Category: Press Releases

PRESS RELEASE : Major new grants now available to fund specialist care for homeless veterans [April 2023]
The press release issued by the Cabinet Office on 21 April 2023.

Up to £8m of funding from the Office for Veterans’ Affairs is now available to tackle veterans’ homelessness head on.
- Up to £8m of funding from the Office for Veterans’ Affairs is now available to tackle veterans’ homelessness head on.
- Organisations are able to bid for up to £1.5 million, over 2 years, to provide wraparound support services for issues such as mental health.
- Funding will address the complex issues faced by some homeless veterans while making sure they have access to accommodation.
The Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust (the Trust) is delighted to announce the launch of the Reducing Veteran Homelessness Programme, which will award major grants to help veterans experiencing homelessness.

Under this new programme, the Trust will award grants on behalf of the Office for Veterans’ Affairs (OVA) to projects that will provide specialist care in veterans’ accommodation.

The funding being announced today is expected to provide services for over 900 supported housing places across the UK, supporting veterans who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.

Organisations are able to bid for up to £1.5 million, over 2 years, to fund wraparound support for issues such as mental health and employment.

By providing specialised support services, we can help address the complex issues faced by some veterans while making sure they have access to accommodation, and give them a greater chance of leading a stable, healthy life so that they don’t return to being homeless in future.

Who’s it for?

The Trust is encouraging charities, housing associations and registered social housing providers to apply for a 2-year grant. We will award a small number of significant grants under this programme. To be successful in your application, you’ll need to be able to clearly demonstrate:
- that you have considerable experience in providing support to veterans who are homeless or at risk of homelessness
- that your project is adaptable to the needs of veterans, including veterans with high, medium and low-level support needs
- that your project will deliver sustainable outcomes for the veterans accessing them, so that they don’t return to being homeless in future.
It is also vital that projects are collaborative – working with others to meet the needs of veterans. Finally, you will need to show how you would work with Op FORTITUDE – the Government’s new central referral pathway for homeless veterans and veterans at risk of homelessness.

Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Johnny Mercer, said:

No one, not least those who have served this country, should be homeless. That’s why we’re providing up to £8m to fund tailored support for our veterans in hundreds of housing places across the country.

Only by helping to address the complex issues faced by some veterans, can we end veterans’ homelessness.
April 24, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Home Secretary considers new ‘sex for rent’ law [April 2023]

The press release issued by the Home Office on 21 April 2023.

A public call for evidence has been launched to establish the scale of ‘sex for rent’ in the UK and ask if existing laws protect victims.

A new law is being considered to crack down on predatory landlords exploiting vulnerable people for sex in return for free or discounted rent, the Home Secretary has announced.

The government is seeking views of victims, police and charities as part of a call for evidence launching today (21 April) to better understand the scale and nature of the abhorrent ‘sex for rent’ exchange in the UK.

‘Sex for rent’ is an arrangement where landlords exchange accommodation for free or at a discount in return for sexual relations with their tenants. This is already illegal under the Sexual Offences Act, and landlords can already be prosecuted for attempting to engage in sex for rent.

The call for evidence will look at whether these laws go far enough, or if new measures are needed to tackle the issue and better protect vulnerable people from harm.

Home Secretary, Suella Braverman said:

It’s wholly unacceptable that vulnerable people, and particularly young women, are being exploited in ‘sex for rent’ arrangements. This is an abuse of power which puts people in desperate situations and has no place in our country.

The launch of this public call for evidence brings us closer to ending this deeply harmful trend and better protecting victims.

And it is another example of how this government will not stop in our efforts to bring more sexual and domestic abusers to justice.

According to research by polling company YouGov, carried out on behalf of the housing charity Shelter, nearly 1 in 50 women in England have been propositioned for ‘sex for rent’ in the last five years.

The call for evidence, which will last for 10 weeks, seeks to gain the views of those who have been directly engaged in a ‘sex for rent’ arrangement, whether they were deceived, coerced, or compelled into it.

Among the charities expected to provide their views is National Ugly Mugs (NUM), an organisation which works to end all violence towards sex workers.

They work with numerous victims of ‘sex for rent’ abuse such as Alina*.

Case study

Alina* was struggling financially during the pandemic and was approached online by her landlord. He suggested a rental arrangement where she would provide sex and intimate photos in exchange for a reduction in her rent and utility bills.

At the time Alina wasn’t making enough money to find an alternative place to live, so she agreed. Her exploitative landlord often arrives at the property drunk and unannounced, expecting to have sex with her. He often refuses to leave and she is under constant threat of eviction and homelessness if she does not comply with his requests whenever he wants.

*This modified case study is based on a sex worker’s lived experiences as reported to the NUM research team. Personal details have been changed.

Safeguarding Minister, Sarah Dines said:

While advances in technology have brought us closer to family and friends, they can also make it easier for perpetrators to prey on vulnerable individuals, including through so-called ‘sex for rent’ arrangements.

Our pioneering Online Safety Bill will ensure social media companies take greater action in order to protect their users – but we must continue to expand our understanding of these harmful practices and what more can be done to protect those who need it.

Dr Raven Bowen, CEO of NUM said:

We welcome the ‘sex for rent’ call for evidence. As an organisation dedicated to supporting sex workers we have seen first hand the damage that this exploitative behaviour can have, especially on young women and mothers.

We support action that will clamp down on predatory landlords and we hope that this is accompanied by wider action to combat the fundamental issue of poverty and unaffordable housing that make people vulnerable to this abuse.

Deputy Chief Constable Dan Vajzovic, National Police Chiefs’ Council Lead for Prostitution and Sex Working, said:

This call for evidence is a welcome opportunity to hear from victims and stakeholders on the reality facing women. With many struggling to pay rent, they become vulnerable to predatory landlords, and it is vital we put an end to this.

Violence against women and girls in all its forms is abhorrent. Policing is going after the violent and abusive men who commit these crimes. This call for evidence offers a first step towards helping vulnerable victims of this behaviour, please come forward.

If you are ever in danger, please call 999, you will be listened to and taken seriously.

Dan Wilson Craw, Deputy Director of Generation Rent said:

This call for evidence is vital. Research conducted by Generation Rent and Mumsnet estimates that over 200,000 women could be victims of ‘Sex for Rent’ in the United Kingdom. Four per cent of all respondents indicated that they had been offered free or discounted rent in return for sexual favours, with this rising to a shocking 1 in 10 respondents with a household income below £20,000.

We know the vast majority of landlords abide by the law: seeking permission to enter and respecting their tenants’ privacy. However, given the unparalleled access landlords have to tenants’ personal spaces and lives, and the scale of the issue, this consultation is necessary in ensuring that everyone, especially the most vulnerable among us, has access to a safe and secure home, free from harassment and exploitation.

Tackling sexual exploitation and violence against women and girls is a government priority.

In July 2021 we published our new cross-government Tackling Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy to help ensure that women and girls are safe everywhere – at home, online, at work and on the streets.

The world-leading Online Safety Bill means that social media platforms will have to proactively tackle illegal content such as use of their sites to coerce and control women for sex. If they fail in these duties, they will be made to pay huge fines up to billions of pounds.

The Home Office is also working closely with Women’s Aid to provide £300,000 for one-off payments of £250 to victims of domestic abuse, rising to £500 where a victim is pregnant or has children.

The funding has been granted to support victims to leave abusive relationships, and will help victims to pay for essentials such as groceries, nappies, sanitary products and rent on their previous property whilst they are in a refuge, or it could be put towards a deposit on new accommodation when they leave a refuge.

April 24, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Government emissions slashed to deliver millions to public purse [April 2023]
The press release issued by the Cabinet Office on 21 April 2023.

The annual State of the Estate report has been published.
Overall emissions from the government down 35% since 2017

£122 million saved through reductions in energy consumption of government buildings

A major efficiency drive has seen emissions from the government fall by 35% in less than five years.

New figures, released today in the government’s annual State of the Estate Report, show that overall emissions from the government have fallen by 35% compared to 2017-18 levels, with emissions from buildings down by 10%.

The fall in energy consumption is estimated to have saved the taxpayer £122 million.

Other efficiency savings released today include:

Water consumption is down by 10% compared to 2017-18, saving the taxpayer £7.2 million

Departments sent fewer than 1% of waste to landfill in 2021-22, easily surpassing the target of 5%. Overall 92% of waste within government is recycled, exceeding the 70% target

Government has reduced its paper consumption by 61%

Cabinet Office Minister Alex Burghart said:

We want to make government more efficient in all areas, and today’s report shows that the public estate is playing its part.

We are greening our estate more and have reduced carbon emissions by 35% as we head towards net zero by 2050.

The government has committed to halve carbon emissions from the public sector by 2032, with a 75% reduction target by 2037. Today’s ‘State of the Estate 2021-2022’ report shows the government is on course to meet that target with overall emissions down 35% since 2017, and emissions from government buildings by 10%.

For example, the new Birmingham Government Hub is saving more than £2 million per year for the taxpayer by consolidating staff from 21 departments under one roof. Its location promotes green travel through local public transport networks and is designed to be accessible, inclusive, and sustainable while providing a range of places for different uses.

Figures in the report also reveal over £600 million in sales receipts for the taxpayer from government property – such as offices and NHS buildings – sold in the last 12 months, reducing the number of expensive London office spaces which are no longer needed, such as Custom House in the City of London and Windsor House in Westminster.

This is in addition to savings of £2bn which will be achieved over the next three years through the Government Property Strategy.

Disposals of sites are only considered after their potential use for wider public objectives, such as supporting local services, have been fully considered.

Since the programme was launched in 2018, the number of core buildings in Central London have reduced from 67 to 43, or by around a third.

While reducing the size of its estate, the government is also driving an agenda to make the civil service less London-centric. A number of Government Hubs have already opened or are under development, with civil servants from different departments co-locating outside central London.

To date, more than 11,000 government roles have been relocated out of London and across the UK under the Places for Growth programme. The north-west has seen the most roles created, with around 2,100 jobs previously based in London now operating from cities such as Manchester and Liverpool, generating millions in economic benefits to local areas.
April 24, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : UK sanctions FSB agents and Russian investigators behind arrest of British-Russian national Vladimir Kara-Murza [April 2023]
The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 21 April 2023.

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly has sanctioned five individuals connected to the poisoning and arrest of politician and journalist Vladimir Kara-Murza
- Russian investigators and judge involved in Vladimir Kara-Murza’s arrest sanctioned
- Two FSB agents connected to the 2015 and 2017 poisonings also sanctioned
- The UK calls for the immediate and unconditional release of Mr Kara-Murza
Foreign Secretary James Cleverly has today, Friday 21 April, sanctioned five individuals connected to the poisoning and arrest of politician and journalist Vladimir Kara-Murza, days after his politically-motivated conviction in Russia.

On Monday, Mr Kara-Murza was sentenced to 25 years in prison for charges including treason and spreading ‘knowingly false information’ about the Russian armed forces. In reality, he bravely spoke the truth about Putin’s illegal invasion of Ukraine.

Today, the UK is sanctioning Elena Lenskaya – a judge who approved Vladimir Kara-Murza’s arrest, along with Denis Kolesnikov and Andrei Zadachin – investigators involved in the arrest of Mr Kara-Murza.

FSB agents Alexander Samofal and Konstantin Kudryavtsev have also been sanctioned. The pair were members of the operational team which followed Mr Kara-Murza on multiple trips before he was poisoned both in 2015, three months after close friend and fellow opposition politician Boris Nemtsov was assassinated, and 2017.

Both have been sanctioned for their part in Russia’s egregious violation of Mr Kara-Murza’s right not to be subjected to torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment.

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said:

Russia’s treatment and conviction of Vladimir Kara-Murza once again demonstrates its utter contempt for basic human rights.

Today five individuals connected to his case have been sanctioned, sending a clear message that the UK will not stand for this treatment of one of its citizens.

The UK will continue to support Mr Kara-Murza and his family. I call on Russia to release him immediately and unconditionally.

As a result of these sanctions all these individuals will be subject to travel bans and asset freezes.

On Monday the UK summoned the Russian Ambassador and condemned the sentencing – making it clear that the UK considers Mr Kara-Murza’s conviction to be contrary to Russia’s international obligations on human rights, including the right to a fair trial.

The UK has also previously sanctioned Sergei Podoprigorov, the judge who presided over Mr Kara-Murza’s trial, and Dmitry Komnov, the head of the detention centre where Mr Kara-Murza is being held.

In January, the Minister for Europe met Mr Kara-Murza’s wife to discuss his case and treatment. FCDO officials have attended Mr Kara-Murza’s court hearings in Moscow throughout the year and officials have repeatedly raised Mr Kara-Murza’s case with the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Russian Embassy.

The UK and international partners invoked the OSCE’s Moscow Mechanism on 28 July 2022, sending a mission of experts to investigate following concerns over Russia’s repression of human rights. The September report revealed how Russia has been waging a campaign of repression against its own people.

We are taking forward the report’s recommendations, and have helped secure a United Nations Human Rights Council Special Rapporteur. They will be charged with undertaking country visits, acting on individual cases of reported violations and concerns of a broader nature, and raising public awareness and providing advice for technical cooperation.
April 24, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : New report shows impact of government’s support for cultural sector during pandemic [April 2023]
The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 21 April 2023.

A new, independent report has revealed that the Government’s unprecedented £1.57 billion package of emergency cultural funding during the pandemic was delivered efficiently, helping support nearly 220,000 jobs and 5,000 organisations.
- 5,000 organisations and sites supported through Culture Recovery Fund
- Almost 220,000 jobs supported thanks to Government funding
- Report shows cultural organisations are better placed to have a strong future thanks to the support they received
A new, independent report has revealed that the Government’s unprecedented £1.57 billion package of emergency cultural funding during the pandemic was delivered efficiently, helping support nearly 220,000 jobs and 5,000 organisations.

The report, from Ecorys, provides clear evidence that the Culture Recovery Fund worked, helping to safeguard important institutions, protect jobs and preserve our country’s world-class cultural offering.

It shows that the Culture Recovery Fund increased the income of supported cultural organisations by 140% during the pandemic. This helped not only to ensure their survival but to bring in audiences in new and innovative ways while organisations were closed or social distancing restrictions were in place.

It also found that, once organisations were able to reopen as normal, they often did so with a new and improved offering thanks to the support they received from the Culture Recovery Fund, which was delivered in partnership with Arts Council England, the British Film Institute, the National Lottery Heritage Fund, and Historic England.

The Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, said:

“ This report reaffirms that the Recovery Fund was money well spent. It protected our finest cultural institutions from collapse, saved countless jobs across the country and put the entire cultural sector on a stronger footing for the future.

“ As a direct result of this support, many organisations are now attracting new audiences with an improved offering, and their strengthened financial position means they are better placed to meet the challenges of tomorrow.

“ Our world-leading cultural sector is helping to drive economic growth, one of our five priorities, creating better-paid jobs and opportunity right across the country. It has a special place in our national life and I am proud that it continues to thrive under this government.”

Arts & Heritage Minister Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay said:

“ The pandemic posed an existential threat to much-loved cultural institutions right across the country, and the brilliant people who work in them showed incredible resilience in the face of those challenges. I am proud of the way the Government stood by them, taking decisive action to protect them during lockdown and to support them when restrictions eased.

“ Since the pandemic, I’ve had the pleasure of visiting many organisations which received this support – the largest ever investment in arts and culture in this country – and have been delighted to see how it has enabled theatres, museums, music venues, cinemas, galleries, heritage sites and more to bounce back and welcome people through their doors again to do the things we all love.

“ This report provides evidence of the thousands of organisations the Culture Recovery Fund saved and the hundreds of thousands of jobs it supported. Everyone can be proud of the positive impact it had.”

The Culture Recovery Fund was unveiled by the then Chancellor Rishi Sunak in July 2020 as the Government took action to support our fantastic cultural sector as it dealt with the unprecedented challenges posed by the pandemic. It protected iconic national institutions like the London Symphony Orchestra and the Royal Shakespeare Company, cherished heritage sites like Moseley Road Baths, and smaller cultural organisations which play a vital and cherished role in communities across the country.

When the fund was introduced, organisations were in urgent need of support as their traditional income streams collapsed. The report found that the fund was delivered rapidly, and evolved as the pandemic progressed to meet ever-changing needs across the cultural sector.

More than 65% of funding was awarded to organisations outside London, and the report has found that the spending of supported organisations was 37% higher than it would have been in the absence of the programme, resulting in a total of £612 million of additional expenditure. This extra cash helped to keep the wider cultural ecosystem going while restrictions remained in place.

Cash reserves of supported organisations were also boosted by 188% compared to what they would have been in the absence of the Culture Recovery Fund, meaning that jobs were saved in the sector and organisations were brought back from the brink.

Since the pandemic, new challenges have emerged for the cultural sector, such as global inflation. This report also highlights how, thanks to the fund, recipients were better placed to meet these challenges head-on because of their improved financial positions.

The cultural sector creates jobs and drives economic growth through regeneration and the visitor economy, and the Culture Recovery Fund played a vital role in ensuring the sector can robustly deal with challenges in the future.

Arts Council England chief executive Darren Henley CBE said:

“ The Government’s Culture Recovery Fund was an unprecedented investment in the cultural life of our country. Its support for cultural organisations across the country helped to preserve the vital infrastructure of our cultural economy, and put the sector in a stronger position to face the challenges of the post-pandemic world. We are extremely grateful for this support, which shows that the Government recognises the unique contribution that culture makes to our communities, economy and national life.”

Historic England chairman Sir Laurie Magnus said:

“ Historic places, heritage organisations and skilled craftspeople across the country were supported by the Government’s Culture Recovery Fund during the darkest days of the pandemic. This funding was a lifeline, helping to save much-loved visitor attractions, thousands of jobs and the specialist skills needed to keep the wheels of heritage turning. Thanks to this support, many precious historic places can continue to offer a sense of pride, wonder and connection, both now and for generations to come.”

BFI Chair Tim Richards said:

“ As an industry we’re hugely grateful for the support provided by the Government’s Culture Recovery Fund to independent cinemas during the pandemic. The funding has enabled many to continue to play their vital role within communities across the country providing jobs, a platform for diverse content and shared social experiences that are proven to be good for mental wellbeing. Despite the steady recovery we’re seeing in the sector, the wider economic climate remains exceptionally challenging to many so the need to support Britain’s world-class film culture is as important as ever.”

Chairman of National Heritage Lottery Fund Dr Simon Thurley CBE said:

“ We welcome this evaluation, which shows the massive impact of the Culture Recovery Fund in helping heritage and culture to survive. The heritage sector faced serious risks and challenges in the pandemic. We responded speedily to distribute £50 million emergency funding from National Lottery players, but the needs of the sector required significantly more funding, and the Culture Recovery Fund from DCMS was a lifeline. We were delighted to be to play a pivotal role, in partnership with Historic England, to support our precious heritage. We are proud of the speed, depth and scale of collaboration by everyone involved in mobilising support for endangered places we all love. We are pleased this report shows the positive and lasting impact of that work.”

Neil Mendoza, Commissioner for Culture and Culture Recovery Board member, said:

“ In my role as Commissioner for Culture I have travelled up and down the country, and met countless recipients of Culture Recovery Fund support. Everywhere I go, I hear the same – that without this funding, organisations would not have survived, or would not be able to meet today’s challenges with the same confidence and creativity. It is wonderful to read today how this formal evaluation confirms that the fund had a really positive impact on the culture and creativity that we cherish in our country.”
April 24, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Best of British business celebrated as the first King’s Awards for Enterprise Recipients revealed [April 2023]
The press release issued by the Department for Business and Trade on 21 April 2023.

148 recipients announced in The King’s Awards for Enterprise – the UK’s most prestigious business awards.
- Winners include Fever-Tree Drinks, the UK’s largest soft drinks exporter and Scotland’s Bravest Manufacturing Company, which provides opportunities for military veterans.
- Applications for The King’s Awards for Enterprise 2024 open on Coronation Day, 6th May 2023.
The first ever recipients of The King’s Awards for Enterprise have been announced today (21 April), celebrating the achievements of UK businesses.

This year, 148 businesses representing every part of the United Kingdom and a diverse range of sectors have been recognised by His Majesty The King as among the best in the country awards.

Businesses like these are central to delivering on one of the Government’s five priorities to grow our economy – from creating new opportunities and supporting people into work through to developing new innovations and exporting the best of Britain around the world.

Minister for Enterprise Kevin Hollinrake said:

I congratulate the first ever recipients of The King’s Awards for Enterprise, who exemplify the talent, innovation, and entrepreneurial spirit of British business.

I wish them every success and commend the invaluable contributions they make to communities both at home and overseas, helping to grow the UK economy.

This year’s winners include:
- Fever-Tree Drinks, based in London, are the UK’s largest soft drink exporter. The company’s premium mixers are distributed in more than 90 countries worldwide, with teams in key regions including the US, Canada, France, Italy, Germany, Australia, New Zealand and Japan. The company receives The King’s Award for International Trade for Outstanding Continuous Growth in overseas sales over the last six years.
- Scotland’s Bravest Manufacturing Company, a social enterprise based in Renfrewshire that provides employment opportunities to injured military veterans and people with disabilities. They have been awarded The King’s Award for Promoting Opportunity.
- Naturaw Pet Food Ltd. a Yorkshire based manufacturer of natural unprocessed, raw meat-based dog food produced in a solar powered factory. The company has developed completely plastic-free packaging, and sources all their high welfare meat from Britain, ensuring the highest level of animal welfare and low food miles. They have been awarded The King’s Award for Sustainable Development.
The King’s Awards for Enterprise was previously known as The Queen’s Awards for Enterprise, and the new name reflects His Majesty The King’s desire to continue the legacy of Queen Elizabeth II by recognising outstanding UK businesses. The Award programme, now in its 57th year, has awarded over 7,000 companies since its inception in 1965.

This year’s King’s Awards for Enterprise are given for outstanding achievement in:
- Innovation (47)
- International trade (78)
- Sustainable development (15)
- Promoting opportunity (through social mobility) (9)
His Majesty’s Lord Lieutenants will be presenting the Awards to businesses locally throughout the year.

Eligible businesses are free to apply for one or more categories. The recipients pass a robust assessment process, judged by experts from industry, academia, the voluntary sector and senior officials in Whitehall.

On that basis, each year, The King’s Awards for Enterprise recipients are recommended by the Prime Minister.

The full list of Awardees across the four categories can be found in the London Gazette.
April 24, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Report of the Head of OSCE Mission to Skopje [April 2023]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 20 April 2023.

Ambassador Neil Bush responds to the report presentation by Ambassador Kilian Wahl, Head of the OSCE Mission to Skopje.

Thank you, Mr Chair.

Firstly, I would like to welcome Ambassador Wahl to the Permanent Council for the first time since taking on the role as Head of Mission in November. Thank you for the work of your team over the last year, and for this comprehensive report.

The United Kingdom highly appreciates the work and added value of the OSCE Mission to Skopje – in particular the Mission’s support to government reforms, monitoring of security-related developments, and your early action to address emerging issues. I was delighted to be able to visit the Mission in February and hear first-hand about your programme activity and engagement with civil society in North Macedonia.

We positively note the achievements of the Mission over the past 12 months, set out in detail in your report. In particular, we welcome your continued activity to promote social cohesion – including your assistance in implementation of the government’s ‘National Strategy for One Society and Inter-culturalism’. We similarly appreciate your connected work on integrated education, particularly in supporting the city of Skopje in implementing joint curricula classes in different languages, and in assisting the drafting of the government’s Concept for General Secondary Education – which incorporates the principles of anti-discrimination, gender equality, inclusion and inter-ethnic integration. These are essential principles in any society.

The UK welcomes the Mission’s achievements this year on anti-corruption, including the training of municipal integrity officers, and engagement in regional trial monitoring to combat organised crime and corruption in the wider Western Balkans region. We also highly value the Mission’s continued engagement on countering terrorism, including your capacity building on conducting effective online monitoring – helping to safeguard North Macedonia’s national security interests.

Ambassador Wahl, we are again pleased to see the Mission’s continued focus on gender, and welcome the Mission’s progress on mainstreaming a gender perspective into programmatic work. Your report highlights some excellent initiatives, such as training and mentorship programmes for female police officers to strengthen their skills for future leadership roles, the Mission’s efforts to analyse the gender aspects of corruption, and your support to the drafting of North Macedonia’s new Gender Equality Law. We commend the Mission’s continued engagement on gender issues, and encourage a sustained focus in the coming year.

Mr Chair, I would like to take this opportunity to also recognise the role of the Mission to Skopje in supporting North Macedonia in delivering its priorities as OSCE Chair-in-Office in 2023, including in the delivery of events such as the Skopje Conference on Addressing Anti-Semitism, in February.

The UK reiterates our strong support for North Macedonia’s priorities and continued efforts as Chair, including towards agreeing a Unified Budget for 2023 – which remains essential to the effective running of all field operations and institutions. You can rely on the continued support of the UK in addressing these shared challenges.

Thank you, Ambassador Wahl. Thank you, Mr Chair.

April 24, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : 57th round of Geneva International Discussions – UK statement to the OSCE [April 2023]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 20 April 2023.

Ambassador Bush voices strong UK support for the Geneva International Discussions (GID) as well as for Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Thank you, Mr Chair. The United Kingdom continues to strongly support the Geneva International Discussions (GID) and the work of the GID Co-Chairs against a highly challenging geopolitical environment. As the only international forum that brings together all sides from the conflict, the GID plays a vital role in trying to achieve a lasting resolution.

The UK reaffirms full support for Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders. We call on the Russian Federation to reverse its recognition of the so-called independence of Georgia’s Abkhazia and South Ossetia regions. We applaud Georgia’s commitment not to use force in resolving the conflict and condemn any suggestion that Georgia or its allies, including the UK, would seek a military solution against Russian aggression.

We welcome local level collaboration that achieves tangible results for those living within the conflict-affected area through the Ergneti Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism and partial reopening of the two crossing points in the South Ossetia region. However, we regret that important issues, including Internally Displaced Persons, refugees, water, and gas were not discussed by the working groups following a walkout by some of the participants, and we call for the full re-opening of crossing points.

We also call upon the Russian Federation to immediately fulfil its obligation under the ceasefire agreement to withdraw its forces to pre-conflict positions, to fulfil its commitments to allow unfettered access for the delivery of humanitarian assistance and to cease all borderization tactics. Thank you.

April 24, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Imprisonment of Vladimir Kara-Murza: Joint Statement to the OSCE [April 2023]
The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 20 April 2023.

Canadian Ambassador Jocelyn Kinnear gives a statement on behalf of four OSCE participating States on prosecution and imprisonment of Vladimir Kara-Murza.
Madam Chair, I am delivering this statement on behalf of Canada, Iceland, Norway, and the United Kingdom.

We are deeply alarmed by the prosecution of opposition politician Vladimir Kara-Murza, who was sentenced this week to 25 years’ imprisonment on politically motivated charges of treason, discrediting the armed forces and assisting an undesirable organization.

We firstly want to pay tribute to Mr Kara-Murza, a champion for human rights and opposition voices, who has shown immense courage in speaking out against the aggression of the Russian state. I also want to recognise his wife, Evgenia, and commend her on her tireless efforts to promote her husband’s cause.

These charges were brought against Mr. Kara-Murza for engaging in legitimate criticism of the political situation in Russia. As he himself observed in his closing statement to the court – he is in jail for his political views, for speaking out against the war in Ukraine and against Putin’s regime.

It is evident that Russia continues to completely disregard respect for democratic principles and for universal human rights—including freedom of speech—in relation to its own people and to others around the world. This court ruling is yet another violation of Russia’s international human rights obligations.

The Kremlin’s persecution of opposition voices and civil society actors is an abhorrent effort to silence those who hold Russia accountable for it actions.

In addition to Mr. Kara-Murza’s sentencing, this month has also seen:

the closure of Moscow’s Sakharov Center;

the designation of yet more civil society actors as “foreign agents” and “undesirable organizations” including Norwegian non-governmental ecological organization Bellona;

the blocking of websites, including Canada’s MacDonald-Laurier Institute, the Woodrow Wilson International Science Center, and the British Royal Institute of International Affairs (Chatham House);

the prosecution of multiple individuals for anti-war commentary.

The Kremlin has further continued in its attempts to intimidate, harass and silence independent journalists, including through the detention of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich.

We look forward to wholeheartedly supporting the work of the newly appointed UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Russia and we will ensure Russia does not discredit their findings.

Tragically, we could name dozens of other political prisoners. But today Mr. Kara-Murza stands as a symbol of the courageous and principled defence of democratic values and human rights in Russia. The Kremlin’s attempts to silence its domestic critics only makes their voices more powerful.

We will therefore join others amplifying his voice and quote from his closing statement to the court:

“But I also know that the day will come when the darkness over our country will dissipate. When black is called black and white is called white; when at the official level it will be recognized that two times two is still four; when a war is called a war, and a usurper a usurper; and when those who kindled and unleashed this war, and not those who tried to stop it, are recognized as criminals. This day will come as inevitably as spring comes to replace even the most frosty winter.”

We stand with the people of Russia who are fighting for democracy and human rights.

We will continue to press for a better future for the Russian people and we call upon the Russian government to respect its human rights obligations and to allow dissenting voices to express their views without fear of persecution.

Thank you very much, Madam Chair.
April 24, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : ‘Severe consequences’ for cladding companies who refuse to remediate, government warns investors [April 2023]
The press release issued by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities on 20 April 2023.

Housing Secretary warns cladding shareholders of “severe consequences” for manufacturers if they do not bring forward comprehensive remediation package.
Shareholders in three cladding companies, whose shocking practices were uncovered in evidence heard at the Grenfell Inquiry, have been warned by the government that the manufacturers they invest in will face “severe consequences” if they do not come forward with a comprehensive financial package to fix unsafe buildings.

Michael Gove has written to investors in Kingspan, Arconic, and Saint-Gobain and urged them to use their “position of influence” to encourage the firms to “engage constructively in helping us reach a just resolution for all concerned.” Shareholders who received letters include Blackrock, Vanguard, and Fidelity Management and Research, as well as investors like Norges Bank, the central bank of Norway, who tell their employees it is important to promote “a high level of ethical awareness and integrity” in their work.

Shareholders were warned that if the manufacturers do not come forward with a comprehensive financial package, then the focus of the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities “will be trained upon them” and “the consequences for that firm are likely to be severe.”

The letters add that there will likely be consequences for shareholders’ reputations, in addition to their financial stake, if he is forced to use “the legal and commercial tools available” to ensure the position of the cladding companies “becomes extremely uncomfortable.” Mr Gove also said he is considering whether further tools will need to be handed to regulators or the government.

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

I have always been clear that those responsible for the building safety crisis must pay. But despite the fact that their products continue to put lives at risk, some cladding firms have no intention of doing what’s right and addressing their moral and financial obligations to innocent residents.

Today we ask responsible investors to use their influence to encourage these companies to come forward immediately with a comprehensive financial package for remediation work. It cannot be right that cladding companies continue to profit whilst so many innocent, hardworking people face financial hardship and misery.

To those cladding companies who fail to do the right thing: you will face severe consequences and I will use all commercial and legal tools available to me to ensure you take responsibility.

To date, the three construction product manufacturers – who together were responsible for manufacturing the majority of cladding used on the Grenfell Tower – have not contributed a penny to the cost of fixing buildings in the United Kingdom that their products have made unsafe. Evidence at the Grenfell Inquiry uncovered shocking behaviour by the three companies, including the sale of flammable products that were wholly inappropriate for their end use, apparent mis-selling of construction products through inaccurate marketing information, and misappropriating safety test results thereby perpetuating the sale of high-risk products on the market.

The Secretary of State wrote to the bosses of Kingspan, Arconic and Saint-Gobain over the last month to ask them to meet officials from his department and explain how they will scope, identify, and pay for remediation works. The invitation followed Kingspan saying publicly that they would be willing to pay for remediation costs where its products had been used inappropriately. While Kingspan agreed to meet DLUHC officials, none have yet committed to any new remediation funding.

Efforts to make cladding companies pay are proceeding in tandem with measures used by the Department to ensure developers and freeholders contribute to remediation costs of unsafe buildings.

As of today, there are 46 signatories on the landmark Developer Remediation Contract, which for the first time in law commits developers to fixing all life-critical fire-safety defects in English buildings over 11 metres they had a role in developing or refurbishing. Further to this, the Department’s Recovery Strategy Unit has ramped up litigation against irresponsible freeholders who will not remediate buildings they are responsible for, including recently against GreyGR, owned by billion-pound railway pension fund RailPen.

The Department is also publishing today an Independent Review by Paul Morrell and Anneliese Day KC, looking at the current testing regime for construction products.

The report was commissioned in response to evidence heard by the Grenfell Tower Public Inquiry about the behaviours of manufacturers and those responsible for advising on the fire-performance of products, including serious failings in the system for testing construction products that involved cladding.

Peter Caplehorn, Chief Executive of the Construction Products Association, commenting on the report said:

We are very pleased to see the publication of this Review. Paul has immense experience from the many senior roles he has played in both industry and government. We respect him for his intellect, understanding and objective approach to the challenges facing our industry.

This report should be required reading for policy-makers and industry leaders alike, coming at a critical time not only for the future of the UK product testing and certification sector, but for the wider culture and practices of UK construction as well. The recommendations cover a wide range of urgent issues, and the CPA and its members will be focusing on developing the necessary responses and actions in consultation with department officials.

“It is also very pleasing to see solid support for the work we are doing in developing and implementing the Code for Construction Product Information, a fundamental foundation for reform in the sector.”

The Department will carefully consider the recommendations of the Independent Review and we will set out proposals for reforms in due course.

The full Independent Review can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/independent-review-of-the-construction-product-testing-regime

Further information

Letters will be sent to investors including Vanguard, Blackrock, Fidelity Management and Research, Norges Bank and Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations.
April 24, 2023