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Tag: 2023

  • PRESS RELEASE : UN HRC54 – Statement on Contemporary Slavery [September 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : UN HRC54 – Statement on Contemporary Slavery [September 2023]

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

    UK statement for the Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on Contemporary forms of Slavery. Delivered at the 54th UN Human Rights Council.

    Thank you, Mr President,

    We thank the Special Rapporteur for his ongoing efforts and his latest report on homelessness and contemporary forms of slavery.

    Women and children are disproportionately affected by forms of exploitation and homelessness. Discriminatory laws and practices significantly increase the risks that they face. And as the report states: female-headed households constitute a staggering 70% of the world’s homeless or inadequately housed population.

    The UK fully recognises that individuals who are homeless, or at risk of becoming homeless, may be more vulnerable to becoming victims of modern slavery. Particularly where they have associated support needs. We are fully committed to working with all partners to raise awareness, to prevention, and to protecting victims of modern slavery.

    This year, the UK updated our Guidance on providing homelessness services to victims of modern slavery. This will help local authorities more effectively support victims. We hope that these efforts will improve understanding of the National Referral Mechanism and its interaction with statutory homelessness duties.

    Special Rapporteur,

    What more can be done to raise awareness and enhance our understanding of the linkages between homelessness and contemporary forms of slavery?

  • PRESS RELEASE : Millions get more power over working hours thanks to new law [September 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Millions get more power over working hours thanks to new law [September 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Business and Trade on 19 September 2023.

    Workers right across the country will be given more say over their working patterns thanks to new laws supported by the Department for Business and Trade.

    • Millions of workers will have a say over their working patterns as Workers (Predictable Terms and Conditions) Bill achieves Royal Assent.
    • Government-backed law gives all workers the legal right to request a predictable working pattern encouraging workers to begin conversations with their employers.
    • Follows a wave of wins for workers after a record National Minimum Wage uplift and boosts to employment protections for parents and unpaid carers.

    Workers right across the country will be given more say over their working patterns thanks to new laws supported by the Department for Business and Trade.

    Receiving Royal Assent overnight, the Workers (Predictable Terms and Conditions) Bill, brought forward by Blackpool South MP Scott Benton and Baroness Anderson and supported by the Government, gives individuals on atypical contracts – including those on zero hours contracts – more predictable working hours. It delivers on a 2019 Manifesto commitment to introduce a right for workers to request a more predictable contract.

    Zero hours contracts – and other forms of atypical work – are an important part of the UK’s flexible labour market; however, the Government is determined to tackle unfair working practices.

    The Predictable Working Act introduces a right for workers to request a more predictable working pattern, intending to redress the imbalance of power between some employers and workers in atypical work, encouraging workers to begin conversations with their employers about their working patterns.

    Business and Trade Minister Kevin Hollinrake said:

    Although zero hours contracts can often suit workers who want to work flexibly and employers whose needs vary, it is unfair for anyone to have to put their lives on hold to make themselves available for shifts that may never actually come – this Act helps to end the guessing game.

    A happier workforce means increased productivity, helping in turn to grow the economy, which is why we’ve backed these measures to give people across the UK more say over their working pattern.

    If a worker’s existing working pattern lacks certainty in terms of the hours they work, the times they work or if it is a fixed term contract for less than 12 months, they will be able to make a formal application to change their working pattern to make it more predictable. Once a worker has made their request, their employer will be required to notify them of their decision within one month.

    As well as clear benefits to workers, the measures are also good for British business. In cases where requests are accepted, workers will have more predictable terms and conditions that better suit their individual circumstances, leading to higher job satisfaction.

    This can lead to a range of benefits for businesses, including better staff retention as a worker will not need to look for a new role to secure a working pattern to meet their needs.

    Acas Chief Executive Susan Clews said:

    With the passing of the new Act, many workers will have the right to request more predictability around their working pattern should they wish to.

    Acas is producing a new Code of Practice that will provide clear guidance on making and handling requests. This will help workers and businesses understand the law and have constructive discussions around working arrangements that suit them both. Our draft Code will be available for public consultation in the coming weeks and we encourage all interested parties to respond and let us know their views.

    The Workers (Predictable Terms and Conditions) Act 2023 comes as part of a package of Private Member Bills this government has backed over the last few months, cementing the UK’s prevalent worker’s rights laws. These include:

    • supporting employee parents of new-born babies who are admitted into neonatal care with up to 12 weeks of paid neonatal care leave
    • requiring employers to ensure that all tips, gratuities, and service charges received are paid to workers in full
    • offering pregnant women and new parents greater protection against redundancy
    • entitling employees who are also unpaid carers to a period of unpaid leave
    • providing millions of employees with a day one right to request flexible working, and a greater say over when, where, and how they work

    This package of new laws builds on the UK’s flexible and dynamic labour market and gives businesses the confidence to create jobs and invest in their workforce, allowing them to generate long-term economic growth.

    Ben Willmott, Head of Public Policy at CIPD said:

    This new right will ensure that atypical workers can request a more predictable working pattern if they need more certainty, for example, over the hours they work each week.

    It should also prompt more employers to ensure that the flexibility in non-standard employment arrangements works for both the business and workers wherever possible, boosting their efforts to recruit and retain staff.

    Background:

    • The Government is committed to ensuring the UK is the best place in the world to work and grow a business. To do this, we need a strong and flexible labour market, which supports participation and economic growth. The Government has made this clear since announcing its intention to legislate on this and confirming its support of the Workers (Predictable Terms and Conditions) Bill.
    • We expect the measures in the Act and secondary legislation to come into force approximately a year after Royal Assent, to give employers time to prepare for the changes.
    • Matthew Taylor’s 2017 review of modern working practices and the gig economy recommended the introduction of this policy, noting that it would support many workers who currently experience ‘one-sided flexibility’.
    • Subject to parliamentary approval, all workers and employees will have this new right once it comes into force, however, they must first have worked for their employer a set period before they make their application. This period will be set out in regulations and is expected to be 26 weeks. Given the proposals aim to support those with unpredictable contracts, workers will not have had to have worked continuously during that period.
    • In response to this legislation, the Government has asked Acas to prepare a new statutory Code of Practice to help workers and businesses understand the law and to provide guidance on how requests should be made and considered. Acas will launch a public consultation on a draft Code this autumn.
  • PRESS RELEASE : Pension saving boost for millions receives Royal Assent [September 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Pension saving boost for millions receives Royal Assent [September 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Work and Pensions on 19 September 2023.

    A Private Members’ Bill to help millions save more into their pension and start saving sooner has cleared Parliament and been granted Royal Assent.

    • A Private Members’ Bill to help millions save more into their pension and start saving sooner has cleared Parliament and been granted Royal Assent.
    • The Bill introduces powers to reduce the age for being automatically enrolled and enable pension saving from the first pound earned.
    • Since its introduction in 2012, Automatic Enrolment has transformed UK pension saving, with nearly 11 million people enrolled.

    Millions of people, including low earners and younger workers, will be helped to save more into their pension and look after their financial futures as a Private Members’ Bill completed its passage through Parliament and received Royal Assent.

    The Bill, introduced in the House of Commons by Jonathan Gullis MP and taken through the House of Lords by Baroness Altmann, creates powers to scrap the lower earnings limit and reduce the age for Automatic Enrolment, the landmark pensions policy which sees eligible employees made members of their workplace pension scheme without needing to ask.

    The changes to Automatic Enrolment, combined with the Mansion House Reforms announced by the Chancellor in July, could see the average earner’s pension increase by nearly 50% if saving across their entire career, while a minimum wage earner could see their pension pot increase by over 85%.

    Benefitting savers and society – the reforms will unlock investment into pioneering UK businesses, grow the economy, and help the record number of people saving into a pension to achieve the retirement they want.

    Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Mel Stride said:

    Thanks to Automatic Enrolment, we are empowering a record number of British workers to invest in their financial futures – with an additional £33 billion saved in 2021 compared to 2012.

    This Bill will mean millions across the country can save more and save earlier – boosting security in older age and helping people achieve the retirements they’ve worked so hard for.

    Jonathan Gullis MP said:

    I am delighted that the Pensions (Extension of Automatic Enrolment) Bill has received Royal Assent. Auto-enrolment is a significant step forward and will dramatically improve financial resilience in retirement for young people, women and lower earners.

    Nearly 25% of people in Stoke-on-Trent North, Kidsgrove and Talke are not yet auto-enrolled on a pension plan, and this piece of legislation will ensure part-time, women, apprentices and young people have financial stability in the long-term.

    Before the introduction of Automatic Enrolment in 2012, just 55% of eligible employees saved into a workplace pension. By 2021 this had risen to 88%, with an additional £33 billion saved in real terms in 2021 compared to 2012.

    Automatic Enrolment has particularly benefitted women, young people and lower earners – once poorly served or excluded from workplace pensions. The proportion of eligible women in a workplace pension has increased from 59% in 2012 to 89% in 2021, while the proportion of eligible 22 to 29-year-olds has more than doubled – from 35% in 2012 to 86% in 2021.

    Minister for Pensions Laura Trott said:

    Automatic enrolment has been a phenomenal success, and we are determined to go further. It’s great news that the Private Members’ Bill has successfully passed through Parliament and received Royal Assent.

    This will mean younger workers and those in lower paid employment will be able to fully participate in Automatic Enrolment. For the first time, every eligible worker will benefit from an employer contribution from the first pound earned – which will make a huge difference to their eventual pension.

    James Goodman, Tesco UK People Director said:

    We know it’s important that colleagues save for their retirement and Tesco Stores already offers the option of a retirement savings plan for all our colleagues from the age of 16, regardless of how much they earn. We match their contributions up to 7.5% of their salary and the vast majority of colleagues stay in our scheme once they have joined.

    We welcome the government’s intention to reduce the age that colleagues will be automatically enrolled into pension schemes and believe that this will help younger people to get into the savings habit.

    Pensions saving rates have increased in all corners of the country. The largest increase in private sector participation rates has been in the West Midlands, rising from 39% in 2012 to 87% in 2021.

    Lowering the age at which eligible workers must be automatically enrolled into a pension scheme by their employers from 22 to 18 will make saving the norm for young adults and enable them to begin to save from the start of their working lives.

    The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will launch a consultation on implementing the new measures.

    Further Information

    • The introduction of Automatic Enrolment in 2012 turned the tide on the number of people saving for their retirement, with over 10.9 million people being automatically enrolled since 2012.
    • The reforms being brought forward by the Government – including changes to Automatic Enrolment – could see the average earner’s pension increase by nearly 50% if saving across their entire career and a minimum wage earner could see their pension pot increase by over 85% if saving across their entire career: Chancellor’s Mansion House Reforms to boost typical pension by over £1,000 a year – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
    • The Bill includes a statutory requirement to consult on the implementation approach and timing, along with reporting on the outcomes to Parliament. This will help ensure the strong consensus that underpins the success of Automatic Enrolment is maintained.
  • PRESS RELEASE : Government considers minimum service levels in hospitals during strikes [September 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Government considers minimum service levels in hospitals during strikes [September 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 19 September 2023.

    The government is considering introducing regulations that would require some doctors and nurses to work during strikes, to protect patient safety.

    • Minimum service levels (MSLs) could be extended to protect patient safety during strikes
    • Nurses and doctors could be covered by new regulations
    • Comes as government once again urges BMA to call off strike action as doctors receive their pay rise this month, backdated to April

    The government is considering introducing MSL regulations that would require some doctors and nurses to work during strikes, in order to protect patient safety, the Health and Social Care Secretary has announced.

    The consultation, launching today (Tuesday 19 September 2023), considers introducing MSLs that would cover urgent, emergency and time-critical hospital-based health services – which could cover hospital staff including nurses and doctors – and seeks views on a set of principles for setting MSLs in regulations. It will also seek evidence to inform decisions on the expansion and scope of MSLs. This follows the consultation earlier this year on introducing minimum service levels in ambulance services and brings the UK in line with countries like France and Italy whose services continue in times of industrial action.

    The consultation comes in a week where both consultants and junior doctors are taking strike action, having significant impact on patients, NHS colleagues and efforts to cut waiting lists – including through almost 900,000 rescheduled appointments or procedures. While voluntary agreements between employers and trade unions can be agreed ahead of time, they can lead to inconsistency across the country, come with significant uncertainty as they are based on goodwill and are not always honoured or communicated in sufficient time. This creates an unnecessary risk to patient safety.

    MSLs will provide a better balance between supporting the ability of workers to strike with the safety of the public, who expect vital services to be there when they need them. They will ensure that essential and time-critical care can continue during periods of strike action, for those who need care the most. The government could introduce MSLs in key hospital-based services next year.

    Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay said:

    This week’s co-ordinated and calculated strike action will create further disruption and misery for patients and NHS colleagues.

    My top priority is to protect patients and these regulations would provide a safety net for trusts and an assurance to the public that vital health services will be there when they need them.

    Doctors who started their hospital training this year are receiving a 10.3% pay increase, with the average junior doctor getting 8.8% and consultants are receiving a 6% pay rise alongside generous reforms to their pensions, which was the BMA’s number one ask.

    In the face of ongoing and escalating strike action, we will continue to take steps to protect patient safety and ensure the health service has the staff it needs to operate safely and effectively.

    More widely, the government continues to recognise the crucial role of NHS staff and remains committed to working constructively to end disruption for patients.

    Around 150,000 NHS doctors in England, including doctors in training and consultants, start to receive their pay rise this month, backdated to April 2023. Accepting the recommendations of the independent pay review bodies in full means first year doctors in training will receive a 10.3% pay increase, with doctors in training getting an average 8.8% increase. Consultants will receive 6% following an increase of 4.5% last financial year, alongside the most generous pension schemes in the country which allow them to accrue pension pots worth over £1 million tax-free.

    More than one million NHS staff in England, including nurses, paramedics and 999 call handlers, have already received a pay rise. This means a newly qualified nurse has seen their salary go up by more than £2,750 over 2 years and staff also received 2 significant one-off payments totalling at least £1,655.

    The Health and Social Care Secretary has been clear his door is always open to discuss how to improve the working lives of NHS staff and non-pay issues and ministers continue to engage with staff and talk about their concerns through round tables discussions with a range of NHS professions.

    Background information

    The consultation on minimum service levels in event of strike action: hospital services opened on 19 September 2023.

    We ran a public consultation on minimum service levels in the event of strike action in ambulance services which closed on 9 May 2023. We will publish our response in due course.

  • PRESS RELEASE : NI Troubles (Legacy & Reconciliation) Act receives Royal Assent [September 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : NI Troubles (Legacy & Reconciliation) Act receives Royal Assent [September 2023]

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

    Statement by Secretary of State, Chris Heaton-Harris MP, following Royal Assent of the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act.

    “The legacy of the Troubles in Northern Ireland has always been one of the key issues left unaddressed since the signing of the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement.

    “Yesterday’s Royal Assent of the Northern Ireland (Troubles & Reconciliation) Act marks a significant milestone as the Government aims to deliver on our pledge to deliver better outcomes for those most affected by the Troubles, while helping society to look forward.

    “I recognise getting to this juncture has been a hugely difficult task for all. The legislation contains finely balanced political and moral choices.

    “It presents us all with a real opportunity to deliver greater information, accountability and acknowledgement to victims and families, moving away from established mechanisms that have left far too many empty-handed.  I am confident that this Act provides a framework to enable the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (ICRIR) that it establishes to deliver effective legacy mechanisms, while complying with our international obligations.

    “The delivery of those mechanisms will be led by Sir Declan Morgan KC as Chief Commissioner, who will be supported by Peter Sheridan as Commissioner for Investigations. I know Sir Declan and his team of Commissioners will approach the task with the rigour, integrity, and professionalism required.

    “If we are truly to provide greater information, accountability and acknowledgement to victims and families of the Troubles and help society to move forward in the spirit of reconciliation, we must build a legacy process founded on integrity, expertise and fairness.

    “Now that the legislation has become law, the UK Government will do all it can to support the ICRIR, consistent with its operational independence, as it establishes itself and seeks to deliver effectively for victims and families. I hope that others, including the Irish Government, can do the same.”

  • PRESS RELEASE : Transformative student finance bill becomes law [September 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Transformative student finance bill becomes law [September 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Education on 19 September 2023.

    The Lifelong Learning Bill becomes law, paving the way for a radical transformation of the student finance system.

    New measures have been enshrined in law that will transform the student finance system, allowing colleges and universities to charge different fees for different courses for the first time and opening up opportunities for adults to study in a way that works for them.

    The Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE) (formerly the Lifelong Loan Entitlement) will give all adults from 2025 access to loans, worth up to £37,000 in today’s fees, that they can use flexibly over their working lives to upskill or retrain.

    The LLE will mean people will be able to take out a student loan to pay for full-time courses such as university degrees or higher technical qualifications (HTQs), as well as for some individual modules of courses.

    People who have already taken out a loan for a degree will also be able to use the rest of their entitlement to study subjects that will help them gain additional skills that employers are looking for, making it easier for people to build up their skills over time. This includes studying individual modules of degree courses or HTQs to help them to do this in a way that fits round their lives and commitments.

    To prepare for the introduction of the LLE, a new £5 million scheme has launched to encourage universities and colleges to develop and offer individual modules of HTQs in a flexible way. Under the scheme students will be offered the opportunity to study in-demand modules of HTQs, such as digital, health and science and construction, ahead of the launch of the LLE from 2025.

    Minister for Skills, Apprenticeships and Higher Education Robert Halfon said:

    Giving people the chance to access education and training over the course of their working lives, in a way that suits them, is crucial to enabling those from all backgrounds to climb the ladder of opportunity.

    From higher technical qualification modules in cyber security to short courses in accountancy and university degrees in engineering, this new Lifelong Learning Entitlement will allow people to hop on and off their educational journey throughout their lives with a single ticket, towards the destination of rewarding, skilled employment. This will plug skills gaps and give employers access to a pipeline of talent to help them grow.

    The new measures in the Lifelong Learning Act will allow universities and colleges to use a new method of calculating the maximum level of tuition fees they can charge for different courses. This will make the pricing of modules and short courses proportionate, so people can access education and training at a fair price.

    Chair of the Post-18 Education and Funding Review Philip Augar said:

    This legislation gives us a framework that fits our modern, fast-changing jobs market. The potential now exists for adults to transform life opportunities through lifelong learning and I hope universities, colleges and employers respond constructively in ensuring that this potential is fulfilled.

    Policy Advisor at Coventry University Dr Elizabeth Norton said:

    The Lifelong Learning Bill has not only provided the foundation for a radical overhaul of the student tuition fee loans system in England, but has also asked the entire higher education sector to look carefully at how and when students decide to learn on a timeline convenient to them.

    Coventry University Group has prioritised and pioneered “life shaped learning” for many years, and with this bill receiving Royal Assent, legislation is reflecting the flexibility people need in accessing higher education funding throughout their careers.

    Vice Chancellor of Nottingham Trent University Edward Peck said:

    From initial discussion within the Augar Review Panel in 2018 through to Royal Assent in 2023, the idea of a Lifelong Learning Entitlement has built universal support because it will make higher education available to those who could benefit throughout their adult working lives.

    Everybody who is committed to enhanced social mobility within an ever higher skilled economy will welcome the successful passage of this Bill onto the statute book.

    Executive Director of Finance at Salford University Julie Charge said:

    The Lifelong Learning Bill is an important tool to support the skills development of individuals over their careers helping them reach their full potential. The ability to access module learning will open up opportunities to those who can’t commit to full time education and otherwise would be excluded.

    This Bill is a significant step in embedding life long learning in the UK which will help address employer’s skills and productivity needs as well giving students access to high quality courses throughout their lives.

    David Hughes, chief executive of Association of Colleges, said:

    I am pleased to see the Lifelong Learning Bill gain Royal Assent, having given written and oral evidence as it made its way through parliament. The Lifelong Learning Entitlement has the potential to be a game-changer, and I hope that this is the beginning of a significant cultural shift in the way post-18 education and training is delivered and taken up in England.

    The need for a new lifelong learning culture and the system of funding and opportunities behind it is clear – with an ageing population, the skills needed by employers rapidly changing with technological change and the move to a net zero economy, we need every adult to have the capacity, motivation, and opportunities to carry on learning throughout their lives.

    Vice Chancellor of Bath Spa University Professor Sue Rigby said:

    Opening up higher education by allowing learners to dip in and out of study throughout their career is a dramatic and transformational move.  It will increase the skills base that drives the economy and allow people to learn what they need to thrive when they are ready to do so.

    Higher technical qualifications – that sit between A levels and T levels, and degrees – give adults the skills employers need and are available in a range of in demand subjects including Digital, Construction, and Health and Science with more coming on board over the next few years. From this September, HTQs have been put on par with degrees with students able to access maintenance loans, especially for those studying part time, helping learners fit study around work and other commitments as we move towards the flexibility envisioned by the LLE.

    Following engagement with the higher education sector, the government has decided to change the name of the Lifelong Loan Entitlement to the Lifelong Learning Entitlement, so it better reflects its core purpose of offering learning opportunities throughout people’s working lives, making education and training more accessible to people from all backgrounds.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Avanti West Coast awarded long-term contract after significant improvements for passengers [September 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Avanti West Coast awarded long-term contract after significant improvements for passengers [September 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Transport on 19 September 2023.

    New long-term rail contracts awarded to Avanti West Coast and Cross Country.

    • Avanti West Coast awarded long-term contract following significant improvements across reliability, punctuality and customer satisfaction
    • Transport Secretary and Rail Minister continue to recognise the vital routes Avanti West Coast serve and the need for passenger confidence
    • new contract separately awarded to Cross Country which will bring improved services and refreshed train fleets for passengers

    The Department for Transport has today (19 September 2023) awarded Avanti West Coast a long-term contract which will enable them to deliver improved services for passengers, after dramatically reducing cancellations to as low as 1.1% over the past year.

    A long-term contract will allow the operator to plan ahead, giving them the certainty they need to prepare advance timetables, roll out new train fleets and continue their work to improve services – benefitting passengers in both the short and long term.

    This comes after the department placed Avanti West Coast on 2 consecutive short-term, 6-month contracts and ordered them to develop a recovery plan aimed at addressing poor performance on vital routes – including between Manchester, Birmingham and London – which were brought on by a shortage of available drivers.

    Alongside the recovery plan which prioritised training new drivers, reducing reliance on rest day working and getting tickets on sale earlier, a recovery timetable was introduced which has seen services increase from 180 trains per day to 264 on weekdays – the highest level in over 2 years.

    By the end of the first 6-month contract in March, Avanti had already made significant progress towards its recovery, with 40% more services being run and cancellations within Avanti’s control falling to 4.2%. Those arrangements were further extended to ensure these improvements would continue and passengers would feel confident in using the services again.

    Since then, Avanti West Coast’s services have seen further improvements:

    • cancellations have consistently been below 3% since March 2023, and as low as 1.1% in July 2023, down from 13% in January 2023
    • over 90% of trains now arrive within 15 minutes of their scheduled time, improved from 75% in December 2022
    • over 100 additional drivers have been trained and brought on since April 2022
    • improvements to passenger facilities on trains including better seats, lighting and charging points
    • the introduction of Travel Companion, a WhatsApp channel which passengers with accessibility needs can use to get real-time assistance and information on their journeys, allowing for a more seamless passenger experience for everyone

    Transport Secretary Mark Harper said:

    The routes Avanti West Coast operate provide vital connections, and passengers must feel confident that they can rely on the services to get them where they need to be at the right time.

    Over the past year, short-term contracts were necessary to rebuild the timetable and reduce cancellations. Now Avanti are back on track, providing long-term certainty for both the operator and passengers will best ensure that improvements continue.

    As well as working directly with the operator and local stakeholders on the recovery plan over the past year, the government continues to support the industry – including through setting a mandate – as it engages with unions to ensure we can take forward much-needed reform, including introducing a reliable 7 day a week service to secure the future of our railways. The transformation of Avanti’s performance over the past year demonstrates how, through working closely with government, setting out clear set goals and being incentivised to succeed, the private sector can deliver on our railways.

    Starting on 15 October 2023, Avanti West Coast’s new National Rail Contract will have a core term of 3 years and a maximum possible term of 9 years. After 3 years, the Transport Secretary can terminate the contract at any point with 3 months’ notice.

    The department will stay in close contact with the operator and local stakeholders to monitor Avanti’s performance as it continues its progress to a sustained recovery.

    Meanwhile, the department has also today awarded Cross Country a new National Rail Contract, with a core term of 4 years and a maximum possible term of 8 years.

    The contract will also begin on 15 October and includes additions to help improve services, such as the replacement of the now-retired High Speed Trains with more modern equivalents, refurbishment of existing Cross Country train fleets, and the introduction of direct daily services between Cardiff and Yorkshire, the North East and Edinburgh from December 2024.

  • PRESS RELEASE : UK pushes for a bigger, better and fairer international financial system [September 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : UK pushes for a bigger, better and fairer international financial system [September 2023]

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

    UK commitments will go towards unlocking billions in global finance and support developing countries invest to achieve sustainable development goals.

    • Foreign Secretary announces programmes at the UN General Assembly to help achieve the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals
    • funding focuses on improving global financial system, including making it easier for developing countries to access funds and invest in their own sustainable development
    • James Cleverly will also announce new UK support for climate preparedness and to improve access to education around the world

    Foreign Secretary James Cleverly will today (Tuesday) set out new UK action to build a more inclusive international financial system to improve lives around the world at the UN General Assembly (UNGA).

    Climate change, the threat of pandemics, and stagnant economic growth are some of the biggest challenges facing the world’s most vulnerable and require a united global effort to tackle. On his second day in New York the Foreign Secretary will make clear we should respond to these challenges through a strong and collective international system as he reasserts the UK’s commitment to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.

    Unlocking more finance from international financial institutions and the private sector will be critical if we are to achieve those goals and the UK is already playing key role by mobilising private investment, improving global tax systems and future-proofing for climate change – including through the UK’s recent $2 billion commitment to the Green Climate Fund.

    The UK is announcing pledges and reforms that will unlock billions of pounds in global finance and support developing countries invest in their future to boost sustainable development goals.

    As representatives of global governments gather for the Sustainable Development Goals Summit, the Foreign Secretary will announce new financial guarantees for Multilateral Development Banks to help our overseas aid go further and multiply our impact by unlocking more affordable loans.

    Through one of these guarantees the UK will help unlock up to $1.8 billion of climate finance to support at risk populations across Asia and the Pacific in adapting to the impacts of climate change and increase their resilience to natural disasters. It will help accelerate their transition from fossil fuels to low carbon energy sources, demonstrating how sustainable economic growth and development can go hand-in-hand.

    The Foreign Secretary will also announce another guarantee to provide urgent investments in quality education to tackle the global learning crisis.

    New UK support will help unlock up to $1 billion in new financing for education for Lower Middle Income countries in Asia and Africa, where an estimated seven out of 10 children are unable to read a simple story by the age of 10. The International Finance Facility for Education (IFFEd) will help increase school enrolment for the poorest and most marginalised children. It will enable countries to use education as a tool for sustainable development and focus on improving literacy, numeracy, and social skills, including through training teachers and developing curriculums.

    Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said:

    The extra finance needed to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals is estimated to be around $4 trillion annually. We urgently need bold global action to build a bigger, better and fairer international financial system that helps close this gap.

    The UK played an instrumental role in establishing the Goals and we are committed to achieving them by 2030. Together with our international partners, we are going faster and further, to change the international financial system and make sure no one is left behind. The voice of the poorest and most vulnerable countries must be heard at the heart of the multilateral system.

    The UK is also leading the way on making the global financial system more shock responsive. For example, the UK was the first to offer climate resilient debt clauses in loans from our Export Credit Agency, pausing repayments when a natural disaster or pandemic strikes. In the face of increasing global challenges, the Foreign Secretary is calling for this to become the rule, not the exception to allow affected countries to focus on recovery.

    As part of our commitment to tackle climate change, the UK will also provide additional disaster risk financing support for the Caribbean, a region that is particularly vulnerable to natural disasters. The Foreign Secretary will announce the UK will join CCRIF SPC (formerly the Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility), the Inter-American Development Bank, the Caribbean Development Bank and the Coca Cola Foundation to establish an affordable insurance scheme to increase the resilience of vital water and sanitation services. This will provide quick payouts to fund repairs following hurricanes and floods, restoring access to safe drinking water and preventing the spread of diseases.

    Making sure countries have sustainable public finances is vital to delivering the Sustainable Development Goals. With the right support to strengthen domestic taxation and close loopholes, lower income countries could collectively raise an additional $260 billion.  But we also need a fairer system where existing global commitments on international tax are fully met so that the most vulnerable countries are not losing out on revenues that they should receive. The Foreign Secretary will announce a new UK funding package of £17 million to improve tax systems in developing countries so they can stop revenues leaking and can invest in their sustainable development.

    The UK is also committing £3 million to support the increased use of standards in Commonwealth countries, helping reduce barriers to trade, increase economic stability, and decrease aid dependency, opening opportunities for international businesses, including those from the UK.

    Further information

    The Foreign Secretary is announcing today:

    • the UK is providing a guarantee of up to $300 million to the Innovative Finance Facility for Climate in Asia and the Pacific (IFCAP). We estimate this will unlock $1.2 to $1.8 billion in additional climate financing over the next 5 years, meaning around a 4 to 6 time return of increased climate finance compared to our guarantee commitment.  The Innovative Finance Facility for Climate in Asia and the Pacific (IFCAP) is a multi-donor financing partnership facility set up by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) with the goal of scaling-up finance for accelerated action against climate change in Asia and the Pacific
    • the UK will contribute up to £180 million of support to the International Finance Facility for Education (IFFEd). This includes up to £95 million in grants and paid-in capital, and a contingent guarantee of up to £85 million. IFFEd will unlock up to $1 billion in affordable education finance, with the amount available subject to final confirmation of other donor support, alongside Sweden and the UK. As more donors join IFFEd, this amount will increase
    • the UK will provide the Caribbean Water Utilities Insurance Collective (CWUIC) with a $25 million returnable investment to help water and sanitation companies in the Caribbean access affordable insurance
    • new UK funding of £17 million to improve tax systems in developing countries
    • a total of £3 million to support the increased use of standards in Commonwealth countries. The funding will be used for workshops and training, technical assistance, information exchange and toolkits to support the implementation of international standards amongst Commonwealth countries
  • PRESS RELEASE : Joint statement on Iran’s de-designation of experienced IAEA inspectors [September 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Joint statement on Iran’s de-designation of experienced IAEA inspectors [September 2023]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 18 September 2023.

    France, Germany, the UK and the US have issued a joint statement following Iran’s decision to withdraw the designation of several IAEA inspectors.

    The text of the following statement was released by the permanent representatives to the IAEA of France, Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States in response to the IAEA Director General’s Statement on Verification in Iran.

    On Saturday, the IAEA Director General issued a public statement noting that Iran has withdrawn the designation of several experienced Agency inspectors, including its most experienced experts with unique knowledge of uranium enrichment technology. Iran’s actions will undermine the Agency’s ability to carry out its safeguards mandate effectively. As the Director General makes clear in his statement, Iran’s actions are another step in the wrong direction and constitute an unnecessary blow to an “already strained relationship between the IAEA and Iran.

    Iran continues to expand its nuclear activities. It is now also deliberately hampering the normal planning and conduct of Agency verification and monitoring activities in Iran required under Iran’s NPT Safeguards Agreement. This is at a time when the IAEA has serious, longstanding, and unresolved questions related to undeclared nuclear materials and activities in Iran that Iran has failed to address for more than four years. We join with, and support, the Director General in strongly condemning this latest Iranian “unprecedented and unilateral” measure that he reports will have a severe impact on the Agency’s ability to conduct its verification activities.

    Iran must immediately reverse these inspector de-designations and fully cooperate with the Agency to enable them to provide assurances that Iran’s nuclear programme is exclusively peaceful. France, Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States will continue to stand in strong support of the IAEA and the international safeguards verification regime on which the world’s security relies.

    In light of Iran’s actions, we will take note of any further information on the impact of the inspector de-designations on the Agency’s ability to fulfil its essential verification mandate in Iran. We will respond based on further reporting from the Director General.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Government announces £600,000 of new compensation for every wrongfully convicted Postmaster [September 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Government announces £600,000 of new compensation for every wrongfully convicted Postmaster [September 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Business and Trade on 18 September 2023.

    The UK Government has announced that every Postmaster who was wrongfully convicted and has had their conviction overturned as it was reliant on Horizon evidence will be offered £600,000 in compensation.

    • Every postmaster whose conviction relied on Horizon evidence and has now been overturned will be offered £600,000 to settle their claim
    • Postmasters will continue to receive funds to cover legal fees
    • So far, 86 convictions have been overturned and £21 million has been paid in compensation

    The UK Government has today announced that every Postmaster who was wrongfully convicted and has had their conviction overturned as it was reliant on Horizon evidence will be offered an optional sum of up to £600,000 in compensation.

    All reasonable legal fees will continue to be covered and any Postmaster who does not want to accept this offer can of course continue with the existing process.

    For those postmasters who have already received initial compensation payments or have reached a settlement with the Post Office of less than the £600,000, they will be paid the difference.

    Our aim is to ensure as many Postmasters involved receive this offer of compensation as fast as possible to help bring a resolution to the scandal. This includes any Postmasters who overturn their convictions in the future based on Horizon evidence – they too will be entitled to today’s compensation.

    Post Office Minister Kevin Hollinrake said:

    “This is about righting a wrong and providing some form of relief to those wrongfully caught up in this scandal.

    “Too many Postmasters have suffered and for too long, which is why the Government remains committed to seeing this through to the end until it is resolved and ensuring this cannot ever happen again.”

    Starting in the late 1990s, the Post Office began installing Horizon accounting software, but faults in the software led to shortfalls in branches’ accounts. The Post Office demanded sub-postmasters cover the shortfalls, and in many cases wrongfully prosecuted them between 1999 and 2015 for false accounting or theft.

    Postmasters who were wrongfully convicted have been forced to endure great hardships, losing clean criminal records, loss of liberty and huge financial losses – that is why the Government believes today’s announcement can finally bring the pain to a close.

    The Government has already set up the Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry and provided it with the necessary statutory powers to ensure it can investigate what happened, establish the facts and make recommendations for the future. The Inquiry is progressing and we will continue to cooperate fully to ensure that the facts of what happened are established and lessons learned.

    To date, 86 convictions have been overturned and £21 million has been paid in compensation to postmasters with overturned convictions.

    The Overturned Convictions process, Horizon Shortfall Scheme and Group Litigation Order have in total paid more than £120 million to 2,600 individuals affected by the Horizon scandal.

    Notes to editors

    • The Department announced interim payments of £100,000 in July 2021. The limit was later uplifted to £163,000. Post Office has made interim payments to 100% of eligible postmasters who have submitted a claim.
    • Today’s £600,000 offer will be made net of any sums already received, such as interim payments and partial settlements, to settle the claim full
    • Postmasters are eligible for this upfront offer if their conviction was overturned on the basis that it was reliant on Horizon evidence