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Tag: 2023

  • PRESS RELEASE : Mortgage rate cut for energy efficient homes under government-backed trials [May 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Mortgage rate cut for energy efficient homes under government-backed trials [May 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero on 19 May 2023.

    £4.1 million awarded to green finance projects to help homeowners make their homes more energy efficient.

    • 26 innovative green finance projects awarded funding to make it easier to improve the energy efficiency of UK homes by unlocking upfront cash
    • products receiving a share of £4.1 million include mortgages that reward energy efficiency upgrades and loans linked to installing heat pumps
    • retrofitted properties could potentially save more than £460 a year on bills

    Homeowners who make their properties more energy efficient could see their mortgage rate cut under a new government-backed pilot.

    Perenna Bank will receive more than £193,000 in government funding to help develop their long-term, fixed-rate mortgage that will incentivise customers to make their homes more energy efficient by offering to reduce their mortgage rate.

    Another trial will see buy-to-let landlords add the cost of making properties more energy efficient onto their mortgage – enabling them to borrow the money for the improvements and include it in their monthly repayments.

    Ashman Bank Limited will be awarded £200,000 to design and develop this, which will assess a property’s energy efficiency, provide options on how it can be improved and incorporate the cost of carrying out the work on to the duration of the mortgage.

    The projects are among 26 green finance products being developed and tested, backed by £4.1 million of government funding.

    They are aimed at encouraging and helping homeowners make their properties more energy efficient, with measures such as loft insulation and double glazing. This in turn will help them save more than £460 a year on their energy bills – one of many ways the government is helping ease the cost of living for families across the country.

    Lord Callanan, Minister for Energy Efficiency and Green Finance, said:

    The government has put in place long-term commitments to ensure homes across the country have greater energy efficiency to reduce bills, drive down energy use and lower emissions.

    We are supporting these organisations to develop fresh and innovative ways of helping more people get better access to energy efficiency measures, such as loft insulation, double glazing and heat pumps.

    Other projects successful in bidding for funding include Aviva Equity Release UK Limited, who will receive £87,612 to design a service that allows homeowners to access equity in their property through a specialist lifetime mortgage, freeing up cash to improve the energy efficiency of their homes.

    Clydesdale Bank PLC, trading as Virgin Money, will receive £171,000 for a product that will offer bespoke energy efficiency products for customers’ properties, after carrying out a survey to outline the improvements needed.

    Scott Brown, Head of Equity Release Pricing at Aviva, another winning project, said:

    Aviva is delighted to have secured funding from the government to explore building a green mortgage solution for later life lending.

    Aviva and the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero will co-fund our customer research to explore the development, which will aim to enable later life households to make home energy efficiency improvements, making their homes more comfortable to live in, reducing energy bills and helping drive a reduction in the carbon footprint of the UK’s housing stock.

    Given the value in the research being produced, Aviva commit to sharing the output when finalised with the wider industry to support industry level change.

    Craig Calder, head of secured lending at Virgin Money, one of the winning projects, said:

    To be part of the innovative Green Home Finance Accelerator project is important for Virgin Money as we look to reinforce our aspiration to halve our financed emissions by 2030 and deliver net zero by 2050.

    Working with industry experts Sero and Rightmove is an opportunity to research, test and learn what consumers want before we take a proposition to market – enabling us to provide a great product for customers while at the same time making a positive impact on the environment.

    Following a 6-month Discovery Phase period, all 26 Green Home Finance Accelerator projects will be able to apply for larger grant awards, between £200,000 and £2 million to enable them to pilot their green finance products and services.

    Investments announced today form part of the £20 million Green Home Finance Accelerator, which is funded through the £1 billion Net Zero Innovation Portfolio. Funding will help drive wider government efforts to ensure as many homes as possible reach an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) band C by 2035, with higher ratings likely to result in lower fuel bills.

    Based on a standard occupancy and heating regime, owner-occupiers improving their homes to EPC C could save over £460 a year on their energy bills.

    Winners of the awards

    • Aceleron Limited will receive £199,697 to trial an Energy Storage as a Service subscription model for the provision and maintenance of lithium-ion batteries.
    • Arctica Partners Limited will receive £169,210 to investigate a carbon credits financial product which will support home retrofit.
    • Arniston Ltd (trading as Snugg) will receive £170,870 to develop a prototype version of the Green Home Hub to guide customers on the journey from initial enquiry, to developing a retrofit plan, funding the work, engaging with installers and monitoring the results.
    • Ashman Bank Limited will receive £200,000 to design and develop a new variant of buy-to-let to be known as Impact Buy to Let (IBTL), which will be underpinned by an assessment of the retrofit works needed to enhance the energy efficiency of a property.
    • Aviva Equity Release UK Limited will receive £87,612 to design an equity release proposition, targeted as a cost-effective way of funding home improvements to improve the energy efficiency and the EPC rating of customers’ homes.
    • Bankers without Boundaries will receive £99,241 to explore the design of a service which will display homes on a geographic heatmap, highlighting where energy saving returns from retrofits are economically sufficient to support individual consumer investment or how whole areas could be aggregated for a blended return.
    • Chameleon Technology (UK) Limited will receive £155,692 to develop a complete solution which enables homeowners to accurately assess their home energy efficiency and offers a tailored loan product to meet their retrofit needs.
    • City Science Corporation Limited will receive £199,916 to explore ways to provide buy-to-let landlords with a comprehensive solution for upgrading their properties. They have also secured £199,330 to provide, through research and analysis, a clear understanding of the legal and commercial challenges facing the Heat as a Service (HaaS) industry and offer practical solutions to enable the delivery of HaaS in the UK.
    • Clydesdale Bank PLC (trading as Virgin Money) will receive £171,000 to remove the upfront cost barrier to installing retrofit measures facing the ‘able to pay’ market, as well as providing robust technical guidance on appropriate energy efficiency improvement measures to consumers.
    • Cybermoor Services Ltd will receive £56,344 to develop an integrated solution targeting the barriers impacting the uptake of low-carbon heating within the harder-to-reach rural domestic market.
    • E.ON Energy Solutions Ltd will receive £196,921 to develop and pilot innovative green finance products that enable home energy efficiency, low-carbon heating and potentially micro-generation improvements.
    • ELPS Energy Ltd will receive £199,597 to develop an integrated one-stop-shop solution for residential retrofit financing.
    • Energy Saving Trust Enterprises Limited will receive £193,674 to explore a Pathways to Green Finance service aimed at the private rented sector (PRS) looking to retrofit homes.
    • Escrow-Tech Limited will receive £159,040 to create an innovative approach to green home financing as it utilises the potential (or projected) offset carbon from retrofitting activities in adjusting loan rate settings for homeowners thus reducing the cost of home retrofitting.
    • Heat Scheme Limited will receive £116,238 to develop a UK-wide green home finance loan product, for use in bridging the gap between the upfront cost of a gas boiler replacement and the net cost of a heat pump installation after applying a £5,000 Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant.
    • Kamma Limited will receive £200,000 to drive energy efficiency retrofit upgrades in UK properties by developing an online, end-to-end retrofit marketplace connecting homeowners, green finance providers and retrofit installers.
    • Landslide Energy Ltd will receive £126,110 to shorten retrofit payback periods for homeowners who are looking to remortgage and living in properties with an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of D or lower.
    • Leeds City Council will receive £194,780 to develop a one-stop-shop (OSS) delivery vehicle to create and test green finance retrofit offers.
    • Parity Projects Limited will receive £165,589 to investigate the potential for a sustainable retrofit one-stop-shop that meets homeowner needs and overcomes barriers in the current retrofit journey.
    • People Powered Retrofit Limited will receive £120,911 to develop a mutual, local and trusted one-stop-shop approach to retrofit, combining quality assurance, financing and verification, and setting out replication plans to take advantage of the extensive network of UK Credit Unions.
    • Perenna Bank PLC will receive £193,350 to bring to market a long-term, fixed-rate green mortgage that incentivises homeowners to retrofit by offering to reduce their mortgage rate.
    • Phoenix Group Management Services Limited will receive £102,249 to explore a solution to enable older, less-affluent, homeowners make decarbonising home improvements through using lifetime mortgages.
    • Scroll Finance Limited will receive £136,572 to develop a point-of-sale financing technology solution to be deployed for retrofit decarbonisation projects. They have also been awarded £158,608 to scope, design and test an end-to-end retrofit journey embedded with an innovative and flexible financial product in three pilot areas.
    • Sunsave Group Ltd will receive £196,395 to research the roadblocks that remain for subscription solar PV and to develop a proposition that can be brought to market and rapidly scaled.
  • PRESS RELEASE : UK sanctions target Russia’s theft of Ukrainian grain, advanced military technology, and remaining revenue sources [May 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : UK sanctions target Russia’s theft of Ukrainian grain, advanced military technology, and remaining revenue sources [May 2023]

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

    UK government sanctions 86 individuals and entities, targeting Russia’s theft of Ukrainian grain, advanced military technology, and remaining revenue sources.

    • UK sanctions 86 individuals and entities – freezing the assets of those involved with key revenue streams
    • package includes companies connected to theft of Ukrainian grain, and those involved in shipment of Russian energy
    • companies connected to Rosatom’s support of Putin’s military efforts also sanctioned
    • Foreign Secretary confirms that Russia’s sovereign assets will remain immobilised until Russia agrees to pay for the damage it has caused in Ukraine

    The UK has today (Friday 19 May) announced a new wave of sanctions against Russia, targeting businesses and individuals connected to Russia’s capacity to fund and wage the war.

    The 86 designations target individuals and organisations connected to Russia’s energy, metals, defence, transport, and financial sectors – ramping up pressure on Putin’s remaining revenue and attempts to use these sectors to support the military machine.

    The designations come after the Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced new import bans on Russian diamonds and metals at the G7 in Japan earlier today.

    This includes a crackdown on the shady individuals and entities connected to the theft and resale of Ukrainian grain, as well as targeting Russia’s major energy and arms shipping companies.

    Companies connected to Rosatom, which are producing advanced materials and technology, including lasers, have also been sanctioned.

    The Foreign Secretary has also announced, consistent with our laws, that Russia’s sovereign assets in our jurisdictions will remain immobilised until Russia agrees to pay for the damage it has caused to Ukraine.

    These new sanctions come as the Prime Minister meets his counterparts at the G7 Summit in Japan and holds talks on long-term support for Ukraine’s defence and joint action on Russia’s malign activity.

    Through a combination of these designations and new import bans on Russian diamonds and metals, the UK is working with international partners to further constrain Russia’s capacity to wage its illegal war, increasing economic pressure, and tackling all emerging forms of circumvention until Ukraine prevails.

    Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said:

    Putin and his supporters must – and will – pay the price for their illegal invasion of Ukraine.

    That’s why through today’s new sanctions we are increasing the economic pressure on Putin – making it harder for him to wage his illegal war and inflict untold suffering on innocent Ukrainians.

    We will continue to increase this pressure and crack down on all emerging forms of circumvention until Ukraine prevails and peace is secured.

    Our support for Ukraine is, and will remain, resolute for as long as it takes.

    Energy

    The UK is taking new action against Russia’s energy sector – building on the import bans of Russian coal, oil, and LNG – by introducing designations of 9 organisations connected to Russia’s state-owned nuclear energy company, Rosatom, which has been connected to Putin’s war effort.

    This includes UMATEX, which produces composite materials based on carbon fibre for Rosatom that could be used for military purposes, and TRINITI whose research and development into laser physics is directly funded by the Russian Federation’s State Defence Order. TRINITI’s lasers have been installed on tank chassis with the aim of dazzling the optics of aircraft and disrupting precision weapons.

    Oleg Romanenko, a lead official at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant who has been colluding with the Russian government, the Operating Organisation of Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, 13 members of the Gazprom-Neft board of directors, and 5 members of the Transneft board of directors have also been designated.

    Metals

    Igor Altushkin, the billionaire oligarch who owns the Russian Copper Company, has been sanctioned. As the third largest producer of copper in Russia, Altushkin and his business have continued to play a key role in a sector of strategic significance for Putin’s military machine.

    Eight other companies connected to metals production in Russia have also been sanctioned, and the UK has announced that we will also ban imports of Russian metals including aluminium, nickel, and copper.

    Together, these actions increase pressure on Russia’s metal industry, which remains an important revenue stream funding the Kremlin’s war machine, and they have wider impact on the operation of other sectors such as transport and energy.

    Transport

    Twenty four individuals and entities connected to Russia’s transport services have also been sanctioned.

    This includes Pawell Shipping Co LLP, the State Grain Corporation (GZO) and their director Nikita Busel who are connected to the systematic theft of Ukrainian grain. This grain, and other agricultural goods, has been reportedly stolen from warehouses and fields in the temporarily occupied territories in Ukraine and shipped out from Zaporizhzhia – badged as Russian goods.

    Six major Russian shipping companies which have enabled and supported Putin’s wartime economy have also been sanctioned. This includes Sun Ship Management, an entity connected to Sovcomflot, Russia’s largest state-owned shipping company, supporting Russia to circumvent or undermine the effects of Western sanctions.

    Military

    Twenty defence executives and companies have been sanctioned as part of today’s tranche – further targeting the individuals and organisations that are supporting Russia’s continued military activity in Russia by equipping both the Russian armed forces and Wagner group. Amongst those sanctioned are:

    • Alan Valerievich Lushinkov and Vladimir Nikolaevich Lepin, who are both Directors of JSC Concern Kalashnikov, who produce 95% of all firearms in Russia
    • JSC BMZ which has produced anti-personnel and anti-tank mines used by the Russian armed forces in Ukraine
    • JSC Motovilikhinskiye, a minority subsidiary of Russian defence conglomerate Rostec which manufactures howitzers used by the Russian Armed Forces in Ukraine

    Banks

    Five financial institutions have also been sanctioned as part of today’s package of designations – further isolating Russia from the global financial system and undermining Putin’s military capability. This includes JSC Dom RF, which acts under the instruction of the Russian government, and Metallurgical Investment Bank, which is supporting Russia’s industrial exports.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Payment window for £150 Disability Cost of Living Payment announced [May 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Payment window for £150 Disability Cost of Living Payment announced [May 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Work and Pensions on 19 May 2023.

    More than six million disabled people in the UK will receive their one-off £150 Disability Cost of Living Payment from 20 June.

    • Vast majority of £150 payments set to be made automatically over two-week period between 20 June and 4 July 2023
    • More than six million disabled people will receive payment and benefit from extra cost of living support
    • Comes as part of wider package of Government support, including separate means-tested Cost of Living Payments totalling up to £900, and £300 Pensioner Payments

    This follows the £150 Disability Cost of Living Payment that was paid last September, demonstrating the Government’s commitment to supporting the most vulnerable in society while delivering on its commitment to halve inflation this year and grow the economy.

    Those being paid a disability benefit that qualifies them for the payment will receive it automatically during a two-week window starting on 20 June and finishing on 4 July.

    At a time when costs are rising for everyone, this payment recognises the extra costs disabled people in particular often face, such as care and mobility needs.

    A small proportion of payments will be made after this date, where claimants were still awaiting confirmation of their eligibility or entitlement to disability benefits on 1 April.

    There will also be further payments of £300 for pensioners due later this year, meaning some of the most vulnerable households can receive up to £1,350 in direct Cost of Living Payments.

    Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Mel Stride MP, said:

    This payment helps protect those who need our support the most, providing a vital financial boost to six million disabled people.

    Our multi-billion-pound package of support reinforces our commitment to help UK households with the rising cost of living. It comes on top of record increases to benefits and the national living wage.

    Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work, Tom Pursglove MP, said:

    We know the cost of living has gone up for disabled people, which is why we are taking action to reduce the financial pressures they face.

    This £150 Disability Cost of Living Payment is on top of up to £900 that most low-income benefit claimants will also receive, helping ensure the most vulnerable in our society are protected from rising costs during this challenging period.

    The full list of benefit recipients that qualify for the upcoming Disability Cost of Living payment are those who receive:

    • Disability Living Allowance
    • Personal Independence Payment
    • Attendance Allowance
    • Scottish Disability Benefits (Adult Disability Payment and Child Disability Payment)
    • Armed Forces Independence Payment
    • Constant Attendance Allowance
    • War Pension Mobility Supplement
  • PRESS RELEASE : UK announces humanitarian support for 175,000 affected by Cyclone Mocha in Myanmar [May 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : UK announces humanitarian support for 175,000 affected by Cyclone Mocha in Myanmar [May 2023]

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

    The UK has announced £2 million in new humanitarian funding to support vulnerable communities in Myanmar, following the impact of Cyclone Mocha.

    • the UK is providing an additional £2 million to support communities impacted by Cyclone Mocha in Myanmar
    • this new funding will supply clean water and shelter for up to 175,000 people

    Today the UK announced £2 million in new funding to support communities impacted by Cyclone Mocha in Myanmar. The cyclone has devastated vulnerable communities across northwest Myanmar, with reports of large numbers of deaths amongst the Rohingya.

    The cyclone has exacerbated what is already a desperate humanitarian crisis. Following the 2021 military coup, over 17.6 million people need humanitarian assistance; over 1.8 million are displaced; and over 15 million people have limited access to food. Their needs will only increase as the impact of Cyclone Mocha becomes clearer.

    The UK has already redirected £650,000 of funding to local and international partners to provide emergency assistance to those most in need. This additional £2 million will enable immediate provision of clean water and shelter for up to 175,000 people, and help mitigate the threat of disease.

    International Development Minister Andrew Mitchell said:

    Cyclone Mocha has caused devastation for communities who were already extremely vulnerable, including the Rohingya.

    The UK is providing £2 million of new funding to support the many thousands of people left without shelter or access to clean water in Myanmar.

    By partnering with organisations already on the ground in northwest Myanmar, we will be able to quickly deliver the lifesaving support that survivors need.

    Since 2017, the UK has provided over £81 million to assist Myanmar communities in Rakhine State with water, hygiene and sanitation, emergency food and nutrition services, and healthcare. Over £29.8 million of this has directly supported Rohingya and other Muslim minorities. The UK has enhanced due diligence in place to ensure that no UK aid benefits the Myanmar military regime.

    The UK is committed to supporting peace and stability across the Indo-Pacific and continues to stand with the people of Myanmar who are suffering once again. We reiterate our calls to an end to all violence, protection of civilians and full, safe and unhindered humanitarian access to all those in need.

  • PRESS RELEASE : New peer mentoring programme to help people out of addiction and into work [May 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : New peer mentoring programme to help people out of addiction and into work [May 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Work and Pensions on 19 May 2023.

    A new £3.7 million employment programme will see mentors who have beat drug or alcohol addiction placed in Jobcentres to help others with dependencies recover and get back into work.

    • Mentors with experience of drug or alcohol dependency set to guide people on journey out of addiction and into work
    • £3.7 million DWP programme is being trialled in 40 Jobcentres across England this month as part of efforts to grow the economy
    • Mentors hail return to work as vital step to their own recovery and a pathway out of addiction

    The new peer mentoring programme, run by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), is being trialled in 40 Jobcentres across England from May 2023 and is part of wider efforts to support people back into work – delivering on the Government’s priority to grow the economy.

    Now open for referrals, it will see mentors, contracted by DWP after being recommended by partner organisations, draw on their lived experiences of drug or alcohol dependency to support people in the same position.

    They will help others in disclosing their dependency issues without fear of reprisal, signpost them to help that will assist them to manage their addiction, and eventually equip them with the necessary skills to access education, training, volunteering, and employment.

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

    Our new peer mentors are proof that work can be a crucial part of someone’s journey out of substance dependency, transforming their life.

    Their lived experience will help them provide expert one-to-one advice and support from DWP in our Jobcentres, helping people recovering from addiction move into work.

    “This new form of support will not only give people in recovery the tailored help they need to get on in life and prosper, but it will also help grow our economy by getting more people back into the workforce.”

    Declan, a peer mentor whose journey back into work helped him overcome 20 years of substance dependency, said:

    I spent around 20 years using continuously, almost every couple of days in the second decade. Having a close friend pass away because of an overdose was the beginning of my journey out of substance dependency.

    “Volunteering really helped me in my recovery and set me up for a return to work. In my new role as peer mentor, I’m looking forward to helping people who are going through the same sort of issues I had and starting them on their journey to recovery.”

    Gary, another mentor who is drawing from his own experience of opiate dependency in his new role, said:

    I was opiate dependent for 15 years and used crack cocaine. After a short spell in prison, due to offending related to my drug use, I linked with a support worker upon release. They pointed me towards a place that supported recovery and helped people gain life and employment skills.

    “I’m now pleased to be taking up this new peer mentoring role and helping others who share similar experiences to my own. The space and time DWP are providing for people with drug or alcohol dependency is a vital step in the right direction for their recovery and eventual employment.”

    In addition to this support, DWP is also investing over £39 million to expand its Individual Placement and Support for drug and alcohol dependency programme to all Local Authority areas in England by 2025. This programme supports individuals in structured drug and alcohol treatment to find and remain in employment.

    The new peer mentoring service is open for referrals in Jobcentres in the following areas and organisations working with those who are dependent on substances, or individuals themselves are encouraged to get in touch:

    • North East: Hull
    • South East: Portsmouth, Cosham, Fareham, Havant, Gosport
    • London & Essex: Tower Hamlets, Hackney, Westminster, Camden, Newham, Islington, Croydon, Lambeth
    • North West: Liverpool City, Knowsley, Wirral, St Helens, Southport, Sefton, Halton

    Notes to Editors:

    The Peer Mentoring Programme is part of the Government’s 10-year drugs strategy to reduce crime and save lives, including actions to break drug supply chains and delivering a world-class treatment and recovery system

  • PRESS RELEASE : Millions of people to benefit from £200 million to improve walking and cycling routes [May 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Millions of people to benefit from £200 million to improve walking and cycling routes [May 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Transport on 19 May 2023.

    Funding will ease congestion across cities, transform the school run and provide a boost to high street businesses.

    • new government-funded schemes expected to generate up to 16 million more walking and cycling trips a year across the country
    • funding will enhance rural connections, create 120 miles of cycling track and see 130 more schemes to help over 35,000 children on their way to school
    • improved routes will boost healthier travel options and grow the economy

    Millions of people across the country are set to benefit from £200 million of government funding for cycling and walking schemes, helping to promote healthy travel, reduce emissions and grow the economy.

    The latest round of funding, will provide a boost to high streets and local businesses, and transform the school run for tens of thousands of children, generating up to 16 million extra walking and cycling trips a year.

    Alongside the environmental benefits, the plans will help ease congestion across cities, with people choosing more active choices that can benefit their mental and physical health and wellbeing and relieve pressure on the NHS.

    Following extensive consultation with local authorities, communities across England will benefit from new funding, with over 265 schemes in 60 areas – including Yorkshire, Manchester, Devon and Leicester – receiving a share of the latest round of funding.

    The investment, announced in February of this year, will deliver a range of schemes across the country, including 121 miles of new cycle track, 77 miles of new paths and greenways and initiatives to make streets safer around 130 schools.

    Active travel is also estimated to bring a £36.5 billion boost to the economy in a year through increased high street spending and better access to jobs, delivering on our priority to grow the economy.

    Transport Secretary Mark Harper said:

    We want to make sure everyone across the country can choose cheaper, greener and healthier travel while we continue to support our local businesses and grow the economy.

    This £200 million investment will improve road safety, ease congestion and ultimately improve the health and wellbeing of the millions of people choosing active travel.

    National Active Travel Commissioner Chris Boardman added:

    By giving millions of people the freedom of choice to walk, wheel or cycle for everyday trips, this funding will help us improve public health, tackle climate change and give hundreds of thousands of children the independence to travel safely under their own steam.

    Now our focus is working with councils to get these schemes built swiftly. We’ll be working together to ensure the projects are well-designed and effective, so that they bring maximum benefits to communities and help improve lives nationwide.

    The winning projects have demonstrated they provide people with attractive choices to use cycling and walking for local journeys, and do not include any low traffic neighbourhood schemes. Local authorities have worked closely with local people to ensure the schemes benefit the community as a whole.

    Successful authorities have detailed the benefits of successful schemes, including Tamworth in Staffordshire, which will use the funding to enable active and safe modes of travel to schools, while Barnstaple and Ilfracombe in Devon will see an unused railway track converted into a walking and cycling route to connect rural communities.

    Safety and accessibility will be at the heart of improvements and creation of walking and cycling routes, meaning safety for women and children walking to school will be improved, and people in wheelchairs and mobility scooters will see street designs become even more inclusive.

    Government funding has meant cycling across England has continued to thrive and is up 11% on pre-pandemic levels, increasing by more than 20% in the past 10 years.

    Allocated funding

    Local authority Capability level Allocated funding
    Bedford Unitary Authority 1 £263,130
    Blackburn with Darwen Unitary Authority 1 £157,270
    Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Unitary Authority 2 £3,780,000
    Bracknell Forest Unitary Authority 1 £30,000
    Brighton and Hove Unitary Authority 2 £3,000,000
    Buckinghamshire Unitary Authority 2 £477,199
    Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority 2 £3,896,590
    Central Bedfordshire Unitary Authority 1 £252,605
    Cheshire East Unitary Authority 1 £1,297,882
    Cheshire West and Chester Unitary Authority 1 £274,100
    Cornwall Unitary Authority 1 £500,000
    Cumbria County Council 2 £1,602,359
    Derby Unitary Authority 1 £140,000
    Derbyshire County Council 1 £3,005,000
    Devon County Council 2 £1,825,000
    Dorset Unitary Authority 1 £1,978,000
    East Riding of Yorkshire Unitary Authority 2 £855,200
    East Sussex County Council 1 £1,223,826
    Essex County Council 2 £5,270,000
    Gloucestershire County Council 2 £5,365,000
    Greater Manchester Combined Authority 3 £23,719,500
    Hampshire County Council 2 £2,477,515
    Herefordshire Unitary Authority 1 £306,000
    Hertfordshire County Council 2 £4,620,803
    Isle of Wight Unitary Authority 1 £700,000
    Isles of Scilly 1 £11,000
    Kent County Council 1 £1,569,000
    Kingston upon Hull Unitary Authority 1 £362,000
    Lancashire County Council 2 £5,529,992
    Leicester Unitary Authority 3 £1,800,000
    Liverpool City Region Combined Authority 2 £14,400,000
    Medway Unitary Authority 1 £486,418
    Milton Keynes Unitary Authority 1 £1,182,516
    Norfolk County Council 2 £2,240,000
    North East Joint Transport Committee 2 £7,203,211
    North Somerset Unitary Authority 1 £417,640
    Nottingham Unitary Authority 3 £1,762,288
    Nottinghamshire County Council 2 £1,081,761
    Plymouth Unitary Authority 2 £2,480,000
    Portsmouth Unitary Authority 1 £653,580
    Reading Unitary Authority 2 £75,000
    Shropshire Unitary Authority 1 £612,800
    Slough Unitary Authority 1 £413,000
    Somerset County Council 2 £1,583,322
    Southampton Unitary Authority 2 £814,464
    South Yorkshire Combined Authority 2 £2,430,943
    Staffordshire County Council 1 £669,087
    Stoke-on-Trent Unitary Authority 1 £509,320
    Suffolk County Council 2 £7,933,216
    Surrey County Council 2 £997,843
    Swindon Unitary Authority 1 £381,500
    Tees Valley Combined Authority 2 £441,269
    Telford and Wrekin Unitary Authority 2 £1,895,772
    Thurrock Unitary Authority 1 £305,000
    Torbay Unitary Authority 1 £237,366
    Warrington Unitary Authority 2 £727,950
    Warwickshire County Council 2 £4,761,000
    West Berkshire Unitary Authority 1 £275,000
    West Midlands Combined Authority 3 £12,608,201
    West Northamptonshire Unitary Authority 1 £673,314
    West of England Combined Authority 2 £3,641,803
    West Yorkshire Combined Authority 3 £17,430,668
    Wiltshire Unitary Authority 1 £978,000
    Windsor and Maidenhead Unitary Authority 1 £262,100
    Wokingham Unitary Authority 2 £606,215
    York Unitary Authority 1 £1,103,095
  • PRESS RELEASE : £15 million funding to strengthen health workforce in Kenya, Nigeria and Ghana [May 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : £15 million funding to strengthen health workforce in Kenya, Nigeria and Ghana [May 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 19 May 2023.

    UK delivers multi-million pound boost in Africa to strengthen health workforce and build resilience against global threats.

    • £15 million from government’s Official Development Assistance (ODA) budget allocated to support healthcare workforces in Kenya, Nigeria and Ghana
    • Funding will help upskill staff and improve health outcomes through improved administration, data collection and training and retention opportunities
    • Supporting strong international health workforce better equips UK to tackle global health challenges

    The UK will provide a multi-million pound boost to support healthcare staff recruitment and retention in 3 African countries – Kenya, Nigeria and Ghana – supporting resilience against global health challenges.

    Fifteen million pounds from the ring-fenced Official Development Assistance (ODA) budget for 2022 to 2025 will be committed to optimise, build and strengthen the health workforce in the 3 African countries. Recognising the importance of the health workforce in lower and middle income countries in improving health outcomes and achieving universal health coverage, the funding will enable people in Kenya, Nigeria and Ghana access to the full range of health services they need, when they need it.

    The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated the need for the UK to co-operate closely with international partners to tackle global health threats, which put considerable pressure on the NHS. The pandemic also resulted in workforce retention pressures around the world, while the demand for healthcare staff has increased. The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates a shortage of 10 million health workers globally by 2030, which threatens achieving global universal health coverage and could worsen worldwide health inequalities.

    Addressing critical workforce challenges is key to strengthening health systems and building global resilience against future pandemics so people across the world – including in the UK – can be protected.

    Health Minister, Will Quince, said:

    Highly skilled, resilient staff are the backbone of a strong health service, so I’m delighted we can support the training, recruitment and retention of skilled health workforces in Kenya, Nigeria and Ghana.

    This funding aims to make a real difference in strengthening the performance of health systems in each of the participating countries, which will have a knock-on effect on boosting global pandemic preparedness and reducing health inequalities.

    The pandemic showed us that patients in the UK are not safe unless the world as a whole is resilient against health threats, and this will help us in delivering on that ambition.

    Six million pounds from the ODA funding pledge will support the WHO to deliver health workforce planning and capacity-building work – such as improved administration systems and training and retention opportunities – in collaboration with local governments and health system stakeholders.

    As part of this package, the Department of Health and Social Care will also run a £9 million 2-year competitive grant scheme for a not-for-profit organisation to coordinate delivery of partnership work in participating countries.

    The partnership programmes for the health workforce include linking UK institutions with local health systems, promoting skills exchanges and improving the curriculum, regulation and guidance in Kenya, Nigeria and Ghana.

    The delivery coordinator will be responsible for setting up, funding and overseeing this work to drive improvement in quality and retention of healthcare staff in the 3 countries and ultimately help to ensure better outcomes for patients.

    The funding builds on £5 million previously committed as part of the Building the Future International Workforce ODA programme in Ghana, Uganda and Somaliland which aims to improve health workforce planning and management, provide training opportunities for refugees and displaced people and link NHS institutions with country health institutions.

    Kenya, Nigeria and Ghana were chosen for the ODA award as they showed a clear need for workforce support, evidenced by high population mortality rates and low staff numbers, as well as unemployment among their trained health workers.

  • PRESS RELEASE : New sanctions demonstrate G7 resolve on Russia [May 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : New sanctions demonstrate G7 resolve on Russia [May 2023]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 18 May 2023.

    Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will warn against complacency in defending our values and standing up to autocratic regimes, as he meets G7 leaders in Hiroshima.

    • Prime Minister will focus on redoubling support for Ukraine’s defence on the first day of the G7 Summit
    • UK announces new sanctions on Russian diamonds, metals and military-industrial complex
    • G7 leaders will visit Hiroshima Peace Park before holding talks on Ukraine, Indo-Pacific security and nuclear disarmament

    Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will warn against complacency in defending our values and standing up to autocratic regimes, as he meets G7 leaders for the first day of the Summit in Hiroshima today [Friday 19th May].

    The UK is today announcing a ban on Russian diamonds, an industry worth $4 billion in exports in 2021, as well as imports of Russian-origin copper, aluminium and nickel.

    Alongside these trade measures, the Government is also preparing new individual designations – targeting an additional 86 people and companies from Putin’s military industrial complex, and those involved in key revenue streams such as energy, metals, and shipping.

    They include those supporting the Kremlin to actively undermine the impact of existing sanctions, as the UK continues to work with G7 partners to tackle all forms of sanctions circumvention.

    This announcement follows the Prime Minister’s meeting with President Zelenskyy on Monday where he confirmed new military aid and stressed the importance of long-term international support for Ukraine, including for the country’s future in NATO. The leaders discussed Ukraine’s path to deeper political partnership and increased interoperability with the G7 and NATO allies.

    The Prime Minister will visit the site of the A-Bomb dome at the Hiroshima Peace Park later today with fellow G7 leaders, before attending sessions on international cooperation, the G7 response to Ukraine, Indo-Pacific security policy and nuclear non-proliferation. He will urge the international community to stay the course on Ukraine, ensuring it has the diplomatic, military and economic support it needs, in the interests of international peace and security.

    Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said:

    “For the sake of global peace and security, we must show that brutal violence and coercion does not reap rewards.

    “As today’s sanctions announcements demonstrate, the G7 remains unified in the face of the threat from Russia and steadfast in our support for Ukraine.

    “We are meeting today in Hiroshima, a city that exemplifies both the horrors of war and the dividends of peace. We must redouble our efforts to defend the values of freedom, democracy and tolerance, both in Ukraine and here in the Indo-Pacific.”

    The UK has implemented the most severe package of sanctions ever imposed on a major economy to undermine Russia’s war effort. To date we have sanctioned over 1,500 individuals and entities, freezing more than £18 billion of assets in the UK, and sanctioned over £20 billion of UK-Russia goods trade.

    In April, the latest step was to introduce a ban on all items that Russia has been found using on the battlefield to date. We will continue to work alongside the G7 to deny Russia access to any of our goods or technologies that it could use in its war machine.

    The UK has already taken a lead on action on Russian diamonds, sanctioning the state-owned company Alrosa and hiking tariffs by an additional 35 percent.

    Today’s announcement goes further. We will legislate later this year to ban imports of Russian diamonds, and end all imports of Russian-origin copper, aluminium and nickel, building on existing bans of Russian iron and steel.

    Sanctions imposed on Russia by the UK and our G7 partners are having a clear and progressive impact in degrading Putin’s war effort. Moscow is cut off from Western financial markets and there is a sustained reduction in the country’s oil revenues. More than 60% of Putin’s ‘war chest’ of foreign reserves has been immobilised – worth £275 billion.

    G7 action is starving Russia’s military of key Western components and technology, restricting its ability to fight a 21stcentury war against the Ukrainian people.

  • PRESS RELEASE : UK calls on other States not to provide Russia with military assistance – UK statement at the Security Council [May 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : UK calls on other States not to provide Russia with military assistance – UK statement at the Security Council [May 2023]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 18 May 2023.

    Statement by Ambassador Barbara Woodward at the UN Security Council meeting on Ukraine.

    Thank you, President and I also thank Mr Ebo for his briefing.

    449 days into the Russian Federation’s illegal and full-scale war. Russia continues to attack Ukrainian cities, hospitals and schools – its civilian infrastructure – killing and injuring innocent families in their homes or forcing them to flee. Eight million people are now displaced as a result of Russia’s attacks. Last night, for the ninth time this month, Russia rained down another barrage of missiles on Ukrainian cities with a blatant disregard for human life. Russia is deploying more and more powerful weapons.

    Russia sources weapons for Putin’s illegal war from states such as Iran and DPRK in blatant violation of relevant Security Council resolutions. The UK calls on other states not to provide Russia with military assistance.

    President, we have repeatedly urged Russia to end the war, withdraw and respect Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, to cease attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure, and withdraw its troops from Ukraine. Ukraine did not want or provoke this war.

    The Ukrainian people want peace, but they face a choice between taking up arms in self-defence or annihilation. They have done so in accordance with the UN Charter. We, therefore, support Ukraine to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity in line with the UN Charter. We share Ukraine’s goal of securing peace in line with the UN Charter.

    As my Prime Minister has made clear, we will continue to respond to Ukraine’s requests for the means to defend itself against Russian aggression.

    Last week we announced the provision of storm shadow missiles to Ukraine.

    We’ve also provided a range of air defence systems, including AMRAAM anti-aircraft missiles. These defensive weapons can defeat Russian cruise missiles to help Ukraine defend its skies and its people from Russia’s indiscriminate attacks.

    The Russian delegate also mentioned use of depleted uranium. The British army has used depleted uranium in its armour-piercing shells for decades. It is a standard component and has nothing to do with nuclear weapons or capabilities. Russia knows this, but is deliberately trying to disinform. So I want to be in no doubt that we provide all our military support to Ukraine in accordance with international law and with robust measures in place to prevent its illicit transfer.

    President, the cost of this war is felt around the world. Its impact on food and commodity prices is severe. We welcome the continuation of the Black Sea Grain Initiative and call on Russia not to hold up the movement of ships under the deal as a pressure tactic.

    As UN Member States, we want to focus on other priorities that the world desperately needs us to work together on, such as delivery of the Sustainable Development Goals. Instead, Russia’s war has made those goals harder to reach.

    In conclusion, Madam President, I listened carefully to the Russian delegation. They are trying to persuade the world not to provide defensive support to Ukraine. The reason for this is blindingly obvious.

    They want to overrun the Ukrainian military as they have tried and failed to do since February 2022. Why? Because they want to conquer a sovereign country and annex its territory. That is why the missiles are still falling on Kyiv.

    Russia can end this war at any time by withdrawing its troops. Until then, we will help Ukraine defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity and uphold the principles of the UN Charter.

    Thank you.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Joint Statement on Kosovo [May 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Joint Statement on Kosovo [May 2023]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 18 May 2023.

    The following is the text of a joint statement by France, Italy, Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States of America.

    On April 23, four mayoral elections and two municipal assembly elections were held in the north of Kosovo, consistent with Kosovo’s constitutional and legal requirements. Yet, following the boycott by a significant portion of the Serb community, the results are not a long-term political solution for these municipalities.

    We call on all actors to urgently work together among all interested parties, including local communities, towards a solution that provides sustainable participatory representative democracy in these municipalities.

    There should be no actions or initiatives – including by newly elected mayors and municipal assemblies – that do not serve the people or that could heighten tensions.  This includes exercising more than administrative powers and the process of taking office as there is no requirement that mayors be sworn in at municipal offices. All parties should refrain from the use of force or actions that inflame tensions or promote conflict.

    We support the EU-facilitated Dialogue to normalize relations between Kosovo and Serbia, including the need for urgent progress to establish the Community/Association of Serb-majority Municipalities.