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Category: Press Releases

  • PRESS RELEASE : New strategy launched to protect biodiversity and economy from non-native species [February 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : New strategy launched to protect biodiversity and economy from non-native species [February 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 27 February 2023.

    The Great Britain Invasive Non-Native Species strategy sets out enhanced vision on prevention, eradication and management of invasive non-native species.

    A new action plan to protect Great Britain’s biodiversity, ecosystems and economy from the growing risks posed by invasive non-native species will be unveiled by Defra today (27 February), in partnership with the Scottish and Welsh Governments.

    Non-native species are one of the top five drivers of biodiversity loss globally with new figures showing an estimated cost to the British economy of £1.84 billion per year. There are currently around 2000 non-native species in Britain with 10-12 new species establishing themselves every year.

    They disrupt habitats and ecosystems, prey on or out-compete native species, spread disease and interfere with the genetic integrity of native species

    Climate change is expected to increase the risks from new non-native species due to more frost-free winters and increased flooding events. Habitats that are suffering for degradation may also be more vulnerable to invasion and disease, increasing the risk to biodiverse natural habitats.

    The newly updated Invasive Non-Native Species Strategy sets out a new framework for tackling the existing and growing threat posed  non-native species with a commitment to reduce establishments of non-native species by at least 50 per cent compared to 2000 levels, in line with the internationally agreed CBD Target 6 on Invasive Alien Species.

    This follows work to date to mitigate invasive species. Since 2015 we have eliminated the American Bullfrog from Great Britain and there are successful eradication programmes in place for the Ruddy Duck and Topmouth Gudgeon, a type of freshwater fish.

    Preventing, eradicating and managing invasive non-native species will underpin the delivery of the strategy domestically with enhanced alignment across Great Britain and with other biosecurity regimes, such as plant health.

    Specific actions include increased capacity for inspections at the border and post-border, further assessment of the most high-risk routes and mechanisms for the introduction and spread of Invasive Non-Native Species and further improvements to our rapid response systems.

    Lord Benyon, Minister for Biosecurity, said:

    Invasive species threaten the natural world and our economy. Today’s announcement demonstrates this Government’s unwavering commitment to protecting against these species, for the immediate benefit of the country and future generations.

    Through coordinated actions across Great Britain to prevent the arrival of new non-native species and tackle the impacts of those established – we can minimise the potentially devasting environmental and economic impacts these species cause. A vigilant public can also play a key role and report any suspicious sightings of new invasive species to ensure it is accurately identified.

    Scotland’s Biodiversity Minister Lorna Slater said:

    This refreshed strategy will enable continued collaboration between the devolved governments to tackle the spread of invasive species and the harms these can cause to native wildlife, our natural environment and even our economy. It will complement our new Scottish Biodiversity Strategy, which recognises invasive non-native species as a major driver in biodiversity loss and sets out the actions we are pursuing to control and eradicate them.

    Here in Scotland we are also funding a number of large-scale projects to control invasive species through our Nature Restoration Fund as well as developing a range of measures aimed at tackling established INNS such as Rhododendron, whose spread is a major threat to native woodlands including Atlantic Rainforest.

    Minister for Rural Affairs Lesley Griffiths said:

    I welcome the launch of this strategy. Invasive non-native species can pose a significant threat to our environment, and this threat is likely to be increased by climate change. The strategy sets out actions to help protect biodiversity, people and the economy from invasive non-native species.

    This strategy delivers on commitments set out in the Environmental Improvement Plan to deliver a refreshed Invasive Non-Native Species Strategy. It follows the publication of the Plant Biosecurity Strategy last year which set out a five-year vision for plant health, consisting of an action plan to secure national biosecurity, protect native species and drive economic growth.

    The strategy also emphasises the collective role and responsibilities we all have in upholding high standards of biosecurity, for example by cleaning equipment that has been used in one environment before moving it to another, and the importance of choosing and planting the right plants and trees in our gardens to avoid the spread of invasive non-native species. The public can report any suspicious sightings of new invasive species via iRecord, which is a tool to bring together wildlife sightings from many sources, so that they can be checked by experts and made available to support research and decision-making. These messages align with long running UK Government awareness raising campaigns: ‘Check Clean Dry’ and ‘Be Plant Wise’.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Windsor Framework unveiled to fix problems of the Northern Ireland Protocol [February 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Windsor Framework unveiled to fix problems of the Northern Ireland Protocol [February 2023]

    The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 27 February 2023.

    The Windsor Framework, agreed by the Prime Minister and European Commission President, replaces the old Northern Ireland Protocol, providing a new legal and UK constitutional framework.

    • Fundamentally rewriting the Treaty with new ‘Stormont Brake’ means UK can veto new EU goods laws if they are not supported by both communities in Northern Ireland
    • New green lane removes any sense of a border in Irish Sea
    • Northern Ireland to benefit from same VAT, food and drink and medicines as the rest of the UK

    A new way forward for a prosperous, stable future for Northern Ireland has been set out today (Monday 27 February), rewriting the Treaty to fix the practical problems for the people and businesses of Northern Ireland, protects Northern Ireland’s place within our Union, and restores the balance of the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement in all its dimensions.

    The Windsor Framework, agreed by the Prime Minister and European Commission President today, replaces the old Northern Ireland Protocol, dealing with the issues it has created and providing a new legal and UK constitutional framework.

    It delivers free-flowing trade in goods between Great Britain and Northern Ireland by removing any sense of the border in the Irish Sea for goods staying within the UK. These goods will travel as normal through a new green lane without red tape or unnecessary checks, with the only checks remaining designed to prevent smuggling or crime.

    It protects Northern Ireland’s place in our Union, replacing swathes of EU laws with UK laws and ensuring the people of Northern Ireland can benefit from the same tax policies, food and drink, medicines, and parcels as the rest of the UK.

    It puts the people of Northern Ireland in charge with active democratic consent. The Agreement rewrites the Treaty text with a new Stormont Brake that means the UK can veto new EU goods laws if they are not supported by both communities in Northern Ireland, which goes far beyond previous agreements or discussions on the old Protocol.

    At today’s press conference, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said:

    “Today’s agreement is written in the language of laws and treaties. But really, it’s about much more than that.

    “It’s about stability in Northern Ireland. It’s about real people and real businesses. It’s about showing that our Union, that has lasted for centuries, can and will endure.

    “And it’s about breaking down the barriers between us. Setting aside the arguments that have for too long, divided us. And remembering the fellow feeling that defines us: This family of nations – this United Kingdom.”

    The Windsor Framework delivers free-flowing movement of goods between Northern Ireland and Great Britain and removes any sense of a border in the Irish Sea within the UK:

    • A new green lane (the UK internal market scheme) means traders moving goods destined for Northern Ireland will be freed of unnecessary paperwork, checks and duties, using only ordinary commercial information rather than burdensome customs bureaucracy or complex certification requirements for agrifood. The same type of standard commercial information used when moving goods from Birmingham to the Isle of Wight will be used Birmingham to Belfast. All goods destined for the EU will use the red lane.
    • All requirements have been scrapped for trade from Northern Ireland to Great Britain on a permanent basis, including the requirement for export declarations.
    • The green lane will be expanded to include food retailers such as supermarkets and hospitality businesses, significantly reducing SPS checks and costly paperwork, and ensuring choice for consumers on supermarket shelves. A single supermarket truck who previously had to provide 500 certificates can now instead make a straightforward commitment that goods will stay in Northern Ireland. Retailers will mark goods as “not for EU”, with a phased rollout of this requirement to give them time to adjust.
    • Chilled meats like sausages, which were banned under the old Protocol, can move freely into Northern Ireland like other retail food products.
    • Parcels from people or businesses in Great Britain can now be sent to friends, family, and consumers in Northern Ireland as they are today, without customs declarations, processes or extra costs under the old Protocol. Parcels sent business to business will travel via the green lane.

    The Windsor Framework protects Northern Ireland’s place in the Union:

    • The same medicines, in the same packs, with the same labels, will be available across the UK, without the need for barcode scanning requirements under the old Protocol. The UK will license all medicines for all UK citizens, including novel medicines like cancer drugs, rather than the European Medicines Agency under the old Protocol. NI’s healthcare industry will have full access to both UK and EU markets, supporting jobs and investment through a dual regulatory regime.
    • Pets can also now travel freely with their owners across the UK, without expensive health treatments like rabies or documentation from a vet. Pet owners in Northern Ireland won’t have to do a thing when travelling to GB. Where they’re not moving on to Ireland or the rest of the EU, GB owners with microchipped pets can either easily sign up for a lifetime travel document for their pet, available online and electronically in a matter of minutes, or an equally seamless process built into the booking processfor a flight or ferry.
    • Previously banned iconic plants like English oak trees and seed potatoes will once again move easily within the UK without the bureaucratic checks and costly certification under the old Protocol and instead use a similar process to the Plant Passport scheme that already exists in Great Britain. This will end restrictions that hampered consumer choice and damaged business whilst protecting the long-standing single epidemiological area on the island of Ireland.
    • The legal text of the Treaty has been amended, so that critical VAT and excisechanges will apply to the whole of the UK. This means that zero-rates of VAT on energy saving materials like solar panels and alcohol duty reforms will now apply in Northern Ireland.
    • The UK Government can continue to provide generous and targeted subsidiesacross the UK. The ‘reach-back’ risks under the old Protocol have been addressed with new stringent tests, so there are now almost no circumstances in which the Protocol applies to UK subsidies, providing certainty for businesses to trade and invest in Northern Ireland. We expect more than 98% of Northern Ireland subsidies to be unaffected in practice.

    The Windsor Framework safeguards sovereignty and fixes the democratic deficit by putting the people of Northern Ireland in charge:

    • The new Stormont Brake means the democratically elected Northern Ireland Assembly can oppose new EU goods rules that would have significant and lasting effects on everyday lives in Northern Ireland. They will do so on the same basis as the ‘petition of concern’ mechanism in the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement, needing the support of 30 members from at least two parties. The Stormont Brake has been introduced by fundamentally rewriting the Treaty and goes significantly further than the ‘all or nothing vote’ under the old Protocol every four years at most.
    • Over 1,700 of EU law have been removed, and with it ECJ interpretation and oversight in areas like VAT, medicines, and food safety – so the UK Government can decide and UK courts can interpret. The minimal set of EU rules – less than 3% – apply to preserve the privileged, unrestricted access for Northern Ireland businesses to the whole of the EU Single Market and avoid a hard border on the island of Ireland.

    The agreement concludes months of intensive discussions between the UK and EU to address real world issues and needs of the people of Northern Ireland.

    Providing reassurance for the future, the UK and EU have agreed to work together to anticipate and deal with any other issues that may emerge and have made a joint declaration to resolve issues through dialogue, rather than formal dispute proceedings.

    Alongside ‘The Windsor Framework: a new way forward’, the Government has published the full range of legal texts that underpin the Windsor Framework. These solutions put arrangements in Northern Ireland on an entirely new footing, with far-reaching changes to the old Protocol to provide lasting certainty and stability for citizens and businesses in Northern Ireland.

    To give businesses and individuals time to prepare, the implementation of the agreement will be phased in, with some of the new arrangements for goods, agrifood, pets and plant movements introduced later this year and the remainder in 2024. In the meantime, the current temporary standstill arrangements will continue to apply.

    The UK Government will no longer proceed with the Northern Ireland Protocol Bill, as the UK and EU have come to a negotiated agreement. Similarly, the agreement will mean the EU withdrawing all of the legal actions it has launched against the UK.

  • PRESS RELEASE : UK-Indiana Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) Delegation [February 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : UK-Indiana Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) Delegation [February 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for International Trade on 27 February 2023.

    The UK and Welsh governments will host a delegation of eleven economic development leaders from across Indiana from 26 February to 2 March.

    Under the framework of the UK-Indiana Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on economic cooperation and trade relations, the UK and Welsh governments will host a delegation of eleven economic development leaders from across Indiana from 26 February to 2 March. The programme will focus on the themes of clean energy, women’s economic empowerment, and levelling-up. During their first stop in London, the delegation will meet with key Government officials to discuss UK policies covering the three themes of the visit and participate in a panel discussion on the clean energy sector in Indiana at the Department for Business and Trade’s North America Roadshow. The delegation will then travel to Wales over St. David’s Day and meet with Welsh Government officials and external stakeholders in Cardiff, Swansea and Port Talbot.

    Signed in May 2022 at the Indiana Global Economic Summit, the UK-Indiana MOU was the UK’s first state-level trade and economic development agreement. The MOU builds on well-established cooperation and trade relations, with the aim of strengthening economic development across all regions of the UK and Indiana, with a focus on clean energy and sustainability, prioritising building economies of the future. Through the formalised agreement, both governments aim to enhance cooperation in priority sectors, grow businesses and create jobs.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Stonegate offers to change non-compliant rent review terms in MRO agreements [February 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Stonegate offers to change non-compliant rent review terms in MRO agreements [February 2023]

    The press release issued by the Pubs Code Adjudicator on 27 February 2023.

    Around 70 MRO lessees have received an offer from Stonegate to remove the upward only open market rent review from their agreement when combined with an RPI linked rent review.

    The Issue

    The Pubs Code prevents pub companies from offering tied lessees Market Rent Only (MRO) terms that are not common in free of tie agreements. The terms must also be reasonable.

    Where required in a free of tie lease, an upwards only open market rent review will typically take place every five years, or a Retail Price Index (RPI) rent review will typically increase the rent annually.

    In response to PCA correspondence, Stonegate has acknowledged that it is not, and never has been, common to find these two rent review terms together in the same free of tie lease. Ei Group (before its acquisition by Stonegate) stopped offering MRO agreements with these terms in combination in 2019 as a result of expert evidence obtained in an arbitration. But since the first MRO agreements were completed in 2017, a number of them across different pub companies have entered the market containing both types of rent review.

    Stonegate has written to its lessees on those agreements to confirm it will not be enforcing the upwards only open market rent review and offering to remove it from their agreement. It has also offered a financial contribution towards legal costs for any who take up the offer. It has confirmed to the PCA that no upwards only open market rent reviews have yet taken place where agreements also have annual RPI increase terms.

    This action follows PCA correspondence to all pub companies last year about the use of rent reviews linked to the RPI in their MRO agreements, including where combined with other rent review terms. The PCA wished to understand the extent to which such terms had been in use, particularly in light of the sharp rise in interest rates and inflation. It was concerned to ensure that only common terms in free of tie agreements were included in those agreements. The PCA has made clear to the regulated pub companies that they should not rely on terms which they know or ought to know are non-compliant as evidence of terms which are common in the free of tie market.

    Stonegate is the first pub company to acknowledge to the PCA that there had been previous non-compliance that was still affecting existing MRO tenants and lessees. The PCA considers that Stonegate’s action provides certainty to MRO lessees with RPI rent review terms and welcomes the steps it is taking to put this right. Stonegate will inform the PCA when its intended actions are complete.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Trade-boosting North America Roadshow visits 12 UK cities in 12 days [February 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Trade-boosting North America Roadshow visits 12 UK cities in 12 days [February 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Business and Trade on 27 February 2023.

    Department for Business and Trade kicks off North America Roadshow, visiting 12 cities across the UK to promote business opportunities in the US and Canada.

    A trade-boosting roadshow will visit 12 UK cities in 12 days to help British businesses up and down the country increase their exports to North America.

    Organised by the Department for Business and Trade, the events will include a series of presentations and interactive sessions run by trade experts and sector specialists, including His Majesty’s Trade Commissioner Emma Wade-Smith who is usually based in New York.

    They will run from Monday 27 February to Friday 10 March and will visit twelve cities across the country, including Manchester, Edinburgh and Cardiff, to highlight the support available for UK businesses looking to sell to consumers across the pond.

    His Majesty’s Trade Commissioner for North America, Emma Wade-Smith, said:

    The USA and Canada are large and expansive markets offering a wide variety of opportunities for businesses aspiring to export their products and services outside of the UK.

    My team and I look forward to meeting the talented UK companies who are ready to begin their export journey and to giving them the tools, insights and practical guidance they need to take those next steps.

    Andy Burwell, International Director at the Confederation of British Industry, said:

    It is clear the world has fully opened up again and savvy businesses are seeking new revenue streams and relationships to make themselves more resilient.

    This North American roadshow is a fantastic opportunity for UK firms to explore what is happening in the US and Canada.

    Demand for UK products and services is high, and businesses should use the roadshow connections to stimulate their growth.

    Duncan Edwards, CEO of BritishAmerican Business, the largest transatlantic trade association said:

    BritishAmerican Business is delighted to support the UK government’s North America roadshow. It reflects the continued importance of the US as a destination for British companies and products.

    The US is the UK’s largest export market and offers a wealth of opportunity to UK companies of all sizes, across all sectors.

    With the USA, you get 50 countries in one but it’s also important to recognise that each state requires careful research and consideration. Doing business in New York is very different to doing business in say Ohio, Texas or California.

    That is why this roadshow is a great first step for any business embarking on transatlantic growth.

    Each stop will be tailored to the business landscape in that city and include deep dive sessions on key growth opportunities in a range of sectors including finance and technology, creative industries, transport, space, and more.

    The Roadshow forms part of the department’s strategy to reach a trillion pounds of exports a year by 2030, with exporters proven to create jobs, increase wages and boost productivity – all key in helping to grow the economy.

    Already, British businesses operating in the US support over 1.2 million jobs, and US companies employ 1.5 million people in the UK.

    Alongside top tips for exporting, attendees will gain insights into the UK’s North America trade strategy and our work to lift market access barriers for UK businesses.

    With a combined population of around 380 million people, the US and Canada both rank as two of the world’s ten largest economies, presenting a wide range of export opportunities for high-quality British goods and services.

    The UK is currently negotiating a free trade agreement with Canada, and is taking a twin-track approach to trade engagement in the US – our largest trade partner – strengthening ties at both federal and state level.

    We have already signed Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with Indiana, North Carolina, and South Carolina, and are actively engaging with further states, including California, Oklahoma, Utah, and Texas.  These MoUs can help the UK to unlock barriers, seize investment opportunities, promote UK business – and, through the roadshow, we look forward to showing companies across the UK how they can benefit.

  • PRESS RELEASE : British brands embark on first UK fashion and beauty sales mission to India [February 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : British brands embark on first UK fashion and beauty sales mission to India [February 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Business and Trade on 27 February 2023.

    A number of top UK brands have embarked on a first-of-its-kind fashion and beauty trade mission to India this week.

    • Lush and John Smedley among UK brands joining India’s Fashion Forum 2023, the nation’s largest fashion retail intelligence event
    • First-of-its-kind delegation looking to capitalise on Indian demand for high-class beauty and fashion products
    • Sales mission comes as UK and India negotiate a free trade agreement to create further opportunities for British brands

    Top UK brands are this week travelling to India on a mission to capitalise on its rapidly growing demand for high-end fashion and beauty products.

    A delegation including British success stories such as Lush and luxury knitwear brand John Smedley will travel to India Fashion Forum 2023, the nation’s leading international trade fair, in Bengaluru.

    The trade mission is the first of its kind and has been organised by the Department for Business and Trade to help British brands showcase their expertise in luxury, heritage and innovation to potential buyers and distributers.

    Business and Trade Secretary, Kemi Badenoch said:

    India’s growing economy and middle class represents an enormous opportunity for enterprising UK companies looking for new markets.

    Removing barriers to business and boosting exports are two of my top trade priorities and I’m eager to make it easier and faster to do business with India through the free trade deal we’re currently negotiating.

    India is set to become the third largest economy by 2050, by which time it will have a middle class of 250 million consumers.

    According to the Robb report, in 2021, the Indian luxury goods market was valued at over $5 billion, and is expected to grow by another 10 percent over the next five years.

    Managing Director, MENA Lush Fresh Handmade Cosmetics, Anita Baker said:

    Lush is very happy to take part in this trade mission and we’re confident that in India, with its deep roots in natural cosmetics, we can find a partner that lives our ethics.

    India has the opportunity to be a very sizable market and we aim to give our Indian shoppers the amazing customer experience they expect from visiting our shops around the world.

    Global Sales Director, John Smedley Ltd, Bill Leach, said:

    As India is one of the fastest growing luxury markets in the world, we are very excited to be attending the Fashion Forum as part of the trade mission.

    It is hoped that the UK-India Free Trade Agreement that is currently being negotiated comes to fruition in the coming months, so that a growing number of discerning luxury consumers in India will enjoy greater access to The World’s Finest Knitwear.

    Negotiations continue on a forward-facing trade deal with India, with the nations already enjoying a current trade relationship worth £34 billion to year end September 2022.

    The deal, expected to boost the UK economy by billions over the longer term, is part of the UK’s strategy to forge stronger partnerships with fast-growing economies in the Indo-Pacific.

    The UK wants an agreement that slashes barriers to doing business and trading with India’s £2 trillion economy and market of 1.4 billion consumers, including cutting tariffs on exports for British businesses such as Lush and John Smedley.

    Background

    • The UK and India currently enjoy a strong trade relationship, with bilateral trade at £34 billion (year to Q3 in 2022). Our investment relationship supports over half a million jobs across both economies.
    • India accounts for 1.7 per cent of total UK exports and is the 12th largest UK export market in the four quarters to the end of the third quarter of 2022.
    • The Indo-Pacific region represents 40% of global GDP and has some of the world’s fastest-growing economies.
    • Companies attending the fashion and beauty trade mission include:

    Lush – www.lush.com

    John Smedley Limited – www.johnsmedley.com

    Wormser – www.wormsergroup.com

    Raishma Ready to Wear Ltd – https://raishma.co.uk

    Organic Apoteke – www.organicapoteke.com

    Lilly and Sid – www.lillyandsid.com

    Legology – https://legology.co.uk/

    Benny Hancock – www.bennyhancock.com

    VENIA Cosmetic Ltd – www.veniacosmetic.com

    Jennifer Young Ltd – www.beautydespitecancer.com

    ByErim Ltd – www.byerim.com

  • PRESS RELEASE : Dame Julie Kenny DBE DL appointed Commissioner of Historic England [February 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Dame Julie Kenny DBE DL appointed Commissioner of Historic England [February 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 27 February 2023.

    The Secretary of State has appointed Dame Julie Kenny as a Commissioner of Historic England for a term of four years from 1 February 2023 until 31 January 2027.

    Dame Julie Kenny

    Dame Julie Kenny is a successful South Yorkshire based entrepreneur. Following the sale in 2016 of award winning Pyronix Limited which she built from start up in 1986, Julie continues her involvement in serving business and local communities.

    Founding Chair of Wentworth Woodhouse Preservation Trust which is committed to securing a sustainable future for the largest restoration project in the Country. A true Levelling Up project in the North. Julie also Chairs Robson Handling Technology Limited, a NED of AES Engineering, Chair of Maltby Learning Trust, a multi-academy trust Chair of RISC and Joint Chair of SRGP, two national committees dealing with Security, Resilience and Growth for the Defence, Security and Tech UK Sector.

    Julie served as an Intervention Commissioner with Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council between 2015 and 2018.

    Julie was honoured in Her Majesty the Queen’s Birthday Honours List in June 2019 with a Damehood for her work with heritage. Julie’s CBE in 2002 and Honorary Doctorate from Sheffield Hallam University in 2005 were conferred in recognition of her contribution to business in the region. Julie was awarded Freewoman of Rotherham in 2020.

    Julie has 3 grown-up children and had a successful career as a litigation lawyer in local authority and private practice before changing direction and founding Pyronix Limited.

    Remuneration and Governance Code

    Commissioners of Historic England are remunerated £4,113 per annum. This appointment has been made in accordance with the Cabinet Office’s Governance Code on Public Appointments. The appointments process is regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. Under the Code, any significant political activity undertaken by an appointee in the last five years must be declared. This is defined as including holding office, public speaking, making a recordable donation, or candidature for election. Dame Julie Kenny has declared no such activity.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Name of new Yorkshire prison revealed [February 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Name of new Yorkshire prison revealed [February 2023]

    The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 27 February 2023.

    The name of the UK’s first all-electric prison has been revealed today by Prisons Minister Damian Hinds.

    • UK’s first all-electric prison named HMP Millsike by public
    • jail to create over 500 jobs in local community
    • naming marks latest milestone in government commitment to create 20,000 modern places

    The new prison – opening in 2025 – will hold nearly 1,500 prisoners who will spend their time behind bars learning the skills they need to find work on release as part of the government’s drive to cut reoffending and keep the public safe.

    HMP Millsike – situated on land opposite the existing HMP Full Sutton – has been named after Millsike Beck, a local river that runs adjacent to the new jail, firmly embedding the prison into its local community.

    The jail will be the first in the UK to run solely on electricity, with solar panels and heat pump technology meaning it will use approximately a quarter of the energy used to heat traditional Victorian prisons such as HMP Wormwood Scrubs.

    This will slash energy costs to taxpayers by over £1 million a year – ensuring the new prison protects both the public and the public purse.

    Prisons Minister, Damian Hinds, said:

    Naming this site puts us one step closer to our new prison playing its vital role in protecting the public and cutting crime.

    This is a vital advancement towards our goal of creating 20,000 modern, innovative places.

    The new infrastructure project is also playing an integral role in boosting the local economy – creating over 500 new jobs within the prison when completed, on top of hundreds more during construction.

    In addition, over 40 per cent of construction orders fall within 50 miles of the site – filling order books for local supply chain businesses.

    Construction firm Kier, leading the way on the building of the jail, is also employing approximately 50 ex-offenders – helping former prisoners turn their back on crime through meaningful work before the prison has even opened its doors.

    Today’s news follows hot on the heels of the opening of HMP Five Wells in Wellingborough, Britain’s first ‘smart’ prison which opened last year. Work is also nearing completion at HMP Fosse Way, the new 1,700-place prison set to open in Leicestershire this spring.

    The government has committed to creating 20,000 modern, innovative prison places that rehabilitate offenders and cut crime as part of its ambitious Prisons Strategy White Paper, published last year.

    Further information:

    • The name was agreed upon by the Deputy Prime Minister, who was presented with a shortlist decided by a panel made up of MOJ representatives and local residents.
    • The final shortlist of options was chosen following a 6 week consultation, which involved asking local residents to submit suggestions for what they thought the new prison should be called.
  • PRESS RELEASE : New transgender prisoner policy comes into force [February 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : New transgender prisoner policy comes into force [February 2023]

    The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 27 February 2023.

    • updated framework in place from today (27 February 2023)
    • transgender women offenders no longer housed in women’s prisons if they have male genitalia or have committed sex crimes
    • new approach extended to include those who have committed violent crimes

    The Deputy Prime Minister has also announced measures will go one step further than previously set out – by extending the rules to cover transgender women who have been convicted of violent offences.

    The new guidance will apply regardless of whether transgender prisoners have a Gender Recognition Certificate, with exemptions only to be made in the most exceptional cases – and with the express approval of Ministers.

    The Deputy Prime Minister, Lord Chancellor and Justice Secretary, Dominic Raab, said:

    Safety has to come first in our prisons and this new policy sets out a clear, common-sense approach to the housing of transgender prisoners.

    With these sensible new measures in place, transgender offenders who have committed sexual or violent crimes or retain male genitalia will not serve their sentence in a women’s prison, unless explicitly approved at the highest level.

    Under the changes, transgender women who are sentenced to custody in the future will not be held in the general women’s estate if they retain male genitalia or have been convicted of a violent or sexual offence – unless in the most exceptional cases. Exemptions will be considered for those currently held in the women’s estate who are assessed as low-risk.

    At present more than 90% of transgender women are housed in men’s prisons and most do not request a move to the women’s estate. There is currently no obligation to place a transgender prisoner according to their preference, and where individuals are held is based purely on risk.  However, the government has decided to take this further step as an additional measure to protect women.

    Transgender women prisoners who cannot be safely housed in a men’s prison can be imprisoned in a specialist unit.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Thousands more households in Northern Ireland on course to benefit from £600 government help with energy bills [February 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Thousands more households in Northern Ireland on course to benefit from £600 government help with energy bills [February 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero on 27 February 2023.

    UK government launches new online portal so thousands of additional NI households can receive £600 payments.

    • New online portal means Northern Ireland households without a direct relationship to a domestic electricity supplier can apply for government support
    • ministers urge over 28,000 households eligible for the £600 lump sum to apply as soon as possible
    • a telephone helpline is available to support without access to the internet to apply for the payment

    The UK government’s £600 help with energy bills is on course to reach thousands more households across Northern Ireland from today, as new routes for funding open to the public.

    Over 28,000 households who do not have a direct relationship to a domestic electricity supplier – such as park home residents, people living in care homes and households who get their energy through a commercial contract – will be able to apply for support under the ‘alternative funding’ route of the government’s Energy Bills Support Scheme (EBSS AF).

    This follows the main roll-out of £600 energy support payments, which reached the majority of households across Northern Ireland in January and February. The delivery of support has been designed to cater specifically for the NI market, with households receiving payments as one lump sum.

    A new online government portal launching today will allow thousands more households in Northern Ireland to benefit from the government help, while a dedicated customer helpline is also available to assist eligible customers who do not have online access. This follows a successful pilot phase in specific post code areas to refine the application process, making sure the system can deliver support to households in a robust, secure and efficient manner.

    Ministers are today urging all eligible households to apply as soon as possible for their support, whilst also warning households to stay alert to potential scams and report them to relevant authorities where they are suspected. The government will never provide any links to the application portal, or directly ask individuals to apply for the £600 support. Anyone who requires additional help when applying for support may wish to seek assistance from a family member or trusted friend.

    Minister at the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, Amanda Solloway, said:

    Hundreds of thousands of households across Northern Ireland have already felt the benefit of our help with their energy bills, but this online portal is the final piece of the puzzle to make sure the final few who don’t have a direct relationship with an electricity supplier can apply for their £600 of support.

    It’s simple and easy to do and I want every household entitled to this to get your application in as soon as possible. The sooner you do, the sooner help can get to you.

    The exact date that an eligible household will receive support will depend on when an application is made, with the application process administered in Northern Ireland by the government’s contracted delivery partner.

    Payments will be delivered directly into people’s bank accounts by the government’s finance delivery partner, UKSBS. If you have previously attempted to open a standard current account but not been able to do so, you may be eligible to open a basic bank account for free. The 9 largest personal current account (PCA) providers in the UK are legally required to offer a basic bank account option.

    Northern Ireland Secretary of State Chris Heaton-Harris said:

    Welcome news for those Northern Ireland households without a direct relationship to a domestic energy supplier, with people able to apply for £600 support from today.

    I urge all those eligible to apply online or to get in touch through the telephone helpline as soon as possible.

    The alternative funding route is in place to make sure the same level of support reaches households without a direct relationship to an electricity supplier. Customers who have received support automatically via their electricity supplier through the main Energy Bill Support Scheme Northern Ireland (EBSS NI) are not eligible for support under the alternative funding aspect of the scheme, and do not need to apply.

    These schemes are the latest part of a range of targeted measures to help households across the country with the cost of living. In addition to the support provided through EBSS and Alternative Fuel Payments NI, the UK government’s Energy Price Guarantee (EPG) is expected to save the average UK family £900 over this winter.

    Further support in direct payments is also being provided to vulnerable households this year, including cost of living payments for pensioners, people receiving disability-related allowances and those on means-tested benefits. The Household Support Fund provides additional assistance for those most in need and £26 billion worth of targeted support will help protect the most vulnerable over the next financial year.

    Geoff Nuttall, Head of Policy and Public Affairs at Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action (NICVA) said:

    NICVA is pleased that people with no direct route to receiving help through an energy supplier will now get help through this new BEIS scheme. This intervention will provide some much-needed support at a difficult time.

    Our members have told us the difficulties they and the people they support are facing every day and how hard the sector is working to help people.

    The rising cost of living is affecting everyone, but we know it impacts the most vulnerable in our society even more. Especially if they’re not connected to the networks through which others have already received support.

    We welcome this new scheme to ensure much needed help reaches them too.