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Category: Press Releases

  • PRESS RELEASE : Government sets out next steps to support social care [April 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Government sets out next steps to support social care [April 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 4 April 2023.

    Building on the People at the Heart of Care white paper, the government has set out plans to further digitise the social care sector and bolster the workforce.

    • Building on the People at the Heart of Care white paper, the government has set out plans to further digitise the social care sector and bolster the workforce
    • Alongside the plan, the Better Care Fund framework, published today, will ensure at least £16.8 billion is spent to make sure people receive the right care in the right place at the right time.
    • Plans will support Prime Minister’s ambition to cut waiting lists by reducing pressure on urgent and emergency care and freeing up beds for those who need them

    People who receive care, staff and providers will benefit from a refreshed plan to bolster the adult social care workforce, speed up discharge from hospital and accelerate the use of technology in the sector over the next two years.

    The update builds on commitments outlined in the People at the Heart of Care white paper – published in December 2021 – to support career progression in the sector and make sure those who receive care get it in the right place at the right time.

    Today’s allocations of over £2 billion previously announced funding include:

    • Launching a call for evidence in partnership with Skills for Care on a new care workforce pathway and funding for hundreds of thousands of training places, including a new Care Certificate qualification – aiming to increase opportunities for career progression and development, backed by £250 million
    • £100 million to accelerate digitisation in the sector, including investment in digital social care records so staff have the latest information at their fingertips to best meet the needs of those receiving care
    • A new innovation and improvement unit to explore creative solutions for improving care, such as supporting local authorities to reduce care assessment waiting times and using best practice from those areas where waiting times have already been cut by a third – backed by up to £35 million
    • A £1.4 billion Market Sustainability and Improvement Fund which local authorities can use flexibly including to increase the rates paid to social care providers or reduce waiting times
    • £102 million over two years to help make small but significant adaptations people need to remain at home, stay independent and avoid hospital – including grab rails and ramps, small repairs and safety and security checks
    • £50 million to improve social care insight, data and quality assurance – including person-level data collections and new Care Quality Commission assessments of local authorities to improve poor performance on social care and identify where further support is needed

    Alongside these reform commitments, the Better Care Fund, which brings together health, social care and housing to help older people and those with complex needs live at home for longer, will increase from £7.7 billion last year to £8.1 billion in 2023 and £8.7 billion in 2024. The total fund includes £1.6 billion to improve hospital discharge arrangements – £600 million next year and £1 billion the year following.

    This is part of the government’s wider commitments to support adult social care services, backed by up to £7.5 billion over the next two years to help local authorities address waiting lists and workforce pressures in the sector, as announced in the Autumn Statement.

    The government remains fully dedicated to the 10-year vision for adult social care set out in the People at the Heart of Care white paper, and since then, has boosted workforce capacity with 55,000 visas issued for people to take up care worker roles, increased uptake of Digital Social Care Records by 10 percentage points, and have launched new and improved data collections.

    Health Minister Helen Whately said:

    Care depends completely on the people who do the caring – that’s over a million care staff working in care homes and agencies, and countless relatives, friends and volunteers, acting out of the kindness of their hearts.

    That’s why this package of reforms focuses on recognising care with the status it deserves, while also focusing on the better use of technology, the power of data and digital care records, and extra funding for councils – aiming to make a care system we can be proud of.

    Chief Nurse for Adult Social Care, Deborah Sturdy, said:

    Working in social care is such a varied, exciting and rewarding career, and I’m pleased that these reforms recognise the enormous potential in investing in the professional development of our highly skilled workforce.

    Along with technological advancements that will make the lives of care workers easier, this plan is an exciting continuation of the government’s commitment to reform social care.

    Since launching the People at the Heart of Care white paper the government has already invested hundreds of millions of pounds on reform including digital transformation, hospital discharge and staffing support but the government plans to go further and faster during the next two years of the 10-year plan.

    Advances in technology mean there are many aids and devices which could improve care such as smart speakers to remind people to take medication or sensors which can detect falls and alert people to provide support quickly.

    By utilising these developments and digitising records, backed by a further £100 million, the aim is for 80% of registered providers to have a digital care record by March 2024, ensuring all information that staff need to support a person’s care can be available digitally – which speeds up shift handovers and can save 20 minutes of admin time per care worker per shift.

    The government is also asking for expressions of interest from integrated care systems to fund care technologies which focus on the quality of care and help reduce avoidable hospital admissions, or which will support for people to live independently.

    From April 2023 the Care Quality Commission will begin to assess local authorities to identify where further support is needed and help identify good practice. This will ensure a continued focus on delivering quality care and improving services.

    New national data collection will also begin, to provide better information on care journeys and outcomes, bringing social care data more in line with NHS collections.

    Further reforms include the use of Home Improvement Agencies to help make the small but significant adaptations people need to remain at home, stay independent and avoid or reduce the need to stay in hospital. These could include modifications such as grab rails and ramps, small repairs and safety and security checks.

    In partnership with the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities, we are launching a new, independently chaired Older People’s Housing Taskforce to decide how best to provide a greater range of suitable housing depending on the support people need.

    As well as reducing the need for people to go to hospital the government is committed to reducing the time people stay in hospital with £1.6 billion being allocated over the next two years to improve hospital discharge, following the £700 million provided in 2022/23.

    These reforms will support social care as well as the wider health sector, contributing to wider efforts to tackle backlogs and cut waiting lists.

    Skills for Care CEO Oonagh Smyth said:

    Skills for Care is working in partnership with the DHSC to develop the Care Workforce Pathway that will create a clear shared understanding of the knowledge, skills, values and behaviours needed to work effectively in adult social care. People who draw on care and support, the workforce, managers and employers will know what to expect and can make informed choices that are right for them.

    The pathway must build on what works, so I would encourage anyone involved in delivering, or accessing, social care to make sure your voices are heard as part of the call for evidence to influence the training and career progression pathways of tomorrow.

    Background

  • PRESS RELEASE : HMS Birmingham steel cut milestone supports thousands of UK jobs [April 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : HMS Birmingham steel cut milestone supports thousands of UK jobs [April 2023]

    The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 4 April 2023.

    Steel has been cut on the first of the second batch of Type 26 warships, following a £4.2 billion contract awarded to BAE Systems in November 2022.

    • Steel has been cut for HMS Birmingham, formally marking the start of the build of the second batch of Type 26 frigates.
    • Following a £4.2 billion contract for Batch 2 awarded to BAE Systems in November last year.
    • 1,700 jobs sustained in Scotland and a further 2,300 across the UK supply chain.

    The Minister for Defence Procurement, Alex Chalk KC, marked the occasion at the steel cutting ceremony, with HMS Birmingham becoming the fourth of eight anti-submarine warships being constructed for the Royal Navy at BAE Systems’ shipyard in Govan, Glasgow.

    Building on ambitions laid out in the National Shipbuilding Strategy Refresh, this represents another significant milestone for the Type 26 programme, the Royal Navy and UK Defence, reinforcing Defence’s commitment to shipbuilding in Scotland.

    With all eight frigates to be built in Govan, and the work sustaining some 1,700 jobs in Scotland with a further 2,300 jobs across the wider UK supply chain, delivering on the Prime Minister’s priority to grow the economy, creating better-paid jobs and opportunity right across the UK.

    Minister for Defence Procurement, Alex Chalk KC, said:

    This is yet another significant milestone for the Type 26 programme, supporting thousands of jobs in Scotland and across the wider UK supply chain.

    Working closely with our industry partners, we are bringing in a cutting-edge class of warships for the Royal Navy, bolstering our maritime capabilities into the coming decades.

    The frigates will replace the bulk of the retiring Type 23 fleet with its primary role of anti-submarine warfare, protecting the UK’s Continuous At-Sea Deterrent and Maritime Strike Group. The first of the second batch of Type 26 ships, HMS Birmingham will be preceded by HMS Glasgow, HMS Cardiff and HMS Belfast.

    At just under 150 metres long, almost the length of 3 Olympic swimming pools, and with a top speed of more than 26 knots and a range of more than 7,000 nautical miles, the vessels will also be capable of countering piracy and delivering humanitarian aid and disaster relief.

    The Type 26 vessels will be armed with the Sea Ceptor missile defence system, able to destroy airborne and sea surface targets. They will also carry a five-inch medium calibre gun, a helicopter, Artisan 997 radar and sonar for navigation and tracking adversaries.

    DE&S Director General Ships, Vice Admiral Paul Marshall, said:

    The steel cut for HMS Birmingham is a significant moment for everyone who has worked, and is working, on the Type 26 programme to deliver the best possible warships to serve the Royal Navy for decades to come. I look forward to seeing the second batch of frigates taking shape.

    Celebrating the next HMS Birmingham, with four ships having previously taken the name, the Lord Mayor of Birmingham was also present at the steel-cut.

    Lord Mayor of Birmingham, Maureen Cornish JP, said:

    I am delighted to have attended today’s sheet cutting ceremony, which will see work begin on building a new HMS Birmingham, further strengthening the city’s ties with the Royal Navy.

    It will be fantastic to see this new Type 26 anti-submarine frigate serve HMS Birmingham’s current and future crews well as part of the new fleet being built in Govan, Scotland.

    BAE Systems continues to invest in the programme and has submitted a planning application for a new 175 metre long, 85 metre wide, shipbuilding hall at Govan, which will allow two frigates to be built simultaneously under cover. This investment will be a major factor in the final five ships costing less and being delivered in quicker time than the first three.

    Simon Lister, Managing Director of BAE Systems’ Naval Ships business, said:

    This is another proud moment for our talented teams across the UK who have played a part in the design and construction of these important vessels. HMS Birmingham will benefit from a range of investments that will transform our digital and physical infrastructure and consolidate a centre of excellence for shipbuilding skills here in the UK. Alongside my teams I’d like to thank our customers and suppliers for their expertise and commitment as we take this programme forward and deliver the next generation City Class frigates for the Royal Navy.

    The Type 26 design has also been successfully exported to UK allies, with programmes for nine Australian Hunter Class and 15 Canadian Surface Combatants underway. This will provide a long-term opportunity for all three nations to work together to exploit supply chain efficiencies and interoperability on operations.

    Construction of all of the city-class frigates is expected to be completed by the mid-2030s, with HMS Glasgow, the first in class, entering service by the end of 2028. Designed for a service life of at least 25 years, the Type 26 frigates will serve in the future Royal Navy surface fleet into the 2060s.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Life chances of vulnerable adults improved as government extends £73 million ‘Changing Futures’ programme [April 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Life chances of vulnerable adults improved as government extends £73 million ‘Changing Futures’ programme [April 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities on 4 April 2023.

    A £73 million scheme to improve peoples’ life chances has been extended as Government increases support for vulnerable people.

    • Changing Futures Programme extended until 2025 to support England’s most vulnerable adults
    • £7 million additional funding for local areas to provide world class support services designed to meet each person’s unique needs
    • Part of government’s commitment to improve life chances of people facing disadvantage

    A £73 million scheme to improve peoples’ life chances has been extended as Government increases support for vulnerable people.

    Local areas participating in the Changing Future programme will now have an extra year to deliver pioneering support services to people facing multiple issues including mental ill health, homelessness, drug and alcohol misuse and domestic abuse.

    The extension to the programme, which launched in 2021, is backed by £9.5 million from the government’s Shared Outcomes Fund.

    The programme is designed to overcome challenges adults face in receiving support from the NHS and local support services. It focuses on bringing together the work of local councils, charities and support services into easily accessible teams that can better cater for a person’s range of issues, rather than them having to seek separate support for each area of their life.

    New research from the government, published today, shows that Changing Futures is reaching those most in need, with nearly 7 in 10 people on the programme having experience of more than one mental or physical health issue.

    Minister for Housing and Homelessness, Felicity Buchan said:

    “The Changing Futures programme is making a difference to thousands of lives up and down the country – helping us reach some of the most vulnerable people and giving them the specialist support they need to improve their lives.

    “The extension and funding we are announcing today will help support even more people and I look forward to seeing what other long lasting changes local areas can deliver for these individuals.”

    Changing Futures is co-funded and run in conjunction with the National Lottery Community Fund.

    David Knott, Chief Executive of The National Lottery Community Fund, said:

    “The Changing Futures programme is showing that – when equipped with the right tools and support – vulnerable people facing multiple disadvantage can make significant changes to improve their lives and have a positive impact on the communities they are part of.

    “As joint funder, we have seen first-hand the difference this programme has made since 2021. I welcome the Government’s plans to extend it and am excited to see what comes next.”

    Examples of local initiatives funded by the programme include:

    • A new service in Surrey which uses the latest developments in trauma support  for women dealing with domestic abuse
    • A specialist mental health and wellbeing team in Essex for individuals who have struggled to access mainstream health services.
    • Specialist workers in Nottingham to help people get the support they need with links to specific GP, mental health and housing support

    Anna Smith – Bristol Changing Futures Programme Director, said:

    “I am proud to be leading the Changing Futures programme in Bristol. It is wonderful to see agencies from across the city working in partnership to trial different approaches to working with people facing Multiple Disadvantage.

    “By taking a My Team Around Me approach with our clients, we aim to end the revolving door which sees them lose trust in the system and disengage from services and support them to independence.

    “We welcome today’s announcement and look forward to hearing more about what it means for Bristol.”

    Areas receiving support include Essex, Westminster, Sussex, Surrey, Bristol, Plymouth, Nottingham, Stoke-on-Trent, Hull, Sheffield, Leicester, Northumbria (Northumberland, Newcastle, Gateshead, North Tyneside, South Tyneside, and Sunderland), South Tees (Middlesbrough, and Redcar and Cleveland), Lancashire (Blackpool, Lancashire, and Blackburn with Darwen) and Greater Manchester.

    Case study from the Changing Futures programme:

    • Jane was referred into the Changing Futures partnership in Essex as she had been making daily use of emergency services.
    • She had entrenched complex needs, including mental ill-health and alcohol misuse, and her traumatic past experiences meant she had difficulty trusting professionals.
    • Regular multi-disciplinary meetings, including with her GP, Essex Alcohol Recovery Community, the Mental Health & Wellbeing Team and a local homeless charity, meant the teams could identify the best ways to support Jane.
    • Jane was successful in reducing her alcohol use, which has had a positive impact on her mental and physical health.
  • PRESS RELEASE : Findings of independent review of ICSs published [April 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Findings of independent review of ICSs published [April 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 4 April 2023.

    An independent review of integrated care systems (ICSs) has today published its final report.

    • An independent review of integrated care systems (ICSs) has today published its final report
    • ICSs were introduced across England in 2022, bringing together the NHS, local government, and other partners together to improve the health and care of the people who live and work in their area
    • Chaired by former Health Secretary, Rt. Hon. Patricia Hewitt, the review considered how the oversight and governance of ICSs can best enable them to succeed

    An independent review into integrated care systems today published its final report.

    Integrated Care Systems bring together NHS, local government, social care providers, charities and other partners to deliver on four goals:

    • Improving outcomes in population health and healthcare
    • Tackling inequalities in outcomes, experience and access
    • Enhancing productivity and value for money
    • Helping the NHS support broader social and economic development

    ICBs include representatives from local authorities, primary care and NHS Trusts and Foundation Trusts.

    The Health and Social Care Secretary commissioned Rt. Hon. Patricia Hewitt to lead the independent review in November 2022, asking her to consider how the oversight and governance of these systems can best enable them to succeed.

    The review covered ICSs in England and the NHS targets and priorities for which ICBs are accountable, including those set out in the government’s mandate to NHS England.

    Drawing on the insights of leaders from across the NHS, local government, social care providers, the charitable and the voluntary and social enterprise sector the review looked at how best to empower local leaders to focus on improving outcomes for their populations.

    Organisations representing patients as well as experts in academia and think tanks also fed into the call for evidence which received more than 400 responses.

    A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said:

    Integrated care systems are an important part of the government’s plan to deliver more joined up and effective health and care services and to cut waiting times for patients, one of the Prime Minister’s key priorities for 2023.

    Ministers will review recommendations of this report in due course.

    Chair of the independent review of integrated care systems, Rt. Hon. Patricia Hewitt, said:

    It was an enormous privilege to undertake this review, published today.

    Integrated Care Systems represent the best opportunity in a generation for the urgently needed transformation that we need in our health and care system. Everyone wants them to succeed.

    To fulfil their potential, however, we need not only to back our new structures, but also to change our culture. Everyone needs to change, and everyone needs to play their part.

    My recommendations are intended to help the health and care system make those changes – and I hope that ministers, NHS England and others will feel able to take them forward.

    Amanda Pritchard, NHS chief executive, said:

    Integrated care systems have the power to change the way the NHS provides care for people while working alongside local government to ensure people live healthier lives.

    We know health systems across the country are already taking significant action to do this and we are grateful to Patricia Hewitt for this important report – we will look in detail at the recommendations as we continue to support local areas to improve outcomes for patients.

    Background

    • The full report can be found here: The Hewitt Review: an independent review of integrated care systems – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
    • Each ICS has an integrated care board (ICB), a statutory organisation responsible for developing a plan for meeting the health needs of the population, managing the NHS budget and arranging for the provision of health services in the ICS area. ICBs include representatives from local authorities, primary care and NHS Trusts and Foundation Trusts.
    • Each ICS also has an integrated care partnership (ICP) that brings together a broad alliance of partners concerned with improving the care, health and wellbeing of the population. The ICP is responsible for producing an integrated care strategy on how to meet the health and wellbeing needs of the population in the ICS area.
  • PRESS RELEASE : DVSA sets out vision to keep Britain moving safely and sustainably [April 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : DVSA sets out vision to keep Britain moving safely and sustainably [April 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Transport on 4 April 2023.

    The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has launched its vision to 2030, setting out what needs to be done to keep Britain moving safely and sustainably.

    By the end of this decade, DVSA will have made progress against 5 important challenges and opportunities. These are to:

    • make roads safer
    • improve services for its customers
    • make road transport greener and healthier
    • harness the potential of technology and data
    • grow and level up the economy

    Enabling a transport revolution

    DVSA is launching its ambitious vision at a time when the country is on the cusp of a transport revolution.

    By 2030

    There will be rapid change between now and the end of the decade. By 2030:

    • the sale of new fully petrol or diesel cars will have been banned
    • 10 million battery electric vehicles are expected on the roads
    • 1 in 8 new cars sold could have self-driving features
    • half of all journeys in towns and cities will be made by walking or cycling

    What DVSA will do

    DVSA already plays a leading role in:

    • setting driver and vehicle standards, and assessing that drivers and vehicles are safe
    • licensing, accrediting, regulating and enforcing in industries including driver training, MOT testing and commercial vehicle operators

    Under its new vision, DVSA will significantly increase its work to inform, educate and advise the public and businesses.

    Overall, these activities will help to make sure that:

    • driving standards and driving tests are suitable for self-driving vehicles
    • taking theory tests and driving tests becomes more convenient
    • existing drivers are able to use self-driving vehicles safely
    • the vehicle approval process promotes innovation in automation and net-zero emissions
    • MOT testing and in-service vehicle safety keep up with the latest vehicle technology, such as artificial intelligence, radar and lidar (light detection and ranging)
    • vehicle data is accessible and easy to use
    • commercial vehicle operators have clear standards to follow that reflect the latest technology
    • more commercial driver and vehicle non-compliance is detected remotely through better data and technology
    • commercial vehicle operators have access to tailored guidance to help them

    Making a difference to society

    The vision focuses on outcomes that help make a real and lasting difference to everyone living in Great Britain.

    It will guide work to:

    • reduce the numbers of people killed and seriously injured on our roads, which in turn reduces pressure on the NHS
    • help people to use new connected and autonomous mobility technology safely, giving people more independence
    • improve public transport services, enabling more and better access to work and education
    • help the road haulage industry become more efficient and keep supply chains resilient, helping everyone with the cost of living
    • help to create 38,000 jobs in the self-driving vehicle industry
    • help to end the UK’s contribution to climate change by becoming net zero
    • help reduce air pollution from road transport, as human-made air pollution causes between 28,000 and 36,000 deaths every year

    Read the DVSA vision to 2030.

    Loveday Ryder, DVSA Chief Executive, said:

    Whatever your stake in DVSA, we want to set out what the DVSA plans to achieve of behalf our customers and stakeholders. That’s whether you work for us or in partnership with us, or you are responsible for holding us to account.

    Our strategic plan to 2025 and vision to 2030 set out our ambitions and the challenges we set ourselves to achieve our vision to 2030 of keeping Britain moving, safely and sustainably.

    The transformative plans in these documents demonstrate our drive for more efficient services. We will always keep looking for ways to build on this to support the government’s ambitions.

    Strategic plan to 2025 sets out immediate priorities

    DVSA’s vision to 2030 is supported by a strategic plan to 2025. This sets out the most immediate priorities to:

    • help you through a lifetime of safe and sustainable journeys
    • help you keep your vehicle safe to drive
    • protect you from unsafe drivers and vehicles

    Read the DVSA strategic plan to 2025.

    DVSA’s business plan for 2023 to 2024 will be published later in spring. It will set out the priorities and targets for the coming year.

  • PRESS RELEASE : One million families claiming tax credits to receive Cost of Living Payment from 2 May [April 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : One million families claiming tax credits to receive Cost of Living Payment from 2 May [April 2023]

    The press release issued by HM Treasury on 4 April 2023.

    HMRC announces date for the first Cost of Living payment during the 2023 to 2024 tax year, for tax-credits only customers.

    One million eligible claimant families receiving tax credits, and no other means-tested benefits, will get the first Cost of Living Payment for the 2023 to 2024 tax year from Tuesday 2 May 2023, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has confirmed.

    The £301 government payment will be paid automatically into most customers’ bank accounts between Tuesday 2 and Tuesday 9 May 2023 across the United Kingdom. Only eligible families who receive tax credits and no other means-tested benefits will receive the payment from HMRC.

    This is the first of three payments totalling up to £900 for those eligible in the 2023 to 2024 tax year.

    Chief Secretary to the Treasury, John Glen, said:

    Higher prices make life difficult for everyone, which is why our priority is to halve inflation this year.

    But we are also going further to support those struggling most, with a total package of support worth an average of £3,300 per household this year and next – including up to £900 in direct cash payments starting next month for families receiving tax credits.

    Angela MacDonald, HMRC’s Deputy Chief Executive and Second Permanent Secretary, said:

    The £301 Cost of Living Payment will deliver vital financial help to eligible tax credit customers across the UK. Further support will be paid in autumn 2023 and spring 2024 to those entitled to payment.

    HMRC will pay eligible tax credit customers automatically and with no action required from the customer, to make this as simple and helpful as it can possibly be.

    The payment will show as ‘HMRC COLS’ in customers’ bank and building society accounts, so that they know the money is cost of living support.

    For tax credit-only customers to be eligible for the £301 Cost of Living Payment, they must have received a payment of tax credits in respect of any day in the period 26 January to 25 February 2023, or later be found to have been entitled to a payment for this period.

    Eligible customers do not need to apply or contact HMRC to receive the payment.

    The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) recently announced that eligible households receiving DWP means-tested benefits will receive their first payment for the 2023 to 2024 tax year between Tuesday 25 April and Wednesday 17 May. This includes tax credit claimants who also receive other income-related benefits from DWP.

    The payments are part of a package of wider government support announced to tackle the cost of living in the 2023 to 2024 tax year, including:

    • a further £300 Cost of Living Payment for eligible families in autumn 2023, with a payment of £299 in spring 2024
    • a £150 Disability Cost of Living Payment for eligible disabled people to be paid during summer 2023
    • a £300 Pensioner Cost of Living Payment to be paid during winter 2023-24.

    This means that the most vulnerable can receive up to £1,350 in direct payments over the coming financial year if eligible.

    Including both DWP and HMRC payments, the latest Cost of Living Payment will see more than 8 million households across the UK receive their £301 cash boost by mid-May 2023.

    The government is offering help for households. Customers should check GOV.UK to find out what support they could be eligible for.

    Additional information

    To receive the £301 payment someone must (subject to a very limited exception) have been entitled to a payment of a qualifying benefit as follows:

    • eligible tax credit-only customers, who will receive the £301 payment between 2 and 9 May 2023, must have received a payment of tax credits in respect of any day in the period 26 January 2023 to 25 February 2023, or later be found to have been entitled to a payment for this period.
    • for joint claimants, where one claimant receives Working Tax Credit and the other claimant receives Child Tax Credit, payments will be made into the same bank account as the Child Tax Credit.
    • to be eligible for the DWP payment, families must have been entitled to a payment (or later found to be entitled to a payment) of either:

    Universal Credit – payment for an assessment period ending between 26 January 2023 and 25 February 2023.

    For all other DWP means-tested benefits, payment in respect of any day between 26 January and 25 February 2023.

    • receiving a previous Cost of Living Payment does not mean you will be entitled to a future one. Customers will need to meet the separate eligibility criteria for each payment.

    Customers do not need to apply for this payment. If customers are eligible through receiving tax credits only, HMRC will make the Cost of Living Payment automatically into the bank account where claimants already receive their tax credits. Customers might find that their payment is delayed if they have recently closed the bank account their tax credits are usually paid into.

    If customers have not let HMRC know that their bank account has changed, HMRC will pay the money into their old bank account, meaning the payment will be rejected. If this happens, HMRC will follow this up by letter to the customer, letting them know that we need updated bank details.

    If tax credit customers believe they are eligible but have not received a payment between the published payment dates, they should wait until 16 May 2023 at the earliest to contact HMRC. This is to allow time for their bank, building society or credit union to process the payment. We will not be able to provide customers with any further information before this date.

    More than 8 million families on means-tested benefits will receive up to £900 during the 2023 to 2024 tax year, in up to 3 payments. This includes all eligible families entitled to a payment of the following benefits: Universal Credit; Income-based Jobseekers Allowance; Income-related Employment and Support Allowance; Income Support; Working Tax Credit; Child Tax Credit; and Pension Credit.

    This payment is tax-free, will not count towards the benefit cap, and will not have any impact on existing benefit awards.

    The 3 means-tested cost of living payments are being delivered in 3 slightly different amounts of £301, £300, and £299. The distinct value relates to a specific qualifying period before the payment is made. This allows HMRC and DWP to ensure support is targeted at those who need it and are eligible; to determine if a payee received the correct payment and identify the payment value; and to reduce the risk of fraud as HMRC and DWP will be able to clearly track those who have received payment.

    Beware of scams targeting cost of living payments. If someone contacts you about this payment saying they are from HMRC, it might be a scam.

    You do not need to apply for this payment. HMRC will never ask for your bank details by SMS or email. Do not let yourself be rushed. Check advice on spotting scams by visiting GOV.UK and searching ‘phishing and scams’. You can also find ways to contact us on GOV.UK – search ‘Contact HMRC’ and choose ‘tax credits’.

  • PRESS RELEASE : HRC52 – UK Core Group statement on Item 2 Resolution: South Sudan [April 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : HRC52 – UK Core Group statement on Item 2 Resolution: South Sudan [April 2023]

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

    UN HRC52: UK Core Group statement to introduce Item 2 Resolution on South Sudan. Delivered by UK’s Ambassador to the WTO and UN in Geneva, Simon Manley.

    Thank you Mr President.

    I am honoured to present on behalf of the core group of Albania, Norway, the United States and the UK, draft resolution L.27 on South Sudan, which, if passed, would extend in full the mandate of the Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan for a further year.

    Mr President,

    The human rights situation in South remains dire and should be of paramount concern to this Council. All major UN actors working on human rights in South Sudan have continued to report that human rights violations and abuses continue to be committed frequently across South Sudan, with impunity, by all actors, across the country. In addition, the transitional justice institutions supposed to guarantee accountability for past violations and abuses have still not been established.

    In light of this, our Core Group is clear that the Commission’s mandate to monitor, report, investigate and gather evidence of human rights violations and abuses remains as necessary today as when it was established. This work directly supports efforts to make progress toward lasting peace in South Sudan, based on respect for the rule of law, accountability for past atrocities, and the full enjoyment by all South Sudanese of their human rights going forward.

    Mr President,

    We regret that, once again, we have been unable to reach consensus on full mandate extension with South Sudan. We note their position here in Geneva, while also deeply appreciating their continued and full cooperation with the Commission in Juba.

    We also note the African Group has, as before, tabled draft resolution L.36, focusing on technical assistance and capacity building in South Sudan. We will of course support this text – technical assistance and capacity building, alongside continued and strong human rights scrutiny are key, mutually reinforcing pillars of the overall, comprehensive human rights response we believe South Sudan needs.

    We therefore urge the Council to adopt this draft resolution extending the mandate of the Commission, and to vote in favour if necessary. If the resolution is adopted, we hope to continue discussions with South Sudan on whether and how we can find a way back to consensus next year.

    Thank you.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Appointment of Lord-Lieutenant of Lancashire [April 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Appointment of Lord-Lieutenant of Lancashire [April 2023]

    The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 4 April 2023.

    The King has been pleased to appoint Mrs Amanda Parker, DL, as His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant for the County of Lancashire on the retirement of The Lord Shuttleworth, KG, KCVO, on 2nd August 2023.

    Background

    Amanda Parker has devoted much of her life to voluntary service while also helping to run the commercial aspects of her family estate and founding two IT and AV businesses. She has served as a magistrate for almost two decades; supported young people through sport, especially hockey; and is Chair of National Crimebeat, a youth crime prevention charity. She is also a patron or trustee of Whalley Educational Foundation, which provides community space for education; Nightsafe, a charity for young homeless people in Blackburn; Saheliyaan, an organisation supporting female abuse victims from (mostly) South Asia in Chorley; and Active Lancashire, which seeks to improve lifestyles and health outcomes. She was High Sheriff in 2015-16.

    Mrs Parker lives near Clitheroe with her husband, Robert. They have two adult children.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Reappointment of Chair to the Youth Justice Board for England and Wales [April 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Reappointment of Chair to the Youth Justice Board for England and Wales [April 2023]

    The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 4 April 2023.

    The Secretary of State for Justice has announced the reappointment of Keith Fraser as Chair of the Youth Justice Board for England and Wales.

    The Deputy Prime Minister, Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State has announced the reappointment of Keith Fraser as Chair of the Youth Justice Board for England and Wales (YJB). Keith’s term of office will commence on 14 April 2023 for a period of 2 years.

    Appointments and reappointments of YJB Board members (including the Chair) are regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments and are made in line with the Governance Code on Public Appointments.

    The YJB is a non-departmental public body, responsible for overseeing the youth justice system in England and Wales. As a non-departmental public body, it has a core responsibility for close monitoring of the operational performance of statutory partnerships, local authorities and Youth Offending Teams in preventing offending.

    Biography

    Keith was first appointed to the YJB as a member in January 2018 and was appointed as Chair in April 2020 for 3 years. He is also the Chair of Local Partnerships and of 999 Cenotaph. In March 2023 he became a member of the Governing Committee for the Youth Endowment Fund and was a Commissioner for the UK Race and Ethnic Disparities Commission. Keith is the Non-Executive Director at The WorkForce Development Trust Limited, Sport Birmingham and a Patron for Employability UK.

    Prior to this, Keith was a Superintendent and Chief Inspector in the West Midlands Police. During this time, he produced the 2016-19 Preventing Gang Involvement and Youth Violence strategy, and was the Strategic Police Lead for the Princes Trust across the West Midlands. He also served in the Metropolitan Police Service for 20 Years. Keith was also the Chair of Wolverhampton City Council’s statutory Youth Justice Management Board where he led an innovative preventative project which worked with Sport England to support over 7,000 children.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Ofsted to start registering supported accommodation providers from April [April 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Ofsted to start registering supported accommodation providers from April [April 2023]

    The press release issued by Ofsted on 4 April 2023.

    Ofsted is set to provide essential oversight of supported accommodation for children in care and care leavers aged 16 to 17.

    Supported accommodation refers to housing and support for looked after children and care leavers aged 16 to 17, which enables them to live semi-independently. Until now, this type of provision has had no independent scrutiny, potentially leaving children at risk in unsafe or unsuitable accommodation, including caravans and boats. Regulation and inspection will provide crucial oversight of the sector, and will assess whether accommodation is safe and meets children’s individual needs.

    Last month, the government published new quality standards that providers of supported accommodation must meet. Under new regulations, providers will need to submit applications to register with Ofsted by 28 October 2023. After this date it will be an offence to provide supported accommodation without having a registration application accepted as complete.

    Today, Ofsted has published guidance to support providers with their applications. The guidance sets out in detail the registration process, including the evidence required from applicants and how Ofsted will assess the suitability of relevant individuals. Applications will start to be accepted from 28 April.

    Ofsted will consult on proposals for the new inspection methodology in summer 2023 and will run pilot inspections in the autumn. Inspections of supported accommodation will begin in April 2024.

    Yvette Stanley, National Director Regulation and Social Care:

    I am really pleased that we are taking this first step in the regulation of supported accommodation. Supported accommodation can be the right fit for some older looked after children and care leavers who are ready for independence and need varying levels of support. But for too long there hasn’t been any independent oversight of this diverse and growing sector, and the quality of supported accommodation remains far too variable.

    We are committed to getting the regulatory balance right. We will act sensibly and proportionally, but we will always have high expectations for children. All children need careful, nurturing and responsive support, wherever they live. We will continue to engage with children, young people, providers and others as we develop our proposals for inspection.