Category: Press Releases

PRESS RELEASE : A number of countries found themselves on the brink of a new famine precisely because Russia started a war of aggression against Ukraine – Andriy Yermak at a meeting on the implementation of the Grain from Ukraine initiative [November 2022]

The press release issued by the President of Ukraine on 17 November 2022.

Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Yermak held a meeting of the working group on providing aid to the countries suffering from an acute food crisis. The meeting was also attended by representatives of the Office of the President, ministries and departments, ambassadors of Ukraine, foreign diplomats accredited in our country and representatives of international organizations.

Andriy Yermak noted that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced the launch of the Grain from Ukraine humanitarian program while participating in the G20 summit.

This initiative is aimed at alleviating the suffering of peoples and overcoming the food crisis caused by Russian armed aggression against Ukraine.

First of all, we are talking about the countries of the African continent and Asia.

The Head of the President’s Office emphasized that the issue of overcoming the food crisis is among the points of the Ukrainian plan, which the Head of State presented at the summit.

“There is one point there about food security and the right of every person not to die of hunger because someone in the Kremlin decided to take away other people’s territories,” he stated.

“Today, all these countries are on the brink of a new famine precisely because Russia started this war of aggression against Ukraine,” emphasized Andriy Yermak.

According to him, the Grain from Ukraine initiative is also important in the context of confirming the status of our country as a guarantor of global food security.

“It is very important that the international community knows exactly who is saving the world from hunger today. It is very important that not only Ukraine, but also partners know this,” said the Head of the President’s Office.

He added that Ukraine is ready to implement this program together with partners whose extensive experience will enable it to be done in a timely and efficient manner.

Deputy Head of the Office of the President Andriy Sybiha noted that several states have already decided to participate in the initiative and are ready to become its donors. In particular, Belgium, Germany and Poland have confirmed the financing of dispatch of ships with grain, which are headed for or have already arrived in the countries in need of food.

The representative of the President’s Office also noted that preliminary confirmations were provided by Japan, Türkiye and the United States.

Andriy Sybiha called on all participants of the meeting to consider the issue of participation in the initiative of Ukraine.

Ambassador of Germany Anka Feldhusen noted that her country is willing to continue financing the dispatch of grain ships to countries that need it.

Ambassador of Türkiye Yağmur Ahmet Güldere said that his country welcomes and supports the Grain from Ukraine initiative and is currently considering how exactly it can help in its implementation. He also assured: Türkiye will continue its efforts to ensure further work of the “grain corridor”.

Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Ukraine Fan Xianrong noted that the PRC welcomes the steps aimed to guarantee global food security and appreciates the efforts that help alleviate the crisis situation, in particular, the extension of the grain agreement.

Representatives of the US Embassy in Ukraine also expressed their support for the Ukrainian initiative and declared willingness to work with our country and partners to make it successful.

Andriy Yermak thanked the partners for what their countries are doing for Ukraine and our citizens, and expressed hope that we will celebrate the great Ukrainian victory together.

November 22, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : President of Ukraine met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands [November 2022]

The press release issued by the President of Ukraine on 15 November 2022.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands Wopke Hoekstra who is on a visit to Kyiv.

The Head of State highly appreciated the consistent support for Ukraine from the government of the Netherlands and the personal efforts of Prime Minister Mark Rutte to counter Russian aggression.

“We thank the Netherlands for understanding the conditions in which our people live today and what Ukrainians are fighting for,” said Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

He thanked for the recent decisions of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to provide additional security assistance to Ukraine, as well as a separate support package for preparing for the winter period.

The Head of State emphasized the importance of the liberation of Kherson for the further de-occupation of all territories of Ukraine illegally seized by Russia.

The interlocutors discussed additional specific measures of support from the Netherlands to strengthen the defense capabilities of our country and successfully counter the aggressor.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized that the Russian Federation continues missile terror against the population of Ukraine and the destruction of energy infrastructure. He noted the importance of creating an air shield over our country to protect against Russian missile attacks. It was stated that in the conditions of approaching winter, Ukraine is counting on prompt receipt of assistance from partners for the restoration of damaged infrastructure and stable electricity supply.

During the meeting, there was also an exchange of views regarding the involvement of the Netherlands in the reconstruction of the de-occupied territories of Ukraine. The Head of State thanked for the initiatives of the government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands aimed at attracting companies from this country to the reconstruction process. He emphasized the great need to restore infrastructure in the liberated territories of the Kherson region and expressed hope that the Netherlands will be able to take the lead in rebuilding this promising region.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted that despite the continuation of armed aggression, Ukraine is ready to make a concrete contribution to global food security. Hope was expressed that the Netherlands would support a new Ukrainian initiative to supply grain to African countries suffering from hunger.

“Helping those suffering from hunger today is an effective response to Russia’s attempts to repeat the genocide in the XXI century. And also a reminder to humanity of the lessons of the Holodomor of 1932-1933 in Ukraine,” the President emphasized.

The interlocutors discussed topical issues of European and Euro-Atlantic integration of Ukraine, as well as support from the Netherlands in promoting our country’s initiatives within the UN, in particular, regarding holding Russia accountable for crimes committed.

The President of Ukraine presented the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands with the Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise of the III degree, which was awarded to him for significant personal merits in strengthening interstate cooperation and supporting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine.

November 22, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : Rail Delivery Group responds to the new RMT strikes dates [November 2022]

The press release issued by the Rail Delivery Group on 22 November 2022.

A spokesperson for the Rail Delivery Group, said: “We made real progress over the last fortnight of talks and for the first time in months we can see the outline of a credible deal.

“Further strikes, especially in the run up to Christmas, will disrupt the first normal festive season our passengers have been able to look forward to since the Covid pandemic, taking even more money out of the pockets of railway staff, and will cause huge damage to the hospitality and retail sectors dependent on this time of the year for their businesses. We owe it to them to stay round the table.

“Industrial action has already cost the industry millions in lost revenue, is stalling its post-pandemic recovery, and threatening its long-term sustainability.

“We are asking the RMT to stay at the negotiating table, work with us towards a fair deal and end a dispute that is harming passengers, the industry, and their members.”

November 22, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : RMT will put on a series of 48 hour strikes in December and January [November 2022]

The press release issued by the RMT on 22 November 2022.

Rail union, RMT will put on a series of 48 hour strikes in December and January after industry bosses failed to offer any new deals to reach a settlement.

Over 40,000 members across Network and 14 Train Operating Companies will take strike action on 13, 14, 16 and 17 December and on January 3,4,6 and 7.

There will also be an overtime ban across the railways from 18 December until 2 January, meaning RMT be taking industrial action for 4 weeks.

Despite every effort made by our negotiators, it is clear that that the government is directly interfering with our attempts to reach a settlement.

The union suspended previous strike action in good faith to allow for intensive negotiations to resolve the dispute.

Yet, Network Rail have failed to make an improved offer on jobs, pay and conditions for our members during the last two weeks of talks.

At the same time Rail Delivery Group, representing the train operating companies, have also broken a promise to make a meaningful offer on pay and conditions and even cancelled negotiations that were due to take place yesterday.

We also have evidence from all 14 of the train companies denying that Rail Delivery Group has the authority to conduct negotiations on their behalf, even as the RDG urged us to come back to the table.

RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: “This latest round of strikes will show how important our members are to the running of this country and will send a clear message that we want a good deal on job security, pay and conditions for our people.

“We have been reasonable, but it is impossible to find a negotiated settlement when the dead hand of government is presiding over these talks.

“The employers are in disarray and saying different things to different people sometimes at the same time. This whole process has become a farce that only the new Secretary of State can resolve. When I meet him later this week, I will deliver that message.

“In the meantime, our message to the public is we are sorry to inconvenience you, but we urge you to direct your anger and frustration at the government and railway employers during this latest phase of action.

“We call upon all trades unionists in Britain to take a stand and fight for better pay and conditions in their respective industries. And we will seek to coordinate strike action and demonstrations where we can.

“Working people across our class need a pay rise and we are determined to win that for our members in RMT.”

November 22, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : Building safety levy moves a step closer [November 2022]

The press release issued by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities on 22 November 2022.

Proposals for how developers would pay to fix unsafe buildings have been set out today by the government as it moves a step closer to imposing its new Building Safety Levy.

The government has now begun consulting developers and other interested parties on the plans, which will see an estimated £3 billion collected over the next 10 years.

Under the proposals drawn by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, developers of residential buildings, regardless of their height, will have to pay the levy contribution as part of the building control process.

This will mean that unless the levy is paid, a developer could not move on to the next stage of the building process, which could lead to project delays and impact future revenues.

Minister for Local Government and Building Safety Lee Rowley said:

We have been clear that developers must pay to fix building safety issues and the Building Safety Levy is an important part of making that a reality.

Today’s consultation will give industry and local authorities an opportunity to work with us going forward.

By having these plans in place, we can ensure that all leaseholders are protected, regardless of whether their developer has pledged to remediate or not.

The government’s proposals include an option to alter levy rates depending on where in the country the building is, with lower rates in areas where land and house prices are less expensive. It also suggests that local authorities will be best placed to act as the collection agents as they have the necessary systems, data, knowledge, and relationships in place with the developer sector.

In order to protect the supply of affordable homes, it is proposed they be exempt from a levy charge. This is alongside a number of community buildings, including NHS facilities, children’s homes and refuges, including those for victims of domestic abuse.

The levy will be reviewed regularly so that it can be adjusted to take account of changing circumstances, such as wider economic conditions. There are also plans to protect small and medium sized enterprises by excluding smaller projects.

The Building Safety Levy will run alongside the developer pledges which were announced earlier this year. Under the pledges, 49 of the UK’s biggest homebuilders have committed to fix life-critical fire-safety defects in buildings over 11 metres where they had a role in developing those buildings in the last 30 years. This amounts to a commitment of at least £2 billion.

The Building Safety Levy was first announced in February 2021 and plans to extend it to cover all residential buildings were confirmed in April 2022. The Building Safety Levy is one of the ways we will ensure that the burden of paying for fixing historic building safety defects does not fall on leaseholders or taxpayers.

The consultation seeks views on the delivery of the Levy, including how it will work, what the rates will be, who must pay, what sanctions and enforcement will apply, and who is responsible for collecting the levy.

The consultation will be open for ten working weeks from today (22 November) and seeks the views of all interested parties, especially developers of all sizes, building control professionals and local authorities. Their views will be taken into account before any final decisions are made next year.

November 22, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : Charity Commission launches inquiry into Islamic Centre of England [November 2022]
The press release issued by the Charity Commission on 22 November 2022.

The Charity Commission has opened a statutory inquiry into the Islamic Centre of England Limited over serious governance concerns.

The charity is based in London and its charitable purposes include advancing the religion of Islam and education and welfare among the Muslim community.

The regulator’s decision follows extensive engagement with the charity over recent years, which has included issuing the charity with an Official Warning. The Warning followed two events held at the charity’s premises in 2020 that eulogised Major General Qasem Soleimani who is subject to UK sanctions.

A follow-up case in 2021 concluded that the charity was only partially compliant with the actions set out in the Official Warning and identified further regulatory concerns. These included concerns about the content of the charity’s website and the trustees’ management of conflicts of interest, and led to the Commission issuing an Action Plan.

The Commission has identified that the trustees have failed to fully comply with the Action Plan and Official Warning and a number of further regulatory concerns also remain.

The Commission has therefore opened a statutory inquiry into the charity, which will examine:
1. The extent to which the trustees have properly exercised their legal duties and responsibilities under charity law, in particular regarding the charity’s website and events.
2. Whether the trustees are willing, and able, to further the charity’s objects in accordance its Governing Document.
3. The governance and administration of the charity by the trustees, including the identification and management of conflicts of interest and/or loyalty.
The Commission may extend the scope of the inquiry if additional regulatory issues emerge.

It is the Commission’s policy, after it has concluded an inquiry, to publish a report detailing what issues the inquiry looked at, what actions were undertaken as part of the inquiry and what the outcomes were.
November 22, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : Government launches £1.5 million AI programme for reducing carbon emissions [November 2022]
The press release issued by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, on 22 November 2022.
- The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy launches new innovation programme supporting the use of artificial intelligence to reduce carbon emissions
- the AI for Decarbonisation programme forms part of the government’s £1 billion Net Zero Innovation Portfolio
- the programme aims to stimulate further innovation in the UK in AI, to drive growth and achieve Net Zero targets
Today (Tuesday 22 November) the government has launched a new innovation programme which will support the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to reduce the UK’s carbon emissions.

The AI for Decarbonisation Programme, backed by £1.5 million in funding, forms part of the government’s £1 billion Net Zero Innovation Portfolio, and comprises separate streams of grant funding to be launched in 2 initial stages.

Stream 1, worth up to £500,000, will be made available to co-fund a virtual centre of excellence on AI innovation and decarbonisation through to March 2025, while Stream 2, worth up to £1 million, will fund innovation projects which further the development of AI technologies to support decarbonisation.

Later in 2023, the government intends to make additional funding available to support priority areas in AI innovation identified by the virtual centre of excellence as being critical for achieving net-zero.

Science Minister George Freeman said:

The UK is one of the world’s most advanced AI economies, and AI technology is already having a transformative impact on our economy and society. But there is tremendous potential to do more.

The AI for Decarbonisation programme offers an exciting opportunity to leverage and develop the UK’s outstanding expertise in the field. Putting this rapidly-evolving technology into action will enable us to save energy costs for businesses and households, create high-value, skilled jobs, and kickstart millions of pounds of private investment while supporting our net zero targets.

The programme’s objective is to stimulate further innovation in the UK in the AI sector, to drive growth and achieve our net zero ambitions by encouraging collaboration in the field across the technology, energy and industrial sectors. The programme builds on ideas developed in the National AI Strategy published last year which set out the ways in which AI is able to support the UK in meeting its decarbonisation targets.

Projects specifically encouraged to bid for funding include uses of AI which could enable a faster transition to renewable energy, decarbonise industry by improving energy productivity and fuel switching, and decrease emissions in the agricultural sector.

The AI for Decarbonisation Programme is anticipated to increase market growth in the UK, reduce the cost of energy for a more competitive UK industry, leverage private investment in AI, and increase the consideration of ethics, bias and equity in AI technologies with decarbonisation applications.
November 22, 2022
Chris Bryant – 2022 Comments on IPSA Guidelines Allowing MPs to Claim for Christmas Parties

The comments made by Chris Bryant, the Labour MP for Rhondda, on Twitter on 22 November 2022.

I don’t know of a single MP who asked for this or intends to use it. It is totally inappropriate and I shall certainly not be taking it up.

November 22, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : Southampton nursing agency boss Selvendran Ramar given 11-year ban for abuse of Bounce Back Loan scheme [November 2022]

The press release issued by the Treasury on 22 November 2022.

Selvendran Ramar, 35, from Southampton, has been disqualified as a director for 11 years after he wrongfully obtained a £45,000 Bounce Back Loan in July 2020.

Ramar was sole director of SJSA Ltd, which claimed to provide temporary nursing staff to hospitals, mental health services, care homes and residential homes. It was incorporated on 30 March 2020.

Under the Bounce Back Loan scheme, genuine businesses impacted by the pandemic could take out interest-free taxpayer-backed loans of up to £50,000. However, businesses had to have been trading prior to 1 March 2020 in order to qualify for funding through the scheme, meaning SJSA Ltd was not eligible.

In addition, Ramar overstated the company’s turnover to secure the Bounce Back Loan, confirming the company’s annual turnover was £180,000. In reality, in the first three months of trading the company had received just £5,500 in income.

On receipt of the Bounce Back Loan, Ramar transferred £35,000 to his personal account from the business, and the remaining £10,000 to a family member.

SJSA Ltd went into liquidation in September 2021, which triggered an investigation by the Insolvency Service. At the point of liquidation, the £45,000 Bounce Back Loan was the entirety of SJSA Ltd’s declared liabilities.

The Liquidator has recovered £25,000 of the Bounce Back Loan.

The Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy accepted a disqualification undertaking from Selvendran Ramar, after he did not dispute that he caused SJSA Ltd to obtain a Bounce Back Loan that it was not entitled to. His ban is effective from 7 December 2022 and lasts for 11 years.

The disqualification undertaking prevents him from directly, or indirectly, becoming involved in the promotion, formation or management of a company, without the permission of the court.

Lawrence Zussman, Deputy Head of Company Investigations at the Insolvency Service, said:

Not only was Selvendran Ramar’s company not trading by the required 1 March 2020 date and therefore not entitled to receive the Bounce Back Loan, but he then tried to divert the funds for his personal use.

Within four days of the company receiving the funds, he transferred £35,000 into his own account and paid the remaining £10,000 to a family member.

The purpose of the Bounce Back Loan scheme was that businesses were meant to utilise the monies specifically for the ‘economic benefit of the business’ which was clearly not the case here.

November 22, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : Energy UK responds to Ofgem’s review on supplier support for vulnerable customers [November 2022]
The press release issued by Energy UK on 22 November 2022.

Responding to Ofgem’s review of how energy suppliers are helping vulnerable customers this winter and beyond, Energy UK’s Director of Advocacy, Dhara Vyas, said:

“Identifying and supporting vulnerable customers is already a top priority for retail suppliers, and many go above and beyond as demonstrated in our good practice summary of our vulnerability commitment.

“This includes setting up and training dedicated teams, providing millions of pounds in customer support funding, partnering with charities and third parties and encouraging people to sign up to the Priority Services Register.

“Our members have responded swiftly to Ofgem’s review – including providing additional documentation to demonstrate where processes were already in place, and will continue to look at all the ways they can make sure people get the help and support they need.”

ENDS

Read examples of suppliers going above and beyond to support vulnerable customers in our Vulnerability Commitment Good Practice Summary report.

Energy UK’s Vulnerability Commitment

12 energy retail suppliers covering 80% of the market have signed up to Energy UK’s Vulnerability Commitment, committing to drive continuous improvement in support for customers in vulnerable circumstances

The Commitment is designed to go above and beyond existing licence obligations and includes requirements to implement specific training for frontline staff, assign a dedicated board-level or equivalent Vulnerability Champion and undertake consumer research to ensure the company’s approach to supporting vulnerable customers is informed and up-to-date.

Each year, an independent expert panel assesses each supplier’s performance against the Vulnerability Commitment under the criteria of accessibility, collaboration and innovation.

More information about the Vulnerability Commitment is available here.

Additional support for customers
- Despite rising costs, and increased pressure, energy suppliers continue to increase the support they provide to customers, including additional funding for customers in fuel poverty.
- All major retail suppliers have their own funds, independently managed by fund administrators or in partnership with consumer bodies like Citizens Advice.
- Suppliers in the UK provide discretionary support of around £54 million on top of the more than £1 billion in mandatory schemes they deliver every year.
- These mandatory schemes are to help people struggling with energy bills. This includes the funding for the Energy Company Obligation (ECO) and the Warm Home Discount (WHD).
- Suppliers have a range of support for customers which they put into place at the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, and have committed to continuing including:
  - Payment holidays
  - Restructured payment plans
  - Credit advances to customers on pre-payment meters
- Recognising that a growing number of customers will require support, many suppliers have increased customer service resource, from hiring more front-line advisors to setting up dedicated affordability support teams.
More examples from each supplier are available here.
November 22, 2022