Category: Press Releases

PRESS RELEASE : Health Minister visits New Hospital Programme schemes in North West [August 2023]
The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 18 August 2023.

Health Minister visits New Hospital Programme schemes across the North West to mark progress, as part of commitment to building 40 new hospitals by 2030.
- Patients and staff in the North West will benefit from modern, standardised hospital designs and state of the art technology which will help to improve patient experience
- The New Hospital Programme is now expected to be backed by over £20 billion of investment in hospital infrastructure, with six new hospital schemes in the North West
This week Health Minister Lord Markham visited three hospitals across the North West as part of a summer tour to discuss the government’s plans to build 40 new hospitals by 2030 with staff, patients and local leaders.

He saw first-hand how the new Leighton Hospital will implement clinical, digital, and environmental innovations to enable the trust to tackle inequalities and meet the needs of a growing and ageing population. Patients and staff will benefit from safe, state-of-the-art new facilities and improved care as Leighton Hospital is part of the government’s commitment to rebuild six hospitals in the region.

Patients and staff at Royal Preston Hospital will benefit from modern hospital designs, making use of the latest technology, digital innovation and sustainability to improve overall patient experience and provide a better working environment for staff. The government has provided over £11 million in funding to support the trusts in the progress of both hospitals to help find suitable locations that will meet the needs of staff and patients in Lancashire and South Cumbria.

Finally, Lord Markham visited the new North Manchester Hospital site which will include a new acute hospital, mental health hospital and multi-storey car park as well as affordable homes and accommodation for hospital staff. Work has now completed on the new 980 space multi-storey car park and cycle hub in the project’s first major construction milestone.

In total, five new hospitals will be built in the North West by 2030, including North Manchester General Hospital and Leighton Hospital. The Northern Centre for Cancer Care and the Royal Liverpool hospital are already open to patients and the Greater Manchester Major Trauma Centre is due to open later this year. The government recently confirmed for the first time that the New Hospital Programme is expected to be backed by over £20 billion of investment in infrastructure.

Health Minister Lord Markham said:

We are investing in new NHS facilities across the country so patients can access high quality care in state-of-the-art hospitals, both now and in the years to come.

The North West will benefit from six new hospitals and this week I’ve been visiting some of the sites and speaking to patient, staff and local leaders across the region about the plans and progress. These will help to improve care and allow patients to be seen more quickly, which will help to cut waiting lists – one of the government’s top five priorities.

In the long term, our new standardised design means we can rapidly replicate new hospitals across the country, helping to speed up construction and deliver on our commitment of 40 new hospitals by 2030.

The government has prioritised the rebuilding of some hospitals given the risks buildings have posed to patients and staff – the full extent of which has come to light since the programme was first announced in 2019. Therefore, the Lancashire and South Cumbria scheme will complete past 2030, though it will still be in construction by then. The government will keep the situation under review and do everything it can to accelerate the completion timeline of the hospitals impacted, if circumstances allow. The New Hospital Programme will continue to work closely with new and existing schemes on their plans to ensure they deliver for patients, staff and communities. With the addition of new schemes as well as wider capital investment the government is still on track to deliver 40 new hospitals by 2030.

Across the region, staff shared their experiences and discussed how the new hospitals will support the transformation of healthcare in the North West by improving the patient experience with new, high-quality environments as well as improving clinical outcomes with modern, fit-for-purpose theatres, wards, and diagnostic facilities to help cut waiting lists.

Making use of the latest technology, the new hospitals will have digital solutions included at the design stage which will help to reduce staff workloads and support working from any location, whilst improving the patient experience. The hospitals will also have ‘smart buildings’, which will collect and process data to optimise energy usage and contribute to the NHS’s sustainability goals.

By developing a national approach to delivering new hospitals, known as Hospital 2.0, they can be built more quickly and at a reduced cost, providing value for taxpayers. Patients and staff will benefit from a modern hospital design making use of the latest technology, digital innovation and sustainability to improve overall patient experience and provide a better working environment for staff. This will also put the NHS on a sustainable footing for the future.

Services will also benefit from the first ever NHS Long Term Workforce Plan, which will deliver the biggest training expansion in NHS history and recruit and retain hundreds of thousands more staff over the next 15 years. This will be supported by over £2.4 billion in government funding.
18/08/2023
PRESS RELEASE : UK and FAO take action to reduce the impact of El Niño in Somalia [August 2023]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 18 August 2023.

The project will help save lives and livelihoods through improved flood defences and early warning systems to reduce the impact of severe flooding.

August 2023, Mogadishu – The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the British Embassy Mogadishu (BEM) have launched an Anticipatory Action and Preparedness programme in Somalia ahead of an expected El Niño event.

El Niño is a climate pattern expected to bring about increased rainfall, with riverine areas of Somalia particularly at risk of severe flooding. There is now a greater than 90 % chance that El Niño will continue through the end of the year, and FAO estimates 1.2 million people are in areas at high risk of flooding. FAO’s Somalia Water and Land Information Management (SWALIM) Unit anticipates a major flood event of a magnitude statistically likely only once in 100 years, and follows another historic flood earlier this year that displaced around 245,000 people along the Shabelle river. An El Niño related flooding event in riverine areas of this scale could lead to loss of life, mass displacement, destruction of property and loss of livelihoods, resulting in an increase in acute food insecurity.

To mitigate the effects of a potential disaster, FAO and the BEM have launched a USD 3.8 million anticipatory action and preparedness initiative in areas facing the greatest risks. The project “Badbaado”, which means “to salvage from calamity”, is part of FAO’s multi-donor El Niño programme, which seeks to mitigate, prepare for and respond to the threat of severe flooding and humanitarian disaster during the country’s second major rainy season between October and December this year.

Damon Bristow, Development Director for the British Embassy Mogadishu, said:

Somalia is facing yet another crisis – an El Niño has been declared and may develop into a once in a century flooding event this year. We are acting now to prioritise resources. This cost-effective and sustainable joint initiative with FAO will mean we are able to save lives and prevent damage to livestock, crops and properties which could prove extremely damaging to the livelihoods of Somalia’s most vulnerable communities.

Etienne Peterschmitt, FAO Representative to Somalia, said:

We have a very short window of only a few months to prepare for and mitigate the worst impacts of El Niño, and we are grateful to the UK for rapidly mobilising support for this important work. By taking early and well-informed action, together, we can help to protect vulnerable rural communities from the worst outcomes of disaster.

Under the leadership of the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation (MoAI) and in partnership with the Somalia Disaster Management Agency (SoDMA), FAO plans to close 937 metres of breakage points along the Shabelle river in Beletweyne town to slow down flood waters, reduce the immediate impact of flooding and allow people time to move away from high-risk areas. The project also plans to rehabilitate a major canal to redirect flood waters away from populated areas in Beletweyne, as well as prepositioning 800,000 sandbags in flood prone areas.

Early warning systems will be activated in partnership with government and local responders along the Shabelle and Juba rivers, with messages transmitted to communities through local radio networks, SMS services, and official channels to inform early action and save lives. FAO will also coordinate with local authorities and community groups to support evacuation planning.

18/08/2023
PRESS RELEASE : All GP surgeries in England to have digital phonelines by March [August 2023]
The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 18 August 2023.

Government plans to modernise and reform primary care progress as more than one thousand general practices sign up for digital upgrades.
More than one thousand general practices sign up for digital upgrades – backed by £240 million – meaning once installed patients will no longer hear engaged tones when they contact their practice

Major workforce reforms, building on the Long Term Workforce Plan, will allow pharmacy technicians and dental therapists to do more for their patients – freeing up dentists and pharmacists to provide more clinical services

Announcements part of the government’s plans to modernise and reform NHS primary care services

Patients at all general practices across England will soon benefit from new digital phonelines designed to make booking GP appointments easier.

Backed by a £240 million investment, more than one thousand practices have signed up to make the switch from analogue systems which can leave patients on hold and struggling to book an appointment – to modern, easy-to-use digital telephones designed to make sure people can receive the care they need when they need it.

It is expected every practice in the country will have the new system in place by the end of this financial year helping put an end to the 8am rush – a key pillar of the Prime Minister’s Primary Care Recovery Plan to improve patient access to care.

Patients will be able to contact their general practice more easily and quickly – and find out exactly how their request will be handled on the day they call rather than being told to call back later, as the government and NHS England delivers on the promises made in the Primary Care Recovery Plan announced in May. If their need is urgent, they will be assessed and given appointments on the same day. If it is not urgent, appointments should be offered within two weeks, or patients will be referred to NHS 111 or a local pharmacy.

The upgraded system will bring an end to the engaged tone, see care navigators direct calls to the right professional and the use of online systems will provide more options and help those who prefer to call to get through.

The government also committed up to £645 million in the plan to better utilise community pharmacies. A consultation will soon be launched to enable registered pharmacy technicians to supply and administer medicines helping them take on more responsibility and speed up the dispensing of medicines to patients.

A second consultation is also being launched looking at how dental hygienists and therapists can be better supported to provide additional care to patients and reduce unnecessary delays. This is ahead of a dental recovery plan which is due to be announced shortly.

Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay said:

We are delivering on our promises to make access to GP appointments easier while boosting staffing numbers.

With the support of NHS England, general practices, pharmacies and dental surgeries, backed by significant investment from the government we will bring an end to the 8am scramble for appointments.

I’m delighted that over one thousand general practice surgeries will soon benefit from high tech designed to make booking an appointment as easy as possible for patients for years to come.

Practices on older systems will receive an average investment of £60,000 each to move onto digital phones combined with updated digital tools and support for the transition.

Primary care is the way most people access the NHS and the government is committed to modernising the way patients contact their GP surgeries – improving satisfaction and delivering on the Prime Minister’s promise to cut waiting lists.

Successful care navigation can help direct 40% of requests more effectively and speeds up appointments for those who need them so care navigators will direct patients to other professionals within the practice or other medical professionals such as community pharmacists who can best meet the needs of the patients.

The government has already started training care navigators, with funding for 6,500 places –the equivalent of one member of staff per practice who can then pass on the training to colleagues. They will help assess, prioritise, respond and assist with calls and ensure those who want to see a named GP or preferred member of staff can do so and those happy to see a duty doctor can also do so.

Building on the Long-Term Workforce Plan, the government’s plans to better utilise the skills of pharmacy technicians and dental hygienists will free up time for pharmacists and dentists to carry out clinical services.

Minister Neil O’Brien said:

We want to make sure we are making the best use of skilled professionals such as dental hygienists and pharmacy technicians while at the same time freeing up dentists and pharmacists to carry out vital services. The reforms we propose today are crucial in achieving this.

We have so much skill and experience within our surgeries and pharmacies and by better using technology, transferring services and cutting bureaucracy we will have a more efficient and effective service.

Maximising the use of the skill mix in pharmacy teams will help them better meet the health needs of their customers, deliver more patient-facing clinical services, improve access to care and release capacity in the wider NHS.

Working in partnership with the sector this consultation will examine how to make best use of pharmacy technicians’ and make it easier for patients to access medicines in a simpler but still safe way.

Dr Kiren Collison GP and Interim Medical Director for Primary care, NHS England, said:

GP teams are already treating record numbers of patients, but we are determined to improve access further which is why it is fantastic that all GP practices will be upgrading their telephone systems to make it as easy as possible for patients to contact their practice.

The NHS is also offering people more convenient options in how they access care, with pharmacies playing a central role in managing the nation’s health, and the pharmacy consultation announced today will help ensure that more staff can provide lifesaving checks and medication on the high street.

The dental consultation includes a similar proposal to enable dental hygienists and dental therapists to supply and administer specific medicines under exemptions without the need for a prescription.

Progress is also being made on other aspects included in the Primary Care Recovery Plan with discussions taking place between the government, NHS England and the pharmaceutical sector about the best way to use the up to £645 million of funding allocated to the pharmacy sector.

This includes work to ensure patients who need prescription medication for seven common conditions can receive it without the need for a GP appointment.

Almost half a million women will no longer need to speak to a practice nurse or GP to access oral contraception and will instead be able to access it from their local pharmacy.

Tens of thousands more people will be at lower risk of a heart attack or stroke, with the NHS more than doubling the number of people able to access blood pressure checks in their local pharmacy. The target is for 2.5 million tests each year, up from 900,000 carried out last year.

The actions set out in the plan are expected to free up around 15 million GP appointments over the next two years for patients who need them most.

William Pett, head of policy, public affairs and research at Healthwatch England said:

We welcome the investment to help improve the appointment booking process in general practice. GP access has long been the most common issue people talk to us about, with many patients facing long waits on hold and a frustrating process when trying to book appointments over the phone.

The use of care navigators as part of plans to upgrade systems is also a welcome development. Healthwatch England has consistently called for the training of more care navigators across the country, who can speak to patients about their communication and appointment preferences and offer patients more choice.
18/08/2023
PRESS RELEASE : Free access to cash protected [August 2023]
The press release issued by HM Treasury on 18 August 2023.

The vast majority of people and businesses are set to be no further than three miles away from withdrawing cash under a new framework set out by the Treasury.
- government protects cash access services, free of charges, across the UK
- new minimum expectation for cash-users set out by City Minister
- vulnerable cash users protected by Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)
The vast majority of people and businesses are set to be no further than three miles away from withdrawing cash under a new framework set out by the Treasury.

A government statement published today (18 August 2023) set the minimum expectations on banks to protect services for people and businesses wanting to withdraw or deposit cash.

They can expect to withdraw cash without any fees – something that has been set out in law.

As part of this move, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has been provided new powers by the government to protect the provision of cash access services. This includes protecting cash access without any fees for those who hold personal current accounts.

Building on laws granted through the government’s Financial Services and Markets Act 2023, the FCA will use these newfound powers to make sure banks and building societies are keeping up to these standards – and have the power to fine them if they do not.

While the country is moving further away from using coins and notes with the number of online payments rising from 45% to 85% in the past ten years, cash can still be an integral part of many businesses and people’s lives.

Economic Secretary to the Treasury, Andrew Griffith, said:

Whilst the growing choice and convenience of digital payments is great, cash has an important and continuing role to play. That’s why we are taking action to protect access to cash in law and laying out that this means fee-free withdrawals and the availability of cash facilities within a reasonable distance.

People shouldn’t have to trek for hours to withdraw a tenner to put in someone’s birthday card – nor should businesses have to travel large distances to deposit cash takings.

These are measures which benefit everyone who uses cash but particularly those living in rural areas, the elderly and those with disabilities.

As it stands, the vast majority of people living in urban areas can access cash deposit and withdrawal services within one mile; with rural-dwellers around three miles away. Today’s policy statement makes clear that the FCA should use its powers to maintain this level of coverage, while recognising that needs may differ by location and change over time.

It also makes clear that – if a service is withdrawn and a replacement service is needed – this should be put in place before the closure takes place.

The FCA is also required to ‘have regard’ to local deficiencies in cash access. The policy statement sets out that the regulator should consider factors such as the opening hours and distance to cash access services, as well as the need for in-person assistance.

Laws introduced in the Financial Services Act 2021 have delivered cashback in over 2,500 shops across the UK – without any need to buy something in store – through the LINK network.
18/08/2023
PRESS RELEASE : £90m boost to Ukraine’s air defence capability as new contracts signed [August 2023]

The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 18 August 2023.

It comes as delivery begins of a new package of drones to Ukraine, funded by the UK-administered International Fund for Ukraine.

Three contracts to deliver air defence equipment to Ukraine worth more than £90m have been signed by the Ministry of Defence on behalf of the International Fund for Ukraine (IFU).

These include a £56 million counter-uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) contract with Norwegian defence company Kongsberg and two further contracts to provide further air defence capabilities.

The contract with Kongsberg will purchase vehicle-mounted counter-drone systems to detect, track, destroy or disrupt UAS.

The CORTEX Typhon system is designed to be operated by as few as two users, and can be rapidly deployed and repositioned to maximise its operational effectiveness.

The system can operate individually, or as part of an integrated network, and will use a complex suite of sensors, cameras, radars, and electronic surveillance equipment to allow it to physically destroy or disrupt drones.

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said:

These air defence systems have the capability and flexibility to be rapidly deployed to either protect Ukraine’s civilian population and infrastructure, or be put to use on the frontline.

The International Fund for Ukraine highlights the unity and resolve of our Allies to work together to provide Ukraine with cutting-edge equipment to meet its capability requirements.

Awarded by the MOD’s procurement arm, Defence Equipment & Support, these contracts are part of procurement packages announced by IFU defence ministers earlier this year to supply air defence capabilities, drones, radars, and electronic warfare systems to Ukraine.

The contracts come as a new delivery of aerial reconnaissance drones arrives in Ukraine, designed to carry out both land and sea-based reconnaissance missions.

The Armed Forces of Ukraine have already begun training on the systems, which will form a package of more than 100 drones.

The uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) delivery comprises multiple types of drone for different roles – including target acquisition, electronic warfare, guiding artillery, and night operations.

The IFU uses financial contributions from international partners to procure priority military assistance for Ukraine. This will ensure the continued supply of military support – lethal and non-lethal – to Ukraine through 2023 and beyond.

More than £770m has been raised through the IFU following contributions from the UK, Norway, Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, Iceland and Lithuania.

The UK remains fully committed to supporting Ukraine, with £2.3bn already earmarked for further military support through 2023, with additional munitions and equipment to be delivered in the coming months. Further UK government assistance continues in the form of humanitarian support and economic aid.

18/08/2023
PRESS RELEASE : President Putin has shown he is not serious about any peace in Ukraine that respects international law – UK statement at the Security Council [August 2023]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 17 August 2023.

Statement by Deputy Political Coordinator Tom Phipps at the UN Security Council meeting on Ukraine.

Let me begin by thanking High Representative Nakamitsu for her briefing today.

President, last week, Russian missiles targeted hotels in Pokrovsk and Zaporizhzhia. As people nearby rushed to rescue the wounded from the rubble, further missiles hit both locations – a ‘double tap’ strike timed deliberately to kill first responders.

On Sunday, a baby just 22 days old, her 12-year-old brother and their parents were among seven people killed by Russian shells in Kherson.

On Tuesday, a Russian missile ripped through a playground in Lviv.

This is how Russia’s leaders conduct their war of choice. And it is why we are proud to support Ukraine as it defends itself in line with international law and the UN charter.

Colleagues, the UK wants peace. Ukraine wants peace, indeed the whole world wants peace.

But President Putin has shown he is not serious about any peace that respects international law.

While Ukraine and international partners from all over the globe discussed last week the importance of a just and sustainable peace, underpinned by the UN charter, Russia continued to drop bombs on Ukrainian ports and grain silos, targeting the world’s food supply.

Russia now claims it is under assault from the West, but it was President Putin who chose to invade Ukraine last February, despite calls from within this Council to withdraw Russian troops from Ukraine’s borders.

It was Putin who ordered hundreds of thousands of Russian troops to their deaths on the soil of another country, to which they should never have been sent. It is his choices which have diminished Russia’s standing in the world and destroyed the trust of Russia’s neighbours. It is President Putin who is hurting Russia.

President, Russian authorities estimate up to a million people left the country in 2022. Many have spoken of their concerns about the war and its impact, others have fled to avoid being conscripted to fight.

Those who have stayed face dire consequences for speaking out.

And it is telling that our Russian colleagues can only rely on fringe journalists to defend the war in this Chamber.

Let me be clear. An unstable Russia is in none of our interests and we have the highest respect for the Russian people.

President Putin can end the suffering of the Ukrainian people, and of Russia’s own soldiers, tomorrow by withdrawing all Russian forces from within Ukraine’s internationally recognised territory.

But, until then, we will continue to help Ukraine defend itself.

18/08/2023
PRESS RELEASE : Scholarship for future Canadian leaders to study in the UK [August 2023]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 17 August 2023.

Nancy Southern, ATCO, and British Minister, Lord Callanan, announce Chevening/ATCO Scholarship for future Canadian leaders to study in the UK.

Nancy Southern, Chair and Chief Executive Officer of ATCO, and Lord Callanan, UK Minister for Energy Efficiency and Green Finance, today announced the Chevening/ATCO Scholarship, which will be open to aspiring Canadian leaders to study an eligible master’s degree, including on the energy transition and sustainability (full details below), at any UK university.

Applications for the Chevening/ATCO Scholarship will be open between mid-September and mid-November 2023, for study in the 2024/25 academic year, with applications to be submitted via chevening.org/apply.
The UK Government’s Chevening scholarships – of which the Chevening/ATCO Scholarship will be a part – are awarded to individuals from all backgrounds who can demonstrate that they have the commitment and skills required to create positive change, and can show how a UK master’s degree will help them do that. The scholarship offers full financial support for scholars to study for any eligible master’s degree at any UK university whilst also gaining access to a wide range of exclusive academic, professional, and cultural experiences.

Since the programme was created in 1983, over 55,000 professionals have had the opportunity to develop in the UK through Chevening. There are more than 1,400 scholarships on offer globally for the 2023/2024 academic year. The programme’s alumni include 20 current or former heads of state or government officials. In Canada, notable alumni include Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada, and Vice-Admiral Angus Topshee, Commander of the Royal Canadian Navy.

Lord Callanan, UK Minister for Energy Efficiency and Green Finance, said during his official visit to Alberta where he announced the partnership with ATCO:

International cooperation is more essential than ever as we work to bolster our energy security, and strive to meet our net zero goals in government and industry

Chevening has built an international community of leaders committed to working together to tackle major global issues, such as the required energy transition.

I am delighted Nancy Southern and the fantastic ATCO team are partnering with Chevening to provide an opportunity for the next generation of Canadian leaders to experience high quality education at our top-class UK universities.

Nancy Southern, Chair & Chief Executive Officer of ATCO Ltd, said:

Our businesses provide the essentials of life, and we believe that education is essential to creating and implementing long term sustainable solutions to enable a fair and secure energy transition, improve economic reconciliation for Indigenous communities, and provide access to affordable housing. Tackling these most important issues requires great collaboration and as such it’s a special honour to converse with Lord Callanan on these issues and to jointly announce ATCO’s support of the Chevening scholarships. I commend the Chevening programme for its purposeful work in creating informed and energetic citizens who have the courage and creativity to address critical issues our society faces.

18/08/2023
PRESS RELEASE : Government backs pubs to open earlier for World Cup Final [August 2023]

The press release issued by the Home Office on 17 August 2023.

The Government is encouraging councils in England to get pubs open earlier on Sunday ahead of the Lionesses historic World Cup final.

The Secretary of State for Levelling Up has written to leaders of all councils in England asking them to continue doing everything they can to help every pub that wants to host this historic occasion and support the Lionesses.

While many venues will be able to show the game within their usual opening hours, there may be a few who require additional permission where they would like to be able to serve alcohol as well.

In cases where an application is being rapidly considered to allow a short extension to licensing hours, the government is encouraging local authorities to continue to do everything they can to complete the process in time, working closely with local police forces.

Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove said:

The whole nation is ready to get behind the Lionesses this Sunday in what is England’s biggest game since 1966.

I’ve asked councils to do everything they can to help pubs get open earlier on Sunday, so people can come together and enjoy a drink before kick-off for this special occasion.

Kate Nicholls, CEO of UK Hospitality, said:

The nation will be cheering on the Lionesses on Sunday and the next best thing to being in Australia is enjoying the match in the pub or hospitality venue. Many are taking advantage of the fact that they can open to encourage people to come out for breakfast or brunch to get ready for this historic match. Demand from fans has been exceptional, with bookings filling rapidly, and there’s no doubt the day will be a huge boost for the sector, potentially delivering an additional £41 million in sales.

It’s been really positive to work with the Government to ensure everyone can get a chance to join in the celebrations. I’d echo the Government’s support for local authorities taking a pragmatic view to venues opening early to allow people to make the most of this momentous occasion.

Writing to council leaders, the Levelling up Secretary thanked local authorities for everything they have already done this tournament to support the national team, including flying flags, lighting up buildings and supporting communities to hold screenings.

The Home Office is also writing to police chiefs to encourage forces to work together with local councils to ensure as many venues as possible can participate.

This is part of the government’s commitment to backing British pubs, and follows this week’s announcement of an extension to licensing rules that enabling pubs to continue selling takeaway alcohol without red tape holding them back.

18/08/2023
PRESS RELEASE : Environment Agency investigates bathing water quality at Bridlington South [August 2023]

The press release issued by the Environment Agency on 17 August 2023.

The Environment Agency has started a project to investigate the reasons behind poor water quality at Bridlington South beach, in East Yorkshire.

The project – funded jointly by the Environment Agency, Yorkshire Water and East Riding of Yorkshire Council – aims to identify and better understand the sources of pollution that are impacting water quality.

To date, the Environment Agency’s investigations have been able to identify some of the potential contributing sources of bacteria using microbial source tracking techniques.

This has shown that the bathing water can be impacted by humans, seabirds and dogs at different times. However, work to date has not been able to drill down into the level of detail required to fully understand causes of pollution. This project aims to help gather more of this data.

To help with this, the Environment Agency are undertaking a number of investigative sampling days in Bridlington over the summer taking samples every half an hour – from 8am to 6pm – on specific days throughout the bathing water season.

Samples are being taken at Bridlington South monitoring point, Bridlington Harbour and Bridlington North monitoring point and will be analysed initially for Ecoli and IE – the bacteria which are used to provide bathing water classification results.

After collection, samples are refrigerated and sent to the Environment Agency’s microbiology laboratory in Exeter. During the autumn, their microbiology team will carry out more detailed analysis to try to establish the origin of any bacteria found in the samples.

Claire Campbell, the Environment Agency’s technical bathing waters expert, said:

Whilst we will always strive for improvements, overall bathing water quality has improved significantly over the last decade – with a continuing upward trend – due to robust regulation and working with partners. In most places bathing water is now better than it has been for many years.

We are, however, keen to find out the detail of what is causing our poorer results, so that action can be taken by the relevant people to improve our bathing waters.

This project in Bridlington will help us identify the bacterial inputs and better understand the sources of pollution, so that collectively we can work together to improve water quality.

Environment Agency monitoring plays an important role in how we protect our valuable waterways and safeguard the health of bathers. During the bathing water season, the Environment Agency carry out a robust sampling programme as specified in the Bathing Water regulations. These are set in law and are the same as those carried out across the rest of Europe. Samples are taken weekly and this information is used to produce an annual classification based on four years’ of data.

Most of our bathing waters have consistently high quality when we measure and classify these against the standards of the Bathing Water Regulations. Across Yorkshire we have seen a rise in the number of Excellent bathing waters – up by four in the last year, with 89% of bathing waters rated as Good or Excellent – in line with last year’s results.

The Environment Agency continue to work collaboratively as part of the Yorkshire Bathing Water Partnership, to understand the root of water quality problems and ensure people can enjoy cleaner, healthier waters.

Information on all 424 designated bathing water sites and any forecasted drops in water quality will be published on the Swimfo: Find a Bathing Water website. This provides immediate access to information on every bathing water in England.

18/08/2023
PRESS RELEASE : The UK urges the DPRK to prioritise the well-being of its citizens over the development of its illegal weapons programmes – UK statement at the Security Council [August 2023]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 17 August 2023.

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

Thank you, President, and I thank High Commissioner Turk, and Special Rapporteur Salmon for their briefing. I also, like others, pay tribute to Mr Kim for his powerful testimony and I welcome the presence of the Representative of the Republic of Korea for this meeting.

President, the United Kingdom remains deeply concerned by the appalling human rights situation in the DPRK. It is clear that human rights violations remain widespread, systematic and completely lacking in accountability. So I also thank Albania, Japan, the Republic of Korea and the United States for bringing this issue back to the Council for the first time since 2017. Human rights in the DPRK and international peace and security are inextricably linked. The DPRK authorities divert resources from peoples’ basic economic needs toward their illegal nuclear and ballistic weapons programme. These illegal weapons are financed through forced labour, with workers sent overseas, often under modern slavery conditions. I urge all UN Member States, especially the DPRK, to fully implement resolution 2397, including on overseas workers, and end this exploitation.

The DPRK regime continues to reject UN resolutions on the situation of human rights in North Korea. It refuses to cooperate with the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights or with the UN Special Rapporteur. The regime fails to acknowledge the 2014 UN Commission of Inquiry Report that concluded wide-ranging human rights violations taking place in the country may amount to “crimes against humanity”.

The United Kingdom also recognises the suffering of other nationals who have been abducted by the DPRK and we call for their return. Forced repatriations, state-sponsored abductions and enforced disappearances demand action.

We remind all Members to respect the principle of non-refoulement and not forcibly return those who have escaped the DPRK to face threats to their safety and human rights.

Colleagues, the human rights situation has not improved while the Council has remained silent.

We urge the DPRK to prioritise the well-being of its citizens over the development of its illegal weapons programmes.

We remind the DPRK that its restrictive Covid-19 measures must be proportionate, not used as a tool to further constrain the freedom of its citizens or to restrict the ability of the international community to engage with authorities in Pyongyang.

We urge them to engage in a genuine and positive spirit with the UN Special Rapporteur to bring around permanent change and improvements for the people of North Korea.

18/08/2023