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  • PRESS RELEASE : Waste packaging company director, Shaobo Qin, pays high price in data fraud [May 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : Waste packaging company director, Shaobo Qin, pays high price in data fraud [May 2025]

    The press release issued by the Environment Agency on 21 May 2025.

    This follows an Environment Agency investigation into fraudulent entry of waste packaging data.

    At Birmingham Crown Court on Friday 16 May 2025, Shaobo Qin, a director of EDU Case Ltd, pleaded guilty to fraud by false representation. He was given a 2 year prison sentence suspended for 18 months.

    Qin, age 42, of Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands, was also ordered to pay a Proceeds of Crime confiscation order of £255,057. He must pay within 2 months or face 3 years in prison.

    He was also disqualified as a director for 4 years and ordered to do 200 hours of unpaid work.

    His company, EDU Case Ltd of Portway Road, Rowley Regis, was fined £200,000. The Environment Agency were also awarded £21,995 in investigation costs.

    The court was told Qin’s company was a plastics and recycling exports enterprise.  The offences were discovered by the Environment Agency towards the end of 2022.

    The company, orchestrated by Qin, was deliberately and systematically entering false data on to the Environment Agency’s National Packaging Waste Database (NPWD) for non-existent waste exports.

    This resulted in Qin receiving a benefit for himself and his company in the sum of approx. £255,000. He was arrested on Wednesday 10 January 2024 where he was interviewed by Environment Agency officers.

    EDU Case were accredited to carry out plastic packaging exports and able to issue “evidence” of that activity in the form of tonnage figures on the database.

    This evidence could be bought by businesses who are obliged to account for their plastic packaging waste under the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations 2007.

    An audit conducted by Environment Agency officers in 2023 and information following that work identified discrepancies between the amount of waste exported and the amount of evidence issued.

    The false entries represented nearly two-thirds of the business’ entire trade in 2022 towards the end of that year.

    As part of that audit, a legal notice was served on Qin and the company in September 2023.

    This notice required the production of their evidence of plastic waste exports.  In response, Qin sent a computer memory stick containing his business’ waste export evidence and a letter explaining a large discrepancy, described as an “overclaim.”

    The letter stated that the company had carried out 1,239 metric tonnes of plastic waste exports in 2022, only 453.60 metric was genuine and that the majority of his trading, 785.40 metric tonnes  was ‘a mistake.’

    In sentencing the judge said this was without doubt deliberate offending and pre-planned. There had been a significant undermining of the regulatory regime.

    He accepted that there had been a guilty plea entered at first opportunity and that money had been put aside to repay the financial benefit made. The company was also fined to mark the seriousness of the offending.

    Sham Singh, Senior Environmental Crime Officer for the Environment Agency, said:

    “This case shows that the Environment Agency will pursue individuals and their enterprises who profit illegally.

    “This was a fraud on a large scale and undermines legitimate business and the investment and economic growth that go with it.

    “We support legitimate businesses and are proactively supporting them by disrupting and stopping the criminal element backed up by the threat of tough enforcement as in this case.

    “If anyone suspects that a company is doing something wrong, please contact the Environment Agency on 0800 80 70 60 or report it anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”

    The Charges

    Shaobo Qin

    Between 1st January 2022 and 31st January 2023 dishonestly and intending thereby to make a gain for himself or another, or to cause loss to another, or to expose another to the risk of loss, made a false representation to the online National Packaging Waste Database which was and which he knew was, or might be, untrue or misleading, namely, that the 785.4 tonnes of plastic waste that he claimed EDU Case UK Ltd had exported over that period, had all actually been exported when it had not, contrary to Sections 1 and 2 of the Fraud Act 2006.

    EDU Case UK Limited (Company No. 08888722)

    Between 1st January  2022 and 31st January 2023 dishonestly and intending thereby to make a gain for himself or another, or to cause loss to another, or to expose another to the risk of loss, made a false representation to the online National Packaging Waste Database which was and which he knew was, or might be, untrue or misleading, namely, that the 785.4 tonnes of plastic waste that EDU Case UK Ltd had exported over that period, had all actually been exported when it had not, contrary to Sections 1 and 2 of the Fraud Act 2006.

    Background Information

    The Packaging Producer Responsibility Regulations were introduced to oblige the producers of waste packaging such as plastic, glass and cardboard (e.g. supermarkets) to contribute towards the financial cost of recycling and the disposal of waste. Any large organisation that meets the criteria for this obligation is required to prove they have made such financial contributions by the purchasing of credits known as Packaging Recovery Notes (PRNs) or Packaging Export Recovery Notes (PERNs) from UK waste reprocessors and waste exporters.

  • PRESS RELEASE : New Chair and members of the Joint Nature Conservation Committee appointed [May 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : New Chair and members of the Joint Nature Conservation Committee appointed [May 2025]

    The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 21 May 2025.

    Dr David Cooper named as new Chair; Professor Tom Meagher reappointed and Professor Julia Jones confirmed as new member.

    Dr David Cooper has been appointed as the Chair of the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC). The appointment was made in conjunction with the devolved governments and is for a three-year term from 1 June 2025 to 31 May 2028.

    Professor Tom Meagher has been reappointed as an independent member of the Committee. Tom’s term will run for four years until 3 April 2029.

    Furthermore, Professor Julia Jones has been appointed as an independent member of the Committee. Julia’s term will run for three years until 31 May 2028.

    The new appointments have been made on merit and in accordance with the Governance Code on Public Appointments.

    As the UK’s statutory advisor on nature, the JNCC provides scientific evidence and advice to the devolved governments of the UK, the UK government, and the UK’s Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies, to help policymakers turn science into action for nature.

    Biographical details

    Dr David Cooper

    • David Cooper is Visiting Fellow at the Oxford Martin School and Honorary Researcher of the Leverhulme Centre for Nature Recovery at the University of Oxford.
    • David has more than 30 years’ experience in international science and policy, including at the Convention on Biological Diversity and the UN Food and Agriculture Organization. As CBD Deputy Executive Secretary and Acting Executive Secretary, he was instrumental in facilitating the development and adoption of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and related agreements.
    • David has contributed to the work of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services among other scientific reports and assessments.
    • He has chaired a number of bodies including the Collaborative Partnership on Sustainable Wildlife Management, the Biodiversity Indicators Partnership, and the Inter-agency liaison group on Invasive Alien Species.

    Professor Tom Meagher

    • Tom Meagher has been a member of the JNCC since April 2021. He is Professor of Plant Biology at the University of St Andrews and served as Director of the St Andrews Global Challenges Forum. He was previously a member of the Defra Science Advisory Council and the Natural Environment Research Council.
    • Tom leads an international and interdisciplinary initiative developing novel remote sensing technology to aid the assessment and conservation of plant biodiversity. He has also worked with the British Council, the British Embassy Lima, and government agencies in Peru to promote the establishment of a national botanic garden and plant biodiversity initiative.
    • He has been an active contributor to the Scottish Government’s environmental and conservation science strategy, following his former role as a Trustee of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh.

    Julia Jones

    • Julia Jones is Professor in Conservation Science at Bangor University and currently holds the Prince Bernhard Chair of International Nature Conservation at Utrecht University.
    • She is a trustee of WWF-UK and is a member of the British Ecological Society and the Society for Conservation Biology. She serves on the advisory board of the Sounds Right initiative, a collaboration between the Museum for the United Nations and the music industry to allow nature to collect royalties from her sounds.
    • She has previously served as the Director of the Low Carbon Energy and Environment Research Network Wales, and on the Welsh committee of the RSPB.
  • PRESS RELEASE : Environment Agency secures over £526K in Proceeds of Crime case linked to Edvars Stancik [May 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : Environment Agency secures over £526K in Proceeds of Crime case linked to Edvars Stancik [May 2025]

    The press release issued by the Environment Agency on 21 May 2025.

    An illegal enterprise in catalytic converters has brought confiscation orders for £526,215.04, at a Proceeds of Crime Award hearing.

    The case led by the Environment Agency was concluded at Lincoln Crown Court on Friday 16 May 2025.

    The ruling was made against Long Sutton-based Platinum Group Metals Recycling Ltd and director Edvars Stancik.

    Recorder John Hardy KC ruled that Stancik, 30, had made a benefit of £4,312,925.70 from his criminal activity while his company made a benefit of £4,344,827.60.

    The court heard assets of £495,280.88 were available from the company made up of cash in a bank account and seized catalytic converters.

    Stancik’s only asset was £30,934.16 from equity in a house he sold before his trial, the court was told.

    Recorder Hardy ordered those amounts to be confiscated and ruled that £100,111.65 should be paid to the Environment Agency to cover costs.

    At a previous hearing (4 September 2024), the company and Stancik were found guilty of running an illegal waste site at Long Sutton.

    The court heard that, between December 2019 and September 2021, Stancik, 30, acted as a director of the company and traded in catalytic convertors on a colossal scale.

    A jury heard that neither Stancik nor his company had obtained an environmental permit before buying and selling thousands of catalytic converters.

    Stancik stored the devices in containers in Long Sutton and were stored in an irresponsible manner giving rise to health risks.

    A warrant for the arrest of Stancik, who is believed to be living in Lithuania, has been issued.  He has been given 3 months to pay or face 5 years in jail.

    The Environment Agency continues to investigate ways of retrieving further proceeds.

    Peter Stark, Environment Agency Enforcement Team Leader, said:

    “Waste criminals should be aware how seriously we take their offending, including the benefit they obtain from their illegal activities.

    “Offenders won’t get away with concealing information or their assets, and due to the EA’s hard work, justice has been served.

    “Waste crime can be a blight on the environment, communities and to legitimate businesses.

    “We will continue to work with professional partners like Lincolnshire Police in this case to prevent, disrupt, investigate, and stop waste offending.

    “If anyone suspects that a company or its directors are doing something wrong, contact our 24/7 hotline on 0800 80 70 60 or report it anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”

    The charges:

    Platinum Group Metals Recycling Ltd.

    • Operating a regulated facility, namely a waste operation, otherwise than in accordance with an environmental permit, contrary to Regulation 12(1)(a) and 38(1)(a) of the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016. (Relating to the site at St Thomas Court, Long Sutton).
    • Operating a regulated facility, namely a waste operation, otherwise than in accordance with an environmental permit, contrary to Regulation 12(1)(a) and 38(1)(a) of the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016. (Relating to the site at Lime Walk, Long Sutton)
    • Keeping controlled waste contrary to section 33(1)(c) and (6) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.) (Relating to the site at St Thomas Court, Long Sutton)
    • Keeping controlled waste contrary to section 33(1)(c) and (6) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. (Relating to the site at Lime Walk, Long Sutton)

    Edvars Stancik

    • Causing a company to operate a regulated facility otherwise in accordance with an environmental permit contrary to Regulation 12(1)(a) and 38(1)(a) by virtue of Regulation 41(1) and 41(3) of the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016. (Relating to the site at St Thomas Court, Long Sutton)
    • Causing a company to operate a regulated facility otherwise in accordance with an environmental permit contrary to Regulation 12(1)(a) and 38(1)(a) by virtue of Regulation 41(1) and 41(3) of the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016. (Relating to the site at Lime Walk, Long Sutton)
    • Causing a company to commit an offence, contrary to section 33(1)(c), 33(6) by virtue of s157(1) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. (Relating to the site at St Thomas Court, Long Sutton)
    • Causing a company to commit an offence, contrary to section 33(1)(c), 33(6) by virtue of s157(1) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. (Relating to the site at Lime Walk, Long Sutton)

    Background Information

    Catalytic converters are components in car exhausts.  They contain small amounts of precious metals contained within a metal case making them valuable.

    However, catalytic converters also contain carcinogenic fibres which, if ingested, can cause serious and irreversible lung disease.

    The dangerous fibres can attach to shoes and clothing and be transported from one place to another.

    It is therefore extremely important that catalytic converters are handled only under the strict conditions of an environmental permit, supervised by the Environment Agency.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Record pension scheme funding means up to £160 billion ready to boost growth [May 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : Record pension scheme funding means up to £160 billion ready to boost growth [May 2025]

    The press release issued by the Department for Work and Pensions on 21 May 2025.

    The reforms will support the Government’s Plan for Change by boosting economic growth and securing the financial future of millions of UK savers.

    • Funding levels in the Defined Benefit (DB) pension sector have hit a record high, with three in four now in surplus and deficit payments down by over £10 billion a year
    • Increased resilience follows years of businesses creating security for members through building a larger surplus.
    • New freedoms to safely release surplus funding will unlock investments and benefit savers as part of the Government’s Plan for Change.

    Working people, pension scheme members and businesses are set to benefit from record highs in pension scheme funding.

    The majority of DB schemes are now running at a surplus which means the value of their assets exceed that of the promised pension benefits due to members.

    Thanks to the forthcoming Pension Schemes Bill – trustees and employers will soon be able to safely release part of this surplus to boost investment and benefit scheme members.

    Funding levels for DB pension schemes, sometimes known as “Final Salary” pensions, are current in their strongest ever financial position with the number of DB schemes sufficiently financed tripling since 2010.

    Minister for Pensions, Torsten Bell, said:

    The record funding levels for Defined Benefit pension schemes is excellent news for Britain’s employers and workers.

    Fast falling deficit payments offer employers a cashflow boost of over £10 billion a year, that can support higher wages and investment.

    And growing scheme surpluses can also be used productively. Currently some trustees are held back from sharing the benefits of a surplus, but our plans will allow all schemes to safely do so, delivering greater investment across firms and benefits for savers.

    In 2019, just 600 Defined Benefit schemes were financed sufficiently, meaning businesses could meet the costs associated with their schemes without dipping into operational budgets – by 2024 that figure had tripled to over 1,800.

    Because of this robust financial position, the additional payments businesses have had to pay to plug pension deficits has fallen from £16 billion in 2010 to under £5 billion in 2024. This is delivering an immediate cashflow benefit to firms and should support higher levels of investment and wages.

    The funding position of schemes in deficit has improved significantly, from a collective deficit of £500bn in 2019 to a deficit of just £140bn in 2024. Schemes running at a surplus have seen their collective surplus now rise to more than £160bn. Currently, many schemes cannot access their surplus – but the forthcoming Pension Schemes Bill will allow Pension trustees and the sponsoring employers to safely release some surplus to invest back into their businesses and unlock more money for pension scheme members. The upcoming changes will focus on member protection, and trustees will continue to be required to fulfil their duties towards scheme beneficiaries.

    These changes form part of a package of reforms in the upcoming Pension Schemes Bill that will secure the financial future of millions of UK savers and drive long-term economic prosperity.

    Additional Information

  • PRESS RELEASE : 78th World Health Assembly – UK National Statement [May 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : 78th World Health Assembly – UK National Statement [May 2025]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 21 May 2025.

    The UK’s National Statement for the WHO’s World Health Assembly. Delivered by the UK’s Permanent Representative to the WTO and UN, Simon Manley.

    Vice President,

    The UK is committed to supporting WHO and its critical leadership role across global health. Only the WHO has the mandate to set global standards in health.

    Even amidst our current challenges, there is a clear opportunity for the WHO to emerge more focused, more agile and more effective. We therefore support the WHO’s vital work on its Transformation Agenda and are pleased to endorse the increase in Assessed Contributions.

    Let me thank the DG and WHO staff for their critical work. And let me pay a particular tribute to the staff on the increasingly dangerous front line of health emergencies, from Kyiv to Khartoum, and from Kivu to Khan Younis.

    This week’s adoption of the Pandemic Agreement is a truly historic milestone for which we have all worked so hard. We must remain just as committed to tackling Anti-Microbial Resistance, which is already directly responsible for over a million deaths annually.

    Chair,

    The quality of WHO’s scientific and technical expertise is fundamental to its effectiveness. We are proud in the UK to host 48 WHO Collaborating Centres. We call for Taiwan to have meaningful access to all relevant technical WHO meetings, and for it to be allowed to observe the WHA as it did from 2009 to 2016.

    Vice President,

    Stronger health systems are at the heart of delivering health services for all and we can – and must – learn from one another. In the UK, we are on the cusp of launching our 10-year health strategy.

    We are committed to tackling non-communicable diseases, including the challenge of obesity, and creating a healthier, fairer food environment. We look forward to working together at the High-Level Meeting on non-communicable diseases.

    Vice-President,

    In the UK, we are proud to work as partners of the WHO and with our fellow Member States. Working together, we can, must, and will drive better health across the globe.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Board of Trade meet to help UK exporters take advantage of new trade deals [May 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : Board of Trade meet to help UK exporters take advantage of new trade deals [May 2025]

    The press release issued by the Department for Business and Trade on 21 May 2025.

    Revamped Board of Trade meet for the first time off the back of trio of trade agreements with India, US and EU.

    • New Board of Trade to meet for the first time to boost exports and grow the economy
    • Comes hot off the heels of three trade agreements in three weeks with US, India and the EU all aimed at supercharging UK exporters
    • Delivering on Plan for Change to fire up small business exporters and grow the economy

    As part of the Government’s plan to boost small business exporters, the newly revamped Board of Trade will meet for the first time today, just weeks after the UK signed two landmark deals with India and the US and a new EU agreement which will boost exports of food and drinks.

    Led by Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds, the Board is poised to become a cornerstone of the Government’s Growth Mission, Plan for Change and the wider modern Industrial Strategy to support British businesses to thrive and grow.

    The Board meet fresh off the back of the third major trade agreement in as many weeks, ensuring the UK is facing out into the world again to boost business, support workers and grow the economy.

    This week’s deal with the EU means a new SPS agreement will make it easier for food and drink to exported by reducing the red tape that placed burdens on businesses and led to lengthy lorry queues at the border.

    The new deal with India is expected to be a shot in the arm to the UK’s exports of whiskies and gin, cosmetics, medical devices, advanced machinery and lamb and is expected to increase bilateral trade by £25.5 billion.

    Trading with India will be quicker, cheaper, and easier thanks to improved customs processes and by promoting digital systems, which will be particularly important for SMEs who may have otherwise been unable to break into the Indian market.

    Meanwhile the groundbreaking US deal is expected to help grow on the existing £196 billion in annual exports from the UK, with tariffs slashed on the likes of cars and steel.

    Bringing together a powerhouse of business expertise to drive economic growth – the Board are tasked with supercharging UK exports, delivering targeted support for small businesses across the nation and helping firms utilise the exporting opportunities from the UK’s FTAs.

    The high-profile advisory body includes business leaders like Apprentice star Mike Soutar, BT Group Chief Executive Allison Kirkby, and Small Business Britain founder Michelle Ovens CBE, who will serve as ambassadors and advocates for British businesses.

    The meeting comes on the heels of historic trade breakthroughs with both India and the United States, which are set to deliver billions in economic benefits for British businesses and workers.

    Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said:

    “Today marks the beginning of a new chapter for British trade. This Board isn’t just a talking shop – it’s a hands-on, dynamic force that will help businesses of every size access global markets and seize the opportunities created by our landmark trade deals.

    “We’ve already secured the best deal India has ever agreed to, and our US agreement has slashed tariffs for our steel and automotive sectors, protecting hundreds of thousands of British jobs.

    “As part of our Plan for Change, we’re focusing that same determination on helping our small businesses – the beating heart of our economy – to trade more and grow more, supporting good jobs and higher wages across all parts of the UK.”

    The Board will advise on the delivery of the forthcoming Trade Strategy and Small Business Strategy, ensuring both align with the Government’s commitment to nationwide economic growth that raises living standards in every region and nation.

    It comes after the UK and India agreed a landmark trade deal worth £4.8 billion to the UK economy and £2.2 billion to wages every year and slashed tariffs across the board including on whisky, cosmetics, and medical devices.

    It comes also hot on the heels of the historic deal signed with the US, protecting jobs in the automotive, steel, aluminium, pharmaceutical and aerospace sectors – sectors that employ over 320,000 people across the UK.

    In addition, an estimated 260,000 jobs are supported by the auto industry in the wider economy and British farmers now have a major opportunity to sell their high-quality beef to a market of over 300 million people, helping farmers grow their businesses.

    The agreement laid the groundwork for greater trade in the future as we continue talks for a wider deal which will look to increase digital trade, better access for our world-leading services industries and improve supply chains.

    The first meeting of the Board comes as part of a wider series of measures to boost the number of high-growth SMEs across the country.

    The Government has already announced that it will launch a major consultation to tackle the scourge of late payments, while the Budget protected a million small firms from National Insurance increases, extended business rates relief and announced a new Business Growth Service to make it easier and quicker for SMEs to access and benefit from the right government advice and support for their business.

    Board of Trade Advisers

    Omar Ali, Board of Trade Adviser and Global Financial Services Leader at EY, said:

    “Global trade is fiercely competitive, and UK businesses that sell products and services to the world – especially small, entrepreneurial firms – must be supported as they contribute to the international market. Whether it’s UK financial services firms enabling better access to finance or improving digital infrastructure that protects trade, in today’s challenging economic climate, policies and action that enhance productivity and remove friction for SMEs are essential to boost exports and drive growth.”

    Catherine McGuinness CBE, a leading voice for financial and professional business services, said:

    “This is an auspicious time to meet, following the India and US trade agreements and the EU reset. I look forward to working with the Secretary of State and my fellow advisers to encourage the government to use trade levers to drive growth and help businesses to prosper across the UK.”

    Michelle Ovens CBE, Founder, Small Business Britain, said:

    “I am excited to work with the Board of Trade as it accelerates its vital work to boost exports and grow the economy. It is encouraging to see new deals struck in recent weeks and a real boost to energy and ambition. Almost all businesses in the UK are small businesses, and they have a major impact on the economy, employing millions and creating and supporting communities. I am really honoured to contribute to this mission and look forward to working together with all the Board Advisors and entrepreneurs themselves to show the world what the UK’s small business community has to offer.”

    Business reaction to the recent trade agreements:

    Bill Winters CBE, Group Chief Executive of Standard Chartered and Co-Chair of the UK-India Financial Partnership, said:

    “The UK-India Free Trade Agreement is a significant achievement. It will create new opportunities for UK and Indian businesses, enable greater access to one of the world’s largest and most dynamic markets, and drive growth and innovation across the UK-India corridor. We welcome this strong commitment to partnership and prosperity.”

    Shevaun Haviland, Director General of the BCC, said:

    “The US deal was met with a huge sigh of relief by many British businesses.  The reduction in the 25% tariffs on most of our automotive exports and the removal of levies on steel and aluminium were the biggest wins.

    “These sectors had been left reeling as jobs, investment and sales were all cut or put on hold. The framework agreement will give them some much needed certainty. They will be keen to see it quickly enacted so they can swiftly re-establish orders and supply chains.

    “With the India trade deal and the UK-EU Summit agreement also being recently agreed, the government should be congratulated on its recent achievements, but our economy still needs more. Global trading conditions remain precarious. Government must continue to pursue a bold trade agenda and help UK companies seize the opportunities in the fast-growing Indo-Pacific region.”

    On the UK-India FTA, Karen Betts, Chief Executive, The Food and Drink Federation, said:

    “We’re delighted the government has finalised its new Free Trade Agreement with India, which is testament to the hard work of the negotiating team. This is very welcome news for UK food and drink manufacturers, particularly for soft drinks, chocolates, biscuits, crispbreads and crackers, which will now all benefit from tariff-free access to one of the fastest growing markets in the world. The UK exported nearly £300m worth of food and drink to India in 2024, so this FTA represents a significant opportunity for British food and soft drinks.

    “The FTA will also provide UK manufacturers with greater access to ingredients produced in India, strengthening the supply chain resilience and competitiveness for our sector. We look forward to working with government to ensure that the full benefits of the agreement are realised across a wide range of UK food and drink manufacturers.”

    On the US deal, Karen Betts, Chief Executive, The Food and Drink Federation (FDF), said:

    “This is very positive news for the UK economy, and to be welcomed. There is obviously still the question of the 10% tariff that continues to apply to food and drink exports.  We hope that this deal creates the space and momentum for continued discussions about removing those tariffs too.

    “The US is UK food and drink’s third biggest export market, with £2.7bn worth of goods exported there in 2024, many of which are produced by small and medium sized businesses. Government can make a real difference here by providing greater practical guidance and support to help more food and drink businesses find new customers abroad.”

  • PRESS RELEASE : UK attends Kimberley Process Intersessional hosted by the United Arab Emirates [May 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : UK attends Kimberley Process Intersessional hosted by the United Arab Emirates [May 2025]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 21 May 2025.

    The United Kingdom reaffirms commitment to the Kimberley Process and support for its tripartite framework following the 2025 Kimberley Process Intersessional.

    The United Kingdom thanks the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for hosting the Kimberley Process Intersessional from 12 to 16 May.

    A strength of the Kimberley Process is its tripartite nature, which brings together leading expert voices from governments, local communities and industry.

    We reaffirm our commitment to listening to and championing the voice of the Civil Society Coalition in the Kimberley Process and look forward to their contributions to the ongoing review and reform cycle.

    We are proud to be a founding member of the Kimberley Process and continue to support the Initiative’s efforts to address the evolving nature of conflicts.

    We look forward in particular to continuing collaboration with all Kimberley Process Participants and Observers on broadening the definition of “conflict diamonds”. This will ensure that the Kimberley Process remains relevant to emerging challenges.

    The Kimberley Process was designed to ensure that diamonds are not used to finance armed conflict. We regret that to date, the Process has not addressed the implications of Russia’s use of rough diamond revenue to fund their illegal war in Ukraine and will continue to press for this to be on its agenda.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Change of His Majesty’s Ambassador to Egypt – Mark Bryson-Richardson [May 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : Change of His Majesty’s Ambassador to Egypt – Mark Bryson-Richardson [May 2025]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 21 May 2025.

    Mr Mark Bryson-Richardson MBE has been appointed His Majesty’s Ambassador to the Arab Republic of Egypt in succession to Mr Gareth Bayley OBE who will be transferring to another Diplomatic Service appointment. Mr Bryson-Richardson will take up his appointment during August 2025.

    Curriculum Vitae

    Full name: Mark Bryson-Richardson

    Year Role
    2023 to 2025 FCDO, Foreign Secretary’s Representative for Humanitarian Affairs in the Occupied Palestinian Territories
    2023 to 2025 Baghdad, His Majesty’s Ambassador
    2019 to 2020 DFID, Director Middle East, North Africa and Eastern Europe
    2014 to 2019 Stabilisation Unit, Director
    2013 to 2014 Baghdad, Deputy Head of Mission
    2013 Mogadishu, Deputy Head of Mission
    2011 to 2012 FCO, Head of Libya Group and Middle East Operations
    2008 to 2010 Kabul, Political Counsellor
    2006 to 2008 FCO, Head of Middle East Peace Process Team
    2006 to 2008 Khartoum, Deputy Head of Mission
    2000 to 2002 FCO, Cairo, Full Time Arabic language training
    1999 to 2000 FCO, European Union Department (Internal)
    1999 Joined FCO
  • PRESS RELEASE : Cash boost for coastal towns hosting clean energy infrastructure [May 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : Cash boost for coastal towns hosting clean energy infrastructure [May 2025]

    The press release issued by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero on 21 May 2025.

    Communities to receive funding for hosting clean energy infrastructure as part of plans to make Britain a clean energy superpower.

    • Britain’s coastal and rural regions to receive a cash boost for hosting the infrastructure needed to make Britain a clean energy superpower
    • communities hosting offshore wind and solar projects in line to receive money from energy developers, to be spent directly on local priorities and services such as community centres, sports facilities, and employment programmes
    • cash boost to regional and local economic growth as part of the Plan for Change

    Britain’s coastal and rural communities will receive a cash boost for new community facilities, better transport links and investment in apprenticeships, under government plans as part of the Plan for Change mission to make Britain a clean energy superpower.

    The proposals will require community benefits for families, businesses and local community groups who live near offshore wind, onshore wind and solar farms.

    They would enshrine in law a requirement for renewable developers to pay into community benefit funds, ensuring infrastructure projects contribute to residents’ lives, the local economy and growth as part of the government’s Plan for Change.

    This could include new grassroots football pitches in Welsh seaside towns, initiatives to get young people into employment on the Yorkshire coast to train the next generation of engineers, and funding for transport links and schools in the Scottish highlands.

    Coastal and rural areas will play a significant role in hosting the clean energy projects needed to get energy bills down for good and deliver energy security with homegrown power that Britain controls.

    In recognition, the funding will channel community investment into where it has real impact – with families in the area deciding where the money should be spent. The plans also set out how communities could own a stake in renewable energy infrastructure through shared ownership, resulting in profits being reinvested back into the community and the British people having a stake in the clean energy transition.

    The level of payments to communities will range depending on the size of infrastructure projects, from tens of thousands of pounds a year for small developments and up to millions of pounds per year for large-scale developments.

    Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said:

    If you live near an offshore wind or solar farm, your local community should benefit from supporting this nationally critical mission.

    The Prime Minister’s mission to become a clean energy superpower is creating good well-paid jobs in these areas, building the infrastructure we need to get energy bills down for working people.

    Our Plan for Change will revitalise Britain’s coastal and rural communities creating community wealth, better facilities and energy security for the country.

    This will benefit every household in the country by getting the UK off fossil fuel dependency and protecting billpayers from price shocks with clean homegrown power.

    The announcement will build on measures introduced in the Planning and Infrastructure Bill where households within 500 metres of new or upgraded electricity transmission infrastructure will get electricity bill discounts of up to £2,500 over 10 years.

    The proposals seek input on which types of energy infrastructure should be required to pay into community benefit funds, which may include renewable and low-carbon electricity  generation, and energy storage.

    Community benefits are an established part of development for energy infrastructure in many countries, including Ireland, France, Germany, Italy and Spain.

    James Robottom, Head of Policy at RenewableUK, said:

    Renewable energy developers have a long history of providing a wide range of benefits for local communities, such as community benefit funds which support local initiatives, electricity discounts, employment initiatives and environmental projects.

    We welcome the government’s consultation and will engage with it to ensure that the benefits received by local communities hosting energy infrastructure are proportionate and continue to meet their needs. Renewable energy developers are good neighbours and remain committed to providing benefits at an appropriate level to enable local communities to thrive all over the country.

    This builds on Monday’s announcement to support coastal communities with the £360 million Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund, the new SPS (sanitary and phytosanitary) agreement that will slash red tape for UK seafood exporters and businesses, and a new twelve-year fisheries access agreement with the EU securing long-term certainty for British fishing fleets.

    The Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund will see investment in new technology and equipment to modernise Britain’s fishing fleet, deliver new training and skills to back the next generation of fishers and promote the seafood sector to export our high-quality produce across the world.

  • NEWS STORY : West Nile virus in UK Mosquitoes Discovered for the First Time

    NEWS STORY : West Nile virus in UK Mosquitoes Discovered for the First Time

    STORY

    West Nile virus has been detected in UK mosquitoes for the very first time, health authorities have confirmed. Fragments of West Nile virus (WNV) genetic material were found in two pools of Aedes vexans mosquitoes collected from wetlands on the River Idle near Gamston, Nottinghamshire, during July 2023, as part of the Vector-Borne RADAR surveillance programme run by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA). Although this marks the first evidence of WNV in British mosquitoes, officials stress there is currently “no evidence to suggest ongoing circulation of the virus in birds or mosquitoes in the UK” and the risk to the general public remains “very low”.

    West Nile virus belongs to the Flaviviridae family—a group that also includes dengue and yellow fever viruses—and typically circulates between birds and mosquito vectors. In rare instances, infected mosquitoes can transmit the virus to humans or horses, causing anything from mild, flu-like symptoms to severe neurological diseases such as meningitis or encephalitis. Most human infections are asymptomatic, but around one in five people may experience fever, headaches or skin rash, while fewer than 1% develop neuroinvasive disease, which can carry a mortality rate of up to 17%. The Vector-Borne RADAR project pooled mosquitoes into groups of ten for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing. Of the 200 pools tested from the Nottinghamshire site, only two returned positive for WNV fragments, with the remaining 198 testing negative. This rigorous approach is designed to provide “early warning of potential threats” and enable the swift enhancement of disease surveillance and control activities, ensuring prompt testing for any suspected cases of encephalitis of unknown origin.

    Dr Meera Chand, UKHSA Deputy Director for travel health, zoonoses, emerging infections, respiratory and tuberculosis, reassured the public “While this is the first detection of West Nile virus in mosquitoes in the UK so far, it is not unexpected as the virus is already widespread in Europe. The risk to the general public is currently assessed as very low”. Health professionals have been advised to consider WNV in unexplained encephalitis cases and to send samples to the UKHSA’s Rare and Imported Pathogens Laboratory as a precautionary measure.

    Experts warn that rising temperatures and climate change are extending the range of mosquito-borne diseases northwards. Dr Arran Folly, lead arbovirologist on the RADAR project at APHA, noted that “in the wake of climate change, mosquito-borne diseases are expanding to new areas. Only through continued surveillance can we assess the risk to animal and public health”. As the UK experiences warmer summers, non-native mosquito species may find the climate increasingly hospitable, underscoring the need for ongoing monitoring. To date, there have been no locally acquired human or equine cases of West Nile virus in the UK, seven travel-associated human cases have been recorded since 2000, and the main risk to UK residents remains travel to endemic regions overseas. Meanwhile, members of the public are encouraged to reduce standing water around homes, use insect repellent, and wear loose-fitting clothing to minimise mosquito bites.