Category: Press Releases

PRESS RELEASE : 6 million vital checks carried out at local diagnostic centres [January 2024]
The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 2 January 2024.

NHS patients benefit from 6 million more checks at centres across England.
The hubs play an important role in cutting waiting lists, speeding up diagnoses and treatments

The programme, backed by £2.3 billion, is the largest central cash investment in MRI and CT scanning capacity in the history of the NHS

More than 6 million tests, scans and health checks have taken place at community diagnostic centres (CDCs) across the country, helping speed up diagnoses and treatments for NHS patients.

A total of 6.1 million checks were carried out at CDCs as of November 2023, since they were first introduced in July 2021.

Based in a variety of settings including shopping centres, university campuses and football stadiums, 141 of the diagnostic centres, including 4 temporary sites, are already open – including 40 brought forward earlier than planned. They offer patients a wide range of diagnostic tests closer to home and greater choice on where and how they are treated, reducing the need for hospital visits and helping them to receive potentially life-saving care sooner.

Health and Social Care Secretary, Victoria Atkins, said:

The government’s £2.3 billion community diagnostic centre programme is the largest investment in MRI and CT scanning capacity in the history of the NHS. Placing high-tech equipment in places like shopping centres and near football stadiums makes it simpler for patients to get the care they need, as quickly as possible.

We have now opened 141 CDCs across England, with more to come, and they are playing a vital role in faster diagnosis of illnesses like cancer and heart disease.

Patients are referred to CDCs via their GP. Healthcare staff use CT scanners, MRI scanners and other new diagnostic equipment to diagnose a range of health conditions. Early diagnosis and treatment are key in preventing death and illness.

The programme, backed by £2.3 billion, constitutes the largest central cash investment in MRI and CT scanning capacity in the history of the NHS and we are on track to meet our target to open 160 CDCs by March 2025, with many due to open ahead of schedule.

Dr Vin Diwakar, NHS Medical Director for Transformation, said:

Thanks to the hard work of staff, latest data shows the NHS has delivered a record 25.9 million tests and checks over the past year – 2 million more than the previous 12 months, and almost 50% more than a decade ago – helping ensure patients get the all-clear or diagnosis, so they can be treated for a range of conditions as quickly as possible.

Millions of these tests have been performed at one of our 141 ‘one stop shops’ open across the country, situated in locations most convenient for patients, so I would encourage anyone with a health concern to come forward and get checked – it could save your life.

As a result of the success of the CDC programme and the wider measures outlined in the elective recovery plan, the government met its target to virtually eliminate waits of over 2 years and has cut 18-month waits by over 90% from the peak in September 2021.

In November, the government also provided £800 million – a combination of reprioritised and new funding – to mitigate the impact of industrial action.

It is also maximising independent sector capacity to reduce waiting times for NHS patients. A number of the CDCs are run by the independent sector but available to NHS patients as part of the programme.

Background information

DHSC and NHS England count CDCs delivering tests and accessing national funding as open. This may include temporary sites while the full CDC is completed.

Read the Department of Health and Social Care’s media blog for:

more information on the government’s plans to tackle the NHS backlog

more information on how the government is supporting the NHS this winter

Full list of open CDCs

East of England:

Bishop’s Stortford CDC

Braintree CDC

Clacton CDC

East Norfolk CDC

New QEII Hospital CDC

North Bedfordshire CDC

Thurrock CDC

West Essex CDC

Whitehouse Health Centre CDC

Wisbech CDC

London:

Barking Community Hospital CDC

Eltham Community Hospital CDC

Finchley Memorial Hospital CDC

Kingston CDC

Mile End Hospital CDC

North West London Ealing CDC

Purley CDC

Queen Mary’s Hospital Roehampton CDC

St George’s Hornchurch CDC

Wembley CDC

Willesden CDC

Wood Green CDC

Midlands:

Cannock Chase CDC

Corbett CDC

Corby CDC

Coventry City Community CDC

Florence Nightingale Community Hospital CDC

Grantham CDC

Guest CDC

Hereford City CDC

Hinckley CDC

Ilkeston Community Hospital CDC

Kidderminster Treatment Centre CDC

Kings Heath CDC

Leicester CDC

Mansfield CDC

Merry Hill CDC

North Solihull CDC

Rugby St Cross CDC

Shrewsbury and Telford CDC

Sir Robert Peel CDC

South Birmingham CDC

South Warwickshire CDC

Stoke-on-Trent CDC

Walton CDC

Warwickshire North CDC

Washwood Heath CDC

Whitworth Hospital CDC

North East and Yorkshire:

Armley Moor Health Centre CDC

Askham Bar Community Care Centre CDC

Barnsley Glassworks CDC

Bishop Auckland CDC

Blaydon CDC (closes when ICP North – Metrocentre opens)

Bradford District and Craven CDC

East Riding Community Hospital CDC

Friarage CDC

Halifax CDC

Hartlepool CDC

Huddersfield CDC

Lawson Street CDC (closes when new Tees Valley Hub opens)

Leeds CDC

Montagu Hospital CDC

Penrith CDC (closes when North Cumbria opens)

Redcar CDC

Rotherham Diagnostics CDC

Scarborough Gateway CDC

Selby War Memorial CDC

Wakefield CDC

North West:

Bolton CDC

Burnley General Hospital CDC

Clatterbridge Diagnostics CDC

Crossland Day Hospital CDC

East Cheshire CDC

Ellesmere Port CDC

Fleetwood CDC

Heysham CDC

Leigh CDC

Liverpool Women’s Hospital CDC

Manchester and Trafford CDC

Northern Care Alliance Oldham CDC

Paddington CDC

Preston Healthport CDC

Rossendale CDC

Salford CDC

Shopping City CDC

South East Manchester

Southport CDC

St Helens CDC

Victoria Infirmary Northwich CDC

Warrington and Halton CDC

Westmorland CDC

Whitegate Drive CDC

South East:

Amersham CDC

Andover CDC

Bexhill CDC

Bognor Regis WMH CDC

Bracknell CDC

Buckland Community Hospital CDC

Caterham Dene CDC

Crawley Collaborative CDC

Dartford, Gravesham and Swanley CDC

Falmer CDC

Fareham CDC

Heatherwood CDC

Hythe CDC

Island CDC

Lymington New Forest Hospital CDC

Medway CDC

Milford Community Hospital CDC

Oak Park CDC

Oxford CDC

Portsmouth CDC

Queen Victoria Hospital CDC

Romsey CDC

Royal South Hants CDC

Southlands Hospital CDC

Swale CDC

West Berkshire Community Hospital CDC

West Kent CDC

Woking Community Hospital CDC

South West:

Boscombe AECC CDC

Bridgwater CDC

BSW BaNES Locality CDC

CDC Poole at Dorset Health Village

CIOS Bodmin CDC

Devon and Torbay CDC

Devon Exeter Nightingale CDC

Gloucestershire Quayside CDC

North Bristol CDC

Plymouth CDC

Poole, Beales CDC

Somerset East CDC

Somerset West CDC

South Petherton CDC

South Walks CDC

Taunton Central CDC

West Cornwall CDC

West Mendip CDC

Weston CDC

Weymouth CDC

Yeovil CDC (closes when Somerset East CDC fully patient ready)
January 4, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : Foreign Secretary call with US Secretary of State Blinken [January 2024]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 2 January 2024.

Foreign Secretary David Cameron discussed Houthi attacks in the Red Sea, the humanitarian situation in Gaza and support for Ukraine with Secretary of State Blinken today.

A Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office spokesperson said:

The Foreign Secretary spoke to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken today [2 January 2024].

The Foreign Secretary and Secretary of State discussed the international community’s shared condemnation of the illegal and unjustified attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea by Houthi militants. They made clear that the UK and US will work with our partners to hold the Houthis accountable for these unlawful seizures and attacks.

The Foreign Secretary raised worsening food insecurity in Gaza and the urgent need for significantly more aid to reach civilians, through as many routes as possible.

Finally, the Foreign Secretary and Secretary of State discussed Russia’s deplorable air strikes against Odesa, Lviv, Dnipro, Kharkiv and Kyiv over the New Year period, and their steadfast commitment to supporting Ukraine this year.

January 4, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : Rishi Sunak call with President Zelenskyy of Ukraine [January 2024]

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 2 January 2024.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak spoke to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy today.

He offered his condolences to all those Ukrainians killed and injured in barbaric Russian airstrikes over the Christmas period. The Prime Minister said the UK would continue to stand steadfastly by Ukraine as they fight aggression and occupation, throughout 2024 and into the future.

The leaders discussed recent developments in the conflict, including progress in the Black Sea and the success of the Ukrainian air defence, bolstered by UK-supplied ground-to-air missiles.

The Prime Minister set out ongoing UK work to provide military and diplomatic support to Ukraine, including through further deliveries of lethal aid, support for President Zelenskyy’s peace plan and a long-term security framework.

January 4, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : First UK maritime shipment of lifesaving aid for Gaza arrives in Egypt [January 2024]
The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 2 January 2024.

Lifesaving UK aid shipment for Gaza including thermal blankets and essential items delivered from Cyprus by Royal Fleet Auxiliary ship Lyme Bay.
- 87 tonnes of life-saving UK and Cypriot aid for the people of Gaza delivered by Royal Fleet Auxiliary Ship Lyme Bay to Egypt from Cyprus
- delivery includes over 10,000 thermal blankets, nearly 5,000 shelter packs and medical supplies to be transferred to Gaza through the Rafah crossing
- it follows the Foreign Secretary’s visit to Egypt last month to see first-hand the importance of UK aid for the people of Gaza and the Defence Secretary’s visit to Cyprus and Israel. Both have pressed for an acceleration, with significantly more aid to be allowed into Gaza, through as many routes as possible
The first UK maritime shipment of aid for Gaza has arrived in Egypt, carrying almost 90 tonnes of thermal blankets and other essential items.

The lifesaving shipment was delivered from Cyprus by Royal Fleet Auxiliary ship Lyme Bay, carrying thermal blankets, shelter packs and medical supplies provided by the UK and the Republic of Cyprus. From Port Said, the aid will be received by the Egyptian Red Crescent and will make its way to Al Arish and then through Rafah and into Gaza for distribution by UNRWA.

It follows a visit to Egypt from the Foreign Secretary to Al Arish last month (21 December) to meet with representatives from the Egyptian Red Crescent Society, who are coordinating the relief effort at the Rafah crossing, and the Defence Secretary’s visit to Cyprus and Israel on 7 December to push for accelerated aid deliveries into Gaza.

The Foreign Secretary and Defence Secretary have made clear that Israel must increase the flow of aid into Gaza and facilitate the delivery of relief on the ground, including through negotiated humanitarian pauses. The UK will continue to explore other routes for aid deliveries, including the Cypriot initiative for a maritime corridor between Cyprus and Israel/OPTs and supporting United Nations World Food Programme through the humanitarian land corridor from Jordan through Kerem Shalom.

Foreign Secretary David Cameron said:

The UK is committed to supporting the people of Gaza. We have already trebled our aid commitment to Palestinians this year and today’s aid delivery – the first UK maritime shipment of aid for Gaza – via Port Said in Egypt contains almost 90 tonnes of vital supplies.

Significantly more aid needs to reach Gaza to alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian people. The UK will continue to work with our partners in the region to open more aid routes into Gaza, including through the proposed maritime corridor between Cyprus and Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

Defence Secretary Grant Shapps said:

I recently visited the region to find the best way to get aid into Gaza and support those in desperate need. Today’s maritime aid delivery, the first of its kind, is a significant milestone.

RFA Lyme Bay has docked in Egypt with almost 90 tonnes of aid bound for civilians in Gaza. This includes shelters for winter, medical supplies and thermal blankets – all pre-screened in Cyprus. By testing new maritime routes, the UK is paving the way for other international donors to increase and accelerate aid deliveries.

The UK has so far announced it will spend almost £60 million in additional humanitarian funding in Gaza this financial year, trebling our existing annual budget to the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPTs). The most recent package of £30 million funding, announced by the Foreign Secretary on his last visit to the region, has been allocated to trusted partners on the ground including UNRWA, UNICEF, WFP, the OCHA Pooled Fund and the British Red Cross to support the Egyptian and Palestinian Red Crescent Societies.
January 4, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : Extension of appointments to the Animal Welfare Committee [January 2024]

The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 1 January 2024.

Four committee member terms are extended.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has extended the terms of four members of the Animal Welfare Committee (AWC).

Dr Romain Pizzi, Dr Pen Rashbass, Professor Sarah Wolfensohn and Dr James Yeates will serve on the committee for an additional four years from 1 January 2024 until 31 December 2027.

The AWC advises Defra, as well as the Scottish and Welsh Governments, on matters relating to animal welfare, including farmed, companion and wild animals kept by people.

Madeleine Campbell, Chair of the Animal Welfare Committee, said:

I am delighted that Doctors Pizzi, Rashbass and Yeates and Professor Wolfensohn have agreed to serve a further term on the AWC. They each bring distinct, independent expertise and experience to the committee. I am looking forward to continuing to work with all of them in the interests of animal welfare.

Biographical details

Dr Romain Pizzi: Romain is a specialist veterinary surgeon, former president of both the British Veterinary Zoological Society and the Scottish branch of the British Veterinary Association, and a Fellow of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons.

Dr Pen Rashbass: Pen has specialism in genetics, sheep and beef cattle, agroecology, conservation grazing and rewilding, and is a member of Defra’s Genetics for Livestock and Equines Committee.

Professor Sarah Wolfensohn: Sarah is a veterinary surgeon and Professor of Animal Welfare at the University of Surrey’s School of Veterinary Medicine. She was awarded an OBE for services to animal welfare in 2012 and a Fellowship of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons in 2019.

Dr James Yeates: James is a veterinary surgeon with a degree in bioethics and law, and a PhD in animal welfare. He is CEO of World Federation for Animals and authored ‘Animal Welfare in Veterinary Practice’ and ‘Veterinary Science: A very short introduction’.

January 4, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : Charges for disposing of DIY waste at recycling centres scrapped [January 2024]

The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 1 January 2024.

From today, households no longer have to pay to get rid of DIY waste at council recycling centres.

Households no longer have to pay to get rid of small-scale DIY waste at council recycling centres, boosting recycling and making it easier for people to dispose of their waste in a responsible manner.

The Government has abolished the fees which around one-third of local authorities previously charged to dispose of DIY waste at household waste recycling centres (HWRCs).

From today, all councils in England will now treat DIY waste the same as other household waste when it meets certain conditions, such as not exceeding 2x 50L rubble bags.

This change has the potential to save households hundreds of pounds, with charges that were up to £10 an item, such as a piece of plasterboard, now scrapped.

Today’s changes are the latest in a string of Government reforms to make it simpler and easier to recycle. That includes a consultation launched last week to make it easier to recycle household electrical items and simpler household collection rules announced in October.

The DIY waste changes came into force as of 31 December 2023 and follow overwhelming public support at consultation, with 93% of householders agreeing with the plans to amend legislation.

Recycling Minister Robbie Moore said:

We have delivered on our promise to make it easier and cheaper for people making home improvements to get rid of their waste properly.

Removing charges for DIY waste at council recycling centres will help New Year home improvement projects become a reality and ensure that those disposing of waste responsibly aren’t being penalised for doing so.

The removal of the fees is part of the wider Government aim to tackle waste crime and fly-tipping, which is estimated to cost the economy £924m per year in England. Among other measures, last year the Government announced grants totalling £775,000 to help councils roll out a range of projects to crack down on fly-tipping, with an additional £1m for grants being made available this year.

The Government has also consulted on reforming the waste carrier, broker, dealer regime and on introducing mandatory digital waste tracking and is developing a fly-tipping toolkit with the National Fly-Tipping Prevention Group to help spread best practice on tackling the issue among local authorities. The toolkit is being extended to raise awareness of waste duty of care among householders and businesses.

Elsewhere, the Government has increased the maximum fines for fly-tipping, littering and graffiti, while concurrently ringfencing of the proceeds from those related fixed penalty notices so that fines can be reinvested back into enforcement and local clean-up activities.

January 4, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : New tax credits for British film, TV and video game makers start from today [January 2024]
The press release issued by HM Treasury on 1 January 2024.

British film, TV and video game producers will benefit from new, more generous tax credits that start today (1 January 2024).
- New and improved tax credit system for film, TV and video game production companies starts from today (1 January 2024)
- An extra £42,500 in relief for children’s TV, animated TV and animated film production
- £5,000 in relief for high-end TV, film or video game production
To maximise the potential of the UK’s cutting-edge production industry and help incubate unique British talent, the government’s Audio-Visual Expenditure Credit and the Video Games Expenditure Credit replace the previous tax reliefs for film, TV and video games.

All companies will receive more tax relief than they did under the previous system, greater flexibility over production decisions and greater clarity about the amount of credit companies can expect to receive.

Nigel Huddleston, Financial Secretary to the Treasury, said:

We are backing the makers of the next Barbie, Happy Valley and Grand Theft Auto with this new, more generous, tax credit system for British production talent.

The UK is a world leader in creativity, and we want to ensure that continues well into the future by making it easier for British film, TV and video games to thrive.

Under the new system, a children’s TV production, animated TV production or film with £1 million of qualifying expenditure will receive an additional £42,500 in relief. A high-end TV production, film production or video game will receive £5,000 in relief. To ensure fairness, the uplift in relief for animation will be extended to include animated films as well as TV programmes.

The credits will be calculated directly from a production or game’s qualifying expenditure, instead of being an adjustment to the company’s taxable profit.

Animation and children’s TV productions will be eligible for a higher credit rate of 39%, a rate increase of 4.25% under the previous reliefs. The 34% credit rate for film, high end TV and video games is roughly equivalent to a rate increase of 0.5% under the previous tax reliefs.

The new system applies to the whole of the UK. The government has listened to feedback from industry that companies will need sufficient time to adapt to the new expenditure credits. For this reason, productions and games in development on 1 April 2025 may continue to use the previous tax reliefs until they end on until 1 April 2027.

The move to reform tax relief for entertainment productions and video games was announced at the Spring Budget in March 2023. The system implemented today was developed hand in glove with the UK entertainment industry, with consultations on both the policy itself and the draft legislation. It is being legislated as part of the Finance Bill 2023-24.

The UK’s creative industry is already worth £126bn and the UK has the largest video game employee base in Europe, at nearly 21,000 by the last estimate.

Today’s new tax credit system is the latest move by UK Government in support for British creative industries. The Chancellor also announced that full-expensing will be made permanent in 2023’s Autumn Statement, helping creative businesses invest for the less by saving them 25p in every £1 they spend on qualifying equipment and machinery.

At Spring Budget 2023, the Chancellor also extended the rates of relief for theatre, orchestra and museums for two additional years to April 2025.

In September last year, coinciding with a visit by the Chancellor Jeremy Hunt to Warner Bros. Studios in Los Angeles, it was announced that the production giant would expand their studio in Leavesden, Hertfordshire, in 2024. The move is expected to create 4,000 new jobs in the UK and contribute more than £200m to the UK economy.

Further information
- Qualifying expenditure will remain broadly unchanged. For the Video Games Expenditure Credit, to align the conditions for video games with film and TV, at least 10% of expenditure has to be ‘used or consumed’ in the UK.
- At Spring Budget 2023, the Chancellor also extended the higher 45% (for non-touring productions) and 50% (for touring productions) rates of relief for theatre, orchestra and museums for two additional years to April 2025.
January 4, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : VAT on period pants scrapped [January 2024]
The press release issued by HM Treasury on 1 January 2024.

Women will save up to £2 on a £12 pair of period pants as the government scraps VAT on the underwear.
- Women to save up to £2 on period pants worth £12 as government scraps VAT today.
- Retailers, including M&S, Primark and Tesco, have committed to pass on the savings, worth 16%.
- Move follows scrapping of tampon tax in 2021, removing VAT from sanitary products, following the UK’s decision to leave the EU.
From today, 1 January 2024, women will save up to £2 on a £12 pair of period pants – up to 16% – as the government scraps VAT on the underwear.

The pledge to scrap the tax was made by the Chancellor Jeremy Hunt at the Autumn Statement 2023 and follows the end of the tampon tax in January 2021.

Around 80 MPs, charities and retailers called on the government to scrap the VAT in August 2023.

With Marks & Spencer spearheading the campaign, other retailers including Primark and Tesco have committed to pass the tax cut straight to the consumer.

Financial Secretary to the Treasury, Nigel Huddleston, said:

This is a victory for women across the UK and for the campaigners who’ve helped raise awareness of the growing importance of period pants.

It’s only right that women and girls can find more affordable options for what has become an essential and environmentally friendly product.

Since reforming the ‘tampon tax’, the market for period underwear has expanded and they are now a mainstream choice for many women. The scrapping of the current VAT will ensure that period underwear is treated the same as traditional period products.

Having left the European Union, the UK is no longer legally bound by EU laws which saw sanitary products subject to five different rates of VAT between 1973 and 2021.

The move comes after the ‘Say Pants to the Tax’ campaign, led by retailers such as Marks & Spencer, women’s groups and environmentalists, called to scrap the tax.

Victoria McKenzie-Gould, Corporate Affairs Director at Marks & Spencer, said:

Paying tax on period pants was a bum deal for women everywhere so we’re thrilled that the Treasury has done the right thing by axing the tax and levelling the playing field on period products for good.

Nearly 25% of women cite cost as a barrier to using period pants so we know the new legislation that comes into effect from today will make a big difference to women’s budgets across the UK.

A big thank you to WUKA, the tens of thousands of individuals, politicians, brand and retailers, who threw their weight behind our campaign – Say Pants to the Tax – and of course a big thank you to the Chancellor and HM Treasury team who made the change we were campaigning for a reality.

Women with sensory issues who find conventional period products difficult to use will also benefit from period pants becoming more affordable.

The savings for women are subject to the VAT cut being passed on, with the army of retailers behind the campaign pledging themselves to play their part to pass on the 20% VAT cut.

Laura Coryton, tampon tax campaigner and founder of social enterprise Sex Ed Matters, said:

Ending the tax on period underwear will make a huge difference, particularly given skyrocketing levels of period poverty across the UK. It will also help to tackle the stigma associated with periods, which stops at least 10% of girls going to school every month.

Now, it is important for retailers to pass savings on to consumers, not only in relation to period underwear, but all period products.

Further information
- Women’s Sanitary Products have been subject to five different tax rates since 1973. The UK first introduced VAT in 1973 with a standard rate of 10% applied to sanitary products. In 1974, standard VAT was cut to 8%, before rising to 15% in 1979 and 17.5% in 1991. The government moved sanitary products to a reduced rate of 5% in January 2001 following a campaign and debates in Parliament.
- Read the 50 retailers’ letter to the Financial Secretary to the Treasury from August 2023.
January 4, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : English Sparkling Wine makers raise a glass to new opportunities [December 2023]
The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 31 December 2023.

On the eve of New Year reforms for the wine industry, Environment Secretary Steve Barclay today welcomed the scrapping of outdated rules inherited from the EU.

The reforms made possible by leaving the EU will uncork innovation, encourage sustainable practices and reduce burdens for businesses.

In addition to the UK’s longstanding status as a global wine trading hub, with a wine market worth over £10 billion last year, England and Wales have a fast-growing winemaking industry.

Now boasting almost 900 vineyards, hectares under vine in the UK have more than quadrupled since 2000. Viticulture – the cultivation and harvesting of grapes – is now Britain’s fastest-growing agricultural sector, employing around 2,300 people full time with a predicted 50% growth in jobs by 2025.

WineGB also reports 2023 is Great Britain’s largest-ever grape harvest, expected to produce an estimated 20-22m bottles and over 50% bigger on Britain’s previous record year in 2018.

Benefiting from perfect growing conditions in the south of England, English Sparkling Wine has seen a surge in popularity in recent years with 8.3 million bottles produced last year. The home-grown fizz is expected to be a popular choice for Brits to see in the New Year.

From tomorrow (1 January 2024), makers of English Sparkling Wine will no longer have to use mushroom-shaped stoppers and foil covers on bottlenecks, giving producers the choice to opt for simpler packaging to reduce both waste and costs.

Restrictions will also be scrapped on the making and selling of piquette – a lower-alcohol drink dating back to antiquity, made by extracting the remaining goodness from grapes left over after winemaking. This gives producers the option to create new income streams and tap into consumer demand for lower-alcohol drinks.

In a move welcomed by wine traders, the government will also remove the requirement for imported wines to have an importer address on the label, reducing administrative burdens for businesses.

Environment Secretary Steve Barclay said:

Our departure from the EU gives us the opportunity to review and scrap outdated and burdensome rules that have been holding back our wine sector.

The reforms we’re introducing tomorrow will help our wine producers and traders become more profitable, dynamic, and sustainable – while freeing them from pointless red tape.

Looking ahead to 2024, I’m committed to this government continuing to support our world-class winemakers, vineyards and traders to grow and innovate.

Nicola Bates, CEO of WineGB, the trade association for Great British vineyard and wine producers, said:

We welcome the additional choice that comes from this first phase of actions from the wine reform consultation. There will be producers who are keen to take advantage of all and every option to reduce materials on bottles, so we can expect to see fewer foils on sparkling allowing you to celebrate that bit faster, and with an environmental benefit.

We look forward to working with Government and the Defra team on future consultations, and am sure they will be as constructive as those now being implemented.

Earlier this week, the government announced that businesses will be able to sell prepacked still and sparkling wine in 500ml and 200ml sizes as well as a new 568ml ‘pint’ quantity.

The reforms coming into force tomorrow (1 January 2024) follow this year’s Wine: reforms to retained EU law consultation) on the overly complex and bureaucratic existing 400-page rulebook for wine. The changes aim to facilitate international trade and foster domestic innovation and growth.
- The UK wine market was worth over £10 billion in 2022 in off-trade and on-trade sales, and the UK’s developing domestic production sector has attracted significant global investment.
- The UK is a global hub for wine. It is home to a diverse and dynamic wine sector and is the second largest importer of wine in the world by value.
- In 2022, off-trade sales of still, sparkling, and fortified wine via supermarkets, convenience stores, and specialist off-licences in the UK were worth around £7.6 billion, while on-trade sales through hospitality outlets were worth an estimated £3.5 billion.
- The domestic winemaking sector in England and Wales is by comparison very small, but rapidly growing and developing a global reputation for quality. Production reports for 2022 show a 36% increase in production. There has been a 74% growth in hectarage of vines between 2017 and 2022 (from 2257ha to 3928 ha).
January 4, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : New legal restrictions on XL Bully dog now in force [December 2023]
The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 31 December 2023.

It is now illegal to breed, sell, advertise, gift, exchange, and abandon these dogs or let them stray.

New restrictions on the XL Bully dogs are now in force (31 December) making it a legal requirement for all XL Bully dogs to be kept on a lead and muzzled when in public. It is also illegal to breed, sell, advertise, gift, exchange, abandon or let XL Bully dogs stray from today.

The decision to ban XL Bully dogs was made following a concerning rise in attacks from these dangerous dogs, with 23 people sadly losing their lives after vicious dog attacks in the last three years. XL Bullies have been involved in many of these tragic deaths.

Owners are also being urged to apply to register their current XL Bully dogs, as the Government takes action to safely manage the existing population of the breed. There is only a month left to meet the deadline when the ban comes into force on 1 February.

Owning an unregistered dog after this date will be a criminal offence, with owners who don’t facing a criminal record and an unlimited fine.

Owners who do not want to keep their dogs after this date should take them to a vet to have them put down.

If owners are unsure whether their dog could be classed as an XL Bully, they should check their dog carefully against our guidance and photo examples of XL Bully dogs to help them decide.

Environment Secretary Steve Barclay said:

The Prime Minister pledged to take quick and decisive action to protect the public from devastating dog attacks with measures in place by the end of 2023. We have met that pledge – it is now a legal requirement for XL Bully dogs to be muzzled and on a lead in public. It is also now illegal to breed, sell, advertise, gift, exchange, abandon or let XL Bully dogs stray.

All XL Bully owners are expected to comply with the law and we will continue to work closely with the police, canine and veterinary experts, and animal welfare groups, with further restrictions on XL Bully dogs coming into force on 1 February.

The Government has taken a staggered approach to safely manage the existing population of XL Bully dogs, while ultimately banning the breed.

On the 31 October, XL Bully dogs were added to the Dangerous Dogs Act, with owners given two months to prepare for the first stage of the ban.

Since the 31 December [today], it is illegal to breed, sell, advertise, gift, exchange, abandon or let XL Bully dogs stray. All XL Bully dogs must also be kept on a lead and muzzled when in public.

From 1st February all XL Bully dogs must be registered.

From 30 June, XL Bully dogs over 1 year old must be neutered, this is extended until the 31 December for younger dogs.

Notes to readers:
- Leading animal welfare organisations including Blue Cross, Dogs Trust, PDSA and Battersea Dogs and Cats Home have developed a range of helpful resources and free online learning opportunities to support owners to muzzle train their dogs.
- To register an XL Bully, owners must hold active public liability insurance for their dog, have had their dog microchipped, and pay the application fee. Owners will also be required to provide proof that their dog has been neutered. This will be by 30 June 2024 for most dogs, and by the end of 2024 for dogs under one-year-old on 31 January 2024.
- Owners who no longer wish to keep their dogs and who arrange for a vet to put them down may apply for compensation towards this. Owners and their vets will need to complete a form to make a claim.
- Owners can access the most up-to-date information on what action they need to take and when on this dedicated page, Prepare for the ban on XL Bully dogs – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).
If the dog is:
- less than one year old on 31 January 2024, it must be neutered and evidence received by 31 December 2024
- more than one year old on 31 January 2024, it must be neutered and evidence received by 30 June 2024
- If your dog is already neutered, a vet must confirm this by:
  - 31 December 2024 for dogs less than one year old on 31 January 2024
  - 30 June 2024 for dogs more than one year old on 31 January 2024
January 4, 2024