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Tag: 2023

  • PRESS RELEASE : Minister for Armed Forces calls out Russian aggression during OSCE Ministerial Council [November 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Minister for Armed Forces calls out Russian aggression during OSCE Ministerial Council [November 2023]

    The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 30 November 2023.

    Minister for Armed Forces attends OSCE Ministerial Council in North Macedonia to call out Russian aggression across Europe.

    • Minister for Armed Forces attends OSCE Ministerial Council in North Macedonia to call out Russian aggression across Europe.
    • During the meeting, James Heappey addressed the Council to highlight the UK’s resolute support for Ukraine – urging a united approach.
    • He reaffirmed the UK’s strong support for the OSCE and its leadership – highlighting Russia’s responsibility for undermining the institution.
    • In a meeting with the Minister of Defence of North Macedonia, he reaffirmed the UK’s commitment to our bilateral defence relationship.

    Minister for Armed Forces James Heappey travelled to Skopje, North Macedonia this week for the opening of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Ministerial Council.

    Addressing OSCE participating states, the Minister underlined the value of the OSCE as a key pillar of Euro-Atlantic security, covering all aspects of security – from border security to election observation and minority rights.

    Minister for the Armed Forces James Heappey said:

    The OSCE holds a vital role as a mechanism through which participant nations can hold Russia to account.

    During the meeting of the Ministerial Council, I made clear the UK’s support for Ukraine is resolute, and we continue to encourage our partners and allies to continue their support for Ukraine and condemnation of Putin’s barbaric actions.

    During his visit to Skopje, the Minister also met with the Minister of Defence of North Macedonia, Slavjanka Petrovska. They discussed the UK’s long-standing support for the Armed Forces of North Macedonia, the security situation in the Western Balkans and the ongoing war in Ukraine.

    The Minister stressed that the UK remains committed to supporting North Macedonia with its NATO integration and thanked North Macedonia for its strong support for Ukraine, both in equipment and training of Ukrainian recruits.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Countdown to Christmas kicked off in Downing Street [November 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Countdown to Christmas kicked off in Downing Street [November 2023]

    The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 30 November 2023.

    The Prime Minister has been joined by businesses, charities and community groups in a festive celebration at Downing Street, where he also switched on the Christmas lights outside Number 10.

    He was joined by military families, Points of Light award winners who have been commended for their charitable work, business students, and the owners of Dartmoor Christmas Tree Farm who provided Downing Street’s Christmas Tree.

    During the event, Downing Street was transformed into a Christmas market with stalls from a wide range of British businesses showcasing their products, including Mixpixie, Joy by Corrine Smith and Create Gift Love from online retailer Not on The High Street.

    Guests also enjoyed food and drink from businesses across the UK including Forest Feast from Northern Ireland, Slainte Sauce from Scotland, Mijmoj from Wales and Mocha Chocolate from Yorkshire, while listening to festive musicfrom the London Community Gospel Choir and a military band.

    The Prime Minister and Ms Murty visited the market stalls and spoke to guests after leading a countdown to turn on the festive lights.

    Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said:

    Christmas is a very special time of the year where family and friends near and far come together to make new memories, share good food and give thanks.

    I am delighted to welcome some fantastic small businesses, charities and local communities to Downing Street today to mark this special occasion and celebrate the joy of Christmas. This event is also especially important as we look ahead to Small Business Saturday, which is a great opportunity to showcase the huge impact independent businesses have in driving growth and opportunity in our communities.

    From my family to yours, I wish you a very happy Christmas and a prosperous year ahead.

    This year’s Christmas tree was provided by Dartmoor Christmas Tree Farm, after they were crowned Champion Christmas Tree Grower of the Year 2023. For over 20 years, BCTGA has provided the tree to stand outside Downing Street.

    Friezeland Christmas Tree Farm, in Warwickshire, provided the wreath for the Number 10 front door after winning the Champion Festive Wreath of the Year 2023.

    Ministers from across Government attended and spoke to businesses showcased at the festive event, who were also invited to a meeting with the Minister for Enterprise, Markets and Small Business, Kevin Hollinrake, to discuss how the Government can continue to support small businesses.

    Elizabeth Graves, Owner of Mocha Chocolate said:

    I’m really excited to be part of the Christmas Showcase event in Downing Street today. My chocolate making business and cafes are located in the market town of Richmond in the Prime Minister’s constituency in North Yorkshire, and we have been fortunate to meet with him on several occasions including the time he visited our new premises and made chocolate bars with us.

    Today is also a fantastic opportunity to meet with the Minister for Enterprise, Markets and Small Business to discuss the ongoing challenges for small businesses and how the Government can assist in helping us to expand and thrive.

    This event comes ahead of Small Business Saturday, which is an annual grassroots campaign that encourages people to support small businesses in their communities. To mark the day, ministers will visit independent businesses from across the UK to recognise the value they bring to our daily lives.

    It follows a significant package of support for small businesses in the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement, which included £4.3 billion over the next 5 years to help our high streets and protect small businesses, building a stronger and more resilient economy.

    Michelle Ovens CBE, Director of Small Business Saturday UK said:

    Like the wonderful Christmas lights that were switched on at Downing Street, the nation’s 5.5 million small businesses sparkle and shine across the UK. It was fantastic to see the contribution that these businesses make to our local communities and the wider economy highlighted by the Prime Minister at this Christmas showcase.

    This Small Business Saturday we all need to throw our support behind our favourite small businesses and celebrate all the special things they bring to our lives.

  • Rishi Sunak – 2023 Comments on the Death of Henry Kissinger

    Rishi Sunak – 2023 Comments on the Death of Henry Kissinger

    The comments made by Rishi Sunak, the Prime Minister, on 30 November 2023.

    I had the great pleasure of spending time with Dr Kissinger at No10 earlier this year. I learned so much from him, from studying his work as a student to reading his most recent books as Prime Minister.

    Henry had a great affinity for and understanding of the UK, with many friends and admirers here. He was a titan of international diplomacy who led a remarkable life.

    Right until his 100th year, he was a source of great wisdom on subjects from geopolitics to AI. Our thoughts are with his family.

  • PRESS RELEASE : New planning rules to boost solar rollout and slash energy bills [November 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : New planning rules to boost solar rollout and slash energy bills [November 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities on 30 November 2023.

    Homeowners will be able to install rooftop solar panels more easily without costly planning delays.

    Changes to permitted development rights rules will mean more homeowners and businesses will be able to install solar panels on their roofs without going through the planning system.

    Currently those who have to go through the planning system are having to wait over eight weeks and face extra costs.

    The move will encourage more people to install solar panels on their properties, slashing their energy bills in the process and cutting down on harmful emissions.

    Housing and Planning Minister Lee Rowley MP said:

    We must make sure our homes are fit for the future and can help us meet our net zero ambitions.

    By cutting red-tape in the planning system we can make sure homeowners and businesses can install solar panels without being held up by costly delays. Crucially, these permitted development rights are still subject to important conditions, including their use in conservation areas.

    Energy Security and Net Zero Minister Graham Stuart MP said:

    Today we are cutting through red tape to make it easier for businesses to install solar panels on their rooftops.

    Removing the 1MW restriction for industrial rooftop solar will help us meet our target of 70GW of solar power by 2035 while supporting hundreds of long-term skilled British jobs, bolstering our world-leading renewables sector and reducing bills for consumers with panels.

    The changes will mean homes with flat roofs will be able to install panels without planning permission, bringing rules in line with those for businesses.

    Current rules that require businesses to apply for planning permission if solar panels will generate more than one megawatt of electricity will also be scrapped, meaning organisations will be able to install more solar panels on rooftops without the delay and cost of applying for planning permission.

    The Government is clear that where possible already developed land should be used for solar panels, which is why the changes will make it easier for panels to be installed in canopies above car parks, if they are over ten meters away from people’s homes.

    The changes to permitted development rights build on government action to speed up the planning system and slash bureaucracy, as set out in the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act which is now law.

    These measures also support ambitions set out in the British Energy Security Strategy published by government last year – taking the necessary steps to combat climate change and bring greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050.

  • PRESS RELEASE : World first agreement to tackle online fraud [November 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : World first agreement to tackle online fraud [November 2023]

    The press release issued by the Home Office on 30 November 2023.

    The UK government and some of the world’s biggest tech companies have agreed a series of pledges to protect the public from online fraud.

    People across the UK will be better protected from online scams, fake adverts and romance fraud as the world’s biggest tech companies pledge to take additional action to block and remove fraudulent content from their sites.

    With fraud being the most common crime in the UK, the government has joined forces with leading tech companies – Amazon, eBay, Facebook, Google, Instagram, LinkedIn, Match Group, Microsoft, Snapchat, TikTok, X (Twitter) and YouTube – to develop and commit to the Online Fraud Charter, the first agreement of its kind in the world.

    Services have committed to bring in a raft of measures to help protect people from fraud and scam content when using their sites. Actions include verifying new advertisers and promptly removing any fraudulent content. There will also be increased levels of verification on peer-to-peer marketplaces, and people using online dating services will have the opportunity to prove they are who they say they are.

    The charter will be supported by tough action to crack down on illegal adverts and ads for age-restricted products, such as alcohol or gambling, being seen by children. An action plan, agreed by the Online Advertising Taskforce, will be published today, setting out steps industry and government are taking to tackle harms and increase protections for children. This includes developing a base of evidence, improving information sharing and promoting industry best practice.

    Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak said:

    Fraud is now the most common crime in the UK, with online scammers targeting the most vulnerable in society.

    We have already taken action to go after these unscrupulous criminals, launching our Fraud Strategy and deploying a National Fraud Squad made up of 400 dedicated officers, all backed by £400 million.

    For the first time, we are beginning to see a drop in fraud cases, but we must do more.

    By joining forces with these tech giants we will continue to crack down on fraudsters, making sure they have nowhere to hide online.

    Home Secretary James Cleverly said:

    The Online Fraud Charter is a big step forward in our efforts to protect the public from sophisticated, adaptable and highly organised criminals.

    An agreement of this kind has never been done on this scale before and I am exceptionally pleased to see tech firms working with us to turn the tide against fraudsters.

    Our work does not end here – I will continue to ensure we collaborate across government, and with law enforcement and the private sector, to ensure everyone in the UK is better protected from fraud.

    Security Minister Tom Tugendhat said:

    This is a very welcome commitment which has been created thanks to our close collaboration with some of the world’s biggest, and best, tech companies.

    I have every confidence this charter will be an important step forward in our collective efforts to protect the public from fraud.

    Creative Industries Minister John Whittingdale said:

    Whether it’s fake celebrity endorsements or scam ads, we have a plan to shut down illegal online adverts putting people and their money at risk.

    Created in partnership with industry through the Online Advertising Taskforce, our action plan published today sets out steps the sector and government are taking to help keep people safe and toughen up protections for children.

    The Home Secretary and Anti-Fraud Champion Anthony Browne will met with senior representatives from these firms to sign the charter at Lancaster House this morning (30 November).

    The agreement has come following extensive discussions between the government, the private sector and law enforcement, spearheaded by Security Minister Tom Tugendhat and Anti-Fraud Champion Anthony Browne.

    In addition to clamping down on scam posts offering goods and services, each signatory has pledged to work closely with law enforcement in their efforts to target fraudsters.

    The tech firms will also commit to running direct routes for law enforcement to report suspicious activity taking place on the services, making it easier to quickly identify and remove fraudulent content and protect users.

    Fraud accounts for around 40% of all crime in England and Wales, with data from UK Finance showing almost 80% of all authorised pushed payment fraud originates from social media or a fake website.

    Antony Walker, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of techUK said:

    We are pleased to have worked at pace with the government in the development of the Online Fraud Charter which will improve the coordination of actions by tech firms to tackle online fraud.

    The charter builds on measures that tech firms already have in place to defend against online fraud and will enable better and more consistent cooperation between the private sector, government and law enforcement.

    The nature of online fraud is constantly evolving and tech companies are continually adapting and improving their approaches to combat this criminal activity.

    Fraud is the most common crime in the UK, accounting for 40% of all crime in England and Wales. Last year, one in 17 reported being a victim of fraud, with over 3 million fraud incidents recorded.

    Today’s announcement builds on government action already taken to tackle fraud, with the latest Crime Survey in England and Wales showing incidents of fraud fell by 13% in a year.

    Martin Lewis, founder of MoneySavingExpert.com, said:

    We are in the midst of an epidemic of scams, which not only devastate people’s financial lives, but their mental health and sense of self-esteem too.

    I’ve long called for regulation and law changes to make these big tech firms step up to the plate and deny these scammers the oxygen of publicity. So I am pleased at the signing of this voluntary agreement, which is adopting many of the scam ad protection measures we’ve been calling for – such as 2 click reporting, and advertiser and site destination verification.

    We will be watching closely to check these companies work hard, and work together to make good on their promises.

    Temporary Assistant Commissioner Nik Adams, from City of London Police, said:

    As the national lead police force for fraud, we welcome the Online Fraud Charter.

    This charter goes further in supporting a whole system approach to effectively tackle fraud, by establishing a network of major online companies to join with law enforcement in helping to protect the public from criminals who would exploit them.

    This charter has measures that will empower the public and increase their confidence in using online platforms, knowing that tech companies and policing are working to help keep them safe.

    All signatories of the charter, which is a voluntary commitment, have pledged to implement the measures which apply to their companies within 6 months.

    The United Kingdom will continue to take the global lead in the fight against fraud, with the Security Minister due to host a global summit in London in 2024.

  • Steve Barclay – 2023 Speech at the Country Land and Business Association’s Rural Business Conference

    Steve Barclay – 2023 Speech at the Country Land and Business Association’s Rural Business Conference

    The speech made by Steve Barclay, the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, on 30 November 2023.

    Thank you, Jonathan.

    It was great to meet with you and with Victoria in my first few days in post and as you just referenced I’m also really pleased to be able to join for my first speech as Secretary of State, here for the CLA Conference.

    As a rural MP, as someone who lives with his family in the countryside, I know and appreciated, first hand how important our countryside is and I’m delighted to champion the countryside and what it contributes to our country and our way of life.

    And I know in representing rural communities the CLA brings over 100 years of experience, collective expertise, the sort of first-hand knowledge you don’t acquire behind a Whitehall desk. And I want to listen and learn from that experience as we work together to exercise the greater freedom that we have in setting policy for rural areas.

    And in particular to empower more, and to burden less, when it comes to running your businesses and taking care of the land.

    Now, first and foremost when I think about rural communities I think of the essential importance of keeping people fed. And the resilience and food security that we saw was so essential during the Covid pandemic.

    Farming contributes a whopping £127 billion to the economy. But the importance of farming isn’t just about its economic value, it’s at the heart of meeting our ambitions in terms of targets to tackle climate change, and in terms of making and securing nature and how it can thrive.

    Now we have many commitments in our National Food Strategy to produce at least 60% of the food we consume, and this was backed up by the Farm to Fork Summit that was held in Downing Street in May after which we published our action plan.

    And indeed we are investing £2.4 billion a year in England, in the farming sector, with a commitment to maintaining total level of support and helping farmers to be profitable whilst also producing food sustainably and protecting the countryside that we treasure.

    We’re taking action on things that I know matter to you, such as supporting small abattoirs. And I can confirm that we will be launching our £4 million fund by the end of the year, and we will be working with you to increase fairness in the supply chain.

    And we have consulted on updating buying standards for public sector food as well, so farmers who are part of our Environmental Land Management schemes should be well placed to benefit from any change that we may announce in the coming months.

    And I have always been clear that we need to protect our farmers.

    Indeed as Health Secretary, I blocked a proposal which was to allow schools to impose a vegetarian diet, because to me food is a key part and a valuable sector within the economy, but it is also an important part of our diet too.

    So as Health Secretary I blocked the proposals which would have allowed the imposition of that in certain schools.

    Now fundamentally, I want the way we produce food to be sustainable for people and for the planet.

    And as we leave behind the EU’s bureaucratic Common Agricultural Policy, we must continue to make the most of our new found freedoms and to work with farmers – including many in this room – to design and refine new flexible and accessible Environmental Land Management schemes, focusing on Countryside Stewardship and the Sustainable Farming Incentive.

    We are accepting applications for the expanded and improved Sustainable Farming Incentive with 3,000 now submitted, nearly 2,150 offers now issued and counting, 1,700 now accepted and 800 of you already cracking on.

    And at Back British Farming Day, we announced that advanced payments of a quarter of the first year’s SFI will be made and indeed have been making their way to bank accounts in October and November, and more will be going out in December too.

    We have already extended accessibility to ELMs for tenant farmers and we will continue to work with tenant farmers and land owners to identify and remove barriers so that you can work together effectively.

    That includes allowing farming to continue on historic sites as it has indeed for centuries.

    And I am delighted to say that an increasing number of farmers are now taking part in our Environmental Land Management schemes, with 32,000 Countryside Stewardship agreements successfully in place across England this year – that is a 94% increase since 2020, and over 6,000 applications have indeed been received this year.

    I want to confirm that SFI will not be capped, and there is something for everyone – so I encourage all of you to take a look, and apply, if indeed you haven’t already done so.

    And as these schemes grow, the sector will be increasingly well-placed to benefit from private investment in everything from woodland creation to peatland restoration as we work to reach our target of stimulating at least £500 million of private sector investment into nature recovery in England. That is each year by 2027, with the aim to rise to at least £1bn each year by 2030.

    And I know that the CLA and many of your members are right at the forefront of this as well.

    The first two rounds of our Investment Readiness Fund have provided grants of up to £100,000 each, to get 86 nature projects across England to the point that they are ready to attract private capital.

    It is great that farmers are at the heart of around a quarter of those.

    Today, I am delighted to launch a third round, that will make a further £5 million available, specifically to support the efforts of farmers and rural businesses, with individual grants of up to £100,000 that will help you to attract investment from the private sector.

    Applying for one of those grants or schemes does not disbar you from the others – far from it. And our hope is that that they will be mutually reinforcing, as you choose what works best for your business.

    Today, I want to say a bit more on how we are investing in modern farming techniques, infrastructure, and innovation – alongside support for further research and development.

    Now this makes a difference to the productivity, to resilience, and in particular to the sustainability of businesses.

    And when I visited the robotics firm Muddy Machines last week, they showed how the talent of our brightest scientists can unlock a new generation of automation.

    Where there are barriers stopping game-changing innovations from getting out of labs and onto farms, whether it’s needless regulation or slow grant applications, tearing down those barriers down will be at the heart of my approach.

    This year, we are investing over £168 million through 16 grant funds.

    As of this summer, we have committed over £123 million of funding to industry-led research and development for agricultural and horticulture.

    And today, I am delighted to announce a further £45 million of funding for farming innovation.

    That includes £30 million to help farmers invest in robotics and automation to make processes like harvesting and milking more efficient, and for the first time, roof-top solar equipment to help improve the sustainability and resilience of your energy supply, and storage to help keep slurry out of our watercourses and bring down emissions.

    And this follows our announcement of up to £30 million investment for the Genetic Improvement Network at the Farm to Fork summit, building indeed on the £8 million invested over the last five years and the passing of the Genetic Technology Precision Breeding Act.

    And watch this space for more in 2024 when we will want to see applications for a share of further funding, specifically for testing and trialling the new technology and techniques that we want to see adopted at pace onto farms.

    All of this will help us make careers in the sector more promising for the next generation who need to be trained up now, it will help maintain our world-leading animal welfare standards, it will strengthen our rural economy, and it will improve our global competitiveness as well.

    And it’s not just farming that makes a massive difference to our shared prosperity. I know that the rural economy is about so much more than farms – it’s about tourism, hospitality, rural manufacturing, and of course the food sector as a whole.

    From Scottish salmon and whiskey, to Welsh Lamb, to Northern Ireland beef, to English sparkling wine. Indeed when I was Chief Secretary, I sent an instruction to our embassies that they will serve English sparkling wine not French champagne.

    Because British food and drink gets a massive vote of confidence from consumers around the world – with exports bringing £24 billion to the British economy, and counting.

    We have had success stories in opening up new markets including securing access for British lamb to the US.

    And following our commitments at the Farm to Fork Summit, we are appointing an additional five agri-food attachés to boost the UK’s agri-food exports, bringing the total number of to 16 – with new posts to help unlock key markets in northern Europe, southern Europe, Australia/New Zealand, South Korea, and Africa.

    They have all just been back to the UK to make sure they are up to speed with the latest plans, and we hope to see progress in the metrics by which we measure export sales in coming months and also to help more rural businesses as they make the leap into exporting.

    So in conclusion, I just want to say firstly how incredibly impressed I am by the passion and innovation showcased here – and that I will be saying more about the countryside in the months ahead.

    I will continue to come and see, as I have already been doing, farms and businesses and to listen to you as we refine our schemes, and to seek to make your lives easier.

    My pledge to you is that this government will always back British farmers who produce some of the highest quality food in the world, who contribute billions to our economy, and to whom we all owe a debt of gratitude for taking care of the countryside that they do.

    So we are forging ahead with our new farming schemes.

    And in everything we do, our aim is back a profitable and sustainable food and farming sector that supports all that you do, now and for future generations.

    So, thank you for all that you do, and let us continue to work together. Let’s adopt innovation at pace, lets ensure we back British farmers.

    Thank you.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Record National Insurance cut arrives in less than six weeks [November 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Record National Insurance cut arrives in less than six weeks [November 2023]

    The press release issued by HM Treasury on 30 November 2023.

    The National Insurance Contributions (Reduction in Rates) Bill is being debated in the Commons today (November 11).

    • 27 million employees to receive largest ever cut to National Insurance on 6 January 2024
    • Today, the House of Commons will debate the National Insurance Contributions (Reduction in Rates) Bill, with the average employee and self-employed set to get an extra £450 a year and £350 a year
    • £9 billion a year tax cut means that personal taxes on the average salary are set to be lower in the UK than every other major economy

    The National Insurance Contributions (Reduction in Rates) Bill will be debated in the Commons today (November 11) to implement the largest ever cut to National Insurance from 6 January 2024 – less than six weeks’ time from today.

    The Bill will be debated throughout the day with Members voting on the Bill this evening. It will then go to the Lords in the middle of December before receiving Royal Assent thereafter.

    Reducing Class 1 National Insurance from 12 per cent to 10 per cent will reward work, meaning 27 million employees will effectively pay over 15 per cent less on National Insurance.

    To the average employee on a salary of £35,400 this will be worth £450 a year, improving living standards and reducing the current combined tax rate of 32% for employees paying the basic rate of tax to 30% – the lowest since the 1980s.

    Chancellor of the Exchequer, Jeremy Hunt, said:

    “I’ve been clear from the start that I want to cut taxes. Now, having met our pledge to halve inflation, taxes can be cut in a responsible way that rewards work and helps grow our economy.”

    These changes will mean that, for those on average salaries, personal taxes would be lower in the UK than every other G7 country, based on the most recent OECD data.

    Taxes for the self-employed will also be cut and reformed. From 6 April 2024, Class 4 NICs for the self-employed will be reduced from 9% to 8% and no self-employed person will have to pay Class 2 NICs, simplifying the tax system and saving the average self-employed person on £28,200 a year £350 in 2024/25.

    The changes will see an average full-time nurse on £38,900 receive an annual gain of over £520; an average teacher on £44,300 would receive an additional £630 a year; and a typical self-employed plumber on £34,400 would be £410 better off as a result of these cuts.

    Further information

    • Those self-employed people with profits between £6,725 and £12,570 will continue to get access to contributory benefits including the State Pension through a National Insurance credit without paying NICs, as they do currently.
    • Those self-employed individuals with profits under £6,725 and others who pay Class 2 NICs voluntarily to get access to contributory benefits including the State Pension, will continue to be able to do so. The weekly rate they pay will be frozen at £3.45 for 2024-25, rather than rising by CPI to £3.70.
    • Other individuals will continue to be able to pay voluntary Class 3 NICs to help fill gaps in their National Insurance record to qualify for the State Pension, exactly as before. The Class 3 rate will also be frozen at £17.45 per week for 2024-25.
    • Further information can be found in the National Insurance Factsheet.
  • PRESS RELEASE : Environment Secretary announces further £45 million for farming innovation as he sets out commitment to champion British agriculture [November 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Environment Secretary announces further £45 million for farming innovation as he sets out commitment to champion British agriculture [November 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 30 November 2023.

    Steve Barclay pledges to champion British agriculture in first speech to farmers, with a focus on innovation and automation to boost productivity.

    The Environment Secretary Steve Barclay has used his first major speech to set out his commitment to backing British farmers and being on the side of rural businesses.

    In his keynote speech at the Country Land and Business Association conference in London today (30 November), the Environment Secretary set out his vision for an innovative and productive agriculture sector, supporting the sector to continue to develop into a more sustainable and profitable industry.

    Almost £45 million in competitions and grants are set to open in the coming weeks as part of the Government’s £168 million investment this year to support farmers to foster innovation, boost productivity and improve animal welfare.

    This includes an initial £30 million on offer in the second round of the Improving Farming Productivity Grant, providing capital grants of £25,000 – £500,000 towards robotic and automatic equipment, with further funding potentially available depending on levels of interest. For the first time, it will also fund grants of between £15,000 and £100,000 towards solar equipment which can be fitted on rooftops and float on irrigation reservoirs, helping increase energy resilience and take-up of renewable energy generation on farms.

    Almost £8 million will also be available in the third round of the Large R&D Partnership, a competition specifically designed to boost industrial research and experimental development projects, and a further £850,000 through the Research Starter Round 4 competition to identify and accelerate new agricultural solutions, funding growers or foresters who have bold, ambitious, early-stage ideas.

    By enabling some of the UK’s most promising innovation and research initiatives to get off the ground, this funding will not only see our farmers become more efficient and productive, but will also equip them with the knowledge and tools to maintain our high degree of food security.

    Speaking at the Country Land and Business Association Rural Business Conference in London, Environment Secretary Steve Barclay said:

    My pledge to you is that this government will always back British farmers who produce some of the highest quality food in the world, contribute billions to our economy, and to whom we all owe a debt of gratitude for taking care of our countryside.

    In addition, the Environment Secretary also launched the third round of the Natural Environment Investment Readiness Fund (NEIRF). With individual grants of up to £100,000 on offer from a total £5 million, this round has been designed specifically to support farmers to prepare nature projects that will help attract investment from the private sector.

    This is a further step forward in meeting the Government’s target to stimulate at least £500 million of private sector investment into nature recovery in England each year by 2027 – rising to at least £1 billion each year by 2030.

    Alongside these new competitions opening in the coming weeks, 2024 will see the extension of the Farming Innovation Programme grants to include the Accelerating Development of Practices and Technologies (ADOPT) fund, where businesses will be able to apply for a share of £44 million to test and trial new technology and techniques on farms.

    Today’s announcement builds on the success of previous competition and grant rounds, with winners already driving practical examples of innovation and automation across the sector.

    Defra’s Farming Innovation Programme, run in partnership with Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), has committed over £125 million in funding to date and supported 150 projects involving 400 organisations.

    This includes Bradley Farms in partnership with Harper Adam’s University who are combining advanced robotics and intelligent software to create ‘The Fieldsman’ – a robot that seeks to drive productivity by navigating autonomously through blueberry plantations to collect crucial data on crop production, growth, health and yields.

    H.L. Hutchinson Limited, successful in the second round of the Large R&D partnerships, are developing new systems for measuring and assessing fruit tree status. This aims to transform the tree fruit industry and deliver new levels of environmentally sustainable crop production, increasing efficiency and yield while lowering cost and environmental impacts.

    Meanwhile, through the Improving Farming Productivity Grant – part of the Farming Investment Fund – Woodcote Farming Ltd were able to purchase two ‘Farmdroid’ robots to plant flowers and weed their fields, enabling their business to produce a higher yielding crop while reducing reliance on labour and pesticide usage.

    Jim Bubb from Woodcote Farming Ltd said:

    Being successful in the farm productivity grant took our business to the next level. Purchasing our Farmdroid robot with the help of the grant has revolutionised the way we grow crops.

    Weeding by hand has been significantly reduced and we can look forward to a sustainable future, reducing requirements on labour, improving the environment and producing a better crop.

    Round 2 of the Natural Environment Investment Readiness Fund also saw the Environmental Farmers Group (EFG) receive £100,000 in funding to establish the Green Avon Valley Project to help farmers understand natural capital assets. Launched in May 2022, the EFG completed its first trade in March 2023 and now comprises 257 farmers and covers 140,000 hectares.

    The NEIRF grants can be used to help farmers blend public and private investment, complementing the Government’s environmental land management schemes which are designed to be compatible with the growing market for environmental outcomes, where scheme participants can earn income from public and private sector sources for things such as carbon sequestration or payments for natural flood management.

    The Government’s funding in innovation and technology forms part of the £2.4 billion being invested to support the sector every year to the end of this Parliament. It sits alongside the Government’s new farming schemes – Countryside Stewardship, Landscape Recovery and the Sustainable Farming Incentive – to produce food sustainably while championing the environment.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Heat pump applications surge after increase in government grant [November 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Heat pump applications surge after increase in government grant [November 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero on 30 November 2023.

    New applications for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme surged, after the government increased its grant for installing a new heat pump to £7,500.

    • New figures show applications for Boiler Upgrade Scheme tripled in the week after grants increased to £7,500
    • subsequent weeks saw applications remain nearly 60% higher than the previous average
    • heat pumps could become easier to install under proposed changes to planning rules

    More families are choosing to ditch fossil fuel boilers for a cleaner alternative, after the government increased its grant by 50% for new heat pumps – making it one of the most generous schemes in Europe.

    New figures published today (30 November) show the number of new applications for government’s heat pump support surged after the increased £7,500 grant, announced by the Prime Minister, became available.

    The number of new applications to the government’s Boiler Upgrade Scheme in the first week since the grant uplift reached 1,150 – more than 3 times higher than the average weekly rate prior to the change. In the subsequent 3 weeks, new applications have remained nearly 60% higher than the previous weekly average.

    The scheme, which is available in England and Wales, provides financial support for families to switch from fossil fuel heating systems to a cleaner heat pump alternative – and as a result of the uplift, is now one of the most generous of its kind in Europe.

    Energy Security Secretary Claire Coutinho said:

    Today’s new figures show our pragmatic approach to net zero is working. In the first week after our 50% increase to the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, applications tripled.

    We are supporting hardworking families who want to make the switch and replace their boiler in a way that’s within their budgets.

    The results come alongside new independent research published today confirming heat pumps are generally rated as quiet, with a majority of those surveyed saying they did not notice the sound.

    The review found complaints from neighbours are rare – with people far more likely to hear the noise of traffic and dogs barking, over of the sound of nearby heat pumps.

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

    This fantastic increase in applications through the Boiler Upgrade Scheme demonstrates not only the desire for heat pumps in this country, but also that our approach to reach net zero works.

    We want more families to enjoy the more stable bills and cleaner heating that heat pumps have to offer – and today’s evidence that heat pumps make minimal noise is yet another reason to make the switch.

    Today’s report examining the sound coming from heat pumps follows significant advances to reduce noise levels. The report concludes that heat pumps are now very quiet – with sound levels similar to a gas boiler or fridge.

    Extensive research was carried out for the independent study by acoustic experts – who reviewed existing data and conducted interviews with households, installers, manufacturers, industry bodies, as well as local authority planning officers.

    Currently some households need to seek full planning permission to install a heat pump. However, the report recommends a change in planning rules to make it easier for households to install heat pumps under permitted development rights – while also strengthening heat pump noise assessments conducted by installers to continue protecting the public from noise pollution.

    The government announced, in last week’s Autumn Statement, that it will consult on introducing new permitted development rights to end the blanket restriction on heat pumps one metre from a property boundary in England.

    Customers do not have to apply for grants through the Boiler Upgrade Scheme and can check their home is eligible on GOV.UK. Anyone interested just needs to agree a quote for the work with an MCS certified installer, who will then do all the paperwork. Ofgem will simply contact the customer after that to confirm they would like to proceed.

    Also today, the government confirmed plans for a new Clean Heat Market Mechanism, launching next year, which will incentivise the UK’s heating industry to invest in making heat pumps an increasingly attractive and affordable choice for families and businesses.

    Rebecca Dibb-Simkin, Chief Product & Marketing Officer at Octopus Energy Group, said:

    The Boiler Upgrade Scheme has already done wonders to kickstart a nascent heat pump industry and drive hundreds of millions of pounds of private sector investment in the UK. Since the increase in the grant was announced, we’ve seen 5 times more requests for heat pumps from our customers, and we’ve even been able to offer some installations for free.

    Many of the planning rules around heat pumps are outdated, so it’s great the government is modernising them to make it easier for more people to get their hands on one.

    The Clean Heat Market Mechanism announced today will also give industry the certainty we need to grow heat pump manufacturing here in the UK – securing green British jobs for generations to come.

    Mat Moakes Chief Commercial Officer at OVO said:

    It’s encouraging to see the rise in applications for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme with the recent uplift helping households make the switch.

    At OVO we’ve seen an uplift in customer interest and our data also shows that when paired with innovative tariffs to reduce the cost the uptake increases.

    Notes to editors

    New figures on weekly applications to the Boiler Upgrade Scheme have been published. These show weekly applications from the start of the scheme (23 May 2022) to the end of week of 13 November 2023).

    See the latest applications statistics for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, which cover the latest delivery figures for the scheme up to 31 October.

    The independent research was conducted by:

    • engineering consultancy firm WSP
    • construction engineering company BSRIA
    • University of Salford
    • Stephen Turner Acoustics

    Read the report on Review of Air Source Heat Pump Noise Emissions, Permitted Development Guidance and Planning Regulations.

    See the government response to the consultation on the Clean Heat Market Mechanism.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Councils pilot net zero projects with £19 million government backing [November 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Councils pilot net zero projects with £19 million government backing [November 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero on 30 November 2023.

    Local Net Zero Accelerator pilots will help combined authorities deliver green initiatives such as retrofitting homes and installing solar panels.

    • Local Net Zero Accelerator pilots will help combined authorities deliver green initiatives such as retrofitting homes and installing solar panels
    • Greater Manchester and West Midlands selected to receive over £12 million to leverage private sector investment and meet climate goals
    • York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority supported with further £2 million to secure a strategic business partnership to accelerate decarbonisation

    A new £19 million pilot programme will help selected combined authorities unlock private investment, speed up their efforts to tackle climate change and help the UK reach its net zero target.

    Two Local Net Zero Accelerator pilots in the Greater Manchester Combined Authority and the West Midlands Combined Authority will help drive investment in multiple green projects across key sectors such as energy, housing and transport – essential to delivering on the UK’s climate targets.

    The combined authorities will decide how to allocate funding, selecting projects that will benefit their communities. These could include housing retrofit and renewable energy and transport projects, such as installing solar panels, battery storage and deploying green buses – all of which could help significantly cut emissions.

    Councils have previously faced barriers to attracting private sector investment in smaller net zero programmes and one-off projects. But today’s funding is designed to tackle this so they can secure investment at scale to deliver a range of green initiatives and expand decarbonisation work in the years to come.

    By combining multiple green projects across different sectors, rather than requesting funding for one-off, short-term projects, the new Local Net Zero Accelerator Programme will make it easier to secure private investment in a long-term, sustainable way.

    A third, separate pilot will be launched in the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority, with the aim of replicating a similar, successful model in Bristol, which supported around 1,000 jobs. Bristol City Leap established an innovative public-private partnership between Bristol City Council, Ameresco Ltd and Vattenfall Heat UK, which helped secure millions of pounds worth of investment into Bristol’s energy system, including solar, wind, heat networks, heat pumps and energy efficiency measures across the council’s estate.

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

    The UK is a world leader when it comes to tackling climate change. But the work we do locally is just as important for cutting emissions and delivering net zero.

    These pilots will help combined authorities to unlock private sector investment that they can spend on green projects they see fit locally, whether that be retrofitting housing or investing in green public transport networks – all while supporting skilled jobs, building out supply chains and growing our economy.

    Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, Gareth Davies, said:

    Our £19 million investment is helping local governments explore new ways to fast-track our ambitious net zero objectives.

    This initiative is pivotal in mobilising the money we need to transition and boosting green jobs and investments across the country.

    Mayor of the West Midlands and chair of the West Midlands Combined Authority, Andy Street, said:

    The government’s decision to ask our region to help lead the drive to net zero represents a real vote of confidence in what we can do and indeed are already doing here in the West Midlands.

    Whether it’s the strides we’re making to retrofit homes – making them warmer and more energy efficient – or cutting energy bills for local businesses or indeed ensuring our transport network is more sustainable, we’re taking the practical steps on the ground to advance the net zero cause.

    Together, we can help draw in the required public and private finance that will accelerate the rollout and take up of net zero related projects right across the UK as a whole.

    Green City Lead for Greater Manchester, Councillor Tom Ross, said:

    We welcome the £7 million funding to accelerate our net zero ambitions across Greater Manchester over the next 2 years. Greater Manchester has established Local Area Energy Plans which identify the £12.5 billion of investment in infrastructure required, that is substantially under local authorities influence, to achieve our carbon neutral ambitions by 2038.

    This Accelerator funding from government will be used to design investment models to attract private investment – which is scalable, replicable and which leads to securing investment partners capable of delivering at scale.

    The 3 new schemes will be supported by a centralised finance service. Supported by around £3 million, this will give the pilots access to financial and commercial knowledge to attract private investment in the local programmes.

    Meanwhile, the Greater South East Local Net Zero Hub will receive an extra £2 million to ensure independent oversight and the successful delivery of the 3 pilot schemes. The Net Zero Hubs programme was set up in 2017 and supports combined authorities to develop net zero projects and attract commercial investment.

    The lessons learnt from these pilots will be used to support other combined authorities across England deliver on net zero targets.