Blog

PRESS RELEASE : Lord Ahmad strengthens the UK-Iraq partnership [March 2023]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 3 March 2023.

Lord Tariq Ahmad, Minister of State for the Middle East, visited Iraq, including the Kurdistan region, from 28 February to 2 March 2023.

Following his visit to Iraq, including the Kurdistan Region, Lord Tariq Ahmad, welcomed the UK and Iraq’s commitment to working together on shared challenges such as climate change, security, human rights and freedom of religion and belief.

During his visit he met President Mr Abdul Latif Rashid, Prime Minister Mohammad Shia Al Sudani, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Fuad Hussein, and National Security Advisor Qasim al-Araji.

In Erbil, he met KRI President Nechirvan Barzani, Prime Minister Masrour Barzani, as well as Minister of Interior, Mr Rebar Ahmed; Deputy Prime Minister, Mr Qubad Talabani and KDP President, Mr Masoud Barzani.

Discussions focused on shared challenges such as climate change, security, and human rights; deepening our historic relationship on trade and education; supporting priority areas of economic and digital reform in Iraq; and working together on regional and international issues of common interest, including the global implications of the Russia-Ukraine war.

The shared collective commitment to freedom of religion or belief was central to Lord Ahmad’s trip. He visited some of Iraq’s most significant religious sites and met with a wide range of representatives of Iraq’s religious and faith communities, including Ayatollah Hussein Al-Sadr, in Baghdad and representatives of the Yazidi community at the Lalish Temple.

He also bestowed an MBE on the Reverend Cannon Faez Jerjes of St George’s Anglican Church. Lord Ahmed’s discussions focussed on Iraq’s rich religious and ethnic diversity and the importance of interfaith dialogue in Iraq.

In meetings with senior politicians, civil society and religious leaders Lord Ahmad discussed the human rights situation in Iraq, especially issues facing survivors of Da’esh atrocities. Lord Ahmad welcomed the passing of the Yazidi survivors’ law in 2021 and reiterated the UK’s continued commitment to help the Iraqi government fully implement the law.

During his visit to Duhok, he also discussed the situation for Internally Displaced Persons and the importance of supporting their return and safe integration back into Iraqi society.

During his visit to Erbil, Lord Ahmad met with the President, Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government, Foreign Minister and Minister of Interior as well as the President of the Kurdistan Democratic Party and the President of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan. He visited the Department of Information Technology, where he learned about the support the UK is providing to help the Kurdistan Region of Iraq deliver digital reform.

Speaking at the end of his visit, Lord Ahmad said:

I am delighted to have returned to Iraq and the Kurdistan region to see how the relationship between our 2 countries is continuing to flourish. I am especially pleased that we are working together to address shared challenges such as climate change, human rights and security.

I was honoured to visit some of Iraq’s impressive and important religious sites and to meet religious leaders. This underlined the richness of Iraq’s religious and ethnic diversity, the need to protect freedom of religion or belief and the importance of interfaith dialogue.

I was glad to see that progress has been made with the passage of the Yazidi Survivors Law, but from my conversations with survivors it was clear they need continued support and full access to justice. The UK is committed to helping Iraq fully implement the Yazidi Survivors Law.

I was impressed with what I saw at the Kurdistan Regional Government’s state of the art Department of Information Technology I’m delighted the UK is able to support ambitious reform programmes in Iraq and the Kurdistan region. Meeting with business leaders and inspiring young professionals underlined that developing new economic expertise and encouraging bilateral investment and trade is of vital importance.

05/03/2023
PRESS RELEASE : Government steps up counter-fraud skills and capability [March 2023]

The press release issued by the Cabinet Office on 2 March 2023.

Ambitious new plans for stepping up the government’s fight against fraud have been unveiled today, as the Public Sector Fraud Authority unveil their new strategy for the Counter Fraud Profession.

Ambitious new plans for stepping up the government’s fight against fraud have been unveiled today (Thursday 2 March).

The Counter Fraud Profession Strategy outlines how the new Public Sector Fraud Authority (PSFA) will increase the skills, standards and capability of staff within government and beyond working on protecting public services from fraud.

As well as investing in counter fraud investigation skills, the cornerstone of the profession, the new strategy increases the focus on skills in fraud prevention and identification.

The government is also upskilling those that lead public sector counter fraud work and ensuring the 7,000 counter fraud professionals working across the public sector continue to develop their knowledge and skills. This will include 250 fraud risk experts trained by the end of 2023.

Cabinet Office Minister Baroness Neville-Rolfe said:

The challenge we face from fraud is stark. That is why I am proud to announce the launch of the updated Government Counter Fraud Profession Strategy, which will continue to enhance the capability and expertise of those fighting hard to protect taxpayers’ money.

Apprenticeships are also a key focus of the new strategy, with the PSFA launching in 2024 a new Apprenticeship in Counter Fraud. This will run alongside the existing Fraud Investigation Apprenticeship.

The new strategy has been developed and will be delivered in collaboration with government, law enforcement and industry counter fraud and learning experts. It will create a diverse and skilled pipeline of counter fraud talent to prevent fraud against the public sector.

The Public Sector Fraud Authority is partnering with experts including from Cifas, University of Coventry and the Australia Commonwealth Fraud Prevention Centre to deliver the strategy.

It is estimated the cost of fraud and error against the public sector is at least £33 billion per year. Although often hidden, fraud is the most pervasive crime in the UK and must be rooted out.

Mark Cheeseman, Interim CEO of the PSFA and Head of the Government Counter Fraud Profession said:

Fraudsters are a committed, capable and evolving adversary and the public sector is just as affected by this hidden crime as other sectors.

The launch of the new Government Counter Fraud Profession (GCFP) strategy sets out how the government is investing in building and modernising its fraud fighting capability.

The GCFP was launched in 2018 to develop a common structure for counter fraud capability across government and for those leading the fight against the crime.

At its inception the Profession had 3,000 members across 17 organisations including HM Revenue and Customs, the Department for Work and Pensions, and the Serious Fraud Office.

Since then it has grown exponentially and it now has around 7,000 members across 48 organisations, including policing and local government.

05/03/2023
PRESS RELEASE : Local audit bolstered with new Memorandum of Understanding [March 2023]
The press release issued by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities on 2 March 2023.

A new Memorandum of Understanding outlines the responsibilities of the Financial Reporting Council as shadow system leader for local audit.

The local audit system in England is set to be strengthened as the new responsibilities of the Financial Reporting Council (FRC) are given the green light today.

Local audit is the process whereby a local authority’s accounts are independently verified, so taxpayers can be assured the information provided is reliable, true and fair. By setting new responsibilities for the FRC in this area, the government aims to build a more resilient system that operates effectively so local taxpayers get the transparency and accountability they need.

As outlined in a Memorandum of Understanding published jointly by DLUHC and the FRC today, system leadership will enable a more coherent and quicker response to challenges across the local audit system which covers local government, NHS bodies, fire and rescue authorities, local police bodies, internal drainage boards and national park authorities.

This marks a significant milestone in the delivery of reforms committed to by Government following the Redmond Review, which found that the local audit system was too fragmented to operate effectively. A key recommendation of the review was that a system leader should be created, which should also report on local audit.

Neil Harris, Director of Local Audit at the FRC, will lead a new local audit department at the organisation with five key responsibilities:
- leading a coherent and coordinated policy response to challenges arising across the local audit system;
- facilitating stronger governance across the local audit framework;
- leading work to improve competition, bolster capability and market supply;
- overseeing the entire quality framework for local audit;
- and reporting on the local audit system.
DLUHC has acted as interim system leader since July 2021 through the local audit liaison committee. The Financial Reporting Council will take on its new role later in the year.

Lee Rowley, Minister for Local Government, said:

The Government remains strongly committed to building a stronger more resilient local audit system, properly equipped to deliver the transparency and accountability which local taxpayers deserve.

Sir Jon Thompson, CEO of the Financial Reporting Council, said:

We welcome this new role for the FRC and are committed to working with DLUHC and the rest of the local audit system to address the challenges facing the sector.

About Neil Harris, Director of Local Audit at the Financial Reporting Council:

Neil has over 20 years’ experience in local public audit. Before joining FRC, he was a Key Audit Partner for EY with responsibility for a range of local public sector audits across local government, central government, police and the fire sector. Neil contributed to EY’s response to a range of consultations on the future of financial reporting and external audit in the public sector. Before EY, Neil was a District Auditor for the Audit Commission where he spent 14 years. Neil is passionate about securing a sustainable future for high quality financial reporting, governance and audit in the public sector.
05/03/2023
PRESS RELEASE : Continued disruptions to the Lachin Corridor – UK statement to the OSCE [March 2023]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 2 March 2023.

Ambassador Neil Bush expresses concern regarding disruptions to the Lachin Corridor and takes note of the judgement by the International Court of Justice.

Thank you Chair.

The UK Government remains deeply concerned by the continued disruption to the Lachin Corridor, particularly the flow of goods and people.

This issue remains near the top of the international agenda. We have discussed the disruption here in Vienna, multiple times, and at the United Nations Security Council. That this has now been taken to the International Court of Justice, and judgment passed, reinforces the need for urgent action to be taken. The current disruption to the Lachin Corridor is detrimental to efforts to secure peace and stability.

The UK Government has taken note of all the judgements by the Court, and urges immediate action be taken to restore the flow of goods and people into Nagorno-Karabakh. The parties must engage in substantive negotiations, without preconditions, to secure a sustainable and peaceful settlement to the conflict and to resolve all outstanding tensions.

05/03/2023
PRESS RELEASE : OSCE report on climate and security – UK statement [March 2023]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 2 March 2023.

UK Ambassador Neil Bush welcomes Secretary General Helga Schmid’s proposals for taking climate and security work further at the OSCE.

Thank you, Secretary-General. I would like to share a few brief reactions to your report.

Firstly, we share your widely-held view that climate change is one of the defining challenges of our time, and the urgency with which it needs to be addressed is only becoming more pressing. The security implications of climate change reach right across the OSCE’s comprehensive concept of security. From shrinking glaciers, to increasing aridity, wildfires, droughts and floods, the OSCE region is vulnerable to the impacts of climate change; tackling these risks will require dialogue and transboundary co-operation which in normal times should be intrinsic to this organization.

We thank you and the OCEEA for progressing OSCE’s work on climate change throughout a challenging year, and for your consideration of what more the OSCE could do to advance co-operation in addressing climate-related risks. We welcome your proposals for taking this work further in future.

First and foremost, we share your concern with the devastating impacts that Russia’s brutal war of aggression against Ukraine continues to have on people, environment and climate action; and we welcome the Chatham House analysis commissioned on the impact of the war. We support your proposal to learn from and act on the war’s consequences, including how vital climate action can become a victim of war. We support your proposal to look more closely at the risks that tensions and conflicts pose to climate action and climate security, and promote the development of complementary approaches between climate and conflict that recognise the underlying drivers of fragility for climate-vulnerable populations.

We support your idea to bring a climate and security perspective into the climate policy-making, including in strategies and planning for climate finance. And finally, we praise the particular attention the OSCE’s activity pays to the needs of women and their active involvement in work on climate change and security.

Thank you, Secretary-General, for the report and I look forward to the deliberations it has started, including at the rescheduled high-level meeting on climate change.

Thank you.

04/03/2023
PRESS RELEASE : Russia’s lies are not working – UK statement to the OSCE [March 2023]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 2 March 2023.

Ambassador Neil Bush says that 141 countries have rejected Russia’s disinformation and stand with Ukraine to demand a comprehensive, just and lasting peace.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I’d also like to pass on our condolences for the tragic railway accident in Greece yesterday. At the Reinforced Permanent Council last Friday, almost 50 Foreign Ministers spoke in support of Ukraine. And in condemnation of Russia. Over one year ago, Russia amassed approximately 190,000 troops on Ukraine’s borders and in illegally annexed Crimea. We had called for de-escalation, dialogue and respect for the fundamental principles of the OSCE and the UN Charter. Russia had insisted that it had no intention to invade – and it maintained that lie right up to the day before it invaded.

Mr Chair, this pattern is all too familiar with Russia. Nine years ago, Russia launched its military operation to illegally seize 10,000 square miles of Ukrainian territory by force, in clear violation of the fundamental principles of the OSCE and international law. The UK did not then, and will not ever, recognise Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea.

This week I will focus my statement on the Resolution adopted at the UN General Assembly on 23 February – and what it tells us about the failure of Russian disinformation. 141 countries united behind the Resolution, showing solidarity with Ukraine. And only seven countries, including Russia, voted against it.

Mr Chair, 141 countries – from Djibouti to Honduras – called for “a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine, consistent with the UN Charter, including the principles of sovereign equality and territorial integrity of States”. Principles which are also enshrined in the Helsinki Final Act. Principles which Russia has so egregiously violated.

141 countries – from Lesotho to Sao Tome & Principe – reaffirmed their support for the “sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders, extending to its territorial waters”. Principles which are also enshrined in the Helsinki Final Act. Principles – again – which Russia has so egregiously violated.

141 countries – from South Sudan to Thailand – demanded that Russia “completely and unconditionally withdraw all of its military forces” from Ukraine. A demand that we have been making in this Council for over a year. A demand that Russia continues to ignore at tremendous cost: countless innocent lives lost. Millions of civilians displaced. Hundreds of hospitals and thousands of schools destroyed. Generations of Ukrainians scarred by abuses, trauma and forced deportation. And across the world, increased food insecurity and energy prices are affecting every country, impacting the most vulnerable. The terrible consequences of Russia’s actions over the past year will be felt for years to come.

So what does this tell us about Russia’s lies? As firmly established in this Council, Russia’s campaign of disinformation began well before its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.  Indeed, Russia’s lies, dishonesty and deceit are recorded in the OSCE’s archives for generations to come. It cannot be unwritten and it will not be forgotten.

Russia continues to peddle falsehoods – but to what end? Russia’s lies are not working. Let me say it again – 141 countries rejected Russia’s disinformation. Countries across the world – from Argentina to Zambia – sided with Ukraine and its right to defend itself. They sided with Ukraine’s demands for a comprehensive, just and lasting peace. A peace which guarantees Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and which ends Russia’s constant aggression. And at last Friday’s Reinforced Permanent Council, most participating States spoke along similar lines.

As my Foreign Secretary said peace, stability and the adherence to international law remains in the interests of all OSCE members – and of every State across the world and every person within it. This is why the United Kingdom, along with the vast majority of countries of the world, will continue to support Ukraine. For as long as it takes. Thank you.

04/03/2023
PRESS RELEASE : Six arrested in operation targeting illegal working in care industry [March 2023]

The press release issued by the Home Office on 2 March 2023.

Arrests made by the Home Office during an intelligence-led, pre-dawn immigration operation.

Six arrests have been made as part of a Home Office investigation into illegal working in the care sector.

Home Office Immigration Enforcement teams executed six warrants at properties on Alma Road, Southampton in a pre-dawn visit on Wednesday 1 March.

Immigration officers arrested six men and women of Botswanan and Zimbabwean origin on suspicion of immigration offences.

None of the suspects had permission to work in the UK. Four of those arrested are believed to be working within the care industry.

The suspects, aged between 30 and 55, were questioned. Three suspects have since been detained pending removal from the UK, while one agreed to leave the UK under the Voluntary Return Service (VRS). The VRS supports people in the UK without status, or those claiming asylum, who would like to return home voluntarily.

One person was detained by Immigration Enforcement for document offences. Another person was detained but later released on immigration bail.

The visit took place under Operation Brycem, a Home Office led investigation into illegal working in the care sector.

South Central Immigration Enforcement Assistant Director, Matt Wilkinson said:

These arrests have prevented those without employment rights in the UK from working with vulnerable people, and ensured that people abusing our immigration laws are brought to justice.

The success of this operation shows that we will stop at nothing to protect the vulnerable within our communities and take firm action against those who are profiting from exploitation.

All employers in the UK have a responsibility to prevent illegal working. Employers can be jailed for five years and pay an unlimited fine if they are found guilty of employing someone they knew or had ‘reasonable cause to believe’ did not have the right to work in the UK.

Medical professionals can apply for a Health and Care Worker visa to allow them to work in the UK legally with the NHS, an NHS supplier or in adult social care.

Our Nationality and Borders Act will ensure the system is fair to those in genuine need and firm on those who seek to abuse it.

04/03/2023
PRESS RELEASE : Secretary of State for Northern Ireland announces the appointment of new Non-Executive Board Member [March 2023]
The press release issued by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on 2 March 2023.

The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, the Right Honourable Chris Heaton-Harris MP, has announced the appointment of Fiona Ross as a Non-Executive Board Member at the Northern Ireland Office.

Ms Ross will take up her appointment with effect from 1 March 2023.

Biography

Fiona Ross is chair of the Córas Iompair Éireann (CIÉ), Ireland’s Public Transport Provider. She served on the Board of the Irish Health Service Executive (HSE) for two years before being appointed in August 2021 to chair the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board. She also holds non-executive positions with Rail, the Scottish Government, and private enterprises including SphereInvest and Smith & Williamson Europe and acts as independent advisor to the Mayor of Bristol City Council.

Terms of Appointment
- The position is part-time for a term of three years.
- The position attracts a fixed remuneration of £10,000 a year for a time commitment of approximately 15-20 days a year, including supporting the work of the department’s Audit, Risk & Assurance Committee.
- The position is not pensionable.
Regulation

This appointment is not regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments.

Political Activity

Non-Executive Board members are appointed on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process. However, in accordance with the original Nolan recommendations, there is a requirement for appointees’ political activity in defined categories to be made public.

Fiona Ross has declared that she has not been politically active in the last five years.
04/03/2023
Johnny Mercer – 2023 Op-ed on the Launch of the Veterans Welfare Review

The Op-ed, originally published in the Daily Express, by Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Johnny Mercer and republished by the Government as a press release on 2 March 2023.

Veterans deserve as much support off the battlefield as they had on it. While the vast majority of our military personnel go on to live happy, healthy and successful lives, for those who struggle after leaving service, getting the right help – in employment, housing and health – can be an absolute lifeline.

It might be an infantry soldier leaving the Army after ten years, and looking for advice on what to do next. Or a sailor who left the Navy two decades ago, and who has been coping fine – until the death of a loved one brings back painful memories from the past. Whatever the circumstances, our veterans need to be able to access support that is human, sensitive and that works for them.

So today I and the Minister for Defence People, Veterans and Service Families are jointly launching a review into welfare provision for veterans that come under the umbrella of Veterans UK.

We’re doing this for two reasons.

First, because we have a moral duty to give our former service personnel the best help we can. They risk their lives for this country. The least we can do is make sure the support they’re given meets the needs of today. Yet for too long veterans services have suffered from under-investment, and been over-reliant on paper records and outdated tech. This is 2023. We live in a digital age – and it’s time our services reflected that. That’s why I have personally pledged to finally deliver the Veterans Digital ID card this year, to make it easier for ex-service personnel to access services across the country.

The second reason is a by-product of the fact that under this government, veterans’ issues are finally getting the political priority they deserve. In 2019 we launched the Office for Veterans’ Affairs, which drives government support for former service personnel from the heart of government.

We’ve stepped up in areas such as health, with the creation of Op Courage, the veterans mental health and wellbeing service in England. In the coming weeks we will launch a new chronic pain service, which will create one simple clear path for veterans who have injuries from their time in the military to access care for long-term pain. And this year we will end veteran homelessness through Op Fortitude.

As our support expands, we have to look carefully again at the efficiency and effectiveness of what we’re currently providing under the banner of Veterans UK. Is accessing help too confusing? Are we doing too much in one area and not enough elsewhere? How can service provision be improved? These are key questions this review will answer.

That way, we can make good on our promise to make this country the best place in the world to be a veteran.

04/03/2023
PRESS RELEASE : Royal Navy ship seizes weapons transiting in the Gulf [March 2023]

The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 2 March 2023.

UK and US worked together to detect and intercept smuggling vessel.

Royal Navy ship HMS Lancaster seized weapons from a vessel travelling south from Iran whilst on a routine maritime security patrol on 23 February 2023. A United States fixed-wing Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) platform detected a suspected smuggling vessel travelling at high speed in international waters in the Gulf of Oman during the hours of darkness.

The vessel was also tracked by HMS Lancaster’s Wildcat helicopter. The smugglers initially ignored hails from the Royal Navy and attempted to navigate to Iranian territorial waters but were apprehended before they could do so. In accordance with international law, a team of Royal Marines stopped and boarded the vessel. They discovered suspicious packages which were recovered to HMS Lancaster.

Initial inspection suggests that the packages include anti-tank guided missiles (Iranian versions of the Russian 9M133 Kornet, known in Iran as ‘Dehlavieh’), and medium-range ballistic missile components. The United Nations has been informed about the seizure and invited to conduct its own inspection of the materiel, in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions 2216 and 2231.

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said:

This seizure by HMS Lancaster and the permanent presence of the Royal Navy in the Gulf region supports our commitment to uphold international law and tackle activity that threatens peace and security around the world.

Commander Paul Irving, Commanding Officer of HMS Lancaster said:

This boarding was a fantastic team effort, and I’m really proud of the way the whole Ship’s Company worked together to achieve such a brilliant result. The Wildcat helicopter was able to locate and stop the skiff after being cued on by a UAS operated by our American partners.

Our Royal Marine Boarding Team then intercepted the skiff and carried out a search which revealed the weapons. Royal Navy EOD specialists checked the weapons to ensure that they were safe to bring them back onboard Lancaster.

The operation is a clear demonstration of successful UK and US cooperation in maintaining maritime security, combining assets from both countries to uphold peace and stability in the region. The UK’s maritime security operations support the collective actions of partners in the region to disrupt malign and illicit activity at sea.

This interdiction follows two seizures in the region by the Royal Navy in early 2022 of Iranian advanced conventional weapons. These seizures included components of missiles used by the Houthis to strike the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. The UK recently announced that it had presented evidence from these previous seizures of Iranian violations of UNSCRs 2216 and 2231 to the United Nations. These resolutions concern weapons transfers to the Houthis and controls on Iranian proliferation of missile technology respectively.

The UK retains a permanent presence in the Middle East. After four years of continuous service in the region, HMS Montrose handed over to HMS Lancaster in late 2022. These Type 23 frigates include a Royal Marine boarding party and Wildcat helicopter. A Royal Fleet Auxiliary ship and three Mine Counter Measure Vessels are also based in the region, operating under the control of the UK Maritime Component Command.

04/03/2023