Tag: 2022

PRESS RELEASE : Mayor demands higher standards from affordable housing providers [October 2022]

The press release issued by the Mayor of London on 26 October 2022.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has warned London’s affordable housing providers that they could lose access to funding if they fail to maintain their properties at the high standards Londoners deserve.

While Parliament is currently debating new legislation on strengthening consumer protection, the Mayor is clear that Londoners should expect high standards immediately. He is calling for leadership from Government, with additional affordable housing funding and reforms, such as a Commissioner for social housing residents, to drive better conditions.

The Mayor’s warning follows a letter to City Hall’s housing investment partners from the Deputy Mayor for Housing & Residential Development, Tom Copley, sent last month. In this letter Tom Copley set out the actions City Hall will take if the Regulator issues either a non-compliant grade or a Regulatory Notice against a housing provider. Both notices indicate that a provider has breached a consumer or economic regulatory standard.

In extreme circumstances, the GLA may limit access to funding to a specific set of projects, including those already underway, and in the most severe cases, withdraw all funding and revoke investment partner status.

The Mayor of London’s new £4bn 2021-26 Affordable Homes Programme already requires higher standards on design, safety and environmental performance for new homes than those funded outside London. The Regulator has a requirement to assure these standards are maintained in the long-term where they exceed the Decent Homes Standard benchmark.

The GLA is also introducing additional scrutiny of the housing maintenance track-records of newly qualifying investment partners, and in the requalification process for partners who have had their investment status restricted.

Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “Most social housing in London is well managed and maintained. However, this is unfortunately not always the case and I am determined to use my funding powers to drive up standards in both new build and existing homes.

“London is building some of the most impressive new affordable homes in the country, but it is vital that existing residents experience high standards too.

“I will continue to call on the Government to also take responsibility for pushing for higher standards, including by making much needed additional funding available.

“We owe it to all Londoners to provide better, safer, and fairer housing in the capital.”

October 28, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : Centre launched to protect the capital’s businesses from cybercrime [October 2022]
The press release issued by the Mayor of London on 25 October 2022.
- New Cyber Resilience Centre to work with Met Police, City of London Police and British Transport Police to help small and medium businesses in London reduce their vulnerability to the most common types of cybercrime
- Action from Mayor comes as figures from the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau show that more than £1.8 billion was lost to fraud and cybercrime in London over the last year
- Businesses across the capital are being urged to sign-up to the centre’s free membership scheme
London’s businesses are being urged to join a new scheme, which has launched today thanks to funding from the Mayor, to protect them from the growing threat of cybercrime.

Figures from the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau show that more than £1.8 billion was lost to fraud and cybercrime in London over the last year [1], with 35 per cent of small and micro businesses suffering at least one attack or breach – which equates to around 250,000 businesses. [2].

The new Cyber Resilience Centre (CRC) is comprised of industry experts who will work with the Met Police, City of London Police and British Transport Police to enable it to support the capital’s small and medium businesses and help them be best prepared against a cyber-attack and support them when they have been targeted.

With London businesses increasingly targeted by phishing, hacking and ransomware attacks, industry leaders are warning that every organisation and business is a potential target for cyber criminals. Small and medium businesses are often hit harder by a loss of funds.

Over the next three years, the centre aims to help support around 20,000 London businesses most vulnerable to attacks, providing small business owners with practical online safety advice and face-to-face visits. The Mayor is investing £200,000 to support the Centre’s Community Outreach programme which includes the development of self-help toolkits for businesses and ‘How-To’ Video Guides on improving their resilience against cyber-attacks.

Cyber Resilience Centres receive an annual grant from the Home Office to help support the businesses that are most vulnerable to attacks, providing small business owners with valuable information and face-to-face community outreach visits which will help to keep London’s small and medium-sized businesses safe.

Businesses will be able to sign up for a free London Cyber Resilience Centre membership online and get instant access to safety advice, monthly cyber threat reports from the National Cyber Security Centre, latest guidance from the Met Police and City of London Police’s dedicated teams and a monthly newsletter with hints and tips on improving cyber resilience. They will also be able to contact the Cyber Resilience team with any urgent questions and receive training for staff.

Today, the Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime, Sophie Linden launched the new Cyber Resilience Centre at an event at City Hall attended by business owners. This is part of the Mayor’s ambition to make London the safest city in the world to do business online.

Deputy Mayor for Policing & Crime, Sophie Linden, said: “Far too many small businesses in the capital are impacted by cybercrime, with billions of pounds lost and thousands of lives impacted each year.

“Our new Cyber Resilience Centre will help businesses stay safe online and protect them from cyber criminals. This is all part of our work to build a safer, more prosperous city for everyone and I urge all businesses in London to sign-up and use the centre’s services.”

Chief Executive Officer of the Cyber Resilience Centre for London, Simon Newman, said: “I’m delighted to be bringing the launch of the Cyber Resilience Centre for London to City Hall. We’ve been generously supported by the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime, and it’s fantastic to be able to celebrate our shared vision together.

“I’m really ambitious about the future of the CRC for London. I want to see it grow as a partnership between policing, industry and academia; for us to be seen as a trusted, reliable partner to the Capital’s SME community; and for our Cyber PATH programme to produce consistently high-quality talent. In 10 years’ time, I want to look back and be able to say that we have helped make London the safest city in the world to do business online.”

Metropolitan Police Commander, Catherine Roper, said: “It is essential that we come together to help London businesses protect themselves against cybercrime. This crime type is rapidly increasing, and often initially unseen, and yet has devastating effects on businesses and individuals. The exciting launch of the new Cyber Resilience Centre supports a collaboration between key partners to support small and medium businesses across London from becoming victims to cyber attacks.

“It also provides the vital platform to share best practice; knowledge and practical operational advice to ensure a strong defence to protect and prepare businesses from cybercrime. The Met is committed, with its partners, to do everything it can to tackle cybercrime – and today is a significant step forward.”

Chair of the City of London Police Authority Board, James Thomson, said: “We must ensure that the City and the wider national economy is one of the safest places to do business in the world. The London Cyber Resilience Centre will do just that – protecting the capital’s businesses and their customers, and helping to deliver a thriving economy.

“Becoming a victim of cybercrime ruins lives, whether it’s individuals or businesses that are the target and this is an enormous opportunity to make a difference, by preventing people from becoming victims in the first place.”

Chief Information Security Officer at NatWest, Chris Ulliott, said: “NatWest is proud to be an ambassador for the National Cyber Resilience Centre Group and are delighted to support the opening of London’s new Cyber Resilience Centre. The centre is working to help the capital’s business community build resilience against the very real threat of cybercrime.

“Small and medium-sized businesses are a fundamental part of the economy. As such it’s really important that these businesses are equipped with the best tools and knowledge to conduct their day-to-day business safely and securely online, which is a key priority of the Mayor of London, and we are very happy to help them do that.”
October 28, 2022
Chris Heaton-Harris – 2022 Comments on the Situation in Northern Ireland

The comments made by Chris Heaton-Harris, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, on 28 October 2022.

I am extremely disappointed that the Executive has not reformed.

The people of Northern Ireland deserve a fully-functioning devolved government.

Today Stormont could be taking decisions to ease the challenges people face. Instead, the legal duty to act falls to me as Secretary of State.

I will be providing an update on this.

October 28, 2022
Grant Shapps – 2022 Comments on Centrica’s Gas Storage Facility

The comments made by Grant Shapps, the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, on Twitter on 28 October 2022.

Brilliant news that Centrica PLC’s gas storage site has reopened for this winter, increasing the UK’s gas storage capacity by 50%.

This additional capacity strengthens UK energy security and means we can stand up to Putin’s manipulation of global gas supplies.

October 28, 2022
Jacob Rees-Mogg – 2022 Comments on Prime Minister not Going to COP

The comments made by Jacob Rees-Mogg, the MP for North East Somerset, on Twitter on 28 October 2022.

The Prime Minister is right not to go to COP. The cost of living won’t be solved in Sharm el Sheikh where each hotel room for the conference is £2,000 a night.

October 28, 2022
Nadine Dorries – 2022 Comments on Prime Minister not Going to COP

The comments made by Nadine Dorries, the Conservative MP for Mid Bedfordshire, on Twitter on 28 October 2022.

For balance, my friend…The Prime Minister is WRONG not to go to COP. Global warming is the biggest crisis facing our planet and net zero creates many 1000s of jobs which is good for the economy. COP in Glasgow was most successful ever… but don’t expect media to report that.

October 28, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : North Korea ballistic missile tests – FCDO statement [October 2022]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 28 October 2022.

A Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office spokesperson statement on North Korea’s ballistic missile tests on 28 October.

The two short range ballistic missile tests by North Korea on 28 October are a clear violation of UN Security Council Resolutions.

The UK is working closely with our partners to urge North Korea to return to diplomacy and take credible steps towards denuclearisation in a complete, verifiable and irreversible manner. We call on North Korea to prioritise the well-being of its people instead of the unlawful pursuit of nuclear and ballistic missile programmes.

October 28, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : UN, UK, Italy and Egypt students debate climate issues in Kazakhstan before COP27 [October 2022]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 28 October 2022.

In preparation of the forthcoming COP27 meeting that will take place from 6 to 18 November 2022 in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, UN Resident Coordinator Office, British Embassy in Kazakhstan, Embassy of Italy in Kazakhstan and Embassy of Egypt in Kazakhstan in partnership with KazGUU University organised a student debate ‘COP27: the Voice of Youth from Glasgow to Sharm El-Sheikh’.

The event was aimed to raise awareness about climate change, to put the topic on the public agenda, inspire and encourage youth to find climate solutions.

The pre-COP27 debates united about 30 students of International Relations, Economics, and Law faculties from KazGUU University, forming 4 teams to discuss countries’ collaboration, climate change mitigation, adaptation and sustainable finance.

Addressing the students, UN Resident Coordinator in Kazakhstan Ms. Michaela Friberg-Storey noted:

Today’s event is a continuation of a good tradition. It’s time to regain trust and work together constructively to build on Glasgow and deliver a package of concrete outcomes at COP-27. UN Country Team collaborates with the Government of Kazakhstan in terms of updating NDC for further submission to the Conference of the Parties this year. It won’t be easy, but scientists say that it is possible-and that each degree matters, each year matters, and each decision matters. In this regard youth is a strong force, which helps us to accelerate the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals and make us more accountable.

Ms. Kathy Leach, British Ambassador to Kazakhstan said:

The Glasgow COP brought together close to 200 countries (including over 120 world leaders) and gave the world the tools needed to keep 1.5C alive. The Glasgow Climate Pact remains the blueprint for accelerating climate action in this critical decade. Yet the Pact is simply words on a page without action. This is a pivotal moment to redouble our efforts. Every country must revisit and strengthen their climate change targets. We must also support climate vulnerable countries by making sure commitments on adaptation and loss and damage are honoured, driving real, practical action on the ground. None of this will be possible without mobilising climate finance. We continue to work with countries, international financial institutions and private financial institutions to meet the commitments they have made and help secure greater access to critical finance.

Mr. Marco Alberti, Ambassador of Italy to Kazakhstan, said:

COP26 messages were pretty clear: ensuring promises on emissions reductions; delivering for climate vulnerable countries by ensuring commitments on adaptation and loss and damage are honoured; getting finance flowing; working together and continuing to be an inclusive Presidency. This is the very core of the message we would like to deliver to our Egyptian friends. The strapline of COP27, “Together for implementation” is made up of 2 key words: implementation, which is the common goal we must share to save the planet; and together, which indicates the path we must pace if we want to reach out to that goal.

Next month, Egypt will be hosting COP27 with a view to building on previous successes and paving the way for future ambition. Ms. Manal Elsayed Yehia Elshinnawi, Ambassador of Egypt to Kazakhstan, said:

Egypt’s COP27 Presidency believes in the necessity to have inclusive, rules based, ambitious and substantive outcomes, up to the scale of the challenge and reflective to the political will, based on science and guided by principles, building on decisions and commitments from Rio 1992 to Glasgow 2021. Effective implementation requires meaningful and inclusive engagement with all stakeholders. This acquires particular significance in relation to youth, as we live in a world where 52% of its inhabitants are under 30 years old. Youth as well are leading at the frontline of creative and effective solutions that support their local communities and the broader global response to the climate crises. Thus, the incoming Egyptian Presidency is keen to make COP27 a hallmark for youth inclusive and meaningful engagement.

Ainur Karbozova, Deputy Chairman of the Board of M. Narikbayev KAZGUU University, commented:

Since Kazakhstan joined the UN back in 1992, our country is one of the most active members of the United Nations with all the important political initiatives being put forward from the UN headquarters. The United Nations is a solid supporter of all the reforms in Kazakhstan, but at the same time facilitates successful implementation of SDG Agenda by engaging students to tackle climate change issues as well. We are therefore very thankful of our students having such a unique chance of wearing hats of the global politicians and facing current challenges of humanity.

The conference will provide an opportunity for multilateral collaboration between countries to phase out fossil fuels, accelerate the shift to renewables and implement energy efficiency measures to support demand reduction.

October 28, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : Rare Victoria Cross awarded following Far East battles in Second World War at risk of leaving the UK [October 2022]
The press release issued by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport on 28 October 2022.
- Medal, along with four others, is valued at more than £660,000
- Cross was awarded posthumously to Squadron Leader A.S.K. Scarf who died after returning from a raid gravely injured
A Victoria Cross awarded to RAF Squadron Leader A.S.K. Scarf is at risk of leaving the UK after being sold abroad for more than £660,000.

The medal, along with four others – the 1939-1945 Star, Pacific Star, Defence Medal and British War Medal – was awarded posthumously to Scarf in 1946. The Victoria Cross was presented to his widow, Mrs Elizabeth Scarf, by King George VI at Buckingham Palace.

While the campaign medals within this group are relatively common and were issued to all personnel who met the qualifying criteria, the Victoria Cross is incredibly rare. Only 1,358 have been awarded since its inception in 1856 with just 181 awarded during the Second World War. Of the 22 awarded during the conflict to the RAF, this Victoria Cross is of particular interest because it is the only one awarded to the RAF for their service in the Far East.

Scarf’s Victoria Cross was awarded in recognition of his bravery on a daylight raid on Singora, Malaya, on 9 December 1941. Scarf was responsible for spearheading the raid which saw all available aircraft ordered to take part. He had just taken off when enemy aircraft arrived – destroying or disabling the rest of the machines. He flew alone to Singora and, despite attacks from enemy fighter planes, completed his bombing run. On his way back his aircraft was attacked and he was severely wounded. He crash landed at Alor Star without causing any injury to his crew. He died two hours later in hospital.

Scarf’s pregnant wife was a nurse and based at the Alor Star hospital but had been evacuated south. The two other crewmen on Scarf’s plane were also given awards for their courage during the action. Sergeant (later Squadron Leader) Paddy Calder was awarded a Distinguished Flying Medal and Sergeant Cyril Rich, who was killed in action in 1943, was posthumously mentioned in Dispatches.

Arts Minister Stuart Andrew said:

Stories like these remind us of the sacrifices those who served in the Second World War made for the freedoms we enjoy today.

This Victoria Cross and collection of medals represent not only A.S.K. Scarf’s story but the stories and experiences of all those who fought, lived and died in the conflict. I hope that a UK buyer can be found so these incredibly important objects can be displayed for future generations to see.

The minister’s decision follows the advice of the Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art and Objects of Cultural Interest (RCEWA). The committee noted the medals represented an extraordinary and highly poignant story of great personal courage from an under-researched campaign of the Second World War. As the only Victoria Cross awarded to the RAF for the Far East and wider Pacific campaign, the medals represent a unique and significant element of a particular moment in British military history.

Committee Member, Tim Pestell, said:

Famous as the ultimate symbol of bravery in combat, the Victoria Cross remains our most nationally significant military award following its establishment over 160 years ago. The example in this group of medals provides a poignant yet powerful reminder of the attributes required to win the award, in a tale that could have come straight from a Boy’s Own story. Not only does Squadron Leader Scarf’s award speak eloquently of the determination and bravery displayed in winning a VC, its acquisition by a UK institution would provide a powerful reminder of the sacrifices made by British and Commonwealth servicemen fighting in the ‘forgotten war’ of the Far East.

The RCEWA made its recommendation on the grounds of the sets outstanding significance for the study of the British Far East campaign during the Second World War as well as the role of the RAF within this context.

The decision on the export licence application for the medal will be deferred for a period ending on 27 January 2023 inclusive. At the end of the first deferral period owners will have a consideration period of 15 business days to consider any offer(s) to purchase the set of medals at the recommended price of £660,000 (plus VAT of £22,000 which can be reclaimed by an eligible institution). The second deferral period will commence following the signing of an Option Agreement and will last for three months.
October 28, 2022
Paula Barker – 2022 Statement on Becoming Shadow Minister for Homelessness and Rough Sleeping

The statement made by Paula Barker, the Labour MP for Liverpool Wavertree, on 28 October 2022.

Today, October 28, 2022, I am delighted to confirm that I have been appointed to the role of Shadow Minister for Homelessness and Rough Sleeping.

It comes at a time when tackling this issue could not be more serious or pressing as renters struggle with the highest private rents on record alongside rocketing household bills.

It is clear to me that as our country faces its biggest economic crisis in over half a century this issue needs a spotlight placing on it – homelessness and rough sleeping is getting worse, not better in this country.

The Government’s own figures released earlier this summer, show 74,230 households in England became homeless or were at imminent risk of becoming homeless between January and March 2022 – including 25,610 families with children.

This represented an 11% rise in three months, and a 5% rise on the same period last year. Moreover, since March household incomes have been and continue to be further hit by the cost of living crisis.

The government’s latest homelessness data also revealed that, despite being in full-time work 10,560 households were found to be homeless or threatened with homelessness. This is the highest number of people in full-time work recorded as homeless since this government started recording this data in 2018.

And moreover, 1 in 4 (25%) households in our country, were found to be homeless or at risk of becoming homeless because of the loss of a private tenancy (18,210 households). This has increased by 94% in a year and is the second leading trigger of homelessness in England.

Over the coming months, I will be looking to work with leading organisations like, Homeless Link, Shelter, The Big Issue, Crisis, the Local Government Association and many others.

There is so much more that can and should be done to end homelessness and rough sleeping.

Homelessness and rough sleeping is also a matter that deeply impacts those in my own Liverpool Wavertree constituency. I have seen at close hand the excellent work that organisations like YMCA Together, Whitechapel Centre and Liverpool City Council have done in recent years to try to combat this.

And I have also seen the positive outcomes from Mayor Andy Burnham’s ‘a bed every night’ scheme in Greater Manchester as well as the Homeless Friendly initiative – a social enterprise started by Cllr Dr Zahid Chauhan a North West GP.

Up and down the country there are examples of brilliant things going on and we must find a way of learning from such good practice and sharing it across the country.

But ultimately, this Government cannot be allowed to simply continue burying its head in the sand – we need interventions that will help prevent a steep rise in homelessness. I intend to push them on that agenda.

We face a tough challenge ahead of us on this agenda but I am determined to be a fierce advocate of this very important brief.

October 28, 2022