Category: Press Releases

PRESS RELEASE : Overseas Territories Attorneys General Conference [October 2023]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 10 October 2023.

Attorneys General of the British Overseas Territories meet to enhance cooperation on a number of wide-ranging issues.

The Attorneys General of British Overseas Territories (Anguilla; the British Virgin Islands; Cayman Islands; Falkland Islands, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands; Montserrat; and the Turks and Caicos Islands), Attorney General and representative of the Crown Dependencies of Guernsey and Jersey, a representative from the US Department of Justice and the Solicitor General for England and Wales alongside a delegation from the United Kingdom Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office met in Montserrat on 26th and 28th September for the 2023 Overseas Territories Attorneys General conference, to discuss a range of topics relating to the rule of law and administration of justice in the Territories and to enhance our mutual cooperation.

The Hon. Sheree Jemmotte-Rodney, Attorney General for Montserrat together with Michael Tomlinson KC MP, the Solicitor General for England and Wales, chaired the conference. This gathering, the first in person conference since 2019 pre-COVID-19 pandemic, was an opportunity for the UK, Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies Law Officers to exchange best practice and strengthen partnerships to support the delivery of priority issues.

During the conference the delegates discussed cooperation on a number of important topics, including constitutional processes, maritime issues, recognition of same-sex partnerships/marriage, safeguarding, irregular migration, criminal justice and law enforcement. Part of the discussions included recent positive experiences with constitutional reform negotiations, noting the complexities of agreeing constitutional changes and the need to develop expertise and knowledge on this subject. The Overseas Territories welcomed the opportunity for further engagement with the UK Government in this area.

The delegates welcomed the crucial role played by the Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies in the implementation and enforcement of UK sanctions. Together, we are ensuring that sanctions legislation is operating effectively in our jurisdictions. Delegates agreed to exchange best practice and recommended the creation of a mechanism to facilitate an improved information sharing forum to help build capability and capacity.

The delegates shared experiences on legislation permitting same-sex partnerships and noted the steps taken by most Territories on this topic. We continue to welcome and encourage engagement and dialogue with all of the Overseas Territories to ensure that legislation, including for same-sex couples, is compliant with our human rights obligations.

Discussions on maritime issues included sharing information on delimitation, search and rescue and security. The delegates welcomed ongoing cooperation with the UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency, including on conventions.

The delegates discussed the key issue of safeguarding, including the risk posed by technology, and legislative protections for vulnerable teens at risk of sexual grooming, and exploitation by adults in a position of trust. Delegates agreed to continue cooperation in this area to ensure the protection of those that are vulnerable in our societies. Furthermore, the discussion on criminal justice and law enforcement covered disclosure, legislation to protect the vulnerable, including sexual offences and domestic violence.

The delegates shared their common challenges with irregular migration, including unlawful entry and repatriation costs.

The UK Government and the Overseas Territories welcomed the opportunity to come together at the 2023 Attorneys General Conference. Delegates reiterated their joint commitment to cooperating to uphold the rule of law.

October 11, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : More funding to schools, hospitals and public buildings to lower energy use and save on bills, and cut carbon emissions [October 2023]
The press release issued by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero on 10 October 2023.

Public sector organisations can now bid for a share of £230 million to help make low-carbon energy upgrades to their buildings.
- £230 million made available to schools, hospitals, leisure centres and other public buildings in latest round of funding
- Grants will allow schools, hospitals and other public buildings to install low-carbon heating and energy efficiency measures
- More than 1,000 buildings have already received upgrades helping them save thousands of pounds on energy bills
More schools, hospitals and other public buildings will be able to reduce energy use, save on bills and cut carbon emissions for the long-term through the latest round of funding from the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme.

From today (Tuesday 10 October), public sector organisations can bid for a cut of £230 million of government funding to support significant low-carbon energy upgrades to their buildings, ranging from heat pumps and solar panels, to new energy efficiency measures such as insulation and low-energy lighting.

The opening of the latest bidding process coincides with the 3-year anniversary of the scheme, which has so far allocated more than £2 billion to almost 1,000 public sector organisations across England, helping them reduce energy bills and carbon emissions in the long term.

Today’s funding marks another step in the government’s pragmatic and proportionate approach to reaching net zero, by scaling-up energy efficiency of buildings across the country and supporting the switch to more low-carbon heating.

The commitment follows significant progress the UK has already made towards reaching net zero – cutting all emissions by 48% between 1990 and 2021, which is faster than any other G7 country. Decarbonising the public sector with low carbon heating and energy efficiency measures is also expected to save the public sector an estimated £650 million per year on average to 2037.

Lord Callanan, Minister for Energy Efficiency and Green Finance, said:

We are a world-leader when it comes to reducing carbon emissions – and for us to reach our goal of net zero by 2050, we want to help public bodies like schools and hospitals to do their bit.

We’ve made fantastic progress so far, helping more than 1,000 schools, hospitals and leisure centres. Today’s funding will now help even more organisations across England bring their bills down, while also cutting their emissions.

The funding, announced today, has been made available through Phase 3c of the scheme, with organisations able to spend the money allocated in the 2024 to 2025 financial year – on top of further funding for 2025 to 2026.

Organisations that have benefited from a share of more than £2 billion under the scheme over the past 3 years include:
- University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust have saved £54,500 on their annual energy bill thanks to a new air source heat pump at the Hospital of St Cross in Rugby and new solar panels and pipework insulation
- Staffordshire County Council have installed air source heat pumps and solar panels at the new Kingston Centre in Stafford. The school will also receive new energy efficiency measures, including a building energy management system, LED lighting, double glazing, roof insulation, cavity wall insulation, and pipework insulation. This is due to save them £79,700 on their annual energy bill
- Upper Norwood Library and the Waterloo Action community centre in the London Borough of Lambeth will see their energy efficiency improved – saving the council £5,200 on their annual energy bill. Air source heat pumps were installed at both sites, alongside LED lighting, double glazing, insulation and building energy management systems. Solar panels have also been installed at the Waterloo Action community centre
The Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme aims to support the government’s commitment to reduce emissions from public sector buildings by 75% by 2037, compared to 2017 levels, as first set out in the 2021 Heat and Buildings Strategy.

Ian Rodger, Director of Programmes at Salix, said:

Salix is delighted to be delivering the next phase of the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme to support public sector bodies in their net zero transformation journey. The scheme is empowering organisations across England to make significant reductions in their carbon footprint from heating public buildings.

The huge enthusiasm for the scheme shows how much public sector bodies care about their carbon emissions and Salix is proud to be able to support them with finance and technical support to achieve their ambitions.

To apply for funding public sector bodies should visit: Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme: Phase 3.
October 11, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Library book loan payment scheme updated to benefit authors [October 2023]
The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 10 October 2023.

Library book loan payment scheme updated to benefit authors enabling authors to earn up to £6,600 from loans of their books from libraries.
- Scheme enables authors to earn up to £6,600 from loans of their books from libraries
- Payments to authors for library loans to be made fairer through use of improved data
- Estates of deceased authors will be able to receive payments for their work more easily
More authors are set to benefit from improvements to the Scheme that pays them when their books are loaned from public libraries in the UK.

The Public Lending Right (PLR) Scheme provides authors with an income of up to £6,600 a year from loans of their books from public libraries in the UK and pays out more than £6 million annually. The rate paid to authors for each loan is calculated by dividing the total money available by the estimated total annual number of loans in public libraries.

The PLR Scheme currently specifies that the number of loans is to be determined by means of a sample, with data from 30 councils used to assist payment calculations. These new changes will see the British Library move towards collecting comprehensive loans data from all library authorities in the UK to ensure authors are getting their fair share.

This means that the more of their books are loaned out by public libraries, the more income an author will receive through the Scheme.

According to the latest public statistics, Richard Osman’s novel The Thursday Murder Club was the most borrowed book from libraries in 2021/22 while authors including Roald Dahl, Daisy Meadows and Lee Child were among the top ten most popular.

The Scheme will also be changed to simplify the process for those who have inherited rights to a book from a deceased author, removing unnecessary, bureaucratic processes like the requirement to involve legal professionals.

Arts & Heritage Minister Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay said:

Libraries are an invaluable resource for people of all ages and backgrounds across the country, opening up access to a wealth of enlightenment and enjoyment.

It is only right that authors receive fair payment when their work is loaned from libraries. These changes to the scheme will ensure that it is working as fairly and effectively as possible.

Phil Spence OBE, Chief Operating Officer of the British Library, said:

We welcome these changes to the Public Lending Right Scheme – this allows for more information to be gathered on loans data, which will enable us to better serve the authors and creators whose works are loaned from public libraries, and the readers that borrow from them too.

The British Library receives funding from DCMS to run the Public Lending Right Scheme. Payments are made annually to eligible authors who register their work. Authors residing in the UK or European Economic Area are eligible to apply.

Changes to the Public Lending Right Scheme, which was established in 1982, will come into force on 31 October 2023.
October 11, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : The NHS will go bankrupt if it doesn’t reform, warns Labour [October 2023]
The press release issued by the Labour Party on 11 October 2023.

The NHS faces bankruptcy unless it is reformed, Wes Streeting will warn today.

The Shadow Health Secretary will argue that fundamental reform of the health service is needed if it is to survive another 75 years. He will say that reform will play a bigger part than investment in rebuilding the NHS. Labour plans for reform will secure the future and sustainability of the NHS, providing better service for patients and better value for taxpayers.

The IFS estimates that half of all public sector workers are set to be employed by the NHS by 2036. The proportion of total departmental spending going on health is 42% this year and is forecast to rise.

Shadow Health Secretary, Wes Streeting will say:

“Be in no doubt about the scale of the challenge. In the longer term, the challenge of rising chronic disease, combined with our ageing society, threatens to bankrupt the NHS.

“Pouring ever-increasing amounts of money into a system that isn’t working is wasteful in every sense.

“A waste of money we don’t have. A waste of time that is running out. A waste of potential, because the NHS has so much going for it.”

Pledging that Labour’s reform agenda will provide a better service for patients while securing better value for taxpayers’ money, Streeting will promise to “turn the NHS on its head”:

“When I look at leading health systems across the world, the fundamental problem with the NHS becomes obvious: we have an NHS that gets to people too late.

“Labour’s reform agenda will turn the NHS on its head. From a service focused on hospitals to one providing more care in the community, analogue to digital, sickness to prevention.

“A neighbourhood health service as much as a National Health Service, pioneering cutting edge treatment and technology, preventing ill-health, not just treating it. Better for patients, less expensive for taxpayers.

“Achieving our mission will take time, investment, and reform. Reform is even more important than investment.”

He will also set out Labour’s plans to tackle the immediate waiting lists crisis facing the NHS. Today, 7.7 million patients are waiting for treatment, 390,000 of whom have been waiting for more than a year. 1.6 million patients are waiting for tests and scans, with the 6 week waiting times target not hit since 2017. Labour has pledged to:
- Provide 2 million more operations, scans, and appointments a year on evenings and weekends, with £1.1 billion paid to staff in overtime
- Double the number of NHS scanners, buying AI-scanners which work 35% faster, to diagnose patients earlier
- Deliver 700,000 urgent dentistry appointments, recruit more dentist to areas most in need, introduce supervised toothbrushing for 3-5 year-olds, and reform of the NHS dental contract.
The plans will cost £1.6 billion in total and be paid for by abolishing the non-dom tax status, which allows people living and working in Britain to pay their taxes overseas.

On Labour’s plan to cut waiting lists, Streeting will say:

“A Labour government will take immediate action to cut waiting lists.

“We’ll provide an extra £1.1bn to help the NHS beat the backlog, with extra clinics at evenings and weekends – providing two million more appointments each year.

“Faster treatment for patients. Extra pay for staff. The first step to cut waiting lists and beat the Tory backlog.

“Paid for by abolishing the non-dom tax status, because patients need treatment more than the wealthiest need a tax break.”
October 11, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Labour to unveil “real world” primary maths teaching to encourage stronger lifelong numeracy [October 2023]

The press release issued by the Labour Party on 11 October 2023.

Labour’s Shadow Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson will today unveil a landmark new plan to encourage stronger lifelong numeracy by boosting early intervention and “real world” maths teaching at primary school and a new expert-led review to as part of its plan to drive “high and rising standards in education”.

Phillipson will set out Labour’s plan, which will set children up with basic, practical maths skills to help them achieve at secondary school, at work and throughout life to the party’s conference on Wednesday.

Labour’s maths plan will centre on upskilling primary school teachers who are not maths teachers with the right skills and knowledge to deliver high class maths teaching through the Teacher Training Entitlement, paid for through Labour’s plans to end private schools’ tax breaks.

Labour said it would also task its Curriculum Review with bringing maths to life and directing teachers to show children how numeracy is used in the world around them, such as through household budgeting, currency exchange rates when going on holiday, sports league tables and cookery recipes.

The party said this would include bringing elements of financial literacy into maths teaching, such as using the concept of Individual Savings Accounts to teach about percentages.

Labour’s focus will be on driving improvements at primary level, so they will reform Rishi Sunak’s Maths to 18 working group, so it focuses on primary maths as a first priority and investigates the maths equivalent to phonics.

Labour will also work with nurseries to develop trained ‘Maths Champions’ who can support early learning in childcare settings, ensuring children are set up for school. Independent evaluations show ‘Maths Champions’ can boost learning with three months’ extra progress.

The party said its plan would aim to tackle the growing gaps in early maths attainment that lead to falling engagement and to children falling further behind as they grow up. The party cited evidence showing that that one in four children was already behind expected levels by age five.

Labour pointed to the achievements of the work started by the last Labour government on phonics, laying the basis for a policy which has improved the reading ability of children throughout their time at school, as a template for its plans for primary maths.

Phillipson’s intervention would also seek to target deep-rooted problems with childhood numeracy that persist into adulthood, such as the inability to analyse basic graphs and calculate the value of supermarket offers.

An OECD estimate from 2016 found that nine million working-age adults in England have low basic literacy or numeracy skills with five million having low skills in both areas, while the lack of basic numeracy skills costs the economy £25bn a year.

Bridget Phillipson MP, Labour’s Shadow Education Secretary, is expected to say:

“In every part of our system, in every year of children’s lives, in every corner of our country, we will be the party of high and rising standards.

“Maths is the language of the universe, the underpinning of our collective understanding. It cannot be left till the last years of school.

“It’s why I’m proud to tell you today, that we’ll tackle our chronic cultural problem with maths, by making sure it’s better taught at six, never mind sixteen.

“I am determined that Labour will bring maths to life for the next generation. I want the numeracy all our young people need – for life and for work, to earn and to spend, to understand and to challenge. I want that to be part of their learning right from the start.

October 11, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : UN Human Rights Council 54 – Statement on Central African Republic [October 2023]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 10 October 2023.

Statement for the Interactive Dialogue on the Central African Republic. Delivered by the UK at the 54th HRC.

Thank you, Madam Vice-President,

The United Kingdom remains deeply concerned by the increase in the number of human rights violations and abuses in the Central African Republic. Reports have highlighted that Central African Armed Forces and Wagner Group forces are now responsible for the majority of these – and that when operating independently in CAR, Wagner mercenaries have engaged in a disproportionately higher level of violence targeting civilians.

The UK calls for a revitalisation of the peace process in the wake of the increased reports of human rights violations and abuses. The Political Agreement for Peace and Stability remains the only viable option to end conflict and crisis in the Central African Republic, and we call on the Central African authorities, to build on political progress and ensure meaningful engagement with all political actors in country.

We are also deeply concerned that the conflict in Sudan and the global economic crisis has further compounded the situation in CAR, increasing the price of basic commodities and driving levels of food insecurity so that half the country is experiencing severe food insecurity and 56% of the country is in need of humanitarian assistance. A rapid solution to CAR’s crisis is needed to build resilience and coping mechanisms for the population who are suffering from this sustained, long-term damage.

Mr Agbetse

Thank you for your report and presentation. We would welcome your views on what steps CAR and the international community should take to support the people of CAR and those fleeing violence in Sudan.

Thank you.

October 10, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : UK enhances security and climate cooperation with Sri Lanka [October 2023]
The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 10 October 2023.

Minister for the Indo-Pacific, Anne-Marie Trevelyan, is visiting Sri Lanka to strengthen cooperation on climate change, regional security and human rights.
- Minister for the Indo-Pacific to strengthen cooperation with Sri Lanka on climate change, regional security and human rights.
- Anne-Marie Trevelyan will reaffirm UK support for maritime security, attending the Indian Ocean Rim Association Ministerial meeting in Sri Lanka.
- UK and Sri Lanka celebrate 75 years of diplomatic relations.
To deepen UK-Sri Lanka cooperation on environmental protection, regional security and human rights, UK Minister for the Indo-Pacific Anne-Marie Trevelyan will arrive in Sri Lanka today (10 October). The three-day visit to Colombo and Jaffna marks the celebration of 75 years of diplomatic relations between the UK and Sri Lanka and is the Minister’s first visit to Sri Lanka in her role.

Minister Trevelyan will emphasise the UK’s long-term commitment to the region at the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) Ministerial meeting hosted by Sri Lanka. With around 60% of global shipping passing through the Indo-Pacific, ensuring maritime security is of critical importance to the Prime Minister’s priority of growing the UK’s economy. The UK is increasing its long-term presence in the Indo-Pacific by permanently deploying two Offshore Patrol Vessels to tackle maritime security challenges in the region alongside partners and allies.

Minister Trevelyan will also seek to strengthen IORA work on climate mitigation. Through collaborative programmes that underpin biodiversity objectives and the Glasgow Pact (agreed at COP26), the Minister will highlight UK support for Sri Lanka’s environmental work. This builds on the UK’s strong track record as the first major economy to legislate for Net Zero, cutting carbon emissions faster than any other G7 country. Sri Lanka are also prioritising green growth, with their own commitment to net zero by 2050.

Indo-Pacific Minister Anne-Marie Trevelyan said:

” As the UK celebrates 75 years of diplomatic relations with Sri Lanka, we’re working together on climate action, peacebuilding and human rights.

“Through key regional forums like IORA, we can accelerate progress towards enhanced security for the Indian Ocean region, collaborate on shared climate goals and on boosting maritime security.”

While in Colombo, Minister Trevelyan will meet members of the Sri Lankan government including President Ranil Wickremesinghe and Foreign Minister Ali Sabry. Discussions will focus on climate finance and green growth, justice reform and opportunities to enhance UK-Sri Lanka diplomatic ties.

Travelling to Jaffna, in the Northern Province, Trevelyan will meet with Governor P. S. M Charles, and regional parliamentarians. She will then visit a land mine clearance site in Muhamalai to see UK-funded demining and sustainable resettlement work. Supported by the UK’s Conflict, Security and Stability Fund (CSSF), charity The HALO Trust has been working to clear unexploded ordnances in Muhamalai since 2012, with the Sri Lankan government anticipating that the country will be landmine-free by 2027. UK funding to the United Nations Development Programme has also supported the resettlement of displaced communities on land cleared of mines, helping provide community infrastructure and build sustainable livelihoods.

To engage UK businesses in Sri Lanka on bilateral trade discussions, Minister Trevelyan will meet civil society and business leaders from across Sri-Lanka at a breakfast meeting.

Following her engagements in Sri Lanka, the Minister will travel to India as part of a wider trip to reaffirm the UK’s commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific.
October 10, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : UK updates Travel Advice for Lebanon [October 2023]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 10 October 2023.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office advises against non-essential travel to Lebanon and against all travel to south of the country.

The British Embassy in Beirut has announced updated Travel Advice for Lebanon. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office advises against non-essential travel to Lebanon and against all travel to some areas in the south of the country.

This means that British nationals should only travel to Lebanon if their travel is essential. We now advise against all travel to the area south of the Litani river which includes the main Naqoura-Tyre-Saida-Beirut highway and areas to the west of it. In addition, we continue to advise against all travel to the Hermel Area, including the towns of Arsal, Ras Baalbek, Qaa, Laboué and Nahlé, Palestinian refugee camps or within 5km of the border with Syria.

We keep our Travel Advice under constant review. The situation is unpredictable and could deteriorate without warning.

British Nationals in Lebanon continue to have access to 24/7 consular assistance. Please call +961 (0) 1 960 800 for inquiries.

We encourage all British nationals to stay up to date with our Travel Advice in full at Lebanon travel advice – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).

October 10, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : UN Human Rights Council 54 – Statement on Cambodia [October 2023]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 10 October 2023.

Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on Cambodia. Delivered by the UK at the 54th Human Rights Council at the UN.

Thank you, Vice President.

The UK thanks the Special Rapporteur for his update on the human rights situation in Cambodia and welcomes the conclusions and recommendations in his latest report.

We recognise that Cambodia has made progress on economic, social and cultural rights. In particular, we commend Cambodia on its response to COVID-19, including on social protection, as well as its commitment to climate, education, and healthcare.

The UK remains committed to working constructively with Cambodia in its efforts to advance all human rights, including by supporting the implementation of the benchmarks and recommendations set out in the Special Rapporteur’s report.

Following Cambodia’s national elections earlier this year, the UK supports the Special Rapporteur’s call for the new generation of leaders to open up civic and political space; engage in constructive dialogue with civil and political actors; and guarantee an open political environment.

Advancing freedom of speech, association, and thought would also serve to support Cambodia’s economic sector by encouraging greater innovation through the open sharing of ideas and information.

Special Rapporteur,

What are the most important measures that you believe the government of Cambodia needs to take to ensure an open civic space?

Thank you.

October 10, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Report highlights impact of UK contribution to the Gaia mission [October 2023]
The press release issued by the UK Space Agency on 10 October 2023.

UK funding for scientists working on a mission to map the Galaxy has helped advance the frontiers of human knowledge, according to a new report, published today alongside the latest Gaia data release.

The UK Space Agency commissioned space economics and strategy consultancy know.space to study the impact of the UK’s national funding to date for the UK’s role in contributing to the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Global Astrometric Interferometer for Astrophysics (Gaia) mission.

Launched in 2013 and expected to be in operation until 2025, Gaia is undertaking the ambitious task of providing a 3D chart of positional and velocity measurements of up to 2.5 billion stars, quasars, exoplanets, comets and asteroids. The mission’s aim is to construct by far the largest and most precise 3D map of the Galaxy ever made.

The report found that Gaia publications since 2014 have been cited more than 200,000 times, and UK authored papers are cited significantly more than average. For example:
1. Papers with UK involvement constitute 46% of total citations, while accounting for 31% of publications
2. UK first authored papers constitute 15% of total citations, while accounting for 10% of total publications
3. The average number of citations for a UK-authored publication (first-authored or contributing author) is 35, compared to 23 for a Gaia paper without UK involvement
Among the findings the report also shows that by partnering with the Imaging and Molecular Annotation of Xenografts and Tumors laboratory at the Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute and others, the UK’s Gaia team has employed star map analytical techniques to study cancers and tumours. This novel approach, aiming to develop the world’s first virtual reality cancer map could redefine diagnosis and promote more personalised cancer treatments.

Dr Caroline Harper, Head of Space Science at the UK Space Agency, said:

Gaia is a groundbreaking science mission, in terms of both the quality and richness of the scientific data and the advances in ‘big data’ processing that it has stimulated, and which can be applied to other areas such as medical diagnostics.

It’s fantastic that the UK is a core member of the international Gaia consortium and has been making such important contributions to the mission. This study has provided a timely and valuable insight into the positive outcomes of UK Space Agency funding for space science missions like Gaia.

The UK has a key role in developing the processing and analysing of data in the mission. This enables the UK space science research community to play a central role in ongoing data processing and scientific discovery.

The Impact Evaluation, which comes as new Gaia data is made available today (10 October), analysed the work to date across the four core themes of science, UK competitiveness, collaboration inspiration and innovation to identify the outcomes of national funding to date.

The report highlights the instrumental role played by the UK in developing Gaia’s spectrophotometry instruments, which has allowed the observatory to study around 2.5 billion celestial bodies, revealing deep insights into our Milky Way and the stages of stellar evolution.

It also reveals that many PhDs have been made possible, both through research projects exploiting data from Gaia, of more specifically through Gaia related doctoral training networks, supported by UK and/or EU funding, such as the current MWGaia Doctoral Network.

Will Lecky, Co-founder and Director at know.space, said:

There can be little doubt that Gaia is a scientific success story. Our report highlights how UK funding has enabled the processing and release of high-quality data that is of huge value to the global scientific community, helping to advance the frontiers of human knowledge. The impact is also set to continue for years and decades to come.

Our analysis also shows how funding has helped to expand the reach and reputation of the UK space sector, develop sought-after data skills, inspire the next generation, and lead to widespread ‘spillover’ benefits as new advanced statistical methods, algorithms and capabilities are applied elsewhere in the space sector and beyond.

Scientists and engineers from around the UK also played key roles in the design and build of Gaia. UK participation in the mission is funded by the UK Space Agency which has invested £23 million to date, with an additional £2.4 million from the UK Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC).

Dr Colin Vincent, STFC Associate Director Astronomy, said:

The UK Space Agency and STFC have jointly supported data centres in the UK that are essential to the exciting science from this unique international mission to explore the evolution of our own galaxy.

By developing and applying advanced data extraction and processing techniques UK experts have enabled the maximum science to be extracted from the raw data science to deliver new insights.

Release of the latest Gaia mission data

The mission’s latest ‘focused product release’, provides many new unexpected and exciting insights which includes the revelation of half a million new and faint stars in a massive cluster, 380 possible cosmic lenses, and the pinpointing the positions of more than 150,000 asteroids within the Solar System.

Dr Nicholas Walton, lead of the UK Gaia Project team and ESA Gaia Science Team member, said:

This release will open up new insights across astronomy, from the precise orbits of asteroids in our Solar System, to quasar discovery in the distant cosmos. A truly wonderful release demonstrating the breadth of science enabled by Gaia. This release represents but a small taster of the riches to be revealed with the publication of the next full release, Gaia Data Release 4.
October 10, 2023