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Category: Press Releases

  • PRESS RELEASE : New bomb disposal robots for the British Army [May 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : New bomb disposal robots for the British Army [May 2024]

    The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 10 May 2024.

    New high-tech bomb disposal robots will provide greater protection for soldiers and the public in a new deal for the British Army announced today (10 May).

    • High-tech robots will protect soldiers and the public from variety of threats including explosives and hazardous materials.
    • Can operate in narrow spaces, tough terrain, and climb stairs.
    • £21m investment will see 50 robots delivered by end of the year.

    New high-tech bomb disposal robots will provide greater protection for soldiers and the public in a new deal for the British Army announced today (10 May).

    50 of the T4 bomb disposal robots will be able to be used in situations of bomb and hazardous material disposal, helping the explosives team who attend thousands of call outs every year, all over the country. This will greatly reduce the risk to service personnel and the public when neutralising bomb and chemical threats.

    A £21 million contract with L3 Harris Technologies – based in Tewkesbury – will deliver with the first T4 units before the end of 2024.

    Adept at navigating narrow urban spaces, with its tough all terrain treads and adjustable manipulation arm, the T4 can operate in narrow aisles of planes, trains and buses and can even climb stairs.

    Advanced controls, high-definition cameras and lightning-fast datalinks will enable the operator of the T4 to perform complex tasks like unzipping bags and opening glove boxes from a safe distance.

    We are ensuring that our Armed Forces have the best kit available, and we have recently announced plans to spend 2.5% of GDP on defence by 2030 – meaning an additional £75 billion spent over the next six years

    Minister for Defence Procurement, James Cartlidge said:

    Procuring this high tech robot means that we can provide our forces with the tools they need to safely handle a range explosive threats.

    Rapidly delivering uncrewed systems, like the T4, that ensure our armed forces can safely face future threats is a key part of our Drone Defence Strategy.

    Weighing in at just over 100kg, the T4s are significantly smaller and nimbler than their bigger brother – the 300kg T7 UGV –­­ and will be used as the rapid response system for emergency situations as its compact size means it can be transported in a standard 4×4 vehicle.

    However, both models use ‘advanced haptic feedback’ which allow operators to ‘feel’ their way through the intricate process of disarming devices from a safe distance, reducing the risk to life of the explosive ordnance operators.

    The systems, which underwent rigorous testing, have been contracted by Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S), the procurement arm of the UK MOD and include an initial three years of in-service maintenance and repair support.

    Major General Lizzie Faithfull-Davies, Director Land Equipment at DE&S, said:

    I’m incredibly proud of the project team at DE&S, who have worked with their industry partner to harness available cutting-edge technology and have identified a critical capability that can respond to hostile explosive threats and help in keeping the wider general public safe.

    The T4’s will enter service with the 29 EOD & Search Group and the Diving Threat and Exploitation Group, Royal Gibraltar Regiment (RG) and Cyprus Operational Support Unit (COSU).

    Ed Zoiss, President, Space and Airborne Systems, L3Harris, said:

    The T4 EOD robots are the world’s most capable robot for operations in crowded and difficult environments like subways, airports and even hospitals.

    These highly advanced, durable robots provide best-in-class mobility and uncompromised performance to protect human lives.

    We’re honoured to continue working with the U.K. Ministry of Defence as they provide this technology to the British Army.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Levelling Up Partnerships rolled out in Scotland for first time [May 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : Levelling Up Partnerships rolled out in Scotland for first time [May 2024]

    The press release issued by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities on 10 May 2024.

    Dundee announced as first place in Scotland to benefit from tailored Levelling Up Partnerships .

    Dundee has been chosen as the first area in Scotland to benefit from a major tailored regeneration programme designed to support communities across the UK.

    The city will receive a £20 million Levelling Up Partnership from the UK Government designed to root out inequalities by attracting investment and increasing opportunities for local people, including by building a new Dundee and Angus College campus to boost skills.

    The investment will help tackle barriers to growth and turbo-charge regeneration, and the UK Government will be working hand-in-hand with local leaders to ensure this makes a major difference to people’s lives. This investment follows the £2.6 million for the V&A Dundee announced at Spring Budget.

    Levelling Up Partnerships, first announced in the 2023 Spring Budget, are bespoke regeneration programmes targeted in areas that have too often been ignored. The government uses them to level up skills and opportunities, improve people’s quality of life, and address deep-rooted local challenges, giving these areas the best possible chance to thrive. The partnership for Dundee follows similar announcements for places in England including Hull and Mansfield.

    In Scotland, the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) and the Scottish Government have collaborated to identify a methodology for which areas most need investment, and how best to address inequalities. The other areas in Scotland that have been selected for LUPs are the Scottish Borders, Argyll and Bute, and Na h-Eileanan Siar (Western Isles). Scottish areas receiving LUPs have been chosen based on a number of metrics, with emphasis on the tough challenges posed by rural geography.

    UK Government Levelling Up Minister Jacob Young, who visited Dundee on Thursday, said:

    “It’s fantastic to announce our tailored regeneration programme has been rolled out in Scotland for the first time, beginning by transforming the lives of people right across Dundee.

    “This Levelling Up Partnership will allow us to tackle the historical issues faced by this city head-on, ensuring overlooked communities get what they need to fully reach their potential.”

    The funding for Dundee will help unlock a key development on the Waterfront to provide Grade A office space and lever in more investment, refurbish vacant and underused buildings in the city, build a legal education centre to boost opportunities, and provide support for people struggling with addiction.

    UK Government Minister for Scotland John Lamont said:

    “Our Levelling Up Partnership with Dundee – backed by £20 million UK Government investment – is a real game changer for driving regeneration in the city and boosting opportunities.

    “Collaborative working between the UK and Scottish Governments and local leaders means the lives of people living in, working in and visiting Dundee will be transformed with exciting initiatives such as new educational centres specialising in digital, green skills, health, social care and life sciences; improved access to housing; better transport connectivity; improved city streets; tackling anti-social behaviour and substance abuse and attracting business to the area.

    “I look forward to seeing Dundee and the three other areas in Scotland that have each been allocated £20 million for Levelling Up Partnerships – the Scottish Borders, Argyll and Bute, and Na h-Eileanan Siar –  benefiting from the fruits of this funding.”

    Dundee’s £20m Levelling Up Partnership includes:

    • £5m backing for Dundee and Angus College, including £4.5m to build a new campus providing training opportunities in the digital, green skills, energy transition and construction sectors, and £500,000 for a new health and social care training facility
    • £3m towards the creation of new Grade A office development on the Waterfront
    • £2.5m for grassroots projects focused on enhancing opportunities for young people, improving safety and benefitting the community
    • More than £2m to improve access to housing and boost regeneration in the city centre, including by refurbishing vacant properties, and reviewing the condition of the local private rented sector
    • £2m to develop a specialist centre for protein science in the Life Sciences Innovation District
    • £1.2m to develop a bespoke permanent home for the Dundee Museum of Transport
    • £1.1m to establish a legal tech education centre and workspace
    • £500,000 to complete a 26-mile active travel route around the city, connecting neighbourhoods on the outskirts with each other and the centre

    Dundee City Council leader Cllr John Alexander said:

    “As a city, we’ve been working extensively in the background to attract and deliver investment, public and private, and to create jobs and economic growth.

    “With Dundee already featuring in positive ratings, such as a top 20 UK destination for foreign direct investment (FDI), a top city break destination and attracting world-renowned opportunities such as the Eden project, the future is bright.

    “We welcome the £20 million of investment through the Levelling Up Partnership, which will strengthen the efforts by all local partners to transform Dundee and the lives of people across our city.

    “Although Dundee’s challenges are well known, I believe that the opportunities that exist for the future significantly exceed these.

    “Organisations in Dundee are working together to create the conditions that will enable growth and prosperity in the years ahead.

    “There is a realisation that we cannot do this alone, and that is why we have been in discussions with both the UK and Scottish Governments for strategic investment to drive Dundee’s economy forward.”

    The LUP also includes £1m to help transform the Eastern Quarter by improving its streets, tackling anti-social behaviour and attracting new business; £1m to refurbish the fabric of historic buildings and bring vacant spaces in the city centre back into use; £500,000 to help tackle substance abuse; £200,000 to develop the next phase of the City Centre Strategic Plan, attracting investment to the city; and £120,000 for commercial training and networking to support high-potential businesses.

    This funding builds on almost £23m of wider UK Government levelling up investment in Dundee, which has received more than £14m from Round 2 of the Levelling Up Fund for a new green transport hub in the city centre featuring electric vehicle charging points, and £5.6m from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund for projects including improvements to the district centre of Perth Road and digital skills training opportunities.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Change of His Majesty’s Ambassador to Uruguay – Mr Malcolm Green [May 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : Change of His Majesty’s Ambassador to Uruguay – Mr Malcolm Green [May 2024]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 10 May 2024.

    Mr Malcolm Green has been appointed His Majesty’s Ambassador to the Oriental Republic of Uruguay in succession to Ms Faye O’Connor OBE.  Mr Green will take up his appointment during August 2024.

    CURRICULUM VITAE

    Full name:  Malcolm Christopher David Green

    Date Role
    2023 to present FCDO, Africa Directorate, Deputy Director (Sahel, Sudan and South Sudan)
    2018 to 2023 FCDO, UN and Multilateral Department, Head of the UN Peacekeeping Joint Unit
    2017 to 2018  Buenos Aires, Deputy Head of Mission and Consul General
    2013 to 2017  Santiago, Deputy Head of Mission and Consul General
    2009 to 2013  UK Mission to the United Nations, New York, First Secretary – Peacekeeping, Human Rights and Conflict
    2006 to 2009  FCO, Security Policy Department, Team leader – Military Operations and Exercises
    2003 to 2006 Buenos Aires, Second Secretary – Political Affairs
    2001 to 2003 FCO Policy Officer – Future of Europe, European Union Department
  • PRESS RELEASE : Rishi Sunak Call with Prime Minister Edi Rama of Albania [May 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : Rishi Sunak Call with Prime Minister Edi Rama of Albania [May 2024]

    The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 10 May 2024.

    The Prime Minister spoke to Albanian’s Prime Minister Edi Rama this morning.

    They began by discussing the close relationship between the UK and Albania, noting significant bilateral cooperation including on trade and investment.

    The Prime Minister highlighted the strong progress made through the UK-Albania migration partnership. Both leaders acknowledged more work needed to be done to tackle the illegal migration challenge in Europe and looked forward to discussing this further at the European Political Community meeting in the UK in July.

    They underlined the importance of ensuring stability in the Western Balkans, particularly in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo.

    Turning to the situation in the Middle East, the leaders discussed the importance of tackling rises in antisemitism across the globe and championing our shared values of tolerance and respect.

    Both leaders looked forward to speaking soon.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Defence Secretary Praises Scottish Contribution to Shipbuilding and Defence [May 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : Defence Secretary Praises Scottish Contribution to Shipbuilding and Defence [May 2024]

    The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 9 May 2024.

    Defence Secretary has met with apprentices, engineers and key industry leaders during a visit to key shipyards. Scotland plays a crucial role in the Navy’s shipbuilding pipeline and the UK’s security.

    • Defence Secretary meets with apprentices, engineers and key industry leaders.
    • New warship production well underway in Scotland
    • More than 12,000 Scottish jobs are supported through defence spend with UK industry.
    • Paul Sheerin announced as Chair of the shipbuilding Skills Delivery Group.

    Scotland is playing a crucial role in the Navy’s shipbuilding pipeline and the UK’s security, Defence Secretary Grant Shapps has said today on a visit to key shipyards.

    Visiting Govan, where BAE Systems are building Type 26 frigates, and HMNB Clyde, home of the Royal Navy’s submarine fleet, the Defence Secretary met with key industry leaders, staff and apprentices, observing the significant progress on the major warship production programme.

    Scotland is the beating heart of military shipbuilding, with eight Type 26 ships being built in Glasgow and five Type 31 frigates being built by Babcock International in Rosyth. This supports and is supported by the local maritime infrastructure, supply chains, and extensive skills and training resources. On a tour at BAE Systems in Govan, the Defence Secretary saw the Type 26 frigates in build, and toured HMS Cardiff.

    More than 12,000 jobs in Scotland are directly supported by Defence, with more than £2 billion spent annually with UK industry in Scotland. Over 5,000 jobs will be created or sustained across the build of Type 26 and Type 31 programmes alone, and just under 1,000 apprentices will be trained to provide the skill required to build and maintain our Royal Navy fleet.

    Defence Secretary, Grant Shapps, said:

    As the home of the nuclear deterrent – which keeps us all safe around the clock – nobody can question that Scotland is absolutely central to the UK’s security.

    As Shipbuilding Tsar, it is fantastic to see the positive impact that the Scottish shipbuilding industry plays. A sector once restricted by periods of ‘boom and bust’ is now witnessing a resurgence, with Scottish shipyards buzzing with activity and its workforce expanding.

    Brand new warships will operate around the world, looking after our nation’s interests, for decades to come, and they will have been built by highly skilled shipbuilders right here in Glasgow. We continue to back the UK defence industry in Scotland with billions of pounds every year, supporting thousands of jobs and apprenticeships.”

    At HMNB Clyde, the home of the UK’s nuclear deterrent submarines, the Defence Secretary visited an attack submarine. HMNB Clyde is currently one of the largest employers in Scotland and is in the process of increasing its on-site staff from 6,800 to over 8,000, whilst the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) has committed to spending more than £3 billion on sites in Scotland, including £1.6 billion on the Clyde Infrastructure Programme, to establish it as the home of UK’s submarine fleet.

    The Defence Secretary, in his role as Shipbuilding Tsar, is responsible for overseeing all of the government’s interests in UK shipbuilding. The Government’s commitment to UK Shipbuilding through the Refreshed National Shipbuilding Strategy has allowed industry to invest for the future, with BAE Systems’ £12 million Applied Shipbuilding Skills Academy and the construction of a modern shipbuilding hall in Govan currently underway.

    The Government has today issued its response to the UK Shipbuilding Skills Taskforce report. In response to recommendations within, the report the National Shipbuilding Office has launched the shipbuilding Skills Delivery Group. This group will drive the delivery of the Taskforce recommendations and will be a champion for skills within the UK Shipbuilding Enterprise. Grant Shapps also announced the Chair of the Group will be Paul Sheerin, and the two met at Govan shipyard.

    Paul Sheerin, Chair of Skills Delivery Group said:

    It is critical for the UK shipbuilding enterprise that the skills gap is addressed, and to ensure that this can happen there needs to be a unified approach across different skills systems, across different parts of the enterprise and across government and the devolved administrations.

    I am extremely excited to chair the SDG, working alongside a highly knowledgeable and experienced membership comprised of representatives from across the whole enterprise. With the continued support of the Shipbuilding Tsar and the NSO, I look forward to working with the Group to deliver a positive impact on skills within this vital sector to the UK.

    Scottish Secretary, Alister Jack said:

    Scottish-based critical defence assets play a crucial role in the security of the UK. As well as helping to keep us all safe, defence also delivers thousands of high-skilled jobs and billions of pounds investment in Scotland, driving prosperity and boosting the Scottish economy. I’m proud that Scottish skills, expertise and innovation make such an enormous contribution to the UK’s defence industry.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Government wins landmark case against freeholder owned by multibillion pound railway pension fund [May 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : Government wins landmark case against freeholder owned by multibillion pound railway pension fund [May 2024]

    The press release issued by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities on 9 May 2024.

    The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities has won a landmark legal challenge against freeholder Grey GR.

    • Court rules in favour of government in legal case forcing freeholder Grey GR, owned by Railpen, to fix safety issues at Vista Tower
    • Judgment gives tower residents assurance through the Court that their homes will be made safe without further delay
    • The Vista Tower case was the first legal action brought by the Government under powers introduced through the Building Safety Act

    The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities has won a landmark legal challenge against freeholder Grey GR forcing it to fix serious building safety issues in Vista Tower in Stevenage.

    Legal action was launched by the Government against Grey GR in October 2022 following unacceptable delays in fixing multiple serious fire safety issues, first identified in the building in 2019.

    Grey GR is ultimately owned by Railpen, a scheme that manages £34bn in assets.

    Following the trial in March, the Court has decided in favour of the Government and will issue a Remediation Order imposing a legally binding requirement on Grey GR to fix building safety issues within a mandated timeframe.

    Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove said:

    Leaseholders have lived with uncertainty for far too long while Grey GR delayed essential works to make homes safe. This decision is a victory for leaseholders in Vista Tower and across the country.

    It is hugely disappointing that Railpen – the ultimate owner of Grey GR and who manage £34bn in ‘assets’ – has kept leaseholders in limbo in this way. Railway workers with their pensions invested in this fund, as well as innocent leaseholders, deserve better.

    This court case should serve as a warning to all building owners. If you fail to fix your unsafe buildings and ensure the safety of residents, we will see you in court. We will not stop until we secure justice for leaseholders.

    Sophie Bichener, leaseholder in Vista Tower said:

    I am very pleased to see this remediation order has been made. This gives leaseholders the reassurance we deserve and is the closest we have been to regaining our freedom after what has been an extremely difficult few years.

    We thank the Secretary of State for bringing this remediation order – it will have a huge impact on our lives and we hope our involvement in this case will bring hope to many others who are waiting for their freeholders to do the right thing and make their homes a safe place to live too.

    The Vista Tower case was the first legal action brought by the Government under robust new powers introduced through the Building Safety Act 2022.

    Following commencement of legal action, Grey started work on Vista Tower in January 2024. The Remediation Order will provide an exact date by which the work must be completed or Grey could face sanction by the Court.

    The Government is also seeking remediation orders on a further five Grey GR buildings that have or will be going to trial over the next year. This includes The Chocolate Box in Bournemouth where, as a result of government legal action, Grey has now started remediation works.

    The Government has also already secured four remediation orders against freeholder Wallace Estates, benefitting approximately 400 leaseholders that had faced delays to remediation.

    Councils, fire and rescue services and the Building Safety Regulator all have powers under the Building Safety Act to take enforcement action against building owners not complying with their obligations and discharging their responsibilities to leaseholders.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Report by the Head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo – UK response [May 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : Report by the Head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo – UK response [May 2024]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 9 May 2024.

    Ambassador Holland welcomes the Report by the Head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo, and the work of the Mission over the last six months across the three pillars of its mandate.

    Firstly, I would like to welcome Ambassador Davenport back to the Permanent Council for the final time as Head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo. I would like to express my sincere gratitude for your expert leadership of the Mission over the last three (plus) years, during such a pivotal time for the Western Balkans region. Thank you, as always, for the written report on the activities of the Mission over the last six months, and the comprehensive presentation this morning.

    Madam Chair, the United Kingdom shares the assessment in the Report of the concerning lack of progress towards Kosovo-Serbia normalisation, which continues to have negative implications for stability in the Western Balkans.

    While the UK welcomes the progress in December on the energy roadmap and licence plates, many fundamental issues remain unresolved. We encourage both sides to engage constructively in the EU-facilitated Dialogue and to deliver on their respective obligations, including on establishing an Association of Serb-Majority Municipalities.

    The UK will continue to encourage Kosovo to ensure that non-majority communities can play a full and equal role in the country’s future. In this respect, we urge Kosovo and Serbia to continue to work with the EU Special Representative to agree technical solutions to the implementation of the new regulation on foreign currencies.

    We are also clear that Kosovo Serbs should be free to exercise their democratic rights and further integrate into Kosovan society. The recent boycott of the mayoral recall votes in the four northern municipalities is a step away from securing the representative democracy that the local population deserves, and we encourage Kosovo Serbs to return to institutions and serve their communities.

    The UK reiterates the importance of ensuring justice and accountability for all acts of violence. We call on Serbia to cooperate fully with efforts to hold to account those responsible for the shocking attacks in Banjska last September, and on NATO KFOR troops last May. We also urge Serbia to take action to tackle cross-border arms smuggling.

    In this context, the UK commends the work of the OSCE Mission during the last six months across the three core pillars of its mandate. In particular, we highly appreciate the Mission’s continued prioritisation of monitoring and early warning functions in light of the fragile security situation in northern Kosovo.

    We value the Mission’s ongoing support to government institutions on human rights and inter-community relations, including recent support to delivery of the Kosovo government’s Strategy for the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Communities. We also welcome the Mission’s continued work to strengthen institutional cooperation in tackling domestic and gender-based violence.

    Madam Chair, the United Kingdom will remain a long-standing and strong supporter of Kosovo as an independent and sovereign state. We remain committed to supporting an inclusive, diverse and multi-ethnic democracy in Kosovo, and its full participation in the international system.

    I would like to end by again thanking you, Ambassador Davenport, for your leadership of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo – both during this reporting period, and throughout the last three years. I commend your team’s expertise, engagement and hard work, and I wish you well in your future endeavours.

    Thank you, Madam Chair.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Government to fund 180 local projects to boost water quality [May 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : Government to fund 180 local projects to boost water quality [May 2024]

    The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 9 May 2024.

    £11.5m extra funding announced to boost tree planting, habitat restoration and flood management across England through the Water Environment Improvement Fund.

    • Millions of pounds of extra funding to boost tree planting, habitat restoration and flood management
    • Expanded fund to help plant thousands of trees and improve the quality of rivers up and down the country
    • 180 projects set to benefit, including in York, Lincolnshire and North Devon

    Local projects across England will be able to clean up lakes and rivers, protect communities from flooding and plant thousands of trees, thanks to £11.5 million of government support.

    The funding, which includes money from the Nature for Climate Fund, will also unlock up to an extra £11.5 million from organisations including the National Lottery, local rivers and wildlife trusts or from private investment, bringing the total possible investment to £23 million.

    This uplift will be allocated to local catchment partnerships through the Water Environment Improvement Fund (WEIF) supporting 180 local projects across England. Projects to be funded this year include:

    • The Limestone Becks River Restoration project in Lincolnshire, which will provide improved habitats for wildlife from water voles to invertebrates;
    • Phase II of The York Urban Becks project, which aims to create a more natural river course and support local habitats; and
    • The Woods for Devon project, creating woodlands to improve water quality, support wildlife, and carbon capture.

    Overall, the additional funding is expected to lead to an additional 300km of English rivers being protected and improved. It will also support the creation and restoration of around 160 hectares of inland and coastal waters.

    Catchment partnerships take a collaborative approach to improving river quality and enhancing biodiversity at a catchment level, using local knowledge and expertise.

    They bring together government, local authorities, landowners, local eNGOs, regulators, farmers, academia, local businesses and water companies.

    Delivered by the Environment Agency, the Water Environment Improvement Fund (WEIF) was established in 2016 and funds projects that deliver on the government commitments set out in the Plan for Water to ensure clean and plentiful water for the future.

    Water Minister Robbie Moore MP said:

    These local catchment partnerships do excellent work and I am pleased that we are able to give this additional funding to help deliver projects where rivers need it most.

    It builds on recent measures to clean up our rivers including consulting on a ban on water company bonuses, launching a new Water Restoration Fund to reinvest water company fines and penalties back into the water environment, and a fourfold increase in Environment Agency inspections.

    Chair of the Environment Agency Alan Lovell said:

    We welcome this uplift in funding for local projects across the country which will help us work collaboratively with a range of organisations and stakeholders to achieve our ambitions for the water environment.

    It builds on the steps we are taking to improve water quality and protect the environment, including expanding our specialised workforce and increase water company inspections this year, along with our powers to levy uncapped penalties on those who pollute our waterways.

    CEO of The Rivers Trust Mark Lloyd said:

    Increased funding is a very important ingredient in the recipe for successfully restoring our rivers to good health and so this is welcome news.

    We are increasingly seeing the private and philanthropic sectors getting involved to match this kind of funding which enables this government support to go even further, enabling us to have a greater positive impact in more places.

    In recent years, the Fund has supported a number of projects across the country. In 2021-22, £888,000 was given to the Developing the Natural Aire project in Yorkshire to install fish passes. It resulted in 50km of habitat being reconnected, 8,410 trees being planted and delivered 220 volunteer days and 123 community events.

    The £11.5 million funding uplift is in addition to the existing £3 million the Environment Agency has already been allocated for this financial year for local project to improve water quality.

    Today’s announcement follows recent measures delivered to improve the water environment, including:

    • A new £11m Water Restoration Fund to reinvest water company fines and penalties back into the water environment.
    • Requiring companies to monitor 100% of storm overflows in England – providing a complete picture of when and where sewage spills happen.
    • Removing the cap on civil penalties for water companies and broadening their scope so swifter action can be taken against those who pollute our waterways.
    • Requiring the largest infrastructure programme in water company history – £60 billion over 25 years – to revamp ageing assets and reduce the number of sewage spills by hundreds of thousands every year.
    • Increasing protections for coastal and estuarine waters by expanding the Storm Overflow Discharge Reduction Plan, prioritising bathing waters, sites of special scientific interest and shellfish waters.
    • A targeted plan to better preserve and protect the River Wye, including £35m in funding.
    • Speeding up the process of building key water supply infrastructure, including more reservoirs and water transfer schemes.
  • PRESS RELEASE : International law must be “fit for the challenges of 21st century” [May 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : International law must be “fit for the challenges of 21st century” [May 2024]

    The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 9 May 2024.

    International law must remain in lockstep with the changing 21st century world and the needs of citizens or face irrelevance the Lord Chancellor, Alex Chalk, will stress to the G7’s justice leaders today (9 May 2024).

    • Lord Chancellor will warn that international law must be “a living instrument”, and “not suspended in time”
    • he will also outline the government’s lawful approach to combating illegal migration
    • it comes as Justice Ministers attend G7 forum to discuss increasing issues relating to law and justice

    At the G7 Justice Ministers’ Meeting in Venice, the Lord Chancellor will acknowledge the unique value the forum brings in tackling the issues of law and justice currently facing the international system.

    Speaking at the meeting, the Lord Chancellor is expected to say:

    The international rules-based order, and so many of the legal frameworks we rely on for our peace and prosperity, emerged out of the ashes of World War II –- a completely different world from the one we live in today. Our nations are now grappling with new, thorny issues, from how to respond to mass migration as millions march across the world to the spectre of climate change, and the advent of new technologies, like AI, with all the opportunities and risks they bring.

    If the law is to be respected by our citizens, it must deliver for them. Its frameworks must be capable of responding to 21st century problems. To be irrelevant is to be ignored, or still worse held in contempt – which risks damaging our freedom, safety and security.

    The Lord Chancellor is expected to discuss the UK government’s priorities on illegal migration and demonstrate the UK’s action as proportionate and necessary:

    The Rule of Law isn’t just about ensuring all are equal before the law – important though that is. It also means ensuring that those who don’t abide by the law aren’t materially advantaged by doing so. Illegality must have consequences.

    The UK is not alone in facing these pressures – all of us are. Tackling smuggling gangs requires coordinated sustained international cooperation, including targeted upstream intervention.

    He will conclude by outlining how the rule of law must help countries to protect their borders and will describe the law as a “living instrument” which must be up to date and tailored to reality:

    There will be some who take the view that the law should be no impediment to tackling irregular migration. But it is important for all of us here to be the voice that says “no”. We must uphold the rule of law, but it can also help us to protect our borders if we approach it in the right way.

    The law is a living instrument, not suspended in time. It must underpin our citizens’ rights and freedoms, and to do that, it must also be up to date, and tailored to reality.

    As a group of nations, it’s right that we should consider together the direction of travel for international law, to reinvigorate the rules-based order, so that it is fit to respond to the challenges of the 21st century.

    The remarks come as the Lord Chancellor attends the G7 in Venice over the 9 and 10 May. Whilst there, he will meet with his counterparts to discuss key issues facing the world – including continued support for Ukraine, and how to best tackle illegal migration and drug trafficking.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Reforms piloted to link pay to results in the Civil Service [May 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : Reforms piloted to link pay to results in the Civil Service [May 2024]

    The press release issued by the Cabinet Office on 9 May 2024.

    New measures to improve performance and ensure the civil service can recruit and retain the best talent were announced this morning by Minister for the Cabinet Office, John Glen at the Reform Think Tank Annual Conference at the BT Tower in London.

    New measures to improve performance and ensure the civil service can recruit and retain the best talent were announced this morning by Minister for the Cabinet Office, John Glen at the Reform Think Tank Annual Conference at the BT Tower in London.

    In the second of a series of speeches on Civil Service reform, the Minister set his focus on performance management, attracting the best from the private sector and ensuring that Civil Servants are backed to deliver for the British public.

    Plans to encourage and reward those that deliver high quality public services were unveiled with a new pilot to test milestone based pay – where certain Senior Civil Service (SCS) staff would be rewarded for delivery of pre-agreed milestones for projects they manage.

    The plans will ensure that pay and reward is more closely aligned to how staff are performing and delivering for the public.

    This new approach would also support recruitment in priority areas – making reward packages more attractive to potential new hires, without increasing basic salaries to ensure public resources are spent carefully.

    It also aims to encourage SCS staff to remain in post for the whole of the project, helping to tackle Whitehall churn at the senior level, and ensuring that there is full accountability for a project’s long term results.

    The new system is being delivered at pace and pilots will begin in the Summer.

    The Government has set out its plan to deliver on people’s priorities, and today’s announcement will deliver on these.

    Minister for the Cabinet Office John Glen said:

    To build a world-class Civil Service that truly delivers for the public, we must start with the people.

    We need to recruit the brightest minds, ensure they have the tools and skills to succeed, and take swift action when performance falls below expected standards.

    The measures I’ve set out today will help to meet today’s productivity challenge head on, building a resilient and high performing Civil Service that is fit for the future.

    The Minister also announced a review of the external-by-default recruitment policy for SCS roles, which ensures that all senior roles are open to external applicants unless there is a genuine reason not to do so – enhancing competition.

    The Civil Service Commission will monitor data on SCS recruitment, to ensure the policy is being implemented and that any exceptions are properly justified and do not undermine efforts to bring external expertise into senior leadership roles.

    Building on plans unveiled in his speech in January to tackle poor performance, the Minister announced that work to improve the performance management system for SCS staff is well underway and will conclude in June.

    Work has also begun to gather data and insight across departments on the current performance management situation across the Civil Service, with a view to looking at what works, and crucially where changes are needed.

    Today’s announcement builds on measures set out by the Chancellor to increase Government efficiency by capping Civil Service headcount and reducing staffing numbers to pre-pandemic levels by the end of the next spending review.

    This will enable the government to channel resources where they are most needed, for example increasing defence spending and sending vital aid to Ukraine.

    Additional measures and updates announced today include:

    • Part of the SCS Strategy, a new pathway will be delivered to recruit external technical specialists at a senior level to the Civil Service. Those recruited under the pathway will not have all the same responsibilities that come with a traditional SCS level role, including line management responsibilities. This is designed to ensure their focus remains on driving innovation and transformation.
    • Work to automate recruitment processes has shown promising results, with over 2400 working hours saved since some pre-employment processes were automated, and more identified to be automated in the next 12 months.