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Category: Press Releases

  • PRESS RELEASE : UK Holocaust Memorial passes important milestone [May 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : UK Holocaust Memorial passes important milestone [May 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities on 19 May 2023.

    Parliamentary examiners announce decision on Holocaust Memorial Bill.

    Construction of the UK’s National Memorial to the Holocaust moved a step closer yesterday (18 May 2023) as the Holocaust Memorial Bill passed an important milestone in Parliament.

    A detailed scrutiny process by parliamentary examiners lasting almost 3 months has confirmed that the Bill should be treated as ‘hybrid’, allowing those who believe they will be affected by the provisions of the Bill the opportunity to put their views to parliament as the Bill is considered. The decision of the parliamentary examiners resolves uncertainty and brings closer the opportunity for MPs from all sides of the House to express their support for the Memorial.

    The Holocaust Memorial Bill seeks to update Victorian legislation and progress the building of a new Memorial and Learning Centre in Victoria Tower Gardens, Westminster.

    Located next to the Houses of Parliament, the Memorial will serve as a powerful reminder to the whole of society of the Holocaust, its victims and where prejudice can lead if unchallenged.

    Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Michael Gove said:

    The Holocaust is history’s most appalling example of cruelty, injustice and intolerance: the systematic attempt by a modern state to eliminate the whole Jewish people. It is profoundly important that we remember the facts of the Holocaust and all its victims and that we seek to understand the lessons it teaches Britain today.

    We are privileged in this country to have among us many survivors of the Holocaust who have been willing to share their testimony. Sadly, this living testimony will not be with us forever. It is essential that we create this Memorial, at the very heart of our national life, to preserve the memory of what happened for ourselves and for all future generations.

    The government is absolutely determined to complete the Holocaust Memorial. I am pleased that the examiners have now reached their view on classification of the Bill so that it can now proceed through parliament. I know that a great many MPs from all sides of the House are very eager to express their support and to get the Memorial built.

    Welcoming the progress of the Bill, UK Holocaust Memorial Foundation Advisory Board, Co-Chairs, the Rt Hon Lord Pickles and Ed Balls said:

    Today’s decision by the examiners marks a vital step forward in delivering on our promise to build the Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre next to the Houses of Parliament in Victoria Tower Gardens. We are hugely heartened by the government’s determination to legislate, with cross-party support, to make this possible.

    With the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition, we are convinced that there is no better place to demonstrate our commitment to remembering and learning from the Holocaust than at the heart of our democracy. We look forward to the Bill receiving Royal Assent so that we can then get on and build.

    Holocaust survivor, Manfred Goldberg BEM said:

    I was 84 when Prime Minister David Cameron first promised us survivors a national Holocaust Memorial in close proximity to the Houses of Parliament. Last month I celebrated my 93rd birthday and I pray to be able to attend the opening of this important project.

    Chief Executive of the Holocaust Education Trust, Karen Pollock CBE said:

    Following today’s announcement, we hope that this important Bill will pass through Parliament in time for the Memorial to be completed in time for survivors to see.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Business and Trade Department announces new Non-Executive Directors [May 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Business and Trade Department announces new Non-Executive Directors [May 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Business and Trade on 19 May 2023.

    The Business and Trade Secretary has appointed five Non-Executive Members to the Department’s Board.

    Today (Friday 19 May) the Business and Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch has announced the appointment of five non-executive members of the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) Board.

    The new board members are:

    • Stephen Hill OBE as Lead Non-Executive Director
    • Karina McTeague as Chair of the Audit and Risk Assurance Committee (ARAC)
    • Robert Leeming as Non-Executive Director
    • Lord Syed Kamall as Non-Executive Director
    • Peter Fleet as Non-Executive Director

    The board will also include Sir Stephen O’Brien and Noel Harwerth, who previously sat on the former Department for International Trade Board.

    The new members have been appointed for at least 3 years and will provide independent advice, support and scrutiny on the department’s work, to help deliver the Government’s ambitious business and trade agenda.

    The Business and Trade Secretary, Kemi Badenoch said:

    The Department’s new non-executive directors bring with them a wealth of knowledge and expertise and will help us to grow the UK economy, support UK businesses and create jobs and opportunities across the country.

    Background

    • Non-Executives are experts from outside government who provide oversight and challenge to the department in the development of policy and the management of resources.

    Biographies

    • Stephen Hill was previously a Non-Executive Director of the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS). As part of his role, Stephen Hill will also chair the Nominations and Governance Committee. Stephen has extensive board level experience. He was awarded an OBE in 2017 for his work in philanthropy, particularly for those with hearing impairments.
    • Karina McTeague previously served as a Member of the Audit and Risk Assurance Committee at the Home Office. Ms McTeague has a background in law and in the financial sector. She was previously Chief Risk Officer at Visa Europe. She also worked as a Director of Supervision for the Retail Banking and Payments sectors and Director of General Insurance and Conduct Specialists at the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
    • Robert Leeming has been a partner at the private equity firm, Charterhouse Capital Partners, since 2007. He was previously a partner at EPIC Private Equity and an associate at PwC. He is also Chairman of the Autism Research Trust.
    • Lord Syed Kamall is a Professor of Politics and International Relations at St Mary’s University, Twickenham and a member of the House of Lords Communications Digital Committee. He was previously Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport and also the Department of Health and Social Care. He was made a life peer on 11 February 2021.
    • Peter Fleet is a former Group Vice President at Ford Motor Company. He was most recently President of Ford Asia Pacific and Chairman and CEO of Ford Motor China. He now has a portfolio of non-executive roles.
  • PRESS RELEASE : UK Government backs scheme to make pubs ‘dementia friendly’ [May 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : UK Government backs scheme to make pubs ‘dementia friendly’ [May 2023]

    The press release issued by the Office of the Secretary of State for Scotland on 19 May 2023.

    University of Stirling researchers – part-funded by £7.25m UK Government investment – pioneer programme to make pubs, cafes and restaurants more inclusive.

    • Scheme will see more venues introduce simple menus and have ‘quiet table’ provision
    • Training for staff to ensure increased inclusion for people with dementia and their families
    • UK Government supports associated improvements for ageing population with £7.25m funding

    A drive to make pubs, restaurants and cafés across the UK more dementia-friendly has been launched by Scottish experts researching the impact of ageing.

    The University of Stirling’s internationally-renowned Dementia Services Development Centre (DSDC) has developed a certification scheme that will encourage pub and restaurant owners to make adaptations for people with age-related degenerative conditions.

    The voluntary scheme will make the spaces more accessible to people with conditions such as dementia and Alzheimer’s so that they can enjoy going out with their families and carers.

    The aim is to create a Google map to chart all dementia-friendly facilities across the UK. Establishments would bear a badge to show they’ve considered things like a clear line of sight to the bar, clearly signposted toilets, some private and quieter tables, easy-to-read menus and staff with an understanding of the condition to give customers the support they require.

    The University is keen to break down social barriers associated with dementia. Their scheme sits in tandem with the new Intergenerational Living Innovation Hub, part-funded by £7.25 million from the UK Government through the Stirling and Clackmannanshire City Region Deal, to pioneer technologies for an ageing society.

    Lesley Palmer, the University of Stirling’s Acting Director of DSDC, said:

    We have long accepted that there should be no barriers for people with wheelchairs. Similarly, there should be no barriers for people with dementia – they should be able to go out for a drink or a meal without stigma and feel comfortable.

    The scheme is entirely voluntary for owners, and by making relatively small and inexpensive adaptations, pubs and restaurants can become accredited.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Interim appointment of a policing member to the Sentencing Council [May 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Interim appointment of a policing member to the Sentencing Council [May 2023]

    The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 19 May 2023.

    The Lord Chancellor has approved the interim appointment of Chief Constable Rob Nixon as a policing member of the Sentencing Council (SC) from 5 May 2023 to 30 November 2023, pending the outcome of a recruitment campaign for the role.

    The SC was established under Section 118(1) of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009 to promote greater transparency and consistency in sentencing, whilst maintaining the independence of the judiciary. The SC’s responsibilities include developing sentencing guidelines and monitoring their use, assessing the impact of guidelines on sentencing practice, and promoting the understanding of and increasing public confidence in sentencing and the criminal justice system.

    The appointment of non judicial Sentencing Council members are made by the Lord Chancellor after consulting the Lord Chief Justice.

    All appointments are regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments, who was consulted about the interim appointment, and recruitment processes comply with the Governance Code on Public Appointments.

    Biography

    Rob Nixon was appointed as Chief Constable of Leicestershire Constabulary in November 2022.

    Rob has served with Leicestershire Police since 1993. He was appointed Assistant Chief Constable, in April 2017, with responsibility for local policing, crime and intelligence and public protection, before being promoted to Deputy Chief Constable in February 2018.

    Between 2015 and 2018, as temporary Assistant Chief Constable, Rob worked on collaborative projects across Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Nottinghamshire.

    Rob was awarded the Queen’s Police Medal in December 2020.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Mortgage rate cut for energy efficient homes under government-backed trials [May 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Mortgage rate cut for energy efficient homes under government-backed trials [May 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero on 19 May 2023.

    £4.1 million awarded to green finance projects to help homeowners make their homes more energy efficient.

    • 26 innovative green finance projects awarded funding to make it easier to improve the energy efficiency of UK homes by unlocking upfront cash
    • products receiving a share of £4.1 million include mortgages that reward energy efficiency upgrades and loans linked to installing heat pumps
    • retrofitted properties could potentially save more than £460 a year on bills

    Homeowners who make their properties more energy efficient could see their mortgage rate cut under a new government-backed pilot.

    Perenna Bank will receive more than £193,000 in government funding to help develop their long-term, fixed-rate mortgage that will incentivise customers to make their homes more energy efficient by offering to reduce their mortgage rate.

    Another trial will see buy-to-let landlords add the cost of making properties more energy efficient onto their mortgage – enabling them to borrow the money for the improvements and include it in their monthly repayments.

    Ashman Bank Limited will be awarded £200,000 to design and develop this, which will assess a property’s energy efficiency, provide options on how it can be improved and incorporate the cost of carrying out the work on to the duration of the mortgage.

    The projects are among 26 green finance products being developed and tested, backed by £4.1 million of government funding.

    They are aimed at encouraging and helping homeowners make their properties more energy efficient, with measures such as loft insulation and double glazing. This in turn will help them save more than £460 a year on their energy bills – one of many ways the government is helping ease the cost of living for families across the country.

    Lord Callanan, Minister for Energy Efficiency and Green Finance, said:

    The government has put in place long-term commitments to ensure homes across the country have greater energy efficiency to reduce bills, drive down energy use and lower emissions.

    We are supporting these organisations to develop fresh and innovative ways of helping more people get better access to energy efficiency measures, such as loft insulation, double glazing and heat pumps.

    Other projects successful in bidding for funding include Aviva Equity Release UK Limited, who will receive £87,612 to design a service that allows homeowners to access equity in their property through a specialist lifetime mortgage, freeing up cash to improve the energy efficiency of their homes.

    Clydesdale Bank PLC, trading as Virgin Money, will receive £171,000 for a product that will offer bespoke energy efficiency products for customers’ properties, after carrying out a survey to outline the improvements needed.

    Scott Brown, Head of Equity Release Pricing at Aviva, another winning project, said:

    Aviva is delighted to have secured funding from the government to explore building a green mortgage solution for later life lending.

    Aviva and the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero will co-fund our customer research to explore the development, which will aim to enable later life households to make home energy efficiency improvements, making their homes more comfortable to live in, reducing energy bills and helping drive a reduction in the carbon footprint of the UK’s housing stock.

    Given the value in the research being produced, Aviva commit to sharing the output when finalised with the wider industry to support industry level change.

    Craig Calder, head of secured lending at Virgin Money, one of the winning projects, said:

    To be part of the innovative Green Home Finance Accelerator project is important for Virgin Money as we look to reinforce our aspiration to halve our financed emissions by 2030 and deliver net zero by 2050.

    Working with industry experts Sero and Rightmove is an opportunity to research, test and learn what consumers want before we take a proposition to market – enabling us to provide a great product for customers while at the same time making a positive impact on the environment.

    Following a 6-month Discovery Phase period, all 26 Green Home Finance Accelerator projects will be able to apply for larger grant awards, between £200,000 and £2 million to enable them to pilot their green finance products and services.

    Investments announced today form part of the £20 million Green Home Finance Accelerator, which is funded through the £1 billion Net Zero Innovation Portfolio. Funding will help drive wider government efforts to ensure as many homes as possible reach an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) band C by 2035, with higher ratings likely to result in lower fuel bills.

    Based on a standard occupancy and heating regime, owner-occupiers improving their homes to EPC C could save over £460 a year on their energy bills.

    Winners of the awards

    • Aceleron Limited will receive £199,697 to trial an Energy Storage as a Service subscription model for the provision and maintenance of lithium-ion batteries.
    • Arctica Partners Limited will receive £169,210 to investigate a carbon credits financial product which will support home retrofit.
    • Arniston Ltd (trading as Snugg) will receive £170,870 to develop a prototype version of the Green Home Hub to guide customers on the journey from initial enquiry, to developing a retrofit plan, funding the work, engaging with installers and monitoring the results.
    • Ashman Bank Limited will receive £200,000 to design and develop a new variant of buy-to-let to be known as Impact Buy to Let (IBTL), which will be underpinned by an assessment of the retrofit works needed to enhance the energy efficiency of a property.
    • Aviva Equity Release UK Limited will receive £87,612 to design an equity release proposition, targeted as a cost-effective way of funding home improvements to improve the energy efficiency and the EPC rating of customers’ homes.
    • Bankers without Boundaries will receive £99,241 to explore the design of a service which will display homes on a geographic heatmap, highlighting where energy saving returns from retrofits are economically sufficient to support individual consumer investment or how whole areas could be aggregated for a blended return.
    • Chameleon Technology (UK) Limited will receive £155,692 to develop a complete solution which enables homeowners to accurately assess their home energy efficiency and offers a tailored loan product to meet their retrofit needs.
    • City Science Corporation Limited will receive £199,916 to explore ways to provide buy-to-let landlords with a comprehensive solution for upgrading their properties. They have also secured £199,330 to provide, through research and analysis, a clear understanding of the legal and commercial challenges facing the Heat as a Service (HaaS) industry and offer practical solutions to enable the delivery of HaaS in the UK.
    • Clydesdale Bank PLC (trading as Virgin Money) will receive £171,000 to remove the upfront cost barrier to installing retrofit measures facing the ‘able to pay’ market, as well as providing robust technical guidance on appropriate energy efficiency improvement measures to consumers.
    • Cybermoor Services Ltd will receive £56,344 to develop an integrated solution targeting the barriers impacting the uptake of low-carbon heating within the harder-to-reach rural domestic market.
    • E.ON Energy Solutions Ltd will receive £196,921 to develop and pilot innovative green finance products that enable home energy efficiency, low-carbon heating and potentially micro-generation improvements.
    • ELPS Energy Ltd will receive £199,597 to develop an integrated one-stop-shop solution for residential retrofit financing.
    • Energy Saving Trust Enterprises Limited will receive £193,674 to explore a Pathways to Green Finance service aimed at the private rented sector (PRS) looking to retrofit homes.
    • Escrow-Tech Limited will receive £159,040 to create an innovative approach to green home financing as it utilises the potential (or projected) offset carbon from retrofitting activities in adjusting loan rate settings for homeowners thus reducing the cost of home retrofitting.
    • Heat Scheme Limited will receive £116,238 to develop a UK-wide green home finance loan product, for use in bridging the gap between the upfront cost of a gas boiler replacement and the net cost of a heat pump installation after applying a £5,000 Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant.
    • Kamma Limited will receive £200,000 to drive energy efficiency retrofit upgrades in UK properties by developing an online, end-to-end retrofit marketplace connecting homeowners, green finance providers and retrofit installers.
    • Landslide Energy Ltd will receive £126,110 to shorten retrofit payback periods for homeowners who are looking to remortgage and living in properties with an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of D or lower.
    • Leeds City Council will receive £194,780 to develop a one-stop-shop (OSS) delivery vehicle to create and test green finance retrofit offers.
    • Parity Projects Limited will receive £165,589 to investigate the potential for a sustainable retrofit one-stop-shop that meets homeowner needs and overcomes barriers in the current retrofit journey.
    • People Powered Retrofit Limited will receive £120,911 to develop a mutual, local and trusted one-stop-shop approach to retrofit, combining quality assurance, financing and verification, and setting out replication plans to take advantage of the extensive network of UK Credit Unions.
    • Perenna Bank PLC will receive £193,350 to bring to market a long-term, fixed-rate green mortgage that incentivises homeowners to retrofit by offering to reduce their mortgage rate.
    • Phoenix Group Management Services Limited will receive £102,249 to explore a solution to enable older, less-affluent, homeowners make decarbonising home improvements through using lifetime mortgages.
    • Scroll Finance Limited will receive £136,572 to develop a point-of-sale financing technology solution to be deployed for retrofit decarbonisation projects. They have also been awarded £158,608 to scope, design and test an end-to-end retrofit journey embedded with an innovative and flexible financial product in three pilot areas.
    • Sunsave Group Ltd will receive £196,395 to research the roadblocks that remain for subscription solar PV and to develop a proposition that can be brought to market and rapidly scaled.
  • PRESS RELEASE : UK sanctions target Russia’s theft of Ukrainian grain, advanced military technology, and remaining revenue sources [May 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : UK sanctions target Russia’s theft of Ukrainian grain, advanced military technology, and remaining revenue sources [May 2023]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 19 May 2023.

    UK government sanctions 86 individuals and entities, targeting Russia’s theft of Ukrainian grain, advanced military technology, and remaining revenue sources.

    • UK sanctions 86 individuals and entities – freezing the assets of those involved with key revenue streams
    • package includes companies connected to theft of Ukrainian grain, and those involved in shipment of Russian energy
    • companies connected to Rosatom’s support of Putin’s military efforts also sanctioned
    • Foreign Secretary confirms that Russia’s sovereign assets will remain immobilised until Russia agrees to pay for the damage it has caused in Ukraine

    The UK has today (Friday 19 May) announced a new wave of sanctions against Russia, targeting businesses and individuals connected to Russia’s capacity to fund and wage the war.

    The 86 designations target individuals and organisations connected to Russia’s energy, metals, defence, transport, and financial sectors – ramping up pressure on Putin’s remaining revenue and attempts to use these sectors to support the military machine.

    The designations come after the Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced new import bans on Russian diamonds and metals at the G7 in Japan earlier today.

    This includes a crackdown on the shady individuals and entities connected to the theft and resale of Ukrainian grain, as well as targeting Russia’s major energy and arms shipping companies.

    Companies connected to Rosatom, which are producing advanced materials and technology, including lasers, have also been sanctioned.

    The Foreign Secretary has also announced, consistent with our laws, that Russia’s sovereign assets in our jurisdictions will remain immobilised until Russia agrees to pay for the damage it has caused to Ukraine.

    These new sanctions come as the Prime Minister meets his counterparts at the G7 Summit in Japan and holds talks on long-term support for Ukraine’s defence and joint action on Russia’s malign activity.

    Through a combination of these designations and new import bans on Russian diamonds and metals, the UK is working with international partners to further constrain Russia’s capacity to wage its illegal war, increasing economic pressure, and tackling all emerging forms of circumvention until Ukraine prevails.

    Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said:

    Putin and his supporters must – and will – pay the price for their illegal invasion of Ukraine.

    That’s why through today’s new sanctions we are increasing the economic pressure on Putin – making it harder for him to wage his illegal war and inflict untold suffering on innocent Ukrainians.

    We will continue to increase this pressure and crack down on all emerging forms of circumvention until Ukraine prevails and peace is secured.

    Our support for Ukraine is, and will remain, resolute for as long as it takes.

    Energy

    The UK is taking new action against Russia’s energy sector – building on the import bans of Russian coal, oil, and LNG – by introducing designations of 9 organisations connected to Russia’s state-owned nuclear energy company, Rosatom, which has been connected to Putin’s war effort.

    This includes UMATEX, which produces composite materials based on carbon fibre for Rosatom that could be used for military purposes, and TRINITI whose research and development into laser physics is directly funded by the Russian Federation’s State Defence Order. TRINITI’s lasers have been installed on tank chassis with the aim of dazzling the optics of aircraft and disrupting precision weapons.

    Oleg Romanenko, a lead official at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant who has been colluding with the Russian government, the Operating Organisation of Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, 13 members of the Gazprom-Neft board of directors, and 5 members of the Transneft board of directors have also been designated.

    Metals

    Igor Altushkin, the billionaire oligarch who owns the Russian Copper Company, has been sanctioned. As the third largest producer of copper in Russia, Altushkin and his business have continued to play a key role in a sector of strategic significance for Putin’s military machine.

    Eight other companies connected to metals production in Russia have also been sanctioned, and the UK has announced that we will also ban imports of Russian metals including aluminium, nickel, and copper.

    Together, these actions increase pressure on Russia’s metal industry, which remains an important revenue stream funding the Kremlin’s war machine, and they have wider impact on the operation of other sectors such as transport and energy.

    Transport

    Twenty four individuals and entities connected to Russia’s transport services have also been sanctioned.

    This includes Pawell Shipping Co LLP, the State Grain Corporation (GZO) and their director Nikita Busel who are connected to the systematic theft of Ukrainian grain. This grain, and other agricultural goods, has been reportedly stolen from warehouses and fields in the temporarily occupied territories in Ukraine and shipped out from Zaporizhzhia – badged as Russian goods.

    Six major Russian shipping companies which have enabled and supported Putin’s wartime economy have also been sanctioned. This includes Sun Ship Management, an entity connected to Sovcomflot, Russia’s largest state-owned shipping company, supporting Russia to circumvent or undermine the effects of Western sanctions.

    Military

    Twenty defence executives and companies have been sanctioned as part of today’s tranche – further targeting the individuals and organisations that are supporting Russia’s continued military activity in Russia by equipping both the Russian armed forces and Wagner group. Amongst those sanctioned are:

    • Alan Valerievich Lushinkov and Vladimir Nikolaevich Lepin, who are both Directors of JSC Concern Kalashnikov, who produce 95% of all firearms in Russia
    • JSC BMZ which has produced anti-personnel and anti-tank mines used by the Russian armed forces in Ukraine
    • JSC Motovilikhinskiye, a minority subsidiary of Russian defence conglomerate Rostec which manufactures howitzers used by the Russian Armed Forces in Ukraine

    Banks

    Five financial institutions have also been sanctioned as part of today’s package of designations – further isolating Russia from the global financial system and undermining Putin’s military capability. This includes JSC Dom RF, which acts under the instruction of the Russian government, and Metallurgical Investment Bank, which is supporting Russia’s industrial exports.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Payment window for £150 Disability Cost of Living Payment announced [May 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Payment window for £150 Disability Cost of Living Payment announced [May 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Work and Pensions on 19 May 2023.

    More than six million disabled people in the UK will receive their one-off £150 Disability Cost of Living Payment from 20 June.

    • Vast majority of £150 payments set to be made automatically over two-week period between 20 June and 4 July 2023
    • More than six million disabled people will receive payment and benefit from extra cost of living support
    • Comes as part of wider package of Government support, including separate means-tested Cost of Living Payments totalling up to £900, and £300 Pensioner Payments

    This follows the £150 Disability Cost of Living Payment that was paid last September, demonstrating the Government’s commitment to supporting the most vulnerable in society while delivering on its commitment to halve inflation this year and grow the economy.

    Those being paid a disability benefit that qualifies them for the payment will receive it automatically during a two-week window starting on 20 June and finishing on 4 July.

    At a time when costs are rising for everyone, this payment recognises the extra costs disabled people in particular often face, such as care and mobility needs.

    A small proportion of payments will be made after this date, where claimants were still awaiting confirmation of their eligibility or entitlement to disability benefits on 1 April.

    There will also be further payments of £300 for pensioners due later this year, meaning some of the most vulnerable households can receive up to £1,350 in direct Cost of Living Payments.

    Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Mel Stride MP, said:

    This payment helps protect those who need our support the most, providing a vital financial boost to six million disabled people.

    Our multi-billion-pound package of support reinforces our commitment to help UK households with the rising cost of living. It comes on top of record increases to benefits and the national living wage.

    Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work, Tom Pursglove MP, said:

    We know the cost of living has gone up for disabled people, which is why we are taking action to reduce the financial pressures they face.

    This £150 Disability Cost of Living Payment is on top of up to £900 that most low-income benefit claimants will also receive, helping ensure the most vulnerable in our society are protected from rising costs during this challenging period.

    The full list of benefit recipients that qualify for the upcoming Disability Cost of Living payment are those who receive:

    • Disability Living Allowance
    • Personal Independence Payment
    • Attendance Allowance
    • Scottish Disability Benefits (Adult Disability Payment and Child Disability Payment)
    • Armed Forces Independence Payment
    • Constant Attendance Allowance
    • War Pension Mobility Supplement
  • PRESS RELEASE : UK announces humanitarian support for 175,000 affected by Cyclone Mocha in Myanmar [May 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : UK announces humanitarian support for 175,000 affected by Cyclone Mocha in Myanmar [May 2023]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 19 May 2023.

    The UK has announced £2 million in new humanitarian funding to support vulnerable communities in Myanmar, following the impact of Cyclone Mocha.

    • the UK is providing an additional £2 million to support communities impacted by Cyclone Mocha in Myanmar
    • this new funding will supply clean water and shelter for up to 175,000 people

    Today the UK announced £2 million in new funding to support communities impacted by Cyclone Mocha in Myanmar. The cyclone has devastated vulnerable communities across northwest Myanmar, with reports of large numbers of deaths amongst the Rohingya.

    The cyclone has exacerbated what is already a desperate humanitarian crisis. Following the 2021 military coup, over 17.6 million people need humanitarian assistance; over 1.8 million are displaced; and over 15 million people have limited access to food. Their needs will only increase as the impact of Cyclone Mocha becomes clearer.

    The UK has already redirected £650,000 of funding to local and international partners to provide emergency assistance to those most in need. This additional £2 million will enable immediate provision of clean water and shelter for up to 175,000 people, and help mitigate the threat of disease.

    International Development Minister Andrew Mitchell said:

    Cyclone Mocha has caused devastation for communities who were already extremely vulnerable, including the Rohingya.

    The UK is providing £2 million of new funding to support the many thousands of people left without shelter or access to clean water in Myanmar.

    By partnering with organisations already on the ground in northwest Myanmar, we will be able to quickly deliver the lifesaving support that survivors need.

    Since 2017, the UK has provided over £81 million to assist Myanmar communities in Rakhine State with water, hygiene and sanitation, emergency food and nutrition services, and healthcare. Over £29.8 million of this has directly supported Rohingya and other Muslim minorities. The UK has enhanced due diligence in place to ensure that no UK aid benefits the Myanmar military regime.

    The UK is committed to supporting peace and stability across the Indo-Pacific and continues to stand with the people of Myanmar who are suffering once again. We reiterate our calls to an end to all violence, protection of civilians and full, safe and unhindered humanitarian access to all those in need.

  • PRESS RELEASE : New peer mentoring programme to help people out of addiction and into work [May 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : New peer mentoring programme to help people out of addiction and into work [May 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Work and Pensions on 19 May 2023.

    A new £3.7 million employment programme will see mentors who have beat drug or alcohol addiction placed in Jobcentres to help others with dependencies recover and get back into work.

    • Mentors with experience of drug or alcohol dependency set to guide people on journey out of addiction and into work
    • £3.7 million DWP programme is being trialled in 40 Jobcentres across England this month as part of efforts to grow the economy
    • Mentors hail return to work as vital step to their own recovery and a pathway out of addiction

    The new peer mentoring programme, run by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), is being trialled in 40 Jobcentres across England from May 2023 and is part of wider efforts to support people back into work – delivering on the Government’s priority to grow the economy.

    Now open for referrals, it will see mentors, contracted by DWP after being recommended by partner organisations, draw on their lived experiences of drug or alcohol dependency to support people in the same position.

    They will help others in disclosing their dependency issues without fear of reprisal, signpost them to help that will assist them to manage their addiction, and eventually equip them with the necessary skills to access education, training, volunteering, and employment.

    Minister for Social Mobility, Youth and Progression, Mims Davies MP, said:

    Our new peer mentors are proof that work can be a crucial part of someone’s journey out of substance dependency, transforming their life.

    Their lived experience will help them provide expert one-to-one advice and support from DWP in our Jobcentres, helping people recovering from addiction move into work.

    “This new form of support will not only give people in recovery the tailored help they need to get on in life and prosper, but it will also help grow our economy by getting more people back into the workforce.”

    Declan, a peer mentor whose journey back into work helped him overcome 20 years of substance dependency, said:

    I spent around 20 years using continuously, almost every couple of days in the second decade. Having a close friend pass away because of an overdose was the beginning of my journey out of substance dependency.

    “Volunteering really helped me in my recovery and set me up for a return to work. In my new role as peer mentor, I’m looking forward to helping people who are going through the same sort of issues I had and starting them on their journey to recovery.”

    Gary, another mentor who is drawing from his own experience of opiate dependency in his new role, said:

    I was opiate dependent for 15 years and used crack cocaine. After a short spell in prison, due to offending related to my drug use, I linked with a support worker upon release. They pointed me towards a place that supported recovery and helped people gain life and employment skills.

    “I’m now pleased to be taking up this new peer mentoring role and helping others who share similar experiences to my own. The space and time DWP are providing for people with drug or alcohol dependency is a vital step in the right direction for their recovery and eventual employment.”

    In addition to this support, DWP is also investing over £39 million to expand its Individual Placement and Support for drug and alcohol dependency programme to all Local Authority areas in England by 2025. This programme supports individuals in structured drug and alcohol treatment to find and remain in employment.

    The new peer mentoring service is open for referrals in Jobcentres in the following areas and organisations working with those who are dependent on substances, or individuals themselves are encouraged to get in touch:

    • North East: Hull
    • South East: Portsmouth, Cosham, Fareham, Havant, Gosport
    • London & Essex: Tower Hamlets, Hackney, Westminster, Camden, Newham, Islington, Croydon, Lambeth
    • North West: Liverpool City, Knowsley, Wirral, St Helens, Southport, Sefton, Halton

    Notes to Editors:

    The Peer Mentoring Programme is part of the Government’s 10-year drugs strategy to reduce crime and save lives, including actions to break drug supply chains and delivering a world-class treatment and recovery system

  • PRESS RELEASE : Millions of people to benefit from £200 million to improve walking and cycling routes [May 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Millions of people to benefit from £200 million to improve walking and cycling routes [May 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Transport on 19 May 2023.

    Funding will ease congestion across cities, transform the school run and provide a boost to high street businesses.

    • new government-funded schemes expected to generate up to 16 million more walking and cycling trips a year across the country
    • funding will enhance rural connections, create 120 miles of cycling track and see 130 more schemes to help over 35,000 children on their way to school
    • improved routes will boost healthier travel options and grow the economy

    Millions of people across the country are set to benefit from £200 million of government funding for cycling and walking schemes, helping to promote healthy travel, reduce emissions and grow the economy.

    The latest round of funding, will provide a boost to high streets and local businesses, and transform the school run for tens of thousands of children, generating up to 16 million extra walking and cycling trips a year.

    Alongside the environmental benefits, the plans will help ease congestion across cities, with people choosing more active choices that can benefit their mental and physical health and wellbeing and relieve pressure on the NHS.

    Following extensive consultation with local authorities, communities across England will benefit from new funding, with over 265 schemes in 60 areas – including Yorkshire, Manchester, Devon and Leicester – receiving a share of the latest round of funding.

    The investment, announced in February of this year, will deliver a range of schemes across the country, including 121 miles of new cycle track, 77 miles of new paths and greenways and initiatives to make streets safer around 130 schools.

    Active travel is also estimated to bring a £36.5 billion boost to the economy in a year through increased high street spending and better access to jobs, delivering on our priority to grow the economy.

    Transport Secretary Mark Harper said:

    We want to make sure everyone across the country can choose cheaper, greener and healthier travel while we continue to support our local businesses and grow the economy.

    This £200 million investment will improve road safety, ease congestion and ultimately improve the health and wellbeing of the millions of people choosing active travel.

    National Active Travel Commissioner Chris Boardman added:

    By giving millions of people the freedom of choice to walk, wheel or cycle for everyday trips, this funding will help us improve public health, tackle climate change and give hundreds of thousands of children the independence to travel safely under their own steam.

    Now our focus is working with councils to get these schemes built swiftly. We’ll be working together to ensure the projects are well-designed and effective, so that they bring maximum benefits to communities and help improve lives nationwide.

    The winning projects have demonstrated they provide people with attractive choices to use cycling and walking for local journeys, and do not include any low traffic neighbourhood schemes. Local authorities have worked closely with local people to ensure the schemes benefit the community as a whole.

    Successful authorities have detailed the benefits of successful schemes, including Tamworth in Staffordshire, which will use the funding to enable active and safe modes of travel to schools, while Barnstaple and Ilfracombe in Devon will see an unused railway track converted into a walking and cycling route to connect rural communities.

    Safety and accessibility will be at the heart of improvements and creation of walking and cycling routes, meaning safety for women and children walking to school will be improved, and people in wheelchairs and mobility scooters will see street designs become even more inclusive.

    Government funding has meant cycling across England has continued to thrive and is up 11% on pre-pandemic levels, increasing by more than 20% in the past 10 years.

    Allocated funding

    Local authority Capability level Allocated funding
    Bedford Unitary Authority 1 £263,130
    Blackburn with Darwen Unitary Authority 1 £157,270
    Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Unitary Authority 2 £3,780,000
    Bracknell Forest Unitary Authority 1 £30,000
    Brighton and Hove Unitary Authority 2 £3,000,000
    Buckinghamshire Unitary Authority 2 £477,199
    Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority 2 £3,896,590
    Central Bedfordshire Unitary Authority 1 £252,605
    Cheshire East Unitary Authority 1 £1,297,882
    Cheshire West and Chester Unitary Authority 1 £274,100
    Cornwall Unitary Authority 1 £500,000
    Cumbria County Council 2 £1,602,359
    Derby Unitary Authority 1 £140,000
    Derbyshire County Council 1 £3,005,000
    Devon County Council 2 £1,825,000
    Dorset Unitary Authority 1 £1,978,000
    East Riding of Yorkshire Unitary Authority 2 £855,200
    East Sussex County Council 1 £1,223,826
    Essex County Council 2 £5,270,000
    Gloucestershire County Council 2 £5,365,000
    Greater Manchester Combined Authority 3 £23,719,500
    Hampshire County Council 2 £2,477,515
    Herefordshire Unitary Authority 1 £306,000
    Hertfordshire County Council 2 £4,620,803
    Isle of Wight Unitary Authority 1 £700,000
    Isles of Scilly 1 £11,000
    Kent County Council 1 £1,569,000
    Kingston upon Hull Unitary Authority 1 £362,000
    Lancashire County Council 2 £5,529,992
    Leicester Unitary Authority 3 £1,800,000
    Liverpool City Region Combined Authority 2 £14,400,000
    Medway Unitary Authority 1 £486,418
    Milton Keynes Unitary Authority 1 £1,182,516
    Norfolk County Council 2 £2,240,000
    North East Joint Transport Committee 2 £7,203,211
    North Somerset Unitary Authority 1 £417,640
    Nottingham Unitary Authority 3 £1,762,288
    Nottinghamshire County Council 2 £1,081,761
    Plymouth Unitary Authority 2 £2,480,000
    Portsmouth Unitary Authority 1 £653,580
    Reading Unitary Authority 2 £75,000
    Shropshire Unitary Authority 1 £612,800
    Slough Unitary Authority 1 £413,000
    Somerset County Council 2 £1,583,322
    Southampton Unitary Authority 2 £814,464
    South Yorkshire Combined Authority 2 £2,430,943
    Staffordshire County Council 1 £669,087
    Stoke-on-Trent Unitary Authority 1 £509,320
    Suffolk County Council 2 £7,933,216
    Surrey County Council 2 £997,843
    Swindon Unitary Authority 1 £381,500
    Tees Valley Combined Authority 2 £441,269
    Telford and Wrekin Unitary Authority 2 £1,895,772
    Thurrock Unitary Authority 1 £305,000
    Torbay Unitary Authority 1 £237,366
    Warrington Unitary Authority 2 £727,950
    Warwickshire County Council 2 £4,761,000
    West Berkshire Unitary Authority 1 £275,000
    West Midlands Combined Authority 3 £12,608,201
    West Northamptonshire Unitary Authority 1 £673,314
    West of England Combined Authority 2 £3,641,803
    West Yorkshire Combined Authority 3 £17,430,668
    Wiltshire Unitary Authority 1 £978,000
    Windsor and Maidenhead Unitary Authority 1 £262,100
    Wokingham Unitary Authority 2 £606,215
    York Unitary Authority 1 £1,103,095