Category: Press Releases

PRESS RELEASE : Media Freedom Coalition Executive Group Statement – Detention of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich [April 2023]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 11 April 2023.

The Media Freedom Coalition Executive Group has released a statement on the detention of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich.

The Executive Group of the Media Freedom Coalition strongly condemns the Russian Federation for the detention of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich. The detention of journalists under the guise of espionage charges is very concerning and undermines the basic principles of democracy and rule of law.

Freedom of expression is a fundamental human right that is protected by international law; it includes the right to seek, receive, and impart information and ideas of all kinds, irrespective of borders. Journalists play a crucial role in holding governments and powerful people and institutions to account, while informing the public about matters of public interest. It is imperative that they are able to work independently and without fear of being labeled as spies.

We condemn the Russian Federation’s move to silence journalists and use its authority to intimidate or harass them. Russia must comply with its international human rights commitments and not abuse its power to suppress critical reporting.

We call on the Russian Federation to release immediately Evan Gershkovich, along with all others it has unjustly detained.

April 12, 2023

PRESS RELEASE : Change of British High Commissioner to Samoa [April 2023]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 11 April 2023.

Mr Gareth Keith Hoar has been appointed British High Commissioner to the Independent State of Samoa in succession to Mr David Ward who will be transferring to another Diplomatic Service appointment. Mr Hoar will take up his appointment during June 2023.

CURRICULUM VITAE

Full name: Gareth Keith Hoar

Married to: Rebecca Haixiang Hoar

Date	Role
2018 to 2022	Wuhan, HM Consul General
2017 to 2018	Full Time Language Training (Mandarin)
2016 to 2017	Beijing, Director DIT China (temporary duty)
2012 to 2016	Melbourne, HM Consul General
2008 to 2012	Beijing, Deputy Director, UKTI China
2007 to 2008	City of London (on secondment), Head of International Affairs
2005 to 2007	FCO, China Team Leader, Far Eastern Group
2002 to 2005	Beijing, First Secretary, Trade and Investment
2000 to 2001	Guangzhou, HM Consul General
1997 to 1999	Guangzhou, Vice-Consul
1994 to 1997	FCO, Human Resources Officer (Graduate, Chartered Institute of Personnel & Development 1996)
1991 to 1994	Washington, Third Secretary, Press and Public Affairs
1989 to 1991	Santiago, Administration Officer
1986 to 1988	Beijing, Commercial Attaché
1984 to 1986	FCO, Personnel Operations Department

April 12, 2023

PRESS RELEASE : Plans unveiled to improve local authority action on air quality [April 2023]
The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 11 April 2023.

A new Air Quality Strategy will provide a framework to support local action to improve air quality.
A consultation on delivering cleaner air in towns, cities and rural areas across England has been launched today (11 April).

The Government is seeking views on a revised Air Quality Strategy which outlines how councils in England should use their existing powers and responsibilities more effectively to deliver improvements to air quality.

The draft strategy includes:

Outlining the actions councils can undertake to improve air quality

Setting out actions for councils to reduce emissions of fine particulate matter, the pollutant most damaging to health

Providing a framework to enable local authorities to make the best use of their powers and deliver for their communities

Following consultation, a final strategy will be published, providing a framework to support local action to improve air quality, in consultation with local communities. This will drive forward progress towards achieving the government’s legally-binding targets for all key air pollutants, including those recently set under the Environment Act for fine particulate matter (PM2.5).

The final strategy will complement the range of support government makes available to local authorities, including £883 million allocated under the Nitrogen Dioxide Programme, and funding awarded annually under Defra’s local Air Quality Grant scheme to develop and implement measures that benefit schools, businesses and communities, and reduce the impact of polluted air on people’s health.

Environment Minister Rebecca Pow said:

By taking action in communities across the country, local authorities have a pivotal role to play in improving air quality, and they should listen to local residents and local businesses to find solutions that work best for their local area.

Building on the great strides made in tackling air pollution at a national level since 2010, this strategy will help councils to go further and faster to improve air quality for the benefit of their residents.

I encourage all local authorities to respond so together, we can deliver cleaner air – now and for the future.

The government is taking decisive action to improve air quality. Our five year strategy to protect and restore the environment, which we published in January, sets out interim targets to reduce concentrations of, and public exposure to, PM2.5 by the end of January 2028, alongside a range of policies to work towards these targets. This builds on the progress made since 2010, where emissions of fine particulate matter [PM2.5] have fallen by 18%, and emissions of nitrogen oxides are at their lowest level since records began.

The Plan also committed to helping councils to improve air quality more quickly by assessing their performance and use of existing powers, while supporting them with clear guidance, funding and tools. The consultation launched today (link) represents a significant step forward in the delivery of these commitments.

The strategy builds on existing net zero programmes implemented by the government, including our National Air Pollution Control Programme (NAPCP), which sets out how the UK can meet the legally binding 2020 and 2030 emission reduction commitments, and the 2019 Clean Air Strategy, which sets out the comprehensive actions required across all parts of government and society to improve air quality.

You can respond to the consultation by clicking here.
April 12, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Grant to boost domestic tree production re-opens [April 2023]

The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 11 April 2023.

£5 million available for tree and seed suppliers of all sizes and from any sector to expand and modernise.

Investment in domestic tree production in England will be accelerated today (11 April) with applications re-opening for the Forestry Commission’s Tree Production Capital Grant. The funding will drive the production of tree seed and saplings through developments in machinery, automation and the expansion of facilities.

In line with the aims of the England Trees Action Plan and Government ambitions to treble tree planting rates by the end of this Parliament, the Tree Production Capital Grant will support efforts to build nursery capacity and grow long-term tree seed and sapling supply.

The grant will enable suppliers to boost production rates at pace and has been designed to complement the Tree Production Innovation Fund, which provides support for research projects that enhance UK tree production methods.

Previous funding rounds have provided machinery for projects such as the Emmaus Community Tree Nursery in Cornwall to help it meet the need for locally grown trees and provide employment opportunities for homeless people. Funding has also supporting Warwickshire County Council expand and improve their tree nursey expansion and improvement so they can diversify the species they grow and adapt to future climate conditions.

Successful projects will be awarded up to £175,000 in grant funding to cover up to 50% of costs, with money coming from the Tree Production Capital Grant as part of the Government’s £750 million Nature for Climate Fund. In comparison to the 2022 application process, the minimum grant value which can be applied for has reduced from £10,000 to £5,000 enhancing accessibility for smaller projects.

Examples of eligible projects include investments in seed trays, developments in machinery such as transplanting systems and grading machines, improved polytunnel infrastructure and irrigation systems, or in biosecurity through improved water treatment and refrigeration equipment. Applications are encouraged from tree seed and sapling suppliers of all sizes and sectors, as well as new entrants looking to diversify into the area.

Forestry Minister Trudy Harrison said:

This Government is committed to bolstering domestic tree production and fostering a robust forestry industry – actions that are necessary to realise our long-term tree- planting goals.

Not only does the Tree Production Capital Grant allow us to modernise and enhance the sector, but it also helps to create new green jobs and to tackle climate change, amongst myriad other benefits.

Forestry Commission Chief Executive Richard Stanford said:

Funding projects that enhance our woodlands and treescapes is fundamental to achieving Government’s tree planting ambitions and building an innovative and robust forestry sector.

Through the Tree Production Capital Grant we have been able to support existing tree and seed suppliers of all sizes, and also provide funding to those wishing to make a start in the sector. With the application window now open, I encourage those with relevant projects to apply.”

The second round of the Tree Production Capital Grant is now open until 31st May 2023. and will provide up to £1.76 million of funding during 2023/24 and £3.43 million during 2024/25, subject to successful bids. Applicants can apply for projects up to two years long, ending in March 2025.

The Forestry Commission will be hosting a webinar on the grant application process on Friday 28 April.

For more information and to apply, go to: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/tree-production-capital-grant

April 12, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : New crackdown on fraud introduced by Home Office [April 2023]

The press release issued by the Home Office on 11 April 2023.

New offence will make it easier to prosecute a large organisation if an employee commits fraud for the organisation’s benefit.

The new failure to prevent fraud offence will make it easier to prosecute a large organisation if an employee commits fraud for the organisation’s benefit.

If fraud is committed by an employee of an organisation, the organisation must be able to demonstrate it had reasonable measures in place to deter the offending or risk receiving an unlimited fine.

The proposed legislation encourages businesses to do more to deter offending which will help cut crime and protect consumers, investors, other businesses and the taxpayer from fraudulent practices.

Businesses which fail to deter fraud will face enforcement action under new Home Office plans.

The tighter legislation, to be introduced through the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Bill, will allow prosecutors to hold big companies to account if an employee commits fraud for the organisation’s benefit, and they did not have reasonable prevention procedures in place.

The Home Office tabled an amendment to introduce the failure to prevent fraud offence earlier today, and it is supported by the Serious Fraud Office and the Crown Prosecution Service.

Security Minister Tom Tugendhat said:

We are determined to crack down on unscrupulous companies that seek to defraud their customers.

Our new failure to prevent fraud offence will protect consumers from dishonest and misleading sales practices, and level the playing field for the majority of businesses that behave responsibly.

This government is committed to fighting economic crime, as demonstrated by our recently launched Economic Crime Plan 2 which set out how we will give law enforcement more state of the art resources to tackle high level offending.

The new legislation will protect the public from a wide range of harms including dishonest sales practices, false accounting and hiding important information from consumers or investors.

It could also hold companies to account for dishonest practices in financial markets.

The new powers follow on from recommendations made by the Law Commission’s 2022 review of corporate criminal liability.

Lisa Osofsky, Director of the Serious Fraud Office, said:

This new offence would be a game-changer for law enforcement – bringing the law on fraud in line with bribery.

As the UK’s top economic crime prosecutors, this would help us crack down on fraudulent enterprises, compensate their victims and ultimately protect the integrity of our economy.

Prosecutors will independently consider whether a prosecution is in the public interest before any charges are brought.

A business could face legal action if, for example, employees were selling products to a customer under false pretences.

It could also be held accountable if employees falsified accounts to mislead investors.

Under both examples, a business could receive an unlimited fine if it is found to not have reasonable fraud prevention procedures in place. This enforcement not only ensures justice is secured for victims, it also encourages companies to create an environment where it is difficult for fraudulent tactics to thrive.

There will be no requirement to prove that company bosses ordered or knew about a fraud committed by an employee.

A business will not be liable if it can prove reasonable measures were in place to deter the offence. The government will publish guidance on reasonable prevention measures in due course. The offence will not be enforced until the guidance is published.

Andrew Penhale, Chief Crown Prosecutor for the CPS, said:

The scale of fraud in the UK – now comprising 41% of all criminal activity – is so significant that extra measures to help prevent it and protect people from falling victim to this crime is welcome.

The new corporate offence of failing to prevent fraud is another important measure to drive better corporate behaviours and will complement existing measures for prosecutors.

Larger corporate enterprises, which fail to put in place reasonable measures to prevent fraud being committed by their employees, may be held criminally liable for that failure.

A primary benefit of the new legislation will be a drive towards better corporate behaviours which seek to prevent fraud. A similar outcome has been observed under the existing failure to prevent bribery and failure to prevent facilitation of tax evasion offences.

Small and medium sized enterprises will be exempt from the new offence but remain accountable under the existing legal framework.

The new legislation will apply across the United Kingdom.

April 12, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Rishi Sunak marks the 25th anniversary of the signing of the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement [April 2023]

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 11 April 2023.

The Prime Minister Rishi Sunak marks the 25-year anniversary of the signing of the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement.

Today we reflect on the beginning of a new chapter in the people of Northern Ireland’s history, with the commemoration of the signing of the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement 25 years ago.

This is an Agreement born of partnership between the British and Irish Governments and, as we will see from President Biden’s visit this week, it continues to enjoy huge international support from our closest allies. But most importantly, it is based on compromise in Northern Ireland itself.

As we look forward, we will celebrate those who took difficult decisions, accepted compromise, and showed leadership – showing bravery, perseverance, and political imagination.

We commemorate those who are no longer with us and the many who lost their lives by trying to prevent violence and protect the innocent. And we give thanks to them as we reflect on the new generations that have grown up and continue to grow in a world in which peace and prosperity has prevailed.

While it is time to reflect on the solid progress we have made together, we must also recommit to redoubling our efforts on the promise made in 1998 and the agreements that followed.

One of economic opportunity, prosperity, and stability – it is a promise we must continue to fulfil. So must get on with the business of governance.

My mission, duty and responsibility as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom is to deliver for people in Northern Ireland.

We stand ready to work with our partners in the Irish Government and the local parties to ensure that the institutions are up and running again as soon as possible.

There is work to be done.

April 11, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Disabled children to benefit from funding for short breaks [April 2023]

The press release issued by the Department for Education on 11 April 2023.

Thousands of families with children with special educational needs supported with short breaks from theatre trips to outdoor activities helping to build vital skills.

Thousands more families with children with special educational needs will receive support with short breaks, including theatre trips, hiking or craft workshops, as the scheme is expanded to 10 new areas of the country.

The short breaks scheme gives disabled children a chance to take part in unforgettable activities and develop vitals skills, while giving their families a break from their caring responsibilities.

The government funded programme provides councils with up to £1 million each for a year to work with families to develop innovative experiences that would otherwise be inaccessible to children because of their disability, as well as covering the costs of providing the activities.

Minister for Children, Families and Wellbeing, Claire Coutinho said:

Short breaks provide much-needed support to disabled children and their families. They give children opportunities to make friends, learn something new and work towards greater independence, while allowing parents the all-important time they need to recharge.

We’ve already seen the transformative impact these new approaches to short breaks are having on children and their families, and I am looking forward to continuing this work, extending it to more parts of the country so even more children can benefit.

The plans come following the recent publication of the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities and Alternative Provision Improvement Plan, which outlines the government’s plan to transform the experiences and outcomes of children with special needs and disabilities, ensuring every child, no matter where they live, has access to a high-quality, fulfilling education.

The Short Breaks Innovation Fund is delivering a total of £30 million over three years to local authorities to deliver the short breaks and test new approaches to providing essential support for parents of children with disabilities.

Methods already being piloted include creating a transition group for children with SEND to develop independent living skills through group activities, which also create friendship circles that carry through into adult life. Other activities being piloted include sleep-over clubs and film-making workshops to build teamworking skills.

The LAs who will receive new funding this year as part of the second year of the programme are:

Bristol City Council
Cambridgeshire County Council
Camden Council
Derby City Council
Norfolk County Council
Nottingham City
Plymouth City Council
Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council
Southwark Council
Suffolk County Council
Sunderland City Council
Surrey County Council
Wakefield Council
Dame Christine Lenehan, Director of Council for Disabled Children said:

I am delighted with the Government’s recognition of the value of short breaks to both disabled children and their families. We have seen some really exciting developments in Year 1 of the programme and look forward to seeing what these 10 authorities can deliver. We are keen that the transferrable learning from these innovative projects is shared as widely as possible to ensure children and young people across the country can benefit.

The first year of funding, which was provided to seven local authorities, showed positive results for children and their families, and this work to pilot new approaches will help inform a national policy for short breaks to be rolled out more widely.

Sunderland Council received funding last year to provide support to children aged 10-16 with Social, Emotional or Mental Health needs (SEMH) or autism.

Teams across early help, alternative provision and disability services deliver whole family sessions, including a parental wellbeing course and sensory arts and craft sessions for non-verbal children with autism.

Sunderland Council’s evaluation shows these interventions have had a significant positive impact on the children involved, including improved attendance and behaviour in schools, and a reduction in suspensions.

April 11, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Bird keepers must maintain scrupulous biosecurity standards as housing measures set to be lifted [April 2023]
The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 11 April 2023.

Mandatory housing measures will be lifted from 00:01 on Tuesday 18th April but scrupulous standards of biosecurity remain essential.
Mandatory housing measures for poultry and captive birds, which were introduced across England and Wales to help stop the spread of bird flu, will be lifted from 00:01 on Tuesday 18 April 2023, the Chief Veterinary Officer has confirmed today following a latest assessment of the risk level.

Following ongoing monitoring using the latest scientific evidence and a robust risk assessment, bird flu risk levels have been reduced meaning poultry and other captive birds will no longer need to be housed and can be kept outside, unless they are in a Protection Zone. The decision means that from 18 April, eggs laid by hens with access to outside range areas can return to being marketed as ‘Free-Range’ eggs.

The scale of avian influenza outbreaks across the UK and Europe have been unprecedented with over 330 cases confirmed across the country since late October 2021. While the risk of bird flu has been reduced to ‘medium’ for premises with poor biosecurity, the enhanced biosecurity requirements that were brought in as part of the Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) will remain in force as infection may still be circulating in the environment for several more weeks. The risk of bird flu remains assessed as low where good biosecurity is applied.

Those who intend to allow their birds outside are advised to use the upcoming days to prepare their outside areas for the release of their birds. This will include cleansing and disinfection of hard surfaces, fencing off ponds or standing water and reintroduction of wild bird deterrents.

Dr Christine Middlemiss, the UK’s Chief Veterinary Officer, said:

“Whilst the lifting of the mandatory housing measures will be welcome news to bird keepers, scrupulous biosecurity remains the most critical form of defence to help keep your birds safe.

“It is thanks to the hard work of all bird keepers and vets who have played their part in keeping flocks safe this winter that we are in a position to take this action. However, the unprecedented nature of this outbreak has proven it’s more important than ever for bird keepers to remain vigilant for signs of disease and maintain stringent standards of biosecurity.”

Scrupulous biosecurity is the most effective method of disease control available and all bird keepers should apply enhanced measures at all times to prevent the risk of future outbreaks.

Poultry and captive bird keepers must:

cleanse and disinfect clothing, footwear, equipment and vehicles before and after contact with poultry and captive birds – if practical, use disposable protective clothing

reduce the movement of people, vehicles or equipment to and from areas where poultry and captive birds are kept, to minimise contamination from manure, slurry and other products, and use effective vermin control

thoroughly cleanse and disinfect housing on a continuous basis

keep fresh disinfectant at the right concentration at all farm and bird housing entry and exit points

minimise direct and indirect contact between poultry and captive birds and wild birds, including making sure all feed and water is not accessible to wild birds

be vigilant for any signs of disease in their birds and any wild birds, and seek prompt advice from their vet if they have any concerns.

We would encourage all keepers to register their flocks with us. For poultry this is a legal requirement if you have 50 birds or more (poultry includes chickens, ducks, turkeys, geese, pigeon (bred for meat), partridge, quail, guinea fowl and pheasants). Registering with us means that we will be able to contact you with information or action required should an outbreak happen near you. We recently announced a consultation on proposals to require all poultry keepers to officially register their birds (consultation closes at 23:45 on 31 May 2023).

The UKHSA advise that the available evidence suggests viruses currently circulating in birds in the UK do not spread easily to people and food standards bodies advise that avian influenzas pose a very low food safety risk for UK consumers. There is no impact on the consumption of properly cooked poultry products, including eggs.

Bird keepers should report suspicion of disease in England to the Defra Rural Services Helpline on 03000 200 301, in Wales contact 0300 303 8268. In Scotland, contact your local Field Services Office. In Northern Ireland contact DAERA on 0300 200 7840 or your local DAERA Direct Regional Office. Keepers should familiarise themselves with our avian flu advice.

Members of the public are reminded not to touch dead wild birds and are encouraged to report findings of dead wild birds using the new online reporting system or by calling the Defra helpline (03459 33 55 77).
April 11, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Chancellor appoints Megan Greene to the Monetary Policy Committee of the Bank of England [April 2023]
The press release issued by HM Treasury on 11 April 2023.

The Chancellor has today announced that he has appointed Megan Greene as an external member of the MPC of the Bank of England.
Megan Greene has been appointed as an external member of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC)

Megan Greene is currently Global Chief Economist at Kroll and will succeed Silvana Tenreyro

Megan’s three-year term will start on 5 July 2023

Megan Greene will join the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) on 5 July for a 3-year term, replacing current external member Professor Silvana Tenreyro who has been on the MPC since July 2017.

Megan Greene is currently Global Chief Economist at Kroll, has a broad understanding of financial markets internationally and significant experience of advising leaders on the potential impacts of global macroeconomic developments.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Jeremy Hunt said:

Megan Greene’s wide experience across financial markets and the real economy will bring valuable new expertise to the MPC. I am delighted to appoint her to this role and look forward to seeing her contribution to policymaking in the coming years.

I would also like to thank Professor Silvana Tenreyro for all her work since she joined the Bank of England, and wish her the best in the next stage of her career.

Andrew Bailey, Governor of the Bank of England, said:

I am very pleased to be welcoming Megan Greene to the MPC this summer. She brings significant experience from her work across financial services and academia and we will benefit greatly from her contributions to our policy discussions.

Silvana Tenreyro has made a tremendous contribution to the work of the MPC over the past six years. I would like to extend my thanks and wish her all the best for the future.

Megan Greene said:

I’m honoured and thrilled to have the opportunity to contribute to the policy debate at the Bank of England as an external member of the MPC. It will be a privilege and a challenge to help address some of the key monetary policy challenges of our time.

About Megan Greene

Megan Greene is a Senior Fellow at the Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs at Brown University, teaching on the new drivers of global inequality, sovereign debt crises and monetary policy tools. She is the Global Chief Economist at Kroll and a board member of the Academic Advisory Committee at the San Francisco Fed.

Megan received her undergraduate degree from Princeton University and her postgraduate degree from Oxford University.

About the MPC

The independent Monetary Policy Committee makes decisions about the operation of monetary policy. It comprises of the Governor of the Bank of England, the three Deputy Governors, one member of the Bank with responsibility for monetary policy and four external members who are appointed by the Chancellor.

External members may serve up to two three-year terms on the MPC.

The appointment of external members to the MPC is designed to ensure that the Committee benefits from thinking and expertise in addition to that gained inside the Bank. Each member of the MPC has expertise in the field of economics and monetary policy. They are independent and do not represent particular groups or areas.

About the appointment process

Megan Greene has been appointed following an open recruitment process run by HM Treasury. A panel comprising of Clare Lombardelli (Director General and Chief Economic Advisor, HM Treasury until March 2023), James Benford (Director of Economics, HM Treasury until February 2023) and Dame Kate Barker (external member of the MPC from 2001 to 2010) interviewed several candidates and made recommendations to the Chancellor, which informed his decision.

The Treasury is committed to appointing a diverse range of people to public appointments, including at the Bank of England. The Treasury continues to take active steps to attract the broadest range of suitable applicants for posts.
April 11, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : HM The King honours Mr Kuwahara for his services to the UK nuclear industry in Japan [April 2023]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 11 April 2023.

His Majesty King Charles III has awarded the Honorary Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) to Mr Kuwahara in recognition of his exceptional contribution to furthering UK-Japan cooperation in civil nuclear.

Every year, the King awards honorary decorations to people who are neither British nor Commonwealth nationals but who have made a significant contribution to relations between the UK and their own country. The Order of the British Empire was established by King George V in 1817 to honour those who had served in a non-combative role and expanded the Order to reward contributions to the Arts, Sciences, Charitable work and Public Service.

Kazumasa Kuwahara MBE

Kazumasa Kuwahara has had a long and distinguished career dedicated to furthering the close collaboration between the UK and Japan in the civil nuclear industry. In his time with Marubeni Utility Services, he played a leading role in supporting British Nuclear Fuels Limited and Japanese Utility companies in the UK’s reprocessing of Japanese spent fuel. Since the nuclear accident at Fukushima Daiichi, he has worked for the Japanese subsidiary of the UK Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, facilitating UK nuclear industry support to bring the best of British capability to Fukushima to help Japan in the clean-up effort. The UK-Japan relationship in civil nuclear continues to deepen and grow to our mutual benefit, and Mr. Kuwahara’s long service to the UK has played a significant part in making this possible.

April 11, 2023