Tag: 2022

PRESS RELEASE : Foreign Secretary sees UK aid making real difference in Ethiopia [December 2022]
The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 8 December 2022.

Over 1 million Ethiopians have been supported since April 2021 with £90 million of UK aid.
- Foreign Secretary James Cleverly has seen trucks set off today to deliver UK aid to parts of Ethiopia affected by drought and conflict, following peace talks and the reopening of humanitarian routes
- he has witnessed first-hand how UK aid this year has been supporting over 1 million Ethiopians facing drastic impacts of a perilous drought and conflict
- the Foreign Secretary is holding meetings with the Ethiopian government and promises UK support to the peace deal which paves the way for a stronger future partnership
UK-funded trucks carrying aid have been reaching Tigray, following a vital peace agreement made possible by effective international diplomacy.

After seeing trucks set off for northern Ethiopia today, the Foreign Secretary will tell the Ethiopian government that this is a symbolic moment which paves the way for a stronger future partnership, delivering lasting peace and safety, with an international community focused on saving Ethiopian lives.

The UK has previously led calls for a restoration of full aid access to Tigray, with millions cut off during the devastating two-year conflict.

The Foreign Secretary will see UK aid making a difference on the ground. Travelling to a region affected by both the conflict and drought, he will see vulnerable mothers and children treated for conditions including malnutrition and malaria at a mobile health clinic run by UK-funded partner UNICEF.

Over 1 million Ethiopians have been supported since April 2021 with £90 million of UK aid.

And now the UK is preparing to provide further support for Ethiopia’s peace process and longer term reforms to promote peace, justice and economic reform.

With almost 30 million in need of emergency aid in Ethiopia, collaborative action from the international community is paramount and so the Foreign Secretary is using his visit to discuss stepping up support across the international community, with meetings held with the UN, World Bank, African Development Bank and IMF.

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said:

The peace agreement signed in Ethiopia last month is bringing to an end 2 years of a conflict which caused immense suffering for the people of Ethiopia.

Success here is a vital step to addressing the urgent humanitarian needs, but also longer-term aims for prosperity and peace. Ethiopia can rely on the UK’s full support in its path to recovery and the international community must also get behind these efforts.

During his trip, the Foreign Secretary saw a sample of the huge impact UK aid has delivered in Ethiopia over the last 12 months.

Over 200,000 malnourished women and children have been provided with nutritious food, a similar number have received clean water, child protection services have reached 40,000 children affected by the conflict and provided emergency health supplies for 1 million people.

The Foreign Secretary recognises that there is more to be done. That’s why he’s rallying the international community, ensuring support for the peace deal and more humanitarian aid to deliver health, water, hygiene and nutrition for the 28.6 million people in need of assistance.

And in meetings with senior members of the Ethiopian government he will highlight UK assistance for survivors of sexual violence, strengthening of human rights and improved coordination of humanitarian efforts including better management of services such as water and education across the country which will save lives.

The Foreign Secretary is reiterating that the potential of the UK-Ethiopian partnership goes far beyond humanitarian support. Economic reforms can bring greater prosperity to both our countries, as is seen through the recent launch of Safaricom – a consortium that includes British Investment International (BII) and Vodafone – in Ethiopia.

This evening the Foreign Secretary will host a reception for inspiring young Ethiopian leaders.

The visit coincides with Save the Children’s Christmas Jumper Day (today, 8 December), from which funds raised will provide life-saving nutrition and health services for over 200,000 women and children facing chronic food shortages in Kenya.

The UK government announced last week that it is match funding up to £2 million of public donations to Save the Children’s UK Aid Match appeal, with funds raised providing life-saving nutrition and health services for 200,000 women and children in Kenya’s Mandera and Turkana counties.
December 8, 2022
Michael Gove – 2022 Statement on New Coalmine at Whitehaven in Cumbria

The statement made by Michael Gove, the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, in the House of Commons on 8 December 2022.

With permission, Mr Speaker, I would like to make a statement following the decision I made yesterday to grant planning permission for a new metallurgical coalmine at Whitehaven in Cumbria.

I think it is important to stress at the beginning of my statement that I am speaking with regard to a planning decision that I have taken in my capacity as Secretary of State in what is a quasi-judicial process. Members of the House will be aware that the decision may, of course, be subject to a legal challenge, so I urge all Members of the House who are interested in the decision to read the decision letter, which was published yesterday, alongside the detailed report of the independent planning inspector who oversaw the public inquiry into the proposals. Any mature and considered response needs to take account of both my decision letter and the planning inspector’s full report.

I would like to refer in my statement to some of the arguments that the planning inspector has entertained and some of the arguments that he has made in the course of his report, but nothing that I say at the Dispatch Box should be taken in any way as a substitute for full engagement with the inspector’s report.

It is important to note that it is rare that any planning decision is an open-and-shut matter. There are almost always competing elements for and against any planning scheme—particularly a substantial one of this kind, which can raise serious and passionate debate—but the open and transparent public inquiry system allows all those issues to be fully explored. It also allows all parties to put their case before an independent inspector.

The decision that I issued yesterday was in line directly with the recommendation of the inspector, who heard all the evidence for and against the scheme and was able to test that evidence through the participation of interested parties. This was a comprehensive and thorough process, lasting over a month and hearing from over 40 different witnesses. It is summarised in a report of over 350 pages, which, again, I urge all hon. Members to read.

I think it important to restate—as I think is well understood—that the proposal granted permission yesterday for the production of coking coal for use in steel production is not an energy proposal. Our net zero strategy makes it clear that coal has no part to play in future power generation, which is why we will be phasing it out of our electricity supply by 2024. Coal’s share of our electricity supply has already declined significantly in recent years. It was almost 40% of our energy supply in 2012, and less than 2% in 2020.

I took account of the facts in reviewing the planning application, as did the inspector, taking into particular account the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy industrial decarbonisation strategy of March 2021, which explicitly does not rule out the use of coking coal in an integrated steel-making process, and makes it clear that, together with carbon capture and storage, that can be part of a net zero-compliant option.

It is important to note, as the inspector makes plain on page 239 of the report, that it is clear all the scenarios and forecasts for the future use of coking coal which were put before the inquiry demonstrated a continued demand for coking coal for a number of decades to come. It is also important to state that the European Commission, as the inspector noted, recognised the indispensable role of coking coal during the steel industry’s transition to climate neutrality.

It is also important to note, as the inspector did on page 238, that the UK is currently almost wholly dependent on imports of coking coal to meet its steel manufacturing demand. In 2017, 98.8% of the more than 3 million tonnes of coking coal used in UK steel plants was imported. The main exporters of coking coal at the moment are Australia, the USA and, of course, Russia. European metallurgical coal demand is forecast to remain between 50 and 55 million tonnes per annum for the next 28 years, and in the UK demand is forecast to remain at the current level of 1.5 million tonnes per annum.

The coking coal that will be extracted from the mine in Whitehaven is of a particular quality. Coking coal is usually a blended product of soft and hard high volatile coals and low volatile coals. The coal from the proposed mine would have a low ash content of below 5%, compared with between 7% and 8% for US coal and 10 % for Australian coal. It would also have a low phosphorus content, lower than that of Australian coal, and a high fluidity. It is also important to note that, while the sulphur content of this coal has been referred to, and it is relatively high, the evidence before the inspector suggests that the coal handling and processing plant will produce coal with an average sulphur content of 1.4 %, and the applicant has stated its acceptance of the planning condition to ensure the product leaving the mine meets this level.

It is also important to note that the applicant is making it clear that this will be the only net zero metallurgical coking coalmine in the world. It is vitally important that all of us recognise—as the inspector does on page 255—that the proposed development would to some extent support the transition to a low-carbon future specifically as a consequence of the provision of a currently needed resource from a mine that aspires to be net zero. I think it is also important that we recognise that, in any change of land use, there will always be a potential impact on biodiversity and on the local environment as well. Again, it is important to note that, on page 278 of his report, the inspector makes it clear that this mine would not cause any unacceptable impacts on ecology or result in a net loss of biodiversity. The inspector also makes it clear in paragraph 22.9 that the proposed development itself would have an overall neutral effect on climate change, and as such there would be no material conflict with Government policies for meeting the challenge of climate change.

Taking account of all these environmental considerations, we should also bear in mind the impact on employment and on the economy, locally and nationally. As the inspectorate notes on page 279, the mine will directly create 532 jobs, which will make a substantial contribution to local employment opportunities because they will be skilled and well-paid jobs. The employment, and indirect employment, that would follow will result in a significant contribution to the local and regional economy, with increased spending in local shops, facilities and services. In addition, the exportation of some of the coal to European markets will make a significant contribution to the UK balance of payments. It is therefore the case that granting the application is compliant with planning policy, and the social and economic benefits should be afforded substantial weight.

The inspector’s report makes a strong case, in a balanced way, for the granting of permission. After reading the inspector’s report in full, I am satisfied, in my role as Secretary of State, that it is the right thing to do to grant this planning application.

December 8, 2022
Lindsay Hoyle – 2022 Statement Following Breach of Ministerial Code by Michael Gove

The second statement (first statement) made by Lindsay Hoyle, the Speaker of the House of Commons, in the House on 8 December 2022.

I will suspend the House until 11.30, when we will have business questions. That will enable us to try to get a transcript of what has been said in the statement, so that all Members, whatever their opinions, can ask informed questions, as they would wish to. That is how we will play it: we will have business questions at 11.30, then we will come back to the statement. I am sorry about this; this is not the way to do good government.

December 8, 2022
Lindsay Hoyle – 2022 Statement on Michael Gove Breaking the Ministerial Code

The statement made by Lindsay Hoyle, the Speaker of the House of Commons, in the House on 8 December 2022.

Order. The statement I received was the thinnest ever, but the Minister has gone long. Between that and what the Opposition and I have been provided with, there is something missing, which is not in accordance with the ministerial code. We do not work like that. The shadow Secretary of State has not been able to read what has just been said. I am going to suspend the House in order to try to find out what is in the statement.

December 8, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : Northern Ireland Secretary writes to MLAs to confirm pay cut from 1 January 2023 [December 2022]

The press release issued by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on 8 December 2022.

The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, the Rt Hon Chris Heaton-Harris MP, has today written to Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) informing them their pay will be reduced by 27.5% from 1 January 2023.

The letter to MLAs follows yesterday’s failed recall of the Assembly and the Royal Assent of the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation etc) Act on Tuesday. In the letter, the Secretary of State details the pay cuts and describes his disappointment at being forced to take this step.

Through a Statutory Instrument laid yesterday, the Secretary of State will also extend the period for Executive formation to 19 January 2023.

Mr Heaton-Harris commented:

Yesterday’s debate at Stormont demonstrated the effect of Northern Ireland’s continued political stalemate. Instead of working together to deliver on the issues that matter most to people in NI, including a rising cost of living and the delayed energy payment scheme, elected representatives are in a state of stagnation.

At a time when the public rightly expect every pound of taxpayers’ money to be well spent, I am reducing MLA pay by 27.5%. This figure remains under review.

December 8, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : New Deal for Northern Ireland to showcase NI on the world stage [December 2022]
The press release issued by the Department for Northern Ireland on 8 December 2022.

Minister of State for Northern Ireland Steve Baker has today (8 December) visited Invest NI’s new offices in Seoul, South Korea to learn how government funding is boosting Northern Ireland’s profile in the Asia-Pacific region and helping to connect NI businesses to the world.
- Northern Ireland Minister of State Steve Baker visits South Korea to learn how New Deal funding is helping to connect NI to the world.
- £8 million funding from the New Deal for Northern Ireland has helped Invest NI expand NI’s presence from Seoul to Paris.
- New roles to identify and seek out opportunities for new international investment into NI and new trade opportunities for NI businesses.
Minister of State for Northern Ireland Steve Baker has today (8 December) visited Invest NI’s new offices in Seoul, South Korea to learn how government funding is boosting Northern Ireland’s profile in the Asia-Pacific region and helping to connect NI businesses to the world.

With £8 million funding from the New Deal for Northern Ireland, Invest NI is expanding Northern Ireland’s presence on the international stage as it supports NI businesses in new locations from Paris to Toronto, as well providing additional trade advisory support in their Belfast offices.

The new overseas roles are seeking out opportunities for potential new international investment into Northern Ireland from international companies and identifying new trade opportunities for NI companies to trade with businesses and suppliers across the globe.

The government funding has helped Invest NI establish a presence in one of the world’s largest economies for the first time, with two new staff based in South Korea. Co-located within the Foreign Commonwealth Development Offices (FCDO) in the British Embassy in Seoul, they will be focusing on developing FDI and Trade opportunities in key sectors such as Food & Drink, Aerospace and Financial & Professional Services. The South Korean expansion brings the total number of staff in the Asia – Pacific region to 23.

Commenting after visiting Invest NI’s offices, Minister of State for Northern Ireland Steve Baker said:

Invest NI is achieving important results for the Northern Ireland economy, and I’m delighted to see government funding helping to support Northern Ireland businesses and to meet some of those who are representing Northern Ireland’s interests on the international stage.

The New Deal for Northern Ireland demonstrates the government’s commitment to the people and businesses of Northern Ireland, with the funding helping to promote business interests and creating further opportunities for growth for Northern Ireland’s economy in new locations around the world.

Northern Ireland has a wealth of skills and expertise, in areas like software development, cyber security, FinTech and manufacturing, and I’m looking forward to learning more about the opportunities for Northern Ireland in South Korea, and the wider region, over the coming days.

With New Deal funding, Invest NI has also recruited additional staff in Europe, India, Middle East and Africa and other roles in Asia-Pacific. New roles are also planned for America, helping NI businesses to compete in the global market, driving growth and strengthening the Northern Ireland economy.

Commenting on recruitment, Invest NI Executive Director of International and Skills Steve Harper said:

Our new international staff will add to our already strong expertise and networks across the world and support the growth of our economy by attracting new FDI and assisting Northern Ireland companies to access new markets and grow their exports.

I am pleased to be in Seoul and to experience first-hand the work the team are already doing here. In the latest 12 month rolling period, NI goods exports to Asia Pacific increased by 10 per cent to £849million.

I am immensely proud of the world-class capabilities that Northern Ireland offers the world and our new team in South Korea will help us to build on this success in the coming years.

South Korea is one of the largest global economies and there is much that our countries have to offer one another. I look forward to a busy schedule of engagements throughout this visit programme, focused on building relations between Northern Ireland and South Korea.

Minister Baker met with the Invest NI team, businesses, stakeholders and diaspora during his visit, taking part in a series of meetings and events aimed at promoting Northern Ireland trade and investment as well as fostering bilateral relationships in South Korea and the wider region including exploring the strong ties between the cities Belfast and Sejong, partners in the Innovation Twinning programme.

David Bae, Country Manager for Invest Northern Ireland Seoul office said:

I am pleased to join Invest NI as it establishes a presence in South Korea for the first time.

We are already working with Northern Ireland companies and assisting them to research the Korean market, offering advice and guidance on business opportunities and sourcing potential sales partnerships which will help them grow their exports.

Part of my role will also be to attract new foreign direct investment to Northern Ireland and I very much look forward to supporting Invest NI to achieve this.

Invest NI are expected to complete recruitment in the remainder of their locations early in the new year as it looks to increase its in-market support for Northern Ireland businesses. This global expansion project will help Invest NI promote Northern Ireland’s economic interests abroad and support Northern Ireland businesses to strengthen the Northern Ireland economy.
December 8, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : AUKUS Defence Ministerial Joint Statement [December 2022]

The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 8 December 2022.

Joint statement on AUKUS from UK, US, and Australian defence ministers.

On December 7, 2022, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin hosted the Honourable Richard Marles MP, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, Australia, and the Right Honourable Ben Wallace, Secretary of State for Defence, United Kingdom, at the Pentagon to discuss the Australia-United Kingdom-United States Security Partnership (AUKUS).

The Secretary of Defense, Deputy Prime Minister, and Secretary of State for Defence reviewed the significant progress to date on the trilateral effort to support Australia’s acquisition of conventionally-armed, nuclear powered submarines and the trilateral development of advanced capabilities. They emphasised that AUKUS will make a positive contribution to peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region by enhancing deterrence. The Secretaries and Deputy Prime Minister expressed their confidence in continued progress ahead of the end of the 18-month consultation period regarding naval nuclear propulsion and announcement on the optimal pathway by the President and Prime Ministers in early 2023.

The Secretaries and Deputy Prime Minister highlighted the exceptional progress that has been made on trilateral efforts to identify the optimal path for Australia to acquire conventionally-armed, nuclear powered submarine capability at the earliest possible date. They reiterated their shared commitment to set and uphold the highest standards for nuclear nonproliferation, and welcomed the ongoing, extensive and productive engagement that has been carried out with the International Atomic Energy Agency to date.

The Secretaries and Deputy Prime Minister endorsed efforts to orient capability development to accelerate near-term delivery of technologies that will meet our militaries’ requirements to enhance capability and increase interoperability. These include initiatives for advanced trilateral maritime undersea intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities and use of each country’s autonomous systems to enhance maritime domain awareness. They further noted the role recent exercises have played in demonstrating and testing advanced capabilities, and approved plans to pursue additional demonstrations of several collaborative initiatives—including hypersonic and autonomous systems—in the 2023-2024 timeframe and beyond.

Trilateral capability development will benefit from targeted engagement with defence industry and academic communities within and across our national ecosystems. The three countries intend to intensify engagement with these communities beginning in calendar year 2023. Deeper government, academic, and defence industrial base cooperation on advanced systems will require sustained efforts to continue to improve information and technology sharing. The Secretaries and Deputy Prime Minister reaffirmed their commitment to ongoing work within national systems to enable more robust sharing in these areas.

The Secretaries and Deputy Prime Minister committed to continued openness and transparency with international partners on AUKUS. They further emphasised that AUKUS is a strategic partnership focused on enhancing regional stability and safeguarding a free and open Indo-Pacific where conflicts are resolved peacefully and without coercion. They confirmed that AUKUS will complement AUKUS partners’ engagement with existing regional architecture, including ASEAN and the Pacific Islands Forum.

December 8, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : Putin must immediately cease attacks on Ukraine’s civilians – UK statement to the OSCE [December 2022]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 8 December 2022.

Ambassador Neil Bush says that Russia is trying to break Ukrainian resolve through its brutal attacks on civilians, hospitals and energy infrastructure.

Thank you, Mr Chair. And a warm welcome to Foreign Minister Landsbergis to the Permanent Council. The UK agrees with your assessment. We agree on the need for the international community to step up support to Ukraine so that it can win this war. We agree on the need to hold the Russian government to account for flagrant breaches of international law. And we agree on the need for the OSCE’s continued support to Ukraine and for this organisation to emerge stronger from this crisis.

Mr Chair, since October, the UK and others have repeatedly come together to condemn President Putin’s attacks on Ukraine’s civilians and critical national infrastructure. Sadly, this week is no exception.

This Monday, as the temperature in Kyiv dipped below freezing, Russia launched its latest round of missiles, targeting energy infrastructure and hitting residential buildings. According to President Zelenskyy, while Ukraine shot down ‘most of them’, the missiles which did land killed four people and caused power cuts across Ukraine. In Odesa, a missile strike cut power to pumping stations, leaving the entire city without water. We heard reports of doctors having to perform emergency surgery with flashlights, barely meeting hygiene protocols due to lack of water as a result of power outages. Sadly this is not new, but neither should it be accepted as normal. Russia would like to push Ukraine back into the dark ages. We need to ensure that Russia fails.

Mr Chair, Russia’s systematic targeting of critical infrastructure since 10 October has damaged over 400 energy facilities. According to the World Health Organisation, this winter will be ‘life-threatening’ to millions of people in Ukraine. Cold weather can kill – and temperatures are predicted to plummet as low as minus 20 ˚C in parts of Ukraine over the coming months.

In addition, as of 5 December, Russia has conducted 630 attacks on healthcare facilities in Ukraine. Its latest missile attacks on energy infrastructure are further degrading Ukraine’s health system and compounding the impact on the most vulnerable. Maternity wards need incubators. Blood banks need refrigerators. Intensive care beds need ventilators. They all require energy.

Mr Chair, Russia’s intent is clear. It is trying to break Ukrainian resolve through its brutal attacks on civilians, hospitals and energy infrastructure over the cold, hard winter months. It is trying to crush the Ukrainian people’s spirit. Russia will fail.

As Russia well knows – intentionally directing attacks at civilians and civilian objects is not just deeply inhumane, but also violates international humanitarian law. Russia must observe its obligations under international humanitarian law and the UN Charter. If Russia is serious about a diplomatic end to its barbaric war, the path forward is simple: Russia needs to immediately withdraw all of its forces illegally present in Ukraine and cease attacks against Ukraine, including critical national infrastructure and innocent civilians.

Mr Chair, we remain deeply humbled by the bravery and the resilience of the Ukrainian people. They are paying a monstrously high price to defend the principles of sovereignty and democracy. Principles that the OSCE was founded on. Principles which are now being undermined by Russia’s unprovoked and illegal invasion. The UK and the international community must not – and will not – let Ukraine face this hardship alone. This is why my Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary have both visited Kyiv in recent weeks to demonstrate the UK’s commitment to stand with Ukraine. The UK is providing additional air defence capabilities to Ukraine, to defend against Russia’s brutal missile attacks and we are stepping up humanitarian support to ensure Ukrainians can make it through the difficult winter ahead.

And to Ukraine and the Ukrainian people – know that your friends stand with you on this difficult journey. We will not let you face this winter alone.

December 8, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : Glasgow engineer, John Gerard McGarvey, banned for £100k Bounce Back Loan abuse [December 2022]

The press release issued by HM Treasury on 8 December 2022.

John Gerard McGarvey, 37, from Rutherglen, has been disqualified as a director for 11 years after claiming two separate Bounce Back Loans totalling £100,000, and then using the money for personal benefit.

McGarvey was the sole director of CKO Civil Engineering and Surveying Limited, which was incorporated in October 2019 and ran as a surveyor’s firm based in Kirkinitlloch in Scotland until it went into liquidation in November 2021.

CKO applied for a Bounce Back Loan of £50,000 in July 2020, with McGarvey stating the company had a previous year’s turnover of £225,000.

Bounce Back Loans were government-backed loans introduced to support businesses through the pandemic. Under the rules of the scheme, companies could apply for loans of up to 25% of their 2019 turnover, allowing them to borrow from £2,000 to a maximum of £50,000, as long as the money was to be used for the economic benefit of the business.

Businesses were not allowed to apply for an additional loan unless they had originally borrowed less than the maximum amount.

But CKO applied for a second Bounce Back Loan of £50,000 just four weeks later, in August 2020. This time McGarvey applied to a different bank and stated that the business had a previous year’s turnover of £218,000.

The company struggled to survive post-Covid, and went into liquidation owing around £183,000, which triggered an Investigation by the Insolvency Service.

Investigators discovered that McGarvey had applied for two loans – which was against the rules of the scheme – and had exaggerated CKO’s turnover both times. The company’s most recent accounts showed a turnover of only around £46,400.

They also discovered that McGarvey had used the full £100,000 for his own gain, rather than to support his business.

The Secretary of State accepted a disqualification undertaking from John Gerard McGarvey after he did not dispute he caused CKO to receive two Bounce Back Loans totalling £100,000 to which the business wasn’t entitled, and then used money for his personal benefit, rather than for the economic benefit of the business.

His disqualification started on 28 October this year and lasts for 11 years.

The disqualification undertaking prevents McGarvey from directly, or indirectly, becoming involved in the promotion, formation or management of a company, without the permission of the court.

Steven McGinty, Investigation Manager, said:

“Not only did John McGarvey grossly exaggerate the company’s turnover to secure an initial loan, he also applied to a second bank for another loan his company wasn’t entitled to. To compound his actions, he used the money for his personal gain.

“His 11-year ban should serve as a warning that if you abuse government support, we will use our full powers to bring you to account.”

December 8, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : Australia, Canada and USA sign up to UK’s vision for a stronger 5G supply chain [December 2022]

The press release issued by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport on 8 December 2022.

International allies issue joint statement on ensuring the resilience and security of global telecoms supply chains and future 6G networks.

Australia, Canada and the United States have backed guidelines for telecoms companies, developed by the UK, designed to build a more innovative, competitive and secure supply of equipment for telecoms networks, including for 5G and 6G.

The three nations are the first to endorse the UK’s principles for the development of Open RAN – a new breed of telecoms kit which allows providers to ‘mix and match’ solutions from multiple vendors which is not possible under current network setups.

The joint statement will send a clear signal to telecoms firms across the globe about how the four countries would like to see the benefits of Open RAN realised.

The move will boost efforts to reduce the world’s dependency on a small number of telecoms companies to build and maintain 5G and future networks, and help open up the global market to new entrants.

5G connectivity will revolutionise people’s daily lives and boost business productivity through much faster internet speeds, as well as underpinning new technologies such as driverless cars, improved artificial intelligence and precision healthcare.

Digital Infrastructure Minister Julia Lopez said:

We are investing £250 million to put the UK at the forefront of 5G innovation so more people and businesses can benefit from improved and secure connectivity.

The UK has set out a blueprint for telecoms firms across the world to design more open and secure networks. With the endorsement of Australia, Canada and the United States, the industry now has the clarity it needs to deliver a new generation of wireless infrastructure fit for the future.

The joint statement coincides with the one-year anniversary of the 2021 Prague Proposals on Telecommunications Supplier Diversity and goes one step further by setting out an intention to collaborate across a number of areas, ranging from sharing information on respective approaches to telecoms diversification, through to research and development.

This partnership will not only help secure current networks, but also future networks looking towards 6G and beyond.

The 5G Supply Chain Diversification Strategy, published November 2020 and backed by the £250 million Open Networks Fund, sets out where the government will remove barriers for new vendors, invest in open and interoperable solutions such as Open RAN and work with like-minded countries to achieve the shared aim for secure and resilient telecoms supply chains.

Strong progress has been made since publication of the UK’s Diversification Strategy, with the government announcing research and development interventions such as the Future RAN Competition (FRANC) which will see up to £36 million of funding made available, and the SmartRAN Open Network Interoperability Centre (SONIC) which opened its doors in June 2021.

The government has previously announced a joint ambition with UK mobile network operators to increase the share of open and interoperable equipment in UK networks to 35 per cent by 2030, and positive progress has been seen from industry since then with, for example, Vodafone and Telefonica deploying their first live Open RAN sites using new market entrants.

Claire O’Neil MP, Australia Minister for Home Affairs and Minister for Cyber Security, said:

This Joint Statement underscores Australia’s continued commitment to working alongside some of our closest international partners to cooperate on areas of mutual interest and concern, including on the security and resilience of telecommunication.

December 8, 2022