Category: Press Releases

PRESS RELEASE : Home Secretary ramps up security measures to protect Jewish communities [March 2023]

The press release issued by the Home Office on 30 March 2023.

Jewish communities are to be better protected from vile antisemitic attacks with a £1 million funding boost and a new dedicated police taskforce.

Synagogues and faith schools will be given £15 million for protective security measures in 2023 to 2024 as part of the Jewish Community Protective Security grant, a £1 million increase on last year. This will fund increased protective security, including security guards and other security measures such as CCTV and alarm systems to protect against persistent hate crime, anti-social behaviour, terrorism and state threats.

In addition, senior policing leaders, ministers, the Community Security Trust (CST), and other stakeholders will form a new Jewish Community Police, Crime and Security Taskforce. The taskforce will strengthen accountability and enhance efforts to combat antisemitic crime and violence against Jewish communities. It will provide a regular forum to discuss with operational partners, communal security concerns relating to policing, terrorism, state threats, hate crime, and public order matters. Chaired by the Home Secretary, it will meet for the first time in late spring, and 3 times a year thereafter.

The first meeting is likely to consider whether it is necessary to review operational policing guidance in light of concerns shared by the Jewish community. This could include guidance on specific chants, banners and emblems which are antisemitic, and ensuring that the police and Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) are using their powers to arrest and charge criminals who pose a threat to the Jewish community.

The measures follow the latest Home Office hate crime statistics which show that despite making up less than 1% of the population, almost a quarter of recorded religiously-motivated hate crimes in the UK were against Jewish people in 2021 to 2022.

The Home Secretary announced new measures in a speech at the Community Security Trust’s annual dinner on 29 March.

Home Secretary Suella Braverman said:

Antisemitism is one of the great evils in the world. It is vital that all people, but especially political leaders, challenge antisemitism whenever and wherever they encounter it.

Attacks on the Jewish community are abhorrent. I applaud the police’s efforts to tackle these crimes, but we must go further to ensure the vile criminals who threaten the peace and safety of Jewish communities feel the full force of the law.

I am proud to be working closely with the Community Security Trust and colleagues in policing and beyond to help protect the UK’s Jewish community, go after antisemitic offenders, and stamp out racism in all its forms.

Minister for Security, Tom Tugendhat said:

Antisemitism is abhorrent and I stand hand in hand with the Jewish community against all its manifestations.

We must continue to strive to ensure that every community can live and worship in safety, free from threat.

CST Chief Executive Mark Gardner MBE said:

This announcement by the Home Secretary is hugely welcome, given the continuing threats of terrorism and antisemitism that are faced by British Jews. CST will continue to do everything we can in partnership with the Home Office so as to ensure the best possible security for Jewish schools, synagogues and communities throughout the country.

National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) Lead for Hate Crime, Deputy Chief Constable Mark Hamilton, said:

It is vital that all citizens are able to live their lives free from targeted abuse, and the NPCC supports this funding to help reduce antisemitic hostility suffered by Jewish people in the UK.

The right to live free from targeted abuse is a fundamental right that we all share and we will continue to work to bring offenders to justice. I would encourage anyone who suffers such a crime to report it, either to the police or to the CST. In an emergency, always call 999.

The Home Secretary has also pledged to write to all Home Office public bodies and every chief constable and police and crime commissioner, as well as the National Police Chiefs’ Council, the College of Policing and the Crown Prosecution Service, to reaffirm the government’s support for the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s (IHRA) definition of antisemitism, and encourage its further adoption.

The new funding will bring the total amount allocated through the Jewish Community Protective Security Grant to £122 million since 2015.

March 30, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : We will never forget the cruelties the people of Bucha have been forced to endure – UK statement to the OSCE [March 2023]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 30 March 2023.

Deputy Ambassador Brown says the UK is fully committed to holding Russia to account for its illegal and barbaric actions in Ukraine, including in Bucha.

Thank you, Mr Chair. Russian forces took full control of Bucha by 5 March 2022, and remained there until 30 March. That is one year ago, today. Since then, Bucha has become synonymous with the some of the most despicable horrors unleashed by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. My statement today will set out just some of the cruelties the people of Bucha were forced to endure.

When Ukrainian forces liberated Bucha, and foreign journalists arrived shortly after, they saw dozens of dead bodies. First on the streets. Then in gardens, apartments, basements, vehicles, forested areas and improvised individual and collective graves. Many bore signs of summary execution. According to the OHCHR, some civilians were “killed on the spot” and others were detained before being executed – sometimes “several weeks later”. Over time, more and more bodies have been recovered in Bucha. As of 13 September 2022, Kyiv’s regional police force put the total death toll at 422.

Mr Chair, innocent civilians are at the heart of this suffering. People like 69 year old Valeriy, who was killed in his own garden. People like 14 year old Yurii, who was shot in the arm by the same Russian soldier who killed Yurii’s father at a Russian checkpoint. And people like 52 year old Iryna who was found dead, on the side of the road – like so many others. Photos of Iryna’s muddy upturned hand, and her bright red fingernails, became a potent symbol of the human suffering in Bucha.

Two Moscow Mechanism reports have documented clear patterns of serious violations of international humanitarian law, “attributable mostly to the Russian forces”. This includes in Bucha, where experts noted reports of bodies found with their hands tied behind their backs, including in the basement of a children’s health centre; a mass grave containing more than 70 bodies; bodies bearing obvious signs of torture and mutilation; and of torture chambers discovered in a summer camp. In one village in the Bucha district, 18 mutilated bodies of men, women and children were reportedly discovered, some with their ears cut off, others with their teeth pulled out.

The growing body of evidence shows that Russian authorities have committed a wide range of violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law. In Bucha, Irpin, Izyum, Kherson and more. Too many more. The atrocities committed in these locations will forever be a moral stain upon the Russian armed forces. And a moral stain on the Russian diplomats who continue to peddle the Kremlin’s lies to obscure and distract from these crimes. Lies which will never work.

The UK is fully committed to holding Russia to account for its illegal and barbaric actions in Ukraine. These should be independently investigated. Alongside supporting the International Criminal Court, the UK, United States and European Union have established the Atrocity Crimes Advisory Group in support of Ukraine’s domestic war crimes prosecutions. Those responsible will face justice.

Mr Chair, when President Zelenskyy was asked recently about his worst memory of Russia’s invasion, he answered “Bucha”. We will never forget those who have been killed in Putin’s barbaric, senseless invasion – including those in Bucha. We will never abandon those who remain. We will stand by Ukraine for as long as it takes. Ukrainians have shown tremendous courage and resilience in the face of such wanton destruction and evil. Ukraine will prevail, rebuild and flourish.

March 30, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Jobs and investment boost for East Midlands as Freeport gets green light [March 2023]
The press release issued by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities on 30 March 2023.

East Midlands Freeport fully operational after final government sign off.

New high-quality jobs and much-needed investment for the East Midlands region will be unlocked today, as the East Midlands Freeport receives final government sign off.

The Freeport will now receive up to £25 million seed funding from government and potentially hundreds of millions in locally retained business rates to drive growth in the UK’s advanced manufacturing, biomanufacturing, logistics, and low carbon industries.

It will help encourage investment into sectors including automotive, space, and satellites sectors, generating thousands of jobs and boosting the local economy.

This is the seventh Freeport in England to become fully operational, with just one more expected to get final government sign off in due course. Four new Freeports have recently been named in Scotland and Wales.

The East Midlands Freeport is uniquely positioned as the only inland Freeport in England, with connections to major regional transport hubs, such as the East Midlands Airport.

Levelling Up Minister Dehenna Davison said:

The East Midlands has a thriving manufacturing sector and we want to capitalise on those strengths while also developing new green growth industries.

The East Midlands Freeport, the only inland Freeport, is up and running and will bring high quality jobs, investment and trading opportunities for businesses in the region.

This will help us deliver on our mission to grow the economy and level up right across the UK.

Taking full advantage of the freedoms of leaving the EU, businesses in Freeports are offered generous tax incentives and a simplified customs procedure, unlocking much-needed investment and high-quality jobs.

Steve Griffiths, East Midlands Airport’s Managing Director, said:

As the ‘port’ within the Freeport, we welcome today’s news. The Freeport will provide a focal point around which the public and private sectors can collaborate to shape the future economic success of this region. We look forward to working as part of the East Midlands Freeport to make the most of this opportunity and to build on our role as a key gateway for facilitating global trade.

East Midlands Freeport estimates that it will generate over 28,000 new jobs and is already home to world-leading multinational companies, like Toyota Manufacturing UK, and East Midlands Airport – the UK’s busiest ‘pure’ cargo airport.
- The Ratcliffe-on-Soar Power Station site will focus on low-carbon energy and advanced manufacturing, and be redeveloped to become a zero-carbon technology and energy hub for the East Midlands, helping to meet the region’s decarbonisation goals.
- East Midlands Airport and Gateway Industrial Cluster (EMAGIC), home to the East Midlands Airport, will advance the nation-leading advanced logistics market in the East Midlands.
- East Midlands Intermodal Park (EMIP), located adjacent to the nationally significant Toyota manufacturing plant, has the potential to become the next generation of rail connected business parks. The proposed investment will also enable a significant modal shift, from road to rail freight, reducing carbon emissions for businesses within the region and increasing connectivity.
The government’s Freeport programme is moving at pace, with seven sites now fully operational in England, already creating thousands of jobs. The Government confirmed Celtic Freeport in Milford Haven and Port Talbot, and Anglesey Freeport on Ynys Mon chosen as Wales’ first Freeports recently. In January, the Government confirmed two new Green Freeports in Scotland to be established in Inverness and Cromarty Firth and Firth of Forth.

Freeports are central to unleashing economic growth across the entire UK, contributing to the levelling up mission. They will drive the UK’s shift to a dynamic, low-carbon economy, helping businesses to collaborate, innovate, and develop the technologies and supply chains that will underpin our journey to Net Zero.
March 30, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Transport decarbonisation package to help boost net zero ambitions [March 2023]
The press release issued by the Department for Transport on 30 March 2023.

Measures announced to increase use of electric vehicles, as well as the production of sustainable aviation fuel in the UK.
- government commits nearly £400 million to accelerate electric vehicle charging infrastructure rollout across England
- comes as UK’s world-leading zero emission vehicle mandate published, setting ambitious targets for the sale of new zero emission cars and vans and kickstarting a more competitive electric vehicle (EV) market
- UK’s pioneering production and use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) boosted by second round of the £165 million Advanced Fuels Fund and launch of SAF mandate consultation
A robust package of measures to turbocharge the UK’s progress towards decarbonising transport, has today (30 March 2023) been unveiled by the government.

The measures will support the shift to electric vehicles (EVs), as well as the production of sustainable aviation fuel in the UK – continuing the country’s transition towards net zero.

The government has today launched the £381 million Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) fund alongside an additional £15 million for the On-Street Residential Charging Scheme (ORCS). Taken together, the funding will support the installation of tens of thousands of new chargers across the country, increasing EV infrastructure in every area and ensuring the UK’s charging network can support the increasing number of EV drivers and those considering the switch.

Transport Secretary Mark Harper said:

Transport is one of the most important sectors for achieving net zero by 2050 and so we must accelerate our efforts to decarbonise how people get from A to B while growing our economy and supporting thousands of green jobs.

From expanding our charging network to boosting the production of cleaner aviation fuel, today’s announcement is a great stride forwards, offering people more choice on how to stay connected while delivering the carbon reductions needed to achieve net zero.

The government has also unveiled its proposals for a world-leading zero emission vehicle mandate which, from next year, will set minimum annual targets for the percentage of new car and van sales that must be zero emission. The proposed mandate makes the UK’s path to zero emission vehicles the fastest in Europe.

The plans support the government’s commitment to end the sale of new petrol and diesel cars and vans by 2030, and from 2035 all new cars and vans must be fully zero emission at the exhaust. Between 2030 and 2034, all new vehicles must be either fully zero emission or be able to drive a significant distance with zero emissions.

The final proposals are being jointly consulted upon by the UK government, alongside Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and are the single largest carbon saving measure identified in the government’s Net Zero Strategy.

The measures build on the progress already made in the transition to electric vehicles, with almost 17% of new cars sold last year being zero emission – supporting thousands of high-skilled jobs in the sector and helping the country to reach its net zero targets.

The new measures will support the wide range of manufacturers in the sector by giving them flexibility through a credits-based trading system, enabling them to bank credits in years when they exceed annual targets for use in future years or trade them with other manufacturers that have fallen short. If manufacturers do not meet their yearly targets, they could face possible fines of up to £18,000 for every vehicle they miss their target by.

Technology and Decarbonisation Minister Jesse Norman said:

As today’s announcements show, the government is doing more than ever to help the UK move away from petrol and diesel and towards electric vehicles.

That means investing in charging infrastructure and giving a clear direction to manufacturers, so they can roll out new electric vehicles faster and more efficiently. Overall, the UK is leading the way in decarbonising transport, a sector that is one of the biggest contributors to greenhouse gases.

Today’s announcement provides long-term certainty to industry, increasing the number of zero emission cars available for people to buy and setting a clear direction for operators to accelerate the installation of chargepoints. With a greater proportion of zero emission vehicles on the UK’s roads, more drivers will benefit from lower overall running costs against their petrol and diesel counterparts. This will support a cheaper second-hand EV market while improving air quality across the country for everyone.

At current rates, aviation would become one of the largest emitting sectors by 2050, which is why it’s imperative the government takes action. The government is therefore today opening the second application round of the £165 million Advanced Fuels Fund, which will help deliver on the commitment for the UK to have at least 5 commercial scale UK sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) plants in construction by 2025.

The production and use of SAF in the UK is central to the Jet Zero Strategy. SAF can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by over 70% while boosting investment, jobs and fuel security.

Aviation Minister Baroness Vere of Norbiton said:

Today’s renewed support for sustainable aviation fuel is another step towards making Jet Zero a reality.

Developing a UK SAF industry will not only put the country at the heart of green aviation worldwide, but also boost investment, jobs and fuel security in the UK.

Additionally, a second consultation on the SAF mandate has been launched, which sets out how the mandate will deliver carbon savings, provide incentives to SAF producers and signal to investors the vital role SAF will play in the future of UK aviation. Furthermore, we are building on the global reputation of our academic institutions by confirming that the University of Sheffield will deliver the UK Clearing House to support the testing and certification of new SAF.

Gerry Keaney, BVRLA Chief Executive said:

The ZEV mandate is a critical tool in the UK meeting its ambitious net zero targets. The clarity given today will give fleets and motorists the confidence to continue their decarbonisation journey and accelerate the transition to zero emission transport. Electric vehicles are more popular and accessible than ever.

This mandate brings long-term certainty to the new and used EV markets and will help firms across the automotive supply chain plan for the phase out of petrol and diesel vehicle sales. We look forward to working with the government as it implements this mandate and monitors the impact on the new vehicle market.

Tanya Sinclair, Senior Director, Public Policy, Europe at ChargePoint, said:

At ChargePoint, we welcome this announcement and the certainty it brings to all leading charging industry players. An ambitious ZEV mandate in the UK will guarantee numbers of EVs on the road from 2024 and, therefore, provides a clear signal to infrastructure investors to scale up chargepoint rollout.

Having the right charging infrastructure in place to meet future EV demand will support the growth of the charging sector and thousands of highly skilled jobs across the UK. We look forward to continuing to work with the government on a robust ZEV mandate, introduced as quickly as possible following the consultation period.
March 30, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Inquiry into London-based evangelical Rhema Church finds charity spent funds on gym memberships and other personal expenses, including over £95,000 on overseas trips [March 2023]

The press release issued by the Charity Commission on 30 March 2023.

The Charity Commission has published findings of its inquiry into Rhema Church London which found serious misconduct and/or mismanagement had occurred.

Today (Thursday 30th March 2023), the Charity Commission has published findings of its inquiry into Rhema Church London.

The Commission concluded that the charity’s trustees had failed to fulfil their duties to protect the charity and its assets, and failed to demonstrate any effective oversight of senior staff leading to the serious misconduct and/or mismanagement, including misuse of funds and other assets.

Rhema Church London was established in 1999 to advance the Christian religion and provide education and relief of the aged, infirm and those in poverty. The charity operated an Evangelical Church in Croydon.

During the inquiry, the regulator found evidence that the charity spent approximately £95,000 on trips overseas without any authorisation or clear charitable purpose. The trips, to locations including Italy, Greece and Austria, were led by former pastor, Martin Phelps.

The inquiry also uncovered that day-to-day living expenses such as food, domestic purchases, medical bills, vets’ bills, and gym memberships, all of which appeared to be of a personal nature, were claimed and paid out by the charity in the absence of any expense policy or clear financial controls. The Commission determined the charity’s assets to be at risk and so took action to freeze the charity’s bank accounts in November 2015.

The inquiry also found that cheques totalling £300,000 had been paid to the charity’s former pastor between 2014 and 2015. £225,000 of the £300,000 had been transferred out of the charity’s account and placed into a personal account to reduce monthly mortgage interest payments before being transferred back to the charity. The regulator discovered that no guarantee had been obtained or security measures put in place prior to transferring the significant sum, placing the funds at considerable risk.

The regulator’s investigation also found that most of the charity’s spending was incorrectly categorised and lacked sufficient information to prove it was for charitable purposes. This failure resulted in the charity being liable to pay £543,285.82 in additional taxes. The charity also failed to submit accounts to the Commission on time for five consecutive years.

Due to the serious nature of the concerns, the Commission made use of many of its regulatory powers over the course of the investigation. In 2015, the regulator appointed Interim Managers (IMs) to address issues uncovered by the inquiry and review the charity’s day-to-day governance, as well as consider its future. The Commission disqualified the charity’s former pastor from being a trustee and/or holding any office or employment with senior management functions at any charity for 10 years. The regulator also used its powers to make an Order under section 76(3)(c)(i) of the Charities Act 2011 to sell three properties owned by the charity as part of efforts to settle the charity’s accounts.

Amy Spiller, Head of Investigations at the Commission, said:

Trustees must use their charity’s funds to further the charity’s purposes and ensure there are robust financial controls in place to stop the abuse of these funds.

From our investigation it was clear that trustees at Rhema Church London had failed to meet this obligation, leading to significant misuse of funds by a former senior employee. These expenses did not appear to serve any charitable purpose or benefit to the charity’s beneficiaries.

The Interim Managers worked at length to settle the charity’s accounts and I am pleased they were able to recover over £136,000 which could be put to good use at charities with similar purposes.

The IMs determined the most appropriate course of action was to wind down the charity, satisfy the charity’s creditors and to pass on any surplus funds to a charity with similar objects. Following the closure of the charity and settling of its finances, the IMs were able to recover £136,760.70 which was distributed to three nearby charities which all held similar charitable purposes.

Rhema Church London was removed from the register of charities on the 7th June 2022.

March 30, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : New onboard announcements to make Britain’s buses accessible for everyone [March 2023]
The press release issued by the Department for Transport on 30 March 2023.

Audible announcements and visual displays will identify the route and direction of buses, upcoming stops and the beginning of any diversions.
- onboard travel announcements to become mandatory across Britain’s bus network
- industry supported through £4.65 million fund for small operators to upgrade vehicles
- Roads and Accessibility Minister Richard Holden: “Massive boost for passenger independence”
Disabled passengers across Great Britain will be able to travel more confidently thanks to new laws that will boost accessibility for everyone.

Today (30 March 2023), the Department for Transport is introducing rules that will require almost every local bus or coach service to provide audible announcements and visual displays identifying the route and direction, each upcoming stop, and the beginning of any diversions.

The government is supporting industry to upgrade their vehicles, with £4.65 million in funding for the smallest bus and coach companies, and the changes will be implemented gradually, with almost all vehicles required to comply by October 2026.

At present, there is patchy provision across the country, with only 30% of buses outside London providing this information, which can be a major barrier for disabled people wanting to travel by bus or coach.

Clear audible and visible information will also benefit non-disabled people, helping those who are travelling on an unfamiliar bus route, and giving passengers confidence that they will not be left stranded at the wrong stop late at night.

Roads and Accessibility Minister Richard Holden said:

Everyone deserves to take the bus with confidence, and this is a massive boost for passenger independence.

Simple and effective audible and visible information should be a baked-in feature of a modern bus service to help people reach their destination, wherever they travel in Great Britain.

To ensure the information provides real-life benefits, the Department for Transport has worked closely with disabled passengers, user groups and the bus and coach sector, whilst giving operators the flexibility to choose solutions suitable for their services.

The AV aids will include ensuring audio is available through induction loop systems, and all new vehicles introduced after October 2024 must also include visible information which can be seen by a wheelchair user when travelling in a rearward facing wheelchair space.

Guide Dogs’ Chief Executive, Tom Wright CBE, said:

For so many people, buses are key to opening opportunities to get out independently: to go out to work, get to appointments, and to see friends. But for many people with sight loss, bus travel can prove difficult or near impossible.

At Guide Dogs, we are delighted that the government has taken this significant step in making bus travel more accessible to people with a visual impairment. Our research shows that over half of people with sight loss have missed their stop due to a lack of AV, and many people avoid bus travel altogether because buses remain inaccessible.

Today’s announcement, and the financial support behind it, will open up opportunities for people with sight loss to live independently.

This announcement forms part of the government’s commitment to improve disabled people’s experience on our transport system and build stronger communities, including through our Inclusive Transport Strategy, which aims to create accessibly equality on the network by 2030. It further builds on government’s ambition to encourage people back onto buses after the pandemic, following £2 billion in funding to support the bus sector since 2020.
March 30, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : UKEF and Public Financial Institutions welcome the Government’s 2023 Green Finance Strategy [March 2023]

The press release issued by UK Export Finance on 29 March 2023.

UKEF, the British Business Bank, UK Research and Innovation, and the UK Infrastructure Bank welcome the launch of the Government’s 2023 Green Finance Strategy.

In a joint statement, UK Export Finance, the British Business Bank, UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), and the UK Infrastructure Bank (UKIB) welcome the launch of HMG’s Green Finance Strategy for 2023, saying:

Moving our economy towards net zero is both an environmental necessity and a huge economic opportunity. There is a real chance to drive business value, unlock growth, and scale technologies across all sectors, regions and nations of the United Kingdom.

Each of our institutions plays a central role in helping to unlock investment to meet net zero. Alongside other government levers, we support cutting-edge research, unleash the full potential of start-ups and scale-ups, finance critical infrastructure projects, and realise the massive export opportunities of bringing UK-based solutions abroad.

We will seek to increase the pace of investment in the transition and enable businesses and projects of all sizes across the UK to access the finance required to drive progress. We are establishing a joint UK Public Financial Institutions Green Finance and Sustainability Forum to drive forward our collaboration on this objective, building upon our respective roles and experience in mobilising investment across the UK.

We are aligned with the priorities of the government’s Green Finance Strategy and commit to working with all our stakeholders to accelerate our economy’s journey towards decarbonisation and green growth.

March 30, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Defence Minister Baroness Goldie reaffirms UK commitment to Malaysia [March 2023]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 30 March 2023.

UK Defence Minister Baroness Goldie has celebrated the UK and Malaysia’s historical defence relationship and close ties during visit to Kuala Lumpur and Penang.

Baroness Goldie met with Malaysian Defence Minister Dato’ Seri Utama Haji Mohamad bin Haji Hasan on 28 March in Kuala Lumpur. Congratulating the minister on his appointment in December, they discussed the deepening of bilateral cooperation and Defence ties through Five Power Defence Arrangements.

Reinforcing the UK’s commitment to the region, the ministers also discussed the UK’s recent Integrated Review Refresh and how the AUKUS agreement will support regional stability.

Malaysia and the UK are both members of the Five Powers Defence Arrangements (FPDA), now in its 52nd year. Founded in 1971, the FPDA is a series of agreements between Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore and the UK, with the group seeking to strengthen defence and security in the Indo-Pacific and work together to promote stability in the region.

Baroness Goldie also visited the FPDA’s military headquarters at RMAF Butterworth in Penang – the Headquarters Integrated Area Defence System (HQIADS). During her visit she met with UK personnel deployed there, discussing the FPDA and our common ambitions.

Following her visit to HQIADS, the Minister paid her respects to all those fallen, laying a wreath at the Commonwealth War Grave Commission (CWGC) Cemetery in Taiping. The CWGC work tirelessly to maintain cemeteries around the world to ensure that the fallen will always be appropriately remembered.

Baroness Goldie also visited Sapura Group, in support of their UK partner TriCIS, where a wide range of issues were addressed. This afforded a stimulating, insightful and very enjoyable exchange of views on cyber communications and security.

UK Defence Minister, Baroness Goldie, said:

I am delighted to have visited Malaysia and have the great privilege to meet Malaysia Defence Minister Dato’ Seri Utama Haji Moohamad bin Haji Hasan. During my visit we discussed our strong defence partnership and the ambition for the UK and Malaysia to collaborate further in support of regional peace and security.

Baroness Goldie discussed the UK’s enduring commitment to the Indo-Pacific and regional peace and security during her visit. The UK government looks forward to further strengthening ties with Malaysia.

March 30, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : UK continues its Parliamentary partnership with Solomon Islands [March 2023]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 30 March 2023.

This partnership between the UK and Solomon Islands Parliaments will strengthen the financial work of Parliamentary standing committees.

Led by Lord Bruce UK Parliament and Francisca Gale, clerk to the Tynwald, a delegation from the Westminster Foundation for Democracy visited Honiara to continue work with the National Parliament of Solomon Islands on Parliamentary oversight of the budget.

This partnership between the UK and Solomon Islands Parliaments will strengthen the financial work of Parliamentary standing committees. The visiting delegation held sessions on financial management with members of the Public Accounts Committee, the Public Expenditure Committee and staff of the National Parliament.

Speaking at the launch event at Heritage Park Hotel, British High Commissioner to Solomon Islands and Nauru, His Excellency Thomas Coward said:

I am proud of this partnership between the Parliaments of Solomon Islands and the UK. Democracy needs continual improvement and renewal to thrive. Through this partnership we can work together on this, whilst strengthening the deep historic links and personal friendships between our two countries.

The partnership also marks the Westminster Foundation for Democracy’s first engagement in Solomon Islands and in the Pacific region. WFD is the UK public body dedicated to strengthening democracy around the world.

WFD Programme Manager in-country, Brian Titus Leafasia said:

The workshops held by WDF were part of the Solomon Islands National Parliament and UK Parliament partnership around public finance management, mainly on enhancing and strengthening transparency and accountability through partnerships. The Public Accounts Committee and Public Expenditure Committee and the Parliament staff play a major role in this partnership programme.

Team leader of the visiting team to Honiara, Rt. Hon. Lord Bruce said:

What we love doing really is sharing experiences including our mistakes as well as our successes with other people in the hope that can all improve the quality of our democracy and the relationship between the people, the parliament and the government and that means the role of financial accountability, the functioning of committees that sort of thing.

The WDF team left Honiara on Sunday 26 March 2023.

March 30, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : UK Minister for Indo-Pacific Visits the Philippines [March 2023]
The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 30 March 2023.

UK Minister for Indo-Pacific visits Philippines to launch development partnership, strengthen maritime engagement.
Minister for the Indo-Pacific to launch British Investment Partnerships in the Philippines, boosting UK-backed investment in green energy and infrastructure

Minister to hold talks covering UK-Philippines cooperation on maritime security, trade and investment, and climate and environment.

Minister to attend event promoting women’s rights, and highlighting the launch of the UK’s first Women and Girls Strategy this month

Visit comes after the publication of the Integrated Review Refresh, which reaffirmed the UK’s commitment to its partnerships in the Indo-Pacific.

UK Minister for Indo-Pacific, Minister Anne-Marie Trevelyan, will this week visit Manila (30-31 March). Minister Trevelyan will meet with President Marcos and Secretary of Foreign Affairs Manalo, as well as defence, finance and environment ministers. Talks are expected to focus on defence, trade and climate links and the shared ambition to upgrade the UK-Philippines Enhanced Partnership. The Minister will also meet members of the House of Representatives to establish a UK-Philippines Inter-Parliamentary Dialogue.

While in Manila, the Minister will formally launch British Investment Partnerships (BIP) in the Philippines. Working with the Philippine government and private sector partners, BIP will mobilise high-quality, reliable investment and technical expertise to support sustainable infrastructure development and the transition to clean energy in the Philippines.

BIP builds on the ongoing work of UK development finance institutions, which provide funding and expertise to support resilient growth in the Philippines. This includes the UK’s Mobilist programme, which is investing in green energy and other projects, including $25m in financing for the Philippines’ first solar plants on Negros Island. British International Investment (BII), the UK’s longstanding development finance programme, will also expand investment in green infrastructure projects in the Philippines.

The FCDO is also finalising a partnership agreement with the Philippine Stock Exchange for the MOBILIST programme, to open up another capital source in support of the Philippines’ climate transition.

Minister for Indo-Pacific Anne-Marie Trevelyan said:

The Philippines is an economic and environmental powerhouse, which stands on the frontline of climate change and other global challenges.

Through British Investment Partnerships, we will support the development of high-quality, sustainable infrastructure to accelerate the transition to clean energy and secure a prosperous and resilient future for the Philippines.

The Minister will also visit the headquarters of the Philippine Coast Guard, where she willl join a tour of a Coast Guard vessel and Manila Bay, and discuss enhanced UK-Philippines cooperation on issues of maritime security and marine conservation.

Finally, the Minister will attend an event hosted by the British Embassy Manila to mark International Women’s Month, where she will outline the UK’s commitment to place the rights of women and girls at the heart of its foreign policy. She will meet women leaders from government, business and civil society who pioneer change in their sectors.
March 30, 2023