Category: Press Releases

PRESS RELEASE : Fuel poor households – experience, barriers and enablers in reaching net zero [February 2024]
The press release issued by the Committee on Fuel Poverty on 15 February 2024.

New research on barriers and enablers in the transition to net zero for fuel poor, and the customer journey during the delivery of energy efficiency programmes.

The Committee on Fuel Poverty (CFP) has commissioned a new research project to understand:
- the key barriers and enablers to ensure fuel poor households make a fair and equitable transition to net zero
- the customer journey during the delivery of energy efficiency programmes in 2023 to 2024
The research is being led by the Centre for Sustainable Energy.

The research will provide a valuable up-to-date evidence base for the CFP on the experiences, barriers and enablers of households during this crucial time. The research will comprise of 3 work strands:
- rapid evidence assessment (REA): examining published material relevant to fuel poverty, energy efficiency schemes and an equitable net zero transition
- in-depth interviews: gathering evidence from key stakeholders and a small number of fuel poor households on the barriers and enablers faced by fuel poor households engaging with energy efficiency schemes
- deliberative workshops: a series of workshops with key stakeholders to explore in detail the barriers and enablers for households in fuel poverty, and to consider:
  - how these can be either utilised or overcome
  - what role the state should play in facilitating this transition
February 25, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : New appointment to Financial Conduct Authority board announced [February 2024]
The press release issued by HM Treasury on 15 February 2024.

The Economic Secretary to the Treasury Bim Afolami has appointed Bryan Zhang to the board of the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).

Mr Zhang has extensive experience within financial services, particularly within Fintech, Digital Transformation, and Open Banking. He is a Co-Founder and the Executive Director of the Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance (CCAF) at the University of Cambridge Judge Business School; he will take up a role as Non-Executive Director on Monday 19 February 2024 serving an initial three-year term.

The Economic Secretary to the Treasury, Bim Afolami, said:

“Ensuring that regulation keeps pace with technological developments is crucial to supporting innovation and competition in the financial services sector, whilst also ensuring that consumers are appropriately protected.

“I am therefore delighted with the appointment of Bryan Zhang to the Board of the FCA. Bryan has demonstrated expertise in technology-driven innovation in financial regulation, which will be of significant benefit to the FCA Board.”

FCA Chair Ashley Alder said:

“Bryan brings with him a wealth of experience working at the forefront of innovation. I know he will be an important asset to the board and his expertise will help the FCA keep pace with an ever-evolving landscape.”

Further Information
- The Financial Conduct Authority is the conduct regulator for around 45,000 financial services firms and financial markets in the UK.
- Under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, HM Treasury is responsible for appointing the members of the FCA Board.
- The FCA Board is responsible for setting the organisation’s strategic direction, making key policy decisions, and holding the FCA executive to account.
- Appointments and reappointments to the FCA Board are regulated by the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments.
- All appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process. However, in accordance with the Governance Code on Appointments there is a requirement for appointees’ political activity (if any is declared) to be made public. Bryan Zhang has not engaged in any political activity in the past five years.
February 25, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : Plan proven to slash anti-social behaviour rolled out nationwide [February 2024]
The press release issued by the Home Office on 14 February 2024.

Hundreds of thousands of hours of patrols to tackle anti-social behaviour and violence across England and Wales, backed by £66m.

Every police force in England and Wales will receive at least £1 million to ramp up patrols to tackle violence and disorder, targeted in areas with high levels of anti-social behaviour.

It is estimated that the funding, hitting £66 million for England and Wales, will enable each force to deploy uniformed patrols for up to 20,000 hours in “hotspot” areas each year, helping drive down crime and boost public confidence in their local force. Across all 43 forces areas, this will support between 600,000 and 900,000 hours of hotspot patrols over the next year.

This approach has already been piloted in 10 areas, with over 80,000 hours of patrols in the six months since it launched. This has led to nearly 600 arrests, close to 1,500 stop and searches and around 700 uses of anti-social behaviour powers such as community protection notices and public protection orders. The hotspot approach has helped cut anti-social behaviour by over 40 per cent in Brunswick, in Lancashire according to data from the police and crime commissioner. While in Essex, the police have reported that incidents of anti-social behaviour in Southend have almost halved in the last 12 months with hotspots in specific areas in the city playing a key role in this.

The £66m of funding announced today will be targeted in areas where there is high prevalence of violence, anti-social behaviour, and illegal public drug consumption, which not only makes communities feel less safe but can fuel drug related violence.

In a further bid to tackle illicit drug crimes, the government has also set an ambitious new target to smash another 1,000 county lines by August. This will bring the total number of county lines dismantled to over 3,000 since the drug strategy launched in April 2022, with the government already reaching its initial target to shut down 2,000 lines by 2025 well ahead of schedule. This has included arresting and charging hundreds of dangerous criminals who controlled these lines.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said:

Anti-social behaviour destroys communities and takes away the public’s right to feel safe in the place they call home.

Our plan to cut crime on our streets is working, with neighbourhood crime, including robbery and theft, almost halved, and we must stick with it.

We will not stop until every person, no matter where they live, can feel safe and proud of their community. That is why we are investing in every police force in England and Wales so they can tackle violence and disorder head on.

Home Secretary James Cleverly said:

Getting more officers out and visible in communities is vital for public confidence. We have delivered 20,000 additional police officers and we’re making sure they are tackling those visible crimes, like anti-social behaviour, which have a corrosive effect on people’s sense of safety.

Our plan will put more officers on patrol in local communities up and down the country – an approach that has been proven to work, to help ensure that people are not only safe, but that they feel safe, in their neighbourhoods.

This announcement is the latest step in the government’s Anti-Social Behaviour Action Plan, launched by the Prime Minister last year, setting out a zero-tolerance approach to all forms of anti-social behaviour.

To date, the government has:
- increased the use of drug testing on arrest, enabling police to test for a wider range of class A drugs like ecstasy and methamphetamine
- upped on-the-spot fines to £1,000 for fly-tipping and £500 for littering or graffiti
- banned nitrous oxide to stop local parks and amenities from becoming dumping grounds for empty cannisters and sites for loitering and drug use
This builds on action already taken by the government to make sure police and local authorities have the tools they need to tackle anti-social behaviour and crime which can strike at the heart of local communities, with research showing that 50 per cent of crime is carried out in just 5 per cent of areas on average.

Through the Criminal Justice Bill police and local authority powers will be strengthened to tackle anti-social behaviour including new powers to quickly close premises which are being used, or likely to be used, to commit nuisance or disorder.

The roll out of the hotspot model across England and Wales also follows the success of the government’s Grip funding which was provided to 20 forces with areas suffering from high levels of violence. This supported intelligence led patrols to target specific areas and tackle violent crime. In the areas and times where Grip patrols were active, we have seen a 7% reduction in violence and robbery offences.

At his first National Policing Board last month, the Home Secretary announced that tackling visible crime is one of his top priorities for police given the impact it has on public confidence.

Deputy Chief Constable Andy Prophet, National Police Chiefs’ Council Lead for Anti-Social Behaviour, said:

Tackling violence on our streets and ASB in our communities are top priorities for policing because they can have such a corrosive impact on people’s lives and wider society.

Residents often tell us they want to see more uniformed officers out in their local area and this additional funding will not only help forces to enhance their current activity, but it will enable them to target their resources to hotspot areas, where criminal activity is most concentrated and areas most at risk of harm.

I welcome any measure which helps to reduce reports of ASB, violence and disorder and show our communities just how seriously we take these issues.

Steve Turner, Association of Police and Crime Commissioners Joint Lead on Local Policing said:

Anti-social behaviour is a blight on so many people’s lives, undermining their sense of security and wellbeing. The anti-social behaviour hotspot pilots have demonstrated what can be achieved by concentrating efforts on problem areas and following a zero-tolerance approach to drug taking, loitering and fly-tipping.

Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) know from their engagement with communities, how the public want the tackling of anti-social behaviour to be prioritised and PCCs have led in the development of the direct approaches used in the ten pilot areas, involving the deployment of both police officers and community-based wardens.

PCCs welcome the funding for this initiative to be extended to every force area in England and Wales and will continue to work directly with the public to ensure that the areas and activities targeted are both effective and visible.

Case study 1: Lancashire Constabulary

Using trial funding Lancashire Police have delivered visible policing hours across the county to deal with anti-social behaviour. After six months of hotspot policing in Brunswick, Blackpool, reported anti-social behaviour has decreased by 42% compared to the same period last year and public confidence in the police tackling anti-social behaviour in the area has increased by 7.9%. Work in Brunswick has included the creation of a monthly PACT (Police and Communities Together) meeting in Brunswick to allow residents and community members and local councillors to positively engage with local officers and relay any concerns that they have.

Case study 2: Essex Police

Anti-social behaviour in Southend overall is down by 50% with 1,768 fewer offences reported in the year to the end of January 2024 compared to the previous 12 months. Hotspot patrols in two areas in the city have played a leading role in this, as well policing activity across the city. Hotspot patrols were carried out in Southchurch Road zone where there had been issues with anti-social behaviour from youths in the park, and reports of homeless people congregating, as well as sex workers and drug-related activity in the stairwells. Whilst in the area surrounding Maple Square, a residential area, there had been issues related to drug dealing and nuisance behaviour. The hotspot patrols in both areas have helped to tackle anti-social behaviour and results so far have been very positive.
February 25, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : £100 million support delivered to back next generation of small business owners [February 2024]
The press release issued by the Department for Business and Trade on 15 February 2024.

The next generation of business leaders have received over £100 million worth of support from the Government backed Start Up Loan Scheme.
- 15,000 loans have now been delivered to support small business owners aged 18-24 since 2012.
- Access to finance and advice is available as part of the Help to Grow Scheme to drive government’s ambition to make the UK the best place to start and scale a small business.
15,000 Start Up Loans worth over £100 million have now been issued to young business founders aged 18-24 since 2012.

The Start Up Loan Scheme is government backed finance delivered through British Business Bank, which has delivered over £1 billion in loans to SMEs across the country since the scheme launched in 2012.

The scheme provides invaluable support to young entrepreneurs who are looking to set up a small business – a group which often struggles to get business finance from other sources – and offers an effective pathway into employment, with almost a third of recipients aged 18-24 leaving unemployment thanks to this scheme.

Of all the loans distributed to entrepreneurs under 25, 39% have also gone to female business owners and 24% to business owners from ethnic minority backgrounds. Outside of London, the North West has received the highest volume of loans (1,992), followed by West Midlands (1,591) and the South East (1,291). London has received 3,099 loans in total since 2012.

Among those to receive one of these loans, the most popular industries to launch a business in include retail (£8.5m), hospitality (£5.8m) and arts and entertainment (£2.5m).

Access to finance is a key part of the refreshed Help to Grow Campaign, a one-stop shop for SMEs to find the information they need to start, scale up and grow their own business. The new site brings together the support on offer from the government into one place, making it quicker and more convenient to find the resources business leaders and budding entrepreneurs need to succeed.

Starting a business for the first time, particularly for younger entrepreneurs can be a daunting process. That’s why the government has also – for the first time ever – created a step-by-step guide on how to set up and grow a business in the UK as part of the Help to Grow website.

Small Business Minister Kevin Hollinrake said:

Every large firm started off as a small business and today’s aspiring young entrepreneurs could be the next success story. I urge them to explore how a Start Up Loan could launch their ambitions today.

Through the British Business Bank, and the Help to Grow campaign, we’ve backed the next generation of business leaders with over £100 million in government backed finance and we’re not stopping there.

The single biggest way we’re backing businesses is by creating the economic conditions for them to thrive, which is why the government is working hard to deliver on our priorities to halve inflation, grow the economy and cut debt. We’ve made significant progress and it’s clear the economy is turning a corner.

The government is also tackling a key issue affecting small firms – late payments. We are determined to make the UK the best place in the world to do business, which is why Minister Hollinrake launched the Prompt Payment and Cash Flow Review in 2023. Since the report was unveiled, we are looking at how to prosecute large firms who persistently and knowingly fail to adhere to the Payment Practice Reporting Regulations.

We’re also backing businesses through our £4.3 billion package to support SMEs with business rates, the Small Business Rates relief taking a third of properties out of paying rates completely, and extending the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure relief for a fifth year, we are helping businesses navigate challenging economic times.

Business owner Cory Hibbin, aged 20, is one of the recipients of a Start Up Loan. He took out a £14,500 loan in March 2023 to launch Techie Services. The company, based in Hastings, offers security solutions for residential clients, estates and corporate buildings, including CCTV, alarm systems and network management.

Cory doesn’t live with family or have any financial support from them so his aspiration of setting up Techie Services would not have been possible without the help of the bank’s funding.

He left school at 16 and started an apprenticeship as an IT engineer at a consultancy firm. After developing his skills, he started offering surveillance services on the side of this day job. The client was so impressed that they asked him to work for them full-time.

Cory, founder of Techie Services, said:

I’m not the sort of person who can take on learning from behind a desk so I left school at 16 to do an apprenticeship with a local IT consultancy company. While working there, I was working on the side in the evenings and at the weekends. Having been there for four years, I felt like I had gained enough experience to start my own company, which is when Techie Services began. I started with one large client, who quickly recommended me to other businesses and individuals, so I took on five new clients in our first six weeks.

It hasn’t been easy but it’s the best decision I’ve ever made. The money from Start Up Loans was invaluable in the success of the business – I used it to buy tools for installations as well as supplies for the office. While it might seem a big leap of faith to some people, you can’t let the fear of failure stop you from trying in the first place. I urge anyone 18 or above to look into the finance options available to them if they need a hand getting off the ground.

Richard Bearman, Managing Director, Small Business Lending, British Business Bank said:

It’s amazing to see people in their late teens and early twenties with such ‘can-do’ attitudes and motivation to achieve success in working life.

Our £100 million funding milestone is a significant landmark and testament to the hard work of Start Up Loans, ensuring anyone with a good business idea like Cory’s, no matter their age, has the access to the funding needed to bring it to life. The impact of this on communities across the UK has been huge and we’re determined to keep backing aspirational young people with money and mentoring.
February 25, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : Leeds to become beating legal heart of the North with new-state of-the-art courts and tribunals [February 2024]
The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 15 February 2024.

Court and tribunal capacity in Leeds is set to be boosted by the opening of new state-of-the art courts and tribunals in the city centre, giving victims, defendants and claimants quicker access to justice.
- new court part of £220 million investment in court maintenance
- eight new employment tribunal rooms now open at West Gate
- four new business and property courtrooms under construction to increase local Crown Court capacity
It comes as the Lord Chancellor Alex Chalk visited the new West Gate court and tribunal building in Leeds yesterday (14 February 2024), funded through the government’s increased investment in the court and tribunal estate across England and Wales.

In a boost for the city’s legal infrastructure, a total of £6.2 million has been invested in West Gate to create capacity for 12 hearing rooms over 3 floors. This investment in the centre of Leeds expands the estate in the city to 53 court or hearing rooms within a 250-yards radius.

The building at West Gate includes the space for eight new, fit-for-purpose employment tribunal rooms.

In addition, construction work is underway to create four new Business & Property Court rooms. They will provide a dedicated space for cases to be heard from business disputes to evictions.

The Lord Chancellor Alex Chalk said:

These new state-of-the-art hearing rooms will be a hugely positive addition to Leeds city centre, positioning the city as a leading legal hub. By increasing capacity in the nearby Crown Court, we are also able to tackle more outstanding criminal cases, put victims first and bring more criminals to justice.

This government is committed to delivering a modern court and tribunal estate that is truly fit for the future.

The court will also support increased Crown Court capacity in the city, by moving the Business & Property Court work away from Leeds Crown Court, where it is currently situated, to help deliver justice swiftly for victims and defendants.

The newly refurbished site in the city’s West Gate district is one of a number of sites in Yorkshire to benefit from part of £220 million funding. The two-year funding package is enabling improvement and maintenance works to courts and tribunals across the country, improving the resilience and accessibility of the court system.

More widely in the Northeast region, some of this funding is being used to:
- £7 million to replace roofs at Skipton Court House, York Magistrates’ Court and Sunderland Magistrates’ Court
- Over £5 million in replacing heating systems and pipework at Sheffield Magistrates Court and Durham Crown Court
- Over £7 million in replacing the windows and exterior cladding at Teesside Magistrates Court
- £600,000 to replace lifts at York Magistrates’ Court, Newcastle Combined Court, Sheffield Combined Court and Grimsby Combined Court
By increasing capacity and minimising unplanned maintenance, the government is tackling outstanding cases and ensuring more hearings can go ahead.

Notes to editors
- HM Courts and Tribunals Service has secured a 15-year lease at West Gate, with work commencing in May 2023 and expected to complete in Spring 2024.
- Once completed, the site will have seen a £6.2 million investment in the West Gate site which has funded the fit out including state-of-the-art ICT and all required changes to the building to accommodate the new rooms.
February 25, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : Rishi Sunak meeting with His Majesty King Abdullah II of Jordan [February 2024]

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 15 February 2024.

The Prime Minister hosted His Majesty King Abdullah II of Jordan for a meeting at Downing Street this afternoon (15 February).

He welcomed the opportunity to meet with King Abdullah again and reiterated the high value the United Kingdom places on our historic partnership and Jordan’s vital regional role.

The leaders discussed the crisis in Gaza and agreed it was critical as a first step to secure an immediate humanitarian pause, to get hostages out and considerably more aid in. The UK ultimately wanted to see a sustainable ceasefire – which would require Hamas to no longer be in charge in Gaza and Israel’s security to be assured.

The Prime Minister welcomed Jordan’s innovative efforts to deliver life-saving aid to Gaza by land and air, and he set out the UK’s work to unblock aid access and alleviate the humanitarian crisis. The UK was deeply concerned about the humanitarian impact of any offensive on civilians sheltering in Rafah.

They also discussed the importance of de-escalating tensions in the West Bank and bolstering the role of the Palestinian Authority to deliver security and prosperity. The Prime Minister highlighted steps the UK has taken to support stability in the West Bank, including sanctioning extremist settlers.

February 25, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : UK to supply thousands of drones as co-leader of major international capability coalition for Ukraine [February 2024]
The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 15 February 2024.

The UK and Latvia will jointly lead a capability coalition, which will see thousands of drones supplied to Ukraine, including first-person view (FPV) drones, which have proven highly effective on the battlefield.

Ukraine will receive thousands more drones as Defence Secretary Grant Shapps announces today that the UK will co-lead a major drone capability coalition with Latvia for Ukraine.

As part of the coalition, the UK will scale up and streamline the West’s provision of “first person view” (FPV) drones to Ukraine. FPV drones have proven highly effective on the battlefield since Russia’s full-scale invasion, providing their operators with situational awareness to target enemy positions, armoured vehicles, and ships with explosive ordnance.

By creating a competition to produce these drones at scale and at an affordable price point, the UK will leverage the strength of Western industry. This is the first project to be launched from the £200 million drone package announced by the Prime Minister in January this year. It will see the UK order thousands of FPV drones for Ukraine, including from UK manufacturers, providing a boost to the industry and delivering on the Prime Minister’s priority to grow the economy.

Defence Secretary Grant Shapps said:

The UK continues to do all we can to give Ukraine what it needs – upping our aid to £2.5bn this year and committing £200m to manufacture drones, making us Ukraine’s largest drone supplier.

Today, we’re going even further. I’m proud to announce that the UK and Latvia will co-lead an international coalition to build Ukraine’s vital drone capabilities. Together, we will give Ukraine the capabilities it needs to defend itself and win this war, to ensure that Putin fails in his illegal and barbaric ambitions.

The Defence Secretary also meets his NATO counterparts today to review progress on support for Ukraine, NATO’s new warfighting plans, ramping up defence production capacity and preparations for the NATO Summit in Washington in July, where leaders will mark the Alliance’s 75th anniversary.

The UK continues to play a leading role in NATO, contributing to all operations and missions, committing almost all our Armed Forces under the NATO Force Model, and offering a full spectrum of capabilities.

In the margins of the NATO ministerial, the Defence Secretary will bring together his counterparts from 13 NATO Allies* and Sweden to sign an agreement on two new multinational procurement initiatives focusing on munitions and missiles. Spearheaded by the UK, these initiatives aim to increase defence industrial capacity across the Euro-Atlantic area, replenish stockpiles at pace and continue support to Ukraine. This multinational approach offers a scalable solution for nations to jointly procure more of the missile and munition types that NATO and Ukraine need.

The UK is also working with NATO Allies Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands and the United States to deliver priority air defence equipment to Ukraine. This partnership, which Canada recently joined, has so far delivered hundreds of short and medium air defence missiles and systems to keep Ukraine’s cities safe from Russian bombardment.

Tomorrow, the Defence Secretary will participate in the Munich Security Conference and meet international counterparts to discuss Euro-Atlantic security issues, including support for Ukraine.

The UK is committed to standing with Ukraine for as long as it takes and has committed to provide £2.5 billion in military aid to Ukraine in 2024/25, an increase of £200 million on the previous two years.
- Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, The Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Romania and Türkiye.
February 25, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : The Yemeni people deserve nothing less than recovery and sustainable peace – UK statement at the UN Security Council [February 2024]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 14 February 2024.

Statement by Ambassador Barbara Woodward at the UN Security Council meeting on Yemen.

Thank you, President, and let me start by thanking Special Envoy Grundberg and Director Worsornu for their timely briefings.

We are very grateful to the Special Envoy for his timely visit to Yemen, including Aden and other cities, and also to other areas in the region. And we are cautiously encouraged to hear the support of parties for peace and very much welcome the flexibility set out in your approach.

We therefore encourage the Council to continue to provide unwavering support to the UN Special Envoy during this process. We should work together to safeguard the gains that have been made, and support further progress. And we emphasise the importance of the Yemeni parties continuing to engage constructively with the UN.

As Hans said, the Yemeni people deserve nothing less than recovery and sustainable peace in Yemen. There is no military solution to this conflict.

As Director Wosornu set out, the humanitarian situation is deteriorating, and the needs for this year remain high, with 18.2 million people in need of assistance, and with women and girls especially vulnerable. Yemen continues to be one of the most food insecure countries in the world.

As we heard, the UN Humanitarian Response Plan for 2024 is a stark reminder of the dire humanitarian situation in Yemen. The plan aims to reach 11.2 million Yemenis most in need.

The UK has committed over $110 million in humanitarian aid during this financial year and we echo Director Wosornu’s call to the international community to consider providing further funding towards the humanitarian response plan for Yemen.

President, despite repeated calls to de-escalate, the Houthis have continued illegal and destabilising attacks in the Red Sea, disrupting maritime shipping and freedom of navigation in the region, and risking further regional escalation.

The disruption to shipping in the Red Sea caused by Houthi attacks are, as we heard from Director Worsornu, driving up the costs of global shipping, including the costs of food supplies and humanitarian aid in the region. And these illegal and unjustified attacks risk exacerbating the humanitarian suffering in Yemen.

And that is why we have taken necessary, proportionate, and legal action in self-defence, alongside the United States with support from Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands and New Zealand against targets tied to the Houthis attacks.

In closing, President, let me underscore our commitment to the peace process in Yemen, and to the Special Envoy’s personal efforts to bring sustainable peace to the people of Yemen.

February 25, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : UK strengthens collaboration on energy security and fusion [February 2024]

The press release issued by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero on 14 February 2024.

The Energy Security Secretary, Claire Coutinho, met with European allies this week to discuss plans to transition away from Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG), following the UK’s lead.

At a ministerial meeting of the International Energy Agency (IEA) in Paris, the Secretary of State also signed a landmark new fusion partnership with Canada, bringing the UK a step closer to developing a near limitless source of clean energy.

The Memorandum of Understanding with Canada on fusion energy will seek to improve collaboration on research and development, harmonise the approach to regulation, and develop the workforce and skills base. This will strengthen cooperation between the UK and Canada to support the deployment of fusion worldwide. It will also support the UK’s £650 million fusion programme, cementing the UK as a world leader in this innovative technology.

The energy generated from fusion is many million times more efficient than burning coal, oil or gas and could generate a near unlimited supply of clean electricity – transforming global efforts to reach net zero and delivering long-term energy independence.

This is the UK’s second formal international fusion collaboration following the announcement of a partnership with the USA in November 2023.

The Energy Security Secretary also met with allies to discuss energy security and how to build on the progress made to date to target Russia’s energy sector, with the UK having led the way in banning all imports of Russian oil and gas after Putin’s illegal invasion.

It follows the UK recently announcing a £300 million investment to become the first country in Europe outside of Russia to launch a high-tech HALEU nuclear fuel programme, driving Putin further out of global energy markets.

Energy Security Secretary Claire Coutinho said:

A more diverse and secure energy mix will bring down bills in the long term and that’s why we are working closely with our European allies to end dependency on Russian gas.

The UK is also leading the world in fusion research, which could provide a near limitless supply of clean energy. This landmark partnership with Canada will strengthen co-operation between our countries and support our record-breaking British research – bringing us closer to making fusion a reality.

The UK has provided £150 million for Ukraine’s energy sector since the start of the full-scale Russian invasion and is a key partner in supporting Ukraine to rebuild and transition.

The UK also announced £12 million at COP28 for the IEA’s Clean Energy Transition Programme to support developing countries to accelerate their green transitions – the biggest ever voluntary contribution.

The event in Paris was the first international meeting of energy ministers since COP28 and marks the 50th anniversary of the IEA.

February 25, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : The UK will continue supporting Ukraine as long as Russia persists with its imperial conquest: UK statement to the OSCE [February 2024]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 14 February 2024.

UK military advisor, Nicholas Aucott, says that Russia abandons the position of a responsible global power by breaking sanctions it previously supported, turning to Iran and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea for military support.

Thank you, Mr Chair. Towards the end of last year, I referenced the Russian Delegation’s statement on the eve of war. ‘The idea of there being plans for a “Russian invasion” of Ukraine was hatched inside the US Department of State’. Within 24 hours, Russia had illegally invaded its neighbour, Ukraine. In this moment, Russia demonstrated its willingness to misinform the members of this Forum, and to violate the Organisation’s aims of ‘creating greater openness, transparency and co-operation’.

In the intervening two years, we have listened repeatedly to a litany of further misinformation as Russia has sought to justify its violation of the prohibition on the use of force at Article 2(4) of the UN Charter, resulting in the deaths of thousands of Ukrainian civilians.

For Russia, the consequence of its unprovoked war of aggression is a diminishment in international standing. Since the start of the full-scale invasion, not one other member of this Forum has spoken in support of Russia’s actions – while Russia’s influence and gravitas has eroded across multinational fora.

Russia abandons the position of a responsible global power by opting to break sanctions that it itself ascribed to, turning to Iran and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea for military support. Russia now abuses the consensus principle, or simply issues threats of manipulation such as we heard when it stated it would, ‘train the current Chair and future Chairs until we have appropriate outcomes, so get ready for next week’.

Mr Chair, as Russia continues in this egregious behaviour, the United Kingdom will continue to stand firm in support of Ukraine as it defends its people, its territory and the principles of sovereignty and self-determination. As Putin’s three-day war closes in on the two-year point, Ukraine continues to inflict significant damage on Russia in a conflict of Russia’s own making.

The shooting down of an SU-34 FULLBACK combat aircraft over East Luhansk on 30 January brings the number of Russian fixed wing combat aircraft losses to over 80. And, on 1 February, the loss of a Russian missile corvette, the TARANTUL-III Class IVANOVETS, provided further evidence of the continued vulnerability of Russian warships operating in the Black Sea.

The United Kingdom will continue supporting Ukraine for as long as Russia insists on persisting with this imperial conquest. Through the UK-Ukraine Agreement on Security Cooperation, the Maritime Capability Coalition or a host of other initiatives, which now amount to almost £12Bn in support for Ukraine, the United Kingdom and our allies will remain resolute.

Russia must acknowledge the impact of its egregious actions and take the necessary steps to end its war of choice by withdrawing all its troop from Ukraine’s internationally recognised borders and working towards a sustainable and just peace. Thank you.

February 25, 2024