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Category: Press Releases

  • PRESS RELEASE : UK kicks off process to negotiate new trade deal with South Korea [December 2022]

    PRESS RELEASE : UK kicks off process to negotiate new trade deal with South Korea [December 2022]

    The press release issued by the Department for International Trade on 9 December 2022.

    • UK launches eight-week public consultation on an enhanced free trade agreement with South Korea
    • Businesses, organisations and individuals asked to shape UK’s negotiating aims before talks are launched with the 10th biggest economy in the world
    • Minister Greg Hands visited semi-conductor innovation centre in Newport, South Wales last week to discuss how an enhanced trade deal could increase UK technology exports to South Korea

    The UK has today kicked off preparations to negotiate an enhanced Free Trade Agreement with South Korea by launching a call for input asking businesses, organisations and individuals to help shape the UK’s negotiating aims ahead of talks.

    The new deal will upgrade our trading agreement with South Korea, ensuring a more modern and fit-for-purpose deal that builds on our existing £14.3 billion trading relationship and meets the specific needs of the UK. This will include important areas such as digital trade, enhanced climate provisions and further support for small and medium sized businesses.

    The news comes following Minister for Trade Policy Greg Hands’ visit to CSA Catapult in Newport last week to discuss how an enhanced Free Trade Agreement could increase UK exports to the growing South Korean market. CSA Catapult is a semiconductor research and technology organisation funded by Innovate UK which specialises in promoting UK next generation technology around the world.

    Minister for Trade Policy Greg Hands said:

    I’m delighted we are on the cusp of launching trade negotiations with another dynamic market in a fast-growing part of the world.

    South Korea is a growing market for top-quality British products and services and forms a key part of the UK’s renewed focus on the Indo-Pacific region, securing stronger ties with economies of the future.

    The opportunities increasing our trade with South Korea presents are significant, not least in digital trade, which is already worth £1.3 billion.

    The new agreement is expected to include dedicated help for smaller businesses, and provisions for investment and digital trade, which will support economic growth and jobs. Further liberalising our services provisions could also boost UK exports of financial and business services to Korea, already worth £1.4 billion in 2021.

    The UK is already a top destination for South Korean green investment and could become an even more attractive country to do business in under a new deal.

    Korean companies such as SeAH Wind Ltd are investing in the UK. SeAH have recently announced an investment of over £400 million in a monopile foundation manufacturing facility creating up to 750 jobs by 2030.

    South Korea is the 10th largest economy in the world and a top-three global producer of vital goods such as semiconductors and ships. In an increasingly unstable world, boosting trade with a like-minded democracy, and trusted ally, will improve our security and resilience.

    The UK and South Korea have already signed an agreement to strengthen supply chain resilience confronting global shortages such as of semiconductors, which impacts products including medical equipment, computers and electric vehicles, as well as other supply chain issues caused by the pandemic.

    The agreement will help to ensure the smooth flow of key supplies between our two countries, which will support businesses and public services like the NHS to avoid supply shortages.

    Gerard Grech, CEO, Tech Nation, said:

    We welcome the news of an enhanced Free Trade Agreement between the UK and South Korea, especially in furthering opportunities for export-ready UK tech scaleups looking to expand there.

    Providing companies with the opportunity to directly input into the deal shows real intent by the UK Government to listen to the tech industry, an approach that is testament to Tech Nation’s contribution to the sector and impactful international work.

    Martin McHugh, Chief Executive Officer, CSA Catapult said:

    The Compound Semiconductor Applications (CSA) Catapult supports the growth of UK industry and has a strong track record in building electronics supply chains for electric vehicles and telecom networks.

    Closer trade ties between the UK and South Korea are likely to offer growth for the UK, so we will encourage our industry partners to contribute to this consultation.

    Francis Chun, President and CEO, Samsung Electronics UK and Ireland said:

    Samsung supports the UK and Korea in continuing to develop their close and positive relationship through comprehensive trade cooperation and the constructive revision of existing trade agreements.

    We believe that increased trade between the two countries, particularly in the area of technology and innovation, is important and beneficial for businesses and consumers in both countries.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Edinburgh Reforms hail next chapter for UK Financial Services [December 2022]

    PRESS RELEASE : Edinburgh Reforms hail next chapter for UK Financial Services [December 2022]

    The press release issued by HM Treasury on 9 December 2022.

    Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt today unveiled the “Edinburgh Reforms” of UK financial services – over 30 regulatory reforms to unlock investment and turbocharge growth in towns and cities across the UK.

    • Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt unveils new “Edinburgh Reforms” of financial services, to help turbocharge growth and deliver a smarter and home-grown regulatory framework for the UK – that is both agile and proportionate.
    • Speaking at an industry roundtable in Edinburgh today, the Chancellor will announce new plans to seize the benefits of Brexit by setting out a detailed timeline establishing the government’s approach to repealing burdensome pieces of retained EU law.
    • Reforms deliver the next chapter of the government’s vision for UK financial services, set out at Mansion House 2021.

    The Chancellor will set out plans to repeal, and replace, hundreds of pages of burdensome EU retained laws governing financial services. This will establish a smarter regulatory framework for the UK that, is agile, less costly and more responsive to emerging trends.

    These plans included a commitment to make substantial legislative progress over the course of 2023 on repealing and replacing EU-era Solvency II – the rules governing insurers balance sheets which is expected to unlock over £100 billion of private investment for productive assets such as UK infrastructure.

    The financial services sector is vital for Britain’s economic strength, contributing £216 billion a year to the UK economy. This includes £76 billion in tax revenue, enough to fund the entire police force and state school system, while employing over 2.3 million people – with 1.4 million outside London.

    As announced in the Autumn Statement, the government will look to announce changes to EU regulations in four other high growth industries by the end of next year, including digital technology, life sciences, green industries and advanced manufacturing.

    Chancellor of the Exchequer, Jeremy Hunt said:

    We are committed to securing the UK’s status as one of the most open, dynamic and competitive financial services hubs in the world.

    The Edinburgh Reforms seize on our Brexit freedoms to deliver an agile and home-grown regulatory regime that works in the interest of British people and our businesses.

    And we will go further – delivering reform of burdensome EU laws that choke off growth in other industries such as digital technology and life sciences.

    Economic Secretary to the Treasury, Andrew Griffith said:

    The UK is a financial services superpower – and we have long benefited from, and are committed to, high quality regulatory standards.

    Scotland’s role in maintaining our status as the global benchmark for regulation is crucial – with Edinburgh and Glasgow the two largest UK hubs outside of London.

    Our reforms deliver smarter regulation of financial services that will unlock growth and opportunity in towns and cities across the UK.

    The work to repeal, and where appropriate replace, retained EU law governing the sector has been guided by industry – and split into two initial tranches. These will focus on delivering reform to areas which provide the most significant boost to UK growth and competitiveness, and we will set out further detail on future tranches over time.

    Today’s announcement delivers the next chapter in the roadmap for UK announced at Mansion House 2021 for a UK financial services sector that is open, sustainable, and technologically advanced – one that is globally competitive and acts in the interests of communities and citizens. This vision will create jobs, support businesses, and power growth across all four parts of the UK.

    A competitive marketplace promoting the effective use of capital

    The Edinburgh Reforms ensure that the UK’s financial markets are among the most open and attractive in the world. They deliver this by overhauling the UK prospectus regime to make it more attractive for firms to list and raise capital here; reforming the rules governing Real Estate Investment Trusts, to reduce friction and allow savers to more easily access higher returns; formally reviewing the provision of investment research in the UK, including the effects of the EU’s MiFID unbundling rules, which aren’t applied in leading markets such as the US; and working with the regulators and companies to trial a new class of wholesale market venue that operates on an intermittent basis – improving companies access to capital before they publicly list.

    The government has also announced that the ring-fencing regime will be reformed in response to the recommendations of the Skeoch Review – including by freeing retail focussed banks from the regime – easing unnecessary regulatory burdens on firms while maintaining protections for depositors.

    The Chancellor has also issued new remit letters to the Financial Conduct Authority and Prudential Regulation Authority emphasising the new secondary competitiveness objectives. Regulators will have a duty to facilitate, subject to aligning with relevant international standards, the international competitiveness of the UK economy and its growth in the medium to long term.

    We are committed to seeing financial service firms deploy more capital in productive assets such as UK infrastructure and low carbon and clean energy. This will be facilitated by Long-Term Asset Funds – a new type of fund structure tailored to the UK market, replacing the EU’s ineffective European Long Term Investment Fund regime, which will be repealed from the UK rulebook. The LTAF regime has recently seen its first application from an issuer of this new type of fund.

    Delivering for consumers

    The government is committed to enabling consumers to access the benefits of new products and technologies, while ensuring they remain protected. To support this, the government is today publishing its first consultation on proposals to modernise the Consumer Credit Act – simplifying the regime to encourage innovation in the credit sector and cutting costs for consumers and businesses.

    A sector at the forefront of innovation and technology

    The reforms build on the UK’s desire to harness the benefits of emerging technologies, including committing to shortly publish a consultation on proposals to establish a UK Central Bank Digital Currency– which could one day see Brits using a digital pound, capturing the benefits of the underlying blockchain technologies. Other measures will see the Investment Management Exemption extended to cryptoassets, ensuring more overseas investment can flow into the sector – and the government has recommitted to establishing the Financial Markets Infrastructure Sandbox in 2023, allowing firms and regulators to safely test, adopt and scale new technologies that could transform financial markets.

    A world leader in sustainable finance

    The UK is working to become the world’s first net-zero aligned financial centre, and today’s measures will further deliver on this ambition, including by committing to publish a new green finance strategy in early 2023, and to consult on bringing Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) ratings providers into the City Watchdog’s regulatory perimeter, to ensure these products are transparent and use consistent standards. Achieving this ambition will see more investment in sustainable energy supplies such as nuclear, hydrogen and offshore wind – delivering new opportunities and well-paying jobs.

    More broadly, the government’s Financial Services and Markets Bill successfully completed its remaining stages in the Commons on Wednesday and is expected to receive Royal Assent by Spring 2023. This further delivers on the government’s vision for financial services, including by bringing certain types of stablecoins within the payments regulatory perimeter; protecting access to cash for millions of people that reply on it; and enabling the Payments Systems Regulator to force banks to reimburse the victims of Authorised Push Payment (APP) fraud.

  • PRESS RELEASE : UK sanctions target 30 corrupt political figures, human rights violators and perpetrators of conflict-related sexual violence around the world [December 2022]

    PRESS RELEASE : UK sanctions target 30 corrupt political figures, human rights violators and perpetrators of conflict-related sexual violence around the world [December 2022]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 9 December 2022.

    Foreign Secretary has announced sanctions that targets corrupt actors, those violating human rights, and as perpetrators of sexual-violence in conflict.

    • New UK sanctions target 30 individuals and entities oppressing fundamental freedoms around the world in most widespread package to date
    • This includes 18 designations targeting individuals involved in violations and abuses of human rights and 6 perpetrators behind conflict-related sexual violence
    • A further 5 individuals targeted for their involvement in serious corruption and illicit finance

    Foreign Secretary James Cleverly has today (09 December) announced a new wave of sanctions that targets corrupt actors, and those violating and abusing human rights, as well as perpetrators of sexual violence in conflict.

    This wave, co-ordinated with international partners, marks International Anti-Corruption Day and Human Rights Day.

    The package includes individuals and entities involved in a wide range of grievous activities – including the torture of prisoners, the mobilisation of troops to rape civilians, and systematic atrocities.

    These sanctions demonstrate the UK’s commitment to defend free societies and the human rights of everyone, everywhere.

    Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said:

    It is our duty to promote free and open societies around the world. Today our sanctions go further to expose those behind the heinous violations of our most fundamental rights to account. We are committed to using every lever at our disposal to secure a future of freedom over fear.

    Since gaining new powers following our exit from the EU, the Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office has used targeted sanctions across multiple regimes to hold those committing these egregious acts, whether in Russia, Iran, Myanmar, or elsewhere, to account.

    Today’s sanctions include targets from 11 countries across 7 sanctions regimes – the most that the UK has ever brought together in one package.

    Sanctions targeting Human Rights violators and abusers

    As part of today’s package, the UK has designated 8 individuals under our Global Human Rights regime, which allows the UK to stop those involved in serious human rights abuses and violations from entering the country, channelling money through UK banks, or profiting from our economy. These sanctions include:

    • Mian Abdul Haq, a Muslim Cleric from Pakistan, responsible for forced conversions and marriages of girls and women from religious minorities
    • General Kale Kayihura, the Inspector General of Police in Uganda from 2005 to 2018. While Kayihura was in charge, he oversaw multiple units responsible for human rights violations including torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment and punishment
    • Sadrach Zelodon Rocha and Yohaira Hernandez Chirino, the mayor and deputy mayor of Matagalpa in Nicaragua. Both have been involved in promoting and supporting grievous violations of human rights
    • Andrey Tishenin, member of the Russian Federal Security Service in Crimea, and Artur Shambazov, a senior detective in the Autonomous republic of Crimea. The pair tortured Ukrainian Oleksandr Kostenko in 2015
    • Valentin Oparin, Major of Justice for the Russian Federation, and Oleg Tkachenko, Head of Public Prosecutions for the Rostov region. Both individuals have obstructed complaints of torture, with Tkachenko also using torture to extract testimony

    Sanctions in Iran and Russia

    The UK is also using geographical sanctions regimes to ensure that violators of human rights are held to account.

    10 Iranian officials connected to Iran’s judicial and prison systems, have been sanctioned.

    This includes 6 individuals linked to the Revolutionary Courts that have been responsible for prosecuting protestors with egregious sentences including the death penalty.

    In addition, Ali Cheharmahali, and Ghloamreza Ziyayi, former directors of the Evin Prison, in Tehran, a facility notorious for the mistreatment of both Iranian and foreign detainees, have been sanctioned. Allah Karam Azizi, warden of Razee Shahr Prison, has also been sanctioned.

    The UK has also sanctioned the Russian Colonel Ibatullin for his role as the commander of the 90th Tank Division, which has been on the front line since Russia began its illegal full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

    Sexual violence in conflict, which is currently happening in at least 18 active conflicts around the world, is an abhorrent act and and prohibited by international law.

    In many cases it is used as a deliberate method of warfare. Six individuals and entities are being sanctioned today – utilising one of the tools at the UK’s disposal to hold perpetrators of CRSV to account.

    Amongst those sanctioned today are Gordon Koang Biel and Gatluak Nyang Hoth, the County Commissioners for Koch and Mayendit in South Sudan. Both individuals were involved in the conflicts in the Unity State between February and May 2022, and mobilised troops to rape civilians.

    The Katiba Macina group, also known as the Macina Liberation Front, in Mali, has been sanctioned. The group is known for perpetrating sexual violence, including the organisation of forced marriages

    Today’s sanctions also target those involved in the Myanmar military junta. The security forces are known for committing systematic atrocities against the people of Myanmar, including massacre, torture, and rape. Designations include:

    • The Office of the Chief of Military and Security Affairs. It is reported that this office has been the central perpetrator of torture for interrogation since the coup, including rape and sexual violence
    • The 33rd and 99th Light Infantry Division of the Myanmar Armed Forces who were responsible for attacks including sexual violence during ‘the clearance operations” of the Rakhine state in 2017 and continue to commit atrocities across the country.

    Sanctions targeting corrupt actors

    The UK is also today using its Global Anti-Corruption regime to sanction an additional 5 individuals.

    Lining their pockets through corruption and theft, corrupt actors have a corrosive effect on the communities around them – undermining democracy and depriving countries of vital resources for their own gain.

    As a result, over 2% of global GDP is lost to corruption every single year.

    The UK is using sanctions to tackle serious corruption. Today’s designations include:

    • Slobodan Tesic, a significant arms dealer based in Serbia, accused of bribing the Chief State Prosecutor of another country
    • Ilan Shor, the Chairman of the Şor Party in Moldova, and reportedly involved in the 2014 Moldovan Bank Fraud Scandal. Shor was accused of bribery to secure his position as chair of the Banca de Economii in 2014
    • Vladimir Plahotniuc, a businessman and a former politician, fugitive from Moldovan justice, involved in capturing and corrupting Moldova’s state institutions
    • Milan Radojcic, a construction industry businessman and Vice president of Serb List. Radojcic has profited from the misappropriation of state contracts and used his influence to award his own construction companies lucrative contracts
    • Zvonko Veselinovic, a construction industry businessman in Kosovo using public contracts to misappropriate state funds

    The UK will continue to use all levers at our disposal to tackle corrupt actors and morally reprehensible violations and abuses, including sexual violence, of human rights around the world.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Rishi Sunak announces new international coalition to develop the next generation of combat aircraft [December 2022]

    PRESS RELEASE : Rishi Sunak announces new international coalition to develop the next generation of combat aircraft [December 2022]

    The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 9 December 2022.

    The UK, Italy and Japan will join forces to develop the fighter jets of the future.

    • The UK, Italy and Japan will join forces to develop the fighter jets of the future.
    • By combining the expertise of our defence industries, the new international grouping aims to deliver a step change in our air power and defence capability.
    • The programme is expected to create high-skilled jobs in the UK and in partner countries over the next decade and beyond.

    The UK will work with Italy and Japan to adapt and respond to the security threats of the future, through an unprecedented international aerospace coalition announced by the Prime Minister today (Friday).

    The Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) is a new partnership and ambitious endeavour between the UK, Japan and Italy to deliver the next generation of combat air fighter jets.

    The Prime Minister will visit a UK RAF base today to launch the first major phase of the programme, which aims to harness the combined expertise and strength of our countries’ defence technology industries to push the boundaries of what has been achieved in aerospace engineering to date.

    Due to take to the skies by 2035, the ambition is for this to be a next-generation jet enhanced by a network of capabilities such as uncrewed aircraft, advanced sensors, cutting-edge weapons and innovative data systems.

    By combining forces with Italy and Japan on the next phase of the programme, the UK will utilise their expertise, share costs and ensure the RAF remains interoperable with our closest partners. The project is expected to create high-skilled jobs in all three countries, strengthening our industrial base and driving innovation with benefits beyond pure military use.

    The Prime Minister said:

    The security of the United Kingdom, both today and for future generations, will always be of paramount importance to this Government.

    That’s why we need to stay at the cutting-edge of advancements in defence technology – outpacing and out-manoeuvring those who seek to do us harm.

    The international partnership we have announced today with Italy and Japan aims to do just that, underlining that the security of the Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific regions are indivisible. The next-generation of combat aircraft we design will protect us and our allies around the world by harnessing the strength of our world-beating defence industry – creating jobs while saving lives.

    It is anticipated that more likeminded countries may buy into GCAP in due course or collaborate on wider capabilities – boosting UK exports. The combat aircraft developed through GCAP is also expected to be compatible with other NATO partners’ fighter jets.

    During a visit to RAF Coningsby today, the Prime Minister will view the Typhoon aircraft which have been at the heart of the UK’s air policing for two decades. The new combat aircraft designed by GCAP is expected to replace the Typhoon when it comes out of service. The Prime Minister will also meet Quick Reaction Alert Station engineers and pilots, who protect the UK’s skies 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

    The UK, Italy and Japan will now work intensively to establish the core platform concept and set up the structures needed to deliver this massive defence project, ready to launch the development phase in 2025. Ahead of the development phase, partners will also agree the cost-sharing arrangements based on a joint assessment of costs and national budgets.

    Alongside the development of the core future combat aircraft with Italy and Japan, the UK will assess our needs on any additional capabilities, for example weapons and Uncrewed Air Vehicles.

    A report by PricewaterhouseCoopers last year, suggested the UK taking a core role in a combat air system could support an average of 21,000 jobs a year and contribute an estimated £26.2bn to the economy by 2050.

    Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said:

    This international partnership with Italy and Japan to create and design the next-generation of Combat Aircraft, represents the best collaboration of cutting edge defence technology and expertise shared across our nations, providing highly skilled jobs across the sector and long-term security for Britain and our allies.

    GCAP sits alongside our other defence cooperation with international allies, including the AUKUS partnership and NATO – to which the UK remains the leading European contributor.

    The UK defence industry is already leading the world in advanced aerospace engineering. At BAE Systems’ new ‘factory of the future’ in Lancashire, for example, the company is pioneering the use of advanced 3D printing and autonomous robotics in military aircraft.

  • PRESS RELEASE : The UN Convention on the Law of the Sea is a critical part of the rules-based international system [December 2022]

    PRESS RELEASE : The UN Convention on the Law of the Sea is a critical part of the rules-based international system [December 2022]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 8 December 2022.

    Statement delivered by Ambassador Barbara Woodward to the UN General Assembly.

    Mr. President,

    The UN Convention on the Law of the Sea – UNCLOS – is a major achievement of diplomacy and international law. It is a critical part of the rules-based international system.

    It has made a significant contribution to global peace, prosperity and security by providing consistency and certainty about ocean governance. It provides the legal framework for all maritime activities. The United Kingdom is committed to upholding its rules and securing the implementation of its rights and obligations.

    This legal framework applies in the South China Sea as it also applies across the rest of the world’s ocean and seas. In that context, the UK underlines importance of unhampered exercise of the freedoms of the high seas, in particular the freedom of navigation and overflight, and of the right of innocent passage enshrined in UNCLOS.

    The UK recognises, however, that challenges to ocean governance remain. The UK recognises the particular concerns of the member countries of the Pacific Island Forum and Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) with respect to the stability of their maritime boundaries in the face of sea level rise.

    Despite duties on States to protect marine environment, the health of the ocean has significantly degraded due to human action, including from industries directly regulated by UNCLOS.

    The UK is a founding member of the Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing Action Alliance launched and the UN Ocean Conference in Lisbon earlier this year.

    As the leader of the Global Ocean Alliance, and Ocean co-chair of the High Ambition Coalition for Nature & People alongside Costa Rica and France, and a member of the High Ambition Coalition for Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) , the UK looks forward to the conclusion of an ambitious BBNJ Agreement at the resumed fifth session of the intergovernmental conference in February 2023.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Promoting peace, stability, and security across Central Africa [December 2022]

    PRESS RELEASE : Promoting peace, stability, and security across Central Africa [December 2022]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 8 December 2022.

    Statement by Alice Jacobs, UK Deputy Political Coordinator at the UN, at the Security Council briefing on Central Africa.

    Thank you President. Thank you also to the briefers, President of the Commission of ECCAS, and welcome to Special Representative Abarry. We look forward to working with you again in your new role and commend UNOCA’s ongoing efforts to support and promote peace, stability, and security in Central Africa.

    President, I will make four points today.

    First, as we look towards opportunities, elections in the sub-region are intrinsic to building and sustaining peace, as we have seen in Sao Tome et Principe and Angola. It is critical that political processes remain inclusive, peaceful and credible. UNOCA and its partners have an important role to play in supporting these processes, but it is up to member states to draw on that support and deliver democratic elections and inclusive transitional processes.

    Second, the United Kingdom reiterates our support to Chad’s transition to civilian and constitutional rule. However, we remain concerned that the transition, as currently envisaged, contravenes the conditions set out in the African Union Peace and Security Council communiqué of 14 May 2021 that President Deby agreed to uphold.

    We were saddened to see the eruption of violence in October and welcome the launch of an inquiry as well as your engagement, SRSG, with Heads of Missions in N’Djamena on this important issue. We urge UNOCA, ECCAS, and the Chadian government to ensure that the investigation is credible, transparent and independent. We also call on the Chadian government to ensure due legal process for the remaining individuals currently detained, including minors.

    Third, a continuing challenge for the sub-region is the ongoing crises in Cameroon, and the dire humanitarian situation, which require urgent attention. The United Kingdom calls on all parties to engage in inclusive dialogue, and enable safe access to schools and humanitarian assistance.

    Finally, I want to reiterate our concern for the ongoing violence in the Central African Republic and the distressing toll it is taking on the population. It compounds an already acute humanitarian situation and risks undermining progress on reconciliation. Targeting of civilians not only by armed groups, but by national forces and the Russian mercenary group, Wagner, continue to play a destabilising role in the country. We call on the Government of the CAR to conduct full and timely investigations into allegations of human rights violations and abuses, to ensure that all perpetrators are held to account

    Thank you, President.

  • PRESS RELEASE : UKHSA update on scarlet fever and invasive group A strep [December 2022]

    PRESS RELEASE : UKHSA update on scarlet fever and invasive group A strep [December 2022]

    The press release issued by the UK Health Security Agency on 8 December 2022.

    Latest update

    The latest data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) continue to indicate that there is an out of season increase in scarlet fever and group A strep infections. Cases usually show steepest rises in the new year, but have increased sharply in recent weeks.

    So far this season (from 12 September to 4 December) there have been 6,601 notifications of scarlet fever. This compares to a total of 2,538 at the same point in the year during the last comparably high season in 2017 to 2018.

    In very rare occasions, the bacteria causing scarlet fever, group A streptococcus (GAS) can get into the bloodstream and cause an illness called invasive group A strep (iGAS), which can be very serious, particularly in older, younger and more vulnerable groups. iGAS cases across all age groups are slightly higher than expected at this time of year. The latest data continues to highlight a higher proportion of iGAS cases in children than we would normally see. However, iGAS remains uncommon.

    So far this season, there have been 85 iGAS cases in children aged 1 to 4 compared to 194 cases in that age group across the whole of the last comparably high season in 2017 to 2018. There have been 60 cases in children aged 5 to 9 compared to 117 across the whole of the last comparably high season in 2017 to 2018. The majority of cases continue to be in those over 45.

    Sadly, so far this season there have been 60 deaths across all age groups in England. This figure includes 13 children under 18. In the 2017 to 2018 season, there were 355 deaths in total across the season, including 27 deaths in children under 18.

    Cases of GAS usually increase during the winter and the last time significant numbers of cases were reported was in the 2017 to 2018 season. Seasons with high cases can occur every 3 to 4 years but social distancing measures implemented during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic may have interrupted this cycle and explain the current increase being observed.

    Currently, there is no evidence that a new strain of GAS is circulating or any increase in antibiotic resistance. Antibiotics are the best treatment and work well against the circulating strains. The increase is likely to reflect increased susceptibility to these infections in children due to low numbers of cases during the pandemic, along with current circulation of respiratory viruses, which may increase the chances of children becoming seriously unwell. However, investigations are under way to understand if there are other factors that could be contributing to the increase this season and to better understand who is currently most affected.

    Dr Colin Brown, Deputy Director, UKHSA, said:

    Scarlet fever and ‘strep throat’ are common childhood illnesses that can be treated easily with antibiotics. Please visit NHS.UK, contact 111 online or your GP surgery if your child has symptoms of this infection so they can be assessed for treatment.

    Very rarely, the bacteria can get into the bloodstream and cause more serious illness called invasive group A strep. We know that this is concerning for parents, but I want to stress that while we are seeing an increase in cases in children, this remains very uncommon. There are lots of winter bugs circulating that can make your child feel unwell, that mostly aren’t cause for alarm. However, make sure you talk to a health professional if your child is getting worse after a bout of scarlet fever, a sore throat or respiratory infection – look out for signs such as a fever that won’t go down, dehydration, extreme tiredness and difficulty breathing.

    Good hand and respiratory hygiene are important for stopping the spread of many bugs. By teaching your child how to wash their hands properly with soap for 20 seconds, using a tissue to catch coughs and sneezes, and keeping away from others when feeling unwell, they will be able to reduce the risk of picking up or spreading infections.

    There are lots of viruses that cause sore throats, colds and coughs circulating. These should resolve without medical intervention. However, children can on occasion develop a bacterial infection on top of a virus and that can make them more unwell. As a parent, if you feel that your child seems seriously unwell, you should trust your own judgement.

    Call 999 or go to A&E if:

    • your child is having difficulty breathing – you may notice grunting noises or their tummy sucking under their ribs
    • there are pauses when your child breathes
    • your child’s skin, tongue or lips are blue
    • your child is floppy and will not wake up or stay awake

    Note: We analyse scarlet fever seasons from week 37 to week 36 the following year. The majority of cases would typically be seen from the beginning of February to April.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Joint Statement Through the Global Partnership for Action on Gender-Based Online Harassment and Abuse on Standing with the Women and Girls of Iran [December 2022]

    PRESS RELEASE : Joint Statement Through the Global Partnership for Action on Gender-Based Online Harassment and Abuse on Standing with the Women and Girls of Iran [December 2022]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 8 December 2022.

    The text of the following statement was released by the Governments of the United States of America, Australia, Canada, Chile, Iceland, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.

    The undersigned Foreign Ministers for country members of the Global Partnership for Action on Gender-Based Online Harassment and Abuse call attention to the extreme violence faced by the courageous Iranian women and girls who are leading sustained nationwide protests over the tragic death of 22-year-old Mahsa (Zhina) Amini. Since then, Iranian authorities have continued and even escalated their brutal suppression of protestors, including through their use of technology-facilitated gender-based violence. Women and girls have faced targeted online harassment and abuse by Iranian authorities, their apparatuses, and institutions as they demand respect for their human rights and fundamental freedoms. We condemn this ongoing violent crackdown on protestors, including on digital platforms and through Internet restrictions.

    The people of Iran rely on social media and other digital tools to communicate and broadcast their messages to the world—always, and particularly during the ongoing violence perpetrated by Iranian authorities. The women and girls of Iran bravely use these essential tools, even as Iranian authorities and their supporters misuse and abuse the same technologies against them, propagating coordinated online harassment, abuse, and disinformation campaigns designed to discredit them and silence their protests. This use of violence against women and girls in public life, which manifests both online and offline and is exacerbated by the scale, speed, and reach of technology platforms, is a deliberate tactic leveraged by illiberal actors around the world seeking to halt democratic movements and shore up their own political power. Technology-facilitated gender-based violence threatens the lives, safety, and livelihoods of survivors and their families, especially as online and offline violence are often mutually reinforcing.

    We invite the international community to join us in urgently working with technology companies to do everything in their power to enable women and girls’ access to information online, particularly their full and effective use of online platforms. This includes implementing practical and proactive measures to combat the abuse of their platforms to threaten, harass, and silence Iranian women and girls by surging resources for Persian (Farsi) language content moderation and other Iranian languages, applying policies on harassment and abusive content in a timely and consistent manner, and providing resources and transparent reporting options for those experiencing online harassment and abuse.

    The members of the Global Partnership for Action on Gender-Based Online Harassment and Abuse stand in solidarity with Iranian women and girls and will continue to look for ways to support women globally in exercising their rights freely and safely, online and offline.

    Co-signatories:

    • Australia Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator the Hon Penny Wong;
    • Canada Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Honourable Mélanie Joly, P.C., M.P.;
    • Iceland Minister for Foreign Affairs, Thórdís Kolbrún Reykfjörd Gylfadóttir;
    • New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon Nanaia Mahuta;
    • Republic of Chile Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ms. Antonia Urrejola Noguera;
    • Republic of Korea Minister of Foreign Affairs, Park Jin;
    • Sweden Minister for Foreign Affairs, Tobias Billström;
    • United Kingdom Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, James Cleverly;
    • United States Secretary of State, Antony J. Blinken.
  • PRESS RELEASE : Military families are benefitting from £3,400 of childcare support [December 2022]

    PRESS RELEASE : Military families are benefitting from £3,400 of childcare support [December 2022]

    The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 8 December 2022.

    More than 5,500 children of military personnel are benefitting from wraparound childcare as part of a wider commitment to service families.

    More than 5,500 children of military personnel are now enrolled in the Wraparound Childcare (WAC) scheme, which gives service families funded childcare worth around £3,400.

    The scheme was rolled out across the UK at the start of the autumn term and provides up to 20 hours per week of funded childcare for eligible military parents with children aged 4 to 11 years.

    It follows successful trials at pilot sites around the country over the last two years. With more than 5,500 children enrolled in just three months, the Minister for Defence People, Veterans and Service Families is now urging more military personnel to take up the offer – with 20,000 children across the UK eligible.

    Minister for Defence People, Veterans and Service Families, Dr Andrew Murrison said:

    Our Armed Forces personnel and families continue to make great sacrifices to serve their country, and that is why earlier this year we rolled out wraparound childcare to support both their careers and family life.

    This important step underlines our appreciation of the challenges that serving in the Armed Forces can place on families, and we must continue to support them in any way possible.

    Royal Air Force Corporal Vicki Taylor said:

    Everyone I have spoken to who also benefits from wraparound childcare agrees that it’s a fantastic scheme. For my family it saved us financially, reduced our stress levels, and has given us more quality time with our children.

    The introduction of this scheme is recognition of the unique challenges faced by serving personnel and their families. Among these, the requirement to frequently move home means that sourcing childcare can be even more difficult for service families, particularly for dual-serving families, where both parents are members of the Armed Forces. This scheme provides direct support to these families and is part of the wider package to reward service personnel and their families, as laid out in the Armed Forces Families Strategy.

    The scheme has shown signs of being a great success and there has already been a positive impact on the service families involved. Feedback shows an improvement in family wellbeing, increased contentment with service life for non-serving partners as well as the huge financial savings.

    Alongside WAC the Ministry of Defence is committed to supporting service families and has also introduced flexible working arrangements, expanded offerings to co-habiting couples and extended Help to Buy, giving our armed forces the chance to get a foot on the housing ladder.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Forestry Commission Chief Executive calls for a new mindset in our approach to trees [December 2022]

    PRESS RELEASE : Forestry Commission Chief Executive calls for a new mindset in our approach to trees [December 2022]

    The press release issued by the Forestry Commission on 8 December 2022.

    In a speech at the Confor conference today, Forestry Commission Chief Executive, Richard Stanford, called for a new approach to how we view trees and forestry in England.

    In a major speech at the Confor conference in Westminster today (Thursday 8 December), Forestry Commission Chief Executive, Richard Stanford, called for a new approach to how we view trees and forestry in England.

    He championed the major benefits of tree planting in addressing the urgent climate, biodiversity and economic challenges of the day and called for an acceleration in tree planting rates across the country. He highlighted how we need to adopt a diverse planting mix of both broadleaves and conifers, which will simultaneously improve biodiversity, tackle the climate emergency and provide timber security. He also called for people to rethink “dogma” around conifer trees; too many people view them as a poor choice, overlooking the fact that the UK is the second largest importer of timber and timber products in the world.

    He highlighted how the UK is facing a timber security crisis akin to the food security crisis and back calls for a national timber strategy to boost domestic production and reduce our reliance on imports. 53 million tonnes of wood and wood products are consumed in the UK each year; however, 81% is imported from abroad. Mr Stanford highlighted that stepping up domestic timber production and its use in construction will significantly reduce emissions and lock up carbon in buildings, whilst also presenting valuable opportunities for economic growth, rural jobs and levelling up. At the same time, broadleaf and mixed woodlands are needed to tackle the biodiversity crisis. All types of trees are required for a range of different, and overlapping, outcomes.

    Forestry Commission Chief Executive, Richard Stanford said:

    If we are to achieve Net Zero and improve people’s lives through a connection to the environment, we must grow more trees. If we are to tackle the nature and biodiversity crises, we need to grow more trees.

    We must use more home-grown timber in construction to lock up carbon in our buildings for the long term…we cannot continue importing 81% of our timber. We need a timber strategy to establish how we are going to achieve this, and at the same time give reassurance to our important timber and forestry industries.

    The UK forestry and primary wood processing sectors support 32,000 jobs and contribute £2 billion to the economy every year. Secondary wood processing businesses support a further 60,000 jobs.

    Reflecting on the economic contributions of the forestry and construction sectors, Richard Stanford said:

    The economic benefits provided by forestry and primary wood processing are comparable to those of the dairy products sector and are greater than those provided by the UK fishing fleet.

    We do not grow enough timber for construction in the UK and we import 81% of our requirements. With the removal of Russian and Belarusian timber, there will be a requirement to seek other supplies.

    We should view ‘timber security’ through the same lens as food security and recognise that investing in timber is an investment in growth and levelling up.

    The construction industry in England is responsible for huge levels of emissions; timber is the only way to reduce emissions in construction whilst concurrently locking up carbon for the long term in the timber in buildings.

    Voicing his support for planting well-designed and managed mixed woodlands, he said:

    Well-managed broadleaf woodlands provide habitat for a vast array of flora and fauna. Conifers and mixed woodland also contribute to biodiversity.

    We must end the dogma of native broadleaf good, conifer bad. Well-managed conifer forests with plenty of light and structure can support a wide range of wildlife, including woodland birds, mammals, amphibians, reptiles, plants and fungi. Mature conifers provide roosting holes for bats, nest sites for kites, goshawk and pine martens and seeds for red squirrels, siskins and crossbills. We need all types of woodlands for a range of outcomes and we need diversity in our trees to provide resilience.

    Addressing the challenge of increasing tree planting rates and woodland creation, he said:

    Woodland is the most regulated form of land use in England, odd given the huge number of benefits of trees. No other land use is underpinned by a standard that is backed by government and based on internationally agreed criteria and indicators.

    If we do not plan and deliver woodland expansion now in a few years’ time there is likely to be a scramble to grow more trees. Rushing to grow trees without adhering to the very high standards of today will lead to mistakes.

    There is much talk of ‘emergencies’ and ‘crises’ but I do not, yet, recognise a crisis response or an emergency footing. We can achieve a great deal if we act as though we are facing an emergency. Idealism and purists, while important, need to give way to pragmatism and delivery. Balanced decisions will be required, weighing up all sides of an argument and making an informed decision – informed by science and data. Emergencies and crises need action now, not prevarication and delay. The nation needs to work together to tackle the nature and biodiversity crises and trees provide the most cost-effective, organic and sustainable method of doing so. We need more of all types of trees.

    The speech followed the culmination of National Tree Week – the UK’s largest annual celebration of trees – which marks the beginning of the winter planting season and as the UN Convention on Biological Diversity gets underway. The Government has set out ambitious targets of trebling tree planting rates in England, as part of wider efforts to plant 30,000 hectares per year across the UK by the end of this Parliament. The Forestry Commission is supporting Government ambitions through the implementation of the England Trees Action Plan which sets out the long-term vision for our treescapes.