Tag: 2023

PRESS RELEASE : UK to mobilise $40 billion for global infrastructure investment [May 2023]
The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 20 May 2023.

Prime Minister Sunak has redoubled the UK’s commitment to mobilising billions in finance to help get the Sustainable Development Goals back on track.
- British Investment Partnerships to mobilise $40 billion by the end of 2027 for global infrastructure and economic development
- UK development finance institution confirms first investment in the Indo-Pacific
- PM will reaffirm UK commitment to reinvigorating the Sustainable Development Goals at the G7
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak had redoubled the UK’s commitment to mobilising billions in public and private finance to help get the Sustainable Development Goals back on track at the G7 in Japan.

The UK’s development finance institution, British International Investment, is announcing its first investment in the Indo-Pacific today. The $15 million [£12m] investment in the SUSI Asia Energy Transition Fund will support renewable energy, energy storage and microgrid projects across the continent.

The G7 launched the global infrastructure investment initiative under the UK’s presidency in Carbis Bay in 2021, to provide transparent and reliable sources of finance to build vital and long-neglected infrastructure in low and middle income countries, from bridges and roads to renewable energy grids.

The Prime Minister will confirm today, ahead of a side event on the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment at the G7, that the UK will aim to mobilise $40 billion in financing for sustainable infrastructure investment and economic development by the end of 2027.

UK public and private financing has already helped to kickstart a huge range of projects, from wind and solar projects in India to sustainable energy supplies for hospitals in Africa.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said:

“We know the transformative power of reliable, responsible private investment. It’s the spark that is helping us to build ports in Senegal and Somaliland, hydropower projects in Rwanda and offshore wind in India.

“The UK is committed to ensuring the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment delivers the financing the world needs to lift communities out of poverty.”

The UK is also working with G7 partners to reform the international tax architecture and make the international financial system more responsive to developing countries’ needs, for example by including Climate Resilient Debt Clauses (CRDCs) in new lending.

These clauses allow debt repayments to be suspended when climate shocks, such as hurricanes, hit. This in turn frees up resources to quickly respond to crises.

UK Export Finance was the first Export Credit Agency to offer CRDCs and the first deals using this new approach are set to be announced over the next few months.

This is part of the UK’s broader work with partners to build a bigger, better and fairer international financial system.
May 30, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : 23 sport sites in Scotland to benefit from £2m UK Government funding [May 2023]
The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 20 May 2023.

23 projects receive a share of £2 million as part of the UK Government’s ongoing investment in multi-sport facilities in collaboration with the Scottish Football Association
- UK Government reaffirms commitment to improving access to high quality facilities and increasing participation in grassroots sports in Scotland
- Ongoing UK-wide £300 million capital investment continues to build capacity in underserved areas and provide for underrepresented groups
Grassroots sports facilities in Scotland will directly benefit from the latest £2 million investment in high quality multi-sport facilities from the UK Government, in partnership with the Scottish Football Association.

As part of the Government’s 2022/23 commitment, 23 sites in Scotland will see their facilities improved, significantly increasing the availability and access to high quality facilities for football and other grassroots sports.

A key priority for the Government is to level up access to community sports facilities in all parts of the UK, to help as many people as possible to get involved in sport and to deliver all of the mental and physical health benefits associated with active and healthy lifestyles.

The latest investment is part of the Government’s ongoing £300 million multi-year investment into grassroots multi-sport pitches across the UK by 2025 – over £20m of this will be invested in Scotland.

Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer said:

“We are committed to levelling up access to sport which is so important for the nation’s physical and mental health.

“Today we are delivering 23 new and improved grassroots sports facilities across Scotland to continue to support, sustain and grow community and grassroots sport – so that physical activity is accessible to all, no matter a person’s background or location.

“We will continue to work with the Scottish Football Association to nurture the talent of the future whilst making sure local communities have the sporting facilities that they need.”

A central aim of the programme is to level up access to community sports facilities and invest in some of the most deprived areas in the UK, to give as many people as possible the opportunity to take part in sport. In order to achieve this, and to deliver access that every community needs, at least 50% of investment will be spent in underprivileged areas.

Secretary of State for Scotland Alister Jack said:

“We have seen some fantastic results in recent years from Scotland’s men’s and women’s football teams and we know much of this is a result of the hardwork and dedication put in by those working in grassroots football. I am pleased the UK Government is working closely with the SFA and providing funding for high quality facilities in Scotland.

“With much of the funding aimed at multi-sport facilities, deprived areas and underrepresented groups this investment will benefit many people across the country.”

Some of the facilities to benefit from the 2022/23 round of investment in Scotland include:
- Forfar Community Football Trust in Angus has received £126,000 to convert their floodlights to LED
- Dundee East Community Sports Club in Dundee has received over £58,000 to install floodlights and solar panels
- Inverness Caledonian Thistle Community Development in Inverness has received over £157,000 for a grass pitch upgrade
- Motherwell FC Community Trust in Lanarkshire has received over £180,000 for a replacement 3G pitch
- Comhairle nan Eilean Siar in Lewis and Harris has received nearly £200,000 for a replacement 3G pitch
- Nethercraigs Sports Complex & Denis Donnelly Park in Glasgow has received nearly £60,000 for new floodlights
A full list of the facilities to benefit from 2022/23 investment in Scotland can be found here.

40% per cent of the funding will be used to support multi-sport facilities, ensuring a wide range of sports are supported and helping to deliver benefits beyond football. The programme has a particular focus on increasing participation among underrepresented groups such as women and girls, and those with a disability.

Scottish FA Vice President Mike Mulraney, said:

“The Scottish FA’s grassroots strategy, Football for All, aims to increase participation at all levels by removing barriers and improving accessibility to the game.

“Helping clubs to improve their infrastructure and facilities is central to this strategy and we are grateful to the UK Government for their support.

“Clubs are the beating hearts of communities across Scotland and through partnerships like these, we will help reinforce the power of football locally and in doing so develop our national game.”

The UK Government, in partnership with the Scottish Football Association, continues to build on its £2 million for 2021/22, with a further £2 million confirmed today, and 40 sites in Scotland having benefitted to date.

Through the lifecycle of the grassroots multi-sport facilities investment programme which will run to 2025, Scotland will receive £20 million to help nurture the talent of the future.
May 30, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : New football pitch named for star Lioness Ella Toone as government launches thousands of new grassroots sports facilities to get more people active [May 2023]
The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 20 May 2023.

The Government is working alongside its Football Foundation partners the Premier League and The FA to invest £64 million in thousands of grassroots sports facilities to get more people playing sport on quality pitches.
- More than 1,600 new and improved multi-sports grassroot facilities across England are benefiting from Government support
- The ‘Ella Toone Pitch’ at William Fosters Hub in Wigan is latest site to mark Lionesses class of EURO 2022
- Ongoing UK-wide £300 million capital investment in grassroots facilities continues to improve access for thousands and nurture tomorrow’s sports talent
EUROs-winning Lioness Ella Toone has unveiled a football pitch named in her honour, as the Government and its Football Foundation partners the Premier League and The FA confirm investment in thousands of grassroots sports facilities to get more people playing sport on quality pitches.

Toone, a goal scorer for the victorious England team at the UEFA Women’s Euros 2022, unveiled a 3G pitch as part of a £6.3 million redevelopment of the William Fosters Hub facility in Wigan that will open to the public later this summer.

Across England, the Government is investing £64 million, working alongside its Football Foundation partners the Premier League and The FA, to build and upgrade 1,600 grassroots sports sites this year to level up access to high quality sports facilities.

Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer said:

We are committed to levelling up access to sport which is so important for the nation’s physical and mental health.

Today we are delivering more than 1,600 new and improved grassroots sports facilities across the country to continue to support, sustain and grow community and grassroots sport – so that physical activity is accessible to all, no matter a person’s background or location.

We are continuing to celebrate the success of the Lionesses – with the ‘Ella Toone Pitch’ enabling the generation of women and girls inspired by them to get active and involved.

The funding will deliver upgrades, improvements and new pitches – making more high quality facilities available for people to play football, hockey and other grassroots sports. Projects support a range of facility types – from the creation or upgrade of changing rooms, grass pitches and 3G football turf pitches and pavilions, to floodlights, fencing and improved disabled access.

Facilities in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will benefit from £3.8 million being invested by the Government in partnership with the FAs in each home nation.

The Ella Toone Pitch is the second of 23 Football Foundation-funded pitches that will be named after each of the Lionesses to honour their UEFA Women’s EUROs victory last summer and inspire the next generation of women and girls to get involved in the beautiful game.

Ella Toone, Lioness forward, said:

It feels just like yesterday that I was a kid kicking a ball around just a few miles from here but already so much has changed in the women’s game. It’s so exciting to see more and more women and girls wanting to play football and the amazing new facilities here will allow them to do just that.

As a Lioness I feel a responsibility to be a role model for the next generation and it’s such an honour to do that with a pitch named after me in my hometown. I’m so grateful to the Football Foundation for the opportunity to inspire local girls to fall in love with the game just like I did.

A central aim of the programme is to level up access to community sports facilities and invest in some of the most deprived areas in the UK to give as many people as possible the opportunity to take part in sport. To achieve this, and to deliver the access to facilities that every community deserves, at least 50% per cent of investment will be spent in underprivileged areas.

This site is one of over 2,200 across the UK to have benefited so far from the Government’s four-year £300 million capital investment into grassroots multi-sports facilities. Between 2021 and 2025, £261 million of Government funding will be delivered in England, alongside funding from Football Foundation partners the Premier League and The FA.

Some of the facilities to benefit from this year’s round of investment in England include:
- Bottesford Town FC in Lincolnshire has received over £950,000 for new 3G pitches;
- AFC North Kilworth in Harborough has received almost £100,000 for a new pavilion;
- Manchester Maccabi Community & Sports Club in Bury has received almost £125,000 for a new grass pitch;
- St Peters Playing Field in North Tyneside has received more than £1.8 million for new 3G pitches, changing rooms and a county football association headquarters;
- Roach Dynamos FC in Rochdale has received more than £530,000 for a new pavillion;
- The Groundwork South Trust Limited in Cornwall has received more than £125,000 for a new grass pitch and floodlights;
- South Park Sport Association in Reigate has received almost £450,000 for a new 3G pitch;
- Mersham Sports Club in Ashford has received almost £470,000 for new grass pitches.
See the list of facilities to benefit in England.

40% per cent of the funding will be used to support multi-sport facilities, ensuring a wide range of sports are supported and helping to deliver benefits beyond football. The programme has a particular focus on increasing participation among underrepresented groups such as women and girls, and those with a disability.

Robert Sullivan, CEO, Football Foundation said:

Ella and the Lionesses are a great showcase of how important quality grassroots facilities are for the women’s game. Many of the UEFA Women’s EURO 2022 squad, including Ella, started their pathway to stardom on facilities funded by the Football Foundation. It’s vital the next generation has access to great places to play.

Thanks to investment from the Premier League, The FA and Government, the Football Foundation is directing more money than ever into supporting the grassroots game. Every one of the facilities we fund will provide equal access for women and girls. That means providing safe, accessible and inclusive environments for women and girls from their journey to the site right up to their first step onto the pitch.
May 30, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Rishi Sunak to rally G7 on protecting economy from state threats [May 2023]
The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 19 May 2023.

The Prime Minister will set out the UK’s plan to tackle global threats to security and prosperity as he opens a session at the G7 today.
- G7 set to launch new Coordination Platform on Economic Coercion
- PM will warn of growing threats to our economic security from hostile state actors
- G7 leaders are expected to discuss supply chain resilience and tools to prevent vital technology falling into the wrong hands
The Prime Minister will set out the UK’s plan to expand the tools we can deploy to tackle global threats to security and prosperity and counter growing economic coercion, as he opens a session at the G7 today [Saturday 20th May] on economic security.

Speaking to G7 leaders, Rishi Sunak will highlight the huge potential costs to the global economy of hostile activity – noting for example the impact of Russia’s stranglehold on European gas supplies last year – and urge bold and pragmatic collective action.

He will urge the G7 and other international partners to coordinate our responses to unfair and coercive trading practices to avoid a costly zero sum game, which could hamper collective prospects for growth and technological innovation.

It comes as leaders are expected to agree to create a new G7 Coordination Platform on Economic Coercion. The Platform will address the growing and pernicious use of coercive economic measures to interfere in the sovereign affairs of other states. China, for example, has recently used its economic power to coerce countries including Australia and Lithuania over political disputes.

The new G7 Coordination Platform will provide a forum to identify vulnerabilities and coordinate on protective measures, drawing on insights from policymakers, businesses and academics. It will also act as the main forum for the G7 to coordinate on rapid responses to economic coercion when it occurs, ensuring we are giving each other early warning of possible crises and taking joint action where necessary.

The Prime Minister will set out the vital importance of precise, targeted and – as far as possible coordinated – approaches to protecting exploitation of our cutting-edge technologies for authoritarian ends, whilst preserving all the benefits of efficient, innovative free markets and open trade.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said:

We should be clear-eyed about the growing challenge we face. China is engaged in a concerted and strategic economic contest. And when Russia weaponised Europe’s energy supplies, it was a sign of what can happen when we rely too much on states who don’t share our values.

Our collective economic security matters now more than ever. By working together and avoiding competition between friends, we can lift our prosperity, innovate faster and out-compete autocratic states.

The UK has already taken a number of steps to further bolster our domestic economic security, including launching the new National Protective Security Authority within MI5 earlier this year to provide expert advice to businesses, academics and others. These complement existing export controls and investment screening powers under the National Security and Investment Act.

As the Government set out in the Integrated Review Refresh, we are stronger when we act with allies and partners to defend global rules, build our economic resilience and protect against the exploitation of our economic and technological advantage.

G7 leaders are also expected to step up joint efforts to strengthen the resilience of supply chains for vital goods like semiconductors and critical minerals.

It comes after the UK agreed a new semiconductor partnership with Japan on Thursday [18th] and published the UK’s National Semiconductor Strategy yesterday [19th], which sets out how up to £1 billion of government investment will boost the UK’s strengths and skills in design, R&D and compound semiconductors, while helping to grow domestic chip firms across the UK.
May 30, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Foreign Secretary James Cleverly visits Chile [May 2023]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 19 May 2023.

The Foreign Secretary visits Chile as the UK and Chile celebrate 200 years of bilateral consular relations.

During his time in Santiago, the Foreign Secretary will chair the UK-Chile High-Level Political Dialogue alongside Foreign Minister Alberto van Klaveren. As Chile commemorates 50 years since the military coup of 1973, the Foreign Secretary will visit Santiago’s Museum of Memory and Human Rights alongside Foreign Minister Van Klaveren, reaffirming the UK and Chile’s shared values and commitment to democracy and human rights. 200 years since the appointment of Great Britain’s first Consul General, the Foreign Secretary will launch a campaign celebrating the bicentennial of bilateral consular relations. The Foreign Secretary will also deliver a speech to young Chilean changemakers, meet Chile’s next generation of female leaders and visit Latin America’s first green hydrogen plant and fuel station.

The Foreign Secretary, the Rt Hon James Cleverly MP, will visit Chile on 22 May as part of a regional tour of Latin America and the Caribbean underscoring the UK’s partnership with the region. At the UK-Chile High-Level Political Dialogue, the Foreign Secretary and Foreign Minister Van Klaveren will set the direction for the UK and Chile’s diplomatic, economic, trade and defence links. The ministers will review the UK and Chile’s bilateral trade relationship after Chile’s accession to CPTPP and the UK’s conclusion of negotiations to join the agreement; the UK and Chile’s partnership on climate and sustainability, including the green energy transition; and co-operation on multilateral issues as two likeminded partners committed to working together to solve global challenges.

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said:

This is a milestone year in the history of UK relations with countries across Latin America and the Caribbean, including in Chile.

While I look forward to celebrating our longstanding and historic relationship, I am also in Chile to renew and enhance our ties for the years ahead.

It is a partnership that will be marked and strengthened by our shared values of freedom, democracy and concern for the state of our planet.

The Foreign Secretary will also address an audience of young Chilean changemakers at the Gabriela Mistral Cultural Centre, where he will give a speech on the UK’s relationship with Latin America and the Caribbean, the values shared by the UK and the region, and how to work together to tackle the critical global issues of the 21st century. The Foreign Secretary will also visit Anglo American’s green hydrogen plant to witness how renewable energy technologies pioneered by British business are leading the way on the green energy transition and a more sustainable approach to mining. During the visit, the Foreign Secretary will also announce a post-graduate scholarship programme focusing on lithium technologies and environmental governance.

At an event marking the 200-year anniversary of the UK and Chile’s bilateral consular relations, the Foreign Secretary will celebrate the UK and Chile’s historic and thriving people-to-people links. The Foreign Secretary will join representatives from business, government, academia, the arts, civil society and sport to celebrate this historic moment with people who are at the heart of the UK-Chile relationship, working together on issues that are important to both the UK and Chile.

May 30, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Increased sentences for Kaylea Titford’s parents [May 2023]

The press release issued by the Attorney General’s Office on 19 May 2023.

The parents of a 16-year-old girl who died after she was neglected have been ordered to serve longer in prison following a review of their sentences.

Alun Titford, 44, and Sarah Lloyd Jones, 39, the parents of Kaylea Titford, were convicted of gross negligence manslaughter following the teenager’s death at her home in Newton, Powys in October 2020.

Kaylea was wheelchair dependant, with acute medical needs including assistance to use the toilet.

The court heard that the teenager had not seen a medical professional in the nine months leading up to her death. She had become morbidly obese with a weight of 146kg and was immobile.

Her bedroom was unfit for living in, surrounded by bottles of urine and faeces. Maggots were found on her body and her bedlinen was soiled.

Her parents, who were found to have failed to provide adequate care, will now serve longer prison terms after their case was reviewed under the Unduly Lenient Sentence Scheme.

Alun Titford was originally sentenced to seven years and six months’ imprisonment and Sarah Lloyd-Jones was sentenced to six years. Both were sentenced at Swansea Crown Court on 1 March 2023.

Following the review, Alun Titford will now serve ten years’ imprisonment and Sarah Lloyd-Jones will serve eight years.

Following the hearing on 19 May at the Court of Appeal, the Solicitor General Michael Tomlinson KC MP said:

This was a deeply distressing and upsetting case, and my thoughts today are with all of those who loved Kaylea.

Kaylea was subjected to horrific neglect by her parents and the court’s decision to extend Alun Titford and Sarah Lloyd Jones’ sentences sends a clear message that child abuse will never be tolerated.

Following multiple referrals of the sentence to the Attorney General’s Office as potentially unduly lenient, the Solicitor General agreed it should be referred to the Court of Appeal.

May 30, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : UK Holocaust Memorial passes important milestone [May 2023]

The press release issued by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities on 19 May 2023.

Parliamentary examiners announce decision on Holocaust Memorial Bill.

Construction of the UK’s National Memorial to the Holocaust moved a step closer yesterday (18 May 2023) as the Holocaust Memorial Bill passed an important milestone in Parliament.

A detailed scrutiny process by parliamentary examiners lasting almost 3 months has confirmed that the Bill should be treated as ‘hybrid’, allowing those who believe they will be affected by the provisions of the Bill the opportunity to put their views to parliament as the Bill is considered. The decision of the parliamentary examiners resolves uncertainty and brings closer the opportunity for MPs from all sides of the House to express their support for the Memorial.

The Holocaust Memorial Bill seeks to update Victorian legislation and progress the building of a new Memorial and Learning Centre in Victoria Tower Gardens, Westminster.

Located next to the Houses of Parliament, the Memorial will serve as a powerful reminder to the whole of society of the Holocaust, its victims and where prejudice can lead if unchallenged.

Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Michael Gove said:

The Holocaust is history’s most appalling example of cruelty, injustice and intolerance: the systematic attempt by a modern state to eliminate the whole Jewish people. It is profoundly important that we remember the facts of the Holocaust and all its victims and that we seek to understand the lessons it teaches Britain today.

We are privileged in this country to have among us many survivors of the Holocaust who have been willing to share their testimony. Sadly, this living testimony will not be with us forever. It is essential that we create this Memorial, at the very heart of our national life, to preserve the memory of what happened for ourselves and for all future generations.

The government is absolutely determined to complete the Holocaust Memorial. I am pleased that the examiners have now reached their view on classification of the Bill so that it can now proceed through parliament. I know that a great many MPs from all sides of the House are very eager to express their support and to get the Memorial built.

Welcoming the progress of the Bill, UK Holocaust Memorial Foundation Advisory Board, Co-Chairs, the Rt Hon Lord Pickles and Ed Balls said:

Today’s decision by the examiners marks a vital step forward in delivering on our promise to build the Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre next to the Houses of Parliament in Victoria Tower Gardens. We are hugely heartened by the government’s determination to legislate, with cross-party support, to make this possible.

With the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition, we are convinced that there is no better place to demonstrate our commitment to remembering and learning from the Holocaust than at the heart of our democracy. We look forward to the Bill receiving Royal Assent so that we can then get on and build.

Holocaust survivor, Manfred Goldberg BEM said:

I was 84 when Prime Minister David Cameron first promised us survivors a national Holocaust Memorial in close proximity to the Houses of Parliament. Last month I celebrated my 93rd birthday and I pray to be able to attend the opening of this important project.

Chief Executive of the Holocaust Education Trust, Karen Pollock CBE said:

Following today’s announcement, we hope that this important Bill will pass through Parliament in time for the Memorial to be completed in time for survivors to see.

May 30, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Business and Trade Department announces new Non-Executive Directors [May 2023]
The press release issued by the Department for Business and Trade on 19 May 2023.

The Business and Trade Secretary has appointed five Non-Executive Members to the Department’s Board.

Today (Friday 19 May) the Business and Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch has announced the appointment of five non-executive members of the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) Board.

The new board members are:
- Stephen Hill OBE as Lead Non-Executive Director
- Karina McTeague as Chair of the Audit and Risk Assurance Committee (ARAC)
- Robert Leeming as Non-Executive Director
- Lord Syed Kamall as Non-Executive Director
- Peter Fleet as Non-Executive Director
The board will also include Sir Stephen O’Brien and Noel Harwerth, who previously sat on the former Department for International Trade Board.

The new members have been appointed for at least 3 years and will provide independent advice, support and scrutiny on the department’s work, to help deliver the Government’s ambitious business and trade agenda.

The Business and Trade Secretary, Kemi Badenoch said:

The Department’s new non-executive directors bring with them a wealth of knowledge and expertise and will help us to grow the UK economy, support UK businesses and create jobs and opportunities across the country.

Background
- Non-Executives are experts from outside government who provide oversight and challenge to the department in the development of policy and the management of resources.
Biographies
- Stephen Hill was previously a Non-Executive Director of the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS). As part of his role, Stephen Hill will also chair the Nominations and Governance Committee. Stephen has extensive board level experience. He was awarded an OBE in 2017 for his work in philanthropy, particularly for those with hearing impairments.
- Karina McTeague previously served as a Member of the Audit and Risk Assurance Committee at the Home Office. Ms McTeague has a background in law and in the financial sector. She was previously Chief Risk Officer at Visa Europe. She also worked as a Director of Supervision for the Retail Banking and Payments sectors and Director of General Insurance and Conduct Specialists at the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
- Robert Leeming has been a partner at the private equity firm, Charterhouse Capital Partners, since 2007. He was previously a partner at EPIC Private Equity and an associate at PwC. He is also Chairman of the Autism Research Trust.
- Lord Syed Kamall is a Professor of Politics and International Relations at St Mary’s University, Twickenham and a member of the House of Lords Communications Digital Committee. He was previously Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport and also the Department of Health and Social Care. He was made a life peer on 11 February 2021.
- Peter Fleet is a former Group Vice President at Ford Motor Company. He was most recently President of Ford Asia Pacific and Chairman and CEO of Ford Motor China. He now has a portfolio of non-executive roles.
May 30, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : UK Government backs scheme to make pubs ‘dementia friendly’ [May 2023]
The press release issued by the Office of the Secretary of State for Scotland on 19 May 2023.

University of Stirling researchers – part-funded by £7.25m UK Government investment – pioneer programme to make pubs, cafes and restaurants more inclusive.
- Scheme will see more venues introduce simple menus and have ‘quiet table’ provision
- Training for staff to ensure increased inclusion for people with dementia and their families
- UK Government supports associated improvements for ageing population with £7.25m funding
A drive to make pubs, restaurants and cafés across the UK more dementia-friendly has been launched by Scottish experts researching the impact of ageing.

The University of Stirling’s internationally-renowned Dementia Services Development Centre (DSDC) has developed a certification scheme that will encourage pub and restaurant owners to make adaptations for people with age-related degenerative conditions.

The voluntary scheme will make the spaces more accessible to people with conditions such as dementia and Alzheimer’s so that they can enjoy going out with their families and carers.

The aim is to create a Google map to chart all dementia-friendly facilities across the UK. Establishments would bear a badge to show they’ve considered things like a clear line of sight to the bar, clearly signposted toilets, some private and quieter tables, easy-to-read menus and staff with an understanding of the condition to give customers the support they require.

The University is keen to break down social barriers associated with dementia. Their scheme sits in tandem with the new Intergenerational Living Innovation Hub, part-funded by £7.25 million from the UK Government through the Stirling and Clackmannanshire City Region Deal, to pioneer technologies for an ageing society.

Lesley Palmer, the University of Stirling’s Acting Director of DSDC, said:

We have long accepted that there should be no barriers for people with wheelchairs. Similarly, there should be no barriers for people with dementia – they should be able to go out for a drink or a meal without stigma and feel comfortable.

The scheme is entirely voluntary for owners, and by making relatively small and inexpensive adaptations, pubs and restaurants can become accredited.
May 30, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Interim appointment of a policing member to the Sentencing Council [May 2023]

The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 19 May 2023.

The Lord Chancellor has approved the interim appointment of Chief Constable Rob Nixon as a policing member of the Sentencing Council (SC) from 5 May 2023 to 30 November 2023, pending the outcome of a recruitment campaign for the role.

The SC was established under Section 118(1) of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009 to promote greater transparency and consistency in sentencing, whilst maintaining the independence of the judiciary. The SC’s responsibilities include developing sentencing guidelines and monitoring their use, assessing the impact of guidelines on sentencing practice, and promoting the understanding of and increasing public confidence in sentencing and the criminal justice system.

The appointment of non judicial Sentencing Council members are made by the Lord Chancellor after consulting the Lord Chief Justice.

All appointments are regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments, who was consulted about the interim appointment, and recruitment processes comply with the Governance Code on Public Appointments.

Biography

Rob Nixon was appointed as Chief Constable of Leicestershire Constabulary in November 2022.

Rob has served with Leicestershire Police since 1993. He was appointed Assistant Chief Constable, in April 2017, with responsibility for local policing, crime and intelligence and public protection, before being promoted to Deputy Chief Constable in February 2018.

Between 2015 and 2018, as temporary Assistant Chief Constable, Rob worked on collaborative projects across Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Nottinghamshire.

Rob was awarded the Queen’s Police Medal in December 2020.

May 30, 2023