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Category: Press Releases

  • PRESS RELEASE : UK to provide £16 million in humanitarian aid for Ukraine [June 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : UK to provide £16 million in humanitarian aid for Ukraine [June 2023]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 10 June 2023.

    The FCDO is to provide £16 million to address widespread needs in Ukraine, including to support people affected by the destruction of the Nova Kakhovka dam.

    • in recognition of growing needs FCDO to provide £16 million to enable aid partners to help civilians, including 32,000 people directly affected by flooding, as well as at the frontlines and displaced communities
    • UK funding will assist aid organisations with their response and includes £10 million to the Red Cross Movement, £5 million to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and £1 million to the International Organisation for Migration (IOM)
    • to bolster rescue efforts and manage impact of ongoing flooding the FCDO is sending boats, community water filters, water pumps and waders to Ukraine

    The UK has today (10 June) set out an additional £16 million in humanitarian support as Ukraine deals with the aftermath of flooding caused by the destruction of Nova Kakhova dam, which has affected 42,000 people in the Kherson area, and continuing Russian attacks.

    This builds on our existing humanitarian support of £220 million which is allowing partners, such as the Ukraine Red Cross, to help evacuate civilians affected by the flooding.

    Alongside this the UK-led Partnership Fund for a Resilient Ukraine has already delivered 2 specialist rescue boats, search and rescue equipment, and trauma medicine to Kherson to assist the ongoing rescue operations by the State Emergency Services.

    The additional £16 million is given in recognition of mounting needs across Ukraine, including in the areas affected by the destruction of the Nova Kakhovka dam.

    Funding will support aid organisations in the area who are currently assisting people affected by the flooding with rapid response equipment, shelter and essential supplies, as well as in areas affected by fighting and communities who have been displaced.

    Beyond the immediate rescue efforts, this funding will help to respond to the ongoing impacts from flooding, including waterborne infectious diseases, loss of livelihoods and risks from landmines.

    The funding will consist of £10 million of support to the Red Cross Movement, £5 million to OCHA and £1 million to IOM.

    The UK is also providing a package of rescue boats, community water filters, water pumps and waders to help State Emergency Services of Ukraine responders deal with the ongoing impact of the flooding. Equipment is expected to start arriving in Ukraine by next week.

    Today’s announcement comes as water levels in Kherson continue to rise, with flooding spreading to other towns along the Dnipro River. The UK has moved quickly to bolster its support to Ukraine as it deals with severe flooding from the dam, which is expected to last for weeks and leave many in need of food, water and basic supplies.

    Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Secretary James Cleverly said:

    Flooding from the destruction of Kakhovka dam is having an untold impact on over 32,000 people living in Kherson, and thousands more in the surrounding area.

    The UK is leading the way in providing support to those desperately in need. Our funding is playing a vital role in helping Ukrainian services and aid organisations evacuate people and get help to those in need.

    We will continue to stand by Ukraine in dealing with this terrible incident.

    This aid package is part of the UK’s total support for Ukraine which so far totals £1.5 billion in economic and humanitarian support, which has paid for the delivery of more than 11 million medical items as well as food supplies, ambulances, shelter kits.

    Earlier this week the Foreign Secretary visited Ukraine to highlight the UK’s unwavering support for Ukraine and its recovery. During his time there he met President Zelenskyy in Kyiv and discussed how best the UK will continue to support Ukraine against Russia’s aggression.

    The UK is also set to host the Ukraine Recovery Conference later this month, which will bring together governments and industry leaders to develop a concerted multi-sector plan to help Ukraine to recover from Russia’s illegal invasion.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Ukrainian families supported into own homes with £150m funding [June 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Ukrainian families supported into own homes with £150m funding [June 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities on 10 June 2023.

    Ukrainians in the UK will be helped into their own homes as part of a £150 million funding allocation.

    The funding will be divided across the UK according to the number of Ukrainians in each nation: circa £109 million for England, circa £30 million for Scotland, circa £8 million for Wales and around £2 million to Northern Ireland.

    Funding can be used by councils to help Ukrainian families into the private rental sector, help them get jobs, and continue sponsorship for guests’ second year in the UK.

    Local authorities are best placed to understand the support needed for local communities and, within England, this funding will be used to help people remain in their current accommodation or find alternative housing, including in the private rented sector.

    The Homes for Ukraine scheme has welcomed over 124,000 Ukrainians to the UK, with almost half of working-age nationals now in employment and settled into their local areas, having had the right to work, receive benefits and access public services from day one.

    The Department for Transport has also announced it will extend the length of time Ukrainian refugees can drive in Great Britain on their home country driving licence, from 1 year to 3, in a move that will help many continue the lives and jobs they have forged since arriving here.

    Minister for Housing and Homelessness, Felicity Buchan said:

    The UK has an honourable tradition of offering shelter to those fleeing the horrors of war. Thanks to the extraordinary generosity of hosts in this country, over 124,000 Ukrainians have now found safety in the UK.

    Sadly, the fighting in Ukraine shows no sign of ending soon, so we are appealing for more people to become hosts while providing councils with this additional funding to support guests into long-term housing.

    Petro Rewko from The Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain said:

    Ukrainians everywhere are grateful to the government and the British people for opening their homes and hearts to Ukrainians fleeing their homes as a result of Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine.

    We welcome today’s announcement, which recognises the commitment of sponsors and local authorities during difficult economic times and will provide additional support and reassurance to Ukrainian families as they rebuild their lives and seek to overcome the trauma of war.

    The UK government will continue to work with the Ukrainian government, the devolved administrations, local authorities and charities and voluntary groups to support guests and sponsors under the Homes for Ukraine Scheme.

    The government is keen to ensure that Ukrainian guests receive the support they are entitled to while they are in the UK, and are helped into employment and long-term suitable accommodation, as soon as possible.

    Hosts in the UK will continue to receive a monthly £350 thank-you payment during guests’ first 12 months, rising to £500 a month during the following 12 months.

    Check how to apply to be a host.

    Background

    • In December 2022, DLUHC announced £150 million UK-wide funding to help support Ukrainians and others into sustainable accommodation and reduce the risk of homelessness in the financial year 2023 to 2024.
    • Funding split: The £150 million is being apportioned across the UK according to the number of Homes for Ukraine arrivals in each nation. Scotland circa £30 million, Wales circa £8 million, and Northern Ireland circa £2 million for a total of circa £41 million to the devolved administrations. England circa £109 million.
    • Funding to devolved administrations (DAs): fund will be delivered to the DAs via Budget Cover Transfer, in line with DA preferences, at Supplementary Estimates in early 2024.
    • Funding in England: In England the £109 million will be administered as a top-up to the existing Homelessness Prevention Grant (HPG) for all local authorities, using the same conditions. Recognising wider pressures alongside those arising from the Ukrainian cohort, 66% of funding to local authorities will be allocated in line with the 2023 to 2024 HPG formula, and 34% based on the number of Ukrainian guests in each local authority.
    • Purpose: the funding will help local authorities support Ukrainian guests into sustainable accommodation including through access to the private rented sector, employment support and facilitating ongoing sponsorship into guests’ second year.

    Other funding: this funding forms part of the wider £650 million support package for Ukrainians announced in December, on top of the £1.1 billion already provided to councils through a tariff and thank you payments for each arrival in their area.

    The Department for Transport carefully considered the need to ensure roads remain as safe as possible, and responses to a consultation on the proposal were overwhelmingly positive, with 99% agreeing there should be an extension and 89% agreeing with the proposed 3-year extension.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Leeds finance boss, Liam Francis Wainwright, sentenced for £20 million fraud [June 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Leeds finance boss, Liam Francis Wainwright, sentenced for £20 million fraud [June 2023]

    The press release issued by HM Treasury on 9 June 2023.

    Yorkshire-based boss of finance company found guilty of fraud, false accounting and forgery after abusing millions of pounds of investors’ money to buy racehorses and fund other businesses.

    A Yorkshire-based finance boss has been found guilty of fraud and sentenced to 7 years imprisonment at Leeds Crown Court.

    An investigation by the Insolvency Service found Liam Francis Wainwright, 61, from Leeds, had falsified documents to mislead investors and spend their money on ventures including a racehorse syndicate and his own failed private businesses.

    These investors were victims of a classic Ponzi scheme, whereby the returns paid to them were funded by the capital injections from later investors.

    Wainwright, who had been a director of Rawdon Asset Finance Ltd, was disqualified for 11 years in November 2020 after investigators at the Insolvency Service found he had falsified around £12 million worth of entries in the company’s loan book in the two years before the company entered administration in 2019.

    After a further criminal investigation, the Insolvency Service brought the director to court on counts of false accounting, fraud, forgery, and acting as a director while bankrupt.

    Julie Barnes, Chief Investigator for the Insolvency Service, said:

    Liam Wainwright’s greed and selfish actions had a devastating effect on the people who had put their trust in him and his business.

    His victims included elderly and vulnerable people. Many investors lost most or all of the money they had entrusted to him, and some lost their life savings.

    His sentencing today shows that the Insolvency Service will seek the toughest penalties for those who break the law, to help ensure that the UK is a safe place for investors and for businesses.

    The court heard that Wainwright had enjoyed a lavish lifestyle as a result of his offending, and that his actions had had a devastating impact on individuals and families who had invested money into the business.

    Wainwright told investors and shareholders that Rawdon Asset Finance was lending money to businesses with security on property, land or plant and equipment, but was in fact using the cash to pay returns to other creditors, buy into a racehorse syndicate and to fund other companies, including a Lincolnshire-based property development and a redevelopment company in West Yorkshire, both linked to himself.

    By the time the company went into liquidation, Rawdon Asset Finance’s creditors were owed more than £20 million. Liquidators have so far recovered £750,630.

    Wainwright admitted that he began to falsify accounts from around 2017, to hide the company’s true financial position from his co-directors and investors. He also admitted he had earlier forged a mortgagor’s signature on a legal charge to mislead investors and had – between April 2010 and April 2011 – breached the terms of a previous bankruptcy by acting as a director of the company the court’s permission.

    The court also heard that Wainwright had lied about the company’s accounts and the destination of funds in order to elicit £100,000 from one investor only weeks before the business collapsed, in the full knowledge that investors would not get their money back.

    Wainwright pleaded guilty on 20 February 2023 at Kirklees Magistrates’ Court, and was sentenced at Leeds Crown Court by His Honour Judge Bayliss on 9 June 2023.

    The Judge passed concurrent sentences for all charges, except for the sentence for fraud against the final investor, which was added consecutively to reflect an escalation in Wainwright’s culpability.

    Background information

    • Liam Francis Wainwright is from Leeds and his date of birth is April 1962.
    • Rawdon Asset Finance Limited (RAF). Company number 06902099
    • The prosecution was brought by the Insolvency Service on behalf of the Secretary of State for Business and Trade.

    The following sentences were imposed, with reductions reflecting credit for the plea:

    1. False accounting – 6 years 6 months, reduced to 4 years 4 months.
    2. Forgery – 2 years after trial, reduced to 16 months, concurrent.
    3. Breach of Director Disqualification – 12 months after trial, reduced to 8 months, concurrent.
    4. Failing to Surrender offence under Bail Act – 28 days, concurrent.
    5. Fraud – 4 years after trial, reduced to 2 years 8 months, consecutive.

    Liam Wainwright remains disqualified as a director.

  • PRESS RELEASE : RAF Typhoons intercept Russian aircraft twice in 24 hours [June 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : RAF Typhoons intercept Russian aircraft twice in 24 hours [June 2023]

    The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 9 June 2023.

    In a single 24 hour period, Royal Air Force Typhoons scrambled twice to intercept several Russian aircraft flying close to NATO airspace.

    On Thursday evening (8 June), RAF Typhoons based at Amari airbase in Estonia and Swedish Air Force Gripens were scrambled to intercept a Russian Air Force IL-20 ‘COOT’ A and Su-27 ‘FLANKER’ B flying close to NATO and Swedish airspace.

    The Russian aircraft were not complying with international norms by failing to communicate with the relevant Flight Information Regions (FIRs), however they remained in international airspace and flew in a professional manner.

    Typhoons were again scrambled on Friday morning (9 June) to intercept one AN12 ‘CUB’ and one AN72 ‘COALER’ flying south from mainland Russia towards the Kaliningrad Oblast. The RAF fighters were later re-tasked to intercept two Tupolev Tu-22M ‘BACKFIRES’ and two Su-30 SM FLANKER H, also flying south from mainland Russia over the Gulf of Finland and the Baltic Sea. The Russian aircraft were once again not complying with international norms by failing to liaise appropriately with local FIRs.

    The Typhoons were joined by F18s of the Finnish Air Force as they escorted the BACKFIRES and FLANKER through the Gulf of Finland, later handing over to Gripens of the Swedish Air Force. Portuguese and Romanian F16s, based out of Siauliai Airbase in Lithuania, were also scrambled to escort the Russian aircraft as they transited further south through the Latvian and Lithuanian FIRs.

    The Defence Secretary, Rt Hon Ben Wallace MP, said:

    These intercepts are a stark reminder that the RAF is always ready to defend our skies and those of our allies, while the coordinated action by several air forces serves as a clear demonstration of the value of our international alliances.

    A pilot involved with the scramble said:

    These intercepts highlight the speed at which we can get airborne to intercept unidentified aircraft. The Typhoon is the perfect platform to conduct these intercepts with its incredible speed, manoeuvrability, and modern onboard systems.” He added, “although there is an apparent increase in regional activity, these intercepts remain normal jogging for us and we are ready to respond to any task that may pose a threat to regional security.

    NATO is currently conducting naval activity in the Baltic Sea as part of BALTOPs and, as expected, Russian aircraft have been monitoring allied vessels throughout. The RAF’s 140 EAW are currently deployed to Amari Airbase in Estonia to undertake NATO’s Baltic Air Policing Mission.

    CO 140 EAW, Wg Cdr Maccoll said:

    This is a busy period yet these intercepts remain routine business for us. Our ability to scramble and intercept multiple Russian jets on separate occasions, within a short period of time, is testament to our resilience and flexibility.” He added, “140 EAW, NATO and our future ally, Sweden, have further showcased their ability to perform multinational intercepts in a professional and seamless manner. Our commitment to defend the region and secure the skies over the Baltics remains steadfast and we will act with speed and decisiveness to counter any potential adversary.

    The RAF will continue to conduct NATO’s Air Policing Mission in Estonia with 1 (F) Sqn Typhoons until August, when they will hand over to the Spanish Air Force.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Commission’s unique data platform to address regional inequality [June 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Commission’s unique data platform to address regional inequality [June 2023]

    The press release issued by the Social Mobility Commission on 9 June 2023.

    The new Data Explorer breaks down social mobility measures across the UK by geography, gender, ethnicity and disability for the first time.

    An exciting innovation which provides a detailed analysis of regional social mobility was unveiled in Manchester by Alun Francis, interim chair of the Social Mobility Commission.

    The Data Explorer is a unique interactive visualisation tool, developed by the SMC, which breaks down social mobility measures across the UK by geography, gender, ethnicity and disability for the first time.

    It could revolutionise policy making by helping education, business and local government leaders to provide coordinated help for disadvantaged families in their region. But it can also be used by the public to better understand the area they live in.

    At present there is not enough data to show how education and employment outcomes interact with socio-economic data on a geographical basis. This means that too often national policy on social mobility fails to take account of regional differences which can limit opportunities.

    The new tool, which becomes publicly available in September, will be published alongside the SMC’s latest State of the Nation report and bring its findings to life in an interactive way. The report will include a detailed update on social mobility outcomes across more than 40 regions. Early data for the report confirms that there is a large variation across a range of social mobility metrics in the UK. This includes educational attainment and occupational mobility.

    Alun Francis, also principal of Oldham College, wants to encourage regional partnerships to draw up policies to boost social mobility. “The Data Explorer tool should be a game-changer in policy making,” Mr Francis said at Greater Manchester Chambers of Commerce. “School, university and business leaders should now work with local government to address regional inequalities more effectively. There are big challenges to face in the levelling up agenda but there can be no one-size-fits-all approach.”

    Mr Francis hosted a panel of experts in Manchester to discuss how to tackle geographical inequality by working with local partners. Sir Michael Barber, Chancellor of Exeter University and Lee Elliot Major, Professor of Social Mobility at Exeter University, who both spoke, have recently set up the South West Social Mobility Commission. They presented their model at the event to show where regional partnerships can be effective and discussed whether this could be mirrored across the country.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Appointment of Chargé d’Affaires ad interim Afghanistan [June 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Appointment of Chargé d’Affaires ad interim Afghanistan [June 2023]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 9 June 2023.

    Mr Robert Chatterton Dickson has been appointed Chargé d’Affaires ad interim of the UK Mission to Afghanistan in succession to Mr Hugo Shorter.

    Mr Robert Chatterton Dickson has been appointed Chargé d’Affaires ad interim of the UK Mission to Afghanistan, currently based in Doha, in succession to Mr Hugo Shorter who will be transferring to another Diplomatic Service appointment. Mr Chatterton Dickson will take up his appointment during July 2023.

    Curriculum vitae

    Full name: Robert Chatterton Dickson

    Married to: Teresa Albor

    Children: Two

    Stepchildren: Two

    Place of Birth: Plymouth, UK

    Date Role
    2019 to 2023 Dhaka, British High Commissioner
    2018 to 2019 FCO, Additional Director, West Balkans Programme
    2015 to 2018 Cabinet Office, Director, National Security Secretariat
    2013 to 2015 Kabul, Deputy Ambassador and Chargé d’Affairesr
    2010 to 2013 Chicago, HM Consul General
    2007 to 2010 FCO, Head of Counter Terrorism Department
    2004 to 2007 Skopje, HM Ambassador
    2003 to 2004 FCO, Review of Travel Advice for the Foreign Secretary
    2003 FCO, Iraq Policy Department, Deputy Director
    2000 to 2003 FCO, Security Policy Department, Head of NATO Section
    1997 to 2000 Washington, Press Officer then Private Secretary to HM Ambassador
    1995 to 1996 FCO, United Nations Department, Head of Peacekeeping Section
    1991 to 1994 Manila, Political and Press Officer
    1990 to 1991 FCO, Security Policy Department, Nuclear Section, Desk Officer
  • PRESS RELEASE : UK’s specialist radar workforce receives £270 million boost [June 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : UK’s specialist radar workforce receives £270 million boost [June 2023]

    The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 9 June 2023.

    Critical radars that protect the Royal Navy’s warships against hostile airborne and seaborne attacks will be upgraded and maintained under a £270 million deal.

    • £270 million contract awarded to BAE Systems to support, upgrade, and maintain critical radars.
    • Contract secures 400 jobs across the UK and boosts investment in the UK supply chain of SME and high-tech suppliers.
    • Radars are a key defensive capability to the Royal Navy used to identify and track potential airborne and seaborne threats.

    Critical radars that protect the Royal Navy’s fleet of warships against hostile airborne and seaborne attacks will be upgraded and maintained under a deal worth £270 million.

    The 10-year contract, which has been awarded to BAE Systems to run until 2032, will support Artisan, Sampson and Long-Range Radars which are found on warships including Type 23 and Type 26 frigates, Type 45 destroyers, and the Queen Elizabeth Class Aircraft Carriers.

    As well as securing 400 highly skilled jobs in Cowes, Portsmouth, Essex and in Hillend near Edinburgh, the contract, which includes upgrading existing radars as well as maintenance and other in-service support, ensures the UK retains the highly-specialist skills required for a sovereign option in future radar development.

    Minister for Defence Procurement, James Cartlidge said:

    Equipping our Armed Forces with the latest technology to counter emerging threats is critical to ensuring the safety and effectiveness of our fleet and personnel.

    Securing hundreds of jobs across the country, this contract is a boost for the UK Supply Chain and lets our adversaries know we are equipped, prepared and ready.

    Supporting the Prime Minister’s priority to grow the economy this contract secures hundreds of jobs and provides a boost to the wider UK supply chain by allowing BAE Systems to create new support roles in engineering and project management including further investment in the UK supply chain of SME and high-tech suppliers.

    Cdre Steve McCarthy, Director Ships Support at DE&S, said:

    This is an excellent outcome for Defence and our industry partners, supporting vital highly skilled UK jobs to underwrite the future of state-of-the-art British naval radar technology. These systems give the Royal Navy the battle-winning edge it needs to protect and defend our nation.

    The radars provide a key defensive capability to the Royal Navy at sea and are used to identify and track potential airborne and seaborne threats.

    Rear Admiral James Parkin CBE, Director Develop at Navy HQ said:

    By combining the support of our existing maritime complex radars, the Royal Navy will be better able to adapt to technological change and our ships will be able to respond faster to developing operational threats. This system of systems approach being taken by BAE Systems aligns with our own approach to sensor development and will maintain our status as one of the world’s leading maritime forces.

    Scott Jamieson, Managing Director of BAE Systems’ Maritime Services business, said:

    This is a pivotal moment for UK radar technology development. This contract secures a decade of investment into a critical capability for the UK armed forces. It also allows us to evolve future radar technology with the MOD to sustain maritime air dominance and vital radar development skills and experience in the UK.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Wrightbus secures £50 million UKEF financing to turbocharge green exports [June 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Wrightbus secures £50 million UKEF financing to turbocharge green exports [June 2023]

    The press release issued by UK Export Finance on 9 June 2023.

    UK Export Finance announces support for the world’s first hydrogen-powered bus company.

    • Wrightbus receives £50 million to boost exports of electric and hydrogen-powered buses supported by a loan guarantee from the UK’s export credit agency.
    • The company plans to double its workforce in the next three years, creating 1,000 new local green jobs.
    • Government backing will enable Wrightbus to sell its electric and hydrogen-powered, zero-emission buses to new markets in Europe and North America.

    A guarantee from UK Export Finance (UKEF) has provided Northern Ireland-based bus manufacturer Wrightbus with £50 million in financing to support its ambitious exporting strategy. This Export Development Guarantee sees the UK’s export credit agency guarantee 80 percent of the loan from Barclays Bank.

    This financing builds on previous government support announced last year, helping deliver on the Prime Minister’s priority of keeping the economy growing. The development gives Wrightbus critical working capital support as well as a more flexible way to deploy the funds to support its business needs.

    This will enable Wrightbus to deliver orders to new markets, such as Germany and North America, as well as additional orders in existing markets like Singapore and Hong Kong.

    The announcement comes a week after Minister for Investment Lord Johnson visited Wrightbus’ site in Ballymena, County Antrim as part of a wider visit to Northern Ireland. There, he met investors and leading businesses ahead of the Northern Ireland Investment Summit taking place later in the year.

    Minister for Investment Lord Johnson said:

    Wrightbus is a fantastic example of a British business seizing the vast exporting opportunities around the world and embracing clean growth. UK Export Finance support for Wrightbus will be a great boost to its exporting journey, helping the company to create more local growth and jobs.

    This is the type of success we will build on at this autumn’s Northern Ireland Investment Summit, which will be a catalyst for securing more investment, creating more jobs and empowering more businesses to seize exporting opportunities.

    The company generated 27% of its revenues from exports in 2022 and seeks to grow this by nearly a fifth by the end of 2023 thanks in part to the UK government’s support. To facilitate this growth, Wrightbus plans to double its workforce by 2026, creating 1,000 new green jobs with most of the roles based at the company’s Ballymena hub.

    The company’s hydrogen-powered, zero-carbon buses are in strong demand globally with over 600 buses of all types expected to be delivered by the end of 2023, up from 450 last year. Wrightbus now has the largest hydrogen fleet in the UK, with 100 buses in operation.

    Jean-Marc Gales, Wrightbus CEO, said:

    UKEF and Barclays’ support has been fundamental to the development of Wrightbus. The flexible products suit the needs of our business, which is growing exponentially and requires financial headroom.

    We are excited about our next phase and working within the Ballymena and wider Northern Ireland community to deliver innovative British technology to the global market.

    James Binns, Global Head of Trade and Working Capital, Barclays said:

    Barclays are proud to work alongside UKEF to enable British companies to get the competitive edge when it comes to exporting.

    This new funding builds on our previous support to Wrightbus, providing crucial flexibility which will enable further growth in exports and domestically, continuing the vital pivot towards zero-emission sales.

    Based in County Antrim, Northern Ireland, Wrightbus introduced the world’s first hydrogen-powered double-decker bus in 2020, and also produces and exports electric-powered single and double-decker buses. The business is aiming to manufacture 3,000 zero-emissions buses by 2024, comprising 10% of the UK’s total fleet. Wrightbus last month received a further £12 million in joint government and industry-backed funding.

  • PRESS RELEASE : New oil and gas tax changes set to protect energy security and British jobs [June 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : New oil and gas tax changes set to protect energy security and British jobs [June 2023]

    The press release issued by HM Treasury on 9 June 2023.

    The Energy Profits Levy, which puts a marginal tax rate of 75% on North Sea oil and gas production, will remain in place for the next five years while oil and gas prices remain higher than historic norms – but this will fall back to 40% when prices consistently return to normal levels for a sustained period.

    • The Energy Profits Levy will remain in place until March 2028, and the Government will introduce a new Energy Security Investment Mechanism to protect domestic energy supply and help safeguard some of the tens of thousands of jobs reliant on the sector.
    • This forms part of the Government’s strategy to support households with energy bills whilst providing certainty to investors to secure the long-term future of domestic energy production.
    • The Energy Profits Levy has raised around £2.8 billion to date, helping the Government pay just under half the typical household energy bill last winter.

    Put in place to tax extraordinary profits made by industry following record high prices of oil and gas driven by Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, the levy has raised around £2.8 billion to date and is expected to raise almost £26 billion by March 2028 – helping to fund the measures to help with the cost of living, such as the Energy Price Guarantee.

    While the levy included an investment allowance to encourage firms to continue to invest in oil and gas extraction in the UK, industry has warned that companies are cutting back on investment. This puts the long-term future of the UK’s domestic supply at risk, meaning we would be forced to import more from abroad at a time when reliable and affordable energy is a focus for families and businesses.

    In response to this, the Government has today announced an Energy Security Investment Mechanism to give the oil and gas sector certainty to raise capital and invest in new and existing projects, securing affordable and reliable domestic energy supply and protecting some of the 215,000 British jobs the sector supports. It will mean that if prices fall to historically normal levels for a sustained period the tax rate for oil and gas companies will return to 40%, the rate before the Energy Profits Levy was introduced. Based on the independent Office for Budget Responsibility’s forecast the Energy Security Investment Mechanism won’t be triggered until before the tax’s planned end date in March 2028.

    In light of Putin’s weaponisation of energy, the UK government is taking concrete steps to accelerate home-grown sources of energy to reduce the UK’s reliance on foreign imports. In October 2022, the industry regulator the North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA) opened applications for oil and gas licences to explore and potentially develop 898 blocks and part-blocks in the North Sea which may lead to over 100 licences being awarded from later this year.

    Gareth Davies MP, Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, said:

    “It is right that we recover excess profits resulting from Putin’s war and use the money to help people with their energy bills. Thanks to the revenue raised from windfall taxes on energy profits, we will have helped save the typical household £1,500 on their energy bill by July.

    “While we stepped into help, never again can our energy supplies be at the whim of petrostate despots like Putin. That’s why it’s so important that we secure investment in our own domestic supply, protecting the tens of thousands of British jobs that come with it.

    “It would be beyond irresponsible to turn off the North Sea taps overnight. Without oil and gas from British waters, we would be forced to import even more from overseas, putting our security of supply at risk.”

    This ‘windfall tax’ takes the total revenues from taxes on oil and gas companies to £50 billion over the next five years. These taxes will have helped the Government save the typical household over £1,500 to July. It also helped cut the energy bills of businesses from pubs to leisure centres, with just under £40 billion paid out across businesses and households to date.

    The tax rate for oil and gas companies will only return to 40% if both average oil and gas prices fall to, or below, $71.40 per barrel for oil and £0.54 per therm for gas, for two consecutive quarters. This level is based on 20-year historical averages. The Energy Security Investment Mechanism is not expected to impact receipts from the Energy Profits Levy, based on current market forecasts.

    Today the Government has also published the terms of reference for the oil and gas fiscal regime review that was announced at the Autumn Statement. The review will focus on how the tax regime can support the country’s energy security and our net-zero commitments, while ensuring the country retains a fair return in exchange for the use of its resources when responding to any future price shocks.

    Further information:

    • Offshore Energies UK estimate that 215,000 UK jobs are reliant on the upstream oil and gas sector and have warned that nine out of ten oil and gas companies operating in the North Sea are cutting back investment. If there was no investment in new fields, production could be a third lower than otherwise by 2035, putting the UK’s energy security, jobs, and economy at risk.
    • Projections by the North Sea Transition Authority suggest that stopping investment in new North Sea oil and gas fields would mean that by 2035 the proportion of UK oil and gas demand met by net imports could increase by around 10%, adding significantly to the trade deficit.
    • The Energy Security Investment Mechanism level is calculated from 20-year historic averages based on World Bank data for oil, and Independent Commodity Intelligence Services for gas. The last time monthly average prices were at or below this level was in March 2021 for gas and August 2021 for oil.
    • Based on the independent OBR’s forecast the Energy Security Investment Mechanism won’t be triggered until before the tax’s planned end date in March 2028.
  • PRESS RELEASE : 4 million checks, tests and scans carried out by CDCs [June 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : 4 million checks, tests and scans carried out by CDCs [June 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 9 June 2023.

    The one-stop shops have delivered over 4 million additional checks for a range of conditions from cancer to heart or lung disease.

    • Across the country, community diagnostic centres (CDCs) have delivered over 4 million additional checks for a range of conditions from cancer to heart or lung disease – helping to cut waiting lists
    • Eight new CDCs to open, in addition to the 108 already delivering lifesaving checks
    • The one-stop shops support quicker access to care and offer patients a wide range of tests closer to home

    CDCs have delivered over 4 million checks, tests and scans for patients across the country since July 2021, cutting waiting lists and giving patients quicker access to care.

    The government is showing progress on its promise to open 160 of the facilities by March 2025, with a further 8 due to open before the end of the year, the Health and Social Care Secretary has today confirmed. These will provide capacity for more than 742,000 extra tests a year once fully operational, bolstering access to care.

    The government is investing £2.3 billion to transform diagnostic services, with 108 CDCs already up and running and a further 41 due to open. They have opened in a range of settings since the programme started in July 2021, including shopping centres and university campuses.

    GPs can refer patients to a centre so they can access life-saving checks closer to home and be diagnosed for a range of conditions, rather than travelling to hospital. The centres are not only more convenient for patients but are also more efficient for staff and free up clinicians’ time to help further cut the waiting lists.

    Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay said:

    These new centres will benefit tens of thousands of patients, cutting out unnecessary hospital visits and delivering closer, more convenient care.

    Patients will be able to access a range of life-saving tests, including MRI scans, X-rays, and respiratory checks – speeding up the diagnosis of illnesses like cancer and heart disease.

    We have already made significant progress in bringing down waiting lists – one of the government’s top 5 priorities – and community diagnostic centres are a key part of this, with over 4 million vital checks delivered so far.

    These include:

    • Scarborough Gateway CDC: this will open in the town centre near Scarborough train station in December 2023 and offer 91,000 additional checks a year once fully operational
    • Scarborough CDC (Ripon) will open at Ripon Community Hospital in the same month, and will have capacity for 27,000 checks a year once up and running
    • Oldham CDC (South East Manchester) will open at the Crown Point Retail Park in Denton, Greater Manchester in December 2023, and offer 129,000 extra tests a year when all services are live
    • Manchester and Trafford  CDC (North Manchester) – this will open in Harpurhey in December 2023 and offer 41,000 tests when fully operational
    • Clacton CDC (Bluebird Lodge) – this will open at the Bluebird Lodge community hospital in Ipswich in December 2023 and carry out 24,000 extra tests once up and running
    • Plymouth CDC – this will open in the town in September 2023 and offer the capacity for 89,000 tests when services are live
    • North Lincolnshire CDC (Grimsby) – this facility will open in Grimsby in December 2023 and have the capacity to deliver 142,000 tests
    • Hull and East Riding CDC – this will open in the city in December 2023 and have the capacity to deliver 199,000 tests

    NHS national director of elective recovery, Sir James Mackey, said:

    These ‘one-stop shops’ play a key role in the NHS’s elective recovery plan, and the new CDCs are a welcome addition to more than 100 existing community diagnostic centres, which have already delivered more than 4 million tests and checks.

    Our elective recovery plan set out how the NHS will deliver 9 million more tests and checks per year by 2025, and the work of these diagnostic centres – some in convenient spots including shopping centres – are excellent examples of the innovative work being done across the health service to ensure patients get the tests and checks they need as quickly as possible.

    Other steps are being taken to bust the backlogs and boost patient choice. Last month, the government announced that patients will be empowered to choose where they receive hospital care. Currently just 1 in 10 patients exercise their right to choose but research shows that giving patients choice can cut up to 3 months off their waiting time by selecting a different hospital in the same region.

    The NHS successfully met the first target in its elective recovery plan to virtually eliminate waits of over 2 years and has cut 18 month waits by over 91% from the peak in September 2021.

    There are already record numbers of people working in the NHS overall, and the NHS will shortly publish a long term workforce plan setting out plans to recruit and retain more staff. All of this is backed by up to £14.1 billion for health and social care over the next 2 years, on top of record funding.