in the UK and beyond.

I have to say, there is one blot on his CV that I feel duty bound to point out.

Sir Michael recruited me to the Foreign Office legal advisers in 2000, and then deployed me to the Hague between 2003 to 6.

And was very much a mentor during that time, please don’t hold it against him.

No one’s perfect.

Of course, that’s just a brief mention of our recipients’ contribution to the law, which goes so much further.

In closing, let me say again what an honour it is to preside over this ceremony.

I hope you enjoy today’s celebration with your family and friends.

It is truly well deserved.

Each and every one of you here today is a shining example – the brightest and best of British justice, an inspiration to the next generation of lawyers.

I’ve absolutely no doubt you will go on to even greater things in future…

Playing your part in upholding the reputation of the finest legal system in the world.

29/03/2023
Gillian Keegan – 2023 Speech to BETT 2023

The speech made by Gillian Keegan, the Secretary of State for Education, in London on 29 March 2023.

Mankind’s great light-bulb moments, especially the transformational ones, rely on someone turning inspiration into innovation.

Before becoming an MP, I spent almost 30 years in business and largely in tech, so it’s a real pleasure for me to be with you here today.

I spent many years in the financial sector, where among other things I worked on the development of digital payments, to power ecommerce and mcommerce – remember them.

And I got to see life-changing innovation in action.

Back then, when you bought a new TV you got out a simple, magstripe credit card; if you wanted to book a family holiday, you queued up at a travel agents.

I was part of a coalition of banks and mastercard that developed early digital payments using chip and pin technology which was a retail game changer at the time.

Like many in this room, I’ve seen some incredible tech transformations during my business career. I’ve seen innovation come to life and disrupt whole industries. And I’ve learnt many things along the journey.

First, you can’t innovate if you haven’t got the basics right;

Second, you need to know what problems you are solving and not cause new ones;

And third, what sounds far-fetched now will be commonplace in a couple of years. Tech moves fast.

These lessons have served me well, and I think we have a lot to learn in education, which has often lagged in tech adoption.

Let’s look at the basics.

Top of the list is connectivity. I almost said ‘obviously’. But I guess it can’t be that obvious if some schools are still battling glacial broadband speeds. Connectivity in schools, like everywhere, is a basic utility like water or electricity.

We are delivering on the pledge made last year to enable all schools to connect to gigabit broadband by 2025.

We’ve run the procurement for schools in the South West of England, and we’re working with schools across the North West, North East, and Yorkshire and Humber to get new fibre infrastructure.

We’re also upgrading school WiFi networks that don’t meet our connectivity standards in the 55 Local Authorities where school outcomes are the weakest.

We need to get the basics right.

Which brings me on to my second point.

I’m not the first Education Secretary to say that when it comes to tech, what schools need is stuff that just works, that solves a real problem.

Tech that doesn’t work is an expensive and potentially dangerous mistake, and it’s one that schools cannot afford to make.

That is why we are launching the latest set of technology standards. These will build on those published last year and will help schools to develop effective and safe strategies, including safeguarding pupils from potentially harmful and inappropriate material online.

In September we will also be launching a pilot service in Blackpool and Portsmouth, both priority education investment areas, that will help schools meet standards, make the best use of their technology and plan more effectively for the future.

We know for instance, that teachers still spend too much time on admin, lesson planning and marking.

I know there are brilliant products out there to help and many schools use them. With many of the best nominated at the Bett awards this evening.

I’m also glad to see so many innovative maths tools represented.

I want to make it easier for schools and colleges to know what works – so we need to see evidence about what your products can do in the real world.

Which brings me to my third and final point – the game changer.

Artificial Intelligence.

I know the education sector, like many, has had its fair share of false dawns when it comes to technology. In some places, really effective and integrated use of tech is making a difference already, but the tasks that really drive workload – things like planning, marking and giving 1-2-1 support to pupils – remain largely unchanged.

AI will have the power to transform a teacher’s day-to-day work. We’ve seen people using it to write lesson plans, and some interesting experiments around marking too.

Can it do those things now, to the standard we need? No. Should the time it saves ever come at the cost of the quality produced by a skilled teacher? Absolutely not.

But could we get to a point where the tasks that really drain teachers’ time are significantly reduced? I think we will.

Getting to that point is a journey we in this room can go on together – and just as we’ve responded to other innovations like the calculator and Google, we’ll use technology to deliver better outcomes for students.

We will empower you and support you to try things, to see what works, and you must do the same for each other, by working together.

We have kicked off that journey today by publishing a statement on the DfE’s website that says a bit more about the opportunities, as well as the risks, that AI brings to education.

I’m genuinely excited about driving this forward with sector experts including regulators, educators, researchers and the tech sector.

This is part of the government’s pro-innovation approach to AI regulation, as evidenced by our AI White Paper and the launch of a Foundation Model Taskforce, which will also consider UK domestic capability in this important technology.

My hope is that quite soon I’ll be able to tell you more about how we can establish a plan for getting the most out of AI in education, as well as protecting against the risks.

Tech is a tool, and it’s one that schools haven’t yet managed to get the most out of, but it can’t be the tail that wags the dog.

We have to look at others’ best practice – whether that be Estonia’s integrated education data, or South Korea’s exemplary leadership in AI transition. It is great to see so many of you from overseas here today to do that, and to have met some of you earlier. But we must also lead with our own best practice.

We’ve already done it in banking, we’ve already done it in travel. We’ve done it in retail, in music, in entertainment. We cannot wait a moment longer to do it in education. I know I’m preaching to the converted here and lots of you are already on this journey

There’s a great quote by the late Steve Jobs, who once said: “The people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do.” This is what great innovators do and I know this country’s schools, colleges and universities can be a beacon for innovation that will transform education.

Thank you.

29/03/2023
PRESS RELEASE : Astounding levels of incompetence in the Russian military leadership have eroded Russia’s military reputation – UK statement to the OSCE [March 2023]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 29 March 2023.

UK military advisor, Ian Stubbs, says the staggering casualties suffered by Russia around Bakhmut have had significant impact on personnel and munition stocks.

Thank you, Mr Chair and welcome Deputy Minister of Defence Galić to this Forum. Mr Chair, I would like to start by thanking you and your team for your stewardship over the past trimester. It is nearly 400 days since Russia’s barbaric and illegal invasion of Ukraine. Since then, we have seen the extraordinary determination of the Ukrainian people as they defend their homeland. With support from their partners, Ukraine has shown that agility and ingenuity can have a devastating effect against a so-called super power.

In recent weeks, the staggering casualties suffered by Russia around Bakhmut appear to have had significant impact. Their assault seemingly stalled, reports suggest that the Russian military and Wagner group urgently need to replenish personnel and munition stocks. Approximately 30,000 Russian fighters have been killed or wounded since the battle for Bakhmut began nine months ago, with the Wagner-dominated force advancing just 25km in this time.

Mr Chair, try as they might to present an alternate reality to the ground truth with an increasingly ridiculous carpet of disinformation, the astounding levels of incompetence in Russia’s military leadership that have eroded Russia’s military reputation are clear for all to see.

In February, ahead of the 14th Aero India biennial air show, the Director of the Russian Federal Service for Military and Technical Cooperation, Dmitry Shugayev, stated that the “special military operation provided foreign experts with an opportunity to see Russian military products in use in actual combat conditions, convincing them of their high technical performance and reliability”. In the same week, Russian Soviet made MT-LB multipurpose tracked armoured vehicles were observed operating in eastern Ukraine modified with old naval turrets and guns, still painted in naval colours. These Stalin era naval weapon systems, 60-year-old T-62 main battle tanks and vintage BTR-50 armoured personnel carriers that Russia is operating in Ukraine are indeed a true demonstration of the type of “high technical performance” for which Russia’s military and defence industry are now regarded.

In contrast, the UK has provided sophisticated artillery and air defence systems, and modern anti-tank munitions to help Ukraine defend itself against Russia’s brutal and indiscriminate attacks. The UK was the first nation to pledge modern main battle tanks to Ukraine – and we are grateful to all our Allies who have now done likewise. These Challenger 2 MBTs are a step change in capability for Ukraine’s Armed Forces, equipped with some of the most modern and sophisticated gunnery systems in the world.

Mr Chair, for well over a year now, our Russian colleagues have attempted to use this forum to distract from failures on the battlefield with a campaign of lies, threats and propaganda. When this has not worked, they have become increasingly contemptuous of this Forum, belligerent towards the Chair, and threatening towards fellow delegates – such behaviour is a tacit sign of weakness. Russia’s decision to block the Forum for Security Cooperation (FSC) agenda and your Security Dialogue last week because you would not cede to its attempts to negotiate by ultimatum, was a deplorable example of its attempts to undermine the principles under which we meet in this Chamber.

Against such behaviour, we must do our upmost to ensure the integrity of this Forum, such that it is able to fulfil its mandate. Russia has attempted to break the foundations of European security, violated the UN Charter, and flagrantly disregarded the Helsinki Final Act’s core principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity and the non-use of force. However, we have shown that these principles, and this Forum, matter. We will stand up to defend them both.

The UK looks forward to working with the incoming Bulgarian Chair in what will clearly continue to be a challenging time for the FSC, the OSCE and European security writ large. We also thank Belgium who leave the troika and welcome our Canadian colleagues.

Mr Chair, on a final note, the UK condemns in the strongest terms Putin’s recent announcement on the planned stationing of tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus. The nuclear rhetoric and signalling that we have seen from Russia is irresponsible. Russia should seek to reduce tensions and the risk of miscalculation, not increase them. We again call on the Belarusian regime to desist from supporting Russia’s attempts to stoke further instability in the region and stop its support of Russia’s illegal invasion.

Mr Chair, Ukraine has turned the tide in this war, regaining territory and liberating thousands of Ukrainian people. Ukraine has done this thanks to the awe-inspiring bravery of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, the resilience of the Ukrainian people and strong international support. This must remain at the forefront of our minds and efforts into the next trimester. Together, with our Allies and partners, we will ensure that Ukraine will win.

Thank you.

29/03/2023
PRESS RELEASE : Müller charity payment for ammonia discharge to the River Tern [March 2023]
The press release issued by the Environment Agency on 29 March 2023.

Shropshire Wildlife Trust receives £100,000 for nature-based watercourse protection and water quality enhancement projects after company’s permit breach.

Shropshire Wildlife Trust has received a financial boost after the Environment Agency accepted an enforcement undertaking (EU) offer from Müller UK & Ireland Group LLP.

The payment is part of an EU offered by the company for its failure in effluent discharge to the River Tern at the Müller Dairy facility in Market Drayton, Shropshire, in January 2018.

Müller UK & Ireland Group LLP is the largest yoghurt producer in the UK. The EU occurred as a result of 3 charges of failing to comply with permit conditions, under regulation 38(2) Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016, when an inlet screen was bypassed during maintenance works. Large pieces of fruit passed into the effluent treatment plant, leading to high levels of ammonia in the treated effluent discharged into the River Tern. The effluent contained in excess of the permitted level of ammoniacal nitrogen for a period of 15 days in January 2018.

Müller has since complied with the regulations and invested £2 million in improvements to environmental working practices and has made a contribution of £100,000 to Shropshire Wildlife Trust.

Shropshire Wildlife Trust works to restore lost habitats, helps declining species, and inspires future generations to care for nature in Shropshire. The donation will contribute towards the delivery of watercourse protection and water enhancement projects on the River Tern.

Sarah Dennis, a senior specialist for the Environment Agency, said:

Enforcement undertakings allow polluters to positively address and restore the harm caused to the environment and prevent repeat incidents.

The Environment Agency is increasingly using this method of enforcement for suitable cases to restore the environment, improve practices of the offending company, and avoid longer criminal court cases. However, we will prosecute in appropriate cases.

As well as donations totalling £100,000 to Shropshire Wildlife Trust that will bring great benefits to the environment, Müller UK & Ireland Group LLP has made significant improvements to its effluent-treatment plants and staff training.

Please report any environmental issues to the Environment Agency’s 24-hour incident hotline on 0800 80 70 60.

Pete Lambert, head of land and water at Shropshire Wildlife Trust, said:

Müller’s donation will support the land and water team who manage and improve the health of our county’s water by surveying aquatic species, running events and working with different partners to address flooding issues across the county.

The funds will support the delivery of vital watercourse-protection and water quality enhancement projects using nature-based solutions including fencing and tertiary water-treatment along a small tributary of the River Tern in north Shropshire.

The company has also paid the Environment Agency’s administration, investigation and legal costs.

Background

The regulations the companies did not meet:

In 2018: Regulation 38(2) – Failing to comply with a permit condition: Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016.

What is an enforcement undertaking?

An enforcement undertaking is available to the Environment Agency as an alternative sanction to prosecution or monetary penalty for dealing with certain environmental offences. It is a legally-binding voluntary agreement proposed by a business or an individual when the EA has reasonable grounds to suspect that an environmental offence has occurred.

Enforcement undertakings for environmental offences were introduced under the Environmental Civil Sanctions (England) Order 2010 and the Environmental Civil Sanctions (Miscellaneous Amendments) (England) Regulations 2010.

Accepting an enforcement undertaking is always at the discretion of the Environment Agency, but if accepted, enables firms and individuals who have damaged the environment or operated outside of legislative requirements to offer to complete actions which will address the cause and effect of their offending, including making a payment to an appropriate environmental project.

EUs can be offered for offences including polluting rivers, breaching permit conditions designed to protect communities, or failing to register and comply with recycling/recovery obligations. The Environment Agency then carefully considers whether the actions offered by the offender are acceptable.

Why use enforcement undertakings?
- Businesses will voluntarily secure compliance now and in the future, without attracting a criminal record.
- The environment, local community and those directly impacted by the offending can benefit through actions being offered in an EU.
- They allow the EA to deal with the less intentional and polluting offending in a more proportionate way than prosecution through the criminal courts.
The Environment Agency reserves the right to prosecute where offenders fail to comply with the terms of an enforcement undertaking offer.

About Shropshire Wildlife Trust

Shropshire Wildlife Trust has a vision of a thriving natural world, where Shropshire’s wildlife and natural habitats play a valued role in addressing the climate and ecological emergencies, and people are inspired and empowered to take action for nature. It combine projects across Shropshire, including Telford & Wrekin, with advocacy and campaigning to restore nature and to engage people.

SWT manages more than 40 nature reserves and has almost 50 staff, 300 volunteers, and more than 9,000 members. SWT is an autonomous charity, but it is increasingly working collectively, as part of The Wildlife Trusts to ensure that local actions have a national impact and help to address global issues.

www.shropshirewildlifetrust.org.uk
29/03/2023
PRESS RELEASE : Scottish Secretary responds to latest GDP figures for January 2023 [March 2023]

The press release issued by the Secretary of State for Scotland on 29 March 2023.

Growth at the beginning of the year sees economy rise above pre-pandemic levels.

Responding to the statistics, Scottish Secretary Alister Jack said:

Today’s figures again show the resilience of our economy, despite complex global problems. The UK Government is taking action to achieve the Prime Minister’s priorities of halving inflation, reducing debt and encouraging growth.

Last month the Chancellor delivered a Budget for sustainable growth, alongside further cost of living support and an extra £320million for the Scottish Government to support public services.

Our Levelling Up agenda is encouraging growth at the heart of every community in Scotland and throughout the UK with more than £2.2bn invested to create and sustain high-quality jobs and two new Freeports progressing in Scotland will boost trade and further investment.

Background:

The economy grew by 0.9% during the first month of this year, after falling by 0.8% the previous month in December 2022 and is now 1.1% above the pre-pandemic level in February 2020.

29/03/2023
PRESS RELEASE : Joint statement on the situation of Ukrainian mayors [March 2023]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 29 March 2023.

Joint statement on Item 8: the situation of Ukrainian mayors. Delivered by UK’s Ambassador to the WTO and UN in Geneva, Simon Manley, at Human Rights Council.

I deliver this statement on behalf of a group of countries. The Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action emphasizes the international community’s dismay at the use of summary and arbitrary executions, enforced disappearances, arbitrary detentions and torture.

Reports of Ukrainian civilians being detained arbitrarily by Russia’s forces are shocking, and numerous. According to these reports, civilians often face inhuman or degrading treatment, torture and inadequate conditions.

Russia has systematically gone after prominent members of local communities in every Ukrainian territory it has attempted to illegally annex. This is part of Russia’s strategy to suppress dissent and to assert its control by menacing the local population. Those taken include journalists, activists, religious officials and local leaders.

Today we want to focus on the mayors of towns and cities Russia has attempted to illegally annex. At least 30 mayors have been detained since the start of the invasion on the 24 February 2022. At least six remain in Russia’s custody.

Ihor Kolykhaiev, Mayor of Kherson was taken by Russia’s forces in June 2022. Since then, his family has relied on testimony from other detainees, upon their release, to hear news of his condition.

He is not alone. A similar fate befell mayors Oleksandr Babych, Yevhenii Matvieiev, Volodymyr Karaberov, Serhii Khilchenko, all reportedly taken into Russia’s custody and detained between March and June 2022. Russia has still not confirmed their whereabouts, and their families have received no information on their wellbeing. The family of Volodymyr Mykolayenko, taken in April 2022, know that he is being held in Russia, but have not been told why, or where.

The international community will not ignore violations of international law, including arbitrary detentions and enforced disappearances. Russia must confirm who it is holding, where, and why. It must cease committing enforced disappearances and release all who have been detained in contravention of international law. And it must respect all of its commitments under the VDPA [The Vienna Declaration and Program of Action].

Statement delivered by Ambassador Manley on behalf of 40 countries:

UK, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Bosnia and Herzegovina, New Zealand, Australia, North Macedonia, Georgia, Albania. Canada, USA, Iceland, Ukraine, Japan and Moldova.

29/03/2023
PRESS RELEASE : UK and Sweden strengthen defence relationship as ministers sign agreement on self-propelled guns [March 2023]

The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 29 March 2023.

The UK and Swedish defence ministers signed a letter of intent relating to a new contract to deliver 14 Archer self-propelled guns.

The UK will continue to strongly support Sweden’s swift accession to NATO and we will work together to ensure Ukraine receives the support it needs, following discussions during a meeting between defence ministers.

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace welcomed his counterpart Pål Jonson during a visit to the UK Ministry of Defence today, which included the signing of a letter of intent relating to a new contract to deliver 14 Swedish-built Archer self-propelled guns to the British Army, as well as highlighting potential future collaboration between the UK and Sweden.

During the meeting, the Defence Secretary further reaffirmed the UK’s commitment to supporting Sweden throughout its NATO accession process.

UK Defence Secretary, Ben Wallace, said:

“Sweden has provided vital military aid and integral support to Ukraine and our allies through the Joint Expeditionary Force.

“The UK will continue to give our full support to Sweden’s accession to NATO, fortifying Northern Europe and the Baltics against Russian aggression and expanding security challenges in the region.”

Swedish Defence Minister Pål Jonson said:

Swedish relations with the UK will be strengthened with the agreement about cooperation on artillery signed today. The British leadership when it comes to supporting Ukraine is an inspiration for all of us and both Sweden and the UK will continue to support Ukraine until victory is achieved.

I thank the UK for the quick ratification and the support of our NATO membership application. The UK has shown continued political support but also military presence in our neighbourhood – both bilaterally and through the JEF – pivotal to our security during the accession period.

The UK and Sweden’s defence relationship is driven by membership of the JEF and Northern Group, as well as by the May 2022 UK-Sweden Mutual Solidarity Agreement, relating to intelligence sharing and joint training and operations.

This has been supported by joint exercising of Royal Air Force Typhoon aircraft and the Swedish Air Force, as well as by visits from Royal Navy vessels, with HMS Defender and HMS Portland visiting Swedish ports last summer, and a visit by HMS Mersey earlier this month. A further port visit will be carried out by HMS Albion this year.

This spring will also see the Army join forces with the Royal Navy and RAF for Exercise Aurora. Alongside naval vessels, commandos, and RAF Typhoons, soldiers from the 1st Battalion the Mercian Regiment will train with both Swedish and Finnish troops, operating as part of a Finnish Battlegroup in Sweden.

Swedish industry has also provided important support amid the UK’s programme of providing military aid to Ukraine, with hundreds of NLAW anti-tank weapons – designed by Swedish company Saab – donated by the UK to bolster Ukraine’s capability. The UK today also announced a contract of nearly £5 million to replenish munitions granted to Ukraine with Saab-produced Carl-Gustaf M4 recoilless rifles.

The purchase of Archer also enables the UK to support Ukraine through the donation of AS90 self-propelled guns, replacing them until the long-term Mobile Fires Platform delivers later this decade as part of the Future Soldier modernisation programme.

The UK is committed to provide the capabilities Ukraine requires, including artillery, air defence and armoured vehicles, and to drive further international donations and secure lasting peace. The UK provided £2.3 billion in military support to Ukraine in 2022 and has already committed to sustain that level of military support into 2023.

29/03/2023
Michelle Donelan – 2023 Speech at the Lord Mayor’s Innovation and Technology Dinner

The speech made by Michelle Donelan, the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, at the Mansion House in the City of London on 29 March 2023.

The last year has been a year of firsts for technology in the UK.

For the first time, our tech sector joined China and the USA, as the only countries in the world worth over one trillion dollars.

The government acquired its very first quantum computer.

And I am here tonight as our country’s first Technology Secretary.

But tonight’s event is reassuringly not one of those firsts.

Nearly 150 years ago, 300 of the country’s best inventors, scientists and technology experts had a dinner just like this at Mansion House.

They discussed the future of science and technology, wondering what incredible opportunities might be around the corner.

They sat where we are sitting this evening, before the lightbulb had even been invented, and helped to start a technology revolution that went beyond anything any single one of them could have imagined.

The next day, the Morning Post described the dinner as a turning point for the United Kingdom – ushering in the age of science and technology.

Now while I hope we all go away this evening with a renewed sense of optimism for the future, our generations’ technological turning point is not happening in a single dining hall.

It is happening in cities, towns and villages where the next generation of coders and software engineers are innovating from their own living rooms.

It is happening in shared office spaces where Britain’s brightest and best are collaborating.

It is happening in our public services, where our NHS, transport system and military are gradually becoming hotbeds of innovation.

Our technology revolution is more democratic, open and inclusive than ever before.

Listening to industry, following the evidence and focusing on outcomes – is the approach that drove many of those here tonight to success,

And it is the approach that I and my new Department are taking.

This evening, I want to talk about three of my priorities to drive this incredible culture of entrepreneurialism and creativity forward, and how we are going to solidify this country as a Science and Tech Superpower by the end of this decade.

At the heart of that mission is going to be scaleups.

The UK digital sector is growing three times faster than the rest of the economy.

We are home to over 85,000 tech startups and scale ups, providing over 3 million jobs.

But it is about more than pounds and pence.

When we create the right conditions to allow tech businesses to scaleup and grow, it doesn’t just create jobs and grow the economy it advances our way of life:

Hospitals get next generation, lifesaving equipment.

Public transport becomes safer, faster and cheaper.

The police and emergency services become more effective and efficient.

For people up and down the country, scaling up tech businesses of the future will produce the types of technological breakthroughs that allow us all to live longer, happier, healthier and smarter.

But there is no magic formula.

For some businesses, scaleup will require access to the right kind of capital investment.

Others may need to plug into a cluster or an ecosystem in a local area.

And many simply need a combination of things like skills, finance, partner organisations and access to new technologies like quantum or supercomputers.

In just 7 weeks of the department’s existence, we have listened to business and been delivering.

From our £2.5 billion quantum package, to the UK becoming just one of a handful of countries on the planet building a £900 million exascale supercomputer – we are building the infrastructure that will act as the runway for new scaleups.

But it is not just about public money.

Investors and financial institutions are going to be crucial.

For every pound the government invests in R&D right now, the private sector is investing about 2.

That is why the Chancellor announced that we are supporting qualifying R&D intensive small businesses with £27 worth of support for every £100 of private expenditure.

£1.8 billion over the next 5 years.

It is no wonder then that the UK is attracting more investment into technology than France and Germany combined.

And we are the Fintech capital of Europe attracting more investment last year than any country expect the US.

And I am delighted that Ron Kalifa is here with us today, whose review into fintech has been crucial for capitalising on our competitive edge in a uniquely British area of expertise.

Governments are often accused, of talking too much and acting too little.

This government is not one of them.

Instead, we are listening to what businesses and entrepreneurs are asking for … and delivering.

To name just 2 of the new investments we have launched in less than 7 weeks…

Our brand new Tech Missions Fund

– which is backed by £250 million will help businesses scaleup in key technologies like quantum and bioengineering.

I am also uplifting the UK Innovation and Science Seed Fund by a further £10 million to help scaleups attract private investment.

This comes up top of quantum and supercomputing capabilities

– which will fuel thousands of new scaleups across the country.

These are just a handful of what will be a constant drumbeat, of action-focussed announcements you will see from me in the coming months.

However, just as those sat here 150 years ago knew, the people in this room tonight know that innovators are our greatest asset.

People, skills and talent are the lifeblood of our technology sector.

I mentioned earlier that last year the UK became only the third country in the world with a tech sector worth over one trillion dollars.

It is only the United States and China who have also passed that incredible milestone.

What you may not have heard is how much those 3 countries owe to skills for their success.

If you look behind the rankings, you find that each of these 3 countries understand the importance of skills.

Just consider the fact that of the 25 highest ranking universities in the world, 22 of them are located in those 3 countries.

And it is also no coincidence that those 3 countries also occupy 1st, 2nd and 3rd in the rankings for the number of academic publications per year, and between them produce more Nobel Prize winners than the rest of the world combined.

However getting to a trillion dollar valuation is no accident – in each of these 3 cases it came about because the importance of skills was recognised.

But as our Science and Technology Framework recently set out, we are not content to simply be a challenger nation to China and the United States.

We want to become a genuine Science and Technology Superpower by 2030.

In the 7 weeks since I became the Secretary of State, I made skills a key priority and have started to take decisive action…

Working with the Department for Business and Trade we have started a Global Talent Network for AI to bring the best AI minds in the world to come and work in the UK.

We’re pumping an extra £50 million into modernising our world class labs.

And we’re doubling the number of AI PhD researchers.

That’s what we’ve done in 7 weeks – imagine what we’ll have done in 7 months.

However, the right skills and the right scaleup ecosystem won’t deliver results if we don’t have the right approach to regulation.

Not only do regulations themselves need to be clear to interpret and simple to implement, but we have to have the right regulatory behaviour.

Of course regulations need to be grounded in common-sense for people to understand their intention, but they also need to be agile enough to keep up with the pace of change, especially in areas like AI with a cohesive framework that all regulators can work to.

And you will hear more this week when we launch the AI White Paper, because regulation must not stamp out innovation.

Regulate to innovate is the culture I am bringing to my new department.

Just take data – it is the foundation for innovation across science and technology.

Once again, rather than simply diagnose the problem, my department is getting stuck in with the solution.

We launched a co-design process with businesses on data, some of whom will be here tonight, to create a new, bespoke and simplified version of GDPR for the UK.

UK GDPR, will build on the strengths of EU GDPR, while ensuring that we maintain our adequacy status to allow businesses to trade and share data across Europe safely.

To be clear it won’t mean companies trading with the EU will have to run 2 systems, because companies operating on EU GDPR will largely comply with our system automatically with some minor changes like a requirement for a complaints system.

UK GDPR will however be simpler and easier to follow – avoiding the behaviour we often currently see where companies can become data adverse.

Talking of regulation – a few weeks ago we published our Science and Technology Framework document, one of the 10 points is dedicated to regulations and standards– setting out a pro-growth, pro-innovation and pro-business approach.

It also provides business with the government’s long term strategic direction needed to provide clarity, stability and confidence.

This will be backed up by our soon to be published AI White Paper, which sets the UK apart in AI by ensuring that agility and innovation come first.

And just the other week, we announced in the government’s response to the Vallance Review that we will be accepting all recommendations starting with the creation of an AI sandbox.

We agree the government should avoid regulating emerging digital technologies too early, to avoid the risk of stifling innovation.

Before I hand over to the Brian McBride,

I want to leave you all with one thought for the coming year.

Whether you are a captain of industry or a young entrepreneur, we want to work with you to achieve our goal to become a Science and Technology superpower.

But be in no doubt, we are not chasing that title for status or glory.

Being a Science and Technology Superpower is not about records, rankings or awards.

I will be measuring our success by the things that matter to real people.

When all is said and done, access to technology is often the difference between living comfortably… and having to live with hardship.

It is the difference between having a job that is fulfilling and meaningful… and simply working to survive.

Very often, it is the difference between losing a loved one prematurely… and having them here with us.

I want our generation’s technology revolution to change everyone’s lives for the better in ways they can see and feel around them.

If we can achieve that, then we will truly be a Science and Technology Superpower.

Thank you once again.

29/03/2023