Category: Press Releases

HISTORIC PRESS RELEASE : Gordon Brown announces ‘3Rs guarantee’ [January 2010]
The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 4 January 2010.

Gordon Brown has announced Government measures to ensure that pupils in their first few years at primary school have the best start in reading, writing and arithmetic.

The Prime Minister, accompanied by Schools Secretary Ed Balls, spoke to teachers and parents from St Monica’s Catholic Primary School in Hackney about the new initiatives.

From September this year, 30,000 pupils will benefit from the new programmes which will ensure that any child falling behind in English or Maths in the earliest years of primary school will be guaranteed extra support, including small-group and intensive one-to-one tuition.

Mr Brown said of the scheme:

“I want every child to have the best start in life. This guarantee will ensure any child who is struggling will have the support they need to fulfill their potential.

“I want to continue to raise standards across the board and this approach, coupled with an increase of specialist teachers in primary schools in key subjects like maths and foreign languages, will help them succeed in school and get the skills they need to get good quality jobs in the future. This is also vital for the country in being able to compete and prosper as the economy grows again.”

Ed Balls spoke of the Government’s emphasis on supporting pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds by allocating £50 million of funding earmarked for breaking the link between deprivation and attainment to the new scheme:

“Personal tuition must not be the preserve of those who can afford it – but must be available to all who need it. And even though money is going to be tighter over the years ahead by protecting schools spending, making tough choices and reducing inefficiency we can afford to make this pledge.”

The Government also announced a number of other educational initiatives, including:
- The start of the roll-out of new primary Maths specialist teachers as part of the Government’s commitment to have at least one specialist teacher in each school over the coming decade.
- The expansion of specialist foreign language teachers in primary schools with the aim that all children will learn a language for at least six years. New GCSE in Mandarin to be introduced this year.
- The launch of the new Masters in Teaching and Learning to increase the status of the teaching profession and help with school standards.
January 5, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : The Status Quo governing Jerusalem’s holy sites preserves peace – UK statement at the Security Council [January 2023]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 5 January 2023.

Statement by Ambassador Barbara Woodward at the UN Security Council meeting on situation in the Middle East.

Thank you President,

I also join others in thanking ASG Khiari for his briefing.

Firstly, the UK recognises that Jerusalem’s holy sites including Haram al Sharif/Temple Mount hold particular significance for many around the globe, especially the three Abrahamic faiths of Christianity, Islam and Judaism. In that context, the visit was made by the Israeli minister for National Security has the potential to increase tensions.

The United Kingdom strongly supports the historic Status Quo governing Jerusalem’s holy sites, which protects the sites and those who worship there, and preserves peace.

The UK also recognises and values Jordan’s important role as custodian of the holy sites and urges the importance of cooperation with the Jordanian authorities in this regard. The UK is committed to working with all parties to uphold this Status Quo in Jerusalem. All parties must avoid actions which inflame tensions, undermine the cause of peace, or unilaterally seek to alter the Status Quo.

Second, our position on the status of Jerusalem is clear and long-standing: it should be determined in a negotiated settlement between the Israelis and the Palestinians, ensuring that Jerusalem is the shared capital of the Israeli and Palestinian states, with access and religious rights of all peoples fully respected.

Third, the UK reaffirms its support for a Two State Solution, based on 1967 lines and Jerusalem as the shared capital, as the only way to ensure a lasting peace between the parties. We are concerned by levels of violence in the OPTs and Israel. I encourage all parties to avoid actions that undermine the prospects of peace.

Thank you President.

January 5, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : The absence of accountability for Syria’s use of chemical weapons is a danger to us all – UK statement at the Security Council [January 2023]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 5 January 2023.

Statement by Fergus Eckersley, UK Political Coordinator at the UN, at the UN Security Council briefing on Chemical Weapons in Syria.

Thank you Mr President.

The UK joins others in welcoming you to the Council and assuring you of our full support during your Presidency.

We would also like to extend a warm welcome to colleagues from Ecuador, Malta, Mozambique and Switzerland.

I’d like to thank Mr Ebo for her briefing and the OPCW Director-General for his monthly report.

Last year we marked the 25th anniversary of the Chemical Weapons Convention’s entry into force. Each of us has a responsibility to ensure that it is upheld.

Prior to the start of the conflict in 2011, Syria had an extensive chemical weapons programme. In 2013, after multiple chemical weapons attacks this Council unanimously adopted resolution 2118.

But it became clear that Syria had retained a chemical weapons capability in contravention of resolution 2118 and the Chemical Weapons Convention – and worse than that, further attacks took place.

OPCW and joint UN-OPCW investigations confirmed that the Syrian regime has used chemical weapons, including chlorine and sarin, on at least 8 occasions.

These were shocking attacks by the Syrian regime, designed to inflict mass casualties and extreme suffering on its own people.

Syria has since done everything possible to deflect and deny OPCW efforts to resolve the many serious gaps and omissions in its chemical weapons declaration. As we’ve heard, Syria still today shows its contempt for its obligations under the Chemical Weapons Convention and UNSCR 2118.

Sadly, over the last 9 years, accountability and effective Council action to uphold resolution 2118 has also been consistently blocked in the Council. There has also been a consistent disinformation campaign designed to undermine the OPCW and protect the Syrian regime from accountability for its crimes.

It is not too late to turn this around. We welcome the Technical Secretariat’s latest initiative to send a reduced team to Syria in January. This is an opportunity, finally, for the Syrian regime to come into compliance with their obligations. The responsibility rests with them.

President, we are approaching 10 years since the adoption of UNSCR 2118. As a Council we must insist on its full implementation. This means the complete destruction of Syria’s chemical weapons stockpile and accountability for their use.

As Mr Ebo said today, the absence of accountability is a threat to international peace and security and a danger to us all.

As a Council we cannot turn a blind eye. We too must uphold our responsibilities.

Thank you.

January 5, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Record numbers of doctors and nurses working in the NHS to ease pressure over winter [January 2023]
The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 5 January 2023.
- Record numbers of doctors, nurses and staff are working in the NHS, latest data shows
- Government on track to deliver on commitment for 50,000 more nurses by 2024, with over 36,000 more nurses compared to September 2019
A record number of doctors and nurses are working in the NHS in England, delivering extra appointments, speeding up diagnoses and helping to tackle the Covid backlog to ease pressure on the NHS this winter.

There are over 1.25 million full-time equivalent staff working in NHS trusts and commissioning bodies in England – over 42,000 more people compared to a year ago, up by 3.5%.

The latest data published by NHS Digital up to October 2022 shows there are almost 4,700 more doctors and over 10,500 more nurses working in the NHS compared to October 2021.

Since 2010, there are now over 35,300 more doctors and over 47,100 more nurses working in the NHS.

Minister for Health, Will Quince, said:

Growing the workforce is one of my immediate priorities and we are making significant progress in training and recruiting a record number of staff – with over 42,000 more people working in the NHS compared to a year ago – and we are well on track to deliver on our commitment to recruit 50,000 more nurses.

Thanks to these dedicated staff we’re building a stronger, healthier NHS for the long-term and we will publish a workforce plan this year to recruit and retain more staff and make the NHS the best place to work.

The government remains on track to deliver on its commitment to recruit 50,000 more nurses by 2024, with over 36,000 more nurses in October 2022 compared with September 2019.

In the Autumn Statement the government committed to publishing a comprehensive workforce strategy this year to help recruit and retain more staff, with independently verified forecasts for the number of doctors, nurses and other professionals that will be needed in 5, 10 and 15 years’ time.
January 5, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : UK and Germany agree closer cooperation in first ever UK-Germany annual Dialogue [January 2023]
The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 5 January 2023.
- Foreign Secretary hosts German counterpart for high level talks on joint priorities
- support for Ukraine, energy security and combatting climate change on top of the agenda
- boost for cultural cooperation with the UK-Germany Cultural Commission set to meet for the first time since 1993
UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly hosted German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock in London today (Thursday 5 January) for the first annual UK-Germany Strategic Dialogue, in a sign of the deep partnership between the 2 countries. This is a major new forum for the two countries to agree cooperation on a range of priority issues.

The 2 ministers committed to increase cooperation on a range of joint priorities from further support for Ukraine to action on climate change.

UK Foreign Secretary, James Cleverly said:

The UK and Germany are the closest of partners and we are using the strength of our relationship to tackle the shared challenges we face today.

As Europe’s leading economies we’ve agreed to work closer on our unwavering support for Ukraine and combatting climate change.

There was a significant focus on global security in today’s talks. Both foreign ministers made clear their steadfast support for Ukraine in their fight against Russia’s illegal invasion and made a commitment to holding Russia accountable for atrocities, including conflict-related sexual violence.

The UK and Germany have already worked in tandem to respond to Putin’s aggression in Ukraine, working with the G7 and NATO to isolate Russia and support Ukraine. Today’s talks have deepened the UK-Germany partnership to enable even closer cooperation.

In a further sign of the current strength of the relationship, the UK-Germany Cultural Commission is set to be reinstated. It was originally set up in 1958 and will meet for the first time since 1993. It will agree priorities for how the UK and Germany can support people-to-people links over the coming year.

The UK-Germany Strategic Dialogue was set up in 2021, with the aim of agreeing areas for cooperation across foreign and security policy for the year ahead. Today is the inaugural meeting of the annual event.
January 5, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Government invites unions to return to the table and call off strikes [January 2023]
The press release issued by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy on 5 January 2023.
- Government ministers invite union leaders for talks
- government wants to balance fair pay awards for public sector workers with what the taxpayer can afford – and what helps get inflation under control
- departments will take new steps to discuss evidence before submitting to the independent pay review bodies, and hope unions will put forward their own evidence for discussion
- new legislation announced to guarantee minimum levels of safety in critical sectors
Ministers are reaching out to unions to invite them to sit down and discuss the evidence that the government will be submitting to the pay review bodies – and hopes that unions will also share their evidence.

If the offer is accepted, discussions will take place between government departments and unions in the coming weeks on issues including pay evidence, workload and conditions in the public sector. These discussions will help ensure the evidence submitted to the pay review bodies is as considered and informed as possible, including reflecting areas of common ground.

The government is clear that the well-established independent pay review process is the right way to set public sector pay – it provides independent, expert advice and is a neutral process in which all parties play a role. These new discussions would feed into this process and are offered as the government recognises the particular economic challenges the country faces this year.

Unions must also recognise these challenges and play their part in finding an agreement that balances giving workers a fair and reasonable settlement with continuing to take steps to bring down inflation and protect households’ budgets. The inflation-matching pay awards that many of the unions are demanding will make the fight against inflation more challenging, and risks interest rates, mortgage payments and bills rising for people as a result. This would erode the value of any pay increase for public sector workers and hurt households across the country.

While these conversations take place, the government calls on the unions to cancel upcoming strikes in a bid to resolve these disputes constructively through dialogue.

However, the government also has a duty to the public to ensure their safety, protect their access to vital public services, and help them go about their daily lives. The government will always protect the ability to strike, but it must be balanced with the public’s right to life and livelihoods. That’s why the government will introduce new laws to ensure a basic level of service in some of our most crucial sectors when industrial action takes place.

The government will introduce a bill in Parliament in the coming weeks to take the power to ensure that vital public services will have to maintain a basic function and deliver minimum safety levels during industrial action.

Minimum safety levels will be set for fire, ambulance and rail services and the government will consult on the adequate level of coverage for these sectors, recognising that disruption to blue light services puts lives at immediate risk.

For the other sectors covered in the bill, which includes health services, education, nuclear decommissioning, other transport services and border security, the government expects to continue to reach voluntary agreements, and would only look to consult on minimum safety levels should these voluntary positions not be agreed.

Business Secretary Grant Shapps said:

We hugely value the work of our public services and we’re reaching out to unions to have an honest conversation on pay, conditions and reform. Industrial action is disruptive for everyone – from people relying on essential services to get to work or care for their family to hard-working business owners whose sales suffer. It also costs those striking at a time when family budgets are tight.

As well as protecting the freedom to strike, the government must also protect life and livelihoods. While we hope that voluntary agreements can continue to be made in most cases, introducing minimum safety levels – the minimum levels of service we expect to be provided – will restore the balance between those seeking to strike and protecting the public from disproportionate disruption.

As has been demonstrated over the last year, wide scale and repetitive industrial action can act as a major blockage to economic growth by preventing people from getting to work. Introducing the safety net of minimum service levels to ensure that the public are not put at risk during strike action is the best way of balancing the ability to strike, while protecting the wider public.

This package of measures will see the UK align with many countries across the world such as France and Spain that already have minimum service agreements in place, to prevent large swathes of their economies being ground to a halt by industrial action.

Today’s reforms follow a change in the law made by the government in July 2022 enabling businesses to provide skilled agency workers to fill vital staffing gaps caused by industrial strike action. At the same time, the government also increased the damages a court can award for unlawful strike action.
January 5, 2023
HISTORIC PRESS RELEASE : Boiler scrappage scheme launched [January 2010]

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 5 January 2010.

A national scheme to upgrade household boilers to cut carbon and help consumers save money on fuel bills has been launched today.

The Prime Minister and Climate Change Secretary Ed Miliband kick-started the Government’s Boiler Scrappage Scheme during a visit to a British Gas Training Academy in London.

Up to 125,000 households in England with working “G-rated” boilers – the least efficient rating – will be able to apply through the Energy Saving Trust for £400 off the price of a new “A-rated” boiler or a renewable heating system such as a biomass boiler.

The initiative has prompted a number of companies to launch similar programmes which the Government said will allow many more householders to upgrade to more efficient, more environmentally-friendly boilers.

The PM said:

“Today’s announcement will slash household energy bills and carbon emissions while providing an important boost for the British heating industry. The Government’s new scrappage scheme will help to secure jobs across the tens of thousands of small and medium businesses that form a vital component of Britain’s low carbon economy. The scheme shows how this Government continues to invest in the British industries and jobs of the future.”

Replacing 125,000 of the least efficient boilers could cut about 140,000 tonnes of CO2 a year – the equivalent of taking 45,000 cars off the road – and the households taking part could see their fuel bills cut by at least 15 per cent a year.

It is one of a package of Government measures which are already working to improve household energy efficiency, such as Warm Front, the Carbon Emissions Reduction Target (CERT) and Decent Homes.

January 5, 2023
HISTORIC PRESS RELEASE : New port to bring jobs, growth and prosperity says Gordon Brown [January 2010]

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 5 January 2010.

The Prime Minister has said the development of the London Gateway port will create thousands of jobs for the region and is a vote of confidence in the UK’s economic recovery.

Gordon Brown and Business Secretary Lord Mandelson visited the site, on the north bank of the Thames in Essex this morning, to mark the start of work on one of the UK’s largest infrastructure projects.

The company DP World is behind the £1.5 billion development, which will be Europe’s largest combined deep-sea port and logistics park.

The PM said:

“The London Gateway is a significant foreign investment into the UK. It is a massive vote of confidence in the UK’s economic recovery and in this region. UK Trade & Investment and other Government departments have worked closely with DP World over a number of years to make this project possible.

“I am delighted with the decision to locate this world-class project here in the UK. It will help bring the largest deep sea vessels here and improve the efficiency of the UK’s freight distribution, creating thousands of jobs, future growth and economic prosperity.”

Once completed the London Gateway will link road, rail and sea.

By combining the port with a distribution centre DP World estimates the port will save over 60 million heavy goods vehicle miles per year on UK roads. It says this will amount to a reduction of 148,000 tonnes per annum of CO2 emissions.

Lord Mandelson said the London Gateway will also see the creation of 36,000 direct and indirect jobs.

The work beginning today includes the construction of three kilometres of land reclamation and a dredging operation in the Thames Estuary.

January 5, 2023
HISTORIC PRESS RELEASE : Campaign launched to raise awareness of learning differences [January 2010]

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 6 January 2010.

The Prime Minister’s wife Sarah Brown has hosted the launch event for a new campaign that aims to improve attitudes towards children with learning differences.

Around one in five school-aged children need additional help in school of some form, and the First News My Way! campaign hopes to raise awareness for children with special educational needs.

Sarah Brown was joined at the Downing Street reception by Children’s Secretary Ed Balls, children with learning difficulties and the campaign’s ambassador, author and actor Henry Winkler. Mr Winkler was not identified as having dyslexia until the age of thirty.

Sarah Brown said:

“Gordon and I have always been passionate that every single child should have the chance to reach their true potential, so it’s really important that we breakdown any barriers that some children may face when learning.

“Listening to children, supporting them and creating the right environment for them to do well is at the heart of this campaign and I’m very pleased to host the launch event for an initiative that will really touch people’s lives and make a difference.”

Ed Balls said the Government has already taken action to help children with special educational needs, including a £31 million investment into the Achievement for All programme and greater personalised support.

Earlier this week, the Prime Minister announced Government measures to ensure that pupils in their first few years at primary school have the best start in reading, writing and arithmetic.

January 5, 2023
HISTORIC PRESS RELEASE : Government’s Plan of Going for Growth [January 2010]

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 7 January 2010.

The Government has published its strategy for how to return the economy to strong, sustainable, long-term growth.

The plan focuses on increasing employment, raising incomes and supporting an improving quality of life, while restoring public finances and preventing cuts to essential public services.

During a speech in London today, the Prime Minister said that ‘going for growth’ is the government’s number one priority.

Gordon Brown said:

“The plan we are launching today – ‘tomorrow’s prosperity’ – shows how we will do everything we can to support and unleash the entrepreneurial, innovative and dynamic talents we know we have in Britain.

Gordon Brown said as part of the strategy, the Government plans to boost support for knowledge-based industries in sectors like life sciences, medical research and pharmaceuticals.

He said the Government will invest £70 million in three state-of-the-art manufacturing research centres to help UK businesses develop products of the future.

The Government will also invest in modern, low-carbon infrastructure and support British businesses by ensuring easier access to credit and creating a new growth fund.

January 5, 2023