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Category: Press Releases

  • PRESS RELEASE : Royal Air Force fighter squadron arrives in Romania to co-lead NATO air policing mission [April 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : Royal Air Force fighter squadron arrives in Romania to co-lead NATO air policing mission [April 2024]

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

    Six RAF fighter jets will commence a four-month mission in Romania from today, flying air policing missions alongside the Romanian Air Force.

    Royal Air Force fighter jets have started protecting NATO’s eastern flank, close to the Black Sea, following a handover ceremony today in Romania.

    Six RAF Typhoon fighter aircraft are taking part in the four-month mission, with jets from IX (Bomber) Squadron, along with more than two hundred RAF personnel from 140 Expeditionary Air Wing (140EAW) deployed from RAF Lossiemouth to Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base in Romania. They will fly alongside the Romanian Air Force as part of NATO’s enhanced Air Policing mission (eAP) until August.

    The air policing mission begins this week following a ceremony today involving RAF personnel, their Romanian counterparts, and NATO officials. The personnel involved in the mission will be on standby at a moment’s notice to launch Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) intercepts of Russian aircraft approaching NATO airspace.

    Defence Secretary Grant Shapps said:

    Our NATO air policing deployment helps to keep Europe’s skies secure, and I pay tribute to the dedicated personnel delivering this important mission.

    Ready to launch at a moment’s notice for the next four months, the Typhoon pilots will respond with professionalism to threats and incidents in support of our collective security.

    We’re showing the scale of our commitment to NATO in its 75th year, with deployments like this and thousands of personnel operating and exercising across the alliance to keep the UK and our allies safe.

    The countries involved in NATO’s air policing missions rotate on a regular basis, with the RAF having flown to intercept more than 50 Russian aircraft in the first half of last year while leading the Alliance’s enhanced air policing mission from Estonia. This will be the fifth time the RAF have participated in the air policing mission in Romania.

    Personnel from 140EAW could be required to launch in their fighter jets to intercept Russian aircraft that do not liaise with NATO-controlled regional air traffic agencies and do not file flight plans, therefore failing to adhere to international norms. This, in turn, creates a flight safety risk that must be investigated and monitored by NATO aircraft to ensure the safety of all air traffic in the region.

    Aircraft frequently intercepted by the RAF during previous air policing missions include Russian long-range strategic bombers, surveillance aircraft, and transport aircraft. QRA intercepts are key to maintaining airspace security and protecting international borders, as well as acting as a clear deterrent against threats.

    Air Commodore Martin Cunningham, 11 Group Assistant Chief of Staff of Operations, said:

    The Royal Air Force is very proud to be back in Romania as part of the UK’s contribution to NATO, working with our Romanian colleagues. Our presence here is another example of the UK’s steadfast commitment to NATO and for the RAF, a further demonstration of our air power projection capability.

    As with every operation, there has been an enormous amount of preparation to get us to this point: from the huge road moves, delivery of equipment, training of our expeditionary air wing personnel and of course to the Typhoon squadron from RAF Lossiemouth arriving. I wish to extend my sincere thanks to all involved in the herculean effort to ensure smooth accreditation and wish them a successful deployment.

    Enhanced Air Policing deployments are planned in advance and rotate between NATO Allied Air Forces, ensuring collective deterrence and defence protecting and securing the integrity of NATO’s airspace.

    NATO’s enhanced Air Policing in the south was introduced in 2014 to reassure Allied populations along the eastern flank after Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine’s Crimean peninsula.

    Wing Commander Karl Bird, Commanding Officer of 140 Expeditionary Air Wing, said:

    This will be the RAF’s fifth eAP rotation in Romania, having completed the first iteration in 2014. The missions contribute to the development of the reaction and deterrence capacity and is a strong sign of the Alliance’s cohesion. Ensuring NATO is ready to secure the skies 24/7.

    The air policing mission is part of the UK’s wider commitment to NATO and the security of its eastern flank, alongside the presence of around a thousand British soldiers in Estonia as part of NATO’s enhanced Forward Presence.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Half a million more benefit claimants set to benefit from back to work support as Universal Credit expands [April 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : Half a million more benefit claimants set to benefit from back to work support as Universal Credit expands [April 2024]

    The press release issued by the Department for Work and Pensions on 9 April 2024.

    Half a million people claiming old benefits will be invited to claim Universal Credit, unlocking all the work support it offers.

    • Expansion of move to Universal Credit will help 500,000 more people unlock the employment support on offer.
    • Letters will be sent to people on certain benefits notifying them of the action they need to take.
    • People on Universal Credit are more likely to have a job within six months of making a claim.

    More than 130,000 people have already successfully switched from tax credits to the modern digital Universal Credit system which allows claimants to access their benefits more easily and amend their claim should their circumstances change.

    The expansion this year will continue for people claiming:

    • Income Support and Tax Credits with Housing Benefit from April
    • Housing Benefit only from June
    • ESA (Income Based) with Child Tax Credit from July
    • Tax Credits (Pension Aged including mixed aged couples) from August
    • JSA (Income Based) from September

    Universal Credit helps people move closer to work and greater financial security through a range of support – including training placements and upskilling – as well as tailored support from a dedicated Work Coach.

    Recent findings have shown Universal Credit claimants are more likely to be in work within six months of making a claim.

    The move comes as the DWP’s £2.5 billion Back to Work Plan is set to help over a million people, including those with disabilities and long-term health conditions to break down barriers to work.

    Minister for Employment, Jo Churchill MP said:

    Universal Credit is a proven benefits system fit for the modern age.

    With even more people moving to Universal Credit, we can continue to provide the best level of support for people to secure financial independence through work.

    I would encourage all those who receive their Migration Notices to take action to ensure they continue to receive the benefits they are entitled to.

    By moving to Universal Credit, benefit claimants, including those with limited work requirements, will be able to access to a range of employment support.

    We know one in five people currently on the highest tier of incapacity benefits with no work preparation requirement, would like to work in the future with the right support. We’re helping them do this not just though Universal Credit, but with specialist employment support, record levels of mental health provision and the Chance to Work Guarantee, meaning millions can try work free from the fear that they could lose their benefits.

    Recent data shows working age adults living in workless households are around seven times more likely to be in absolute poverty than those in households where all adults work, while children living in workless households are six times more likely than those where all adults work.

    Benefit claimants will not lose out financially when moving to Universal Credit. Where an individual’s entitlement to Universal Credit is lower than their legacy benefit entitlement, they will be entitled to a top-up payment known as Transitional Protection. This ensures that their Universal Credit is the same as their legacy benefit entitlement.

    People will soon start to receive letters – known as Migration Notices – asking them to move to Universal Credit. Recipients who don’t act within three months risk losing their current benefit entitlements.

    Additional support is available through a dedicated helpline for claimants who receive a Migration Notices, via face-to-face support in local Jobcentres and independent support through Help to Claim, delivered by Citizens Advice while extensions can be arranged for those who need more time to make a claim.

    Paul from Ashington is one of thousands of claimants who has already successfully made the move and benefited from the support provided to help make the move.

    Paul said:

    I was so worried about having to move to Universal Credit, because I thought I would be pushed into a job search I didn’t feel comfortable or ready for. The move has been made easy because of the support and help I received from my Work Coach, Pauline.

    Moving to Universal Credit has been so much easier than I expected. I’ve been able to keep on top of my payments and I’m now closer than ever to finding work!

    The expansion of Universal Credit comes as part of the Government’s plan to make sure work always pays, with a huge boost to the National Living Wage and tax cuts worth an average of £900 for 29 million hardworking people.

    Additional Information

    • Migration Notices will be issued to all legacy benefit types, apart from ESA claimants, over the next six months.
    • Evidence to date shows that most Tax Credit claimants have been able to claim Universal Credit without the need for additional support.
    • Since the resumption of Managed Migration some claimants have naturally moved to Universal Credit following a change in their circumstances and claimants have always been able to make a claim for Universal Credit if they wish to do so.
    • The DWP has recently launched a Move to UC advertising campaign to notify legacy benefit claimants of the need to make a claim to Universal Credit which includes print, radio, and online advertising.
    • Claimants can claim Universal Credit directly online or via the dedicated Universal Credit Migration Notice helpline for free on 0800 169 0328 or by visiting your local jobcentre. Claimants that require more time to claim can also call DWP for free on 0800 169 0328.
    • For claimants requiring additional support to complete their application support is available including through Citizens Advice Help to Claim for those living in England or Wales and Citizens Advice Scotland Help to Claim for those living in Scotland, which delivers step by step support to complete a UC claim.
  • PRESS RELEASE : Government reaffirms commitment to backing pensioners with £900 rise to state pension [April 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : Government reaffirms commitment to backing pensioners with £900 rise to state pension [April 2024]

    The press release issued by the Department for Work and Pensions on 9 April 2024.

    The State Pension is increasing by 8.5 percent today as part of the Government’s commitment to support pensioners in retirement.

    • Millions of pensioners set to benefit from 8.5 percent increase to the State Pension today
    • In one of the largest ever cash increase will mean pensioners will receive an extra £900 a year on the full rate of the new State Pension
    • Universal Credit and other working-age benefits to see a 6.7 percent rise, while Government slashes National Insurance to help make work pay
    • Comes as the Government has provided support worth an average £3,800 support households between 2022-25

    The State Pension is increasing by 8.5 percent today as part of the Government’s commitment to support pensioners in retirement.

    It comes on the heels of the highest ever cash increase to State Pension in history of 10.1 percent last year, plus a package of support for pensioners this winter worth nearly £5 billion.

    Underlining the Government’s commitment to backing Britain’s pensioners, this means pensioners receiving the full new State Pension will get an extra £900 a year from today. The full yearly basic State Pension will also be £3,700 more than in 2010, while the full rate of the new State Pension will be over £11,500 a year.

    This commitment centres around offering dignity and security to those who have worked hard all their lives and deserve support at a stage when they may be unable to grow their income through work. The Triple Locked State Pension remains a cornerstone of this commitment, as it is only right and fair that pensioners incomes are protected.

    Pension Credit, a passport benefit to provide additional support for low-income pensioners, will also see a significant rise, with the average award worth over £3,900. The DWP is also increasing Local Housing Allowance rates, putting £800 back in the pockets of over 1.5 million recipients of Universal Credit or Housing Benefit.

    This unprecedented support has all been made possible because we are sticking to the plan and our economy has turned a corner– enabling people the opportunity to build a financially secure life for themselves and their family.

    Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Mel Stride MP said:

    Thanks to the Triple Lock and our efforts to drive down inflation, we are putting money back in the pockets of pensioners. This is only possible because we have stuck to our plan and our economy has turned a corner.

    This will make a meaningful difference to all those who rely on the State Pension and ensure we continue to provide a safety net for those who need it most while making work pay wherever possible.

    Minister for Pensions, Paul Maynard MP said:

    It’s only right that after a lifetime of work that we protect our pensioners’ incomes.

    Our sustained commitment to the Triple Lock demonstrates our determination to continue to combat pensioner poverty, and to ensure that the State Pension will continue to provide the foundation of income in retirement so many need.

    Minister for Employment, Jo Churchill MP, said:

    We are continuing to protect those in need through boosting benefits by 6.7% and providing the largest cost of living support package in Europe.

    The welfare system will always be there for people who need it, but work is the best way to secure long-term financial security and our £2.5 billion Back to Work Plan will help even more people secure employment.

    At the same time we are making work pay through generous tax cuts and the rise in the National Living Wage.

    To ensure the most vulnerable are also supported, from today those on Universal Credit will see a 6.7 percent increase to ensure a genuine safety net whilst the Government supports their move towards financial independence through work. This 6.7 percent rise extends to other DWP benefits, such as Personal Independence Payment, Disability Living Allowance and Employment and Support Allowance, among others.

    In cash terms this means an additional £470 for the 5.5 million households on Universal Credit with over 19 million families across Britain benefiting from uprating, including working parents who can now receive up to £20,800 a year in childcare support.

    The Government’s drive to support the most vulnerable has helped reduce absolute poverty by 1.1 million individuals compared to 2010 with over 200,000 pensioners being lifted out of poverty since 2010 after housing costs are taken into account. With inflation more than halved and forecast to reduce further, it is right that we help people back into work and grow the economy, while continuing to provide support to those who need it most.

    That is why the Government has provided support worth an average £3,800 for vulnerable households between 2022-25 and is injecting £2.5 billion as part of the Back to Work Plan to help people with disabilities, health conditions, or who are long-term unemployed find and stay in work.

    Alongside this, the Government is making work pay for workers and the economy: rewarding work by slashing National Insurance contributions for employed and the self-employed by a third since the autumn and putting £900 back in the pockets of the average hard-working employee. Taken together, this means the equivalent of 200,000 more people in work – filling one in five vacancies and adding 0.4% to GDP and 0.4% to GDP per head, according to the OBR.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Government upgrade dials up 4G coverage in Lake District [April 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : Government upgrade dials up 4G coverage in Lake District [April 2024]

    The press release issued by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on 9 April 2024.

    Rural towns and villages in the Lake District are the first to benefit as government delivers on its plan to improve 4G mobile coverage in hard-to-reach areas.

    • People living, working and travelling near the market town of Keswick, Cumbria are first in England to benefit from government-funded mobile network upgrades
    • First of dozens of UK Government-funded 4G mast upgrades planned as part of the Shared Rural Network – a joint £1 billion programme with telecoms firms to improve rural mobile coverage
    • It means local residents and businesses, as well as visitors to the area, can now access fast and reliable mobile coverage – regardless of which operators they’re signed up with

    Rural towns and villages in the Lake District have become the first in England to benefit as government delivers on its plan to improve 4G mobile coverage in hard-to-reach areas.

    The first of 83 government-funded mast upgrades planned in England were switched on today (9 April) near the market town of Keswick in Cumbria.

    It means dozens of local businesses and community organisations in areas including Naddle, Thirlmere and St Johns-in-the-Vale, can now take advantage of better connectivity thanks to the Shared Rural Network – a £1 billion programme brokered by the government and joint-funded with mobile network operators aimed at increasing mobile coverage in rural areas.

    The boost has been carried out by upgrading existing mobile masts which previously only connected EE customers and anyone making 999 calls, meaning communities can benefit from improved connectivity without the visual impact involved when building new masts.

    It will enable residents, tourists and businesses to access reliable 4G coverage from all four mobile network operators – EE, VMO2, Three and Vodafone – closing the connectivity blackhole and boosting economic growth in the region.

    Digital Infrastructure Minister Julia Lopez said:

    We’re dialling up fast and reliable mobile coverage across the UK through the Shared Rural Network. Our latest upgrade in the Lake District is one of many we’re working hard to deliver as part of our mission to clamp down on the headache of mobile ‘not spots’.

    The coverage boost will provide endless benefits for communities and visitors, ensuring people stay connected on the go, enabling people to work more efficiently and attracting vital investment to the rural economy.

    Ben Roome, CEO of Digital Mobile Spectrum Limited (DMSL) said:

    In England, since the Shared Rural Network was announced in March 2020, 4G coverage from all four operators has expanded across an additional 5,400 square kilometres – an area larger than Norfolk. As more shared mobile sites go live, people visiting and living in rural areas will see better 4G service thanks to this programme.

    Today marks an important milestone in the rollout of the Shared Rural Network aiming to bring reliable 4G signal to 95 per cent of UK landmass by the end of 2025.

    Since the Shared Rural Network programme began in 2020, an additional 13,000 sq km – roughly the size of Northern Ireland or two million football pitches – have been able to receive coverage from all four operators, EE, Three VMO2 and Vodafone.

    The government and the UK’s four mobile network operators aim to provide coverage to an additional 280,000 premises and 16,000km of the UK’s roads.

    The programme also aims to improve geographic coverage to 79% of Areas of Natural Beauty, up from 51% before the programme launched, and 74% of National Parks up from 41%, benefitting millions of visitors every year.

    The UK government is investing around £500 million into the Shared Rural Network, including £184 million to upgrade Extended Area Service (EAS) masts to provide coverage from all four mobile operators. Currently, commercial coverage from EAS masts is only available from EE – the operator responsible for the Emergency Services Network. The remaining government funding will go towards eliminating total ‘not spots’, places where there is no coverage from any mobile operator.

    The telecoms sector is also investing over £500 million to target partial ‘not spots’, where customers can only access 4G if they’re signed up with a mobile network operator that is active in the area. This part of the programme has already delivered significant coverage improvements across the UK, including in the areas of Shetland, Yorkshire, Fermanagh and Devon.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Crackdown on water firms sees millions invested into local action [April 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : Crackdown on water firms sees millions invested into local action [April 2024]

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

    Up to £11 million in water company fines and penalties will be reinvested back into a new Water Restoration Fund (WRF), Environment Secretary Steve Barclay announced today (Tuesday 9th April).

    All water company environmental fines and penalties since April 2022 have been ringfenced to directly improve the water environment.

    The Water Restoration Fund will offer grant funding on a competitive basis to support local groups, farmers and landowners and community-led schemes, bolstering their capacity and capabilities for on-the-ground projects to improve the water environment. This could include activities that improve biodiversity and community access to blue and green spaces in areas where water companies have been issued with fines or penalties.

    This delivers on the government’s long-term plan, set out in its Plan for Water, to clean up our waters and make polluters pay for the damage they cause to the environment.

    The launch of the Fund follows significant action taken in recent months to hold water companies to account, including a ban on bonuses for water company executives where firms have committed serious criminal breaches, subject to Ofwat consultation, and plans to quadruple the Environment Agency’s regulatory capacity, enabling them to carry out 4,000 water company inspections by the end of this financial year.

    Funding for the Water Restoration Fund comes exclusively from water company fines and penalties. These penalties and fines are additional to any reparations that water companies make when they have breached environmental regulations.

    Environment Secretary Steve Barclay said:

    I know how important our precious waterways are to local communities and to nature, which is why we’re taking tough action to ensure our regulators are well-equipped to hold those who pollute them to account.

    Through the Water Restoration Fund, I will be making sure that money from fines and penalties – taken from water company profits only – is channelled directly back into our waterways.

    Community-led projects are vital to improving and maintaining water quality across the country, and this fund will help build on that success.”

    Natural England’s chief executive Marian Spain said:

    Natural England welcomes the creation of Defra’s Water Restoration Fund, using the money from water company fines and penalties to improve water and wetlands for nature and people, and looks forward to supporting Defra to make good use of the funds now available.

    The fund is great opportunity for landowners, communities and nature bodies to help make a real difference to the condition of our Sites of Special Scientific Interest and to restore natural processes in catchments to provide the nature and health benefits that society needs from water.

    The fund will be open to a range of organisations in England, including farmers and landowners, eNGOs, Local Authorities, catchment partnerships, National Parks and National Landscapes.

    The £11 million in fines and penalties collected will be allocated for water improvements in the water company areas on which they were accrued in:

    • Anglian Water: £3,085,000
    • South West Water: £2,150,000
    • Thames Water: £3,334,000
    • United Utilities: £800,000
    • Yorkshire Water: £1,600,750

    Applicants will have an eight-week window to apply from today, with grant awards expected to be issued from late July. For further details, please refer to our application guidance.

    Further improvements recently delivered to the water environment include:

    • 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.
    • Providing £10 million in support for farmers to store more water on their land through the Water Management Grants to support food production and improve water security.
    • Speeding up the process of building key water supply infrastructure, including more reservoirs and water transfer schemes.
  • PRESS RELEASE : Blue Dot Network launched to increase infrastructure investment in emerging markets [April 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : Blue Dot Network launched to increase infrastructure investment in emerging markets [April 2024]

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

    UK attends launch of new quality certification scheme at OECD Headquarters in Paris to address infrastructure gap in emerging markets.

    Today (9 April), Australia, Japan, Spain, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States, jointly announced the establishment of the Blue Dot Network at the Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD). The Blue Dot Network is an initiative to certify infrastructure projects that meet or exceed established standards of quality and sustainability.

    The Secretariat will oversee the Blue Dot Network voluntary framework to certify infrastructure projects that meet internationally recognised standards for financial transparency, economic, environmental and social sustainability, climate resilience, and inclusiveness. This initiative was created to unlock additional private sector financing, recognising that quality infrastructure is a critical driver of sustainable economic growth and prosperity.

    The OECD and Blue Dot Network steering committee – comprising Australia, Japan, Spain, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States – officially launched the Blue Dot Network at the OECD Headquarters in Paris, France, and welcomed that Türkiye accepted the invitation to join the steering committee.

    On April 8, CEOs and senior government leaders demonstrated their support by participating in a leaders’ dialogue to discuss how the Blue Dot Network can attract private sector investment into emerging markets to bridge the global infrastructure investment gap. Government officials and members of the Blue Dot Network’s Executive Consultation Group – representing over 200 organisations from the private sector, civil society, and academia – attended.

    For further information, see https://www.bluedot-network.org/.

    Background

    • Australia, Japan and the United States are the founding members of the Blue Dot Network. The United Kingdom was the first country to join after the initiative was created in 2019. Spain, Switzerland and Türkiye have also since joined. Together, these seven countries are the ‘governing members’.
    • UK businesses and financial institutions are part of the Blue Dot Network’s executive committee and provide technical expertise. Any interested organisation can join.
  • PRESS RELEASE : Foreign Secretary to bolster support for Ukraine in visit to Washington DC [April 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : Foreign Secretary to bolster support for Ukraine in visit to Washington DC [April 2024]

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

    The Foreign Secretary will travel to Washington DC to urge US partners to unlock additional funding for Ukraine, giving them the tools they need to win its war with Russia.

    • David Cameron visits Washington DC to reaffirm the joint UK-US commitment to support Ukraine, which remains vital for US and European security
    • in discussions with Republican and Democratic Congressional leaders, he will call for urgent further support for Ukraine
    • he will meet US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and other senior US Government figures, reinforcing our steadfast partnership to defend freedom and democracy around the world as NATO allies

    The Foreign Secretary will travel to Washington DC today (Tuesday 9 April) to urge US partners to unlock additional funding for Ukraine, giving them the tools they need to win its war with Russia.

    He will hold talks with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on the UK’s continued support for Ukraine against Russian aggression which aims to redraw European borders by force. He will engage with key figures across Congress to call for them to change the narrative on Ukraine this year and provide the extra $60bn (over £47.5 billion) in supplementary funding that’s going through Congress.

    Over $184 billion (over £145 billion) has already been committed to Ukraine by European nations including over $15 billion (nearly £12 billion) from the UK, in addition to the nearly $74 billion (nearly £59 billion) already committed by the US – which is making a huge difference on the battlefields of Ukraine and the waters of the Black Sea. Ukraine has proven time and time again that with the right tools it can succeed.

    The Foreign Secretary will reassert the importance of stepping up economic pressure on Russia now and continuing to give Ukraine the military and humanitarian support it needs to hold the line this year and go on the offensive in 2025.

    David Cameron will highlight how Europe and the US are united in their support for Ukraine, with European countries providing more than half of the total support. He will emphasise that nothing can match the pace and scale of US support which remains “the key stone in the arch” in the fight for freedom, democracy and the right of free countries to choose their own future.

    The Foreign Secretary, David Cameron said:

    Success for Ukraine and failure for Putin are vital for American and European security.

    This will show that borders matter, that aggression doesn’t pay and that countries like Ukraine are free to choose their own future.

    The alternative would only encourage Putin in further attempts to re-draw European borders by force, and would be heard clearly in Beijing, Tehran and North Korea.

    US support for Ukraine has massively degraded the military capacity of a common adversary, Russia has lost half of its pre-invasion land combat power, and a quarter of its original Black Sea fleet, while creating jobs at home and strengthening the Western alliance and NATO.

    Two years on from Russia’s illegal invasion, it’s more important than ever that as NATO allies, the UK and US continue to defend its shared values, including by upholding Euro-Atlantic security. The visit will build on the strong ties between the US and the UK and our shared commitment to defending freedom and democracy around the world.

    While Ukraine continues to make gains against Russia, they are increasingly being overmatched by Russian artillery on the battlefield, underlining the importance of agreeing further US support.

    Talks will also focus on the Middle East, including the path to a sustainable ceasefire and the delivery of greater quantities of humanitarian aid in Gaza. Six months on from the 7 October attacks, the UK and US have stood united in their support for Israel who suffered the worst terror attack in its history at the hands of Hamas and have been clear in Israel’s right to self-defence in accordance with international law.

    The Foreign Secretary will continue to push for a full, urgent, and transparent investigation into the terrible events in Gaza last week, which saw 3 British aid workers lose their lives. He will underline that the deaths of World Central Kitchen humanitarian workers are completely unacceptable and that major changes need to be made to ensure the safety of aid workers on the ground.

    Alongside the US, the UK and other partners recently announced plans for the opening of a maritime route, which will see aid delivered by sea to a new temporary US military pier in Gaza, through a maritime corridor from Cyprus. Partners including the United Nations, Cyprus, European Commission, the UAE, Qatar, Germany, Greece, Italy and The Netherlands, have joined the UK and the US in the creation of the route.

    The Foreign Secretary also will reinforce UK support for the Kenyan-led Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS) in Haiti by announcing a £5 million contribution to its deployment. The MSS, working with the Haitian National Police, will help to tackle gang-related violence which is destabilising the country, worsening the humanitarian situation and causing daily pain and suffering to the people of Haiti. He will emphasise that a Haitian-led political solution is the only way to tackle this insecurity head on and long-term.

  • PRESS RELEASE : UK participates in largest international airdrop into Gaza [April 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : UK participates in largest international airdrop into Gaza [April 2024]

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

    The Royal Air Force participated in a large-scale international aid airdrop into Gaza on Tuesday (9 April 2024) to coincide with Eid al-Fitr, marking the end of Ramadan.

    Collectively delivering hundreds of tonnes of aid, this was the largest airdrop of aid into Gaza on a single day and the culmination of careful planning alongside international partners to ensure the complex mission could be conducted safely and effectively.

    Led by the Jordanian Armed Forces, the international operation saw 9 nations* and 14 aircraft drop essential aid.

    An RAF A400M flew this morning from Amman, Jordan to airdrop over 10 tonnes of aid, including ready-to-eat meals, water and rice, along the northern coastline of Gaza. The flight took around an hour with other nations’ aircraft dropping aid throughout the course of the day. The A400M Atlas and crew are based at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire with both RAF and British Army personnel supporting the operation in Jordan. Over the last two weeks they have dropped over 53 tonnes of aid on six flights.

    Defence Secretary Grant Shapps said:

    The prospect of famine in Gaza is real and today’s international airdrop will provide life-saving food supplies for civilians.

    This is the sixth RAF airdrop in recent weeks, delivering over 53 tonnes of aid, including water, flour and baby formula.

    After six months of war in Gaza, the toll on civilians continues to grow. We continue to stand by Israel’s right to defeat the threat from Hamas terrorists, who have failed the people of Gaza and hide behind civilians. This terrible conflict must end. The hostages must be released and the aid must flood in.

    Today’s international airdrop is part of UK efforts to provide vital humanitarian assistance to the people of Gaza and follows the announcement of a package of military and civilian support to set up a maritime aid corridor to Gaza. This includes the deployment of a Royal Navy ship to the Eastern Mediterranean as well as up to £9.7 million for aid deliveries.

    The maritime corridor initiative will see tens of thousands of tonnes of aid pre-screened in Cyprus and delivered directly to Gaza, via a new US temporary pier being constructed off the coast or via Ashdod Port, which Israel has now agreed to open.

    The UK is also focused on ensuring more aid can enter Gaza by land, and deliveries will be scaled up with the opening of the Erez crossing. In partnership with the World Food Programme, the UK’s largest delivery of aid – more than 2,000 tonnes of food aid – crossed the border on 13 March.

    Foreign Secretary David Cameron said:

    Led by our Jordanian partners, we have joined nations around the world to mark the end of Ramadan by getting life-saving aid into Gaza. Thousands of people in desperate need will benefit from this united effort.

    The UK remains ready to play its part in getting supplies in by land, air and sea, but the people of Gaza need more.

    We continue to push Israel as hard as we can to get more aid across the border and delivered throughout the region. Words must turn into action – this is essential to avoid an even more severe humanitarian crisis.

    Sunday marked 6 months since the devastating October 7 terrorist attacks, and almost a week since British aid workers were killed trying to get life-saving food to those in need. The UK continues to call for an immediate humanitarian pause leading to a sustainable ceasefire, as the fastest way to get hostages safely home and more aid in.

  • PRESS RELEASE : We need to focus on the vital elements for a lasting peace in Gaza: UK statement at the UN General Assembly [April 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : We need to focus on the vital elements for a lasting peace in Gaza: UK statement at the UN General Assembly [April 2024]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 8 April 2024.

    Statement by Ambassador Barbara Woodward at the UN General Assembly debate on Gaza.

    President, Sunday marked six months since Israel suffered the worst terror attack in its history. Six months that over 100 innocent hostages continue to be held by Hamas in Gaza. The UK condemns the October 7th attacks unequivocally and calls for the unconditional and immediate release of all the hostages.

    Israel has the right to defend itself against Hamas in line with international humanitarian law, as we have said from the outset.

    President, over 200 aid workers have died, over 33,000 Palestinian civilians, including 12,000 children have died. Civilians in Gaza are facing a devastating and growing humanitarian crisis. There must be a reduction in civilian casualties.

    President, I wish to make three points:

    First, we need to see an immediate humanitarian pause, leading to a sustainable ceasefire, without a return to destruction, fighting and loss of life. This is the fastest way to get the hostages out, and much needed aid in. Security Council resolution 2728 called for that, and we call on all parties to implement its provisions urgently. We welcome the ongoing negotiations led by Qatar, Egypt, and the US to this end.

    Second, more must be done to ensure significantly more live-saving aid reaches people in need in Gaza. We have reiterated the need for Israel to put in place an effective deconfliction mechanism immediately and urgently scale up humanitarian access.

    Israel has committed to significant steps to increase the amount of aid getting into Gaza, including allowing the delivery of humanitarian aid through the Port of Ashdod and the Erez checkpoint. For a long time, the UK has urged Israel to take these steps and they are welcome.

    We also need to see an improvement in the operating environment within Gaza, so that as more aid gets in, it can be distributed quickly and effectively. We are calling on Israel to make progress on the UN’s minimal operating requirements, including more visas and driver approvals and more trucks permitted to cross into Gaza.

    For our part, the UK has trebled our aid commitment this financial year. We will keep doing everything we can to get more aid in by land, sea, and air to reach people in desperate need in Gaza.

    Thirdly, finally, we need to focus on the vital elements for a lasting peace. These include the release of all hostages; the formation of a new Palestinian Government for the West Bank and Gaza accompanied by an international support package; removing Hamas’s capacity to launch attacks against Israel; Hamas no longer being in charge of Gaza; and a political horizon which provides a credible and irreversible pathway towards a two-state solution.

    Thank you.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Rishi Sunak call with President Macron of France [April 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : Rishi Sunak call with President Macron of France [April 2024]

    The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 8 April 2024.

    Prime Minister Rishi Sunak spoke to France’s President Emmanuel Macron this afternoon.

    The Prime Minister hailed the 120th anniversary of the Entente Cordiale and exchange of troops at Buckingham Palace and the Elysée today as a powerful symbol of the enduring friendship between our nations.

    The leaders looked ahead to the upcoming UK-hosted European Political Community meeting and committed to work together to deliver a successful summit that addresses a range of shared European priorities, including defending Ukraine, progressing cooperation on artificial intelligence and joint efforts to tackle illegal migration and organised crime.

    On Ukraine, the Prime Minister and President agreed on the importance of intensifying efforts to deny Russia a victory in their war of aggression against Ukraine. They discussed priorities for the coming months, including increasing the supply of munitions, drones and air defence to the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

    The leaders updated on ongoing cooperation to tackle small boats crossings and organised immigration crime, delivering on the partnership agreed at last year’s UK-France Summit. They shared their concerns at the increasingly dangerous and violent tactics being used by people smugglers and the Prime Minister said more needed to be done between European partners to prevent a devastating loss of life at sea.

    The Prime Minister and President Macron also discussed the situation in Gaza and the wider Middle East. They shared their deep concern at the growing humanitarian crisis in Gaza and reiterated the importance of securing an immediate pause in the fighting and taking steps to de-escalate regional tensions, including in Lebanon.