Category: Press Releases

PRESS RELEASE : Ministerial Appointments- [25 October 2022]
The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 25 October 2022.

The King has been pleased to approve the following appointments:
- Rt Hon Rishi Sunak MP as Prime Minister, First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service, and Minister for the Union
- Rt Hon Jeremy Hunt MP re-appointed as Chancellor of the Exchequer
- Rt Hon Dominic Raab MP as Deputy Prime Minister, Lord Chancellor, and Secretary of State for Justice
- Rt Hon Simon Hart MP as Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury (Chief Whip)
- Rt Hon James Cleverly MP re-appointed as Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs
- Rt Hon Ben Wallace MP re-appointed as Secretary of State for Defence
- Rt Hon Nadhim Zahawi MP as Minister without Portfolio
- Rt Hon Oliver Dowden CBE MP as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
- Rt Hon Suella Braverman KC MP as Secretary of State for the Home Department
- Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP as Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
- Rt Hon Penny Mordaunt MP re-appointed as Lord President of the Council, and Leader of the House of Commons
- Gillian Keegan MP as Secretary of State for Education
- Rt Hon Mel Stride MP as Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
- Rt Hon Dr Thérèse Coffey MP as Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
- Rt Hon Steve Barclay MP as Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
- Rt Hon Michael Gove MP as Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities and Minister for Intergovernmental Relations
- Rt Hon Kemi Badenoch MP re-appointed as Secretary of State for International Trade and President of the Board of Trade. She also becomes Minister for Women and Equalities
- Rt Hon Michelle Donelan MP re-appointed as Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
- Rt Hon Chris Heaton-Harris MP re-appointed as Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
- Rt Hon Alister Jack MP re-appointed as Secretary of State for Scotland
- David TC Davies MP as Secretary of State for Wales
- Rt Hon Lord True CBE reappointed as Lord Privy Seal, and Leader of the House of Lords
- Victoria Prentis MP as Attorney General
- Jeremy Quin MP as Paymaster General, and Minister for the Cabinet Office. He will attend Cabinet.
- Rt Hon Mark Harper MP as Secretary of State for Transport
- John Glen MP as Chief Secretary to the Treasury. He will attend Cabinet.
- Rt Hon Johnny Mercer MP as a Minister of State (Minister for Veterans’ Affairs) in the Cabinet Office. He will attend Cabinet.
- Rt Hon Tom Tugendhat MBE MP re-appointed as a Minister of State (Minister for Security) in the Home Office. He attends Cabinet.
- Rt Hon Sir Gavin Williamson CBE MP as a Minister of State (Minister without Portfolio) in the Cabinet Office. He will attend Cabinet.
- Rt Hon Robert Jenrick MP as a Minister of State (Minister for Immigration) in the Home Office. He will attend Cabinet.
- Rt Hon Andrew Mitchell MP as a Minister of State (Minister for Development) in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. He will attend Cabinet.
October 26, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : Appointment of a new Judicial Commissioner of the Judicial Appointments Commission [October 2022]

The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 25 October 2022.

His Majesty The King has approved the appointment of the Honourable Mr Justice Adam Johnson as a Judicial Commissioner of the Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC) for 3 years commencing 1 October 2022.

The JAC is an independent body that selects candidates for judicial office in courts and tribunals in England and Wales, and for some tribunals with a UK-wide jurisdiction.

JAC Commissioners are appointed, under Schedule 12(1) of the Constitutional Reform Act 2005, by His Majesty The King on the recommendation of the Lord Chancellor.

The appointment of The Honourable Mr Justice Adam Johnson was made in accordance with Regulation 10 of the Judicial Appointment Commission Regulations 2013.

Biography

The Honourable Mr Justice Adam Johnson, who has been a High Court judge – assigned to the Chancery Division – since 2020, was admitted as a solicitor in 1990 and took Silk in 2017. He was appointed as a Deputy High Court Judge in 2018.

October 26, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : New rules for commercial imports of pets from higher risk countries [October 2022]
The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 25 October 2022.
- Importers must apply to be registered as an approved trader under new scheme
- Scheme ensures rescue animals can be rehomed whilst national biosecurity is still protected
The Government has today (25th October 2022) announced a new ‘Approved Importers scheme’ for pet imports from currently higher risk countries. It is being introduced to replace the temporary ban on commercial imports, including rescue animals, from Belarus, Poland, Romania and Ukraine, and allow for safer movements to resume.

Under a new safeguarding declaration, anyone commercially importing dogs, cats and ferrets into Great Britain from the previously suspended countries can now apply for Approved Importer status with the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) from 29th October 2022.

In order to be approved, importers must be based or have representation in the UK, have no record of serious non-compliances in the last 12 months, and share with APHA the details of the transporter and the registered premises from where the animals originate from.

The UK Government is absolutely committed to protecting our biosecurity and public health, particularly ensuring we retain our long-held freedom from rabies and tapeworm. The new regulations will allow rescue organisations to resume activities, while still complying with our strict animal health and biosecurity standards.

The move is being taken as an increasing number of people are choosing to import pets from abroad with the hope of rehoming them, unaware of the associated health and welfare risks.

Chief Veterinary Officer, Christine Middlemiss said:

Commercial imports, including rescue animals are often of unknown background and disease status.

Under the Government’s new scheme, tighter controls will mean approved importers must arrive through designated points of entry and share all relevant health certificates, documents and blood tests before arrival to allow for more rigorous checks to take place. This will help protect animal and human health.

Biosecurity Minister, Lord Benyon said:

We are committed to ensuring safe commercial pet movements including rescues can continue and stopping those which carry too great a biosecurity risk.

The new scheme means we can safely lift the temporary suspension and allow only for safe movements from Animal and Plant Health Agency approved importers, helping to ensure we maintain our biosecurity standards and our vital rabies free status.

We are aware of serious non-compliance in movements, exacerbated by the present crisis in Ukraine. The scheme will remain in place until the Government is satisfied risks have reduced enough to allow controls to be lifted.

This measure only applies to commercial imports including rescue animals and it does not change the Government support for pets travelling Approved Importer status is not required for those commercially importing cats, dogs and ferrets that originated from countries other than those specified.

Before legally importing animals into Great Britain, Approved Importers are required to:
- Notify APHA details of the planned movement including place of origin, name of transporter, destination of animals, the planned route and carrier at least 7 days prior to arrival
- Upload all relevant export health certificates and blood tests 2 days before arrival. This is to allow more rigorous checks to take place
- Note that imports arriving from or via the EU by rail or car must arrive at Dover or Folkestone, only on Monday to Friday between 10am and 4pm. Animals travelling by air must enter Great Britain at a Border Control Post. (Edinburgh, London Gatwick or London Heathrow).
October 25, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : Looking towards the mandate renewal of the UN Support Mission In Libya [October 2022]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 24 October 2022.

Statement from Ambassador James Kariuki at the Security Council briefing on Libya.

Thank you President, and let me thank SRSG Bathily for his inaugural briefing to the Council, and congratulate him on taking up his appointment. SRSG Bathily – you have the full support of the United Kingdom in the implementation of your mandate. I also welcome the participation of the Permanent Representative of Libya in our meeting today.

President, it is regrettable that Libya’s political elite have made no further progress to agree a basis on which to hold free, fair and inclusive parliamentary and presidential elections. I therefore welcome SRSG Bathily’s efforts to engage with all Libyan parties across the country, including civil society, women, and youth groups.

As a Council we should now urge all Libyan parties, in particular Libya’s political leaders, to work constructively with SRSG Bathily, and agree a roadmap to elections as soon as possible. This is in the interest of all the Libyan people.

President, I would also like to highlight two areas that are undermining prospects for free, fair and inclusive elections. First, the UK is deeply concerned by reports of increased restrictions on, and a deteriorating operating space for, civil society in Libya. As well as administrative impediments, civil society organisations reportedly face an escalation in the level and frequency of scrutiny of their operations.

A vibrant civil society is critical for the holding of free, fair, and inclusive elections. It is an essential component of a functioning democracy, leading to greater stability and prosperity. So we urge all Libyan authorities to ensure a safe, secure and unhindered operating environment for civil society.

Second, President, we call on all Libyan parties to protect the neutrality, integrity and reunification of public institutions so as to ensure that Libya’s wealth is used for the good of all citizens. Reports of the misuse of public funds, set out in the recent Audit Bureau’s report, damage the credibility of Libya’s institutions. These institutions must be supported to serve the whole of Libya and all Libyan people.

Finally, President, I would like to thank Council members for their constructive engagement in negotiations to renew UNSMIL’s mandate for a year. We look forward to the resolution’s adoption later this week. Thank you.

October 25, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : Announcement of re-appointment of Leslie Philpott as Lead Non-Executive Director for the Northern Ireland Office [October 2022]
The press release issued by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on 24 October 2022.

The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, the Right Honourable Chris Heaton-Harris MP, has announced the re-appointment of Leslie Philpott as Lead Non-Executive Director for the Northern Ireland Office.
This appointment is for a further term of three years ending on 30 September 2026.

Biography

Leslie Philpott is a Chartered Accountant with a background in public finance and leadership at senior executive levels. He is a former Chief Executive of the Office for Nuclear Regulation and had previously held senior roles in Health and Safety Executive. His portfolio of non-executive experience includes membership of the NEBOSH Board, Mid-Cheshire NHS Trust, Benenden Healthcare Society and Board of the Government Actuary’s Department.

Terms of Appointment

The position is a part-time appointment for a duration of three years.

The position attracts a fixed remuneration of £12,500 per annum for a commitment of approximately 20 days per year.

The position is not pensionable.

Regulation

This appointment is not regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments.

Political Activity

Non-Executive Directors to departmental boards are appointed on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process. However, in accordance with the original Nolan recommendations, there is a requirement for appointees’ political activity in defined categories to be made public.

Mr Philpott has declared that he has not been politically active in the last five years.
October 24, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : Making Women’s Leadership and Participation in Peace and Humanitarian Processes a Norm [October 2022]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 24 October 2022.

Statement by Colonel Carl Harris, UK Military Advisor to the UN, at the High-level Peacekeeping and Humanitarian Leadership Dialogue.

Good morning and thank you for the opportunity to address today’s meeting. I would like to pay thanks to our fellow co-hosts, especially the German Mission for hosting us here, and to our esteemed panel of experts for joining us today.

The United Kingdom firmly believes that the full, equal and meaningful participation of women in peace and humanitarian processes is crucial to effectiveness. Women’s participation in decision-making, peace operations and humanitarian interventions is not only a moral imperative, but it also improves the quality of policymaking and interventions. That is why peacekeeping, humanitarian action and women’s leadership are central to the UK’s new National Action Plan on Women Peace and Security.

Driven by this belief, we have consistently supported the UN’s Senior Women Talent Pipeline and the Elsie Initiative to improve the gender balance in UN Peace Operations. We are proud to have committed $7.4mil to Elsie since its inception.

Women’s involvement in peace processes and political transitions is also an imperative for lasting peace. It is vital for UN peace operations to support women’s participation in such contexts: such as in Mali’s political transition and ongoing peace agreement implementation, and in the DRC through the Nairobi process and the government’s new DDR process.

In humanitarian crises, the UK works closely with our partners to support women’s leadership on the frontline of responses. Women’s meaningful participation and leadership in humanitarian action not only improves outcomes for women and girls, but also strengthens the impact of the entire humanitarian response.

But endemic violence against women and rollbacks on gender equality are major barriers. We see this in contexts around the world, but it is particularly the case in Afghanistan today. We must continue to press the Taliban to ensure women’s full inclusion and promote their rights, including to education.

The benefits of women’s participation are clear. So let’s act to build more effective humanitarian interventions and stronger, more resilient peace process, with women involved at every stage. I look forward to today’s discussion and hearing from our panel. Thank you.

October 24, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : Statement on the Chief of the Defence Staff’s call with the Russian Chief of the General Staff [October 2022]

The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 24 October 2022.

A statement on the Chief of the Defence Staff’s call with the Russian Chief of the General Staff, General of the Army Valery Vasilyevich Gerasimov.

At the request of the Russian Ministry of Defence, the Chief of the Defence Staff, Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, spoke with his Russian counterpart, General of the Army Valery Vasilyevich Gerasimov, this afternoon.

The Chief of the Defence Staff rejected Russia’s allegations that Ukraine is planning actions to escalate the conflict, and he restated the UK’s enduring support for Ukraine.

The military leaders both agreed on the importance of maintaining open channels of communication between the UK and Russia to manage the risk of miscalculation and to facilitate de-escalation.

The conversation followed the Defence Secretary’s call with his Russian counterpart yesterday and a call between the Foreign Ministers of France, the UK, and the USA last night.

October 24, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : Nick de Bois CBE appointed as British Tourist Authority Chair [October 2022]

The press release issued by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport on 24 October 2022.

The Secretary of State has appointed Nick de Bois as Chair of the British Tourist Authority for a term of three years.

Nick de Bois CBE

The term of appointment will be for three years, commencing on 1 November 2022 until 31 October 2025. Interim Chair Dame Judith Macgregor will resume her duties as a BTA Board Member.

Nick de Bois has been Chair of the VisitEngland Advisory Board for three years since June 1 2020, until his appointment as Chair of the British Tourist Authority. During this time and acting in an independent capacity, he led the government’s review into the funding and structures of England’s Destination Management Organisations.

Nick de Bois was Member of Parliament for Enfield North from 2010 to 2015. Prior to his election, he was founder and Managing Director of Rapiergroup, an international events and exhibitions management agency that he set up in 1988 delivering conferences, exhibitions and digital content for U.K. and International based clients.

In 2016, he was appointed Chairman of the UK Government’s first U.K. Events Industry Board bringing together industry and government agencies to advise the government on the implementation of its Business Events Strategy launched in 2015. This strategy set about securing an increase of inbound international visitors by winning new international events hosted at U.K. destinations. In addition, the board advised on securing growth of international visitors to established domestic events.

He resigned as Chair of the U.K. Events Industry Board in July 2018 to join the Department for Exiting the European Union as Chief of Staff and Special Advisor to the Secretary of State Dominic Raab MP.

Nick lives with his wife Helen in Hertfordshire. He is also an author of “Confessions of a Recovering MP” and his first novel Fatal Ambition as well as being a contributory program host and broadcaster.

Nick was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list 2022.

Remuneration and Governance Code

This appointment has been made in accordance with the Cabinet Office’s Governance Code on Public Appointments. The process is regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. Nick will be offered remuneration of £40,000 per annum. The Government’s Governance Code requires that any significant political activity undertaken by an appointee in the last five years is declared. This is defined as holding office, public speaking, making a recordable donation or candidature for election. Nick has declared he was the Conservative Party candidate for the constituency of Enfield North in the 2017 General Election.

October 24, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : Fiona Pollard appointed as VisitEngland Advisory Board Interim Chair [October 2022]

The press release issued by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport on 24 October 2022.

The Secretary of State has appointed Fiona Pollard as VisitEngland Advisory Board Interim Chair for 9 months, whilst the appointment process for a permanent Chair is conducted.

Fiona Pollard

Nick de Bois CBE has stepped down as Chair of the VisitEngland Advisory Board to become Chair of the British Tourist Authority. Fiona Pollard has been appointed Interim Chair, with her term of appointment commencing on 1 November 2022 until 31 July 2023.

Fiona joined the VisitEngland Advisory Board in March 2018, and was reappointed for a second term in March 2022.

Fiona runs her own events company and sits on several boards, including the Roman Baths, one of the most visited tourist attractions in England.

After a career in The City working in the derivatives sector with a number of international banks, Fiona ran the Hop Farm Country Park in Kent until 2006. She still has close connections with the County organising the Leeds Castle Classical Concert each summer. She is a former Board member of the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA) and the Kent Messenger group of radio stations. Fiona was also a founding member of the Kent Tourism Alliance and one of the original Trustees behind the Turner Contemporary art gallery in Margate.

Remuneration and Governance Code

This Interim Chair appointment has been made in accordance with the Cabinet Office’s Governance Code on Public Appointments. The process is regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. This role is remunerated at £345.00 per day. The Government’s Governance Code requires that any significant political activity undertaken by an appointee in the last five years is declared. This is defined as holding office, public speaking, making a recordable donation or candidature for election. Fiona has declared no activity.

October 24, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : What works in youth justice – ideas for now and the future [October 2022]

The press release issued by the Home Office on 24 October 2022.

Keith Fraser, Chair of the YJB, summarises a report which brings together thoughts on achieving a Child First system from 200+ youth justice experts.

For decades academics, policy makers, practitioners and other experts have deliberated on how best to create safer communities by preventing offending by children. For the past 20 years or more, the body of evidence known as the ‘Child First’ approach has been proven to be the best way of achieving this.

With that in mind, at the YJB we set out to answer two questions:

How far do we think we are from achieving a “Child First” system?
What could we do to achieve a “Child First” system?
To provide answers we brought together more than 200 stakeholders – all experts in their fields within or connected to youth justice. They came together in groups across England and Wales to provide their thoughts on the current system and ideas for the future.

Using a systems map methodology, with independent validation generously provided by Professor Kate Williams from University of South Wales, we looked at the themes which appeared in stakeholders’ answers.

The results were fascinating. Not just the themes suggesting where we could improve, but also the breadth of ideas for change. It’s difficult to distil the thousands of thoughts we collated into just a few key messages, so I encourage everyone to view the full presentation. But to give you a flavour, across both England and Wales experts consistently raised the need to do the following:

recognise the youth justice system as part of a wider system and make changes beyond – like improving understanding of why children offend
collect the right data and to share it with agencies effectively
enable greater child and workforce participation and collaboration
challenge current reforms to go further, including police and courts, and to reflect this in changes to inspection
review training for youth justice staff, including supporting staff to deal with trauma, and in Wales to build on in-depth trauma informed training already delivered
From the above, it’s clear there’s lots to work on to finally achieve a system which fully utilises Child First evidence, but we didn’t just receive a ‘wish list’ from partners, they also came full of brilliant ideas – from quickly implementable, no-cost ideas to long-term ideas involving complex changes to law, policy or investment.

We recognise that with complex systems there is no quick and free panacea. At the YJB we’ve committed to continue bringing together experts and to provide spaces for collaboration and further discussion. We will also consider how we can act on ideas for change within our gift and support others to make changes that are within their power.

As youth justice experts we all agree that the success of the youth justice system is reliant on many organisations and individuals. That’s why I’m asking all of you who are directly and indirectly involved in youth justice to read the findings, share them with colleagues and to consider how you and your organisation can use this information to support your own work and contribute to the changes suggested.

I take great heart in the number of ideas for improvement. For me it shows that there are solutions, that there is great hope and that there are many of us that care deeply for the communities and children who are most affected by crime. Thank you to all of you who took part in discussions and offered your expertise, to those who have helped make sense of the evidence and to everyone who continues to work tirelessly to improve the lives of children and our communities.

October 24, 2022