Category: Press Releases

PRESS RELEASE : Minister announces new measures to bolster UK’s resilience

The press release issued by the Cabinet Office on 16 August 2022.

Lead Minister for Resilience and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Kit Malthouse MP, announced new measures to bolster the UK’s resilience on a visit to the Met Office yesterday (Monday 15 August).

Minister Malthouse visited the Met Office, based in Exeter, to see how their forecasting expertise feeds into government planning to tackle severe weather and how the agency worked closely with Government and other partners to give people plenty of warning and advice about staying safe in the recent extreme heat.

The Minister announced the launch of a new public emergency text alert system for the UK, as well as changes to the Civil Contingencies Secretariat – the Cabinet Office’s emergency planning and response team.

Speaking in the Operations Centre of the Met Office, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Kit Malthouse MP, said:

“To make sure that government continues to offer the best possible prevention and protection against threats, we are shaking up how we prepare for and respond to emergencies, strengthening the effective resilience capability we already have in place.

We will launch a new public emergency alerts system in the Autumn which will focus on extreme weather, revolutionising our ability to ‘warn and inform’ people who are in significant and immediate danger. These alerts will be sent direct to people’s mobiles giving details of the emergency – such as local flooding – explaining what to do and how to seek help.

Our vital COBR unit – which leads the government’s response to acute domestic and international emergencies – will be bolstered by a dedicated team helping to future-proof us from harm. This National Resilience Framework Team will take a deeper look at our approach to risk and how we mitigate it and help us take huge leaps forward in terms of collecting, analysing and using live data.”

Ian Cameron, Director of Markets at the Met Office, commented:

“The right messaging helps people take action to stay safe. It is clear that we are seeing an increase in the number of extreme weather events in the UK and overseas. Just this summer we have seen temperatures in the UK exceed 40C for the first time on record, followed closely by the heatwave which ended earlier this week. Communicating effectively is imperative so we can warn and alert people, ensuring they are aware and have more time to take action and look after themselves, their friends and family.”

Minister Malthouse spoke with a range of staff in the Met Office to learn more about their work, from the Meteorologists who lead on weather forecasts, to the Space Weather Operations team who are part of just one of three space weather prediction centres in the world, monitoring potentially disruptive solar activity for government and industry.

The emergency alerts system, which will focus on events like extreme weather and warning the public where there is a risk to life, will be launched in the autumn following a public awareness campaign. The free message will give details of the emergency – local flooding or wildfires, for example – what to do and how to seek help, and will relay urgent messages to over 85% of mobile phones in areas affected.

Changes to the Civil Contingencies Secretariat – the Cabinet Office’s emergency planning and response team – will see a COBR Unit continuing to lead the government’s response to acute emergencies, and work on longer term planning being driven forward by a separate team dedicated to strengthening the UK’s underlying resilience. This National Resilience Framework Team in the Planning and Analysis Secretariat will take a deeper look at the government’s approach to risk and how it is mitigated as well as collecting and analysing live data to improve future responses to emergencies.

August 17, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : Amy Holmes appointed as Public Guardian

The press release issued by the Office of the Public Guardian on 16 August 2022.

Amy Holmes, currently Domestic Affairs Director in the Economic and Domestic Secretariat at the Cabinet Office, will take over the role of Public Guardian and Chief Executive of the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) in the Autumn.

She was successful in fair and open competition for the role and her appointment has been approved by The Deputy Prime Minister.

Jo Farrar, Second Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice and Chief Executive Officer, HM Prison & Probation Service said:

“I am delighted that Amy will be joining us in the vital role of Public Guardian and CEO of the OPG. Amy will bring a wealth of experience from an impressive career in government to lead the OPG’s ambitious plans to improve and modernise its services. I look forward to welcoming Amy when she takes up the post later this year.”

Stuart Howard will continue in the role of Interim Public Guardian of OPG until Amy joins the agency in the Autumn, after which he will continue in his role as OPG’s Head of Legal and Information Assurance.

August 17, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : TUC publishes plan to cut bills through public ownership of energy retail

The press release issued by the TUC on 25 July 2022.

Public ownership of energy retail companies would reduce bills, speed up energy efficiency improvements to UK homes, and cut carbon emissions faster, according to a new TUC report published today (Monday).

The TUC’s Affordable Energy Plan would keep bills down by:

Ending shareholder dividends, making more money available to cut bills

Unlocking incentives to make homes energy efficient

Enabling pricing structures with much lower costs for basic energy needs

The plan is published shortly before next month’s announcement from Ofgem of a new increase to the energy price cap, which is expected to bring average bills to more than £3,200 – a rise of over 150% in just one year.

Cost of failed privatisation

Since June 2021, the UK government has spent £2.7 billion bailing out 28 energy companies that collapsed after putting short-term profits ahead of long-term stability – companies like Bulb and Avro Energy.

Ministers have also had to allocate £12 billion to directly cut the cost of household bills.

However, the TUC says that if energy firms had already been in public ownership, bills could have been kept down without such a high cost to the public purse.

In France, where national provider EDF is currently 84% publicly owned, household energy bills rose by just 4% this year. The French government as the main EDF shareholder was able to instruct the firm to cut profits to keep prices down. The TUC says if energy retail was publicly owned, the UK would be able to take a similar approach.

The long-term burden of privatisation

Even before the current energy price crisis, families were already paying the price of privatisation through higher bills to fund private profits.

Research by Common Wealth shows that UK energy retailers paid shareholders more than £23 billion in the last 10 years. And most of these dividends went overseas to large foreign shareholders.

A publicly owned energy provider could have used this wasted cash to reduce bills and bring forward energy efficiency measures to make family homes cheaper to heat and power.

But the TUC says that privatisation has held back energy efficiency home improvements. Energy companies are incentivised to sell more energy to make profits for shareholders – not to invest to cut energy use.

Public ownership is affordable

Based on payments for shares in recent market transactions, nationalising the Big Five energy retail companies (British Gas, E.ON, EDF, Scottish Power and Ovo), would cost £2.85 billion.

By contrast, the government has already spent £2.7 billion over the past year bailing out failed private energy firms, including £2.2 billion for just one firm alone – Bulb.

Taking these five companies into public ownership would move more than 70% of households out of the failed private energy retail system.

And it would cost only around a quarter of what ministers will spend this year protecting families from the soaring prices charged by private energy retailers.

Public ownership can make bills affordable

Once in public ownership, the burden of paying shareholder dividends would no longer be carried by UK households, allowing lower bills and more investment in energy efficiency.

Publicly owned energy companies would have a strong incentive, and the capacity, to roll out energy efficiency improvements to all UK homes, significantly reducing bills.

And they will have the power to set energy prices aimed at affordability for customers, rather than maximising profits for shareholders.

The TUC plan sets out how a publicly-owned energy retail system could deliver a social pricing structure that lets everyone afford the energy they need to cook, clean, and stay warm all year round, while those with extravagant energy use pay more per unit.

Under the TUC’s plan, every household would receive a free band of energy to cover basic lighting, heating, hot water and cooking. And bills for low-income families would be capped at 5% of typical household income.

TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady said:

“Families should be able to afford their basic energy needs.

But energy firms rinsed us for private profit in the good times, then doubled our bills when the going got tough. That’s why bills are soaring now.

It is time to lift the burden of failed privatisation off families. No more shareholder pay-outs. No more fat cat bonuses. No more take-the money-and run-companies that collapse overnight. Just fair prices from an energy company owned by us all and run for our benefit.”

On social pricing, Frances added:

“Everyone should have enough affordable energy to cook, clean and keep their home warm.

But anyone heating a private swimming pool should expect to pay a higher rate for their luxury lifestyle.”

August 17, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : European Parliament leaders condemn Prime Minister Orbán’s recent racist declarations

The press release issued by the European Parliament on 30 July 2022.

EP political group leaders adopted a statement Friday condemning the openly racist declarations by PM Viktor Orbán and underlined that these declarations are in breach of EU values.

Statement of the Conference of Presidents:

“We, the leaders of the Political Groups of the European Parliament, strongly condemn the recent openly racist declaration by Prime Minister Orbán about not wanting to become “peoples of mixed race”. Such unacceptable statements, which clearly constitute a breach of our values, also enshrined in the EU Treaties, have no place in our societies. We, as well, deeply regret the persistence in defending these inexcusable statements by Prime Minister Orbán on further occasions. Racism and discrimination, in all forms, must be unequivocally condemned and effectively tackled at all levels.

We call on the Commission and the Council to condemn urgently this statement in the strongest terms. We also reiterate European Parliament calls on the Council to finally issue its recommendations to Hungary in the framework of the procedure in Article 7 of the Treaty on European Union (TEU), also addressing new developments affecting the rule of law, democracy and fundamental rights and to determine that there is a clear risk of a serious breach by Hungary of the values referred to in Article 2. We remind the Council that Member States have the obligation to act together and put an end to all the attacks on the values enshrined in Article 2 of TEU and request that the issue is added to the next European Council leaders’ meeting agenda.

We urge the Commission to treat with priority the ongoing infringement procedures against Hungary’s violation of EU rules prohibiting racism and discrimination and make full use of the tools available to address breaches of values enshrined in Article 2. We also welcome the Commission’s decision to trigger the Rule of Law Conditionality Regulation against Hungary and expect next steps in that regard following the second letter of 20 July. We reiterate our call on the Commission to refrain from the approval of the Hungarian national plan under the Recovery and Resilience Facility until the fulfillment of all relevant criteria.

We take the opportunity to reiterate that there is no place for racism, discrimination and hate speech in our societies. We call for further actions by EU Governments and at EU level, including against the increasing normalisation of racism and xenophobia, and underline the need for a monitoring and accountability mechanism to ensure the effective application of EU anti-racism legislation and policy.”

August 16, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : Ukraine – 1,000 Ukrainian patients transferred to European hospitals

The press release issued by the European Commission on 5 August 2022.

As of today, the EU has successfully coordinated 1,000 medical evacuations of Ukrainian patients via its Civil Protection Mechanism to provide them with specialised healthcare in hospitals across Europe.

As the number of wounded people in Ukraine increases day by day, local hospitals are struggling to keep up with the demand. At the same time, Poland, Moldova and Slovakia have requested support for medical evacuation (MEDEVAC) operations from their respective countries given the large inflow of people. To relieve pressure on local hospitals, since 11 March, the EU has been coordinating patient transfers to other European countries who have available hospital capacity.

The patients have been transferred to 18 countries: Germany, France, Ireland, Italy, Denmark, Sweden, Romania, Luxembourg, Belgium, Spain, Portugal, the Netherlands, Austria, Norway, Lithuania, Finland, Poland and Czechia. Recent operations include the transfer of two patients to Czechia on 3 August and 15 patients evacuated to Germany, four patients to the Netherlands and 2 patients to Norway on 4 August.

Commissioner for Crisis Management Janez Lenarčič said: “Russia’s unjustified war in Ukraine is driving Ukrainian health systems to breaking point. To help Ukraine cope with the skyrocketing medical needs, the EU has stepped up its operations. On top of delivering medicines and medical equipment to Ukraine via our Civil Protection Mechanism, we are also coordinating medical evacuations. 1,000 Ukrainian patients have been transferred to hospitals in 18 European countries. I want to thank all countries who are welcoming the Ukrainian patients in this critical time. EU solidarity saves lives.”

European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety Stella Kyriakides said: “From day one, the EU has been working tirelessly to support Ukraine and its people in the face of Russia’s brutal military aggression. As part of this, the EU Civil Protection Mechanism has allowed patients in urgent need of treatment and care to receive it in hospitals across the EU, while relieving pressure on the healthcare systems of Ukraine’s neighbouring countries. This is true European solidarity in action. Together with Ukrainian authorities, we are also looking into ways to bring patients back home when they have finished their treatment, if they choose to do so. This lifesaving work will continue, as will the EU’s unwavering commitment to supporting Ukraine”.

Background

The medical evacuations are financially and operationally supported by the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. The MEDEVAC transfer scheme supports the transfer of patients that fulfil the eligibility criteria, be they chronically ill or wounded by the war. The mechanism enables the Commission to report to the Ukrainian authorities where in the EU/EEA countries the patients have been transferred. For a secure transfer of patient data, the patients’ health records are shared using the Early Warning and Response System (EWRS).

August 16, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : EU’s open border system is ‘like hanging a sign welcoming terrorists to Europe’

The press release issued by Vote Leave on 4 December 2015.

The EU’s open border system – the ‘Schengen’ system – has recently been condemned by the former Secretary General of Interpol, Ronald K Noble, as ‘an international passport-free zone for terrorists to execute attacks on the Continent and make their escape’.

1. The Schengen system forbids countries from carrying out systematic checks on anyone with an EU passport from entering the EU. This makes it much easier for jihadists to enter from the Middle East. The former head of Interpol says this ‘is like hanging a sign welcoming terrorists to Europe. And they have been accepting the invitation’.

2. The UK has lost control of many aspects of border controls and migration (though we have some opt-outs from some EU policies). Our border controls are under constant attack from the European Court of Justice (ECJ). Last year, it said that our Government cannot require migrants from other EU states to have a permit issued by UK authorities – even though permits from other EU countries are systematically forged. The Italian ID card, for instance, is simply a laminated piece of card, and we have no control over the way other EU countries issue their passports. This makes it easier for terrorists to slip through the net.

3. The EU prevents us from removing violent criminals (see the Rafacz case where we could not remove a violent killer). The ECJ also makes it harder for our Government to strip citizenship from British nationals who have gone abroad to engage in terrorism so they will retain the right to come back and live in Britain.

4. Using the EU’s Charter of Fundamental Rights, EU judges now decide what powers our intelligence agencies and police have to protect us. In November 2015, a UK law to help the security services track terrorists was referred to the ECJ for a decision on whether it is allowed. If we remain in the EU, the ECJ will continue to take more control every year using the Charter of Fundamental Rights.

5. The Charter also stops us removing foreign criminals and terror suspects from the UK if it would violate their ‘private or family life’. It prevents European nations halting the flow of boats across the Mediterranean which have cost so many lives (see particularly the 2011 Hirsi Ali case which prevents EU states turning back a boat of terrorists if there is among them one person at risk of persecution at home).

6. The Charter also removes from the UK the power to interpret the vital 1951 UN Convention ourselves – the EU is now in charge of how we implement this international agreement. The Charter goes far beyond what the UN Refugee Convention requires and threatens the safety of vulnerable migrants and EU citizens. David Cameron once promised ‘a complete opt out’ from the Charter. Now he has abandoned this promise.

7. Brussels’ priority is taking more powers from member states, not security. They are still debating security powers which they said they needed after the Madrid train bombings in 2004. Last week, the President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, said the dangerous Schengen zone must continue or else the euro would die. Now the European Commission wants an EU army and intelligence agency, while the European Parliament has voted to strip the UK of our seat on the UN Security Council.

If we vote to remain in the EU, we will lose more vital powers over security every year. It is safer to Vote Leave and take back control. Outside the EU, we will continue to co-operate with our European partners to fight terrorism and organised crime – just as we do with important allies like the USA – but we will be outside the supremacy of EU law, the rulings of the European courts, and the Charter of Fundamental Rights.

Vote Leave, take control.

August 16, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : 200,000 UK Businesses Trade with the EU

The press release issued by Stronger In on 6 January 2016.

Being part of Europe means UK businesses get free access to over 500 million customers in the EU – and can trade with no tariffs or barriers.

This helps them grow and create jobs here in the UK. 200,000 UK businesses trade with the EU (Source: HMRC) and one in every ten UK jobs is linked to our trade with the EU (Source: Office for National Statistics and House of Commons Library).

And it’s estimated that remaining in the EU will mean another 790,000 jobs being created across the UK over the next 15 years – creating more opportunities now and for the future.

August 16, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : Karren Brady – British Families Better Off in Europe

The press release issued by Stronger In on 12 October 2015.

Karren Brady, a Board Member of Britain Stronger in Europe, has written an important article in The Sun explaining why British families are stronger, safer and better off in Europe:

“The EU referendum question is: will Britain be stronger in or out of Europe?

For me the answer is clear: British families, consumers and businesses are stronger in than out.

But I know many Sun readers want to be convinced. Europe is not perfect – no partnership is – so we must show the benefits outweigh the costs.

Europe is our largest trading partner. 45% of our exports go there, worth £226 billion last year. 200,000 businesses trade with Europe. European trade supports millions of British jobs. £70 million of investment come to Britain from Europe every day. And a bigger market has driven down prices for consumers, for example cheaper flights.

Why put all this at risk?

Those campaigning to walk away and stand alone – like Nigel Farage and Daniel Hannan – cannot guarantee jobs and living standards will be protected if we leave.

They have simply got it wrong when they say they want Britain to be like Norway. Norway is outside the EU but has trading rights. Sounds good? But in exchange Norway has to accept EU rules – including free movement of people – but has no power to influence them. They pay millions into the EU budget too. It’s the worst of all worlds.

This is also why EU-exit is not an answer to people’s concerns about immigration. If you want access to free trade with Europe, free movement is part of the deal.

Of course the system can be tightened. So it is essential to be in the room at the top table arguing for change – as the Prime Minister is rightly doing.

This campaign cannot be about scare stories. We do not support joining the Euro or a Euro Army. Neither are on the ballot paper or even on the horizon.

We want to strengthen the pound in your pocket – and we will make sure the Queen’s face remains on it.

Britain can be proud and prosperous from within Europe. If countries such as Germany, France and Denmark can hack it, why can’t we?

Yes, we must fight for Europe to work better in Britain’s interests, but weakly walking away is out of character for a country with our history.

We have a bigger vision: leading in Europe while trading around the world.

That’s why we are asking you to vote to keep Britain in and make British families stronger, safer and better off.”

August 16, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : Stuart Rose Joins as Campaign Chair

The press release issued by Stronger In on 12 October 2015.

We’re delighted to announce that Lord Stuart Rose, the former Executive Chair of Marks and Spencer, has been appointed the new Chair of Britain Stronger In Europe.

With unparalleled experience of business and enterprise, he knows the value that being part of Europe brings to businesses across Britain.

Lord Rose said, “Most people, myself included, will make a hard-headed, practical calculation in the coming referendum on what is best for the British people. I believe that Britain is stronger in Europe.”

“The choice in the coming referendum is between remaining stronger, safer and better off inside Europe, or taking a leap into the unknown, risking our prosperity, threatening our safety, and diminishing our influence in the world. I believe the case for Britain to remain in the EU is clear.”

August 16, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : The 10 Questions the Leave Campaign Must Answer

The press release issued by Stronger In on 19 February 2016.

We hope to see the completion of the Prime Minister’s renegotiating package shortly. This would make Britain even stronger in Europe and is something the country should get behind.

When we do we will know what ‘in’ looks like. Britain will have the best of both worlds: the benefits of economic partnership but not taking part in arrangements that don’t suit us.

We will still be in the dark, however, on what ‘out’ looks like. Those campaigning for Britain to leave will excitedly declare their hand. But while we know what they will say about Europe, they still cannot tell us how Britain would prosper outside Europe.

Here are the ten questions that everyone campaigning for Britain to leave must be able to answer if they are to have a credible or achievable alternative. At present, it is clear they do not have one.

1. Would Britain have full access to the single market, covering both goods and services?

As part of the single market UK businesses and those they employ benefit from trade barriers being broken down. Tariffs are removed and regulations are commonly agreed. This increases trade, drives competition, lowers prices and enables business expansion, which increases employment. Is this what the leave campaigns want to sacrifice with a leap in to the dark?

2. Would Britain adhere to free movement and European employment regulations?

The leave campaigns have long argued that Britain must end free movement and repatriate employment regulations. There is no country that opts out of both and retains full or even partial access to Europe’s single market. Those campaigning for Britain to leave must come clean on their precise policy on free movement and EU regulations and its implications for financial security, prices and jobs.

3. Is there an existing trading arrangement Britain would seek to emulate?

We have heard the leave campaigns cite Norway, Switzerland, South Korea, Mexico and even Peru as examples the UK should follow. Each has a different trading relationship with the EU, each of which is worse than being a full member and getting the full benefits of economic partnership. However, the leave campaigns seem totally unable to say what Britain outside Europe looks like. So they must tell us: which country should the UK follow?

4. Would Britain cease paying in to the EU budget completely and therefore make zero annual contribution?

We have heard much about made-up figures on how much the UK sends in EU budget contributions. In truth, we get back more than we put in. But those campaigning to leave must say whether they intend to end contributions altogether. There is no country which makes no payments at all and retains access to the single market. If we were to make no payments, we would experience more trade barriers than we do now, risking jobs, prices and financial security. Is this what leave campaigners really want?

5. Under a free trade agreement, what terms would you campaign for and what evidence exists that this could be achieved?

Many claim that if the UK were to leave we would be given a new trade deal that would give us all the benefits but none of the costs of being in the EU. So far, some fantastical ideas have been suggested. Any deal would have to be agreed by the European Council and European Parliament. Therefore, leave campaigns must come clean about what trade deal they would seek and must show that this would be agreed by European partners.

6. How long would it take to negotiate a new free trade agreement with the EU?

If the UK voted to leave, under Article 50 the UK would have two years to agree a withdrawal deal. But trade deals take far longer to negotiate. How long do leave campaigners expect a UK-EU deal to take, and what would happen to the UK economy in the meantime during a period of such dramatic uncertainty?

7. How would the UK renegotiate bilateral trade agreements with the 50+ countries with whom the EU has agreements, from which the UK currently benefits?

The EU has trade deals with 50+ countries, from which the UK benefits. If we vote to leave, we lose access to these deals and those countries’ markets. We would have to renegotiate these ourselves, as a country of 65 million rather than a bloc of 500 million. This would take years and we would not be guaranteed the same terms we currently enjoy. What guarantees can the leave campaigns give that the benefits we currently enjoy could be replicated?

8. Can it be guaranteed that no job in Britain would be put at risk by our leaving Europe?

Three to four million jobs are linked to our trade with the EU, our largest trading partner. If we were to leave, trade would be hit and therefore these jobs would be at risk. Leave campaigners have already admitted that jobs would be lost. Can they guarantee no job, in the long or short term, would be lost?

9. Can it be guaranteed that investment would not be put at risk by our leaving Europe?

Almost half of all foreign investment in Britain is from the EU and our access to the single market is a primary reason for the foreign investment we get from around the world. If we leave the single market and erect new trade barriers, this investment would be at risk. Many businesses have said that they would rethink long investment decisions. Can leave campaigns guarantee this would not happen?

10. And can it be guaranteed that UK-EU trade would not be damaged by our leaving the EU?

Half of our trade in goods goes to the EU. Over 200,000 UK businesses trade with the EU. We sell six times more in goods to the EU than we do the BRIC countries. If the UK were to leave Europe, trade regulations would be set in Europe and tariffs may apply to our imports and exports. This would make trade more expensive and complex. Can it be guaranteed that trade would not be hit?

August 16, 2022