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Tag: 2023

  • PRESS RELEASE : Stoke trader, Colin Hume, sentenced for basic business accounting omissions [August 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Stoke trader, Colin Hume, sentenced for basic business accounting omissions [August 2023]

    The press release issued by HM Treasury on 15 August 2023.

    Colin Hulme, 44, from Stoke-on-Trent, was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment, suspended for 24 months, at Stoke Crown Court on 4 August 2023, after failing to keep accounting records for his business. He will also have to undertake 150 hours of unpaid work in addition to his sentence, and pay £5,000 towards prosecution costs.

    Hulme was sole director of KDM & Sons Ltd, which bought and sold PlayStations, mobile phones and computer hard drives, from April 2016 until the company went into liquidation in 2017.

    However, following the company’s closure, Hulme failed to deliver up sufficient company records to either the liquidator or the Insolvency Service to establish why the business had failed, or even when it had ceased trading.

    Hulme had previously claimed that he had handed over three boxes of books and records to the liquidator’s offices in Sutton Coldfield, yet there was no record of this delivery.

    Julie Barnes, Chief Investigator at the Insolvency Service, said:

    Any business owner should ensure they have proper financial record keeping in place, but for directors of limited companies this is a specific legal requirement.

    There are no excuses and as Colin Hulme has discovered, a failure to do so can and will result in a criminal conviction.

    Without the necessary invoices or cash book, neither the liquidator nor the Insolvency Service investigators were able to determine whether deposits of approximately £2,218,300 into the company’s bank account between June 2016 and June 2017 were from genuine sales of electronic equipment, nor whether outgoings of around £2,236,800 from the same account were legitimate business expenditure.

    At the end of November 2016, the company owed £2,776,209 in tax. This amount was never paid, and the court heard that investigators were not able to establish whether the tax assessment should in fact have been higher. Nor could the accuracy of the company’s Statement of Affairs, submitted to Companies House, be verified, so investigators were unable to determine whether the company had any recoverable assets to pay back creditors.

    Hulme had earlier accepted a disqualification undertaking from the Secretary of State in August 2019, but was later charged with a breach of the Companies Act 2006 due to the criminal nature of his misconduct. He was sentenced by Recorder Macadam.

    Background

    • Colin Hulme is of Stoke-on-Trent. His date of birth is October 1979.
    • KDM & Sons Limited (company number 08029284)
    • Sentenced for breach of duty (under s386 Companies Act 2006) to keep accounting records contrary to section 387(1) of the Companies Act 2006
  • PRESS RELEASE : Do you need to complete a Self Assessment tax return this year? [August 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Do you need to complete a Self Assessment tax return this year? [August 2023]

    The press release issued by HM Treasury on 15 August 2023.

    Taxpayers who are unsure if they need to submit a Self Assessment tax return can use HMRC’s online tool to help them work out what they need to do.

    If someone has had a change in circumstances, then they might need to complete their first ever Self Assessment tax return for the 2022 to 2023 tax year, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is reminding people.

    Taxpayers can use the quick and easy free online checking tool on GOV.UK and register with HMRC by 5 October if they do need to self-assess. Taxpayers can also use it if they think they may not need to complete one this year too.

    Myrtle Lloyd, HMRC’s Director General for Customer Services, said:

    It is important that taxpayers check if they need to complete a Self Assessment tax return so they can pay the right amount of tax owed and avoid penalties for not filing a return. It is quick and easy to check by using the interactive tool on GOV.UK – there is no need to ring us.

    Taxpayers may need to complete a tax return if they:

    • are newly self-employed and have earned more than £1,000
    • have multiple sources of income
    • have received any untaxed income, for example earning money for creating online content
    • earn more than £100,000 a year
    • earn income from property that they own and rent out
    • are a new partner in a business partnership
    • are claiming Child Benefit and they or their partner have an income above £50,000
    • receive interest from banks and building societies (more than £10,000)
    • receive dividends in excess of £10,000
    • need to pay Capital Gains Tax
    • are self-employed and earn less than £1,000 but wish to pay Class 2 NICs voluntarily to protect their entitlement to State Pension and certain benefits

    The online checking tool can also be used by those who may no longer need to do Self Assessment, including if they:

    • gave up work or retired
    • are no longer self-employed
    • earn below the minimum income thresholds

    If taxpayers no longer think they need to complete a Self Assessment tax return for the 2022 to 2023 tax year, they should tell HMRC before the deadline on 31 January 2024 to avoid any penalties.

    Taxpayers can register for Self Assessment on GOV.UK. Once registered, they will receive their Unique Taxpayer Reference, which they will need when completing their tax return.

    HMRC has wide range of resources to help taxpayers file a tax return including a series of video tutorials on YouTube and a new step by step guide. for anyone that is filing for the first time.

    Taxpayers need to be aware of the risk of falling victim to scams and should never share their HMRC login details with anyone, including a tax agent, if they have one. HMRC scams advice is available on GOV.UK.

  • PRESS RELEASE : £250 million to boost NHS capacity with 900 new beds [August 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : £250 million to boost NHS capacity with 900 new beds [August 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 15 August 2023.

    Funding aims to relieve pressures on hospitals and help cut waiting lists, one of the government’s top 5 priorities.

    • £250 million of government funding has been allocated to NHS hospitals to increase capacity as part of the urgent and emergency care recovery plan
    • Funding will create 900 beds in hospitals to treat patients more quickly, and cut waiting lists
    • Part of plans to increase capacity and improve performance ahead of winter and deliver an additional 5,000 permanent beds

    Nine hundred new hospital beds will be delivered across the NHS as part of £250 million government funding to help treat patients more quickly this winter, the Health and Social Care Secretary, Steve Barclay, has announced today.

    The funding has been awarded to NHS trusts to relieve pressures and help cut waiting lists, one of the government’s top 5 priorities.

    Thirty NHS organisations across England will benefit from the investment in urgent and emergency care services. This includes developing or expanding urgent treatment centres and same day emergency care services which will help patients to be seen more quickly, without being admitted to hospital. NHS England expects that the majority of schemes will be completed by January 2024 to help deal with winter pressures.

    This investment is part of the NHS urgent and emergency care recovery plan, published in January 2023, which set out plans to provide over 5,000 additional permanent, fully staffed hospital beds in total, with the NHS on track to deliver this by winter. These new 900 beds are part of this commitment.

    Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, said:

    Cutting waiting lists is one of my top 5 priorities, so this year the government has started planning for winter earlier than ever before and the public can be reassured we are backing the NHS with the resources it needs.

    These 900 new beds will mean more people can be treated quickly, speeding up flow through hospitals and reducing frustratingly long waits for treatment.

    Health and Social Care Secretary, Steve Barclay, said:

    We know that winter is a difficult time so we’re working to get ahead of pressures while also creating a sustainable NHS fit for the future. That’s why we’re investing this £250 million to support NHS capacity and deliver 900 new beds, as part of our drive to put in place 5,000 permanent additional beds.

    Creating additional hospital capacity will support staff to provide the best possible care and treat patients more quickly, helping us to improve waiting times and cut waiting lists – one of the government’s top 5 priorities.

    Amanda Pritchard, NHS Chief Executive said:

    Winter is always a busy time for the NHS and so it is right that we put robust plans in place as early as possible to boost capacity and help frontline staff to prepare for additional pressure.

    Our winter plans, which build on the progress already made on our urgent and emergency care recovery plan, aim to reduce waiting times for patients and to transform services with an expansion of same day care and virtual wards, helping patients to be cared for in their own home where possible.

    In total, the schemes will create 900 beds which includes over 60 intermediate care beds and improving assessment spaces and cubicles in A&E.

    Examples of schemes include Peterborough City Hospital, where £12.5 million will be used to provide 72 hospital beds through the conversion of under-utilised non-clinical space. In London at the Northwick Park Hospital, a 32 bed modular acute medical ward is being created through a £22.6 million investment to increase the hospital’s capacity this winter.

    Several trusts will develop or expand urgent treatment centres to treat patients more quickly, helping to reduce waiting times, including Hull Royal Infirmary, James Cook University Hospital, Airedale General Hospital and Worthing Hospital.

    Some trusts will also use the funding to develop or expand same day emergency care services, including in Whipps Cross Hospital, Royal Surrey County Hospital, Croydon University hospital and Worthing Hospital. Same day emergency care services help to assess, diagnose and treat patients more quickly, without needing to be admitted to a hospital ward.

    Health Minister Will Quince said:

    Our urgent and emergency care recovery plan, backed by record funding, has already improved A&E performance and ambulance response times and we want to go further by putting in place the right solutions so the NHS can better cope with challenges this winter.

    We will continue to work with integrated care systems to make sure the plan is delivering for patients this winter and beyond.

    These measures will support the NHS’s recovery from the pandemic, and ensure that patients receive the care they need, when they need it. Alongside this, the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan will put the NHS on a sustainable footing by delivering the biggest training expansion in NHS history and recruiting and retaining hundreds of thousands more staff over the next 15 years.

    Patients are already seeing improvements as a result of the urgent and emergency care recovery plan, backed by record funding – with average Category 2 ambulance response times down by 27 minutes on July last year, and down by 60 minutes on the peak of winter pressures seen in December 2022.

    The plan also includes a commitment for 800 new ambulances, including specialist mental health ambulances to improve response times this winter.

    The schemes will also operate alongside the NHS’s new ‘care traffic control’ centres which will identify and co-ordinate the best and quickest options for patients to be safely discharged from hospital when they’re ready – either at home or into social or community care.

    The centres will bring together teams from across the NHS, social care, housing and voluntary services in one place to help make live decisions and offer patients everything they need in one place.

    Earlier this month, the NHS announced its world-leading virtual ward programme would be expanding to children, with overall virtual ward bed numbers expected to hit 10,000 by the autumn.

    This capital funding is on top of the existing investment as part of the urgent and emergency care recovery plan, with £1 billion of dedicated funding to support capacity in urgent and emergency services, building on the £500 million used last winter. The government has also invested £200 million into ambulance services to increase the number of ambulance hours on the road, as well as a further £1.6 billion of funding for social care to reduce the numbers of beds occupied by patients ready to be discharged.

    Background information

    The £250 million is capital funding to increase the number of beds and improve assessment spaces and cubicles in A&E. It is also being used to develop or expand urgent treatment centres and same day emergency care services.

    The overall ambition for 5,000 additional core beds is being supported by £1 billion dedicated revenue funding to increase capacity in urgent and emergency care.

    The full list of schemes is as follows:

    Region Integrated care board (ICB) Trust Value £000s
    East of England Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes​ Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust​ (FT) £3,000
    East of England Cambridgeshire and Peterborough North West Anglia NHS FT £12,483
    East of England Norfolk and Waveney​ Norfolk Community Health and Care NHS Trust £19,300
    London North East London Barts Health NHS Trust £2,654
    London North East London Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust​ £3,000
    London North West London London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust £22,622
    London North West London Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS FT £2,879
    London South East London​ King’s College Hospital NHS FT £3,880
    London South East London​ Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust £10,621
    London South West London Croydon Health Services NHS Trust £2,100
    Midlands Coventry and Warwickshire George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust £15,145
    Midlands Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland​ University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust £23, 997
    Midlands Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Nottingham University Hospital NHS Trust £9,856
    Midlands Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin​ Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust​ £21,400
    Midlands Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust £13,402
    North East and Yorkshire Humber and North Yorkshire Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust £2,770
    North East and Yorkshire North East and North Cumbria South Tees NHS FT £10,008
    North East and Yorkshire South Yorkshire Barnsley Hospital NHS FT £2,400
    North East and Yorkshire West Yorkshire Airedale NHS FT £4,116
    North West Lancashire and South Cumbria Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHSFT £15,000
    North West Lancashire and South Cumbria East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust £4,900
    South East Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West Buckingham Healthcare NHS Trust £10,580
    South East Kent and Medway Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust £2,501
    South East Kent and Medway Medway NHS FT £3,854
    South East Surrey Heartlands Surrey and Sussex Hospital NHS Trust £6,000
    South East Surrey Heartlands Royal Surrey NHS FT £2,818
    South East Sussex University Hospitals Sussex NHS FT £4,496
    South West Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire​ Sirona Care and Health CIC £4,920
    South West Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly​ Cornwall Partnership NHS FT £3,000
    South West Devon University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust £5,000
  • PRESS RELEASE : Chancellor announces Tom Josephs as preferred candidate for the Budget Responsibility Committee [August 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Chancellor announces Tom Josephs as preferred candidate for the Budget Responsibility Committee [August 2023]

    The press release issued by HM Treasury on 14 August 2023.

    Chancellor of the Exchequer, Jeremy Hunt, today (14 August) announces his nomination of Tom Josephs for appointment as a member of the Budget Responsibility Committee (BRC) at the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR), replacing Andy King who will step down on 31 August 2023.

    Mr Josephs’ appointment will be subject to a pre-appointment hearing by the Treasury Committee, which will take place in early September. The Committee has a role in confirming the suitability of people nominated for certain public offices. Pending their consent, he will take up his role in due course for a term lasting five years.

    Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt said:

    “I am very pleased to nominate Tom Josephs for appointment to the OBR’s Budget Responsibility Committee. The independent OBR play a vital role underpinning the credibility of the UK’s fiscal framework. Tom brings world-class expertise in the UK’s public finances alongside considerable experience leading economic and fiscal analysis in a range of domestic and international roles.

    “I would like to thank Andy King for his significant contribution to the high-quality work of the OBR for over a decade, and wish him all the best for the future.”

    Chair of the OBR Richard Hughes said:

    “I welcome the Chancellor’s decision to nominate Tom Josephs to succeed Andy King on the OBR’s Budget Responsibility Committee, pending confirmation by the Treasury Committee.

    “Tom is a highly respected expert in the UK’s public finances whose wide-ranging experience includes senior posts in the OBR, HM Treasury, IMF, and DWP. His knowledge and judgement would be invaluable to our work as the UK’s official economic and fiscal forecaster.”

    Tom Josephs said:

    “I am delighted that the Chancellor has nominated me for appointment to the OBR’s Budget Responsibility Committee. It was a great privilege from 2010 to 2013 to be part of the staff team that worked with the first BRC members to establish the OBR. It would be an honour to now return to the OBR as a member of the BRC, should the Treasury Committee agree to my appointment.”

    About the OBR

    The OBR was created in 2010 to provide independent analysis of the UK’s public finances. The OBR is led by the three members of the BRC who have executive responsibility for carrying out the core functions of the OBR, including any judgements made in the preparation of the economic and fiscal forecasts. The current members of the BRC are:

    • Richard Hughes (Chair)
    • Professor David Miles
    • Andy King

    The OBR’s oversight board consists of two non-executive members and the three BRC members and ensures there is effective risk management, governance and internal control of the organisation.

    Find out more about the OBR

    About the appointee

    Tom Josephs is currently Director of Private Pensions at the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). He was previously the Director of Fiscal Group at HM Treasury between September 2019 and August 2022. Between September 2016 and September 2019, he worked as the Director of Policy at the Department for International Trade. Prior to that he was a Senior Economist in the Fiscal Affairs Department of the International Monetary Fund between 2013 and 2016, the OBR’s first Chief of Staff between 2010 and 2013, and led the Treasury’s fiscal forecasting and analysis team between 2008 and 2010.

    About the appointment process

    Appointments are been made following an open recruitment process. Appointments to the BRC are conducted by the Treasury.

    The interview panel for the BRC position was chaired by Sam Beckett (Chief Economic Advisor, HM Treasury) and included Richard Hughes (Chair, OBR), Aishani Roy (Deputy Director of Macroeconomic Analysis, HM Treasury) and Ross Walker (Managing Director, Chief UK Economist & Head of Global Economics, NatWest) as an independent panel member. The interview panel then made a recommendation to the Chancellor which informed his decision. Appointments to the BRC are subject to the consent of the Treasury Committee.

  • PRESS RELEASE : RAF Typhoon jets intercept Russian bombers flying north of Scotland [August 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : RAF Typhoon jets intercept Russian bombers flying north of Scotland [August 2023]

    The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 14 August 2023.

    The Typhoons launched from RAF Lossiemouth, one of the RAF’s two Quick Reaction Alert stations, where RAF fighters are constantly available to respond to threats at a moment’s notice.

    Royal Air Force (RAF) pilots launched Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) Typhoon fighters to intercept two Russian long-range maritime patrol bombers this morning as they transited north of the Shetland Islands within NATO’s northern air policing area.

    The Typhoon jets launched from RAF Lossiemouth, one of the RAF’s two QRA stations, where RAF fighters are constantly available to respond to threats at a moment’s notice in order to defend UK airspace.

    The Russian Tu-142 Bear-F and Tu-142 Bear-J maritime patrol aircraft, used for reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare, were monitored by RAF Typhoons in international airspace as they passed north of the UK.

    Minister for the Armed Forces, James Heappey, said:

    RAF crews at Lossiemouth maintain a constant watch over UK airspace and are always ready to take action at a moment’s notice to keep our country safe.

    Pilots launched in their Typhoon jets to intercept two Russian long-range bombers this morning, monitoring them as they passed north of the Shetland Islands, ready to counter any potential threat to UK territory.

    A Voyager tanker was also scrambled and remained airborne for the duration of the mission to offer air-to-air refueling, ensuring the Typhoons could remain in the air for the extended period necessary to complete their mission.

    The lead RAF Typhoon pilot said:

    It’s really satisfying to know we’ve been able to make a successful intercept, maintaining the integrity of UK and NATO airspace.

    When the alarm for a scramble happened in the early hours of the morning, the adrenaline kicked in. Working in tandem with ground control operators, and with air-to-air refueling from an RAF Voyager, we were able to stay on task until the mission was complete, and the target aircraft departed the UK’s area of interest.

    RAF Typhoons are scrambled during these incidents to secure and safeguard the skies of the UK. RAF pilots from Lossiemouth recently completed a four-month deployment to lead NATO’s air policing mission in Estonia, where more than 50 air intercepts of this kind were carried out.

    Russian military aircraft entering the UK Flight Information Region, the UK’s controlled zone of international airspace, can pose a hazard to other aircraft. These Russian aircraft often do not talk to air traffic control or ‘squawk’, broadcasting a code ensuring they are visible to other air users and air traffic controllers on the ground.

    The Typhoons and Voyager have returned to their base and the aircraft have been refueled to remain ready to respond to any future potential threats.

  • PRESS RELEASE : New British High Commissioner excited to explore magical Kenya [August 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : New British High Commissioner excited to explore magical Kenya [August 2023]

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

    Neil Wigan OBE has arrived in Nairobi to take up his position as Head of Mission at the British High Commission.

    British High Commissioner-designate, Neil Wigan OBE, has arrived in Nairobi to take up his position as Head of Mission at the British High Commission.

    Speaking on his arrival, the new British High Commissioner to Kenya, said:

    It has been a long-term ambition of mine to lead the team at the British High Commission in Nairobi. I first visited Kenya in 1977, my children went to school in Nairobi, and I have visited Kenya many times, for work and pleasure. I am delighted to have returned, and am looking forward to exploring magical Kenya.

    I look forward to working with the Government of Kenya on the priorities of our Strategic Partnership, particularly the KES 500 billion of UK investment in clean, green infrastructure projects including Nairobi Railway City, Menengai Geothermal Plant, Grand High Falls Dam and the Malindi Solar Expansion project. These projects, among others, will improve the lives of Kenyans, boost sustainable development and help tackle climate change. I look forward to seeing these projects and other UK-Kenya partnerships.

    Across the partnership, there are further opportunities for us to go far, together. Tafaulu Pamoja!

    Neil takes up his post at an exciting time for UK-Kenya relations, with the relationship between both countries and peoples going from strength to strength.

    Rapid progress is being made across all pillars of the Strategic Partnership, signed in 2020 between the UK and Kenya, tackling climate change, increasing mutual prosperity and sustainable development, building stronger people-to-people links, and strengthening vital security cooperation.

    The UK is working with the Kenyan government to improve lives and livelihoods, while the defence partnership ensures the safety and security of the two countries and promotes Kenya’s role as a stabilising force in the region.

    The UK and Kenya share a deep and complex history; one that has created strong bonds between the two countries, governments and people. The people-to-people bonds are the foundation of our relationship. This year we celebrate 40 years of the Chevening scholarship programme, which has enabled more than 600 Kenyans to study at UK universities. Through the British Council, the UK has strengthened Kenya’s creative and cultural industries and the UK-Kenya Tech Hub is working with entrepreneurs and tech talent to build a sustainable digital ecosystem.

    The UK is the largest international investor in Kenya and is Kenya’s fifth largest export market. Progress on key green infrastructure projects, backed by UK investment, is securing Kenya’s place as a climate leader in the region. The upcoming Africa Climate Summit and next year’s UK-African Investment Summit will provide further opportunities to strengthen this vital partnership to the benefit of both Kenyans and British people.

  • PRESS RELEASE : One-stop-shop to help businesses save money and go green [August 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : One-stop-shop to help businesses save money and go green [August 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero on 14 August 2023.

    British businesses will be able to access new advice and support to reduce their energy bills and cut their carbon emissions from the UK Business Climate Hub.

    • Business website offers new help for Britain’s 5.5 million SMEs to save on their energy bills while reducing their emissions
    • the hub will provide small businesses with advice on everything from paying less for EVs, getting a low-carbon heat pump, to generating green energy and selling it back to the grid to make money
    • comes as industry leaders and ministers on the new Net Zero Council call on all businesses from Aberystwyth to Aberdeen to develop net zero sector roadmaps

    British businesses will be able to access brand new advice and support to reduce their energy bills while cutting their carbon emissions.

    The UK Business Climate Hub launched today (14 August 2023) includes a free carbon calculator and a suite of new tools to help businesses measure, track and report on their emissions and save money by using less energy. It offers detailed advice on everything from sourcing products from green suppliers and reducing emissions from freight and logistics to the most cost-effective ways of installing solar panels and electric vehicle (EV) charging points.

    Research shows that such measures can significantly save companies on their overheads. For example:

    • switching to EVs can not only cut running costs but also lower servicing and maintenance costs by around 40% compared to petrol or diesel cars
    • with up to half of companies’ overall electricity bill coming from lighting, making changes such as switching to LED bulbs can help shave up to 40% off bills
    • giving drivers fuel efficiency training can help save companies an average of 15% on fuel use and carbon emissions in transporting goods

    The new support is aimed particularly at 5.5 million small and medium sized businesses (SMEs) in the UK, with business and industry accounting for around 25% of emissions. Research shows that 90% of SMEs are keen to tackle climate change, but find it difficult to know how or where to start to find the right solutions to reduce their carbon footprint.

    Studies also show 85% of consumers are more likely to buy from a business with a reputation for sustainability, meaning going green can help grow the economy.

    Minister of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, Graham Stuart, said:

    The UK has cut its emissions more than any other major economy in the world. More and more businesses are recognising the business benefits of reaching net zero and we’re determined to empower them to do so.

    The new UK Business Climate Hub is a one-stop-shop for businesses to find practical advice to reduce their carbon footprint and save on their energy bills.

    Whether it’s fitting a low-carbon heat pump, generating energy with solar panels, or reducing the emissions from shipping goods, the new support will ensure businesses can drive towards net zero.

    The new UK Business Climate Hub serves as a one-stop-shop for businesses who have yet to start making changes, as well as those who are already taking action to reduce emissions but want to take things to the next level. As well as helping bosses measure and report on their emissions, the site provides advice and support on an array of things, including:

    • switching employee modes of transport and paying less for company EVs
    • getting business grants, green loans and financing for a retrofit
    • getting an air source heat pump
    • generating green energy with a wind turbine and selling it back to the grid
    • reducing emissions from farming and land use
    • buying credible carbon offsets
    • getting low-carbon product labels and certifications
    • reducing waste and recycling more

    National Chair of the Federation of Small Businesses, Martin McTague, said:

    We are pleased to have contributed to the new UK Business Climate Hub that will provide businesses with trusted tools and information to help them navigate the net zero transition.

    SMEs recognise their role in net zero but many still find it challenging to access the relevant support and resources to play their part. This new official platform for advice and support will really help.

    In addition to helping small firms become more energy and resource efficient, the hub also has the opportunity to empower small firms to take ambitious steps towards net zero, ultimately ensuring that they also benefit from the economic opportunities created in a net zero economy.

    The new site is endorsed by business leaders and ministers on the new Net Zero Council and comes as the organisation calls on business representative organisations across the country to take concerted action to plan to reduce their members’ emissions.

    The group, comprising CEOs from leading companies including Co-op, HSBC, Siemens and Cemex, have developed a new business roadmap framework to help empower businesses to work with others in their sector to create tailored action plans for their own industry to decarbonise.

    These sector roadmaps would help companies the length and breadth of the country, from Aberdeen to Aberystwyth, and Penzance to Peterborough, to transition to net zero.

    Co-Chair of the Net Zero Council, Co-op Group Chief Executive Shirine Khoury-Haq, said:

    None of us will get to net zero without all of us getting to net zero, so ensuring that every business and every sector has a clear plan for delivering this non-negotiable target is key. I hope the UK Business Climate Hub will be a valuable tool for business leaders looking for guidance and support in this vital endeavour.

    The framework, which has been endorsed by the Net Zero Council and that is being published today, is designed to support organisations working to articulate a credible roadmap to net zero on a sector by sector basis.

    In 2020 the UK was estimated to already have over 400,000 jobs in low carbon businesses and their supply chains across the country, with turnover at £41.6 billion. Over 80,000 green jobs are currently being supported or are in the pipeline because of new government policies since 2020, with that expected to increase to as many as nearly half a million by 2030.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Government opens more opportunities for sustainable Atlantic bluefin tuna fisheries outside the EU [August 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Government opens more opportunities for sustainable Atlantic bluefin tuna fisheries outside the EU [August 2023]

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

    More opportunities for sustainable Atlantic bluefin tuna fisheries outside the EU through commercial and recreational fishing.

    The government has opened up more opportunities for sustainable Atlantic bluefin tuna fisheries outside the EU through commercial and recreational fishing which will support the sustainable management of the species whilst also delivering social and economic benefits to coastal communities.

    Today’s announcement is another step in the government’s work to deliver thriving, sustainable fisheries outside the EU. It will see economic benefits to industry and coastal communities, both through increased catching opportunities and income from tourism, and ensure that Atlantic bluefin tuna stocks are managed in a sustainable manner underpinned by the best available science.

    39 tonnes will be used for a new trial commercial fishery which takes advantage of an increased quota share of 65 tonnes for 2023.

    The new trial commercial fishery for Atlantic bluefin tuna, delivered by Defra and the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) on behalf of the UK Fisheries Authorities, is the first of its type in the UK for decades. Licence authorisations have been issued to 10 fishermen following an expression of interest process.

    Vessels will be permitted only to use low-impact rod and reel fishing gears which use lures, no live bait or chumming will be permitted. The trial fishery will be open until November 2023 and will assist in the evaluation of the sustainability of a small-scale commercial fishery for this species and the social and economic benefits this new fishery could potentially provide to UK fishermen.

    After great success in 2021 and 2022, opportunities for recreational anglers to encounter Atlantic bluefin tuna will once again open up in the Catch and Release Tagging programme (CHART), which will be available through 24 charter vessels from fishing ports across South-West and Southern England.

    Delivered by the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas), the tuna caught in CHART will be carefully tagged and released back into the ocean by the skippers and their crew. The programme will provide important scientific data to understand and manage Atlantic bluefin tuna whilst also benefiting coastal communities through high-value tourism.

    Today’s announcement comes after the government announced a major package of measures to deliver a thriving, sustainable fishing industry and healthy marine environment outside the EU. This included seizing on our new found freedoms outside the EU to introduce a world class system of fisheries management underpinned by Fisheries Management Plans, as well as a consultation on the establishment of a licensed recreational bluefin catch and release tuna fishery.

    Fisheries Minister Mark Spencer said:

    We’re committed to the sustainable management of Atlantic bluefin tuna, and today’s announcement will help deliver this while providing economic and social benefits to communities around our coast.

    I look forward to seeing the valuable research that this work will deliver, contributing hugely to developing a plan for how we use our quota in the future.

    David Righton, CHART Principal Investigator said:

    We are excited to continue our work with recreational fishers in CHART 2023, and to build on the results of CHART in 2021 and 2022.

    The 2023 programme will further develop our understanding of the occurrence and demographics of Atlantic bluefin tuna in English waters and is a great demonstration of participatory science that provides valuable data for fisheries management.

    In recent years, the number of reported sightings of Atlantic bluefin tuna in UK waters has been increasing. Reasons such as conservation measures and climate change impacts, including abundance of prey and changes to the marine environment are thought to have caused this increase in sightings.

    The data collected from this work will contribute not only to improving understanding of Atlantic bluefin tuna in UK waters but will also be supplied to the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT).

  • PRESS RELEASE : New inserts in cigarette packs to help smokers quit [August 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : New inserts in cigarette packs to help smokers quit [August 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 14 August 2023.

    Government seeks views on adding pack inserts to tobacco products to encourage smokers to quit.

    • Pack inserts are used internationally including in Canada and Israel, and proven to encourage people to give up smoking
    • Initial report on the major conditions strategy to be published today

    The government will seek views on adding pack inserts into tobacco products to encourage more smokers to quit as it launches a new consultation today.

    Placed inside the packaging of cigarettes and hand rolling tobacco, they would contain positive messages to encourage people to quit and signpost them to advice and support. The messages set out the health benefits of quitting – for example, improvements to breathing within a matter of days and a 50% reduction in the risk of heart attack within a year – as well as showing smokers how much money they stand to save by giving up, with the average person likely to save over £2,000 per year if they quit.

    Smoking remains the single leading preventable cause of illness and mortality in the UK. It results in nearly 4% of all hospital admissions each year – equivalent to almost 450,000 admissions. Tobacco-related harms are also estimated to cost taxpayers an estimated £21 billion every year, including over £2 billion in costs to the NHS.

    Although smoking rates in the UK are at an all-time low, by taking further action, the government will seek to cut waiting lists and reduce the burden on the NHS. Introducing pack inserts into all tobacco products in the UK could lead to an additional 30,000 smokers giving up their habit – delivering health benefits worth £1.6 billion.

    Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay said:

    Smoking places a huge burden on the NHS, economy and individuals. It directly causes a whole host of health problems – including cancers and cardiovascular disease – and costs the economy billions every year in lost productivity.

    By taking action to reduce smoking rates and pursuing our ambition to be smokefree by 2030, we will reduce the pressure on the NHS and help people to live healthier lives.

    The consultation – which opens today (14 August 2023) – will seek views on the introduction and design of pack inserts.

    Pack inserts are already used in other countries – including Canada and Israel, with Australia also announcing its intention to introduce them – and there is evidence that they can be an effective means of encouraging smokers to quit. An evaluation of the policy’s impact in Canada found that almost 1 in 3 smokers had read the inserts at least once in the past month, and that those who were exposed to the inserts multiple times were significantly more likely to try to give up smoking.

    The consultation builds on a recent package of measures designed to drive the government’s ambition to be smokefree by 2030 – which means reducing smoking rates to 5% or less.

    These measures include:

    • funding a new national ‘swap to stop’ scheme – the first of its kind in the world – to offer a million smokers across England a free vaping starter kit, alongside expert support
    • launching a financial incentive scheme – in the form of vouchers alongside behavioural support – to support pregnant women to stop smoking, with an aim to reach all pregnant smokers by the end of next year
    • a new strategy to combat illicit tobacco, which will outline efforts to catch and punish those involved in the illegal market

    Deborah Arnott, Chief Executive of Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), said:

    Smoking is very addictive, and it takes smokers on average 30 attempts before they succeed in stopping, so encouraging them to keep on trying is vital.

    Pack inserts do this by backing up the grim messages about death and disease on the outside with the best advice about how to quit on the inside.

    They will help deliver not just the smokefree 2030 ambition, but also the major conditions strategy, as smoking is responsible for all 6 major conditions from cancer to cardiovascular and respiratory disease, as well as dementia, mental ill health and musculoskeletal disorders.

    The consultation launch comes as the government publishes an initial report on its major conditions strategy – which covers the 6 groups of conditions accounting for 60% of all ill-health and early death in England.

    One in 4 people in England live with 2 or more major long-term conditions, and the initial report sets out the direction for the strategy to tackle these groups of conditions – cancers, cardiovascular diseases (including stroke and diabetes), musculoskeletal disorders, mental ill health, dementia and chronic respiratory conditions.

    This includes by addressing key risk factors and lifestyle drivers of ill-health and disease, including smoking, which is a direct contributor to all 6 groups of conditions covered by the strategy. For example, it is the biggest cause of cancer, with one in every 5 cancer deaths in England connected to smoking.

    A world leader in reducing smoking rates, UK levels are currently at their lowest on record at 13.3%. But across the UK, 1 in 7 adults still smoke – around 6.6 million people – and the impacts on the NHS and economy are significant.

    Tobacco also costs the economy in England an estimated £14 billion in lost productivity every year, due to lost earnings, unemployment and early deaths. The average smoker stands to save approximately £2,000 per year from giving up their habit.

  • PRESS RELEASE : UK provides £250,000 for communities affected by flooding in eastern Bangladesh [August 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : UK provides £250,000 for communities affected by flooding in eastern Bangladesh [August 2023]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 13 August 2023.

    The UK is providing £250,000 (over three crore and forty lacs taka) of humanitarian support to communities affected by largescale flooding in Chittagong Division.

    This will deliver vital assistance to over 18,000 people affected by flooding in Bandarban, Rangamati and Cox’s Bazar districts.

    It will be allocated by Start Fund Bangladesh, working with Caritas Bangladesh and Action Aid Bangladesh. This support complements the Government of Bangladesh’s response.

    British High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Sarah Cooke, said

    “The UK stands with all those affected by the devastating flooding in eastern Bangladesh. I am pleased to announce the UK is providing £250,000 of humanitarian assistance to respond to urgent needs.

    This support will provide essential relief items, including food, clean water, sanitation and hygiene kits, shelter materials and cash transfers to more than 18,000 people who have been affected.

    This complements the Government of Bangladesh’s response and builds on the UK’s longstanding support to disaster preparedness and response in Bangladesh.”