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Category: Press Releases

  • PRESS RELEASE : Pilot projects to tackle the impact of poverty on educational achievement [January 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Pilot projects to tackle the impact of poverty on educational achievement [January 2023]

    The press release issued by the Welsh Government on 9 January 2023.

    A new pilot programme to support schools in tackling the impact poverty has on attainment has been launched.

    Seven headteachers from across Wales have been recruited as Attainment Champions.

    The team brings together headteachers from across Wales who have a wealth of experience and have already helped shape key national policies and overseen community inspired projects.

    The pilot will run for six months with the role of the Attainment Champion providing peer-to-peer support to schools and to help inform Welsh Government policy around educational attainment drawing on their own experience and sharing best practice.

    The National Academy for Educational Leadership are supporting Welsh Government and has helped recruit the new Attainment Champions.

    Minister for Education and Welsh Language, Jeremy Miles said:

    I am delighted to be able to announce our new Attainment Champions. Those appointed have demonstrated sustained progress in addressing the impact of poverty on educational attainment. They have strong experience of mentoring and insight into the increasing pressures the cost- of-living crisis is having on families. I very much look forward to working with you all over the next six months.

    The National Academy for Educational Leadership, Chief executive, Tegwen Ellis, said:

    We are extremely pleased that the National Academy for Educational Leadership is to be leading this important pilot on behalf of Welsh Government. Tackling the impact of poverty on education is a priority for us all and the attainment champions will provide us with an approach to do this.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Over 100,000 extra dental appointments this year in Wales – but missed appointments continue to bite [January 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Over 100,000 extra dental appointments this year in Wales – but missed appointments continue to bite [January 2023]

    The press release issued by the Welsh Government on 6 January 2023.

    The number of additional dental appointments provided this year has reached 109,000, according to the latest Welsh Government data.

    Welsh Government changes to NHS dentistry contracts, offered to practices since last April, include a requirement for NHS practices to see new patients. The Welsh Government expects an estimated 112,000 new NHS patient appointments will be possible this financial year.

    However, the Chief Dental Officer for Wales has warned that missed appointments are impacting on people who need dental treatment the most. Andrew Dickenson has asked patients to avoid missing appointments where possible or notify their practice in advance when they are unable to attend.

    According to the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA), 9.4% of all NHS scheduled appointments last year were lost due to patient non-attendance, the equivalent of 3.5 hours of clinical time each week for every practice.

    Eluned Morgan, the Minister for Health and Social Services, said:

    We want everyone in Wales to be able to access NHS dental care, if they want it. From this year, we’re providing an additional £2 million a year to support increasing access to dental services throughout Wales.

    I’m really pleased that we’ve already broken the 100,000 extra appointments barrier this year, which shows that our reforms, made in partnership with the industry, are resulting in clear positive outcomes for patients.

    Andrew Dickenson added:

    We’ve made great progress since our reforms to NHS dental contract. 78% of practices have by now signed up to the contract variation, which is really bearing fruit in terms of new patient appointments.

    But missed appointments continue to be a real issue, adding up to the equivalent in clinical time of losing 20 full time dentists a year.

    It’s understandable that things come up, meaning people can’t always keep appointments. But my key message is – please “cancel, don’t break” appointments – contact your practice as soon as you know you can’t attend. That way practices can make time for other patients, enabling even more people to get speedier access to dental treatment.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Hundreds of thousands of pounds of funding for ‘lifeline’ credit unions [February 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Hundreds of thousands of pounds of funding for ‘lifeline’ credit unions [February 2023]

    The press release issued by the Welsh Government on 5 January 2023.

    Welsh Government Ministers have today visited credit unions across Wales as they announced continued funding of just over £422,000 a year for the organisations which offer vital support to those struggling with their finances.

    Credit Unions are not-for-profit, and owned by the people who use their services, rather than by external shareholders or investors.

    Actively involved in communities throughout Wales, credit unions contribute to the economy and the financial wellbeing of members, who can save safely and borrow at an affordable rate of interest.

    On a visit to Cardiff and Vale Credit Union alongside the Minister for Social Justice, the First Minister, Mark Drakeford said:

    This time of year can be particularly difficult as people are left to deal with the cost of Christmas.

    We know this winter especially, during an unprecedented cost of living crisis, many are finding it very tough and, sadly, high interest doorstep lenders or loan sharks will prey on those suffering financial difficulties.

    I would urge those struggling to turn to their local credit union, which can provide access to fair and affordable credit – in support of our journey to promote social justice and tackle poverty across Wales.

    Credit unions can help those who might traditionally find it difficult to save through offering schemes such as payroll deductions. They also offer Christmas savings schemes that only allow withdrawals in the lead up to the festive season, which helps at an often-difficult time of year.

    The First Minister added:

    While many of us may not even want to think about next Christmas, now could be the perfect time to consider starting to save. Credit unions can make that process easier.

    The Welsh Government provides credit unions with revenue funding to ensure they can develop a host of projects in communities aimed at boosting membership.

    In a clear demonstration of the importance of credit unions in Wales, Ministers within the Welsh Government Cabinet took part in a coordinated visit across the length and breadth of the country, raising awareness of the services they provide, which includes ethical and affordable lending.

    Social Justice Minister Jane Hutt said:

    I would urge those who might be struggling and tempted to use high-cost credit to use their local credit union as a responsible alternative to other forms of lending.

    It is clear Welsh credit unions work incredibly hard, and I’d like to thank them for their commitment to providing ethical savings and affordable loans.

    They truly are a lifeline to people all across Wales.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Progress on the Digital Medicines Transformation Portfolio [January 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Progress on the Digital Medicines Transformation Portfolio [January 2023]

    The press release issued by the Welsh Government on 5 January 2023.

    I launched the Digital Medicines Transformation Portfolio (DMTP) in September 2021 and updated Members in May 2022. We continue to make significant progress across the programme – this statement sets out the work to date and the next steps.

    The DMTP team, hosted by Digital Health and Care Wales, is coordinating all activity across NHS Wales. There are four main areas:

    • Primary care, which includes the implementation of the electronic prescription service.
    • Secondary care, which focuses on the digitisation of hospital prescribing and medicine administration activities and the electronic transfer of prescription information on discharge from hospital and from outpatient departments to community pharmacies.
    • Patient access and the development of medicines related functionality in the NHS Wales App.
    • Shared medicines record – the creation of a central repository, where a person’s medicines information will be held. It will enable the seamless transfer of medicines information in real-time between primary and secondary care settings and between NHS organisations.

    The DMTP team is working with the Centre for Digital Public Services to undertake user discovery activities with NHS organisations, to inform the development and design of digital portfolio products to ensure they meet the needs of the public and clinicians.

    I will take each area in turn. In primary care, the programme team has progressed plans for the electronic prescription service (EPS), based on the platform developed by NHS England and is working towards a technical proof of concept in Spring 2023, with a rollout to GP surgeries and pharmacies as soon as possible after that.

    EPS deployment in Wales will require private sector companies, which provide GP and community pharmacy IT systems, to undertake software development. Some IT systems will be ready before others – the rollout will therefore be planned and delivered in phases. It is expected the first prescriptions will be sent electronically from GP practices to dispensing pharmacies in summer or early autumn 2023.

    We are also working with community pharmacy IT system providers to encourage them to minimise the use of paper, optimise processes and enhance the service provided to the public, including tracking prescription requests, so people know when their prescription has been received by the pharmacy and when it is ready for collection.

    In secondary care, the all-Wales electronic Prescribing and Medicines Administration (ePMA) multi-vendor procurement framework was published by DHCW on 1 November. This allows NHS organisations to select from a national approved list of inter-operable systems to digitise their prescribing and administration of medicines on every ward and outpatient settings in every hospital in Wales.

    All health boards are now in the pre-implementation stage of the programme to implement their chosen system as quickly and safely as possible. The first health board will award a contract under the framework towards the end of this financial year and will begin deployment by autumn 2023.

    The initial feature requirements have been provided to the NHS Wales App development team and the first iteration of functionality is expected in the next few weeks. This will include repeat prescription reordering. Later versions will include the ability to nominate a preferred community pharmacy to receive prescriptions and the ability to track the status of a prescription.

    The Shared Medicines Record (SMR) project has assessed a number of technical platform options and is on track to deliver a proof of concept by Spring 2023 – in preparation to share the list of prescribed medicines between GP systems and secondary care ePMAs (as they are implemented).

    Work on defining all-Wales information standards for medicines information sharing has progressed well, and a Data Standards Change Notice will be published to health boards, trusts and suppliers before the end of this year. This will ensure a consistent medicines language is used across systems to enable the seamless and safe sharing of medicines information. We are keen to learn from others in this highly-innovative area and the SMR team continues to collaborate with other areas of the UK and Europe.

    I will continue to update Members as work progresses.

    This statement is being issued during recess in order to keep members informed. Should members wish me to make a further statement or to answer questions on this when the Senedd returns I would be happy to do so.

  • PRESS RELEASE : A world renowned circus and international crime fiction festival heading to Wales in 2023 [January 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : A world renowned circus and international crime fiction festival heading to Wales in 2023 [January 2023]

    The press release issued by the Welsh Government on 4 January 2023.

    A world renowned contemporary circus is heading to Swansea while an international crime fiction festival will be held in Aberystwyth in 2023, thanks to funding from the Welsh Government.

    The Circus Village is coming to Swansea for the first time, led by the internationally acclaimed NoFit State Circus in a partnership with leading circus companies and artists, and an international crime fiction festival in Aberystwyth will receive Event Wales funding for the development of the events.

    NoFit State will welcome around 200 UK circus artists for a programme of collaborative professional development in south Wales. The Circus Village was first held in 2021 and building on the success of this, 2023’s participants will live, work and create together in a purpose built site with three Big Tops, culminating in a public celebration and 3-day Circus Festival in April 2023.

    The event will welcome audiences onto the site and into the Big Tops to see new work created by participants of The Circus Village, alongside NoFit State’s current touring production, SABOTAGE.

    Tom Rack, Artistic Director, NoFit State Circus, said:

    NoFit State is very grateful for Welsh Government’s generous support for the Circus Village and Festival 2023.

    Thanks to their investment, we’re able to expand the Circus Village project – primarily focused on skills development for circus professionals – and bring to it a public Circus Festival, allowing us to share amazing, innovative contemporary circus with Welsh and UK audiences.

    Three Big Tops, four different shows – Swansea will have never seen anything like it. It will be an epic finale of an epic project.”

    Gwyl Crime Cymru Festival is Wales’ only international crime fiction festival, profiling the rising stars of Welsh crime fiction alongside bestsellers and household names from the UK and abroad. It has been held digitally in 2021 and 2022. The first live edition is planned for 21 to 23 April 2023.

    Aberystwyth, which is already well known as the home of crime TV series Y Gwyll/Hinterland, will be the home of the festival, and the aim is to establish a world-class, international crime fiction festival for Wales. The event will also support writers to develop new Welsh crime writing talent and to promote Welsh artistic life in and beyond Wales.

    Alis Hawkins, Chair of Gwyl Crime Cymru, said:

    The organisers of Gŵyl CRIME CYMRU Festival – until now an online-only festival – are thrilled that support from Event Wales will now allow us to stage Cymru’s first ever international crime fiction festival in Aberystwyth in April 2023.

    We’re delighted  that the need for such an event has been recognised and we look forward to delivering the event in April.

    Continued funding has also been agreed for FOCUS Wales, an annual music industry multi-venue festival, utilising 20 stages across a variety of venues and locations in Wrexham.

    Deputy Minister for Arts and Sport, Dawn Bowden, said:

    I’m delighted that we’re able to support the development of these home-grown cultural events which will be exciting additions to the cultural event calendar in Wales.

    They will give a great platform for skills and talent development as well as providing even more reasons for people to visit Wales in 2023.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Putin’s actions set Russia on a path of destruction and isolation – UK statement to the OSCE [February 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Putin’s actions set Russia on a path of destruction and isolation – UK statement to the OSCE [February 2023]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 9 February 2023.

    Ian Stubbs says that giving Ukraine the support it needs to push Russia out of its sovereign territory is the swiftest and only path to peace.

    Thank you, Mr Chair. A year ago, Russia continued to mass extraordinary levels of military forces along Ukraine’s borders and in illegally annexed Crimea. In just one week it had increased the number of Battalion Tactical Groups (BTGs) deployed in the vicinity of Ukraine’s borders from 60 to over 80. Russia had amassed in excess of 100,000 troops in what was the biggest military build-up in Europe since the Cold War.

    Against this backdrop, we saw extensive diplomatic efforts to resolve the unprecedented tensions in the region. In this and other Forums, we repeatedly warned that any Russian military incursion into Ukraine would be a massive strategic mistake. We were clear that the only way forward was to pursue a path of diplomacy and that immediate de-escalation by Russia was needed for successful dialogue.

    However, it was apparent that Russia had no interest in diplomacy or dialogue – only in lies and falsehoods. Exactly a year ago, our Russian colleague lauded this Forum as the “only pan-European structure responsible for politico-military stability in Europe”; claimed that Russia’s “priority lies in negotiations”; and stated “practical action, not theoretical reflections” were needed. Despite these assertions, in an act of clear hypocrisy, our Russian colleague proceeded to walk out of this Chamber and away from much needed dialogue.

    In contrast, that week, colleagues in this room did take “practical action” by using the Vienna Document Risk Reduction Mechanism to seek explanations from Belarus, and then Russia, for the extraordinary levels of military forces massing on Ukraine’s borders. Russia refused to engage with the mechanism. A move that demonstrated Russia’s contempt for the OSCE and deliberate disregard for established OSCE commitments, drawing overwhelming condemnation from the majority of participating States.

    Mr Chair, the actions of the Russian Delegation a year ago confirmed their collusion in Putin’s decision to conduct his barbaric invasion and so set Russia and its people on a path of destruction and isolation. At a time when diplomacy, dialogue and engagement were in desperate need, our Russian colleagues turned their back on the very structures and commitments designed to avert escalation, reduce military tension, and build regional stability.

    A year later, we have seen no change in our Russian colleague’s approach, with weekly walkouts now a tired expression of his contempt for this Forum. Seemingly, the Russian Delegation’s only interest in the Forum for Security Cooperation (FSC) is to proliferate the lies, disinformation and propaganda they peddle to their own population.

    Try as they might to portray Putin’s unprovoked and illegal invasion of Ukraine as something honourable and heroic; the truth is becoming increasingly apparent to the Russian people – Putin made a grave miscalculation when he chose to invade a sovereign neighbour.

    The persistent and institutional poor decision-making by the Kremlin has compounded a failed strategy, with terrible consequences on and off the battlefield. First, the so-called “partial mobilisation” – a desperate attempt to turn the tide of the war by sacrificing ordinary Russian people. Now, Wagner recruited convicts are enduring a horrifically high death toll in attritional wave attacks in eastern Ukraine. Next, with numbers of recruited convicts depleted, Putin is amassing more mobilised Russians in eastern Ukraine. Thousands of Russians –poorly trained, poorly equipped and poorly led – continue to be sacrificed by a frustrated Russian military leadership scrambling to provide numbers in place of trained fighters and effective leadership for Putin’s horrific war of choice.

    Mr Chair, in the face of Russia’s authoritarian actions, we must all recognise that giving Ukraine the support it needs to defend itself and push Russia out of its sovereign territory is the swiftest and only path to a just and sustainable peace. That is why today, during President Zelenskyy’s visit to the UK, my Prime Minister will announce plans to expand training for the Armed Forces of Ukraine to the sea and air, as part of long-term investment in their military to ensure Ukraine is able to defend its interests in the years to come.

    This includes offering to bolster the UK’s training offer for Ukrainian troops, including expanding it to fighter jet pilots to ensure Ukraine can defend its skies well into the future. And also includes offering to begin an immediate training programme for marines. We do not underestimate the continuing threat posed by the Russian Federation but, Putin and his military leadership should not underestimate our determination and will to support our Ukrainian friends as they fight to liberate their homeland. We are committed to not just provide military equipment for the short term, but a long-term pledge to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Ukraine for years to come. Ukraine’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and independence will be fully restored. Thank you.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Thousands of families to benefit from local support in rollout of Family Hubs [February 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Thousands of families to benefit from local support in rollout of Family Hubs [February 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Education on 9 February 2023.

    Family Hubs offer early support to families and young children to help them overcome difficulties and build strong relationships.

    • Services include help with infant feeding and perinatal mental health support as well as make it easier to access wider services such as smoking cessation and job advice
    • This announcement builds on Prime Minister’s ambition to put strong families at the heart of communities, in recognition of how important they are for people’s life chances

    Thousands of families across England will be offered help and support with issues such as infant feeding, mental health and relationship building thanks to Family Hubs being rolled out in local communities.

    75 areas will benefit from the £300 million investment up to 2025, with the new hubs offering support from conception through to age 19, or up to 25 for children with special education needs and disabilities.

    Strong, supportive families make for more stable communities and happier individuals. Investing in families and making sure they get the support they need from birth through to adulthood helps with children’s educational attainment, wellbeing and life chances, while also improving wider outcomes such as poor mental health and unemployment.

    Previously these services could be disjointed and hard to navigate but family hubs will act as a ‘one stop shop’ to offer guidance and advice on a range of circumstances including, infant feeding, mental health support, health visits and parenting classes.

    Hubs will also bring together wider wraparound services that can make a huge difference to people who need extra support – such as advice on getting into work, relationship building and stop smoking services.

    To fast-track delivery of these services, 14 local authority areas will become trailblazers and receive extra funding. These trailblazers will lead the way and support other local authorities to improve services that are offered to families, so that these can be rolled out more widely across the country.

    Today’s announcement builds on the Prime Minister’s ambition to put families at the centre of communities and delivers on the 2019 manifesto commitment to champion Family Hubs.

    Children, Families and Wellbeing Minister, Claire Coutinho said:

    Having children can be really tough as well as bringing so much joy. All families, from time to time, will need a helping hand.

    Family hubs bring services together helping parents, carers, children and young people to access the support they need more easily.

    Parenting advice ranges from support with breast feeding and mental health to guidance on how to give children a head start on their learning.

    Separately, Government is also confirming the final five areas to receive investment from the Family Hubs Transformation Fund, which will transition services which used to operate under the Sure Start banner over to the Family Hub model. This will enable a further 12 local authorities across England to open family hubs by March 2024.*

    This funding will provide thousands of families with access to support when they need it, including helping to give babies the best start in life, as set out in ‘Best Start for Life: a vision for the critical 1,001 days’ led by Dame Andrea Leadsom, which sets out six action areas to improve support for families between pregnancy and age two. And, as part of her success as the government’s Early Years Healthy Development Adviser, Dame Leadsom’s role will be extended until the end of parliament.

    Dame Andrea Leadsom said:

    Support for the earliest years is being transformed our ‘Start for Life’ offer will point families-to-be in the direction of their Family Hub, and the help they can get there will include a warm welcome, parenting advice, antenatal help, health visiting, mental health and infant feeding support and even advice on relationship building or how to get into work. There will be a strong focus on dads and co-parents who have for far too long been left out.

    We all agree that universal education and universal healthcare are the right of every citizen. Surely, however, the best start for life is the most fundamental right of all. It is in the period from conception to the age of two that the building blocks for good lifelong physical and emotional health are laid down. There is quite literally no better place to invest, either for human happiness or value for taxpayers’ money!

    A progress report will be published today outlining the progress the government has made against these commitments to date. It also sets out the government’s priorities for further work.

    Parents will also be able to access a range of support through the hubs from midwifery to mental health support, health visiting to infant feeding advice. Hubs will also provide early language and communication development for young children to set the foundations for lifelong learning and prepare them for school at age five.

    Minister Neil O’Brien said:

    Every child should have the support to be able to reach their full potential.

    There is robust evidence that the 1,001 critical days from pregnancy to the age of two are vital for development and impact a child’s physical and emotional health for the rest of their life.

    Better access to family hubs and additional funding for critical Start for Life services will provide more families with the right support for their baby to get the best start in life – including support for mental health, building strong and healthy relationships and infant feeding.

    Peter Fonagy, Chief Executive of the Anna Freud Centre, said:

    Family Hubs make a positive difference to parents, carers and children by providing a single access point to services that can help them during challenging periods. We know how important early intervention is in improving physical, mental and emotional health outcomes for young people, and in helping to build a strong foundation for them to prosper in later life.

    We are proud to lead the National Centre for Family Hubs, which provides a national platform for the implementation of family hubs in local areas, and to be able to extend support to more areas across the country.

    Our work champions, develops and disseminates evidence and best practice across communities to help local authorities to build family hubs that are accessible and inclusive to all, particularly those families who are living in poverty, experiencing discrimination and exclusion, and those who have children with special educational needs or disabilities.

    The early years are vital for children’s development and early language and communication skills. Start for Life services will help parents to form those secure lifelong bonds with their babies and children; and family hubs will provide advice and support to parents to encourage them to chat, play and read with their children to support  early development.

    Notes to Editors

    To view the 75 local authorities to receive a share of the funding from the Family Hubs and Start for Life programme, click here.

    The 14 trailblazer areas include:

    • Torbay
    • Sheffield
    • County Durham
    • Cornwall
    • Salford
    • Kent
    • Sunderland
    • Manchester
    • Northumberland
    • Hull
    • Coventry
    • Blackpool
    • East Sussex
    • Isle of Wight

    *The 12 local authorities to receive a share of the Family Hubs Transformation Fund are:

    • Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
    • Brighton and Hove
    • Cheshire East
    • Cumbria
    • Dorset
    • Hammersmith and Fulham
    • Leicestershire
    • Merton
    • Solihull
    • Stockport
    • Wirral
    • York
  • PRESS RELEASE : £10.7 million in funding for local authorities to improve air quality [February 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : £10.7 million in funding for local authorities to improve air quality [February 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 9 February 2023.

    Councils across England have been awarded a share of £10.7 million to clean up air in local communities.

    Local authorities across England have been granted almost £11 million in the latest round of funding for projects that will improve air quality.

    The money, from the Government’s annual Air Quality Grant, helps councils develop and implement measures to benefit schools, businesses and communities and reduce the impact of air pollution on people’s health.

    This year’s grants total £10.7 million, with funding supporting programmes that will educate doctors, nurses and social care workers about air quality; electrify a diesel refuse collection vehicle and procure an electric road sweeper in Blaby, Leicestershire; and roll out monitoring sensors to make real-time air quality information available to the public in Lewisham, south London.

    On Tyneside, a long-term campaign aimed at schools and pollution hotspots in residential areas will educate people of all ages about the dangers of air pollution, whilst an Air Quality Officer will be employed in Cornwall to visit schools.

    Funding will also support an e-cargo bike library, helping local businesses in Norfolk to cut operating costs while lowering their emissions; and the implementation of a river freight scheme in Westminster which will serve as a greener alternative to the use of more polluting vehicles in the city.

    Environment Minister Rebecca Pow said:

    We have made great strides in tackling air pollution at a national level since 2010, but we must do more to improve air quality and protect public health.

    From Tyneside to Cornwall, this funding will support a range of inspiring and innovative projects across the country – stepping up our monitoring of harmful pollutants, educating the public and boosting the use of green transport.

    This builds on our world-leading Environment Act commitments that will enhance our natural environment and safeguard public health for future generations.

    The government is taking decisive action to cut air pollution. Through the Environment Act, the government has set two legally-binding targets to reduce the level of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) – the most harmful pollutant to human health – in our air by 2040.

    The Environmental Improvement Plan – published last week to build on the vision set out in the government’s 25 Year Environment Plan – set out interim targets to reduce concentrations of, and reduce public exposure to, PM2.5 by the end of January 2028, alongside a range of policies to work towards these targets.

    The Plan also committed to challenging councils to improve air quality more quickly by assessing their performance and use of existing powers, while supporting them with clear guidance, funding and tools. Moreover, it pledged to improve the way air quality information is communicated with the public. Today’s announcement demonstrates key steps forward in the delivery of these commitments.

    This latest grant funding means that around £53 million has been awarded across almost 500 projects through the Air Quality Grant scheme since 2010.

    £883 million has been made available as part of the government’s NO2 Plan to support local authorities in cleaning up transport and cutting levels of nitrogen dioxide down to legal levels in the shortest possible time. More widely, the government has already spent over £2 billion to support the move to zero emission vehicles, helping drive forward the decarbonisation of the UK’s entire transport system. Funding is available from the Department for Transport for local authorities, as well as businesses, charities, private rental accommodation, flats and social housing with off-street parking spaces, to install electric vehicle charge-points and infrastructure. These actions will deliver better air quality for all.

    Together, these projects have contributed to the significant improvement in air quality seen in the UK in recent decades. Since 2010, emissions of fine particulate matter have fallen by 18%, while emissions of nitrogen oxides have fallen by 44% and sulphur dioxide by 70%.

    Local authority Project Amount
    Bedford Borough Council Review of local smoke control areas and solid fuel regulations to determine improvements, and public engagement to raise awareness about particulate matter. £36,332
    Bedford Borough Council Engagement with local schools, community and faith groups, and strengthen links with Primary Care Networks to encourage reduced vehicle use through active and sustainable travel. £113,071
    Blaby District Council Conversion of diesel refuse collection vehicle to electric and purchase of electric road sweeper to reduce emissions from refuse collection. £573,701
    Bournemouth, Christchurch, and Poole Council Engagement with schools to encourage active and sustainable travel. Purchase of e-cargo bikes to replace diesel powered delivery freight on the sea front. £120,309
    Buckinghamshire Council Driver improvement training to reduce emissions and travel planning scheme for local small to medium size businesses to develop sustainable travel to work plans for employees. £120,000
    City of York Awareness raising campaign for domestic burning to increase public knowledge about air quality and development of a public air pollution forecasting alert system. £101,375
    Colchester Borough Council Promotion of sustainable freight such as e-cargo bikes to local businesses. Air quality awareness, active and sustainable travel, and anti-idling campaign in schools. Community cycle scheme. £310,770
    Cornwall Council Employment of a school air quality officer to provide an air quality awareness programme to over 3000 students. £62,160
    Derbyshire County Council Data collection to develop and deliver a traffic management plan that will reduce congestion and improve traffic flow across Derbyshire. £278,347
    East Herts Council Purchase of air quality monitors to improve data for pollution in Air Quality Management Areas. Development of a social media campaign for these areas to improve knowledge about air quality and encourage reduced car use through car sharing and active travel. Engagement and awareness raising in local schools to reduce idling and encourage active travel. Creation of travel plans for local businesses. £126,408
    Exeter City Council Development of a public facing air quality map for NO2 and particulate matter that will highlight health implications of air quality, ways to limit exposure, and ways to decrease individual’s air pollution footprint. £367,428
    Lancaster City Council Air Quality Encourage take up of electric taxis through behaviour and awareness campaign and a discounted leasing scheme. Development of local taxi policy which will support the uptake of electric vehicles 4£54,576
    Lincolnshire County Council (In partnership with councils for City of Lincoln, South Kesteven District, North Kesteven District, Boston Borough, East Lindsey District, West Lindsey District, and South Holland District). School education and awareness programme. Community engagement campaign and development of a dedicated Lincolnshire Clean Air Project website to raise public awareness of air quality and steps they can take to reduce pollution. £58,180
    London Borough of Brent Creation of low pollution walking maps for all schools in the borough. Education and awareness campaign in schools to raise awareness about air quality and encourage walking and active travel. £470,546
    London Borough of Camden School engagement and awareness programme to reduce transport emissions and children’s exposure to pollution. Creation of an Air Quality Health toolkit, and awareness raising campaign in the borough. £170,645
    London Borough of Enfield Air quality monitoring at participating local schools to develop knowledge and awareness, improve safety outside schools, reduce idling, and encourage sustainable and active travel. Increased school cycle storage. Engagement with the local community to raise awareness about the school project. £223,500
    London Borough of Havering School workshop and theatre engagement programme to improve knowledge and awareness about air quality, develop clean air route maps, and reduce emissions particularly from idling. Training of teachers to deliver cycling lessons to pupils. Engagement with local businesses to analyse and improve commuter behaviour and develop information that could inform future interventions to improve air quality. £65,127
    London Borough of Havering Guided cycle and walking routes for schools to encourage active travel and reduce children’s exposure to pollution when travelling to and from school. Development of a travel plan for the local hospital to reduce NO2 emissions from staff and patient travel. £35,139
    London Borough of Islington Engagement and awareness campaign to improve knowledge of NO2 and particulate matter pollution supported by air quality data gathered by school pupils, community groups and residents. Development of council website to collate live and historic air quality and transport data accessible to the public. £282,680
    London Borough of Lewisham Improvement of air quality sensor network to improve data and understanding about NO2 and particulate matter to develop targeted interventions to reduce pollution. £248,021
    London Borough of Redbridge Community engagement and outreach plan to improve knowledge and information about air quality with a focus on children and vulnerable groups. Development of an interactive air quality map using data gathered by the community. Cycle training for pupils and parents, plus extra school cycle storage. £323,774
    London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham Promotion of cargo bikes to businesses to encourage shared use cargo bikes and funding to support purchase of their own bike. £277,950
    Maldon District Council Development of plans to re-route Heavy Goods Vehicles to improve air quality in a pollution hotspot. Development of a voluntary low emissions zone in Maldon town centre. Introduction of air quality forecasting and text alert service to improve public knowledge and access to air quality information. £129,000
    Medway Council- Environmental Protection Team Real time traffic monitoring and data modelling to develop traffic management interventions that will reduce air pollution. £279,533
    Norfolk County Council E-cargo bike library for local businesses to promote and facilitate alternatives to private vehicle use. £171,545
    Oxford City Council Installation of electric charging infrastructure for live-aboard boaters, with the aim to reduce particulate matter and smoke pollution along Oxford’s waterways. £192,993
    Reading Borough Council Interactive education programme in primary and secondary schools to raise awareness about air quality and encourage behaviour change to reduce NO2 and particulate matter pollution supported by air quality data gathered by pupils. This material will be developed for a wider community engagement campaign focusing on children and vulnerable groups. £327,000
    South Ribble Borough Council Access for additional schools to the established ‘Clean Air Crew’ website and online learning resources to support air quality education in schools. £53,244
    South Tyneside Council Purchase of sensors for long term monitoring of NO2, PM10, and PM2.5. Real time data will be collated and published on a public website and supported by a media campaign to raise public awareness and knowledge about air quality and encourage action to prevent pollution and improve air quality. £201,005
    Southampton City Council Training of healthcare professionals so they can advise vulnerable patients about air quality and action they can take to reduce pollution and their exposure to it. Development of community air quality engagement programme to consolidate existing projects for woodburning, schools and healthcare into a single co-ordinated programme to deliver unified air quality information and messaging. £248,198
    Southend-on-Sea Borough Council Air quality audit and sensor monitoring in 10 local schools to develop knowledge about local pollution to improve knowledge and develop interventions that will improve air quality and reduce pupil exposure to pollution. £256,285
    St Helens Borough Council Improve air quality for residents with asthma through monitoring indoor air quality, raising awareness about the impact of air quality on health, and advising on interventions to reduce pollution and exposure levels. £405,227
    Surrey Heath Borough Council Purchase of portable device to monitor PM2.5 and development content for an air quality website to share data to raise awareness and advise on interventions to reduce pollution and exposure levels. £12,280
    Swindon Borough Council Road traffic management signage to influence driver behaviour to reduce NO2 pollution. Engagement and awareness campaign with schools and community groups to encourage active travel. Collaboration with Public and Environmental Health to encourage improved domestic burning behaviour. £148,902
    Telford and Wrekin Council Monitoring, and engagement and awareness raising in local schools to reduce idling, encourage sustainable and active travel for pupils and their families. Replace Environmental Health Team diesel vehicle with electric vehicle for conducting air quality monitoring surveys, school visits and promotional activities. £147,615
    Tunbridge Wells Council Develop a digital training resource for Health Care Practitioners across Kent and Medway to enable practitioners to advise patients with cardio-vascular disease or respiratory disease on how to reduce their exposure to air pollution. £175,675
    West Midlands Combined Authority Particulate Matter monitoring and engagement programme to increase awareness and encourage behaviour change towards domestic burning across the region. £918,531
    West Northamptonshire Council Particulate Matter monitoring programme to improve data on background particulate matter across the county, gather data on the prevalence of solid fuel combustion in domestic properties to develop interventions to improve domestic burning behaviour. Review of Smoke Control Areas for the recently formed unitary council. £292,378
    West Yorkshire Combined Authority Particulate matter monitoring and engagement programme to increase awareness and encourage behaviour change around domestic burning across the region. £220,457
    Westminster City Council Development of a Clean Air Walking route tool to support users in reducing their exposure to air pollution in central London. £72,521
    Westminster City Council Reduce NO2 by supporting a network of Mini-Freight Hubs in central London that are serviced by river freight and Zero Emission Last Mile Deliveries. £1,000,000
    Wirral Borough Council Particulate matter monitoring and engagement programme to increase awareness, encourage behaviour change around domestic burning, advise residents how they can reduce their exposure, and review local enforcement of legislation. £171,200
    Wokingham Borough Council Engagement and awareness campaign with 6 schools to reduce pollution by reducing reliance on cars and encouraging active and sustainable travel. £213,332
    Worcestershire Regulatory Services Enhancement of air quality monitoring across Worcester to provide real time data that can be used to drive local air quality policy, disseminate public health information and alerts about poor air quality episodes, and advise the public on interventions to reduce pollution and exposure levels. £248,400
  • PRESS RELEASE : Secretary of State legislates to extend Northern Ireland Executive formation period [February 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Secretary of State legislates to extend Northern Ireland Executive formation period [February 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Northern Ireland on 9 February 2023.

    The UK Government will today (Thursday 9 February) introduce legislation to extend the period for Executive formation.

    • Extension will allow time and space for NI Parties to work together to return to government.
    • New Bill will extend the period for Executive formation by a year to 18 January 2024.
    • Election may be called at any time during the period, if deemed necessary or required.
    • Secretary of State hosts roundtable for NI party leaders and urges restoration of Stormont to deliver for the people of Northern Ireland.

    The UK Government will today (Thursday 9 February) introduce legislation to extend the period for Executive formation, to allow time and space for the NI Parties to work together to return to government.

    The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has concluded that another election at this time is not the best course of action to facilitate the restoration of the Executive having spoken to political representatives, businesses and communities in Northern Ireland.

    The Northern Ireland (Executive Formation) Bill, to be introduced to Parliament today, will therefore extend the period by a year to 18 January 2024, while retaining the power to name an election date any time during the period, if necessary.

    At midnight on 19 January 2023, the period for Executive formation under the terms of the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation Act) 2022 came to an end.

    This placed the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland the Rt Hon Chris Heaton-Harris under a legal duty to hold an Assembly election within 12 weeks.

    The Secretary of State will host NI party leaders at a roundtable in Belfast today to urge them to restore the Executive as soon as possible and note that an election may be called at any point during the extension period.

    Following his meeting with Vice-President of the European Commission Maros Sefcovic in Brussels yesterday, he will reiterate that the UK Government is working hard to resolve the problems caused by the Protocol, and the desire to see an agreed solution with the EU. He will be clear that the extension does not influence Protocol discussions and that the UK Government wants to see a deal between the UK and EU as soon as possible.

    Speaking ahead of the Bill introduction, Mr Heaton-Harris commented:

    “Over a year has passed since the then-First Minister of Northern Ireland resigned. Twelve months and one Assembly election later, it is disappointing that people in Northern Ireland still do not have the strong devolved government that they deserve.

    “After considering my options, and engaging widely in Northern Ireland, I know that  an election in the coming weeks will not be helpful or welcome. So, I am introducing a Bill to create more time for the Parties to work together and return to government, as Protocol discussions continue between the UK and EU.

    “The restoration of the Executive, in line with the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement, remains my top priority. I will continue to do everything I can to help the Parties work together to make that happen.”

  • PRESS RELEASE : Greens say new department must genuinely focus on Net Zero [February 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Greens say new department must genuinely focus on Net Zero [February 2023]

    The press release issued by the Green Party on 7 February 2023.

    *Demand to end all fossil fuel subsidies and windfall tax loopholes

    *Call for carbon tax to fund renewable energy and home insulation

    With the new Department for Energy Security and Net Zero launched [1] on the day BP has announced record profits [2] and greenhouse gas emissions are confirmed to have increased by 5% between 2020 and 2021 [3], the Green Party has called for the new department to “genuinely focus all its energy on achieving Net Zero”.

    The Party’s co-leader, Adrian Ramsay, has called for a carbon tax in order to move the ‘grotesque profits’ of fossil fuel companies into funding a huge push towards renewable energy and a mass home insulation programme.

    Ramsay said:

    “Having dumped the Department of Energy and Climate Change some seven years ago, the Tories have decided to resurrect it in a new guise: the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero. This department must genuinely focus all its energy on achieving Net Zero. It must stop all fossil fuel subsidies and end the perverseness of allowing energy companies to avoid windfall taxes on their grotesque profits by investing in further exploitation of oil and gas reserves.

    “A carbon tax is one of the greatest levers we can apply to help shift us towards the clean green economy we need in order to cut climate wrecking emissions and create a fairer healthier society [4]. Companies like BP, Shell and other big polluters have been responsible for three quarters of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions since 1988 [5]. A carbon tax would target these big polluters and provide the funding to move us towards a renewable energy economy and a mass home insulation programme. This would cut domestic energy bills and keep people warm.”

    Notes

    [1] Sunak reshuffle: Shapps named energy secretary in department shake-up – BBC News

    [2] BP scales back climate targets as profits hit record – BBC News

    [3] UK Greenhouse Gas Emissions 2021: summary (publishing.service.gov.uk)

    [4] Greens call on government to bring in carbon tax at COP26 | The Green Party

    [5] Just 100 companies responsible for 71% of global emissions, study says | Guardian sustainable business | The Guardian