Category: Press Releases

PRESS RELEASE : Pensioners receive £4.8 billion in government support to heat their homes over winter [December 2023]
The press release issued by the Department for Work and Pensions on 20 December 2023.

11.9 million Winter Fuel Payments and Pensioner Cost of Living Payments – worth over £4.8 billion – have been made to pensioners across the UK over the past month.
- Around 11.9 million Winter Fuel Payments and Pensioner Cost of Living Payments have been made to pensioners across the UK over the past month.
- This means more than 99% of eligible pensioners have now received up to £600 per household to help with their energy bill this Christmas for the second year running.
- The support – worth over £4.8bn – comes on top of the biggest State Pension increase on record, and a commitment to a further increase next April.
Each pensioner household has received up to £600 in tax-free cash automatically to help with energy bills and household budgets this winter.

It follows this year’s 10.1% State Pension increase – the largest in the history of the State Pension – with next year’s 8.5% increase set to break records again as the full rate of the New State Pension rises to over £11,500 a year. This means it will rise to £221.20 a week.

It also comes as the government has delivered on its commitment to halve inflation which is the best way to put more money in the pockets of hard-working people.

Our economy has turned a corner, with inflation halved and debt on track to fall, we are able to move away from the big government, high spending, high borrowing, and high tax approach that was necessary before, and focusing on the long-term decisions required to strengthen our economy and give people the opportunity to build a wealthier, more secure life for themselves and their family.

Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride said:

Today shows we have honoured our commitment to protect pensioners throughout the cold winter months by paying out £4.8bn of direct support in a matter of days.

As well as getting this vital money to millions of pensioners, we have fulfilled our pledge to halve inflation and boosted the State Pension through the Triple Lock to ensure pensioners are supported after a lifetime of work.

While 11.9 million payments have already been issued, those who have not yet received theirs should not worry, as payments are continuing into January.

The money will appear in bank accounts with the payment reference starting with the customer’s National Insurance number followed by ‘DWP WFP.’ Pensioners are being asked to double check their bank statements for this reference number before contacting the DWP.

Minister for Pensions Paul Maynard said:

As the cold weather bites, we want every pensioner to receive all the help they can. I’m glad to be able to confirm that 99% of those eligible for this generous support have received it.

We also encourage low-income pensioners not already getting Pension Credit to check their eligibility as they could be on average £3,900 a year better off.

Pension Credit is available for those with the lowest household incomes. This is worth, on average, £3,900 a year, and also acts as a gateway for further help with rent, council tax, heating, and TV licences.

Our Pension Credit Day of Action last year saw claims more than double to 275% compared to the same week the previous year.

Pensioners in receipt of Pension Credit also qualify for our wider extensive support package for vulnerable people of all ages across the country. This includes the final Cost of Living instalment worth £299.

This follows the Government’s Autumn Statement, which set out £104 billion to ease cost of living pressures for those on low incomes.

Additional Information:

The Cost of Living Payments, spread across 2023/24, are worth up to £900 for those on means-tested benefits. This is made up of:
- £301 – Paid between April – May 2023
- £300 – Paid between October – November 2023
- £299 – To be paid in February 2024
Winter Fuel Payments/Pensioner Cost of Living Payment were made to eligible pensioner households from 21 November – 7 December. The vast majority of payments should be made by 26 January.

Those who do not receive a payment by 26 January 2024 should contact the Winter Fuel Payment Centre.

The overwhelming majority of pensioners will receive their payment automatically, but some people need to claim:

If you have not got a Winter Fuel Payment before, you only need to claim if any of the following apply:
- you do not get benefits or the State Pension
- the only benefit you get is Adult Disability Payment from the Scottish Government, Housing Benefit, Council Tax Reduction, Child Benefit or Universal Credit
- you live in Switzerland or an eligible EEA country
If you have got a Winter Fuel Payment before, you only need to claim if since your last payment you have either:
- deferred your State Pension
- moved to Switzerland or an eligible EEA country
Winter Fuel Payments can be claimed by phone or by post.
December 22, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Government invests £235 million to upgrade and repair roads across London [December 2023]
The press release issued by the Department for Transport on 20 December 2023.

Funding to maintain the capital’s roads over the next 11 years will improve journey times and save motorists money on damage caused by potholes.
- allocations for London boroughs to improve capital’s roads announced
- long-term investment to make roads safer and smoother using redirected funding from HS2
- according to the RAC, motorists could save up to £440 in repairs caused by poor road conditions
- comes after the government published a long-term plan to back drivers, make road journeys smoother and tackle anti-car measures
Londoners will enjoy smoother and safer journeys, as the government today (20 December 2023) announces how London boroughs will benefit from £235 million in extra funding which has been redirected from HS2 to resurface roads across the capital over the next 11 years.

Allocations for each London borough and Transport for London (TfL) have today been confirmed, allowing authorities to start spending immediately on vital road repairs, with £7.5 million of this funding set aside for next year.

The allocations are based on the size of the road network that local authorities and TfL maintain respectively. These include funding boosts over the next year of £354,000 for Hillingdon, £455,000 for Bromley and £368,000 for Barnet, with London boroughs immediately receiving around 96% of the £7.5 million first-year funding and TfL around 4%.

See the latest funding allocations for road maintenance in London.

Last month, the Transport Secretary announced the total amount of additional funding that will be provided to maintain London’s roads over the next 11 years, which will improve journey times and could save motorists up to £440 in vehicle repairs to fix the damage caused by potholes.

The funding is part of an £8.3 billion plan – enough to resurface over 5,000 miles of roads across England. This is the largest ever investment into road repairs and improvements and part of the government’s Network North pledge to improve journeys for all.

Councils will be held accountable for how they spend the money by being required to publish regular updates on the proposed works and they could see future money withheld if they fail to do so.

Transport Secretary, Mark Harper, said:

This government is on the side of drivers and is investing £235 million to improve and repair London’s roads, part of the biggest-ever funding uplift for local road improvements.

This funding is part of a long-term, 11-year plan to ensure road users across London have smoother, faster and safer journeys by using redirected HS2 funding to make the right long-term decisions for a brighter future.

Londoners will see rapid improvements to the road network with £7.5 million made immediately available between now and the end of March, followed by a further £7.5 million in 2024 to 2025. The remainder of the £235 million boost extends until 2034, helping to maintain London’s roads for the next decade.

This week also saw the government and TfL agree a new £250 million funding injection for 2024 to improve London’s transport system. The government has been clear that this investment is for TfL to continue delivering its investment programme, including new trains for the Piccadilly line, a scheme that will support an estimated 700 skilled rail manufacturing jobs in Yorkshire and up to 2,000 more jobs in supply chains across the country.

We have also announced tough regulations earlier this year to crack down on utility companies causing pothole pain with botched street works, through stricter inspections and costs for the worst offenders – backed by further measures in our Plan for Drivers, announced in October.

These include a £70 million fund to keep traffic flowing, updating 20 miles per hour zone guidance for England to help prevent inappropriate blanket use and measures to speed up the rollout of electric vehicle charging.

The Department for Transport is also carrying out a review of low traffic neighbourhoods (LTNs). As set out in the Plan for Drivers, once this is complete we will consider new guidance on LTNs with a focus on the importance of strong local support and how to address existing LTNs that have not secured that support.

A recent survey from the AA shows that fixing potholes and investing in roads maintenance is a priority for 96% of drivers. These funds can also help boost road safety and encourage active travel, as smoother road surfaces will make it safer and easier for cyclists to use roads with greater confidence.
December 22, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : UK and partners form The Tallinn Mechanism for cyber security [December 2023]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 20 December 2023.

The UK and international partners join together to establish The Tallinn Mechanism to bolster Ukraine’s cyber security.

As part of Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, the world has witnessed an unrelenting cyber assault against Ukraine’s critical national infrastructure, from banking to energy supplies and innocent Ukrainian people.

As a result, The foreign ministries of Canada, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, The Netherlands, Poland, Sweden, United Kingdom and the United States have formalised the Tallinn Mechanism on 20 December 2023. It aims to coordinate and facilitate civilian cyber capacity building to help Ukraine uphold its fundamental right to self-defence in cyber space, and address longer-term cyber resilience needs.

The UK’s primary delivery agent of cyber capacity building in Ukraine is our CSSF UK-Ukraine Cyber Programme, expanded by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in June 2023. The programme has delivered over £10 million to bolster Ukraine’s cyber defences since the invasion.

Through this programme, the UK has stood side by side with Ukrainian cyber defenders. For example, the UK funded its partner Mandiant to combat a reported Russian cyber-attack it attributed to Sandworm, a unit within Russian Military Intelligence (GRU), against Ukraine’s energy infrastructure causing a power outage.

Minister of State in the Cabinet Office, and lead Minister for the Conflict Stability and Security Fund Baroness Neville-Rolfe said:

The UK and Ukraine are fighting side by side in the cyberwar against Russia whose appalling attacks know no bounds. Russia is attacking Ukraine’s cyber infrastructure in order to harm innocent people, choke the economy and sow confusion.

That is why the UK is supporting Ukraine with state of the art technology, tools and expertise to thwart these cruel attacks, including those on critical infrastructure. Our support remains steadfast.

The Mechanism aims to interface routinely with other donor initiatives, coordinate and de-conflict, including regular engagement with the EU and NATO.

December 22, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : New vision to create competitive carbon capture market follows unprecedented £20 billion investment [December 2023]
The press release issued by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero on 20 December 2023.

Government sets out plans for a new competitive UK carbon capture, usage and storage market by 2035 – delivering new jobs and supporting net zero.
- CCUS Vision sets out plans for new competitive market in Carbon Capture, Usage and Storage (CCUS) by 2035 – to unlock investment and drive economic growth, adding £5 billion to the economy by 2050
- long-term decisions to achieve this include outlining a timeline to establish a new CCUS market and using competition to drive lower costs for industry
- potential to store the carbon equivalent of taking 6 million cars off the road – and support 50,000 jobs by 2030
Green boost for the UK economy as Energy Secretary sets out plan to make the UK a global market for Carbon Capture, Usage and Storage.

The plan – named the CCUS Vision – sets out how the UK will transition from early projects backed by government support to becoming a competitive market in this area by 2035, meaning UK companies will compete to build carbon capture facilities and sell their services to the world.

This is expected to boost the economy by £5 billion a year by 2050 – making the UK a pioneer in this technology while meeting its net zero commitments in a reasonable way that eases the financial burden on taxpayers.

Carbon capture works by capturing carbon dioxide (CO2) before it reaches the atmosphere and storing it safely underground – filling the spaces left by oil and gas extraction. The UK holds a strategic advantage compared to other countries thanks to its unique geology, skills and infrastructure as an island nation. It also offers enough space under the North Sea for up to 78 billion tonnes of CO2.

This is the latest step to develop CCUS technologies – which aim to store 20-30 million tonnes of CO2 per year by 2030 and support 50,000 jobs by 2030 – backed by up to £20 billion of investment.

It comes as the Department launches the process for more companies to connect to and expand the HyNet Cluster in the North-West and Wales – delivering further jobs and investment in the region.

Energy Security Secretary Claire Coutinho said:

Thanks to the UK’s geology, skills and infrastructure, we are in a unique position to lead the way on carbon capture technologies.

That is why we’re making one of the biggest funding commitments in Europe on carbon capture that will cut emissions from our atmosphere, while unlocking investment, creating tens of thousands of jobs and growing the UK economy.

Energy Efficiency and Green Finance Minister Lord Callanan said:

We need pragmatic answers to the carbon challenge, and with our infrastructure, skills and geology, the UK is in pole position to take advantage of game-changing carbon capture and storage technology.

Today we’re publishing a blueprint to deliver a world-leading UK carbon capture industry, so that we have a competitive market in this exciting new technology by the middle of the next decade.

Backed by an unprecedented £20 billion investment, this is also a pivotal milestone in our journey to net zero that will drive economic growth, unlock investment and create tens of thousands of jobs in our industrial heartlands.

Ruth Herbert, CEO, Carbon Capture and Storage Association said:

We welcome the CCUS Vision published today, setting out a long-term strategy for the UK’s CCUS industry to be able to store over 50Mt a year by 2035 to support the decarbonisation of domestic industries and take advantage of export opportunities.

It is great to see CO2 transport by ship, road and rail will be enabled from 2025 onwards, which will also support longer-term cross-border CO2 transport solutions.

Hedvig Ljungerud, NSTA Director of Strategy, said:

The energy transition and the path to net zero cannot succeed without carbon storage. As the regulator, we welcome today’s announcement and look forward to supporting this growing industry as it benefits the UK’s economy and the fight against climate change.

The CCUS Vision – the plan to create a competitive CCUS market by 2035 – includes measures to achieve this goal, including:
- moving to a competitive allocation process for carbon capture projects from 2027 to speed up the building of the UK’s CCUS sector
- creating the conditions for projects that cannot transport CO2 by pipeline to enter the market from 2025 onwards, using other forms of transport such as ship, road and rail
- establishing a working group led by industry to identify and adopt solutions to reduce the cost of capturing CO2
Earlier this year, a further 2 carbon capture clusters were announced, bringing the total to four UK carbon capture clusters to support the government’s ambition to decarbonise industry and power – HyNet in North West England, East Coast Cluster in Teesside and the Humber, Acorn in Scotland and Viking in the Humber.

These will build truly integrated energy hubs that make the best use of the UK’s established infrastructure, and play a key role in the country’s measured, pragmatic approach to reaching net zero.

The UK government has also today announced significant progress in delivering on these carbon capture clusters in the UK’s industrial heartlands. This includes:
- agreeing initial commercial terms with the Northern Endurance Partnership (NEP) around Teesside and the Humber, paving the way for expansion of that cluster. The government will now consider the best time to launch an expansion process from 2024 based on an assessment of store readiness in the New Year
- and, having announced the locations of the third and fourth CCUS clusters in the Summer, government is today announcing a faster process to get those clusters set up and suitable capture projects identified
Luciano Vasques, Managing Director, Eni UK said:

We see strong demand from businesses across the UK for CCS so today’s announcement is a welcome step forward. We look forward to providing transportation and storage at HyNet for a wider range of companies in North West England and North Wales, helping them to reduce CO2 emissions, protect local jobs and boosting industrial competitiveness for the region.

Chris Daykin, General Manager, NEP said:

Today’s announcements mark another positive milestone in the development of the East Coast Cluster and the UK CCUS industry.

Agreeing the key commercial principles through the Heads of Terms is a crucial step in the decarbonisation of the North East region and delivering jobs. We look forward to the expansion process launching from 2024 and agree that the selection of projects by HMG should be matched to the available transportation and storage capacity, so that projects and stores are developed at the same pace and equivalent level of maturity.

We thank the UK government for their continued support as we work to complete the final agreements in the coming months, enabling NEP to take Final Investment Decision in September 2024.
December 22, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Foreign Secretary returns to Middle East to push for a sustainable ceasefire [December 2023]
The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 20 December 2023.

The Foreign Secretary and Minister for the Middle East are travelling to Jordan and Egypt this week to push for a sustainable ceasefire and further humanitarian pauses in Gaza.
- the Foreign Secretary will travel to Jordan and Egypt on his second visit to the region, alongside the Minister for the Middle East Lord Ahmad
- David Cameron to discuss the urgent need for a sustainable ceasefire involving the release of hostages and an end to rocket fire into Israel
- he will visit Al Arish, near the Egypt-Gaza border to see first-hand the lifesaving UK aid which is being sent to Gaza
The Foreign Secretary will travel to the Middle East this week to push for a sustainable ceasefire and for further humanitarian pauses in Gaza.

In talks with leaders in Jordan and Egypt, key neighbouring countries, he will progress efforts to secure the release of all hostages, step up aid to Gaza and end Hamas rocket attacks and threats against Israel.

He will reiterate the UK’s position that leaving Hamas in power in Gaza will be a roadblock to reaching a long-term political solution to the crisis which delivers security for both Israelis and Palestinians.

Ahead of the visit, Foreign Secretary David Cameron said:

This week I am making my second visit to the region to press the case for getting aid in to Gaza and the remaining hostages to be released.

On aid, I will be seeking to build on Israel’s decision to open the Kerem Shalom crossing to ensure significantly more aid and fuel can reach Gaza, through as many routes as possible.

No one wants to see this conflict go on for a moment longer than necessary. But for a ceasefire to work, it needs to be sustainable.

If Israel is still facing Hamas in Gaza with rockets and terror tactics, not only will a ceasefire not be sustainable, a two state solution in the longer term will also not be possible.

In Jordan, the Foreign Secretary will meet Foreign Minister Safadi and visit the Jordanian Hashemite Charity Organisation, which has become the focal point of Jordanian humanitarian support for Gaza.

In Egypt, the Foreign Secretary will see first-hand the impact of UK aid on a visit to Al Arish, near the Egypt-Gaza border. He will hear from the Egyptian Red Crescent about the impact the UK’s lifesaving aid deliveries such as wound care packs are having in Gaza. He will see how the Egyptian Red Crescent are using UK Aid forklift trucks and lighting towers to support delivery of the international aid effort. He is also expected to meet President Sisi and Foreign Minister Shoukry.

The Foreign Secretary will welcome Israel’s decision to open the aid crossing at Kerem Shalom, following intense lobbying by the Prime Minister, Foreign Secretary and Defence Secretary, as a vital step towards significantly increasing the amount of aid and fuel which reaches Gaza.
December 22, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Appointment of Suffragan Bishop of Edmonton [December 2023]

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 20 December 2023.

The King has approved the nomination of The Reverend Canon Dr Anderson Harris Mithra Jeremiah for appointment as Suffragan Bishop of Edmonton, in the Diocese of London.

The King has approved the nomination of The Reverend Canon Dr Anderson Harris Mithra Jeremiah, Associate Priest at St Paul’s Scotforth, in the Diocese of Blackburn, and Associate Dean (Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and People) in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Lancaster University, for appointment to the Suffragan See of Edmonton, in the Diocese of London, in succession to The Right Reverend Robert Wickham, following his appointment as Chief Executive of the Church Urban Fund.

Background

Anderson was educated at the Universities of Madras and Edinburgh, and trained for ministry at United Theological College, Bangalore. He served his title at St Mary’s Church, Ranipet, in the Diocese of Vellore, Church of South India and, in 2004, he was ordained Priest and served as Anglican Chaplain at the Christian Medical College, Vellore. In 2007, Anderson was appointed Assistant Curate at Old St Paul’s Church Edinburgh and, from 2009, he served as Associate Rector at Christ Church Morningside, both in the Scottish Episcopal Church.

In 2012, Anderson was appointed as the first Lecturer in World Christianity at Lancaster University. Alongside his academic role from 2014 he served as the Vicar of St Mary the Virgin, Gisburn and, from 2016, as Associate Priest at St Mary’s Priory Church, Lancaster, both in the Diocese of Blackburn. From 2018, Anderson served as the first Bishop’s Adviser for Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Affairs in the Diocese of Blackburn and in 2021 was appointed Canon Theologian of Blackburn Cathedral. He has been a member of the Committee for Minority Ethnic Concerns, the Archbishops’ Anti-Racism Task Force, General Synod, the Faith and Order Commission and the Ministry Council.

Anderson is married to Revd Dr Rebecca Aechtner and they have two daughters.

December 22, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : The international community must maintain its advocacy on women’s rights in Afghanistan – UK statement at the UN Security Council [December 2023]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 20 December 2023.

Statement by Deputy Political Coordinator Tom Phipps at the UN Security Council meeting on Afghanistan.

Thank you, President, let me join others in thanking SRSG Otunbayeva, and our other briefers for their important remarks today.

President, the United Kingdom remains gravely concerned at the continued curtailment of human rights and fundamental freedoms in Afghanistan, particularly for women and girls. This, along with ongoing reports of arbitrary arrests and detentions, is in clear violation of the international commitments that all states must adhere to.

We echo UNAMA’s recommendation that the international community should maintain its multilateral advocacy on women’s rights and gender equality. The UK is, of course, a firm supporter of these values and we will continue to raise them at every opportunity.
Since UNAMA’s last briefing to the Council, Herat was struck by successive devastating earthquakes. In response, the UK has provided around $4 million dollars in emergency support to those affected, including a further $13 million to support Afghans across the country during the winter months.

We have also committed $23.5 million dollars to the International Organisation for Migration to support vulnerable undocumented Afghans returning to the country.

President, it’s been over two years now since the Taliban took power in Afghanistan. As the independent assessment in Afghanistan concluded, our shared goal should be an Afghanistan that is at peace with its people, its neighbours, and the international community. It’s our view that the independent assessment outlines the architecture and mechanisms that are needed to achieve this.

For our part, the United Kingdom is fully committed to finding a constructive way forward. In the absence of a coherent international strategy to date, it is the responsibility of this Council to seize the momentum provided by this report.

We look forward to continuing to work constructively with international partners and the full range of Afghan stakeholders in our shared endeavour towards improving the lives of all Afghans.

Thank you.

December 21, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Families could use electric vehicle batteries to power homes and save on bills as government backs new charging technologies [December 2023]
The press release issued by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero on 20 December 2023.

The government announces funding for new charging technologies, which mean families could use their electric vehicle batteries to power their homes and save on bills.
- Bidirectional charging technologies could enable families to charge cars when electricity costs are lowest and use it in their home at peak times when prices are higher
- households and businesses could even save money on their bills by selling electricity from their vehicles back to the grid
- government is awarding 4 projects £4.8 million to develop and implement Vehicle-to-Everything technologies
Families could soon save hundreds of pounds on energy bills by using electricity stored in their electric vehicles (EVs) to power home appliances such as fridges and washing machines – thanks to new 2-way charging technologies being supported with government funding.

Households could power their home appliances as a result of the development of bidirectional charging, which enables electricity stored in a vehicle’s battery to flow back into the grid or back into the home and workplaces, which can then be used to power other devices.

This builds on existing smart charging technologies, where EVs can be charged when electricity prices are lower overnight. Families could then use these Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) technologies to save money on their bills by selling the electricity back to the grid when prices are higher.

Businesses could also benefit from the V2X technologies by storing electricity in their fleets of EVs and using it to power their operations at a later date. These technologies will also help make it even easier to rely on renewable technologies such as solar panels, with less need for fossil fuels to provide for surges in demand by allowing stored renewable energy to be sold into the grid instead.

Four projects are today receiving a share of £4.8 million of government funding to support their work testing and implementing these innovative technologies.

Minister for Affordability and Skills Amanda Solloway said:

The prospect of families being able to store energy on their doorstep in electric vehicles and use it to power their homes is incredibly exciting.

This is exactly the sort of ingenuity and creativity that makes the UK one of the world’s most innovative nations.

By backing this technology, we could save families hundreds of pounds a year, while also supporting jobs, investment and growth.

Transport Minister for Technology and Decarbonisation Anthony Browne said:

We’re continuing to support drivers, and this innovative new development is the next step in levelling-up our charging technology, which will benefit many households across the country.

This government has already spent over £2 billion in the transition to electric vehicles and our charging network is growing at pace, with 44% more public chargepoints than this time last year, meaning drivers can charge more easily than before.

The successful companies are:
- Hangar19 Ltd in Chelmsford – will demonstrate a 3-socket bidirectional charger, making a wider range of EVs available for energy flexibility and bidirectional charging
- 3ti Energy Hubs Ltd in Leatherhead – will combine a quick-to-deploy bidirectional charging hub with a solar canopy and energy storage battery, house in recycled shipping containers, which can make access to bidirectional charging available in more destinations, including vehicle depots
- Otaski Energy Solutions Ltd in Gateshead – will trial their bidirectional EV charger to enable fleet EV operators to access energy in a flexible way which could deliver savings in line with electricity supply and demand surges
- Electric Green Limited in London – will work with QEnergy to trial wireless V2X technology with a fleet of 20 delivery vehicles at Royal Mail
Today’s funding builds on existing government funding for electric vehicle charging, such as the £70 million pilot scheme, announced at COP28 in Dubai. This will also boost the number of ultra-rapid charge points at motorway services.

It comes as some of the world’s leading car manufacturers are choosing the UK as their home to develop the latest electric vehicles and the battery technology. They include:
- BMW, who have announced a £600 million investment to transform their Oxford plant to build the electric Mini
- JLR (a wholly owned subsidiary of Tata Motors Limited, part of Tata Sons) – Tata Sons are investing £4 billion in a new gigafactory to create up to 4,000 highly skilled jobs
- Nissan, who have announced they are delivering up to £2 billion investment to create a new electric vehicle manufacturing hub in Sunderland – helping put more zero emission vehicles on UK road
The UK has also committed to ending the sale of all new non-zero emission vehicles by 2035 to support the delivery of net zero. This ambition, combined with government support for industry through technologies like V2X, is helping cement the UK’s world leading position in the design, manufacture, and use of zero emissions vehicles, which will provide economic growth by stimulating employment, investment, and exports.

This follows the Prime Minister’s proportionate and pragmatic decision to delay the ban on new diesel and petrol cars from 2030 to 2035 – bringing the UK in line with countries such as Canada and Spain – which will support manufacturers and families in making the switch to electric, providing flexibility while also helping to grow the economy.

Dr Marco Landi, Head of Technology and Innovation, Electrification Services, JLR said:

We are delighted to be collaborating on this project with partners and the UK government to be able to accelerate and pioneer V2X technology. This funding will drive our work to make charging simpler, greener and cost effective, which is key to our all-electric future.

Working together with industry-leading partners, we are developing a complete EV ecosystem, from batteries to charging, supporting our net-zero transformation.

The programme is part of the overarching up to £65 million Flexibility Innovation Programme, supporting the efficient and flexible use of electricity, within the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero’s £1 billion Net Zero Innovation Portfolio (NZIP).
December 21, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Interactive tool to tackle domestic economic abuse launched [December 2023]
The press release issued by HM Treasury on 20 December 2023.

New interactive tool launched today (20 December 2023) to help businesses and charities spot and tackle domestic economic abuse.
- UK government launches interactive tool to help businesses and charities spot and tackle domestic economic abuse
- Victims of domestic abuse are at an increased risk around Christmas with reports to police forces in England and Wales rising by 25%
- Launch delivers on government pledge in summer to transform HMRC internal guide into a public facing resource, and coincides with £12 million of support at Autumn Statement for tackling domestic abuse
The UK government has today [Wednesday 20 December 2023] launched a free interactive guide to help businesses spot and tackle domestic economic abuse.

Survivors of domestic abuse are at an increased risk around Christmas and, on average, it is reported that police forces in England and Wales receive over 100 calls relating to domestic abuse every hour, and around 95% of domestic abuse victims experience economic abuse. During the Christmas period, the number of calls can rise by 25%.

The new tool, available on GOV.UK, aims to help call handlers at businesses and charities recognise abuse when speaking to customers and clients. Specialist charities such as Surviving Economic Abuse will be on standby to offer training to interested organisations.

Financial Secretary to the Treasury, Nigel Huddleston, said:

We’ve made economic abuse punishable by law, but it’s just as important that we provide the support needed to help victims escape dangerous situations.

That’s what today’s toolkit is about – the more organisations that use it, the faster we can help bring an end to abuse at home.

In summer this year, the government announced there would be a new interactive tool to help trained advisers in businesses and charities spot and tackle economic abuse. Since then, HMRC has worked closely with Surviving Economic Abuse holding workshops with charities and financial services firms to develop the tool and help get this right.

Based on a caller’s response, a trained call handler will navigate through the interactive tool to help identify potential victims. This will support the handler to decide what help the organisation might be able to offer the customer as well as provide details of relevant charities and support networks.

The launch coincides with £12 million of support for charities working with victims of domestic abuse, announced last month by the Chancellor at the Autumn Statement, helping to tackle abuse at home and help survivors rebuild their lives.

Dr Nicola Sharp-Jeffs OBE, CEO and founder of Surviving Economic Abuse, said:

Economic abuse, where an abuser controls money and the things money can buy, is a devastating form of domestic abuse. It makes it harder for victim-survivors and their children to leave and rebuild their lives safely. Reporting abuse can be intimidating, so it’s important that whoever a victim-survivor reaches out to for help – the police, a bank manager, supermarket cashier or call handler – they can give a supportive response.

We’re pleased the Treasury has launched this toolkit to support businesses to play their role in bringing economic abuse out from behind closed doors and supporting survivors to take safe steps to freedom. It’s vital that employers are properly trained in spotting the signs of economic abuse and confidently signposting to specialist support. The right response will be life changing.

Economic abuse, which Surviving Economic Abuse estimates one in five women in the UK have experienced in the last 12 months, is when an individual’s ability to acquire, use and maintain economic resources are taken away by someone else in a coercive or controlling way.

Surviving Economic Abuse research found seven in ten front-line professionals reported the number of survivors of economic abuse coming to their organisation for help had increased since the start of the pandemic. By the end of the first Covid-19 lockdown, the charity found one in five women were planning to seek help around welfare benefits.

Tackling domestic abuse is a government priority and improving the response to economic abuse is integral to this. For the first time in history, economic abuse is now recognised in law as part of the statutory definition of domestic abuse included in the Domestic Abuse Act 2021. This is in recognition of the devastating impact it can have on victims’ lives.

Further information
- If you would like to find out more about the interactive tool, please visit Public Sector Toolkits – GOV.UK.
- Today’s tool, and HMRC’s internal guidance, builds on the government’s Economic Abuse Toolkit which launched in January 2023 aimed at the public sector.
- If you are worried you might be experiencing economic abuse or a family member or friend might be, visit the Surviving Economic Abuse website for further information on accessing support.
December 21, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : We must continue to work together to ensure safe and responsible AI is developed that supports the good of all – UK statement at the UN Security Council [December 2023]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 19 December 2023.

Statement by Mungo Woodifield, UK Spokesperson to the UN, at the UN Security Council Arria Meeting on artificial intelligence.

I join others in thanking the UAE and Albania for convening this meeting, and the briefers for their expert insights. Indeed, the impact of artificial intelligence on mis and disinformation was a common concern when the Security Council held its first meeting on the opportunities and risks of AI to international peace and security, during our Presidency in July. So, we welcome further discussion on this topic today, along with the ongoing work of the Department of Global Communications to establish a Code of Conduct for Information Integrity on Digital Platforms to guide and support national responses to mis and disinformation.

Disinformation is a familiar topic to the Security Council, from its impact, as the Under-Secretary-General said, on UN peacekeeping operations, to its role in exacerbating conflict. However, as others have noted, advances in AI technologies make it easier, quicker and cheaper for malign actors to spread false information in hundreds of languages. And this creates potentially harmful consequences for public trust in information and institutions and poses grave risks to stability.

With the rapid pace of technological development and billions expected to vote next year in elections around the world, understanding the risks that advances in AI-generated disinformation poses to inclusive and peaceful societies is critical.

We should ensure the right behaviours and response levers exist across government, industry, and the general public to address these risks. The UK continues to promote the design, development, and use of technology in a way that adheres to the following four principles:

Open – supporting personal freedoms and democracy. Responsible – consistent with the rule of law and human rights, and supporting sustainable growth. As well as ensuring data is used responsibly in a way that is lawful, protected, ethical and accountable. Secure – with security, safety and predictability built in by design. And finally, resilient- being reliable and trusted by the public.

AI risks are not limited to national boundaries of course, they are global and affect us all. Managing these risks requires concerted international action involving all actors, states, international institutions, the private sector, academia, and civil society.

At the first global summit on AI Safety in the UK in November, States recognised an urgent need to address concerns around AI’s ability to manipulate or generate deceptive content.

We must continue to work together in an inclusive manner to ensure that human-centric, trustworthy, and responsible AI is developed that is safe and supports the good of all.

Thank you.

December 21, 2023