Category: Press Releases

PRESS RELEASE : Boost for UK AI as Microsoft unveils £2.5 billion investment [November 2023]

The press release issued by HM Treasury on 30 November 2023.

The Chancellor has welcomed Microsoft’s £2.5 billion investment over the next 3 years to expand its next generation AI datacentre infrastructure.

The Chancellor has today hailed Microsoft’s major investment in AI infrastructure and skills as critical for future growth and innovation, boosting the country as a science and technology superpower.

Microsoft is committing to more than doubling its datacentre footprint in the UK and training more than one million people for the AI economy. It’s also supporting the UK’s growing AI safety and research efforts through partnerships with the government and leading universities.

As part of this, Microsoft will spend £2.5 billion over the next three years to expand its next generation AI datacentre infrastructure, bringing more than 20,000 of the most advanced Graphics Processing Units (GPUs) – which are crucial for machine learning and the development of AI models – to the UK by 2026.

This is the single largest investment in its 40-year history in the country which will see Microsoft grow its UK AI infrastructure across sites in London and Cardiff and potential expansion into northern England, helping to meet the exploding demand for efficient, scalable and sustainable AI specific compute power. Datacentres process, host and store the massive amounts of digital information that is critical for developing AI models.

This £2.5 billion commitment was confirmed on Monday as the Prime Minister Rishi Sunak unveiled £29.5 billion of investment in our most innovative sectors, including tech, life sciences, renewables, housing and infrastructure at the Global Investment Summit.

The UK is already the leading European tech ecosystem, which last year was worth more than double Germany’s and three times as much as France’s. The UK’s AI sector also contributes £3.7 billion to the UK economy and employs 50,000 people across the country.

The Chancellor welcomed Microsoft’s investment on a visit to one of its new, next generation datacentre facilities under construction in North London – which will run fully on renewable energy – where he was joined by Microsoft Vice Chair and President Brad Smith, and Microsoft UK CEO, Clare Barclay.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said:

“Microsoft are one of the founding fathers of modern technology and today’s announcement is a turning point for the future of AI infrastructure and development in the UK.

“The UK started the global conversation on AI earlier this month, and Microsoft’s historic investment is further evidence of the leading role we continue to play in expanding the frontiers of AI to harness it’s economic and scientific benefits.

Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt said:

“The UK is the tech hub of Europe with an ecosystem worth more than that of Germany and France combined – and this investment is another vote of confidence in us as a science superpower.

“And it follows the £500m investment in Compute that I committed to in my Autumn Statement last week, taking our investment in advanced computing for AI to £1.5bn – a down payment on the jobs and economic growth it will bring to the UK.”

Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology Michelle Donelan said:

“This is a huge vote of confidence in the strength of the UK’s technology sector, showing Microsoft’s support for the UK to reach superpower heights and cementing our global AI safety leadership.

“This investment not only bolsters critical infrastructure but also ensures that the UK remains at the forefront of driving economic growth and innovation.”

Microsoft vice chair and President Brad Smith said:

“Microsoft is committed as a company to ensuring that the UK as a country has world-leading AI infrastructure, easy access to the skills people need, and broad protections for safety and security.”

Microsoft UK CEO, Clare Barclay, said:

“The pace of change in AI demands action today to build a prosperous future for the UK tomorrow. Today marks the single largest investment in our more than 40-year history in the UK.

“As business and the public sector embrace the AI opportunity, we are building the infrastructure that will support the growth they need, training the people who can deliver it responsibly and securing our society against emergent threats”.

To support research on AI, Microsoft will extend its Accelerating Foundation Models Research (AFMR) programme to include prioritised access to GPUs for the UK’s science and research community. AFMR drives interdisciplinary research on AI alignment and safety, beneficial applications of AI, and AI-driven scientific discovery in the natural and life sciences. This new UK effort will aim at harnessing the power of AI to accelerate scientific discovery via multiscale multimodal data generation through prioritised access to Microsoft’s AI tools. This programme includes researchers from the UK’s world leading participating universities including Cambridge, Oxford, Imperial College, UCL, Bath and Nottingham.

To support UK workers across the AI economy, Microsoft will make a multi-million pound investment to train one million people with the skills they need to build and work with AI, including expanded training for people looking to start, or move into, a career in AI.

Working in partnership with multiple learning and non-profit partners, the programme will focus on building AI fluency, developing AI technical skills, supporting AI business transformation, and promoting safe and responsible AI development and use including the first Professional Certificate on Generative AI.

Today’s news comes as the government has agreed a new Online Fraud Charter with tech companies, including Microsoft – the first agreement of its kind in the world – to clamp down on fraud taking place on their platforms.

Under the agreement, platforms will verify new advertisers and promptly remove fraudulent content. Individuals selling items on peer-to-peer platforms such as Facebook Marketplace will also be verified, and there will also be a function for people using online dating services to confirm who they are.

Today’s announcement also comes as the Chancellor announced a further £500 million investment in advanced computing for AI at the Autumn Statement, bringing the government’s total planned public investment in compute to more than £1.5 billion.

These investments will help provide the UK with the infrastructure we need to create a world-leading AI ecosystem where our scientists and researchers continue to make extraordinary new discoveries, benefitting all of society, and making the UK is the best place in the world to start and grow an AI start-up.

06/12/2023
PRESS RELEASE : 50 million more GP appointments delivered by the NHS [November 2023]
The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 30 November 2023.

More than 50 million additional general practice appointments made available after government fulfils its pledge months early.
- Latest data shows over 50 million more appointments compared to October 2019
- Confirms government has met manifesto commitment
- News comes as NHS England data shows over 50,000 extra nurses in NHS
Data published today by NHS England shows that for the year to October 2023, there were 50.9 million additional general practice appointments delivered when compared to October 2019, meeting a key government commitment set out in 2019.

The announcement comes as separate data also published today shows that compared to September 2019, there are over 50,000 additional nurses working in the NHS. This meets another of the government’s targets.

Health and Social Care Secretary, Victoria Atkins, said:

We owe a debt of gratitude to all the staff working in general practices for their support and commitment to their patients and for achieving the target of 50 million additional appointments months ahead of schedule.

Our primary care recovery plan is going even further with more appointments, more staff and greater support from pharmacies – backed by funding – meaning we can offer the primary care patients need.

In the 12 months to October 2023, 358 million general practice appointments, including COVID-19 vaccinations, were delivered – this is an increase of 50.9 million compared to 2019, meaning we have delivered on our manifesto commitment for 50 million more appointments a year. This is equivalent to 44 more appointments per practice per working day, with over 70% of these taking place within 2 weeks of booking.

Health Minister, Andrea Leadsom, said:

Today’s figures, published by NHS England, clearly demonstrate that more people are getting the care they need, when they need it.

Thank you so much to GPs and primary care teams up and down the country for their tireless work to care for patients, which saw around 32,500 more appointments delivered every day.

While this is positive news, we know that there is more to do to make it easier and quicker for patients to contact their general practice and continue to focus on delivering the primary care recovery plan.

Today’s announcement builds on data from earlier this month which showed that there were over 34,000 additional direct patient care staff working in general practice – exceeding the government’s commitment to recruit an additional 26,000 primary care staff which was met one year early and is helping to cut waiting lists.

Earlier this year, the government published its primary care recovery plan focused on improving access to primary care. Providing practices in England with £240 million, it supported them to embrace the latest technology to tackle the 8am rush, reduce the number of people struggling to contact their general practice and ensure patients know how their query will be handled.

As of August 2023, more than 1,000 general practices had signed up to digital upgrades – giving them the latest digital technology designed to make booking general practice appointments easier.

Following the pandemic the government is investing up to £645 million and is working with NHS England and the pharmaceutical sector on the best way to support primary care.

This includes ensuring patients who need prescription medication for 7 common conditions can receive it without the need for a GP appointment and is estimated to free up around 15 million appointments over the next 2 years for patients who need them most.

Workforce data is published by NHS England: NHS Workforce Statistics – August 2023.
06/12/2023
PRESS RELEASE : National system launched to rapidly identify trends in suicides [November 2023]
The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 30 November 2023.

New suicide surveillance system launched to tackle emerging methods of suicide and clamp down on those seeking to sell dangerous products to vulnerable people.
- Government delivers on key commitment in national suicide prevention strategy to help thousands more people approaching crisis to get the support they need
- Near to real-time suicide surveillance system for England launched, with government working with police to gather quickly vital data on tragic suicides including gender, age group and method
- Milestone will support rollout of new national alert system to notify schools, universities and charities of emerging methods of suicide and risks
Efforts to tackle emerging methods of suicide and clamp down on those seeking to sell dangerous products to vulnerable people were bolstered today, as the government delivered on a key commitment in its national suicide prevention strategy and launched a new suicide surveillance system.

Working alongside the National Police Chiefs’ Council to bring together important local intelligence, the government will obtain near to real-time data from across the country on deaths by suspected suicide by gender, age group and method.

Previously, the only suicide data available at a national level was provided by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), but it could take up to 2 years for the official ONS data to come through. From today (30 November 2023), however, the data will be received from individual police forces in England and the government will get it within 3 months of a suspected suicide.

Female deaths by suicide, for example, are increasing at a higher rate than male deaths; therefore it’s imperative such trends are captured as early as possible and preventative measures put in place to save lives.

A monthly report on the new datasets will be published by the government, and it will act as an early warning system for indications of any change in tragic suicides.

The new datasets will also support the future rollout of a national alert system on emerging methods or risks, so anyone who comes into contact with potentially dangerous new methods of suicide will have a direct link into central government to report it. Through this, alerts will soon be circulated to all authorities, such as schools and charities, that should be aware and may be required to take mitigating action.

Mental Health Minister Maria Caulfield said:

Every suicide is a tragedy and has a devastating, enduring impact on families and communities, but we are working at pace to reduce the number of suicides, support those reaching the lowest point and tackle emerging methods and harmful online material.

The national suspected suicide surveillance system is vital to achieving this, and will provide important near real-time data so we can spot anomalies in age, gender and method more quickly and take the necessary action to save lives.

The national suicide prevention strategy launched earlier this year saw the government pledge to reduce England’s suicide rate within 2 and a half years, with the commitment backed by more than 100 measures.

It is already an offence under the Suicide Act to encourage or assist suicide. The Online Safety Act 2023 goes even further to tackle these crimes, while also ensuring the largest social media companies proactively prevent people from seeing content that encourages or assists suicide.

Today’s data for England for the 15 months to August 2023 does not indicate an obvious change in trend in overall suspected suicide rates over the period. Suspected suicide rates do show a reduction in the most recent months, but it should be noted there are contributing factors and the situation continues to be monitored.

National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for Suicide Prevention, Assistant Chief Constable Charlie Doyle, said:

Suicide has a devastating impact, we must do all we can to protect people and reduce preventable death.

We welcome today’s announcement by the government and will continue to work with partners to reduce suicide.

The government is investing £2.3 billion extra a year into mental health services to help an additional 2 million people access NHS-funded mental health support by 2024, and we’ve recently launched a £10 million fund for the voluntary sector in England to carry out crucial work to save lives until 2025.

£150 million is being invested up to April 2025 to better support people experiencing, or at risk of experiencing, mental health crises. This will support the roll out of mental health ambulances and delivery of over 160 projects – including alternatives to A&E – to ensure people can receive specialist care in appropriate spaces and help ease pressure on the NHS.

The NHS Long Term Workforce Plan also sets out an ambition to grow the mental health workforce by 73% by 2036 to 2037, and the workforce already continues to grow to help cut waiting lists.

Support is available for anyone experiencing suicidal thoughts on the NHS website.
06/12/2023
PRESS RELEASE : UK companies selected for NATO innovation challenge [November 2023]
The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 30 November 2023.

Seven UK companies have been selected to take part in NATO’s pilot challenges providing the opportunity to refine their products and keep NATO populations safe.

The Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA) works with leading researchers and entrepreneurs across the Alliance, helping them develop technologies to keep NATO populations safe and secure.

DIANA is celebrating a key milestone by selecting 44 of the most promising applicants from across the Alliance to join its pilot challenge cohorts. The cohorts will embark upon a six-month intensive programme to develop their business into promising ventures. DIANA brings together universities, industry and governments to work with start-ups and other innovators to solve strategic dual-use security and defence challenges, growing a new generation of NATO innovators.

The 44 successful companies from across the Alliance have been assigned to one of the five accelerator sites chosen for the pilot programme: Tallinn, Estonia; Turin, Italy; Copenhagen, Denmark; and Boston and Seattle in the United States. Starting in January 2024, the companies will embark upon the programme which has been custom-designed for early-stage dual-use start-ups.

For the 2023 pilot challenge call, DIANA focused on three areas:
- Energy resilience – providing resilient power in disaster or conflict
- Sensing and surveillance – gathering information from underwater
- Secure information sharing – providing trusted data anywhere
Through a combination of seminars, workshops, and mentorship, the companies will gain a comprehensive understanding of the dual-use landscape and learn how to successfully navigate both commercial and defence markets. Simultaneously, they will have the opportunity to refine their technologies and products through access to DIANA’s network of Test Centres, comprising over 200 world-leading technical testing facilities.

The most promising companies will then graduate to an additional six-month scaling programme of tailored support and additional grant funding. All of the innovators selected for the DIANA programme will help to maintain NATO’s technological edge by enhancing the Allied innovation ecosystem.

Minister for Defence Procurement, James Cartlidge, said:

The DIANA programme encapsulates the collaborative spirit of the NATO alliance, with creative minds joining forces to develop cutting edge technologies to bolster our defence and security capabilities.

Through supporting these pioneering ideas, we strengthen our alliance, ensuring that we remain at the forefront of innovation in safeguarding the collective peace and security of our member nations.

The seven British companies chosen for the DIANA programme are:

Anzen Technology Systems

Based in London, Anzen Technology Systems is an SME that develops privacy technology that anonymizes information and splits it into discrete datasets (data shards), which then are distributed and stored in different locations.

Aquark Technologies

Aquark Technologies, located in Hampshire, is a spin-out of the University of Southampton that provides portability and miniaturisation solutions for quantum technology applications.

AVoptics

AVoptics is an SME based in Yeovil, which specialises in providing engineered photonic solutions for use in harsh environments.

Goldilock Secure

Located in Wolverhampton, Goldilock Secure is developing solutions that allow for the physical segmentation of digital assets and networks remotely, without internet dependence.

Grayscale AI

An SME based in London, Grayscale AI produces optimisation-driven AI, meant to mimic a human’s neural network.

IONATE

Based in London, IONATE is a technology company developing next generation hybrid intelligent transformers that target flexibility and resilience at strategic points of the electricity system.

SECQAI

SECQAI is an SME based in London, which focuses on next generation cryptography through quantum random number generation.
06/12/2023
PRESS RELEASE : International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance, Zagreb plenary 2023 – Foreign Secretary’s message [November 2023]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 30 November 2023.

The Foreign Secretary sent a video message to the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance Zagreb plenary, outlining priorities for the UK presidency next year.

Secretary-General, Ambassador Gras and Ms Lustig, distinguished IHRA members, it is an honour to address you all ahead of Britain’s Presidency of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance.

The Nazis’ murder of 6 million Jews was the darkest hour in human history. An abject moral catastrophe. A moment forever seared in our collective memory. A moment which must never happen again.

Tragically, recent events have underlined its continued relevance today. Israel was founded in the shadow of the Holocaust as a place of sanctuary for the Jewish people. Hamas poses an immediate, existential threat to the very idea of such a state.

And we have seen the ugly face of anti-Semitism resurface, with an unprecedented surge in hate crime globally since the barbaric attacks of October 7th. Shamefully, this was also the case in the United Kingdom.

And so, as Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has said, we all share a responsibility to keep the promise recently projected onto the Brandenburg Gate: ‘Never again is now’.

This Alliance exists to keep that promise. To uphold the 2000 Stockholm Declaration. To protect the memory of all Holocaust victims and survivors. To ensure we truly grasp its lessons for today. To contribute to the struggle against repugnant antisemitic beliefs, whatever form they take.

Remembrance requires a collective effort, bringing together governments and academics, educators and faith leaders, survivors and young people, countries from around the world.

It is something I have always tried to contribute to. As a father, sitting with my young children in the shadow of the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, trying to explain to them the horror of the Holocaust. As a citizen, learning from the bravery of survivors like Susie Lind or Jack Kagan, or my own visit to Auschwitz, a harrowing reminder of why we must stand up for inclusiveness and tolerance. And in my time as Prime Minister, setting up the Holocaust Commission, who recommended establishing the Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre that will soon be built right here in the heart of London.

I am therefore proud as Foreign Secretary that Britain will soon take over the presidency of the IHRA once again. I pay tribute to the Croatian presidency, in particular its co-chairs. We look forward to sustaining the momentum you have generated behind the Alliance’s work plan.

We will soon mark the 85th anniversary of the first Kindertransport, that great rescue of almost ten thousand Jewish children. I once met one, whose grandfather had written in their diary before they fled Prague, “be a great daughter to the country that gives you a home”.

And all of them were great children to their new homelands, living ten, twenty lives over, for all those they left behind. They became Nobel prize winners, a member of the House of Lords, the midwife who first held the future King Charles the Third.

Our Presidency coincides with other significant anniversaries. The 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau. And the 25th anniversary of the Stockholm Declaration.

Each anniversary leaves us torn, with joy at what was achieved, almost overwhelmed by grief at lives lost and potential unfulfilled. Each, however, must spur us on to guarantee the future of Holocaust remembrance.

With memory of it soon to pass out of our living history, I have always believed we have a sacred duty. To keep knowledge of it strong and vibrant, educating children of whatever faith or none, reaching out to all parts of society in each country represented today.

Our Presidency therefore aims to help children understand that the Holocaust did not happen in secret, hidden away in a dark corner, beyond most citizens’ gaze. It took place in plain sight.

We want to shine a spotlight on the circumstances that led up to the Holocaust, the nature of society that allowed it to happen, in plain sight. We will bring into focus all those who played a part, be it as perpetrators, rescuers or bystanders.

We will remember all those murdered for who they were and what they believed – the 6 million Jewish people, Roma, disabled, gay men, political opponents and Jehovah’s Witnesses.

We aim to reach thousands of young people across the Alliance, supporting them to undertake local projects on the impact of the Holocaust in their home towns.

Alongside this, we will prioritise tackling the continued rise of Holocaust distortion. We have a duty to protect the facts, fighting back against attempts to minimise or erase the devastation endured by the Jewish people.

Artificial Intelligence offers transformative possibilities for education. But there are risks that it fuels distorted narratives. Our Presidency, together with the OSCE, will therefore convene AI, social media and other experts to address our response to Holocaust distortion, including from deep fake technology and disinformation online.

We also welcome IHRA support to Ukraine over the past 21 months, working with its remit to translate IHRA guidance into Russian and Ukrainian. Like many IHRA member states, Ukraine has a complex Holocaust history.

And I heard during my recent visit how Russia is spreading false narratives to justify its illegal invasion. Given this, it is vital that IHRA continues to support them in protecting their sites and records.

For 25 years, the Alliance has embodied the spirit of its first honorary chair, Elie Wiesel. Like him, we all “want to protect and enrich the kingdom of memory, glorify that kingdom and serve it”.

The UK is looking forward to welcoming you all next year, to Glasgow in June and London in December. And to working with you all in service of that kingdom.

Thank you.

06/12/2023
PRESS RELEASE : £34 million funding boost for Greater Manchester A34 improvements [November 2023]
The press release issued by the Department for Transport on 30 November 2023.

Funding will help to reduce congestion, improve connectivity and generate more than £72 million in benefits for Greater Manchester and Stockport.
- government confirms almost £34 million to tackle congestion, reduce journey times and improve connectivity on the busy A34 corridor, supporting housing, economic growth and jobs
- follows £1.2 billion to repair roads in the North West and improve journeys for all through Network North plans
- pedestrians and cyclists can enjoy fresh opportunities for active, sustainable travel thanks to new pedestrian and cycle pathway along the route
Millions of people in Greater Manchester and Stockport will benefit from reduced congestion and better connectivity thanks to nearly £34 million in government investment to deliver crucial improvements to the A34 between Cheadle and Handforth.

Today (30 November 2023), Roads Minister, Guy Opperman, visited Stockport to lay the first spades in the ground as he confirmed works can start on the A34 corridor improvement scheme.

With the A34 long plagued by traffic bottlenecks, the £33.6 million government investment will tackle congestion and reduce local journey times, particularly to Manchester Airport, and is expected to generate more than £72 million in direct economic benefits for Greater Manchester and Stockport.

The project will also benefit those who choose to walk and cycle by creating a new segregated pedestrian and cycle route running along the A34, providing new opportunities for active and sustainable travel.

The A34 improvements follow £1.2 billion announced earlier in November to repair roads across the North West, part of the unprecedented £8.3 billion boost from Network North to improve journeys for all and resurface over 5,000 miles of roads across England.

Roads Minister, Guy Opperman, said:

We have invested nearly £34 million into improving the A34, easing congestion and improving safety for local drivers while helping to improve connections to grow the economy across Stockport, Greater Manchester and the North West.

It was great to visit Cheadle today and hear first-hand how our funding will help improve one of Stockport’s key roads as we work hard to keep this country moving and back drivers.

On top of the government’s £33.6 million funding boost, Stockport Council and local third-party funders will provide just under £10 million for a total of £43 million joint investment in the scheme.

The improvements will boost access to the Cheadle Royal Business Park and the Stanley Green business area, and include a new pedestrian subway for pupils and staff at Kingsway School, giving parents peace of mind that their kids can walk safely to school.

Councillor Mark Roberts, Deputy Leader of Stockport Council, said:

This latest milestone in the project is a vote of confidence in the borough and fantastic news for Stockport.

This work aims to encourage and support more sustainable forms of transport and more accessible and safer routes while also improving junctions and traffic flow on a road area that has been a challenge for many years.

We believe this new scheme will help to encourage active travel by encouraging and enabling our residents to make healthier choices when they travel around our borough, as well as for those that need to use a car.

Councillor Grace Baynham, Cabinet Member for Highways, Parks and Leisure Services, said:

The A34 is a vital route in the borough, and this investment will bring a host of benefits to not only the A34 corridor, but Stockport as a whole.

Construction will start as soon as possible and will be delivered in phases to minimise disruptions for all road users. The package of improvements is set to be completed by spring 2027.

The improvements to the A34 also come alongside the Plan for Drivers announced in October, which includes £70 million to keep traffic flowing, updating 20 mph zone guidance for England to help prevent inappropriate blanket use, and measures to speed up the rollout of electric vehicle charging.
06/12/2023
PRESS RELEASE : Fattah-2 missile unveiling – E3 joint statement [November 2023]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 30 November 2023.

The UK, France and Germany have issued a joint statement in response to Iran’s announcement on the unveiling of the Fattah-2 missile system.

E3 statement on Iranian Fattah-2 missile announcement:

The E3 – France, Germany and the United Kingdom – condemn the unveiling of a further new ballistic missile variant by Iran on 19th November. Iran continues to develop its missile programme despite repeated international calls to halt it, and after years of disregarding UN restrictions.

Iran’s continued development of its ballistic missile programme follows continued nuclear escalation, beyond all credible civilian justification, and previously conducted research on nuclear weapons delivery. These escalations also highlight the grave threat Iran poses to global and regional security.

The E3 remain committed to taking every diplomatic step to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons and to holding Iran to account for its destabilising activity around the region and internationally.

06/12/2023
PRESS RELEASE : OSCE Ministerial Council Plenary 2023 – UK statement [November 2023]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 30 November 2023.

UK Minister for Armed Forces James Heappey says the UK will ensure that Ukraine prevails and that OSCE principles should be the foundation of peace in Europe.

Thank you, Foreign Minister Osmani.

I wanted to begin by paying tribute to you, for your personal leadership of the OSCE in such difficult times. And to the Secretary General and her staff.

Our thoughts are with those OSCE personnel cruelly detained by Russia. They must be released, immediately.

As our new Foreign Secretary said at dinner last night, we face a daunting set of challenges. But these only make clear why we must back the OSCE.

The return of war to Europe only underlines the enduring value of this institution.

OSCE principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity, and non-use of force should be the foundation of peace on the European continent.

Russia has trampled on these principles with devastating results.

Ukraine is fighting not just for its freedom but the right of all nations to make sovereign choices free from coercion.

Sustaining Ukraine’s success means sustaining our support.

The UK will continue to provide the economic, military, humanitarian, and diplomatic support to ensure that Ukraine prevails.

We want them to secure the lasting peace that their people deserve and that the European continent needs.

Nor can we waver in holding Russia to account for its actions against OSCE principles and commitments. Commitments that it co-wrote.

The OSCE has played a key role through the Moscow Mechanism reports in exposing the appalling reality of Russian atrocities in Ukraine.

Given the crucial role of the OSCE in holding Russia to account, it is no surprise to see their continued efforts to undermine this organisation.

We are delighted that in Malta we have a highly qualified Chair in Office.

But we also need an agreed and appropriate budget.

And above all we need institutional leadership as well.

All four job holders are carrying out their mandates extremely effectively and should be extended for at least a year.

The OSCE was forged in the middle of the Cold War.

Since then, it has had Britain’s full support.

Russia is failing in its illegal war.

And failing in its attempts to disrupt this organisation.

We must deliver a strong, functioning and adequately resourced OSCE.

We owe it to the OSCE’s founders, to our citizens, and to future generations to have an effective Organization.

06/12/2023
PRESS RELEASE : Lionesses trailblazing success recognised with £30 million fund [November 2023]
The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 29 November 2023.

New £30 million fund to deliver approximately 30 new facilities to support more women and girls into grassroots sport.
- New £30 million fund to deliver approximately 30 new state of the art 3G pitches at sites supporting women’s and girls’ teams across England
- Culture Secretary announces investment as she joins Lionesses training session at St George’s Park, following UEFA EURO 2022 and FIFA World Cup 2023 success
- Move underlines major Government drive to get 2.5 million more adults and 1 million more young people active by 2030
Thousands of women and girls across England are set to benefit from a substantial £30 million cash injection from the Government and The Football Association (FA) to turbocharge the development opportunities for the next generation of Lionesses.

Following their triumph at UEFA EURO 2022 and their run to the final of FIFA World Cup 2023, the Government has announced an additional £30 million that will build approximately 30 new state-of-the-art 3G pitches and accompanying facilities. These sites will be designed to prioritise women’s and girls’ teams across England. They will be delivered by the Government, the Premier League and The FA’s Football Foundation.

Reserved peak-time slots, women and girls only evenings and priority booking for women’s and girls’ teams will be introduced at every one of these sites to drive up participation and support the demand to play whatever the motivation. The facilities will provide dedicated female changing rooms, shower facilities and accessible toilets.

The Government is providing £25 million funding, with The FA contributing £5 million, to further cement the Lionesses and Government’s shared target of inspiring more women and girls to get into sport and physical activity. The Government recently published its new sport strategy which set out its ambitious aim to get 2.5 million more adults and 1 million more children active by 2030. Former Lioness Jill Scott sits on the National Physical Activity Taskforce to advise the Government on how to achieve this ambition.

The Culture Secretary made the special announcement to the Lionesses squad in person following a training session at St George’s Park, the home to England’s national football teams. It comes ahead of the team’s crucial UEFA Women’s Nations League match against the Netherlands at Wembley Stadium on Friday 1 December.

Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer said:

The Lionesses display incredible talent and have achieved highly prized success. Their Euros victory gripped the nation, their success getting through to the World Cup final lifted the national mood.

During the World Cup I said that we would do everything possible to support women and girls’ football so we can watch our Lionesses roar on the world stage for generations to come. Today, along with The FA I am launching a £30 million fund to make sure the next generation of girls have equal opportunities to get into sport.

Building on our unprecedented support for grassroots facilities, this is just the latest move in our commitment to invest in women and girls’ grassroots sport facilities, and ensure the squad’s legacy lives long into the future.

Today’s funding uplift comes on top of the Government’s existing investment of more than £400 million in grassroots sports across the UK. Alongside investments in park tennis courts and swimming pools, the multi-sport grassroots facilities programme – which has so far delivered upgrades to 2,200 different facilities – requires 40% of funding goes to supporting participation by under-represented groups, such as women and girls and those with disabilities.

The new Lionesses Futures Fund builds upon that commitment, with the Football Foundation building on its existing pipeline in 2024/25 to invest in 30 new state-of-the art artificial grass pitches.

FA CEO Mark Bullingham said:

We are delighted to work alongside DCMS to commit this funding to the Football Foundation as it will make a tangible difference to women’s and girls’ football. The biggest obstacle to participation is access to pitches and this investment will provide high quality facilities in communities across the country that need them the most.

This funding will only be made available to facilities with women’s and girls’ football provision at their core. The local pitch is where it all starts and we hope this will help women and girls from all communities and of all ages to play the sport. For some a game of football will be simply a source of happiness and health, for others it might be a competitive challenge and for a few it will be the start of a journey to the top of the game. Whatever the motivation these facilities are designed to support the players.

The Lionesses were crucial to this funding and it again showcases the impact they have on our country. Their performances on the pitch have driven societal change and equal opportunities, and this is another tangible example of the legacy they continue to create. We’re proud to work alongside them and are grateful for everything they continue to do.

England’s FIFA World Cup 2023 Captain Millie Bright said:

We’re proud to have been able to give the nation a lot to cheer in the last 18 months through what we’ve achieved on the pitch but we’ve been clear we want to drive change off the pitch too.

One of our collective biggest motivations and core values is for females across the country to have equal opportunity. We are really pleased to see the commitment towards this funding and the promise that this will be prioritised for the growth of women’s and girls’ football so whatever the motivation to play, there is a safe and accessible area for females to go to.

Robert Sullivan, CEO of the Football Foundation said:

Thanks to the ‘Lionesses Futures Fund’ our ambition to deliver more facilities that prioritise access for women and girls to play football has been accelerated. This new fund is an exciting next step in our determination to support the rapid growth of the women and girls’ game.

Over 8,500 women and girls’ football teams are playing at sites that have received funding from the Football Foundation, whether that be for new goalposts, improved grass pitches or brand-new changing pavilions and 3G pitches. From the roots up we want to deliver better pitches ensuring healthier lives and stronger communities. Thanks to the funding of the Government, the Premier League and The FA we will ensure every community has a great place to play.

Following the Lionesses winning the UEFA EURO 2022 tournament, the Government, Premier League and The FA announced they would honour their achievement by naming 23 grassroots facilities delivered by the Football Foundation across the country after the entire Lioness squad. Former Lioness Jill Scott and current squad members Ella Toone and Rachel Daly have so far had sites named in their honour in Newcastle, Wigan and Harrogate.

The move was then followed up by a commitment from the Prime Minister to respond to the Lionesses’ call for equal access to football in schools for boys and girls. The Government responded to these calls and continues to make progress on achieving its commitment to equal access to PE and sport for girls in schools, supported by £600 million through the PE and School Sports Premium.

In 2022, the Government commissioned former Lioness Karen Carney MBE to conduct a major review on the future of the domestic women’s game. Her Review delivered a series of recommendations on the route to lift minimum standards and deliver bold and sustainable growth at elite and grassroots levels. The Government is due to publish its official response in the coming weeks.
06/12/2023
PRESS RELEASE : British people smuggler jailed after casino receipt blunder [November 2023]

The press release issued by the Home Office on 29 November 2023.

A British man who smuggled 4 Albanian migrants into the UK in his campervan has been jailed for 15 months after being foiled by a receipt from a Belgian casino.

Border Force found the men hidden in the showers and bunks of Oozy Hughes’ van when it was stopped at Harwich Port in March 2018.

Hughes, also known as Mark Newton, was arrested for facilitating illegal entry to the UK. When interviewed at Chelmsford Police Station, he claimed he had hired the van to drive to Spain and returned to the UK by ferry from Santander.

However, his lies began to unravel when officers discovered the receipt from a casino in northern Belgium in his van, showing he had been there earlier that day to participate in a ‘Fantastic Fridays’ competition to win a 100-gram gold bar.

A subsequent investigation uncovered further evidence against him. GPS data from the campervan, which had been hired 2 days earlier, proved it had travelled through Belgium to the Netherlands, not Spain as Hughes had claimed.

Home Office Criminal and Financial Investigation teams also obtained text messages and call records from his mobile phone.

One message, sent on the day of the smuggling attempt, read “Holland Casino”.

Several calls had been made on the same day, including 2 to numbers the Home Office had linked to a Belgian people smuggling ring.

Further evidence recovered from the campervan included a receipt for a fuel purchase in Belgium and a parking ticket from Rotterdam from the day of Hughes’ arrest.

Hughes, who made no mention of knowing anyone in Belgium or the Netherlands when interviewed, was subsequently charged with facilitating illegal entry to the UK.

He pleaded guilty and was sentenced at Chelmsford Crown Court today.

Chris Foster, Deputy Director of Criminal and Financial Investigations at the Home Office, said:

Today’s sentencing follows a complex and long-running investigation by my officers who have worked hard to bring this investigation to a positive conclusion.

This criminal worked with organised gangs overseas in his attempt to exploit our border. I’m pleased to see that he has been brought to justice and grateful to my teams for their tireless work on this case.

06/12/2023