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Category: Press Releases

  • PRESS RELEASE : Autumn Statement drives forward mission to level up [November 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Autumn Statement drives forward mission to level up [November 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities on 24 November 2023.

    A major £450 million pound levelling up package revealed at this week’s Autumn Statement.

    The Chancellor outlined a major £450 million pound levelling up package at this week’s Autumn Statement which will drive economic growth in all parts of the country. This new funding comes on top of the billions we have already allocated through Levelling Up Partnerships, Investment Zones and additional money for transformative projects across the country.

    The continued backing for our mission to Level Up comes after the third round of allocations from the Government’s flagship Levelling Up Fund which has now awarded £4.8 billion to initiatives that will drive economic growth in communities everywhere.

    Investment Zones and Freeports

    Investment Zones are an opportunity to embed innovation throughout the economy. They support the growth of priority sectors, leveraging existing strengths to drive rapid expansion. This week we announced new Investment Zones, each of which has already received investment from the private sector: focused on advanced manufacturing in Greater Manchester and the West Midlands, on green industries in the East Midlands, on life sciences in West Yorkshire, and, in partnership with the Welsh Government, two Investment Zones for Wales – one in Cardiff and Newport and a second in Wrexham and Flintshire.

    We also increased the duration of Investment Zones and Freeports, which will last to ten years – doubling their value to communities across the United Kingdom. The government is also creating a £150million flexible Investment Opportunity Fund to support Investment Zones and Freeports to secure business investment over the next five years.

    Levelling Up Partnerships

    The UK Government has committed £80 million for the expansion of the Levelling Up Partnerships programme to Scotland, for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Argyll and Bute, Dundee, and the Scottish Borders. We have worked closely in collaboration with Scottish Government on the methodology to select places and will design a programme that fits within the Scottish policy context.

    We will work with Welsh Government on potential opportunities in Wales and continue to work with local stakeholders on how best to level up communities in Northern Ireland. The programme extends the announcement of 20 initial Levelling Up Partnerships in England at Spring Budget 2023, which built on the success of initial trials of such partnership working in Blackpool, North East Lincolnshire and Northumberland.

    Bespoke Levelling Up Capital Funding

    Following the third round of the £4.8 billion Levelling Up Fund, we have committed a further £37.5 million for five additional capital projects. This will support regeneration, transport and culture, and will fund; the Isles of Scilly Museum and Cultural Centre; Fakenham Leisure and Sports Hub; the Inspiring Eden Enterprise Hub; transport in Chepstow, including through the town’s Transport Hub; and in Warrington, by improving local connections.

    We are also providing £15m to Bolsover to ensure all Priority Places, identified by the Levelling Up Need metrics set out in the Levelling Up White Paper, have received government investment.  There will also be £5 million for Barrow-in-Furness – where significant contributions to national security are being made, but investment is needed to unlock housing growth, regenerate the town centre, and deliver a range of measures across transport, skills and education

    Devolution

    The Autumn Statement also represents another step forward for devolution seeing more power transferred from Westminster to local people who know their communities best.

    We have confirmed four new devolution deals – ‘level 3’ mayoral deals for Greater Lincolnshire, Hull and East Yorkshire; and non-mayoral deals for Cornwall and Lancashire at level 2. We have also confirmed that we are in advanced negotiations with Devon and Torbay about a ‘level 2’ devolution deal for the area.

    As we widen the pool of devolution, we also continue to deepen it: a new ‘level four’ in our devolution framework offers local authorities more devolved spending in the future, greater control of spending from the Affordable Homes Programme, and more local control over adult skills, transport, and achieving net zero. For Greater Manchester and the West Midlands, we have published a new memorandum of understanding that sets out how these areas will exercise control over a single funding settlement.

    Housing

    We can only level up if we build the beautiful homes that communities need. The Autumn Statement backed the Government’s long-term plan for housing which provides the roadmap for how this can be achieved.

    The plan focuses on building the right homes in the right places, including ambitious plans to accelerate developments in Cambridge, Leeds and London.

    Cambridge, Leeds and London

    We will tackle their respective challenges, whether that is by addressing water scarcity near Cambridge or supporting ambitious plans for a new West Yorkshire mass transit system, as part of Network North.

    In Leeds, £2 million will support Leeds City Council to develop integrated plans for three new city quarters that will bring together housing, transport and economic investments to transform the liveability and productivity of the centre of Leeds.

    In London, £23 million for a new bus network will unlock housing as part of Docklands 2.0.

    In Cambridge, we are allocating £9 million – including £5 million of new funding – to improve the barrier of water scarcity and accelerate the new Cambridge Delivery Group.

    Affordable Homes Guarantee Scheme

    Our housing associations and local authorities are critical to boosting overall housing supply, we cannot build the homes we need without them. By extending the Affordable Homes Guarantee Scheme by £3 billion we will help the already successful scheme support the delivery a total of 20,000 new affordable homes, as well as supporting works to improve quality and energy efficiency.

    Home Buying Process

    This Government is committed to removing the barriers that make buying a home unnecessarily difficult. We will exploit the potential of new technology to improve the buying and selling process, including running pilots to develop ‘proptech’ products and digitise council property data. We will continue our reforms to the process of purchasing and selling homes.

    Homelessness prevention

    The Government has allocated £450 million across two years to a third round of the Local Authority Housing Fund, which will help support Afghans on resettlement schemes and others in temporary housing need. This funding allows councils to manage homelessness pressures more effectively and makes it easier for vulnerable people to find settled accommodation.

    The government is providing £120 million for local authorities to invest in homelessness prevention, supporting private renters to remain in their homes and providing temporary accommodation to families and individuals. We will also continue to support our guests from Ukraine, rightly extending the ‘thank you’ payments for sponsors across the UK into a third year.

    The government is increasing the Local Housing Allowance to cover the 30th percentile of local market rents. This will make 1.6 million low-income households better off, with an average gain of £800 in 2024-25. Rates will be raised across Great Britain in April 2024.

    Planning

    We will maintain a focus on the blockers to development, recognising the scale of the challenge. We are injecting up to £17 million in additional funding into the planning system to help local authorities reduce planning application backlogs, making it easier to get new homes approved and built.

    Where there are reasonable proposals to reconfigure homes, we will make this easier, consulting on a new permitted development right to streamline planning decisions for homeowners.

    We are also publishing a new prospectus on infrastructure delivery that sets out how we will go further than our current reforms. Only by building major infrastructure faster and cheaper will we prepare the UK for the challenges of the 2030s and 2040s, lay the foundations for the economy of the future, and make sure that everyone, everywhere, benefits from the opportunities ahead.

    Nutrient Neutrality – Local Nutrient Mitigation Fund

    Unlocking much needed homes held up by defective EU rules remains a priority. The House of Lords voted against Government proposals that would have unlocked over 100,000 homes, whilst protecting and improving the environment. This is despite the reforms having had the strong support of housebuilders and local authorities. The Government is now focusing on making rapid progress in unlocking homes within the existing legal framework, in order to meet our manifesto commitment to build one million homes over this Parliament. That is why we will make £110 million available through the Local Nutrient Mitigation Fund, to help planning authorities in affected areas deliver tens of thousands more homes before the end of the decade.

    In response to the Nutrient Neutrality measures, the following stakeholders said:

    Melanie Leech, Chief Executive of the British Property Federation

    We welcome these measures, which promote growth, through incentivising planning delivery. Long and uncertain time taken in planning can increase risk and project costs considerably. On complex projects, developers are generally willing to invest in planning delivery if it guarantees a good service.  We await the details, but the principle of what the Chancellor is doing is very much supported.

    Local Development Orders (LDOs) are an innovative part of our planning regime, offering locally determined flexibility. We have long been supporters of their greater use, as we believe they can help support the regeneration and repurposing of places like town centres. It is therefore well received that the Government is putting some resource behind some local planning authorities, to allow them to test LDOs.

    Simon Carter, Chief Executive of British Land

    The time it takes to secure planning permission is increasing. We therefore welcome the specific measures announced by the Government today, to speed up planning delivery and provide greater certainty for developers and investors. We are strong advocates for practical, deliverable planning reform, to unlock urban regeneration and drive growth and productivity in towns and cities across the country.

    Mark Allan, Chief Executive of Landsec

    We’ve been campaigning for a focused approach to planning reform to unlock the huge potential of brownfield urban regeneration. The measures announced today, combined with a plan to provide proper resourcing of the planning system, should move us in the right direction to generate more growth, more homes and more jobs around the country.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Report by the Head of OSCE Mission to Moldova – UK response [November 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Report by the Head of OSCE Mission to Moldova – UK response [November 2023]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 23 November 2023.

    Ankur Narayan, UK Delegation to the OSCE, reiterates the UK’s unwavering support for the OSCE Mission and for a peaceful, comprehensive and lasting settlement to the Transnistrian conflict.

    Thank you, Chair. Ambassador Keiderling, welcome back to the Council and thank you for your report.

    Let me state at the outset that the United Kingdom’s resolute support for the OSCE Mission remains steadfast. The Mission’s critical efforts to monitor the Security Zone, facilitate ongoing 1+1 meetings and ensure access to justice for victims of human rights abuses are instrumental to securing the foundations of a lasting peace. The importance of freedom of movement of Mission members in order to effectively deliver these crucial functions is therefore paramount and must be safeguarded.

    We agree with your assessment that the importance of ongoing talks between Chisinau and Tiraspol is now greater than ever, and thank the Mission for its facilitation of the 1+1 meetings. The tenth edition of the annual Donors Forum, which brought together civil society representatives from both sides, speaks to the value of direct dialogue in preventing escalation, reversing the deterioration of relations between Tiraspol and Chisinau and laying the groundwork toward a negotiated settlement. We call on both sides to build on this positive momentum and redouble their efforts to find common ground on the many shared issues affecting peoples on both sides of the Nistru.

    The UK’s position is unchanged; we continue to support a peaceful, comprehensive and lasting settlement to the Transnistrian conflict on the basis of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Republic of Moldova within its internationally recognised borders, and with a special status for Transnistria. It is to this end that I reiterate our hope to see the Mission return to a 12-month mandate come December. A yearly mandate would grant the Mission the predictability, the certainty, and sustainability it needs to continue its good work and charter a course toward this objective amidst a challenging environment, made worse by Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine.

    Ambassador, we are grateful for your unflinching focus on human rights in the region and commend the Mission’s efforts in promoting freedoms of media and expression, combatting human trafficking and addressing the scourge of gender-based violence. There is much still to be done however and we call on all member states to strengthen our commitment to the Mission to support it in fulfilling this crucial role.

    Ambassador, at your last appearance at this Council in April, the UK reiterated our concern at the ongoing presence of Russian Forces on Moldovan sovereign territory, in contravention of international law. I repeat that concern today, noting that no progress has been made towards their immediate withdrawal. This too extends to the presence of hazardous material stored at Cobasna, where a considered and thorough proposal for the removal and demolition of the contents of the ammunition site must now be shared as a matter of urgency.

    In closing, Ambassador, I would like to take the opportunity to thank you and your team for your dedication to support peace and security on both banks of the Nistru. Thank you.

  • PRESS RELEASE : On the 10th anniversary of the Euromaidan, and over 630 days of Russia’s illegal full-scale invasion of Ukraine – UK statement to the OSCE [November 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : On the 10th anniversary of the Euromaidan, and over 630 days of Russia’s illegal full-scale invasion of Ukraine – UK statement to the OSCE [November 2023]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 23 November 2023.

    Ambassador Neil Holland says the UK and its allies are committed to providing Ukraine with the needs to defend itself against Russia, highlighting the UK Foreign Secretary’s visit to Ukraine.

    Thank you, Mr Chair. 21 November marked 10 years since the Euromaidan, where Ukrainians stood up for their future as citizens of a sovereign, democratic and prosperous European state. Today, Ukraine continues to fight for its future and defend our shared values of freedom and self-determination.

    The UK will continue to defend the values of the international system that Russia is shattering, including the Helsinki Final Act principles which are the cornerstone of this organisation.

    For more than 630 days, Russia has carried out its unprovoked, premeditated, and barbaric attack against a sovereign democratic state. Russia’s egregious actions infringe upon the very principles of the OSCE, and the OSCE’s wide-ranging agenda. Today’s Permanent Council is no exception. We will discuss the silencing of journalists and dissenting voices in Russia and the temporarily Russian-controlled territories. We will also discuss violence against women and girls, Russia’s full-scale invasion brings with it devastating reports of conflict-related sexual violence against Ukrainian women and girls.

    Last week, my Foreign Secretary visited Kyiv. He visited Odesa and saw Ukraine’s progress in pushing back Russian forces. He also announced £10 million for Ukraine’s Red Cross Society appeal to provide medical supplies to communities impacted by Russia’s aggression.

    The UK and our allies are committed to providing Ukraine with the needs to defend itself as it fights for survival and territorial integrity. This is the swiftest, and only path to a just and sustainable peace based on the UN Charter, where Ukraine can pursue its ambitions as a sovereign nation. We will stand by Ukraine for however long it takes, and Ukraine will prevail. Thank you.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Science, Innovation and Technology backed in Chancellor’s 2023 Autumn Statement [November 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Science, Innovation and Technology backed in Chancellor’s 2023 Autumn Statement [November 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on 23 November 2023.

    A raft of measures worth hundreds of millions from compute to quantum and life sciences research to pro-innovation regulation were announced in the Autumn Statement yesterday (Wednesday 22 November).

    Tax cuts for working people and British business headlined the Chancellor’s ‘Autumn Statement for Growth’ today to build a stronger and more resilient economy. The plan to unlock growth and productivity includes boosting business investment by £20 billion a year, getting more people into work, and cutting tax for 29 million workers – the biggest tax cut on work since the 1980s.

    In science, innovation and technology, a new £500 million investment in artificial intelligence in compute will support the UK’s world leading scientists and AI researchers to continue delivering extraordinary new discoveries benefiting us all – giving AI start-ups and other businesses access to cutting edge compute that boosts productivity and innovation and helps make our country the best place in the world to create an AI start-up.

    Developing this computing power also benefits society beyond lifting economic growth, helping us tackle climate change and power the discovery of new drugs.

    Additionally, five new Quantum Missions were unveiled to galvanise academics, industry and private investors to commit time and resource towards hitting significant milestones, like embedding quantum sensing into the NHS.

    We are also backing businesses to scale up with new funding, providing clearer rules on stakes for ‘spinout’ companies and strengthening pro-innovation regulation with new regulatory sandboxes offering supervised real-life or simulated tests to trial new products, services or business models to meet safety standards while also fostering creativity and technological advancement.

    Science, Innovation and Technology Secretary, Michelle Donelan, said:

    I believe that the UK’s incredible science and tech success story is all about having the skills for the future, investment in scale-up and sensible regulation.

    The Chancellor’s Statement injects even more fuel into our science and tech economy – and will help to realise my vision for a country where more high value British jobs are driving us faster toward amazing discoveries that will help us live longer, healthier, happier, easier lives.

    Among the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) policies announced in the Autumn Statement are:

    Tech and investment

    Compute

    The Chancellor announced a £500 million investment in AI compute over two years as part of an expansion of the AI Research Resource – providing the UK’s world leading scientists and AI researchers with access to cutting-edge computing power that is necessary to process complicated, lengthy tasks.

    This investment will help researchers make the extraordinary discoveries, such as better understanding climate change, discovering new drugs, and maximising the use of AI to improve lives.

    This will also provide our AI start-ups and other small medium enterprises (SMEs) with access to this resource driving productivity and innovation and helping make the UK the best place in the world to create an AI start-up.

    Quantum Missions

    The Chancellor launched five new Quantum Missions aimed at securing the UK’s status as a world leader in the technology, by setting clear milestones for inward investment and research in areas like computing, healthcare and navigation.

    Quantum technologies – one of the government’s five critical technologies – are devices and systems using quantum mechanics to provide capabilities that ‘classical’ machines like binary computers cannot. They could bring enormous benefits to the economy, such as making it possible to solve complex problems impossible to solve with even the most powerful high-performance classical computers, and opening entirely new frontiers in sensing, timing, imaging, and communications.

    With the biggest impacts for quantum technologies expected in the long-term, these missions will help crystallise the activity and investment needed in the public and private sectors to achieve ambitious milestones for this technology.

    The Missions, backed by our £2.5 billion Quantum Strategy, are:

    • By 2035, there will be accessible, UK-based quantum computers capable of running 1 trillion operations and supporting applications that provide benefits well in excess of classical supercomputers across key sectors of the economy.
    • By 2035, the UK will have deployed the world’s most advanced quantum network at scale, pioneering the future quantum internet.
    • By 2030, every NHS Trust will benefit from quantum sensing-enabled solutions, helping those with chronic illness live healthier, longer lives through early diagnosis and treatment.
    • By 2030, quantum navigation systems, including clocks, will be deployed on aircraft, providing next-generation accuracy for resilience that is independent of satellite signals.
    • By 2030, mobile, networked quantum sensors will have unlocked new situational awareness capabilities, exploited across critical infrastructure in the transport, telecoms, energy, and defence sectors.

    Semiconductors

    We have announced plans to make it easier for semiconductor manufacturers to grow and stay in the UK.

    The Chancellor clarified the government’s priorities for the UK Infrastructure Bank (UKIB), to ensure it is able to invest in critical supply chains where the Bank’s strategic objectives can be met, including semiconductor manufacturing. The Bank are actively engaging with the sector and exploring market opportunities. UKIB has £22 billion of financial capacity.

    Making chips isn’t cheap, and it takes a huge amount of energy. So, as well as unlocking new sources of funding, the British Industry Supercharger scheme will bring energy prices for eligible British chip makers in line with those in other major economies around the world.

    Enterprise creation and scale-up

    Full expensing

    The Chancellor announced that full expensing – a 100% first-year allowance for main rate expenditure – and the associated 50% first-year allowance for special rate expenditure would be made permanent. This will deliver the largest business tax cut in modern British history and means the UK has the lowest headline corporation tax rate and most generous capital allowances in the G7.

    This will enable businesses to invest in technology and the Office for Budget Responsibility says it will increase annual investment overall by around £3 billion a year and a total of £14 billion over the forecast period.

    The overall impact of the Chancellor’s growth measures will increase business investment in the UK economy, by around £20 billion a year within a decade, nearly 1% of GDP at today’s level – the biggest ever boost for business investment in modern times, a decisive step towards closing the productivity gap with other major economies and the most effective way we can raise wages and living standards for every family in the country.

    Spinouts

    University spin-out companies play a hugely important role for the UK economy, with investment increasing almost five-fold since 2014. The independent review – led by Irene Tracey, Vice-Chancellor of Oxford University and Andrew Williamson, Managing Partner of Cambridge Innovation Capital – recommended innovation-friendly policies that universities and investors should adopt to make the UK the best place in the world to start a spin-out company. To capitalise on this strength, the government is accepting all the review’s recommendations and setting out how it will deliver them.

    Several leading universities have endorsed the recommendations of the review, and the government will provide £20 million to foster more spin-out companies.

    In the past, many spin-outs deals were created from scratch, which is both inefficient and sometimes fails to learn the lessons from previous success stories. Today’s recommendations aim to speed up the process and build on TenU’s University Spin-out Investment Terms Guide by recommending 10-25% university equity for life sciences spinouts, and 10% or less for less IP-intensive sectors, common in software. This will make it easier for investors to back companies, knowing the founders retain a significant stake in the company and its success.

    Discovery Fellowship

    To deliver against the government’s Science & Technology Superpower ambitions, the government is supporting the new Faraday Discovery Fellowship, which is intended to be backed by a £250 million endowment to the Royal Society.

    This significant long-term investment in top research talent will support at least 30 leading mid-career scientists and researchers for up to ten years each, to conduct ground-breaking and discovery-based research in STEM in the UK. Prospective researchers will be able to apply via an application process that minimises bureaucracy.

    Research projects will span a broad range of STEM subjects, which could include government priority science and technology areas such as Engineering Biology and Quantum, ensuring the UK remains at the cutting edge of scientific research.

    This long-term endowment investment builds on the new £150 million Green Future Fellowship programme, announced recently by the government, which is intended to be delivered by the Royal Academy of Engineering.

    Venture Capital skills fellowship programme

    To further strengthen the UK’s renowned venture capital industry, the Chancellor has announced a £3 million fellowship programme scheme to develop a new generation of science and tech venture investors.

    The scheme – which will be developed and piloted by the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology – aims to produce the next generation of world-leading investors capable of investing in the vanguard of science and tech – helping deliver breakthroughs in such things as vaccines, AI, and robots.

    Places for up to 20 people currently working in venture capital will be available in the pilot scheme, which could be rolled out over subsequent years. The Fellowship will provide participants with the training and network to fast-track their careers within the venture capital industry to become leaders within their firms, with the potential to set up their own VC funds in the longer-term.

    The programme follows a recommendation from the Prime Minister’s Council for Science and Technology and will complement the world-renowned Kauffman Fellowship in the US which has trained over 800 investors who manage funds worth over $1 trillion – helping to generate growth and drive innovation in the economy.

    Battery Manufacturing

    Alongside the Department for Business and Trade’s battery strategy, the Chancellor announced:

    • £50 million for developing the UK’s battery world-class capabilities, from R&D to industrialisation.
    • £11 million to fund collaborative R&D in battery development incorporating technologies such as AI.

    Government’s response to the Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) organisational Landscape Review

    The government has published its response to Sir Paul Nurse’s Review of the Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) Organisational Landscape. The response sets out ambitious actions the government is taking to evolve the landscape of organisations performing RDI in the UK to be more diverse, resilient and investable. This builds on progress already made since the publication of the Review, including the creation of the new Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and the publication of the Science and Technology Framework.

    The response makes a wide range of commitments, such as: maximising the impact of public sector RDI organisations, for example by providing £25 million to provide core small and medium-scale research infrastructure; supporting RDI talent by, for example, establishing world-class Discovery Fellowships backed by a £250 million endowment; and making the UK a world-leader for philanthropic partnerships, demonstrated by the recently announced new consortium of philanthropic funders for UK Biobank. All of this will be underpinned by a data- and evidence-driven approach.

    The actions announced in the response will help to drive national prosperity and create a system that is greater than the sum of its parts, spearheading the government’s ambitions to be a Science and Technology Superpower.

    Skills

    National Academy focussed on mathematical sciences

    The government has consistently emphasised how essential it is to build mathematical capabilities in the UK and recognises the importance of providing support to this sector in a long-term and sustainable way.

    We have seen the success that the existing National Academies have had over many years in supporting research in their disciplines.

    The government will support the creation of a National Academy focussed on mathematical sciences. We will be engaging key stakeholders in the mathematical community on the best way to do so and will be providing further details of this engagement shortly. As part of our commitment to supporting this work, we are willing to back this initiative with up to £6 million of seed funding over the next three years, subject to business case.

    Life Sciences

    Life Sciences is a key strength of the UK economy, critical to our health, wealth and resilience. As part of the £4.5 billion unveiled by the Chancellor for strategic manufacturing sectors, the government has committed £520 million for life sciences manufacturing to build resilience for future health emergencies and capitalise on the UK’s world-leading research and development.

    The Chancellor also announced that we are further backing UK innovation by investing £10 million, with an additional £10 million from Scottish Enterprise, in a world-class Oligonucleotides Manufacturing Innovation Centre of Excellence.

    Further to this, the government is providing £51 million to the UK’s largest ever research study – Our Future Health – a world-leading resource for health research. This funding will support Our Future Health to recruit hundreds of thousands of new volunteers and to genotype the first 1 million participants, supporting the development of better ways to prevent, detect and treat diseases.

    Regulation

    Regulatory sandboxes

    DSIT has launched regulatory sandboxes for telecommunications spectrum sharing, engineering biology, and space to support a pro-innovation approach to regulation and standards which stimulates demand for science and technology, attracting investment while representing UK values and safeguarding citizens.

    Telecommunications: Spectrum Sharing – Radio frequency spectrum (spectrum) is the range of invisible electromagnetic waves that enable all wireless technology, from mobile phones, and Wi-Fi to aircraft navigation and satellite applications The Wireless Infrastructure Strategy and Spectrum Statement outlined that increased spectrum sharing will be a key feature of 5G, 6G and future networks. The spectrum sandboxes, facilitated through Ofcom’s sandbox framework, will test and demonstrate such sharing between networks, for example, between different private networks used on a localised basis such as in a factory, farm, transport hub or office. This will inform government and Ofcom on the role of more intensive spectrum sharing supported by appropriate authorisation models.

    Engineering biology – Engineering biology is the design, scaling and commercialisation of biology-derived products and services that can transform sectors or produce existing products more sustainably. Earlier this year, DSIT established the Engineering Biology Regulators Network (EBRN) and will channel the insights from the call for evidence to guide the EBRN, ensuring the sandboxes effectively tackle the most pressing regulatory challenges faced by the industry.

    Space – The government is currently undertaking a regulatory review due to conclude in March 2024. In collaboration with operators and the Civil Aviation Authority, the government will develop the regulatory sandbox and testbed initiatives. This will act as an enabler for both understanding the current regulatory environment and for developing detailed, mutually agreed guidance for these missions going forwards.

    Space

    Earth Observation investment

    The Chancellor unveiled almost £47 million in funding this financial year to boost activity and innovation in the Earth observation sector as the UK re-enters Copernicus from January 2024.

    With around 18% of UK GDP underpinned by satellite services, this fund will support businesses that provide and use Earth observation data, including small and medium enterprises, to explore new projects and bolster the economy.

    Low-earth orbit satellite development

    The Chancellor confirmed £15 million of calls are now open under the £60 million European Space Agency Advanced Research in Telecommunications Systems programme, allocated to the UK’s Connectivity in Low Earth Orbit scheme. This will fund the next generation of satellite communications development and boost the UK’s leadership in the ever-growing satellite market for the next 10-15 years.

    It will support UK-based suppliers in developing the technologies needed to build the next generation of low Earth orbit satcom satellites, which are key to offering connectivity in remote and rural parts of UK, bridging the digital divide and levelling-up our country while growing the economy.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Media Freedom remains a vital component of shared security – UK statement to the OSCE [November 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Media Freedom remains a vital component of shared security – UK statement to the OSCE [November 2023]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 23 November 2023.

    Ambassador Neil Holland recalls the vital contribution of media freedom to security in the OSCE region, and calls on Russia and Belarus to live up to their OSCE commitments.

    Thank you Chair, and welcome back to the Permanent Council Madam Ribeiro. Thank you for your report.

    We firmly believe that media freedom remains a vital component of our shared security.  It underpins democratic institutions and is fundamental to the protection of individual human rights. Conversely, disinformation leads to polarisation and makes societies around the world less secure.

    We remain a strong supporter of your mandate and commend your personal commitment to ensuring resolute action at a time of increasing challenges. The UK has a long history of defending media freedom and holding those who abuse or restrict it to account. We founded the Media Freedom Coalition together with Canada in 2019. We know that securing media freedom requires continued investment and effort in all participating States.  Our International Development White Paper, published just this week, repeats our commitment to the principle of media freedom.

    We were pleased to welcome you to the UK during your visit in October 2023. This was an important opportunity to take stock of progress on our recently updated National Action Plan on the Safety of Journalists, to discuss new UK legislation on online safety and to curb the chilling effect of Strategic Lawsuits against Public Participation on pluralism and media freedom.

    We look forward to continued co-operation, including sharing the UK’s experience of media regulation in a dynamic online environment.

    Mr Chair, the wider picture for media freedom remains dismal. As you note in your report, Madam Ribeiro, journalists and other media workers face torture, extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, arbitrary detention, intimidation and harassment in many parts of the OSCE region.

    Moreover, and too often, states have criminalised journalism itself. At least 14 journalists have been killed in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Russia continues to persecute dissenting voices in Ukrainian territory under its temporary control, as it has been doing in Crimea since 2014.

    This year’s Moscow Mechanism report found that freedom of expression in Belarus has been grievously undermined. Legislation can target any independent voice, particularly critics of government or of Russia’s illegal war in Ukraine. Anyone who administers social media networks or communication channels for listed so-called “extremists” can face serious charges, even of terrorism.

    Such actions are not compatible with participating States’ obligations under international law and their OSCE commitments. The UK once again calls on Russia and Belarus to live up to their OSCE principles and commitments, to enable freedom for the media to report on matters of public interest without undue interference, threats and intimidation.

    In closing, I would again like to thank you again Theresa for your commitment to your mandate and your professionalism in the defence of media freedom. The UK will continue to reiterate in this Council and beyond the importance of free media for human rights, fundamental freedoms, democracy and the rule of law.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Mission to explore life on Mars one step closer as UK team to replace Russian components for Mars Rover [November 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Mission to explore life on Mars one step closer as UK team to replace Russian components for Mars Rover [November 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on 23 November 2023.

    A UK team has been awarded more than £10 million to replace Russian components in the Rosalind Franklin Mars Rover.

    • Key instrument for the £10 million Rosalind Franklin Mars Rover will now be built in UK
    • the Mars Rover, which will search for signs of life on the Red Planet, aims to launch to Mars in 2028
    • comes as Chancellor commits up to £47 million to grow UK Earth observation sector and confirms initial £15 million to develop satellites connecting rural areas

    A European mission to explore life on Mars has been given a major boost after a UK firm was awarded more than £10 million to replace Russian components in the Rosalind Franklin Mars Rover, Space Minister Andrew Griffith announced today (Thursday 23 November).

    The rover, which was built by Airbus in Stevenage as part of a European Space Agency programme, was due to launch in 2022 before collaboration with Russia’s space agency was cancelled following the illegal invasion of Ukraine.

    Now, the UK Space Agency will provide an additional £10.7 million to a UK team to replace a Russian-made instrument on the Rosalind Franklin rover, with the aim of launching to Mars in 2028. It brings the total government investment in the Rosalind Franklin, through the UK Space Agency, to £377 million.

    The rover is expected to travel several kilometres across the planet in search of a site with high potential of evidence of life on Mars. It will collect samples by drilling to a depth of around two metres below its surface, before using next-generation instruments to analyse findings in an onboard laboratory.

    The new funding will allow a UK team, led by the University of Aberystwyth, to build the new instrument, named Enfys – meaning ‘rainbow’ in Welsh. It will identify targets on the surface of Mars for sampling and analysis, which could in turn reveal evidence of life on the Red Planet.

    Enfys will work with University College London’s (UCL) Mullard Space team’s panoramic camera to identify minerals – enabling the rover to drill for samples to be analysed by other instruments on board.

    The announcement comes on the final day of the UK Space Conference in Belfast, which has brought experts and innovators from across the world in government, industry and academia together to shape the future of space.

    Science, Research and Innovation Minister, Andrew Griffith, said:

    Is there life on Mars?’ That has been asked by mankind for generations and this UK investment is an exciting opportunity to enhance our understanding of the Red Planet and perhaps finally answer that very question.

    It is also just the surface of our support for the UK’s growing space sector with further funds unlocked for earth observation firms to gather key climate data and low earth orbit satellites to better connect rural areas and level up the UK.

    Chief Executive of the UK Space Agency, Dr Paul Bate, said:

    The UK-built Rosalind Franklin rover is a truly world-leading piece of technology at the frontier of space exploration. It is fantastic that experts from the UK can also provide a key instrument for this mission, using UK Space Agency funding.

    As well as boosting world-class UK space technology to further our understanding of Mars and its potential to host life, this extra funding will strengthen collaboration across the fast-growing UK space sector and economy.”

    It follows yesterday’s (Wednesday 22 November) announcement by the Chancellor, in his Autumn Statement, of almost £47 million in funding this financial year to boost activity and innovation in the Earth observation sector as the UK re-enters Copernicus from January 2024.

    The fund will support businesses that use Earth observation data including small and medium enterprises, to explore new projects and bolster the economy, with around 18% of UK GDP underpinned by satellite services.

    The Chancellor confirmed £15 million of calls are now open under the £60 million European Space Agency Advanced Research in Telecommunications Systems programme, allocated to the UK’s Connectivity in Low Earth Orbit scheme. This will fund the next generation of satellite communications development and boost the UK’s leadership in the ever-growing satellite market for the next 10-15 years.

    It will support UK-based suppliers in developing the technologies needed to build the next generation of low Earth orbit satcom satellites, which are key to offering connectivity in remote and rural parts of UK, bridging the digital divide and levelling-up our country while growing the economy.

    Principal Investigator on Enfys at Aberystwyth University, Dr Matt Gunn, said:

    This is a challenging and complex technical endeavour which has the potential to make a significant contribution to our search for signs of life on Mars. The instrument team, both here in Aberystwyth and in the partnering institutions are all very much looking forward to receiving measurements from the planet’s surface to expand our knowledge of the Mars environment.

    We learned a lot during the development and testing of PanCam and it is a privilege to be leading the fantastic team of people who will put that knowledge into practice once again to develop a new instrument for the mission.

    The latest UK Space Agency investment in the Mars Rover builds on existing work by UK institutions involved with the project, including the University of Leicester, Bradford University and the Science and Technology Facilities Council’s Rutherford Appleton Laboratory as key players in the development of the CCD camera on the Raman Laser Spectrometer (Raman LIBS).

    This can detect the presence of chemical compounds including minerals and specific types of ‘biomarkers’ – chemicals indicative of past or present life – that are produced by primitive micro-organisms to enable them to adapt to life in extreme environments.

    Notes to editors

    The Mars Rover project will be led by the European Space Agency with further support from the UCL Mullard Space Science Laboratory, the Science and Technology Facilities Council RAL Space and Qioptiq Ltd.

    The Rosalind Franklin, is part of the ExoMars programme that will explore the surface of Mars and will be the first mission to combine the capability to move across the surface and to study Mars at depth. It will collect samples with a drill down to a depth of two metres and analyse them with next-generation instruments in an onboard laboratory.

    The UK team developing Enfys, led by the University of Aberystwyth, will replace the Russian-built Infrared Spectrometer for ExoMars (ISEM).

    Enfys will work with University College London’s (UCL) Mullard Space MSSL-led Pancam.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Three Board Members appointed to the National Citizen Service Trust [November 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Three Board Members appointed to the National Citizen Service Trust [November 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 23 November 2023.

    His Majesty the King has appointed Catrin Anderson, Jonathan Freeman and Duncan McCourt as Board Members of the National Citizen Service Trust.

    Catrin Anderson

    Appointed for a three year term commencing 1 December 2023.

    Catrin is an experienced people leader in dynamic, innovation-led organisations, having worked at Zoopla Property Group, Dyson and Amazon.

    Catrin joined Houseful (previously Zoopla Property Group) as Chief People Officer in 2019 where she has been the driving force behind significant organisational and cultural transformation. Previously at Dyson, Catrin led a global team during a period of high growth and significant change, including the establishing of the Dyson Institute of Engineering and Technology. Beforehand Catrin spent 5 years at Amazon, working with senior leaders across the full portfolio of businesses in Europe, Middle East and Africa.

    Catrin is an active advocate for the development of young talent and the creation of opportunities where young people can learn, safely make mistakes, and explore their potential. Having recently assumed responsibility for Environmental, Social and Governance at Houseful, she has supported the promotion of the company’s partnership with both Future Frontiers and the Mayor’s Fund for London. She has coached several young people, offering guidance to enable them to realise their personal, academic and sporting potential.

    Born and raised in West Wales, Catrin has a MA in French and German from Cambridge University and speaks four languages. She is a proud mother of two, a hockey player, marathon runner, avid rugby and football fan, and part-time surfer.

    Jonathan Freeman MBE

    Appointed for a three year term commencing 1 December 2023.

    Jonathan is an award-winning CEO committed to social impact with a track record of leadership across the charitable sector, private sector and Senior Civil Service. Jonathan is founder CEO of the CareTech Foundation, the leading corporate foundation in the social care sector that supports and champions the social care sector, care workers and those living in care through its four grant streams. Jonathan is also Group Sustainability Director of specialist care and education provider CareTech Ltd, the first holder of this role for the company and, indeed, the UK social care sector.

    Jonathan is also Managing Director of Earlsbrook Consulting, providing strategic consultancy support to corporates, charities and philanthropists. Jonathan was previously Managing Director of Mosaic, the then HRH The Prince of Wales’s youth mentoring charitable initiative, and before that a member of the Senior Civil Service.

    Jonathan’s voluntary roles include:

    • Chair of Trustees, Carers Worldwide;
    • Governor (trustee), The Legal Education Foundation;
    • Founder Chair, Social Care Sustainability Alliance;
    • Vice-Chair of the cross-sector charitable Championing Social Care initiative; and,
    • Remuneration Committee, St. Anne’s College, Oxford University

    Jonathan was recognised with an MBE for charitable services in Her Majesty The Queen’s New Year’s Honours List 2021.

    Duncan McCourt

    Appointed for a three year term commencing 1 December 2023.

    Duncan is a Partner at Brunswick Group Advisory Ltd, helping international businesses deal with complex political and regulatory issues.

    Duncan joined Brunswick from the UK Treasury, where he was Chief of Staff and Special Advisor to former Chancellor Rt Hon Phillip Hammond MP, providing advice on, among other issues, Brexit, financial services and healthcare. He also served as a Special Advisor to Phillip Hammond in his then capacity as the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs. He was campaign director and office manager for Andrea Leadsom MP from 2010 to 2015 and, before that, was chief executive at MCA Ltd for five years, a management consulting firm, providing managerial and strategic advice to large companies. He also worked in European equity strategy for Credit Suisse and JP Morgan Chase in London, and consulted at the World Bank and KPMG in Washington, D.C.

    Remuneration and Governance Code

    Board Members of the National Citizen Service Trust are not remunerated. This appointment has been made in accordance with the Cabinet Office’s Governance Code on Public Appointments. The appointments process is regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. Under the Code, any significant political activity undertaken by an appointee in the last five years must be declared. This is defined as including holding office, public speaking, making a recordable donation, or candidature for election. Catrin Anderson and Jonathan Freeman have not declared any significant political activity. Duncan McCourt declared he has canvassed on behalf of, and was a Special Advisor for, the Conservative party.

  • PRESS RELEASE : £5.3 million investment in innovative projects to make railways more accessible [November 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : £5.3 million investment in innovative projects to make railways more accessible [November 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Transport on 23 November 2023.

    Winners announced for the First of a Kind (FOAK) 2023 competition.

    • over £5 million of government funding to make journeys more modern, efficient and convenient for passengers
    • funding split between 17 projects all using new technology to make our railways more accessible
    • more accessibility projects have been funded through this year’s First of a Kind competition than ever before

    AI technology could soon see live staff announcements across train tickers to ensure passengers hard of hearing do not miss vital updates, thanks to a government funding competition announced today (23 November 2023).

    This is just one of the 17 projects – 6 of which are focused on accessibility – being announced today as part of the 2023 First of a Kind (FOAK) competition.

    Run in conjunction with Innovate UK, other accessibility projects set to share the £5.3 million of funding offered by the government include:

    • strategically placed QR codes around stations that allow train managers to directly input important information on platform changes and service alterations, as well as acting as a database for accessible information, ensuring passengers have all the information they need
    • an online journey planner providing up-to-date information on key facilities, such as where accessible toilets are in stations and trains throughout their journey and whether they’re open and in use – giving passengers more confidence when planning journeys
    • installing kiosk systems on platforms – similar to pressing a button on a bus to let the driver know to stop – in rural areas where passengers currently have to physically flag down trains, which can cause difficulties for those with mobility needs

    This is the seventh round of FOAK funding, which aims to develop new and innovative technology to drive efficiency, modernise our current infrastructure and make using our railways a better experience for passengers. The funding will support the projects through their development phases involving real trials on the railways in the coming months and giving them a better chance of being used across the network long term.

    Rail Minister, Huw Merriman, said:

    We’re spending more than £5 million on modernising train journeys, improving the experience for some of the most vulnerable passengers and using cutting-edge technology to do so.

    The projects announced today have the potential to make a huge difference to passengers, whether that’s being able to read important announcements or locate accessible facilities. I’m proud of the support we’ve been able to show through this competition to drive towards a more innovative, inclusive and better value-for-money rail network.

    Other winning projects this year include:

    • a sensor to detect when there are leaves on the line – a problem that causes delays across the network
    • DreamSuite, a new design for UK sleeper services
    • new technology that will allow train timetables to rapidly update during extreme weather events, so people are kept up to date

    Over the past 6 years, more than £50 million of funding has been awarded to 150 projects as part of the competition, helping a number of innovative technology reach the market including:

    • Seat Frog, which allows passengers to swap train tickets without having to purchase a new one
    • a train-mounted camera able to identify and address lineside maintenance issues
    • technology from Transreport that enables passengers with disabilities to request assistance more easily

    Anthony Smith, Chief Executive of independent watchdog Transport Focus, said:

    This new investment in accessibility improvements is a welcome move to help rail passengers with disabilities travel freely and with greater confidence.

    It is important that people with disabilities have full access to trains and station facilities. Improving information and new innovative solutions will help staff give all passengers the support they need.

    Mike Biddle, Executive Director for Net Zero at Innovate UK, said:

    The innovations receiving support through this competition are set to foster a more accessible, inclusive railway system within the UK and to develop demonstrators that offer innovations in customer experience, reliable and maintainable assets and optimised train operations.

    The objective is to endorse a wider array of innovations that focus on enhancing railway accessibility for all passengers, ensuring a more equitable travel experience while creating easy-to-maintain assets and optimising train operations.

    As part of the Network North plan, we have set aside a further £350 million to improve accessibility at up to 100 stations, meaning stations will be able to benefit from refitted lifts, tactile surfaces, ramps and footbridges, new ticket gates and accessible waiting rooms and toilets.

  • PRESS RELEASE : More children score full marks in their times tables check [November 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : More children score full marks in their times tables check [November 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Education on 23 November 2023.

    29% of children scored full marks in their Multiplication Table Check in 2023, up from 27% in 2022.

    Standards in schools continue to rise as more primary aged children are learning their times tables and boosting their future maths skills, new data reveals today (Thursday 23 November).

    These results build on this Government’s success in driving up standards in schools. In its second year, the times table national data has shown that more children scored full marks in the check than last year with 29% of eligible pupils in 2023 up from 27% in 2022. Overall attainment rose among all eligible children with an average score of 20 out of 25 marks for those who took the check.

    Disadvantaged children also scored higher this year getting on average 18 out of 25 marks, up by +0.4 points on 2022. Both boys and girls scored higher than last year.

    The success in this year’s scores follows on from a culmination of reforms introduced since 2010 to drive up standards including changes to the mathematics curriculum, reflecting international best practice from countries such as Singapore and China, and the introduction of a network of Maths Hubs to boost the quality of teaching in schools across the country.

    Schools Minister, Damian Hinds said:

    “Every stage of school is an opportunity to set children up to succeed and ensure they are learning the skills they need for life.

    “Mastering times tables by age 9 will make sure children can tackle more complex maths later on in life as well as help them with everyday adult activities.

    “That is why it’s so exciting that these checks show more children are learning their times tables in primary schools alongside our phonics screening check which has seen an increase in results since last year. Together our reforms are driving up standards in our schools hand in hand with the hard work of teachers.”

    The multiplication tables check was made compulsory in primary schools from 2022 to help ensure children aged 8 to 9 know their times tables up to 12 off by heart. Pupils knowing their times tables will make more complex mathematics in the future like algebra and long division simpler to process and give children the platform they need to move on to more advanced mental arithmetic.

    The multiplication table checks results show:

    • Of pupils who took the check, the average attainment score was 20.2
    • 25 (full marks) was the most common score (29% of eligible pupils achieved this score)
    • London was the highest performing region, with an average score of 21.1
    • South West was the lowest performing region, with an average score of 19.7
    • Over 620,000 students took the check in the summer

    The results from the data published today will provide teachers with standardised information to help to identify pupils who have not yet mastered their times tables, so that additional support can be provided.

    The government is driving improvements in maths across the education sector from primary school up to post-18. In 2019, primary pupils achieved their highest ever score in the TIMSS international test, and Ofsted recently found a ‘resounding, positive shift in (primary) mathematics education.’ The Maths Hub’s flagship Teaching for Mastery offer was expanded to 75% of primary schools by 2025, in line with the government’s wider strategy on maths. The mastering number programme, which aims to support children in early primary school master the basics of arithmetic, is also expanding to 8,000 primary schools by 2024.

    Last month, the Prime Minister made a huge announcement about the future of post-16 education in England. In an overhaul of the system, the launch of the Advanced British Standard will give young people the skills they need for the future and revolutionise how maths is taught in our schools. Under the new plans, every student will for the first time be required to study some form of maths and English to age 18. This will help reverse the long-term trend whereby too many students – particularly the most disadvantaged – leave school without achieving the minimum standard in literacy and numeracy.

    More broadly, standards of education have risen sharply since this government entered office in 2010, with 89% of school rated good or outstanding by Ofsted, up from just 68% in 2010. The results published today are another small example of how this government’s long-term reforms are delivering a brighter future for the next generations.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Huge boost for UK green industries with £960 million government investment and major reform of power network [November 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Huge boost for UK green industries with £960 million government investment and major reform of power network [November 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero on 23 November 2023.

    Government sets out plans to speed up connections and increase grid capacity to boost energy security.

    • New plans to halve power line construction time will speed up delivery of homegrown, renewable energy to homes and businesses
    • average grid connection delays cut from 5 years to 6 months, releasing up to 100GW of capacity – equivalent to around a quarter of the electricity needed to power our economy in 2050 – and maintaining the UK’s position as a world leader in low carbon energy
    • properties closest to power infrastructure could benefit from up to £1,000 a year off electricity bills
    • £960 million committed to accelerate manufacturing in key net zero sectors

    Major plans to speed up connections and rapidly increase capacity on the electricity grid have been set out alongside £960 million investment in green industries – strengthening UK energy security and delivering long term savings for families and businesses.

    The package of measures will support economic growth and further cement the UK as one of the best countries in the world to invest in renewables, bringing forward investment by building network infrastructure faster and speeding up grid connections.

    Launched by the Chancellor and Energy Security Secretary, government has published its response to Electricity Networks Commissioner, Nick Winser CBE, accepting his recommendations in all areas. These measures will halve the time it takes to build high-voltage power lines from 14 years to 7.

    Building on this, the Connections Action Plan will cut the average delay time projects face to connect to the grid from 5 years to just 6 months. It will also see the end of the existing ‘first-come, first-served’ system, which had led to a long queue of projects to connect to the grid – holding back low-carbon investment.

    Communities hosting new power infrastructure could benefit directly with lower electricity bills and money for projects in their local areas. They will have the power to decide how this is spent, for example on apprenticeships, energy efficiency measures, local parks or community energy generation. Properties closest to new transmission infrastructure will potentially receive up to £1,000 a year off electricity bills over 10 years.

    The government has also committed £960 million for the Green Industries Growth Accelerator, which will accelerate advanced manufacturing capacity in key net zero sectors, including offshore wind, networks, carbon capture, usage and storage, hydrogen and nuclear.

    As demand for renewables grows, with international competition across supply chains, the government is making sure the UK has the right conditions for further investment and growth. As a result of the UK’s global leadership in clean technologies, including the flagship Contracts for Difference scheme and the £20 billion recently committed to develop carbon capture, usage and storage, the UK has attracted £200 billion since 2010. A further £100 billion is expected by 2030, supporting up to 480,000 skilled jobs across the country.

    The new package announced at the Autumn Statement is expected to bring forward £90 billion of investment over the next 10 years and will ensure the country’s infrastructure is fit for the green industries of the future.

    Energy Security Secretary Claire Coutinho said:

    We have set out the most radical plans to update the grid since the 1950s – speeding up connections and rapidly increasing capacity.

    As we move away from unreliable imports to cheaper, home-grown energy, we’re boosting the grid so that it can meet our expanding electricity needs which are expected to have doubled by 2050. This will drive down bills while bringing forward £90 billion of investment over the next decade.

    We’ll also reward those living closest to new infrastructure with up to £1000 a year off their energy bills, while communities will get at least £200,000 to spend on local projects that matter the most to them.

    National Grid Chief Executive John Pettigrew, said:

    Networks are critical to connect cleaner, more affordable, home-grown energy to Britain’s homes and businesses, and we welcome the bold plans set out by government today.

    A spatial energy plan and accelerated planning consent will bring clarity, authority and urgency to what needs to be built and where, while new community benefit proposals will ensure local people remain at the heart of the energy transition. The connections action plan will deliver fundamental reforms needed to enable us to plug clean energy projects in faster, and build on the progress already being made.

    The intent is clear and welcome; now these plans must be implemented at pace to capture the economic opportunity of the energy transition and keep Britain on target to achieve its climate goals.

    The Autumn Statement includes the following:

    Speeding up grid connections

    As set out by the Prime Minister earlier this year, the government is taking action to ensure significant investment in new energy projects is supported by modern grid infrastructure – necessary to bring clean power to households and businesses while delivering emissions reduction targets.

    The Connections Action Plan, published jointly with Ofgem, will overhaul the way projects access the electricity grid, releasing over 100GW of capacity from the grid connections queue. This is equivalent to around a quarter of the electricity needed to power our economy in 2050.

    A ‘first-ready, first-connected’ approach will also be established, ensuring speculative and slow-moving projects are removed from the queue and supporting viable projects to connect when they are ready. Meanwhile, a triage service will be established to work closely and at pace with relevant investors, network companies and Ofgem to support accelerated connections for strategically-important demand customers, such as new industrial developments.

    This follows Ofgem’s recent decision to give the Electricity System Operator (ESO) new powers to terminate connection agreements of stalled projects that are holding others up in the transmission queue.

    The government has also accepted the programme of reform recommended by the Electricity Networks Commissioner to build new networks faster. This will support the delivery of up to 50GW of offshore wind power by 2030 and 24GW of new nuclear by 2050, as a major step towards decarbonising the UK economy.

    This includes developing a Strategic Spatial Energy Plan, which will enable better decision-making on the location of energy system infrastructure to create a more efficient, lower cost system. The plan will give increased certainty for investors and industry, and give every community a say. It will be produced through close working between the government and the ESO (and Future System Operator once established), in consultation with Ofgem, and act as a reference for the creation of a transmission network blueprint in the Centralised Strategic Network Plan.

    Community benefits

    As set out in the consultation response on Community Benefits for Transmission Infrastructure, benefits could be offered to communities hosting new transmission infrastructure.

    These will be in the form of both electricity bill discounts – of up to £1,000 per year, or £80 a month – over 10 years for eligible properties; and money to spend on local community projects.

    The government will publish guidance next year, enabling residents to decide how to fund projects in their area, such as education initiatives for young people, local parks or community energy generation, electric vehicle charging points or energy efficiency measures.

    The government is also considering establishing a Community Benefits Register, to ensure developers comply with the guidance and provide inspiration to communities of projects for their local area.

    Reforming the planning system

    Meanwhile, National Policy Statements – the bedrock of planning major new energy projects in England and Wales – have been strengthened to make clear that the planning system must treat low carbon energy infrastructure as a Critical National Priority.

    This underlines for everyone involved in planning decisions just how critical the need for energy infrastructure is. This works alongside a package of wider reform measures also being announced as a part of this package, to ensure the country can build the infrastructure it needs for energy security and net zero. This will facilitate investment to support growth, jobs, and emerging green industries, whilst respecting legislation to protect the environment.

    This is an important step towards delivering net zero as fairly, efficiently and quickly as possible.

    Backing green industries

    By reducing delays in network build and speeding up grid connections, this package could bring forward investment by around £90 billion over the next 10 years.

    The government is committing £960 million over the next 5 years for the Green Industries Growth Accelerator. This will drive economic growth and bolster UK exports, while removing bottlenecks from the supply chain.

    The Chancellor has also announced permanent Full Expensing: Invest for Less for those investing in IT equipment, plant, and machinery – an effective permanent tax cut of £11 billion a year. This will create the certainty that businesses, including renewable energy projects, need to confidently invest for less. A company can now permanently claim 100% capital allowances on qualifying main rate plant and machinery investments, meaning that for every pound invested its taxes are cut by up to 25p.

    To further support new renewables investment, electricity generators who take a substantive decision to proceed with new projects after 22 November 2023 will have an exemption from the Electricity Generator Levy (EGL) on revenues from those projects.

    Stakeholder Reaction

    National Grid ESO Executive Director, Fintan Slye, said:

    The ESO welcomes the strong package of reforms announced by the Chancellor, which will help ensure our energy system is fit for the future.

    Great Britain’s energy grids are the backbone of our economy and it’s imperative that we drive through urgent reforms to ensure grid access improves.

    These reforms both acknowledge the scale of energy production and network infrastructure required for future generations whilst ensuring communities hosting the infrastructure receive appropriate compensation.

    We look forward to continuing to work in lockstep with both government, Ofgem and industry to drive these changes through, ensuring businesses can connect into the network when they are ready and that network is built in the right time, at the right place, with minimised impact on communities and the environment to facilitate these connections.

    Director General of the British Chamber of Commerce Shevaun Haviland, said:

    We have long called for the electricity grid to be upgraded to help companies transition to net zero. A recent BCC survey found more than a third (37%) of businesses were not getting what they needed from the grid, in terms of energy supply and connectivity. If we can greatly reduce grid connection times it will make a big difference.

    We also welcome the news of a growth accelerator for green industries. This will give businesses the confidence to invest in these key sectors where there are huge opportunities for UK Plc, which could support our economy for years to come.

    RenewableUK Chief Executive Dan McGrail, said:

    There’s a strong focus in Chancellor’s Autumn Statement on accelerating green industrial growth. His announcement on permanent full expensing will provide a much-needed degree of long-term certainty for investors in green technologies, helping to make the UK an attractive destination for investment in clean energy projects and manufacturing.

    This combined with the announcement of £960 million for a Green Industries Growth Accelerator to support clean energy manufacturing in the UK will help us to build up new supply chains in Britain at a time when international competition for investment in clean technology manufacturing has never been more intense.

    The decision to extend tax relief on freeports from 5 to 10 years will help us to revitalise coastal communities by encouraging new investment in offshore wind manufacturing, including factories servicing innovative floating projects. Industry estimates that overall the offshore wind supply chain could boost the UK’s economy by £92 billion by 2040.

    We also welcome the government’s commitments to reform the planning system by offering local authorities financial incentives to make decisions faster, as well as their ambition to cut grid connection delays from several years to 6 months.

    We look forward to further key announcements such as the publication in March of more details on next year’s CfD auction which we hope will secure a record annual amount of new clean energy capacity.

    Chief Executive of the Energy Networks Association Lawrence Slade, said:

    Today’s announcements will hearten everyone working hard to enable net zero. We need to use every tool in the box to accelerate grid connections and ensure the country can deliver the critical infrastructure it needs as quickly as possible.

    It’s great to see the government acting on the need for planning reform, including the publication of revised energy National Policy Statements. We also welcome the intent to ensure there are direct benefits for the communities hosting critical energy infrastructure and the steps set out in the government’s Connections Action Plan.

    Steps taken by the electricity network operators, Ofgem and ESO (the system operator) have already helped to ensure nearly 50GW of capacity is being made available to customers in 2023. That’s almost the equivalent of the UK’s peak electricity demand. The steps announced today will help increase that even further over the coming months and years.

    We look forward to working with the Secretary of State and Minister for Nuclear and Networks to enable net zero, unlock grid capacity and boost UK investment.

    SSE Chief Executive Alistair Phillips-Davies, said:

    As one of the biggest investors in the UK, we welcome the Chancellor’s focus on encouraging business investment, speeding up the time it takes to build major projects and looking at how communities hosting clean energy infrastructure receive tangible benefits.

    We look forward to seeing further details of today’s announcements and working with communities and policymakers across the political spectrum to build the cleaner, cheaper and more secure energy system we all want to see.

    ScottishPower Chief Executive Keith Anderson, said:

    This is a much-needed boost to get Britain back on track as a nation that builds infrastructure the rest of the world can envy.

    We were pioneers with the first electricity grids almost a century ago and these electricity superhighways are critical to bettering the lives of the nation – securing more green and home-grown energy and enabling the shift to clean transport and heating.

    A relentless focus on people, planning and the UK pipeline is key to unlocking the massive economic growth of these investments. We welcome the government’s plans to support communities who host this vital national infrastructure and raise awareness of the positive long-term impact on society.

    Microsoft Vice President External Affairs Hugh Milward, said:

    We urgently need to build the next generation of infrastructure that will see the UK economy grow and thrive. The measures announced today are precisely the kind of energy policies that will unlock a wave of additional domestic and international investment.

    GrantScape Chief Executive Matt Young, said:

    The Government Response to Community Benefits for Electricity Transmission Network Infrastructure was welcomed today. Community Benefit funding is a critical part of the overall implementation of these nationally important projects and a suitable mechanism to acknowledge the communities in close proximity.