Category: Press Releases

PRESS RELEASE : 1888 airlifted to safety by UK evacuation [April 2023]
The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 29 April 2023.

1888 airlifted to safety by UK evacuation, as focus turns to supporting those remaining in Sudan.
- The final UK evacuation flight will depart from Wadi Saeedna airfield this evening after the longest and largest evacuation by any western nation
- Follows the successful evacuation of 1888 people since flights started on Tuesday
- The UK government remains committed to supporting British nationals who remain in Sudan or are sheltering in other parts of the country
The final UK evacuation flight from Wadi Saeedna airfield will depart this evening, ending the longest and largest evacuation from Sudan of any Western country.

The successful operation has evacuated more than 1888 people on 21 flights, the vast majority of them British nationals and their dependents.

Focus will now turn to providing consular support to British nationals in Port Sudan and in neighbouring countries in the region.

The government decided to end flights today because of a decline in demand by British Nationals, and because the situation on ground continues to remain volatile.

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said:

The UK has brought more than 1888 people to safety from Sudan thanks to the efforts of staff and military working around the clock to deliver this evacuation – the largest of any Western country.

We continue to press all diplomatic levers to secure a long term ceasefire and end the bloodshed in Sudan. Ultimately a stable transition to civilian rule is the best way to protect the security and prosperity of the Sudanese people.

Those still in Sudan who wish to leave should continue to follow our travel advice. The UK is pursuing all diplomatic avenues to end the violence in Sudan and return to civilian rule, with the Prime Minister, Foreign Secretary, Defence Secretary and Minister for Africa all speaking with international partners. Ultimately a stable transition to civilian rule is the best way to protect the security and prosperity of the Sudanese people.
April 30, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : We will not abandon the women and girls of Afghanistan [April 2023]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 29 April 2023.

Statement by Ambassador Woodward at the UN Security Council meeting on the situation in Afghanistan.

Colleagues,

Let me start by commending the penholders, UAE and Japan, for their approach to securing the Council’s support for this important resolution.

Since the Taliban took power, they have imposed restriction after restriction, resulting in the systematic erasure of women and girls from society. Banning Afghan women from working for the UN in country is the latest example of the Taliban’s complete disregard for women’s fundamental rights.

This latest ban is a direct violation of the core tenets underpinning the UN Charter, including the principle of non-discrimination. It will severely impede the delivery of life-saving aid to women and girls in a time when 28 million people – over two-thirds of all Afghans – are in need of assistance.

So we welcome the Council’s unanimous condemnation of the Taliban’s latest decision and call for an immediate reversal of all policies which restrict women’s rights and fundamental freedoms.

We join other Council members and Organisation of Islamic Cooperation countries in co-sponsoring this resolution to send an unequivocal message to the Taliban: there is no justification for what you are doing to women and girls in your country.

Since April 2021, the UK has given $662 million to address the deepening humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan. We remain committed to supporting the UN and our partners working in country. We will not abandon the women and girls of Afghanistan.

April 29, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Starting gun fired on preparations for new product security regime [April 2023]
The press release issued by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on 29 April 2023.

Countdown begins for new minimum security standards regime for all consumer products with internet connectivity.
The world-leading Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure (Product Security) Regime will come into effect one year from today on 29 April 2024

UK consumers and businesses alike will benefit from greater security protections from the threat of cyber-crime on devices such as phones, smart speakers, and games consoles

the new regime will be the first anywhere in the world to require minimum cyber security requirements before consumer connectable products are made available for sale, and is the first piece of nationwide consumer protection legislation to be implemented since the UK’s departure from the European Union

The countdown has begun for a new regime setting the minimum security standards for all consumer products with internet connectivity to come into effect in 12 months – making the UK the first country in the world to introduce these protections.

Minister for Artificial Intelligence and Intellectual Property Viscount Camrose today confirmed the new Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure (Product Security) Regime will be introduced on 29 April next year, at which point consumers and businesses will benefit from world-first protections against potentially insecure tech. Telecoms and technology industries and manufacturers now have 12 months to prepare for the implementation.

The measures include requirements for manufacturers to implement minimum security standards on all consumer products with internet connectivity such as smartphones, smart speakers, games consoles, and smart doorbells before they can be made available for purchase.

In bringing forward this new regime, the UK becomes the first country anywhere in the world to require minimum protections for consumers and businesses using these devices from cyber security risks. It has only been made possible by the freedoms gained through Brexit, granting the government the ability to implement sector-specific regulations which would not have been possible as an EU Member State.

This new regime will help deliver one of the Government’s five priorities to grow the economy by increasing consumer confidence and protection in the products they buy and use.

Minister for AI and Intellectual Property, Viscount Camrose, said:

These new regulations coming into force next April will transform how we protect and secure consumer devices with an internet or network connection.

When this regime comes into force, every household and business in the UK who buys a new connectable product, whether it’s a smart phone, a smart speaker, or a piece of wearable tech, will benefit from these increased protections, which are the first of their kind anywhere in the world.

We’ve laid the foundations for a new system to protect our consumers and businesses while also supporting technological innovation, and we’ll now work closely with industry over the next 12 months as we prepare for its implementation.

The new measures will introduce a series of improved security protections to tackle the threat of cyber crime including:

the banning of universal default and easily guessable default passwords on consumer connectable products.

Increased manufacturer transparency on how long products will receive security updates for. This will provide standardised security information to better inform consumer purchasing decisions.

manufacturers will be required to make customers aware of a product’s security update support period before allowing product purchases on the manufacturer’s website.

device manufacturers will be required to publish contact information to allow vulnerabilities relating to their devices to be reported.

National Cyber Security Centre CEO Lindy Cameron said:

The NCSC welcomes these new standards which will put security at the heart of technology design and ensure the connected devices that consumers rely on daily are secure from the outset.

Up until now there has been an unreasonable expectation for ordinary users to shoulder the burden of cyber risk.

The NCSC will continue to support manufacturers in implementing the necessary changes with advice like our recently published Secure by Design guidelines.

When in effect, the new regime will result in visible changes for consumers as they move through the purchasing process, with new information on security updates and support periods being available to inform purchasing decisions. If a product is being purchased directly from a manufacturer’s website, the measures will require its support period to be clearly advertised alongside the usual product specifications.

We are also engaging with online marketplaces in preparation for the changes, exploring how they can work to complement these changes and further protect consumers.

Co-Founder and Managing Director of the IoT Security Foundation, John Moor, said:

The IoT Security Foundation welcomes this announcement as it brings important cybersecurity assurance to consumers and the networks they connect to, worldwide. It is the culmination of a lot of hard work and determination by many stakeholders, over several years, including consultations with our members.

Regulation is notoriously difficult to get right, especially as the nature of cyber-attacks change and new vulnerabilities are discovered over time. The PSTI regime not only includes requirements that help address immediate challenges, but its method also anticipates the need for new requirements to be added without stifling innovation or adding unwelcome business costs.

This is truly a milestone moment to support the global digital transformation, making connecting to the digital world safer. We therefore applaud its introduction and encourage policymakers worldwide to work with this ground-breaking regime as it is in our common interest to avoid fragmentation and minimise complexity.

Offering individuals and businesses across the country point-of-access protection in accessing online services through connectable devices represents a watershed moment, and will establish the UK as a global leader in consumer cyber security when the regime takes effect next April.
April 29, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Boost for nature recovery as new multi-million-pound grant scheme opens [April 2023]
The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 29 April 2023.

Darwin Plus Strategic initiative opens for the first time, supporting ambitious, transformative projects to tackle biodiversity loss in the UK Overseas Territories.
- UK government also opens applications for Darwin Plus Main, Fellowship and Local, continuing to support nature recovery and species under threat
- Funding delivers on government’s target to halt and reverse biodiversity decline
Efforts to boost biodiversity recovery in the UK Overseas Territories have been bolstered with large-scale projects funded for the first time to tackle nature loss.

The UK Overseas Territories, including the Falkland Islands and Montserrat, are some of the most nature-rich and biodiverse areas in the world. Thick forests, shimmering oceans and vast grasslands thrive with wildlife, many of which are under threat from climate change and habitat loss.

The new Darwin Plus Strategic Fund will support projects up to £3 million over the next three years to strengthen species and habitat recovery in the Overseas Territories.

The funding will be awarded to projects in the UK Overseas Territories which are designed to tackle invasive species, improve internationally important habitats such as cloud forests and coral reefs, and expand monitoring of climate change to improve resilience.

Environment Minister Trudy Harrison said:

“From dense rainforests to marshlands which capture carbon, our Overseas Territories are full of unique habitats and diverse wildlife which must be protected for future generations.

“The new grant scheme announced today is a flagship commitment which will support transformative improvements in biodiversity, halt nature-loss and build climate resilience.”

Howard Nelson, Chair of Darwin Plus Advisory Group, said:

“Every annual call for projects for Darwin Plus is important, as it provides a way to fund important efforts to conserve the unique biodiversity of the territories.

“The addition of the Darwin Plus Strategic Fund enables the stakeholders from the Overseas Territories with an opportunity to scale up and accelerate actions that work for conservation, and bring positive change for biodiversity across these amazing places. We are very excited to see the proposals and the new opportunities this will create for conservation action.”

Under the Environmental Improvement Plan, the government reiterated the commitment to bolster support for biodiversity in the Overseas Territories. Today’s announcement delivers on this pledge and will help achieve the target to halt biodiversity decline by 2030 and improve species abundance by 10% by 2042.

In addition to opening of the new Darwin Plus Strategic Fund, existing funding allocated through Darwin Plus Local will support over 40 projects including:
- Support for Bermuda’s Living Reef foundation which preserves and restores coral reefs by rearing young corals in its land-based hatchery and planting them on the reef habitat. The funding will support increased monitoring, the use of 3D computer modelling infrastructure and train four scientists to enhance coastal protections
- Biodiversity surveys in Antarctica to better understand and implement new biodiversity protection measures around the Western Antarctic Peninsula and increase protection for flora and fauna sites. The grant will support the UK Antarctic Heritage Trust to create a new Environmental Management Plan to address climate adaptation
- The protection and hand-pollination of endemic ghost orchids in the Cayman Islands to address the threat of extinction. The funding will support partners who raise seedlings in nutrient-rich media to combat pollination limitations observed in natural populations
Since 2012, the Darwin Plus programme has invested over £45 million in over 240 biodiversity and conservation projects in the UKOTs. For further information on Darwin Plus programmes and the full list of projects visit: https://darwinplus.org.uk/
April 29, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Snow leopards, elephants and pangolins to be better protected with funding boost for world’s most endangered animals [April 2023]
The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 29 April 2023.

UK government awards nearly £40 million to more than 80 projects through the Darwin Initiative and Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund.
- Projects from Ghana to Ecuador will support global action to protect wildlife and reverse biodiversity loss
- Next round of funding also opens to new projects, building on government’s target to halt biodiversity loss by 2030
Threatened plants and animals, including elephants and pangolins are set to be protected thanks to new UK government funding announced today, Saturday 29 April.

Over 80 conservation projects across the globe will benefit from nearly £40 million funding aimed at boosting international biodiversity, supporting the communities that live alongside nature and tackling illegal wildlife trade.

Some of the successful projects include:
- Support for the International Snow Leopard Trust to provide specialised training to combat the poaching of snow leopards in countries like Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, and Pakistan;
- Supporting the work of the Wildlife Conservation Society to reduce demand for collagen rich Pangolin scales in Traditional Chinese Medicine;
- Supporting the Zoological Society of London’s effort to create sustainable ways for humans and elephants to coexist in areas such as Thailand, where they are often in conflict.
Environment minister Trudy Harrison said:

“The fantastic projects announced today will enhance efforts to protect threatened wildlife, support economic growth of developing countries and drive nature recovery.

“The UK is a global champion when it comes to biodiversity and driving action to halt and reverse the decline of nature. I am proud that – through our Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund and the Darwin Initiative – we will continue to play a leading role in conservation efforts around the world.”

Dr Charudutt Mishra, from the International Snow Leopard Trust said:

“The snow leopard, an iconic species of Asia’s high mountains, is threatened by retaliatory killing due to their predation on livestock, and illegal trade of its pelt and other body parts. With support from the Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund, we are empowering local and indigenous communities of High Asia with livelihood and conflict management initiatives to enable them to better coexist with snow leopards, and to support conservation efforts.

“We are also helping rangers improve their capacity and motivation in Illegal Wildlife Trade disruption with training, resources and enhanced social recognition in three countries.”

Chair of the Darwin Expert Committee Professor E.J. Milner-Gulland said:

“I’m thrilled that the Darwin Initiative is funding such a wide range of outstanding projects, which will improve both biodiversity and human wellbeing in such a diversity of ways and in so many places. These projects bring fresh thinking and new ideas to conservation practice, produce evidence to support better conservation, as well as building the capacity of the next generation of conservationists around the world.

“It was a pleasure and honour to support Defra in their selection of these projects and I look forward to a new set of exciting proposals in the upcoming 30th round of the Darwin Initiative.”

The Darwin Initiative, a grants scheme to conserve and restore biodiversity and the communities that live alongside in developing countries, supported 63 of these successful projects with over £31.5 million funding. Projects will conserve nature-rich areas in developing countries and support communities who live and work in biodiverse areas to build resilience to climate change.

The Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund has supported 21 projects through £7.8 million funding to enhance the protection of threatened species. The projects will protect species including elephants, pangolins and threatened timber – and cement our leading role in cracking down on the £17 billion a year illegal wildlife trade which fuels corruption, deprives communities of sustainable livelihoods and degrades ecosystems.
The UK is a global leader in supporting efforts to halt the decline in nature, protect wildlife and restore the natural world. Our efforts will help to deliver on the ambitious new global deal for nature agreed at the UN Nature Summit COP15 in December, which will protect 30% of our land and ocean by 2030.

Today’s announcement also confirms that the launch of Round 10 of the Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund and Round 30 of the Darwin Initiative will be opening to applications in May 2023. Projects will soon be able to access up to a further £40 million funding building on the government’s commitment to combat biodiversity loss and improve animal welfare standards.
April 29, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Evacuation flights from Khartoum due to end in 24 hours [April 2023]
The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 28 April 2023.

The final UK evacuation flight from Wadi Saeedna airfield near Khartoum in Sudan is due to leave on Saturday (29 April) due to declining demand for seats.
- UK evacuation flights from Wadi Saeedna airfield due to end on Saturday 29 April
- British nationals and their immediate family who have existing eligibility still wishing to leave should make their way to the airfield near Khartoum by 1200 (midday) Sudan time tomorrow
- the UK government remains committed to supporting British nationals
Following the longest and largest evacuation effort of any Western country, the final UK evacuation flight from Wadi Saeedna airfield near Khartoum is due to leave on Saturday (29 April) due to declining demand for seats.

Those still in Sudan who wish to leave, meet the eligibility criteria and judge it safe to travel to the airfield, should be there by 1200 (midday) Sudan time tomorrow to be processed for the last flight.

It marks the end of a successful evacuation operation with 1,573 people evacuated so far since flights started on Tuesday 25 April, the vast majority of them British nationals and their eligible dependents.

The government has decided to end the flights tomorrow because of a decline in demand, as well as the risk of renewed conflict in Sudan.

The UK has set up a limited consular presence at Port Sudan to signpost British nationals to available options for departure.

We will also continue to press all diplomatic levers to secure a long term ceasefire and end to the bloodshed in Sudan. Ultimately a stable transition to civilian rule is the best way to protect the security and prosperity of the Sudanese people.
April 29, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : UK underlines commitment to NATO Nuclear Deterrence [April 2023]
The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence, on 28 April 2023.

Defence Minister Baroness Goldie hosted members of the North Atlantic Council and NATO Military Committee at HMNB Clyde.
Defence Minister Baroness Goldie hosts North Atlantic Council and Military Committee in Faslane.

UK commitment to NATO security remains strong.

Scotland remains at the heart of UK strategic defence capability.

The UK underlined its commitment to NATO Nuclear Deterrence as Defence Minister Baroness Goldie hosted members of the North Atlantic Council and NATO Military Committee at His Majesty’s Naval Base Clyde, today.

Visiting the home of the UK’s nuclear deterrent, Baroness Goldie reiterated the commitment to the nuclear enterprise, secured through the most recent funding uplift of £3 billion, announced in the Spring Budget.

With the nuclear enterprise sustaining tens of thousands of jobs right across the country, including around 7,000 at HMNB Clyde, continued investment in the future of the UK’s nuclear industry also directly contributes to developing nuclear skills and growing the economy – one of the Prime Minister’s key priorities.

Beyond the UK’s nuclear deterrent, Scotland is also home to some of the UK’s most crucial defence capabilities, including our Quick Reaction Alert based at RAF Lossiemouth, and a thriving defence industry with both Type 26 and Type 31 frigates currently in build in Scottish shipyards.

Since 1962, the UK has declared its nuclear deterrent to the defence of NATO, meaning that all NATO Allies benefit from the protection of the UK’s Continuous at Sea Deterrent (CASD) under collective defence.

Defence Secretary, Ben Wallace, said:

We have declared our nuclear deterrent to the defence of NATO for over 60 years, and our commitment to the security of the NATO Alliance is absolute.

The UK’s round the clock nuclear deterrent is more crucial than ever, as the ultimate guarantee of our collective security.

NATO’s 2022 Strategic Concept reaffirmed that the UK’s independent nuclear deterrent contributes significantly to the overall security of NATO. Operating every minute of every day, the nuclear deterrent protects the UK and our Allies from the most extreme threats.

Defence Minister, Baroness Goldie, said:

Our continued investment in the nuclear deterrent is vital to our security and that of our NATO Allies, keeping people safe from the most extreme threats every minute of every day.

The home of some of the UK’s most critical defence assets, Scotland continues to be one of the cornerstones of the UK’s defence, keeping us all safe, driving prosperity and bolstering the Scottish economy.

Currently provided by the UK’s Vanguard Class submarines, while the new Dreadnought Class are in build, the deterrent will continue to operate for as long as the international situation requires it.

Confirming the UK’s commitment to sustaining the Continuous at Sea Deterrent, two new contracts were recently awarded to BAE Systems for the design and materials as part of the third Dreadnought delivery phase.

With £2 billion announced for the programme last year, these contracts, worth £1.7 billion collectively, mark the UK’s continued momentum and commitment to the future of our nuclear deterrent.

This year also marks the 60th anniversary of the Polaris Sales Agreement – a bilateral international agreement between the UK and US – which established the basic policy and terms underlying the sale of Polaris missiles (later updated for Trident) to the United Kingdom.

First Sea Lord, Admiral Sir Ben Key, said:

For 54 years the Royal Navy has operated submarines carrying the United Kingdom’s independent nuclear deterrent on behalf of the nation and, by extension, our NATO allies.

CASD is supported by many elements of UK defence, but I am delighted that today our NATO partners are in HMNB Clyde meeting some of the fantastic women and men, both civilian and serving, who play a vital role in the enterprise.

The UK will also support its NATO Allies with its new Multi-Role Ocean Surveillance (MROS) vessel, currently undergoing a short refit period in Cammell Laird before joining the UK’s Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) fleet later this year.

The vessel will be formally known as RFA Proteus, the first of two MROS vessels dedicated to subsea surveillance and the protection of our critical infrastructure.
April 29, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Government acts to stop highly disruptive slow walking tactics [April 2023]

The press release issued by the Home Office on 28 April 2023.

The Home Secretary has renewed plans to protect the public from highly disruptive protest tactics such as slow walking.

Under new legislation introduced today (28 April 2023), police will be empowered to intervene against highly disruptive slow marching tactics used to block roads and cause chaos to the lives of the hard-working public.

This legislation will support the Public Order Bill, which passed through Parliament yesterday, by clearly setting out what is meant by ‘serious disruption to the life of the community’. This will give police the clarity they have asked for on when to use their existing powers to break up the slow marching tactics protesters have used to halt traffic across the UK.

Today’s legislation, alongside the Public Order Bill, is the latest in a series of measures the Government has taken to clamp down on selfish, guerrilla protest tactics and bringing in new criminal offences and tougher penalties for those who intentionally inflict misery on the public.

The Public Order Bill will:

create a new criminal offence for interfering with key national infrastructure, such as roads, airports and railways, with perpetrators facing 12 months behind bars
make it illegal to ‘lock-on’ to others, objects, or buildings, carrying a maximum penalty of 6 months’ imprisonment and an unlimited fine
allow police to carry out Stop and Search when they believe protestors are setting out to inflict serious disruption, so police can intervene before chaos is caused
Home Secretary Suella Braverman said:

Selfish, disruptive protesters are wreaking havoc in people’s everyday lives across the country and this must be brought to a stop.

This is why we are bringing forward this new law to clearly define serious disruption as requested by police chiefs.

Not only will the Public Order Bill, passed yesterday by Parliament, introduce new criminal offences for causing serious disruption, this new legislation permits the police to clear the roads of slow marching protesters who are hell-bent on causing chaos across the UK.

Crime and Policing Minister Chris Philp said:

The British public do not deserve to have their daily lives disrupted by the self-indulgent, criminal behaviour we have seen in some recent protests.

With the Public Order Bill passing in Parliament yesterday and these new measures, we are protecting the hard-working majority’s right to go about their day free from disruption.

The legislation will be laid as a Statutory Instrument in Parliament and will be debated in both the House of Commons and House of Lords before it comes into law.

National Police Chiefs’ Council Lead for Public Order and Public Safety, Chief Constable BJ Harrington, said:

Policing is not anti-protest, but there is a difference between protest and criminal activism, and we are committed to responding quickly and effectively to activists who deliberately disrupt people’s lives through dangerous, reckless, and criminal acts.

It is the responsibility of Parliament make the law, and our job to enforce it. We have advised and provide professional advice to the Home Office to inform decisions about public order legislation. This has been based on ensuring that we can discharge our responsibilities appropriately, while balancing the rights of the public who are going about their daily business lawfully, and the rights of those protesting.

April 29, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Illegal waste operator, Andrzej Harytczak, in Nottinghamshire ordered to pay £6,035 [April 2023]

The press release issued by the Environment Agency on 28 April 2023.

The Environment Agency has successfully prosecuted the operator of an illegal waste site at Worksop in Nottinghamshire.

Andrzej Harytczak was fined £941 at Mansfield magistrates’ court on Thursday 27 April 2023. He was also ordered to pay costs of £5,000 and a victim surcharge of £94.

Harytczak, 38, of Yeoman Close, Worksop, admitted that he had operated a waste site without the necessary environmental permits in Tranker Lane, Worksop, between 24 July and 28 September 2017 and between 25 April and 9 December 2019.

The court was told that the defendant had avoided paying approximately £20,000 in infrastructure costs and permitting fees.

Environment Agency officers launched an investigation following complaints about the site from early 2017.

They discovered that Harytczak was illegally storing construction and demolition waste, plus household waste. He was warned on several occasions that this type of activity would require a permit.

At a further site visit on 28 September 2017, Harytczak admitted he was using the yard to store garden waste.

Officers were called again to the site in April 2019 following further complaints of illegal storage and burning of waste.

On this occasion, officers viewed a large amount of mixed waste from construction and demolition sites. There was also evidence of a recent fire.

The defendant confirmed to officers he was in charge of the site and was advised to remove the waste.

Officers visited the site again on 14 May 2019 and found that the gates were locked, and large pieces of carpet had been draped over them preventing a view inside.

Further visits took place in 2019, and officers confirmed that the waste was still present.

On one occasion, the defendant was seen arriving with two others in a white Transit van containing what appeared to be waste.

At a formal interview on 13 February 2020, Harytczak admitted he had been conducting waste activities from the site.

A spokesperson for the Environment Agency said:

We welcome this sentence from the court that we hope will act as a deterrent to others considering flouting the law.

This site posed a significant environmental threat due to the high risk of fire and potentially significant impact to local communities and amenities.

As a regulator, the Environment Agency will not hesitate to pursue individuals who fail to meet its obligations to the environment.

Failure to comply with these legal requirements is a serious offence that can damage the environment, harm human health and undermine local legitimate waste companies.

If anyone is suspicious of waste activities, they should call our 24/7 hotline on 0800 80 70 60 or Crimestoppers anonymously and in confidence on 0800 555 111.

The charges:

Between 24 July 2017 and 28 September 2017, at Yard off Tranker Lane, Worksop, Andrzej Harytczak did operate a regulated facility, namely a waste operation for the deposit, treatment and storage of waste, except under and to the extent authorised by an environmental permit, contrary to regulations 12(1) and 38(1)(a) of the Environmental Permitting (England & Wales) Regulations 2016.

Between 25 April 2019 and 9 December 2019, at Yard off Tranker Lane, Worksop, Andrzej Harytczak did operate a regulated facility, namely a waste operation for the deposit, treatment and storage of waste, except under and to the extent authorised by an environmental permit, contrary to regulations 12(1) and 38(1)(a) of the Environmental Permitting (England & Wales) Regulations 2016.

April 29, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : ‘Life stories’ of British nuclear test veterans to be preserved through new study [April 2023]
The press release issued by the Cabinet Office on 28 April 2023.

£250,000 in government funding has been awarded to Universities and National Life Stories, the UK’s leading oral history fieldwork charity from the British Library, to chronicle and study the experiences of British nuclear test veterans.
- £250,000 in government funding awarded to universities and the National Life Stories from the British Library, for a study into British nuclear test veterans.
- University academics will also record the ‘life stories’ of nuclear test veterans across the UK.
- Nuclear test veterans across the country urged to come forward to share their unique stories and have them archived in history
£250,000 in government funding has been awarded to Universities and National Life Stories, the UK’s leading oral history fieldwork charity from the British Library, to chronicle and study the experiences of British nuclear test veterans.

The British Library will work with academics to conduct and record around 40 ‘life stories’ with veterans around the UK, to investigate and recognise the complex role that test participation played in veterans’ lives.

The two-year project, funded by the Office for Veterans’ Affairs, is part of a package of recognition for nuclear test veterans, announced following the introduction of the Nuclear Test Medal in November last year. Applications are now open for veterans and their next of kin to receive their commemorative medals.

Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Johnny Mercer said:

Our nuclear test veterans played a vital role in the creation of the British nuclear deterrent, which continues to keep us safe to this day.

Now we’re making sure their stories are never forgotten, and can be passed down from generation to generation, so that we can remember the sacrifices they made to protect us.

The project will produce a number of resources to commemorate and memorialise nuclear test veterans in this country, including a documentary hosted by the British Library and a national tour of events, promoting the resources made by the project. The University of South Wales and the University of Liverpool will lead on the project, in partnership with the National Life stories with the British Library.

The project will also create a number of educational resources to be used in schools, to encourage the teaching of nuclear history to the next generation.

The cohort of veterans are ex-service personnel and civilians who contributed to Britain’s nuclear testing programme, including serving in Australia and the South Pacific between 1952 and 1967.

This project aims to engage veterans from across the United Kingdom, to represent the entire cohort of veterans that took part in the tests. Academics are looking to hear from a diverse range of nuclear test veterans, from those who have previously been vocal about their experiences, to those who have never spoken about it before.

Up to 22,000 veterans participated in Britain’s nuclear test programme, with latest estimates suggesting there are 1500 surviving nuclear test veterans to this day.

It is important to commemorate the contribution of our veterans, who to this day have played a vital role in our nation’s security. We urge anyone who was a part of these tests to share their story, regardless of the role they played in the testing.

This project will capture not only the events of the days of the nuclear tests, but will also reflect the long-term impacts that the UK’s nuclear deterrent programme had on the participants and their families.

The Office for Veterans’ Affairs were recently given £33 million in the Spring Budget, representing a step change in the Government’s ability to support and care for those who have served our country. This includes a £10 million investment to increase the capacity of the Office for Veterans’ Affairs as it continues to deliver the Veterans’ Strategy Action Plan.

Mary Stewart, the British Library’s Lead Curator of Oral History and Director of National Life Stories said:

I am delighted that this important partnership will add forty in-depth life story interviews to the British Library oral history collection, providing researchers now and in the future unparalleled insights into how veterans’ test experiences affected them throughout their lives.
April 29, 2023