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Category: Press Releases

  • PRESS RELEASE : Secretary of State announces Chair of the Omagh Bombing Inquiry [June 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Secretary of State announces Chair of the Omagh Bombing Inquiry [June 2023]

    The press release issued by the Northern Ireland Office on 12 June 2023.

    The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, the Right Honourable Chris Heaton-Harris MP, has appointed The Rt Hon Lord Turnbull as Chair of the Omagh Bombing Inquiry.

    In February, the Secretary of State announced the government’s intention to establish an independent statutory inquiry into the preventability of the Omagh Bombing. The Real IRA-perpetrated atrocity in August 1998 killed 29 people and two unborn children, and injured 220 others.

    The Inquiry will be established under the Inquiries Act 2005, with full powers, including the power to compel the production of documents and to summon witnesses to give evidence on oath.

    Lord Turnbull has had a distinguished judicial career in Scotland, serving most recently in Scotland’s Supreme Courts. His appointment to the role of Chair of the Omagh Inquiry follows a recommendation made by the Lord Chief Justice for England and Wales, in conjunction with his counterparts across the rest of the UK.

    Confirming the announcement via a written ministerial statement to Parliament, Mr Heaton-Harris said:
    “Lord Turnbull’s long-standing judicial career and his previous experience of working on terrorism cases will provide the highest levels of knowledge and professionalism. I have no doubt that Lord Turnbull will bring to the Inquiry the required rigour, independence, and impartiality, and I am grateful to him for accepting this important job.”

    Lord Turnbull said:
    “I am honoured to be appointed to chair this important Inquiry. I am very conscious of the devastation brought to the lives of so many by the atrocity which took place in Omagh in August 1998. I understand the determination of those who lost family and loved ones, and of those who were themselves injured, or whose family members were injured, to learn whether the attack could have been prevented.
    “As soon as is practicable I shall be seeking views from those affected about the Inquiry. Once the Inquiry’s terms of reference are finalised I shall conduct an independent and robust Inquiry in order to establish the truth.”

    As required by the Inquiries Act 2005, the Secretary of State will now undertake a consultation exercise with the Chair on the proposed Terms of Reference for the Inquiry. These will be agreed and published in due course.

    Note to Editors:
    Lord Turnbull was appointed as a judge of the Court of Session and High Court of Justiciary in Scotland in 2006. He was appointed to the Inner House of the Court of Session and Court of Appeal in 2016. Whilst in practice at the Scottish Bar he was instructed as one of the two Senior Counsel for the Crown in the Lockerbie Bombing case conducted at the Scottish Court in the Netherlands. For the five years preceding his appointment to the Bench he served as the Principal Crown Counsel for Scotland.

  • PRESS RELEASE : British Embassy Tripoli King’s Birthday Party 2023 – UK ambassador’s speech [June 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : British Embassy Tripoli King’s Birthday Party 2023 – UK ambassador’s speech [June 2023]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 12 June 2023.

    His Majesty’s Ambassador to Libya Caroline Hurndall gave a speech at The King’s Birthday Party in Tripoli, Libya, on 11 June 2023.

    Your Excellencies, distinguished guests and colleagues, ladies and gentlemen.

    Thank you all for attending our King’s Birthday Party this evening – the first we have held to mark the official birthday of His Majesty King Charles III. And a special thank you to our sponsors: The Al-Sahl Holding Group, Gazelle Express Services, The Libya Cons tech group, and the British Arab Commercial Bank. Whose kind sponsorship has made this event possible.

    We are gathered today to celebrate an historic occasion. On the 6th of May 2023, His Majesty the King was crowned, the first British monarch to be crowned in 70 years.

    I was delighted that His Excellency Dr Almnefi represented Libya at the Coronation in a demonstration of the friendship between our 2 countries.

    Something you may not know is that the King has visited Libyan shores! In 1954, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth made her second-ever state visit, to Tobruk. His Majesty the King, along with his sister Princess Anne, came to meet Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth on board the Royal Yacht Britannia at Tobruk!

    Throughout his life, His Majesty has supported a wide variety of causes relating to the environment, rural communities, the arts, healthcare and education.

    His Coronation ceremony celebrated the issues most important to him: youth, community, diversity, and sustainability.

    I am pleased to do the same here tonight, with a display of artwork by Libyan artists. The pictures celebrate Libya’s beautiful landscape and rich diversity and communities. Do take a moment to have a look at them this evening.

    Indeed, as I reflect on nearly 2 years as the British Ambassador to Libya, one of the things I have most enjoyed is meeting Libyans from different communities around the country.

    I have been privileged to visit many different areas, from Tripoli to Misrata, to Sirte, to Benghazi, to Tobruk. And to see the rich jewels of Libya’s history, including Leptis Magna and Cyrene.

    I am proud that, since we formally re-opened the embassy 1 year ago, the UK and Libya have continued to strengthen our cooperation, touching the lives of Libyans across the whole country. This includes:

    • UK-Libyan bilateral trade in goods and services has reached £1.5 billion. We welcomed the first business delegation since 2014, as well as the launch of the first UK Trade Organisation to be based in Libya
    • UK-funded projects have cleared 8000 explosive remnants of war across Libya since 2021
    • 175 English teachers benefited from British Council programmes to train teachers of English, reaching approximately 18,000 students across Libya
    • 17 Libyan scholars studied in the UK last year, with their studies fully funded by the Chevening scholarship
    • the UK provided £12 million for Libya through the Education Cannot Wait programme, working with UNICEF, to support children impacted by conflict and instability to access basic education
    • and we welcomed the British ship HMS Albion, strengthening cooperation with the Libyan Navy and Military Medical Corps

    I am excited by the possibilities for the relationship between UK and Libya to strengthen and grow.

    Of course, our partnership will flourish best amidst political and economic stability and security. That requires Libya’s leaders to come together to pursue compromise and cooperation and deliver on the democratic aspirations of the Libyan people.

    I would like to take this opportunity to invite Libya’s leaders to be inspired, as I am, by King Charles who on the occasion of his Coronation, rededicated his life to the service of the people of his country. I hope they find themselves able to follow his example, and make the choices and compromises needed to put their people first.

    Finally, thank you again for joining us this evening to celebrate both the King’s coronation, and his official birthday. Please would you join me in raising a glass to His Majesty King Charles III

    Your Excellences, Ladies and Gentlemen. The King.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Deadline for voluntary National Insurance contributions extended to April 2025 [June 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Deadline for voluntary National Insurance contributions extended to April 2025 [June 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department of Work and Pensions on 12 June 2023.

    The government is giving people more time to pay National Insurance contributions towards their State Pension.

    Taxpayers now have until 5 April 2025 to fill gaps in their National Insurance record from April 2006 that may increase their State Pension – an extension of nearly 2 years – the government announced today (12 June).

    Extending the voluntary National Insurance contributions deadline until 2025 means that people have more time to properly consider whether paying voluntary contributions is right for them and ensures no-one need miss out on the possibility of boosting their State Pension entitlements.

    The original deadline was extended to 31 July 2023 earlier this year, and tens of thousands of people have taken advantage to pay voluntary contributions to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) since then. The revised deadline is expected to enable tens of thousands more to do the same.

    Victoria Atkins, Financial Secretary to the Treasury, said:

    People who have worked hard all their lives deserve to receive their State Pension entitlement, and filling gaps in National Insurance records can make a real difference.

    With the deadline extended, there is no immediate rush for people to complete gaps in their record and they will have more time to spread the cost.

    Laura Trott, Minister for Pensions, Department for Work and Pensions, said:

    I am pleased to see so many people taking steps to review their State Pension, which is why we have extended the deadline for customers to add extra years to their National Insurance record.

    This extension means thousands more people will have time to check their entitlement, and in many cases increase the amount they receive when they retire.

    The extension means that taxpayers have a longer period to enable them to afford to fill any gaps if they choose to do so. All relevant voluntary National Insurance contributions payments will be accepted at the rates applicable in 2022 to 2023 until 5 April 2025.

    Individuals who are planning for their retirement could benefit from the opportunity to complete gaps in their National Insurance record. Other people who may benefit include those who may have been:

    • employed but with low earnings
    • unemployed and not claiming benefits
    • self-employed who did not pay contributions because of small profits
    • living or working outside of the UK

    Paying voluntary contributions does not always increase your State Pension. Before starting the process, eligible individuals with gaps in their National Insurance record from April 2006 onwards should check whether they would benefit from filling those gaps.

    They can find out how to check their National Insurance record, obtain a State Pension forecast, decide if making a voluntary National Insurance contribution is worthwhile for them and their pension, and how to make a payment on GOV.UK.

    Taxpayers can check their National Insurance record through their Personal Tax Account.

    Further information

    The deadline for voluntary National Insurance Contributions from April 2006 up to April 2017 was originally 5 April 2023. In March, HMRC extended the deadline to 31 July 2023.

    The extension will mean men born after 5 April 1951 or women born after 5 April 1953 have more time to check their records and decide whether to pay voluntary contributions to make up for gaps they may have in their National Insurance record from April 2006.

    Individuals can usually only pay voluntary National Insurance contributions for the previous 6 tax years. The deadline is 5 April each year.

    More information on how their National Insurance record affects their State Pension.

  • PRESS RELEASE : New Online Procedure Rule Committee launched [June 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : New Online Procedure Rule Committee launched [June 2023]

    The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 12 June 2023.

    Today (12 June 2023) the Ministry of Justice has launched a new Online Procedure Rule Committee to help guide judges, legal representatives and litigants through online court procedures.

    The Online Procedure Rule Committee (OPRC) will oversee the development of rules for online proceedings across the Civil, Family and Tribunals jurisdictions, as well as data and behavioural standards for online dispute resolution before proceedings are brought to a court or tribunal.

    The OPRC will be made up of 6 members, including the judicial heads of the civil, family and tribunal jurisdictions. Master of the Rolls, Sir Geoffrey Vos, will Chair the committee.

    The other members are:

    • Sir Andrew McFarlane, President of the Family Division
    • Sir Keith Lindblom, Senior President of Tribunals
    • Brett Dixon, legal expert
    • Sarah Stephens, expert in the lay advice sector
    • Gerard Boyers, technology expert

    Justice Minister, Lord Bellamy, said:

    It is vital that digital court processes are governed by rules more suited to evolving technologies, and the creation of this committee secures the government’s longstanding commitment to leading the way in making this a reality.

    The work of the OPRC will help make online court and tribunal services more accessible, encouraging more people to resolve their disputes early and helping them get the timely and specialist support they need.

    Master of the Rolls, Sir Geoffrey Vos, said:

    I am delighted to be leading the new Online Procedure Rule Committee.

    The OPRC will oversee the creation of an end-to-end digital journey allowing people to resolve their disputes more quickly and efficiently. It will provide the necessary governance for the digital justice system as it develops.

    The Committee is being constituted under the Judicial Review and Courts Act 2022.

    The OPRC will hold its first meeting on 26 June 2023.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Government Minister urges pensioners to check eligibility for Pension Credit as Week of Action kicks off [June 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Government Minister urges pensioners to check eligibility for Pension Credit as Week of Action kicks off [June 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Work and Pensions on 12 June 2023.

    Minister for Pensions Laura Trott is today calling on pensioners to check if they are eligible for Pension Credit ahead of the launch of a new “Invitation to Claim” trial.

    • DWP joins forces with charities and broadcasters to encourage pensioners to check their eligibility and apply for Pension Credit.
    • Nearly 1.4 million pensioners in Britain receive Pension Credit, but many aren’t claiming this extra financial help.
    • To reach more pensioners, the DWP will be launching an “Invitation to Claim” mailing trial this summer
    • The average Pension Credit award is worth over £3,500 per year and it can open doors to other benefits.

    Pension Credit is worth over £3,500 a year on average and is designed to help with daily living costs for people over State Pension age and on a low income, though you do not need to be in receipt of State Pension to receive it.

    The benefit tops up a person’s income to a minimum of £201.05 per week for single pensioners and to £306.85 for couples – or more if a person has a disability or caring responsibilities.

    Currently, nearly 1.4 million pensioners in Britain receive Pension Credit and take-up is at the highest level since 2010. However, many are still not claiming this extra financial help.

    The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has also announced a forthcoming “Invitation to Claim” initiative which will see potentially eligible households who receive Housing Benefit across 10 local authorities in Britain sent letters encouraging them to apply for Pension Credit.

    Minister for Pensions Laura Trott MBE said:

    “We recognise the challenges some pensioners will be facing with the cost of living which is why, alongside driving down inflation, promoting Pension Credit is a priority.

    “During the Week of Action, we will be out and about spreading the word – and you can help too. Speak to your older loved ones about Pension Credit and get them to check if they could be eligible for this vital extra support, worth an average of £3,500 per year.”

    Even a small Pension Credit award can open doors to other benefits – including help with housing costs, council tax, heating bills, as well as up to £600 in extra Cost of Living payments later this year too.

    The Week of Action will see DWP joining forces with charities, stakeholders, broadcasters, and a whole range of partners to highlight the help available and encourage pensioners to check their eligibility and apply.

    Martin Lewis, founder of MoneySavingExpert, said:

    “It’s a tragedy that up to a million low income pensioners who’ve paid into the system for years are missing out on what can be a crucial financial top up.

    “And even those only due thruppence from it should still claim as Pension Credit is the key gateway benefit that opens the door to many other entitlements – including the remaining £600 cost of living support, council tax reductions, free TV licences (if age over 75) dental and optical support and more.

    “Any single pensioner earning under roughly £220 a week, or pension couple earning under £320 should check online or call the pension credit helpline just in case you may be due.”

    The DWP continues to work with stakeholders and others to raise awareness of Pension Credit, with a recent push for pensioners to apply before 19 May 2023 to receive the first £301 Cost of Living payment resulting in a 171% spike in claims over the two-week period before the deadline – over 20,000 claims.

    During the Week of Action, the DWP and its partners will be tackling some of the myths that may stop people applying, such as how having savings, a pension or owning a home are not necessarily barriers to receiving Pension Credit.

    Pension Credit can be claimed by phone and online, ensuring that older people can apply safely and easily, wherever they are. The online Pension Credit calculator is also on hand to help pensioners check if they’re likely to be eligible and get an estimate of what they may receive. Pension Credit can also be claimed by post.

    Additional information:

    • Up to an estimated 850,000 eligible households are not claiming Pension Credit, with up to £1.7 billion of available Pension Credit going unclaimed.
    • The online Pension Credit calculator helps people find if they’re eligible for Pension Credit and how much they could get. Further information, including on how to claim, can be found here: Pension Credit: Overview. People can also claim by phone on 0800 99 1234. For extra resources for stakeholders and businesses, the department has also produced a Stakeholder Toolkit

    All State Pension recipients continue to receive reminders about Pension Credit in the post as part of the Department’s annual uprating communications.

    • The DWP’s “Invitation to Claim” trial later this summer will involve DWP sending letters to household identified via Housing Benefit data as being most likely to be entitled to Pension Credit and encouraging pensioners to contact DWP and make a claim.

    The ten following local areas have been selected to ensure a representative sample of urban, rural, regional and national areas:

    • Eastbourne
    • Teignbridge
    • Pendle
    • Charnwood
    • Vale of White Horse
    • Redcar and Cleveland
    • Craven
    • Harrow
    • Powys
    • West Lothian

    Pension Credit recipients by region (as of November 2022):

    Region Recipients
    North East 75,406
    North West 178,460
    Yorkshire and The Humber 121,388
    East Midlands 97,190
    West Midlands 133,553
    East of England 111,346
    London 186,969
    South East 148,778
    South West 113,737
    Wales 82,634
    Scotland 127,288
  • PRESS RELEASE : Bahamian honoured by the City of London [June 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Bahamian honoured by the City of London [June 2023]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 12 June 2023.

    Steven Boon has been made Freeman of the City of London at the Guild Hall — the First Bahamian to ever receive this honour.

    The British High Commission’s Wine and Spirits Advisor, Steven Boon from New Providence, was given a rare honour on Tuesday 6 June, when he was made a Freeman of the City of London. Steven was recognised by his industry peers for making an international contribution to the industry. The ceremony took place in private at the British Residence in Nassau, with the British High Commissioner officiating on behalf of the Guild Hall in London.

    Steve Boon is recognised for his contributions to the Wine and Spirits industry. He is the youngest Bahamian to qualify as a wine and spirits lecturer with WSET, the only Bahamian to be the representative of the Court of Master Sommeliers in The Bahamas, and the only Bahamian to be a liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Distillers, founded in 1637 (There are only 460 liverymen).

    In 2022 Steven Boon was appointed as the British High Commissioner’s Wine and Spirits Advisor to help the UK with the promotion, distribution, and education surrounding British spirits in The Bahamas. He is working on a number of high profile events for 2023, including at the International Food Festival and involving high quality training of industry staff, and is supporting three Bahamian rum companies wanting to become the first Bahamian rum distributed in the UK.

    British High Commissioner ,Thomas Hartley, said:

    I am incredibly proud of Steven Boon. Ever since he joined my team he has been such a force for good in supporting Bahamian exporters and importers in the wine and spirits industry.

    And this recognition – a rare honour even within the UK – rightly recognises Steven as the most qualified drinker in The Bahamas! Our huge congratulations, and thank you for helping bring Britain and Bahamas closer together.

    Background on the Freedom of the City of London at the Guild Hall

    The ‘Freedom’ dates back to the 13th Century, and is granted as a recognition of the prominence and influence of the individual in their trade. Known as Liverymen or Liverywomen, it has historically been used to recognise those in the private sector who are at the top of their industry and who have freedom from being under the jurisdiction of a feudal Lord.

    In the Middle Ages, this developed into a freedom or right to trade, becoming closely linked to the medieval guilds – the livery companies. In 1835 eligibility for the freedom of the City was extended to anyone who lived in, worked in or had a strong connection to the City. The freedom that citizens enjoy has long associations with privileges in the governance of the City in the past, has given them privileges in London such as the right to drive sheep across Southwark Bridge.

    In modern times, the Lord Mayor of London must be elected from amongst this group of Liverymen. There is a long-standing tradition of the City admitting women to the freedom. Although they are now usually called freemen as well, historically the term was free sisters. The most recent recipient of the honour is England International and Tottenham Hotspur football clubs Harry Kane.

    Background on Steven Boon

    • President, Wine & Spirit Guys , the leading strategic wine and spirit consultancy in the Bahamas ,100% Bahamian owned, Wine & Spirit Adviser to BHC and leading hospitality resorts.
    • Consultant to Bollinger Champagne for over 20 years
    • 40 years in the wine & spirit industry in the Bahamas and internationally
    • Youngest Bahamian to qualify as a wine & spirit lecturer with WSET aged 21
    • 1st/Only Bahamian to be the representative of Court of Master Sommeliers in the Bahamas
    • 1st/Only Bahamian to be a liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Distillers , founded in 1637.(There are only 460 liverymen)
    • 1st/Only Bahamian to be made a Freeman of The City of London-in connection with the wine & spirit industry
  • PRESS RELEASE : Further protections for England’s coastal waterways planned [June 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Further protections for England’s coastal waterways planned [June 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 12 June 2023.

    Consultation launched to expand the Storm Overflows Discharge Reduction Plan to cover all coastal and estuarine waters.

    The government has launched a six-week consultation on expanding its targets to tackle sewage even further to cover all coasts, estuaries and marine protected sites (12 June 2023).

    The Storm Overflows Discharge Reduction Plan, published in August 2022, set out stringent targets to protect people and the environment, backed up by £56 billion capital investment – the largest infrastructure programme in water company history.

    Since then, the government has continued to drive action to hold water companies to account, bring in tougher regulation and accelerate infrastructure to tackle pollution. Building on the measures in the plan to address the overflows causing the most harm first, the government is now consulting for six weeks on expanding the Storm Overflows Discharge Reduction Plan to cover all coastal and estuarine overflows. The current Storm Overflow Discharge Reduction Plan covers 91% of storm overflows.

    The government has always been clear that it will go further and faster to tackle the issue of storm overflows wherever possible. The consultation follows the government announcing that targets to reduce storm overflow discharges will be enshrined in law through the Environment Act 2021.

    The government’s intention to consult on the targets was set out last month. The consultation has now launched and will be open until 24 July 2023, and follows the Environment Secretary’s demand to water companies earlier this year to share individual action plans on every storm overflow, including coastal and estuarine, this summer.

    Environment Secretary Thérèse Coffey said:

    While 93% of our beaches with designated bathing status are already rated excellent or good, there is still more to do to better protect our hugely important coasts and estuaries.

    That is why I am consulting to extend our stringent targets to cover every storm overflow in England – protecting people and the environment across the country.

    The targets outlined in the Storm Overflows Discharge Reduction Plan provide an achievable, credible route to tackling sewage and delivering the improvements customers expect without disproportionately impacting consumer bills.

    Further information

    • The Plan for Water set out the government’s strategy to tackle all sources of pollution – not just storm overflows, but also agriculture, plastics, road run-off and chemicals – as well as managing the pressures on our water resources. It set out action to clean up our water through more investment, stronger regulation and tougher enforcement on those who pollute.

    Measures include:

    More investment

    • £1.6 billion of accelerated investment by water companies, to spend on new infrastructure to start in the next 2 years to tackle pollution and increase our water resilience – including £1.1 billion on storm overflow improvements.
    • Delivering long-term catchment action plans – community-led schemes which aim to improve waterways and surrounding eco-systems – backed up by new funding, to improve all water bodies in England. This follows the credit scheme launched by Natural England to offset the environmental impact of new housing developments.
    • Creating a new Water Restoration Fund, using money from water company fines and penalties to support local environmental projects, like re-meandering rivers and restoring habitats.
    • More than doubling the money for slurry infrastructure by increasing funding to £34 million for farmers to improve slurry storage, reducing a major source of water pollution, with a further £31 million announced this week under the Productivity and Slurry Grant to support farmers procure equipment and technology.
    • Leveraging £1 million investment in partnership projects each year to improve chalk catchments to help protect these rare and irreplaceable habitats. This is in addition to taking forward the recommendations from the Chalk Stream Strategy.
    • Launching a £6.6 million Lowland Peat Research and Development programme in 2023 to identify the best way to reduce emissions from lowland peatlands.

    Stronger regulation

    • Consulting on banning the sale of plastic wet wipes. We have also written to relevant producers about ‘flushable’ labelling on wet wipe packaging.
    • Enabling key water supply infrastructure – such as reservoirs and water transfer schemes – to be built more quickly.
    • Bringing forward the deadline for water companies to reduce chemicals in wastewater treatment to 2027.
    • Consulting on extending environmental permits to cover dairy and intensive beef farms, and to improve how this is done for pig and poultry farms, in order to better manage sources of pollution.
    • Develop new proposals to restrict the use of ‘forever’ chemicals (PFAS) found in our rivers and seas – including proposals for a ban on PFAS in fire-fighting foams following recommendations made by the Health and Safety Executive.
    • Launching a new National Policy Statement on water resources so that key water supply infrastructure – such as reservoirs and water transfer schemes – can be built more quickly.
    • Integrating water and flood planning to target actions where they will have the biggest impact for nature.
    • Reducing water demand by encouraging water companies to consider how to rapidly increase smart meter installations for household and non-household customers.

    Tougher enforcement

  • PRESS RELEASE : PM urges tech leaders to grasp generational opportunities and challenges of AI [June 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : PM urges tech leaders to grasp generational opportunities and challenges of AI [June 2023]

    The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 12 June 2023.

    The UK must act quickly if we want to retain our position as one of the world’s tech capitals, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will tell tech leaders today.

    • The UK will be “the best place in the world to start, grow and invest in tech businesses”, Prime Minister pledges today, as key driver of economic growth
    • Addressing tech leaders at the opening of London Tech Week, he will set out challenges and opportunities of AI ahead of global summit hosted by the UK this autumn
    • This kicks off week of cross-Government activity to showcase and support UK’s thriving tech sector

    The UK must act quickly if we want to retain our position as one of the world’s tech capitals, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will tell tech leaders today [Monday 12 June].

    Speaking at the launch of the tenth London Tech Week, the Prime Minister will argue that as the “tectonic plates of technology are shifting”, the UK must harness innovation to become the best place for tech businesses to invest and grow, in turn growing the economy and creating jobs.

    With world-leading universities, more tech unicorns than France and Germany combined, and one of the most digitally literate societies in the world, the Prime Minister will make clear that the UK is starting from a position of strength, outlining how Government will work with businesses to capitalise on the opportunities presented by transformative technologies, such as AI.

    From building one of the most pro-investment tax regimes, to committing almost a fifth of our entire capital budget to R&D – the highest level this country has ever seen – and investing record sums in building our quantum capability, the Prime Minister will underline his commitment to creating the right conditions for innovators to thrive.

    The Prime Minister is expected to tell tech leaders:

    We must act – and act quickly – if we want not only to retain our position as one of the world’s tech capitals …

    … but to go even further, and make this the best country in the world to start, grow and invest in tech businesses.

    That is my goal. And I feel a sense of urgency and responsibility to make sure we seize it.

    Already home to the largest tech economy in Europe, he will reinforce that the tech sector is at the heart of his priority to grow the economy.

    Together with Ministers from across Government, responsible for nurturing and attracting talent, driving world-class research and unlocking investment, he will set out their shared mission to help the UK’s tech eco-system flourish at the launch of London Tech Week.

    Part of this effort is represented by Government’s decision to introduce High Potential Individual, Global Talent and Scale-up Worker visas. These routes are designed to attract the best and brightest global talent and will encourage academics and professionals to share their knowledge, skills and ideas in the UK, and make a positive contribution to the economy.

    Following his announcement that the UK will host the first major global summit on AI safety later this year, the Prime Minister will also stress the UK’s leadership as a democratic AI power – already home to top AI labs, including DeepMind.

    This has been recognised globally by like-minded countries and partners, who have agreed to work together to mitigate the risks through internationally coordinated action. The UK’s expert taskforce on AI foundation models, backed by £100 million in Government funding, will lead on cutting-edge AI safety in the UK.

    During his speech, the Prime Minister will outline the opportunities AI presents as well as the need to ensure its development remains safe and responsible. That includes bringing together academia, leading tech companies and Government to deliver the benefits that will improve people’s lives.

    The Prime Minister will say:

    Already we’ve seen AI help the paralysed to walk; and discover superbug-killing antibiotics – and that’s just the beginning.

    “…The possibilities are extraordinary. But we must – and we will – do it safely.

    “…I want to make the UK not just the intellectual home, but the geographical home of global AI safety regulation.”

    The Prime Minister will continue to host key tech businesses and entrepreneurs at Downing Street throughout London Tech Week, while Government Ministers will promote and discuss how we are supporting the UK’s tech sector with stakeholders at events including panel sessions and speeches.

    Poppy Gustafsson, CEO of Darktrace, said:

    The tenth year of London Tech Week is going to be the most exciting so far. AI will be at the centre of the agenda and that should give UK tech plenty to be happy about. We’re home to unrivalled AI talent, incredible academic institutions like the Turing Institute, and businesses, like Darktrace, that have track records of developing and delivering world-leading AI. The UK is in a great position to be at the forefront of the AI revolution. I see that every day in our teams in Cambridge who are working at the very forefront of these technological innovations. I’m excited to see this country leaning in on this agenda and actively looking to capitalise on the tremendous opportunities that this creates.

    Divesh Makan, Founding Partner, ICONIQ Capital:

    At ICONIQ, we believe that technology isn’t a vertical but rather a horizontal that cuts across all businesses and aspects of our daily lives. We have seen remarkable advances in artificial intelligence, cloud storage and analytics, healthcare, and the software underlying everything drive massive transformations across sectors and society. And now, as we celebrate the 10th anniversary of London Tech Week and consider the opportunities and challenges ahead, one thing is clear: the future is arriving faster than anyone expected. Under Prime Minister Sunak’s leadership, the UK’s tech community will continue to play a vital role in creating a better tomorrow for everyone.

    Vishal Marria, CEO of Quantexa, said:

    The UK is home to some of the world’s top tech talent and has created several of the world’s most innovative technology companies. Quantexa, an AI-driven decision intelligence company based in London, is a great example of the power of British innovation in action. In just seven years, the company has achieved a valuation of £1.5bn, employs over 650 people globally, and supports tens of thousands of users in some of the world’s largest organizations on its platform for risk management, customer insights, and data unification.

    As a British entrepreneur, I am encouraged by this government’s commitment to investing in emerging disciplines such as quantum computing and artificial intelligence and its determination to ensure that the UK tech market continues to thrive by taking a “pro-innovation” approach to much-needed regulation.

    Our growing London tech ecosystem and our government share a vision for building on our heritage of innovation in a fiercely competitive global economy. To achieve its goal of becoming a science and technology superpower, the UK must actively nurture this growing sector and make decisive, strategic investments that stimulate innovation.

    Charlie Bryant, CEO at Zoopla, said:

    As one of the first British tech unicorns, Zoopla is delighted to be part of the remarkable growth of London and the UK as the tech capital of Europe. The foundations that have built this leading role include the UK’s position as a global hub for tech talent, the depth of capital and London’s global city status which creates an attractive environment for inward investment. I believe the UK will continue to pave the way when it comes to tech innovation in Europe.

    Demis Hassabis, CEO & CO-Founder, Google DeepMind, said:

    AI will play a critical role in shaping the future of our economy and society. I’m looking forward to talking about this with the Prime Minister at London Tech Week.

    Janet Coyle CBE, Managing Director of Grow London at London & Partners, said:

    Over the past decade, the UK has established itself as a leading destination to setup and scale a technology business. The tenth anniversary of London Tech Week offers a great opportunity to showcase our success and discuss how we can continue to be a top tech hub on the global stage. This year’s event promises to be bigger than ever and it’s exciting to see how many international delegations will be coming into London to explore investment and expansion opportunities in our capital.

    Carolyn Dawson OBE, CEO, Founders Forum Group:

    The UK tech ecosystem is uniting to celebrate the 10th London Tech Week, the largest in its history. Global delegates will be part of the 17,000 people taking part in this iconic event. The UK can excel in the industries of the future, from deeptech to fintech, sustainability and life sciences, there are so many competitive advantages at our disposal. We are evermore excited that London Tech Week serves as a platform to amplify this position for the UK on a global stage and is proud to connect the ecosystem of innovators, entrepreneurs and investors together to drive positive change through technology.

    Erin Platts, CEO, Silicon Valley Bank UK.

    Embracing the UK’s innovators and investors, and enabling their bold ideas is more important than ever to our long-term economic prosperity. The Prime Minister’s support for the UK’s innovation reflects the government’s commitment to making the UK a global innovation leader. We’re excited for the optimism and ambition demonstrated everyday by our tech ecosystem and we welcome pledges for the UK to become an innovation superpower by 2030. This is a clear vote of confidence for the UK’s tech and life sciences industries and I’m confident we can achieve this through ongoing collaboration between industry and government.

    Taavet Hinrikus, Co-founder, Wise and Co-founder, Plural, said:

    London is one of the best places in the world to build a tech company. This extraordinary ecosystem is what helped me grow my company Wise and it’s why we chose to found Plural here last year to support the next generation of entrepreneurs who are building global companies to solve difficult problems.

    Joanna Shields, CEO of Benevolent AI, said:

    At BenevolentAI, we have first-hand experience applying AI’s transformative potential. We harness the power of LLMs and other AI models to empower scientists and expedite innovation in biopharma. In domains as complex as life sciences, it is imperative to deploy AI safely and responsibly. We have a limited opportunity to take action, and I am delighted that the UK Government is treating this matter seriously by announcing the formation of a task force and an AI Summit scheduled for this fall. These crucial initiatives serve as a solid foundation, and now it is essential for both the public and private sectors to collaborate closely to tackle this monumental challenge and position the UK at the forefront of AI regulation.

    T S Anil, CEO of Monzo, said:

    As the UK’s biggest digital bank with more than 7.5m customers, we are an example of how technology can improve people’s lives, and drive economic growth. The UK is a top destination for fintech companies and home to some of the most interesting and innovative scaling businesses. That leading position will be maintained by retaining and evolving the UK’s world class regulatory system, as well as helping to attract and develop the best talent, and we welcome policy measures and initiatives that support that.

    Zahra Bahrololoumi, CEO of Salesforce UK&I, said:

    At Salesforce, we recognise the transformative power of generative AI, including its influence in securing and maintaining the UK’s status as a global technology leader. We strongly welcome the PM’s announcement to host a global AI summit this autumn and commitment to make the UK the centre of gravity on AI safety. This is a watershed moment for our industry and it is imperative that AI is developed safely and responsibly, with ethics and inclusivity at the heart. A trust-first evolution is crucial for future success.

    Kristo Käärmann, CEO and co-founder, Wise:

    The UK is where we started our journey 12 years ago to achieve money without borders and make the world’s money faster, cheaper, easier, and more transparent for people and businesses. Connecting directly to the Bank of England and into the UK’s Faster Payments Scheme was one of our first big steps forward in achieving this mission. That enabled us to deliver faster, and cheaper payments for our customers in the UK. That the UK was the first country in which we were able to get there is testament to the forward looking approach of its institutions. Today we serve 16 million people and businesses around the world by building the best infrastructure for the world’s money and the tech that’s enabled us to do that was built here.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Bold plans to boost digital connectivity across the country, from wifi in lamp posts and satellites in most rural parts of Scotland [June 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Bold plans to boost digital connectivity across the country, from wifi in lamp posts and satellites in most rural parts of Scotland [June 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on 12 June 2023.

    Technology Minister Sir John Whittingdale has announced initiatives in a bid to cement the UK as an international leader in telecoms.

    • Papa Stour, one of the most remote communities in the UK will see the introduction of high-speed broadband, powered by satellites
    • Tech Minister also announces programme to test smart lampposts that will have the capacity to deliver a range of services, from public wifi to electric vehicle charging
    • UK and Australia sign a landmark agreement cementing the strong foundations between the 2 nations

    The 10th London Tech Week has begun with a suite of bold initiatives in a bid to cement the UK as an international leader in telecoms.

    From today, residents in Papa Stour, one of the UK’s most remote and inaccessible communities will be connected to high-speed broadband, enabling residents to stay connected wherever they are. The project was announced by the Minister at a speech at London Tech Week, as part of a package of initiatives which also include support for local authorities to procure and test ‘smart lampposts’, boosting connectivity within local communities.

    A landmark Memorandum of Understanding between the UK and Australia was also signed, helping to establish a roadmap between the 2 nations for future telecoms collaboration.

    Future telecoms is one the UK government’s 5 key technologies of tomorrow and the initiative will ensure the UK is a continued global leader in the telecoms sector and to improve connectivity for people and businesses across the country.

    Making the announcements in a speech at London Tech Week, UK Minister for Data and Digital Infrastructure, Sir John Whittingdale, said:

    Our announcements today will help ensure that everyone, no matter where they live, has access to high-speed broadband and other digital services that they need to thrive in the 21st century.

    Improving Papa Stour’s connectivity is a major milestone in our efforts to close the digital divide as it transforms the lives of the island’s residents and visitors.

    The Smart Infrastructure Pilots Programme shows how we can use technology to make our communities a better place to live and work and the MoU we have signed with Australia is a significant step in our efforts to work with international partners to build a more secure and resilient telecoms network.

    Improving digital connectivity is a top priority for the government. Our mission is to deliver fast, reliable connectivity for everyone in the UK and to continue to be a global leader in telecoms, and today’s package shows exactly that.

    Papa Stour connected to high-speed satellite broadband

    The island of Papa Stour in the Shetland Islands, one of the most remote communities anywhere in the UK, will see its digital infrastructure transformed in a matter of days as part of government plans to ensure universal access to fast, reliable broadband coverage.

    Clarus Networks Group starts work on installing a specialist Kymeta flat panel today which, when finished later this week, will link to OneWeb’s constellation of low earth orbit (LEO) satellites to beam high-speed, reliable broadband connections to the island from space.

    The panel’s installation marks its first commercial roll-out in Europe and forms part of the government’s Alpha Trial programme launched in December to test the capability and viability of low orbit satellites to deliver high-speed connectivity to communities in very hard to reach areas.

    Broadband connectivity will be beamed down to the Scottish island’s rugged coastline via OneWeb’s satellite network, delivering life-changing digital accessibility, made possible by British-born science and technology innovation, and effective collaboration between central and local government.

    Paul Coffey, CTO, The Clarus Networks Group, said:

    At Clarus we harness the power of satellite connectivity, combined with state-of-the-art wireless technologies, to solve connection challenges. Until now, Papa Stour residents have been constrained due to unreliable and slow internet connectivity. We are excited to partner to bring lightning fast and reliable internet to the island for the first time. This installation is a landmark step in connecting remote communities, offering new possibilities for UK business and tourism.

    Neil Masterson, CEO OneWeb, said:

    OneWeb has always sought to use satellite connectivity to bridge the digital divide for communities and business around the world. Connectivity is vital for all but especially so for the most remote communities, and we are delighted to be working with the government and our partners on this trial to bring high-speed, low latency connectivity to those living and working on the island.

    Boosting connectivity and innovation with Smart Infrastructure Pilots Programme

    The Minister also announced the launch of the Smart Infrastructure Pilots Programme (SIPP). Helping local authorities to deploy advanced digital infrastructure such as smart lampposts, SIPP will support the ambition set out in the government’s recently published Wireless Infrastructure Strategy for people, business and public services across the UK to realise the full benefits of 5G and other advanced wireless connectivity – from economic to environmental growth.

    The initiative, a joint programme between DSIT and the Department for Transport (DfT), will provide up to £1.5 million in funding for 6 local authority-led pilots, which will be matched by smart service providers working with the participating local authorities, to procure and test innovative smart multi-purpose columns or lampposts.

    Smart multi-purpose columns or lamp posts are street furniture that have the capacity to deliver a range of smart services, including improved mobile network connectivity, public wifi, electric vehicle charging, public safety and environmental monitoring. Investing in this technology can help bring cost savings to a local authority and increase connectivity for local communities.

    The announcement is also a significant step towards achieving the government’s levelling up priorities and fostering widespread access to the benefits of good connectivity in communities across the UK.

    Technology and Decarbonisation Minister Jesse Norman said:

    By turning lamp posts and other road infrastructure into smart devices such as public wifi points, the government are investing in the ways everyday transport infrastructure can be transformed for a greener, cleaner future.

    This programme will boost connectivity across the country and increase electric vehicle charging access, helping us to reach our net zero goals.

    UK and Australia Memorandum of Understanding on Telecoms Diversification

    Minister Whittingdale today announced a Memorandum of Understanding on Telecoms Diversification between the UK and Australia.

    Telecoms supply chains are global and working together with international partners is a critical piece of the government’s approach to achieving ambitions on telecoms diversification – reducing the global reliance on just a number of vendors to provide equipment for building 5G and future telecoms technologies networks and attracting new entrants to the UK market.

    The MoU cements the strong foundations that already exist between the UK and Australia and will see the 2 countries strengthen cooperation on telecoms diversification, particularly the development of open and interoperable solutions such as open RAN, a kit which allows providers to ‘mix and match’ solutions from multiple vendors – enabling much more vendor diversity in the telecoms ecosystem.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Dowden – world-class crisis capabilities deployed to defeat biological threats of tomorrow [June 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Dowden – world-class crisis capabilities deployed to defeat biological threats of tomorrow [June 2023]

    The press release issued by the Cabinet Office on 12 June 2023.

    Biological Security Strategy will defend the UK from infectious disease outbreaks, antimicrobial resistance, and biological incidents and attacks.

    • New Biothreats Radar will scan biological threats to protect the public
    • Biological Security Strategy will defend the UK from infectious disease outbreaks, antimicrobial resistance, and biological incidents and attacks
    • Plan strengthens the UK’s thriving life sciences sector
    • Backed by unprecedented investment of more than £1.5 billion per year

    A new Biothreats Radar capable of scanning biological risks that pose a threat to the public will be key to the UK’s fight and preparation for future pandemics, the Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden has announced today (Monday 12 June).

    The Radar will be led by the Government’s National Situation Centre and will bring together data from across government, existing independent advisory committees and wider expert groups who analyse biological risks and trends. It will centralise the data and actively monitor this information to provide decision makers with a comprehensive picture of known and developing biological threats.

    This forms part of a new Biological Security Strategy published by the Government today to strengthen the UK’s defences against infectious diseases, biological attacks and antibiotic resistance.

    The major new Strategy sets out clear actions on biosecurity, building upon the framework set out by the Government in 2018, and has been updated to reflect lessons learned during the Covid-19 pandemic. It outlines how the Government will tackle a wide range of threats head on –  from bioterrorism to animal and plant diseases – by 2030.

    The Government is investing heavily in biological security, with spending now more than £1.5 billion each year. This funding underpins critical initiatives within the Strategy, including  identifying new diseases, incentivising responsible innovation in the biosciences, and progressing the pledge made by G7 leaders in Carbis Bay in 2021, known as the “100 Days Mission”, to accelerate new vaccine development.

    Four pillars will underpin how the Strategy tackles biological threats:

    Understanding the biological risks we face today and could face in the future;

    Preventing biological risks from emerging or from threatening the UK’s interests;

    Detecting and reporting biological risks early when they do emerge;

    Responding to biological risks that have reached the UK to lessen their impact.

    Alongside the Biothreats Radar, the Strategy sets out a number of commitments, including:

    • Developing a National Biosurveillance Network to detect and monitor emerging biological threats to the UK
    • Establishing a new UK Biosecurity Leadership Council, bringing together academic and industry leaders to help establish the UK as a world leader in responsible innovation
    • Developing new UK-based microbial forensics tools and capabilities to support efforts to attribute biological incidents and deter the proliferation and use of biological weapons
    • Working with industry to further UK efforts to achieve the 100 Days Mission – reducing the impact of future pandemics by making vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics available within 100 days of a future outbreak
    • Formalising the leadership structures that oversee our biological security – including a lead minister who will report annually to Parliament
    • Establishing a Biological Security Task Force in the Cabinet Office to coordinate UK-wide efforts on biological security, including exercising our response to future threats

    The UK is already Europe’s leading biotechnology hub and these commitments will further bolster the UK’s strength in this area.

    As set out in the recent Atlantic Declaration, the UK is also strengthening our bilateral collaboration with the United States on biological health and security, including through closer cooperation to tackle drug-resistant infections.

    Deputy Prime Minister, Rt Hon Oliver Dowden MP, said:

    Covid was the biggest peacetime challenge in a century, and we must be diligent in preparing for future threats on this scale.

    This plan and our £1.5 billion investment per year puts us in a strong position to defeat the biological threats of tomorrow – from diseases to bioweapons and antimicrobial resistance. It’s a strong and ambitious approach: one that harnesses the sheer ingenuity of the UK’s researchers and scientists, and deploys our world-class crisis management capabilities to protect the people of the UK.

    Government Chief Scientific Adviser, Professor Dame Angela McLean, said:

    The COVID-19 pandemic showed just how critical it is to have a coherent plan to both protect the UK from the increasingly complex range of biological risks and build on the UK’s strengths in vaccine research and development and life sciences. The new Biological Security Strategy will make an important contribution to our preparedness.

    Head of Biosecurity Policy at the Centre for Long-Term Resilience, Cassidy Nelson, commented:

    This much-needed strategy underscores the UK’s role as a global leader in enhancing resilience against biological risks. We welcome the goal to achieve resilience to the full spectrum of biological threats by 2030, and commend the use of built-in accountability measures to drive the implementation of the strategy. We now need sustained resourcing and prioritisation to achieve tangible improvements to the UK’s biosecurity capabilities on such an ambitious timeline.

    Chief Executive of the UK Health Security Agency, Dame Jenny Harries, commented:

    The Biological Security Strategy and its commitment to developing a biosecure future means that we are in a strong position to respond to the threats of the future. Hand-in-hand with our partners in industry and academia, UKHSA will work across government to ensure that, through our commitment to achieving the 100 Days Mission, working with DEFRA to develop the National Biosurveillance Network and improving the UK’s pandemic preparedness, we keep the public safe.

    The Strategy shows the Government’s continued progress in strengthening the country’s resilience and builds upon the UK Resilience Framework which officially made resilience a national endeavour for the very first time.

    The Biological Security Strategy also follows the recent launch of the life-saving UK wide Emergency Alerts system which has transformed the country’s warning and informing capability; enabling Government and the emergency services to send an alert directly to mobile phones when people are in immediate danger.