Tag: 2023

PRESS RELEASE : Sizewell C starts private investment process [September 2023]
The press release issued by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero on 18 September 2023.

Government opens process for partners to express interest in investing in nuclear revival.
- Prospective partners can register interest in Sizewell C from today
- Sizewell C is at the heart of the UK’s civil nuclear revival and will house 2 of the most powerful reactors in the world
- When finished, Sizewell C could power as many as 6 million homes and create 10,000 jobs across the country
Private investors will have their first chance to come forward and qualify to invest in Sizewell C power station, a key component of the UK’s nuclear revival, from today (Monday 18 September).

Today, the Energy Security Secretary Claire Coutinho confirmed the next stage for the investment process – opening applications for partners to register their interest in being part of the project.

The government, the Sizewell C Company and EDF, the project’s lead developer, are looking for companies with substantial experience in the delivery of major infrastructure projects. This builds on engagement undertaken as the Sizewell C project has developed.

Any investment will also be subject to strict national security checks.

Sizewell C is expected to house 2 of the most powerful nuclear reactors in the world. It will generate reliable, low-carbon power for up to 6 million homes over 60 years, avoiding 9 million tonnes of carbon each year. At peak construction, it is expected to support 10,000 jobs across the country.

In a show of support, the government has already invested £700 million in the project – the first such direct public investment in a nuclear project for a generation. Ministers have also made £511 million available to continue project development and prepare the Suffolk site for construction, ahead of the planned private equity raise for the project in advance.

The government is delivering a revival of nuclear power by investing in large scale reactors as well as emerging technologies, such as Small Modular Reactors, with the ambition of having up to a quarter of the UK’s electricity generated by nuclear by 2050.

Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, Claire Coutinho, said:

Investing in Sizewell C is an exciting opportunity to be a part of the UK’s nuclear revival – delivering clean, reliable, and affordable power for generations to come.

This project will create thousands of jobs, power 6 million homes and will boost our energy security.

We are focused on securing good value for taxpayers and look forward to seeing strong and competitive bids to be a part of this exciting project.

Sizewell C Company Joint Managing Director, Julia Pyke, said:

The launch of the formal equity raise opens another exciting phase for the project, following a positive response from investors during market testing.

Investors who participate in Sizewell C would be contributing to one of the biggest clean energy projects in the UK. They should feel confident in our proposals as we are building a replica project with government backing, a mature reactor design and a workforce ready to build it.

We look forward to starting the main site construction and delivering this vital project which will reduce costs for consumers and help to create a future-proof low-carbon energy system for Britain.

The initial process launched today invites partners to complete a pre-qualification assessment. Companies will have to demonstrate that they meet the key criteria for entering negotiations on a potential equity stake in Sizewell C, including experience in delivering major infrastructure projects.

The process has been designed following market testing with a cross-section of partners.

While details of the investors who come forward and get involved cannot be provided at this stage given the need for commercial confidentiality, ministers will be looking for private investors who can add value to the project and will only accept private investment if it provides value for money, while bolstering energy security.

Minister for Nuclear and Networks, Andrew Bowie, said:

Sizewell C is at the heart of the UK’s nuclear revival and our ambition to provide up to a quarter of the UK’s electricity from homegrown nuclear energy by 2050.

This will provide reliable and abundant energy, boost economic growth and jobs across the country and underpin the UK’s path to Net Zero.

Following the first government direct public investment in a nuclear project for a generation, I look forward to seeing strong and competitive bids from potential investors to bring new expertise and experience into the company to help deliver this critical piece of national infrastructure.

CEO of EDF Energy, Simone Rossi, said:

EDF is pleased to support the development of the Sizewell C nuclear plant and the launch of this equity raise.

The very significant investment that EDF continues to make in Britain at Hinkley Point C benefits Sizewell C through replication of the design and construction, and a proven UK supply chain.

Together, Hinkley Point C and Sizewell C will be the bedrock of Britain’s new nuclear fleet, a critical part of ensuring Britain has the clean, affordable energy it needs.

Alongside support for Sizewell C at Suffolk, and Hinkley Point C in Somerset, the government has also launched Great British Nuclear, which will further drive the UK’s nuclear revival through the development of new and emerging technologies.

This includes Small Modular Reactors, which can be constructed more quickly having been partially built in factories; and Advanced Modular Reactors, which are also smaller and can generate high temperatures which can help power industry.
September 19, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : UK sets out “AI for Development” vision at UN General Assembly [September 2023]
The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 18 September 2023.

Foreign Secretary to outline vision at UNGA for using Artificial Intelligence to speed up development in the world’s poorest nations.
Foreign Secretary to outline vision at UNGA of how Artificial Intelligence (AI) can help increase the impact of international development

“AI for Development” programme will boost skills, innovation and computing power in Africa and will launch around the UK-hosted AI Safety Summit this November

UK also announces at UNGA over £1 million to harness the power of AI to help predict conflicts and humanitarian crises, accelerating delivery of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals

The UK will set out an ambitious vision for how the enormous potential of AI technology can be harnessed to speed up development in the world’s poorest nations at UNGA today.

The Foreign Secretary will call on international partners to come together to coordinate efforts for AI development in Africa and accelerate progress towards the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. In leading the way, the UK will launch the ‘AI for Development’ programme, in partnership with Canada’s International Development Research Centre to focus on helping developing countries, initially in Africa, build local AI skills and boost innovation.

The announcement coincides with the UK co-convening an event on AI in the margins of the UN General Assembly, where the Foreign Secretary will attend as part of our efforts to drive the global conversation on AI. The session, chaired by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, will bring together governments, tech firms and NGOs to discuss how AI can accelerate progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals – a series of targets to make the world a healthier, fairer and more prosperous place by 2030.

Today the UK is also announcing £1 million of UK investment in a first-of-a kind fund that, working alongside international partners, will harness the power of AI to help countries and global organisations prevent crises before they happen. The Complex Risk Analytics Fund (‘CRAF’d’) will also respond to emergencies when they occur, and help countries recover onto the path of sustainable development.

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said:

The opportunity of AI is immense. It has already been shown to speed up drug discovery, help develop new treatments for common diseases, and predict food insecurity — to name only a few uses. The UK, alongside our allies and partners, is making sure that the fulfilment of this enormous potential is shared globally.

As AI continues to rapidly evolve, we need a global approach that seizes the opportunities that AI can bring to solving humanity’s shared challenges. The UK-hosted AI summit this November will be key to helping us achieve this.

Julie Delahanty, President of the International Development Research Centre President said:

IDRC is pleased to announce a new collaboration with FCDO, a key ally in tackling the most pressing development challenges. The AI for Development program will build on existing partnerships, leveraging AI’s capacity to reduce inequalities, address poverty, improve food systems, confront the challenges of climate change and make education more inclusive, while also mitigating risks.

This investment is also part of a wider UK commitment to use AI innovation to address global challenges, including the pursuit of the Sustainable Development Goals.

On 1 and 2 November the UK will host the first major global AI Safety Summit at Bletchley Park, Buckinghamshire, building global consensus on the rapid, international action needed to advance safety at the cutting edge of AI technology.

Further information

The UK joins Germany, the United States, the Netherlands, the European Commission and Finland, as partners in investing in the Complex Risk Analytics Fund (‘CRAF’d’), working with the United Nations.
September 19, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Panel named for independent review into civil unrest in Leicester [September 2023]
The press release issued by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities on 18 September 2023.

Final 3 panellists named to work on review to establish the facts and identify the underlying causes of last year’s unrest and make recommendations.
Communities Secretary Michael Gove has appointed 3 expert panellists to sit on an independent review into the unrest that occurred in Leicester last year.

In September 2022 community tensions led to a spate of vandalism, assaults, and attacks on places of worship and other properties in Leicester, in some cases highlighting divisions between different groups across the city and beyond.

During the height of the unrest, the government worked closely with the local police force, Leicester City Council and other local partners to bring calm to the situation and protect communities from across the city.

Communities Secretary Michael Gove commissioned an Independent Review into the disorder appointed Lord Ian Austin as chair earlier this year. The following 3 expert panellists will work alongside Lord Austin:

Dr Samir Shah CBE: a former Commissioner for the Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities, former chair of the independent race equality think tank The Runnymede Trust for 10 years and was a member of the Holocaust Commission.

Professor Hilary Pilkington: Professor of Sociology at the University of Manchester and Fellow of the UK Academy of Social Sciences. She coordinated the H2020 DARE (Dialogue about Radicalisation and Equality) project, and her research includes focus to the study of youth participation, activism, stigmatisation and extremism in the UK.

Dr Shaaz Mahboob: Head of Digital Development NHS England and trustee of British Muslims for Secular Democracy for 10 years until 2018, including its Vice Chair for a number of years.

Lord Austin said:

Leicester has a proud history of diversity, tolerance and community cohesion which makes what happened last year all the more troubling.

We want to listen to people in Leicester to understand last year’s events, what can be learned from them and how communities in the city can work together to prevent problems in future.

It is therefore vital that the review is comprehensive and even-handed and that this aim is reflected in the panellists we appoint.

The diverse panel brings together a wealth of experience and knowledge, which should result in an honest, frank and productive review.

The panel will:

Establish the facts of what took place over the period of unrest, and a sequence of events.

Present an analysis of the causes of the unrest.

Make practical recommendations for how similar events that may arise in future could be prevented.

Set out proposals and ideas for strengthening social cohesion locally.

The panel is expected to publish the findings of the review next year.
September 19, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Former Armed Forces personnel training foreign militaries could be prosecuted under National Security Act [September 2023]

The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 17 September 2023.

Under the National Security Act, former RAF, Royal Navy and Army pilots training foreign militaries may be prosecuted for sharing military tactics.

Former UK Armed Forces personnel who train foreign militaries around the world can be prosecuted under new offences within the National Security Act.

It comes after the Ministry of Defence issued a security alert last year, revealing that a number of former Royal Air Force, Royal Navy and Army pilots had been training the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Air Force, having being contracted through a private South African company and attracted by high salaries.

Specifically, the new Act includes the section 1 offence of ‘obtaining or disclosing protected information’ and defines ‘information’ to include tactics, techniques and procedures.

This means that pilots risk being prosecuted for sharing such sensitive information with foreign powers. Once the powers come into force, the Ministry of Defence can pass relevant information to police forces, who can investigate offences under the Act.

Defence Secretary Grant Shapps said:

Anyone found to be acting against the UK’s interests by training our competitors’ militaries can now expect to be pursued and brought to justice.

The government has acted decisively following the identification of this threat, and has made rapid changes to legislation to help shut it down.

Since the security alert, the Ministry of Defence believes that publicity the practice received has been successful in encouraging these pilots to reconsider their activity, and in discouraging other personnel from taking part.

At the time of the alert, the MOD recognised that further measures were needed in order to disrupt the activity. One such critical measure was including this activity within the National Security Act, to allow criminal charges to be pressed.

As well as legislating against the activity, the UK has also been working closely with our allies, some of whom are also seeing similar activity with their former military personnel, to help highlight and tackle this internationally.

Security Minister Tom Tugendhat said:

We face growing threats from foreign states.

In recent years we’ve seen attempts to harm our people, damage our economy and undermine our democracy. We’ve also seen attempts from countries such as China to solicit national secrets from former Armed Forces personnel.

This new Act provides our world class law enforcement and intelligence agencies with new and updated tools to tackle security challenges such as these – and hold those responsible to account.

The National Security Act became law in July this year and has brought together new measures to modernise counter-espionage laws and address evolving threats to our national security.

With this new legislation, the UK is now a harder target for those states who seek to conduct hostile acts against the UK, which include espionage, foreign interference (including in our political system), sabotage, and acts that endanger life, such as assassination. It provides law enforcement and intelligence agencies with new and updated tools to deter, detect and disrupt modern-day state threats.

The recently published Defence Command Paper 2023 and the Integrated Review Refresh 2023 sets out the UK’s approach to China as an enduring and epoch-defining challenge to British interests through its increasingly assertive and coercive behaviour. The documents say how the government will respond by increasing protections to national security, deepen cooperation with partners and increase engagement with China.

Military personnel who have any concerns or are aware of suspicious activity are encouraged to call the MoD confidential crime line.

September 19, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : UK to announce action to help achieve the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals at the UN General Assembly [September 2023]
The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 17 September 2023.

The Deputy Prime Minister will head up the UK delegation for the United Nations General Assembly High-Level Week.
- Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden will head up UK delegation in New York for the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) High-Level Week
- he and other Ministers will set out how the UK is increasing efforts to achieve the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, a series of commitments to make the world a fairer, healthier and more prosperous place by 2030
- Foreign Secretary James Cleverly is due to arrive in New York today (Sunday), and will meet counterparts from the US, France, Egypt, Barbados and Indonesia as well as attend G7 and migration meetings
The world must recommit to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) if we are to achieve them by 2030, Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden will tell the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York next week.

As the halfway point between the launch of the SDGs in 2015 and the target for their delivery in 2030 approaches, he, the Foreign Secretary and the wider UK delegation will make clear countries urgently need to visibly and vocally recommit to the Goals to make the world healthier, fairer, and more prosperous.

The Deputy Prime Minister will lead the UK delegation and travel to New York on Tuesday – he will attend the UN Security Council session on Thursday. He will attend the UN Security Council session on multilateralism and Ukraine on Wednesday to recommit our steadfast support to Ukraine and to hold Russia to account for its illegal actions, both in Ukraine and its cynical attempts to undermine global food supplies and security, causing worldwide suffering in the world’s poorest nations.

The Deputy Prime Minister will also deliver the UK’s address to the General Assembly on Friday where he will call on nations to cooperate to ensure the benefits of revolutionary new technologies like AI are felt equally, while also preventing their misuse. He will also hold meetings on AI with leading technology companies and discuss AI regulation with other countries ahead of the UK’s AI Safety Summit.

He will also attend UN meetings on boosting global health and announce new UK support for strengthening health systems. He will also discuss climate action and growing global investment in Africa.

The Foreign Secretary, arriving in New York tomorrow (Sunday), will meet key allies and stress the need to keep up the pressure on Russia, making it clear to Putin that he cannot “outlast” the international backing for Ukraine.

He is due to hold talks tomorrow (Monday) and on Tuesday with, among others, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna, Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and Indonesia’s Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi.

Tomorrow (Monday) the Foreign Secretary will co-convene an event on Artificial Intelligence (AI) chaired by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

It will bring together governments, tech firms and NGOs to discuss how AI can accelerate progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals. The Deputy Prime Minister will also be discussing the challenges and opportunities of AI with global partners and UK and US tech firms operating in the USA during his visit, ahead of the UK hosting the AI Safety Summit in November.

Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden said:

“I’m delighted to be leading the UK delegation to the UN General Assembly on behalf of the Prime Minister.

“The UK has always worked closely with the UN to create a safer, healthier and more prosperous world. I look forward to using this year to discuss the challenges and opportunities of AI, so that the benefits of this revolutionary technology are felt fairly across the world, and how Britain can be at the forefront of that effort.

“Alongside this we’ll be announcing new support to tackle climate change, boost global economic growth and prevent future pandemics.

“But the principles of the UN are being challenged by Russia’s appalling actions in Ukraine: deliberately attacking and terrorising civilians and seeking to hold the world to ransom by blocking vital food supplies.

“I will be challenging Russia at the Security Council and other nations to strengthen international support for Ukraine’s freedom.”

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said:

“Only a functioning multilateral system can address the complex and interconnected global challenges we are facing. But our system is under strain, particularly from intensifying geopolitical rivalry. The Sustainable Development Goals are seriously off-track, and we need to come together to recommit and accelerate their delivery by 2030.

“Russia is a permanent member of the UN Security Council, but its invasion of Ukraine is a clear breach of the UN Charter. Our citizens rightly demand that we curb illegal migration and boost economic growth. Climate change and new technologies like AI present extreme risks, but also unprecedented opportunities.

“Putin is counting on the misguided assumption that he can outlast international support for Ukraine. We will not be deterred. It is in all our interests, to ensure that Russia is defeated and evicted from Ukraine’s sovereign territory as quickly as possible.”
September 19, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Government to introduce legal costs cap to support victims [September 2023]
The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 16 September 2023.

Legal costs will be capped in lower damages clinical negligence claims to support victims, speed up justice and protect taxpayers and NHS England cash.
- Limits to be placed on how much lawyers receive from lower damages clinical negligence claims
- This will save an estimated £500 million over the next decade which could be spent on patient care
- Changes will better support victims and preserve access to justice
Legal costs will be capped in lower damages clinical negligence claims to support victims, speed up justice and protect taxpayers and NHS England cash.

During the past 16 years claimants’ legal costs have risen four-fold for claims of up to £25,000. The amount spent by NHS England on clinical negligence claims has also risen from £0.6 billion to £2.6 billion despite the number of claims remaining stable.

This has created a situation where the claimants’ legal costs are disproportionate and on average double what the claimant themselves receives.

These costs are funded from the core NHS budget. It is estimated that introducing this system of fixed recoverable costs would save NHS England £500 million during the next decade, which could be spent on patient care.

Minister for Health, Maria Caulfield, said:

We want a fairer system for victims of clinical negligence which provides speedier justice while also protecting NHS and taxpayer funding.

Those providing legal representation are due fair remuneration for providing these services but this should not be out of proportion to the claim or be to the detriment of justice or front line services.

By introducing fixed recoverable costs for clinical negligence claims of £25,000 or below, we’re ensuring a better balance between costs and compensation.

The decision follows a consultation, which the government has now responded to. It concluded that claimant legal costs are too high and the length and complexity of the legal process can also be disproportionate given the relative straightforwardness of many claims at this level. This also means people who have been harmed are waiting longer to receive compensation.

Introducing a system of fixed recoverable costs is expected to speed up the process and at a lower and more proportionate cost while protecting victims and ensuring access to justice continues.

This will not impact on higher value claims and would only affect the level of the claimants’ legal costs, not the compensation for the claimant.

The rate of fixed recoverable costs under the recommendations are higher than those proposed in the consultation. The bolt-on amounts for those claims involving protected parties or children, will rise from £650 to £1,800.

The scheme will also give defendants responsibility for paying the costs of neutral evaluation, where an experienced legal professional evaluates the claim to speed up the process without the need to go to court.

A further 6-week consultation is also being launched to address whether disbursements – legal costs incurred over and above claimants’ legal costs such as court fees – should be included within the fixed costs.

The new rules are expected to come into force in April 2024.

Background information

The National Audit Office report ‘Managing the costs of clinical negligence in trusts’ identified claimant legal costs as a significant driver of the rise in the overall cost of clinical negligence claims in recent years.

These reforms follow Sir Rupert Jackson’s (then Lord Justice Jackson’s) 2017 recommendation that the Civil Justice Council (CJC) develop a bespoke, streamlined system of fixed recoverable costs. In 2022 we consulted on proposals closely aligned to the CJC’s 2019 report recommendations on the fixed recoverable costs process and developed with extensive input from claimant and defendant representatives.

Fixed recoverable costs in lower value clinical negligence claims: consultation outcome

Fixed recoverable costs in lower damages clinical negligence claims – a supplementary consultation on disbursements
September 19, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : UK ramps up vital life-saving support for Libya [September 2023]
The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 16 September 2023.

The UK has ramped up crucial life-saving support to flood-hit Libya, allocating increased funding and deploying an essential emergency medical team.
- new UK funding to support response to devastating floods in Libya
- UK to deliver life-saving provisions including emergency shelter, solar lanterns, and water filters to disaster-affected areas
- Emergency Medical Team to be deployed to carry out rapid medical assessments on the ground
The UK has ramped up crucial life-saving support to flood-hit Libya, allocating increased funding and deploying an essential emergency medical team.

This additional support builds upon the initial package worth up to £1 million announced earlier this week (13 September), which will be used to provide vital provisions including emergency shelter items, portable solar lanterns and water filters.

The UK is also deploying an emergency medical team led by health and sanitation experts from NGO UK-MED to conduct rapid medical assessments in disaster-affected areas. The Emergency Medical Team will coordinate with local authorities, international organisations and other EMT partners on the ground to understand the immediate and growing humanitarian health needs in Libya following the devastating storms.

The UK has increased its financial support to the response to both the floods in Libya and the earthquake in Morocco, allocating a package worth up to £10 million.

Minister for the Middle East and North Africa, Lord Ahmad said:

It is harrowing to see the loss of life and scenes of devastation in Libya following the floods.

The UK is committed to supporting the Libyan people during this extremely difficult time. We will increase UK funding to the crisis response and deliver crucial life-saving provisions, including shelter, water filters and medical assessments.

Earlier this week (13 September), the Minister for the Middle East and North Africa, Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, spoke with the Chairman of Libya’s Presidential Council, Mohamed al-Mnefi, to convey his condolences and the UK’s commitment to supporting Libya in the aftermath of this tragedy. Lord Ahmad also spoke to Under-Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator at the UN, Martin Griffiths, to discuss the international response to the crises in Morocco and Libya.

The UN has announced $10 million in response to the flooding from its Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), to which the UK is one of the largest donors. The UK has committed £52 million towards the UNCERF’s vital work in 2023.

The UK is working with trusted partners on the ground to identify the most urgent basic needs, including on shelter, healthcare and sanitation and stands ready to provide further support.
September 19, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : The UK calls on South Sudan’s leaders to deliver the free and fair elections the South Sudanese people deserve – UK statement at the UN Security Council [September 2023]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 15 September 2023.

Statement by Ambassador James Kariuki at the UN Security Council meeting on South Sudan.

Thank you President. Thank you also to SRSG Haysom, ASG Msuya and Ms Juan for their briefings today.

This September marks five years since the South Sudanese parties came together to sign the Peace Agreement.

The United Kingdom welcomes the progress achieved since then, and that disputes are now largely resolved through political dialogue, not conflict.

But we remain concerned that progress is too slow and too limited. The past five years have been characterised by missed deadlines and multiple extensions.

So, we call on South Sudan’s leaders to demonstrate the political will to deliver the free and fair elections that the South Sudanese people deserve.

President, the United Kingdom welcomes the recent establishment of an Election Security Committee and the presentation of the National Elections Act to Parliament.

But as highlighted by SRSG Haysom, in addition to adopting the necessary legislation and reconstituting the relevant electoral bodies, there are fundamental decisions and logistical preparations that require urgent attention.

We call on the South Sudanese authorities to create the necessary political and civic space to allow for free and credible elections.

President, as the horrifying violence continues across the border in Sudan, over 260,000 people have now been registered arriving into South Sudan. This comes on top of what were already unprecedented levels of humanitarian need in South Sudan.

The United Kingdom commends the Government of South Sudan’s provision of transportation and the UN system and humanitarian partners in their response to the crisis.

We urge the South Sudanese government to create a more enabling environment for humanitarian action, and commit itself to longer-term, more durable solutions that address the increasing humanitarian need.

In closing, at this important time in South Sudan’s history we urge South Sudan’s leadership to deliver on the outstanding tasks to make democratic elections a reality.

Thank you.

September 19, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Government to ban ‘American XL Bully’ [September 2023]

The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 15 September 2023.

The Government has announced today that ‘American XL Bully’ dogs will be banned.

‘American XL Bully’ dogs will be banned following a series of horrific attacks, the Government has announced today (15 September).

On the back of a number of shocking ‘American XL Bully’ attacks, the Environment Secretary will urgently convene experts to define the ‘American XL bully’ breed type in the next week.

This is a vital first step towards adding it to the list of dogs banned under the Dangerous Dogs Act.

This group will include police, canine and veterinary experts, and animal welfare stakeholders.

Environment Secretary Therese Coffey said:

Dog attacks are devastating for victims and their families and it is clear that more now needs to be done to stop them and protect the public. That is why we are taking decisive action to ban the American XL Bully.

This is on top of the work the Government has been doing for some time with the police and local authorities to encourage responsible dog ownership and make sure the full force of the law is being applied.

Under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991, a definition of the ‘American XL Bully’ breed type needs to be specified – including clear assessment criteria for enforcement authorities – in order to impose a ban. The Government must then lay a Statutory Instrument to add it to the list of dogs banned under the Act. This will make it an offence to own, breed, gift or sell an XL bully. We will do this by the end of the year.

We need to safely manage the existing population of these dogs, therefore there will be a transition period. Further details on how the transition period will work will be provided in due course. Current XL Bully dog owners do not need to take any action at this stage however, if XL Bully owners do not come forward during the transition period, they will be committing a criminal offence if they are subsequently found to be keeping one of these dogs.

Owners whose dogs are dangerously out of control are already breaking the law, and we already have a full range of powers to apply penalties to them. Under the Dangerous Dogs Act, people can be put in prison for up to 14 years, be disqualified from ownership or their dangerous dogs can be euthanised.

Further detail on next steps for developing a ban and information for owners will be provided in due course.

September 19, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : AUKUS Partners update the IAEA Board on naval nuclear propulsion [September 2023]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 15 September 2023.

The United Kingdom, Australia and the United States updated the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Board of Governors on AUKUS naval nuclear propulsion.

The below statement was delivered by Australia on 14 September 2023 under agenda item 12: Any Other Business.

Thank you, Chair.

I have the honour of speaking on behalf of Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

Chair,

We thank Director General Grossi for his update in his written introductory statement to this Board on Australia’s naval nuclear propulsion program. As the Director General noted, bilateral technical consultations between the IAEA and Australia on Australia’s naval nuclear propulsion program are ongoing, including in relation to the development of an Article 14 arrangement. We remain fully committed to ensuring our approach meets the highest non-proliferation standard.

Chair,

Colleagues will recall that, at the previous meeting of the Board, the Director General reported (in GOV/INF/2023/10) that Australia had submitted the required declarations under its CSA, AP, and Subsidiary Arrangements; the IAEA had conducted in-field verification activities, including a design information verification visit; and discussions on the technical aspects of an arrangement pursuant to Article 14 of Australia’s CSA had been initiated.

Chair,

The Director General has confirmed the IAEA will develop a robust safeguards approach for Australia’s naval nuclear propulsion program which will enable the Agency to continue to meet its technical safeguards objectives established for Australia.

Since the June Board meeting, Australia’s bilateral technical consultations with the IAEA have continued. These discussions encompass technical and legal aspects of an Article 14 arrangement for Australia, including in relation to possible verification and monitoring activities and voluntary transparency measures.

As has been confirmed by the Director General, these ongoing bilateral consultations are taking place on the basis that Australia’s Article 14 arrangement will not remove nuclear material from IAEA oversight.

Throughout the lifecycle of Australia’s program, the Agency will be able to continue to verify and conclude that there has been no diversion of declared nuclear material, no misuse of facilities, and no undeclared nuclear material or activities.

Chair,

We wish to make clear that, contrary to what some delegations have suggested, we do not seek to impose a template or model Article 14 arrangement. When developing an Article 14 arrangement for Australia or another state, the Agency will need to account for state-specific factors.

The Director General has committed to transmitting the Article 14 arrangement, once developed, to the Board for appropriate action. As we have said previously, we fully support this approach.

Chair,

AUKUS partners have already addressed during this Board meeting some of the more egregious disinformation we have heard from other delegations, and I do not intend to go over that again.

In line with our abiding commitment to transparency, however, we welcome the opportunity to update the Board and, as appropriate, we will continue to address genuine questions from interested delegations regarding our non-proliferation approach through this and other fora.

Thank you, Chair.

September 19, 2023