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Category: Press Releases

  • PRESS RELEASE : World Trade Organization General Council – UK Statement [November 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : World Trade Organization General Council – UK Statement [November 2023]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 7 November 2023.

    The UK spoke on a number of agenda items at the WTO General Council on 1 November 2023.

    Item 2: Reform and TRIPS

    Thank you, Madam Chair.

    Madam Chair, you said we should not really get into the detail of reform, as we will cover that this afternoon, so I will try not to. One point to pick is the point about deconflicting meetings which I know is so important for so many smaller delegations. It is one that we have brought forward in our own proposals and I think it is one that we need to keep on thinking about to ensure that we are a genuinely inclusive organization, not just in words but in deed.

    Let me just say a quick word about TRIPS. My Swiss colleague has set out in substance far more eloquently than I could and I endorse every word he has said.

    I want to acknowledge first of all the continued efforts of our TRIPS Chair and let me welcome her efforts and the Secretariat’s to move our discussions forward. Let me also acknowledge the arrival of the report from the US ITC. Like others I’m sure we are still analysing the information that is contained in that report but for us it reaffirms the importance of known issues, including on this issue, including the role of voluntary licenses where the UK issued a paper, in increasing affordability and access to COVID-19 products and technologies globally. I hope everybody has seen our paper on this which looks at how we can build on that in future pandemic preparedness.

    I just wanted to recognise that access issues go well beyond intellectual property and that considering broader factors in reactors should help us as we look at whether the decision that we took back at MC12 should indeed be extended to therapeutics and diagnostics. Let me also just encourage my fellow members, particularly those from developing countries and LDCs, to come to us to give us their thoughts on our paper, share their national experiences and challenges that they have faced in voluntary licensing and technology transfer partnerships, so that we can try and take forward our work in a structured and collaborative manner.

    Lastly, a number of colleagues this morning have said that not taking a decision will be a real issue for this organisation. I think that there is something worse than not taking a decision and that is taking the wrong decision for this organisation, for the intellectual property which is the basis for our innovative economies, and taking the wrong decision for our future pandemic preparedness.

    Thank you.

    Item 3: Work programme on Small Economies – Report by the Chairperson of the Dedicated Session of the Committee on Trade and Development

    Thank you very much Chair.

    We wanted to come in quickly to recognize the importance of this issue. We really wanted to welcome the excellent Small Economies evidence sharing session and to thank the Chair, the Secretariat and everybody that inputted to the session.

    We are also looking forward to the opportunity to review the draft ministerial decision on this issue at the upcoming session.

    Thank you very much.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Law Commissioner appointed [November 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Law Commissioner appointed [November 2023]

    The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 7 November 2023.

    The Lord Chancellor has approved the appointment of Professor Alison Young as the Law Commissioner for Public Law and the Law in Wales for 5 years from 18 March 2024.

    The Law Commission was created by the Law Commissions Act 1965 with the role of keeping under review the law of England and Wales with a view to its systematic development and reform. The Law Commission promotes the reform of the law to make it clearer, more modern and more accessible. The Commission’s projects bring real benefits to the public, businesses or other organisations affected by old, complex and out-of-date law.

    Appointments to the Law Commission are made by the Lord Chancellor and are regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. This appointment has been made in line with the Governance Code on Public Appointments.

    Biography

    Professor Young is the Sir David Williams Professor of Public Law at the University of Cambridge, and a Fellow of Robinson College. She is also an academic associate at 39 Essex Chambers and an Emeritus Fellow of Hertford College, Oxford.

    Before joining the University of Cambridge, Professor Young studied for a Law (with French) degree at the University of Birmingham, spending a year at the Université de Limoges. She then completed the BCL and D Phil at Hertford College, University of Oxford. She spent three years as a Tutorial Fellow at Balliol College, Oxford, before returning to Hertford as a Fellow in Law and later Professor of Public Law at the University of Oxford.

    Professor Young has not declared any political activity.

  • PRESS RELEASE : £2.2 billion in Cost of Living Payments paid by DWP over the last eight days [November 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : £2.2 billion in Cost of Living Payments paid by DWP over the last eight days [November 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Work and Pensions on 7 November 2023.

    99% of households already eligible for the second Cost of Living Payment have been directly paid £300 by the Government.

    • The payments are the second of up to three worth up to £900 in 2023/24 for those eligible.
    • Those remaining will continue to be automatically paid between now and 19 November by DWP.

    More than seven million households across the UK have been paid a £300 Cost of Living Payment, a £2.2 billion cash injection made by the Department for Work and Pensions in just eight days.

    This means the vast majority of already eligible households have received the support in just eight days of the rollout starting, equating to over a million payments on each day they were made.

    The payment is the second of up to three Cost of Living Payments being made this financial year, illustrating the Government’s commitment to supporting low-income families with financial pressures.  These payments will all be tax-free, will not count towards the benefit cap, and will not have any impact on existing benefit awards.

    Global inflationary pressures have seen the Department for Work and Pensions step in to provide unprecedented cost of living support, with billions of pounds sent directly into low-income households’ accounts over a matter of days.

    This comes alongside work to deliver on the government’s five priorities, including halving inflation and growing the economy, ultimately helping put more money in people’s bank accounts.

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

    Getting this vital money to over 7 million people across the UK in just eight days shows our determination to give people greater financial security as we work to halve inflation, bring costs down, and boost people’s bank balances.

    In the long term, the best way to secure financial security is through work, and thousands of Work Coaches in Jobcentres across the country are on hand to help people find a job, enhance their skills, and reap the benefits of work.

    Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt said:

    Christmas can put a strain on people’s finances which is why this £300 will be a welcome boost for millions of families.

    But we must tackle the root cause of higher bills by halving inflation this year and by sticking to our plan, we’re on track to do so.

    The Cost of Living Payments, spread across 2023/24, are worth up to £900 for those on means-tested benefits. The first payment was made in April and May of this year, with the next one to come by Spring 2024.

    The Cost of Living Payments build on the significant cost of living support already provided to eligible households throughout 2022 – 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.

    Pensioner households will also receive £300 which will be paid as a top up to those eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment in November and December. Combined with the one-off Cost of Living Disability Payment earlier this year, some households will receive £1,350 in total.

    The small number of payments still outstanding will continue to be made between now and 19 November, and anyone eligible still waiting for a payment does not need to contact the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) before then. After this date, if someone thinks they may be missing a payment they are entitled to a form can be filled out on the gov.uk website to make a claim.

    In addition, eligible families, receiving tax credits only, will get their £300 Cost of Living Payment from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) between 10 and 19 November with the payment reference ‘HMRC COLS’.

    While payments are made automatically, people must be receiving one of the eligible qualifying benefits during the specified period to qualify. Those who wish to check their entitlement to benefits should use a benefits calculator on Gov.uk to get a better idea of what they could receive.

    Further Information

    • The three means-tested Cost of Living Payments, worth up to £900 in total, is being delivered in three slightly different amounts, each relating to a specific qualifying period before the payment is made. This allows DWP to ensure support is targeted at those who need it and are eligible; to determine if a payee received the correct payments and identify the payment value; and to reduce the risk of fraud.
    • To get the £300 payment someone must (subject to a very limited exception explained below) have been entitled to a payment of a qualifying benefit as follows:
      • For Universal Credit, payment in respect of an assessment period ending between the 18 August and 17 September 2023
      • For all other DWP means-tested benefits, payment in respect of any day 18 August and the 17 September 2023.
      • For tax credits-only customers to be eligible they must have received a payment of tax credits in respect of any day in the period 18 August 2023 and the 17 September 2023, or later be paid in respect of any day in this period.
    • Those on DWP benefits other than Universal Credit who are entitled to less than 10 pence and meet all other qualifying criteria but who do not receive a benefit payment, will still receive a Cost of Living Payment.
    • Payment windows and eligibility dates for the remaining Cost of Living Payment will be announced in due course.
    • For constituency and local authority level breakdowns on payments, please visit www.gov.uk/government/news/first-2023-24-cost-of-living-payment-dates-announced
    • The £300 Pensioner Cost of Living Payment will be paid to all households in receipt of Winter Fuel Payments, in the same way as 2022/23 payments were made.
    • For more information on these payments, please visit www.gov.uk/guidance/cost-of-living-payments-2023-to-2024
    • For regional, constituency and local authority level breakdowns on payments, please visit www.gov.uk/government/news/first-2023-24-cost-of-living-payment-dates-announced
  • PRESS RELEASE : G7 united in response to conflicts in Middle East and Ukraine as Foreign Secretary travels to Japan [November 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : G7 united in response to conflicts in Middle East and Ukraine as Foreign Secretary travels to Japan [November 2023]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 6 November 2023.

    The Foreign Secretary will be in Japan for the G7 Foreign Ministers’ meeting.

    • At the G7 James Cleverly will discuss situation in Middle East and preventing a damaging and destabilising regional escalation and further violence
    • Also on the agenda is collective support for Ukraine to defend itself against Russia’s illegal invasion and help secure a lasting peace
    • Foreign and Defence Secretaries meeting Japanese counterparts to strengthen security partnerships following signing of Hiroshima Accord earlier this year

    Arriving in Japan (Tuesday 7 November) for the G7 Foreign Ministers’ meeting, Foreign Secretary, James Cleverly will be addressing developments in the Middle East, including to prevent a damaging and destabilising regional escalation and further violence.

    At the G7 conference in Tokyo, the Foreign Secretary will meet G7 Foreign Ministers, including the Japanese Minister for Foreign Affairs Yōko Kamikawa, to also discuss the UK’s long-term commitment to the Indo-Pacific region.

    The G7 Foreign Ministers meeting will build on the G7 Leaders’ Summit, that took place in Hiroshima in May, with a clear agreement on military, diplomatic and economic tools being part of the Ukrainian counter-offensive.

    The Defence Secretary will also be holding bilateral meetings with his Japanese counterpart Minoru Kihara, and both UK ministers will later join their opposites for a combined meeting.

    In the 2+2 meeting they will discuss closer security and defence ties alongside support for Ukraine following Russia’s invasion.

    The Foreign Secretary will also attend a reception on enhancing relations between the people of the UK and Japan, with their respective Youth Mobility and Working Holiday Schemes being expanded by up to 500% to enable more opportunities for young people to gain a better understanding of our cultures and societies, through travel, work and life experience overseas.

    Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said:

    The UK and our allies are meeting to discuss the crisis in Israel and Gaza and avoiding further regional escalations.

    Alongside G7 partners, we’ll also be addressing other priorities ranging from Russia’s illegal war in Ukraine to climate change, economic security and global trade.

    Defence Secretary Grant Shapps said:

    The UK and Japan share many closely held values, including an enduring commitment to freedom and democracy, and it is an honour to visit Tokyo during such a milestone year for our defence relationship.

    We will be driving forward progress on two major defence and security treaties, which will protect both our peoples and bring our nations closer together than ever before.

    Six months on from the British and Japanese Prime Ministers agreeing the Hiroshima Accord the UK and Japan have made strong progress on its implementation.

    The Reciprocal Access Agreement has been brought into effect and both countries are now conducting more frequent, larger and more complex joint exercises – including VIGILANT ISLES 23 this November. The UK and Japan have also made progress on economics & trade and science & technology. We have agreed to cooperate as members of CPTTP, held our first strategic economic talks, progressed our AI commitments and cemented our collaboration on critical minerals.

    At the G7, the Foreign Ministers will also discuss the need to maintain collective support for Ukraine and how international support from the UK and other G7 partners can be used most strategically to help Ukrainian forces continue their progress on the battlefield and secure a lasting peace.

    The UK continues to support the Ukrainian government in the face of this assault on their sovereignty and territorial integrity. Alongside the international community we stand against this naked aggression and for freedom, democracy and the sovereignty of nations around the world.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Strike laws to be passed to protect vital public services over Christmas [November 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Strike laws to be passed to protect vital public services over Christmas [November 2023]

    The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 6 November 2023.

    Minimum service level regulations for rail workers, ambulance staff and border security staff will be laid in parliament to mitigate disruption and ensure vital public services continue if strikes are called, the government has announced today.

    • Minimum Service Levels legislation will be passed for rail, ambulance, and border security staff to mitigate disruption if strikes called.
    • Delivers on manifesto commitment to introduce minimum service levels for rail strikes.
    • Comes ahead of further consultations to introduce minimum service levels for education, other NHS staff, and fire services.

    Minimum service level regulations for rail workers, ambulance staff and border security staff will be laid in parliament to mitigate disruption and ensure vital public services continue if strikes are called, the government has announced today (Monday 6 November).

    The legislation brings us in line with countries like France, Italy, Spain, and the US where public services reliably continue during strikes. The International Labour Organisation also recognises Minimum Service Levels as a sensible solution to protect the public from serious consequences of strikes.

    The minimum service levels are designed to be effective and proportionate by balancing the ability to take strike action with ensuring we can keep our borders secure, supporting people to make important journeys including accessing work, education, and healthcare, and allowing people to get the emergency care they need.

    Earlier this year, the government consulted widely on proposals to introduce minimum service levels legislation across a range of sectors, under the Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Act which received Royal Assent in July. The responses to these consultations have been published today with the legislation set to be laid in parliament tomorrow.

    For border security, the regulations will apply to employees of Border Force and selected HM Passport Office staff where passport services are required for the purposes of national security. The laws will set out that border security services should be provided at a level that means that they are no less effective than if a strike were not taking place. It will also ensure all ports and airports remain open on a strike.

    For train operators, it will mean the equivalent of 40% of their normal timetable can operate as normal and, in the case of strikes that affect rail infrastructure services, certain priority routes can remain open.

    Minimum service level regulations for ambulance workers will ensure that vital ambulance services in England will continue throughout any strike action, ensuring that cases that are life-threatening, or where there is no reasonable clinical alternative to an ambulance response, are responded to.

    Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said:

    We are doing everything in our power to stop unions de-railing Christmas for millions of people. This legislation will ensure more people will be able to travel to see their friends and family and get the emergency care they need.

    We cannot go on relying on short term fixes – including calling on our Armed Forces or civil servants – to mitigate the disruption caused by strike action.

    That’s why we’re taking the right long-term decision to bring in minimum service levels, in line with other countries, to keep people safe and continue delivering the vital public services that hard-working people rely on.

    Where minimum service level regulations are in place and strike action is called, employers can issue work notices to identify people who are reasonably required to work to ensure minimum service levels are met.

    The law requires unions to take reasonable steps and ensure their members who are identified with a work notice comply and if a union fails to do this, they will lose their legal protection from damages claims.

    Last year, we raised the maximum damages that courts can award against a union for unlawful strike action. For the biggest unions, the maximum award has risen from £250,000 to £1 million.

    Transport Secretary, Mark Harper said:

    For too long, hard working people have been unfairly targeted by rail union leaders – prevented from making important journeys, including getting to work, school or vital hospital appointments.

    Minimum Service Levels will help address this by allowing the rail industry to plan ahead to reduce disruption for passengers while ensuring workers can still exercise their ability to strike.

    An improved service on strike days will allow passengers to continue with their day-to-day lives and support businesses, particularly in the hospitality sector.

    Earlier this year, we accepted the independent pay review bodies recommendations in full, providing a fair pay deal for all public sector workers.

    An agreement between the government and Agenda for Change unions earlier this year saw over one million NHS staff receive a 5% pay rise along with one-off awards worth over £3,000 for the typical nurse or ambulance worker.

    For rail workers, there remains a fair and reasonable offer on the table which several unions have already accepted, one which would deliver competitive pay rises of 5% + 4% pay increase over two years.

    Home Office staff in delegated grades including Border Force staff have been provided with a pay award averaging 4.5% with an additional 0.5% targeted at the lower grades.

    Home Secretary Suella Braverman said:

    We must never allow strike action to compromise our border security or cause significant disruption to passengers and goods at our borders.

    The Armed Forces have commendably stepped up to fill vital roles during recent industrial action, but it would be irresponsible to rely on such short-term solutions to protect our national security.

    The minimum service levels announced today will ensure a fair balance between delivering the best possible service to the travelling public, maintaining a secure border and the ability of workers to strike.

    The government continues to recognise the crucial role of NHS staff and remains committed to working constructively to end any disruption for patients, and there are currently no live strike mandates relating to ambulance trusts. However, strikes have already had a significant impact on patients, NHS staff and efforts to cut waiting lists – including over one million postponed appointments and procedures.

    The Department of Health and Social Care is currently seeking evidence on expanding the scope of minimum service levels to cover other urgent and emergency hospital-based services which could include nurses and doctors. The consultation is set to close on the 14th of November.

    Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay said:

    Patients must be protected and strikes in ambulance services could put the lives and health of the public at risk, given their essential role in responding to life threatening emergencies.

    While voluntary agreements between employers and trade unions can still be agreed ahead of industrial action, these regulations provide a safety net for trusts and an assurance to the public that vital emergency services will be there when they need them.

    We will continue to take steps to protect patient safety and ensure health services have the staff they need to operate safely and effectively, no matter the circumstances.

    The Education Secretary has committed to introduce minimum service levels on a voluntary basis should an agreement be reached with the education unions. If a voluntary arrangement cannot be agreed, a consultation will be launched on introducing minimum service levels in schools and colleges. Separately, the Department has also committed to launching a consultation on introducing minimum service levels in universities.

    The Department for Business and Trade recently consulted on a new draft statutory Code of Practice on the ‘reasonable steps’ a trade union should take to meet the requirements set out in the Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Act 2023.

    They will also launch a consultation on removing regulation 7 across all sectors which prevents employment businesses supplying agency workers to cover the duties normally performed by a worker who is taking part in an official strike or other industrial action. These will be published in due course.

  • PRESS RELEASE : New Transport Safety Officers to crack down on anti-social behaviour [November 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : New Transport Safety Officers to crack down on anti-social behaviour [November 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Transport on 6 November 2023.

    Backed by £2.5 million of funding, specially-trained officers will enhance public safety and help prevent violence against women and girls on and around public transport.

    • specially-trained Transport Safety Officers (TSOs) to be put on patrol in 4 areas across England as part of the government’s anti-social behaviour action plan
    • the pilot schemes, backed by £2.5 million of DfT funding, will empower local areas to enhance public safety in, around and on transport and help prevent violence against women and girls
    • TSOs will have the ability to issue fixed penalty notices for antisocial behaviour

    Front-line safety personnel will be rolled out on public transport in 4 English areas to help stamp out anti-social behaviour on buses, trains and trams.

    The new TSOs will patrol targeted routes and locations, working in co-ordination with local police forces and the British Transport Police. The officers will work to improve safety with an emphasis on engagement and education, however, they will also hold the power to issue fixed penalty notices in response to certain antisocial behaviour.

    Following the successful implementation of a TSO scheme by Transport for West Midlands (TfWM), £2.5 million in funding from the Department for Transport (DfT) will see TSOs deployed in:

    • Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
    • Lancashire
    • Stoke-on-Trent
    • Thurrock – in collaboration with Essex and Southend-on-Sea councils

    The pilots will allow local authorities to develop and implement approaches that react directly to the specific needs of their local area.

    This is part of wider government commitments to improving public transport and follows the recent allocation of £150 million to improve bus services in the North and Midlands – the first tranche of £1 billion of new funding, redirected from High Speed 2 (HS2) as part of Network North.

    Transport Minister, Richard Holden, said:

    Anti-social behaviour is completely unacceptable – I want to see it eradicated from our public transport.

    As part of the government’s anti-social behaviour action plan, these new specially trained officers will help drive offenders off local networks, so that people can travel on their local train, tram and bus with peace of mind.

    The pilot will also give us a greater understanding of what works when it comes to tackling antisocial behaviour, enabling us to continue improving journeys for passengers in the future.

    TfWM will receive funding to expand their own TSO scheme, recruiting officers specifically trained and dedicated to tackling incidents involving women’s safety, helping to make women and girls feel safer when travelling on public transport. The measure is part of a wider government strategy to tackle violence against women and girls (VAWG), in answer to the recommendations as set out by the VAWG Transport Champions, Laura Shoaf and Anne Shaw.

    Mayor of the West Midlands, Andy Street, said:

    The vast majority of public transport journeys in our region – millions each week – are without incident but one bad experience for a passenger is one too many and risks putting them off public transport in future.

    That’s why we’re always looking for new ways to improve safety and security. Working through our Safer Travel Partnership, we developed the new role of Transport Safety Officers to deal with anti-social behaviour and provide visible extra assurance to the travelling public.

    TSOs have proven to be very effective and today’s visit shows that what we’re pioneering here in the West Midlands has been noticed by government. We’re now looking forward to helping other regions to develop their own teams of TSOs and learn from our experience.

    Anne Shaw, Executive Director of Transport for West Midlands and Transport Champion for tackling VAWG, said:

    While incidents do remain thankfully low, the fear of violence and intimidation is a huge barrier for women using public transport particularly when travelling alone or in the dark.

    One way to improve safety is having more visible staff on our networks – which is why we have increased the numbers of uniformed officers on patrol through a dedicated team of transport safety officers.

    They have proved a huge success in keeping people safe, both through directly tackling anti-social behaviour or simply providing a reassuring presence on board.

    The roll out of the TSO scheme supports the government’s wider Anti-social behaviour action plan, which is backed by £160m worth of funding.

    Under the plan, 16 areas in England and Wales are being funded to support either new anti-social behaviour focused ‘hotspot’ police and enforcement patrols in areas with the highest rates of anti-social behaviour, or trialling a new ‘immediate justice’ scheme to deliver swift and visible punishments. A select few areas are trialling both interventions.

    Thanks to this work, several hotspot trial forces have reported significant declines in anti-social behaviour. The Lancashire Constabulary have reported that in Brunswick, Blackpool, there has been a 36% fall in reported incidents of anti-social behaviour compared to the same period last year when hotspot patrols were not in place.

    Staffordshire Police have reported a combined 20% fall in reported incidents of anti-social behaviour across 5 locations in Stoke-on-Trent and Newcastle under-Lyme compared to the previous year.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Minister Davies visits Bangor University research ship as it undergoes green retrofit [November 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Minister Davies visits Bangor University research ship as it undergoes green retrofit [November 2023]

    The press release issued by the Office of the Secretary of State for Wales on 6 November 2023.

    The £5.5 million green retrofit is funded by UK Government.

    The Prince Madog ship is a multi-purpose research platform for conducting research into the science of the seas around the UK, including the Irish Sea and Celtic Sea, and has been operating for more than two decades.

    This week (Thursday 2nd November) Wales Office Minister Dr.James Davies visited the ship which is used for researching the biology, chemistry, geology, and physics of our seas. The vessel is also used to train the next generation of scientists at Bangor’s School of Ocean Sciences.

    The vessel is currently undergoing a two-year retrofit to equip it with a hydrogen propulsion system with a diesel-fuelled main engine to enable zero emission operation at slow speeds or over short distances. In normal operation, it will reduce emissions by up to 60%.

    The UK Government is funding the retrofit, with the Department for Transport providing £5.5 million from the £60 million Innovative Clean Maritime Technologies fund.

    In the future, the operators of the Prince Madog anticipates the vessel will receive its hydrogen from Anglesey’s proposed Holyhead Hydrogen Hub backed by £4.8m in UK Government funding.

    Over the last two decades data collected from the Prince Madog has contributed to some major scientific findings including:

    • Safeguarding sustainable fisheries by assessing the impact of trawling on the seabed.
    • Revealing the past climate of coastal seas.
    • Locating and identifying shipwrecks.
    • Predicting weather and climate by developing new techniques and measurements used that are now used globally.
    • Supporting the marine renewable energy industry by assessing potential sites for development and undertaking ecosystem and seabed assessments
    • Producing new techniques to measure ocean turbulence and the impact on the mixing of different waters in the ocean.
    • Assessing the impact of the physical environment on the foraging energetics of seabirds and the consequences for breeding success

    Wales Office Minister, Dr. James Davies said:

    It was fascinating to learn about the Prince Madog as well as meeting some of Bangor University’s research staff and hear more about the work they undertake.

    The ship has been a vital tool in countless studies over the last 20 years and has helped Bangor University become a world-leading destination for studying and researching the marine environment.

    It is vital that we all reduce our carbon footprint and I’m delighted that the UK Government is funding the work necessary to equip this fantastic ship for the future.

    Professor Paul Spencer, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research) said:

    The Prince Madog has been an asset to Wales, the UK, and internationally, both in education and research.

    The impact of research over decades by the School of Ocean Sciences is remarkable. It has changed science in a number of spheres, re-written textbooks and played an important role in supporting the continued sustainable development of the marine environment.

    We look forward to many more years of ground-breaking research and impact from the decks of the Prince Madog.

  • PRESS RELEASE : UK strengthens maritime commitment to Pacific region with Indo-Pacific Minister visit to Australia [November 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : UK strengthens maritime commitment to Pacific region with Indo-Pacific Minister visit to Australia [November 2023]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 6 November 2023.

    Minister for the Indo-Pacific Anne-Marie Trevelyan arrives in Sydney for a two-visit today (6 Nov), before travelling onto New Zealand and Pacific Island Countries including the Cook Islands, Fiji and Tonga.

    • Minister for the Indo-Pacific, Anne-Marie Trevelyan, will reinforce the UK’s maritime commitment to the Pacific region in her visit to Australia
    • Attending the International Maritime Exposition in Sydney, the Minister will highlight UK-Australia collaboration, including through AUKUS
    • The visit will fortify UK-Australia bilateral ties and strengthen existing partnerships in the region, highlighting the shared goal of supporting a free and open Indo-Pacific

    To underline the UK’s steadfast commitment to Australia, New Zealand and Pacific Island Countries, UK Minister for the Indo-Pacific, Anne-Marie Trevelyan, will arrive in Sydney today (6 November) for a two-day programme focused on government engagement, maritime security, and the strategic importance of the Indo-Pacific.

    Attending the Indo-Pacific International Maritime Exposition, Minister Trevelyan will showcase the UK’s dedication to fostering trade opportunities and reinforcing our commitment to the AUKUS partnership at meetings with UK and international businesses developing key infrastructure for the naval industry.

    The Minister will visit HMS Tamar, currently docked in Sydney. HMS Tamar and HMS Spey are UK Naval vessels positioned in the region to increase the UK’s long-term presence in the Indo-Pacific and help tackle regional security challenges. Working alongside partners and allies, the ships are conducting defence engagement and training with partner nations to enhance regional security.

    AUKUS is integral to UK efforts to support a free, peaceful and stable region. The UK Defence Secretary, Grant Shapps, recently accompanied Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister, Richard Marles, on a visit to Rolls-Royce’s nuclear reactor manufacturing site in Derby to meet the first group of Australians training alongside UK experts to understand how the next generation of conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines will be developed.

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

    Our close collaboration with Australia is testament to our shared vision for stability, growth and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific.

    AUKUS will allow us to deliver on our defence and security commitments, including in the maritime domain, to benefit our nations and the wider region.

    Engaging with countries in the Indo-Pacific is a key UK government priority. On 7 November the Foreign Secretary will be in Japan for the G7 Foreign Minister’s Meeting in Tokyo. With around 60% of global shipping passing through the Indo-Pacific, ensuring maritime security is critical to the Prime Minister’s priority of growing the UK’s economy. Increased engagement in the Indo-Pacific is now a permanent pillar of the UK’s international policy.

    Today’s visit underscores the depth of the UK partnership with Australia, building on the Minister’s work to boost regional trade earlier this year in Perth and Darwin. In September, she met government officials, business leaders and defence experts to discuss the UK’s increased engagement in the region.

    Following her engagements in Australia, the Minister will travel to New Zealand, the Cook Islands, Fiji and Tonga, where she will meet counterparts to discuss shared challenges facing the region. The Minister will represent the UK as a Dialogue Partner of the Pacific Islands Forum, taking place in the Cook Islands from 6-10 November.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Funding for non NHS-organisations for one-off payments [November 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Funding for non NHS-organisations for one-off payments [November 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 6 November 2023.

    Eligible non-NHS organisations including charities and social enterprises can apply for funding to deliver one-off payments to staff, worth at least £1,655.

    • Payments were agreed as part of NHS pay award between government and unions which also gave over one million staff a 5% pay rise in 2023 to 2024
    • Government has stepped in to help independent organisations deliver the payments, on this occasion

    Eligible healthcare staff at non-NHS organisations such as charities, local authorities or social enterprises will benefit from government funding to cover the cost of their one-off payments as part of the NHS pay award, worth at least £1,655.

    It comes after the NHS pay deal, agreed between government and unions in May, saw over one million staff including nurses, paramedics and 999 call handlers receive a 5% pay rise for 2023 to 2024, backdated to April, alongside two one-off payments worth between £1,655 and £3,789 for full-time staff.

    The government has agreed to provide additional funding for organisations with contracts to deliver NHS services, who employ their staff on dynamically linked Agenda for Change contracts. Whilst these staff are contractually eligible for the payments, the independent organisations are responsible for making them.

    The department has however listened to concerns around providing the payments in the current economic circumstances and so will make funding available to help deliver them, on this occasion.

    Health Minister Will Quince said:

    Given the difficult economic context we have made the decision to provide additional funding on this occasion to help deliver the one-off payments to eligible staff employed by non-NHS organisations. This will ensure hardworking healthcare staff and the organisations they work for are not financially disadvantaged as a result of the NHS pay deal, and means they will receive their backlog bonus for their efforts during the pandemic.

    Organisations will be able to apply for the funding and will need to show they have been negatively financially impacted by the pay deal, and that their staff are employed on dynamically linked Agenda for Change contracts.

    Many organisations have already delivered the one-off payments to staff but can apply to be reimbursed to ensure there is no impact on vital frontline services.

    The scheme, which will be funded from existing departmental budgets, will open in the coming weeks, and is expected to be completed by the end of the 2023 to 2024 financial year.

    As a result of the pay award, a newly qualified nurse has seen their salary go up by more than £2,750 over two years from 2021 to 2022 and 2023 to 2024, alongside over £1,890 in one-off payments this year.

    Non-NHS organisations commissioned by the NHS have, where eligible, already been funded for the consolidated 5% uplift under the terms of existing contracts.

    Background information

    Dynamically linked contracts are kept in line with the national Agenda for Change contract, so they automatically reflect any changes/uplifts.

    The NHS pay deal, agreed by NHS Staff Council in May, included two non-consolidated pay awards for 2022 to 2023. These non-consolidated payments covered staff directly employed by NHS organisations (for example, permanent and fixed term contracts) as set out in Annex 1 of the handbook on Agenda for Change terms on 31 March 2023. However, some staff in non-Annex 1 organisations are contractually entitled to the payments, and therefore their employers were responsible for making these payments.

    The Department cannot confirm the costs of this scheme until all applications have been received and assessed in line with the criteria and guidance set out by NHS England.

  • PRESS RELEASE : New opportunities for North Sea oil and gas [November 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : New opportunities for North Sea oil and gas [November 2023]

    The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 5 November 2023.

    The Government is taking further steps to support the UK’s transition to net zero by confirming new licensing opportunities.

    • Government to mandate annual oil and gas licensing to bolster UK’s energy security and reduce dependence on imports from overseas
    • Certainty on future licensing will help secure 200,000 jobs and billions in tax receipts
    • Licensing rounds will support lower carbon emissions and be contingent on specific tests to transition to net zero

    The Government is taking further steps to support the UK’s transition to net zero in a pragmatic, proportionate and realistic way, confirming new licensing opportunities that will protect British jobs and bolster energy security, reducing the UK’s reliance on imports from hostile foreign regimes such as Russia.

    Legislation to be set out later this week in the King’s Speech will require the North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA) to invite applications for new production license on an annual basis, providing certainty and confidence to investors and industry.

    The UK still relies on oil and gas for most of its energy needs, and data published by the Climate Change Committee shows that the UK will continue to rely on oil and gas to help meet its energy needs even when the UK reaches net zero in 2050.

    Encouraging domestic gas production, rather than importing higher-carbon emitting liquified natural gas from other countries, means lower carbon fuels for the UK and also benefits families and businesses. The combined oil and gas industry supports more than 200,000 jobs and adds about £16 billion to the UK economy annually.

    We are reducing our vulnerability to imports from hostile states, leaving us less exposed to unpredictable international forces. This will ensure we have a more secure and diverse energy system and as we make progress on renewables and new nuclear, our more robust energy mix will help to lower household bills in the long-term.

    Each annual licensing round will only take place if key tests are met that support the transition to net zero. The first test is that the UK must be projected to import more oil and gas from other countries than it produces at home.

    The second is that the carbon emissions associated with the production of UK gas are lower than the equivalent emissions from imported liquefied natural gas.

    If both these tests are met, the NSTA will be required to invite applications for new licences annually.

    The legislation is part of a King Speech that will prioritise the long-term decisions that will safeguard the prosperity of our country.

    Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said:

    “I am proud that the UK is a world leader in reducing emissions, and of our new plan to transition to net zero without adding undue burdens on households and securing the country’s long-term interest.

    “Domestic energy will play a crucial role in the transition to net zero, supporting jobs and economic growth, while also protecting us from the volatility of international markets and diversifying our energy sources. The clarity and certainty that our new legislation will provide will help get the country on the right path for the future.”

    The UK’s oil and gas industry has an important role to play in the UK’s energy transition.

    Production from new gas and oil fields in the North Sea can be much cleaner than producing hydrocarbons from older existing fields, reducing the emissions impact of future production.

    Domestic production will help unlock green investment, drawing on the key role our oil and gas industry plays, and driving forward investment in clean technologies that we need to realise our net zero target.

    Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero Claire Coutinho, said:

    “The UK has cut its emissions faster than any of its peers. But as the independent Climate Change Committee acknowledges, we will need oil and gas even as we reach net zero in 2050.

    “As energy markets become more unstable it’s just common sense to make the most of our own homegrown advantages and use the oil, gas, wind and hydrogen on our doorstep in the North Sea. Rather than importing dirtier fuels from abroad, we want to give industry the certainty to invest in jobs here and unlock billions of pounds for our own transition to clean energy.”

    Offshore Energies UK CEO David Whitehouse, said:

    “The UK needs the churn of new licences to manage production decline in line with our maturing basin. A predictable licencing process with transparent checks will support the highly skilled people working in the sector, while ensuring the granting of new licences is compatible with energy security and net zero.”

    “We all recognise that our energy system must change, and the offshore energy sector is committed to delivering on the climate goals of the UK. While we continue to use oil and gas, we should prioritise our homegrown production to support our energy security, our economy, our jobs, and our world class supply chain that will be the foundation of our low carbon future.”

    Jon Butterworth, CEO of National Gas, said:

    “Gas is the backbone of our nation’s energy system – and it is vital we make the most of the abundant resources we have to keep the lights on, homes warm and businesses running.

    “That’s why National Gas are delighted to see the government give their firm backing to the UK’s gas sector today – maintaining the security of our energy supply and ensuring we can continue to power the country as we transition towards net zero.

    “By backing gas today and embracing hydrogen for the future – we can create jobs, secure energy independence, deliver net zero, and keep costs down for households and businesses.”

    The UK is committed to delivering on its climate goals and achieving net zero by 2050. The Government’s record reflects this – we achieved the fastest rate of greenhouse gas emissions reductions of all G7 countries between 1990 and 2021 – and we are scaling up our renewable energy supplies, including wind, solar and nuclear. Renewables already generated a record 48.1 per cent of our electricity in the first quarter of this year.

    The UK’s current dependence on fossil fuels (75 per cent) is similar to other advanced economies. Japan gets 85 per cent of its energy from fossil fuels, the United States 81 per cent and Germany 76 per cent.