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Tag: 2023

  • PRESS RELEASE : What the Prime Minister’s Primary Care Recovery Plan means for you [May 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : What the Prime Minister’s Primary Care Recovery Plan means for you [May 2023]

    The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 9 May 2023.

    Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s plan to improve access to primary care.

    “Being able to get a GP appointment when you need one is vitally important to families and communities across the country, so we must modernise the way primary care works to keep up with patient demand and help to cut NHS waiting lists.

    Today, we’re launching a radical plan to improve access to primary care.

    This is how the measures will affect you.

    We’re getting rid of the 8am rush for GP appointments

    I know how frustrating it is to be stuck on hold to your GP practice when you need an appointment for a common illness.

    We will end the 8am rush by making sure patients are either given an appointment immediately when they call, or signposted to a more appropriate service such as NHS 111 or their local pharmacy.

    You will no longer be told to call back later.

    You can get prescription medication directly from a pharmacy, without a GP appointment

    For the first time ever, patients who need prescription medication will be able to get it directly from a pharmacy, without a GP appointment, for things like earache, sore throat, or urinary tract infections.

    This also extends to contraception. Now women will no longer have to speak to a nurse or GP to get the oral contraceptive pill – it will be available direct from their local pharmacy.

    There will be more GP appointments available to you

    By expanding the role of pharmacies, fewer people will need to see their GP in the first place.

    Today’s plans are expected to free up around 15 million GP appointments over the next two years for patients who need them most.

    Which means the next time you want to see your GP, you should be able to do so quicker.

    You’ll be able to access your medical records on the NHS app

    The new plan will give you better access to your own medical records.

    Within the next year 90% of people will be able to access their GP records, including test results, on the NHS app within the next year.

    This plan is personal to me, I grew up in an NHS family and I’m passionate about making sure you get access to the best medical attention, when you need it.

    This bold and innovative package of measures will significantly change how the NHS works for the better not least for GPs and pharmacies, but above all you – whose day-to-day experience of healthcare will be significantly enhanced by this new service.”

    Prime Minister Rishi Sunak

  • PRESS RELEASE : Blue lights, green energy – £77 million for new zero-emission vehicle projects [May 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Blue lights, green energy – £77 million for new zero-emission vehicle projects [May 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Business and Trade on 9 May 2023.

    The schemes will support more than 4,400 jobs across the UK over the next decade, from Bath to Ballymena.

    • More than £77 million in joint Government and industry funding to develop zero-emission vehicles including fire engines and ambulances
    • Projects expected to support more than 4,400 jobs across the UK over the next decade, delivering the government’s priority to grow the UK economy
    • Innovations in clean engine technology, for zero-emission buses and to overhaul EV factory productivity also get backing

    Life-saving emergency services will benefit from greener zero-emission vehicles, thanks to £77 million in new funding for projects developing clean transport technologies, announced today.

    The HYER POWER project, to develop a hydrogen fuel-cell range extender for specialist electric vehicles in demanding roles like fire engines and ambulances, is just one of seven pieces of work across the UK that are getting joint Government and industry backing.

    The schemes, which range from work on battery-powered buses, to a hydrogen-powered version of the iconic Ford Transit van, will support more than 4,400 jobs across the UK over the next decade, from Bath to Ballymena.

    Investing in the development of cutting-edge technologies in key industries will help deliver on the government’s priority to grow the UK economy.

    Industry and Economic Security Minister Nusrat Ghani said:

    Zero-emission cars, vans and taxis are increasingly common, but this cutting-edge work is going to mean clean, green vehicles designed and built in the UK can increasingly take on the toughest jobs too, from life-saving emergency services, to haulage and public transport.

    Our automotive industry keeps setting the pace globally and seizing the potential of new technologies. Today’s multi-million-pound boost will help them stay ahead of international competition, while delivering on our priority to grow the economy and support high-quality jobs.

    The funding has been awarded through the Advanced Propulsion Centre (APC) Collaborative Research and Development programme, in support of ambitions to build an end-to-end supply chain for zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) in the UK. £38.4 million of this investment comes from Government, backed by a further £38.7 million from the automobile industry – taking today’s total to just over £77 million.

    Joint government and industry funding winners are:

    • HYER POWER – ULEMCO Ltd £7.9 million backing to develop a hydrogen fuel cell range extender for electric vehicles used for specialised and challenging purposes, such as ambulances, fire engines and street sweepers.
    • HEIDI – Bramble Energy Ltd £12.7 million for work to demonstrate a novel fuel cell/battery hybrid powertrain on a double-decker bus, that will be cheaper than the equivalents currently available for large vehicles.
    • FCVGEN2.0 – Ford Motor Company Ltd £16.3 million awarded to design and develop a hydrogen fuel cell-powered version of the Ford Transit van, which will initially be produced at Ford Dagenham.
    • NEXTGENZEBS – Wrightbus £12.7 million backing for new, market-leading technology to underpin battery and fuel cell electric buses.
    • EleVAIT – JLR Receiving £12.6 million to design and develop technology for inverters – a key component in electric vehicles, supporting the continued growth of a UK-based electric vehicle supply chain.
    • CAVENDISH – BorgWarner Awarded £9.8 million for work to speed up the rollout of hydrogen-burning internal combustion engines, as an alternative to diesel, for use in heavy-duty settings.
    • ZETTA – Leyland Trucks Ltd A £5.1 million investment. By better use of automation and advanced testing, Leyland Trucks aim to increase productivity and step up their production of battery electric trucks.

    Chief Executive at the APC Ian Constance said:

    Investment into these seven collaborative projects continues the work that the UK does very well. Research and development, building the automotive supply chain, pushing the boundaries of clean technology for the road, whilst securing jobs across the country. I’m pleased to have well-known brand names among this £77 million funding round through the APC, as well as innovative SMEs bringing through exciting new developments.

    Today’s announcement comes on top of funding also being invested by the government through the Automotive Transformation Fund (ATF) to develop a high-value end-to-end electrified automotive supply chain in the UK.

    This includes unlocking private investment in gigafactories, battery material supply chains, motors, power electronics, and fuel cell systems. The ATF is being delivered by the Department for Business and Trade in partnership with the APC.

    The government has committed a record £211 million to battery research and innovation through the Faraday Battery Challenge, to help the sector deliver 100,000 jobs in battery gigafactories and the battery supply chain by 2040. The funding will be delivered by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) with support from the Faraday Institution, Innovate UK and the UK Battery Industrialisation Centre (UKBIC).

    The UK Hydrogen Strategy sets out how government, working with industry, is aiming to develop 10GW of hydrogen production capacity by 2030, for use across the economy. This forms a part of the British energy security strategy for delivering secure, clean and affordable British energy for the long term.

    Background

    EleVAIT – JLR

    £6.3 million awarded by government, matched by industry to a total £12.6 million. This research project will explore and develop technology for inverters – a key component in electric vehicles. As well as developing a best-in-class product, this work will support the growth of a UK supply chain in components for electric vehicles.

    Project partners include: University of Bristol, Customer Interconnect Ltd, API Capacitors Ltd

    Jobs created or safeguarded: 1,258

    CO² savings: 55,000 tonnes

    FCVGEN2.0 – Ford Motor Company Ltd

    £8 million awarded by government, matched by industry to a total £16.3 million. This project will design and develop a hydrogen fuel cell-powered version of the Ford Transit van, with the Ford Dagenham engine factory to be re-purposed for initial production of the vehicle. By bringing the manufacturer, vehicle operator and supply chain businesses together, this project aims to establish a business case for the wider rollout of hydrogen Light Commercial Vehicles.

    Project partners include: Ocado, BP, Cygnet Texkimp, Cambustion, Vrititech

    Jobs created or safeguarded: 167

    CO² savings: 4.1m tonnes

    NEXTGENZEBS – Wrightbus

    £6.4 million awarded by government, matched by industry to a total £12.7 million. This project will produce a new, market-leading platform for battery and fuel cell electric driven buses. Whilst demand is growing for zero-emission vehicles, there are currently few options available for heavy, multi-axle vehicles like large buses.

    Project partners include: Queens University Belfast, Grayson Thermal Systems, Hutchinson Engineering, Translink

    Jobs created or safeguarded: 883

    CO² savings: 3.4m tonnes

    CAVENDISH – BorgWarner

    £4.9 million awarded by government, matched by industry to a total £9.8 million. This project aims to speed up the rollout of hydrogen-burning internal combustion engines, as an alternative to diesel. Project Cavendish will develop new fuel and air management systems, so that existing heavy duty diesel technologies can be repurposed to use hydrogen as fuel.

    Project partners include: Mahle, Cambustion, Hartridge

    Jobs created or safeguarded: 513

    CO² savings: 31.6m tonnes

    ZETTA – Leyland Trucks Ltd

    £2.6 million awarded by government, matched by industry to a total £5.1 million. By better use of automation and advanced testing, Leyland Trucks aim to increase productivity and step up their production of battery electric trucks. A ‘digital twin’ of the Leyland production line will be set up, meaning any changes can be run in simulation before being rolled out physically.

    Project partners include: Expert Tooling, HSSMI

    Jobs created or safeguarded: 439

    CO² savings: 12m tonnes

    HYER POWER – ULEMCO Ltd

    £3.9 million awarded by government, matched by industry to a total £7.9 million. This project will develop a hydrogen fuel cell range extender for electric vehicles used for special purposes, such as ambulances, fire engines and street sweepers. The zero-emission range extender will be based on existing, proven technology from the Toyota Mirai, and demonstrate how zero emission vehicles can be used in a wide range of specialised and challenging settings.

    Project partners include: Altair Engineering, Emergency One, Technical Services Ltd, Oxon Fire & Rescue Services

    Jobs created or safeguarded: 682

    CO² savings: 1.1m tonnes

    HEIDI – Bramble Energy Ltd

    £6.3 million awarded by government, matched by industry to a total £12.7 million. This project will demonstrate a fuel cell/battery hybrid powertrain on a double-decker bus. This novel product will be cheaper than the equivalents currently available for large vehicles like buses, and uses innovative new electronics and energy recovery technologies.

    Project partners include: University of Bath, Equipmake, Aeristech

    Jobs created or safeguarded: 498

    CO² savings: 5.9m tonnes

    About the Advanced Propulsion Centre UK

    The Advanced Propulsion Centre (APC) collaborates with UK government, the automotive industry and academia to accelerate the industrialisation of technologies, supporting the transition to deliver net-zero emission vehicles.

    Since its foundation in 2013, APC has funded 199 low-carbon projects involving 450 partners, working with companies of all sizes, and will have helped to create or safeguard over 55,000 jobs in the UK. The technologies developed in these projects are projected to save over 350 million tonnes of CO² , the equivalent of removing the lifetime emissions from 14.1 million cars.

    With its deep sector expertise and cutting-edge knowledge of new propulsion technologies, APC’s role in building and advising project consortia helps projects start more quickly and deliver increased value. In the longer term, its work to drive innovation and encourage collaboration is building the foundations for a successful and sustainable UK automotive industry.

    In 2019 the UK government committed the Automotive Transformation Fund (ATF) to accelerate the development of a net-zero vehicle supply chain, enabling UK-based manufacturers to serve global markets. ATF investments are awarded through the APC to support strategically important UK capital and R&D investments that will enable companies involved in batteries, motors and drives, power electronics, fuel cells, and associated supply chains to anchor their future.

    For more information please visit the APC website or follow @theapcuk on Twitter and Advanced Propulsion Centre UK on LinkedIn.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Further protections for England’s coastal waterways [May 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Further protections for England’s coastal waterways [May 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 9 May 2023.

    Consultation to expand storm overflow reduction targets to cover all coasts, estuaries and marine protected sites.

    The government is planning to consult on expanding its targets to tackle sewage even further to cover all coasts, estuaries and marine protected sites, Defra has confirmed today (9 May 2023).

    The Storm Overflows Discharge Reduction Plan, published in August 2022, set out stringent targets to protect people and the environment, backed up by £56 billion capital investment – the largest infrastructure programme in water company history.

    Since then, the government has continued to drive action to hold water companies to account, bring in tougher regulation and accelerate infrastructure to tackle pollution. Building on the measures in the plan to address the overflows causing the most harm first, the government is now planning to consult to expand the targets to cover all coastal and estuarine overflows.

    It follows last month’s announcement that the government’s target to reduce storm overflows will be enshrined in law through the Environment Act 2021. This will be backed by separate interim milestones for bathing waters and high priority nature sites.

    The government has always been clear that it will go further and faster to tackle the issue of storm overflows wherever possible, with Environment Secretary Thérèse Coffey demanding earlier this year that water companies share individual improvement plans on all storm overflows by June.

    The targets outlined in the Storm Overflows Discharge Reduction Plan provide an achievable, credible route to tackling sewage and delivering the improvements customers expect without disproportionately impacting consumer bills.

    Environment Secretary Thérèse Coffey said:

    As a coastal MP myself, I know that our coastlines are hugely important to local communities and to nature.  While 93% of our beaches with designated bathing status are already rated excellent or good, I intend to use my powers to better protect all of our coasts and estuaries”.

    The Plan for Water set out the government’s strategy to tackle all sources of pollution – not just storm overflows, but also agriculture, plastics, road run-off and chemicals – as well as managing the pressures on our water resources.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Factories receive government support to grow the economy, cut emissions and reduce energy costs [May 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Factories receive government support to grow the economy, cut emissions and reduce energy costs [May 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero on 9 May 2023.

    Energy intensive business across the UK receive government support to become more energy efficient.

    • Toyota and Britvic among 26 business receiving a share of £24.3 million to become more energy efficient and reduce fossil fuel use
    • funding supports businesses using high amounts of energy to clean up their manufacturing processes using low-carbon technologies
    • energy-intensive industries are responsible for 11% of the UK’s total emissions – and represent over 70% of UK industrial emissions

    Factories producing some of the country’s best-known beers, cereals, soft drinks and cars will receive government support to reduce their energy costs and cut carbon emissions.

    Heineken, Kellogg’s, Toyota and Britvic are among businesses across the UK to be awarded a share of £24.3 million government funding to help clean up their manufacturing processes and improve their energy efficiency.

    The Industrial Energy Transformation Fund (IETF) supports businesses using high amounts of energy to reduce their fossil fuel using innovative low-carbon technologies. This will help companies save on their energy costs, which in turn will safeguard British jobs and help grow the economy – one of the government’s 5 priorities.

    • Heineken is receiving £3.7 million to upgrade their Manchester Brewery, including installing technology to recover waste heat from the refrigeration systems used to cool their beer
    • Toyota in Derby is receiving over £282,000 to introduce new airless paint sprayers, which use static electricity instead of air, to reduce the amount of energy they need
    • Britvic Soft Drinks will use £4.4 million to implement new technologies, including a heat recovery system and Low Temperature Hot Water network, at its site in east London, where it produces drinks such as Tango and Robinsons
    • Kellogg’s in Wrexham will receive funding for a study assessing the possibility of recovering the waste heat from their cereal manufacturing processes to reduce their gas usage
    • Tate and Lyle Sugars, which supplies nearly half of all the sugar and syrup on UK supermarket shelves, is receiving over £71,800 to explore how to reduce natural gas use at their Thames Refinery

    Other recipients include Ingevity UK in Warrington, which will receive £2.6 million for hydrogen ready natural gas fuelled boilers at their chemicals plant, Natural World Products in Dunmurry, a producer of peat-free composts and soil conditioners, is receiving nearly £300,000 to replace diesel-powered plant equipment with electric kit, and Breedon Cement is receiving over £231,000 for a feasibility study on using carbon capture technologies at their site in Hope, Derbyshire.

    Energy-intensive industries are responsible for 11% of the UK’s total emissions and represent over 70% of UK industrial emissions. While the UK is making excellent progress on the road to net zero, having cut emissions by 48% between 1990 and 2021 – decarbonising faster than any other G7 country – it is estimated that industry will need to cut their emissions by two thirds by 2035 for the UK to achieve its net zero target.

    Minister for Energy Efficiency Lord Callanan said:

    We are leading the world in reaching net zero, having cut emissions by 48% – but to keep up this progress and achieve our green goals, we’ve got to transform our industrial sectors, as some of the industries most critical to our economy are also those with the highest emissions.

    Today, we’re backing them with government funding to use the latest technologies to cut their emissions and their reliance on fossil fuels – helping to future-proof these industries as we grow our green economy.

    This will not only cut their energy costs but also boost their competitiveness on the world stage, helping them thrive and protecting the thousands of jobs they offer across the country.

    Matt Callan, Senior Director Supply Chain at Heineken UK, said:

    We are proud to have ambitious targets when it comes to reducing our carbon footprint, within both our own operations and across our entire value chain. For over 150 years, we have been passionate about making a positive impact and more than ever it is clear that there is no time to waste in taking action to reduce carbon emissions.

    This investment and IETF funding will enable us to act faster, and with the commitment and passion of our colleagues and partners, will help us raise the bar at our Manchester Brewery to brew our beers in a more sustainable way.

    The project will make a significant contribution on our journey to carbon neutrality and provide us with the learnings to reapply across our other sites as we continue our journey to brew a better world.

    Phil Makin, Technical Development Manager at Kellogg UK said:

    The Industrial Energy Transformation Fund is enabling our Wrexham site to unlock future sustainability savings and benefits, whilst driving down our overall carbon footprint and helping towards Kellogg’s 2030 carbon neutral target.

    Sarah Webster, Britvic’s Sustainable Business Director, said:

    We are passionate about delivering on our ambition to be net zero by 2050, and we are pleased to have reduced our direct emissions by over 30% since 2017.

    We want to go further faster, but we can’t do it alone. Alongside our sustainable investment programme, this IETF grant will help us reduce our carbon emissions at our much-loved London site by a further 50%.

    This will benefit our employees, the local community, our customers and consumers who can feel reassured that we take our environmental responsibilities seriously.

    A total of £289 million is being made available to businesses through the IETF up to 2027 and today’s allocations take amount awarded under the scheme so far to £61.4 million.

    Today’s announcement builds on the wide-ranging support that has been made available to energy-intensive industries. This includes:

    • businesses have been supported throughout the winter with £5.6 billion of support, enabling some to only pay around half of the predicted wholesale energy costs
    • the Energy Bill Relief Scheme has provided a discount on non-domestic (business, public sector and voluntary sector organisations) gas and electricity unit prices; this 6-month scheme expired in March 2023
    • the Energy Bill Discount Scheme started on 1 April 2023; the new scheme will mean eligible UK businesses and other non-domestic energy users may receive a discount on high energy bills until 31 March 2024
    • the Energy and Trade Intensive Industries (ETII) discount will provide a higher level of support to businesses and organisations in eligible sectors
    • the government has provided over £800 million since 2013 to help industrial sectors with energy costs, with many businesses able to bid for competitive funds of over £1.5 billion to support them going green

    The Industrial Energy Transformation Fund is one of many schemes that form part of the government’s commitment to reduce overall UK energy demand by 15% by 2030, alongside the wider ambition for the UK to move towards greater energy independence.

    Full list of recipients are as follows:

    • Ardagh Glass Limited in Doncaster is receiving £1.7 million for their Doncaster Efficient Furnace Project, which will develop a brand-new container glass production furnace at the facility
    • Mitsubishi Chemicals UK in Hull is receiving over £3.1 million to install state-of-the-art technology which will combust waste gas to generate energy
    • Naylor Industries in Barnsley, a specialist clay pipe manufacturer, is receiving over £73,100 to explore re-using waste heat from the exhaust gases of their kilns, to make their manufacturing process more energy efficient
    • Wienerberger Limited in Doncaster is receiving over £220,000 to install a more efficient energy and heat recovery system, including an electric heat pump, to replace gas oil and generate no carbon emissions at their concrete roof tile factories
    • Heineken UK is receiving £3.7 million to upgrade their Manchester Brewery, including installing technology to recover waste heat from the refrigeration systems used to cool their beer
    • Basell Polyolefins UK is receiving over £1.12 million to reduce natural gas usage at their plastics plant in Carrington, Greater Manchester
    • Cargill in Manchester is receiving over £1 million for a project improving the energy efficiency and reducing emissions from their glucose manufacturing process, including through installing electric heat pump technology
    • Ingevity UK in Warrington is receiving over £2.6 million to replace the current boiler systems at their chemicals plant with new hydrogen ready natural gas fuelled boilers
    • European Metal Recycling in Liverpool is receiving over £390,000 to install new equipment to make their metal shredding process more efficient
    • Rock Chemicals Limited in Warrington is receiving over £100,000 to install technology that blends chemicals using ultrasound instead of being powered by diesel
    • Weir Minerals Europe Limited in Todmorden, Lancashire, is receiving over £137,000 to carry out a study on improving the energy efficiency of their foundry at Todmorden by recovering and reusing waste heat
    • AB Inbev UK in Preston, makers of Budweiser, is receiving over £61,500 to carry out a study on using a heat pump to reduce carbon emissions from their brewery
    • Magnavale Limited in Chesterfield is receiving nearly £372,000 to install a cutting-edge refrigeration system for food products that uses less energy than traditional systems
    • Breedon Cement in Hope, Derbyshire is receiving over £231,000 for a feasibility study on using carbon capture technologies at their Hope site
    • Lhoist UK Limited is receiving over £92,000 for a decarbonisation study at their Hindlow plant, near Buxton in Derbyshire, which manufactures high-quality lime
    • Toyota UK in Derby is receiving over £282,000 to introduce new airless paint atomisers for their automotive site, which aims to reduce the amount of energy required for their painting processes by reducing the spray booth size and equipment
    • Pioneer Foods Limited, a cereal manufacturer in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, is taking forward 3 different projects, with grants of over £27,000, £29,000, and £136,000 respectively; the projects include exploring reusing waste wheat products as a biomass fuel, installing a biomass combined heat and power system, and improving the energy efficiency of their ovens
    • Tate and Lyle Sugars is receiving nearly £72,000 for a study exploring how to reduce natural gas use – and therefore also carbon emissions – at their Thames Refinery in East London
    • Britvic Soft Drinks in London is receiving £4.4 million to implement the latest low carbon technologies at its production site at Beckton where it makes drinks such as Tango and Robinsons; improvements will include using a heat recovery system, and a new Low Temperature Hot Water network
    • Ibstock Brick Limited, a leading UK manufacturer of clay and concrete building products in Pullborough, West Sussex is receiving over £241,000 for technology that will reuse waste heat to reduce their energy usage
    • GKN Aerospace Services in Filton near Bristol is receiving over £231,000 for their Sustainable Transformation of Emissions for Aerospace Manufacturing (STEAM) project investigating energy efficiency technologies that can be implemented at their Filton site
    • Kellogg’s in Wrexham, North Wales is receiving £19,000 for a study assessing the possibility of recovering the waste heat from their cereal manufacturing processes to reduce their gas usage
    • Natural World Products (NWP) in Dunmurry, a producer of peat-free composts and soil conditioners, is receiving nearly £300,000 for fuel switching projects, replacing diesel-powered plant equipment with more modern and cutting edge equivalents that are fully powered by electricity
    • FP McCann Limited is receiving £3.39 million for energy efficiency improvements of the crushing and concrete manufacturing process at its Craigall Quarry in Kilrea
  • PRESS RELEASE : Ten Days to claim Pension Credit and qualify for £301 Cost of Living Payment [May 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Ten Days to claim Pension Credit and qualify for £301 Cost of Living Payment [May 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Work and Pensions on 9 May 2023.

    All pensioners on a low income should check if they qualify for Pension Credit in order to also receive a Cost of Living Payment.

    • Pensioners urged to check if they could be eligible for Pension Credit, worth over £3,500 a year on average
    • Those who successfully claim by 19 May could also receive a £301 Cost of Living payment – demonstrating Government’s focus on delivering the five priorities, including halving inflation, growing the economy and reducing debt
    • Pensioners can check their eligibility and get an estimate of what they may receive by using the online Pension Credit calculator

    There are just ten days to go for people to claim Pension Credit and still qualify for the latest £301 payment, which they will receive direct into their bank accounts.

    Provided a claim is made before 19 May, it can be backdated for up to three months so long as the applicant was also eligible to receive it during that time.

    This builds on the extensive support that was delivered to pensioners last year, alongside measures such as holding down households’ energy bills and freezing fuel and alcohol duty, which deliver on Government’s priorities to halve inflation and grow the economy.

    Minister for Pensions Laura Trott said:

    “Pension Credit can make a real difference and I am determined to make sure this support – worth an average of £3,500 a year – is reaching everyone who needs it, particularly as we know how much pressure households across the country have been under.

    “Please check if you or your loved ones can claim for this extra support, and if you do it by 19 May you could qualify for the £301 Cost of Living Payment – giving another financial boost to those who need it most.”

    Pension Credit is designed to help people over State Pension age and on a low income with daily living costs, though you do not need to be in receipt of State Pension to receive it.

    It tops up a person’s income to a minimum of £201.05 per week for single pensioners and to £306.85 for couples or more if a person has a disability or caring responsibilities.

    Worth on average over £3,500 a year, even a small Pension Credit award can provide access to a wide range of other benefits – such as help with housing costs, council tax or heating bills – in addition to the extra cost of living payments, worth up to £900 this financial year.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Foreign Secretary visits Washington DC to reaffirm sustained UK-US support for Ukraine [May 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Foreign Secretary visits Washington DC to reaffirm sustained UK-US support for Ukraine [May 2023]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 8 May 2023.

    Foreign Secretary James Cleverly will meet US Secretary of State and leading members of Congress to discuss the US and UK’s long-term commitment to Ukraine.

    • Foreign Secretary travels to Washington today (Monday 8 May) for meetings with the administration and Congress on sustaining UK-US support for Ukraine
    • James Cleverly to meet Secretary of State Antony Blinken and leading Democrat and Republican figures in Congress
    • part of UK efforts to secure long-term, international commitment to Ukraine emerging from the war as a strong, sovereign and free nation

    The Foreign Secretary travels to Washington DC today (Monday 8 May) for meetings with the Biden Administration and the US Congress, to discuss the US and UK’s long-term commitment to Ukraine.

    James Cleverly will stress the importance of a continued, united international front for ensuring a Ukrainian victory.

    Beyond Ukraine, the Foreign Secretary will use his meetings to encourage the $1 trillion bilateral investment relationship between the UK and US, which is driving economic growth in both countries. He will stress the need for the UK and US, as likeminded democracies, to make their economies more resilient and protect livelihoods on both sides of the Atlantic in a more geopolitically contested world.

    Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said:

    For well over a century the UK and US have been partners of first resort in standing up for freedom and democracy.

    Whether it’s standing up for our friends in Ukraine, or promoting transatlantic prosperity through our $1 trillion investment relationship, the UK-US relationship continues to make life better for our people and the world.

    On Tuesday James Cleverly will meet Secretary of State Antony Blinken and on Wednesday he will hold talks with leading Republican and Democrat members of Congress.

    The UK’s efforts to push for a Ukrainian victory and boost economic security are supporting the government’s priorities of bringing down the cost of living, by tackling inflation and creating more opportunities for growth.

  • Gillian Keegan – 2023 Speech to the Education World Forum

    Gillian Keegan – 2023 Speech to the Education World Forum

    The speech made by Gillian Keegan, the Secretary of State for Education, at the Education World Forum in London on 8 May 2023.

    Good afternoon everyone.

    I’d like to welcome you all to this annual gathering of education ministers.

    You find us all in a celebratory mood and many world leaders from your countries joined us to celebrate.

    The coronation of His Majesty King Charles showcased what this country is known for around the world.

    Pageantry, tradition, our history, the importance of continuity. But it is not just a celebration of the past. We’re also focused on the future, even an ancient monarchy like ours is constantly evolving.

    Who would have thought back in 1953 when we last held a coronation that the next monarch would be one of world’s original environmental champions?

    Curiosity and flexibility are vital at any time but especially when the world is changing so fast.

    That is why we need education – it allows us to change, it allows us to adapt, it ensures we can meet the future head on.

    Many of us will be facing the same challenges. Others will have to tackle problems that are particular to them.

    But one challenge we all face is this: How do we make sure our young people leave school or college with the skills to prepare them for a life of opportunity?

    We have all found ourselves in situations when our skills didn’t go far enough. I once found myself on a plane travelling to Japan for a major negotiation with nothing but a book on etiquette.

    What saved me was a huge appetite to learn from my hosts and my new-found karaoke skills.

    Every child has an inbuilt sense of curiosity. None of them want to be left behind, they want to learn and do well.

    It’s our job to give them the opportunity to do so. And if we do, we all benefit.

    Give people the opportunity to learn and the end result almost always sparks innovation.

    The more we collaborate and work together to solve our problems, the more we’re likely to see the power of innovation.

    Take the pandemic for example. Look at what the power of global unity achieved when it came to vaccinating our populations. It showed that those who were quickest to innovate in a crisis were more likely to be the first out of it.

    So, how do we make this work in education.

    I learnt in business, you may not always be first but you can learn from the best and that is what we have done in the UK. We’ve learnt from all of you, and we want to continue doing so.

    To inform our Skills for Jobs White Paper, we looked at world leading technical education systems, like in Germany and the Netherlands and those which have implemented more recent reforms, such as Ireland.

    Our new vocational qualifications, T-levels, drew heavily on evidence from the Norwegian, Dutch and Swiss technical education systems.

    Our reforms to the national curriculum in 2014 have given us world-class standards across all subjects and have drawn on best practice, such as how maths is taught in Singapore and Shanghai.

    We benchmark ourselves against all of you – to drive improvement and instil innovation in our education system.

    Working with thousands of businesses, we are learning all the time as we partner to design qualifications and provide work experience and training for young people.

    But we don’t just want to take excellence from others, we want to share our own too.

    The Teaching for Success Tunisia is a project with the British Council, the Ministry of Education and the British Embassy which will give teachers the skills, knowledge and confidence they need to teach English more effectively. So far it has resulted in more than 5,000 primary school teachers learning simultaneously online.

    While Heriot-Watt Dubai was the first campus of an overseas university to open in Dubai International Academic City in 2005. There were 120 students to start with. Now there are nearly 4,000.

    I hope that this conference can be the first of many conversations I have with you about how we can work together to innovate and improve our education systems further.

    Innovation and collaboration are essential for economies at every level and in every corner of the Earth.

    No country has a monopoly on bright ideas so the more we talk to one another, the greater the scope for coming up with solutions.

    One of the most fruitful ways of doing this is by encouraging international students.

    We are proud that the UK remains a destination of choice for so many students. With four out of the top 10 universities in the world, the UK’s higher education sector is truly world class. In fact, 55 current world leaders were educated right here in the UK, only one country is educating more world leaders and that is the US.

    International mobility is increasing but so is global competitiveness for talent. We are in a global race, not just for talent but for technology. The industries of the future, whether AI, quantum computing, green technology or life sciences, rely not just on having talent in our own countries but on deep and lasting partnerships.

    For example, I am proud that Nobel Laureate Elizabeth Blackburn was able to come from Australia and study here in the UK at Cambridge. Her research on enzymes and genetic material could pave the way for people to live longer, healthier lives.

    Human rights advocate Ambiga Sreenevasan, travelled from Malaysia to graduate in Law from Exeter University in 1979. She eventually became president of that country’s Bar Council and has been awarded the US International Women of Courage Award.

    So I am hugely proud that we are welcoming more than 600,000 international students every year.

    International education is popular. It makes us all richer. We all benefit as we build partnerships and lasting bonds. That’s something we value hugely.

    And of course, we are equally keen to see our students go and study abroad. Which is why I am delighted that the Turing Scheme, our global programme to study and work abroad, is now approaching its third year.

    This year the scheme is unlocking opportunities for more than 38,000 UK students and learners who will gain international experience, developing skills and expertise.

    I’m especially pleased that this scheme is extending the horizons for students who might never have had that chance. 51% of the international placements across 160 countries all over the world have been earmarked for those from disadvantaged backgrounds.

    The Turing Scheme is truly global in scope, with every country in the world eligible as a destination for UK students, including EU countries. This is great news for all students, including those studying languages, as many more countries, cultures and languages are within reach for UK participants.

    Thanks to Turing, Lanchester Primary School in Durham was able to take 16 children to their partner school in India.

    The children found themselves immersed in a totally new world and as their head teacher Jane Davis said: ‘they experienced more in a week than some of us experience in a lifetime’.

    Whether it’s construction students from South West College in Northern Ireland, who went to Canada to improve their knowledge of green building techniques, or budding entrepreneurs from Nottingham Trent University getting to sample work and study, and probably some dance moves, in Latin America, the Turing Scheme is unlocking international opportunities for students, pupils and learners across the UK.

    Actually Turing who also taught and studied internationally was, as many of you will know, widely considered to be the father of theoretical computer science and artificial intelligence.

    Which brings me to a subject that divides opinion and that is the use of Artificial Intelligence, particularly in education settings.

    I know in some countries there is a knee-jerk reaction to AI. It’s going to be the end of mankind as we know it, some cry.

    To challenge this response to a future technology I want to call on a voice from the past. Winston Churchill once said “A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.”

    We’ve had the difficulties. Now let us make the most of our opportunities.

    Which is why here in the UK, AI is making a difference in schools and universities already but there is far greater scope for really transformative change.

    AI could have the power to transform a teacher’s day-to-day work. For example, it could take much of the heavy lifting out of compiling lesson plans and marking. This would enable teachers to do the one thing that AI cannot and that’s teach, up close and personal, at the front of a classroom.

    We need to respond to it just as we have to other technical innovations in the past like the calculator, or more recently Google. We’ll learn about it, then apply it to deliver better outcomes for students.

    We’re excited to learn about what it can do. Whether it could radically reduce the amount of time teachers spend marking, how effective it could be for personalised and adaptive learning and how it might be used as an assistive technology to improve access to education.

    My department has already begun this journey by publishing a statement that examines the opportunities, as well as the risks, that generative AI brings to education.

    We have a lot more thinking and learning to do to understand the potential here and I am committed to working hand-in-hand with experts, educators and all of you in this room as we do that thinking.

    I’d like to thank you Dominic and your team for all your hard work in organising EWF and enabling ministers from so many countries around the world to meet today.

    Innovation, resilience, a desire to learn. This is how we will be stronger after the pandemic. We must embrace change and learn from each other.

    Alexander Graham Bell, a man whose innovation, resilience and desire to learn, have totally transformed life for all of us, once said: “When one door closes, another opens; but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened.”

    Sometimes a door opening can lead to the most extraordinary places which is how I find myself here before you today.

    Let us overcome our fear and open these doors and be ready to embrace the opportunities that are waiting there.

    Thank you.

  • PRESS RELEASE : British High Commission celebrates the Coronation in New Delhi [May 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : British High Commission celebrates the Coronation in New Delhi [May 2023]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 8 May 2023.

    The British High Commissioner To India, Alex Ellis hosted a reception and screening of the Coronation of Their Majesties The King Charles III and The Queen, at his residence in New Delhi today.

    This historic milestone is being celebrated in the UK over a special long weekend with events to bring the UK together, and celebrations and events taking place at 280 diplomatic missions around the world.

    The reception was attended by a wide range of dignitaries from the Government of India, representatives from Commonwealth nations, business leaders, and other eminent personalities. The High Commissioner also joined Chef Shaun Kenworthy in the kitchen to prepare the ‘Coronation Quiche’ for the guests.

    Alex Ellis, British High Commissioner to India, said,

    The Coronation of Their Majesties The King and The Queen is a historic event. Today’s ceremony reflected a modern and diverse UK, with representatives from many faiths – including Hinduism, Sikhism, and Islam – carrying the Coronation Regalia.

    His Majesty has had a long and enduring love for India and it is my privilege celebrating this moment with friends here in Delhi.

  • PRESS RELEASE : New plan to make it easier for patients to see their GP [May 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : New plan to make it easier for patients to see their GP [May 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Health and Social Care on 8 May 2023.

    Action to make it easier for patients to contact their GP and end the 8am rush, with £240 million given to practices across England to embrace latest technology.

    Patients will be able to contact their general practice more easily and quickly – and find out exactly how their request will be handled on the day they call – as part of a major multi-million pound overhaul of primary care, the government and NHS will announce this week.

    Practices across England will also be given £240 million this year to embrace the latest technology, replacing old analogue phones with modern systems so patients never get engaged tones and easy-to-use online tools to ensure patients get the care they need as soon as possible.

    This will mean that when patients contact their practice online or over the phone they will know on the day they make contact how their query will be managed, rather than being told to call back later. If their need is urgent, they will be assessed and given appointments on the same day. If it is not urgent, appointments should be offered within 2 weeks, or patients will be referred to NHS 111 or a local pharmacy.

    Primary care is the way most people access the NHS and the government is committed to modernising the way patients contact their GP surgeries – improving satisfaction and delivering on the Prime Minister’s promise to cut waiting lists.

    Health and Social Care Secretary, Steve Barclay, will announce a major expansion of the role of receptionists to become expert ‘care navigators’, whose job it is to gather information, to make sure patients are directed to the most suitable healthcare professional and to simplify and streamline the process.

    Health and Social Care Secretary, Steve Barclay, said:

    We are already making real progress with 10% more GP appointments happening every month compared to before the pandemic.

    I want to make sure people receive the right support when they contact their general practice and bring an end to the 8am scramble for appointments.

    To do this we are improving technology and reducing bureaucracy, increasing staffing and changing the way primary care services are provided, which are all helping to deliver on the government’s promise to cut waiting lists.

    Minister for Health, Neil O’Brien, said:

    Where GPs have already moved over to these new technologies we see they free up the phones, making it much easier for people to get through to their general practice team.

    As well as being more convenient for patients, these really easy to use digital tools allow a lot of patients to get the help they need without ever needing to go in for an appointment, which will help cut waiting lists.

    Investing £240 million in these modern tools and the help GPs need to move onto them will make things more convenient for patients, but also make the workload more manageable for general practice teams.

    An average sized practice of 10,000 patients often receives more than 100 calls in the first hour every Monday.

    With advanced digital telephony, rather than an engaged tone, patients will receive a queue position, a call back option and their call can be directly routed to the right professional. The phone system will also be integrated with the clinical systems so practice staff can quickly identify patients and their information from phone numbers.

    Practices that have invested in modern online booking and messaging systems find they help free up phones for those who prefer to call, while giving patients a convenient way to get the help they need.

    As well as helping patients to make contact, the government is supporting staff in dealing with the calls. Working with NHS England the government will fund 6,500 care navigator training places – that is one member of staff per practice who can then pass on the training to colleagues.

    Care navigators will help assess, prioritise, respond and assist. They can help make sure those who want to see a named GP or preferred member of staff can do so while those who are happy to see a duty doctor can also do so.

    Care navigators will direct patients to other professionals within the general practice or other medical professionals such as community pharmacists who can best meet the needs of the patients. Successful care navigation can help direct 40% of requests more effectively and speeds up appointments for those who need them.

    The government will provide primary care networks and GP practices with the funding and support required to make the changes, including through integrated care boards.

    Dr Amanda Doyle, National Director Primary Care and Community Services, NHS England, said:

    Produced by the NHS, this plan will make it easier for patients to access the care they need.

    GPs and their teams are already delivering half a million more appointments a week than before the COVID pandemic.

    However, we know staffing needs to be put on a sustainable footing so we are also working with government to publish a long term workforce plan.

  • James Cleverly – 2023 Statement on the Execution of Habib Chaab

    James Cleverly – 2023 Statement on the Execution of Habib Chaab

    The statement made by James Cleverly, the Foreign Secretary, on 7 May 2023.

    I am appalled at news the Iranian regime executed Swedish-Iranian dual national Habib Chaab.

    The UK strongly opposes the death penalty. We call on the regime to stop all executions, now.

    We will continue to work with Sweden and other partners to hold this regime to account.