Category: Press Releases

PRESS RELEASE : Queen’s Speech – Academies Bill
The press release issued by Downing Street on 25 May 2010.

Legislation will be introduced to enable more schools to achieve academy status and give them greater freedoms over the curriculum.

The purpose of the bill is to:
- the Academies bill will enable more schools to become Academies and give them the freedoms and flexibilities they need to continue to drive up standards
- the Government’s vision is to create a world beating school system in which every parent has access to a good school and all pupils achieve high standards. Our central aims are to raise standards for all children, while narrowing the gap between the attainment of the most and least advantaged
The main benefits of the bill would:
- allow maintained schools to apply to become academies and power for the Secretary of State to issue an Academy Order requiring the local authority to cease to maintain the school
- remove the requirement to consult the local authority before opening an Academy, thus simplifying and accelerating the process;
- require the consent of any existing (mainly church) foundations before a school applies to become an Academy.
- deem Academy trusts to be exempt charities;
- provide for secondary, primary and special schools to become Academies;
- ensure there is no change of religious character in the conversion process (such changes can be made through separate existing provisions);
- there will be no expansion of selection but grammar schools and other schools which select or partially select pupils will be able to continue to do so
- retain the existing legal requirement for funding agreements to last at least seven years (the agreement can still provide for intervention or termination, if the academy fails).
The main elements of the bill will:
- provide schools with the freedoms to deliver an excellent education in the way they see fit, within a broad framework where they are clearly accountable for the outcomes they deliver
- enable all maintained schools to apply to become an Academy. For the first wave of applications, the key test for approving an academy conversion will be that the school is currently rated outstanding by Ofsted – the Secretary of State normally expects he will approve applications from outstanding schools unless they have a substantial financial deficit (more then £100,000) or other exceptional circumstances apply
- allow primary and special schools to apply to become an Academy in their own right for the first time and will benefit from the increased freedoms and flexibilities that this will offer
- make the process of applying to become an Academy as simple as possible without a requirement for Local Authorities to be consulted;
- allow schools which apply to become Academies to keep any surplus balance they hold
- the bill will automatically make all new Academies charities
We expect standards across the education sector to rise through the creation of more Academies. We expect a significant number to open in September and for the number to continue to grow each year;

NB. Academies will continue to be funded at a comparable level to maintained schools but will also get their share of the central funding that their LAs used to spend on their behalf. They will have freedom to allocate this funding in a way that focuses on the needs of their own pupils.

Existing legislation in this area

Section 482 of the Education Act 1996, as amended by Section 65 of the Education Act 2002, provides for the establishment of Academies and specifies the core characteristics of Academies.

Devolution

The provisions of the Academies Bill will only apply in England and will therefore only permit an Academy to be established in England.

England and Wales is a single legal jurisdiction and so all laws passed are part of the law of England and Wales. The application of laws can apply to only one country or the other but the provisions of the Academies Bill will have no practical impact on, or application to, the organisation of schools in Wales.
September 1, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : Millions invested to support female offenders
The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 1 September 2022.
Female offenders to be diverted from life of crime with targeted support

Women helped to get off drugs, off the streets into work

Women whose crimes have been fuelled by addiction, mental health issues and domestic violence will be better supported to stop reoffending thanks to new government funding.

With over 60 per cent of women in prison having experienced domestic abuse and 50 per cent having drug addictions almost £21 million will be invested in women’s services to tackle the causes of female offending and cut crime.

Organisations such as Working Chance, the UK’s only charity dedicated to getting women with convictions into work, support offenders who are serving a community sentence or have recently been released from prison and may be at risk of reoffending.

This tailored support, which can range from help to find a job or support with drug and alcohol abuse, can provide stability in getting their lives back on track – ultimately helping to keep the public safe.

Without specialist support in the community, statistics show that half of women who have been in prison will go on to reoffend, contributing towards the £18 billion cost of reoffending to the taxpayer.

A further £3.6 million will be allocated to help local services, such as mental health support and drug experts, work more closely together to support female offenders. This will include funding local coordinator roles, who would help to bring government and third sector organisations together to provide a better service.

Prisons Minister Stuart Andrew said:

Female offenders are often driven into crime by poor mental health, drug addiction or abuse.

This investment will make sure we support women facing these problems away from crime and into the help they need to get their lives back on track.

Tackling the root causes of female offending and providing vulnerable women with early support is a key part of the Female Offender Strategy, with many women who commit low-level crimes being driven by underlying factors such as substance abuse, trauma or difficulty in getting a job.

Katie, 39, who spent 6 months in prison and has been helped back into employment through Working Chance, said:

Mounting debt and mental health issues all contributed towards my offending, but I was determined to take responsibility and start getting my life back on track.

Working Chance gave me the support needed to rewrite my CV, prepare for interviews and the confidence to disclose my convictions to potential employers.

While women who commit the most serious crimes will always be sent to prison, custody should always be a last resort. On top of the £24 million funding, the government is also piloting a £10 million Residential Women’s Centre in Swansea, to reduce the number of women sent to prison.

Female offenders at the centre will receive one-to-one mental health therapy and counselling to address their trauma from previous abuse and support to overcome substance misuse.

This is alongside plans to pilot a new Problem-Solving Court targeted at women with complex needs, including drug and alcohol abuse.

Female offenders sentenced at the court will see the same judge or bench of magistrates for regular reviews, receive intensive support and supervision from the Probation Service and have access to services for drug and alcohol abuse, and support with housing, training and employment.

Since 2018, almost £55 million has been invested to support female offenders. New specialist staff have been recruited to support pregnant women and mothers in prison, and charities and community organisations have also received funding to keep services running.
September 1, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : Reappointment of 11 lay panel members of the Judicial Conduct and Investigations Office

The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 1 September 2022.

The Lord Chancellor has announced the reappointment of 11 lay panel members of the Judicial Conduct and Investigations Office for a third term of 9 months.

The Lord Chancellor, in consultation with the Lord Chief Justice, has announced the reappointment of 11 lay panel members of the Judicial Conduct and Investigations Office. The members are:

Clive Chalk
Bronwen Curtis CBE
Paul Curtis
Jenni Douglas-Todd
Victor Marshall OBE
Patrick Stayt
Lynne Vernon
Suzy Walton
Judith Webb MBE
Peter Wrench
Wendy Yeadon
The reappointments will run from 1 July 2022 to 31 March 2023.

The Judicial Conduct and Investigations Office is an independent office which supports the Lord Chancellor and Lord Chief Justice in considering complaints about the personal conduct of judicial office-holders.

Appointments and reappointments are made by the Lord Chancellor and are regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. The reappointments have been made in line with the Governance Code on Public Appointments.

Biographies
Clive Chalk is a retired Chief Superintendent with the Metropolitan Police Service. He is a Lay Member of the Governing Board for Hounslow Clinical Commissioning Group and Lay Chair of the General Dental Council’s Investigating Committee.

Bronwen Curtis CBE has held leadership positions in both the private and public sector and most recently as Director, Human Resources and Organisational Development, Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust. Bronwen is a lay member of the Speakers Committee for IPSA and a member of the regulatory appointments panel for the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales. She is a former UK Board member of a global corporation and previously named Midlands Businesswoman of the Year. Bronwen was appointed CBE in 2007.

Paul Curtis is Tribunal Chair of the Medical Practitioner Tribunal Service. He is a panel Lay Member at the General Optical Council. He is also Lay Chair at the School Admission Appeals Panel and Lay Chair Independent Review Panel (School Exclusions) at the East Sussex County Council

Jenni Douglas-Todd is a Director of Equality and Inclusion at NHS England, Southampton. She is currently Deputy Chairman and Senior Independent Director with University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust. Jenni is a former chief executive of Hampshire Police Authority and the Office of the Hampshire Police and Crime Commissioner. She is Independent Chairman of the Dorset Integrated Care System. Jenni is a member of the English Cricket Board’s Regulatory Committee; Non-Executive Director with Hampshire Cricket Board and a Trustee with the National Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders.

Victor Marshall OBE is the professional standards co-ordinator for the Police Superintendents’ Association. Victor joined Sussex Police in 1979 and served in a variety of roles including firearms, public order, uniform, CID and professional standards retiring as a detective superintendent. He was appointed OBE, in 2010, and holds two Royal Humane Society awards for saving lives.

Patrick Stayt: undertakes a number of voluntary roles and was formerly a member of the Police Remuneration Review Body and National Crime Agency Remuneration Review Body. Patrick was previously National Secretary of the Police Superintendents’ Association for England and Wales. He retired from the Police Service, in 2010, after a 30-year career and was awarded the Queen’s Police Medal for Distinguished Service.

Mrs Lynn Vernon is a retired Detective Chief Inspector. During her 30 years’ service with Greater Manchester Police she managed public protection, counter corruption and homicide investigation units. She now undertakes various roles as a lay member of the General Chiropractic Council Investigating Committee, Social Work England and the Royal college of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. She is a Medical Education Partner at Manchester University, involved in the admissions for the Medical and Dental schools and the student Health and Conduct panel. She is a former chair of the GDC Investigating Committee.

Dr Suzy Walton is a Chartered Director, Chartered Occupational Psychologist and a Chartered Scientist who has sat on over a dozen boards of large organisations both in the UK and internationally. She is a member of the board of the Institute of Directors and Vice President at the Royal Society of Medicine. Suzy is a regulatory Board member and Chairman at Association of Chartered Certified Accountants. She was a former member of the State Honours Committee which makes recommendations for awards to the Prime Minister and The Queen.

Ms Judith Webb MBE is a board member of the Cairngorms National Park Authority and a member of the Independent Agricultural Appeals Panel. Her previous appointments include: Chair of Defra’s Rural Development Service during its transition into Natural England; Deputy Chair of the Joint Nature Conservation Committee; and Commissioner for Forestry Commission in Wales.

Mr Peter Wrench is an independent adjudicator of student finance appeals and complaints for DfE and Welsh Government. He is also: a member of the Code Adjudication Panel of the Phone-paid Services Authority; a member of Disciplinary Tribunal of the CILEx Regulation; a member of Fitness to Practise Committee at the Nursing and Midwifery Council. He was formerly a member of Audit and Risk Assurance Committee of the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner.

Ms Wendy Yeadon is an Independent Chair at Social Work England. She is also Chair of Discipline, Appeals and Licensing Hearings at the ACCA. Wendy is: a Lay Adjudicator at the Solicitors Regulation Authority; a Chair of Fitness to Practice Panels at the Nursing and Midwifery Council and; a selection panel member at the Judicial Appointments Commission. Wendy was formerly a Lay Member of Professional Conduct Panels, Chartered Institute of Legal Executives.

September 1, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : Ukraine Independence Day (Joint Statement from Namibia)

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 1 September 2022.

What should have been a time of celebration was this year marked by tragedy – 24 August also marked 6 months since Russia invaded the sovereign nation of Ukraine.

Since Ukraine’s independence in 1991, a proud, internationally engaged country, and one committed to freedom and the principles of the UN Charter, has emerged. Ukraine has become a global exporter of grain – feeding hundreds of millions of people around the world.

But now the country and all it has achieved is under threat. Over the last 6 months, the scale of atrocities against Ukraine’s citizens is certain, with extensive violations of international humanitarian and human rights law. Officially there have been 12,800 civilian casualties so far, with the expectation that real figures are considerably higher. At least 366 healthcare centres have been attacked, and over 2,200 schools. More than 12.8 million Ukrainians have been forced from their homes – displaced – with 6.2 million people now living as refugees.

The UK, EU and US, and many other countries, have stood by Ukraine in its darkest hour. We will continue to do so. We are committed to championing fundamental human rights, sovereignty, international humanitarian law and democratic values internationally, to help build a fairer, freer world.

Many Namibians will be able to relate to the grave situation in Ukraine, having fought so hard and so long for independence, and freedom from oppression, to become a proud, stable, democratic and peaceful nation.

The war in Ukraine continues to have a huge impact globally, affecting the most vulnerable people living in the world’s poorest countries. Since the beginning of the year, we have seen a rise in the cost of living around the world, including here in Namibia. Global food insecurity and the risk of famine is at an all-time high, driven by conflict, climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic.

At present, at least 1.6 billion people worldwide are directly affected by the surge in food and energy prices. In East Africa, millions of people are faced with the worst drought and food shortages in decades. Four consecutive years have seen insufficient rain for harvests. Livestock is dying, and the price of staple foods keeps rising.

Ukraine’s grain exports collapsed after the invasion, which has exacerbated food insecurity around the world. African countries import more than 12% of their wheat from Ukraine.

This war is also affecting the trade of fertilisers. The African Development Bank (AfDB) estimates that, due to the conflict, Africa faces a fertiliser shortfall of 4 million metric tonnes this year – 33-40% of supply in 2020. Without sufficient supply of fertiliser, Africa could lose $14-19 billion – one-fifth – worth of food production in the next 2 harvesting seasons, with significant knock-on consequences to food availability.

Recognising the global food crisis, international sanctions on Russia have deliberately not included food or fertiliser exports from Russia to third world countries. The UN-brokered deal to unblock Ukraine’s grain exports across the Black Sea is a vital step, and news of a shipment by the World Food Programme transporting grain from Ukraine to the drought-hit Horn of Africa region is a positive sign of progress.

However, to enable a lasting return to global security and economic stability, there must be peace. No country deserves war. But in war time, there are rules: there is international humanitarian law and there is the commitment we made to uphold this through the UN Charter and the important role played by the ICRC. The world needs a free and a safe Ukraine so it can securely return to supplying the world with its food.

Our commitment to a better world, one that is fairer and strives for freedom for all – especially in the aftermath of the pandemic – is a challenge that we all must face together. Ukraine is our friend in this global reconstruction effort, and it is our partner in food security.

As we commemorate Ukraine’s anniversary of independence, our respective countries and institutions stand together with Ukraine, both supporting Ukraine to help protect its own people, but also around the world in partnership with those nations who share these same goals.

Strength to you, Independent Ukraine.
Signed by:

HE Charles Moore, British High Commissioner

HE Sinikka Antila, Ambassador of the European Union

HE Herbert Beck, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany

HE Sébastien Minot, Ambassador of the Republic of France

HE Alberto de la Calle, Ambassador of Spain

HE Luis Gaspar Da Silva, Ambassador of Portugal

Jessica Long, Chargée d’Affaires a.i, United States of America

Matti Karvanen, Chargé d’Affaires a.i., Embassy of Finland

September 1, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : 7 new community diagnostic centres to offer more patients life-saving checks
The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 1 September 2022.
- 7 new community diagnostic centres will open to provide quicker diagnoses to patients – a step forward in the government’s plan to roll out 160 by 2025
- More than 1.7 million tests, checks and scans have already been delivered by the 92 existing community diagnostic centres
- GP referrals to community diagnostic centres speed up diagnosis times by offering tests closer to home, eliminating unnecessary hospital trips
7 new community diagnostic centres (CDCs) will open to help bust the Covid backlogs, diagnose patients more quickly and meet future demands on the NHS, the Health and Social Care Secretary has today confirmed.

The one-stop-shops offer a range of diagnostic checks, scans and tests closer to home. Following a GP referral, patients can get their symptoms checked and receive a potentially life-saving diagnosis for a range of conditions such as cancer, heart and lung disease more quickly. The new facilities will also relieve pressure on NHS staff ahead of a potentially challenging winter.

So far, 92 have already opened in a variety of settings from football stadiums to shopping centres – carrying out over 1.7 million tests. This forms part of the government’s ambition to roll out 160 community diagnostic centres across the country by 2025 to deliver nine million tests, checks and scans a year, with the programme backed by £2.3 billion of diagnostics investment.

CDCs reduce the number of hospital visits and reduce waiting times for patients by diverting people away from hospitals – so hospitals can focus on treating urgent patients while the diagnostic centres focus on tackling the backlog for tests and checks. They are more convenient for patients and more efficient, with patients less likely to have their tests cancelled.

The new CDCs will be rolled out in Willesden and Wembley in north west London, Leigh in Greater Manchester, St Albans, Lancashire, and Eltham in south east London.

Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay said:

Since taking on the role of Health and Social Care Secretary, I have been focussed on clearing the Covid backlog and waiting times. Community diagnostic centres are a vital part of our plan to transform the way we deliver tests, scans and x-rays and ultimately reduce waiting times for patients.

Along with speeding up diagnosis times, they will also help tackle health disparities – ensuring that people get treated as quickly as possible no matter where they live, with new centres opening from Essex to Manchester.

NHS national director of elective recovery, Sir James Mackey, said:

These seven ‘one stop shops’ are the next step in our elective recovery plan and a welcome addition to the 92 existing community diagnostic centres, which have already delivered more than 1.7 million tests and checks in just over a year.

Our elective recovery plan set out how the NHS will deliver nine million more tests and checks a year by 2025 and the work of these diagnostic centres, some in convenient spots including shopping centres, are excellent examples of the innovative work being done across the health service to ensure patients get the tests and checks they need as quickly as possible.

GPs refer patients to CDCs where staff use CT scanners, MRI scanners, and other new diagnostic equipment to diagnose people as quickly as possible.

More than 1.7 million tests, checks and scans have already been delivered in the following regions across the country:
- 173,000 in East of England
- 222,000 in London
- 303,000 in the Midlands
- 173,000 in North East Yorkshire
- 260,000 in the North West
- 329,000 in the South East
- 245,000 in the South West
The Finchley Memorial Hospital CDC opened in north London in August 2021 and now offers patients two MRI scanners along with two obstetric ultrasound machines. Staff carry out a range of scans, blood tests, and other cardiology and respiratory services – with more than 50,000 tests so far delivered.

In Dorset, a CDC was constructed on the top floor of Beales Department Store in Poole to tackle waiting lists in the region, with the first patients walking through its doors in December. The space was once used to sell furniture, and now boasts an eye testing centre, a breast screening unit, and 16 clinical rooms that can be adapted for different needs.

In Barnsley, a CDC has been constructed in the Glass Works shopping centre as part of the town’s Urban Regeneration Project. Thanks to its public transport links, patients from more disadvantaged areas have improved access to diagnostic services – including breast screening.

As part of the selection process, the government worked closely with the NHS and invited bids from various regions. Analysis was carried out to determine where they would be most beneficial in reducing waiting lists and tackling health inequalities.

A range of measures have been adopted to bring down waiting lists and address the lasting impact of the pandemic. Last week, the Health and Social Care Secretary announced that over 50 new surgical hubs will be opening to offer hundreds of thousands more patients quicker access to procedures.

Backed by £1.5 billion in government funding, they will provide at least 100 more operating theatres and over 1,000 beds – delivering almost two million extra routine operations over the next three years.

These innovative ways of working will help the NHS carry out the biggest catch-up programme in its history and offer patients the care they need, when they need it.
September 1, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : Prime Minister’s call with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 31 August 2022.

The Prime Minister spoke to German Chancellor Olaf Scholz this afternoon.

The leaders thanked one another for their friendship and cooperation for the past few months. The Prime Minister pointed to the staunch opposition to Putin’s actions and the historic support for Ukraine galvanised through Germany’s Presidency of the G7 as evidence of the strong UK-German partnership. He paid tribute to Chancellor Scholz’s leadership on this issue and encouraged him to stay the course in his political, military and economic support for Ukraine.

The Prime Minister noted the extreme pressure, particularly in terms of energy prices, the people of the UK, Germany and elsewhere have come under as a result of Putin’s barbarism. Chancellor Scholz thanked the Prime Minister for everything he has done for Ukraine in his role.

The Prime Minister expressed his confidence that the UK and Germany will continue to be close partners on a huge range of issues. He pointed to climate change and defence as areas where our countries are working together to make the world a better and safer place.

The Prime Minister and Chancellor Scholz concluded by wishing one another all the best for the future.

September 1, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : Australian submariners to join Royal Navy crews as UK and Australia deepen defence ties through AUKUS pact
The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 31 August 2022.
- Royal Australian Navy submariners will join UK crews to train on newly commissioned HMS Anson
- Prime Minister and Defence Secretary host new Australian Deputy Prime Minister at Barrow to see commissioning
- Australian visit strengthens international defence ties in light of trilateral AUKUS partnership, working with the US
It came as he and Defence Secretary Ben Wallace emphasised the importance of the deep defence ties between the UK and Australia, following the development of the trilateral AUKUS partnership working with the United States, who were represented today by their Defence Attaché Captain Leland.

Hosting Australian Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles on his first official visit to the UK since the new Australian government came to power, the Prime Minister and Ministers attended the commissioning of the fifth of seven new Astute-Class Royal Navy submarines, HMS Anson.

With naval capability at the centre of the two powers’ future defence relationship, the visit reinforced the priorities of the Integrated Review and significance of the AUKUS partnership – which links the UK, the United States and Australia in promoting stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

The UK and US have already welcomed Royal Australian Navy personnel on its specialised nuclear training courses, and more will follow next year, before Australian submariners go to sea. The training and exchanges mark the beginning of a multigenerational naval partnership between the three AUKUS nations.

The Australia Deputy Prime Minister – who is also Minister for Defence – visited Barrow having yesterday also seen the Type 26 frigate shipbuilding facility in Govan, accompanied by the First Sea Lord, Admiral Sir Ben Key.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson, said:

HMS Anson is the perfect example of where levelling up the UK and generating jobs, skills and growth across our country goes hand-in-glove with Global Britain.

From the Pacific Ocean to the Baltic Sea, our submarine service is protecting the UK and our allies 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and the deployment of Australian submariners alongside our British crews epitomises the strength of the AUKUS partnership.

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace, said:

Today is a significant milestone in the UK and Australia’s preparation to confront growing threats to the liberal democratic order, especially in the Indo Pacific.

Not only have we progressed our defence planning but Minister Marles participated in the commissioning of our latest attack submarine, on which will Royal Australian Navy submariners will be embarked as we develop our shared capabilities in the years ahead.

Built in a UK shipyard, HMS Anson demonstrates the very best of British industry, sustaining our world-leading sub-surface capabilities and underlining the UK’s readiness to contribute them to shared security, especially with our closest allies Australia and the United States under the AUKUS initiative.

One of the most sophisticated underwater vessels ever built, HMS Anson represents £1.3 billion of UK investment. Capable of defending the UK’s interests at home and overseas, HMS Anson will be armed with up to 38 Spearfish Heavyweight Torpedoes, and Block V Tomahawk land attack missiles, able to tackle targets at a range of up to 1,000 miles.

Building on commitments made in the Integrated Review, the completion of HMS Anson demonstrates the strength of British industry and its world-leading nuclear technology that will be leveraged to deliver the trilateral AUKUS defence and security partnership between the US, UK and Australia.

First Sea Lord Admiral Sir Ben Key said:

HMS Anson is the cutting edge in submarine design and construction, ensuring operational advantage in the underwater battlespace, the last great stealth domain.

Given the world we live in, there is no more important tool in the United Kingdom’s arsenal: silent, unseen, and a key instrument of our global, modern, ready Royal Navy.

In the last year 17,700 Defence jobs were supported through direct spending with UK industry in the North West. More than 11 years in the making and built in BAE Systems’ Barrow-in-Furness site, more than 10,000 coders, engineers, scientists, submariners and technicians across the UK were involved in HMS Anson’s construction. Powered by a Rolls-Royce nuclear reactor, the boat will be operational for 25 years without refuelling.

At 97 metres long, HMS Anson stands at around the length of two Olympic swimming pools, with 240 kilometres of cabling – enough to stretch from Barrow-In-Furness to its new home in Faslane, Scotland.

HMS Anson will remain in Barrow for the coming weeks while undergoing final checks and rigorous testing to the numerous complex systems that make up a nuclear-powered submarine, before sailing to HM Naval Base Clyde in Faslane to prepare for sea trials.

BAE Systems Chief Executive Charles Woodburn said:

The Astute class submarines are among the finest engineering accomplishments in the world. As the custodian of the UK’s submarine design and build capability, we’re incredibly proud of the role we play in the delivery of this strategic national endeavour.

The UK has built and operated world-class nuclear-powered submarine capability for over 60 years.

HMS Anson will join four other Astute Class submarines in service with the Royal Navy –HMS Astute, HMS Ambush, HMS Artful and HMS Audacious.

Two further boats – Agamemnon and Agincourt – are in various stages of construction at BAE Systems’ Barrow-In-Furness site as part of £11.2 billion overall investment in the whole Astute-Class programme.
September 1, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : Amy Rees appointed to lead HMPPS

The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 31 August 2022.

The Ministry of Justice has today (31 August 2022) announced the appointment of a new Chief Executive for Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS).

Amy Rees – previously the Director General of Probation, Wales and Youth for HMPPS – will succeed Dr Jo Farrar who will focus on her wider role as Second Permanent Secretary at the MOJ, including digital transformation of justice services.

Under the restructure, following an operating model review led by the MOJ Permanent Secretary Antonia Romeo, Phil Copple will become Director General of Operations for Prisons and Probation.

Both roles will begin on 1 September 2022 and are part of a wider, ongoing agency transformation placing greater focus on the delivery of frontline services – keeping the public safe, delivering modern prisons that rehabilitate offenders and reducing reoffending.

Having joined HMPPS in 2001, Amy worked in frontline positions at several prisons including HMP Lewes, High Down and Bristol before being appointed Governor at HMP Brixton in 2008.

She has since acted as Executive Director for HMPPS in Wales and was the lead official with the Welsh Government on behalf of the MOJ.

Amy also took on responsibility for the Youth Custody Service, including day-to-day operations and supporting its work to shape the future of children’s services in custody.

Phil has been in the Prison service for over 30 years, joining in 1990 as a prison officer. He has governed in a number of prisons including HMP Deerbolt and HMP Frankland and led prisons and probation in the North East region, as NE Director of Offender Management.

Phil took up post as Executive Director Prisons in 2017, before becoming Director General of Prisons in 2019.

September 1, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : Covid Alert Level Reduced to Two

The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care, on 31 August 2022.

Based on UKHSA advice, the UK Chief Medical Officers and NHS England National Medical Director have recommended to Ministers the COVID Alert Level moves from Level 3 to Level 2.

Hospitals and the wider health systems remain extremely busy overall but the summer BA.4 and BA.5 wave is subsiding and direct COVID severe illness is now a much smaller proportion of this. Severe COVID cases, direct COVID healthcare pressures, direct COVID deaths and ONS community positivity estimates have decreased. COVID remains present in the community and we may see an increase in cases with BA 4.6 and BA.2.75 circulating but do not expect this to lead to an immediate increase in hospital pressures. This will continue to be kept under review. Further COVID surges are likely so please be prepared by getting a vaccination when it is offered.

Chief Medical Officer for England, Professor Sir Chris Whitty
Chief Medical Officer for Northern Ireland, Professor Sir Michael McBride
Chief Medical Officer for Scotland, Professor Sir Gregor Smith
Deputy Chief Medical Officer for Wales, Professor Chris Jones
NHS England National Medical Director, Professor Sir Stephen Powis.

Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay and ministers from the devolved administrations have accepted the advice.

Background

The Covid alert levels are as follows:

level 1: COVID-19 is present in UK, but the number of cases and transmission is low
level 2: COVID-19 is in general circulation but direct COVID-19 healthcare pressures and transmission are declining or stable
level 3: a COVID-19 epidemic is in general circulation
level 4: a COVID-19 epidemic is in general circulation; transmission is high and direct COVID-19 pressure on healthcare services is widespread and substantial or rising
level 5: as level 4 and there is a material risk of healthcare services being directly overwhelmed by COVID-19

August 31, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : President of Ukraine met with the Director General of the IAEA

The press release issued by the President of Ukraine on 30 August 2022.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a meeting with Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Rafael Grossi who will lead the agency’s mission to the Zaporizhzhia NPP.

The Head of State highly praised the arrival of the IAEA mission, as the situation around the nuclear power plant is escalating, and Russia, whose troops are illegally stationed at the nuclear power plant, is blackmailing the world with a new nuclear disaster.

“There are risks of incidents at the plant, failure of nuclear reactors and the disconnection of Zaporizhzhia NPP units from our network. There are Russian weapons at the plant. That is why it is a global threat,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized.

The President of Ukraine noted that the state leadership would like the IAEA mission headed by Rafael Grossi to find an opportunity to prevent all these threats.

“We trust your specialists,” he said.

“Zaporizhzhia NPP is located on the territory of Ukraine. It is and will remain the property of our state. This should be an axiom for the IAEA mission,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized, adding that the plant should be returned under Ukrainian control.

The Head of State emphasized the importance of immediate demilitarization of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.

“The nuclear power plant is not the place where weapons and explosives should be stored. Existing risks can be eliminated only by demilitarizing the plant,” the President noted.

During the meeting, it was emphasized that Rafael Grossi is well aware of the situation around Zaporizhzhia NPP.

The interlocutors were also unanimous about the importance of an urgent visit of the IAEA mission to the largest nuclear power plant in Europe, since any incidents at it will not just affect Ukraine, but have global consequences.

August 31, 2022