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Category: Press Releases

  • PRESS RELEASE : High Commissioner’s Oral Update on Nicaragua – Joint Statement [March 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : High Commissioner’s Oral Update on Nicaragua – Joint Statement [March 2023]

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

    During the 52nd UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, the UK co-sponsored a Joint Statement relating to human rights in Nicaragua. This was delivered 3 March 2023.

    Mr. President,

    On behalf of 53 countries, Canada thanks the High Commissioner for his update, which sheds light on concerning developments in Nicaragua and evidences the importance of renewing the OHCHR’s monitoring mandate.

    Whilst we welcome the recent release of 222 political prisoners, and thank the facilitating States, we condemn the Government of Nicaragua’s decision to strip these individuals and 94 other Nicaraguans of their citizenship and political rights. Nationality is a right, which cannot be revoked without due process.

    We are troubled by the testimonies of mistreatment of released political prisoners. We urge the authorities to cease arbitrary detention and release all remaining political prisoners, including leaders of the Catholic Church.

    We are further alarmed by the deteriorating human rights situation of Indigenous Peoples and Afro-descendants in Nicaragua, who face increasing repression, persecution and discrimination.

    We reiterate our concern over Nicaragua’s refusal to cooperate with international human rights mechanisms. We call on the authorities to grant them access in order to address and investigate allegations of human rights violations and torture, and to renew cooperation with the OHCHR.

    The trend to bar and expel foreign representatives from the country only isolates Nicaragua. We call on Nicaragua to open a dialogue in good faith with the international community.

    Mr. High Commissioner, what more can this Council do to bring accountability for egregious human rights violations in Nicaragua?

  • PRESS RELEASE : Government backs bill to expand pension saving to young and low earners [March 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Government backs bill to expand pension saving to young and low earners [March 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Work and Pensions on 3 March 2023.

    The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) today confirmed it will support proposals to expand Automatic Enrolment, enabling millions of people to save more and to start saving earlier.

    Jonathan Gullis MP’s Private Members Bill, backed today by the government, grants two extensions to Automatic Enrolment – abolishing the Lower Earnings Limit for contributions and reducing the age for being automatically enrolled to 18 years old.

    Minister for Pensions, Laura Trott, said:

    We know that these widely supported measures will make a meaningful difference to people’s pension saving over the years ahead.

    Doing this will see the government deliver on our commitment to help grow the economy and support the hard-working people of this country, particularly groups such as women, young people and lower earners who have historically found it harder to save for retirement.

    Jonathan Gullis MP, said:

    Auto-enrolment of pensions will benefit scores of young people in all four corners of the country, which is why I am delighted that Minister for Pensions Laura Trott is supportive of the bill.

    With all the evidence of the huge positive impact it can have, it is a no-brainer that we now need to extend auto-enrolment to those aged 18 and above. I am confident this Bill will make a huge difference to people from Kidsgrove to Consett.

    Lowering the age at which eligible workers must be automatically enrolled into a pension scheme by their employers from 22 to 18 will make saving the norm for young adults and enable them to begin to save from the start of their working lives.

    In addition, the bill provides for the removal of the Lower Earnings Limit, supporting those with low earnings and multiple jobs by ensuring they are saving from the first pound earned.

    Following the success of the Automatic Enrolment, the government intends to continue its work with thousands of employers and pension providers to further boost the amount of people in a workplace pension and the amount they save for retirement.

    It will also continue its work on empowering savers to know their pension options by introducing revolutionary products such as Pensions Dashboards and Mid-life MOTs, providing accessibility and innovation in how people save for their retirement.

  • PRESS RELEASE : HRC52 – Statement on Sudan [March 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : HRC52 – Statement on Sudan [March 2023]

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

    The UK’s Ambassador to the WTO and UN in Geneva, Simon Manley, delivered this statement on Sudan at the 52nd session of the UN Human Rights Council.

    Thank you, Mr President, and welcome to the Minister of Justice of Sudan

    The UK continues to stand in solidarity with the Sudanese people and their demands for democracy, freedom and justice. We therefore welcome the signing of the political framework agreement in December by different Sudanese parties – an important step for Sudan’s transition to civilian-led government.

    Let me congratulate Mr Nouicer on his appointment as the High Commissioner’s new Designated Expert, and thank him and the High Commissioner for their early visits to Sudan. We appreciate the continued cooperation of the Sudanese authorities with his mandate.

    While these developments are encouraging, there is still much to be done in addressing the overall human rights situation. The death of a protestor from live ammunition on 28 February was unacceptable and deeply concerning. We continue to urge security and military forces to fulfil their obligation to protect civilians and respect their right to peaceful protest and freedom of expression, without fear of violence or arbitrary detention. And to ensure that those responsible for human rights violations are held to account.

    High Commissioner,

    What opportunities do you and Mr Nouicer see for encouraging constructive participation in the dialogues launched to address issues central to the framework agreement?

    Thank you.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Change of British High Commissioner to The Gambia [March 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Change of British High Commissioner to The Gambia [March 2023]

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

    Mrs Harriet King has been appointed British High Commissioner to the Republic of The Gambia in succession to Mr David Belgrove OBE. Mrs King will take up her appointment during September 2023.

    Curriculum Vitae

    Full name: Harriet Catherine King

    Married to: William King

    Children: Two

    Date Role
    2022 to present FCDO, Head of Strategic Engagement, Strategy Directorate
    2018 to 2022 Rabat, Head, Political Internal and Programmes
    2014 to 2018 Dakar, Deputy Head of Mission and HM Consul
    2013 to 2014 FCO, Sahel Task Force
    2011 to 2012 FCO, Desk Officer for Egypt, Middle East and North Africa Directorate
    2006 to 2010 FCO, Head of Crisis Operations and other operational and policy roles, Crisis Management Department
    2005 to 2006 FCO, Assistant Board Secretary, Strategy Group
    2004 to 2005 FCO, Desk Officer, Strategy Group
    2002 to 2004 FCO, Visits Officer, Conference and Visits Group
  • PRESS RELEASE : HRC52 – UK Statement on Nicaragua [March 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : HRC52 – UK Statement on Nicaragua [March 2023]

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

    During the 52nd session of the UN Human Rights Council, Rita French, the UK’s Human Rights Ambassador, delivered a statement on the situation in Nicaragua.

    Thank you, Assistant Secretary-General for your update on the human rights situation in Nicaragua.

    The deterioration of human rights in Nicaragua is of great concern. The climate of repression has led to shrinking space for freedom of expression and an independent media, as well as restrictions on the right to peaceful assembly. Last November, I had the opportunity to hear first-hand from those forced into exile in Costa Rica. Reports of further harassment and arbitrary detention, represent an unacceptable degradation of Nicaraguans’ civil, political and other human rights.

    Whilst the release of 222 political prisoners in February is welcomed, the Nicaraguan government decision to expel these individuals and strip them of their Nicaraguan nationality is concerning. We also call for the release of all other political prisoners.

    Free and fair elections offering real choice are a necessary foundation of any stable, healthy democracy. Municipal elections in Nicaragua on 6 November 2022 were not free, fair or credible as confirmed by the Inter-American Commission of Human Rights, which noted the absence of an independent electoral system and the continued violation of the rights of those identified as ‘opposition’ politicians.

    Assistant Secretary-General,

    We would welcome your views on how we can protect democratic opposition and human rights defenders from further persecution?

    Thank you.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Eurofighter Typhoon programme progresses [March 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Eurofighter Typhoon programme progresses [March 2023]

    The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 3 March 2023.

    Defence Ministers from participating nations meet in Italy to discuss the pan-Europe Eurofighter Typhoon programme.

    From the UK, the Minister for Defence Procurement, Alex Chalk KC, joined the cohort in Milan to discuss on-going cooperation on the programme – a joint venture between UK, Germany, Spain and Italy, under the governance of NATO.

    They discussed existing Eurofighter export campaigns and ongoing investment in the aircraft to further increase its military capability in the coming years.

    As previously announced, Typhoon fighter jets are to be fitted with the world’s most advanced radar – as part of a £2.35 billion investment and the programme continues to support more than 20,000 jobs throughout the UK.

    Showcasing the successes of defence collaboration between allied nations, the Eurofighter Typhoon continues to be a highly capable, combat proven, air defence and ground attack aircraft with a range of world-beating capabilities.

    Minister for Defence Procurement, Alex Chalk KC, said:

    The Eurofighter Typhoon continues to be a world-beating aircraft and that is thanks to the strong and enduring relationship we have with our partners on the programme.

    I am reassured by their commitment and look forward to further strengthening those ties in Combat Air Capability.

    With 137 serving with the RAF, the Eurofighter Typhoon forms the backbone of the UK’s combat air capability. It entered service in 2003 and is planned to remain in service until at least 2040.

    The fighter has been vital to UK operations in air-policing in Estonia, Op SHADER in the Middle East, quick reaction alerts at home and in the Falkland Islands, as well as working with the Qatari Emirati Airforce to provide air-security at the FIFA World Cup 2022

    The UK’s defence cooperation with Italy extends further than the Eurofighter Typhoon programme. The UK and Italy have a proven 50-year track record of working closely together on Combat Aircraft development.

    Last year, the Prime Minister announced that the UK, Italy and Japan would form an international coalition to develop the next generation of combat aircraft through the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP).

    Combat air capabilities will remain vital to controlling airspace, helping protect our nations, our allies and our interests worldwide, and making a vital contribution to our overall military capability across all domains.

  • PRESS RELEASE : First Rapid Deployment Cells unveiled to boost prison places [March 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : First Rapid Deployment Cells unveiled to boost prison places [March 2023]

    The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 3 March 2023.

    New modern prison cells that can be built and rolled-out at speed in order to boost jail capacity and keep the public safe were unveiled at HMP Norwich yesterday (2 March 2023).

    • first tranche of cells up and running at HMP Norwich as 1,000 rolled out across the country
    • comes as work starts on £38 million renovation of Victorian prison wing
    • move to build 20,000 new prison places to protect the public

    The new units are the first of 1,000 Rapid Deployment Cells being rolled out at 18 prison sites across the country to meet the rising demand for prison places.

    The first batch of 48 rapid cells at Norwich are already taking their first prisoners, having been constructed and lifted into place just 7 months after the signing of contracts.

    It comes as work started yesterday on a £38 million renovation of HMP Norwich’s Elizabeth Fry wing which will create over 170 new jail cells by 2025, delivering the long-term places needed to lock up dangerous offenders and keep the public safe.

    Minister for Prisons and Probation, Damian Hinds, said:

    Prison cells protect the public by making sure we have enough space to put dangerous offenders behind bars – that’s why we’re investing £4 billion to deliver 20,000 extra places.

    We’re rolling out a thousand Rapid Deployment Cells to create extra spaces quickly while we press ahead with the biggest expansion of prisons in over a century – building six new jails and creating thousands of additional cells by renovating and expanding existing sites.

    The first rapid cells at HMP Norwich are already boosting capacity while our multi-million-pound renovation of the Elizabeth Fry wing will create long-term places to protect the public.

    Rapid Deployment Cells have a lifespan of around 15 years and are designed to quickly create extra capacity across the prison system estate to meet rising demand, while longer-term expansion is underway.

    By creating extra space, the new rapid cells also aid the smooth running of prisons by giving governors more choice in how they manage prisoners day-to-day.

    The Rapid Deployment Cell Project is seeing 1,000 cells rolled out at 18 sites across the country – the majority of which will be delivered this year.

    The news comes as builders yesterday broke ground on the £38 million renovation of HMP Norwich’s Elizabeth Fry wing – which is the first project in the Ministry of Justice’s Accelerated Houseblocks Delivery Programme to commence.

    Thousands of new prison places across the country are being delivered by expansions and renovations to existing prisons. In June the government announced a £500 million contract to create 2,200 extra places by building new house blocks at 6 prisons, while major renovations at HMP Birmingham and HMP Liverpool – where every cell is being renovated – will create more than 600 new places between them.

    The government is delivering the biggest expansion of prison places in over a century, creating 20,000 additional places to achieve the vision set out in the Prison Strategy White Paper of a resilient system which can meet the capacity demands of the 21st century. This includes building 6 new jails backed by over £4 billion.

    This spring the 1,700-capacity HMP Fosse Way near Leicester will open its doors, and construction has already started on HMP Millsike, the UK’s first all-electric prison in East Yorkshire, which will hold nearly 1,500 prisoners when full.

  • PRESS RELEASE : More action needed to protect the world’s ocean, says Environment Secretary on World Wildlife Day [March 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : More action needed to protect the world’s ocean, says Environment Secretary on World Wildlife Day [March 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 3 March 2023.

    The Environment Secretary calls for countries to join together to halt and reverse the loss of nature and protect at least 30% of the world’s ocean by 2030.

    Countries around the globe must join together, raise ambition and act faster to protect and restore nature on both land and sea, Environment Secretary Thérèse Coffey has said on World Wildlife Day (3 March).

    Following the historic agreement reached at the UN Biodiversity summit last year, the Environment Secretary is attending the Our Ocean conference where she will work with other countries to make this the decade we halt and reverse the loss of nature and protect at least 30% of the global ocean by 2030. She will also acknowledge the effectiveness of established tools such as CITES convention that celebrates 50 years of protecting endangered species today.

    Building on commitments outlined in the Government’s Environmental Improvement Plan launched last month and progress to protect nature on land, the UK is this week announcing vital funding to boost marine conservation efforts worldwide, fight climate change, and support vulnerable coastal communities.

    The UK has renewed support through its ambitious £500 million Blue Planet Fund to protect and restore important marine habitats such as mangroves, coral reefs and seagrasses that play a key role in the fight against climate change. This includes an additional £24 million to the Global Fund for Coral Reefs, and the UK becoming the first donor to the Blue Carbon Action Partnership, committing £4 million to support countries unlock and mobilise finance to protect and restore blue carbon ecosystems.

    The Environment Secretary has also announced £45 million to the new ‘Blue Tech Superhighway’ project. From community-led fisheries management enabling local communities to set and monitor their own catches; new seawater farming systems working with species more resilient to warmer waters; through to pioneering approaches to reduce food waste, this investment will support small-scale fishers and aquaculture farmers improve their climate resilience, sustainability and incomes. The project will also encourage collaboration between countries across Asia and Africa to scale action.

    This comes as the UK announced it will provide £1.5 million to the Asian Development Bank’s new Blue Pacific Finance Hub to support climate resilient, sustainable blue economies for Pacific Small Island Developing States including developing circular economies to reduce plastic waste and improved fisheries management.

    The Environment Secretary, Thérèse Coffey said:

    It is almost impossible to overstate the importance of stepping up our efforts to bolster the resilience of the marine environment and, in turn, the economies and communities that depend on it.

    At the UN nature summit in Montreal, we made a commitment to manage our whole ocean sustainably and set a target to protect at least 30% of the world’s ocean by 2030. The UK is leading, co-leading, and supporting global coalitions of ambition to drive forward this mission, and I urge countries to come together to deliver coordinated, impactful action on the ground.

    She also urged more countries to join forces to tackle the scourge of Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing, one of the most serious threats to the world’s ocean which equates to approximately 11-19% of reported global fisheries production and leads to losses of roughly $10-23.5 billion in value. IUU fishing undermines efforts to conserve fish stocks, damages marine ecosystems, impacts global food supply chains and threatens coastal communities whose livelihoods rely on sustainable fishing.

    The UK, US and Canada launched the world’s first global alliance to tackle IUU fishing last year, with members sharing data and tools to monitor and crack down on this pervasive issue. This builds on progress under the UK-led Blue Belt Ocean Shield programme which uses innovative surveillance techniques to tackle illegal practices in over 4.3 million square kilometres of waters around the UK Overseas Territories.

    Since its launch, the Alliance has grown to 16 members, with Norway, Iceland and Korea recently coming onboard. More members will sign up at the Our Ocean conference today, including the EU, Panama and New Zealand.

    Thérèse Coffey said:

    For too many communities, the threat of IUU fishing looms year after year, as they bear the brunt of the instability and violence that accompanies this serious, organised, transboundary crime.

    For marine species, the impact can be devastating and this has a catastrophic effect on the lives of the hundreds of millions of people who depend on fisheries for their livelihoods.

    So, we need to accelerate our efforts and scale up. That is a priority for us in the UK –  something we are addressing by improving import controls, sharing more data on vessels, identifying those who profit from IUU fishing, and holding them to account.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Change of His Majesty’s Ambassador to Kyrgyzstan [March 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Change of His Majesty’s Ambassador to Kyrgyzstan [March 2023]

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

    Mr Nic Bowler has been appointed His Majesty’s Ambassador to the Kyrgyz Republic in succession to Mr Charles Garrett OBE. Mr Bowler will take up his appointment during June 2023.

    Curriculum vitae

    Full name: Nicholas Bowler

    Married to: Leanne Bowler

    Children: Two

    Dates Role
    2020 to present Kyiv, Head of UK Programmes in Ukraine
    2017 to 2020 Occupied Palestinian Territories, Team Leader, Governance and Security
    2015 to 2017 Department for International Development, Deputy and Acting Development Director, Kyrgyzstan
    2014 to 2015 Kabul, Governance Adviser
    2013 to 2014 Coffey International, Evaluation Manager
    2008 to 2013 Coffey International and Palladium, Programme Manager and Governance Expert
  • PRESS RELEASE : German given boost as part of new schools language programme [March 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : German given boost as part of new schools language programme [March 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Education on 3 March 2023.

    New flagship language programme launched, designed to boost the quality of language lessons in primary and secondary schools.

    • Programme to improve language lessons in schools to be led by University College London from September 2023.
    • Part of the Language Hubs programme will be to promote German language in schools.
    • Government remains committed to boosting language learning in schools by announcing an expansion to the Mandarin Excellence Programme.

    Thousands of pupils will benefit from a new flagship language programme, designed to boost the quality of language lessons in primary and secondary schools. The programme aims to meet Government’s targets of increasing the number of pupils taking languages at GCSE level and beyond, by providing high-quality, evidence-based language training.

    The Department for Education today (Friday 3 March) is announcing IOE, University College London’s (UCL) Faculty of Education and Society has successfully secured a contract worth £14.9 million to run its Language Hubs programme in primary and secondary schools over the next three years, building on the ground-breaking work the National Centre for Excellence for Language Pedagogy (NCELP) had delivered to improve language teaching.

    Recruitment will begin for up to 25 lead schools who specialise in languages to support up to 105 partner schools who sign up to the programme, in its first year. The lead schools will work with partner secondary schools by modelling best practice and evidence-based training for language teachers. The programme aims to improve the transition of language learning from Key Stage 2 to Key Stage 3, so students have strong language knowledge – an important component of a broad and balanced curriculum.

    Another part of the Language Hubs programme will be focused on German. Plans will be developed to promote German language learning and culture, working with trained German specialist teachers to widen the participation of German language learning in both primary and secondary schools. UCL IOE will partner with Goethe-Institut to implement these phased plans.

    This will support the Department’s EBacc ambition for 90 per cent of year 10 pupils in state-funded schools to study a combination of core academic subjects including a language, by 2025.

    Nick Gibb, Minister for School Standards said:

    Our economy needs people who can communicate across the globe and trade with overseas businesses. This programme is about ensuring we have the next generation of young people with the languages needed to compete on the world stage.

    Raising academic standards in schools has been a key priority for the Government since 2010. Our range of Curriculum Hubs – exemplary schools spreading their best practice – have played a huge part in improving the quality of teaching in schools. Language teachers will benefit from rigorous training and knowledge, working with experts, to improve language lessons in both primary and secondary schools, opening up these global opportunities for generations to come.

    The Language Hubs programme will be rolled out in line with Ian Bauckham’s 2016 Modern Foreign Languages Pedagogy Review which recommended the need for systematic knowledge of the vocabulary, grammar, and phonics of the language being studied. It will also deliver on the Department’s Schools White Paper pledge to create a network of Language Hubs.

    Since 2012, the Department has rolled out several curriculum Hubs including Maths Hubs, English Hubs, Music Hubs and Computing Hubs, which were all designed to develop expertise in subject specific teaching. The Language Hubs programme will build on the success of curriculum hubs to help to build a system of leadership in languages in the lead schools as well as personal development for teachers in the partner schools.

    Professor Li Wei, Director and Dean, IOE, UCL’s Faculty of Education & Society said:

    Language skills and intercultural understanding widen opportunities for individuals, communities and society. With our consortium partners, we are delighted to be taking forward this next step in re-energising language teaching in schools across the country, for all learners, grounded in the principles of the Bauckham Review.

    At IOE, we are equally delighted to be extending our work in supporting teachers’ professional development, including as provider, with the British Council, of the Mandarin Excellence Programme, and as a provider for the Early Career Framework and National Professional Qualifications programmes.

    Sir Ian Bauckham CBE, Chair Modern Foreign Languages Pedagogy Review (2016) said:

    Learning languages has never been more important in our global world. Doing so successfully at school requires our language teachers to be well supported with their curriculum planning and sequencing, that they have access to good quality teaching materials and that we invest in high quality, evidence-based professional development for them.

    I am pleased the work of the 2016 Modern Foreign Languages Pedagogy Review is being taken forward with the new Hubs programme. I hope it brings important support to more languages teachers and I wish UCL well as they build on important foundations.

    Maddalaine Ansell, Director Education, British Council, said:

    The British Council is delighted to be part of this new flagship languages programme and to continue our work on the Mandarin Excellence Programme. The importance of language skills and knowledge and understanding of other cultures cannot be overstated.

    Language learning can open doors for young people embarking on their careers and bring new opportunities for cultural understanding in a globally connected world.

    In addition to the launch of the Language Hubs programme, the Department is announcing an expansion to the Mandarin Excellence Programme (MEP) which began in 2016. This programme has been highly successful, with our data showing pupils who have been on the MEP are more likely to get a higher grade (Level 8 or 9) in GCSE Mandarin than pupils not on the programme. The programme is expanding and recruiting an additional 21 schools over the next two years to reach an expected 100 participating schools by September 2024.

    The Department will also hold a consultation on changes to Chinese A level subject content, with the intention of making this qualification more appropriate for students without a Chinese speaking background.