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Category: Press Releases

  • PRESS RELEASE : XL Bully type dogs to be banned [October 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : XL Bully type dogs to be banned [October 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 31 October 2023.

    From 31 December 2023 breeding, selling, advertising, rehoming, abandoning and allowing an XL Bully dog to stray will be illegal.

    New laws banning XL Bully type dogs have been laid in Parliament today, as the Government adds the breed to the list of dogs banned under the Dangerous Dogs Act.

    The announcement fulfils the Government’s pledge to put in place laws to ban the breed by the end of the year and protect the public following a concerning rise in fatal attacks.

    Under the new rules, which come into force at the end of the year, it will be illegal to breed, sell, advertise, exchange, gift, rehome, abandon or allow XL Bully dogs to stray in England and Wales.

    From this date, these dogs must be kept on a lead and muzzled in public. Owners of XL Bully dogs are recommended to start training their dog to wear a muzzle and to walk on a lead ahead of the legal restrictions coming into force.

    Breeders have also been told to stop mating these types of dogs from now in preparation of it being a criminal offence to sell or rehome these dogs.

    From 1 February 2024 , it will then become illegal to own an XL Bully dog if it is not registered on the Index of Exempted Dogs. By staggering these two dates, current owners of this breed will have time to prepare for these new rules.

    Owners who wish to keep their dogs will have until the end of January to register them and will be forced to comply with strict requirements. As well as being muzzled and kept on a lead in public, these dogs must also be microchipped and neutered.

    Dogs under one year when the ban comes in must be neutered by the end of the year, older dogs must be neutered by the end of June.

    From 1 February, owners without a Certificate of Exemption face a criminal record and an unlimited fine if they are found to be in possession of an XL Bully type, and their dog could be seized.

    Environment Secretary Thérèse Coffey said:

    We are taking quick and decisive action to protect the public from tragic dog attacks and today I have added the XL Bully type to the list of dogs prohibited under the Dangerous Dogs Act.

    It will soon become a criminal offence to breed, sell, advertise, rehome or abandon an XL Bully type dog, and they must also be kept on a lead and muzzled in public. In due course it will also be illegal to own one of these dogs without an exemption.

    We will continue to work closely with the police, canine and veterinary experts, and animal welfare groups, as we take forward these important measures.

    Owners may choose to have their dog put to sleep by a vet, with compensation provided to help with these costs. Further details on how to apply for compensation and the evidence required to make a claim will be provided soon.

    As part of the process, the definition of the ‘XL Bully’ breed type has also been published today. This follows meetings of an expert group, convened by the Environment Secretary and made up of police, local authority, vets and other animal welfare experts to help define the breed. The definition provides clear assessment criteria for owners and enforcement authorities and is a requirement under the Dangerous Dogs Act in order to deliver the ban.

    Owners can access the most up to date information on what action they need to take and when on this dedicated page, Prepare for the ban on XL Bully dogs – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).

    Owners whose dogs are dangerously out of control are already breaking the law, and the enforcement authorities have a full range of powers to apply penalties to them. Under the Dangerous Dogs Act, people can be put in prison for up to 14 years, be disqualified from ownership or their dangerous dogs can be euthanised.

  • PRESS RELEASE : AI set to revolutionise military engineering capabilities [October 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : AI set to revolutionise military engineering capabilities [October 2023]

    The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 31 October 2023.

    An artificially intelligent tool will be able to solve engineering problems in seconds by identifying faults with equipment before they become problematic.

    • AI software modernises Royal Navy helicopter support.
    • Smarter logistical and engineering decisions offered to personnel in seconds.
    • Faults with equipment will be raised before issues become problematic and costly.

    A new AI tool could produce solutions to military engineering problems in seconds, helping keep more vehicles at readiness for deployment.

    At Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton, a collaborative project between 1710 Naval Air Squadron (based in HMNB Portsmouth), DE&S Digital AI Team and Royal Navy Engineers is showcasing pioneering new capabilities to innovative defence software tool, ‘Motherlode’ which now utilises artificial intelligence.

    ‘Motherlode’ is now an artificially intelligent software that processes aircraft maintenance data at a rapid pace, reducing lengthy problem-solving tasks down to seconds. This cutting-edge software ensures that engineering problems are detected at the earliest possible point, rather than when the fault becomes problematic, allowing personnel to order spares ahead of issues arising.

    Minister for Defence Procurement, James Cartlidge, visited RNAS Yeovilton to witness first-hand the capabilities the new technology, which will be used across multiple platforms including the Wildcat Maritime Attack helicopters.

    The Minister’s visit comes ahead of the UK government’s AI Summit at Bletchley Park on 1 and 2 November. Investing in artificial intelligence is paramount to the continued modernisation of our Armed Forces and is a priority for the government.

    Minister for Defence Procurement, James Cartlidge, said:

    By investing in the power of artificial intelligence, we are ensuring that our defensive assets are not only technologically superior, but also operate with precision, efficiency, and amplified safety.

    We should be proud to harness the UK’s exceptional AI talent and foster the collaboration between our brightest minds in technology and the future of defence capabilities.

    The AI-enabled software will be capable of analysing historical data tailored to environmental and aircraft specific conditions to predict failures within equipment more accurately, allowing smarter decision making from the back office to the frontline.

    This is just the beginning of the AI journey for the Fleet Air Arm. There are multiple use cases being explored, leveraging AI to enhance our data exploitation capabilities to maximise aircraft availability for frontline operations.

    By implementing smarter logistical and engineering decisions, Motherlode will also help to ensure key defence equipment will be optimised, whilst remaining cost effective.

    The full capability will be rolled out by the end of 2023 across all Royal Navy helicopters, and we are exploring its use on other Defence equipment like land-based vehicles such as the Foxhound.

    Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak recently announced the creation of the Frontier AI Taskforce with an initial £100 million of funding to spearhead the UK’s leadership in this area. The UK spends more money on AI safety research than any other government in the world, with the AI industry in the UK employing more than 50,000 people and contributes ​​£3.7 billion to our economy.

  • PRESS RELEASE : UK’s leading legal expertise promoted at world’s largest law conference [October 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : UK’s leading legal expertise promoted at world’s largest law conference [October 2023]

    The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 31 October 2023.

    The future of the UK’s legal services in an era of artificial intelligence (AI) were at the heart of discussions at the world’s largest gathering of legal professionals in Paris this week.

    • Justice Minister at world’s biggest legal services event to promote UK expertise
    • Supporting UK-France legal services trade worth almost £400 million annually
    • Expert discussions on future of sector including potential of AI and lawtech

    Justice Minister Mike Freer has spoken about the benefits of AI which is set to transform the work of lawyers and is being spear-headed by the UK’s thriving lawtech industry.

    He took part in sessions during the International Bar Association annual conference to discuss collaboration between UK lawyers and their counterparts around the world.

    The UK legal sector generated over £41 billion in revenue in 2021 and is a key UK export industry.

    This event comes as the UK Government hosts the first global AI Safety Summit at Bletchley Park putting the country at the forefront of promoting action on the safe and responsible development of AI. The UK’s twin role leading on lawtech and AI regulation will help futureproof the country’s world-leading legal services sector without compromising on ethics, accuracy, and quality.

    Minister Freer also met Julie Couturier, President of the Paris Bar, and hold talks to help boost trade in legal services between the UK and France which totalled close to £400 million in 2021.

    Justice Minister Mike Freer said:

    Our thriving legal services market allows us to take our expertise to countries all over the world and brings in billions of pounds to our economy every year.

    It is a hugely important area alongside our trailblazing lawtech sector and the conference offers a fantastic opportunity show the world how the UK is harnessing AI technology in law.

    Minister Freer spoke at the conference, highlighting the continued importance of using English and Welsh law in contracts around the world, the benefits of international legal collaboration, and how to improve global partnerships between legal firms, governments, and regulatory bodies.

    He was accompanied by a delegation of UK legal experts organised by the Ministry of Justice’s GREAT Legal Services campaign, marking the latest in a series of events to promote the UK’s thriving legal services sector internationally.

    This engagement follows a meeting between Lord Chancellor and Justice Secretary Alex Chalk and French Justice Minister, Eric Dupond Moretti, this summer and wider work to promote UK legal services through GREAT activity.

    The GREAT Legal Services campaign was launched in 2017 to promote and support the strength of English and Welsh Law, the UK’s world-renowned independent judiciary, and our legal expertise to the global market.

    The International Bar Association conference is the legal sector’s largest international event, with more than 5,000 attendees expected from law firms, governments, and regulators globally.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Seven Commissioners appointed to the Gambling Commission [October 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Seven Commissioners appointed to the Gambling Commission [October 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 31 October 2023.

    The Secretary of State has appointed seven Commissioners to the Gambling Commission commencing 11 September 2023.

    Charles Counsell, Helen Dodds, Sheree Howard and Claudia Mortimore have been appointed for terms of 5 years. Lloydette Bai-Marrow, Helen Philips and David Rossington have been appointed for terms of 4 years.

    Lloydette Bai-Marrow

    Lloydette is an anti-corruption expert and economic crime lawyer. She is the Founding Partner of Parametric Global Consulting, an economic crime investigations consultancy.

    Lloydette is the Chair of the Board of Spotlight on Corruption, a UK based anti-corruption charity, she sits on the Legal Panel for WhistleblowersUK and is a trustee for the Unite Foundation. She is a Member of the Conduct Committee of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales.

    Lloydette is a Senior Visiting Lecturer at the International Anti-Corruption Academy in Vienna, Austria. She is a Co-Founder and Director of the Black Women in Leadership Network (BWIL), a non-profit network committed to increasing the representation of black women in leadership and decision-making positions.

    Charles Counsell OBE

    Charles was Chief Executive Officer of The Pensions Regulator from April 2019 to March 2023. Prior to this he was CEO of the Money Advice Service and Executive Director of Automatic Enrolment at The Pensions Regulator.

    As CEO of The Pensions Regulator, Charles developed the new corporate strategy to put the pension saver at the heart of the Regulator. He delivered their first Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy and Climate Change strategies – both focused on driving change in the regulator and across the Pensions Sector.

    Throughout his career, his roles have focused on setting up and delivering large change programmes requiring significant stakeholder relationship engagement: initially in the private sector and latterly in senior public sector appointments.

    Helen Dodds OStJ

    Helen Dodds is an international lawyer, consultant and board member. She is currently a board member of the Human Tissue Authority, a director and trustee of the St John’s Eye Hospital Group, a director of LegalUK, and an Honorary Senior Fellow of the British Institute of International and Comparative Law. Prior to this she was a board member of the London Court of International Arbitration.

    She is a qualified (now non-practising) solicitor and in her executive career she was Global Head of Legal, Dispute Resolution at Standard Chartered Bank. She has a degree in Modern History from Oxford University.

    Sheree Howard

    Sheree has over 25 years’ experience in the UK financial services industry with knowledge of the process of regulation and a key focus on risk management, audit and controls. Sheree is currently the Executive Director of Risk and Compliance Oversight at the Financial Conduct Authority. She is a Fellow of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries.

    Sheree has held roles in banking in areas of risk and compliance including Director of Advisory (Compliance), Commercial and Private Banking for the Royal Bank of Scotland; and Chief Risk Officer at Direct Line Group.

    Sheree has been a Governor, including Chair, for more than 10 years of a maintained Special Needs School and has provided pro bono advice to a number of other charities.

    Claudia Mortimore

    Claudia has over 25 years’ experience of criminal law and regulation. She spent the first 10 years of her career working as a barrister then, after a career break to raise three children, prosecuted drugs, tax and money-laundering offences for the Revenue and Customs Prosecutions Office and fraudulent trading offences for the Department for Business.

    Since 2013 Claudia has worked in senior positions in the Enforcement Division of the Financial Reporting Council, the body which regulates accountants, auditors and actuaries in the public interest and which sets the UK Corporate Governance and Stewardship Codes. Claudia has led major investigations into serious and complex audit and accountancy failures.

    Claudia has a particular interest in Diversity and Inclusion, she has also played a key role in promoting the importance of mental health and well-being at the Financial Reporting Council.

    Helen Phillips

    Dr Helen Phillips is an experienced executive and non-executive, with a career spanning the public, private and not for profit sectors. Helen’s current non-executive appointments include Chair of NHS Professionals Ltd and Chair of the Chartered Insurance Institute. Helen is concluding a nine year term as Chair of Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.

    In 2015 she was appointed as a lay member of the Legal Services Board (LSB), she was appointed independent Chair in 2017, and served a six year term to 31 March 2023. She served as a non-executive director of Social Work England from 2018 to 2021. Helen has also held non-executive director roles in Higher Education and the schools sector. Previously Helen was Board Director of Yorkshire Water and Chair of Loop Customer Management Ltd, a Kelda Group subsidiary. Prior to that, her career as a regulator was as founding Chief Executive of Natural England and a Director of the Environment Agency.

    Helen has a BSc in Zoology and a PhD in Environmental Science from University College Dublin. She is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology and a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Insurers.

    David Rossington CB

    David is a former senior civil servant. He has worked for the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), including as Finance Director and acting Director General, and other Government departments including what is now the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.

    Since stopping full time work, he has been a member of the Advisory Committee on National Records and Archives and currently serves as its Deputy Chair. He is Treasurer and Deputy Chair of Stoll, a charity for veterans  and Treasurer of Arts at the Old Fire Station, an Oxford community arts charity.

    David holds a degree in History and French from Oxford, a Masters in Public Policy from the Kennedy School, Harvard University, and an economics MSc from Birkbeck College, London. David took an accountancy qualification while a civil servant, although is no longer in practice.

    Remuneration and Governance Code

    Commissioners for the Gambling Commission are remunerated at £14,160 per annum.  These appointments have been made in accordance with the Cabinet Office’s Governance Code on Public Appointments.

    The Governance Code requires that any significant political activity undertaken by an appointee in the last five years is declared; this is defined as holding office, public speaking, making a recordable donation or candidature for election. Lloydette Bai-Marrow, Charles Counsell, Helen Dodds, Sheree Howard, Claudia Mortimore, Helen Phillips and David Rossington have not declared any significant political activity.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Government continues to support families with cost of living ahead of winter [October 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Government continues to support families with cost of living ahead of winter [October 2023]

    The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 31 October 2023.

    Millions of people across the country are set to receive significant cost of living support ahead of winter, with the government freezing bus fares in England and the second instalment of the cost-of-living payment – worth £900 in total – landing directly in bank accounts from today.

    • Significant cost of living support to come into effect from today as millions of households set to receive second £300 payment
    • Comes as £2 bus fare cap in England extended with millions of people also set to benefit from lower travel costs
    • Prime Minister continues to support families with the cost of living ahead of winter as we are on track to halve inflation

    Millions of people across the country are set to receive significant cost of living support ahead of winter, with the government freezing bus fares in England and the second cost-of-living payment – worth £900 in total – landing directly in bank accounts from today.

    The bus fare cap had been due to rise to £2.50 but we are keeping the fares down at £2 until the end of next year to help millions of people make significant savings on their travel costs. The fare cap has helped cut bus fares in England outside London by 7.4% between June 2022 and June 2023, with even bigger savings in rural areas where fares have dropped by almost 11%.

    This extension is only possible due to the redirected HS2 funding as part of our Network North plan and takes the total government investment to keep bus fares down to nearly £600 million – with over 140 operators signing up to continue offering the cap across more than 5,000 routes.

    Over 8 million households across the UK will also receive the second of up to three payments from today, totalling up to £900 through 2023/24 with a further cost of living payment due to be made to eligible households by Spring next year.

    These payments are entirely tax-free, will not count towards the benefit cap, and will not have any impact on existing benefit awards. Those who are eligible will be paid automatically and do not need to apply for the payment or do anything to receive it.

    Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said:

    I know that winter can be a particularly challenging period for many families across the country. That’s why we have put in place a package of immediate support for vulnerable households over the coming months.

    We are lowering travel costs through the bus fare cap, which we are able to do because of our long-term decision to cancel phase 2 of HS2. We are also providing an extra top up to help pay energy bills and direct payments to cover the cost of day-to-day essentials.

    But the best way to put more money in the pockets of hardworking people is to focus on the long-term decisions that will help not only them, but future generations too. We’re on track to halve inflation which will help people’s wages go further, and we’re growing the economy to create better paid jobs and opportunities across the country.

    We are also committed to helping vulnerable households across the UK with their energy bills over winter. Winter Fuel Payments – boosted again this year by an additional £300 per household Pensioner Cost of Living payment – will provide pensioners with up to £600 to help with heating costs over the colder months.

    On top of this, nearly three million low-income households are also eligible for a £150 rebate on their winter electricity bills through the Warm Home Discount. From tomorrow (1st November) Cold Weather Payments will also come into effect to provide eligible households £25 extra a week when the temperature is zero or below for more than seven days across the UK.

    Transport Secretary Mark Harper said:

    Buses are the most popular form of public transport and help people across the country get to work, attend medical appointments, and see loved ones – that’s why we are extending the ‘Get Around for £2’ scheme all the way to 31 December 2024.

    Extending the £2 bus fare cap has only been possible with the redirected HS2 funding secured by this Government making the right long-term decisions for a brighter future, delivering immediate benefits and helping people save money.”

    Mel Stride, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, said:

    Tackling inflation is the best way to boost people’s incomes, but as we work to halve it, we are protecting the most vulnerable households from high prices with this latest Cost of Living payment.

    Thousands of Work Coaches based in Jobcentres across the country are on hand to help people find work or enhance their skills, and I encourage anyone wanting to strengthen their finances and unleash the benefits of work to contact their local Jobcentre to see what help is available.

    Taken together, these measures build on the significant cost of living support already provided to eligible households throughout last year – now worth an average of £3,300 per household over this year and last.

    We have also gone further by:

    • Increasing benefits in line with inflation, meaning more than 10 million working age families will see an average increase of around £600.
    • Maintaining the Triple Lock earlier this year to give around 12 million pensioners the largest ever cash increase to the State Pension.
    • Extending the Household Support Fund for another year in England to help families with essential costs with £1 billion of extra funding.
    • Increasing the National Living Wage by its largest ever cash amount for 2 million workers – worth over £1,600 to the annual earnings of a full-time worker – and committing to increase it to over £11 an hour from April 2024.
    • Cutting fuel duty by 5 pence and freezing the increase, worth £100 to the average driver this year.
    • Covering up to 85% of childcare costs for working households on Universal Credit, up from 70% under the legacy system – currently worth over £19,500-a-year for families with two or more children.

    The government has a strong record on supporting the most vulnerable and lifting households out of poverty, with the latest data showing there were nearly 1 million fewer workless households since 2010 and 1.7 million fewer people in absolute poverty after housing costs over the last decade.

    We know the best route out of poverty is through work, which is why we’ve introduced a package of measures worth £3.5 billion to break down the barriers for people to find jobs and fulfil their potential. This includes our flagship Universal Support scheme which will get thousands more people into jobs with a personal adviser providing wraparound support for up to a year while they find their feet.

    We encourage people in need of additional support over winter to check their eligibility through our Help for Households website for the various cost of living schemes that are place.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Beach landing trials help develop future AI capabilities [October 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Beach landing trials help develop future AI capabilities [October 2023]

    The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 31 October 2023.

    One of the largest maritime artificial intelligence data capture trials has taken place in Hampshire, enabling the development of new AI products for Defence.

    • One of the largest maritime artificial intelligence data capture trials takes place in Hampshire.
    • Enabling the development of new AI products for Defence.
    • Strengthening cooperation between industry and international partners.

    A large-scale maritime and beach-landing exercise on the Hampshire coast has provided vital data to help develop cutting edge AI products for the Ministry of Defence.

    A Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) led exercise over five days involved 130 personnel, 13 vessels, multiple uncrewed air vehicles, a light aircraft and more than 50 cameras and sensors to record activity.

    Contending with high winds up to 40 knots, landings saw personnel boarding and leaving vehicles in different ways to generate data representative of different behavioural traits.

    In one scenario synchronised landings saw participants acting as a trained team such as a military unit. In another, participants exited the boats in a deliberately chaotic way, to provide a wider data sample of human movement.

    The trial was a collaboration with 12 industry and international partners, supported by Royal Navy and British Army personnel, and comes ahead of the UK government’s AI Summit over the next few days. Investing in artificial intelligence is paramount to the continued modernisation of our Armed Forces and is a key priority for the UK government.

    Minister for Defence Procurement, James Cartlidge, said:

    Investing in new technology provides our Armed Forces with the tools they need to stay ahead of emerging threats and ensures our national security in an ever-evolving technological landscape.

    Innovative, data driven exercises like this demonstrate how AI can enhance our military capabilities, enabling us to respond more efficiently to the threats of today and tomorrow.

    Data captured during the exercise included visual, infrared, sonar and radar as well as supporting ‘metadata’ including platform and sensor locations, weather, sea states and other contextual information.

    The video, imagery and other data captured will be used to build further datasets to train AI algorithms to recognise objects, such as other vessels. Data generated by the trial will also enable the Ministry of Defence and industry partners to develop new AI products for Defence in an ethical, safe, and responsible manner.

    Carefully curated datasets are the bedrock to many AI capabilities and the sourcing and integrity of the data is crucial. The data gathered through trials such as this, will be used to validate the performance of future systems providing the operator with confidence in its abilities.

    Charlie Maslen, Dstl’s trial technical authority, said:

    This was an ambitious and challenging trial which builds on the experience and expertise gained during the previous land-based exercise. Conducting a trial with sensors spanning three domains – land, sea and air – involving 12 separate industry partners was immensely complex. Added to which we were hampered on 2 days by 40 knot winds.

    Data generated by the trial will enable MOD and industry partners to develop new AI products for Defence, helping keep UK forces safe and delivering operational advantage. Being able to guarantee the integrity of the data underlines MOD’s commitment to the ethical, safe and responsible use of AI.

  • PRESS RELEASE : UK and international partners target Myanmar arms dealers and military financiers with new sanctions [October 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : UK and international partners target Myanmar arms dealers and military financiers with new sanctions [October 2023]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 31 May 2023.

    The UK, US and Canada have coordinated new sanctions on Myanmar military financiers and arms dealers.

    • UK, US and Canada announce further round of sanctions to maximise pressure on the Myanmar military regime
    • sanctions target arms dealers responsible for the supply of restricted goods to the security forces, as well as financiers of the military
    • UK reiterates calls for accountability and a return to democracy and freedom in Myanmar

    The UK, US and Canada are today (31 October) announcing further sanctions on arms dealers and financiers of the Myanmar military responsible for the repression of the civilian population in Myanmar. The latest round of UK sanctions are against 5 individuals and one entity involved either in providing financial services to the regime or the supply of restricted goods including aircraft parts.

    Today’s sanctions package comes as part of the UK’s concerted efforts with international partners to restrict the sale and transfer of arms and finance in response to ongoing and worsening aerial attacks, including against civilians in Myanmar. In 2022, alone there were over 600 reported airstrikes perpetrated by the Myanmar military.

    Since the coup in February 2021, at least 3,857 have been killed by the military, and at least 1.2 million have had to flee their homes due to violence, according to the United Nations Human Rights Office.

    The announcement follows a report from UN Special Rapporteur Tom Andrews, which called for further coordinated sanctions to prevent arms dealers bypassing restrictions.

    Minister for the Indo-Pacific, Anne-Marie Trevelyan, said:

    The UK unequivocally condemns the regime’s brutal campaign against the Myanmar people.

    Together with our international partners, we are closing the net on Myanmar arms dealers and the Myanmar military’s financiers with new sanctions that will aim to limit their access to key resources and revenue to prevent further such attacks.

    The UK will continue to call for accountability, justice and an end to the violence. We remain steadfast in our support for the Myanmar people and their aspirations for a peaceful and democratic future.

    On 1 February 2021, the Myanmar military overthrew the democratically elected government, led by Aung San Suu Kyi, and installed a military regime. Since then, they have used violence and atrocities to maintain power and suppress any opposition voices.

    The UK, US and Canada have taken coordinated and targeted action to hold the military regime to account for their brutal suppression of opposition voices. The sanctions designations announced today will maximise concerted pressure on the Myanmar military regime to engage with calls for a return to democracy and aim to limit regime access to key resources while minimising consequences for the civilian population.

    Since the coup, the UK has designated 25 individuals and 29 entities under the Myanmar Sanctions Regime and designated the military’s 2 key conglomerates and their 111 subsidiaries under the Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime. The UK continues to lead international efforts to undermine the regime’s credibility and constrain their access to revenue and arms.

    Background

    Those sanctioned today are:

    • Myo Thitsar: has been involved in the repression of the civilian population in Myanmar through the supply to Myanmar of restricted goods. Namely, through her role as having been Head of Department, Procurement & Supply of Dynasty International
    • Htoo Htet Tay Za: has been involved in the repression of the civilian population in Myanmar through the supply to Myanmar of restricted goods and/or restricted technology, and/or of material related to such goods or technology, and through making available funds or economic resources to the Myanmar security forces. Namely, through his role as having been a director of Htoo Group of Companies
    • Pye Phyo Tay Za: has been involved in the repression of the civilian population in Myanmar through the supply to Myanmar of restricted goods and/or restricted technology, and/or of material related to such goods or technology, and through making available funds or other economic resources to the Myanmar security forces. Namely, through his role in Myanmar Avia Services, Yangon Aircraft Engineering Company Limited and Htoo Group of Companies
    • Kyaw Min Oo: has been involved in the repression of the civilian population in Myanmar through the supply to Myanmar of restricted goods and/or restricted technology, and/or of material related to such goods or technology. Namely, through his role as director of Sky Aviator Company Limited
    • Sit Taing Aung: has been involved in the repression of the civilian population in Myanmar through the supply to Myanmar of restricted goods and/or restricted technology, and/or of material related to such goods or technology. Namely, through his role as having been director of Yatanarpon Aviation Services and work with Mottama Holdings
    • International Group of Entrepreneur Services Company Limited (IGE): has been involved in the repression of the civilian population in Myanmar through making available funds or other economic resources to the Myanmar security forces

    Asset freeze

    An asset freeze prevents any UK citizen, or any business in the UK, from dealing with any funds or economic resources which are owned, held or controlled by the designated person. It also prevents funds or economic resources being provided to or for the benefit of the designated person. UK financial sanctions apply to all persons within the territory and territorial sea of the UK and to all UK persons, wherever they are in the world.

    Travel ban

    A travel ban means that the designated person must be refused leave to enter or to remain in the United Kingdom, providing the individual is an excluded person under section 8B of the Immigration Act 1971.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Rishi Sunak call with President Abbas of the Palestinian Authority [October 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Rishi Sunak call with President Abbas of the Palestinian Authority [October 2023]

    The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 31 October 2023.

    The Prime Minister spoke to the President of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, earlier today.

    The leaders discussed the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza, and the Prime Minister once again expressed his deep condolences for the tragic loss of civilian life.

    The Prime Minister set out the intensive diplomatic and practical efforts the United Kingdom is making to rapidly increase the delivery of life-saving aid to Gaza, following the announcement that the UK will double aid funding for Palestinian civilians. President Abbas thanked the Prime Minister for his active engagement in the region.

    President Abbas also updated on the security situation in the West Bank. The Prime Minister emphasised the importance of making progress on the peace process to ensure that Palestinian civilians in both Gaza and the West Bank can live in security and prosperity.

    He said the UK would continue to support diplomatic action to protect Palestinian civilians, prevent wider escalation and secure a peaceful and lasting resolution to the crisis.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Britain to be made AI match-fit with £118 million skills package [October 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Britain to be made AI match-fit with £118 million skills package [October 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on 31 October 2023.

    The UK’s AI skills base will be future-proofed with a £118 million boost to skills funding, including postgraduate research centres and scholarships.

    • Government announces measures and funding to put AI to work improving every element of Britons’ lives
    • centres for postgrad research, scholarships, a new visa scheme and a push for students to take on AI and data courses will ensure the UK has the skilled workforce to harness the potential of AI
    • from new technology to screen for lung cancer, to tools that will cut workloads for teachers, AI will transform efficiency and productivity right across society

    The UK’s AI skills base will be future-proofed with a £118 million boost to skills funding, the government announced today (Tuesday 31 October).

    This will ensure the country has the top global expertise and fosters the next generation of researchers needed to seize the transformational benefits of this technology.

    This includes naming, for the first time, the further 12 Centres for Doctoral Training in AI that will benefit from £117 million in previously-announced government backing through UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), while a new visa scheme will make it easier for the most innovative businesses to bring talented AI researchers in their early careers, to the UK.

    This is on top of funding for 15 science and technology scholarships at some of the UK’s world-leading universities, a £1 million grants scheme to help top AI talent relocate to the UK, and the pilot of a new STEM Olympiad scholarship scheme ‘Backing Invisible Geniuses’. It builds on a further £8.1 million recently announced, for postgraduate course scholarships in AI and data science. Because of the pace of change in AI development, it is critical that the UK cultivates the top AI research talent to drive progress in crucial areas like AI safety, and to ensure the whole country can feel the gains that AI will unlock.

    Secretary of State Michelle Donelan said:

    The UK is at the very forefront of the global race to turn AI’s enormous potential into a giant leap forward for people’s quality of life and productivity at work, all while ensuring this technology works safely, ethically and responsibly.

    The plans we are announcing today will future-proof our nation’s skills base, meaning British people can reap the benefits of AI as it continues to develop. At the same time, we are moving further and faster to put the power of this technology to work for good across government and society.

    UKRI Chief Executive, Professor Dame Ottoline Leyser, said:

    The UK is in a strong position to harness the power of AI to transform many aspects of our lives for the better. Crucial to this endeavour is nurturing the talented people and teams we need to apply AI to a broad spectrum of challenges, from healthy aging to sustainable agriculture, ensuring its responsible and trustworthy adoption. UKRI is investing £117 million in Centres for Doctoral Training to develop the talented researchers and innovators we need for success.

    Alongside the support for skills, a raft of measures are being unveiled today across government to unleash AI’s potential to improve how we work and boost our quality of life. This includes the naming of 64 NHS trusts across the country that will benefit from the £21 million rollout of AI tech to improve how chest X-ray and CT scans are used to diagnose serious conditions like lung cancer. As well as plans to use AI to boost the productivity of teachers and JobCentre work coaches, helping boost educational attainment and support more people into finding work.

    All of this comes on the eve of the AI Safety Summit, being hosted at Bletchley Park from Wednesday 1 – Thursday 2 November. The Summit is another signal of the UK’s determination to lead the way globally on managing the risks around AI, together with partners from around the world, so that we can reap the enormous benefits this transformative technology has to offer.

    The AI skills package announced today includes:

    • naming the locations and research focus of a further 12 new UKRI Centres for Doctoral Training in the development and application of AI – backed by £117 million in government funding. These institutions will train a new generation of researchers to lead on some of the most critical work currently being undertaken in the field of AI. They will ensure every student is trained in responsible, trustworthy, and safe AI, whilst specialising in areas of priority for the UK – such as healthcare, the discovery of new treatments and boosting productivity in the NHS
    • the creation of a £1 million AI Futures Grants scheme to help the next generation of AI leaders meet the costs of relocating to the UK. This will support top emerging AI researchers and engineers from around the world to work in our world-class universities, businesses and research institutes, further strengthening the UK as a global destination for top AI talent
    • together with the British Council and UK Universities, we are funding 15 GREAT scholarships for international students to come to the UK to study Science and Technology courses, including subjects related to AI or life sciences at one of our world-renowned universities
    • the ‘Backing Invisible Geniuses’ (BIG) scholarship pilot, led by the Global Talent Lab, champions outstanding high-school performers in International Science Olympiads, setting them on a path to excel in maths, science, and AI. This initiative attracts top STEM talent to the UK’s leading universities, enhancing the UK’s standing as a hub for global excellence. It is being launched with a founding donation from XTX Markets and in partnership with DSIT
    • the creation of a new dedicated visa scheme for the world’s most talented AI researchers to come to the UK on internships and placements, early in their careers, to encourage them to build their careers, ideas and businesses here
    • all of this builds on the further £8.1 million being available for postgraduate course scholarships in AI and data science, already announced by the Secretary of State. This brings the total funding for these scholarships, delivered through the Office for Students, to £26 million since 2020, which has created more than 2,600 scholarships targeted at disadvantaged groups, across 31 higher education providers

    Wider AI initiatives being announced this week include:

    • the naming of 64 NHS trusts across the country that will benefit from the £21 million rollout of AI tech to improve how chest X-ray and CT scans are used to diagnose serious conditions like lung cancer
    • up to £2 million for Oak National Academy to test new uses of AI in education, helping teachers reduce the time they spend planning by helping them create excellent lesson resources based on Oak’s curriculum content
    • the Met Office launching a partnership with the Alan Turing Institute, to use AI to improve weather forecasting, which could boost the UK’s resilience to extreme weather events that threaten lives and critical national infrastructure
    • the launch of the ‘Airlock’ regulatory sandbox, supporting AI innovators to safely test the use of their technologies in healthcare earlier, so that NHS patients can benefit from game-changing new health innovations sooner
    • the launch of an internationally recognised set of standards for the use of AI in health, to ensure this technology works for everyone regardless of background

    Notes to editors

    The 12 AI Centres for Doctoral Training, their research area, are as follows:

    • University of Surrey, partnered with Royal Holloway, University of London: UKRI AI Centre for Doctoral Training in AI for Digital Media Inclusion
    • University of Oxford: UKRI AI Centre for Doctoral Training in AI for the Environment (Intelligent Earth)
    • University of Lincoln, partnered with the Universities of Aberdeen and Strathclyde, and Queen’s University Belfast: UKRI AI Centre for Doctoral Training in Sustainable Understandable agri-food Systems Transformed by Artificial INtelligence (SUSTAIN)
    • University of Edinburgh: UKRI AI Centre for Doctoral Training in Responsible and Trustworthy in-the-world NLP
    • University of Bristol: UKRI AI Centre for Doctoral Training in Practice-Oriented Artificial Intelligence (PrO-AI)
    • Northumbria University: UKRI AI Centre for Doctoral Training in Citizen-Centred Artificial Intelligence
    • Heriot-Watt University, partnered with the University of Edinburgh: UKRI AI Centre for Doctoral Training in Dependable and Deployable Artificial Intelligence for Robotics (D2AIR)
    • Imperial College London: UKRI AI Centre for Doctoral Training in Digital Healthcare
    • University of Southampton: UKRI AI Centre for Doctoral Training in AI for Sustainability
    • University of York: UKRI AI Centre for Doctoral Training in Lifelong Safety Assurance of AI-enabled Autonomous Systems (SAINTS)
    • University of Manchester, partnered with the University of Cambridge: UKRI AI Centre for Doctoral Training in Decision Making for Complex Systems
    • University of Edinburgh: UKRI AI Centre for Doctoral Training in Biomedical Innovation

    The AI Centres for Doctoral Training are being funded through UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).

    The Department for Business and Trade will work closely with top AI universities, businesses, and professionals to design the new AI Futures Grants scheme, to be launched in 2024.

  • PRESS RELEASE : New insurance scheme to facilitate UK business supporting Ukraine [October 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : New insurance scheme to facilitate UK business supporting Ukraine [October 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for International Trade on 31 October 2023.

    The UK signs war-risk insurance Statement of Intent with European Bank for Reconstruction and Development to help UK companies to do business in Ukraine.

    • UK government helping plan war-risk insurance scheme which will lead UK companies to do business in Ukraine
    • Lack of available insurance currently a major barrier preventing UK companies trading with and investing in Ukraine to help it rebuild
    • Business and Trade Minister The Earl of Minto inks agreement today at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development

    The UK will today sign a Statement of Intent on a European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) war-risk insurance scheme for Ukraine. The EBRD’s effort, along with complementary backing by other international financial institutions, over time will help UK companies to do business in Ukraine and support its reconstruction.

    Ukraine is facing a major challenge to rebuild following Russia’s illegal invasion, with the World Bank estimating it will cost $411 billion. Private sector companies are crucial to that, with architects, engineers, and construction companies need to rebuild bridges for example, but many currently struggle to get the insurance they need to be able to operate in the country.

    The UK is leading the world in trying to address this by improving access to war-risk insurance. It follows the Ukraine Recovery Conference, hosted by the Prime Minister earlier this year, during which we coordinated international partners to announce the London Conference Framework to address the insurance gap.

    Speaking ahead of the signing, Business and Trade Minister The Earl of Minto said:

    UK businesses have the expertise and desire to help Ukraine rebuild. But too often a lack of insurance prevents our world-class architects, engineers or lawyers, from doing that, and hinders Ukraine’s recovery.

    That’s where Government comes in – we are committed to breaking down the barriers that get in the way of UK companies offering their expertise. Today’s signing is another step forward in our ongoing support for Ukraine on this issue.”

    The EBRD’s scheme development will provide new support for boosting the provision of insurance against war-related risks in Ukraine. It was galvanised by the London Conference Framework and is intended to kick-start insurance, firstly for the transport of cargo vital via trucks to keeping trade flowing, with a view to expanding it to cover more sectors as the scheme matures.

    Business and Trade Minister The Earl of Minto will sign the Statement today alongside EBRD President Odile Renaud-Basso. They will also discuss next steps to increase the availability of war-risk insurance even further.

    EBRD President Odile Renaud-Basso said:

    We are very grateful for the UK’s interest in facilitating the provision of insurance against war-related risks in Ukraine. Relying on traditional risk-transfer mechanisms in the insurance industry, the EBRD and its partners seek to build a sustainable solution, which will bring relief to the domestic economy and protect trade activities.

    Encouraging the EBRD’s scheme is just one of the many ways the UK is showing its support for the reconstruction of Ukraine.

    The UK’s non-military support to Ukraine since the start of invasion comes to £4.7bn. This includes over £4.1bn in fiscal support, and over £640m in bilateral assistance.

    The signing comes ahead of the upcoming Rebuild Ukraine Conference and UK-Ukraine Infrastructure Taskforce meeting in Warsaw, led by Minister for Industry Nusrat Ghani, which will provide a key moment for the UK and Ukraine to discuss and agree priority reconstruction projects.

    Minister for Industry and Economic Security Nusrat Ghani said:

    As co-chair of the UK-Ukraine Infrastructure Taskforce with Deputy PM Kubrakov, I’m immensely proud of what the UK and Ukraine have already achieved together – from delivering major conferences to encourage private sector investment, to signing a digital free trade agreement critical to supporting jobs and livelihoods. I am also proud to have delivered the war risk insurance package.

    The UK is a key partner for Ukraine and we remain committed to providing the crucial support it needs as it continues to rebuild its infrastructure and economy.

    Today also marks techUK and IT Ukraine’s Ukraine Tech Day which is raising awareness of areas for further cooperation between the tech sector and government in the UK and Ukraine. Ukraine Tech Day is placing specific focus on defence tech, cyber security, ed tech and skills, and the startup community. It comes following the Prime Minister’s recent announcement of the UK-Ukraine TechBridge, which will launch in the next couple of months and will bring together the UK and Ukrainian tech sectors to harness opportunities for innovation and collaboration.

    Background

    • The Statement of Intent shows UK support for the EBRD’s continued technical and administrative development of the scheme, with a further aim of driving more international interest in future due to the UK’s status as a global thought leader on insurance issues.
    • The Ukraine Recovery Conference was held in London in June. Details of the announcements to support Ukraine can be found on gov.uk: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-announces-new-tech-and-insurance-support-for-companies-helping-ukraine-rebuild–2
    • The UK’s total military, humanitarian and economic support for Ukraine now amounts to £9.3billion.