Tag: 2023

PRESS RELEASE : Extension of UK commitment to NATO’s Kosovo Force announced during ministerial visit to Western Balkans [May 2023]

The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 23 May 2023.

The UK will continue its commitment to NATO’s Kosovo Force until at least 2026, bolstering security in the region.

The UK’s contribution to the NATO Kosovo Force (KFOR) Mission in Kosovo will continue until at least 2026, the Minister for the Armed Forces, James Heappey, has announced during a visit to the region.

During today’s visit to Pristina, he held conversations with Kosovo’s President, Vjosa Osmani-Sadriu, and Prime Minister, Albin Kurti, as well as discussions with Defence Minister Armend Mehaj, and Commander of the KFOR Mission.

Kosovo is an important partner, with the UK having been the first country to recognise its independence in 2008, and UK forces have been undertaking a key role in peacekeeping and bolstering security in the region for more than two decades.

Minister for the Armed Forces, James Heappey, said:

It was a pleasure to meet with the Kosovan President and Prime Minister today and to announce the UK’s further commitment to NATO’s Kosovo Force.

The extension of our commitment to KFOR underlines our unwavering commitment to supporting security in the Western Balkans region

The UK has been a key contributor to the UN-mandated NATO force since it first entered Kosovo in 1999 as a peacekeeping force to bring peace and stability following the conflict of the 1990s.

UK forces have worked to enhance KFOR’s Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance capability, significantly increasing the mission commanders’ situational awareness – ensuring the operation can provide a safe and secure environment for the entire population.

KFOR acts as one of the main security providers in Kosovo, with troops contributed by some 30 nations including Italy, Turkey, Poland and the US, as well as the UK. The UK’s contribution includes a battalion-sized high readiness Strategic Reserved Force based in the UK, ready to deploy at short notice.

The Minister also visited Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) on Monday, where he met the Minister of Defence, Zukan Helez; the Chief of Armed Forces General Senad Masovic; Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Josip Brkic; as well as the Commanders of EUFOR and NATO HQ Sarajevo.

Discussions focussed on BiH’s progress towards Euro-Atlantic alignment and on the United Kingdom’s enduring support for the country’s security and sovereignty, including through joint training, the provision of equipment and the exchange of expertise.

The Minister gave the keynote speech at the Institute for Geopolitics, Economy and Security conference in Sarajevo focusing on the UK’s partnership with BiH on defence and security matters.

June 2, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Civilians caught up in conflict need protection, food, and dependable essential services right now – Lord Ahmad’s statement at the Security Council [May 2023]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 23 May 2023.

Statement by Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon at the UN Security Council open debate on the protection of civilians.

Mr President, it’s a pleasure to join this debate under your stewardship, and I thank you and Switzerland for convening this important debate at this important time and acknowledge your contribution and that of His Excellency, the President of Malta and His Excellency, the President of Mozambique. Again, seeing stewardship at the head-of-state level also indicates the importance of this particular subject. I am also particularly moved by the quite specific contributions of the Minister from Ghana.

Minister Dery, you’ve outlined quite specifically the requirements on member states on how we can do more in resolving conflict. And of course, I acknowledge the valuable insights of our expert briefers, the President of the ICRC [International Committee of the Red Cross]. Mirjana, again, you highlighted some of the practical steps and challenges you face and the responsibilities of coordinated responses with member states and of course, the unique insights from Africa, from Madam Mounkaīla which were extremely valuable when we see drivers of climate change as a key consequence, which then drives conflict itself.

The Secretary-General himself paints a bleak picture, and rightly so, of the conflicts that rage around the world. More than 20 major live conflicts are currently gripping the globe from across all continents Myanmar, Mali, Ukraine, Sudan, Nigeria, Afghanistan, Somalia, to name but a select few. A greater number of affected civilians, as we heard from Secretary-General Guterres, are affected. Civilians who suffer, who suffer and die at the hands of disease, who suffer and die because of malnutrition and impoverishment, and they suffer and die because of these more so than military operations. This, colleagues, friends, is 2023. All of these can be avoided.

The destruction of infrastructure. As we’ve already heard, healthcare, economies and food production causes untold suffering. A point well outlined by the president of the ICRC. A quarter of a billion people in 2023 are experiencing the most acute levels of hunger caused by conflict. I myself, like others, recently saw this together with Her Royal Highness, the Duchess of Edinburgh when we visited the Democratic Republic of Congo. And a great many of them who are tragically suffering are women, who are girls. It is women who tend to eat last. It is women who eat least. It is women who end up eating not at all.

In conflict, women and girls, tragically, are also exposed to high levels of gender-based violence, including abhorrent sexual violence. As the United Kingdom’s Special Representative for Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict, I assure you I shall never accept this as an inevitable consequence of war, and nor should anyone. And working with our partners and friends, we will continue to support survivors of sexual violence and help them secure justice, help them rebuild their lives. Mr Putin’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine has also unleashed other consequences, inflation and shortages of food, as we’ve heard just now from the Minister from Ghana. And this has impacted food security far beyond the continent of Europe. We therefore once again urge Russia to end your occupation and enable life-saving Ukrainian exports to continue into the future. The Sea Grain Initiative in the Black Sea is an important part of this and it must continue to operate. Mr President, there are three areas that we, the United Kingdom, believe should be prioritised.

Firstly, we must do more to improve compliance with international humanitarian law, and we must do more collectively to show that non-compliance is truly a red line. Parties to conflict must be held to account. We welcome initiatives in countries like Somalia, where the government is showing true leadership by strengthening the focus on civilian protection and stabilisation and planning pre-deployment training in humanitarian law for its own troops. And even in Sudan, where we have immense and grave concerns, we welcome parties to the conflict, recognising their responsibilities under international law and committing to allowing and facilitating humanitarian assistance.

The United Kingdom reports voluntarily on its own compliance with humanitarian law as well, and we are encouraged to see many other member states doing the same. To tackle conflict-induced hunger, we also need a greater focus on relevant aspects of international humanitarian law. And in this respect, we are also developing a legal handbook to achieve part of this objective.

Secondly, we can make better use of our early warning systems. Resolution 2417, as we’ve heard already, is our warning system for conflict-induced hunger and reporting under it needs to be much quicker. This Council, this Security Council needs to act more promptly on the information it provides in order to save lives.

Thirdly, we must ensure coherence and coordination between our diplomatic, humanitarian development and peace initiatives. Ultimately, we can only deliver peace. We can only deliver peace with efficient and sustained diplomacy. And we will not be able to deliver sustainable peace without ensuring humanitarian support to ensure sustainable livelihoods.

The United Kingdom on our part, is steadfast in our commitment to support countries to recover from conflicts. And in this regard, next month in London, we will host the Ukraine Recovery Conference, which also importantly will be engaging the private sector in terms of reconstruction.

Mr President, our well-intentioned words must be followed by swift action. Civilians caught up in conflict need protection now. They need food now. They need essential services. Not tomorrow, but today. And they need them to be delivered promptly. And I assure you that we, the UK, remain committed to supporting those facing the brutal convergence of climate change, as we heard from Madam Mounkaīla, which drives conflict in many parts of the world. And we’ve seen that quite starkly around the Lake Chad Basin. Tomorrow, the United Kingdom will join the United States, Italy, Qatar and OCHA [United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs] to focus attention on the crisis in the Horn of Africa. We must raise urgent humanitarian funds to save lives, to save lives now. And we must also invest in long-term solutions to build resilience for the future. As we’ve heard today, again from a number of representatives, including, importantly, those from across Africa.

But ultimately, Mr President, together as we, the United Nations, we have the tools, we have the means at our disposal to prevent and end conflicts today, to restore stability, to deliver accountability and justice, and to give hope back to civilians, to give civilians their lives back. It is our moral imperative to do just that.

Thank you, Mr President.

June 2, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Readout of the Chancellor’s meetings with food manufacturers and the CMA [May 2023]
The press release issued by HM Treasury on 23 May 2023.

The Chancellor met food manufacturers and the CMA to discuss public concerns over food inflation.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Jeremy Hunt, spoke to food manufacturers today (23 May) about the cost of food in the UK.

The Chancellor highlighted the widespread concern among the British public about the current level of food prices and their impact on household budgets, particularly for the most vulnerable. He listened to the views of manufacturers about the causes of food inflation, reiterated the support announced by the Prime Minister last week for the UK food sector, and agreed that food manufacturers would continue to engage with senior government ministers about potential measures that government and industry can take to ease the pressure on consumers.

The Chancellor also met with the independent Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) and heard more about the scope of their investigations into road fuel and their stepping up of work on groceries prices, including the possible action that could be taken by the CMA. The Chancellor confirmed that the government stands ready to update pricing rules and guidance on the back of the CMA’s review of unit pricing.

With food inflation at 19.2%, the Chancellor emphasised that the government’s current focus is on measures which will help tackle increasing costs in the food sector. Prices are coming down across other parts of the economy, with energy bills also expected to fall as Ofgem announces the new cap on Thursday (25 May).

Further information
- A readout of the Chief Secretary to the Treasury’s meeting with supermarket representatives can be found here.
- The package of measures to support the food supply chain at the UK Farm to Fork Summit can be found here.
June 2, 2023
Tom Tugendhat – 2023 Speech at the PIER Annual Conference

The speech made by Tom Tugendhat, the Security Minister, at Anglia Ruskin University on 23 May 2023.

Good afternoon.

It’s a pleasure to be here with you today.

Before I begin, allow me to say a few words about the response to the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse.

For those of you who took part, thank you. I know a lot of different experts have contributed in different ways to help our understanding and I hope you’re understanding as well of the situation that we’re facing.

This independent enquiry was indeed a wake up call, it was extraordinarily important to shed a light on the unimaginable abuse that we’ve seen suffered by children over many many years. It found quite simply appalling examples of organisations placing their own interests ahead of children’s safety: either by turning a blind eye or covering up the abuse.

Frankly it is deeply dispiriting to see.

I deeply admire the courage of those survivors who came forward.

We owe it to them – as well as to future generations – to ensure that it never happens again.

Later today I’ll be speaking to a group of students.

They are going to be asking the questions that students so often ask, I’m sure.

They are going to be asking questions that are relevant to today and about gossip in the media that we’ve been hearing.

They’ll be asking about the challenges we face, and yes, occasionally heckling me…

One thing I can guarantee I’ll be asked is whether I would recommend politics as a career.

It’s a difficult question to answer really and I’ve never really known how to answer.

I’ve never thought of politics as a profession, at least not in the traditional sense.

For me it’s a form of service.

Now, having already met a few of you I’m very aware that I’m speaking to an audience of professionals.

Many of you are at the top of your fields.

But I also understand that for many of you protecting children online isn’t just a career.

It’s more of a calling, every bit as personal as it professional.

The reason I’m here today is that for me keeping children safe isn’t just another issue, or even just the right thing to do.

It’s personal, and every bit as important as my role’s traditional focus on terrorism and state threats.

Let me explain why.

Earlier this year I visited the US to meet my counterparts in intelligence and homeland security.

While I was there I had the opportunity to visit the National Centre for Missing & Exploited Children, NCMEC for short, a heroic organisation on the vanguard of global efforts to keep children safe online.

NCMEC receives reports of suspected cases of child sexual exploitation from US-based tech companies including enticement, where children are lured into sharing explicit images and videos of themselves; sextortion, when predators target their victims using blackmail; and the online distribution of child sexual abuse material.

I’ll be straight with you.

I wasn’t prepared.

I wasn’t prepared for the depravity of some of the examples of offending they gave.

I wasn’t prepared for the scale of the threat that our children face.

And, as the father to a wonderful son and daughter of my own, I wasn’t prepared for the horror that children just like them are made to suffer every day.

The thing that struck me was how vulnerable they are.

To predators, social media sites like Facebook and Instagram are a one stop shop.

Without leaving Meta’s ecosystem they can choose their target…do their research…start a conversation with them…and transfer that conversation onto a private messaging service.

And that’s exactly what they do – in their thousands.

In 2022 NCMEC received over 32 million reports of suspected child sexual exploitation and abuse.

21 million of these came from Facebook alone, which not only speaks to the severity of the issue they face.

It also leads me to suspect that other companies are significantly under-reporting.

I want to be clear – this isn’t a US issue.

We face exactly the same problem right here in the UK.

The NCA estimates that there are up 850,000 people in this country who pose a sexual risk to children, including both contact offending and offending online.

Of course, in reality the scale of the threat our children face is much larger.

We mustn’t forget that the computers in our children’s homes, and the mobile phones in their pockets don’t just make them accessible to people here in the UK.

They connect them to the world.

That works both ways of course.

I’m appalled by the increase in so-called live streamed abuse, where predators pay to victimise children remotely – and often in other countries – via webcam.

The UK is one of the top 3 consumers of livestreamed child sex abuse from the Philippines.

Equally, in addition to the threat they face domestically, our children are also the targets of predators and offenders overseas.

It’s clear, then, that this is a threat of immense scale and complexity, and I’m grateful for the valiant efforts of our law enforcement agencies.

Every month UK law enforcement agencies arrest 800 people and safeguard 1200 children.

Last week, for example, Bernard Grace was sentenced to 8 years in prison for making 600 payments to direct and livestream the sexual abuse of children in the Philippines.

In March earlier this year, Christopher Manning was jailed for 25 years for using a chat platform to distribute child sexual abuse material and encouraging others to do the same.

And in 2021 the NCA caught David Wilson, one of the most prolific child sexual abuse offenders the UK has ever seen.

Wilson posed as a teenage girl on Facebook to manipulate his victims into sending sexually explicit material of themselves before using it to blackmail them into abusing their friends and siblings.

His case is the perfect illustration of why our partnership with tech companies and organisations such as NCMEC are so important.

He was brought to justice because law enforcement were able to access the evidence contained in over 250,000 Facebook messages.

And he’s far from alone.

NCMEC sends suspected cases of child sexual abuse in this country straight to the NCA, who process them before sending the resulting intelligence to the police.

In 2021, they contributed to 20,000 criminal investigations across the UK.

For predators that’s a significant deterrent.

And for their victims, it’s a lifeline.

That lifeline is now under threat.

Despite its past record of dedicated protection, Meta is planning to roll out end-to-end encryption on Messenger and Instagram Direct later this year.

Unless they build in robust safety measures, that poses a significant risk to child safety.

Let me be clear.

Privacy matters.

The UK government is in favour of protecting online communications.

And it is possible to offer your customers the privacy they expect…while also maintaining the technical capabilities needed to keep young people safe online.

Meta are just choosing not to, many others have already taken the same path.

The consequences of that decision are stark.

Facebook and Instagram account for over 80% of global NCMEC referrals, meaning that 20 million suspected cases of child sexual abuse a year will go unreported.

Meta will no longer be able to spot grooming – including cases like David Wilson’s – on their platforms, leaving tens of thousands of children in the UK, and around the world, beyond our help and in danger of exploitation.

Faced with an epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse Meta have decided to turn a blind eye, and are choosing to allow predators to operate with impunity.

This is extremely worrying.

But it also raises questions for parents like myself right across the country.

Questions about big tech, and the balance of power and responsibility enjoyed by social media companies.

My children love going to a playground near where we live.

While they’re there it’s clear who’s responsible for their safety.

Me of course, as their parent – but also the council, who have a duty to ensure the environment is safe and well-maintained, and our local police force, who have a duty to make sure nothing dangerous or illegal is taking place.

Both have clear lines of accountability to me and to our local community.

My children are currently too young to have social media profiles.

But what happens when they do go online?

Who’s responsible for their safety?

And is anyone accountable to them – or to me?

In my view it’s clear.

Companies like Meta enjoy vast power and influence over our lives.

With that power should come responsibility.

It’s not acceptable for tech executives to make vast profits from their youngest users, only to pass the buck when it comes to protecting them from the dangers on their own platform create.

The first duty of government is to protect its people, and none are more precious than our children.

In that sense, the stakes couldn’t be higher.

Over the past few minutes we’ve covered a lot of frightening statistics.

But we must never forget that behind every NCMEC referral, flagged image, and Police investigation is a real child being hurt in the real world, for whom the consequences of their victimisation are devastating.

However it’s not just these children’s futures that are at stake.

I personally believe you can judge a society by how it looks after its most vulnerable members, and that, in a nutshell, is why this is so fundamental.

Because the importance we place on protecting our children isn’t just a policy issue.

It speaks to the health of our society.

This is a test for governments and tech companies alike.

For governments: one of resolve, and standing up for what we believe in.

For tech companies: one of priorities, and making sure they do no harm.

As with many issues we’re not facing this alone.

All around the world, governments are in a similar position.

And each of us has a choice.

To lean in or to look away.

Well, I can tell you very clearly:

This government will not look away.

Some will have heard the words I have used today to be particularly critical of one company, they are right, I am speaking about Meta specifically and Mark Zuckerberg’s choices particularly. These are his choices, these are our children. He is not alone in making these choices, other companies have done too.

Let me be clear again: this government will not look away.

We will shortly be launching a campaign. A campaign to tell parents the truth about Meta’s choices, and what they mean for the safety of their children.

And a campaign to encourage tech firms to take responsibility and to do the right thing.

We’ll set out our case in the papers, in magazines, over the airwaves and online.

We’ll work with law enforcement agencies, children’s safety organisations, like-minded international counterparts through bodies such as the G7 and Five Eyes, and tech experts with authority on technical solutions and their feasibility.

We will not stop until we are satisfied that Meta and others are serious about finding a solution, and until they have strong safety systems in place to protect children.

I hope that, like me, this isn’t a fight that you’re prepared to lose, and I hope you’ll join us.

Our voices are louder when we speak together.

June 2, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Matlock flood defence completed and flood protection reinstated [May 2023]

The press release issued by the Environment Agency on 23 May 2023.

The Environment Agency’s major project to reinstate the flood defences in Matlock has reached a significant milestone with the completion of the flood wall.

The flood wall provides protection from the River Derwent in Matlock for 50 homes and businesses. Construction work on the flood wall started in August 2022, with preparatory work starting earlier that year. It followed the collapse of a privately owned wall that was damaged after the February 2022 floods.

The project is being delivered in partnership with Derbyshire County Council and Derbyshire Dales District Council.

Work on the stone cladding to the wall has now started and will be completed this summer. It features Derbyshire stone sourced from a nearby quarry to cover the wall’s steel sheet piles and achieve a high-quality finish to maintain the heritage look and colour palette of the area.

Naomi Doughty, Flood Risk Manager for the Environment Agency said:

“We’ve reached a significant milestone by completing the flood defence and reinstating protection to the town from river flooding. It’s been a challenging construction due to a wet winter and complexity of working in a dynamic river environment but we’ve swiftly reinstated flood protection to homes and businesses.

“Our attention has now turned to cladding the steel sheet piles to create a high-quality finish using locally sourced materials that are in-keeping with the historic environment. This will provide a lasting legacy for people of Matlock to feel proud of.

“We’re aiming to complete the aesthetic work over the summer, with the aim of fully completing the project in the Autumn.

“We are working with Derbyshire County Council on a plan which will see the A6 reopened in early September and Matlock Bridge reopened to single lane traffic.

“We would like to thank the local community for their continued support and understanding throughout these essential flood defence works and apologise for the temporary disruption caused by the construction works.”

More information about the project can be found at: Matlock Flood Wall – Environment Agency – Citizen Space (environment-agency.gov.uk)

Background

Over 200 cubic metres of low-carbon concrete has been poured to construct the Matlock flood wall, with approximately 8 tonnes of steel reinforcement.

Due to the construction challenges with driving piles into the Derbyshire limestone, the project costs are now expected at £10m.

The Environment Agency is working in partnership with Derbyshire County Council and Derbyshire Dales District Council to reinstate the river flood protection following the collapse of a wall behind businesses on Crown Square, Matlock after the February 2022 storms compromised the defences and left Matlock vulnerable to river flooding.

Following the collapse of the privately owned wall, an immediate repair was carried out by placing over 50 rock-filled bags in the River Derwent using a large crane situated on the A6. Further flood prevention work was carried out in April which involved lifting an additional 100 2-tonne rock-filled bags by a large crane situated on the A6 into the River Derwent to reduce erosion and limit damage to the Environment Agency flood wall that sits next to the collapsed privately owned wall.

Working throughout the winter season, the project has encountered many construction challenges, including the wettest March on record for 40 years, with rising water levels requiring the demobilisation of the working platform 7 times.

The A6 between Matlock Bridge and the train station car park is closed to all users (pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles) until completion of the works later this summer.

June 2, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : WTO General Council May 2023 – UK Statement on Reform [May 2023]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 23 May 2023.

UK Statement on Reform as delivered by the UK’s Permanent Representative to the WTO in Geneva, Simon Manley, at the WTO General Council, 8-9 May 2023.

Thank you Chair.

I have the honour to introduce the communication entitled ‘Improving the operation of WTO bodies to revitalise the WTO’s monitoring and deliberative function’ on behalf of the co-sponsors, contained in document WT/GC/W/877. The document was circulated to Members on 4 May.

The day-to-day work at the WTO councils and committees is the lifeblood of this organisation. Improving the effectiveness and impact of this work, to enable the full participation of all Members, is at the heart of the WTO reform agenda.

Activity to revitalise the Monitoring and Deliberative function is already happening throughout WTO bodies. It has filled this organisation with renewed energy, including the agenda of this General Council meeting, with papers from a wide range of the Membership.

We should not underestimate the importance of this work in building the trust the WTO desperately needs. The communications from the LDC Group; the African Group; from Argentina, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay and Uruguay presented to CTG; in addition to some of the papers on the agenda today, are great examples of constructive contributions to this discussion. From all of these important contributions it is clear that there is broad agreement across the membership on so many elements of this important agenda.

So the first aim with this paper is to bring together a number of the proposals we have seen across the different papers and committees into one place. This is in direct response to the plea from many smaller delegations to make sure there is transparency on what is happening on reform at the GC. Indeed many of the ideas in this paper can have a real impact in boosting participation of Members, especially those with capacity constraints, in the work of the organisation.

In this way the paper aims to be an “umbrella paper” covering the different issues being discussed on the procedural and deliberative elements of reform. Our intention is to complement and support the work already underway throughout WTO bodies.

The paper recognises the need to reinvigorate the monitoring and deliberative function at the WTO. It focuses on ideas to improve the operation of WTO bodies so that Members can fully participate in the daily work of the organisation. It recognises the special challenges faced by developing country Members, especially those with significant capacity constraints. It also recognises that the increasing challenges to engage substantively impact the quality of the deliberation and policy dialogue, centre to WTO effectiveness.

This is not meant to be an exhaustive list of suggestions, rather an attempt to provide a list of options that WTO committees and councils can examine and consider when discussing their own operational reform efforts.

Our hope with this paper is to set out a clear set of steps we can take to make sure our reform effort delivers real practical steps and tangible results. As is the case for the many papers put forward by Members, we hope this helps spark further discussions so that we can work together to find practical ways to take them forward.

June 2, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Guatemala participates in an AgriTech Trade Mission in the UK [May 2023]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 23 May 2023.

The British Government supported the participation of Guatemala in a 10-day AgriTech Trade Mission that took place from 19-29 March. The attendees were able to visit several places in the UK where technology for the agricultural sector is being developed and implemented.

Since 2013, the UK has been working in its strategy for agriculture technologies to continue being a world leader in innovation, productivity and sustainability in the agricultural sector. The challenge that farmers in the UK and across the world face is to produce increasing quantities of nutritious and healthy food, while making significant environmental gains including improving soils, saving water and reducing carbon emissions.

A Guatemalan delegate, representative of the Agro Chamber (CAMAGRO), participated in the Mission and was able to see the new developments in science and technology, from robotics to sensors to big data, which are rapidly changing the way farmers are farming and making the balance of productivity and climate change protection a reality.

AgriTech is a diverse sector and UK companies continue to grow every day whilst exploring opportunities in other countries, like Guatemala, to share their expertise. The AgriTech sector in the UK includes agrimetrics, satellite farm network, precision agriculture and engineering, crop health and soil protection, livestock innovation (productivity, health, welfare and sustainability) and agricultural engineering innovation.

The attendees to the AgriTech Trade Mission participated in roundtables to understand the offerings of more than 50 UK companies, more than 20 centres of innovation, farms and universities focused to develop technology for agriculture.

As a result, the UK and Guatemala will continue to explore opportunities for collaboration to further develop the agricultural sector in Guatemala through the implementation of new technologies that not only promote economic and social development, but that are also environmentally sustainable to make better use of available resources.

June 2, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Changes to student visa route will reduce net migration [May 2023]

The press release issued by the Home Office on 23 May 2023.

New government restrictions to student visa routes will substantially cut net migration by restricting the ability for international students to bring family members on all but post-graduate research routes and banning people from using a student visa as a backdoor route to work in the UK.

The ONS estimated that net migration was over 500,000 from June 2021 to June 2022. Although partly attributed to the rise in temporary factors, such as the UK’s Ukraine and Hong Kong schemes, last year almost half a million student visas were issued while the number of dependants of overseas students has increased by 750% since 2019, to 136,000 people.

The government has also reaffirmed its commitment to the International Education Strategy which plays an important part in supporting the economy through the economic contribution students can bring to the UK.

However, this should not be at the expense of the government’s commitment to the public to lower overall migration and ensure that migration to the UK is highly skilled and provides the most benefit.

Today’s proposals to the student visa route allow the government to continue to meet its International Education Strategy commitments, while making a tangible contribution to reducing net migration to sustainable levels. The government has also made clear that the terms of the graduate route remain unchanged.

The new reforms will come into effect for students starting in January next year. The government will however work with the higher education sector to explore alternative options to ensure the brightest and best students can continue to bring dependents when they study at the UK’s world-leading universities.

To prevent misuse of the visa system, overseas students will be stopped from switching from the student visa route into work routes until their studies have been completed.

The government will also review the funds students must have to demonstrate they can look after themselves and their dependants in the UK, as well as clamp down on unscrupulous international student agents who may be supporting inappropriate applications.

Taken together with the easing of temporary factors, net migration is expected to fall considerably over the medium term. As such, the changes to student visas strike the right balance in supporting the UK economy, including world-leading education institutions, and upholding the government’s commitment to reducing overall net migration.

Home Secretary Suella Braverman said:

The UK is a top destination for the brightest students to learn at some of the world’s best universities. But we have seen an unprecedented rise in the number of student dependents being brought into the country with visas.

It is time for us to tighten up this route to ensure we can cut migration numbers and meet the government’s pledge to the British people to cut net migration. This is the fair thing to do to allow us to better protect our public services, while supporting the economy by allowing the students who contribute the most to keep coming here.

The proposals announced today do not detract from the success of the government’s International Education Strategy, including meeting the target to host 600,000 international higher education students studying in the UK each year by 2030, for two years running.

Education Secretary Gillian Keegan said:

Attracting the top students from around the world isn’t just good for our universities – it’s essential for our economy and building vital global relationships.

But the number of family members being brought to the UK by students has risen significantly. It is right we are taking action to reduce this number while maintaining commitment to our International Education Strategy, which continues to enrich the UK’s education sector and make a significant contribution to the wider economy.

Following the UK leaving the EU, the government introduced a points-based immigration system, giving the government full control of the country’s borders, which is designed to flex to the needs of the economy and labour market and ensure we have the skills and talent needed by UK businesses and the NHS.

The government keeps its immigration policies under review to ensure they are delivering on commitments to the public on net migration.

June 2, 2023
Jeremy Hunt – 2023 Comments at the IMF Article IV Press Conference

The comments made by Jeremy Hunt, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, on 23 May 2023.

Intro

Thank you, Kristalina, for being here today. It’s a pleasure to welcome you to London for the first in-person Article IV mission since 2018.

I welcome the publication of your statement today, which provides a timely, independent assessment of the UK economy from the IMF.

The backdrop for your visit is one of challenge and opportunity.

Since the Fund’s last assessment of the UK economy in February 2022, our world and our economy has been challenged fundamentally by Putin’s illegal war in Ukraine, and the whole continent is feeling the knock-on effects.

And so since becoming Chancellor, my central mission has been to restore macroeconomic stability and deliver our priorities to halve inflation, grow our economy and get debt falling.

Today, the IMF’s assessment shows that we are on the right track.

Macroeconomic Outlook

Their report forecasts growth of 0.4% in 2023 – a 0.7 percentage point upgrade versus their April forecast.

That is even higher than the Bank of England’s forecast – published last week – for 0.25% growth in 2023.

The IMF say that we have acted decisively to fight inflation, which will “substantially” reduce to around 5% by the end of the year.

And the IMF say that our approach to fiscal policy will help to significantly reduce the deficit over the forecast – by 3% of GDP between 22/23 and 27/28.

Together, these forecasts demonstrate that we are on the right path, but the job is not done yet.

Growth Measures

Growing our economy is one of this government’s top priorities.

I was pleased to see that the IMF agree with the need for “ambitious evidence-based structural reforms” to support growth because that is exactly what we are delivering.

At Spring Budget, I announced measures to grow the economy focusing around four key areas – Employment, Education, Enterprise, and Everywhere.

The OBR judged these policies – including a major expansion of childcare support – will result in 110,000 more individuals in the labour market by 2027-28, directly increasing employment by 0.3% and GDP by 0.2%.

The OBR also say that full expensing would boost business investment by almost 3.5% in 2024-25 and 2025-26.

Today the IMF say that the supply-side measures in the Budget “should have a positive effect on medium-term growth” and we will continue this work in the months ahead.

Fiscal Policy

But despite this positive news, I know that high inflation and energy prices – issues shared internationally – remain key challenges.

People are worried about the cost of living, which is why I announced the extension of the Energy Price Guarantee in the Spring; why we are delivering cost of living payments to more than 7 million households; and why we are freezing fuel duty to keep more money in people’s pockets.

Like the government, the IMF recognise inflation is a major challenge for the UK economy and affirm that we are taking the right strategy to support the Bank of England in their efforts to combat inflation.

And I know the IMF agree that we have among the best macroeconomic institutions and frameworks anywhere in the world to respond to these challenges.

Reducing Uncertainty and Promoting Long-term Growth

Finally, I am pleased the IMF have recognised our work to reduce uncertainty for households and businesses in the face of some of the biggest challenges we face.

That includes agreeing the Windsor Framework which the IMF say will “favourably impact business investment” …

… setting the conditions for long-term growth, with world-leading ambitions and legal frameworks for our net-zero goals…

… and ensuring that our banking sector remains well capitalised and resilient to shocks.

Final Remarks

We are working hard every day to grow our economy and deliver on this government’s priorities, and the IMF today show we are doing just that.

Thank you, Kristalina, to you and your team for your work.

I will now hand over to you.

June 2, 2023
James Cartlidge – 2023 Speech to the Navy Leaders’ Combined Naval Event

The speech made by James Cartlidge, the Minister for Defence Procurement, at Farnborough International Conference Centre on 23 May 2023.

It’s a pleasure to be here at the tenth Navy Leaders’ Combined Naval Event.

It’s very pleasing to see so many international partners from around the world. I was just talking to the Peruvian delegation. And just want to emphasise this point about the importance of international partnership as being key to our collective defence.

On Friday, I had the great privilege of attending the Hebrides range, Benbecula, for the NATO exercise there were I think, 13 countries, 4,000 personnel. We had senior officers, Americans, Italians, Norway, and so on. And we must all remember that there’s nothing more powerful than the signal it sends to our adversaries to see how many of us there are in a coalition and how strong is our collective determination.

So, I also had, some of you may have been there, the pleasure to address the First Sea Lord Sea Power conference last Wednesday, in London and again, representation all around the world.

So, as I say, in the job for a month, I hope I have already shown that while the ministers do change from time to time, our consistent recognition of the importance of the maritime domain remains unchanged.

And as I am a new minister, just by way of background, so some of you will know the Minister of Defence Procurement is actually typically not someone who served the military but with a commercial or legal background. So, I’ve taken over from a lawyer, Alex Chalk, who is now the Justice Secretary, and Lord Chancellor.

My background is in business I ran an SME, and although not in the defence sector, participated in public procurement so I have a lot of sympathy for those companies. The SMEs, which I see as a key stakeholder in defence, but previously was a minister in the Treasury.

So, you may say, SME background, Treasury minister, perfect for defence procurement in some respects, but I will just say this, it’s not just about that angle of value for money. It’s about growth.

So, for me, it is about the contribution of defence and the UK defence industry to our domestic growth, but in particular to the export potential. And I do personally feel passionately that this country can go even further as a leader in defence exports. And that will be a particular priority for me that I’ll be setting out more in the coming weeks.

I spoke about the importance of the maritime domain. More than 90% of global trade is still carried over the oceans, tens of thousands of miles of underwater cables carry global financial transactions worth trillions of dollars between continents everyday as well as more than 95% of international data. So, in other words, the contemporary global system depends on a well-functioning maritime sector.

But with dependency inevitably comes vulnerability and today we are facing some of the most profound challenges to the domain that we’ve seen for decades.

Whether it’s Russia is barbaric invasion of Ukraine, subsequent blocking of the vital trade routes into the Black Sea, or China’s increasing belligerence as it expands its presence across the world. Something our refreshed integrated review calls an epoch defining threat.

Then there is the all-encompassing threat posed by climate change, raising the stakes in the high north as melting ice caps reveal natural resources, and potential trade routes.

The reality is that our Navies are being pulled in every single direction with events in the Indo Pacific directly impacting the Euro Atlantic, and vice versa. And we’re being forced to meet these ever-increasing demands under ever tighter budgets.

But it is far from all doom and gloom. This weekend, we’ll celebrate the 80th anniversary of the Allied victory in the Battle of the Atlantic. And just as in 1943, today, we still have one thing our adversaries lack, that is partners we can trust.

Here in Farnborough, we have representatives from 50 countries, including all 30 NATO nations, here because as we all know that in this era of constant global competition, we can only succeed if we work together which is very much the spirit I saw up in the Outer Hebrides.

Not just on operations and in exercises but in the factories and the shipyards. And as you might expect from a procurement minister, it’s the industrial side of things that I want to focus on today.

The crucial component of regalvanising our industrial capacity, as while our navies might travel around the world, it’s the industrial sector back home that powers their success. In recent years, the UK shipbuilding industry has been transforming itself so it can do more business with you.

But why would you want to work with us?

Here are three key reasons.

First of all, we’ve got the skills.

For centuries British shipyards were a byword for quality.

During the Battle of the Atlantic the likes of Rosyth, Belfast and Devonport built their legends churning out mighty steel leviathans at a rate of knots.

Today we’re witnessing a renaissance in great British shipbuilding as those same yards construct the next generation of world-class vessels. And we’re working in tandem with our suppliers to strengthen their hand.

We’ve put in place a 30-year pipeline of Government orders – spanning frigates, destroyers, and support ships for the Navy, as well as a whole host of vessels for other government departments. And that’s giving industry the baseline demand they need to invest and upskill.

We’re also simplifying the procurement process by cutting out unnecessary regulation and process.

But as well as building for today, our industrial sector is laying the foundations for future success too.

Not just by constructing world-class facilities, from the carbon-neutral Carrier Logistics Centre under construction in Portsmouth, to the new shipbuilding hall at Govan.

But by training thousands of new maritime engineers and project planners, on apprentice and graduate schemes, ensuring we have the onshore skills base required to stay at the cutting edge of this industry for decades to come.

Secondly, the UK is an innovation nation.

80 years ago, it was ground-breaking radar and SONAR technology that swung the Battle of the Atlantic our way. Today our maritime industry is again at the forefront of new technologies and concepts.

And while a former sailor and Farnborough alumnus Patrick Blackett once conducted crucial operations research during the Second World War, today Patrick Blackett lends his name to our unique experimental vessel for testing these new technologies.

Operated by NavyX, the Patrick Blackett helps the team bring new kit and concepts from the drawing board to the frontline as quickly as possible.

At the moment they’re testing a quantum accelerator in partnership with Imperial College. This particular quantum accelerator provides a cutting-edge navigational system, meaning we can still operate if our access to satellites is cut off, even if others cannot.

And that’s just one example of the innovation driving our Navy.

In the past year, we’ve also been trialling uncrewed minehunters on operations in the Gulf and investing in autonomous helicopters which can track adversary submarines. As well as fitting the Mk 41 missile launcher to our Type-26 and Type-31 frigates – enabling them to use a whole range of next-generation weaponry.

And we’ve also just announced a deal with Thales for a £70 million combat mission system for the Type-31s. But we’re not just focusing on today’s technology. We’re preparing for the breakthroughs that haven’t even reach the concept yet; those ‘Dreadnought’ moments of tomorrow; those advanced vessels that make anything that came before obsolete.

Thirdly and finally, we want you to work with us because we share fundamental values.

In a world where our way of life is constantly being undermined by rogue actors both state and non-state, it’s important to have partners you can trust.

Partners united by a firm belief in freedom and the international rule of law. And partners with whom we are working ever more closely to protect our values.

I am delighted that over the past year, our ships have been working with your navies right across the world.

Whether supporting and leading NATO exercises in Eastern Europe and training Ukrainian sailors in mine clearance.

Whether operating in the High North alongside partners in the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF).

Whether safeguarding strategic chokepoints on busy shipping lanes around the Malacca Strait, the Strait of Hormuz, and the Suez Canal.

We’ve shown that when we come together, cliche as it is, we can be greater than the sum of our parts.

And that’s as much the case in our factories and shipyards as it is on operations and exercises.

As I said earlier, the UK’s shipbuilding industry has taken significant steps to becoming a stronger partner.

We’re now designing our next-generation ships with exportability at their heart.

And we’re already seeing some of the huge benefits of industrial collaboration.

Take our Type-26 frigate – the global combat ship.

The likes of Australia and Canada are already investing in this world-beating design because they recognise how much it can do for their own navies.

Then there’s our Type-31 frigate – which, as well as being one of the most adaptable ships around, is helping form a new kind of partnership.

One which isn’t just about buying and selling. But about sharing skills, learning from each other, and helping partner nations to build up their own indigenous shipbuilding industry.

That’s something we are seeing right now in Poland, thanks to the support of the Navy and Babcock. And I look forward to seeing other nations join the Type-31 club in the coming months and years.

Yet perhaps the best example of this partnership in principle is AUKUS.

It’s not just strengthening our industrial bases and creating thousands of highly skilled jobs in the UK, US, and Australia.

And it’s not just turbocharging innovation, with all three nations pooling their best and brightest brains to break new ground in underwater technology.

But it’s uniting three allies at a time when our adversaries are trying to drive us further apart.

AUKUS, therefore, provides a model for the way we seek to work with our friends in future.

And I’m here today because I want us to seize the opportunities on offer to bolster our bonds and extend our associations.

So, I do hope this will be the start of a stronger relationship with all your navies and industries.

The UK’s shipbuilding sector is energised. The engines are pumping, the propellers are turning and we’re setting sail for success. By the time I’ve been in the job for a few months, I’ll come up with some better puns than that!

So, let’s do more together, let’s learn from each other and let’s find new ways to share our industrial burden.

And as we celebrate the 80th anniversary of that victory in the Battle of the Atlantic this weekend, with allied navies convening on the Mersey for three days of commemorations, let’s remember that in our darkest days we found strength and solace in great partnerships.

By reinvigorating those partnerships today, we can pave the way for an even more successful tomorrow.

Thank you very much.

June 2, 2023