Category: Press Releases

PRESS RELEASE : Andriy Yermak – Unfortunately, we did not see the willingness of the ICRC to do everything possible to protect Ukrainian prisoners [October 2022]

The press release issued by the President of Ukraine on 18 October 2022.

The shocking scale of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocidal crimes committed by the Russian Federation against Ukrainian prisoners of war require at least a clear position and determination from all organizations that take care of compliance with the norms and requirements of international humanitarian law. This was stated by Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Yermak based on the results of the Ukrainian delegation’s trip to the touch line in the Zaporizhzhia region, which was not attended by representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

Last week, during a video call with President of the Red Cross Mirjana Egger, Andriy Yermak called on representatives of the ICRC to visit the touch line together with the Ukrainian delegation and demand that the organization’s mission be allowed into the temporarily occupied territory to check the condition of Ukrainian prisoners in Olenivka.

On Monday, Human Rights Commissioner of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Dmytro Lubinets, Advisor to the Head of the Office of the President Daria Zarivna and people’s deputies Maria Mezentseva, Yehor Cherniev, Denys Maslov and Olena Khomenko arrived at the touch line in the Zaporizhzhia region on Monday. However, as Daria Zarivna reported at a briefing in Zaporizhzhia, ICRC representatives did not join the Ukrainian delegation on this trip.

“As Andriy Yermak said in this regard, war is a test for both people and international organizations. Unfortunately, the Red Cross not only tolerates Russian violations of all norms of international law, but also does it silently,” she emphasized, quoting the Head of the President’s Office.

Dmytro Lubinets noted that representatives of the ICRC, despite their commitments, have not yet visited the colony in Olenivka, where, in particular, defenders of “Azovstal” are kept.

“Unfortunately, during every exchange, we see that the inaction of the ICRC has led to the fact that our prisoners of war and civilian hostages are tortured daily with hunger, electricity, because the Russians know that the International Committee of the Red Cross will not come, will not demand access to the places of detention of prisoners of war and civilians, and that in general it demonstrates inaction,” the ombudsman said.

He stated that the ICRC does not fulfill its mandate, which provides for the visit to military and civilian hostages both in the temporarily occupied territories and in the territory of the Russian Federation, justifying this by the lack of permission from the Russian side.

In this context, Andriy Yermak emphasized: “Ukraine expects and demands from the International Committee of the Red Cross due determination in obtaining access to Ukrainian prisoners in Olenivka. After all, the organization was created precisely for such tasks.”

“We are aware that the main obstacle to the arrival of the ICRC mission to the place of forced detention of Ukrainians in Olenivka is primarily Russia’s destructive and cynical position. At the same time, unfortunately, we do not see that the ICRC is working to protect our prisoners. Ukrainian society does not see this. Relatives of the defenders do not see this,” the Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine emphasized.

As Andriy Yermak noted, the Ukrainian side has every reason to expect decisive proactive actions by the ICRC in implementing its humanitarian mandate, as well as a clear public position and communication of all its actions aimed at overcoming the most acute humanitarian challenge in Europe.

The Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine also called on other international organizations and humanitarian actors to take active steps, as their direct human rights mandate should not allow them to stand aside and passively observe how Russia continues to commit the most brutal crimes of our time.

October 23, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : Planting of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Coppice, Derbyshire [October 2022]
The press release issued by Derbyshire County Council on 21 October 2022.

Six trees from the iconic ‘Tree of Trees’ gifted to Derbyshire by the Queen’s Green Canopy and dedicated to organisations and schools across the county have been planted at Shipley Country Park to create a coppice in memory of Her late Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II.

At a ceremony held this week (Tuesday 18 October) at the country park, which we run, the 6 trees, along with a 7th courtesy of His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Derbyshire, were planted to create The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Coppice, Derbyshire.

The Queen’s Green Canopy is a nationwide tree-planting initiative launched by Her Majesty to mark her Platinum Jubilee.

The ‘Tree of Trees’ stood in front of Buckingham Palace at the height of the Platinum Jubilee celebrations in London in June and was seen on TV by more than one billion people worldwide.

The trees have been dedicated to 6 Derbyshire organisations, schools and groups following recommendations made by the Derbyshire Lieutenancy which helped to secure the trees for the county from the Queen’s Green Canopy.

The 6 Derbyshire recipients are among more than 300 organisations to receive a tree from the Tree of Trees or have one dedicated in their name.

Tuesday’s ceremony at Shipley was attended by His Majesty’s Vice-Lord Lieutenant Colonel John Wilson OBE DL, Chief Executive of The Queen’s Green Canopy Colonel Dan Rex MVO, Lead for The Queen’s Green Canopy in Derbyshire Brell Ewart DL and Derbyshire County Council Leader Councillor Barry Lewis.

Civic dignitaries and councillors representing all Derbyshire districts also attended the event, along with representatives from organisations, groups and schools having a tree dedicated to them, and school children from nearby Cotmanhay Junior School.

The Derbyshire recipients who have a tree dedicated to them are:
- Alfreton Park School, Alfreton
- Buxton Mountain Rescue Team, Buxton
- Derbyshire County Council Children’s Homes
- Derbyshire Federation of Women’s Institutes, Derby
- Landmarks Specialist College, Eckington
- The Royal School for the Deaf, Derby.
The 6 trees that have been planted are hornbeam trees which are known to prosper and thrive in the county’s climate and soil. The 7th tree, a copper beech, was planted in the centre of the new coppice. With the added 7th tree there is 1 tree to represent each decade of Her late Majesty’s historic 70-year reign.

His Majesty’s Vice-Lord Lieutenant Colonel John Wilson OBE DL said:

“The Platinum Jubilee was very much celebrated across Derbyshire and tree planting for the Queen’s Green Canopy has been a very important part of those celebrations. The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Coppice provides a great focal point for the people of Derbyshire; it is a permanent reminder of the unique Platinum Jubilee celebrations, and of the life and incredible untiring service to us all by Her late Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II.”

Derbyshire County Council hosted the event, and Leader Councillor Barry Lewis said:

“Derbyshire is extremely privileged to be receiving these 6 very special trees from the Tree of Trees.

“We are very grateful to The Queen’s Green Canopy and to the Derbyshire Lieutenancy, and it was a proud moment to be a part of the ceremony to create this wonderful legacy to Her Majesty and for our county.”

Chief Executive of The Queen’s Green Canopy Colonel Dan Rex MVO said:

“We are proud to unveil this nationwide network of organisations chosen to become custodians of these special trees in Her Majesty’s name. In recognition of the positive impact that they have on their communities, the groups chosen represent the very best of Britain.

“The Queen’s Green Canopy hopes the trees will serve as an inspiration for tree planting within communities and to encourage care for the trees which already exist as part of our nation’s stunning landscape.”

Headteacher at The Royal School for the Deaf in Derby, Paul Burrows, said:

“It is a true honour to have a tree dedicated in memory of Her late Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, as part of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Coppice. It recognises the work of the Royal School for the Deaf, Derby, and the important status of the Deaf community in Derbyshire.”

Chairman of the Derbyshire Federation of Women’s Institutes Chrissie Booth said:

“It was a great honour and privilege to be chosen as one of only six charities and organisations in Derbyshire to plant a tree in Shipley Park, in respect of the Queen’s Green Canopy Platinum Jubilee project. It now has more poignancy to us in view of Her Majesty’s recent death.

“Derbyshire Federation of Women’s Institutes are also delighted to receive a Cyphered original pot with a hornbeam sapling to plant at another site, kindly donated by Derbyshire County Council, and this will be a lasting memory for decades to come.”

Landmarks Specialist College Principal Larry Brocklesby said:

“Landmarks Specialist College are thrilled to have a tree dedicated as part of Her late Majesty’s Queen’s Green Canopy initiative. This living legacy continues to play an important role highlighting the conservation challenges facing our world.

“Our special tree in Shipley Country Park will enable our learners to relate their understanding of local conservation to this much wider and far-reaching ambitious initiative. We would like to thank the Lord Lieutenant of Derbyshire for her very kind nomination.’’

Headteacher at Alfreton Park School Josie O’Donnell said:

“We are a school which strives to educate our pupils on fundamental British values and it means the world to us all at Alfreton Park to have something as special as a tree from Her late Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations dedicated to us. We are so grateful for the nomination and will cherish it for years to come.”

Former Chairman of the Buxton Mountain Rescue Team Rick Mobbs said:

“We are very pleased to be honoured in this way and have one of these special trees dedicated to the Buxton Mountain Rescue Team.

“We shall be planting the sapling given to us in the Dove Holes Community Association gardens in memory of Her late Majesty.”

While the original Tree of Tree trees have been planted in The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Coppice, the 6 organisations and schools received the original aluminium pot embossed with Her Majesty’s Cypher that held their tree and we gave them a sapling to plant themselves.
October 22, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : Ukraine – Statement at the Conclusion of an IMF Mission [October 2022]

The press release issued by the IMF on 21 October 2022.

The International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) Mission Chief for Ukraine Gavin Gray issued the following statement today:

“During October 17–20, an IMF staff team met with the Ukrainian authorities in Vienna, Austria. The mission discussed its findings with Finance Minister, Serhii Marchenko, and Governor of the National Bank of Ukraine, Andriy Pyshnyy.

“The Russian invasion of Ukraine that started over seven months ago has caused tremendous human suffering and had a severe economic impact. Real gross domestic product (GDP) has contracted significantly, inflation has risen sharply, trade has been substantially disrupted, and the fiscal deficit has risen to unprecedented levels.

“Against this challenging backdrop, the discussions focused on recent macro-financial developments and outlook, the budget for 2023 and associated external financing needs, financial sector issues and the mix of policies to support macroeconomic stability. The Ukrainian authorities deserve considerable credit for having maintained an important degree of macro-financial stability in these extremely difficult circumstances. The authorities are encouraged to refrain from measures that erode tax revenues, as they strive to align expenditure with available financing.

“Building on these productive discussions, staff and the authorities will advance work in the coming weeks to follow up on the authorities’ request for Program Monitoring with Board Involvement (PMB). The PMB will lay out the authorities’ policy intentions to support macroeconomic and financial stability and present an assessment of external financing needs for 2023. As such, the PMB will also provide a strong anchor for macroeconomic policies, further catalyze donor support, and help pave the way toward a fully-fledged Fund program. ”

October 22, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : Newcastle’s Euros bid could provide £150 million boost [October 2022]

The press release issued by Newcastle City Council on 19 October 2022.

The city is in the process of confirming its commitment to be involved in the Football Association’s (The FA) bid to host the 2028 men’s European Championships in the UK and Ireland.

A successful bid would see fixtures from the competition take place at St James’ Park for the first time since England held the tournament in 1996.

Forecasts have highlighted the huge economic impact the tournament would bring to each host city, with a significant number of jobs created for local people, a boost to local skills, and expenditure from the huge number of visitors to the city during the tournament if selected as part of the bid.

Cllr Nick Kemp, Leader of Newcastle City Council, said: “The possibility of hosting one of the world’s biggest sporting events in our city is incredibly exciting and it would be brilliant to be able to deliver this for our residents.

“We are renowned for our capability to host world-class events in Newcastle and our track record speaks for itself. We’ve just hosted the opening ceremony and fixture of the Rugby League World Cup, we’ve previously staged fixtures from the Rugby World Cup, the European Rugby Champions and Challenge Cups, and each year the world’s biggest half-marathon begins in our city.

“The social and economic benefits of being involved in such a global event, with billions of tv viewers around the world seeing what Newcastle can deliver while providing jobs and opportunities for residents, makes it a truly exciting prospect for us and an opportunity we want to make sure we properly explore.”

Elected Metro Mayor for the North of Tyne, Jamie Driscoll, said: “I’m buzzing about this. A chance to show off this great city to the world. To bring people together, from around Europe – united by their love of the beautiful game. To write another chapter in the history of St James’ Park. Fingers crossed for a successful bid!”

Darren Eales, Newcastle United CEO, said: “We are proud to be working with Newcastle City Council, North of Tyne Combined Authority and our other partners as we look to deliver even more world-class events to the North East.

“Newcastle is an incredible city and, in St. James’ Park, we have an iconic stadium that is world-renowned as a special place to experience football.

“Together with our city partners, we hope to support the Football Association in a strong five-nation bid to secure the Euros in 2028.”

The FA is expected to confirm its final selection of host cities in January 2023 while UEFA, European football’s governing body, will announce the Euro 2028 host nation in September 2023.

October 22, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : Forest of Bowland hosts MP peatland visit [October 2022]

The press release issued by Lancashire County Council on 18 October 2022.

Lancashire has secured £1.4m investment to restore peatlands, as part of the UK’s efforts to tackle climate change.

Lancashire’s peatlands have the potential to capture thousands of tonnes of CO2.

Trudy Harrison MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Defra, recently visited Grosvenor’s Abbeystead Estate in the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) to see how the government funding is being put to good use.

She was joined by representatives from a number of local organisations to discuss the restoration of Lancashire’s peatlands, which is being carried out as part of the wider Great North Bog West Project.

Restoration of these areas is vital as healthy peatlands are resilient and ecologically diverse habitats that provide benefits for people and nature.

County Councillor Shaun Turner, cabinet member for environment and climate change and chair of the Forest of Bowland AONB Joint Advisory Committee, said: “We’re pleased to have secured £1.4m of funding for Lancashire from the Government’s Nature for Climate Peatland Restoration Grant Scheme, which means the Forest of Bowland AONB Partnership can continue working with the county council and local partners to restore this important natural asset across our county.

“It is crucial that we work together to restore and maintain peatlands across Lancashire and the Forest of Bowland AONB project is a key part of our plans.

“Restoring our peatland will reduce carbon emissions and even capture more CO2 from the atmosphere, offsetting the carbon that is produced from burning fossil fuels.

“Research shows that restored peatlands are more effective at slowing water that flows from the fells, helping to make our natural environment more resilient to flash flooding.

“Holding water on the peatlands for longer is a double win – it is also beneficial for the habitat itself as keeping peat wet protects it from erosion, drought and promotes the growth and resilience of specialised bog vegetation like sphagnum mosses.

“Restored peat also reduces the severity and impact of moorland fires such as the ones we saw on Winter Hill in recent years.”

The Great North Bog West (GNBW) project is a joint peatland restoration project between the Lancashire and Cumbria Peat Partnerships. Key organisations involved with the partnerships are Cumbria Wildlife Trust, the Forest of Bowland AONB, National Trust, United Utilities, Grosvenor’s Abbeystead Estate and Lowther Estates.

For more information about the Great North Bog project, visit www.reatnorthbog.org.uk

October 22, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : Record pay offer for NHS staff in Scotland [October 2022]

The press release issued by the Scottish Government on 21 October 2022.

NHS staff are set to receive a record pay rise of £2,205 – an average 7% pay uplift – to help tackle the cost of living crisis and retain staff during the tougher winter months.

This increased offer was made after constructive negotiations between the Scottish Government and NHS Unions, which lasted into the early hours of Friday morning (21 October).

The offer would mean the lowest paid seeing a rise of more than 11%, with qualified nursing staff receiving up to 8.45%, helping the lowest paid staff through the cost of living crisis.

If agreed, the pay uplift, which amounts to almost half a billion pounds (£480m), will benefit more than 160,000 employees including nurses, paramedics, allied health professionals and healthcare support staff.

This is the largest pay offer given to NHS Scotland Agenda for Change staff since devolution and will mean they remain the best paid in the UK. If accepted, the offer will be backdated to 1 April 2022, and could be added to pay cheques in time for Christmas.

Health Secretary Humza Yousaf said:

“I am grateful to trade union colleagues and NHS employers for constructive discussions on pay. This has been another exceptionally challenging year for our health service and we have a difficult winter ahead, but I am pleased that we are able to recognise the service and dedication of our healthcare and support staff with this pay offer.

“We owe NHS staff a debt of gratitude for leading us through the greatest public health crisis in recent history.

“This improved pay offer – which is the largest of its kind since devolution – reflects their hard work and will go a long way to help them through the cost of living crisis. We are rightly focussing the biggest increases for those who are the lowest paid, as we know the cost crisis is impacting them disproportionately.”

October 22, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : Tackling the energy cost crisis in Scotland [October 2022]

The press release issued by the Scottish Government on 20 October 2022.

First Minister convenes second summit with energy companies and advice organisations.

Further actions to support consumers and businesses through the winter have been agreed at a virtual summit between energy companies and advice organisations and Ministers.

The energy cost crisis summit discussed this week’s reversals to UK Government measures set out since the previous summit, and agreed longer-term certainty is urgently needed ahead of the anticipated energy price cap increase, currently due in April.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said:

“The curtailing of the Energy Price Guarantee by the Chancellor of the Exchequer earlier this week has eradicated what meagre certainty people and businesses had over their bills and finances in the short to medium-term. Even the current cap of £2,500 until April – while better than a rise to £3,500 – is still a very significant increase for households who are already struggling to pay their bills and heat their homes. Without further mitigation the increase to £2,500 under the Energy Price Guarantee will see an additional 150,000 households in extreme fuel poverty.

“The deficiencies in the UK Government’s package mean we are still in an emergency situation. The economic outlook has been made far worse by other aspects of the mini-budget – most of which have now had to be reversed entirely.

“The Scottish Government is working hard within its limited powers and finite budget to support people, business, public services and the economy. Part of that work will involve ongoing engagement with energy companies and advice organisations throughout the winter to see how, individually and collectively, we can alleviate the huge challenges people are facing as well as signposting existing schemes and support that is available.

“It is clear however that more substantial reform of the energy market is needed to address the issue in the long term, and the power to do so lies with the UK Government.”

October 22, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : Menai Bridge closes for essential maintenance work [October 2022]

The press release issued by the Welsh Government on 21 October 2022.

Structural engineers have recommended that Menai Bridge should close to all traffic to allow essential maintenance work to take place. This will take effect from 14:00hrs on Friday 21 October.

The announcement was made following recent testing of the bridges existing hangers. As part of UK Highways A55 ongoing maintenance of the Menai Bridge, it was identified that further testing would need to be carried out on the Menai Bridge alongside the replacement of some of the hangers.

As a result of further investigation, serious risks have been identified and structural engineers have recommended to close Menai Bridge to all traffic. The findings that led to the recommendation to close the bridge are currently being reviewed which could take up to two weeks. Available options to reopen the bridge as soon as possible are being actively assessed.

Temporary hanger strengthening works may need to be installed to ensure the safety and integrity of the Menai Bridge. This programme could take between 14 to 16 weeks, with the bridge reopening in early 2023.

In the meantime, traffic will be diverted to the Britannia Bridge.

Following discussions with UK Highways and their structural experts, the footway across the bridge has been re-opened for pedestrians and dismounted cyclists.

People must remain on the pedestrian footways and numbers will be limited. Marshalls will be in place from Friday, 21 October to Monday, 24 October to manage pedestrian flows and monitoring will be put in place to ensure compliance moving forward.

Plans have been discussed with partners including Welsh Government, UK Highways A55, NMWTRA, Emergency Services and the local authorities.

The Welsh Government is developing further strategies to increase resilience on the Britannia Bridge to mitigate the risk of both bridges being closed in exceptional circumstances. In the last five years, the bridge has been closed to high-sided vehicles on average seven times a year.

A spokesperson for UK Highways A55 said

We have received a recommendation from structural engineers to close the bridge for safety reasons. We have passed on this recommendation to the Welsh Government and are working closely with them to ensure the safety and integrity of the Menai Bridge is maintained.

While this issue will cause disruption, we must act in the interest of public safety. We are currently peer reviewing the findings that led to the recommendation of closure and assessing all available options to reopen the bridge as soon as possible so people can get back to using the bridge regularly.”

Deputy Minister for Climate Change with responsibility for transport, Lee Waters said:

This urgent work is being carried out for public safety, unfortunately it is unavoidable, but we are fully aware of the implication this will have for people in the local area.

We are working closely with UK Highways to ensure this work is carried out safely and as quickly as possible with minimal disruption to the local community.

October 22, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : Greens call for General Election after Truss resigns as Prime Minister [October 2022]

The press release issued by the Green Party on 20 October 2022.

Responding to the end of Liz Truss’ short time as Prime Minister, Green Party co–leader Carla Denyer said:

“The Tory chaos has spiralled beyond any pretence that the country has a viable government.

“It is reckless for the Tories to claim that they can replace Liz Truss with any leader capable of commanding authority, nationally or internationally.

“The Tories want to impose Austerity 2.0 with no electoral mandate. That means more cuts to vital public services and more suffering for people across the country.

“The government simply cannot govern – it is unfit for office.

“We need a General Election now so people can vote for the policies they want to see that will turn this mess around.

“The Green Party will always stand for a fairer, greener country. We believe the way out of this crisis is to do the opposite of what the government has done – to reduce inequality rather than making it worse, through progressive taxation, including a Wealth Tax, and windfall taxes on the companies making super profits during this cost-of-living crisis.

“We would use the money to invest in a nationwide insulation programme to make sure people can afford to keep their homes warm, reduce inequality by ensuring that those with the deepest pockets help fund proper public services for all, and fund the beginnings of a just transition to a sustainable economy that protects the people and planet.

“It is time for the people to be given their chance to decide on the country’s future.”

October 22, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : Greens back new campaign to end NHS privatisation [October 2022]

The press release issued by the Green Party on 20 October 2022.

The Green Party has thrown its support behind a new campaign to ask NHS leaders to pledge to end NHS privatisation. The We Own It campaign is launched against a backdrop of new Oxford University research that links outsourcing in the NHS between 2013 and 2020 to 557 preventable deaths.

Zack Polanski, deputy leader of the Green Party, will speak at the launch event today. He is expected to say:

“We need to keep the NHS publicly funded, publicly provided and free at the point of use. That’s all health services including dental services – people’s health should never be up for auction.

“The Green Party have, and will always, oppose introducing market forces and competition into our NHS. It was Green Party MP Caroline Lucas who in 2015 put forward the cross-party NHS Reinstatement Bill in Parliament, to reinstate the NHS based on its founding principles and reverse the creeping marketisation of the health service.

“Let’s remember the NHS belongs to us all – and we will always be there to make the argument alongside you that we own it.”

In 2021 Green Party conference passed a motion calling for a 15% pay rise for NHS workers and at this year’s conference voted for the introduction of a £15 an hour minimum wage for all workers and pledged support for all trade union campaigns that aim to achieve wage increases to match the cost of living.

October 22, 2022