Tag: 2022

PRESS RELEASE : Business Secretary launches review to prevent small firms from being ripped off by larger companies [December 2022]
The press release issued by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy on 3 December 2022.
- Business Secretary Grant Shapps announces in-depth review into payment practices to prevent small firms from being ripped off by larger companies
- aimed at ensuring small businesses across the UK receive the payments they deserve, with £23.4 billion currently owed in outstanding invoices
- comes as the Small Business Saturday Campaign marks its 10th anniversary
Business Secretary Grant Shapps has today (3 December 2022) – on Small Business Saturday – announced a comprehensive review into tackling late payments for small businesses, while urging large companies to pay their smaller suppliers promptly.

Small businesses routinely spend significant time and resources chasing late payments from businesses they supply which can lead to cash flow problems, putting their firms at risk and preventing them from growing. The majority of small businesses do not have large balance sheets and cannot accommodate long payment terms or delays to receiving payment within their cash flow cycle.

The Payment and Cash Flow review will scrutinise existing payment practices and the measures in place to make sure small firms are not ripped off by their larger clients – with over £23.4 billion currently owed in outstanding invoices to UK businesses.

The review will consider the progress made in specific sectors of the economy in combatting late payment and will also include an in-depth examination of current payment reporting regulations and the Prompt Payment Code.

In addition, the statutory review of the Small Business Commissioner will help to ensure that the UK has the right arrangements in place to best support small businesses.

Business Secretary Grant Shapps said:

The UK’s 5.5 million small businesses are an integral part not just of our economy, but of our communities too, and this government is firmly on their side.

That many small firms are routinely paid late is intolerable and presents a real barrier to productivity, the creation of high-skilled jobs and ultimately economic growth.

This review will allow us to build on the success we have had so far in curbing late payment, unshackling small businesses from this exploitative practice and creating a system that is fit for the future. While we crack on with this work, I also want to remind big businesses of their duty to ensure their smaller suppliers are paid promptly.

The government is already demonstrating its own commitment to prompt payment through the Procurement Bill, which is currently being debated in Parliament. The legislation sets out the requirement for 30 day payment terms to apply in public sector supply chains which will help level the playing field for SMEs and encourage more businesses with smaller budgets to bid for public sector contracts

The announcement comes alongside the government’s support for Small Business Saturday – which celebrates small business successes and encourages consumers to support smaller firms in their area – with the Business Secretary out on a visit to his local high street in his Welwyn Hatfield constituency.

Also within the scope of the review is the role of technology-enabled accountancy platforms in tackling late payments and promoting a better understanding of prompt payment measures within the small business community.

The role of finance, particularly how major banks and innovative lenders can help small businesses manage their cashflow and identifying barriers to accessing finance will also be part of the review’s remit. The review will include a consultation on the payment reporting regulations, setting out specific proposals on renewal and improvement of these duties.

The review of the Small Business Commissioner will consider both its role and effectiveness, drawing on the consultation on the Commissioner’s powers that was conducted in 2020.

The government is committed to supporting small businesses across the United Kingdom through a series of measures including the recently expanded Start Up Loans scheme which saw an additional 33,000 new loans made available to SMEs.

Small businesses have also benefited from the Energy Bill Relief Scheme which provides non-domestic customers with a discount on their gas and electricity bills in light of the rise in global energy prices.

As part of the Autumn Statement, the Chancellor announced a £13.6 billion package of support for business rate payers, including the £500 million Supporting Small Business scheme.
December 3, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : UK and allies announce price cap of $60 on Russian Oil [December 2022]
The press release issued by HM Treasury on 2 December 2022.

The Price Cap Coalition of the G7, the European Union and Australia have set a cap on seaborne Russian crude oil at $60.
- The price cap will be enforced in the UK from 5 December 2022, and across coalition jurisdictions.
- Third countries will only be able to access services such as insurance, shipping and brokerage from Coalition countries if they trade Russian oil at or below the cap.
- The UK and its coalition partners will not make use of the cap, as they have already introduced an import ban on Russian oil.
The UK, in partnership with the G7 countries, Australia and the European Union, have today agreed to set the price cap on Russian crude oil traded by firms shipping oil to third countries at $60. This price will be kept under review. The UK and its coalition partners will only provide services facilitating the maritime transport of Russian oil if firms trade at or beneath this cap.

G7 finance ministers agreed to a cap in September as a way of undermining Putin’s ability to fund war in Ukraine through inflated global oil prices, while ensuring that third countries can continue to secure affordable oil.

A General Licence will be published shortly that will provide an Oil Price Cap exception for third countries, so that firms supplying oil to them are able to continue accessing services from Coalition countries after the 5th December, but only if trading Russian oil at or below the cap.

Insurance is one of the key services that enables the movement of oil by sea, particularly protection and indemnity (P&I) insurance which relates to third-party liability claims – the UK is a global leader in the provision of P&I cover, writing 60% of the global cover written by the International Group of the P&I clubs.

Measures on services that facilitate the maritime transportation of refined oil products will come into force on the 5th February, to align with EU timelines for a parallel measure.

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt said:

“The UK will stand with Ukraine and her people for as long as Putin’s war continues. We will not waver in our support and we will continue to look for new ways to clamp down on Putin’s funding streams wherever we can.”

United States Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen said:

“Together, the G7, European Union, and Australia have now jointly set a cap on the price of seaborne Russian oil that will help us achieve our goal of restricting Putin’s primary source of revenue for his illegal war in Ukraine while simultaneously preserving the stability of global energy supplies. Today’s announcement is the culmination of months of effort by our coalition, and I commend the hard work of our partners in achieving this outcome.”

To enforce the scheme the Treasury has set up a new team, based in the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation. This team will set up the licensing and enforcement system for the Oil Price Cap; engage with industry to ensure readiness for the cap; and monitor the level and impact of the cap on an ongoing basis.
December 2, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : Rishi Sunak call with President Erdoğan of Türkiye [December 2022]

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 2 December 2022.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak spoke to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan earlier today.

The leaders welcomed the strong partnership and growing economic relationship between the United Kingdom and Türkiye and committed to continue unlocking trade barriers to boost investment and collaboration.

They discussed the situation in Ukraine and the escalating and brutal attacks on civilian infrastructure. The Prime Minister shared his reflections from his recent visit to Kyiv, and they agreed on the importance of maintaining support for Ukrainians as they face a harsh winter ahead.

The Prime Minister offered his condolences for the recent abhorrent terrorist attacks in Türkiye and stressed the UK’s commitment to upholding regional security as bilateral and NATO partners. He reiterated the UK’s backing for the rapid accession of Finland and Sweden to the Alliance, and welcomed Türkiye’s support for the accession plan agreed at the Madrid NATO summit.

December 2, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : Rishi Sunak call with Amir of Qatar [December 2022]

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 2 December 2022.

The Prime Minister spoke to the Amir of Qatar, His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, earlier today.

He congratulated Sheikh Tamim on hosting a successful World Cup, noting the excellent collaboration between the UK and Qatari police and armed forces to ensure a safe event, and said he looked forward to the remainder of the tournament.

The leaders also welcomed the strong trade and investment relationship between the UK and Qatar, built on solid economic foundations. They agreed to continue to develop new opportunities for investment and cooperation in the industries of the future, both bilaterally and through a future GCC trade deal.

They discussed deepening UK-Qatari defence collaboration, highlighting the importance of developing our strategic partnership in the face of global and regional threats, including Russia’s hostile and barbaric invasion of Ukraine.

December 2, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : UK announces urgent support to Somali people facing famine [December 2022]
The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 2 December 2022.
- life-saving healthcare, water, food and climate-change protection to help half a million people, was announced during a visit to Somalia by the UK Minister for Development
- Rt Hon Andrew Mitchell MP, in his first visit in his new role, pledged the emergency support in response to the country’s devastating drought
- this funding package also includes international partnerships with Germany and Saudi Arabia’s King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSRelief)
The UK is providing vital aid to Somalia in response to its growing risk of famine – as climate change threatens to make such crises more frequent.

Andrew Mitchell, the UK Minister for Development, announced the new support on a visit to Somalia – his first overseas visit since his appointment.

The funding will tackle drought, food insecurity, gender-based violence and boost climate resilience, reaching over 480,000 of the country’s most vulnerable people. New funding will also help Somali troops in their fight against al-Shabaab.

The humanitarian crisis in Somalia continues to worsen, with 300,000 people projected to be in famine by the end of the year and 1.8 million children at risk of malnutrition.

The UK is working with the UN and NGO partners to address this humanitarian crisis, providing life-saving health and nutrition support, cash transfers to buy food, safe drinking water, and ensuring those displaced by drought will receive emergency assistance shelter.

The funding will also protect children from violence and exploitation and provide women subject to gender-based violence with mental health support.

The Minister for Development, Rt Hon Andrew Mitchell MP said:

Somalia faces one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world, with millions of people in desperate need of aid, including over half a million children under 5 years old who are at risk of death.

I visited Somalia in 2011 at the height of famine and I was appalled by the loss of life.

The UK is committed to providing urgent support to the most vulnerable who are in the most desperate need. But we cannot act alone. The international community needs to do all it can to stop famine, and also to help the country be better prepared for such disasters in the future.

During the 2-day visit to Somalia, Minister Mitchell met Somalia’s President and other government figures, as well as partners, to discuss how to meet immediate humanitarian needs, and better prepare for future crises such as extreme weather.

He also witnessed first-hand the impact of the drought on vulnerable populations.

Working with international partners and NGOs, the UK is stepping up humanitarian efforts to meet the most immediate needs while better equipping Somalia for future crises.

The UK has deepened its relationship with Saudi Arabia to meet urgent humanitarian need. This new partnership with Saudi Arabia has seen £1.7 million of the UK’s humanitarian funding package matched by Saudi Arabia’s KSRelief. This will provide a boost to the World Food Programme and will go towards food security and famine prevention programming.

The UK is also expanding this work with partners including Germany and the World Bank to put in place innovative disaster risk finance and insurance arrangements, particularly towards agriculture investments and drought response. This is part of the World Bank’s Horn of Africa DRIVE project and will deliver long-term financial protection for Somali communities and help them be better prepared to deal with the impact of climate change.

Background

During his 2-day visit, Minister Andrew Mitchell confirmed:
- £6.7million in humanitarian aid funding which includes health, nutrition, water services, food security assistance and support for victims of gender based violence
- £1.7 million aid match funding with Saudi Arabia’s KS Relief fund that will go towards the World Food Programme
- £3.8 million (matched by Germany) as part of the Global Shield initiative for a programme combining support to improve the livelihoods of pastoralists with access to financial services and insurance against drought
- £3 million in funding which was previously announced at the UN General Assembly to support the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). This funding will increase the provision of support services to victims of emergency gender-based violence, and will provide sexual reproductive health support to women in new internally displaced person (IDP) sites. This funding plans to reach over 34,800 women
- £1.5 million to the United Nations Support Office in Somalia (UNSOS) trust fund to support Somali troops in the fight against al-Shabaab
This package of support takes the UK’s total humanitarian, health and nutrition funding for Somalia this financial year to nearly £61.2 million. The UK has committed to spending a total of £156 million in humanitarian support for crises in East Africa this financial year.

Roughly 50% of Somalia’s population require humanitarian aid with 300,000 people projected to be experiencing conditions akin to famine by the end of the year. When famine last occurred in Somalia more than 250,000 people died – the majority young children.

Conflict and climate extremes including flooding and drought are the key drivers of suffering in Somalia and the East Africa region. There have been 5 successive failed rainy seasons and there are concerns for the upcoming March to May season. More than 68 million people in need of life-saving aid across the wider East Africa region.
December 2, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : Government backs crime-cutting bill to end Friday releases [December 2022]
The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 2 December 2022.

Changes to help reduce reoffending by making sure vulnerable prison leavers get ample time to access vital support services will be introduced under a new bill that gained government support today.
- new law to significantly reduce Friday releases from prison moves closer to statute book
- bill to reduce reoffending by ending race against clock to secure vital support ahead of weekend
- hundreds of crimes to be prevented in boost to public safety
Around 1 in 3 prisoners leave prison on a Friday – giving them just a few short hours to find a bed for the night, register with a GP and sign up for job support before services close for the weekend.

This race against the clock can leave ex-offenders homeless and without support, increasing their chances of committing further crimes.

This is particularly true for ex-offenders with substance misuse problems, mental health issues or at real risk of homelessness. Ex-offenders with safe accommodation are around 50% less likely to slip back into a life of criminality.

Under Offenders (Day of Release from Detention) Private Members Bill, which passed second reading today, offenders scheduled for release on a Friday who also have mental health issues, substance misuse problems, or far to travel home will be released on Wednesday or Thursday instead, following strict security checks.

The bill was brought forward by Simon Fell MP and delivers on the government’s pledge Prisons Strategy White Paper, published in December last year.

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

Protecting the public is my top priority and we know access to housing, job support and substance misuse services are crucial in helping ex-offenders stay on the straight and narrow.

By ending Friday releases for certain prisoners we will reduce reoffending and cut crime, making our communities safer.

Prisons Minister, Damian Hinds, said:

Ending Friday releases for prisoners at risk of reoffending is a common-sense change that will ultimately result in less crime and fewer victims.

This is just the latest way in which we will drive down the £18 billion cost of reoffending, alongside tougher monitoring, better education and drug treatment.

The government has already made considerable progress in tackling stubborn reoffending rates, which have decreased over the past 10 years from 30.9% in 2009/10 to 25.6% in 2019/20.

The Prisons Strategy White Paper also outlines a package of sweeping reforms to skill up offenders to find work on release, tackle substance misuse problems and create 20,000 modern places in order to cut crime and keep the public safe.

This includes bolstering links between prisons and employers and ensuring prisoners can find work on release through a dedicated Prisoner Education Service to raise levels of literacy, numeracy, skills and qualifications.

Nacro chief executive, Campbell Robb, said:

Our campaign to end Friday prison releases was driven by the experience of our service users and our staff, and we are really pleased to see this small, but significant change one step closer to becoming law. For too long, Friday releases have been setting people up to fail.

Through this legislation, people with high resettlement needs will have that vital extra time during the working week to access the services they need – including securing housing, registering with a GP, meeting probation and accessing health services. This will give people the best chance at a second chance and play a role in helping to reduce reoffending.

Alongside this, prisons have also rolled out tough new security measures which have thwarted over 20,000 plots to smuggle drugs, phones, and weapons into prisons over the past 2 years. The department will invest £75 million a year by 2024/25 in expanding the use of alcohol monitoring tags and £780 million in treatment for offenders addicted to alcohol or drugs.
December 2, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : Alister Jack St Andrew’s Day Paris trade trip [December 2022]

The press release issued by the Scottish Office on 2 December 2022.

The Secretary of State met UK and French businesses, as well as France’s trade minister, diplomatic staff and parliamentarians. He visited Chanel to see how they have used tweed and other Scottish materials throughout their history, including in their latest range. And he jointly hosted a St Andrew’s night dinner with the British Ambassador to France, Dame Menna Rawlings.

Scottish Secretary Alister Jack said:

“Scotland and France have historic and enduring links, and St Andrew’s Day is the perfect time to celebrate and strengthen those ties.

A fantastic example of that relationship is the 100-year-old creative partnership between Paris’ Chanel fashion house and Scotland’s beautiful tweed, and it was fascinating to hear more about that.

The UK and France are important trade partners, and we must build on that. The French market is worth billions to Scottish businesses, with huge potential to grow. While in Paris I was hard at work promoting Scottish businesses, as the UK Government does every day, right around the world.”

Total trade in goods and services [exports plus imports] between the UK and France is worth £78.3 billion a year. Scotland’s exports to France are worth nearly £3 billion a year, ranging from whisky to renewable energy expertise. The Secretary of State hosted a lunch for French businesses representing these sectors, as well as meeting the French Government’s International Trade Minister, Olivier Becht.

The UK Government has one of the world’s largest diplomatic networks in the world. It is committed to promoting Scottish interests across foreign policy, security, defence, international trade, investment, culture, education and the arts – as well as providing vital consular assistance.

December 2, 2022
Mark Harper – 2022 Statement on Railway Infrastructure in England and Wales

The statement made by Mark Harper, the Secretary of State for Transport, in the House of Commons on 1 December 2022.

I should like to make a statement on the settlement for the next five-year funding period for railway infrastructure in England and Wales.

Maintaining and renewing our country’s rail infrastructure is critical to delivering the railway that passengers and freight companies expect, and for supporting economic growth. Every five years the Government are required to set out what we wish to achieve from the operations, maintenance and renewal of the railway. This is done through a document known as a high-level output specification, and the funding available is set out through a statement of funds available.

I am today, 1 December, publishing the objectives and funds available for operational railway infrastructure in England and Wales for the next control period, control period 7. This covers the period April 2024 to March 2029.

The Government fully recognise the critical role that rail services played for business, key workers and our society during the covid-19 pandemic, and the vital role that they play in connecting communities and supporting economic growth.

The high-level output specification makes it clear that the Government will press ahead with rail reform, addressing the challenges facing the sector, such as fragmentation and outdated working practices, with a strong continued focus on operations, maintenance and renewal. This strong continued focus is important in supporting a safe, efficient and reliable railway for passengers and freight customers.

Achieving these objectives will be facilitated by significant Government investment as set out in the statement of funds available, with Network Rail spending around £44 billion over the period April 2024 to March 2029. The Government now expect Network Rail to develop detailed plans to deliver on these objectives, working closely with its customers. These will then be subject to strong and effective scrutiny by the Office of Rail and Road, as independent regulator, to develop robust, credible, value-for-money plans for the next control period.

December 2, 2022
Julia Lopez – 2022 Statement on Project Gigabit (Autumn 2022)

The statement made by Julia Lopez, the Minister of State at the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, in the House of Commons on 1 December 2022.

Today we have published Building Digital UK’s latest Project Gigabit delivery update. We continue to make excellent progress with Project Gigabit, the Government’s £5 billion mission to deliver lightning-fast, reliable broadband across the UK.

In this Project Gigabit autumn update, we report on the awarding of a £108 million contract in Cumbria that will bring gigabit-capable connectivity to up to 60,000 homes and businesses across the region. This is the first regional contract awarded under Project Gigabit, and follows local contracts awarded in Teesdale and north Northumberland in the past two months.

We also report on the boost we are giving to the gigabit broadband voucher scheme, increasing the value of vouchers to £4,500 for all beneficiaries, up from £1,500 and £3,500 for homes and businesses respectively. To date, over 111,000 vouchers have been provided through the scheme and its previous iterations, with more than 77,000 vouchers used to connect premises to gigabit-capable broadband.

The report also provides an update on the progress of the Project Gigabit procurement pipeline. BDUK has now undertaken market engagement exercises across the whole of England, and has launched procurements with a total value over £780 million, to connect up to 545,000 premises. The publication also reports on the completion of a public review by Highland and Islands Enterprise, working with BDUK and the Scottish Government, ahead of a first potential local procurement in Scotland.

I will place a copy of the Project Gigabit delivery plan autumn update in the Libraries of both Houses.

December 2, 2022
Maria Caulfield – 2022 Statement on Fuller Inquiry Update

The statement made by Maria Caulfield, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, in the House of Commons on 1 December 2022.

Following my statement on 16 December 2021, I am pleased to inform the House that a compensation scheme to facilitate compensation payments to the family members of David Fuller’s victims has been established today.

The scheme, which will be administered by NHS Resolution on behalf of Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust, will ensure that compensation is paid to relatives as soon as practicable. The scheme will operate on a tiered approach. All qualifying family members will receive a fixed amount of compensation. Increased payments will then be made for psychiatric trauma and/or financial loss, subject to evidence. Entry into the scheme is entirely voluntary and the scheme will be advertised nationally to help ensure all eligible family members are aware of it.

The scheme represents a highly co-operative effort between NHS Resolution, Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust and the families’ representatives and I would like to thank all those involved for their work in developing this compensation scheme for families.

I would also like to take the opportunity to update the House on the timescales of the inquiry. The inquiry is progressing well and due to the significant amount of evidence being received, the report on matters relating to Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust is now planned for the first half of 2023.

December 2, 2022