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Tag: 2023

  • PRESS RELEASE : Government backs pubs to open earlier for World Cup Final [August 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Government backs pubs to open earlier for World Cup Final [August 2023]

    The press release issued by the Home Office on 17 August 2023.

    The Government is encouraging councils in England to get pubs open earlier on Sunday ahead of the Lionesses historic World Cup final.

    The Secretary of State for Levelling Up has written to leaders of all councils in England asking them to continue doing everything they can to help every pub that wants to host this historic occasion and support the Lionesses.

    While many venues will be able to show the game within their usual opening hours, there may be a few who require additional permission where they would like to be able to serve alcohol as well.

    In cases where an application is being rapidly considered to allow a short extension to licensing hours, the government is encouraging local authorities to continue to do everything they can to complete the process in time, working closely with local police forces.

    Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove said:

    The whole nation is ready to get behind the Lionesses this Sunday in what is England’s biggest game since 1966.

    I’ve asked councils to do everything they can to help pubs get open earlier on Sunday, so people can come together and enjoy a drink before kick-off for this special occasion.

    Kate Nicholls, CEO of UK Hospitality, said:

    The nation will be cheering on the Lionesses on Sunday and the next best thing to being in Australia is enjoying the match in the pub or hospitality venue. Many are taking advantage of the fact that they can open to encourage people to come out for breakfast or brunch to get ready for this historic match. Demand from fans has been exceptional, with bookings filling rapidly, and there’s no doubt the day will be a huge boost for the sector, potentially delivering an additional £41 million in sales.

    It’s been really positive to work with the Government to ensure everyone can get a chance to join in the celebrations. I’d echo the Government’s support for local authorities taking a pragmatic view to venues opening early to allow people to make the most of this momentous occasion.

    Writing to council leaders, the Levelling up Secretary thanked local authorities for everything they have already done this tournament to support the national team, including flying flags, lighting up buildings and supporting communities to hold screenings.

    The Home Office is also writing to police chiefs to encourage forces to work together with local councils to ensure as many venues as possible can participate.

    This is part of the government’s commitment to backing British pubs, and follows this week’s announcement of an extension to licensing rules that enabling pubs to continue selling takeaway alcohol without red tape holding them back.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Environment Agency investigates bathing water quality at Bridlington South [August 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Environment Agency investigates bathing water quality at Bridlington South [August 2023]

    The press release issued by the Environment Agency on 17 August 2023.

    The Environment Agency has started a project to investigate the reasons behind poor water quality at Bridlington South beach, in East Yorkshire.

    The project – funded jointly by the Environment Agency, Yorkshire Water and East Riding of Yorkshire Council – aims to identify and better understand the sources of pollution that are impacting water quality.

    To date, the Environment Agency’s investigations have been able to identify some of the potential contributing sources of bacteria using microbial source tracking techniques.

    This has shown that the bathing water can be impacted by humans, seabirds and dogs at different times. However, work to date has not been able to drill down into the level of detail required to fully understand causes of pollution. This project aims to help gather more of this data.

    To help with this, the Environment Agency are undertaking a number of investigative sampling days in Bridlington over the summer taking samples every half an hour – from 8am to 6pm – on specific days throughout the bathing water season.

    Samples are being taken at Bridlington South monitoring point, Bridlington Harbour and Bridlington North monitoring point and will be analysed initially for Ecoli and IE – the bacteria which are used to provide bathing water classification results.

    After collection, samples are refrigerated and sent to the Environment Agency’s microbiology laboratory in Exeter. During the autumn, their microbiology team will carry out more detailed analysis to try to establish the origin of any bacteria found in the samples.

    Claire Campbell, the Environment Agency’s technical bathing waters expert, said:

    Whilst we will always strive for improvements, overall bathing water quality has improved significantly over the last decade – with a continuing upward trend – due to robust regulation and working with partners. In most places bathing water is now better than it has been for many years.

    We are, however, keen to find out the detail of what is causing our poorer results, so that action can be taken by the relevant people to improve our bathing waters.

    This project in Bridlington will help us identify the bacterial inputs and better understand the sources of pollution, so that collectively we can work together to improve water quality.

    Environment Agency monitoring plays an important role in how we protect our valuable waterways and safeguard the health of bathers. During the bathing water season, the Environment Agency carry out a robust sampling programme as specified in the Bathing Water regulations. These are set in law and are the same as those carried out across the rest of Europe. Samples are taken weekly and this information is used to produce an annual classification based on four years’ of data.

    Most of our bathing waters have consistently high quality when we measure and classify these against the standards of the Bathing Water Regulations. Across Yorkshire we have seen a rise in the number of Excellent bathing waters – up by four in the last year, with 89% of bathing waters rated as Good or Excellent – in line with last year’s results.

    The Environment Agency continue to work collaboratively as part of the Yorkshire Bathing Water Partnership, to understand the root of water quality problems and ensure people can enjoy cleaner, healthier waters.

    Information on all 424 designated bathing water sites and any forecasted drops in water quality will be published on the Swimfo: Find a Bathing Water website. This provides immediate access to information on every bathing water in England.

  • PRESS RELEASE : The UK urges the DPRK to prioritise the well-being of its citizens over the development of its illegal weapons programmes – UK statement at the Security Council [August 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : The UK urges the DPRK to prioritise the well-being of its citizens over the development of its illegal weapons programmes – UK statement at the Security Council [August 2023]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 17 August 2023.

    Statement by Ambassador James Kariuki at the UN Security Council meeting on North Korea.

    Thank you, President, and I thank High Commissioner Turk, and Special Rapporteur Salmon for their briefing. I also, like others, pay tribute to Mr Kim for his powerful testimony and I welcome the presence of the Representative of the Republic of Korea for this meeting.

    President, the United Kingdom remains deeply concerned by the appalling human rights situation in the DPRK. It is clear that human rights violations remain widespread, systematic and completely lacking in accountability.  So I also thank Albania, Japan, the Republic of Korea and the United States for bringing this issue back to the Council for the first time since 2017. Human rights in the DPRK and international peace and security are inextricably linked. The DPRK authorities divert resources from peoples’ basic economic needs toward their illegal nuclear and ballistic weapons programme. These illegal weapons are financed through forced labour, with workers sent overseas, often under modern slavery conditions. I urge all UN Member States, especially the DPRK, to fully implement resolution 2397, including on overseas workers, and end this exploitation.

    The DPRK regime continues to reject UN resolutions on the situation of human rights in North Korea. It refuses to cooperate with the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights or with the UN Special Rapporteur. The regime fails to acknowledge the 2014 UN Commission of Inquiry Report that concluded wide-ranging human rights violations taking place in the country may amount to “crimes against humanity”.

    The United Kingdom also recognises the suffering of other nationals who have been abducted by the DPRK and we call for their return. Forced repatriations, state-sponsored abductions and enforced disappearances demand action.

    We remind all Members to respect the principle of non-refoulement and not forcibly return those who have escaped the DPRK to face threats to their safety and human rights.

    Colleagues, the human rights situation has not improved while the Council has remained silent.

    We urge the DPRK to prioritise the well-being of its citizens over the development of its illegal weapons programmes.

    We remind the DPRK that its restrictive Covid-19 measures must be proportionate, not used as a tool to further constrain the freedom of its citizens or to restrict the ability of the international community to engage with authorities in Pyongyang.

    We urge them to engage in a genuine and positive spirit with the UN Special Rapporteur to bring around permanent change and improvements for the people of North Korea.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Chevening-Briggs Scholarship supports Canada’s future leaders [August 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Chevening-Briggs Scholarship supports Canada’s future leaders [August 2023]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 17 August 2023.

    Chevening-Briggs Scholarship will support aspiring leaders and innovators from Canada to study in the UK.

    • strong preference given to high-quality candidates from Indigenous communities
    • scholarship offers full financial support for a student to study any eligible master’s degree at a UK university
    • scholarship funded by Vancouver-based British entrepreneur and philanthropist David Briggs

    The UK High Commission in Ottawa and Canada-based British entrepreneur and philanthropist David Briggs have announced that they have joined forces to create the Chevening-Briggs Scholarship, which will offer the opportunity for a Canadian student to study a Master’s degree at any UK university, with strong preference given to high-quality candidates from indigenous communities.

    Applications for the Chevening-Briggs Scholarships will open in mid-September 2023 and should be submitted on the Chevening website.

    The UK government’s global Chevening Scholarships programme (under which the Chevening-Briggs Scholarship will operate) is awarded to individuals from all backgrounds who can demonstrate that they have the commitment and skills required to create positive change and can show how a UK master’s degree will help them do that.

    The scholarship offers full financial support for scholars to study for any eligible master’s degree at any UK university whilst also gaining access to a wide range of exclusive academic, professional, and cultural experiences.

    Since the programme was created in 1983, over 55,000 professionals have had the opportunity to develop in the UK through Chevening. There are more than 1,400 scholarships on offer globally for the academic year 2023 to 2024.

    The programme’s alumni include 20 current or former heads of state or government officials. In Canada, notable alumni include Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada, and Vice-Admiral Angus Topshee, Commander of the Royal Canadian Navy.

    David Briggs recognises the importance of supporting candidates, particularly from Métis, Inuit, and First Nation communities, through his scholarship. His preference to award his scholarship to a student from these communities comes from his drive to learn from indigenous groups and promote a more inclusive and equitable society for all.

    British High Commissioner to Canada, Susannah Goshko CMG, said:

    Each year, I am blown away by the quality of the Canadian Chevening scholars. Regrettably, however, we have yet to award a scholarship to an Indigenous person from Canada. I am delighted that this new partnership has given us a further incentive to address this deficit. I hope that David Briggs’ preference to support an Indigenous person from Canada will help to further the diversity of voices that already enrich the Chevening programme. My sincere thanks to David for his encouragement and support.

    David Briggs, Director and Co-founder of GeoComply, said:

    I believe strongly in the transformative power of education. Through this partnership, and with a strong emphasis on reconciliation and learning from Indigenous communities, I know we will be able to identify exceptional individuals and create opportunities that empower and uplift them. Programmes which bring together leaders and innovators from across the world, such as Chevening, will be essential to addressing the global challenges we face. I am delighted that a new and ambitious voice from Canada will be a part of that conversation through the Chevening-Briggs Scholarship.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Rishi Sunak call with Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia [August 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Rishi Sunak call with Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia [August 2023]

    The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 17 August 2023.

    Prime Minister Rishi Sunak spoke to the Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, His Highness Mohammed bin Salman, earlier today.

    He welcomed the opportunity to speak to the Crown Prince and looked forward to personally deepening the long-standing ties between the UK and Saudi Arabia, as the Kingdom continues to go through a period of profound social and economic transformation under Vision 2030.

    The leaders discussed their commitment to further develop our trade and investment relationship, including by collaborating in new cutting-edge industries, and to strengthen our close cooperation on defence and security. The Prime Minister reiterated the UK’s long-standing commitment to support Saudi Arabia’s security and regional stability.

    He also highlighted Saudi Arabia’s constructive and positive leadership on Ukraine following the recent talks in Jeddah, and the leaders agreed on the importance of allies working together to end the bloodshed in Ukraine and support a just and lasting peace. The Prime Minister welcomed progress on the conflict in Yemen, where the UK will continue to back efforts to extend the ceasefire and alleviate the humanitarian crisis.

    The Prime Minister and Crown Prince said they would continue working closely together to progress UK-Saudi cooperation and looked forward to meeting in person at the earliest opportunity.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Thousands of pupils secure place at their first-choice university [August 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Thousands of pupils secure place at their first-choice university [August 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Education on 17 August 2023.

    University acceptances are up on 2019, with 79% getting their first-choice as results return to pre-pandemic levels in an important step back to normal.

    Young people across England are celebrating exam results this morning – with thousands of them moving on to university, apprenticeships and the world of work.

    Overall, 79% of 18-year-old pupils in the UK receiving a decision today have gained a place at their first choice university.

    16,530 students who received free school meals (FSM) have also gained a place at university which is a 60% increase from 2019.

    In a sign that grading is returning to normal, this year, 27.2% of UK entries for A levels achieved a grade A and above, slightly higher than 25.4% in 2019, before the pandemic. 76% of UK entries achieved a grade C and above, in line with 75.9% in 2019.

    This year has seen mathematics continue to be the most popular A Level since 2014 as well as record-breaking numbers of A Level entries in computing, producing over 16% more entries than last year. The data from this year’s results day show 34.8% of entries from free schools and 25.4% of entries from academies getting a grade A or above – compared to 22.0% of entries from local authority maintained comprehensive schools.

    Around 3,400 T Level students received their results today as the second ever cohort completed the new, high quality technical qualification. 90.5% of T Level students achieved a pass or above.

    T Levels offer a wide range of progression options as many of these students will also go on to do apprenticeships, and UCAS has today revealed that 1,220 T Level students have been accepted into university, demonstrating the value and reputation of these qualifications.

    Over 250,000 certificates were awarded for those completing their Level 3 vocational and technical qualifications.

    Education Secretary Gillian Keegan said:

    Congratulations to everyone receiving results today. There are more opportunities than ever before so whatever your results, I’m sure you will have a bright future ahead of you.

    It’s fantastic to see the number of young people accepted to university – including to their first choice – continue to be up on the years before the pandemic, while thousands more go off to exciting apprenticeships and the world of work.

    As always, there are a wide range of fantastic options for those who did not get the results they hoped for, and students can find out more by visiting the UCAS website or through the National Careers Service.

    If students have not received the grades they were hoping for, there are thousands of high-quality courses available through clearing. This morning there were nearly 29,000 courses available, many of which are at the most selective universities. Clearing opportunities can be accessed through this link: Clearing Launch

    For those who do not wish to go through clearing, students can call the National Careers Service on 0800 100 900 for advice on their next steps.

    There are also options available other than university. Apprenticeships offer people of all ages and backgrounds the chance to gain the skills they need to build successful careers, while making sure employers can access the skilled workforce they and our economy need to grow.

    For more information and to explore all the other exciting options available to young people go to: Get the Jump: explore your education and training choices

    Almost £5 billion has been made available to help pupils to recover from the impact of the pandemic, including over £1.5 billion for the National Tutoring Programme and 16-19 Tuition Fund, which have supported millions of students in need of extra support. Nearly four million tutoring courses have now been started through the National Tutoring Programme, including over 1.3 million so far this academic year.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Construction company Costain civil sanction sees charity get cash boost [August 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Construction company Costain civil sanction sees charity get cash boost [August 2023]

    The press release issued by the Environment Agency on 17 August 2023.

    Construction company Costain Limited will donate £55,000 to Tyne Rivers Trust after polluting the River Don during a major upgrade to the A19 in South Tyneside.

    An investigation by the Environment Agency found that the company had breached its environmental permit when contaminated water was washed down highway drains and into the River Don.

    It submitted an Enforcement Undertaking to the Environment Agency, which has now been accepted.

    An Enforcement Undertaking is a voluntary offer made by companies and individuals to make amends for their offending, and usually includes a donation to a wildlife charity to carry out environmental improvements in the local area.

    Costain Limited had an environmental permit which allowed it to discharge water treated by a sediment treatment facility into the River Don during work to the A19 at Testos roundabout.

    Plume of sediment seen in the river

    On 6 December 2019, whilst works were being carried out, an Environment Agency officer in the area reported a plume of sediment in the river.

    Following a dry spell of weather, Costain Limited had decided to jet wash and sweep the road surface to remove a build up of mud. However, the road sweeper was not powerful enough to suck up all of the dirty water and instead the contaminated water ran directly into highway drains, bypassing the company’s sediment treatment measures, and into the River Don.

    The silt in the water was vastly in excess of what the permit allowed, and it caused discolouration for at least 500 metres.

    After the incident the company introduced a new monitoring and maintenance regime as well as training for site staff, and no further incidents occurred. There was no long-term ecological impact on the river.

    Environment Agency investigating officer Josh Laidler said:

    Companies carrying out any major development work have a responsibility to ensure they abide by their permits to protect the local environment, and we will take action when pollution occurs.

    While we will always take forward prosecutions in the most serious cases, Enforcement Undertakings are an effective enforcement tool to allow companies to put things right and contribute to environmental improvements.

    They allow polluters to correct and restore the harm caused to the environment and prevent repeat incidents by improving their procedures, helping ensure future compliance with environmental requirements.

    Tyne Rivers Trust will use the donation on projects that will improve water quality in the River Don catchment.

    The Tyne Rivers Trust is a registered environmental charity dedicated to improving the River Tyne and its catchment through education, tackling pollution and practical conservation.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Government invites football bodies to strengthen collaboration [August 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Government invites football bodies to strengthen collaboration [August 2023]

    The press release issued by the Home Office on 17 August 2023.

    The football authorities in England have been invited by the government to meet on an annual basis to agree on appropriate access to the best global players.

    The Home Secretary and Culture Secretary have invited the Football Association (FA), the Premier League, and the English Football League to formalise the way in which they would meet every year, before the summer transfer window, to agree immigration criteria for clubs.

    This collaboration will see football bodies advise government on the best way to make sure clubs can access players from abroad and ensure English football maintains its world leading reputation.

    As part of the initial process, the government has recommended that the FA launches a consultation of the football community to gauge its views.

    The group of football authorities are being encouraged to follow terms of reference aligned with the Home Office’s code of practice for sports governing bodies, and would discuss and continually improve the immigration criteria for transfer targets.

    This closer collaboration would deliver a whole game solution that maintains opportunities for young domestic players to develop from the grassroots level upwards, supports the national team, and ensures the Premier League can maintain its status as a world-leading competition that attracts elite international players.

    Home Secretary Suella Braverman said:

    It is a privilege that we have men’s and women’s national teams that continue to do the country proud, as well as world-leading football leagues that are the most watched across the globe.

    Millions of fans want to ensure England remains at the pinnacle of global football. Home grown players must be able to develop but we know promising and quality footballers also lie outside the UK and we want to attract the very best for fans to watch week in and week out.

    By following these proposals, I’m confident that the football authorities will ensure our domestic game continues to flourish for fans across the country.

    Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer said:

    English football leagues are watched and loved by people all over the world, and this government will do everything possible to keep this success going long into the future.

    Formalising how the football authorities reach criteria for clubs’ access to players will help us ensure English football remains one of the go to destinations for international talent, while creating opportunities for homegrown players.

    The International Sportsperson route, for elite sportspeople to enter the UK, requires footballers to obtain a Governing Body Endorsement (GBE), the criteria of which is set by the FA as the sports governing body for football before every season.

    The GBE strikes a fine balance between ensuring English players get the opportunities to play, supporting the prospects of the national team, while making sure our leagues remain competitive and globally renowned.

    Closer collaboration between the 3 bodies has led to the announcement of additional criteria for clubs to obtain GBEs for international players in this summer’s transfer window, with the elite and significant contribution proposal. The proposals announced today will guarantee this process continues.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Appointment of Dean of Truro [August 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Appointment of Dean of Truro [August 2023]

    The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 17 August 2023.

    The King has approved the nomination of The Reverend Simon Robinson, Residentiary Canon and Interim Dean at Truro Cathedral, for appointment as Dean of Truro, in succession to The Very Reverend Roger Bush, following his retirement.

    Background

    Simon was educated at Warwick University and trained for ministry on the Southern Theological Education Training Scheme. He served his title in the Parish of Freshford, Limpley Stoke and Hinton Charterhouse in the Diocese of Bath and Wells and was ordained priest in 2013. Simon was appointed Vicar of the Parish of Minehead in 2015. In October 2022, Simon took up his current role as Interim Dean and Canon Missioner at Truro Cathedral.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Government praises students as grading system returns to normal [August 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Government praises students as grading system returns to normal [August 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Education on 17 August 2023.

    Grades this summer are expected to be lower than last year due to the way they were assessed.

    Education Secretary Gillian Keegan has praised the resilience and hard work of young people, as hundreds of thousands prepare to collect A and AS level, T Level and Level 3 vocational and technical exam results today (17 August).

    The results mark the culmination of years of hard work for young people and their teachers, and pave the way for students’ next steps to university, further training, or into work.

    This is the first year that AS and A Levels have largely returned to normal. During the pandemic, results were higher as exams could not go ahead. As the normal grading system returned this summer, grades will be lower than last year but similar to 2019 levels. That means, for example, a student whose work would have earned a C grade at A level in 2019 is just as likely to get a C this year, opening the same exciting doors to life after school.

    The return to pre-pandemic grading is important for students – it means that universities and employers understand their performance, have confidence in their qualifications, and can use them to help students progress into opportunities that match their achievements, now and in the future.

    This is also the second year the Government’s flagship new qualifications, T Levels, have been awarded, with thousands of students waiting to receive their results today. These new qualifications – the technical counterpart to A levels – are designed in collaboration with leading employers and offer a high quality technical education.

    Universities have made sure entry requirements and offers reflect the grades students were expected to receive – as they do every year – and the number of places at top universities is not affected by the number of top grades.

    Education Secretary Gillian Keegan said:

    I’m incredibly proud of all students receiving their results today. For many, this will have been the first set of formal exams they have ever taken, having faced unprecedented circumstances in the years building up to this summer.

    I know young people will have risen to the challenge, and thousands will get the results they need to take hold of their future, whether at university, through an apprenticeship or in the world of work. There are more options than ever before and a huge amount of support available, whether pupils get the results they wanted or not.

    Congratulations to each and every young person taking their next step and thank you to the teachers who helped them get there.

    By sitting exams, students have a fair chance to show their knowledge and understanding of a subject and ensure a level playing field.

    For GCSEs and A levels, senior examiners will have made allowances where national performance was found to be slightly lower than before the pandemic. This will create a level of protection for students as grading returns to normal, following the disruption of recent years.

    The Government has made almost £5 billion available to help children and young people recover from the impact of the pandemic, including £1.5 billion for high quality tutoring to support students taking exams this year and in the future. Nearly four million courses have been started through the National Tutoring Programme since 2020, including 1.3 million so far this academic year.

    In cases where a student does not achieve their predicted grades, it is very common for them to still be offered a place by their preferred universities. In 2019, only 20 per cent of English 18-year-old applicants with a minimum of 3 A Level predictions met or exceeded their predicted grades, but almost 90 per cent of the same group still got a place at a UK university. Almost 65 per cent of those were accepted to their firm choice.

    There’s a huge amount of support on hand for students:

    • Students’ school or college – or the admissions team at the university which they are applying – should be their first port of call.
    • Experts at the National Careers Service will be available throughout the results period.
    • UCAS’s Clearing hotline is open to help students understand their options.
    • The online ‘Clearing Plus’ service will help match students to courses with entry requirements that align with the grades they achieved.

    There is also a variety of high-quality technical options open to students, including degree apprenticeships and higher technical qualifications, that will enable them to gain the skills they need to kickstart great careers. Students can explore their options through the Get The Jump website.

    GCSE grades will be released on 24 August 2023.