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Tag: 2023

  • PRESS RELEASE : England’s first ever kinship care strategy launches [December 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : England’s first ever kinship care strategy launches [December 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Education on 15 December 2023.

    Backed by £20 million, strategy shines spotlight on the incredible extended family members keeping children out of care.

    Thousands of kinship carers are set to be better supported as the government today (15 December) launches the first ever national kinship care strategy, ‘Championing Kinship Care’.

    The strategy shines a spotlight on the incredible kinship carers – grandparents, aunts, uncles, siblings and wider family networks – that provide loving homes to children who cannot live with their parents, and who will now receive greater financial stability and support from local authorities and schools.

    Backed by £20 million to deliver the strategy, the government has confirmed it will provide an allowance to many kinship carers to match that received by foster carers – currently between £154 and £270 per week, per child. This is being trialled in up to 8 areas of the country and will help ensure that people do not have to choose between becoming a carer and being able to afford to support their families.

    It will also expand the role of virtual school heads – education champions within local authorities – to cover kinship care. They will ensure that the education of children in kinship care is prioritised so they go on to have bright futures.

    Foster care has also been bolstered today with an additional £8.5 million. This takes the total government investment across this parliament to £36 million, which is the largest ever investment in fostering in England. The funding will ensure there are more foster carers available to step up and look after children by extending recruitment campaigns, simplifying recruitment processes, and providing better support for existing foster carers to even more local authorities.

    The new kinship strategy and extra foster care funding are part of a suite of initiatives launched today, which meet commitments set out in the ambitious children’s social care strategy, ‘Stable Homes, Built on Love’, published earlier this year.

    Children and Families Minister, David Johnston, said:

    Kinship carers do incredible work to support and nurture children who might otherwise go into care and I am very proud that the Government has published the first ever strategy for kinship care today.

    I have met kinship carers from so many different backgrounds and with different experiences, but in telling their stories they always stress that they were never expecting to look after a child but they did so out of love.

    Kinship carers are often hidden in plain sight and today’s strategy paves the way for them to be given the practical and financial support they deserve for the pivotal role they play in children’s lives.

    We are committed to reforming the whole children’s social care system to support families – right from the point they face challenges and need support, all the way to transforming the experience children have when in care.

    Minister for Social Mobility, Youth and Progression Mims Davies MP, said:

    No one should suffer because of their start in life, and the amazing people who open up their homes and their hearts to vulnerable children deserve all the support they need to ensure no child gets left behind.

    I’m thrilled this new strategy will give Kinship Carers the recognition and financial support they need, while ensuring as many children as possible can get on and get ahead in life and be able to take the opportunities to have a future they deserve.

    Dr Lucy Peake, CEO of leading kinship care charity, Kinship, said:

    The publication of the first ever National Kinship Care Strategy is significant recognition of the monumental role kinship carers play in transforming the experiences of hundreds of thousands of children, which has been overlooked and undervalued for too long.

    We celebrate that there will now be more support for kinship families than ever before. This is testament to all the kinship carers who have demonstrated, for decades, the value of raising children within their family network. At Kinship, we are proud to have campaigned alongside so many of them as they have battled for long overdue change.

    More than 130,000 children live in kinship care arrangements in England and kinship carers make up over a fifth of all foster carers. There are also a range of other formal and informal routes for extended family members to provide additional support to children in kinship care arrangements, including special guardianship.

    The strategy sets out a wide range of additional support for kinship carers, from new training and information so they have a better understanding of their rights, to high-quality peer support within local communities.

    A key commitment of the government’s wider children’s social care strategy is to improve partnership working across all relevant agencies, including the police, health and education.

    That’s why the government has also today updated the guidance, ‘Working Together to Safeguard Children’. This guidance clarifies the roles and responsibilities of safeguarding partners such as local authorities and the police, embeds new child protection standards and sets out the importance of having a multi-agency response to protect children from harm.

    The government has published a children’s social care national framework setting out the core principles and goals of children’s social care. This will ensure all the relevant organisations have a joint understanding of what children’s social care should deliver for the families and children it supports.

    The data collected about children and families and the information recorded about their lives and interactions with children’s social care is sensitive and needs to be treated with care. It’s also held in many places which can create challenges. That’s why the government is also embarking on ambitious data transformation across children’s social care. The data strategy published today sets this out, and also commits to improving existing data services and testing innovative and sensitive practice in this area.

    Today’s updates are another step towards wide-reaching reform – providing families with the right help, and ensuring children are safe and supported. This is all part of the government’s continued work to reform children’s social care, as set out in, ‘Stable Homes, Built on Love,’ published earlier this year. It set out how the government will help families overcome challenges, keep children safe, and make sure children in care have stable loving homes, long-term loving relationships, and opportunities for a good life.

    In another step towards delivering the strategy, the government has also started recruiting young people with experience of care, including those with disabilities and special educational needs, to a new youth advisory board to advise the government on the ongoing reforms.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Reports of sexual violence perpetrated by Hamas – Lord Ahmad’s statement [December 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Reports of sexual violence perpetrated by Hamas – Lord Ahmad’s statement [December 2023]

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

    Lord Ahmad gave a statement on reports of sexual violence by Hamas, calling for them to be fully investigated to ensure justice for survivors and victims.

    Statement from Lord Ahmad, UK Minister for the Middle East and Prime Minister’s Special Representative for Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict:

    Horrifying reports of sexual violence perpetrated by Hamas on 7 October detail abhorrent acts of violence against Israeli women and girls and other civilians. Sexual violence is all too often a tactic to terrorise civilians, shattering lives and leaving brutal and lifelong scars on victims, their families, and communities. The UK stands in solidarity with all of the victims and survivors of these abhorrent acts. The people of Israel continue to experience the devastating impact of Hamas’ terror attack and many families grieve for loved ones who remain hostage. That’s why we are using all channels to facilitate their release.  We express serious concern about emerging reports of sexual violence, against both women and men, while they were held in Hamas captivity in Gaza and call for the immediate, safe and unconditional release of those still held.  The UK condemns sexual violence unequivocally and without exception. These reports must be fully investigated to ensure justice for survivors and victims.

    Conflict-related sexual violence is an abuse of human rights and when perpetrated in the context of an armed conflict, can constitute a violation of international humanitarian law such as a war crime. The international community should be clear in condemning sexual violence wherever it occurs, including in Israel. We stand with all victims and survivors of conflict-related sexual violence. Through our Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict programmes and dedicated funding totalling £60 million, we are leading work internationally to prevent conflict-related sexual violence and strengthen justice and support for all survivors. It is also why I championed the establishment of the International Alliance on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict to ensure we all pull together.

    Women and children are paying the highest price in this conflict, and the scale of human suffering is intolerable. The UK has made clear to Israel our shock at the scale of Palestinian civilian deaths in Gaza. It is vital that Israel adheres to international humanitarian law and takes all measures to protect civilians. Israel must abide by its obligations to protect children under applicable international humanitarian and human rights law. Palestinian civilians should not suffer the consequences of Hamas’ inhumanity and brutality. Conflict has a disproportionate impact on women, exacerbating pre-existing inequalities and increasing the risk of gender-based violence. The acute needs and vulnerabilities of women in Gaza must be addressed. Palestinian civilians are experiencing a devastating and growing humanitarian crisis. The UK has announced a further £30 million worth of humanitarian assistance, bringing it to a total of £60 million, to address civilian needs including those of women and children.

    This tragedy in the Middle East, unfolding before our eyes, of which the world is seized, needs an urgent solution to end the conflict and a sustainable, long-term resolution. This can only be achieved through the delivery of a two-state solution.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Easier access to historic wills under new government plans [December 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Easier access to historic wills under new government plans [December 2023]

    The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 15 December 2023.

    Genealogists, historians and amateur family archivists will be better able to access historic wills under proposals published today.

    • proposals to digitise millions of wills in overhaul to storage system
    • historians and ancestry enthusiasts could better access wills dating back to 1800s
    • paper wills for notable figures like Darwin and Dickens to be preserved for posterity

    The ambitious digitisation programme could see millions of wills dating back more than 150 years moved online and more easily accessible to the public in a bid to improve the current storage system.

    Currently about 110 million physical documents are stored costing taxpayers £4.5 million per year. The consultation is seeking views on keeping hard copies for about 25 years, in recognition of their sentimental value to families, while saving them digitally longer term.

    Where wills belong to notable individuals or have significant historical interest the physical copies would remain preserved. The wills of Charles Darwin, Charles Dickens and Diana, Princess of Wales are among those currently stored at the Ministry of Justice facility in Birmingham.

    Justice Minister Mike Freer said:

    Historic wills can provide us with a unique window into the past and we want to make it as easy for amateur and professional historians alike to access these documents.

    Digitalisation allows us to move with the times and save the taxpayer valuable money, while preserving paper copies of noteworthy wills which hold historical importance.

    Presently where wills are submitted for scrutiny, predominately when people apply for probate, the High Court is required to preserve them permanently – and has done since 1858.

    The process of scanning wills and supporting documents is already in place, as routine digitising began in 2021, however this has not extended to any documents submitted before 2021.

    If people wish to access these wills or documents, they must apply and wait for them to be removed from storage and digitised so a copy can be sent out. This process can take weeks.

    Under the proposals, a programme of working backwards to digitise all older documents will begin. Once digitised, access requests will be serviceable much more quickly.

    The consultation also suggests exceptions should be made to preserve the original paper wills of famous people for historic record. It is seeking views on drawing up suitable criteria for those decisions.

    The consultation will end on 23 February 2024.

    Notes to editors

    • The legality of a will is something that needs to be established. In many cases this is done by the courts in granting probate, however, in a very small number of cases wills can be subject to challenge. For example, by an allegation that a fraud was committed, or undue influence exerted on the person making the will. That means the court will need to check the will and it is held in case challenges are made.
    • Since 2021, digital copies have been made of wills and supporting documents in all new probate applications. This system has been working well, with more than half a million digitised so far.
    • The consultation paper is also seeking views on whether all the supporting documents currently held permanently need to be retained – for example deed polls, affidavits etc.
  • PRESS RELEASE : West Bank settler violence – joint statement [December 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : West Bank settler violence – joint statement [December 2023]

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

    The UK and international partners call on Israel to take immediate and concrete steps to tackle record high settler violence in the occupied West Bank.

    Joint statement:

    Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, the European Union, Finland, France, Ireland, Luxemburg, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom call on Israel to take immediate and concrete steps to tackle record high settler violence in the occupied West Bank.

    Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, the European Union, Finland, France, Ireland, Luxemburg, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom express their grave concern about the record number of attacks by extremist settlers against Palestinians in the West Bank. Since the start of October, settlers have committed more than 343 violent attacks, killing 8 Palestinian civilians, injuring more than 83, and forcing 1026 Palestinians from their homes.

    We strongly condemn the violent acts committed by extremist settlers, which are terrorising Palestinian communities. We reiterate our position that Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank are illegal under international law and remind Israel of its obligations under international law, in particular Article 49 of Geneva Convention IV.

    This rise in extremist settler violence committed against Palestinians is unacceptable. Israel, as the occupying power, must protect the Palestinian civilian population in the West Bank. Those responsible for the violence must be brought to justice. Israel’s failure to protect Palestinians and prosecute extremist settlers has led to an environment of near complete impunity in which settler violence has reached unprecedented levels. This undermines security in the West Bank and the region and threatens prospects for a lasting peace.

    While we welcomed the Government of Israel’s statement on this issue on 9 November where it conveyed that action would be taken against violent perpetrators, proactive steps must now be taken to ensure the effective and immediate protection of Palestinian communities. Words are important, but must now be translated into action.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Change of His Majesty’s Ambassador to Finland – Laura Davies [December 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Change of His Majesty’s Ambassador to Finland – Laura Davies [December 2023]

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

    Mrs Laura Davies has been appointed His Majesty’s Ambassador to the Republic of Finland in succession to Mrs Theresa Bubbear OBE.

    Mrs Laura Davies has been appointed His Majesty’s Ambassador to the Republic of Finland in succession to Mrs Theresa Bubbear OBE who will be retiring from the Diplomatic Service.  Mrs Davies will take up her appointment in September 2024.

    Curriculum vitae

    Full name: Laura Davies

    Date Role
    Jan 2022 to present UNESCO, Ambassador and Permanent Delegate
    2019 to 2022 Paris, Head of Politics, Engagement and Public Affairs, British Embassy
    2017 to 2018 FCO, Projects Task Force, Special Unpaid Leave (SUPL) Network Coordinator (whilst on SUPL)
    2014 to 2017 Colombo, Deputy High Commissioner, Sri Lanka and Maldives, British High Commission
    2012 to 2013 FCO, Deputy Head, Migration Directorate
    2012 to 2016 Helsinki, Deputy Head of Mission
    2012 Maternity leave
    2009 to 2011 FCO, Deputy Head, Counter Proliferation Department
    2009 Maternity leave
    2007 to 2008 Islamabad, Deputy Political Counsellor (Pakistan Policy & Operations), British High Commission
    2005 to 2007 FCO, Secretary to the Board of Management
    2004 to 2005 FCO, Strategic Policy Adviser
    2001 to 2004 Addis Ababa, Second Secretary, British Embassy
    2000 First Secretary, External Relations, UK Permanent Representation to the European Union
  • PRESS RELEASE : Immediate action to overhaul HMP Bedford [December 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Immediate action to overhaul HMP Bedford [December 2023]

    The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 15 December 2023.

    Extra staff have been deployed to HMP Bedford to reduce violence and self-harm as part of a package of urgent measures to improve conditions at the prison.

    • extra staff deployed to improve safety
    • new dedicated Violence Reduction and Safety senior leaders appointed
    • completion of new Segregation Unit by spring 2024

    The changes follow on from a critical review by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Prisons (HMIP) in November which identified serious concerns resulting in an Urgent Notification.

    As part of the Urgent Notification process Ministers have 28 days to respond to the notice and set out the immediate actions needed to bring about long-term change.

    Two senior leaders have been brought in solely to help deal with the complex causes of violence and self-harm at the prison. They will use their extensive experience to help staff tackle these issues and mandatory drug testing will also be reintroduced to cut drug-related violence.

    Improvements to living conditions are already underway with more cleanliness and pest control checks and a new Segregation Unit is being constructed to open in Spring 2024.

    Prisons Minister Edward Argar said:

    I was deeply concerned about the Inspectorate’s findings at HMP Bedford and the actions I am setting out today will address the issues highlighted by the Chief Inspector.

    The experienced staff we have brought in will help reduce violence and improve safety, following the improvements to the prison’s living conditions we’ve already made.

    Other areas where immediate action is being taken include:

    • Recruiting two new Diversity and Inclusion Leads to ensure prisoners can raise concerns over accusations of racism and that they are addressed immediately.
    • A weekly Use of Force scrutiny review panel has begun and reviews all incidents where force is used against prisoners.
    • An independent review of prisoner induction will be carried out to ensure all prisoners receive a full induction that meets their needs on arrival.
    • To improve access to purposeful activity the prison’s education provider will deliver maths and English teaching to 50% more prisoners from April 2024.

    The government introduced the Urgent Notification process in 2017 to ensure immediate, urgent action was taken when necessary to address serious concerns identified by inspectors.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Over 434,000 people have arrived in South Sudan since the outbreak of the Sudanese conflict – UK statement at the UN Security Council [December 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Over 434,000 people have arrived in South Sudan since the outbreak of the Sudanese conflict – UK statement at the UN Security Council [December 2023]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 14 December 2023.

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

    Thank you President. I thank SRSG Haysom and Ambassador Biang for their updates, and I welcome the presence of South Sudan at this meeting.

    President, as we’ve just heard, South Sudan is due to hold elections in just 12 months. Yet few of the basic building blocks for a credible process are in place.

    The United Kingdom welcomes the passing of the Elections Act, and the reconstitution of the Electoral and Political Parties Commissions. Such laws, however, need to be implemented and the institutions they create well resourced. This requires genuine political will.

    There are fundamental questions for South Sudan to urgently address including on how the South Sudanese casts their votes and how many levels of government they are voting for.

    For elections to be free and fair, we urge the South Sudanese authorities to ensure the necessary political and civic space so political parties, civil society and voters can freely express views without fear of reprisal.

    The South Sudanese population should feel safe during and after elections.  We call on South Sudan to finalise the deployment of a single, unified national army and to ensure they are adequately paid and provided for.

    As we’ve heard, the fighting in Sudan is having a severe impact on South Sudan. Over 434,000 people have now arrived since the outbreak of conflict.

    The UK recognises the South Sudanese Government’s provision of transportation to refugees, and the important work of the UN system and humanitarian partners in their response to the crisis.

    We repeat our call on the government to create a more enabling environment for humanitarian action, and ensure the safety of aid workers.

    President, in closing, we call upon the Government to demonstrate its willingness to put aside individual ambitions and differences. Without this, a credible, safe, and inclusive process next year will not be possible.

    Thank you.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Government delivers on promise to ban keeping of primates [December 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Government delivers on promise to ban keeping of primates [December 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 14 December 2023.

    New legislation on primates as pets introduced today.

    • Under changes, only private keepers who can provide the highest welfare standards will be able to keep primates
    • Legislation fulfils a manifesto commitment and Action Plan for Animal Welfare pledge
    • Move will improve the welfare of up to 5,000 primates kept as pets in the UK

    Keeping primates as pets will be banned under new legislation introduced by the Government today (14 December), improving the welfare of thousands of animals.

    The legislation brings in a licensing scheme setting strict rules to ensure that only private keepers who can provide the highest welfare standards will be able to keep primates.

    It is estimated that up to 5,000 primates are kept as pets in the UK. These wild animals have complex welfare and social needs and, according to most experts, cannot be properly cared for in a domestic setting.

    Under the changes, introduced via secondary legislation under the Animal Welfare Act 2006, it will no longer be possible to keep primates in domestic settings as household pets in environments that fail to provide for their needs.

    Licensing is expected to come into force in 2026, subject to parliamentary processes, with existing keepers having two years from the SI being approved to reach compliance with the licensing conditions.

    The new laws deliver on a manifesto commitment and builds on the recent primate consultation. It is already an offence to keep a primate while not providing for their welfare needs, or to cause them unnecessary suffering. Today’s announcement tightens these rules further – and all private primate keepers will be required to hold a licence, issued by their local authority. Failure to comply with the law could result in an unlimited fine or removal of the primate.

    Primates are highly intelligent and require open spaces, varied diets, social contact and stimulation.

    Animal Welfare Minister Douglas-Miller said:

    “Primates are intelligent and curious animals and we’re delivering on our pledge to ban the keeping of these inquisitive creatures as pets.

    “It is already an offence under the Animal Welfare Act to keep a primate while not providing for their welfare needs or to cause them unnecessary suffering, and these plans will tighten the rules further.

    “We have consistently led the world in raising the bar for animal welfare standards and this legislation is yet another step.”

    Licences will be valid for a maximum of three years, with at least one inspection per licensing period. Licence holders must undergo re-assessment to renew their permission to keep these animals.

    Guidance will be provided to local authorities on how to measure the new standards at inspection to ensure the highest level of welfare is being maintained.

    Dr Ros Clubb, head of the RSPCA’s Wildlife Department said:

    “We warmly welcome this UK Government commitment to end the keeping of primates as pets.

    “The RSPCA has been calling for a complete ban on the keeping and trade of primates as pets for many years as these animals are intelligent, sentient and highly social – with complex needs that simply cannot be met in a domestic environment.

    “Our inspectors and rescuers regularly see primates that have been kept as pets with behaviour problems and very poor health, especially Metabolic Bone Disease (rickets in humans), as a result of totally inappropriate care. We hope this will put an end to the shocking situations we have seen – with monkeys cooped up in bird cages, fed fast food, sugary drinks or even Class A drugs, deprived of companions of their own kind, living in dirt and squalor and suffering from disease.

    “We look forward to working with the UK Government to ensure that the proposed licensing system can be adequately enforced, and will be robust enough to effectively protect the welfare of primates that remain with private keepers until the end of their natural lives.”

    The UK was the first country in the world to introduce animal cruelty offences and are the highest ranked G7 nation according to World Animal Protection’s Index.  Our flagship Action Plan for Animal Welfare committed us to going even further to protect animals, including banning primates as pets and banning the export of live animals .

    The Animal Welfare (Livestock Exports) Bill – which is only possible now we have left the European Union – which was introduced in Parliament last week and will put an end to the export of live animals for slaughter and fattening from Great Britain, stopping animals enduring unnecessary stress, exhaustion and injury on long journeys.

    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; extended the ivory ban to cover other ivory bearing species; and supported legislation to ban glue traps, the import of detached shark fins and measures to ban the advertising and offering for sale of low welfare activities abroad.

  • PRESS RELEASE : The first UK-EU Cyber Dialogue takes place in Brussels [December 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : The first UK-EU Cyber Dialogue takes place in Brussels [December 2023]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 14 December 2023.

    The inaugural UK-EU Cyber Dialogue took place in Brussels on 14 December 2023, the first one held under the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement.

    On 14 December 2023, the inaugural UK-EU Cyber Dialogue took place in Brussels. It was the first dialogue held under the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement. The Cyber Dialogue was a welcome opportunity for the European Union (EU) and the United Kingdom (UK) to discuss a wide range of cyber issues including international security, emerging technologies, internet governance, cybersecurity, cyber defence and cybercrime.

    Officials exchanged views on policies for secure technology, digital identity and cyber resilience, as well as deterrence strategies against cyber threats, cyber sanctions, and capacity building. The 2 sides also spoke about global cyber governance, responsible behaviour in cyberspace, and international cooperation in multilateral fora including the United Nations’ Programme of Action to Advance Responsible State Behaviour in Cyberspace and Cybercrime Treaty negotiations and agreed to continue their exchanges.

    The UK delegation was co-chaired by Will Middleton, Cyber Director in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), and Andrew Elliot, Deputy Director for Cyber Security, in the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT). Officials from the Home Office, DSIT, FCDO and the UK Mission to the European Union also participated. On the EU side, which also included observers from EU member states, the Dialogue was co-chaired by Joanneke Balfoort, Director for Security and Defence Policy, of the European External Action Service (EEAS) and Lorena Biox Alonso, Director for Digital Society, Trust and Cybersecurity of the European Commission’s Directorate General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology (DG Connect).

    Both sides agreed to hold the next UK-EU Cyber Dialogue in London in 2024.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Review to increase fairness in the fresh produce supply chain [December 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Review to increase fairness in the fresh produce supply chain [December 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 14 December 2023.

    The Review delivers on a key commitment made at the Farm to Fork Summit and will support farmers and growers to receive a fair price for their products.

    A review to improve fairness in the fresh produce supply chain was launched by the Government today (14 December), supporting British farmers and growers to receive a fair price for their products and ensuring customers have access to high-quality fresh British products.

    The Fresh Produce Supply Chain Review delivers on a key commitment made by the Prime Minister at the Farm to Fork Summit in May and will seek the views of industry on issues including the fairness of contracts between producers and purchasers in the sector, and how supply chain data can be used to support transparency in the negotiation process.

    The horticulture industry is a vital part of the UK’s food supply chain, contributing £3.3 billion to the British economy in 2022 and growing more than 3 million tonnes of over 300 different fruit and vegetable crops domestically.

    Production of fruit and vegetables often occurs in rural areas and provides valuable income and jobs to these rural communities. Supporting the growth of this sector is a key component of the Prime Minister’s priority of growing the economy.

    The sector has faced a number of challenges in recent years including increased energy, fuel and labour costs which have raised concerns about the fairness of the UK supply chain.

    Today’s review is the first step in addressing these concerns, providing support for fruit and vegetable growers across the UK and helping meet the government’s target to keep producing 60% of the food we consume here in the UK.

    It builds upon a series of reviews that have taken place, or are currently underway, to improve fairness in the pork, dairy and egg supply chains.

    Environment Secretary Steve Barclay said:

    I’m committed to backing British farmers and growers, and it’s only right that producers should be paid a fair price.

    This review will help ensure that is the case, as well as delivering on our commitments from the Farm to Fork Summit to provide greater stability and resilience for the fresh produce sector.

    The review will gather evidence about how contractual arrangements in the fresh produce sector currently function, whether there is a need for further legislation to oversee the relationship between producers and purchasers, and whether the supply chain can be made more transparent.

    This is an open consultation, meaning that responses from all stakeholders with a link to the fresh produce sector will be welcomed. The review will open today (14 December) and will run for 10 weeks until 22 February.

    Today’s announcement builds on a number of actions the Government has delivered since the Farm to Fork Summit in May. This includes investing £168 million in grants and competitions this year alone to support farmers foster innovation, boost productivity and improve animal welfare; boosting food and drink exports by hiring five new agricultural attaches to tackle barriers to markets; and backing industry-led action to support customers to “Buy British” when shopping online.

    We have also announced that 45,000 visas will be available in both 2023 and 2024 to support the horticulture sector and will be providing financial support to the Controlled Environment Horticulture (CEH) by opening access to the Phase 3 Industrial Energy Transformation (IETF) Fund launching in January 2024.