Category: Press Releases

PRESS RELEASE : How we’re fixing the foundations of the country [August 2024]

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 31 August 2024.

Here are some of the things we are doing to fix the foundations of this country.

We want to create wealth everywhere, but first we must fix the foundations of our country.

In the first few weeks of this Government, an audit found a £22 billion black hole in the public finances. It means we’ve had to take tough decisions, like means-testing the Winter Fuel Payment. Our Budget in October will be difficult.

But we have already taken action to improve the lives of working people in every corner of the country, from unlocking planning decisions to help build 1.5 million new homes to setting up Great British Energy, to create good jobs and provide clean energy to cut people’s bills in the long term.

Here are some of the things we are doing to fix the foundations of this country.

Setting up a new National Wealth Fund

Growth is the number one priority of this government. That’s why we set up the National Wealth Fund.

It is a publicly owned investment fund that will help attract investment into our country, stabilise our economy and create wealth for future generations.

It will help unlock private investment into the UK by directly investing in new and growing industries, and help create thousands of jobs in clean energy industries.

Accelerating housing planning

We’re overhauling our housing system to meet the needs of working people and put communities first.

Our plan will include introducing mandatory planning targets to aim to deliver on our ambition to build 1.5 million new homes over the next five years.

The new targets will boost housebuilding in areas most in need, to help more people buy their own homes, and help drive growth – making everyone in the country better off.

Putting passengers first We’ll put our rail system back on track with new laws to deliver for passengers.

They will improve the railways by reforming rail franchising, establishing Great British Railways and bringing train operators into public ownership.

Protecting taxpayer money

We’ll introduce legislation that makes sure nobody can play fast and loose with public finances.

A new Bill will strengthen the role of the Office of Budget Responsibility, meaning significant fiscal announcements must be properly scrutinised and that taxpayers’ money is respected.

Protecting workers’ rights

We’ll improve workers’ rights with new legislation – a significant step towards delivering this Government’s plan to make work pay.

We will ban exploitative zero-hours contracts, end fire and rehire, and introduce basic employment rights from day one.

And we’re changing the way the Minimum Wage is set so it keeps in line with the cost of living, in a move to put more money in working people’s pockets.

Launching GB Energy

Producing clean energy and creating good jobs will be our focus for the rest of the year. Great British Energy, a publicly owned, clean-energy company, will own, manage and operate clean power projects, such as wind farms, across the country.

Great British Energy will be headquartered in Scotland and paid for by a windfall tax on oil and gas giants. It will invest clean power projects across the United Kingdom, such as wind farms, which are the cheapest forms of electricity generation to build and operate.

This will help make our country energy independent, tackle climate change and save families money. And investing in clean domestic power will create jobs and build supply chains in every corner of the UK.

September 5, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : UK to receive earlier flood and drought warnings using high-tech sensors and real time monitoring [August 2024]
The press release issued by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on 31 August 2024.

Researchers across the UK to use latest tech and major data bank to provide better flood and drought warnings.
- Researchers across the UK to use latest tech and major data bank to better predict where devastating floods and droughts will strike
- innovators will also pioneer new ways of tackling the worst of extreme weather to halt damage and cut eye-watering cost to the economy
- sensors in UK rivers and real time monitoring will gather priceless data that goes towards modelling the potential impact and likely flashpoints
Predicting where future flooding and droughts will strike next in the UK will be made easier under a new project for scientists using the latest tech and real-time data, Science and Technology Secretary Peter Kyle has announced today (Saturday 31 August).

It will help key bodies, like local authorities and the Environment Agency, to stem the worst of extreme weather’s impact on communities, saving lives, homes, and businesses, and helping to cut the devastating cost of such events to the UK economy, estimated at £740 million a year.

The Floods and Droughts Research Infrastructure, led by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) and the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH) and backed by £40 million, will be the first UK-wide network focused on understanding the impact of extreme weather conditions across the country, pinpointing where incidents are likely to occur and planning to limit their impact.

The complexity of Earth’s climate makes forecasting floods and droughts a major challenge, with climate change only further complicating the picture. Researchers will use the latest technologies including sensors and real time computer monitoring, plus a huge bank of data including river profiles and near real-time monitoring of information including on atmospherics, ground saturation, water movement, abstraction and storage – taken together, this will form a clearer impression of where and when extreme weather will strike.

Floods wreak havoc on communities by destroying homes, public infrastructure, and livelihoods like farming which in turn costs consumers. Similarly, droughts have a major impact on the water supply and UK eco-system, harming wildlife and their natural habitats which rely on regular rainfall.

Researchers will be based at UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology’s offices throughout Great Britain, with further input from researchers in the British Geological Survey, University of Bristol and Imperial College London.

Findings from the project will be shared with key bodies like the Environment Agency to steer the UK response to extreme weather. It will also act as a hub for researchers to pursue new innovations with discoveries shared across the world and marking the UK as a leader in the field.

Science and Technology Secretary, Peter Kyle, said:

Flooding and droughts can devastate UK communities, from leaving people stranded, to destroying homes, gardens, roads and businesses, and even claiming lives.

With climate change sadly making extreme weather events more common and adding an eye-watering cost to the economy, there is no time to waste in backing our researchers and innovators to ensure we are better prepared for floods and droughts striking.

This project will help drive that progress, with dedicated teams using the most advanced tech to crunch data gathered from our rivers and paint a clear picture of its likely impact – using the power of science and tech to keep the public safe.

The new measures build on £5.6 billion of government investment into flooding from 2021 and 2027, with over 100 and coastal risk management projects helping to better protect thousands of people and properties from flooding from the sea, rivers and reservoirs.

We will also shortly launch a new Flood Resilience Taskforce to turbocharge the delivery of new flood defences, drainage systems and natural flood management schemes, which will ensure we’re prepared for the future and help grow our economy.

Floods Minister Emma Hardy said:

In the case of extreme flooding and drought, preparation and prediction are everything.

Our new institute will bring together a team of world-leading researchers and the latest technology to ensure our communities, businesses and farms are protected from these devastating events.

Today’s funding also builds on wider UKRI projects tackling extreme weather in the UK and abroad, including support for businesses to ensure against its risks.

It includes a project sponsored by the NERC linking the frequency and intensity of storms over Northern Europe using mathematical models that enable more accurate pricing of storm-related risks. Meanwhile the Lisflood-FP computer model developed by the University of Bristol has helped over one million Zambian farmers to insure themselves against drought risk through daily rainfall estimates for the continent of Africa.

Another team at Bristol has pioneered the development of high-resolution flood prediction models, which has resulted in Fathom: a spin-out company with an annual turnover of more than £4 million. Its work includes protecting infrastructure valued at over $1 trillion, thanks to improved flood risk management in the UK and across the world.

Executive Chair of NERC, Professor Louise Heathwaite, said:

Earth’s changing climate means the number of extreme floods and droughts will increase in the UK, impacting homes, businesses and services. But predicting their location and measuring their intensity and impact needs the sort of scientific advances that this programme will bring to overcome the data and analytical constraints that are currently very challenging.

The project will transform the way we understand the impact of these events by building a significant bank of data and improving our monitoring capability, and so helping to protect those affected.

This is an example of how NERC is responding to climate challenges with research and innovation investments that will accelerate the green economy and deliver solutions to national priorities.

Notes to editors

The Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) has awarded £38 million from the UKRI Infrastructure Fund to establish the new institute.

A further £1.2 million of funding from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council will go towards a three-year project to slash the time and cost involved in running computer models of projected flooding out to the year 2100. This will enable detailed assessments of a much wider range of potential scenarios than currently possible, taking into account the nature and extent of the impact on extreme weather in these areas, informing solutions much better matched to the specific needs of different parts of the UK.

Between April 2022 and March 2023, the government worked with other risk management authorities to complete around 120 flooding and coastal risk management projects.

These projects better protected people and properties from:
- sea and tidal flooding (16,800 properties from 27 projects)
- river flooding (6,500 properties from 59 projects)
- surface water flooding (900 properties from 21 projects)
- coastal erosion (1,100 properties from 7 projects)
- reservoirs (1,100 properties from 1 project)
- groundwater (35 properties from 2 projects)
DSIT media enquiries
September 5, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : International Investment Summit Adviser appointed [August 2024]

The press release issued by HM Treasury on 30 August 2024.

Ian Corfield has been appointed as an unpaid International Investment Summit Adviser by the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

In this role, Ian Corfield will work with the Chancellor, her political advisers and officials in the Treasury, as well as relevant teams across Government, to advise and help on delivering the International Investment Summit on 14 October 2024.

The summit itself is intended to advance opportunities for growth and investment across the country; make clear that the UK is open for business to trading partners around the globe; create a pro-business environment that supports innovation and high-quality jobs in the UK; and allow global business leaders to hear directly from the Prime Minister and Cabinet ministers on how the government will drive future investment.

Ian Corfield will advise on delivering these objectives in relation to the agenda, engagement of key businesses, and the investment pipeline generated from the event.

Ian Corfield will be in post until 31 October 2024. Declarations of interests have been made in the usual way.

September 5, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : Painting owned by the first Prime Minister of Great Britain at risk of export [August 2024]
The press release issued by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport on 30 August 2024.

A temporary export bar has been placed on Le Rêve de L’Artiste by Jean-Antoine Watteau.
- The painting, which was previously hung in Downing Street, is valued at over £6 million
- Export bar is to allow time for a UK gallery or institution to acquire the painting
A temporary export bar has been placed on Le Rêve de L’Artiste, a painting by influential 18th century French artist Jean-Antoine Watteau.

The work, valued at £6,075,000 (plus VAT of £215,020), is at risk of leaving the UK unless a domestic buyer can be found to save the work for the nation.

Watteau was one of the most original and influential French painters of his era. He was a leading figure in the development of the Rococo style and inventor of a type of painting known as the Fête Galante, often small cabinet pictures, exploring the psychology of love, usually within a landscape setting.

His popularity in Britain amongst his contemporaries is evidenced through Le Rêve de L’Artiste being bought in 1736 by the first Prime Minister of Great Britain, Sir Robert Walpole. The painting was hung in Lady Walpole’s dressing room in 10 Downing Street for the remaining years of his administration.

Le Rêve de L’Artiste is an ambitious and complex picture featuring two dozen characters in a surreal, structured environment depicting some of the artist’s own dreams. The painting is unlike much of Watteau’s other work which largely presents natural landscapes as idyllic and untamed.

Arts Minister Sir Chris Bryant said:

This painting was once owned by our first Prime Minister, Sir Robert Walpole, and was hanging for several years in 10 Downing Street, so Watteau’s Le Rêve de L’Artiste has a fascinating connection to British History, offering us insights into the tastes and development of art in Britain in the 18th century. It portrays the artist’s dream, but perhaps its surreal fantasia inspired political dreams as well. Either way, it is an important and unusual work by a genius.

I hope a UK buyer has the opportunity to purchase this work so it can continue to be studied and enjoyed by the public.”

The Minister’s decision follows the advice of the Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art and Objects of Cultural Interest. The RCEWA Committee found that the painting met the third Waverley criterion for its outstanding significance to the study of the collections in which this picture was included as well as the early and highly unusual depiction of dream imagery.

Committee Member Mark Hallett said:

This beautiful, enigmatic painting showcases Watteau’s extraordinary originality, and provides us with one of Western art’s earliest and most profound representations of the process of artistic creativity. It gives us a fascinating insight not only into Watteau’s thinking as a painter, but into wider eighteenth-century concepts of inspiration and imagination. As such, Le Rêve de l’Artiste has a special, almost unique status in the artist’s output. This is a work that cries out for further research, interpretation and appreciation, and that fully deserves being retained for the nation.

The decision on the export licence application for the painting will be deferred for a period ending on 29 November 2024 inclusive. At the end of the first deferral period owners will have a consideration period of 15 Business Days to consider any offer(s) to purchase the painting at the recommended price of £6,075,000 (plus VAT of £215,020). The second deferral period will commence following the signing of an Option Agreement and will last for six months.

Notes to editors
1. Organisations or individuals interested in purchasing the painting should contact the RCEWA on 02072680534 or rcewa@artscouncil.org.uk .
2. Details of the object are as follows: Antoine Watteau (Valenciennes 1684–1721 Nogent-sur-Marne), The Dream of the Artist, about 1710. Oil on canvas, 95.5 x 121 cm.
3. Provenance: Jacques Langlois (1681–1722), painter and dealer on the Pont Notre Dame, Paris; the inventory following his death on the 16th December 1722, included ‘Le Reve, du sieur Watteau, b.d.[bordure dorée]…120 l. [livres]’. Painting arrived in London, c. 17231; Sir Robert Walpole M.P., 1st Earl of Orford, Prime Minister of England (1676–1745). By 1736, as it is listed in that year in Walpole’s manuscript, A Catalogue of the Right Honourable Sir Robert Walpole’s Collection of Pictures, the painting is listed as hanging in Lady Walpole’s dressing room at 10 Downing Street, and described thus: ‘Watteau – A dream of Watteau’s, Himself asleep by a rock; Several Dancers & Grotesque figures in the Clouds – 2’ 1” – 2’ 7 ¼ ”’ (25 x 31 ¼ in). Sold Cock’s auction room, known as Messrs Cock & Langford, in the Great Piazza of Covent Garden, the Walpole sale, 28 April 1748, second day, lot 62, sold for £ 6.10/-, bought by; James Douglas, 14th Earl of Morton (1702–1768), on whose death, by inheritance to; Susan Elizabeth, Dowager Countess of Morton (1793-1849), widow of the 16th Earl; Sold her sale, Christie’s, 27th April 1850, lot 88, (The Painter’s Dream – a very elegant design), sold for £ 27.6/- to ‘Anthony’. (3rd most expensive painting in sale); James Goding Esq. (d. 1857); his sale, Christie’s, 21st February 1857, lot 503, (The Painter’s Dream- one of eight ‘Watteau’ in the Goding collection), sold for £ 36 to ‘Webb’, bought on behalf of; John Ashley Cooper (1808–1867), 4th son of 6th Earl of Shaftesbury, of 17 Upper Brook Street, Mayfair, London, on whose death, by inheritance to his wife; Julia Ashley, née Conyers (c.1818–1907); Her sale, Christie’s, 25th June 1904, lot 51, sold for £ 68.5/- to; Martin Colnaghi (1821–1908); subsequently sold for FF10,000 to; Renee Gimpel (1881–1945) and Nathan Wildenstein (1851 – 1934), who then sold it for FF150,000 to; David David-Weill (1871–1952), c. 1914, New York; Sold Sotheby’s, 10th June 1959, lot 41, bought for £ 1,200 by ‘Wallraf’ on behalf of Wildenstein & Co., London, thence sold in 1963 through the dealer Dudley Tooth to; Ivo Forde Esq (1949–2023); An English private collector, acquired 1993; Private collection.
4. The Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art and Objects of Cultural Interest is an independent body, serviced by Arts Council England (ACE), which advises the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on whether a cultural object, intended for export, is of national importance under specified criteria.
September 5, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : 32 of Malaysia’s brightest have been awarded the prestigious Chevening scholarship [August 2024]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 30 August 2024.

32 of Malaysia’s brightest have been awarded the prestigious Chevening scholarship to pursue their postgraduate studies in the UK for the 2024/25 academic year.

In addition to the existing number of Chevening scholarship awards, the United Kingdom (UK) government has also now launched a Chevening ASEAN Scholarship Programme. Every ASEAN member country and Timor-Leste will receive one additional Chevening scholarship award for the 2025/26 academic year.

David Wallace, Acting British High Commissioner to Malaysia, hosted a pre-departure briefing and reception for the scholars this evening. He said:

The Chevening Scholarship programme is a testament to the UK government’s commitment to nurturing Malaysia’s leaders of tomorrow. It provides an opportunity to experience a world-class education in the UK as well as gaining invaluable exposure and experiences along the way.

ASEAN is an important partner to the UK. In 2022, the UK became a Dialogue Partner to ASEAN, the first new dialogue partner in 25 years. The Chevening ASEAN Scholarship Programme will enable more scholars from South East Asia (including Malaysia) to study in the UK. It also augurs well with Malaysia’s chairmanship of ASEAN in 2025.

The Chevening award is the UK Government’s global scholarship programme that is funded and administered by the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). This is complemented by generous sponsorships from Malaysian corporate partners namely CIMB Foundation, Yayasan Khazanah, PETRONAS and the Jeffrey Cheah Foundation. British universities also provide additional funding in support of the Chevening programme.

Chevening partners in Malaysia

Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Dr Jeffrey Cheah AO, Founder and Chairman of the Sunway Group said:

It has been a pleasure and privilege for the Jeffrey Cheah Foundation to have been the sponsor of a Chevening Scholarship since 2018. Each year I am thrilled by the quality of the applicants, and especially that of the candidates for our Scholarship; and we are delighted to be able to provide the opportunity over the years to well-deserving Malaysians to enhance their professional and leadership skills at a UK university and partake of the many interesting activities that are provided by the Chevening Secretariat in London.

Ahmad Shahriman Mohd Shariff, Chief Executive Officer of CIMB Foundation said:

CIMB Foundation is pleased to continue our collaboration with the UK for the Chevening Scholarship programme, a platform which provides life-changing opportunities for exceptional individuals to transform their lives through the power of education and networking. Aligned with our core impact area of Education, we firmly believe that the Chevening Scholarship plays an instrumental role in shaping the next generation of Malaysian leaders. The scholarship provides the recipients an edge through wide exposure and knowledge transfer, enhancing their value to the nation in returning to create positive and lasting change in their respective areas of specialisation.

Intan Zalila, Chief Programme Officer of Yayasan Khazanah said:

Our partnership with Chevening allows us to connect with a diverse pool of talented individuals who are poised to make significant contributions to society. We look forward to the continued success of our partnership with Chevening, as we work together to empower future leaders and make a lasting impact!

Ruslan Islahudin, Vice President & Group Chief Human Resource Officer of PETRONAS said:

Our alliance with the Chevening Scholarship reflects our commitment to empowering future leaders who are not only equipped with a world-class education but are also dedicated to driving sustainable solutions to global challenges in navigating a just energy transition. We are optimistic that these scholars will significantly contribute to the aspiration of shaping a more sustainable future by bringing innovative ideas and responsible business practices to the forefront here in Malaysia.

The Malaysian scholars

The current batch of scholars will be heading to the UK as early as September this year to pursue a wide range of postgraduate programmes at top UK universities, including subjects such as Early Years Education, Creative Writing Poetry, Global Health Policy, Cyber Defence and Information Assurance as well as Competition Law.

Scholar Muhammad Farhan Shahmi bin Abdullah who will be attending University of Cambridge to study Sociology (The Sociology of Media and Culture) said:

Misinformation and hate speech are ever-evolving threats in Malaysia, and preparing our youth to tackle them is crucial. I am driven to study Sociology at Cambridge to enrich myself with knowledge and skills in building effective, yet inclusive solutions to this conundrum. Certainly, interventions in sociology consider broader factors like culture and social dynamics, thus viewing social issues like misinformation and hate speech through a holistic lens. With the knowledge gained and network fostered from the Chevening experience, I aim to ultimately advocate for media literacy’s inclusion in the national school curriculum, making it a fundamental skill for all Malaysians.

Lydia Hong Wen Xin who will be attending Imperial College London to study Climate Change, Management and Finance said:

The field of climate change and finance is rapidly evolving, driven by urgent global demands to address climate risks and transition to sustainable energy systems. In Malaysia, recent initiatives like the target to achieve a 70% renewable energy mix by 2050 exemplify this momentum. Studying in the UK, with its environmental stewardship and cutting-edge research, offers an ideal platform to gain the expertise needed to contribute effectively to this global challenge. The holistic approach provided by my program enables me to communicate effectively across both business and scientific contexts.

Rajwin Kanagarajah who will be attending the University of Cambridge to study Population Health Sciences said:

One of the most pressing challenges in population health in Malaysia today is the growing burden of non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, hypertension and heart disease driven by lifestyle changes and an ageing population. This not only strains healthcare resources but also widens health disparities. Through this Chevening scholarship, I aim to gain expertise in public health policy, health economics and digital health solutions. Upon my return, I hope to contribute to Malaysia’s healthcare transformation by driving innovative, data-driven approaches in reducing disease burden, improving access to care and closing healthcare gaps on a national scale.

Syamim S. who will be attending the University of Kent to study Autism Studies said:

As an autistic person, equal opportunities are core to my Chevening journey. They allow persons with disabilities like myself equitable access to education. Personally, experiencing how such legislations may protect disabled persons is its own learning curve—one that I look forward to exploring further in the UK and adapting back home. I hope to build capacity within myself and my community through this academic and existential journey, moving Malaysia towards a better state of autistic and disability rights, benefiting everyone.

Malaysia is the second largest recipient of Chevening awards in ASEAN and there are already over 2,000 members of the Chevening alumni in Malaysia.

The UK government has recently reiterated that the UK welcomes international students. Malaysians who wish to get a scholarship to pursue a post-graduate degree in the UK can apply now until applications close on 5 November 2024. More information is available on www.chevening.org/malaysia.

September 5, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : Government funded childcare offer to kick in from next week [August 2024]

The press release issued by the Department for Education on 30 August 2024.

Hundreds of thousands of parents of children from nine months old take up new 15 government funded hours of early education from Monday.

From Monday 2nd September, hundreds of thousands of eligible working parents of children from 9-months-old will begin to access 15 hours of government-funded early education per week.

For parents of primary school aged children, new “wraparound” childcare places will be available before and after school, sounding the starting gun on long-term reform to deliver an early education and childcare system from the end of parental leave to the end of primary school, boosting parents’ work choices and children’s life chances.

This comes as the government looks ahead to delivering the expansion to 30 funded hours from next September.

The scale of the inherited delivery challenge is substantial. To deliver what parents have been promised requires an unprecedented rate of growth in childcare places and staff. This may mean some parents are not able to access their first-choice provider next year.

However, this government is now taking the action needed to help deliver the additional places needed and will set out further plans to deliver the government’s commitment to use primary school classrooms to create new nurseries.

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said:

“I’ve already said that early years is my number one priority. That’s why we are delivering the childcare rollout I know will be such a help to hard-pressed parents, with 15 hours of early education per week for 9-month-olds and above from next week, alongside more wraparound childcare for school children.

“This inherited plan comes with significant delivery challenges – I must warn that for some parents it will not be plain sailing – and while I am excited to see children starting nursery for the first time, or parents being able to increase their working hours, the work for government starts now.

“Over the next year, I will be working flat out with my team to ensure the next phase of the rollout is possible – doubling parents’ childcare entitlements to 30 hours a week.”

Jason Elsom, Chief Executive of Parentkind said:

“We welcome all help for families to ease the burden on family finances at a time when many families are really struggling.

“Parents tell us that childcare costs are a major concern, and they support action to bring costs down and help families at that crucial time between the end of maternity leave and previous financial support kicking in. It is right we do everything we can to support parents, particularly when children are young.”

Purnima Tanuku OBE, Chief Executive of National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) said:

“We support the government’s commitment to investing in our youngest children’s futures. This is something that families really need in order to give their children the best start in life and also enable parents to work.

“Supporting children early in their development means they have the foundations for learning and the necessary social skills to give them a brighter future, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds. We are keen for all children to have access to early education and care – the early investment pays dividends in their later education in improving life chances.

“Early educators are also best placed to identify children with additional needs early on which can make a huge difference so any additional training resources for them will be very welcome.”

Nationally, around 85,000 more places are needed to deliver the rollout for September 2025 compared to 2023 – over double the increase in places seen in the past five years combined.

These figures vary significantly on a local level, with around 20 local areas needing double the increase in childcare hours than the national average, and a handful of further areas needing three times the increase, showing the scale of the delivery challenge. Work is underway with local authorities to make sure the right local plans are in place to deliver for parents and families.

The expansion in government funded hours is just one step towards the Education Secretary’s vision of an early education and childcare system that supports children to build on strong foundations and start school ready to learn.

To make sure growth does not come at the cost of quality, the government has also announced an extension of the early years stronger practice hubs programme until at least March 2025. The programme supports nurseries by bringing groups together across local areas, to share evidence-informed practice, advice and build lasting local networks.

This comes alongside additional resources for early educators to support children with special educational needs, with a new online training module and assessment guidance launching next month to enable them to better identify, assess and support children with additional needs.

More primary school-age wraparound childcare places are also expected to become available from January 2025.

As a result of the government funding provided, schools will be able to signpost parents to newly appointed wraparound leads in every local authority, who will be able to provide support if parents are unable to access the wrapround childcare they need.

September 5, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : Russian disinformation will not deter the UK from supporting Ukraine: UK statement at the UN Security Council [August 2024]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 30 August 2024.

Statement by Fergus Eckersley, Minister Counsellor, at the Security Council meeting on Ukraine.

Since calling this meeting, and accusing the West of escalation, Russia has bombarded Ukrainian cities across fifteen regions, more than half the country, using hundreds of drones, cruise missiles, hypersonic ballistic missiles, glide bombs, and more.

Some of these were procured from Iran and DPRK, in violation of UN Security Council Resolutions.

Moscow’s intent is to terrorise the civilian population in Ukraine into submission. The latest attacks have caused widespread blackouts, cutting off access for ordinary people to power, heating and water. Imagine that happening to your country.

Direct attacks on civilian infrastructure constitute a war crime. Ukraine has a right to defend itself, under Article 51 of the UN Charter, against Russia’s attacks.

This does not preclude its right to project force into Russian territory, so long as action complies with international law.

Russia cannot step up the war from its own soil, while increasing attacks on the civilian population, and expect Ukraine not to seek to remove the source of the threat.

We will continue to provide Ukraine with the capabilities it needs to defend its people.

Neither the UK nor our partners seek direct confrontation with Russia, nor a wider escalation of tensions.

Let me be clear. There is only one aggressor here.

It was Russia that willingly and deliberately tore into the security of Europe by illegally invading a sovereign country.

It was Russia that unilaterally sought to annex a neighbour’s land, against every principle the international system, and all of us, rely upon.

It was Russia that chose to use hypersonic missiles and other advanced weaponry against civilians and their infrastructure.

And it was Russia that chose, at the start of this war, that chose to illegally seize the largest nuclear power plant in Western Europe at Zaporizhizhia even recklessly installing military equipment in the turbine hall and on reactor roofs.

Russian disinformation and threats and false accusations will not deter the UK or our allies from our steadfast support for Ukraine, including providing it with the capabilities it needs to defend its people.

We remain committed to securing a just and lasting peace for Ukraine and for Europe, in line with the UN Charter.

September 5, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : Government to end badger cull with new TB eradication strategy [August 2024]
The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 30 August 2024.

First Bovine TB strategy in a decade to end the badger cull and drive down TB rates to protect farmers’ livelihoods.

Work on a comprehensive new TB eradication strategy has been launched today (30 August) to end the badger cull and drive down Bovine Tuberculosis (TB) rates to save cattle and farmers’ livelihoods.

Over the past decade, TB has had a devastating impact on British livestock and wildlife. Over 278,000 cattle have been compulsorily slaughtered and over 230,000 badgers have been killed in efforts to control the disease, costing taxpayers more than £100 million every year.

For the first time in over a decade, the Government will introduce a new bovine TB eradication strategy working with farmers, vets, scientists and conservationists to rapidly strengthen and deploy a range of disease control measures.

The new strategy will mark a significant step-change in approach to tackle this devastating disease, driving down TB rates and saving farmers’ livelihoods and businesses. It will use a data-led and scientific approach to end the badger cull by the end of this parliament.

The work to end the badger cull starts immediately and includes:
- First badger population survey in over a decade: The last major badger survey was carried out between 2011-13, leaving policy makers with no clear idea of the impact culling techniques have on our badger populations. The Government will work at pace to launch a new survey this winter to estimate badger abundance and population recovery to illustrate the impact of widespread culling over the past decade.
- New national wildlife surveillance programme: After a decade of culling, the prevalence of TB in remaining badger populations is largely unknown. The development of a new national wildlife surveillance programme will provide an up-to-date understanding of disease in badgers and other wildlife such as deer. Together with updated estimates of badger abundance, this will unlock a data-driven approach to inform how and where TB vaccines and other eradication measures are rapidly deployed to drive down TB rates and protect farmers’ livelihoods.
- Establish a new Badger Vaccinator Field Force: Badger vaccinations create progressively healthier badger populations that are less susceptible to catching and transmitting TB. A new Badger Vaccinator Field Force will increase badger vaccination at pace to drive down TB rates and protect badgers.
- Badger vaccination study: To supplement the Field Force, the Government will rapidly analyse the effect of badger vaccination on the incidence of TB in cattle to encourage farmers to take part and provide greater confidence that doing so will have a positive effect on their cattle.
In addition, we will accelerate work on the development of a cattle vaccine, which is at the forefront of innovative solutions to help eradicate this disease. The next stage of field trials will commence in the coming months. Our aim is to deliver an effective cattle TB vaccination strategy within the next few years to accelerate progress towards achieving officially TB free (OTF) status for England.

The full strategy will be co-designed with farmers, vets, scientists and conservationists. It will consider a range of further measures including boosting cattle testing, reducing the spread of disease through cattle movements, and deploying badger vaccination on a wider, landscape scale. This will build on Professor Sir Charles Godfray’s 2018 independent strategy review.

Minister for Food Security and Rural Affairs, Daniel Zeichner said:

Bovine tuberculosis has devastated British farmers and wildlife for far too long.

It has placed dreadful hardship and stress on farmers who continue to suffer the loss of valued herds and has taken a terrible toll on our badger populations.

No more. Our comprehensive TB eradication package will allow us to end the badger cull by the end of this parliament and stop the spread of this horrific disease.

Chief Veterinary Officer Christine Middlemiss said:

Bovine tuberculosis is one of the most difficult and prolonged animal disease challenges we face, causing devastation for farming communities.

There is no single way to combat it, and a refreshed strategy will continue to be led by the very best scientific and epidemiological evidence. With the disease on a downward trajectory, we are at a crucial point. Working in collaboration with government and stakeholders will be the only way we achieve our target to eradicate bovine tuberculosis in England by 2038.

John Cross, chair of the bTB Partnership said:

As chair of the bTB Partnership for England, I am delighted to hear Minister Zeichner’s intention to refresh the current bTB strategy. Ten years after its launch, the time is right to look again at the tools we use to tackle this persistent disease.

Bovine TB is the common enemy, not farmers or wildlife groups. Only by working together, will we reach our goal.

The government will also publish additional information about animal and herd-level bTB risk – for example, the date and type of the most recent TB test completed in the herd of origin of that animal and how long the animal has been in the herd.

This greater level of detail will be made available on ibTB – a free to access interactive map set up to help cattle farmers and their vets understand the level of bovine TB in their area and manage the risks when purchasing cattle.

Today’s announcement ensures the government meets its manifesto commitment and represents a new direction in defeating this disease that will both protect the farming community and preserve wildlife.

Further information

Existing cull processes will be honoured to ensure clarity for farmers involved in these culls whilst new measures can be rolled out and take effect.

The Bovine TB Partnership is a stakeholder-government collaboration established as a driving force for further progress towards disease eradication. It is made up of experts from government (Defra, APHA and Natural England), as well as farmers, veterinarians, scientists, academics, and ecologists/conservationists, including representatives from the National Farmers Union, British Veterinary Association, British Cattle Veterinary Association, and the National Trust .
September 5, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : Over 130,000 people to benefit from life-saving health checks [August 2024]
The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 30 August 2024.

More than 130,000 people across the country will be better protected from diseases such as heart disease, kidney disease and diabetes.
- Life-saving health checks being rolled out to more than 100,000 people across the country
- NHS Health Check could save hundreds from preventable deadly diseases, along with freeing up NHS appointments to cut waiting lists
- Local authorities in Norfolk, Medway and Lambeth selected as pilot sites to trial digital checks at home
More than 130,000 people across the country will be better protected from diseases such as heart disease, kidney disease and diabetes, as the government today (30 August 2024) rolls out a life-saving health check programme to workplaces across the country for the first time.

The checks, which can be completed quickly and easily for employees at work, record a range of information about each patient, which is then used to determine their cardiovascular risk.

Employers from a range of professions will take part in the programme including those from the building, hospitality and transport sectors, and social care.

Today’s announcement is part of the Health and Social Care Secretary’s commitment to supporting the government’s mission to boost economic growth by improving the health of the nation.

With every check providing the equivalent of an NHS appointment, these checks will save thousands of hours of valuable NHS time, helping to cut waiting lists and rebuild the NHS.

Andrew Gwynne, Minister for Public Health and Prevention, said:

We know so many deadly diseases can be avoided if we seek help in enough time. That’s why we’re working to improve access to treatment while also taking steps to address the preventable causes of cardiovascular disease.

This innovative new programme is an important step towards community-focused healthcare and supporting economic and productivity through improving health, shifting the focus from treatment to prevention, easing the strain on the NHS and helping people to live well for longer.

Over 16 million people are eligible for an NHS Health Check, but current data shows that only around 40% of those invited went on to complete one. This is especially true for men, who are less likely to get early help but who are more likely to develop cardiovascular disease at an earlier age than women. This new programme aims to reach more people through their place of work and make it more convenient for people to understand and improve their cardiovascular health.

NHS National Clinical Director for Stroke, David Hargroves, said:

Convenient and efficient NHS checks in the workplace could spot thousands of people at risk of a range of cardiovascular diseases, and with high blood pressure the biggest risk factor for stroke, early detection will undoubtedly save lives.

This new programme shows the NHS is committed to preventing ill health and I would urge anyone invited for a check to come forward and get support to improve their cardiovascular health.

Councillor Louise Gittins, Chair of the Local Government Association, said:

Health checks can save lives. They can prevent people from developing largely preventable diseases, such as heart disease, cancer, type 2 diabetes and liver disease.

Councils are exploring new ways to boost uptake, targeting individuals or communities at increased risk, and using proactive outreach programmes to get into those communities who are less likely to attend their general practice.

However, there is more that can be done, and by partnering council and employers, we can make sure more people get a health check and hopefully prevent illness later on.

Jaguar Land Rover Chief Medical Officer, Dr Steve Iley, said:

Jaguar Land Rover is investing £15 million a year in its global health and wellbeing programmes because we know that healthy and happy colleagues help us to deliver high-quality products and ensure a positive future for our business. Health checks are a fundamental part of prevention and therefore feature in many of our programmes.

Our collaboration with Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council on the workplace cardiovascular disease checks pilot presents a unique opportunity to work together on providing awareness and signposting for our employees.

We are excited to provide these vital checks to approximately 4,500 of our Solihull employees before the end of this financial year, thus supporting the great work of our NHS.

In addition, the government has today also announced the development of a new digital version of the NHS Health Check which will be ready for testing early in 2025.

The service will be available through the NHS App, meaning users can undertake their health check at home and have the results automatically written back into their GP electronic health record, within a few clicks.

Local authorities in Norfolk (East of England), Medway (South East) and Lambeth (London) have been selected to pilot the new digital health checks in early 2025.

The digital programme will deliver around one million checks in its first 4 years. Plans are being put in place to make digital NHS Health Checks available nationally, alongside the face-to-face programme to give patients more choice.
September 5, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : UK statement in response to IDF military operation in the Occupied West Bank [August 2024]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 30 August 2024.

Statement from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) on the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) military operation in the Occupied West Bank.

A Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) spokesperson said:

The UK is deeply concerned by the ongoing IDF military operation in the occupied West Bank.

We recognise Israel’s need to defend itself against security threats, but we are deeply worried by the methods Israel has employed and by reports of civilian casualties and the destruction of civilian infrastructure.

The risk of instability is serious and the need for de-escalation urgent. We continue to call on Israeli authorities to exercise restraint, adhere to international law, and clamp down on the actions of those who seek to inflame tensions. The UK strongly condemns settler violence and inciteful remarks such as those made by Israel’s National Security Minister Ben-Gvir, which threaten the status-quo of the Holy Sites in Jerusalem.

It is in no one’s interest for further conflict and instability to spread in the West Bank.

September 5, 2024