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PRESS RELEASE : UK statement on the situation in Niger [July 2023]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 30 July 2023.

UK statement in support of the Fifty First Extraordinary Summit on the Socio-Political Situation in the Republic of Niger

The UK condemns in the strongest possible terms attempts to undermine democracy, peace and stability in Niger. The Communique agreed at the Fifty First Extraordinary Summit on the Socio-Political Situation in the Republic of Niger, held by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on 30 July sets out a strong and clear response to this infringement of the democratic rights of the people of Niger. We continue to stand by ECOWAS and their efforts to ensure a return to democracy in Niger.

Minister for Development and Africa said:

“The UK wholly supports the immediate political and economic measures announced today by ECOWAS and will suspend long-term development assistance to Niger.

“We will however continue to provide critical humanitarian assistance to the people of Niger.

“The UK is a committed partner of Niger’s democratically elected government and calls for President Bazoum to be immediately reinstated to restore constitutional order.”

31/07/2023
PRESS RELEASE : Prime Minister to highlight Scotland’s place in securing Britain’s long-term energy security [July 2023]

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 31 July 2023.

The Prime Minister will today (Monday 31 July) confirm that Scotland will continue to be at the forefront of UK Government plans to strengthen the UK’s long-term energy security.

Prime Minister visits North East Scotland, highlighting the central role it will play in defending the UK against disrupted global energy supplies.

There he will also meet with key figures in the energy sector and will visit critical infrastructure projects which will help grow the economy, reach Net Zero, and deliver the next generation of highly skilled jobs for young people in the region.

The Prime Minister will today (Monday 31 July) confirm that Scotland will continue to be at the forefront of UK Government plans to strengthen the UK’s long-term energy security.

During a visit to the North East of Scotland, the Prime Minister will highlight the crucial role that the region will play in enhancing and delivering on the UK Government’s commitment to reaching Net Zero in 2050 and enhancing long term energy security for generations to come.

The UK is leading international efforts by setting ambitious net zero commitments, ramping up the transition to clean energy, reducing total greenhouse gas emissions by 32% since 2010, whilst bringing down energy bills and supporting households.

It is expected that the UK Government and energy authorities will go further than before in announcing continued decisive action to:

Boost the capability of the North Sea industry to transition towards Net Zero;
Strengthen the foundations of the UK’s future energy mix;
And create the next generation of highly skilled green jobs.
In addition, it is expected that the Prime Minister will meet with key energy industry figures and companies at the forefront of delivering the UK’s energy needs, as well as the next generation of highly skilled people who are working on the projects of tomorrow.

The package will also underpin that Scotland remains a cornerstone of government plans for an energy-independent UK, as well demonstrating what can be achieved due to the strength and scale of UK collective action, in defending the public against global energy supplies which have been disrupted and weaponised by Putin.

31/07/2023
NEWS FROM 100 YEARS AGO : 1 August 1923

1 AUGUST 1923

The House of Commons unanimously adopted a motion by Stanley Baldwin, the Prime Minister, for the reinstatement of the suspended Glasgow Labour members.

Arthur Evans, the National Liberal MP for East Leicester, wrote to David Lloyd George, the former Prime Minister, stating his intention to join the Unionist party. Lloyd George replied saying that he hoped Evans would allow his constituents the chance to have a by-election to express their opinion on the move.

Heavy loss of life was reported following a rail crash in Germany. It happened as a night express train from Hamburg was run in two sections due to a heavy passenger load, with the two sections crashing killing 47 people.

31/07/2023
NEWS FROM 100 YEARS AGO : 30 July 1923

30 JULY 1923

The German Government issued a proclamation appealing to the people to maintain calm and order in face of the present economic crisis in the country. They also announced a taxation scheme which placed the burden of financing passive resistance in the Ruhr on the taxpayers of unoccupied Germany.

An explosion took place at Maltby Main Colliery in Yorkshire, entombing 27 miners. One dead body was recovered, but the authorities said that nothing could be done to reach the others.

Eight miners were killed at an explosion at Gartshore No 3 Colliery near Kilsyth.

Hull dockers decided by a large majority to return to work and end their industrial dispute.

31/07/2023
NEWS FROM 100 YEARS AGO : 28 July 1923

28 JULY 1923

Stanley Baldwin, the Prime Minister, said at a meeting at the Scottish Conservative club that they must fight against socialism saying that it could be countenanced by deliberate, vigorous and intelligent propaganda. He said that the greatest bulwark against socialism was the loyal and united Unionist party.

The Unionist candidate, Charles Henry Wilson, won the by-election in Leeds Central which had been caused by the death of the current Unionist MP Arthur Wellesley Willey. He secured 13,085 votes, with Labour’s Henry Slesser securing 11,359 votes and the Liberal candidate Gilbert Stone securing 3,026 votes.

The second reading of the Education (Scotland) Bill was agreed to in the House of Commons.

31/07/2023
PRESS RELEASE : British High Commissioner-designate, Jane Marriott CMG OBE, “delighted” to arrive in Islamabad [July 2023]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 30 July 2023.

British High Commissioner-designate to Pakistan, Jane Marriott CMG OBE, has arrived in Islamabad to take up her new posting at British High Commission Islamabad.

Jane arrives at an important time for UK-Pakistan relations, with a significant uplift in UK aid spend in Pakistan focussed on strengthening climate resilience and reducing humanitarian risks. Last month the UK also launched the new Developing Countries Trading Scheme, which will help Pakistan to boost exports by reducing tariffs and simplifying trade terms.

Arriving in Islamabad, Jane said:

I am delighted to be here in Pakistan, a country that deeply matters to, and has a long-standing relationship with, the UK. With over 1.6 million people of Pakistani heritage in the UK making up every part of British society, we have a special and ever-growing bond.

Our friendship stems from our shared history and values, deep people-to-people ties, growing trade links and a renewed development partnership. I will be working hard to continue to expand these.

With the climate emergency a growing threat to health and livelihoods across the world, I have a particular interest in ensuring the bilateral relationship between our countries is a green, sustainable one.

Jane joined the UK Government’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office in 2001. She was previously posted as British High Commissioner to Kenya from September 2019 to June 2023, and has served as British Ambassador to Yemen. She has also been posted to the USA, Iraq, Iran and Afghanistan as well as heading the UK’s Joint International Counter Terrorism Unit.

She travelled from London Heathrow using British Airways, the only airline to offer direct UK flights between the UK and Pakistan.

30/07/2023
PRESS RELEASE : Government launches call for evidence on parking charge limits to protect drivers [July 2023]
The press release issued by the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities on 30 July 2023.

The Government has taken a key step in making sure that drivers’ interests are protected when using private car parks.
- Changes to parking charges and debt recovery fees are being considered under measures to better regulate the private parking industry
- Government to explore reducing parking charges from £100 limit
- The Government has today launched an eight-week call for evidence to make private parking fairer for all
The Government has taken a key step in making sure that drivers’ interests are protected when using private car parks by launching an eight-week call for evidence on the Private Parking Code of Practice, focusing on the impact of changes to charges and debt recovery fees.

Options under consideration include reducing the current £100 charge limit to £50 which would halve parking charges for millions of motorists, as well as potentially banning debt recovery fees altogether, which are currently as much as £70, or retaining existing limits.

The call for evidence on charges and debt recovery paves the way for the development of the final Private Parking Code of Practice, which when introduced aims to ensure fewer drivers are penalised unfairly and tackle issues like confusing and misleading signs, and lack of grace periods. It will ensure a simpler, fairer and more transparent industry, and introduce a fairer appeals process.

Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove said:

Millions of people across the country use private car parks and we want this to continue without them having the fear of being slapped with unfair and costly charges.

Our new Private Parking Code of Practice will put this right, delivering a much fairer system for drivers and industry – and today’s call for evidence is an important part of shaping this policy. I encourage everyone to come forward and have their say.

The draft Impact Assessment considers the following five proposals and how they will impact the sector:
- Retain £100 charge limit with a 40% discount for paying within 14 days, with the debt recovery fees cap at £70.
- Charges set at two levels depending on seriousness of offence with £50/70 for England and Wales (outside London), £80/£130 in London and £80/100 for Scotland, with a 50% discount for paying within 14 days. Debt recovery fees would be reduced to 30% of charge levels.
- Same as the second option but debt recovery fees would be banned.
- Charges set at two levels depending on seriousness of offence at £70/£100, with the discount for paying within 14 days remaining at 40%. Debt recovery fees would be reduced to 30% of charge levels.
- Same as the fourth option but debt recovery fees would be banned.
The call for evidence is focused on understanding the implications of the measures proposed to address issues in the private parking industry, and to inform decisions on parking charges and debt recovery fees.

The measures will be a major boost to millions of motorists in England, Scotland and Wales and will help to draw people back to their local high streets.

A draft Impact Assessment has been published alongside the call for evidence, with contributions open until 24 September 2023. A further consultation is then planned on the options for parking charges and debt recovery fees.

Minister for Levelling Up Dehenna Davison said:

We all know how annoying parking can be – from driving around endlessly to being met with complicated signs and impossible terms and conditions.

It’s needlessly confusing, and that’s why we’re pushing ahead with the Private Parking Code of Practice to create a fairer system.

Once introduced, the Private Parking Code of Practice – required by the Parking (Code of Practice) Act 2019 – will allow drivers to more easily challenge an unfair parking charge through a new independent appeals service, and all private parking operators will also have to follow the Code.
30/07/2023
PRESS RELEASE : Home Secretary cracks down on criminals receiving citizenship [July 2023]

The press release issued by the Home Office on 30 July 2023.

Toughened-up good character rules will mean the criminality threshold for British citizenship is in line with the government’s Immigration Rules.

Tougher rules will make sure serious criminals cannot claim British citizenship regardless of when or where the crime took place.

The government crackdown will come into effect tomorrow (31 July), with the strengthened rules applying to new applications from anyone who has received at least a 12-month prison sentence. This re-affirms the government’s commitment to protecting UK borders and ensuring no one with a criminal record can abuse the British immigration and nationality system.

The updated rules are stricter and more specific on so-called “good character” requirements, which are a key condition to be granted British citizenship, and look at whether an individual has observed UK law as well as shown respect for the rights and freedoms of British citizens. The requirements include factors such as criminal convictions, immigration offending and serious behaviour like war crimes, terrorism or genocide.

The changes remove the previous rules where some criminals could be granted British citizenship after a prescribed number of years had passed since the end of their sentence – regardless of the type of crime or where it was committed.

Home Secretary Suella Braverman said:

British citizenship is a privilege. Those who commit crimes shouldn’t be able to enjoy the breadth of rights citizenship brings, including holding a British passport, voting and accessing free medical care from the NHS.

I am cracking down on abuse of the UK’s immigration and nationality system, by introducing a tougher threshold so that serious criminals cannot gain British citizenship. This is the fair and right thing to do for our country.

There will be some exceptions to the new rules, which will be assessed on a case-by-case basis, for example if someone has mitigating circumstances that support an exceptional grant. Cases like this could include someone who committed a minor offence a long time ago but has made sufficient, positive changes that they are now considered to be of good character.

30/07/2023
PRESS RELEASE : Energy security push to boost economic growth [July 2023]
The press release issued by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero on 30 July 2023.

Government to announce measures putting energy security at the heart of economic growth.
Prime Minister and Energy Security Secretary to lead efforts this week to strengthen UK’s energy independence

They will meet industry leaders from oil, gas and renewable sectors – to drive forward measures that safeguard national energy security and reduce reliance on hostile states

Builds on years of critical support for North Sea oil and gas, the UK’s world-leading track record on renewables and our international leadership against Putin’s invasion of Ukraine

The Government will this week set out how it’s delivering on its energy security strategy plans to grow the economy and create jobs across the United Kingdom.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will set out how the UK’s world-leading energy industry expertise will create jobs and grow the economy and ensure tyrants like Putin can never again use energy as a weapon to blackmail the UK.

As part of the Government’s efforts to strengthen the UK’s energy independence, he will announce investment plans to put powering up Britain from Britain first – making the most of our country’s resources and reducing reliance on imported fossil fuels, by backing our oil and gas industry, investing in the latest clean technologies and isolating Putin’s regime from global energy markets.

The Prime Minister and Energy Security Secretary Grant Shapps will meet energy industry leaders throughout the week – including oil and gas, renewables and nuclear businesses – to ensure the UK is capitalising on opportunities to bolster our energy infrastructure now, and boosting our long-term energy independence, security and prosperity in the years to come.

The week will also include support for British innovation in new industries such as carbon capture and storage, and for cutting edge renewables across the country.

Energy Security Secretary Grant Shapps said:

Energy security is national security. Since Putin’s illegal invasion of Ukraine the Government has driven Russia from our energy market, paid around half of a typical family’s energy bill and grown our economy by driving forward major energy projects.

This week we will go even further. Forging ahead with critical measures to power up Britain from Britain – including supporting our invaluable oil and gas industry, making the most of our home-grown energy sources and backing British innovation in renewables.

And across Government we will champion Britain’s businesses to deliver on the Prime Minister’s priority of growing the economy – helping them to create new jobs and even whole new industries across the UK.

This week’s announcements will build on the country’s world-leading track record which includes:

Supporting North Sea oil and gas, which each year contributes £17billion to the UK economy

Investing billions of pounds in renewable energy – leading to the UK having the world’s four largest operational wind farms off its shores;

Cutting emissions by 48 per cent between 1990 and 2021, while growing the economy by 65 per cent over the same period;

Having 41.5 per cent of the UK’s electricity come from renewable sources in 2022 – up from 6.7 per cent in 2010; and

Leading the world in the response to Putin’s illegal invasion of Ukraine and driving Russia out of our energy market for good – enabling the UK to go over a year without Russian oil or gas.
30/07/2023
PRESS RELEASE : Rare butterfly finds home at military training area in Scotland [July 2023]
The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 29 July 2023.

Rare species of blue butterfly has been sighted as a result of the restoration of habitats at military training area in Angus, Scotland.
Rare species of blue butterfly has been sighted as a result of the restoration of habitats at military training area.

Conservation project at Barry Buddon Training Area in Angus, Scotland, is proving successful.

Demonstrating MoD’s commitment to supporting nature recovery across the Defence estate.

A project to restore habitats for the rare Small Blue butterfly at Barry Buddon Training Area has seen success this summer, with the elusive species spotted flying on site.

The butterfly is a priority species on the Scottish Biodiversity List, and the sighting of the butterfly at Barry Buddon follows years of conservation efforts by Defence Infrastructure Organisation ecologists and industry partner, Landmarc, to restore habitats for the species in the area.

A pair of the Small Blue butterflies were identified on the military training area during a visit hosted by DIO’s ecology team and a representative from Species on the Edge – a conservation programme focused on reversing the decline of vulnerable coastal species in Scotland – to survey the project’s progress.

Through planting the butterfly’s sole food source, the plant Kidney Vetch (Anthyllis vulneraria), the habitat restoration efforts have created a feeding corridor for the Small Blue across the training area. With support from DIO ecologists, Landmarc teams have established Kidney Vetch along road and track verges to restore connectivity between breeding colonies of the Small Blue and boost the butterfly’s populations within Barry Buddon training area and the surrounding local region.

The sighting of the Small Blue butterfly at Barry Buddon Training Area this summer comes just in time for The Big Butterfly Count, a UK-wide initiative led by the Butterfly Conservation charity and aimed at helping to assess the health of our environment by counting the amount and type of butterflies that can be seen across the country.

Minister of State for Defence, Baroness Goldie, said:

The presence of the Small Blue butterfly at Barry Buddon Training Area is wonderful news and demonstrates our commitment to maintaining and improving biodiversity on our estates.

The work of DIO and Landmarc, supported by the Butterfly Conservation charity, shows how we can effectively conduct training for our Armed Forces whilst taking care of our environment and delivering on the Government’s biodiversity commitments.’

I strongly support work being done to minimise our impact on the environment and optimise environmental potential whilst keeping our nation safe.

The work has been funded by the DIO Conservation Stewardship Fund and contributes to a wider biodiversity initiative in the Angus region to restore populations of the Small Blue, which have been in decline in the UK since the 1950s.

The project team at Barry Buddon has received support from the Butterfly Conservation charity, which has helped monitor the Small Blue population on the training area, along with sharing advice and information on the conservation of the butterfly and its habitats.

Lt Col Alan Grant, DIO Commander of the UK Defence Training Estate Scotland and Northern Ireland said:

MOD land is home to some of the most unique and naturally diverse landscapes in the UK, and our Scottish estate is no exception. The primary use of the land is to enable our military to train safely, but we are equally committed to supporting nature recovery and balancing the conservation of vital species and habitats with military training requirements.

It is extremely encouraging to witness first-hand the impact that the habitat restoration work for the Small Blue butterfly is having at Barry Buddon. The project is playing a key role in helping to enhance biodiversity, not just on our training estate, but across the wider Angus region, and I look forward to seeing its continued success.

Comprising 930 hectares of coastal plain on the Tay Estuary between Carnoustie and Monifieth, Barry Buddon is an active military training area, and the work has been carried out in balance with military training requirements.

Because of its scenery and wildlife value, Barry Buddon is an ideal location for enjoying coastal walks and wildlife watching. However, members of the public are asked to access the land only when and where it is safe to do so due to the dangers of live military training.

The MoD supports the delivery of the government’s sustainability objectives through the Climate Change and Sustainability Strategic Approach. The work being done across the MoD estate ensures that it is resilient and adaptable for responding to future risks and addresses the implications for defence capabilities, whilst respecting and minimising the impacts on the environment, availability of resources and changes in the climatic and geographical arena.
30/07/2023