Category: Press Releases

PRESS RELEASE : Ukraine’s resilience and the support of its international partners will remain strong – UK statement at the UN Security Council [November 2023]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 21 November 2023.

Statement by Ambassador James Kariuki at the UN Security Council meeting on Ukraine.

Thank you, President. I also thank Assistant Secretary-General Jenča and Mr Hollingsworth for their briefing.

Russia continues its relentless attacks on Ukraine’s ports and grain infrastructure. It is a deliberate attempt to strangle the Ukrainian economy, with total disregard for the impact on food. It follows Russia’s cynical withdrawal from the Black Sea Grain Initiative, driving up global food prices and risking the lives of the world’s most vulnerable.

The cost of Russia’s war to global food supplies is staggering. In just one month, Russia destroyed over 280,000 tonnes of grain – enough to feed over a million people for a year. Agriculture production costs have increased, and landmines have reduced the land available to farm. In front-line oblasts, households involved in agricultural production have reduced by a quarter.

As well as its attack on food, Russia is repeating its strategy of attacking critical infrastructure in winter, attempting to break resolve by depriving the Ukrainian people of electricity, heat, water and vital medical services. Russia will not succeed.

Ukraine’s resilience and the support of its international partners will remain strong. The United Kingdom will continue to work with Ukraine and our partners to ensure Ukraine is able to export its grain. The ‘Unity Facility’, launched last week between Marsh McLennan’s UK division and the Ukrainian Government, will provide affordable shipping insurance for grain and other critical food supplies globally from Ukraine’s Black Sea ports. Ships are sailing and Ukraine’s grain is being exported.

This week, the UK hosted a Global Food Security Summit galvanising action to tackle the causes of food insecurity and malnutrition and unlock our diverse resources for a more resilient, food-secure future. We welcome Ukraine’s summit next week, which will drive support for the Grain from Ukraine initiative.

As my Foreign Secretary said in Ukraine last week, Russia thinks it can wait this war out and that the West will eventually turn its attention elsewhere. This could not be further from the truth. The UK and our partners will support Ukraine and its people for as long as it takes for them to achieve victory and a just peace.

I thank you.

November 29, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Media Bill to maximise potential of British TV and radio [November 2023]

The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 21 November 2023.

Culture Secretary promises to remove “Sword of Damocles” anti-free press laws as she opens Second Reading of the Media Bill.

New measures added to ensure a wide range of TV genres continue to be shown by the UK’s main broadcasters, and to protect free access to crown jewel sports events
Bill will help Britain’s public service broadcasters (PSBs) make more hit shows and ensure they are prominently shown on smart TVs and via streaming sticks
A new Ofcom-regulated Video-on-demand Code for major streamers such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and Disney+ will better protect children and most vulnerable
TV and radio audiences could see more high quality British programmes hitting screens and speakers as new laws to maximise the potential of UK broadcasters are debated in Parliament today (Tues 21 Nov).

The Media Bill, which has its Second Reading in the House of Commons today, will update decades-old legislation to unleash the power of British broadcasters to attract bigger audiences in the UK and abroad, empowering them to invest in new talent and technology while supporting the government’s ambition to grow the creative industries by £50 billion and one million jobs by 2030.

Among the Bill’s measures, the PSBs are set to gain more control over their TV schedules and on-demand offerings through more flexible rules on the types of programmes they are required to show, allowing each PSB to focus more on the content it is uniquely positioned to deliver.

Following feedback on the draft Bill, the laws will now require PSBs to ensure an “appropriate range of programme genres” are available on their services, protecting against a potential reduction in specialist genres of shows – such as religious, science and arts programming. A specific requirement for PSBs to continue to broadcast news and children’s programming is included.

The Bill will ensure British audiences continue to access free live coverage of our biggest sporting moments, like the Fifa World Cup and the Olympic and Paralympic Games. A loophole which could have seen unregulated streaming services bypass the regime that protects free access to these major sport events will be closed, after Ministers updated the Bill.

The new definition of “relevant services” ensures that TV-like services not currently captured by the listed events regime but providing live content to UK audiences via the internet, will now be captured. This will ensure the rights for listed events continue to be offered on fair and reasonable terms to PSBs as sport audience viewing habits evolve.

Opening the debate, Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer is expected to say:

We are in a golden age for the silver screen and our public service broadcasters are a major reason why. Whether it’s reality shows like the Great British Bake Off and I’m A Celebrity, or dramas like Time, Happy Valley or Broadchurch – our public service broadcasters have proven they can go toe-to-toe with the streaming giants.

But success today is never a guarantee of success tomorrow. The rise of streaming giants and on-demand content, YouTube and smartphones, tablets and Tik Tok have combined to reshape our whole broadcasting landscape.

It is our job to enact reforms that keep our broadcasters at the top of their game in the years ahead. This Bill will do that by levelling the playing field, removing threats to their sustainability and opening up new opportunities to maximise growth and unlock potential.

This Bill has media freedom at its core. Section 40, and the possibility of publishers having to pay the legal costs of the people who sue them, even if they win, has hung over our media like a Sword of Damocles. This Bill removes the sword for good.

S4C Chief Operating Officer Elin Morris said:

The Media Bill will confirm S4C’s position as a multi-platform Welsh-language content provider across the UK and beyond.

The new framework will ensure that indigenous languages, including Welsh, are part of the new public service remit for television in the UK.

The Bill will extend legislation for online TV viewing and ensure that S4C Clic is available on connected TVs and prominent on TV sets in Wales.

This will allow us to further develop our services and place Welsh-language content on the main platforms across the UK.

Other measures in the Media Bill
The legislation will support our world-class public service broadcasters – the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5, STV and S4C – through new requirements for their apps and content to be shown prominently on popular smart TVs and streaming sticks.

Audiences will benefit from stronger protections from harmful or age-inappropriate shows through a new Ofcom regulated Video-on-demand Code on the biggest streaming platforms and new requirements for subtitling, audio description and signing to cover mainstream on-demand services.

UK radio will receive new protections to ensure services are easily accessible on smart speakers – from major national stations to the smallest community stations – and obsolete red tape putting an unnecessary burden on commercial radio services will be removed.

Laws which threatened to force newspapers to pay both sides’ costs in any legal proceedings, even if they won, will be repealed via the Bill. The Bill will boost S4C, the Welsh language broadcaster, by allowing it to broaden its reach in the UK and beyond and offer its content on a range of new digital services.

As announced earlier this month, Channel 4 will get new freedoms to make and own its content to boost its long-term sustainability, while new safeguards for production companies would protect millions of pounds of investment in programmes made by independent TV producers across the UK.

November 29, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Seizure of MV Galaxy Leader by the Houthis: UK statement [November 2023]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 21 November 2023.

The UK government has issued a statement condemning the unlawful seizure of MV Galaxy Leader by the Houthis in the Red Sea.

A Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office spokesperson said:

The United Kingdom condemns the unlawful seizure of MV Galaxy Leader by the Houthis in the Red Sea and we call for the immediate, and unconditional, release of the ship and its crew.

Iran has long provided military and political support to the Houthis. We have made it clear to Iran that it bears responsibility for the actions of its proxies and partners. Iran must actively restrain these groups to prevent the conflict escalating across the region.

The UK is committed to ensuring the safety of shipping in the region, including through our contribution to the International Maritime Security Construct (IMSC) and Combined Maritime Forces (CMF).

November 29, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : UK and South Korea to agree new partnership to redefine and strengthen ties for next generation [November 2023]
The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 20 November 2023.

A major long-term agreement that will redefine the relationship between the UK and a critical Indo-Pacific partner will be signed by the Prime Minister and the President of the Republic of Korea this week.
Leaders to agree new Downing Street Accord, deepening cooperation between the UK and the Republic of Korea, and strengthening ties with the critical Indo-Pacific partner

State visit by President Yoon Suk Yeol will see the launch of negotiations on an upgraded Free Trade Agreement and flagship semi-conductor partnership to secure robust supply chains for the future

Partnership will also focus on increasing technology sharing, defence cooperation and supporting regional security at sea, on land and in cyberspace

Visit brings £21 billion investment into the UK with South Korean firms backing renewables and infrastructure projects across the country, plus a further £3bn worth of trade

A major long-term agreement that will redefine the relationship between the UK and a critical Indo-Pacific partner will be signed by the Prime Minister and the President of the Republic of Korea this week.

The Downing Street Accord, which follows the signing of similar partnerships with Singapore and Japan earlier this year, will deepen the relationship between the UK and South Korea, and see the two countries step up cooperation on technology, defence and security.

President Yoon Suk Yeol will begin his three-day state visit this morning (Tuesday), which will include a bilateral with the Prime Minister and signing of the Accord at Downing Street tomorrow. The visit coincides with 140th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the UK and Korea, as well as the 70th anniversary of the armistice of the Korean war.

Trade and investment is expected to be a key focus of the visit, with the Prime Minister set to host key Korean investors at Downing Street this evening, and Trade Secretaries from both countries preparing to sign an agreement to launch the negotiations for an upgraded modern, world-leading Free Trade Agreement (FTA) on Wednesday.

A future-proofed FTA, fit for the technology driven landscape of the coming decades, will pave the way for new digital trade and rules of origin chapters and look to streamline existing complex arrangements, as well as digitising customs procedures.

Already the world’s 13th largest economy, the Republic of Korea has around 45 million middle class consumers and an import market expected to grow by 45% by 2035. Trade between both countries has more than doubled since the first FTA was agreed in 2011, with the exchange of goods and services now worth £16bn a year.

The launch of negotiations comes as South Korean businesses commit more than £21 billion of new investment into the UK, backing renewable energy and infrastructure projects across the country, and a further £3bn worth of trade. The trade and investment boost will support more than 1500 highly skilled jobs. The major investment pledge fires the starting gun on the Government’s flagship Global Investment Summit being held in London next week.

The investment also underpins a new Clean Energy Partnership between the UK and Korea, which will drive efforts to triple renewable energy capacity globally. The partnership will also see accelerated collaboration on a large scale, small scale and advanced civil nuclear reactors, reinforcing resilience on energy grid infrastructure, and exploring opportunities on hydrogen collaboration and offshore wind.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said:

Long term, global partnerships are vital to our prosperity and security, both today and in the future. As two nations focussed on innovation, harnessing new technologies and defending the international rules-based order, the UK and Republic of Korea are natural partners.

Through our new Downing Street Accord, we will drive investment, boost trade and build a friendship that not only supports global stability, but protects our interests and lasts the test of time.

These close ties have already propelled £21 billion of investment between our countries, and I know a Free Trade Agreement fit for the future will only drive further investment, delivering on my promise to grow the economy and support highly skilled jobs.

The future-focussed Accord also includes agreements to work closer together to harness the potential of critical technologies like AI, quantum and semiconductors to create jobs and unlock economic growth, alongside up to £4.5 million in joint research funding, led by the Royal Society.

It comes after the UK handed over the baton for next year’s AI Safety Summit to South Korea to co-host the 2024 conference, following the inaugural Bletchley Park summit earlier this month.

Innovate UK will also invest more than £8.5 million, matched by Korean agencies, creating joint innovation programmes with the Republic of Korea, driving the development and commercialisation of critical technologies, including for the first time – semiconductors. This investment will improve the supply chain resilience of semi-conductors, which are essential to everyday technology, including phones, computers, cars and hospital equipment. for the long-term.

Defence cooperation and shoring up the security of the Indo-Pacific is also expected to be on the agenda for this week’s visit, with both countries’ militaries pledging to step up joint training and operations to create the most comprehensive exercise regime between the UK and any partner other than the US.

Under the Accord, the Republic of Korea is also expected to agree to join with British ships on sanctions patrols, authorised by the UN Security Council, to uphold of the rule of law in the region. The DPRK relies on illegal smugglers in order to bypass international sanctions, many of which were introduced to block imports and exports which could be used to support its nuclear weapons programme.

The enforcement action will be the first bilateral sanctions action the two nations have conducted together against the DPRK, and paves the way for multilateral sanctions operations with the US and other allies in the future.

That enforcement action will be underpinned by new defence and cyber partnerships, which will strengthen defence industry and intelligence agency ties. The cyber partnership will bolster both countries’ ability to detect, disrupt and deter malicious actors, while the defence partnership will improve industrial collaboration and supply chain integration, allowing for greater defence capability development.

Science ministers from both countries are also expected to sign a new Memorandum of Understanding on space cooperation, bringing our space industries closer together and paving the way for joint space endeavours. The UK and South Korea will work together on satellites, tackling space debris and earth observation technology.
November 28, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Defence Secretary Grant Shapps Franco-British Council Defence Conference remarks [November 2023]

The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 20 November 2023.

Defence Secretary Grant Shapps addressed attendees at the Franco-British Council Defence Conference reception alongside French Defence Minister Sébastien Lecornu after their bilateral meeting on 20 November 2023.

Ladies and gentlemen and to my now friend, Sébastien, it’s wonderful to have you here in London and thank you for joining us at the magnificent ambassador’s residence. And thank you to you for welcoming us here this evening.

And it’s a timely moment to be here because this year we not only commemorate 80 years since D-Day, it’s actually 120 years since the signing of our Entente Cordiale.

What precisely is it that makes our entente so special? It was after all, supposed to be nothing more than an informal understanding. And yet it survived the loss of millions during the Great War.

It was the animating spirit that flowed through the heroic soldiers of the Free French on D-Day. And, in our own century, it has remained, and been reanimated by the Lancaster House Treaties of 2010.

Perhaps the best answer to this entente conundrum was provided by Ferdinand Foch, the Supreme Allied Commander of the combined British, French and American forces in World War 1.

Foch, whose statue stands proudly just 20 minutes walk from here, once said: “The moral factor is the most important in war.”

This, to me, is the crux. We share the same values: liberty, equality, fraternity. Values that are embedded in our DNA. And values that mean there is far more despite some bumpy times, that unites us than divides us.

You saw that in the magnificent state visit that has already been referenced where Their Majesties the King and Queen visited France earlier this year.

And, since becoming Defence Secretary, I’ve had the pleasure of seeing our entente in action. Today our forces are operating across air, land and sea.

Our industries are pushing the boundaries of technologies in everything from complex weapons to Maritime Mine Counter Measures and missiles.

And our great Combined Joint Expeditionary Force is coming into its own. Able to muster more than 10,000 at a moments’ notice, it has created the structures to allow us to plan and operate together and over the few months the Griffin exercises will train our people to cope with the intensity of maritime warfare anywhere in the world.

However, I think we need to acknowledge that world is rapidly changing, the threats that we face are increasing.

120 years ago, Foch wrote “Truly enough, a new era had begun, the era of national wars, of wars which were to assume a maddening pace”.

Words that seem especially prescient today with Ukraine fighting to kick Russian invaders out of their own country and Israel pursuing the Hamas terrorists in Gaza, those who brought mass slaughter to the people of Israel on October 7.

That ‘maddening pace’ that he talked about as being fuelled both by ideology and realpolitik.

Hamas shares an ideology with that of Daesh and al Qaeda offshoots that are growing in influence across Sub Saharan Africa for example.

Behind Hamas lies the malign shadow of Iran which continues to pull the strings of its other proxies, no matter whether it’s Palestinian Islamic Jihad; Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis of Yemen or the militants of different locations from Iraq to Syria.

And as Iran and North Korea send suicide drones and artillery to Russia, Russia invites Hamas to the Kremlin.

Meanwhile, the Kremlin has a “no limits partnership” with China. And China, in the midst of massive military and economic expansion, has a mutual defence treaty policy with North Korea.

Collectively, these nations seek to rewrite the international order in their own image.

If we are to respond then we must follow Foch in showing resolution, courage and commitment. And I think that means three things.

First, showing our wholehearted backing for Ukraine.

The media focus might have switched on to the Middle East but our focus, as Sébastien and I discussed today, has not.

Putin’s success wouldn’t just be a disaster for Ukraine and of course her neighbours, it would give autocrats everywhere the green light to ride rough shod over the international rules-based system which is why I told President Zelenskyy, when I visited him in Kyiv earlier this year, our support remains absolutely unwavering.

As winter draws on, we know Ukraine can expect more attacks.

So, the international community must continue working with coalition colleagues to keep providing Ukraine with equipment and ammunition that she requires.

And we must keep combatting Russia and their campaign of disinformation which seeks to make others forget Ukraine’s plight.

Second, we must shore up our international order, which means continuing to bolster NATO, which is the bedrock of our European shared defence.

Next year the Alliance marks its 75th anniversary and it remains in rude health, much strengthened by the partnerships with countries like France.

It has played a pivotal role in reassuring our Eastern European allies and deterring further Russian aggression.

Indeed, much to Putin’s chagrin, NATO is now stronger than it was before he invaded, with the addition of Finland and soon, we very much hope, Sweden as well.

But there is more to do.

Whether reinforcing deterrence and defence along the Alliance’s Eastern and Northern flanks or providing greater reassurance to nations like Moldova who have greatly been affected by Russia’s war.

Finally, we must elevate the entente.

France is already the UK’s closest ally in Europe, but, as this year’s Defence Command Paper refresh and the Franco-British summit in March underlined, ours is a relationship which has room to grow still.

As the threat of extremism rises again, we can increase our efforts to share intelligence, counter terror and combat the cyber misinformation that poisons our national debate.

We can do more on capabilities too, pressing ahead with the Future Cruise and Anti-Ship Weapon programme that we discussed this afternoon, and pursuing the innovations that will help to deliver directed energy weapons, deep precision strike and future combat air systems.

Lastly, there’s more we can do on operations as well.

I already talked about CJEF is up and running but we must think about adapting it to operate in ever more contested areas such as the High North.

And, of course, we are looking forward to future coordinated carrier deployments in the Indo-Pacific.

Not merely a means of mutually supporting each other’s task groups, improving the interoperability of our embarked helicopters and testing our un-crewed autonomous vehicles at sea.

But, for the first time, a demonstration of complementary and persistent European presence in a region of critical importance when we do so.

But Sébastien I think this is all just the start.

And that’s why you’re here today. It’s why we’ve had those excellent discussions this afternoons. We’ve got our brightest brains I’m told from the military, government, industry and academia, even one of two members of the press from both sides of the Channel.

Opportunity abounds for us and we need your help deciding where we go next.

Next year’s momentous anniversaries are about much more

than honouring the past, as important as that is. They offer us important insights into our future.

Now, by the end of the Great War, Field Marshall Foch was leading both the French and British forces to victory.

And on the base of his statue in London the following words are inscribed “I am conscious of having served England as I served my own country”.

He understood that our collective strength lay, not in the might of our arms, but in the strength of our shared values.

I have no doubt that as long as we keep those principles of freedom, justice and democracy uppermost in our minds, then we will not simply follow Marshall Foch in preserving our entente cordiale but, 120 years on, transform it into an entente supreme that merits a third plaque on the wall outside.

Sébastien, thank you very much indeed.

November 28, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : The United Kingdom will continue to offer honest and reliable development support around the world – UK statement at the UN Security Council [November 2023]

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

Statement by Ambassador James Kariuki at the UN Security Council meeting on peace through common development.

Thank you, President. I am grateful to China for convening this meeting and to all our briefers for framing the challenge.

As the Secretary-General reminded us, development, peace and security, and human rights, are interlinked and mutually reinforcing. Conflict is an obstacle to sustainable development. A lack of development can drive fragility and insecurity. Breaking this cycle is one of the biggest challenges we face.

The United Kingdom is committed to development partnerships founded on mutual respect that support national efforts to reduce poverty and instability. Today, my Government launched an ambitious new international development ‘White Paper,’ setting out the re-energised agenda for the UK to work with partners and accelerate progress towards the SDGs.

Under this new framework, we will champion action to address conflict and fragility and to build resilience. Crucial to this, we will be standing up for the values of open and inclusive societies, and promoting gender equality.

We are already working with partners around the world to do just that. In Somalia, we are supporting community reconciliation in areas recovered from al-Shabaab. From Ethiopia to Colombia to Myanmar, the United Kingdom is working for sustainable development and peace, bilaterally and with our partners.

President, there are profound risks when development efforts are not undertaken with great care. To sustain peace, we need to identify and address risk factors, such as horizontal inequality and discrimination, and strengthen protective factors that mitigate risks.

As a decades-long international development player, the United Kingdom has learnt that effective prevention efforts engage multiple stakeholders, at all levels, in multi-sector responses.

At the UN, this means working better ‘across pillars’, and in the institutions of peacekeeping, peacebuilding and development. And with partners such as the World Bank. It also means using holistic analysis to generate integrated solutions that get at the root causes of conflict and violence and establish sustainable development on strong foundations.

President, The United Kingdom will continue to offer honest and reliable development support around the world. We will support work to tackle climate change and other issues that threaten development and peace. And we will take a patient, smart, and long-term approach with partner governments to put in place the institutions and policies that can bring about long-term peace and resilience.

Thank you.

November 28, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : World Children Day – Joint Statement by Group of Friends for CAAC in Ukraine [November 2023]

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

On World Children’s Day, the Ukraine Group of Friends for Children and Armed Conflict (CAAC) raises the devastating effects of Russia’s war of aggression on the children of Ukraine.

The Group of Friends – active since July 2023 – has been listening as we are presented with the dire reality of children during this war. Today, we want to draw attention to this reality, speaking on behalf of children who do not have a voice as a result of Russia’s aggression.

We are appalled by persistently high levels of killing and maiming of children. We are dismayed that almost 3,800 educational facilities have been damaged or destroyed.

Schools are under a constant threat of Russian attacks. With limited shelters in schools, children often cannot physically attend class. Frequent power cuts also lead to children not being able to study online. And, in the Ukrainian territories, temporarily occupied by Russia, students are taught Russian-imposed curriculums and are not allowed to learn in Ukrainian.

We applaud Ukraine for endorsing the Safe Schools Declaration, which notes that every child has the right to education without fear of violence or attack. We therefore welcome the fact that over 95 percent of students are registered in the school system – a significant achievement during wartime.

We vehemently condemn the large-scale, illegal forced transfer and deportation of children to Russia or temporarily occupied territories within Ukraine. We take note of and are following the arrest warrants for Russian President Putin and Presidential Commissioner for Children’s Rights Maria Lvova-Belova issued by the International Criminal Court. We urgently call on the Russian Federation to return Ukraine’s children. All violations of human rights and international humanitarian law against children must be investigated and perpetrators must be held accountable.

Children’s whereabouts need to be established and effective communication with guardians facilitated. Children need to be informed that Russian propaganda is false and that they are wanted back home. We commend those who have facilitated returns and we support further efforts to return more children.

War leaves profound physical and psychological scars. Children should receive long-term, survivor-centered and gender-responsive recovery and rehabilitation that includes mental health and trauma support and care for children with disabilities. To this end, we welcome Ukraine’s focus on family-based care.

The Group of Friends will remain engaged on child protection issues and will continue to advocate that they stay on relevant agendas, with a focus on the best interests of the child.

We stand with Ukraine as it protects its future generations.

Embassy of Austria to Ukraine

Embassy of Belgium to Ukraine

Embassy of Canada to Ukraine

Embassy of Chile to Ukraine

Embassy of Denmark to Ukraine

Embassy of Estonia to Ukraine

Embassy of Finland to Ukraine

Embassy of France to Ukraine

Embassy of Germany to Ukraine

Embassy of Ireland to Ukraine

Embassy of Italy to Ukraine

Embassy of Japan to Ukraine

Embassy of Latvia to Ukraine

Embassy of Lithuania to Ukraine

Embassy of the Netherlands to Ukraine

Embassy of Norway to Ukraine

Embassy of Poland to Ukraine

Embassy of Romania to Ukraine

Embassy of Slovenia to Ukraine

Embassy of Spain to Ukraine

Embassy of Sweden to Ukraine

Embassy of Switzerland to Ukraine

Embassy of the United Kingdom to Ukraine

Embassy of the United States of America to Ukraine

Delegation of the European Union to Ukraine

November 28, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : UK’s agri-food and drink attachés backing British food and drink [November 2023]

The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 20 November 2023.

The UK’s agri-food and drink attachés were welcomed to 10 Downing Street this morning, marking the start of a week meeting ministers and the nation’s food producers.

The eleven attachés based in British embassies and consulates around the world – in Canada, Mexico, USA, Brazil, Kenya, The Gulf, India, Japan, China, Thailand and Vietnam – work to remove trade barriers, identify emerging international markets and tap into growing demand worldwide for quality goods from UK farmers and producers.

In 2023 alone, the attachés have supported the government in resolving 42 agri-food barriers worth an estimated £340 million per year, with 141 new market access agreements delivered since 2020. Their recent successes include securing market access for poultry to Tunisia, sheep embryos to the USA, pork to Chile, trout ova to China and pet food to South Korea.

This week they will tour the UK, from meeting with producers of whisky and seafood in Scotland to visiting egg farms and meat processors in Shropshire. The attachés will gain first-hand experience of food production and deepen their understanding of the farmers and producers whose interests they represent overseas.

Secretary of State for Food and Farming Steve Barclay said:

Backing British farmers is one of my priorities at Defra and our attachés do vital work to ensure they get the best possible deals to export their world-class produce.

We are expanding the attaché network even further next year, so that our excellent food and drink can continue to reach all corners of the globe.

While in the UK, the attachés will meet with Food and Farming Minister Mark Spencer and attend an industry brunch hosted by NFU President Minette Batters, in addition to further meetings with the Scotch Whisky Association, Seafood Scotland, the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) and the Food and Drink Export Council.

The week provides an opportunity for the attachés to build their relationships with these key stakeholders and share learnings and insights with each other.

Food and Farming Minister Mark Spencer said:

I look forward to meeting with our agri-food attachés in Westminster this week and thanking them for the brilliant work they do on behalf of our farmers and food producers.

The best of British food and drink is now being enjoyed around the world, from Canada to Vietnam – in part thanks to their skilled negotiating and dedication to seeking out new export opportunities.

Minister for Exports Lord Offord said:

Growing the agri, food and drink sector is key to boosting our economy and will be vital in our race to reach £1 trillion of exports by 2030.

Thanks to the work of our agri-food attachés, we’re helping more businesses break into new markets and benefit from exciting new opportunities across the world.

Defra’s agri-food attaché for Africa said:

Africa is poised to be one of the world’s biggest global consumer markets, with a growing middle class and a keen appetite for UK products.

I am thrilled to take part in the attaché engagement week and look forward to meeting with farmers and food producers to discuss how I can help send Scottish salmon to Morocco, whisky to Kenya, poultry to West and Central Africa, and renowned British confectionary to Egypt.

At the Prime Minister’s Farm to Fork Summit in May, it was announced that five additional attachés would be recruited to expand the network further – attachés covering the regions of Australia and New Zealand; North Europe; South Europe; South Korea and an additional attaché in Africa are expected to be in post by May 2024.

NFU President Minette Batters said:

Agri-food attachés play a vital role in delivering our shared ambition of boosting high-quality, climate-friendly British exports abroad which is why we campaigned to grow their number. I’m delighted this network has increased in recent months and I hope it will continue given the incredibly important work they do.

I look forward to working directly with the attachés this week to share the passion and knowledge within our sector, and ultimately help give them the tools to be the best ambassadors possible for great British produce overseas.

Dr Phil Hadley, AHDB International Trade Development Director, said:

We are delighted to play a part in hosting the visit of the government’s agri-food attachés. AHDB recognises the valuable role they play in helping drive export growth. We applaud the government’s continued efforts to expand the agri-food attaché network further to maximise opportunities for our products in global markets.

One of AHDB’s key strategic objectives is export development, working collaboratively with industry and government, to cultivate further opportunities for our red meat and dairy sectors. The visit of the agri-food attachés will help cement our shared ambition to continue delivering export growth for our high-quality produce.

Donna Fordyce, CEO of Seafood Scotland said:

The attachés will visit a Bakkafrost salmon farm, which will include a boat trip to see the pens and discover how the fish are carefully reared in a healthy environment. Scotland’s aquaculture sector is of great importance to our nation’s economy and we are proud to showcase best practice in action.

This is a fantastic opportunity for the industry – and us – to engage with attachés from around the world, who each do so much to support our sector with market access and development opportunities.

Ian McKendrick, International Director at the Scotch Whisky Association, said:

Supporting our member companies to reduce and remove barriers to trade in established and emerging markets is a key priority, and we work closely with the agri-food and drink attachés and DEFRA to secure the best possible international environment for Scotch Whisky.

The placement of attachés in key markets around the world, means their input, analysis and market intelligence is a vital channel of information for the industry.

We are pleased to be able to host them on a fact-finding mission to Scotland, so they can deepen their knowledge of Scotch Whisky and the industry’s priorities so they are better able to speak with authority on issues which impact the industry, and help drive export growth.

November 28, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : £1 billion boost for levelling up – government backs 55 transformational local projects across the UK [November 2023]

The press release issued by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities on 20 November 2023.

55 local projects awarded share of nearly £1 billion from Round 3 of government’s flagship Levelling Up Fund, to spread opportunity, create jobs and revitalise local communities.

New levelling up funding will provide a major boost to high streets and improve transport links with £1 billion awarded today to 55 transformational projects in communities across the UK.

These include upgrades for the fishing sector and sustainable jobs in Torbay, breathing new life into treasured heritage and culture buildings in three former mining communities in Doncaster and essential funding needed to transform Blackpool town centre’s transport network.

As part of this, £150 million will be allocated to develop better transport links across the country with £825 million to kick-start regeneration in town centres. This will create new jobs and opportunities, power economic growth and revitalise communities.

Levelling up Secretary Michael Gove said:

Levelling up means delivering local people’s priorities and bringing transformational change in communities that have, for too long, been overlooked and undervalued.

Today we are backing 55 projects across the UK with £1 billion to create new jobs and opportunities, power economic growth, and revitalise local areas.

This funding sits alongside our wider initiatives to spread growth, through devolving more money and power out of Westminster to towns and cities, putting in place bespoke interventions to places that need it most, and our Long-Term Plan for Towns.

Funding is spread across all corners of Great Britain, with the North West receiving £128 million, the North East £59 million, Yorkshire and the Humber £169 million and the Midlands £171 million in total.

The government has drawn on the impressive pool of bids which narrowly missed out on funding in round two but were assessed as high-quality and able to deliver quickly.

It is testament to how many excellent projects have been submitted, and championed by local MPs and councillors, that this round of funding was awarded within the pool of previously submitted bids.

This will drive forward the Prime Minister’s priority to grow the economy by levelling up and provide the foundations for building a better future in communities across the UK.

Since 2021, the Levelling Up Fund has helped drive prosperity and pride in place in communities across the UK. Across the first two rounds of the Levelling Up Fund, £3.8 billion has been awarded to 216 projects which are underway.

For example, with the support of £20 million from the Levelling Up Fund round one, the Bolton College of Medical Science plans to welcome students from September 2024, providing a new facility to support young people in Bolton and attract talent from outside the town.

And in Portsmouth, a brand new, carbon neutral ferry terminal was opened earlier this year as part of money from round one of the fund, which will provide a significant economic boost by helping the International Port to manage an additional 250,000 passengers a year.

Today’s announcement follows the £1 billion Long-Term Plan for Towns unveiled last month, to empower communities across the UK to take back control of their future through local priorities; reviving high streets, tackling anti-social behaviour, improving transport and growing the local economy.

This commitment to towns follows other initiatives designed to support towns, including driving economic growth in 101 areas through the Towns Fund, and the £1 billion Future High Streets Fund, which is creating thriving high streets.

Further information

The government has drawn on the impressive pool of bids submitted at round two which we were not able to fund earlier in the year but were assessed as high-quality and able to deliver quickly. We will work closely with local authorities to ensure that the projects allocated funding can make a difference to communities as quickly as possible.

The full list of projects is available to view online here

We have targeted funding at the places most in need across Great Britain, as assessed through our Levelling Up Needs metrics, which take into account a wide array of metrics including skills, pay, productivity and health. We have also taken care to ensure that every part of Great Britain benefits from this round of funding. A full methodology note has been published.

In Northern Ireland, given the current absence of a working Executive and Assembly, the Government is not proceeding with this round of the Levelling Up Fund at this time. We will continue to work closely with projects and places in Northern Ireland that were awarded a total of £120 million in the first two rounds of the Fund.

Levelling up commitments

Today’s allocations also come on top of significant action already taken by the government to level up communities across the country. This includes opening 12 Freeports, signing 5 devolution deals, connecting 740,000 homes and business with gigabit broadband, and helping 195 community groups take ownership of their cherished pubs, clubs and local landmarks at risk of closure.

Town Deals have been providing funding of up £25 million, to 101 towns in order to boost local economies outside of big cities and deliver vital infrastructure. Projects are now in delivery and the funding has already boosted towns centres and local high streets.

The government also announced last month that 55 towns will be given £20 million endowment-style funds each over 10 years to invest in local people’s priorities through the Long-term Plan for Towns.

Revitalising towns and cities

In this round of the Levelling Up Fund, over £825 million from round three is being provided to regenerate towns and cities in nearly 50 projects, helping boost high streets and grow local businesses.

Pembrokeshire will see over £10.5 million to improve public accessibility across Pembroke town, focusing on Westgate, Eastgate and overall improvements to the environment.

In South Tyneside, £20 million will be given to South Shields Riverside to be used for three projects. This includes the redevelopment of the Grade II listed Customs House cultural hub, a ground-breaking Centre for Excellence at the Holborn Renewable Energy Network and accommodation as part of the relocation of South Tyneside College.

Billingham Town Centre in Stockton-on-Tees will be receiving £20 million to create a vibrant, modern town centre that safeguards its retail businesses and levels up its high street. The town of Elgin in Scotland will receive £18 million to transform it into an urban hub and help the region attract and retain high productivity businesses.

Improving transport links

£150 million from the Levelling Up Fund has been allocated to eight projects across the United Kingdom to improve transport links. All of these projects are in Levelling Up Priority Places.

This includes £48 million for major upgrades to the Penistone line in Yorkshire to help reliability of rail travel between Sheffield and Huddersfield. The funding will also help provide enhanced station facilities such as electric vehicle charging points, car clubs, cycle hire and parcel delivery lockers.

Scotland will receive £13.8 million in levelling up funding to improve transport connectivity in Dumfries and Galloway, including new EV charging for cars, electric buses and charging infrastructure, cycle route improvements, and new transport hubs in five towns in the region.

The Isle of Wight will get £13.6 million to deliver the Island Green Link, providing cycle and walking infrastructure extending from Ryde in the East to Yarmouth in the west of the island. This will help residents and visitors to get across the island and will unlock potential for new housing and jobs.

Delivering for the North

19 projects across the North East, North West and Yorkshire and the Humber will be receiving a total of £356 million in levelling up funding, almost a third of the allocations provided in total in this round.

Known for its history in textiles such as wool and cotton processing, Keighley in Yorkshire will be receiving £19.8 million to boost its strong manufacturing heritage. Levelling up funding will contribute towards a new Advanced Robotics and Engineering Institute to support the expansion of the advanced manufacturing and engineering industry.

£15.4 million will transform Blackpool town centre, improving traffic flow, access to public transport, and infrastructure for cyclists and pedestrians.

In Newcastle Upon Tyne, £19.4 million of funding to create a restoration facility, aimed at sustaining the use of the river and access to quays to support economic activities, unlock hundreds of new jobs, meet the needs of the offshore energy sector and increased international trade.

November 28, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Vision for the future of civil and family courts and tribunals [November 2023]

The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 20 November 2023.

Today the Lord Chancellor and senior judiciary launch a shared vision for the future of the civil and family courts and tribunals system.

People rely on our civil, family and tribunals justice system to protect and enforce their rights. This applies to individuals with complex needs grappling with debt and housing issues, and to business owners who need to navigate complicated contractual disputes.

We want to make it easier for people experiencing legal problems to access high quality information and support at the right time and in the right way. This will allow them to understand their options and to take the right steps to prevent their problems from escalating. We will use advances in technology to support delivery of this, including exploring safe and appropriate uses of AI.

We want to enable people to resolve their problems earlier and at less cost, for example through mediation or online dispute resolution. They should be safe in the knowledge that if this is not successful, it will be straightforward to take the next step of seeking judicial determination through the courts or tribunals. We will encourage and build online and offline connections between different parts of the system to achieve solutions.

Providing a joined-up process will require the effective and safe transfer of people’s data. We have established the Online Procedure Rule Committee (OPRC) to provide governance and develop data standards for the system. We will support the OPRC to embed these standards with the third and private sector organisations that deliver information, support and dispute resolution services.

This is a broad and ambitious vision for the future of civil, family and tribunals justice. And we will only deliver it working together with stakeholders across the system. With this collaboration, we will ensure that our justice system supports people from the earliest point they begin to experience a legal problem. It will provide people with the right information and support to understand all their options. It will empower them to resolve their problem in a way that meets their needs and is proportionate to the matter in dispute. A judicial determination provided through our courts and tribunals will always available where necessary.

November 25, 2023