Tag: 2023

PRESS RELEASE : Using technology to improve the effectiveness of public services [September 2023]
The press release issued by the Department for Education on 19 September 2023.

The Department for Education (DfE) have developed software to sort thousands of emails, reducing the time taken to communicate with the public.
Background

DfE receive up to 100,000 comments and enquiries from the public each year. Prior to implementing an innovative computer programme, each email and letter needed to be read by a staff member, logged onto a database, and assigned to the appropriate team for a response. This required hundreds of days of combined labour and meant staff had less time to complete other tasks.

The knowledge asset solution

Aware of how Robotic Process Automation (RPA) is used in the private sector and elsewhere in government to make decisions about data handling, DfE investigated how the technology could help them when it came to organising enquiries from the public. They undertook work to programme a robot named ARNOLD – ‘Automated Robot Negating the Onerous Logging of Data’ – to streamline some of their processes.

This was particularly challenging given that emails are unstructured data, and people do not write in a standard way. ARNOLD scans the content of emails and follows a series of rules to prioritise them based on potential risk. It then enters the data into DfE’s database. ARNOLD has replaced the manual data entry of emails and letters from the public, improving productivity and increasing efficiency.

Who has this helped?

The public: DfE have been able to reduce the time taken to respond to queries and concerns from the public which means they can offer a more efficient customer service.

DfE staff: The use of the robot has freed up time for teams to focus on learning and development.

What impact has this innovation had on the team?

Owen Roffe, Head of Digital Communications and Public Enquiries at DfE, was delighted that ARNOLD was quickly seen as one of the team. “Everyone is clear about roles and where technology plays its part,” he said. “The robot has taken away the need for manual data entry, which was an area where the team felt they added less value. As a result, they are able to focus on more rewarding work, develop their skills and provide a quicker service to customers.”

Next steps

ARNOLD made an appearance at the Civil Service Live roadshow in the summer of 2023 to showcase how data logging can be streamlined and the benefit this knowledge asset might have for other government departments. DfE is continuing to look at different ways for how technology can improve efficiency to benefit staff and the public.
September 24, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Government intention to intervene at Birmingham City Council [September 2023]

The press release issued by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities on 19 September 2023.

Proposal to intervene at Birmingham City Council to fix serious problems announced by Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove.

Government proposals to tackle serious financial and governance problems at Birmingham City Council were announced today (19 September 2023) by Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove.

On 5 September, Birmingham City Council issued a ‘section 114 notice’ – an admission its backdated equal pay liability, currently estimated by the council as being up to £760 million, along with an in-year budget deficit that includes the costs of implementing an IT system was too significant for the council to manage.

In an oral statement to Parliament, Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove outlined the government was minded to intervene at Birmingham City Council, subject to a representation period of 5 working days, in order to protect the residents and taxpayers of Birmingham. The proposals include the appointment of commissioners and a local inquiry to investigate the root of the issues faced by the local authority.

Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove said:

Birmingham Council’s record is of ineffective, inefficient and unaccountable government. It is failing in its basic duties.

Where local leaders fail, it is residents who are let down. This cannot go on.

I can announce that I am today writing to the council to set out my proposal to intervene and appoint commissioners, and that I intend to launch a local inquiry.

I do not take these decisions lightly, but we must protect the interests of residents and taxpayers of Birmingham and provide assurance to the sector.

The package of proposals, if implemented, would see commissioners provide advice and challenge the council whilst making decisions directly, if necessary. They would be handed powers relating to governance, scrutiny of strategic decision making, finance and senior appointments.

Directions would be issued to Birmingham City Council requiring them to undertake specific actions including the preparation and implementation of an improvement plan within 6 months, to return it to a sustainable financial footing.

The local inquiry could look at the fundamental questions about how the issues facing Birmingham have developed and would examine the council’s ongoing management of issues identified in Lord Bob Kerslake’s review of the authority in 2014, and the non-statutory intervention afterwards.

The independent review, commissioned after the ‘Trojan Horse’ investigation into a number of Birmingham schools, found successive administrations had failed to tackle deep-rooted problems – and highlighted a culture of sweeping problems under the carpet, rather than tackling them head-on.

A representation period for the proposals has been set for 5 working days, until 26 September, to ensure the views of stakeholders are taken into consideration before a final decision on whether to intervene is taken.

Max Caller CBE, an experienced local government professional and former commissioner, has been named as the preferred candidate to lead the intervention if the package of proposals are implemented.

The proposal comes after the Minister for Local Government, Lee Rowley, requested the then council leader, Councillor Ian Ward, to commission an independent governance review in April. He acted after governance and service delivery concerns were raised by the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman, the Housing Ombudsman and the Department for Education’s Commissioner for Special Educational Needs and Disability at the council.

This review was extended to include the flawed implementation of a new IT system and the council’s handling of its equal pay liability. Another letter was sent in August to the council leader Councillor John Cotton, seeking assurances over whether the council was compliant with its Best Value Duty in relation to decisions on equal pay, of which to date there has been no response.

Further information

Max Caller CBE was the Chief Executive of the London Boroughs of Hackney and Barnet, and a Chair of the Local Government Boundary Commission for England. He has experience in multiple interventions, including having previously been Lead Commissioner at Slough, Lead Inspector for the Liverpool and Northamptonshire Best Value Inspections, and a Commissioner at Tower Hamlets.

Max also has experience of working with Birmingham City Council, having been appointed by the Council as one of their Non-Executive Advisors following the non-statutory intervention.

September 24, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Legislation to clamp down on cruel animal experiences abroad [September 2023]
The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 19 September 2023.

Action reinforces UK’s commitment to delivering better animal welfare standards both at home and abroad.

The Animals (Low-Welfare Activities Abroad) Act passed into law yesterday (18 September), confirming the UK’s position as a world leader in animal welfare standards both at home and abroad.

The legislation – which was introduced by Angela Richardson MP and Lord Black of Brentwood, supported by the government – allows the government to bring forward a ban on the advertising and sale of specific unethical activities abroad where animals are kept in captivity or confinement, subjected to cruel and brutal training methods, forced to take selfies or are ridden, drugged and de-clawed.

The independent evidence on these kind of experiences shows that animals used in the tourist trade are often subject to harsh treatment to ensure their compliance in activities. A study by Oxford University’s Wildlife Conservation Research Unit published in 2015 concluded that up to 550,000 animals worldwide suffered for tourist entertainment.

Brutal training methods are often used to ‘break in’ Asian elephants to make them safe to be near tourists and partake in unnatural activities like playing football, painting, tourist rides and excessive bathing.

Animal Welfare Minister Lord Benyon said:

We know that some foreign tourist attractions often subject majestic animals like elephants to cruel and brutal training methods.

The Animals (Low-Welfare Activities Abroad) Act is an important step in our commitment to ensure high animal welfare standards both here in this country and abroad, and I encourage holidaymakers to do their research so they can make informed choices that do not encourage poor animal welfare practices.

Conservative MP for Guildford Angela Richardson said:

I am thrilled that the Animals (Low Welfare Activities Abroad) Act has received Royal Assent this week.

This legislation is a world first and will work towards greater protection of vulnerable animals in low welfare settings from being exploited as tourist experiences.

Duncan McNair, CEO Save The Asian Elephants, said:

“Save The Asian Elephants and the millions who have supported our campaign hope the passing into law of the landmark Animals (Low-Welfare Activities Abroad) Act will prove a momentous day for animals everywhere. The measures, resolutely implemented and enforced, will help protect endangered and vulnerable species across the world from extreme exploitation, harm and death in tourism. They will also save many lives of humans too, turned on by maddened elephants and other creatures provoked by torture.

Save The Asian Elephants is hugely appreciative of all who have supported our campaign for these changes, of our government, our Parliament across the party divide, the charity sector and the public. All must now set our hand to starting the transition from brutal and dangerous practices to ethical sanctuaries and wildlife reserves.

Britain can take pride in this world-first law and we must encourage the world to follow suit whilst time remains for so many beleaguered species.

The Act – applicable in England and Northern Ireland – means the government, through secondary legislation, can ban the advertising and offering for sale of these cruel experiences and protect these special creatures from unnecessary harm.

The Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) already has published guidelines and a list of activities which they classify as unacceptable. Reputable and responsible tour operators should not be offering activities that support poor animal welfare.

This new legislation is part of a wider Government effort to build on our existing world-leading animal welfare standards. Since publishing the Action Plan for Animal Welfare in 2021 we have brought in new laws to recognise animals sentience, introduced tougher penalties for animal cruelty offences, brought forward a ban on glue traps, and introduced tougher penalties for hare coursing.

Notes to Editors:

Action we’ve already delivered on animal welfare since 2010 includes:
- Recognised animal sentience in law and introduced accountability to Parliament for how well all government policy decisions pay due regard to the welfare needs of animals.
- Ramped up enforcement with:
- Increased maximum sentences for animal cruelty from six months to five years’ imprisonment.
- New financial penalty notice powers in addition to other existing penalties under the Animal Welfare Act 2006.
- New protections for service animals with ‘Finn’s Law’.
- Raised farm animal welfare:
- Launched the Animal Health and Welfare Pathway with new annual vet visits and grants.
- Implemented a revised welfare at slaughter regime and introduced CCTV in all slaughterhouses.
- Banned traditional battery cages for laying hens, permitted beak trimming via only infra-red technology.
- Raised standards for meat chickens.
- Significantly enhanced companion animal welfare:
- Revamped the local authority licensing regime for commercial pet services including selling, dog breeding, boarding, animal displays.
- Banned the third party puppy and kitten sales with Lucy’s Law.
- Made microchipping compulsory for cats and dogs.
- Introduced offences for horse fly-grazing and abandonment
- Introduced new community order powers to address dog issues
- Provided valuable new protections for wild animals:
- Banned wild animals in travelling circuses.
- Passed the Ivory Act which came into force last year, including one of the toughest bans on elephant ivory sales in the world, and extended it to five further species.
- Gave the police additional powers to tackle hare coursing.
- Banning glue traps.
- Supported the Private Member’s Bill currently before Parliament banning the import of hunting trophies.
- Supported the Private Member’s Bill banning trade in detached shark fins.
- Supported the Private Member’s Bill banning the advertising and offering for sale here of unacceptably low animal welfare activities abroad.
September 24, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : New advisory service to help businesses launch AI and digital innovations [September 2023]
The press release issued by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on 19 September 2023.

Businesses across the UK will have the opportunity to showcase that their new AI and digital innovations comply with regulatory standards, so they can quickly bring them to market.
- Businesses to receive tailored advice on how to meet regulatory requirements for digital technology and artificial intelligence
- new advisory service to launch next year, helping new products and innovations reach the market quickly, safely and responsibly
- announcement comes as government sets up a new function to identify, measure and monitor existing and emerging AI risks
Organisations across the country will be able to demonstrate that their new artificial intelligence and digital innovations meet regulatory requirements so they can quickly bring them to market,

A new pilot scheme set to launch next year will see a number of regulators develop a multi-agency advice service providing tailored support to businesses so they can meet requirements across various sectors while safely innovating – including through innovative technologies such as AI.

Backed by over £2 million in UK government funding, the streamlined service is intended to make it easier for businesses to get the help they need, by bringing together the different regulators involved in the oversight of cross-cutting AI and digital technologies.

In turn, businesses will be able to take their new innovations to market responsibly and more quickly, helping to grow the UK’s economy.

Technology Secretary Michelle Donelan said:

Digital technology and artificial intelligence are rapidly evolving, and regulation must keep pace – but we don’t want it to be at the expense of stifling the launch of new innovations that can improve our everyday lives.

While safety is at the heart of our approach to regulation here in the UK, this new service will help businesses navigate the process of making sure they are compliant – supporting safe and responsible innovation.

We are a nation that backs businesses both big and small, and we want to make sure that as they can quickly get to grips with rules and regulations around emerging technology.

With digital technologies such as artificial intelligence needing increasingly to demonstrate compliance with a range of regulatory regimes, there is a growing need for joined-up advice across the regulatory landscape. This pilot scheme will meet business demands for coordinated support and help innovators navigate regulations, so they can spend more time developing cutting edge new products.

The service will be run by members of the Digital Regulation Cooperation Forum (DRCF), made up of the Information Commissioner’s Office, Ofcom, the Competition and Markets Authority and the Financial Conduct Authority, and known as DRCF AI and Digital Hub.

The Digital Regulation Cooperation Forum came together as a voluntary collaboration in 2019, launching formally in 2020, and works to explore emerging regulatory issues which cut across the remits of the four regulators with the goal of making it easier for industry to comply with multiple regulatory regimes.

The trial is expected to last around a year, and will assess industry take up, service feasibility and how innovators are interacting with it. Innovators and businesses requiring advice will be invited to apply in due course with the DRCF expected to run a competition for innovators to outline where they need support from regulators to ensure innovative new technologies comply with cross-cutting regulatory regimes. Successful applications will be selected against criteria agreed jointly by regulators and the department.

Today’s announcement delivers on other commitments made as part of the government’s AI Regulation white paper, including the establishment of a central AI risk function within government. Over the last few months, the government has moved quickly to set up the central risk function within the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT). It will identify, measure and monitor existing and emerging AI risks using expertise from across government, industry, and academia – with a specific focus on exploring the regulatory risks of foundation models and frontier AI.

In addition, the government is working with UK regulators on how they might need to regulate the technology given its cross-cutting nature and impact on various sectors – many have already started work on this from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency to the Office for Nuclear Regulation. Only yesterday, the Competition and Markets Authority published it’s initial review of AI Foundation Models, which set out the opportunities and risks which foundation models could bring for competition and consumer protection.

Earlier this year the UK government committed to a multiple regulator sandbox, which helps organisations work with regulators to understand how their products interact with different regulatory regimes. Today’s announcement delivers on this, in recognition of the importance of AI innovations that have implications in multiple sectors such as generative AI models, with the potential to expand its capability to cover multiple industry sectors over time.

On 1 and 2 November the UK will host the first major global AI Safety Summit at Bletchley Park, building consensus on rapid, international action to advance safety at the cutting edge of AI technology. It will bring together key countries, as well as leading technology organisations, academia and civil society to inform rapid national and international action at the frontier of artificial intelligence development.

The summit will focus on risks created or significantly exacerbated by the most powerful AI systems, particularly those associated with the potentially dangerous capabilities of these systems. For example, this would include the proliferation of access to information which could undermine biosecurity. The summit will also focus on how safe AI can be used for public good and to improve people’s lives – from lifesaving medical technology to safer transport.
September 24, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Defence announces New Accommodation Offer for Armed Forces personnel [September 2023]
The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 19 September 2023.

New accommodation offer announced to modernise accommodation entitlements to Armed Forces personnel.

A new accommodation offer to revolutionise housing for service personnel and their families was announced by the Ministry of Defence today.

The offer, which will be the biggest change to Armed Forces housing for a generation and available from March 2024, will modernise accommodation entitlements, improve the standard of Single Living Accommodation and provide a framework to update overseas accommodation.

The development and design of this new offer, which delivers on recommendations in the Haythornthwaite Review and the Defence Command Paper refresh has been informed by research and engagement with service personnel and their families, including learnings from a three-year pilot.

Minister for Defence, People, Veterans and Service Families, Andrew Murrison MP said:

“As the Defence Command Paper Refresh made clear, our serving personnel are critical to the effectiveness of our Armed Forces.

“Today’s announcement will ensure that our Defence Accommodation policy continues to meet the needs of today’s armed forces community offering greater flexibility for those that serve.”

Following the successful pilot, the New Accommodation Offer will include:
- Needs-based allocation of family accommodation, which will allocate housing based on the size of the immediate family instead of rank.
- Service personnel registered as being in an established long-term relationship will be entitled to accommodation on the same basis as those who are married or in a civil partnership.
- Parents who have children with a main home elsewhere can access service family accommodation, providing the children visit for more than 80 nights a year.
- More flexibility for service personnel to request the type of home that works for their family, allowing them to access homes above or below their entitlement.
- Improved standards in Single Living Accommodation with a minimum standard for Single Living Accommodation agreed across the estate.
- In addition to the Forces Help to Buy which offers support to first time buyers to buy a home, a permanent part of our accommodation policy, the New Accommodation Offer will provide further support for Service personnel becoming first time buyers, refunding up to £1,500 of their legal expenses.
- Providing financial support for weekly commuters who are maintaining a primary home elsewhere irrespective of age or marital status.
The Ministry of Defence is also committed to learning from the New Accommodation Offer to improve the overseas accommodation offer for service personnel.

The department is already looking at how we can implement the New Accommodation Offer overseas, including pilots of needs-based accommodation at selected locations.

As part of these improvements, overseas accommodation policy will be separated from UK policy to make it easier to understand and consider the different realities of living in other countries (such as where air conditioning is more important than loft insulation).
September 23, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Government enhances support for refugees to find jobs [September 2023]

The press release issued by the Home Office on 19 September 2023.

A new government programme will help overcome existing barriers for refugees to find work and become self-sufficient in the UK.

Refugees, including people from Syria, Iran, Eritrea and Sudan, can now apply to a new government programme to gain the skills they need to enter the UK job market and lead independent lives.

The government’s new £52 million Refugee Employability Programme aims to overcome the barriers faced by refugees to integrate into local communities and society, including language and cultural differences, and speed up their contribution to the UK economy. Afghans resettled in England under either ACRS and ARAP will also be eligible to apply to the programme.

The programme will operate for two years and will provide enhanced support to refugees and Afghans across employment, English Language training and integration, to build up their confidence and skills to find work and secure better prospects for themselves and their families.

Through the new Refugee Employability Programme, people will receive a personal development plan that will be tailored to their ambitions and personal circumstances. This will range from skills courses, support with CV writing and job applications, work experience opportunities, and enhanced English language training, including access to formal and informal classes, online learning and resources and conversational classes.

For people who do not already receive integration support, the programme will help them access public services, including a GP and a job centre, local community groups and mental health support. Doing so will help vulnerable refugees to rebuild their lives in the UK and put them on the path to self-sufficiency.

This is in addition to eligible refugees having the right to work in the UK, access to public services and claim benefits, including Universal Credit.

Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick said:

We want refugees and Afghans who have come to the UK legally and safely to have every opportunity to enter the world of work and contribute to our economy and society.

Our new Refugee Employability Programme strengthens the support available to those who have come here on safe and legal routes, giving them the skills and knowledge needed to build a long-term and independent future for themselves and their families, and to fully integrate into their communities.

Broadly, refugees are over 20% less likely to be in employment than Brits, with this gap significantly widening for refugee women who are 30% less likely to be in work. The government’s Refugee Employability Programme aims to reduce this gap by providing people with the skills and experience they need to gain employment and give back to society.

The Programme is open to all those granted refugee status in the UK or those who have been granted Indefinite Leave to Remain through one of the government’s safe and legal humanitarian routes. This includes the United Kingdom Resettlement Scheme (UKRS), Afghan Citizen Resettlement Scheme (ACRS), Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy Scheme (ARAP) the Community Sponsorship Scheme, Mandate Resettlement Scheme, and Family Reunion.

The Refugee Employability Programme was designed in consultation with refugees and organisations in the refugee support sector to complement existing provisions already available to help refugees rebuild their lives in the UK.

It builds on the significant package of support the government has put in place to help refugees and resettled Afghans. This includes Operation Warm Welcome, which was set up after the evacuation of Afghanistan to provide support for Afghan arrivals, and included additional funding to enable them to access healthcare, rental top-ups and a portal where the public could submit offers of housing and work, amongst others.

Read more about the Refugee Employability Programme

September 23, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : 15,000 Afghans housed or matched to a property [September 2023]

The press release issued by the Home Office on 19 September 2023.

The government has successfully ended the use of bridging hotels for people evacuated from Afghanistan.

The vast majority of families have moved into housing or been matched to a property, enabling them to rebuild their lives here.

All 55 hotels being used to house around 8,000 Afghans at the end of March were no longer being used as bridging accommodation by 31 August. This followed a significant cross-government effort to help families find homes, working closely with Local Authorities and third sector partners. These hotels are now being retuned for use by their communities, acting as a boost for local economies.

From April, the government served notice to quit to all Afghans living in bridging accommodation. As of 31 August 2023, there were no families remaining in bridging hotels. 85% of families had been moved or matched to settled accommodation, with the remainder being supported by Local Authorities or in interim accommodation due to medical reasons.

The government have used innovative and generous schemes, which has resulted in many Afghans moving into the private rental sector and others moving into reappropriated Service Family Accommodation.

The government also provided a £250 million expansion of the Local Authority Housing Fund to address immediate pressures and increase the supply of permanent accommodation. This is on track to deliver over 1,200 homes for Afghan families across England this year, alongside homes for other cohorts, building a sustainable stock of affordable housing for the future.

Hotel accommodation was never intended to be a permanent solution. It was costing UK taxpayers around £1 million per day, and preventing Afghan families from moving on with the next chapter of their lives. With many families living in hotels for around two years, some of whom struggled to put down roots as a result, Local Authorities and NGOs agreed that moving Afghans into housing was the right thing to do.

Local Authorities were supported with a generous £35 million government funding package to increase the support available to Afghans and help overcome the specific barriers they face in accessing the housing system.

In addition, a dedicated housing portal was established to allow private landlords to offer their properties to families and empower Afghans to search for their own housing. Having come to the UK through safe and legal routes, all those under ACRS and ARAP have indefinite leave to remain in the UK, the right to work and access to benefits and public services.

Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick said:

Two years ago we undertook one of the largest evacuations in recent history, bringing 15,000 people from Afghanistan to safety in the UK at short notice.

Through the tireless work of our dedicated Home Office staff we have now provided these Afghans with the homes they need to begin the next chapter of their life in the UK. Not only can Afghan families now fully integrate, find employment, and provide their children with stability, ending the temporary use of hotels will save the hardworking taxpayer millions of pounds and return them to their proper use by the community and local businesses.

Veterans Minister Johnny Mercer said:

Ensuring those who stood side by side with us in Afghanistan can rebuild their lives in homes across the UK has been a matter close to my heart, and I’m proud of the significant cross-government effort that has achieved this welcome outcome.

Families can now look towards a stable future, whilst taxpayers can be assured that they are no longer footing the bill for 55 costly bridging hotels.

This is a government committed to delivery, that will always act in the best interests of families and the public.

Shamal, who was resettled in North Wales with his family, said:

The Home Office suggested a house up in North Wales to me, and the moving process was really smooth. My family and I have adjusted to life here and we’re really happy in our new home. The local community and especially our new neighbours have been really welcoming and have shown us real kindness. When I think back to a year ago, I can’t believe how different our lives are.

As Minister Mercer announced in July, the government will continue to provide interim accommodation to a minority of resettled Afghans up until the end of the year, where they are either waiting to move into a property which is not currently ready, or a family member requires medical treatment at a specific hospital.

As of 31 August, over 80% of those staying in time-limited interim accommodation were already matched to a property that will be ready to move into before the end of December, with families moving out each week.

Despite the substantial support available, some Afghan families have been unable to make their own arrangements and have made homelessness applications to Local Authorities. Some councils have moved these families into their own temporary accommodation instead of utilising the government’s interim accommodation offer.

As a result, Local Authorities in England reported that 188 households were living in temporary accommodation, as of 31 August. This accounts for less than 10% of those living in bridging hotels at the time notices to quit were issued. Of those in homeless temporary accommodation, around one quarter have said they have a property lined up to move into over the coming weeks.

The government will continue to offer generous support to all households in temporary accommodation, so they can move into permanent accommodation and rebuild their lives here. However, it is only right that families are made a maximum of one accommodation offer through the Home Office matching process.

For those who present as homeless, legislation under the Housing Act 1996 provides a safety net, placing a duty on Local Authorities to ensure families are not left without a roof over their heads. £9,150 per household has been made available to councils from the government for families who present as homeless to support with temporary housing and administration costs. This is in addition to the £2 billion available over 3 years to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping more broadly.

The government has so far brought over 24,600 individuals to the UK from Afghanistan, who all deserve every opportunity to rebuild their lives here.

September 23, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Foreign Secretary’s meeting with Prime Minister of Albania, Edi Rama [July 2023]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 19 September 2023.

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly held a meeting with Edi Rama, Prime Minister of Albania, on 18 September 2023 during the UN General Assembly in New York.

A Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office spokesperson said:

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly and Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama discussed UK-Albania co-operation on key areas of mutual interest such as Ukraine, Serious and Organised Crime (SOC) and illegal migration at a meeting during the UN General Assembly in New York.

They recognised the strength of the current partnership and the progress the two countries have made on shared priorities, particularly on migration and the new prisons returns arrangement, since the Prime Minister’s visit to the UK in March.

The Foreign Secretary welcomed Albania’s leadership on European and international security, including through the Berlin Process meetings in Tirana, as well as NATO and the UN Security Council.

September 23, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : UK support for Somalia’s security forces [September 2023]
The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 19 September 2023.

The UK Government announced a further £5 million in funding to support Somalia’s Security Forces.

The UK Government has announced a further £5 million in funding for the United Nations Support Office in Somalia (UNSOS) Trust Fund to support Somalia’s Security Forces.

The new funding was announced during a meeting between Somalia’s National Security Advisor, Hussein Sheikh Ali, and the UK’s Deputy National Security Adviser for International Affairs, Dame Sarah MacIntosh during her visit to Somalia last week.

The funding builds on the UK’s substantial contributions to date through the UNSOS Trust Fund, which provides non-lethal logistical support to the SSF, which will include food, shelter and lifesaving medevac support. UK funding will provide ongoing support to the operations against al-Shabaab, but also assist Somalia Security Forces to build capacity as they take on greater responsibility for security.

Deputy National Security Adviser, Dame Sarah MacIntosh, said:

The UK and Somalia security partnership is important for bringing stability and security to Somalia and the region.

The UK will continue to support Somali-led efforts to combat terrorism and restore stability in recaptured areas of the country.

The UK continues to support the Somali Government as they pursue a more stable and secure Somalia. UK-Somali collaboration across the security, economic and development sectors is delivering a brighter future for Somalis.

Notes to Editors
- Significant progress has been made in Somalia over the last decade. The international community must remain committed in support of Somalia’s aims for a sustainable, affordable and accountable security sector. The transition from ATMIS to Somali-led security remains our collective goal.
- The UK is providing bilateral support to Somalia as it steps up the fight against al-Shabaab. The UK is a partner of both the Somali Security Forces (SSF) and the United Nations Support Office in Somalia (UNSOS) through the UNSOS Trust Fund.
- Since 2022 the UK has committed over £10 million in support of Somali Security Forces via the UNSOS Trust Fund.
- The UK also provides bilateral voluntary contributions for military stipends to ATMIS, providing over £47 million since 2022.
- Further information on the UK-Somalia development partnership can be found here.
September 22, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : UK Military Expert appointed as part of UN’s crackdown on sexual violence in conflict [September 2023]
The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 19 September 2023.

The UK has appointed Lieutenant Colonel Héloïse Goodley to support the UN’s mission to eradicate sexual violence in conflict. The appointment forms part of the UK Government’s commitment to preventing conflict related sexual violence.
Today the UK Ministry of Defence has appointed a military expert to support the UN’s Office of the Special Representative to the Secretary General on Sexual Violence in Conflict (UN SRSG-SVC).

Lieutenant Colonel Héloïse Goodley will provide practical guidance to develop Human Security reforms to prevent and support the global response to conflict related sexual violence (CRSV).

The appointment is another step in the UK’s commitment to being a global leader on tackling conflict related sexual violence and leading the Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative.

The job recognises the indispensable role of the UN’s Office of the Special Representative to the Secretary General on Sexual Violence in Conflict in advocating for justice and accountability, supporting conflict affected states through her team of experts and enabling states to deliver justice for survivors.

Conflict related sexual violence is not a new phenomenon, and it continues to be widespread in situations of conflict around the world, with incidents of conflict related sexual violence reported in 17 countries in 2022.  Devastating effects have been seen in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, during the Balkan wars in the 90s, and now in Ukraine at the hands of Russian aggression. It leaves profound and lasting scars on survivors, their children and their communities.

Minister for the Armed Forces, RT Hon James Heappey, said:

When Pramila asked me to provide a UK military officer for her team, she made clear her admiration for the expertise developed within our Armed Forces on Human Security

Lieutenant Colonel Goodley is one of our most accomplished officers in this field and I’m delighted she’ll now be able to support Pramila in doing this crucial work.

Lord (Tariq) Ahmad, the Prime Minister’s Special Representative on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict, said:

This appointment will strengthen our collective efforts to build a world free from sexual violence in conflict. A Human Security approach which places survivors at the heart of our efforts is essential not only for the empowerment of individuals and communities, but to break cycles of impunity and prevent further CRSV. The UK stands alongside the United Nations in delivering on this important agenda.

Lieutenant Colonel Héloïse Goodley is both a NATO qualified Gender Adviser and a UN qualified Human Security advisor. She has previously deployed overseas as the UN Gender and Child Protection Adviser to the UN Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO). She holds a PhD in Defence with a specialist focus in security sector reform and has been a Chatham House contributing expert on issues of Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI).

Following the launch of Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative over ten years ago, the UK has demonstrated sustained leadership including:

The Foreign Secretary launching the UK’s new Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative strategy focused on strengthening a global response and how we will promote justice and support survivors, aided by up to £12.5m of new funding at the November 2022 PSVI Conference

The UK has provided £60m of funding since the Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative launch in 2012. This has included funding of £7.85m to the Global Survivors Fund since 2019, supporting over 90 deployments of the UK PSVI Team of Experts, and contributing to the development of key international guidance, such as the Murad Code and the International Protocol on the Documentation and Investigation of Sexual Violence in Conflict.

In the past year we have imposed sanctions, designating thirteen perpetrators of conflict related sexual violence.

The UK has committed up to £8.6 million for ACT for Survivors, a programme focused on strengthening accountability, including through increased prosecutions, This includes a partnership with UN SRSG – SVC’s UN team of experts to increase capacity for investigation and prosecution in affected states to support effective justice and accountability measures.

As part of a wider commitment to strengthening its approach to Human Security, which includes conflict related sexual violence, the MOD has introduced Human Security Advisers to provide support and guidance during strategy, policy and operational planning ensuring that all opportunities to eradicate conflict related sexual violence are identified. UK Defence is also undertaking a Training Needs Analysis to map and plan how Human Security will be trained across the whole of the Defence institution, ensuring appropriate levels of understanding and application from leadership to new recruits.

Focusing on prevention, striving for justice, ensuring accountability, and providing support to the survivors of conflict related sexual violence are pillars of the UK’s approach. To prevent conflict related sexual violence and make a real impact, we must use our influence with militaries to make change, raise awareness of what it is and how to respond to it when it is encountered. This builds upon existing work by the UK to develop our own response to conflict related sexual violence as well as across the globe:

Launching the UK’s fifth National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security in February 2023, which has specific commitments related to the UK MOD understanding the applicability of the Murad Code in its activity and strengthening CRSV response and capabilities by Defence Medical Services.

Supporting the Bosnia and Herzegovinian Armed Forces to establish their own Human Security policy with the aim of becoming a regional Human Security centre of excellence and training other countries in the same manner.

Delivering training on Human Security to the Vietnamese Armed Forces prior to a UN peacekeeping deployment.

Training over 10,000 Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel on Human Security through Operation INTERFLEX.

The British Peace Support Team based in Africa deliver peacekeeping training and capacity assistance to partner nations across sub-Saharan Africa including delivering bespoke Human Security courses annually on conflict related sexual violence, Sexual Gender-Based Violence (SBGV), Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment (SEA&H) and Child Protection.
September 22, 2023