Category: Press Releases

PRESS RELEASE : Moscow Mechanism report on deportation of Ukrainian children – UK statement to the OSCE [May 2023]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 4 May 2023.

Acting Ambassador Deirdre Brown welcomes the OSCE Moscow Mechanism report and calls for an immediate end to deportation of Ukrainian children by Russia.

Thank you, Mr Chair. I wish to make a statement in my national capacity, to supplement the statement delivered by the Ambassador of Finland.

Dr Hellestveit and Dr Šteinerte – welcome to the Permanent Council. Professor Bilkova – welcome back. Thank you for your expertise, independence and diligence in providing such a comprehensive report on this distressing issue.

Mr Chair, the United Kingdom strongly supported the invocation of the first and second Moscow Mechanisms in Ukraine, which highlighted the truly terrible humanitarian impacts of Russia’s invasion. This third report has further exposed the abhorrent actions carried out at the behest of the Russian leadership.

While the independent authors of the report were not able to ascertain the exact number of children deported so far, the report indicates figures in the several thousands, with the true figure likely to be far higher. Several thousands of children – taken away from their homes, families and friends – and forcibly placed in strange and unfamiliar environments, exposed to yet more trauma caused by Russia’s inhumane practices.

Mr Chair, the report makes clear that these children were mostly deported without the consent of their parents or guardians. Many were separated from their families at filtration centres, removed from institutions, or simply never returned from so-called ‘recreation camps’. Moreover, the report makes explicit that, in violation of international humanitarian law, there is no functioning mechanism for the reunification of children with their relatives, or repatriation to Ukraine. Rather Russia has created obstacles to the return of these children.

We simply cannot imagine the pain this inflicts on the children, parents and families involved. At one filtration point, Russian forces separated a father from his 3 children – aged just 12, 7 and 5 years old. The 12-year-old was able to contact his father to inform him he had just 5 days to collect them, or they and their siblings would be placed in an institution or adopted. A single mother sent her son to a so-called ‘recreation camp’, only for the Russian authorities to subsequently refuse to return him. The mother was forced instead to travel to Russia twice before the Russian authorities would release her son. These are just 2 stories of thousands. Many families still do not know the whereabouts of their children at all.

Mr Chair, Russia’s intention is clear. It is attempting to forcibly and permanently alter the demographic makeup of Ukraine. It is attempting to erase Ukrainian identity and culture, and it is attempting to erase Ukraine’s future. The independent authors of the report received numerous reports suggesting children in the temporarily Russian-controlled territories and, especially in the Russian Federation, are exposed to pro-Russian information campaigns often amounting to targeted re-education.

Moreover, the report outlines the clear steps Russia has taken to simplify the process for changing the citizenship of orphaned or unaccompanied Ukrainian children. We are deeply concerned that the easing of requirements for obtaining Russian citizenship may be used to facilitate adoptions.

Mr Chair, the report concluded that the Russian Federation has committed numerous and overlapping violations of the rights of the children deported, including their right to identity, family, education and liberty. Russia must immediately cease the practice of forcible transfer or deportation of Ukrainian children to temporarily Russian-controlled territories and to the Russian Federation. We demand immediate, safe and unfettered access of humanitarian organisations to all places were children who have been forcibly transferred or deported are residing. We demand the immediate return of all affected Ukrainian children. And, we vow to Ukraine’s children and their families, that the UK will do all in our power to ensure those responsible face justice.

May 8, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Moscow Mechanism report on deportation of Ukrainian children – joint statement [May 2023]
The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 4 May 2023.

Vesa Häkkinen, Finnish Ambassador to the OSCE, gives a statement on behalf of 45 OSCE participating States on the Russian deportation of children from Ukraine.
Mr Chairperson, I am delivering this statement on behalf of 45 participating States: Albania, Andorra, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada, Georgia, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, San Marino, Serbia, Switzerland, Türkiye, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the European Union member states.

Being gravely concerned by the continuing impacts of Russia’s ongoing aggression against Ukraine, in particular on the civilian population, including children, our delegations invoked the Moscow Mechanism on 30 March 2023. We requested ODIHR to inquire of Ukraine whether it would invite a mission of experts to ‘establish the facts and circumstances surrounding:

possible contraventions of relevant OSCE commitments

violations and abuses of human rights, and violations of International Humanitarian Law and international human rights law

as well as possible cases of war crimes and crimes against humanity

associated with or resulting from the forcible transfer of children within parts of Ukraine’s territory temporarily controlled or occupied by Russia and/or their deportation to the Russian Federation.’

We are very grateful to the Moscow Mechanism rapporteurs, Professor Bilkova, Dr Hellestveit and Dr Šteinerte, for producing such a thorough and professional report. While we are still reviewing the report in detail, it is clear that the mission’s findings confirmed our serious cause for concern.

The report states that while the Mission has not been able to establish the exact number of deported or transferred children, ‘it is clear that these numbers are measured in several thousands’. The total number may be much higher still, as ‘both the Russian Federation and Ukraine indicate figures amounting to hundreds of thousands of children’.

Further, the report states ‘non-consensual evacuations, transfers and prolonged displacement of Ukrainian children constitute violations of International Humanitarian Law, and in certain cases amount to grave breaches of the Geneva Convention IV and war crimes’. The rapporteurs are of the understanding that ‘it is common procedure to separate parents and children at filtration points’ that have been ‘established by the Russian occupational authorities’, a practice that we are particularly appalled by.

The Mission states that it ‘has been able to establish with certainty that by and large the deportation of children cannot be qualified as voluntary’. Worryingly, the rapporteurs concluded that ‘the practice of the forcible transfer and/or deportation of Ukrainian children to the temporarily occupied territories and to the territory of the Russian Federation may amount to a crime against humanity’.

What is more, the Mission found that ‘numerous and overlapping violations of the rights of the children deported to the Russian Federation have taken place’, including denying ‘their right to identity, their right to family, their right to unite with their family’. The rapporteurs conclude that Russia has ‘manifestly violated the best interests of these children repeatedly’.

Finally, the Mission states that far from adhering to its obligation under International Humanitarian Law to facilitate the return of children, Russia ‘creates various obstacles for families seeking to get their children back’. This constitutes ‘a violation of the Geneva Conventions that exacerbates the gravity of other violations’.

Mr Chairperson, OSCE participating States have committed ‘to actively promote children’s rights and interests, especially in conflict and post-conflict situations’ (Istanbul 1999). Children are among the most vulnerable in times of war and require special attention and safeguarding. It is clear from the report that Ukrainian children have been left without this safeguarding. To the Russian Federation, we would like to highlight the following recommendations from the report:

to immediately cease the practices of forcible transfer of Ukraine’s children within temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine and/or their forcible deportation to the Russian Federation

without delay provide comprehensive lists of the names and whereabouts of all children who have been forcibly transferred or deported

establish appropriate procedures for and actively assist family reunifications of all children who have been forcibly transferred or deported from Ukraine

immediately cease the current practice of expedited admission into the Russian citizenship of Ukrainians, especially children

We, the invoking states, take note of the Mission’s recommendation to other states and the international community and encourage all other participating States to do the same. Recommendations include supporting Ukraine to locate children who have been forcibly transferred or deported, with a view to enable their return.

Mr Chairperson, this report is clear. Russia must return the children of Ukraine, to Ukraine, now.
May 8, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Russian leadership is not serious about peace in Ukraine – UK statement to the OSCE [May 2023]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 4 May 2023.

Acting Ambassador Brown says that if Russia wanted peace, it would stop bombing Ukraine’s civilian population, demonstrate commitment to the Black Sea Grain Initiative and cease its campaign of disinformation.

Thank you, Mr Chair. Last week, in this room, the Russian Federation argued that it wants to see peace in Ukraine. We heard the Russian representative talk of “missed diplomatic opportunities” being measured in human lives and suffering. But let us be clear, Russia showed us clearly in the run up to the start of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine that it was not serious about engaging in diplomacy – it was focused only on deceit and furthering its territorial ambitions. And since then, Russia has shown us – week in and week out – that it is not serious about peace.

No-one wants peace more than Ukraine. Innocent Ukrainian people, who last Friday woke to the sound of missiles striking Uman and Dnipro. In Uman, six children were reported to be amongst those killed when Russian missiles hit a high-rise residential building. This was the first major wave of cruise missile strikes against Ukraine since early March, and followed drone strikes across several cities, including Kyiv and Odesa, in April, and further missile strikes affecting civilian infrastructure and residential areas in Kharkiv. This – the true face of Russia’s war effort – shows us that the Russian leadership is simply not serious about peace.

If Russia wanted peace, it would not be bombing Ukraine’s civilian population. Russia would not be targeting Ukraine’s critical civilian infrastructure, including power generation and hospitals. Russia would not have illegally seized control of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, subjecting its staff to horrific treatment, and increasing the risk of a nuclear incident which could threaten citizens of Ukraine and neighbouring countries. And certainly, as satellite imagery has revealed, Russia would not have constructed fighting positions on the Plant’s nuclear reactors. If Russia was serious about peace, it would withdraw all military personnel and equipment from the Plant, ensure its safe operation and return full control to its rightful owner – Ukraine.

If Russia was serious about peace, it would demonstrate its commitment to the Black Sea Grain Initiative, which has helped stabilise global food prices and alleviated a global food crisis severely exacerbated by Russia’s illegal war. Russia would stop using food as a weapon, by stopping threats to unilaterally leave the initiative and agree to a more sustainable, stable deal and unhindered inspections of those vessels waiting to join.

If Russia wanted a peaceful end to this war, it would cease the campaign of disinformation that it has peddled since the run-up to the full-scale invasion. It is clear that Russia aims to sow discord, obfuscate its responsibility for actions in Ukraine, and pin blame on the West and Ukraine’s partners. In this forum, and others, the UK will continue to call out Russia’s lies to ensure the world knows the true motives behind this illegal invasion.

In closing, Mr Chair, when Russia is serious about an end to its war, it must immediately cease attacks against Ukraine – including harming both critical national infrastructure and innocent civilians – and withdraw its forces from the entire territory of Ukraine. As long as Russia’s aggression persists, the United Kingdom will seize every opportunity to put pressure on Russia to stop its barbaric war, to expose Russia’s lies and to support Ukraine to protect and defend Ukraine’s sovereignty.

Thank you.

May 8, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Parents urged to check children’s MMR vaccine records following rise in measles cases [May 2023]

The press release issued by the UK Health Security Agency on 4 May 2023.

Parents are being asked to check children are fully up to date with their measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccinations by checking their vaccine record in their red book.

Data published today by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) shows there has been a rise in measles cases.

Between 1 January and 20 April this year, there have been 49 cases of measles compared to 54 cases in the whole of 2022. Most of the cases have been in London, although there have been cases picked up across the country and some are linked to travel abroad.

Measles is a highly infectious disease that can lead to serious problems such as pneumonia, meningitis, and on rare occasions, long-term disability or death. Symptoms include a high fever, sore red watery eyes and a blotchy red-brown rash, and it is particularly easy to catch in environments when in close contact with others.

In recent years, the number of children vaccinated against measles has fallen. Uptake for the first dose of the MMR vaccine – which protects against measles, mumps and rubella – in children aged 2 years in England is 89% and uptake of 2 MMR doses in children aged 5 years is 85%. This is well below the 95% target set by the World Health Organization (WHO), which is necessary to achieve and maintain elimination.

During the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, uptake for routine childhood immunisations has fallen globally, leaving many children unprotected from serious infections and countries at increased risk of outbreaks. Measles is now circulating in many countries around the world and WHO has warned that Europe is likely to see a resurgence unless countries catch-up children who missed out.

Children are offered the first dose of the MMR vaccine when aged one year and the second dose aged 3 years 4 months. UKHSA is urging parents of young children, teenagers and adults to check they are up to date with their MMR vaccines, particularly before they travel this summer and before attending summer festivals where measles can spread more easily.

Healthcare professionals have been alerted to the recent rise in cases and asked to be vigilant to further cases whilst also working with communities to increase vaccination uptake.

Dr Vanessa Saliba, Consultant Epidemiologist at UKHSA, said:

We are calling on all parents and guardians to make sure their children are up to date with their 2 MMR doses. It’s never too late to catch up, and you can get the MMR vaccine for free on the NHS whatever your age.

Vaccines are our best line of defence against diseases like measles, mumps and rubella and help stop outbreaks occurring in the community.

Measles spreads very easily and can lead to complications that require a stay in hospital and on rare occasions can cause lifelong disability or death, so it is very concerning to see cases starting to pick up this year.

During the COVID-19 pandemic we saw a fall in uptake for the routine childhood vaccinations, including MMR which leaves us vulnerable to outbreaks, especially as people travel abroad for summer holidays to places where measles is more common.

Measles is a highly infectious viral illness, so anyone with symptoms is advised to stay at home and phone their GP or NHS 111 for advice before visiting the surgery or A&E. This will help to prevent the illness spreading further.

NHS Director of Vaccinations and Screening, Steve Russell, said:

The NHS has an inspiring history of successful vaccination programmes that have proven time and time again they are the best tool in our arsenal against the spread of highly infectious diseases and since vaccination for measles cases was introduced, over 4,500 lives have been saved.

The MMR vaccine has helped prevent the development of potentially life-threatening illness among millions, and it is clear that when uptake falls, infections rise, so I strongly urge parents to review the status of their child’s vaccinations so they can keep them and others protected from measles, mumps and rubella.

To see if your child is up to date with their MMR vaccines, check your child’s personal child health record (PCHR), known as the red book, or contact your GP practice. If anyone has missed one or both doses of the MMR vaccine, contact your GP practice to book an appointment. It is never too late to catch up.

May 8, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Negotiations begin for a new medicine pricing scheme [May 2023]
The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 4 May 2023.

The government, NHS England and the pharmaceutical industry will begin negotiating the successor to the voluntary scheme for branded medicines, pricing and access (VPAS).
Negotiations for a new voluntary scheme for branded medicines pricing to open between the government, NHS England and the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) today

Parties are negotiating an agreement that supports better patient outcomes and a healthier population, a financially sustainable NHS, while also supporting economic growth

A new voluntary scheme is expected to take effect from 1 January 2024, replacing the current scheme which ends on 31 December 2023

Negotiations for the successor to the voluntary scheme for branded medicines, pricing and access (VPAS) will begin today [Thursday 4 May] between the government, NHS England and the pharmaceutical industry.

For over 65 years the government and the pharmaceutical industry have worked together to help manage the affordability of medicines for the NHS and ensure rapid access and uptake of new medicines for patients, while also supporting the UK’s life sciences sector so that it can continue to deliver new innovations and economic growth.

In their first meeting, the government, NHS England and industry – represented by the ABPI – are expected to agree to a shared negotiation aim of working toward a mutually beneficial agreement that supports better patient outcomes and a healthier population, a financially sustainable NHS, and UK economic growth.

The success of the negotiations will be determined through securing a new voluntary scheme that:

promotes better patient outcomes and a healthier population, by:

securing NHS patients rapid access to new clinically and cost-effective medicines, through streamlined approvals and better commercial and funding arrangements which reward innovation, so that the UK is an internationally competitive location for launching new medicines

tackling unwarranted variation in the use, and patient access to, approved medicines across the country

encouraging the development of the innovative and cost-effective medicines

supports UK economic growth, by:

supporting the UK’s life sciences industry to help drive economic growth, particularly through its investment in research and development and clinical research

ensuring that the commercial environment for branded medicine suppliers to the NHS helps make the UK an internationally competitive place to invest

delivering a net benefit to the UK economy overall

contributes to a financially sustainable NHS by:

keeping the price of branded medicines affordable for the NHS

supporting the NHS and industry to develop sustainable financial and investment strategies

delivering value for money for the taxpayer and the NHS by securing resilient provision of safe and effective medicines at reasonable prices, and encouraging efficient competition in medicines supply

Health Minister, Will Quince, said:

These negotiations will ensure a new scheme continues to deliver value for money by providing significant savings for our health services, securing access to innovative lifesaving drugs for NHS patients, and helping to reduce waiting times – one of the Prime Minister’s 5 priorities.

The current voluntary scheme supports investment in NHS services and saves billions of pounds for the NHS, while also promoting innovations and a successful life sciences sector.

It’s vitally important that the successor to the current scheme delivers for the taxpayer, patients, the NHS, and life sciences.

Richard Torbett, Chief Executive at the ABPI, said:

These negotiations provide an opportunity to secure the UK’s place as a global leader in life science research and medical innovation while also ensuring the best outcomes for UK patients and a thriving economy.

Working together, we can boost UK science and create the conditions for innovative medicines to deliver their true value as an investment in the nation’s health, wealth, and productivity.

Sir Hugh Taylor, who chaired the Accelerated Access Review in 2014 to bring innovative technologies to the NHS, was appointed last month as Chief Negotiations Advisor for the VPAS scheme.

Sir Hugh Taylor, said:

The future voluntary scheme must continue to benefit the NHS and give its patients access to the best medicines, while supporting our life sciences sector.

I’m looking forward to reaching an agreement which not only benefits the NHS but will also encourage the pharmaceutical sector to continue investing in the UK.

The current scheme – which came into force in 2019 – is due to expire at the end of 2023. Negotiations are due to conclude in the autumn ahead of the new scheme starting on 1 January 2024.
May 8, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : 43rd Universal Periodic Review – UK statement on The Bahamas [May 2023]
The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 4 May 2023.

The UK delivered a statement during The Bahamas’ Universal Periodic Review (UPR) at the Human Rights Council in Geneva.
The United Kingdom commends The Bahamas’ initiatives to work towards ending Gender-Based Violence and sexual assault, particularly through the training of community residents to identify, address and find resolution to these issues.

We recognise The Bahamas’ unique challenges as a SIDS, and the further pressure on resources caused by Hurricane Dorian and COVID-19.

We also remain concerned by the issue of statelessness for those individuals born in the country who are not automatically afforded Bahamian citizenship.

We recommend that The Bahamas:

Continue efforts to improve prisoners’ detention conditions, health care and nutrition.

Take effective measures to prevent and end gender-based violence including high rates of domestic violence and femicide.

Review gender-neutral policies in the area of work, education, health and social services.

Thank you.
May 7, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Green apprenticeships celebrated in honour of the Coronation [May 2023]
The press release issued by the Department for Education on 4 May 2023.

Six green apprenticeships are to be marked with the Coronation emblem in recognition of their sustainability credentials.

Six green apprenticeships have been hand-picked by industry experts to mark the Coronation in recognition of their sustainability credentials, the Department for Education has announced today (4 May 2023).

In honour of His Majesty The King’s Coronation, the apprenticeships have been selected for their contribution to creating a low carbon economy by ensuring the country’s workforce is equipped with the skills needed to support the transition to net zero.

The official Coronation emblem will be used by employers and Government to promote the six apprenticeships, which include Low Carbon Heating Technician, Sustainability Business Specialist and Countryside Worker. The apprenticeships are the gold-standard for green skills training, encouraging more people to take up the opportunity to gain the skills to build an exciting career in the green industry while meeting the skills needs of employers and boosting economic growth, one of the Prime Minister’s 5 priorities.

Education Secretary Gillian Keegan said:

As we work towards our net zero goals, it has never been more important to prioritise green skills and protect our natural environment. In recognition of the critical role education and skills play in responding to climate change, these green apprenticeships have been selected in honour of His Majesty The King’s Coronation.

These gold-standard, sustainable apprenticeships offer people the chance to embark on exciting new careers in industries from forestry to construction, and contribute to creating a more sustainable economy.

The six apprenticeships are:
- Countryside Worker (level 2)
- Forest Craftsperson (level 3)
- Low Carbon Heating Technician (level 3)
- Installation Electrician and Maintenance Electrician (level 3)
- Sustainability Business Specialist (level 7)
- Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability Practitioner (level 4)
The six sustainable apprenticeships were designed by employers working with the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IfATE), who considered the impact of each occupation on the environment and future workforce. They also reflect His Majesty’s longstanding commitment to ensuring natural assets endure for future generations, integrating renewable energy sources into our everyday lives, and applying sustainability into every aspect of our economy.

Jennifer Coupland, chief executive of IfATE, said:

These six apprenticeships represent the gold-standard for green skills and will pave the way for hundreds more.

We all have a role to play in tackling climate change. Thanks to vital input from a range of employers we are one step closer to putting the environment at the heart of apprenticeships.

We urge more employers to get involved and hope many students will consider these exciting career opportunities.

The six apprenticeships were selected from a list of over 200 identified by IfATE’s expert green skills panel, showcasing the variety of green apprenticeships available. The panel works with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and the Department for Education, supported by employers to make sure the right skills are in place to deliver the technology shift and nature-based solutions the UK needs.

To mark the announcement, the Education Secretary visited Richmond Park and met apprentices already working as apprentices on these six apprenticeships.

Andrew Scattergood, Chief Executive of The Royal Parks, said:

The Royal Parks charity was pleased to welcome the Secretary of State and apprentices from around the country to Richmond Park this morning. The development of green skills and the ability to access those development opportunities has never been more important.
May 7, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : The UK is committed to working with all countries to advance peace, security and development – UK Statement at the Security Council [May 2023]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 3 May 2023.

Statement by Ambassador Barbara Woodward at the UN Security Council meeting on peacebuilding and sustaining peace.

Thank you, President and I join others in congratulating Switzerland on assuming the presidency and I can assure you of our full support.

I would also like to thank High Commissioner Türk, Youth Ambassador Chigwenya and Professor Olonisakin for their informative briefings.

It is fitting that the country of Jean-Jacques Rousseau begins its Security Council presidency with an event on the importance of trust and the Social Contract. That Swiss philosopher’s belief that people could only experience true freedom only in a society that ensured the rights and well-being of its citizens still resonates more than two and a half centuries later. And Rousseau’s veneration of government under law finds a natural home in this Chamber and the UN Charter.

Trust in national and international institutions is central to their legitimacy, and to the fabric of society as we have heard today. And yet trust in both has been severely tested. Today, we face complex and interconnected challenges to peace, security and development. To overcome these, we have to rebuild that trust.

Switzerland’s concept note should chime with us all: inclusion is key to building peaceful societies; global normative frameworks provide the guardrails for peaceful order; and facts, truth and transparency are crucial to enabling trust. These elements are the heart of the Sustaining Peace agenda.

How can we build on that? I echo and underline three themes that we have heard already today.

First, the Council and the UN system can do more to anticipate risks and mobilise multilateral assistance earlier. Harnessing new technologies will revolutionise the way we understand conflict dynamics, enabling us to get ahead of crises and mitigate human suffering. We should nurture the trust and cooperation necessary to realise this.

Second, we should use the full breadth of peacebuilding tools for more integrated and coherent responses. The Peacebuilding Fund and the Peacebuilding Commission can support nationally-led prevention strategies and empower countries to build the trust and partnerships needed to turbocharge their peace and development trajectories.

Third, and critical to building trust and sustaining peace, is our collective commitment to the Women, Peace and Security agenda. We need to translate our commitments into action, strengthening women’s full and meaningful inclusion in decision-making and peace and development processes.

President, the United Kingdom is committed to working with all countries to advance nationally-owned peace, security and development objectives. Let us all work – here and at home – to restore the truth and the trust needed to realise these goals.

Thank you.

May 4, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : We must work to ensure benefits of scientific and technological breakthroughs achieve maximum impact – UK at the UN [May 2023]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 3 May 2023.

Statement by UK Chief Scientific Adviser Charlotte Watts at the UN Scientific, Technology and Innovation Forum.

Co-chairs, Excellencies, I am delighted to speak on behalf of the United Kingdom, as co-Chair of this, the 8th Multi-stakeholder Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation for the Sustainable Development Goals.

Our meeting today comes at a critical moment on our path to 2030. We know we are off-track with progress towards the SDGs, and we urgently need to accelerate progress.

I am speaking to you now, as a senior scientist in the UK Government, whose job is to lead UK development investments in generating new innovations and evidence to tackle major challenges and make progress on the SDGs.

Many of the major steps forward in development – including to tackle poverty and increase life expectancy – have been driven by advances in technology and the use of rigorous evidence on what does and doesn’t work. However, when I think back to my first engagements with the UN, as a university professor, I remember just how difficult it was, as a technical expert, to be in the room. Despite being one of the leading experts on violence against women and girls as part of an international network of researchers, we were not invited to be part of high-level official discussions at the UN as we weren’t representing a UN Member State or accredited NGO. Ultimately, some of us did attend, but only by reaching out to our Missions for help.

As we convene this 8th STI Forum and take stock of the evidence in the SDG Review, it is really encouraging to me to see just how far we have come in bringing academic and innovation community into the conversation. But we need to continue with that progress because it is critically important that data and evidence are at the heart of UN deliberations.

Moving on now to how we can build back better from COVID-19, there is much to learn. During the pandemic, as a Chief Scientific Adviser for the UK Government, I sat on the Government’s independent Scientific Advisory Committee and saw, first-hand, how we could operate in a completely different way. In the early days of the outbreak, researchers were sequencing the genome of the virus and sharing the data; within weeks, research into the virus was being collated and made widely accessible free of charge around the world, enabling scientists to understand what we were up against. Within a month, researchers at the University of Oxford and elsewhere were adapting and accelerating vaccine platform development. Scientists around the world, like me, who were advising governments were in regular conversations –– sharing lessons, evidence and insight.

The partnerships that we forged, in a time of global crisis – government-to-government, public-private, north-south – were diverse and innovative. We sustained the necessary scientific rigour but reduced unnecessary bureaucracy in our decision-making.

Public engagement with science also shifted rapidly: in many countries, scientists were on national TV daily and became household names. Data and evidence loomed large in the public consciousness, with armchair epidemiologists emerging all over the world.

Of course, we also encountered significant challenges, which we must learn from and continue to tackle. Foremost among these was the difficulty of enabling timely and equitable global access to vaccines, as the Honourable Minister has mentioned. We were over-reliant on the centralised production of life-saving technologies. This starkly demonstrated the need for investment in regional vaccine manufacturing capability, especially in Africa. We also faced challenges of misinformation and trust in science and evidence.

As we approach the mid-way point towards the SDGs, we now need to apply this same urgency and resolve to addressing the interlinked and increasing crises the world faces, including to tackle climate change and make more rapid progress on achieving the SDGs.

The good news is that we are witnessing nothing short of a revolution in science, technology and innovation. Several technologies are coming of age and inspiring an explosion of innovation – from artificial intelligence to engineering biology – generating high-impact applications across all SDGs. The exponential development and adoption of these technologies will transform our world. But we know that this transformation will not automatically be equitable or deliver positive impact at scale.

There is the risk that countries compete over access to resources, talent, investment and technologies and that the benefits of advancements are not accessible to all. As a scientist, I want to stress the importance of resisting the temptation to be closed. Scientists and researchers, from all around the world know that scientific and technological innovations progress most quickly, and have greatest impact, through collaboration: where researchers trust each other, can collaborate easily, and when their work is accessible and shared around the world.

That is why the UK is delighted to partner with South Africa as co-Chair of this important Forum. This is an important opportunity to come together, not only to review progress in science and innovation but also to take the necessary actions to ensure the benefits of innovation can be felt by all.

I look forward to the discussions ahead and hope that, as the world grapples with complex interlinked crises, we can mobilise to accelerate progress to achieving the SDGs, with a commitment to working in partnership. I urge you all to leave this conference with the resolve to work together to ensure that the benefits of scientific and technological breakthroughs, and our innovations, are broadly distributed, widely felt, and achieve maximum impact, in support of the delivery of the bold SDG agenda for 2030.

Thank you.

May 4, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : UK and Australian visit to British home of next-generation nuclear submarines [May 2023]
The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 3 May 2023.

Australian Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese and UK Defence Secretary, Ben Wallace have today visited the shipyard where the next generation of AUKUS nuclear submarines will be built for the Royal Navy.
Australia Prime Minister and UK Defence Secretary visit Barrow-in-Furness shipyard

Follows AUKUS submarine joint announcement by UK, Australia and US leaders

Programme will deliver on the Prime Minister’s priorities by supporting thousands of UK jobs over the coming decades

Australian Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese and UK Defence Secretary, Ben Wallace have today visited the shipyard where the next generation of AUKUS nuclear submarines will be built for the Royal Navy.

Australia and the UK will both build the new submarines, known as ‘SSN-AUKUS’, to the world-leading British-led design, with construction of the UK’s submarines taking place in Barrow-in-Furness.

Australia will work over the next decade to develop its submarine industrial base and will build its submarines in South Australia.

This massive multilateral undertaking will create thousands of jobs in the UK in the decades ahead – delivering on the Prime Minister’s priority to grow the economy – and building on more than 60 years of British expertise designing, building and operating nuclear-powered submarines.

The three AUKUS nations are committed to further collaboration that will strengthen joint capabilities, enhance technology sharing, and integrate our industrial bases while bolstering each country’s security regime.

As part of today’s visit, the Australian Prime Minister and UK Defence Secretary had the opportunity to engage with staff and apprentices working on the construction of both the Astute-class and Dreadnought-class submarines.

The first UK SSN-AUKUS submarines built by BAE Systems and Rolls-Royce and will be delivered in the late 2030s to replace the current Astute-Class vessels, with the first Australian submarines following in the early 2040s.

Stability in the Indo-Pacific region is an enduring priority for the AUKUS partnership and the interoperable submarine design will ensure we stand side-by-side with our Australian and US allies to face threats and deter aggression.

At its core, the AUKUS security partnership between the United Kingdom, Australia and United States will promote a free and open Indo-Pacific, seeking to ensure it is secure and stable for the coming decades.

Australian Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese said:

My visit to Barrow-In-Furness underlines my personal commitment to delivering this trilateral enterprise and the importance of AUKUS.

I look forward to having Australians training alongside the highly skilled submarine builders here in Barrow-In-Furness.

I thank Secretary Wallace for hosting me on this important visit.

To deliver the new submarines by the earliest possible date, Royal Australian Navy personnel will be embedded in the Royal Navy and US Navy, and – subject to necessary arrangements – at British and American submarine industrial bases, by the end of this year. This process will accelerate the training of Australian personnel required for them to operate a submarine fleet. In support of this objective, a number of Royal Australian Navy personnel have commenced nuclear training in the UK.

The SSN-AUKUS submarines will be the largest, most advanced and most powerful attack submarines ever operated by the Royal Navy, combining world-leading sensors, design and weaponry in one vessel.

This decades-long programme will create thousands of jobs both in UK shipyards and across the supply chain, with billions of pounds already invested in submarine building at multiple UK sites.

UK Defence Secretary, Ben Wallace said:

The SSN-AUKUS submarines will protect the Euro-Atlantic region for decades to come – and with their interoperable submarine design, will ensure mutual compatibility with our Australian and US allies – alongside supporting jobs across the UK and demonstrating the experience and skill which embodies British industry.

On the visit, the parties also toured BAE Systems’ training academy that is helping develop the world-class engineering skills required to design, build and deliver complex submarine programmes.

As announced at the Budget in March, an additional £5 billion will be provided to the Government over the next two years, some of which will be spent on modernising the UK’s nuclear enterprise and funding the next phase of the AUKUS submarine programme. This will be followed by sustained funding across the next decade to support the SSN-AUKUS programme.
May 4, 2023