Blog

NEWS STORY : Jeremy Kyle Revealed to Have Told Steve Dymond to “Grow a Pair of Balls”

STORY

It was revealed today at Winchester Coroner’s Court that Jeremy Kyle, the controversial presenter of the show which took his name, told guest Steve Dymond to “grow a pair of balls”. Dymond committed suicide shortly after the show and in response ITV permanently scrapped the show after reviewing evidence of the broadcast. Kyle also admitted that he said on the show that “he wouldn’t trust [Dymond] with a chocolate button”, but said that he said this as he wanted there to be a chance that Dymond “had a chance of being together” with his former partner. Kyle rejected serious allegations of any bullying linked to Dymond’s death, saying “from the moment Steve Dymond came out, I called him ‘mate’, I called him ‘pal’”. Kyle claimed that he relied on the support of the production team and Dymond’s GP that his appearance on the show would be appropriate.

September 5, 2024
Kate Dearden – 2024 Maiden Speech on the Economy, Welfare and Public Services

The maiden speech made by Kate Dearden, the Labour MP for Halifax, in the House of Commons on 22 July 2024.

Mr Deputy Speaker, thank you for allowing me to make my first contribution to this House. I thank the hon. Member for Meriden and Solihull East (Saqib Bhatti) for his contribution to the debate.

Today’s debate is a crucial one for how we rebuild our economy in a way that works for all. I am delighted to be joining my many, many excellent new Labour colleagues in making their brilliant maiden speeches. I am also delighted to follow the incredible Holly Lynch. [Hon. Members: “Hear, hear.”] Holly dedicated her talent and energy to supporting her constituents. She was a casework champion who still found time to push for protections for our emergency service workers and for global causes, such as Fairtrade. Holly’s commitment was second to none, and I will do my best to follow in her footsteps.

In succeeding Holly, I am proud to take my place in one of Parliament’s great traditions: the Labour women of Halifax. Since the election of Shirley Summerskill in 1964, there have only been four years where Halifax has not been represented by a Labour woman. I am lucky to have the support of brilliant women, from the Labour Women’s Network to trade union colleagues and my late teacher Elaine Barker who set me on the road to this House. I am standing on the shoulders of my sisters, and I will not let them down.

Halifax is a town bursting with history. It was a centre of the wool trade and textile manufacturing, with the Piece Hall the most beautiful and well-known testament to our heritage, but there is far more to the history of Halifax than that. We have a magnificent minster, the imposing Wainhouse Tower, and Shibden Hall, home of lesbian diarist Anne Lister. Halifax’s industrial heritage has meant a close connection to socialist movements. It was a stronghold for Chartists, a centre of trade union activism and the birthplace of Halifax building society, and it has a legacy of co-operative movements. As a trade unionist and now a Labour and Co-operative Member of Parliament, it is a history I am proud to celebrate, and celebrating our history has become a big part of Halifax’s future.

The Piece Hall is now one of the UK’s best music venues. This summer it is hosting Idles, Tom Jones and the Ministry of Sound, and I will leave it to hon. Members to guess who I would prefer to see. We have reimagined the beating industrial heart of Halifax at Dean Clough mill as a centre for arts, culture, food and shopping. That, combined with the beautiful nature of the Calder valley, has seen Halifax transforming into Haliwood. Many in this Chamber will have seen “Happy Valley”, but there is also “Gentleman Jack” and “Last Tango in Halifax”, and we even hosted Marvel for its “Secret Invasion”. As a Member of Parliament for Halifax, I will lobby for any future editions of “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” to come and celebrate the home of toffee, Rolos and Quality Street.

There are so many other things that make Halifax a unique and special town, from our fabulous independent department store Harveys—where I bought today’s lovely dress—to Eureka! the museum where I and every other former schoolkid in the north of England went on school trips, and, of course, the famous Shay, home to Halifax Town and Halifax Panthers.

I must also mention some of the challenges that my town still faces. Like most of the ex-industrial UK, we have faced decades of neglect and under-investment. Halifax endures significant deprivation, with above-average levels of unemployment and child poverty. Access to housing is a problem, especially for young people, and the availability of GPs came up time and time again on the doorstep. The people of Halifax have struggled for too long with the cost of living crisis, low wages and poor public services. That has been the story of my town and of our country.

As anyone who knows Yorkshire will guess, the people of Halifax have done much to help each other. Halifax is the home of Andy’s Man Club, which many Members will know from its essential work to support men’s mental health. I met its volunteers as well as those of Healthy Minds, which is another great charity helping tackle mental illness. Noah’s Ark debt centre offers crucial financial support, and the Holy Nativity church in Mixenden is one of several organisations running a food bank and a pay-what-you-can café. Daisy Chain café provides a haven for the elderly to meet and socialise, and St Augustine’s Centre gives much needed support to refugees.

Those brilliant community initiatives have done their best to help those who have been struggling in recent years, and they have achieved much. However, we know that the buck stops with us and that we must address the issues facing our nation and prove that things can get better. These issues, when not addressed, lead to suffering, despair and anger. We on the Labour Benches can celebrate our success at the election, but a victory for our party is only ever a means to an end. Our goal now is to bring about the change that we promised.

I am proud to be delivering my maiden speech in this debate, where we set the agenda for what we will do to improve the lives of everyone across the country. Part of this is close to my own heart: the new deal for working people. In my previous role at the brilliant Community trade union, I was proud to be part of drafting those aims alongside trade union colleagues. The agenda on extending workers’ rights, including for those who are self-employed or part of the gig economy, is one that I want to champion over the next five years.

I would like to end with a few thank yous. First, I thank all the people I have mentioned so far, who make Halifax the wonderful town that it is, for everything they do. Secondly, to the incredible activists of Halifax—the Labour team in our town should be the envy of constituency Labour parties nationwide—I could not be more grateful. As every Member in this House knows, we are here because of those around us—the family, friends and colleagues who support us—so I want to thank my wonderful friends, my mum, my dad, my sister, and my partner Brad. Finally, I thank the people of Halifax for trusting me. I will fight every day to achieve everything that I can for them and reward the faith that they have shown in me.

September 5, 2024
Saqib Bhatti – 2024 Speech on the Economy, Welfare and Public Services

The speech made by Saqib Bhatti, the Conservative MP for Meriden and Solihull East, in the House of Commons on 22 July 2024.

I start by wishing His Majesty the very best of health on behalf of myself and my constituents. As we welcome many new Members to the House, His Majesty sets a clear standard for public service that we can all hope to emulate. I have had the privilege of listening to a number of maiden speeches from across the House—all fantastic, all unique. I am sure all new Members will have received countless pieces of advice, so I will just say this: none of us, new or returning Members, should ever forget what a privilege it is to serve in this House and in this Parliament, the mother of all Parliaments.

We on the Conservative Benches have much to be proud of in the legacy of the last 14 years. Just last week we have seen inflation remain at the Bank of England target rate of 2%. We created more than 800 jobs a day for the last 14 years. It was under the Conservative Government that, in 2023, the UK became the third most valuable tech economy in the world, worth $1 trillion. We also boast more billion-pound companies than France, Germany and Sweden combined. As has been repeatedly mentioned, we have the fastest-growing economy in the G7.

I want to address the notion that the Government are trying to push, where they talk down the economy, paving the way for tax rises. It clearly does not stack up. If the Chancellor insists on pushing this alternative narrative, as we have heard today, some questions need answering, because surely all those promises made during the election cannot have been made by the Chancellor, or the shadow Chancellor as she was then, flying blind, especially when the OBR provides the transparency that she now denies she had.

Throughout the campaign, we heard about how the Government’s policies were fully funded. If the Chancellor did not use the OBR forecasts, what was she using to make those promises in the first place? I do not think anyone is fooled by this narrative or these tactics. Most importantly, if they are going to raise taxes, which will they raise? They need to come clean about that, because the British people deserve the truth, not whatever the Government are trying to peddle to justify their tax and spend policies. The Government can be assured that the Opposition will do our duty and hold this Government to account.

I want to address a number of things in the King’s Speech. I have to say I was astonished by the lack of respect in the King’s Speech to rural communities. A lot of my communities in my rural area felt incredibly disrespected, and it was incredibly disappointing. I am also disappointed and deeply concerned by the Government’s focus on building on the green belt. We have some of the most precious green belt land in Meriden and Solihull East, not least the Meriden gap, which is a hugely important throughway for migrating wildlife. It is not clear how the Government will protect the Meriden gap.

In fact, the only thing that has been clear in the early days of this Government is that they are willing to set aside local community opinions, and anyone who challenges that will be accused of being a nimby. My villages in Balsall Common, Hampton in Arden, Marston Green, Knowle, Dorridge, Chadwick End and Hockley Heath have already made huge sacrifices when it comes to green-belt land, not least because of HS2. These top-down targets and vague references to grey-belt land are already causing huge anxiety. This matters because when it comes to setting aside community opinion and disenfranchising whole communities, the tactics that the Government are already employing are the best way to do it. I am deeply concerned by that. We on the Opposition Benches will ensure that we hold this Government to account.

The title of this debate includes public services, and one of my key campaign pledges was to restore A&E services to the borough of Solihull. My argument on that is simple: we have about 220,000 people in the borough, and if there is an emergency, my constituents have to go all the way to Heartlands hospital or Warwick hospital, which are way too far away. It is clear to me that the case is strong. One thing I will be campaigning for in this Parliament, whether it takes five or 10 or 15 years, if I am lucky enough to be returned repeatedly—I make no assumptions on that, of course—will be to get that A&E service. I will be working with the integrated care board to achieve that.

I will finish on this: my constituents and the British people have been clear. As we discharge our duties as His Majesty’s official Opposition, their expectations are that we do so with integrity and humility, but always with courage and boldness in what we stand for and who we are. I assure my constituents that for the sake of our country we shall not falter.

September 5, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : UK-Ukraine digital trade set to grow [August 2024]
The press release issued by the Department for Business and Trade on 1 September 2024.

The UK-Ukraine Digital Trade Agreement (DTA) enters into force today, allowing businesses on both sides to benefit from quicker and cheaper trade.
- UK and Ukrainian businesses set to benefit as UK-Ukraine digital trade deal enters into force today
- Agreement paves the way for a new era of trade, making trade between both countries cheaper and easier and boosting both economies
- Trading digitally is particularly important during the current conflict, where warfare and damage to infrastructure make it harder to trade physically
UK-Ukraine trade is set to grow as the UK-Ukraine Digital Trade Agreement (DTA) today [Sunday 1 September] enters into force, allowing businesses on both sides to benefit from quicker and cheaper trade.

The digital agreement is one of the first of its kind and opens the door to wider shifts to digital trading systems. Such digital systems are more important than ever for Ukraine as physical trading systems have been impacted by war.

Ukraine is one of the largest exporters of information technology services globally, with areas such as outsourcing, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence (AI) and mobile applications in rapid development before the war.

As a global leader in tech, the UK is ideally positioned to aid Ukraine’s post-conflict transition to a digital economy, with over half of our services exports to Ukraine already digitally delivered.

Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said:

We’re modernising our trade relationship with Ukraine with one of the world’s first digital only trade agreements.

Greater digitalisation of the economy is an important step in supporting Ukraine’s economy and their fight for independence. This government will continue to lead the way in our unwavering support for Ukraine and its people.

First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy of Ukraine Yuliia Svyrydenko said:

The support of Ukraine from the United Kingdom is unprecedented. We have felt it from the very first days of the full-scale war. The digital trade agreement between our countries is another manifestation of solidarity and support.

Implementing this agreement will deepen Ukraine’s participation in global supply chains, foster the development of small and medium-sized businesses, maintain free access for Ukrainian IT companies to the UK digital markets, and provide crucial support to our economy during the war and in the post-war reconstruction period.

Minister for Trade Policy Douglas Alexander said:

With the current conflict in Ukraine making physical trade more difficult, we hope this agreement will make trading digitally easier for Scottish and Ukrainian businesses.

I know there is a tremendous amount of support for Ukraine and its people throughout Scotland, and this government will do all we can to support them.

Sabina Ciofu, Associate Director, International Policy & Trade, TechUK said:

The UK-Ukraine digital trade deal coming into force is a great step forward that will strengthen tech ties between both countries, and simplify and reduce the cost of trade for businesses, especially at a time when trade is made more difficult by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

TechUK is looking forward to working with our sister organisation IT Ukraine and both governments to deliver on the promises of this agreement, especially around regulatory cooperation and emerging technologies.

Pavlo Pikulin, CEO and founder at Deus Robotics said:

We are deeply thankful to the UK Government, the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine for establishing the UK-Ukraine TechBridge programme.

In essence, our successes in the UK thus far can be directly attributed to this initiative. TechBridge has provided us with everything essential for a tech startup to thrive in the UK — access to potential clients, partners, investors, and mentors. With this programme, you know who to talk to, and how and where to do it best.

The agreement is part of a series of digital initiatives by the UK government to support Ukraine’s digital economy. The UK-Ukraine TechBridge promotes collaboration and investment across the UK and Ukraine tech sectors.

Tech partnerships are also a key area of the digital trade agreement, supporting collaboration between the UK and Ukraine on areas like cybersecurity.

Background
- Total trade in goods and services between the UK and Ukraine was £1.6 billion in the four quarters to the end of Q1 2024.  In 2021, the export of digitally delivered services to Ukraine was worth £151 million – 54% of our total service exports to Ukraine
- The UK-Ukraine TechBridge is a programme designed to support the Ukrainian tech sector and ensure its resilience so it can contribute effectively to Ukraine’s economic recovery whilst strengthening the UK’s tech sector collaborations.
- In addition to these digital initiatives, DBT is mobilising UK businesses to support Ukraine’s immediate defence needs and deliver infrastructure projects.
September 5, 2024

PRESS RELEASE : “You could get Pension Credit” – Week of Action to drive take up [September 2024]

The press release issued by the Department for Work and Pensions on 1 September 2024.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to launch Pension Credit Week of Action to boost take-up of vital benefit.

Joining forces with charities, broadcasters and a range of partners, the campaign will encourage pensioners to check their eligibility and apply
Up to 880,000 pensioners could be missing out on this cash boost worth on average up to £3,900 per year

Hundreds of thousands of pensioners are being urged to apply for a benefit that could be worth on average £3,900 per year as the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is launching a campaign to increase Pension Credit take-up on Monday 2 September.

With as many as 880,000 pensioners missing out, the Pension Credit Week of Action aims to spread awareness and increase claims for Pension Credit, which from this year will also automatically passport eligible pensioners to receive the Winter Fuel Payment.

Joining forces with charities, broadcasters, Local Authorities, and a range of partners, the campaign will tackle myths that may prevent people applying, for instance having a small private pension, savings or owning their own home.

Families, friends and neighbours are being encouraged to reach out to retired family members to encourage them to check their eligibility and apply. 21 December is the last possible date to make a successful backdated claim in order to receive the Winter Fuel Payment.

While around 1.4 million pensioners are already receiving Pension Credit, up to an estimated 880,000 households are eligible for the support but are not claiming it.

Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, said:

The £22 billion blackhole inherited from the previous governments means we are having to take tough decisions now to fix the foundations of our economy – including making the Winter Fuel Payments available to those most at need.

1.3 million pensioners are already going to get help with fuel bills this year because they’re claiming pension credit – but thousands more are eligible. So, if you know someone who could get pension credit and help with their fuel bills, now is the time to help them apply for pension credit.

Work and Pensions Secretary, Liz Kendall said:

Thousands of pensioners are missing out on Pension Credit worth on average £3,900 per year. That needs to change.

It’s easier than ever to check if you are eligible, including with our online calculator, and if your circumstances have changed since the last time you looked – I urge you to check again.

Friends, families and neighbours can also encourage their loved ones to apply, so that they are not missing out on this vital benefit.

Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said:

The legacy of failure on energy policy we have inherited means energy prices are set to rise in autumn. We must ensure that pensioners in the greatest need get access to help with rising bills.

We will do everything in our power to increase take up of Pension Credit to the 880,000 households who are yet to claim – opening the door to other vital support such as the Winter Fuel Payment.

The government will also continue our mission to deliver clean power by 2030, helping to finally give families the energy security they deserve and our country the energy independence we need.

Pensioners whose weekly income is below £218.15 for a single person or £332.95 for a couple should check to see if they are eligible for this support which is worth £3,900 a year on average, using DWP’s online calculator.

People with a severe disability, carers and those who are responsible for a child or young person who lives with them could get more. Pension Credit can also include extra amounts for certain housing costs, such as ground rent or service charges.

This work is part of a wider plan to ensure economic stability for pensioners by protecting the Triple Lock and supporting households with their energy bills through the £150 Warm Home Discount and the Warm Homes Plan – upgrading millions of homes this Parliament.

Over the next five years, more than 12 million pensioners could see their State Pension increase by over a thousand pounds as a result of the commitment to the Triple Lock.

Background

Applications for Pension Credit can be made:
- On the How to Claim page
- Over the phone by calling 0800 99 1234 (Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm)
- By printing out and filling in a paper application form
- For more information visit the Pension Credit GOV.UK page.
The Winter Fuel Payment is worth £300 for households with someone aged 80 or over. Households with someone aged 66-79 will receive £200.
We will work with Local Authorities to bring together the administration of Pension Credit and Housing Benefit as soon as operationally possible.
People who have reached State Pension age before September 23, 2024 and are in receipt of Pension Credit, Income Support, Income based JSA, Income related ESA, Universal Credit, Child Tax Credit or Working Tax Credit, will be entitled to a Winter Fuel Payment – subject to eligibility conditions.
The regulations to means-test the Winter Fuel Payment will be laid on 22 August 2024. The qualifying week in 2024 for Winter Fuel Payments will be from 16 to 22 September.
Pensioners need to be entitled to Pension Credit for at least one day in week September 16 to 22 to be eligible for a Winter Fuel Payment for this winter.
21 December is the last date for backdating a claim for Pension Credit to 22 September, assuming the claimant met the Pension Credit entitlement conditions throughout the previous three months.
Anyone who is entitled to Pension Credit for at least one day of the Winter Fuel Payment qualifying week will have automatic entitlement to Winter Fuel Payment. There are some exceptions which are detailed on GOV.UK: https://www.gov.uk/winter-fuel-payment/eligibility
People do not have to do anything extra to backdate their claim. If they make their application online, they will automatically be asked if they would like to backdate it. If they make their application over the phone the advisor will talk them through this.
Around 1.3 million households in England and Wales will continue to receive Winter Fuel Payments due to some other pensioner households being eligible and expected extra Pension Credit take up due to this reform.

Pension Credit recipients by region (as of February 2024):

North East	73,883
North West	175,179
Yorkshire and The Humber	118,633
East Midlands	95,767
West Midlands	130,427
East of England	110,017
London	190,496
South East	147,763
South West	111,251
Wales	80,927
Scotland	125,136

Further Information

Supportive statements:

Martin Lewis, founder of MoneySavingExpert, said:

It’s a national tragedy that nearly a million eligible low-income pensioners who’ve paid into the system for years are still missing out on the crucial Pension Credit financial lifeline – a better name for it would be the State Pension Top Up.

So whatever your age, take a second to understand how it works, so we can all ensure the message is spread to every nook and granny (and grandpas too). Especially as the government has just severed Winter Fuel Benefits eligibility for millions, yet if you claim Pension Credit you’ll still get it.

While for most single pensioners, you need total weekly income, including from savings, under around £218 (pensioner couples under £333) to be very likely to qualify, my rule of thumb is spend a few minutes to check even with weekly income up to £235 (pensioner couples £350) as there’s still a chance some may be eligible.

Pension Credit can pay out £1,000s a year, but even if it’s only going to pay you thruppence, still claim it! As once you get it, it’s a gateway benefit that opens the door to other entitlements – including council tax reductions, free TV licences (if age over 75) dental and optical support and more.

Sir Steve Webb, Partner at pension consultants LCP and former Pensions Minister, said:

I would encourage anyone on a tight budget to consider an application for Pension Credit.

It can be claimed over the phone and could be the gateway to a range of valuable additional benefits, including reductions in energy bills, extra support when the temperature drops, free TV licences for those aged 75+ and continued receipt of the Winter Fuel Payment.

Even if you are not sure if you will be entitled, it is worth putting in a claim, especially for those who are disabled or carers and might be entitled to additional amounts.

Juliet Tizzard, Director of External Relations at Parkinson’s UK said:

Parkinson’s UK is pleased to support the DWP in raising awareness of Pension Credit, which is a vital resource for older people on low incomes living with conditions like Parkinson’s.

We know that very few people with Parkinson’s and their carers who are entitled to Pension credit, actually claim it. Our recent survey found that only 6% of eligible respondents received Pension Credit, leaving many without access to additional entitlements that could ease the financial strain of living with Parkinson’s.

With the Winter Fuel Payment soon only being granted to those receiving Pension Credit, it’s more important than ever for everyone of pension age and above to check whether they are eligible to claim it.

This Week of Action is crucial to raise awareness of Pension Credit and we urge everyone of pension age to check their eligibility to ensure they can access the support they are entitled to.

Sarah Pennells, Consumer Finance Specialist at mutual pensions provider, Royal London, said:

Pension Credit is a valuable benefit for anyone over State Pension age who is on a low income. But with an estimated 880,000 people missing out, it’s important that anyone who thinks they may qualify for it, or anyone who thinks a family member may qualify, puts in a claim.

Pension Credit not only provides additional tax-free income, but, because it’s a ‘gateway’ benefit, means that people who are eligible may also qualify for help with housing costs such as rent and council tax, as well as energy bills through the Winter Fuel Payment and Cold Weather Payment.

Our research shows that one in five people over State Pension age are living on the State Pension alone, with many thousands not entitled to the full amount for a variety of reasons. Pension Credit could make a big difference to their standard of living in retirement.

If you have a family member or friend over State Pension age, they could be missing out on tax-free payments worth thousands of pounds a year.

Nigel Peaple, Director of Policy and Advocacy at the Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association (PLSA), said:

Pension Credit can provide vital support to low-income pensioner households, but many people don’t claim it.

If you think you, or someone you know, might be eligible, call the Pension Credit claim line, write to the Pension Service or put in an application on the Government website. Help spread the word; it could make a world of difference to someone.

A British Gas spokesperson said:

Pension Credit Week of Action is the perfect opportunity to remind our customers of the vital support available to them. We are committed to ensuring pensioners are informed about their eligibility for Pension Credit and the additional help it provides. Our ‘You Pay: We Pay’ initiative further supports this by doubling contributions to help manage energy costs. By reaching out directly to customers who may be struggling, offering access to grants through the British Gas Energy Trust, and offering face-to-face advice through our Post Office partnership, we aim to make it easier for pensioners in need to access essential support.

Jackie Spencer, Head of Money and Pensions Policy at the Money and Pensions Service, said:

One in three people who are entitled to Pension Credit don’t claim and, if you’re one of them, you could be missing out on extra income per year.

It’s important to find out if you’re eligible for Pension Credit as it can not only help with your day-to-day living costs, but it can also entitle you to other grants, benefits and discounts. For example, households claiming Pension Credit can get a Winter Fuel Payment and Housing Benefit.

Jonathan Bland, Head Geek at Pension Geeks and founder of the Pension Awareness Campaign, said:

With the Pension Season upon us, there is never a more fitting time to check whether or not you could be eligible for Pension Credit.

You might be surprised – if you own a home, or have savings – you could still be entitled to the payment. It can also open the door to additional help with housing costs and heating bills, etc. Hundreds of thousands of people of people are missing out, so I’d urge everyone to take a few moments to check.

Dr Suzy Morrissey FCA, Deputy Director, Pensions Policy Institute, said:

The PPI is excited to see that start of the Pension Credit Week of Action. This is a great initiative to help people become better informed about pension credit and their retirement income. It is important that people receive all their entitlements and this Week of Action will help raise awareness.

Rachel Fletcher, Director of Economics and Regulation at Octopus Energy, said:

We know many people are worried about the impact of rising fossil fuel prices this winter. Support is available, but often goes unnoticed – for example, 1 in 4 eligible pensioners currently don’t claim Pension Credit.

Companies can help to make sure every pensioner gets the assistance they need. We are not only offering our own Winter Fuel Payments to pensioners this winter, but also training staff to spot when customers are missing out and help them get the benefits they deserve.

Pete Glancy, Head of Pensions Policy, Scottish Widows, said:

Scottish Widows’ latest Retirement Report told us that the State Pension plays a vital role in meeting day-to-day costs for 75% of current retirees – and that future retirees are worried how they would get by if it wasn’t there. That underlines how important it is that people understand what they are entitled too – and that pension credit gives you extra money to help with your living costs if you’re over State Pension age and on a low income. It’s separate from the State Pension and you can get it even if you have other income, savings or own your own home.

We welcome the Government’s efforts to draw attention to this important benefit.

September 5, 2024

PRESS RELEASE : Bluetongue virus restricted zone declared in Norfolk and Suffolk [August 2024]

The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 31 August 2024.

A bluetongue restricted zone has been declared across Norfolk and Suffolk.

Following several confirmed cases of Bluetongue virus BTV3 at premises across Norfolk and Suffolk, the UK Chief Veterinary Officer has declared a bluetongue restricted zone across the region to mitigate the risk of further cases of disease occurring.

Rolling information on the latest situation and number of cases is here.

The new restriction zone replaces the original Temporary Control Zone.

It means that from 20.00 on 30 August all keepers of cattle, sheep, other ruminants and camelids in these hotspots will need to follow strict restrictions on animal and germinal product movements. Further information on these restrictions and the licences that are available is on gov.uk, alongside symptoms of bluetongue and how to spot it and report it.

All infected premises have been placed under restriction and susceptible animals can only be moved under licence from infected premises.

Essential moves of susceptible animals (cattle, sheep, goats, deer and other ruminants and camelids including llamas and alpacas) can take place without a licence within the Restricted Zone but cannot be moved out of the zone without a specific licence. A general licence to move animals to designated abattoirs is also available.

Bluetongue virus is primarily transmitted by midge bites and affects cattle, goats, sheep, goats, deer and camelids such as llamas and alpacas. The impacts on susceptible animals can vary greatly – some show no clinical signs or effects at all while for others it can cause productivity issues such as reduced milk yield, while in the most severe cases can be fatal for infected animals.

It does not affect people, and meat and milk from infected animals are safe to eat and drink.

Surveillance is underway to understand if the virus is currently circulating in the UK and the extent of any undisclosed disease. Given the current temperatures and midge activity, which spread the disease, there is a high risk of onward spread in the UK.

There have been a rising number of the cases in Northern Europe and the Chief Veterinary Officer recently called for increased vigilance and responsible sourcing of livestock.

Farmers should continue to monitor their animals frequently for clinical signs and report suspicion of disease immediately, they should also make sure their animals and land are registered with APHA so keepers can be kept informed and animals easily located.

Farmers are also reminded that free testing remains available for animals moving from the highest risk counties to live elsewhere in Great Britain or to be sold at a market within a high-risk county where there will be buyers from outside the high-risk counties.

UK Chief Veterinary Officer Christine Middlemiss said:

Following an increased number of bluetongue cases, we have declared a restricted zone across Suffolk and Norfolk. This means all keepers in these regions must urgently act now to both prevent the disease spreading to their herds and any further. Farmers are urged not to move animals within the zone unless it is absolutely necessary.

We have not taken this action lightly and we are clear that farmers and their vets must remain vigilant and report any suspicions to APHA immediately.

In line with the disease control approach developed in advance of the virus being found, we are seeking to limit the spread of infection and the new restricted zone will increase the chances of being able to do this.

We are committed to working with everyone affected to help them protect their animals and those of neighbouring farmers, and we will keep the size and nature of the zone under constant review as our understanding of the disease picture develops.

Farmers can help minimise the risk of disease spread by not moving animals within the zone unless they really have to.

BTV is a notifiable disease. Suspicion of BTV in animals in England must be reported to the Animal and Plant Health Agency on 03000 200 301.

In Wales, suspected disease should be reported to the Animal and Plant Health Agency on 03003 038 268.

In Scotland, you should contact your local Field Services Office if you suspect bluetongue. In Northern Ireland please report to the DAERA Helpline on 0300 200 7840 or by contacting the local DAERA Direct Veterinary Office.

More information about bluetongue is available here.

September 5, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : How we’re fixing the foundations of the country [August 2024]

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 31 August 2024.

Here are some of the things we are doing to fix the foundations of this country.

We want to create wealth everywhere, but first we must fix the foundations of our country.

In the first few weeks of this Government, an audit found a £22 billion black hole in the public finances. It means we’ve had to take tough decisions, like means-testing the Winter Fuel Payment. Our Budget in October will be difficult.

But we have already taken action to improve the lives of working people in every corner of the country, from unlocking planning decisions to help build 1.5 million new homes to setting up Great British Energy, to create good jobs and provide clean energy to cut people’s bills in the long term.

Here are some of the things we are doing to fix the foundations of this country.

Setting up a new National Wealth Fund

Growth is the number one priority of this government. That’s why we set up the National Wealth Fund.

It is a publicly owned investment fund that will help attract investment into our country, stabilise our economy and create wealth for future generations.

It will help unlock private investment into the UK by directly investing in new and growing industries, and help create thousands of jobs in clean energy industries.

Accelerating housing planning

We’re overhauling our housing system to meet the needs of working people and put communities first.

Our plan will include introducing mandatory planning targets to aim to deliver on our ambition to build 1.5 million new homes over the next five years.

The new targets will boost housebuilding in areas most in need, to help more people buy their own homes, and help drive growth – making everyone in the country better off.

Putting passengers first We’ll put our rail system back on track with new laws to deliver for passengers.

They will improve the railways by reforming rail franchising, establishing Great British Railways and bringing train operators into public ownership.

Protecting taxpayer money

We’ll introduce legislation that makes sure nobody can play fast and loose with public finances.

A new Bill will strengthen the role of the Office of Budget Responsibility, meaning significant fiscal announcements must be properly scrutinised and that taxpayers’ money is respected.

Protecting workers’ rights

We’ll improve workers’ rights with new legislation – a significant step towards delivering this Government’s plan to make work pay.

We will ban exploitative zero-hours contracts, end fire and rehire, and introduce basic employment rights from day one.

And we’re changing the way the Minimum Wage is set so it keeps in line with the cost of living, in a move to put more money in working people’s pockets.

Launching GB Energy

Producing clean energy and creating good jobs will be our focus for the rest of the year. Great British Energy, a publicly owned, clean-energy company, will own, manage and operate clean power projects, such as wind farms, across the country.

Great British Energy will be headquartered in Scotland and paid for by a windfall tax on oil and gas giants. It will invest clean power projects across the United Kingdom, such as wind farms, which are the cheapest forms of electricity generation to build and operate.

This will help make our country energy independent, tackle climate change and save families money. And investing in clean domestic power will create jobs and build supply chains in every corner of the UK.

September 5, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : UK to receive earlier flood and drought warnings using high-tech sensors and real time monitoring [August 2024]
The press release issued by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on 31 August 2024.

Researchers across the UK to use latest tech and major data bank to provide better flood and drought warnings.
- Researchers across the UK to use latest tech and major data bank to better predict where devastating floods and droughts will strike
- innovators will also pioneer new ways of tackling the worst of extreme weather to halt damage and cut eye-watering cost to the economy
- sensors in UK rivers and real time monitoring will gather priceless data that goes towards modelling the potential impact and likely flashpoints
Predicting where future flooding and droughts will strike next in the UK will be made easier under a new project for scientists using the latest tech and real-time data, Science and Technology Secretary Peter Kyle has announced today (Saturday 31 August).

It will help key bodies, like local authorities and the Environment Agency, to stem the worst of extreme weather’s impact on communities, saving lives, homes, and businesses, and helping to cut the devastating cost of such events to the UK economy, estimated at £740 million a year.

The Floods and Droughts Research Infrastructure, led by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) and the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH) and backed by £40 million, will be the first UK-wide network focused on understanding the impact of extreme weather conditions across the country, pinpointing where incidents are likely to occur and planning to limit their impact.

The complexity of Earth’s climate makes forecasting floods and droughts a major challenge, with climate change only further complicating the picture. Researchers will use the latest technologies including sensors and real time computer monitoring, plus a huge bank of data including river profiles and near real-time monitoring of information including on atmospherics, ground saturation, water movement, abstraction and storage – taken together, this will form a clearer impression of where and when extreme weather will strike.

Floods wreak havoc on communities by destroying homes, public infrastructure, and livelihoods like farming which in turn costs consumers. Similarly, droughts have a major impact on the water supply and UK eco-system, harming wildlife and their natural habitats which rely on regular rainfall.

Researchers will be based at UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology’s offices throughout Great Britain, with further input from researchers in the British Geological Survey, University of Bristol and Imperial College London.

Findings from the project will be shared with key bodies like the Environment Agency to steer the UK response to extreme weather. It will also act as a hub for researchers to pursue new innovations with discoveries shared across the world and marking the UK as a leader in the field.

Science and Technology Secretary, Peter Kyle, said:

Flooding and droughts can devastate UK communities, from leaving people stranded, to destroying homes, gardens, roads and businesses, and even claiming lives.

With climate change sadly making extreme weather events more common and adding an eye-watering cost to the economy, there is no time to waste in backing our researchers and innovators to ensure we are better prepared for floods and droughts striking.

This project will help drive that progress, with dedicated teams using the most advanced tech to crunch data gathered from our rivers and paint a clear picture of its likely impact – using the power of science and tech to keep the public safe.

The new measures build on £5.6 billion of government investment into flooding from 2021 and 2027, with over 100 and coastal risk management projects helping to better protect thousands of people and properties from flooding from the sea, rivers and reservoirs.

We will also shortly launch a new Flood Resilience Taskforce to turbocharge the delivery of new flood defences, drainage systems and natural flood management schemes, which will ensure we’re prepared for the future and help grow our economy.

Floods Minister Emma Hardy said:

In the case of extreme flooding and drought, preparation and prediction are everything.

Our new institute will bring together a team of world-leading researchers and the latest technology to ensure our communities, businesses and farms are protected from these devastating events.

Today’s funding also builds on wider UKRI projects tackling extreme weather in the UK and abroad, including support for businesses to ensure against its risks.

It includes a project sponsored by the NERC linking the frequency and intensity of storms over Northern Europe using mathematical models that enable more accurate pricing of storm-related risks. Meanwhile the Lisflood-FP computer model developed by the University of Bristol has helped over one million Zambian farmers to insure themselves against drought risk through daily rainfall estimates for the continent of Africa.

Another team at Bristol has pioneered the development of high-resolution flood prediction models, which has resulted in Fathom: a spin-out company with an annual turnover of more than £4 million. Its work includes protecting infrastructure valued at over $1 trillion, thanks to improved flood risk management in the UK and across the world.

Executive Chair of NERC, Professor Louise Heathwaite, said:

Earth’s changing climate means the number of extreme floods and droughts will increase in the UK, impacting homes, businesses and services. But predicting their location and measuring their intensity and impact needs the sort of scientific advances that this programme will bring to overcome the data and analytical constraints that are currently very challenging.

The project will transform the way we understand the impact of these events by building a significant bank of data and improving our monitoring capability, and so helping to protect those affected.

This is an example of how NERC is responding to climate challenges with research and innovation investments that will accelerate the green economy and deliver solutions to national priorities.

Notes to editors

The Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) has awarded £38 million from the UKRI Infrastructure Fund to establish the new institute.

A further £1.2 million of funding from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council will go towards a three-year project to slash the time and cost involved in running computer models of projected flooding out to the year 2100. This will enable detailed assessments of a much wider range of potential scenarios than currently possible, taking into account the nature and extent of the impact on extreme weather in these areas, informing solutions much better matched to the specific needs of different parts of the UK.

Between April 2022 and March 2023, the government worked with other risk management authorities to complete around 120 flooding and coastal risk management projects.

These projects better protected people and properties from:
- sea and tidal flooding (16,800 properties from 27 projects)
- river flooding (6,500 properties from 59 projects)
- surface water flooding (900 properties from 21 projects)
- coastal erosion (1,100 properties from 7 projects)
- reservoirs (1,100 properties from 1 project)
- groundwater (35 properties from 2 projects)
DSIT media enquiries
September 5, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : International Investment Summit Adviser appointed [August 2024]

The press release issued by HM Treasury on 30 August 2024.

Ian Corfield has been appointed as an unpaid International Investment Summit Adviser by the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

In this role, Ian Corfield will work with the Chancellor, her political advisers and officials in the Treasury, as well as relevant teams across Government, to advise and help on delivering the International Investment Summit on 14 October 2024.

The summit itself is intended to advance opportunities for growth and investment across the country; make clear that the UK is open for business to trading partners around the globe; create a pro-business environment that supports innovation and high-quality jobs in the UK; and allow global business leaders to hear directly from the Prime Minister and Cabinet ministers on how the government will drive future investment.

Ian Corfield will advise on delivering these objectives in relation to the agenda, engagement of key businesses, and the investment pipeline generated from the event.

Ian Corfield will be in post until 31 October 2024. Declarations of interests have been made in the usual way.

September 5, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : Painting owned by the first Prime Minister of Great Britain at risk of export [August 2024]
The press release issued by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport on 30 August 2024.

A temporary export bar has been placed on Le Rêve de L’Artiste by Jean-Antoine Watteau.
- The painting, which was previously hung in Downing Street, is valued at over £6 million
- Export bar is to allow time for a UK gallery or institution to acquire the painting
A temporary export bar has been placed on Le Rêve de L’Artiste, a painting by influential 18th century French artist Jean-Antoine Watteau.

The work, valued at £6,075,000 (plus VAT of £215,020), is at risk of leaving the UK unless a domestic buyer can be found to save the work for the nation.

Watteau was one of the most original and influential French painters of his era. He was a leading figure in the development of the Rococo style and inventor of a type of painting known as the Fête Galante, often small cabinet pictures, exploring the psychology of love, usually within a landscape setting.

His popularity in Britain amongst his contemporaries is evidenced through Le Rêve de L’Artiste being bought in 1736 by the first Prime Minister of Great Britain, Sir Robert Walpole. The painting was hung in Lady Walpole’s dressing room in 10 Downing Street for the remaining years of his administration.

Le Rêve de L’Artiste is an ambitious and complex picture featuring two dozen characters in a surreal, structured environment depicting some of the artist’s own dreams. The painting is unlike much of Watteau’s other work which largely presents natural landscapes as idyllic and untamed.

Arts Minister Sir Chris Bryant said:

This painting was once owned by our first Prime Minister, Sir Robert Walpole, and was hanging for several years in 10 Downing Street, so Watteau’s Le Rêve de L’Artiste has a fascinating connection to British History, offering us insights into the tastes and development of art in Britain in the 18th century. It portrays the artist’s dream, but perhaps its surreal fantasia inspired political dreams as well. Either way, it is an important and unusual work by a genius.

I hope a UK buyer has the opportunity to purchase this work so it can continue to be studied and enjoyed by the public.”

The Minister’s decision follows the advice of the Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art and Objects of Cultural Interest. The RCEWA Committee found that the painting met the third Waverley criterion for its outstanding significance to the study of the collections in which this picture was included as well as the early and highly unusual depiction of dream imagery.

Committee Member Mark Hallett said:

This beautiful, enigmatic painting showcases Watteau’s extraordinary originality, and provides us with one of Western art’s earliest and most profound representations of the process of artistic creativity. It gives us a fascinating insight not only into Watteau’s thinking as a painter, but into wider eighteenth-century concepts of inspiration and imagination. As such, Le Rêve de l’Artiste has a special, almost unique status in the artist’s output. This is a work that cries out for further research, interpretation and appreciation, and that fully deserves being retained for the nation.

The decision on the export licence application for the painting will be deferred for a period ending on 29 November 2024 inclusive. At the end of the first deferral period owners will have a consideration period of 15 Business Days to consider any offer(s) to purchase the painting at the recommended price of £6,075,000 (plus VAT of £215,020). The second deferral period will commence following the signing of an Option Agreement and will last for six months.

Notes to editors
1. Organisations or individuals interested in purchasing the painting should contact the RCEWA on 02072680534 or rcewa@artscouncil.org.uk .
2. Details of the object are as follows: Antoine Watteau (Valenciennes 1684–1721 Nogent-sur-Marne), The Dream of the Artist, about 1710. Oil on canvas, 95.5 x 121 cm.
3. Provenance: Jacques Langlois (1681–1722), painter and dealer on the Pont Notre Dame, Paris; the inventory following his death on the 16th December 1722, included ‘Le Reve, du sieur Watteau, b.d.[bordure dorée]…120 l. [livres]’. Painting arrived in London, c. 17231; Sir Robert Walpole M.P., 1st Earl of Orford, Prime Minister of England (1676–1745). By 1736, as it is listed in that year in Walpole’s manuscript, A Catalogue of the Right Honourable Sir Robert Walpole’s Collection of Pictures, the painting is listed as hanging in Lady Walpole’s dressing room at 10 Downing Street, and described thus: ‘Watteau – A dream of Watteau’s, Himself asleep by a rock; Several Dancers & Grotesque figures in the Clouds – 2’ 1” – 2’ 7 ¼ ”’ (25 x 31 ¼ in). Sold Cock’s auction room, known as Messrs Cock & Langford, in the Great Piazza of Covent Garden, the Walpole sale, 28 April 1748, second day, lot 62, sold for £ 6.10/-, bought by; James Douglas, 14th Earl of Morton (1702–1768), on whose death, by inheritance to; Susan Elizabeth, Dowager Countess of Morton (1793-1849), widow of the 16th Earl; Sold her sale, Christie’s, 27th April 1850, lot 88, (The Painter’s Dream – a very elegant design), sold for £ 27.6/- to ‘Anthony’. (3rd most expensive painting in sale); James Goding Esq. (d. 1857); his sale, Christie’s, 21st February 1857, lot 503, (The Painter’s Dream- one of eight ‘Watteau’ in the Goding collection), sold for £ 36 to ‘Webb’, bought on behalf of; John Ashley Cooper (1808–1867), 4th son of 6th Earl of Shaftesbury, of 17 Upper Brook Street, Mayfair, London, on whose death, by inheritance to his wife; Julia Ashley, née Conyers (c.1818–1907); Her sale, Christie’s, 25th June 1904, lot 51, sold for £ 68.5/- to; Martin Colnaghi (1821–1908); subsequently sold for FF10,000 to; Renee Gimpel (1881–1945) and Nathan Wildenstein (1851 – 1934), who then sold it for FF150,000 to; David David-Weill (1871–1952), c. 1914, New York; Sold Sotheby’s, 10th June 1959, lot 41, bought for £ 1,200 by ‘Wallraf’ on behalf of Wildenstein & Co., London, thence sold in 1963 through the dealer Dudley Tooth to; Ivo Forde Esq (1949–2023); An English private collector, acquired 1993; Private collection.
4. The Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art and Objects of Cultural Interest is an independent body, serviced by Arts Council England (ACE), which advises the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on whether a cultural object, intended for export, is of national importance under specified criteria.
September 5, 2024