Tag: 2010

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 1 January 2010.

The Prime Minister has said the UK must never be complacent about the threat of terrorism following the failed terror plot on a US-bound flight on Christmas day.

The UK will examine a range of new techniques to enhance airport security in response to the attempted attack, Gordon Brown said in an article published on 1 January 2010.

The new decade is starting as the last began – with al Qaeda creating a climate of fear.

In the past week, we have been exposed to an evolving terrorist threat and reminded of the importance of a major new base for terrorism.

These enemies of democracy and freedom – now trying to mastermind death and destruction from Yemen as well as other better-known homes of international terror such as Pakistan and Afghanistan – are concealing explosives in ways which are more difficult to detect.

So the failed attack in Detroit on Christmas Day reminds us of a deeper reality; that almost 10 years after September 11th international terrorism is still a very real threat.

Al Qaeda and their associates continue in their ambition to indoctrinate thousands of young people around the world with a deadly desire to kill and maim.

Our response in security, intelligence, policing and military action, is not just an act of choice but an act of necessity.

We have trebled our security budget; doubled the number of counter-terrorist police and other expert staff dealing with terrorism; and brought in new terrorism-related offences and security measures at airports, stations and shopping centres.

We have strengthened and adapted our response to changing terrorist techniques and developments in protective security.

And we have had operational success – a number of attacks have been prevented or disrupted over the last few years.

But we must never be complacent and remain always vigilant when examining the methods of al Qaeda and its associates, keeping our security measures under constant review.

We now know that the would-be bomber used a small quantity of explosive that went undetected by standard airport security equipment.

We need, therefore, to continually explore the most sophisticated devices capable of identifying explosives, guns, knives and other such items anywhere on the body.

So – in cooperation with President Obama and the Americans – we will examine a range of new techniques to enhance airport security systems beyond the traditional measures, such as pat-down searches and sniffer dogs.

These could include advancing our use of explosive trace technology, full body scanners and advanced x-ray technology.

Working alongside the U.S. and other partners, we will move things forward quickly.

But we must also all investigate how this individual flew from Nigeria to Amsterdam and then to Detroit and what more might have been done internationally to stop him.

In partnership with security agencies abroad, we are doing everything we can to improve the sharing of information about individuals of concern.

We work very closely with the Americans in this area.

And the UK has one of the toughest borders in the world and we are determined to ensure it stays that way.

We have already screened 135 million passenger movements in and out of the country against watchlists.

But in light of the Detroit incident we all urgently need to work together on how we might further tighten these arrangements – in particular, at what point suspects are added to the list and when they are deemed too risky to be allowed to fly, or leave or enter the country – and also into wider airport security.

That is why on Monday I ordered immediate reviews into existing measures – including for transit passengers – and asked for ways we can urgently tighten procedures.

I will be receiving the preliminary findings in the next few days and we will act on them as quickly as possible.

As always, vigilance is the key to our security.

The individual involved in this latest failed attack was prevented from returning to Britain because he was refused a further visa in 2009.

The fact that he was prevented from entering because he claimed he would be attending a bogus college that was not on our register of authorised institutions does not lead us to any complacency.

We must be ever more vigilant about maximising our protection against who we believe pose a threat.

Our watchlist system is matched by our checks on and regular refusal of visa applications.

More than 180 individuals have been banned from Britain on grounds of national security and more than 100 for unacceptable behaviour.

Since July 2005, eight individuals have been deported on grounds of national security and a further eight have made voluntary departures having withdrawn their appeals against the notice of intention to deport.

Fifteen individuals, meanwhile, are currently either detained or on bail pending deportation proceedings on grounds of national security.

It is because we cannot win through a fortress Britain strategy – exclusively protecting our borders – that we have to take on extremists wherever they are based: in Afghanistan, Pakistan and all around the world, including here in Britain.

We know in this case for example that the bomber – who had studied in the UK – had been in contact with an extremist in Yemen and within a few short months was trained to mount the operation in which he was to die.

Although we are increasingly clear that he linked up with al Qaeda in Yemen after leaving London, we nevertheless need to remain vigilant against people being radicalised here as well as abroad.

The UK’s counter terrorism strategy is one of the most comprehensive in the world. A key part of it is to ensure that our fellow citizens do not commit acts of terrorism.

It is very important, however, to recognise that the vast majority of young people and Muslims in Britain reject all forms of extremism, so the success of our strategy depends on support from all communities.

Like preventative work in other areas it seeks to support vulnerable people of any age, but if there are concerns that particular young people might be vulnerable to targeting by terrorist recruiters, it is the responsibility of all of us – families, local communities, teachers, youth workers and other young people themselves – to provide support to those vulnerable young people.

We already work closely with universities and colleges – and with bodies like the national union of students – to help manage and identify the risks posed by radicalisation in educational establishments.

Last year we issued guidance to help universities foster shared values and isolate and challenge the very small minority who promote violent extremism.

We must continue the struggle to win back those dislocated, discouraged and disaffected individuals by demonstrating not what divides us but what we have in common.

The Christmas Day plot also raises specific international issues for the UK too.

The combined force of allied intervention and the Northern Alliance largely removed al Qaeda from Afghanistan in 2001.

The ongoing efforts and sacrifices of our troops – and the work of civilian development teams – are now helping to ensure that al Qaeda is never again able to establish a safe haven there, while we also continue to work with the Pakistani government to dismantle and destroy the organisation’s senior leadership in the border areas of Pakistan.

Pushed out of Afghanistan and increasingly dispersed over the mountains of Pakistan, al Qaeda’s affiliates and allies – in ungoverned or under-governed areas like parts of Yemen, The Sahel and Somalia – have raised their profile.

I have said before that Yemen – as both an incubator and potential safe haven for terrorism – presents a regional and global threat.

We recognise the importance of preventing failed states because of the dangers they pose to regional and global stability and security.

To this end, we are already building further our support for the government of Yemen’s efforts to tackle the underlying causes of the terrorist threat through intelligence support, training of counter-terror units, capacity building and development programmes.

By 2011 our already announced commitment to Yemen will exceed £100million, making the UK one of its leading donors.

And we have already updated our counter-terrorism strategy to include further measures to disrupt al Qaeda’s leadership and to frustrate its attempts to recruit, train and direct a new generation of terrorists – or to find a new haven for those leaders displaced by the efforts of our Afghan and Pakistani allies.

It is right that we now also work more closely with allies in the region through a new ‘Friends of Yemen’ group, we will help establish to pool effort, resource and expertise.

The threat can only be met through enhanced cooperation.

The Detroit plot thankfully failed. But it has been another wake-up call for the ongoing battles we must wage not just for security against terror but for the hearts and minds of a generation.

I am determined to do everything I can to learn from events of this kind to continue to maintain the security and safety of everyone in Britain.

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 1 January 2010.

Gordon Brown has invited key international partners to a high level meeting to discuss how to counter radicalisation in Yemen. The Prime Minister said the international community must not deny Yemen the support it needs to tackle extremism following the failed bomb plot on a US-bound flight on Christmas day.

Mr Brown will host the event in London on 28 January. His plans have already received support from the White House and the European Union and in the coming days Britain also aims to secure backing from Saudi Arabia and Gulf countries. In his article on counter-terrorism, the Prime Minister stated his desire to help Yemen tackle the threats from terrorism. In his New Year article he wrote:

“I have said before that Yemen – as both an incubator and potential safe haven for terrorism – presents a regional and global threat. To this end, we are already building further our support for the government of Yemen’s efforts to tackle the underlying causes of the terrorist threat through intelligence support, training of counter-terror units, capacity building and development programmes.”

The stand alone meeting at the end of January will be held in parallel with the London Conference on Afghanistan because of the interrelated issues and the cross over of key delegates participating in both events. The high level meeting on Yemen will aim to:

• Identify counter terrorism needs faced by the government of Yemen
• Encourage and coordinate donor effort in order to build Yemen’s government capacity and provide development support to areas most at risk of radicalisation
• Bring forward commitments on capacity building, training of Yemeni forces and better coordination of international counter terrorism efforts in the region
• Help Yemen with the wider challenges it faces, including promoting economic, social and political reform

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 3 January 2010.

Downing Street and the White House have agreed to continue working hand-in-glove to tackle the evolving threat of terrorism from Yemen and Somalia in the wake of recent events in the US.

Both the US and UK already provide support and funding to the Yemeni authorities to help in their efforts to combat the terrorist threat. Measures include support for a special counter-terrorist police unit and for the Yemeni coastguard operation.

The Prime Minister has said that UK support to Yemen is expected to exceed £100 million by 2011 – Britain is one of the leading donors to Yemen’s development.

Speaking on the BBC today, Gordon Brown said Britain has been working closely with the Americans to strengthen counter-terrorism cooperation in Yemen.

“Yemen has been recognised, like Somalia, to be one of the areas we have got to not only keep an eye on, but we’ve got to do more. So it’s strengthening counter-terrorism cooperation, it’s working harder on intelligence efforts.”

The UK has also been pushing at the UN Security Council for an effective African peacekeeping force in Somalia, AMISOM.

On Friday, Gordon Brown announced plans to invite key international partners to a high level meeting in London which will coincide with a major conference on Afghanistan.

“There is absolutely no doubt that the conference we will have in London in January, with a Yemen element to it, will be an important means by which we will help the Yemeni authorities who are fighting terrorism to develop the means and the will to do this even more.”

He has also asked that the evolving threat from Yemen and Somalia be placed on the agenda for the EU General Affairs Council in January, and he will discuss with counterparts at the next EU Council meeting. In addition Mr Brown intends to push for stronger action on Yemen from the Financial Action Task Force.

The PM has also called a special meeting of the National Security, International Relations and Development (NSID) Cabinet committee to discuss further the UK’s response to the attempted attack last week. The Committee oversees UK security issues and includes security and military chiefs. This week the PM will hold urgent discussions with Foreign Secretary, Home Secretary and Defence Secretary and senior advisers on intelligence and security, ahead of the NSID meeting.

This follows the urgent review of airport security ordered by the PM in the immediate aftermath of last week’s events in the US. He expects preliminary findings in days and has pledged to move quickly to improve security wherever necessary.

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 4 January 2010.

Gordon Brown has announced Government measures to ensure that pupils in their first few years at primary school have the best start in reading, writing and arithmetic.

The Prime Minister, accompanied by Schools Secretary Ed Balls, spoke to teachers and parents from St Monica’s Catholic Primary School in Hackney about the new initiatives.

From September this year, 30,000 pupils will benefit from the new programmes which will ensure that any child falling behind in English or Maths in the earliest years of primary school will be guaranteed extra support, including small-group and intensive one-to-one tuition.

Mr Brown said of the scheme:

“I want every child to have the best start in life. This guarantee will ensure any child who is struggling will have the support they need to fulfill their potential.

“I want to continue to raise standards across the board and this approach, coupled with an increase of specialist teachers in primary schools in key subjects like maths and foreign languages, will help them succeed in school and get the skills they need to get good quality jobs in the future. This is also vital for the country in being able to compete and prosper as the economy grows again.”

Ed Balls spoke of the Government’s emphasis on supporting pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds by allocating £50 million of funding earmarked for breaking the link between deprivation and attainment to the new scheme:

“Personal tuition must not be the preserve of those who can afford it – but must be available to all who need it. And even though money is going to be tighter over the years ahead by protecting schools spending, making tough choices and reducing inefficiency we can afford to make this pledge.”

The Government also announced a number of other educational initiatives, including:

• The start of the roll-out of new primary Maths specialist teachers as part of the Government’s commitment to have at least one specialist teacher in each school over the coming decade.

• The expansion of specialist foreign language teachers in primary schools with the aim that all children will learn a language for at least six years. New GCSE in Mandarin to be introduced this year.

• The launch of the new Masters in Teaching and Learning to increase the status of the teaching profession and help with school standards.

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 5 January 2010.

A national scheme to upgrade household boilers to cut carbon and help consumers save money on fuel bills has been launched today.

The Prime Minister and Climate Change Secretary Ed Miliband kick-started the Government’s Boiler Scrappage Scheme during a visit to a British Gas Training Academy in London.

Up to 125,000 households in England with working “G-rated” boilers – the least efficient rating – will be able to apply through the Energy Saving Trust for £400 off the price of a new “A-rated” boiler or a renewable heating system such as a biomass boiler.

The initiative has prompted a number of companies to launch similar programmes which the Government said will allow many more householders to upgrade to more efficient, more environmentally-friendly boilers.

The PM said:

“Today’s announcement will slash household energy bills and carbon emissions while providing an important boost for the British heating industry. The Government’s new scrappage scheme will help to secure jobs across the tens of thousands of small and medium businesses that form a vital component of Britain’s low carbon economy. The scheme shows how this Government continues to invest in the British industries and jobs of the future.”

Replacing 125,000 of the least efficient boilers could cut about 140,000 tonnes of CO2 a year – the equivalent of taking 45,000 cars off the road – and the households taking part could see their fuel bills cut by at least 15 per cent a year.

It is one of a package of Government measures which are already working to improve household energy efficiency, such as Warm Front, the Carbon Emissions Reduction Target (CERT) and Decent Homes.

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 5 January 2010.

The Prime Minister has said the development of the London Gateway port will create thousands of jobs for the region and is a vote of confidence in the UK’s economic recovery.

Gordon Brown and Business Secretary Lord Mandelson visited the site, on the north bank of the Thames in Essex this morning, to mark the start of work on one of the UK’s largest infrastructure projects.

The company DP World is behind the £1.5 billion development, which will be Europe’s largest combined deep-sea port and logistics park.

The PM said:

“The London Gateway is a significant foreign investment into the UK. It is a massive vote of confidence in the UK’s economic recovery and in this region. UK Trade & Investment and other Government departments have worked closely with DP World over a number of years to make this project possible.

“I am delighted with the decision to locate this world-class project here in the UK. It will help bring the largest deep sea vessels here and improve the efficiency of the UK’s freight distribution, creating thousands of jobs, future growth and economic prosperity.”

Once completed the London Gateway will link road, rail and sea.

By combining the port with a distribution centre DP World estimates the port will save over 60 million heavy goods vehicle miles per year on UK roads. It says this will amount to a reduction of 148,000 tonnes per annum of CO2 emissions.

Lord Mandelson said the London Gateway will also see the creation of 36,000 direct and indirect jobs.

The work beginning today includes the construction of three kilometres of land reclamation and a dredging operation in the Thames Estuary.

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 6 January 2010.

The Prime Minister’s wife Sarah Brown has hosted the launch event for a new campaign that aims to improve attitudes towards children with learning differences.

Around one in five school-aged children need additional help in school of some form, and the First News My Way! campaign hopes to raise awareness for children with special educational needs.

Sarah Brown was joined at the Downing Street reception by Children’s Secretary Ed Balls, children with learning difficulties and the campaign’s ambassador, author and actor Henry Winkler. Mr Winkler was not identified as having dyslexia until the age of thirty.

Sarah Brown said:

“Gordon and I have always been passionate that every single child should have the chance to reach their true potential, so it’s really important that we breakdown any barriers that some children may face when learning.

“Listening to children, supporting them and creating the right environment for them to do well is at the heart of this campaign and I’m very pleased to host the launch event for an initiative that will really touch people’s lives and make a difference.”

Ed Balls said the Government has already taken action to help children with special educational needs, including a £31 million investment into the Achievement for All programme and greater personalised support.

Earlier this week, the Prime Minister announced Government measures to ensure that pupils in their first few years at primary school have the best start in reading, writing and arithmetic.

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 7 January 2010.

The Government has published its strategy for how to return the economy to strong, sustainable, long-term growth.

The plan focuses on increasing employment, raising incomes and supporting an improving quality of life, while restoring public finances and preventing cuts to essential public services.

During a speech in London today, the Prime Minister said that ‘going for growth’ is the government’s number one priority.

Gordon Brown said:

“The plan we are launching today – ‘tomorrow’s prosperity’ – shows how we will do everything we can to support and unleash the entrepreneurial, innovative and dynamic talents we know we have in Britain.

Gordon Brown said as part of the strategy, the Government plans to boost support for knowledge-based industries in sectors like life sciences, medical research and pharmaceuticals.

He said the Government will invest £70 million in three state-of-the-art manufacturing research centres to help UK businesses develop products of the future.

The Government will also invest in modern, low-carbon infrastructure and support British businesses by ensuring easier access to credit and creating a new growth fund.

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 7 January 2010.

The Prime Minister has thanked the voluntary and emergency services helping to ease problems caused by the heavy snow and widespread ice that continued across parts of the UK on Thursday.

Appearing on the BBC’s Radio Solent, the Prime Minister said central government was doing everything it could to help, adding: “If there are things that are outstanding, we should be told so we can take the action that is necessary.”

Gordon Brown said he had spoken to some of the UK’s largest salt manufacturers on Thursday, who had assured him they were working to ensure there was enough salt for gritting during the extended cold spell.

“What we’re trying to do first of all on gritting and on salt, is to make sure there is sufficient salt available in every part of the country. Some local authorities will have more salt than others.”

The PM said he had also spoken to the chief executive of the National Health Service and was satisfied that it was in the “right position” to deal with problems arising from emergencies.

Mr Brown said the government would continue to monitor the situation carefully around the country. He added that local people “doing extraordinary things” was making it possible for communities to come together in difficult times.

On Wednesday the Prime Minister joined Lord Adonis on a visit to the London Local Authority Coordination Centre headquarters in south west London to see the work of the emergency services during the cold snap.