Tag: 2023

PRESS RELEASE : RAF Voyager refuels mid-air with Sustainable Aviation Fuel [April 2023]
The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 17 April 2023.
- Voyager aircraft powered by 43% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) flies over North Sea.
- The aircraft used a blend of traditional fossil fuels and SAF such as cooking oil.
- Flight marks the launch of a new aviation Net Zero Carbon roadmap for commercial aviation.
Flying from RAF Brize Norton, over the North Sea and via Farnborough on its return home, the Voyager aircraft also undertook air-to-air refuelling with Typhoons, as part of planned training.

Made from waste-based sustainable feedstocks, such as used cooking oil, SAF reduces lifecycle carbon emissions by up to 80% compared to traditional jet fuel and will be key to reducing the RAF’s reliance on global supply chains and fossil fuels, while improving operational resilience.

This significant moment follows a series of recent milestones achieved by the RAF towards a sustainable aviation future, including the world first RAF Voyager flight fuelled by 100% SAF.

Defence Minister, Baroness Goldie said:

Greater use of alternative and sustainable fuel can only lead to positive outcomes for Defence, the United Kingdom, and our collective endeavour against climate change.

This is not an easy undertaking by the RAF, but time and again we see that by working collaboratively with our partners across industry we can achieve crucial transformation.

Part of a two-day industry led conference – Sustainable Skies World Summit – the flight marks the UK aviation industry publishing its updated aviation Net Zero Carbon roadmap outlining how commercial aviation will become more sustainable and commercially viable.

The annual event, hosted at Farnborough International Exhibition & Conference Centre, brings together various partners from industry to showcase the latest developments in sustainable aviation technology and support efforts moving towards the implementation phase of meeting its net zero commitment.

Supporting the RAF’s ambitions to be Net Zero by 2040, the Voyager flight was part of an existing task from the Chief of the Air Staff to gather the required data to inform the longer-term transition away from fossil fuels.

The RAF has identified that using SAF and alternative aviation fuels will be critical for the future operational capability of the RAF and wider military aviation.

The UK’s SAF programme is already one of the most comprehensive in the world and supports our vision to set the UK up to be a global leader in the development, production, and use of SAF.

Supporting the Prime Minister’s priority to grow the economy, new aviation technologies and fuels provide huge opportunities for economic growth, delivering jobs and prosperity across the country.

Chief of Staff Support and Chief Engineer, Air Vice-Marshal, Paul Lloyd said:

The continued success of sustainable aviation fuel is reassuring to see. If we are to achieve our net zero goal by 2040 then exploiting these technologies is going to be an enormous but worthwhile endeavour.

Despite the challenge, the benefits of reducing our reliance on traditional supply chains and fossil fuels outweigh it.

The RAF is proud to be leading in this area and I welcome the announcement introduction of commercial uses of SAF.

Providing increased reliability and range, the Voyager aircraft gives the RAF an enhanced capability in support of troop mobility, the movement of military assets, and supports UK air defence.

With a payload of 43 tonnes of freight and 291 seat passenger capacity, plus an aeromedical evacuation capability, Voyager also delivers flexibility in air mobility to the UK Armed forces in support of military and humanitarian operations.

During the two days of the Sustainable Skies World Summit, the Jet Zero Council (JZC) – a partnership between industry and government with the aim of delivering at least 10% SAF in the UK fuel mix by 2030 and zero emission transatlantic flight within a generation – will also meet. The Jet Zero Council is driving the ambitious delivery of new technologies and innovative ways to cut aviation emissions.

The SAF for the flight was sourced by International Airlines Group (IAG), and supplied by bp.
April 17, 2023
Mark Harper – 2023 Statement on Plans for New Smart Motorways Cancelled

The statement made by Mark Harper, the Secretary of State for Transport, in the House of Commons on 17 April 2023.

The government has announced that all plans for new smart motorways have been cancelled.

This will mean that the 11 schemes already paused from the second Road Investment Strategy (2020 to 2025) and the 3 earmarked for construction during the third Road Investment Strategy (2025 to 2030) will be removed from the government’s road-building plans in recognition of the current lack of public confidence felt by drivers and cost pressures.

While no new stretches will be converted, work on the M56 J6 to J8 and M6 J21a to J26 will go ahead as planned given they are already over three-quarters constructed.

The government and National Highways will continue to invest £900 million in further safety improvements on existing smart motorways. This includes installing stopped vehicle detection technology on every all lane running smart motorway which has now been completed, adding an additional 150 emergency areas across the network by 2025 and investing in giving motorists clear advice when using existing smart motorways.

The government will also continue to deliver against its other commitments as set out in its response to the Transport Select Committee in January 2022.

This government will continue to ensure that our roads remain among the safest in the world – helping drivers not just to be safe, but crucially, to feel safe and confident when driving.

The following schemes have been cancelled

RIS2 (2020 to 2025) paused schemes

New all lane running smart motorways

M3 junctions 9 to 14

M40/M42 interchange

M62 junctions 20 to 25

M25 junctions 10 to 16

Dynamic hard shoulder to all lane running conversions

M1 junctions 10 to 13

M4/M5 interchange (M4 junctions 19 to 20 and M5 junctions 15 to 17)

M6 junctions 4 to 5

M6 junctions 5 to 8

M6 junctions 8 to 10a

M42 junctions 3a to 7

M62 junctions 25 to 30

RIS3 (2025 to 2030) pipeline schemes

M1 North Leicestershire

M1 junctions 35a to 39 Sheffield to Wakefield

M6 junctions 19 to 21a Knutsford to Croft

April 17, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : £400,000 storm aid for Malawi from Scottish Government [March 2023]

The press release issued by the Scottish Government on 23 March 2023.

Emergency relief funding following record-breaking storm.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has pledged £400,000 of financial support to Malawi to assist with emergency relief efforts in the wake of Tropical Cyclone Freddy.

The funding was confirmed in a letter to Malawian President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera, and the First Minister also expressed the sincere condolences of the people of Scotland, following the tragic loss of life.

As of Monday 20 March, 499 people in the country have been killed and more than 508,244 people displaced as a result of the storm, which is the longest lasting and highest energy tropical cyclone ever recorded. A state of disaster in the Southern Region of Malawi has also been declared.

The storm’s impact comes as Malawi faces what the UN has described as the deadliest cholera outbreak in its recorded history. In January, the Scottish Government provided more than £236,000 to aid the Malawian Government’s outbreak response.

The letter reads:

Your Excellency,

It is with great sadness that I find myself writing on this occasion. Please accept the sincere condolences of the people of Scotland, and the Scottish Government, following the tragic loss of life and displacement of people as a result of Tropical Cyclone Freddy.

It is heart wrenching to see the death, injury, and substantial damage to thousands of people’s homes and livelihoods, all at a time when Malawi is already facing a severe cholera outbreak.

I want to confirm today that we will pledge £400,000 to support emergency flood relief in Malawi. We are discussing with partners working on the ground already as to the most effective way that we can provide that support for those most in need and will engage Malawian Department of Disaster Management as we develop the projects.

Our thoughts are with all those affected by Tropical Storm Freddy, the people of Malawi at this difficult time and with your government in your response.

Nicola Sturgeon

April 17, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Historical adoption practices: A formal apology from Scottish Government [March 2023]

The press release issued by the Scottish Government on 22 March 2023.

Heartbreak of mothers who were forced to give up babies.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has delivered a formal apology to those affected by ‘cruel’ historical adoption practices.

Many thousands of women – most of them young and unmarried – were forced to give up their babies for adoption until the late 1970s.

The First Minister said the forced adoptions were ‘unjust and profoundly wrong’.

Addressing the Scottish Parliament, the First Minister said:

“As a Government, and a Parliament, we can set the record straight; we can acknowledge the terrible wrongs that were done, and we can say – with one voice – that we are sorry.

“So today as First Minister, on behalf of the Scottish Government, I say directly:

“To the mothers who had their babies taken away from them; to the sons and the daughters who were separated from their parents; to the fathers who were denied their rights, and to the families who have lived with the legacy;

“For the decades of pain that you have suffered, I offer today a sincere, heartfelt and unreserved apology. We are sorry.

“No words can ever make up for what has happened to you, but I hope this apology will bring you some measure of solace.

“It is the very least that you deserve – and it is long overdue.”

Background

First Minister’s speech to parliament

Following meetings with Ministers and campaigners, the Scottish Government last year encouraged people with direct experience of historical adoption practices to pass on their views and insight – online and through a questionnaire – about how they can best be supported.

The Scottish Government has committed funding of around £145,000 to provide specialist support and counselling. A proposal to establish peer groups has now been agreed. Research is also underway to identify how existing support services can be improved.

The Scottish Government is continuing to explore, with those affected, the key challenges they face in relation to adoption records.

Anyone who is impacted by trauma issues as a result of historical adoption practices can access information and advice from Health in Mind which provides a dedicated trauma support helpline on 07741 743971.

The staff have knowledge and understanding of trauma and its impacts, including on mental wellbeing.

April 17, 2023
Rishi Sunak – 2023 Speech on Mathematics

The speech made by Rishi Sunak, the Prime Minister, in London on 17 April 2023.

It’s great to be back at the London Screen Academy to celebrate the global powerhouse that is our film and television industry.

From Star Wars to Game of Thrones…

…007 to Top Gun Maverick…

…you name it, we make it.

And right here is where we’re training up the next generation of BAFTA winners…

….the producers, set designers, visual effects specialists…

…who are going to ensure the UK remains one of the most creative countries in the world.

Now the reason I’ve come here to talk about maths, is not just because I like maths.

But because what I am setting out today is a fundamental part of how we need to change our country for the future.

Now, one of my five priorities is economic growth.

And if we are going to grow our economy not just over the next two years, but the next twenty…

…we simply cannot allow poor numeracy to cost our economy tens of billions a year…

…or to leave people twice as likely to be unemployed as those with competent numeracy.

So, we have to fundamentally change our education system…

….so it gives our young people the knowledge and skills they need…

…and that our businesses need…

…to compete with the best in the world.

And there’s no better example of that than in our creative industries.

Because what’s the biggest skills shortage holding our film industry back?

As you heard from Gillian, it’s a shortage of technical skills.

And so what have the London Screen Academy put on the curriculum for their 16-to-19 year olds?

Maths.

Why?

Because you can’t make movies without maths.

You can’t make visual effects without vectors and matrices.

You can’t design a set without some geometry.

You can’t run a production company without being financially literate.

And that’s not just true of our creative industries. It’s true of so many of our industries.

In healthcare, maths allows you to calculate dosages.

In retail, data skills allow you to analyse sales and calculate discounts.

And the same is true in all our daily lives….

…from managing household budgets to understanding mobile phone contracts or mortgages.

We also know the benefits of maths for employability and earnings.

Even just basic numeracy skills can increase your earnings by around £1,600 a year.

Put simply, without a solid foundation in maths, our children risk being left behind…

…shut out of the careers they aspire to; and the lives they want to lead.

Now in the decade or so, we’ve gone up 10 places in the international league tables.

And maths has become the most popular of all A-Levels.

But it’s still the case that the UK is one of the least numerate countries in the developed world.

More than 8 million adults have numeracy skills below those expected of a 9 year old.

And around a third of our young people don’t pass maths GCSE.

And it’s not just that we’re not good enough at maths…

….there’s a cultural issue here too.

I’ll be honest, when my daughters first heard me talk about them doing more maths they weren’t too excited.

And that’s just it.

We make jokes about not being able to do maths.

It’s socially acceptable.

We say things like: “Oh, maths, I can’t do that, it’s not for me” – and everyone laughs.

But we’d never make a joke like that about not being able to read.

So we’ve got to change this anti-maths mindset.

We’ve got to start prizing numeracy for what it is – a key skill every bit as essential as reading.

So my campaign to transform our national approach to maths is not some nice to have.

It’s about changing how we value maths in this country.

And changing the way our education system works to deliver it…

….so that all our children get these vital skills for life.

Now, parents and teachers listening to this will want to know what that means for our children today.

So let me tell you.

We’re in the process of making maths more accessible, building our children’s confidence, so they don’t fear maths.

We’re creating more sector specific content that can excite young people about the relevance of maths for the careers that they aspire to…

…to help teachers bring maths to life in the classroom…

…from building sets for school plays to calculating the angles of free kicks or the speed of a formula one car.

We’re extending our Maths Hubs – unique partnerships of expert schools that support maths teaching.

And we’re strengthening maths in primary schools…

…including with a new fully funded professional qualification for those that are teaching it.

But we also need to address a very specific problem that’s causing us to fall behind the rest of the world.

We are one of the few developed countries where young people don’t routinely study some form of maths up to the age of 18.

They do it in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Finland, Japan, Norway and America.

Why should we accept any less for our children?

Of course, we shouldn’t.

That’s why I set out in January we are going to change the way our system works…

…so that everyone in our country will study some form of maths all the way to 18.

Now let me be absolutely clear – I am not saying the answer is A-Level maths for everyone.

But we do need to work out the maths our young people should study.

So we’re going to look at what 16-18 year olds around the world are learning.

And we’re going to listen to employers and ask them what they say the maths skills are that they need.

That’s why today I am appointing a new expert group….

…who will help us identify that core maths content that our 16-to-18 year olds need…

….and whether we need a new specific qualification to support that.

But to repeat: that will not be A-Level maths for all.

And let me also be clear that we’re not going to deliver this change overnight.

We’re going to need to recruit and train the maths teachers.

We’re going to work out how to harness technology that we need to support them.

And we’ll need to make sure this maths is additional to other subjects – not instead of them.

Just as here at the London Screen Academy, they don’t teach maths instead of the arts – they teach both.

Because they are complementary not contradictory.

So it will take time to implement this change.

But we are taking the first step today by identifying the maths content that will give our 16-to-18 year olds the skills they need to get on in life.

And when we have that, then we’ll come back with a detailed plan to deliver it.

I’ll just finish on a personal note.

Every opportunity I’ve had in life began with the education I was so fortunate to receive….

…and maths was a critical part of that.

And I knew it was important then.

And when I look at how the world is changing, it’s only going to be more important for my children – and yours.

So I won’t sit back and allow this cultural sense that it’s ok to be bad at maths to put our children at a disadvantage.

We’ve got to change this.

We’ve got to value maths, and what it can do for our children’s futures.

Giving our children a world class education is the single most important thing we can do.

It’s the closest thing we have to a silver bullet….

…the best economy policy, the best social policy, the best moral policy.

That’s why I’m proud that it’s our policy, and I will never stop striving to achieve it.

April 17, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : UK condemns sentencing of British-Russian Opposition Leader Vladimir Kara-Murza [April 2023]
The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 17 April 2023.

The UK has summoned the Russian Ambassador after the politically-motivated conviction and sentencing of British dual-national Vladimir Kara-Murza in a Moscow court today.
The United Kingdom has condemned the politically-motivated conviction and sentencing of British dual-national Vladimir Kara-Murza in a Moscow court today.

Vladimir Kara-Murza is an opposition politician, journalist, and human rights activist in Russia and he has received wide recognition for his work, including the Vaclav Havel Human Rights Prize.

He has previously faced two attempts to poison him. Mr Kara-Murza was arrested and jailed by Russian authorities in April 2022. He was convicted with politically motivated charges including spreading “knowingly false information” about the Russian armed forces; involvement with an “undesirable” organisation; and treason, and has been sentenced to 25 years in prison in Russian today.

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office has summoned the Russian Ambassador, Andrey Kelin, today. It will make clear that the UK considers Mr Kara-Murza’s conviction to be contrary to Russia’s international obligations on human rights, including the right to a fair trial.

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said:

Vladimir Kara-Murza bravely denounced Russia’s invasion of Ukraine for what it was – a blatant violation of international law and the UN Charter.

Russia’s lack of commitment to protecting fundamental human rights, including freedom of expression, is alarming. We continue to urge Russia to adhere to its international obligations including Vladimir Kara-Murza’s entitlement to proper healthcare.

I pay tribute to Mr Kara-Murza and his family, including his wife Evgenia and her unwavering commitment to raising her husband’s cause on the international stage. The UK will continue to support them and to call for Mr Kara-Murza’s immediate release.

The UK has already sanctioned the judge that presided over the trial for previous involvement in human rights violations, and will consider further measures for holding to account those involved in Vladimir Kara-Murza’s detention and mistreatment.

Background

British Embassy officials have attended Mr Kara-Murza’s court hearings in Moscow throughout the year. FCDO Officials have consistently raised Mr Kara-Murza’s case with the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Russian Embassy, and will continue to do so.

The UK sanctioned Sergei Podoprigorov, the judge that presided over Mr Kara-Murza’s trial, and Dmitry Komnov, the head of the detention centre where Mr Kara-Murza is being held, in 2020 under our Global Human Rights Regime for involvement in human rights violations against Sergei Magnitsky.

With international partners, the UK has invoked the OSCE’s Moscow Mechanism which evidenced Russia’s efforts to wage a campaign of repression against its own people. We are also taking forward the report’s recommendations, and have helped secure a United Nations Human Rights Council Special Rapporteur. They will be charged with undertaking country visits, acting on individual cases of reported violations and concerns of a broader nature, and raising public awareness and providing advice for technical cooperation.
April 17, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Environment and Climate Ministers of the G7 Countries agree actions to reverse biodiversity loss at G7 meeting in Japan [April 2023]

The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 17 April 2023.

G7 Environment and Climate Ministers committed to increase funding to support the developing world in protecting nature.

The Climate and Environment Ministers of the G7 have today (Sunday 16 April) agreed a joint statement to tackle global nature loss.

The meeting, held in Sapporo in Japan, was hosted by Mr Yasutoshi Nishimura, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, and Mr Akihiro Nisimura, Minister of the Environment.

Environment Secretary Thérèse Coffey and the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, Grant Shapps, attended in person. Guest countries included India, Indonesia and the UAE.

The G7 members committed to the swift and effective implementation of the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) – which the UK played a key role in agreeing in Montreal last year – demonstrating their collective leadership in halting and reversing biodiversity loss by 2030. They also highlighted the need to mobilise funding from all sources to support developing countries to protect nature.

The Environment Secretary called on her fellow ministers to deliver on their existing commitments to increase finance for nature to close the nature finance gap and scrap or repurpose environmentally harmful subsidies.

G7 ministers committed to dedicate a significant amount of international climate finance to nature-based solutions, delivering benefits for climate, people and nature. Ministers called on Multilateral Development Banks (MBDs) and International Financial Institutions (IFIs) to do the same, and for businesses to progressively reduce negative, and increase positive, impacts on biodiversity.

The commitments today showcase a step forward for nature and put an end to species extinction through increasing the mobilisation of resources, including private finance to fund the global effort to halt nature loss.

Speaking after the meeting, Environment Secretary Thérèse Coffey said:

The G7 have committed to the swift and effective implementation of the landmark Global Biodiversity Framework – which aims to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030.

Following this historic agreement reached at COP15 last year, I am delighted to have met my G7 counterparts today to discuss ways we can build on this as a global community and tackle the challenges we all face with meaningful and urgent action.

We have seen tremendous progress this weekend and it has been great to see our countries working together to raise our ambition and lead by example, each playing our part.

The group also committed to redouble efforts to increase action to end plastic pollution by 2040, halt and reverse forest loss by 2030, protect marine biodiversity in the high sea, and reduce pollution.

The Communique is published online on the Japanese Ministry of the Environment website.

April 17, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Government explores major reform to flagship renewables scheme to improve energy security and drive investment [April 2023]
The press release issued by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero on 17 April 2023.

Government seeking views on introducing Contracts for Difference reforms rewarding applicants for including factors not only based on price in projects.
- Potential reforms to Contracts for Difference could mean applicants would be rewarded for including wider benefits their projects could bring when submitting price bids to government for their low-carbon electricity
- these ‘non-price factors’ could include supply chain sustainability, addressing skills gaps and innovation, help drive investment in the sector and boost country’s energy security
- today’s step builds plans to create a more secure energy future and grow our economy, by supporting thriving green industries and high quality jobs
A major reform to the government’s flagship renewables scheme that could help drive further investment in renewable energy deployment and improve energy security is being explored in plans set out today (Monday 17 April).

The Contracts for Difference (CfD) scheme is the government’s mechanism for supporting new British low-carbon electricity generation projects, such as offshore wind and solar developers, and along with FIDER, an early form of the scheme, has awarded contracts to new low carbon projects in Britain with a total capacity of 26.1GW.

The competitive nature of the scheme has already proven successful at placing downward pressure on prices since the first auction was held, with the per unit (MWh) price of offshore wind dropping by almost 70% between the first auction in 2015 and the latest in 2022.

Currently, Contracts for Difference are awarded based on the bid price submitted by renewable energy generating stations, such as an offshore wind farm – the aim being to increase deployment and ensure good value to electricity consumers and, over time, drive down costs.

The government is now seeking evidence and views about reviewing applications not just on their ability to deliver low-cost renewable energy deployment, but also based on how much a renewable energy project contributes to the wider health of the renewable energy industry.

Read and respond to: Introducing non-price factors into the Contracts for Difference scheme: call for evidence.

These reforms could see applicants considering overall costs alongside other ‘non price factors’ – such as supply chain sustainability, addressing skills gaps, innovation and enabling system and grid flexibility and operability – when submitting their bids, which could help drive investment in the sector, grow the economy and boost the country’s energy security.

More investment in supply chain sustainability, for example, would help to reduce its carbon impact and access the resources and materials it needs to deploy sustainability at scale in the longer term. Investment to address the skills gaps would help to train the technicians needed to deploy ever larger renewable energy generation stages.

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

Our flagship Contracts for Difference scheme has been hugely successful in supporting British low-carbon electricity generation, while also driving down costs for the benefit of consumers.

But we want to go further to ensure we maximise the scheme’s potential to improve energy security and ensure renewable energy developers can make the necessary investment in supply chains and innovation, which will ultimately make for a stronger sector and help our economy to grow.

This potential reform to the scheme to introduce non-price factors presents a solution to grow the renewable energy supply chain as we accelerate our energy transition plans to power more of Britain from Britain.

This Call for Evidence is part of our work to continue to evolve the CfD scheme as we consider long-term market arrangements through the Review of Electricity Market Arrangements (REMA).

Building a more secure energy future with thriving green industries will also have the knock on effect of helping to deliver on our promise to grow our economy and create good jobs across the country, with billions of pounds in private investment and 68,000 green jobs supported since late 2020.

The government is exploring introducing non-price factors into the CfD auction allocation process following recommendations made in Chris Skidmore’s Net Zero Review and the report earlier this month from the Offshore Wind Champion Tim Pick.

If, following this Call for Evidence, appropriate changes to the CfD scheme have been identified and deemed more effective than other potential policy levers, the government will launch a consultation on more detailed proposals.

CfDs have already helped accelerate plans to diversify, decarbonise and domesticate our energy supplies, with the last round (AR4) securing almost 11GW of low carbon capacity – enough to generate sufficient electricity to power 12 million British homes.

Last month, the government committed a further budget of £205 million to the scheme for the fifth allocation round (AR5), confirming another year of significant financial backing by government for green industries and jobs.

Tim Pick, who recently completed his term as the Offshore Wind Champion, said :

I very much welcome this Call for Evidence. As noted in my recent report, price-only CfD auctions have created a strong driver for innovation to drive down costs, but there is a need in the current climate to consider how to better develop new supply chains and associated jobs.

The current global context arguably provides the justification for considering a more nuanced approach as part of a wider package of measures, especially as we seek to seize a first-mover advantage in the deployment of floating offshore wind technology at scale.

Adam Berman, Deputy Director for Advocacy at Energy UK, said:

The Contracts for Difference (CfD) programme has played a key role in ensuring the UK’s position as a global leader in low carbon technologies. But factors such as inflation, commodity price increases, and pressure from international competition mean that the UK will have to continue working hard to pull in the investment required to reach our Net Zero and energy security goals. We welcome the government’s ambition to build on the success of the CfD programme by recognising that the cost of delivering new renewables projects has risen significantly over recent months.

If designed appropriately, the inclusion of new factors in the CfD could improve investment certainty for low carbon projects, boosting energy security as well as ensuring that all parts of the UK benefit from the jobs, skills, and supply chain opportunities these multi-billion pound investments bring.
April 17, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Inclusive Britain actions delivered to tackle racial disparities and level up communities [April 2023]
The press release issued by the Cabinet Office on 17 April 2023.

Kemi Badenoch MP, Minister for Women and Equalities, has announced that 32 of the Inclusive Britain action plan measures have been completed one year after the strategy was published.
- Minister Kemi Badenoch sets out a year of action to deliver on mission to tackle unfair disparities
- Update report announces that 32 of 74 actions have been delivered
- New ethnicity pay gap guidance and advice for employers published today
The government has funded a national recruitment campaign to find more adoptive parents, including those from an ethnic minority background, to improve adoption rates for ethnic minority children. The latest data shows that the number of ethnic minority approved adopters has increased from 450 at March 2020 to 670 at March 2022.

Alongside this the government is backing the trial of an automatic ‘opt-in’ for young people to receive independent legal advice in police custody, and has published the ambitious schools’ white paper, which sets out how the government will raise standards and improve grades in reading, writing and maths, benefiting the ethnic minority groups who are overrepresented amongst pupils not meeting expected literacy and numeracy standards in schools.

Last spring the government set out the ground-breaking, measurable and deliverable Inclusive Britain action plan, in response to the report by the Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities.

It set out 74 ambitious, cross-government steps to tackle unjust disparities, promote fairness, build trust, and level up communities.

Minister for Women and Equalities, Kemi Badenoch, said:

The concrete actions we have delivered over the last year are improving people’s day-to-day lives, but I know that we need to do more to tackle disparities and build people’s trust in our great institutions.

The groundbreaking Inclusive Britain Action Plan was an excellent first step, and we will continue to deliver on its promises, tackling the complex causes behind racial disparities with data-driven action.

We must all work together to ensure no-one is held back by their race, social or ethnic background.

Other measures covered in today’s report include:
- New guidance for employers on the ethnicity pay gap – published today. It sets out a voluntary system to measure, report on and address any unfair ethnicity pay gaps within their workforce to offer support for businesses. The government’s approach provides assistance to businesses and employers in this area, while adding no additional burdens to those generating jobs and prosperity for the whole country.
- Improving the stop and search process through new public and personal safety training for police officers which includes developed de-escalation and communication skills to boost the quality of policing across the country;
- Appointing an expert panel to develop a new exemplar history curriculum to widen children’s knowledge and foster cohesion.
- Highlighting stop and search disparities by publishing new data and analysis, including disparity analysis by force (allowing comparisons to be made) and by reason for search, and analysis of the relationship between stop and search and economic deprivation.
There is more work to be done to tackle disparities and to build trust in institutions. The government will continue its work to deliver the remaining actions in Inclusive Britain over the next 12 months. Action will tie in to major landmarks this year, including the 75th anniversary of the arrival of the Empire Windrush, in order to further promote and celebrate the UK’s diversity.
April 17, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : UK Space Agency funding for international space partnerships [April 2023]

The press release issued by the UK Space Agency on 17 April 2023.

The UK Space Agency is launching a £20 million fund to support international partnerships that will harness the UK’s national strengths, support new space capabilities and catalyse investment.

Up to £2 million will initially be available from the International Bilateral Fund (IBF) to help strengthen the space sector’s partnerships with other space nations, with further funding to be made available over the next two years, it was announced on the opening day of the Space Symposium conference in the US (17 April 2023).

The IBF is the UK Space Agency’s first dedicated fund focused on building and strengthening the UK’s relationships with strategically important international partners and partners from emerging space nations.

The funding is available to industry, academia and research organisations to work with international partners on projects that could help, for example, bring new services to market or support cutting-edge research.

Minister of State at the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology, George Freeman, said:

The global commercial space tech sector is growing fast creating big opportunities for the UK to convert our longstanding space science excellence into a fast-growing commercial industry.

That’s why we set out a commitment in our 10-year National Space Strategy to make the UK one of the world’s most innovative and attractive space economies – through our £2 billion public investment and through deepening international partnerships in areas like Earth observation, space debris and space traffic control.

Backed by £20 million in government funding, these international partnerships will boost our commercial and scientific endeavours as we work with some of the world’s most dynamic space economies, creating more jobs and generating investment in the UK.

This first tranche of funding will support approximately 30 projects, with up to £75,000 each, which will be overseen by the UK Space Agency in collaboration with the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC).

These projects will build relationships between UK organisations and international counterparts and stimulate knowledge exchange, engagement and collaboration.

Successful phase one proposals could then secure a second tranche of IBF funding, where up to £1.5 million will be available for a period of 12 months to catalyse innovation across international partnerships.

Dr Paul Bate, Chief Executive of the UK Space Agency, said:

Successful international partnerships support our work to catalyse investment, deliver new missions and capabilities, and champion the power of space to improve lives.

This new fund will help unlock cross-border innovation, promote the exchange of knowledge, and strengthen the UK space sector’s relationships with strategic partners. Together we can maximise the vast potential of space to benefit people and businesses on Earth.

The UK Space Agency is particularly interested in proposals involving the USA, Canada, Australia and Japan, but will consider strong proposals from elsewhere in the world.

April 17, 2023