Category: Press Releases

PRESS RELEASE : Future of cherished local pubs, museums and sports clubs secured with £12.3m levelling up boost [September 2023]
The press release issued by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities on 25 September 2023.

Forty-five treasured institutions across the United Kingdom given funding to safeguard future.

Pubs, museums and sports clubs across the United Kingdom have been given vital funding from Government to secure their future for generations to come.

Forty-five treasured spaces in our villages, towns and cities will receive more than £12.3m in funding so they can be run by the community, for the community.

Thanks to the latest funding from the government’s Community Ownership Fund, these institutions will be owned and run by hardworking community groups.

£1 million will rebuild a historic Yorkshire railway bridge in urgent need of repair, which carries the railway line over Bridgehouse Beck between Keighley and Oxenhope.

The funding will protect a tourist rail line which is used by more than 250,000 passengers a year, and will improve transport infrastructure in the region so that the local economy can continue to thrive. The original bridge was built in 1867, and the railway line has featured in dozens of films and TV shows over the years including The Railway Children in 1970.

David Pearson, Co-ordinator for External Finance & Resources at the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway Preservation Society, said:

We’re overjoyed to have received this funding, which will be going towards the complete rebuilding of the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway’s bridge 27 in the middle of the railway at Haworth and in the middle of Haworth village.

It means that the long term survival of train services on the railway is ensured and means everything to our railway, our villages and our people.

An educational aerospace discovery centre in Kinross will be created with £300,000 from the fund, offering interactive learning opportunities and exhibitions which will inspire future generations to pursue STEM careers.

And the Vale of Aeron pub in Ystrad Aeron, Wales, which was known as a favourite haunt of the legendary poet Dylan Thomas, has been given £300,000 for renovations to keep it open and make it accessible to the whole community.

Jacob Young, Minister for Levelling Up, said:

Our priority is to support communities and deliver opportunities right across the country, which is why we’re investing £12.3m to secure the future of cherished community institutions.

These places – from pubs to historic railway lines – are the golden thread which run through our social fabric, and keeping them going is vital for supporting communities.

Other projects which have received funding include:
- Lordsfield Swimming Club in Hampshire, a volunteer-run facility which will be sustained for the future with an £835,400 grant so it can provide low-cost swimming to local schools and the wider community.
- £1.2 million to secure the future of four pubs, including the Vale of Aeron, so they can continue to pull pints for locals.
- Knutsford Market Hall in Cheshire received £560,000 to ensure it continues to host and support a number of small businesses.
- Sterts Theatre in Cornwall will be restored with £300,000 so that it can resume its community and professional performances.
- The Margate School in Kent will be able to undertake essential repairs with £400,000 that will secure a long-term future for the not-for-profit art school.
- Dartford Gym and Youth Club will undergo essential refurbishment with £244,920 to restore it as a space for local schools, clubs and community organisations to engage in sport and social activities.
The Community Ownership Fund has now given £49.3 million for 195 projects across the UK. This includes almost £8 million for thirty-three pubs so that local people can still go to their beloved local, and £14.6 million for sixty six community centres so they can continue to play an important role in people’s lives.

The latest round of allocations includes £770,057 for three projects in Wales, £992,825 for four projects in Scotland and more than £1m for four projects in Northern Ireland.

Changes which came into effect for this round of bids also meant that all projects could bid for up to £1 million in funding, not just sports clubs, and the amount organisations needed to match fund decreased to only 20%, to allow more places to benefit.

The George pub in Kent previously benefited from a £250,000 grant from the fund, which allowed it to reopen in May 2023. The pub shut during the Covid-19 pandemic and the owners decided to sell up and retire, but locals were able to get the doors open again because of the funding and are now planning for the future.

Local resident Alex Withington said:

We’re going to have a café that opens during the day too. When we did a survey, a lot of people said they wanted somewhere during day to use as well.

We’re also looking to have a petanque area and a community library in the pub. We’re just so happy to have helped restore The George to the heart of Bethersden for our community.

The Community Ownership Fund is currently open again for bids and will close on 11th October 2023, and groups are being urged to apply for up to £2m in funding for the very first time.
September 25, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Royal reappointment of Charlie Taylor as HM Chief Inspector of Prisons [September 2023]

The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 25 September 2o23.

The Secretary of State for Justice and Lord Chancellor has announced the Royal reappointment of Charlie Taylor as His Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Prisons.

The Secretary of State and Lord Chancellor, Rt Hon. Alex Chalk KC MP, has announced the Royal reappointment of Charlie Taylor as the Chief Inspector of Prisons (HMCI Prisons) for a second term of 3 years. His reappointment will run from 1 November 2023 to 31 October 2026.

Mr Taylor’s original appointment tenure commenced on 1 November 2020 for a 3 year term to run until 31 October 2023.

The recruitment of HMCI Prisons is regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments and this reappointment has been made in line with the Governance Code on Public Appointments.

His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Prisons

His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Prisons is an independent inspectorate. The Chief Inspector reports directly to Ministers but operates independently of government and the services under its scrutiny. The Chief Inspector has a duty to report on conditions for and treatment of those in prison, young offender institutions, secure training centres, immigration detention facilities, and court custody suites, customs custody facilities and military detention in England and Wales.

Charlie Taylor Biography

Charlie Taylor was initially appointed as HM Chief Inspector of Prisons in 2020 and was re-appointed in 2023. From 2017-2020 Mr Taylor was Chair of the Youth Justice Board for England and Wales. Before taking up this role he led the government’s review of the youth justice system. Mr Taylor was Chief Executive of the National College of Teaching and Leadership from its launch in 2013. He is a former head teacher of The Willows, a school for children with complex behavioural, emotional and social difficulties. He was the Coalition Government’s expert adviser on behaviour until 2012 and produced reviews for the Department for Education on alternative provision (for children excluded from mainstream schools) and attendance in schools.

September 25, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Bus fares in rural England drop 11% thanks to government’s £2 fare cap [September 2023]

The press release issued by the Department for Transport on 22 September 2023.

The £2 fare cap has cut travel costs, especially in rural areas, where buses are vital for people to get around.

Millions of people in England have enjoyed cheaper bus travel this year thanks to the government’s unprecedented actions to lower bus fares and protect services.

Yesterday (21 September 2023), new statistics from the Department of Transport (DfT) showed the overall price of bus fares in England, outside London, has dropped by 7.4% between June 2022 and June 2023, mainly due to the extension of the Get Around for £2 scheme.

The £2 fare cap has cut travel costs, particularly in rural areas, where buses are crucial for so many people to get around, with the average fare dropping by 10.8% in rural and non-metropolitan parts of England.

When adjusted for inflation, local bus fares in England, outside of London, for April to June 2023 were comparable to those seen in 2007.

Roads Minister Richard Holden said:

Our ‘Get Around for £2’ scheme has slashed overall bus fares for millions across England, as we continue to help people save money on travel, boost transport connections and grow the economy.

Whether you want to visit loved ones, head to work or attend a medical appointment, taking the bus continues to be a vital link for people to get around.

Starting in January 2023 and originally scheduled to end on 31 March 2023, the Get Around for £2 scheme has been extended until 31 October this year and will then run at £2.50 until the end of November 2024 thanks to £200 million in government investment.

The £2 bus fare cap comes alongside the recently announced £300 million to prevent cuts to bus routes and improve the quality of services into 2025. This takes total government spending to keep fares low and support buses to £3.5 billion since 2020.

DfT has also recently confirmed £129 million to roll out hundreds more zero emission buses, with the first £25 million prioritised specifically for rural communities. This brings total government investment in new zero-emission buses to almost £500 million.

In June 2023, the government announced a broad range of steps being taken to boost rural communities on housing, transport, digital connectivity and jobs.

The Unleashing rural opportunity plan outlines how government will deliver the Prime Minister’s priority to grow the economy and create better-paid jobs and opportunities right across the country. Rural areas already contribute 15% to England’s economy, which amounts to over £250 billion of our national GDP, but the programme seeks to unlock further growth.

This also builds on rural proofing work by the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), whereby all government policy is examined to ensure it is delivering for rural communities.

Lord Benyon, Minister for Rural Affairs, said:

We are putting the needs of people and businesses in rural areas at the heart of policy-making. Bus services are a vital part of this, as a lifeline for communities and in supporting local businesses in our rural economy.

By easing the cost of transport in some of our most remote areas, we can help bring people together and build on the wider work we are doing to help rural communities thrive.

September 25, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : UN HRC54 – UK Statement on Belarus [September 2023]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 22 September 2023.

UK statement for Interactive Dialogue on interim oral update of High Commissioner on human rights situation in Belarus in run-up to 2020 presidential election.

It’s now three years since the fraudulent August 2020 presidential elections in Belarus. Three years of brutal repression – of civil society groups, political opponents, journalists and ordinary citizens.

Repression that continues to intensify with the introduction of further legislation to restrict freedoms, punish dissent and neutralise democratic opposition.

There are now over 1,500 political prisoners in Belarus, often held in appalling conditions, denied access to basic medical care, starved of contact with their families, and subject to degrading treatment, including torture. Let me highlight the recent tragic death of Ales Pushkin, a prominent Belarusian activist arrested for his political artwork, who died in detention in unclear circumstances.

Once again, we call on the Belarusian authorities to put an end to their policy of repression and immediately to release political prisoners. While they are it, they should also end their support to Russia’s illegal war against their Ukrainian neighbours.

High Commissioner,

Three years on from the flawed and fraudulent elections, how can the international community best support human rights defenders and ensure Belarusian officials are held to account for their crimes?

Thank you.

September 25, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : UN HRC54 – UK Statement on Burundi [September 2023]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 22 September 2023.

UK Statement for the Interactive Dialogue with the Commission of Inquiry on Burundi, as delivered at the 54th UN Human Rights Council in Geneva.

Thank you, Mr President.

The United Kingdom thanks the Special Rapporteur for his report, which recognises that the Government of Burundi has taken some steps in line with their commitment to improving human rights. We welcome these, but also note that the Government has further progress to make before this objective is fully realised.

In particular, we remain concerned about the ability of the people of Burundi to access and enjoy their civil and political rights. We call on Burundi to make genuine reforms to guarantee the rights to freedom of opinion, expression, peaceful assembly and association. An active civil society and free media are cornerstones of democracy, and the government of Burundi should work to ensure civil society, human rights defenders, journalists, bloggers and other media workers can carry out their work safely and independently.

We were also deeply concerned by Burundi’s decision to withdraw its participation during its recent regular review of its adherence to the ICCPR by the Human Rights Committee.

Special Rapporteur,

Your findings show that continued scrutiny by this Council is both justified, and necessary. We again call on the government to cooperate fully with this Council, with your mandate, and with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and other UN bodies working to improve the human rights situation in Burundi, including by reopening the OHCHR country office. What possibility, if any, do you see for a resumption of cooperation through any of these channels?

Thank you.

September 25, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Media Advisory Notice – Russell Brand [September 2023]

The press release issued by the Attorney General’s Office on 22 September 2023.

The Attorney General confirms the requirement not to publish material which could prejudice any potential criminal investigation or prosecutions.

Following the airing of “Russell Brand: In Plain Sight: Dispatches” on 16 September 2023, there has been extensive reporting about Russell Brand.

The Attorney General, the Rt Hon Victoria Prentis KC MP, wishes to amplify the importance of not publishing any material where there is a risk that it could prejudice any potential criminal investigation or prosecutions.

Publishing this material could amount to contempt of court.

Editors, publishers, and social media users should take legal advice to ensure they are in a position to fully comply with the obligations to which they are subject under the common law and Contempt of Court Act 1981.

The Attorney General’s Office is monitoring the coverage of these allegations.

September 25, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Government and NHS to help tackle killer heart condition [September 2023]
The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 22 September 2023.

Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay has announced measures to tackle aortic dissection, a heart condition that kills 2,000 people every year.
Aortic dissection takes the lives of 2,000 people a year in Britain

Government and NHS England to look at ways to tackle condition

Health Secretary pledges to build on strong work already being done

Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Steve Barclay, has unveiled measures to tackle aortic dissection, a life-threatening heart condition that kills 2,000 people every year.

Speaking at a research event to mark Aortic Dissection Awareness Day, the Health Secretary announced the formation of an NHS working group that will bring together clinical experts and charities, to improve diagnosis and treatment of the condition.

The group will review the whole patient experience when it comes to aortic dissections, and pinpoint opportunities for future improvement, including the potential benefits of genetic testing.

Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Steve Barclay said:

Aortic dissection can be a devastating condition and every year it takes the lives of more people than die on our roads, yet awareness is low. Changing that will save lives.

Developing a holistic approach, from identifying those potentially at risk to providing first class follow-up care, will be life-changing for patients and I’m delighted to be able to build on the good work we’re already doing in this area.

I also want to pay tribute to the tireless work of my colleague Pauline Latham whose campaigning to improve aortic dissection care has kept this issue on the agenda.

The Health Secretary has asked for the working group to report back with options within six months, and aortic dissection charities will input into the work.

Pauline Latham MP, who tragically lost her son to an undiagnosed aortic dissection in 2018, has been a leading voice in campaigning to improve the lives of sufferers and their families, and met with the Secretary of State earlier this year to discuss ways to improve aortic dissection care.

Pauline Latham MP said:

In the wake of losing my son Ben to a missed diagnosis of aortic dissection, I couldn’t sit back and let other families suffer the way we have. That’s why Graham Cooper, Catherine Fowler and I started The Aortic Dissection Charitable Trust.

We’ve been pushing hard – asking tough questions in Parliament, meeting with health ministers, and I’m thrilled to say, we have NHS England and the Department for Health and Social Care on board.

This will bring in standardised care, genetic screening, and specialised nurses to not only save lives but improve quality of life for everyone affected by this condition. It’s our heartfelt mission to turn tragedy into a safer future for all.

The announcement builds on the progress made on aortic dissection in recent years. NHS England adjusted 111 and 999’s triage systems to better recognise chest pains caused by aortic dissections and is rolling out the Aortic Dissection Acute Toolkit across the regions to speed up diagnosis and improve patient outcomes, while The Royal College of Emergency Medicine has also published a best-practice guide to improve diagnosis in emergency departments.

The Department of Health and Social Care is also funding dedicated research into aortic dissection through the National Institute for Health and Care Research, as part of an annual £50 million investment in cardiovascular disease research.

Researchers are developing a tool to help people at genetic risk of aortic dissection decide if they want screening and, if necessary, preventative treatment and this is just one of the many exciting research projects under way across the country.

Background information

The remit of the working group will be to:

continue to monitor and support the implementation of the acute Aortic Dissection toolkit which has already been produced by NHS England and is currently being rolled out to NHS providers

review the whole aortic dissection patient pathway and identify areas for improvement including the elective pathway

explore the evidence and options for genetic screening including potential cohorts for screening

scope the clinical skills and workforce requirements to support aortic dissection pathway improvement
September 25, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Government gives £1 million boost to Forestry skills training [September 2023]
The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 22 September 2023.

Funding has been extended to cover new courses in arboriculture, which cover the care, management and safety of amenity trees.

Current and aspiring foresters and arboriculturists are set to benefit from an additional £1 million in funding, which from today (Thursday 21 September), is being allocated to fund training courses in forestry and arboriculture across England, following an unprecedented demand.

The funding is primarily aimed at those considering changing their careers to one in forestry or arboriculture, as well as those already working in the sector. As the industry continues to grow as a result of the Government’s £675 million tree programme, the funding will create more green jobs and boost the workforce where over 30,000 people are already dedicated to expanding and protecting our precious woodlands, contributing more than £2 billion to our economy every year.

The new funding will cover training courses in a range of areas, including in:
- Chainsaw operation;
- Operating heavy machinery;
- Planning and planting new woodland;
- Deer management;
- Marketing and selling timber;
- Aerial tree pruning; and
- Branch removal
The Forestry and Arboriculture Fund – formerly known as the Forestry Training Fund – has received exceptionally high uptake since its launch in February this year, with over 150 short course training providers having registered to offer courses and 1,100 training places already funded for the next two years.

The fund has today been extended to cover arboriculture courses, with £250,000 ringfenced specifically for courses which cover the care, management and safety of amenity trees, through skills such as aerial tree pruning, branch removal, and assisted felling.

Defra Forestry Minister, Trudy Harrison said:

As tree-planting and woodlands across the country increase, so must our forestry workforce.

We are committed to growing the sector and increasing green jobs which will be made possible through this significant funding of Forestry and Arboriculture courses, as we continue to ensure at least 16.5% of the country is covered in trees by 2050.

Forestry Commission Chief Executive, Richard Stanford said:

England’s forestry sector plays an essential part in creating resilient forests and woodlands which improve our natural environment, helping meet net zero carbon emissions, provide a sustainable source of home-grown timber and boost people’s health and wellbeing.

The additional funding provided through the Forestry and Arboriculture Training Fund, will ensure that more people across the country, from all backgrounds, are able to build and diversify their skills in forestry. I encourage anyone looking to join the sector or upskill to apply today.

The Forestry and Arboriculture Training Fund is already playing an instrumental role in helping deliver the government’s England Trees Action Plan, which sets out how we will shape the country for future generations through a significant increase in tree-planting and woodland creation, which is supported by over £675 million from the Nature for Climate Fund.

Early application is encouraged due to the unprecedented demand for courses. Please view our list of training providers and apply for funding on GOV.UK: Forestry and Arboriculture Training Fund – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
September 25, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : UN HRC54 – Joint Statement on Syria [September 2023]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 22 September 2023.

Joint Statement for the Interactive Dialogue with UN Commission of Inquiry on Syria, as delivered by the UK’s Ambassador to the WTO and UN, Simon Manley.

Mr President,

This statement is made on behalf of a cross regional group of 53 countries.

We support the important work of the Commissioners and the role they play together with the International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism, in ensuring accountability for the ongoing serious violations of international law in Syria.

We are alarmed by the increase in hostilities resulting in civilian casualties, and by the absence of a long-term solution to ensuring the uninterrupted delivery of humanitarian aid to all those in need, and call on all parties to facilitate immediate and unhindered humanitarian assistance.

We note with concern, and condemn, the persistence of arbitrary arrests, enforced disappearances, torture and deaths in detention, including for returnees. We demand that the Syrian authorities cease these violations, ensure the protection of civilians, respect the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly without discrimination. We urge them to engage, in good faith, with the Independent Institution on Missing Persons.

We recall the Commissioners’ findings that Syria does not yet offer a safe and stable environment for returns, and support UNHCR’s call for to the Syrian authorities to create this.

Mr President,

Recent protests demonstrate the despair, and continued bravery, of the Syrian people and we urge Damascus to acknowledge their legitimate demands.

We support all efforts to progress the political process and urge the Syrian authorities, and all parties, to engage meaningfully and, in good faith, to advance all aspects of Security Council resolution 2254.

Joint Statement by the United Kingdom on behalf of 53 countries:

Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Estonia, France, Finland, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Islands, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, ROK, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, UK, Ukraine, USA,

September 25, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : UN HRC54 – UK Statement on Syria [September 2023]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 22 September 2023.

Statement for the Interactive Dialogue with UN Commission of Inquiry on Syria. As delivered by UK Ambassador to the WTO and UN, Simon Manley.

Thank you, Mr Vice President,

Thank you, Commissioners for your typically clear and detailed articulation of the human rights violations, war crimes and crimes against humanity that so tragically persist in Syria.

We must heed the evidence: the conflict in Syria is not over. The deaths of thousands in the February earthquakes brought no respite from attacks on innocent people by the regime and its allies.

Life-saving humanitarian aid for the same people who face indiscriminate shelling is at the whim of the regime. Once again, permissions for humanitarian access expire abruptly in the peak of winter. The international community must work together to seek sustainable, unhindered, immediate humanitarian access to those most in need.

Meanwhile, returning refugees face blackmail, arbitrary detention and ill-treatment by Syrian security forces. Many, including children, have gone missing on return. The regime says it would welcome the return of refugees from neighbouring countries. On the basis of this evidence, it cannot be trusted.

Civilian deaths, aid restrictions, arbitrary detention. Bashar al Assad has no regard for the lives of the Syrian people. We must not abandon them. So I urge our fellow members of this Council to join efforts to secure accountability for these crimes.

Thank you.

September 25, 2023