Tag: 2022

PRESS RELEASE : Historic devolution deals transfer building, regeneration and skills powers to level up Suffolk and Norfolk [December 2022]
The press release issued by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities on 8 December 2022.

Over £1 billion will be guaranteed to Suffolk and Norfolk to invest in their communities as the Levelling Up Secretary signs landmark devolution deals.
- Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove is in Bury St Edmunds and Norwich today to sign historic county devolution deals
- Proposed deals see money and power leave Whitehall as new directly elected leaders are handed greater control of building, regeneration, and skills delivery
- Over £1 billion will be guaranteed to Suffolk and Norfolk to invest in their communities
- More than 50% of England will now be covered by a directly elected leader – showing important progress since the Levelling Up White Paper
Historic devolution deals which transfer money and power over building, regeneration and skills into the hands of local leaders in Suffolk and Norfolk will be signed by Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove today.

Suffolk and Norfolk will be devolved power over their Adult Education budget, so they can shape provision in a way that best suits the needs of residents and the local community, get immediate support to build new affordable homes on brownfield sites, handed new powers to help drive regeneration, and receive more capital funding to spend as they see fit.

The deals will also see well over a billion pounds combined handed out to Suffolk and Norfolk, with the huge investment funds guaranteed for the next three decades. This will give each region the ability to drive growth and plan for the long-term with certainty as they look to level up and unlock their economic potential.

From May 2024, both counties will directly elect the leader of the council, which not only provides a single person accountable to local people but gives them a champion for their areas who can attract investment and be a stronger voice in discussions with central government.

The Levelling Up Secretary will attend signing ceremonies in both Suffolk and Norfolk as he continues to lead the government’s devolution revolution. Last week saw Cornwall sign its own devolution deal with the government, unlocking powers and long-term funding of £360 million. Deals agreed with Suffolk and Norfolk mean that 50% of England will now be covered by a devolution deal and reaffirms the government’s commitment in the Levelling Up White Paper to offer a devolution deal to any area that wants one by 2030.

Speaking ahead of deal signing ceremonies in Suffolk and Norfolk today, Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove MP said:

Empowering strong local leadership is key to levelling up and ensuring we spread opportunity and unlock the economic potential of communities across the country.

I am delighted to sign two further historic deals for Suffolk and Norfolk that will see communities handed hundreds of millions of pounds to use as they – not Whitehall – see fit.

Ultimately it is local people who know what is best for their areas and it is my job to make sure local leaders have the levers to address the issues unique to them.

Cllr Matthew Hicks, Leader of Suffolk County Council, said:

This devolution deal is the first of its kind between the Government and a county council, making it a truly historic moment for Suffolk. The deal recognises Suffolk’s ambitions, would put more powers in the hands of local people and bring more than half a billion pounds of investment into the county.

On the table are greater decision-making powers around transport, infrastructure, skills and more resources to help us achieve our net zero ambitions. Ultimately, this significant additional investment will improve the lives and outcomes of Suffolk’s residents.

Devolution is a journey, not a one-off event. This deal for Suffolk is the first step towards an exciting future for our great county.

Norfolk County Council leader, Councillor Andrew Proctor, said:

I’m delighted that Norfolk is well positioned to gain additional powers and money to improve people’s lives, thanks to the County Deal we have agreed in principle with the Government.

The aim is for decisions and funding previously controlled in Westminster to be agreed in Norfolk, for Norfolk.

Striking a deal will help us to boost our economy through jobs, training, housing and development, to improve our transport network and to support our environment.

Getting to this point shows that the Government sees Norfolk as a can-do county. I’m confident that we can make a success of this and that more powers and funding would follow.

The proposed deals will include:
- Suffolk deal: Suffolk will receive control of a £480 million investment fund over 30 years, as well as a multi-year transport settlement at the next Spending Review. The deal will unlock almost £6 million to regenerate brownfield land into affordable and beautiful homes, £3 million to improve energy efficiency and renewable generation in homes, and hand Suffolk greater compulsory purchase powers to help with regeneration. Suffolk will also be handed control over their Adult Education Budget.
- Norfolk deal: Norfolk is set to receive a £600 million investment fund over the same period, with almost £7 million to support regeneration of brownfield sites into affordable and beautiful homes for local people. They will also receive £5.9 million of capital funding in this Spending Review period to support the delivery of housing, regeneration, and development priorities, as well as control over their Adult Education Budget.
These deals are just the first steps in transferring power away from Whitehall into areas that want them. The East Anglian agreements mean that six of 13 places invited to negotiate devolution deals in the Levelling Up White Paper have now signed agreements with government. Suffolk and Norfolk join Cornwall, York and North Yorkshire, and the East Midlands as areas who have signed devolution deals this year – these deals equate to another five million people being covered by a devolution deal in 2022 alone.

The new deals are now subject to local consultation, a council resolution to change their governance model so that electors directly elect the council leader, and elements, such as the transfer of new powers, require parliamentary approval to secondary legislation. The deals envisage the election of the directly elected leaders in May 2024. Subject to the passing of the relevant measures in the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill, Suffolk and Norfolk would call the directly elected person the “elected leader” of the County Council.
December 8, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : £490 million skills training boost to help get more people into jobs [December 2022]
The press release issued by the Department for Education on 8 December 2022.

Multimillion pound investment to radically improve university and college facilities and provide better teaching for students.

Students are to benefit from state-of-the-art medical suites along with cutting edge engineering and science labs, in a multimillion-pound investment in university and college facilities.

Universities and colleges across England will benefit from almost £490 million, giving their students access to world-class facilities and enabling them to offer more high-quality training opportunities that will set them on a path to a great career.

One hundred colleges and universities have today (8 December) been awarded a share of £432 million to invest over the next three years in state-of-the-art facilities and equipment and help level up more opportunities for people to gain the skills they need to progress.

Meanwhile, £57 million has also been awarded to 20 higher education providers for 2022/23, who specialise in areas including science, agriculture, business as well as creative and performing arts. This funding will support them to offer a wider range of high-quality courses including specialist courses in cancer research, public health and tropical diseases.

The Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, said

Investing in education and skills will unlock future growth, boost productivity and help build the skilled workforce of the future.

That’s why we’re spending £490 million to support high-quality teaching and world class facilities in universities and colleges right across the country.

Whether it’s in aerospace engineering or green tech, this funding will provide young people with the support they need to build a great career.

Education Secretary Gillian Keegan said:

This investment is about making sure students get the highest quality training in key subjects which are driving economic growth. That means access to top of the range facilities which prepare people for the workplace, filling skills gaps and levelling up the whole country.

From Yeovil to Durham, we are backing the industries of the future and giving people the skills they need to succeed.

Students will have access to high-quality training environments in vital subjects including engineering, medicine and science that will help get more people into jobs with higher wages, plug local skills gaps and support economic growth.

Projects include:
- Yeovil College has been awarded £1.2m to invest in facilities and equipment for the teaching of hydrogen cell technology in aerospace engineering, to ensure students can learn and retrain at the forefront of developments in cell technology and net-zero.
- Bradford College has been awarded £5.8m for their Garden Mills project, which will create flexible training and educational facilities for digital, science, and allied health subjects.
- Grantham College has been awarded £1.08m to refurbish and outfit an engineering innovation centre with cutting-edge mechanical, manufacturing and hydraulics engineering equipment and will enable them to run a new suite of higher education short courses in high demand subjects.
- The Centre for Health and Social Equity at the University of Northumbria at Newcastle has been awarded £5.8m to support nursing and incorporate clinical skills laboratories, simulation wards, home environment rooms, and specialist areas for midwifery and allied health subjects
- £5.8m for a new design and engineering facility at the University of Plymouth that will improve the teaching capacity and capabilities as part of the university’s investment in STEM teaching.
Susan Lapworth, chief executive of the OfS, said:

Investing in modern buildings and innovative equipment will help universities and colleges in England prepare students for their future careers. Modern labs and state of the art technology help students learn with the best facilities. The investment will also increase the provision of short courses that provide flexibility to boost the skills of the workforce.

Competition for funding was strong, with high-quality applications from across the sector. The OfS-funded projects will ensure current and future students have a positive experience while studying expensive-to-deliver subjects that are strategically important to society. Taxpayers will feel these benefits too, as the investment will boost local and regional economies and support environmental sustainability.

The multi-million pound investment allocated today builds on the £150 million provided to higher education providers by the OfS in 2021/22 which has supported projects including:
- Aston University that received more than £80 million to support the development of high-quality, cutting-edge, clinical simulation facilities for Aston Medical School and Aston Pharmacy School.
- The University of Warwick was awarded more than £1.5 million to invest in five initiatives to support its STEM Grand Challenge to enhance current and future teaching and learning of students in STEM disciplines, including undergraduate, postgraduate taught and degree apprenticeships, and creating new cross-faculty programmes.
- Coventry University was also awarded £2 million to complete and equip a new build to house allied health courses and allow for the growth of nursing and allied health courses.
December 8, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : We can and should go further to reduce air pollution says Chief Medical Officer [December 2022]
The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 8 December 2022.
Professor Chris Whitty recognises progress in reducing outdoor air pollution but stresses England needs to go further, and says tackling indoor air pollution should now also be a priority

The wide-ranging report on air pollution makes 15 recommendations across a range of sectors, including transport, urban planning, industry and agriculture

We can and should go further to reduce air pollution – and it is technically possible to do so, says England’s Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Professor Chris Whitty, in his annual report published today (Thursday 8 December 2022).

Outdoor air pollution in England has reduced significantly since the 1980s – but it still poses significant health threats including increasing heart disease, stroke, lung disease, cancer and asthma exacerbation. It also leads to increased mortality and is associated with impacts on lung development in children.

The report – Professor Chris Whitty’s third as CMO – highlights the improvements made to outdoor air pollution and offers solutions to continue progress.

It says that indoor air pollution is becoming an increasing proportion of the overall problem as outdoor air pollution improves.

The CMO’s recommendations on outdoor air pollution include:

accelerating the electrification of light vehicles and public transport

innovation to reduce air pollution from non-exhaust sources such as tyres, and the need for a greater range of options for reducing air pollution from heavy and specialised vehicles

local urban planning should support reducing air pollution locally – such as reducing air pollution near schools and healthcare settings

in agriculture, ammonia air pollution emissions could be reduced through modified farming practices, such as applying slurry directly to soil

the NHS has committed to halving its contribution to poor air quality within a decade

According to the report people spend around 80% of their time indoors, whether for work, study or leisure. Many indoor spaces are public, and people do not have a choice about spending time in them. Despite this, indoor air pollution has been studied less than outdoors.

For indoor air pollution, the CMO’s recommendations include:

addressing a major engineering challenge – ensuring effective ventilation while minimising energy use and heat loss. This is a priority for reducing indoor air pollution while achieving net zero carbon

increased research into tackling indoor air pollution including finding ways to reduce sources of indoor air pollution

Professor Chris Whitty, Chief Medical Officer, said:

Everyone is affected by air pollution, and it is everyone’s problem.

Air pollution has improved and will continue improving provided we are active in tackling it. We can and should go further – and it is technically possible to do so.

The CMO’s report includes a chapter with case studies of 3 cities in England – Birmingham, Bradford and London.

Each of these cities has had significant challenges around air pollution and has taken slightly different approaches to tackle it. These have included integrating actions including around transport, urban planning and design, reducing pollution around schools and monitoring at a city level.

The CMO’s report last year was on health in coastal communities, while his 2020 report looked at health trends and variation in England.

Sarah Woolnough, Chief Executive of Asthma + Lung UK said:

This report by the CMO should act as a rallying call to tackle air pollution. From our very first breath, air pollution has a significant impact on our health. Toxic air not only puts people at risk of potentially life-threatening asthma attacks and dangerous COPD flare-ups, it can also lead to the development of lung conditions including lung cancer.

Chris Whitty is right to highlight the devastating impacts of air pollution and it is now vital that meaningful steps are taken to protect public health from this invisible threat. This includes schemes that work to get the most polluting vehicles off our roads.

Dr Charmaine Griffiths, Chief Executive of the British Heart Foundation, said:

We’re pleased to see the CMO focusing on air pollution in his annual report this year. Research the British Heart Foundation has funded has helped to show just how damaging air pollution can be to our cardiovascular health.

We have the tools and understanding to make better air quality a reality but we need to do more. Making sure this report’s recommendations are implemented will help to clean up the air in all our communities and deliver real improvements to the nation’s health.

Cancer Research UK’s chief executive, Michelle Mitchell, said:

We welcome the CMO putting air pollution in the spotlight with this report. Although smoking remains by far the biggest cause of cancer in the UK, air pollution increases the risk of lung cancer in both people with and without a history of smoking – causing almost 1 in 10 lung cancer cases in the UK. With more ambition and a willingness to tackle air pollution head on, we know that this can be different.

Air pollution is one of the biggest environmental threats to health in the UK, and although substantial progress has been made to reduce harmful levels of pollutants, more needs to be done. The adoption of national and local strategies will be vital in reducing indoor and outdoor air pollution across the country. But that has to start with the UK government making a bold long-term commitment to a reduction in air pollution.

Dr Sarah Clarke, president of the Royal College of Physicians (RCP), said:

Air pollution is a growing and significant public health challenge and we strongly welcome the Chief Medical Officer making this the focus of his annual report for 2022.

The RCP has been highlighting the harmful impacts of air pollution on health since 2016, when we published our report Every Breath We Take with the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health. We estimated then that around 40,000 deaths were attributable to outdoor air pollution, and since then a coroner found it to be a cause of death for the first time, that of 9-year-old Ella Adoo Kissi Debrah.

The CMO’s report is an important contribution that makes clear why we must be proactive and ambitious in our efforts to improve both outdoor and indoor air quality for everyone.
December 8, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : Government increases hearing capacity to speed up immigration cases [December 2022]
The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 8 December 2022.

Thousands more immigration cases will be heard over the next few months, speeding up decisions on removing people with no right to be in the UK.
increased capacity for immigration and asylum tribunals to hear up to 9,000 more cases

appeals often follow decisions by Home Office on asylum and deportation

investment will reduce waiting time for thousands of legal decisions

By increasing the number of days tribunals can operate, backed by £5 million of government investment, up to 9,000 more immigration and asylum cases will be heard before the end of March.

This will speed up the process for people waiting for their cases to be heard and reduce the waiting time for legal decisions. This includes appeals to the tribunal on cases from failed asylum seekers, for example those have made Channel crossings if the Home Office has denied their initial asylum claim as well as those claiming that being forced to leave the UK would breach their human rights.

Allowing judges in the Immigration and Asylum Chamber to hear more cases will help address the 25,000 cases currently in the system.

Deputy Prime Minister, Lord Chancellor and Justice Secretary Dominic Raab said:

This investment will allow judges to hear many more cases across our immigration and asylum tribunals over the next 3 months.

It means decisions can be made more quickly, helping us tackle the backlog, ensure justice is served, and remove those who are not eligible.

Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick MP said:

Additional asylum and immigration cases being heard in the courts is hugely welcomed and is an important part of the government’s effort to tackle illegal immigration.

Faster decisions will enable us to speed up the removal of those with no right to be here, strengthen deterrence against those seeking to abuse our system and focus our efforts on those in genuine need.

The decision follows the nationwide rollout of asylum casework pilot by the Home Office which successfully cut the wait time for first interviews by 40 percent and increased decisions.

The increase on days the judges can operate also applies to Employment Tribunals, with a £2.85 million investment to allow up to 1,700 more cases to come before judges before by the end of March 2023.

In total, as many as 10,700 extra immigration and employment cases could be heard in the next 3 months, funded by the total £8 million of investment.

It comes after the Crown Court was also allowed to work at full capacity for the second year in a row – meaning more trials can take place and ensure victims have the swifter justice they deserve.
December 8, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : 10 days to claim pension credit and qualify for extra £324 [December 2022]
The press release issued by the Department for Work and Pensions on 8 December 2022.
- Minister for Pensions Laura Trott urges pensioners to check if they qualify for Pension Credit
- Claims can be made online and over the phone, with the Pension Credit calculator on hand to help pensioners see if they’re likely to be eligible and get an estimate of what they may receive.
Minister for Pensions Laura Trott is today calling on pensioners across the country to check if they are entitled to Pension Credit as soon as possible to ensure they stand the best chance of qualifying for an extra £324 cost of living payment.

Checking eligibility and applying by 18 December 2022 – just ten days away – will mean pensioners could also receive a £324 boost thanks to Pension Credit backdating rules.

This is because successful Pension Credit claims can be backdated for up to 3 months – as long as the applicant was also eligible to receive it during that time. The average Pension Credit award is worth over £3,500 a year and even a small Pension Credit award can provide access to a wide range of other benefits – such as help with housing costs, council tax or heating bills – in addition to the extra cost of living payments.

Minister for Pensions Laura Trott said:

The run up to Christmas is always a busy time, but one thing to make sure that’s on your list over the coming days is to find out whether you or your loved ones could be eligible for Pension Credit.

Pension Credit can make a real difference and I am determined to make sure this support – worth an average of £3,500 per year – is reaching everyone who needs it.

Pension Credit is designed to help people over State Pension age and on a low income with daily living costs, though you do not need to be in receipt of State Pension to receive it.

It tops up a person’s income to a minimum of £182.60 per week for single pensioners and to £278.70 for couples.
To ensure that a successful backdated claim falls within the qualifying period for the extra £324 cost of living help, eligible pensioners are being urged to claim Pension Credit as soon as possible, and by no later than 18 December 2022.

Currently, around 1.4 million pensioners in Britain receive Pension Credit. However, many are still not claiming this extra financial help.

One of those who recently claimed is Arthur from Lincolnshire. After learning about Pension Credit from his neighbour, Arthur successfully applied by calling the Pension Credit claim line on 0800 99 1234.

Arthur said:

Highly delighted with the Pension Credit award we received – the money was quicker arriving than expected and all in all very pleased with the result. I’d really encourage other pensioners to check if they’re eligible – it’s made a real difference to me.

Pension Credit can be claimed by phone and online, ensuring that older people can apply safely and easily, wherever they are. The online Pension Credit calculator is also on hand to help pensioners check if they’re likely to be eligible and get an estimate of what they may receive.
December 8, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : Facilitating civil society access to enrich the work of the UN [December 2022]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 7 December 2022.

Statement by Rebecca Russo, UK Senior Policy Advisor, at the ECOSOC meeting on non-governmental organizations.

Thank you Madam President,

The UK welcomes the decision tabled by the United States to provide accreditation to these nine additional NGOs. These are legitimate NGOs that have faced repeated arbitrary deferrals for politicised reasoning for years, one as long as 14 years! This is despite adequately answering every, often repetitive question. Such endless deferrals demonstrate that some Committee members continue to abuse its working methods – yet another example of reprisals against NGOs seeking to work with the UN. We are therefore grateful that these NGOs have been brought forward for decision.

We were disappointed by the extensive misinformation that was spread ahead of today’s accreditation vote. ECOSOC is the parent body of the NGO Committee and therefore governs the Committee’s working methods. According to the rules and procedures, the Committee makes recommendations to ECOSOC for their consideration. Any suggestion that this decision bypasses or supersedes the NGO Committee is false. Tabling a decision in this way is a legitimate course of action with established precedent. The UK was therefore happy to cosponsor.

We would have preferred that such action not be required, that we could have worked fairly through the Committee. But the actions of a minority of member states have made it impossible for the Committee to work effectively, time and again.

Civil society voices are essential for the work we do at the UN and we will not tolerate attempts to shut them out.

We therefore encourage member states to vote in support of this decision.

December 8, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : Defence Secretary joins AUKUS partners in landmark first meeting [December 2022]

The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 7 December 2022.

UK Defence leaders have visited Washington to hold talks with US and Australian partners.

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace met with US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister of Australia Richard Marles today for the first meeting of the AUKUS defence ministers.

AUKUS is a trilateral security partnership announced in September 2021, comprising Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

Meeting at the Pentagon in Washington D.C., all three nations reiterated their shared commitment to the partnership and reviewed progress on identifying a conventionally armed, nuclear‑powered submarine for the Royal Australian Navy.

They also agreed plans for joint military exercises in 2023 and 2024 which will further enhance partners’ abilities to operate together.

UK Secretary of State for Defence Ben Wallace said:

This first trilateral meeting is a landmark moment in the AUKUS partnership.

AUKUS reflects the unique level of trust and cooperation the UK shares with its US and Australian partners, and I look forward to enhancing our technologies and capabilities together.

Discussions also covered the development of advanced capabilities including hypersonic weapons and undersea intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities.

Deputy Prime Minister the Hon. Richard Marles of Australia said:

AUKUS is a partnership built on trust, commitment and determination in the service of a secure and stable Indo-Pacific.

Together we hope to be able to progress developments in advanced capabilities and discuss the optimal pathway for Australia to acquire nuclear-powered submarines.

US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said:

We announced this historic endeavor in September 2021, and the need for AUKUS is even clearer today.

More than ever, our three countries share a similar outlook on the key challenges and opportunities confronting our world.

The Defence Secretary and his counterparts also committed to continued transparency with international partners on AUKUS, emphasising that the partnership will complement existing security partnerships in the Indo-Pacific such as the Association of Southeast Asia Nations (ASEAN) and engage closely with them.

A Joint Statement was issued following the meeting outlining AUKUS’ progress so far, as well as future commitments.

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace also conducted bilateral talks with his US and Australian counterparts.

Speaking with US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, the Defence Secretary welcomed the publication of the new US National Defense Strategy which provides a narrative on Russia and China which strongly aligns with the UK’s own Integrated Review.

The Defence Secretary thanked Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister of Australia Richard Marles for the decision to deploy Australian Defence Force personnel to the UK to support the UK-led training programme for the Armed Forces of Ukraine, which will commence in January 2023. The pair also discussed opportunities for even greater defence collaboration between the UK and Australia, in addition to the AUKUS partnership.

The Chief of Defence Staff, Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, and the Ministry of Defence’ Permanent Secretary David Williams were also in Washington for the AUKUS trilateral meeting. Both had separate meetings with their counterparts to discuss US-UK nuclear cooperation, support to Ukraine, and progress on the AUKUS partnership.

December 8, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : Mortgage lenders’ commitments to borrowers [December 2022]
The press release issued by the Treasury on 7 December 2022.

Rising costs and interest rates across the economy are a cause of concern for consumers in many areas of their lives, but the government understands that mortgage borrowers may be particularly worried about increases to their monthly mortgage payment, which is likely to be their largest monthly outgoing payment.

Today, 7th December, the Chancellor met with leaders of the UK’s major mortgage lenders, the Chair of the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), and Martin Lewis of Money Saving Expert. They discussed how lenders provide support for those who encounter problems paying their mortgage.

At the meeting, lenders committed to help all their customers by:
- enabling customers who are up to date with payments to switch to a new competitive, mortgage deal without another affordability test (see further information 1)
- providing well-timed information to help customers plan ahead should their current rate be due to end
- offering tailored support to those who start to struggle with payments which will vary by lender, but may include extending the term of the mortgage to make monthly payments lower, a short term reduction in monthly payments or accepting interest-only payments for a period where appropriate (see further information 2)
- ensuring highly trained and experienced staff are on hand to help where needed
The government confirmed:
- action to make Support for Mortgage Interest easier to access; if you are on Universal Credit you may be able to receive help with your mortgage interest payments after three months
- record levels of funding for the Money and Pensions Service to provide debt advice in England
The FCA announced:
- a consultation on draft guidance clarifying how lenders can support borrowers impacted by the rising cost of living
- information for borrowers on the options and support available if they are struggling with payment
Sound money and a stable economy are the best ways to deliver lower mortgage rates, more jobs and long-term growth. Economic stability relies on fiscal sustainability and the Autumn Statement delivered on 17th November puts the public finances onto a sustainable footing, with debt falling.

Mortgage lenders, the FCA and the government will continue working closely together to ensure that the mortgage market works well for all homeowners, in particular those facing financial difficulty. Discussions will continue to take place with lenders on what more they are able to do to inform and support their customers going forward. However, if you are worried about making your mortgage repayments, it is important to speak to your lender as soon as possible.

Martin Lewis, founder of MoneySavingExpert.com, said:

“The major concern for people’s mortgages – and the knock-on impact of mortgage increases on rents – is the situation in the spring, when we expect interest rates to be higher, energy prices to be rising, and other cost of living impacts.

“So the most important thing is that now the conversations have started about what flexibility and forbearance measures can be put in place to help those struggling. The commitments today set a good direction, and after helpful conversations I’m hopeful that further progress will be made. For those worried about making mortgage repayments, the sooner you communicate with your lender the better.”

Debbie Crosbie, CEO of Nationwide Building Society, said:

“We are a mutual and helping members buy and stay in their home is central to what we do. We’ve reduced rates for those reaching the end of their deals so they can access a fixed rate below 5%, regardless of LTV or tenure. For additional support, our options include term extensions and forbearance tailored to individual circumstances. We’ve also given an additional £1 million to debt charities and partners to support people in financial hardship.”

David Duffy, CEO of Virgin Money, said:

“We know that many of our customers will have to make difficult decisions in the current economic environment, and we are being proactive in offering our support to those in need. Today’s commitments represent an important step in ensuring that consumers are well supported in the coming period.”

Matt Hammerstein, CEO of Barclays UK, said:

“We are committed to helping every borrower manage their repayments while adjusting to the current environment. The announcements made by the Government and mortgage lenders today to ensure support is available for those who may or do encounter challenges making mortgage payments, both now and in the future, are a critical part of that.

“At Barclays, we always work with our customers to find any feasible way to keep them in their home, which is why we have a dedicated team who are trained to offer dedicated and tailored support to each individual borrower, using a wide range of support options. We also have a variety of tools and information available to help customers directly manage their finances and stay in control, as we know some prefer to do that on their own, including information on what steps to take if they are struggling. We also know some customers may be more comfortable speaking to an independent third party, so we also help customers be in touch with our debt advice partners, including Citizens Advice, StepChange and the National Debtline.”

Mike Regnier, CEO of Santander UK, said:

“We welcome HM Treasury’s involvement to support mortgage borrowers through the challenges posed by the increase in cost of living and are keen to continue to work collaboratively with the Government, supervisors, and the wider industry on this issue.

“We remain fully committed to supporting customers who may face additional pressures on their finances over the months ahead.”

Alison Rose, CEO of NatWest Group, said

“Through these incredibly difficult times it is our priority to support people, families and businesses throughout the country and help navigate them through this economic uncertainty. We encourage anyone who is experiencing financial difficulty or is just worried about the future to get in touch and talk to us. We have highly trained colleagues who are there to listen, understand and work with them to find a way forward.

“Support for our customers will be tailored to their individual needs, and could include such things as forbearance, breathing space, repayment plans, or if it’s right and affordable for the customer, extending a mortgage term to spread payments or a temporary switch to an interest only mortgage. We have proactively contacted customers 8 million times so far this year to help them to get more control over their finances, and we will continue to play an active role in supporting customers and communities across the country.”

Jasjyot Singh OBE, CEO of Consumer Lending, Lloyds Banking Group, said:

“We’re committed to making homeowners feel supported in the coming months. We want to talk to anyone who feel like they might be facing difficulty so that we can find appropriate, tailored solutions. The earlier we talk to someone who might be struggling, the more tools we have to help. We will continue to work closely with the Government and the FCA to ensure the best support for our mortgage customers.”

Ian Stuart, CEO of HSBC UK, said:

“HSBC UK has a programme in place for proactively reviewing where hardship might be on the horizon, and helping prevent customers from falling into financial difficulty. We also work closely with customers already experiencing financial difficulty to understand their individual circumstances and identify the right solution for them.

“For mortgage customers experiencing financial difficulty we stand ready to help and have a number of options available that are tailored to individual circumstances. We would strongly encourage people not to wait until they are in financial difficulty before seeking help. The earlier they can engage with their lender the better.”

Sheldon Mills, Executive Director of Consumers and Competition at the FCA, said:

“Most borrowers are able to keep up with their mortgage payments and should continue to do so. But if you’re struggling to pay your mortgage, or are worried you might, you don’t need to struggle alone. Your lender has a range of tools available to help, so you should contact them as soon as possible.”

Further information

1 – Applies to 97% of the mortgage market, where customers are up to date with payments and not seeking to borrow more or change their repayment type or term.

2 – For some customer solutions there may be an impact on the borrower’s credit rating.
December 8, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : Urging all Sudanese parties to unite behind a civilian-led government [December 2022]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 7 December 2022.

Statement by Ambassador James Kariuki at the Security Council briefing on Sudan.

Thank you President. And thank you also to SRSG Perthes for his briefing today and for the continued herculean efforts of UNITAMS. I also welcome the presence of the Permanent Representative of Sudan in our meeting

President, first, I would like to welcome the signing of the political framework agreement as an important step toward a return to a civilian-led transitional government in Sudan.

The efforts by all parties involved to agree on genuinely civilian-led transitional governance arrangements are commendable.

But, there is much more to be done. We now urge all Sudanese parties to urgently unite behind a final agreement to form a civilian-led government.

The United Kingdom condemns the killing of two more protestors in the reporting period and calls for the security forces to exercise maximum restraint and to respect the right to peaceful protest.

Second, we should be clear that the consequences of delay in reaching a final agreement would be severe.

Approximately one third of Sudan’s population is projected to be in need of humanitarian assistance in 2023. A concerted effort to finalise negotiations is essential to address Sudan’s urgent humanitarian and economic challenges.

A civilian-led transitional government can put the country on the road to recovery and allow for the full resumption of international support. The United Kingdom is working with partners to coordinate significant economic support to a civilian-led transitional government once it is formed.

Third, as SRSG Perthes told us, the security situation across Sudan also remains fragile. We reiterate our deep concern about the significant violence in Blue Nile State and West Kordofan.

We urge the Sudanese authorities to implement the security arrangements of the Juba Peace Agreement, engage with the impacted communities to restore peace, and fulfil their responsibility to protect civilians.

To conclude, President, the United Kingdom commends the compromises made by all parties to agree the initial political framework.

We call for an inclusive dialogue on the outstanding issues to commence without delay, and support a strong role for UNITAMS, along with the AU and IGAD, in facilitating these Sudanese-led negotiations.

The United Kingdom is committed to supporting Sudan’s journey to democracy, and the realisation of the Sudanese people’s calls for freedom, peace and justice.

And we hope that the Council will be able to give collective public expression to the latest developments in a Press Statement shortly.

Thank you.

December 8, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : Government to take no further action under NSI Act 2021 on Aveva group acquisition [December 2022]

The press release issued by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy on 7 December 2022.

The government has powers under the National Security and Investment Act 2021 to scrutinise and, if necessary, intervene in qualifying acquisitions on national security grounds.

The acquisition by Ascot Acquisition Holdings Limited (an indirect subsidiary of Schneider Electric SE) of Aveva Group Plc was notified to the Investment Security Unit in October 2022.

Following screening of the notification, the Business Secretary has decided that no further action will be taken under the Act in relation to the acquisition.

December 8, 2022