Category: Press Releases

PRESS RELEASE : Statement following Transport Secretary’s latest meeting with aviation industry on air traffic control disruption [September 2023]

The press release issued by the Department for Transport on 1 September 2023.

Transport Secretary meets with aviation industry ahead of next week’s NATS report into air traffic control failure.

This afternoon (1 September 2023), the Transport Secretary Mark Harper chaired another meeting regarding Monday’s air traffic control failure with NATS, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), airlines, airports, trade bodies and Border Force.

He thanked the sector for their work to get operations back to normal and fly affected passengers to their destinations following the incident.

He noted the failure came during one of the busiest weeks of the year for aviation and that airlines have taken every step possible to increase capacity where possible, including adding extra flights and putting on larger aircraft.

Speaking after the meeting, Transport Secretary Mark Harper said:

Airlines have reported that most customers affected by Monday’s air traffic control failure have reached their destinations and I’m grateful for the steps taken by the industry to help make this happen. The government continues to support those efforts in any way we can.

On Monday, the Civil Aviation Authority will receive NATS’ initial report into the incident, which the Aviation Minister and I will study with interest. Any next steps will be set out after the initial findings are published later in the week.

All parties are working hard to understand the incident and make sure passengers don’t face this kind of disruption again, and I will be supporting them in this effort.

NATS is currently undertaking a preliminary investigation into the technical failure. In line with the established regulatory processes, a report will be sent to the CAA on 4 September 2023 and shared with the Secretary of State for Transport shortly afterwards. The findings will be published by the CAA later in the week.

September 4, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Communities urged to apply for funding to save local institutions [September 2023]

The press release issued by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, on 1 September 2023.

Community Ownership Fund opens again for applications, giving local people the chance to seize back control of prized community assets.

Pubs, community halls, gardens, sports clubs and other treasured locations across the UK can benefit from up to £2 million in government funding each through the Community Ownership Fund, which is open again for applications.

The fund gives local people the chance to save prized community assets that are at risk of being lost forever, and keep them open for future generations to enjoy.

To encourage as many applications as possible and make the process easier, the money available for applicants has doubled to £2 million, and the amount organisations need to match fund has decreased from 50% to 20%.

Minister for Levelling Up Dehenna Davison said:

We want to ensure that the community institutions which are a vital part of our social fabric, like pubs and sports clubs, can continue to play a central role in towns and villages across the UK.

By doubling the funding that organisations can receive, we are giving communities better opportunities and safeguarding the incredible local assets that are at their heart.

The Department for Levelling Up’s £150 million fund has already helped 150 community assets get back on their feet since it launched in July 2021. Recently, Bury FC played their first game since 2019 at the historic Gigg Lane stadium after fans were given £1m from a previous funding round to help them buy the ground.

Another project which benefited from £240,000 investment from the fund is Zion Bristol, a community hub that provides spaces for local people to meet and for groups to deliver vital services such as mental health and dementia support groups. Since receiving funding, the centre has been bought by a group of local residents, and now has seven paid staff members as well as a group of dedicated volunteers.

Emma Moore, Zion Bristol Centre Manager, said:

We’re proof that you can save an asset. We’re an area where things are always being taken away and not being replaced.

It’s a big boost for the local community that we can affect change and save assets – it’s an empowering thing.

So far, the Community Ownership Fund has awarded £36.9m to projects across the UK, with £25.5m allocated to 97 projects across England, £5.2m allocated to 24 projects in Scotland, £3.2m to 15 projects in Wales and £3m to 14 projects in Northern Ireland.

Applications for the latest window are open until 11.59am on 11 October 2023.

September 4, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Grant Shapps appointed as new Defence Secretary [September 2023]

The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 1 September 2023.

The Rt Hon Grant Shapps has been appointed Secretary of State for Defence by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

Defence Secretary Grant Shapps said:

It’s a huge honour to be appointed as Defence Secretary. I pay tribute to my predecessor, Ben Wallace. His steadfast commitment to supporting Ukraine is matched only by his ongoing commitment to our own brave armed forces, and their families.

I look forward to continuing the government’s unwavering support to Ukrainians at this important time for European and global security, and working with our armed forces who closely defend our nation’s security.

Permanent Secretary David Williams said:

On behalf of the Ministry of Defence, I was pleased to extend a warm welcome to our new Secretary of State for Defence, Grant Shapps MP. He brings extensive knowledge and experience from his previous Cabinet roles, including as a Foreign Office Minister, and most recently the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, and from his membership of the National Security Council.

The department and I look forward to working with the new Defence Secretary on his priorities for defence as we uphold our commitment to protecting our nation and contributing to its prosperity.

Chief of the Defence Staff Admiral Sir Tony Radakin said:

I welcome our new Defence Secretary Grant Shapps. My message to him is that the nation is safe thanks to the extraordinary commitment of our servicemen and women, and our place within NATO, the world’s largest and strongest defensive alliance.

This Coronation year has demonstrated how much the Armed Forces contribute to our nation, and we are ready to do more. I look forward to working with the Secretary of State to both learn and implement the lessons from Ukraine, and to continue our journey to become more lethal, faster at deploying, and to embrace technology at scale.

The biography for Grant Shapps can be found on gov.uk here.

September 4, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : £15 million funding to strengthen health workforce in Kenya, Nigeria and Ghana [September 2023]
The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 1 September 2023.

UK delivers multi-million pound boost in Africa to strengthen health workforce and build resilience against global threats.
£15 million from government’s Official Development Assistance (ODA) budget allocated to support healthcare workforces in Kenya, Nigeria and Ghana

Funding will help upskill staff and improve health outcomes through improved administration, data collection, and training and retention opportunities

Supporting a strong international health workforce better equips UK to tackle global health challenges

The UK will provide a multi-million pound boost to support healthcare staff recruitment and retention in 3 African countries – Kenya, Nigeria and Ghana – supporting resilience against global health challenges.

Fifteen million pounds from the ring-fenced Official Development Assistance (ODA) budget for 2022 to 2025 will be committed to optimise, build and strengthen the health workforce in the 3 African countries. Recognising the importance of the health workforce in lower and middle-income countries in improving health outcomes and achieving universal health coverage, the funding will give people in Kenya, Nigeria and Ghana access to the full range of health services they need, when they need it.

The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated the need for the UK to co-operate closely with international partners to tackle global health threats, which put considerable pressure on the NHS. The pandemic also resulted in workforce retention pressures around the world, while the demand for healthcare staff has increased. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates a shortage of 10 million health workers globally by 2030, which threatens achieving global universal health coverage and could worsen worldwide health inequalities.

Addressing critical workforce challenges is key to strengthening health systems and building global resilience against future pandemics so people across the world – including in the UK – can be protected.

Health Minister Will Quince said:

Highly skilled, resilient staff are the backbone of a strong health service, so I’m delighted we can support the training, recruitment and retention of skilled health workforces in Kenya, Nigeria and Ghana.

This funding aims to make a real difference in strengthening the performance of health systems in each of the participating countries, which will have a knock-on effect on boosting global pandemic preparedness and reducing health inequalities.

The pandemic showed us that patients in the UK are not safe unless the world as a whole is resilient against health threats, and this will help us in delivering on that ambition.

Six million pounds from the ODA funding pledge will support WHO to deliver health workforce planning and capacity-building work – such as improved administration systems, and training and retention opportunities – in collaboration with local governments and health system stakeholders.

As part of this package, the Department of Health and Social Care will also run a £9 million 2-year competitive grant scheme for a not-for-profit organisation to co-ordinate delivery of partnership work in participating countries.

The partnership programmes for the health workforce include linking UK institutions with local health systems, promoting skills exchanges, and improving the curriculum, regulation and guidance in Kenya, Nigeria and Ghana.

The delivery co-ordinator will be responsible for setting up, funding and overseeing this work to drive improvement in quality and retention of healthcare staff in the 3 countries, and ultimately help to ensure better outcomes for patients.

The funding builds on £5 million previously committed as part of the Building the Future International Workforce ODA programme in Ghana, Uganda and Somaliland, which aims to improve health workforce planning and management, provide training opportunities for refugees and displaced people, and link NHS institutions with country health institutions.

Kenya, Nigeria and Ghana were chosen for the ODA award as they showed a clear need for workforce support, evidenced by high population mortality rates and low staff numbers, as well as unemployment among their trained health workers.

Update 1 September 2023

As part of the £15 million Global Health Workforce Programme announced on 19 May 2023, the Department of Health and Social Care ran a £9 million 2-year competitive grant scheme for a not-for-profit organisation to co-ordinate delivery of partnership work in participating countries.

The partnership programmes for the health workforce include linking UK institutions with local health systems, promoting skills exchanges, and improving the curriculum, regulation and guidance in Kenya, Nigeria and Ghana.

The grant competition closed on 23 June 2023, and 3 applications were received and assessed. The Department of Health and Social Care is pleased to announce that the grant has been awarded to the Tropical Health and Education Trust (THET).

The Tropical Health and Education Trust will be responsible for setting up, funding and overseeing this partnership work to drive improvement in quality and retention of healthcare staff in the 3 countries, and ultimately help to ensure better outcomes for patients.

About the Tropical Health and Education Trust

THET is a global health organisation with a vision of a world where everyone has access to healthcare. For 35 years, it has been working to achieve this by training and educating health workers in Africa and Asia in partnership with organisations and volunteers from across the UK.

Founded in 1988 by Professor Sir Eldryd Parry, it is the only UK charity with this focus. From reducing maternal deaths in Uganda to improving the quality of hospital care for injured children in Myanmar, they work to strengthen local health systems and build a healthier future for all. In the past 10 years alone, THET has reached over 100,000 health workers across 31 countries in Africa and Asia in partnership with over 130 UK institutions.

For more information, visit the THET website.
September 4, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Lord Chancellor calls on graduates to become prison officers [September 2023]
The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 1 September 2023.

More than 750 graduates have now swapped university halls for prison walls as demand for the Unlocked Graduates scheme reached new heights.
- demand for prison officer graduate scheme soars
- 750 graduates recruited through Unlocked Graduate scheme
- Lord Chancellor met new recruits as largest ever recruitment drive gets underway
Unlocked Graduates, which encourages the best and brightest university leavers to become prison officers, is now receiving 30 applications per place on average. Since the scheme launched in 2016, successful candidates from a diverse range of backgrounds have worked with 20,000 prisoners in 37 prisons across England and Wales.

Speaking at the Summer Institute event for trainees at Leeds Trinity University on Tuesday (29 August 2023), the Lord Chancellor, Alex Chalk, thanked new officers for their hard work which will help protect the public and drive down the £18 billion a year cost of reoffending.

The rise in applications is in part due to the positive reputation of the programme – 100 per cent of participants who complete feedback surveys rated the training as good or above and 100 per cent of Governors that Unlocked work with want another cohort.

Earlier this month new statistics showed the overall number of prison officers has increased by 700 since June last year. They will join up to 5,000 extra officers in private and public prisons by the mid-2020s being recruited through the Prison Service’s largest ever recruitment drive and a major campaign beginning later this year.

The campaign comes on top of a recent 7% pay rise for frontline officers to reward current staff for their vital work. The increase adds to a major boost in starting salaries in recent years, which now stands at £30,902 compared to £22,293 in 2019.

Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, Alex Chalk KC, said:

Becoming a prison officer is a hugely important and rewarding career, protecting the public and changing lives for the better.

It is encouraging to see so much talent joining our prison service, and we will build on this by continuing to improve pay and by launching our largest ever recruitment drive.

A brand-new cohort of more than 100 aspiring prison officers attended the event marking the end of a 6 week intensive training programme, preparing them for their first day on the prison wings. This is the first step of a wider two-year Graduate Development Programme.

When they arrive on prison landings the recruits will be doing more than just ensuring safety and security, many will support prisoners into employment which is vital in breaking the cycle of crime. Thanks in part to the hard work of prison staff, the number of ex-offenders who have been successfully steered into jobs within 6 months post release has more than doubled from 14% to 30% since April 2021.

As a result of programmes such as Unlocked Graduates, being a prison officer is an attractive graduate profession in the UK alongside more traditional careers such as teaching or law.

Natasha Porter OBE, Founder and CEO of Unlocked Graduates, said:

Since 2017, Unlocked Graduates has recruited, trained and supported over 750 high-flying graduates to become prison officers relentlessly focused on reducing reoffending.

High quality prisons with excellent prison officers make our streets and society safer. We want to make sure the best people join the prison service. Through our graduate programme, top talent can develop incredible leadership skills while working to reduce crime. It’s fantastic to see so many people are competing for a place on Unlocked Graduates, and I continue to be very excited about the impact the incredible people who join our programme are able to have. We can only achieve this level of success thanks to the support of the Ministry of Justice, and we are hugely grateful to the Lord Chancellor for visiting our training.

Former Unlocked Graduate Kat Gartland added:

Before I came across Unlocked, I’d never considered a career in the prison service. Now, I can’t see myself doing anything else.

Every day I know I am contributing towards breaking cycles of reoffending and helping those in my care. Applying for Unlocked Graduates was the best decision I’ve made – I got the chance to develop as a leader from day one, alongside a master’s and lifelong friends. I’d encourage everyone to apply.

Participants in the programme are supported and developed through intensive mentoring and a programme of study that results in a Master’s degree. They complete this while taking on the full duties of a frontline Band 3 Prison Officer. Graduates also have the opportunity to input into policy and create lasting change across prisons.

To learn more about the Unlocked Graduates scheme and apply, visit Unlocked Graduates (unlockedgrads.org.uk). For wider information on the role of a prison officer, go to https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/job-profiles/prison-officer.
September 4, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Victoria Borwick appointed as Chair of VisitEngland Advisory Board [August 2023]

The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 1 September 2023.

The Secretary of State has appointed Victoria Borwick as Chair of VisitEngland Advisory Board for a term of five years commencing 04 September 2023.

Victoria Borwick

Appointed from 04 September 2023 until 03 September 2028.

Following 20 years of commercial experience in the events and conference business, managing a division of the P&O group and attracting investment into the UK, Victoria Borwick had a political career building a network of connections across Westminster.

Victoria served as a local Councillor, Member of the Greater London Assembly (GLA), and Member of Parliament. Victoria worked with the Metropolitan Police and chaired their review into Public Order Policing and worked with Transport for London on improving transport accessibility. At the GLA, Victoria was Chairman of Health and Public Services, and represented the GLA on the London Health Commission.

Whilst at the GLA, Victoria served as the Statutory Deputy Mayor of London, delivering the agenda and promoting London and the Olympic games in 2012, which were held in 28 venues across the UK. Victoria has led on policy development, budgetary scrutiny, and community relations. Victoria was also a “GamesMaker” during the 2012 Olympic games.

Victoria’s love of heritage enabled her to be elected chairman of the British Antique Dealers Association for their 100-year anniversary. Victoria is Vice President of the River Thames Society and Chairman of the Thames Estuary Partnership a charity that conserves the natural heritage of the tidal Estuary, working in conjunction with the Environment Agency and Natural England. The Thames Estuary Partnership is working with stakeholders including the PLA, the GLA and riparian authorities on the Thames Estuary Strategy, to take into account all the opportunities along the tidal estuary.

For the last 5 years, Victoria has been delivering the Cherry Blossom Planting project which fulfils a MOU between Japan and UK to plant cherry blossom trees across the United Kingdom. Victoria has travelled throughout Britain and planted over 7,500 trees to date.

Recently, Victoria was working with a major utility company on regulatory affairs, stakeholder engagement and improving customer services.

Remuneration and Governance Code

The Chair of the VisitEngland Advisory Board is remunerated £345 per day. This appointment has been made in accordance with the Cabinet Office’s Governance Code on Public Appointments. The appointments process is regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. Under the Code, any significant political activity undertaken by an appointee in the last five years must be declared. This is defined as including holding office, public speaking, making a recordable donation, or candidature for election. Victoria Borwick declared that she previously was an elected local Councillor, Greater London Assembly Member and Member of Parliament for the Conservative Party. She has previously canvassed prior to elections and has not stood for or obtained any political office since 2017. She remains an ex officio Vice President of her local Conservative Association, in recognition of her role as a former Member of Parliament.

September 4, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Joint outcome statement – UK-India round twelve of FTA negotiations [September 2023]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 1 September 2023.

Round twelve of negotiations for a free trade agreement between the United Kingdom and the Republic of India.

A twelfth round of negotiations for the UK-India Free Trade Agreement (FTA) took place from the 8-31 August. As with previous rounds, this was conducted in a hybrid fashion – a number of UK officials travelled to Delhi for negotiations and others attended virtually.

On 24-25 August India hosted the G20 Trade and Investment Ministerial Meeting in Jaipur.

The Rt Hon Kemi Badenoch MP, the Secretary of State for Business and Trade visited India for the meeting and met with the Honourable Minister for Commerce and Industry, Government of India, Piyush Goyal. They took stock of the FTA and agreed ways to progress the negotiations.

The thirteenth round of negotiations is due to take place in September.

September 4, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : War Pension and Armed Forces Compensation Schemes Complaints Process Change [September 2023]
The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 1 September 2023.

The Ministry of Defence has introduced an updated process for actioning War Pension and Armed Forces Scheme complaints.

As part of an ongoing effort to modernise and improve services for customers, the Ministry of Defence has introduced an updated process for actioning War Pension and Armed Forces Scheme complaints, to simplify the process and reduce the time taken to receive a final response.

The streamlined process will see a reduction in the overall stages from five to three following the removal of the Independent Complaints Panel, reducing the internal target time for resolution from 60 to 40 days. It has been developed in consultation with, and endorsed by, the Chairs of the Veterans Advisory and Pensions Committees (VAPCs) and the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO).

As of 1 September 2023, the process is as follows:
- Complaints should now be submitted via formal complaints form. A new online form is now available on Gov.uk with support still available via Helpline (0808 1914 218). This online submission method enables complainants to provide all information at the outset, which will enable the MOD to provide a comprehensive and full response as quickly as possible.
- A paper copy for is available via Helpline for non-digital customers.
- Following initial submission, the complainant will receive a response from the Head of the Complaint Resolution Team within 20 working days. If the complaint is not resolved at this first stage, it will be escalated to the Head of Service (or 1* level).
- At each of these two stages, the complainant will be offered a phone call within three working days to ensure all concerns are fully understood, and to help work towards earliest possible resolution.
- If the complaint remains unresolved, it will be escalated to the independent PHSO.
The new process will shorten the time it takes for a complaint to reach the independent Ombudsman where necessary, and MOD will continue to monitor this updated process as part of ongoing continuous improvement efforts.
September 4, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Childcare settings receive cash boost as funding rates increase [September 2023]

The press release issued by the Department for Education on 1 September 2023.

Nurseries and childminders across the country will be paid more from today for every government-funded hour they provide to parents.

Nurseries and childminders will benefit from higher payment rates from today (1 September), as part of the largest ever investment in childcare in England.

The government has today increased the funding rates to local authorities for both three- and four-year-olds and two year olds, in a landmark moment for the early years sector,.

The additional £204 million of funding is providing a substantial uplift for local authorities to increase hourly rates paid to early years providers for delivering the government funded hours to parents.

Funding rates per child paid from today are increasing from an average of £5.29 to £5.62 for three and four-year-olds, and from an average of £6.00 to £7.95 for two-year-olds.

There will be a further increase in funding to come next year, with the average rate paid to local authorities for 2024/25 anticipated to be set at £8.17 for two-year-olds and £11.06 for under twos. This would make the average rate for under twos almost double the average hourly fee of £5.68 charged to parents.

Final 2024-25 hourly funding rates for local authorities for all age groups will be confirmed in the autumn.

From April 2024, eligible working parents of two-year-olds will get a new offer of 15 free hours per week of free childcare. From September 2024, eligible parents will get 15 free hours from nine months until their children start school, and from September 2025, they will get 30 free hours from nine months until the start of school.

Parents whose children turn three this term can sign up for the 30 hours codes for the spring term, which starts from 1st January. The government is therefore urging every parent to check now if they are claiming the free childcare hours they are entitled to, with national data showing almost one in five eligible children may be missing out.

Minister for Children and Families, David Johnston, said:

This funding increase is another vital step in this government’s work with the early years sector to deliver the flexible, affordable, and quality childcare that parents need.

With yet another increase in funding coming next year, we are committed to supporting nurseries, childminders and everyone working with children in their vital early years to deliver on our biggest ever investment into childcare in England – set to save a working parent using 30 hours of childcare up to an average of £6,500 per year.

Alongside funding and developing a national recruitment campaign, the government is also supporting the early years workforce to deliver the biggest ever investment in childcare in England.

Funding rates have been set using insight gathered from surveying 10,000 providers up and down the country to understand their cost pressures. In autumn 2023, it will look into how best to bring down registration times for childminders from up to four months to 10 weeks.

September 3, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : UK reviewing membership of energy treaty [September 2023]
The press release issued by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero on 1 September 2023.

The UK government confirms it will be reviewing its Energy Charter Treaty membership, and considering withdrawal if vital modernisation is not agreed.
- UK is reviewing its membership of the Energy Charter Treaty if member states do not reach agreement on modernised terms by November 2023
- warning comes after UK played a leading role in negotiating updated treaty, strengthening UK sovereignty in transition to cheaper and cleaner energy
- but protracted stalemate over whether to proceed with new terms means UK ministers are considering taking action to safeguard the UK’s green transition
The UK is reviewing its membership of the Energy Charter Treaty, Energy Minister Graham Stuart announced today (Friday 1 September), including whether the country will leave.

The treaty has historically provided protections for investors in fossil fuels – the UK’s future membership will depend on whether proposals for the treaty’s modernisation are adopted in November.

Last year the UK reached a landmark agreement to modernise the terms of the Energy Charter Treaty, maintaining its current benefits while supporting the transition to cleaner energy.

The modernised treaty, for which the UK has been a strong advocate, was supposed to have been adopted in November last year. It would have a much stronger focus on promoting clean, affordable energy, such as carbon capture, utilisation and storage as well as hydrogen and other renewables. It would also strengthen the UK government’s sovereign right to change its energy system to reach net zero and protect UK investors abroad.

However, several EU member states have decided to leave the treaty, leading to an impasse on modernisation. Ministers are therefore reviewing the UK’s membership of the Energy Charter Treaty to support the transition to cleaner, cheaper and home-grown energy sources, in a mission to bolster energy security.

Minister of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, Graham Stuart, said:

Rather than being stuck indefinitely with an outdated treaty, the UK wants to see an agreement on a modernised treaty as quickly as possible.

In its current form, the Energy Charter Treaty will not support those countries looking to make the transition to cleaner, cheaper energy sources such as renewables – and could even penalise our country for being at the forefront of those efforts.

Governments around the world are looking to boost their sources of home-grown energy, including with new clean technologies – and that is why the Energy Charter Treaty must be modernised. It is also why we are reviewing our membership, and will consider withdrawal, if that vital modernisation is not agreed.

The UK will continue to carefully consider the views of stakeholders in business, civil society and Parliament to inform the UK’s approach. The UK’s strong rule of law means it remains an attractive destination for investment in the energy sector regardless of its Energy Charter Treaty membership.
September 3, 2023