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Category: Press Releases

  • PRESS RELEASE : Government suicide prevention fund for charity sector to be boosted [August 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Government suicide prevention fund for charity sector to be boosted [August 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 25 August 2023.

    Multi-million-pound fund for charity sector to carry out crucial work – alongside the NHS – to save lives and tackle tragedy of suicide.

    • Government calls on charities across England to apply for funding to continue supporting tens of thousands of people experiencing suicidal thoughts
    • Comes alongside expected £13.6 billion this year to transform the country’s mental health services so millions of people can quickly access NHS support

    Tens of thousands of people experiencing suicidal thoughts or approaching a mental health crisis will receive vital support, as the government relaunches a £10 million fund so charities can work with the NHS to provide life-saving suicide prevention services.

    Charities in communities across England can now apply for the latest round of funding from the Suicide Prevention Grant Fund which will ensure as many people as possible can access the support and prevention services they need, when they need it. Funding will also help prevent people reaching crisis point and reduce future demand for these services across both the charity sector and the NHS.

    A previous fund of £5.4 million in 2021 to 2022 supported over 100 organisations within the voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector. The results of the fund were overwhelmingly positive, with virtually every single successful bidder saying it helped meet increased demand after the pandemic, improved access to services for people in need and helped identify those experiencing suicidal thoughts quicker.

    Previous grant recipients included:

    • James’ Place charity, which used £283,968 to provide innovative and free suicide prevention therapy to men over the age of 18 in Merseyside and London
    • the Caribbean and African Health Network in Manchester, which was awarded £41,599 for work to tackle taboos around suicide in black communities
    • Papyrus, which was awarded £151,815 to provide confidential support and advice specifically to young people and anyone worried about a young person through their HOPELINE247

    The funding comes alongside a projected £13.6 billion investment by the NHS this year to continue to provide, expand and transform mental health services in England including NHS talking therapies, children and young people’s mental health services and eating disorder services.

    Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay said:

    Too many lives are sadly lost to suicide and my sympathy goes out to those affected by its truly devastating impacts.

    We’re already urgently investing record sums of money to transform and expand NHS mental health services, but the voluntary suicide prevention sector is such an important part of the support on offer and this multi-million pound fund recognises the work it carries out alongside the NHS.

    I encourage charities to apply for this funding so they can continue to save lives, tackle taboos and make a real difference to so many people.

    Papyrus Prevention of Young Suicide Chief Executive, Ged Flynn, said:

    Funding is vital if we are to continue giving hope to children and young people who are struggling with life, and we welcome the government’s contribution which will go some way to help.

    The services we offer are underpinned by voluntary income; kind donations, fundraising and public support. That generosity funds our confidential HOPELINE247 service which allows our professional suicide prevention advisers to keep young people safe.

    We also rely on voluntary income to help us engage with local communities on suicide prevention initiatives across the UK, offer training to groups and individual and support a network of volunteers who have lived experience of suicide.

    Suicide is sadly the biggest cause of death in both men and women under the age of 35 in the UK, and there has been a noticeable increase in the last decade in the number of tragic suicides among women under the age of 25.

    NHS crisis lines receive 200,000 calls per month and Samaritans reports receiving over 10,000 calls per day on average.

    This latest round of government funding, however, could be used by the VCSE sector to boost capacity in crisis helplines – both for those struggling and for those who are concerned about a loved one – provide signposting to services, launch campaigns targeted at specific at-risk groups like young men, and also support families who have experienced the tragedy of losing a loved one by suicide.

    Minister for Mental Health Maria Caulfield said:

    Every single suicide is a tragedy – one which still affects too many people in England. Heartbreakingly, it is still the biggest killer of men under 35.

    But we’re taking action. This £10 million fund for the voluntary and charity sector will help people nationwide receive crucial mental health support and builds on the success of previous funds, which supported tens of thousands of people approaching a crisis.

    We’re already investing £57 million into suicide prevention schemes through the NHS Long Term Plan, and all local areas now have suicide prevention plans to address the specific needs of their populations.

    While this funding will help fund a range of preventative and innovative activity up and down the country, the government is committed to doing all it can to prevent deaths by suicide. Later this year, it will publish a new national suicide prevention strategy that will set out further actions and commitments to deliver this.

    Professor Sir Louis Appleby, national adviser on the suicide prevention strategy, said:

    Charities play a critical role in preventing suicide and today’s launch of the grant fund will support their vital work. Given the pressures facing the sector, I hope all eligible organisations will consider bidding for funding.

    The government is investing at least £2.3 billion of additional funding a year by March 2024 to expand and transform NHS mental health services, so an extra 2 million people can get the mental health support they need.

    Over £400 million is also going into improving mental health facilities, including by giving patients the privacy of their own bedroom and eradicating shared dorms.

    The mental health workforce is also growing. In December 2022, we saw almost 9,000 more mental health staff working than the previous year. The NHS Long Term Workforce Plan sets out ambitions to grow the mental health workforce further.

    Professor Subodh Dave, Dean of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, said:

    We welcome this funding for suicide prevention. We strongly back the roll out of evidence-based programmes to support those at risk of suicide, most of whom are not in contact with mental health services.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Wales Office Minister visits Gwynedd sites sharing in £19 million Levelling Up funding [August 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Wales Office Minister visits Gwynedd sites sharing in £19 million Levelling Up funding [August 2023]

    The press release issued by the Welsh Office on 24 August 2023.

    Minister James Davies visited the National Slate Museum and Parc Padarn in Llanberis and the Ty’n Llan pub in Llandwrog.

    An £18.8m investment from the UK Government’s Levelling Up Fund aims to transform communities in Gwynedd’s World Heritage slate landscape, while a pub in the county has this week received £500,000 extra UK Government funding to develop it for the community.

    The multi-million pound grant for the Slate Landscape was awarded in January 2023 as part of Round 2 of the Levelling Fund which saw £208 million allocated to 11 projects across Wales, aiming to create jobs and drive economic growth in historically overlooked areas.

    Wales Office Minister James Davies this week (24 August) visited the National Slate Museum and Parc Padarn in Llanberis to hear about how part of the £18.8m funding will be invested in redeveloping buildings at the museum and improving the surrounding park environment. He also visited the Ty’n Llan pub in Llandwrog which this week learned it had been granted £500,000 from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund to help develop it as a community hub.

    At the Slate Museum, Dr Davies was introduced to the craftspeople whose skills and artistry working the slate has been passed on down the generations, as part of a guided tour of the museum and Parc Padarn.

    As well as redeveloping the National Slate Museum and surrounding area, the £18.8m Levelling Up funding for Gwynedd has also been allocated to:

    • Develop a new heritage centre in Bethesda
    • Make improvements to Bethesda concert hall Neuadd Ogwen
    • Create a new walking and cycling path linking Bethesda with Chwarel Penrhyn quarry
    • Make major improvements to Blaenau Ffestiniog town centre
    • Construct a new walking and cycling path linking Blaenau Ffestiniog with Chwarel Llechwedd quarry

    Wales Office Minister Dr James Davies said:

    The £19m in levelling up money allocated to separate projects in Gwynedd is a hugely significant investment in our communities.

    It was fantastic to see first-hand the extremely exciting plans for the Slate Museum and its surroundings, building on the World Heritage status the area has deservedly been awarded, and also learn about the development of the Ty’n Llan pub as a hub for the local community.

    The UK Government is working to grow the Welsh economy and level up all parts of the country. These investments in Gwynedd will regenerate local communities and bring jobs, growth and opportunity for the people who live there.

    Councillor Nia Jeffreys, Cyngor Gwynedd Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for the Economy and Communities, said:

    As a Council, we are delighted that the Cyngor Gwynedd-led “Llewyrch o’r Llechi” scheme has secured financial support from the UK Government’s Levelling Up Fund. The slate producing communities are of great historical, cultural and industrial significance and we look forward to see the various plans we have within this scheme flourish.

    Many local families will have ancestors who worked either in the quarries of Eryri or connected industries and we are  proud that their Welsh-speaking, working class legacy will be protected, promoted and celebrated thanks to the UNESCO World Heritage Status and that we are able to use this designation as a springboard to attract funding such as the Levelling Up fund.

    Lord Dafydd Wigley, Chair of the Wales Slate Partnership Steering Group, said:

    It was an honour to welcome the Minister to Llanberis and to show him how we  are using our history to start a new journey that will leave a lasting economic and cultural legacy for today’s Gwynedd and for future generations.

    We are determined to celebrate and harness our industrial past to create exciting new opportunities for the benefit of present-day communities and businesses in Gwynedd.

    Phil Bushby, Director of Corporate Resources, Amgueddfa Cymru added:

    Amgueddfa Cymru – Museum Wales is extremely excited by the fantastic opportunities that the Levelling Up Funding will create in developing areas within the unique World Heritage Site. This funding will support the National Slate Museum to conserve and renovate our Grade 1 listed buildings and become a designated hub for the interpretation of the slate landscape of Northwest Wales.

    The new development will enable us to better connect and engage with local communities and our visitors through the telling of inspiring stories about the slate industry, its people and the environment, both in physical form and through digital channels. The investment will also create opportunities for development of traditional craft skills, learning, volunteering, creativity and wellbeing.

    The two rounds of the UK Government’s Levelling Up Fund in 2021 have so far seen £3.8 billion allocated to projects across the UK with Wales receiving more than £329m.

    The UK Government has also confirmed there will be a further round of the Levelling Up Fund, providing more opportunity to level up places across the UK.

    Also on Thursday, Minister Davies visited the Ty’n Llan pub in Llandwrog, Gwynedd, which was previouslyawarded £250,000 from the UK Government’s Community Ownership Fund to help the local community refurbish the pub and keep it open.

    The pub, which is housed in a Grade II-listed building,closed in 2017 but is now owned and managed by volunteers from the community.

    This week, campaigners learned that Ty’n Llan had been granted £500,000 from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund to build and install a professional kitchen at the pub and to create five new rooms on the first floor of the pub, further developing it as a community facility.

  • PRESS RELEASE : On Ukraine Independence Day, the UK calls on Russia to respect Ukrainian independence, return its children and end this war – UK statement at the Security Council [August 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : On Ukraine Independence Day, the UK calls on Russia to respect Ukrainian independence, return its children and end this war – UK statement at the Security Council [August 2023]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 24 August 2023.

    Statement by Ambassador James Kariuki at the UN Security Council meeting on Ukraine.

    President, let me begin by wishing a happy Independence Day to all Ukrainians. In 1991, Ukraine declared independence from the former USSR, with 92% of the country voting in favour in a national referendum.

    Ukraine’s existence as a sovereign country was recognised by the United Nations, including the Russian Federation.

    If Russia’s illegal invasion last year had succeeded there would be one fewer independent UN State today.

    Ukrainians’ heroic resistance in the face of Russian aggression not only protects their freedom, but defends the United Nations Charter, with its basic principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity.

    If Russia wins this war, it would give the green-light to a new era of international aggression where big countries can rewrite borders by force. None of us wants that.

    We are deeply indebted to the Ukrainian people for their immense sacrifice. And we are proud to stand with them.

    As we mark Ukraine’s independence, we reflect on Russia’s deliberate efforts to target Ukraine’s future – its children.

    The United Nations has reported Russia is committing grave violations against children in its war of aggression – the first time a permanent Council member has ever been listed for doing so.

    As well as killing children directly, and destroying their homes, their schools, their hospitals; the Ukrainian authorities report that Russia has, to date, forcibly transferred or deported over 19,000 children since 2022. President Putin, and his Children’s Rights Commissioner, are the subject of arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court for their alleged role.

    For Ukrainian families, these forced transfers and deportations have devastating and life changing consequences that will be felt for generations. Russia uses fear of this tactic to suppress dissent among Ukrainians living under temporary Russian control. It is also a deliberate attempt to erase Ukrainian culture, identity and statehood.

    Russia has not attempted to preserve the identities of the children it has forcibly deported, as required by international humanitarian law. Rather, there is growing evidence that Russia has seriously violated this right, forcing children to assimilate with the culture of the state that is seeking to destroy their own country.

    President, Russia also has a clear legal obligation under the fourth Geneva Convention to facilitate communication and reunification between children and their relatives or legal guardians.

    Russia has failed to provide reliable information about the children it has transferred to its territory, particularly to those children placed with Russian foster families.

    As OHCHR reported, children themselves have often been forced to trace and find parents or family members. This is an unacceptable burden to place on children, especially those dealing with the trauma of Russia’s illegal invasion.

    Just 386 children have so far been returned. We thank representatives from Save Ukraine for their vital work on these returns.

    We call on Russia to respect Ukrainian independence, return its children, withdraw its troops and end this war.

  • PRESS RELEASE : G7 Foreign Ministers’ Statement – Satellite Launch by North Korea [August 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : G7 Foreign Ministers’ Statement – Satellite Launch by North Korea [August 2023]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 24 August 2023.

    Following a launch using ballistic missile technology by North Korea on 24 August 2023, G7 Foreign Ministers gave a joint statement.

    We, the G7 Foreign Ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, and the High Representative of the European Union, condemn in the strongest terms North Korea’s launch using ballistic missile technology conducted on August 24, 2023. This launch is a clear, flagrant violation of multiple United Nations Security Council Resolutions (UNSCRs) and poses a grave threat to regional and international peace and stability.

    Despite the repeated calls from the international community, North Korea continues to intensify its escalatory actions through a record number of ballistic missile launches, which only attest to its determination to advance and diversify its unlawful nuclear and ballistic missile capabilities. We once again reiterate our demand that North Korea abandon its nuclear weapons, existing nuclear programs, and any other weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs in a complete, verifiable, and irreversible manner and fully comply with all obligations under the relevant UNSCRs. North Korea cannot and will never have the status of a nuclear-weapon State under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT).

    North Korea’s reckless action must be met with a swift, united, and robust international response, particularly by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). The frequency of North Korea’s repeated blatant violations of UNSCRs juxtaposed with the UNSC’s corresponding inaction because of some members’ obstruction is cause for significant alarm. We urge the UNSC Members to follow through on their commitments. We call on North Korea to engage in meaningful diplomacy and accept the repeated offers of dialogue put forward by Japan, the United States, and the Republic of Korea without preconditions.

    We deplore North Korea’s choice to divert its limited resources to fund its unlawful weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs, thereby aggravating the suffering of the people in North Korea and contributing to human rights violations and abuses.

    The G7 remains committed to working with all relevant partners toward the goal of peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and to upholding the international order based on the rule of law.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Diplomats Condemn Settler Violence and School Demolition [August 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Diplomats Condemn Settler Violence and School Demolition [August 2023]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 24 August 2023.

    Diplomats visited the Palestinian community of Burqa and the site of the recently displaced community of Ras at-Tin amid accelerating rates of settler violence.

    Representatives from the United Kingdom, European Union, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Finland, Belgium, Sweden, Canada and Norway visited the Palestinian community of Burqa and the site of the recently displaced community of Ras at-Tin amid accelerating rates of settler violence and following the demolition by Israeli authorities of donor-funded humanitarian structures, including a school in the nearby community of Ein Samiya. Ireland and Denmark also support this statement.

    In Burqa, diplomats learned how the community have endured harassment and intimidation from settlers. They also observed the aftermath of Ras at-Tin’s displacement due to settler attacks and how these attacks intensified after the establishment of an illegal outpost near the community.

    The delegation was extremely alarmed by the growth of settler violence, which alongside demolitions has displaced over 400 Palestinians this year and resulted in several casualties across the West Bank, most recently the death of 19 year-old Qusai Maatan, who was killed in Burqa earlier this month.

    The diplomats strongly condemned settler violence. While they noted some steps taken by the Israeli authorities, including arrests, they urged Israel, as the occupying power, to do more to hold to account and prevent those who have made the lives of Palestinians – such as in the communities of Al Qaboun and Al Mughayyir – intolerable. They underlined the prohibition of forcible transfers in International Humanitarian Law, in particular article 49 of Geneva Convention IV. They reaffirmed their opposition to settlements, which are illegal under international law, result in increased settler violence, and undermine the two-state solution and prospects for a lasting peace.

    Additionally, diplomats strongly condemned the recent demolition of Ein Samiya school, which was funded by donors as humanitarian relief, emphasizing Israel’s breach of international humanitarian law. They called on Israel, as the occupying power, to halt all confiscations and demolitions and to give unimpeded access to humanitarian organisations in the occupied West Bank. They reaffirmed their commitment to Palestinian rights and assisting vulnerable populations in Area C. Through official channels, the consortium of donors have called on Israel to return or compensate for all humanitarian items which they have funded.

    The abovementioned representatives condemned the killing of Palestinians and Israelis alike, while stressing the record high number of individuals killed this year in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Government orders independent inquiry into handling of Andrew Malkinson case [August 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Government orders independent inquiry into handling of Andrew Malkinson case [August 2023]

    The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 24 August 2023.

    Inquiry will cover actions of police, prosecutors and appeals review body.

    • Lord Chancellor orders overarching review of ‘atrocious’ miscarriage of justice
    • review to be led by senior legal figure

    Lord Chancellor Alex Chalk and Attorney General Victoria Prentis have ordered an independent inquiry into the circumstances and handling of Andrew Malkinson’s case after his conviction was quashed by the Court of Appeal last month.

    The inquiry will investigate the handling and the role of Greater Manchester Police, the Crown Prosecution Service and the Criminal Cases Review Commission in his conviction and subsequent appeals to ensure lessons are learned from the significant miscarriage of justice he has suffered.

    It will be led by a senior legal figure and the Criminal Cases Review Commission, Crown Prosecution Service and Greater Manchester Police have all today pledged their full co-operation.

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

    Andrew Malkinson suffered an atrocious miscarriage of justice and he deserves thorough and honest answers as to how and why it took so long to uncover.

    The core function of our justice system is to convict the guilty and ensure the innocent walk free. Yet a man spent 17 years in prison for a crime he did not commit while a rapist remained on the loose. It is essential that lessons are learned in full.

    Greater Manchester Police’s Chief Constable Stephen Watson said:

    I am very sorry that Mr Malkinson has suffered so grievously over these past many years. I acknowledge and regret the very difficult and prolonged journey that Mr Malkinson has had to undertake to prove his innocence. This appalling miscarriage of justice merits the most detailed scrutiny.

    I therefore welcome the opportunity that this independent inquiry represents to examine all of the relevant facts in forensic detail. GMP’s participation in this process will be fulsome and reflective of integrity, candour and humility.

    Max Hill KC, Director of Public Prosecutions, said:

    We welcome and will co-operate fully with the inquiry into the role of all parties in the Andrew Malkinson miscarriage of justice. As well as supporting the inquiry, the CPS is fully committed to supporting the fresh investigation and bringing the right offender to justice.

    Helen Pitcher OBE, chairman of the Criminal Cases Review Commission, said:

    To understand what went wrong in this appalling miscarriage of justice, every organisation involved in handling the case has to fully embrace this whole-system review quite rightly commissioned by the Lord Chancellor.

    We must all contribute fully and engage promptly – and with a commitment to implement any recommendations it draws.

    This cross-organisational review will complement the additional review being led by Chris Henley KC specifically into the CCRC’s handling of Andrew Malkinson’s applications. We always learn lessons from investigations to help with our future work, and due to the nature of this case it’s right that such an exercise is carried out by an independent KC alongside this broader review.

    Attorney General Victoria Prentis said:

    An independent inquiry cannot give Andrew Malkinson 17 years of freedom back. It can provide the accountability he is owed by the criminal justice system and give all of us the reassurance that we learn the lessons from a tragic miscarriage of justice.

    After careful consideration, and consultation with other bodies, a non-statutory inquiry was found to be the most appropriate option, building on the approach taken in other individual cases.

    It will work alongside the independent Law Commission review into how the wider appeals process – including the CCRC – is operating, to ensure it is working effectively.

    A chair will be appointed and a Terms of Reference published in due course. The scope will take account of any other potential future investigations to avoid duplication and ensure that conclusions can be drawn as swiftly as possible. The inquiry will ensure Mr Malkinson’s views and experiences are heard throughout the process and this will be reflected in the Terms of Reference.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Ukrainian Independence Day 2023 – UK Statement to the OSCE [August 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Ukrainian Independence Day 2023 – UK Statement to the OSCE [August 2023]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 24 August 2023.

    In marking the 32nd anniversary of the Ukrainian Declaration of Independence, Ambassador Holland honours the strength, fortitude, and identity of the Ukrainian people.

    Thank you, Mr Chair and thank you for convening us today. As we mark the 32nd anniversary of the Ukrainian Declaration of Independence, in doing so we honour the strength, resilience and identity of the Ukrainian people. Ukrainian unity, and the unity of the international community in supporting Ukraine, has never been stronger.

    Since we last met, Russia has continued to bombard civilians and civilian infrastructure. This includes, as my Ukrainian colleague has stated, the sickening attack on Chernihiv earlier this week, which killed seven and wounded over a hundred people. These victims were walking in the main square, going to the theatre, or returning from church. Once again, Russia has killed and wounded Ukrainian civilians who were simply going about their lives. These despicable attacks only strengthen our collective resolve and further damage Russia’s global standing.

    Mr Chair, 18 months ago today, when President Putin launched his full-scale invasion, he believed he would overwhelm Ukraine within days. He completely miscalculated. The resilience of the Ukrainian people, the skill and determination of their Armed Forces, and the world’s commitment to Ukraine’s independence, mean that his illegal and unprovoked invasion is doomed to fail.

    Ukraine is not just fighting for its own future, but for the defence of the principles underpinned by international law, namely the sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence of all states: principles we have agreed as members of the OSCE. We must never let countries attempt to redraw borders by force. Yesterday, guided by that collective belief, many of our countries gathered at the summit of the International Crimea Platform.

    We now know that Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea was the direct precursor to Russia’s full scale illegal invasion in 2022. Crimea became a critical staging ground and springboard for Russia’s attacks on the rest of Ukraine, and has allowed Russia to disrupt and destabilise the region through its militarisation of the Black Sea. Crimea lies at the heart of many of the challenges we are facing, so it is only right that Crimea also be at the heart of ongoing discussions on how to counter Russia’s aggression and reach a just and sustainable peace in Ukraine.

    Civilians in Crimea, particularly Crimean Tatars, have suffered terribly from Russian aggression, enduring a brutal and systematic campaign of human rights abuses and violations. And, just as we predicted at last year’s Crimea Platform Summit, Putin has followed his Crimea playbook of sham referendums, repression, and re-education in other areas of Ukraine.

    The contrast is stark. Where Ukraine offers freedom, Putin’s regime imposes subjugation. Where Ukraine offers democracy, Russia inflicts tyranny. And while Ukraine works to protect human rights, Russia is systematically violating them. We will continue to use every lever we have – military, humanitarian, economic, diplomatic – to support the Ukrainian people in the face of this assault, and to ensure that Ukraine succeeds. As my Foreign Secretary said in his address to the Crimea Platform Summit, “the UK and the international community will never recognise Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea or any Ukrainian territory, and will stand with you for as long as it takes”.

    I would like to end by reiterating the UK’s support and admiration to the Ukrainian people on their Independence Day. In the shadow of the last terrible 18 months, never has your resilience, your strength and your identity been more apparent than it is today. We stand with you and will continue to stand with you, as you fight to protect your democracy, your rights, your values and your sovereignty.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Ambassador Beaufils’ speech at the 7th anniversary of the 2016 Arbitral Award [August 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Ambassador Beaufils’ speech at the 7th anniversary of the 2016 Arbitral Award [August 2023]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 24 August 2023.

    Ambassador Laure Beaufils gave a speech that sets out the UK’s perspective and role on the rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific.

    The 7th Year of the Arbitral Victory: Defending the West Philippine Sea, the Indo-Pacific, and the Rules-Based Order

    UK Promoting Reliable Partnerships in the Indo-Pacific Region

    Good morning ladies and gentlemen.  It is a pleasure to be here today, alongside such distinguished speakers, on the day of the 7th anniversary of the 2016 arbitral award, to discuss the UK’s perspective and role on the rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific in general and the South China Sea, in particular.

    This is, of course, a very important and timely conference. For us – it comes on the back of the UK-Philippines Joint Defence Committee that was held last week, co-chaired by our MOD and the Philippines’s DND. And just two months before in February, we had our inaugural face-to-face UK/Philippines Maritime Dialogue. Both demonstrate how seriously we are taking our relationship with the Philippines on these matters.

    And it comes as the NATO Summit is happening in Vilnius. This historic summit reminds us how much we value our shared security and our allies. It sends a strong signal to all those that are watching that the resolve of those that stand up to blatant violations of international law is stronger than ever. And it is a demonstration that the security of the Indo-Pacific and that of the Euro-Atlantic are increasingly intertwined.

    Let’s begin with the basics.  The UK is far from the Indo-Pacific, but the Indo-Pacific matters to the UK.  It does so for obvious economic and security reasons. For example, at least 1.7 million British Citizens live across the region. And our trade with the Indo-Pacific was nearly £300bn last year, which is nearly 12% of our GDP.

    And it’s not just the Indo-Pacific in general terms. What happens in the South China Sea matters to the UK. It does so because:

    1. Freedom of navigation is essential. Yes it is essential to our security and prosperity.  But it is essential as a cornerstone of international maritime law.
    2. We have a collective responsibility to ensure that the SCS is not a testing ground for reckless behaviour.
    3. The consequences of escalation and crisis in the South China Sea would have implications for us all – including, but not limited to, major risks to global economic stability.

    Earlier this year, we published our Integrated Review Refresh – a comprehensive strategy that reflects on the intensification of competition, the great pace of geopolitical change, and increasingly volatile and contested world.  And our place within that.

    Our conclusion of the Review is that:

    1. Those who believe in the principles of openness, good governance, respect for sovereignty and respect for international law must do more to build our resilience and out-cooperate and out-compete those driving instability.
    2. As such, the UK will take a more active and activist posture on the world stage.

    So, our direction is clear, and we will proudly and confidently play our part to support a free and open Indo-Pacific.

    Standing up for what we believe in

    This begins by standing up for what we believe in. We stand up for international law, the international law-based maritime order, including the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) – something that is frequently reinforced by our Ministers in their public speeches.

    The Minister for Indo-Pacific reiterated the UK’s unwavering support for UNCLOS on its 40th anniversary at the South China Sea International conference last year. The UK will continue to demonstrate its support and stand up for the principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity and non-aggression. We will continue to oppose any action that raises tensions or the risk of miscalculation. Unashamedly.  Where this involves calling out actions that go counter these principles, and that are dangerous, we do so.

    Alongside our G7 partners in the Hiroshima Leaders’ Communique, the UK reaffirmed the importance of UNCLOS and reiterated that the 2016 Arbitral Award is a significant milestone, which is legally binding upon the parties to those proceedings and a useful basis for peacefully resolving disputes between the parties.

    We stand up for international maritime law in our words, but also in our actions.

    The 2021 deployment of the Carrier Strike Group (in which we engaged with over 40 countries), and long-term deployment of two Offshore Patrol Vessels, HMS Spey and HMS Tamar, has not just allowed us to further defence engagement across the region, but enabled us to walk the talk – in particular on freedom of navigation.

    Following HMS Queen Elizabeth, our 5th generation aircraft carrier and her strike group’s visits in 2021.

    We note that the Philippines has also taken the bold step to stand up with confidence in support of international law in the South China Sea. We applaud this and salute the resolve shown by this administration.

    Developing Strong Security Partnerships

    Beyond that, we believe that building closer bilateral, mini-lateral and multi-lateral defence and security partnerships with regional partners will be key to support peace and stability throughout the region.

    Indeed – alliances and their cohesiveness are key. So that those who threaten, coerce, intimidate or use force feel the unity and the might of those who uphold the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and abstain from said threats, coercion, intimidation, or the use of force.

    We are already building these alliances through landmark agreements and partnerships including AUKUS, with the US and Australia, and the Global Combat Air Programme with Japan and Italy. We firmly believe that these not only show our resolve, but also have a stabilising effect in the region.  Here in the Philippines, these agreements also show that the Philippines does not stand alone.

    Building Capability

    These partnerships are important, but not sufficient. We believe in working with partners to strengthen our collective capabilities. Here in the Philippines, we are working alongside partners to build the capability of the Philippines to defend its territory. We are:

    *Increasing bilateral defence engagement across the air, land and maritime domains with periodic visits by Royal Navy ships, visits and engagements by Defence leaders and specialist training teams. *Building military capability through provision of international defence training in the UK, the Philippines and the region, focusing on developing specialist skills and professional military education for future commanders. *Pursuing joint military exercises and capitalise on opportunities to observe other military exercises in the UK, Philippines and Indo-Pacific.

    But it’s not just about hard-edged security and defence.

    The UK is also offering its expertise in areas such as Maritime Domain Awareness, Illegal, Unregulated and Unreported Fishing and tackling environmental damage to coastal areas through our own world-renowned agencies, such as the Royal Navy’s MDA team and the UK’s Hydrographic Office.

    It’s also about the economy, economic resilience and economic security.

    Indeed, these are also the modern nomenclature of conflict. And the areas we must invest in to prevent said conflict.  Across the world we have seen a disturbing rise in incidents of economic coercion that seek to exploit economic vulnerabilities and dependencies and undermine the foreign and domestic policies and sovereignty of countries around the world.  We categorically oppose this behaviour, regardless of which country engages in them. We are committed to ensure that attempts to weaponise economic dependencies by forcing our partners to comply and conform will fail and face consequences.

    So as the UK we will boost economic growth and opportunities through high-quality trade agreements and digital partnerships.  Alongside our G7 partners, we are taking steps to end strategic dependency – on energy, investment and technology – and provide a credible alternative.  We are working to unlock investment and collaborating with innovative private sector partners to develop and grow successful UK and Indo-Pacific partnerships.

    At Hiroshima, G7 Leaders launched a new Coordination Platform on Economic Coercion. As part of this, Leaders committed to further promote cooperation with partners beyond the G7, and to coordinate, as appropriate, support to targeted states, economies and entities as a demonstration of solidarity and resolve to uphold the rule of law.

    Through continuing to build strong partnerships and collaboration in this way, together we can ensure a more stable, peaceful and prosperous future for all.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Results back to pre-pandemic levels as grading returns to normal [August 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Results back to pre-pandemic levels as grading returns to normal [August 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Education on 24 August 2023.

    Top grades and standard passes in line with 2019, as part of the final step back to normal grading.

    Over 640,000 young people are celebrating receiving GCSE results today and over 390,000 vocational qualifications are being awarded today as young people prepare to move on to the next phase of their education. The proportion of entries achieving top grades (grade 7 and above) and standard passes (grade 4) are consistent with 2019, as grading moves back to normal.

    Reflecting the fact that digital is one of the fastest growing industries and contributes significantly to the UK economy, there has been an 13.5% increase in pupils taking computer science since 2019 including more girls. There are similar trends at A level.

    Schools Minister, Nick Gibb said:

    Pupils receiving their results today should feel very proud. I want to congratulate them all and give my thanks to the hardworking teaching staff that have helped them throughout this period.

    Today’s results are a testament to this government’s longstanding work to drive up standards and expanding opportunities for all in our education system.

    Pupils collecting results today can progress to one of many high-quality options including A levels, T Levels and apprenticeships.

    GCSE entries to modern foreign languages (MFL) this year increased by 5.1% compared to last year, and 9.2% compared to 2019, with increases in Spanish and French. This is ahead of the additional £14.9m investment for the language hubs programme due to start in September.

    Entries to subjects in the English Baccalaureate (EBacc), subjects which are considered essential to many degrees and other opportunities, have also seen an increase this year including in computer science and history.

    Total entries across all EBacc subjects is up by 3.9% this year compared to last year, and 11.2% compared to 2019. This builds on the government’s progress in raising standards in schools, with record numbers of schools rated good or outstanding, up from 68% in 2010 to 88% in December 2022.

    The gap between independent schools and academies at grade 7 has narrowed from 33.3% in 2021 to 27.5% in 2022 to 25.5% in 2023. It has also narrowed from 26.5% in 2019.

    Pupils collecting results today will progress to one of many high-quality options including A levels, hundreds of apprenticeship routes, vocational technical qualifications (VTQs) or T Levels. From September, students will be able to study new T Levels in legal and agriculture, with further options available over the next few years, and adding to the 16 already available in subjects such as health, engineering and digital.

    Grading has returned to normal this year for the first time after the pandemic, in line with plans set out by Ofqual over two years ago. This is to ensure that grades maintain their value and pupils get the result that best represents their performance.

    Top grades for 16 year olds in England are in line with 2019, with 22.4% of entries achieving a grade 7 and above. This is up 0.6 percentage points (ppt) from 2019. This year’s results show that 70.3% of entries received a grade 4 or above – a standard pass – which is up 0.4ppt from 2019.

    To recognise the disruption pupils faced because of the pandemic, pupils did receive extra support with formulae and equation sheets for GCSE maths, physics, and combined science exams, so there were fewer things to remember going into the exam. Exams in the same subject were also spread out more meaning students had more time to revise between papers.

  • PRESS RELEASE : I met heroes in Kyiv, we must persevere to ensure justice from The Hague [August 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : I met heroes in Kyiv, we must persevere to ensure justice from The Hague [August 2023]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 24 August 2023.

    British Deputy Ambassador to the Netherlands Keith Allan reflects on his recent posting in Ukraine, and the role of the international organisations in The Hague in ensuring accountability.

    Today is Ukraine’s Independence Day, marking 32 years since the Act of Declaration of Independence was adopted. It also marks 18 months since Russia launched its illegal full-scale invasion with the aim of overthrowing Ukraine. It was a premeditated, unprovoked attack on a democratic sovereign state.

    In Ukraine, the Office of the Prosecutor General had the UK’s support for their work investigating allegations of war crimes, building cases fairly, independently and robustly, to ensure those responsible are held to account. In my new role here I will support international organisations such as the International Criminal Court (ICC) in their complementary work to secure justice for what has occurred.

    The UK and the Netherlands have together played a leading role not only in supporting Ukraine to win the war through significant financial and military assistance, but also ensuring there is accountability for the atrocities that have taken place. It is vital that we continue to support the effective and proper monitoring and documentation of human rights abuses. Not only to ensure perpetrators of these heinous crimes are brought to justice, but also to ensure evidence is collected from survivors efficiently to minimise additional stress and trauma.

    I have seen first-hand the work of British and Dutch organisations who together are seeking to ensure such effective evidence collection. Earlier this year, the Justice Ministers of the UK and the Netherlands co-hosted an international conference in London, helping to ensure that the ICC has the resources it needs for its critical investigations. The international community, and the UK, is grateful to the Dutch for hosting the Register for Damages and the International Centre for Prosecution of the Crime of Aggression alongside other legal institutions in The Hague.

    I have seen Russian aggression not only in my time in Ukraine, I happened to be in Moscow on the day Flight MH17 was shot down. At that time, I was serving as Consul General in St Petersburg. The UK is clear that Russia must be held accountable for this monstrous attack. And I was pleased to see successful prosecutions brought by the Netherlands earlier this year, despite the absence of the perpetrators.

    The MH17 trial and process has shown that international justice takes time, it must be to ensure rigorous, fair, and effective trials. That is why we must be unrelenting in our support for the international organisations here in The Hague, to honour the brave people I met in Ukraine with justice, either in Ukrainian courts or here in The Hague.

    So, I am proud to be able to continue to support Ukraine from here in The Netherlands. I wholeheartedly agree with Foreign Minister Hoekstra’s statement that accountability is of the utmost importance to ensure a sustainable peace. Justice for the crimes that have been committed will be crucial to rebuilding Ukraine, and some of that rebuilding has already begun. Earlier this year, the international community came together at the Ukraine Recovery Conference in London to unlock the potential of the private sector to help Ukraine’s economic recovery. This, in turn, will support the country to come back stronger, as a modern, stable and resilient democracy. Over $60bn in funding was pledged, and many Dutch business were among the 500 who pledged their support.

    Over 20 countries, including the UK and the Netherlands have now also signed a Joint Declaration to provide long-term military support to help Ukraine win the war and strengthen its security in the long term to deter and defend against Russian attacks.

    Ukrainians will always defend their land – as people in any country would. So there is no chance of a just and lasting peace unless it fully respects Ukrainian sovereignty and territorial integrity in line with the UN Charter and sees the departure of Russian forces.

    We must hold those responsible to account, to ensure our world is one of freedom and democracy, not force and aggression. In the meantime we will continue to provide Ukraine with humanitarian, economic and military aid until Russia’s forces leave, which would be the quickest path to peace.

    On Ukrainian Independence Day, I want to celebrate the strength, resilience and identity of the Ukrainian people that despite daily atrocities carry on with their lives.

    In Ukraine, I saw the heroes of the country fighting every day for the values we share. We owe it to them to stand by their side for as long as it takes to end the war, to rebuild their country and to ensure justice is done.