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Tag: 2023

  • PRESS RELEASE : Autumn Finance Bill published to cut tax and back business [November 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Autumn Finance Bill published to cut tax and back business [November 2023]

    The press release issued by HM Treasury on 29 November 2023.

    The Autumn Finance Bill 2023 has been published to enshrine a raft of landmark tax changes into law.

    Following last week’s Autumn Statement for Growth, the Autumn Finance Bill 2023 has been published today (Wednesday 29 November 2023) to enshrine a raft of landmark tax changes into law.

    Measures in the Bill back British business by cutting and simplifying tax to help them invest for less, making full expensing permanent – an effective £11 billion a year corporate tax cut.

    It also simplifies R&D and extends the Enterprise Investment Scheme and Venture Capital Trust schemes by an extra ten years each to 2035, ensuring younger companies can attract the finance they need today to become the unicorns of tomorrow.

    The majority of tax changes in the Bill will take effect from April 2024.

    Financial Secretary to the Treasury, Nigel Huddleston, said:

    “This Bill marks our next step in making the UK into the best place in the world to do business – and that’s the way we grow our economy and drive up living standards for all.

    “We have the lowest rate of corporation tax in the G7, and full expensing effectively cuts it further by £11 billion a year – the biggest British business tax cut in modern British history to help firms invest for less.”

    Permanent full expensing effectively cuts corporation tax by £11 billion per year and ensures that the UK will continue to have both the lowest headline corporation tax rate in the G7 and the most generous capital allowances in the OECD group of major advanced economies, including the United States, Japan, South Korea and Germany. The Autumn Statement is expected to result in an extra £20 billion of investment per year by the end of the decade.

    Permanent full expensing helps companies to continuously invest for less by allowing them to deduct 100% of the cost of a wide range of plant and machinery – such as lorries, drills and office chairs – from their profits before tax. For every pound a company invests in plant or machinery, their taxes are cut by up to 25p.

    Since the introduction of the super deduction – the predecessor to full expensing introduced in 2021 – investment in the UK has grown the fastest in the G7.

    As well as reforms to capital allowances, the Chancellor Jeremy Hunt announced other measures that are also featured in today’s Bill to cut and simplify tax to boost investment and get the economy growing. These include:

    • Changes worth £280 million a year to simplify and improve R&D tax reliefs. The government will merge the current R&D Expenditure Credit and SME schemes.
    • Legislating for more generous support for loss-making R&D intensive SMEs as announced in spring.
    • Extending the sunset clause for the Enterprise Investment Scheme and the Venture Capital Trust scheme to 6 April 2035. -For the creative sector, reforming the film, TV and video games tax reliefs to refundable expenditure credits.
    • Expanding the ‘cash basis’ – a simplified way for over four million smaller, growing traders to use a simpler method of calculating their profits and pay their income tax.

    The Bill received its first reading in Parliament on Monday 27 November 2023. It will now follow the normal passage through Parliament.

    Further information

    • Read the Autumn Finance Bill 2023.
    • The Bill also legislates for several tax changes which have been previously announced and consulted upon.
    • In March 2021, the former Chancellor announced the super-deduction, the biggest two-year business tax cut in modern British history, under which companies saved up to 25p in each pound they invested. Then at Spring Budget 2023, the now Chancellor introduced temporary full expensing, a three-year capital allowances policy which also delivered up to a 25p saving for every £1 invested.
    • To provide certainty, when announcing full expensing, the Chancellor was clear that his ambition was to make it permanent when fiscal conditions allowed. At the Autumn Statement, the Chancellor has delivered on this by confirming he will make full expensing permanent. The biggest business tax cut in modern British history over a five year period.
    • The changes to National Insurance, which will take effect on 6 January 2024 for employees and 6 April for self-employed people, is being legislated through a separate Bill to the Autumn Finance Bill 2023.
  • PRESS RELEASE : Nuclear test veterans recognised for contribution to UK security [November 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Nuclear test veterans recognised for contribution to UK security [November 2023]

    The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 29 November 2023.

    Nuclear test veterans who made a unique contribution to the UK’s security and have received medals for their service have been praised at a dedicated reception.

    • Veterans thanked for unique contribution at dedicated event hosted by the Ministry of Defence and Office of Veterans’ Affairs.
    • Reception follows Prime Minister recognising service of last year as he announced the award of a special new medal.

    Nuclear test veterans who made a unique contribution to the UK’s security and have received medals for their service have been praised at a dedicated reception.

    Defence Secretary Grant Shapps MP, and Veterans’ Minister Johnny Mercer MP, met around fifty veterans at Admiralty House in London. Amongst attendees were veterans who marched past the Cenotaph with their Nuclear Test Medal for the first time this year.

    The medal was announced by the Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in November 2022, 70 years after the first British test of a nuclear weapon. It recognises military, civilian and overseas staff and personnel who participated in Britain’s nuclear testing programme during the 1950s and 1960s.

    Many veterans of Britain’s nuclear tests will receive the new medal which will also recognise the contribution made by veterans and civilian staff from other nations and across the Commonwealth including Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and Kiribati.

    Defence Secretary Grant Shapps said:

    I am incredibly proud to have met veterans and heard their incredible stories, following on from the Government’s fulfilled commitment to award the Nuclear Test Medal. The service and dedication of our nuclear test veterans is vitally important to the continued safety and security of our nation.

    It is only right that we recognise and value their service through this medal, an enduring symbol of the Nation’s gratitude.

    Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Johnny Mercer said:

    Today’s event has been a fantastic opportunity to mark the contributions of the veterans who worked on Britain’s nuclear programme over seventy years ago.

    The medal is a fitting tribute to those who worked to preserve our national security, and I am pleased that so many of our veterans now have their medal.

    This government is committed to commemorating the contribution of nuclear test veterans and has committed funding to ensure their stories are passed on for generations to come.

    As part of the government’s efforts to champion nuclear test veterans’ contributions, the Office for Veterans’ Affairs is also funding a £250,000 oral history project. Work by the University of South Wales and University of Liverpool is currently underway to identify and record the life stories of 40 nuclear veterans.

    Education organisation Big Ideas, also a recipient of the OVA’s £200,000 Nuclear Test Community Fund, worked with four secondary schools in the Autumn term across the four nations. The students met with veterans from across the UK and Fiji to hear their stories and experiences.

    Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Johnny Mercer, recently met with nuclear test veterans in Fiji and joined Fijian nationals in celebrating their national day.

  • PRESS RELEASE : We must collectively create the opportunity for more pauses in Gaza – Lord Ahmad’s statement at the UN Security Council [November 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : We must collectively create the opportunity for more pauses in Gaza – Lord Ahmad’s statement at the UN Security Council [November 2023]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 29 November 2023.

    Statement by Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon at the United Nations Security Council meeting on the Middle East.

    Thank you, Mr President. Your Excellencies, may I begin by thanking Secretary-General Guterres and Special Coordinator Tor Wennesland for their detailed briefings.

    As we look towards the Middle East, a tragedy is unfolding in front of our very eyes. Israel has suffered the worst terror attack in its history and Palestinians are experiencing a devastating and growing humanitarian crisis as a result of the ensuing Israeli military action.

    Mr President, every life matters. Israeli or Palestinian. Every innocent civilian life lost, Palestinian or Israeli, is a tragedy. Indeed, we also collectively mourn the loss of all innocent, innocent lives lost, including those of UN personnel delivering vital life saving aid in Gaza.

    Yet the past week has provided much needed respite in hostilities. The agreement was an important opportunity for providing hope and relief to the families of the hostages, and for allowing vital humanitarian assistance into Gaza. But this should not be a one off. We must collectively build from it and create the opportunity for more. Including follow up and ensuring more humanitarian grounds for such cessation. Hostages must be released. Aid must get in and civilians must be protected.

    I’ve had the opportunity to visit Qatar recently to discuss this very conflict and take the opportunity to recognise their pivotal role in this agreement, together with that of Egypt and the United States. Just last week, the United Kingdom Foreign Secretary, Lord Cameron, visited Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories, where he met with Israeli and Palestinian leaders. During their meetings, they discussed the importance of securing the release of hostages, addressing the humanitarian crisis, which included the British Foreign Secretary announcing a further $38 million in UK humanitarian aid, and also emphasising the need to find a long-term political solution to this conflict based on the two-state solution. In Israel, he discussed the need to immediately de-escalate in the West Bank, where tragically more than 200 Palestinians have been killed, and to prevent further escalation, which disrupts regional peace and security – concerns we all share. And whilst we welcome statements condemning settler violence, the United Kingdom is clear there must be justice and Israel must hold those responsible to account.

    Equally, the UK’s position on Israeli settlements is also clear and long standing. They are illegal under international law and contrary to the cause of peace. The UK is also clear that Iran poses an unacceptable threat to the region through its destabilising activity and long term support for its proxies and partners in the region, including Hamas, Hezbollah and Palestinian Islamic Jihad. We condemn the unlawful seizure of the MV Galaxy Leader and call for the immediate and unconditional release of the ship and its crew.

    On our part across the region, the United Kingdom is working intensively with all partners on this particular issue, on the importance of humanitarian relief, on the importance of hostage relief, on the importance of preventing further escalation. The UK also further echoes UNIFIL’s call for a cessation of hostilities across the Blue Line and for renewed commitment to implementing UN Security Council resolution 1701.

    The UK, from the start of events through the Hamas attack on Israel on the 7th October, has been clear that Israel has a right to defend itself against terrorism. But in doing so, Israel must act in accordance with international law. Of which safeguarding civilian life is key and pivotal. Frankly, tragically too many innocent civilians, including many children, have lost their lives. And we must work collectively to find solutions to this long-standing conflict.

    Ultimately, we must find that pathway to peace and ensure, yes, events like October the 7th never happen again. And therefore equally, let us commit ourselves to ensure we deliver sustainable peace. The United Kingdom believes in a negotiated settlement in line with Security Council resolutions, leading to a safe and secure Israel, living alongside a viable and sovereign Palestinian state. A vision but to which we must now all work together to turn that vision into a reality. A reality of ensuring security. A reality of ensuring justice. A reality of ensuring peace for Israelis and Palestinians alike. This must be our shared, long term, deliverable objective. Peace may seem difficult, but, Mr President, peace is achievable. Peace is attainable. And we must work together to deliver that noble goal.

    Thank you, Mr President.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Government pledges to boost Britain’s access to nature ahead of COP28 [November 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Government pledges to boost Britain’s access to nature ahead of COP28 [November 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 29 November 2023.

    Government sets out ambitious new nature package, with measures to improve access to green space and connect the public with the natural world.

    Helping more people get access to our natural heritage and putting nature at the forefront of government efforts to tackle climate change are at the heart of a new package announced by the Environment Secretary today (29 November).

    The new package of measures includes launching a search for a new National Park, 34 new landscape recovery projects, new forests and funding to help more children get outdoors and into the great British countryside, in what is the latest step by the government in its drive to improve public access to the natural world and recover nature.

    The series of nature pledges comes ahead of COP28 later this week, where the Prime Minister will continue our leadership set out at COP26 to champion the role of nature in tackling climate change.

    The search for a new National Park – a manifesto commitment – will begin in the new year. This will be focused on looking for England’s most beautiful nature spots, alongside the area’s ability to connect people with nature.

    This comes alongside new funding for England’s most special places, with a further £15 million pledged to support our existing National Parks and National Landscapes, helping to support our most iconic landscapes. The government has also published the final response to the Glover Landscapes Review, which sets out how we will make these precious sites fit for the future.

    Government will also announce 34 new Landscape Recovery projects across England. These projects will cover over 200,000 hectares of land, including woodlands, rainforests and sustainable food production, building on the 22 Landscape Recovery projects already underway which aim to restore over 600km of rivers and protect and provide habitats for at least 263 species. These projects are part of the Government’s new farming schemes, replacing the bureaucratic common agricultural policy from the EU, helping farmers produce food alongside environmental benefits whilst accessing green finance opportunities.

    More children and disadvantaged young people will also be able to access green spaces with a further £2.5m committed to helping children experience the benefits of the great outdoors. This will build on the success of the Generation Green project which created over 115,000 opportunities for children in the last four years. Research has shown that 18% of children living in the most deprived areas never spend time in any kind of natural space. Today’s announcement will help change that by opening up more green spaces for the next generation and we’re also improving access to our woodlands with a new Woodland Access Implementation Plan.

    New powers will also come into force that will strengthen requirements for local authorities to consult with communities before cutting down street trees. Under plans first announced in the Environment Act, this will empower people to have a greater say in preserving much loved trees on their streets.

    As well as putting people more in touch with nature, the new package of measures which will touch every part of England, will help tackle climate change and drive forward the UK’s pledge to protect 30% of land and halt the decline of species by 2030. These further measures include:

    • A new plan to recover England’s temperate rainforests – backed by £750,000 of Research & Development funding to improve resilience, management and protection of our unique temperate rainforests in England found in Cornwall, Devon and Cumbria.
    • A competition to create a new National Forest – this forest for the nation is inspired by the success of the existing National Forest in the Midlands, which spans 200 square miles across parts of Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Staffordshire.
    • Two additional Community Forests – these will be created in Derbyshire and the Tees Valley and will see 175 hectares of new woodland planted by 2025 alongside new pipeline forests.
    • A more nature friendly built environment – legislation for Biodiversity Net Gain will be laid in parliament this week with guidance published as the Government takes its next step to ensure developments leave nature in a better state.

    Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said:

    I shared in the nation’s profound sense of anger in response to what happened at the Sycamore Gap earlier this year, but the public’s outrage fundamentally demonstrated just how much love the British people have for the natural world.

    From Yorkshire’s historic rolling moors to ancient rainforest on the Cornish coast, we are home to many globally significant landscapes. We must do all it takes to protect these much-loved spaces and ensure that love for the natural world continues into the next generations.

    As I head to COP28, we are reasserting the UK’s leading role in promoting our iconic landscapes and keeping nature at the centre of our action to tackle climate change.”

    Environment Secretary Steve Barclay said:

    Nature is at the foundation of food production, water security, and is critical to our economy, and our mental and physical health. It is why it is so important to deliver on our commitment to halt the decline of nature and safeguard at least 30 percent of our extraordinary landscapes.

    Through our Environmental Improvement Plan and today’s announcement, we are creating more opportunities for people to access nature, spend time outdoors and enjoy our beautiful countryside – as well as supporting wildlife. A healthy natural environment is critical for our wellbeing, our economy and combatting climate change.”

    Tony Juniper Chair of Natural England said:

    Having more well connected and wildlife-rich habitats is a central priority for meeting our Nature recovery ambitions. This includes enhancing landscapes, helping more species thrive, improving climate adaptation and wellbeing for people.

    As we look ahead to COP28 it is timely to set out practical actions that reflect the deep connections between Nature and climate change. The wide-ranging measures announced today mark a positive step forward and we look forward to supporting the government in delivering them”.

    Sir William Worsley, Chair of the Forestry Commission said:

    Trees improve people’s quality of lives and are the heart of our communities. It is vital that alongside increasing tree planting across the nation, we protect our existing treescapes and woodlands and ensure more people have access to them.

    The ambitious new measures announced today build upon the ongoing work of the Forestry Commission. From rare British rainforests in our countryside to the trees in our towns and cities, we will continue to ensure trees bring benefits for future generations.”

    Environment Agency Chair Alan Lovell said:

    The Landscape Recovery scheme has a vital role to play in enhancing our natural environment at a landscape scale, delivering benefits for water, wildlife, and people.

    It’s promising to see so many farmers, landowners, and stakeholders from around the country getting involved. I’m delighted that we can support even more of these ambitious projects than originally planned.

    Hilary McGrady, Director-General of the National Trust said:

    As world leaders head to Dubai for the Climate Change Conference, I am pleased to see that restoring nature is high on the Prime Minister’s climate action agenda.

    A healthier environment here in the UK will protect all of us from climate shocks, help reduce carbon emissions, and bring back wildlife and landscapes that are such a strong part of our national identity.  I also support efforts to increase access to nature – which can do so much to improve people’s health and wellbeing – and I look forward to working with Ministers as they develop their plans.”

    Craig Bennett, Chief Executive, The Wildlife Trusts:

    It’s great to see more support for farmers who want to help heal nature through Landscape Recovery. There’s been a huge demand for this new scheme and rural groups have come together to create visionary projects that strengthen farm businesses, reverse species decline and restore habitats at scale. These have huge benefits for wildlife, store carbon, prevent pollution from reaching rivers and hold back water, thus alleviating flooding and the effects of drought.

    The UK Food Security report found that climate change and biodiversity loss are the biggest medium to long term threats to domestic food production – and so securing long term funding for Landscape Recovery schemes is absolutely vital for us all. The latest assessment shows that one in six species is now at risk of extinction and the abundance of nature is more threatened than ever, so speeding up the roll out of ambitious nature friendly farming schemes has never been more important.

    Dr Darren Moorcroft, Woodland Trust Chief Executive said:

    The health of people, and our planet depends on a diverse, nature rich environment. The felling of the Sycamore Gap tree reinforced how hugely people in the UK value trees as a vital part of our natural heritage. An emphasis on enhancing access for, and engagement with young people is pivotal to building a better, greener future and is to be welcomed.

    Whoever is in power we need action on the urgent need for greater protection for our oldest most remarkable trees, our living legends, as well as increasing the protection and restoration of ancient woods – international leadership begins at home. We also need to see proper funding and support for woodland expansion, ensuring land managers feel confident to invest in planting trees for the long term to deliver the many benefits they provide to society.

    Paul Nolan, Chair, England’s Community Forests, says:

    It’s fantastic that we have two new Community Forests joining our growing partnership, bringing the total number of Community Forests up to 15. Both Derbyshire’s Heartwood Community Forest and Trees on Tees will receive key support from the Government’s Nature for Climate fund through the Trees for Climate programme, helping to introduce more trees to areas most in need.

    Communities in both areas will be both part of the transformation and benefit from the creation of the forests, improving the local environment and connecting more people to nature.

    Today’s announcement delivers the next steps of our Environmental Improvement Plan and builds on the UK’s strong environmental leadership – since 2010 we have created or restored wildlife habitats the size of Dorset, established 100 Marine Protected Areas across 35,000 square miles of English waters, and passed the world-leading Environment Act with long term targets to restore nature.

    The UK led global efforts to protect nature through the COP26 Presidency in Glasgow, where it brought together 140 countries in a historic agreement to protect the world’s forests and halt land degradation.

    At COP28 in December, the UK government will continue to champion nature recovery and will set out further action to achieve our ambitious targets to restore our natural world.

    ENDS

    Notes to editors

    • Environmental Policy in the UK is devolved and today’s package of announcements apply in England only.
    • On the 22 November Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs) were rebranded ‘National Landscapes’ to boost understanding of their national significance
    • Protected landscapes (the collective term for National Parks and National Landscapes) will receive an additional £10 million funding next year to restore wildlife habitats and improve access, achieving more for people and nature
    • The government has also made a further £5 million available this year which Protected Landscapes can apply for to improve the water environment of these special places
    • Protected Landscapes cover nearly a quarter of England’s land area and are key to our commitments to halt and reverse the decline in species abundance and the protection of 30% of land for nature by 2030. The government has today published the response to the review on protected landscapes, setting out the action plan for the future of these landscapes.
    • The Environment Secretary has commissioned Natural England to begin identifying an area which will be considered for designation as the next National Park in England. A final decision will be made by the Secretary of State.
    • The two new Community Forests will build on the success of the 13 existing Community Forests across England and will contribute to our tree planting targets.
    • England’s Community Forests are delivering the multi-million-pound national Trees for Climate programme. Launched in November 2020, the programme is playing a significant part in national government’s commitment to address climate change and carbon mitigation through tree planting and woodland creation. In the first three years of the programme 2,063 hectares of new woodland were created with 81% having public access. This planting season the England Community Forest network have a target to plant 2,000ha, a 100% increase on last year’s figures.
    • A new competition will be launched to create a new forest for the nation.  The competition will invite bids from across England for transformational woodland creation at scale, or the strategic connection and enhancement of a range of existing woodlands, across defined geographies.  It will be inspired by the best practice established in the Midlands, by the National Forest Company.
    • The Landscape Recovery Projects will sustainably manage more than 20,000 hectares of woodland, including some temperate rainforest, with over 7,000 hectares of woodland creation, restore more than 35,000 hectares of peatland, benefit over 160 protected sites (SSSIs) and involve at least 700 land managers. This builds on the success of the first 22 Landscape Recovery projects which are already underway, aiming to restore more than 600km of rivers and targeting the conservation of more than 260 flagship species. The successful projects will now be awarded a share of around £25 million in development funding to finalise delivery plans.
    • Generation Green, a project backed by £2.5 million funding first launched in 2019, has resulted in more than 115,000 opportunities for young people to access nature. Today we are announcing £2.5 million to connect more children from under-represented groups, building on the success of this project. This will help deliver our commitment set out in the Environmental Improvement Plan for everyone to be within 15 minutes of a green space or water and to reduce barriers to access. This builds on research from the Defra landscapes review which confirms that 18% of children living in the most deprived areas never visit nature at all.
    • A plan to recover England’s temperate rainforests which confirms £750,000 of investment in research and development to improve resilience, management and protection; funding to restore vulnerable woodland habitats; and support for landowners to grow and expand woodland cover. This is part of the £750m Nature for Climate Fund, which is helping plant millions of trees across England to meet our legal requirement to have at least 16.5% tree and woodland cover by 2050 to help tackle climate change and the biodiversity crisis.
    • The Woodland Access Implementation Plan outlines our ambitions for improving the quantity, quality and permanency of access to woodlands and sets out how we aim to achieve this. This includes offering funding through existing land management schemes to land managers or landowners to create or maintain responsible access to trees and woodlands. This is the latest step in Government ambition to help more people access nature and increase woodland access.
    • The first group of Statutory Instruments for Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) will be laid in parliament on 30 November (second group published in draft for stakeholder understanding), marking the next steps in introducing mandatory Biodiversity Net Gain across England. This is a flagship environmental policy building on the initial framework and powers to introduce BNG that the Environment Act gave us. BNG will be fundamental in help the country meet our target to halt the decline in species abundance by 2030, whilst delivering more beautiful and nature friendly developments. Guidance and negative Statutory Instruments issued by Defra and DLUHC will be available from 30 November.
  • PRESS RELEASE : UK affirms support to Ukraine at OSCE foreign ministers’ meeting [November 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : UK affirms support to Ukraine at OSCE foreign ministers’ meeting [November 2023]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 29 November 2023.

    The Foreign Secretary said, at a meeting of foreign ministers in Skopje before the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Ministerial Council, that the UK would stand with Ukraine for as long as it took and continue to give moral, diplomatic, economic and military support.

    He added that Russia was responsible for the conflict and their actions were indefensible. They had trampled on all of the 10 principles of the Helsinki Final Act which guided relations between states.

    The Foreign Secretary concluded his remarks by saying that Britain was clear in its support for the OSCE. He called on all those foreign ministers present to support the organisation and secure its future, welcoming Malta’s assumption of Chair in Office for 2024.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Digital skills brand to attract top tech talent to Civil Service [November 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Digital skills brand to attract top tech talent to Civil Service [November 2023]

    The press release issued by the Cabinet Office on 29 November 2023.

    A new brand, Government Digital and Data, has been launched today to bring together the growing number of digital and tech specialists working in government to improve public services in the long-term.

    • New digital brand, known as Government Digital and Data, launched today, to attract top tech talent.
    • Proportion of Civil Service working on tech and digital nearly doubles in five years, making the UK Government one of the biggest tech employers.
    • Move comes as Government opens up to more digital secondments from the private sector.

    Top tech talent will be recruited into key public sector roles through a new brand, the Cabinet Office has announced today.

    The new brand, Government Digital and Data, has been launched today to bring together the growing number of digital and tech specialists working in government to improve public services in the long-term, through digital innovation and AI.

    New figures revealed today also show that the proportion of digital, data and tech specialists has nearly doubled in the last five years, growing from 2.8% in 2018 to 5% this year.

    The boost to digital skills in the Civil Service underlines how the UK Government is becoming one of the largest employers of digital and data professionals in the UK, rivalling big tech companies in the competition for talent.

    The new Government Digital and Data brand unites the community of staff working in specialist roles, such as data analysts, software developers and infrastructure engineers, and provides a clearer career path for talent looking to come into the Civil Service.

    Parliamentary Secretary for the Cabinet Office Alex Burghart, said:

    Digital talent is the driving force behind creating essential and accessible public services for everyone in the UK.

    So we’re taking long-term decisions to attract the top talent into government. To do this, we’re launching a new brand, Government Digital and Data, to provide a more coherent network of specialists helping to tackle the biggest challenges government faces.

    Embracing technology isn’t just about efficiency, it’s about crafting a government that’s agile and ready to support the needs of tomorrow and the digital talent community is essential to that.

    New figures from the latest cross government workforce insights show that the digital and data workforce grew by 9% between October 2022 and April 2023 to a total of more than 28,000 professionals.

    The growing workforce reflects a shift towards a digitally transformed, more efficient government, and reinforces government’s commitment to attracting the best UK digital talent.

    By driving efficiency and boosting productivity through innovation, the growing digital workforce will help the government to meet its ambitions to reduce the overall civil service, and capping the headcount during this spending review period saving up to £1 billion by March 2025.

    In recognition of the growing workforce, Government Digital and Data has been launched today as the first ever community leading digital transformation in government.

    New insights have also revealed today that 79% of the total digital and data profession in government, and 66% of senior civil servants in digital roles, are based outside of London.

    They also found that software developers are the most in-demand specialists in the profession, accounting for 13% of all filled roles in the Government Digital and Data profession.

    Chief Digital Officer for Government, Mike Potter, said:

    These figures show that Government Digital and Data should be viewed alongside tech giants as one of the largest and most exciting employers in the UK. And we have a unique selling point for prospective talent: our work is fundamentally about transforming lives for the better.

    At the forefront of digital innovation, we’re shaping the future workforce with a strong focus on AI roles. Our commitment to cutting-edge technology and data is revolutionising government for greater efficiency and effectiveness.

    The new umbrella brand aims to promote collaboration, innovation, and knowledge-sharing across all government departments and the wider public sector.

    As an employer rivalling the biggest tech companies in the UK, Government Digital and Data aims to attract prospective talent working in other sectors.

    The strapline, ‘transforming lives through technology’ promotes the unique nature of public sector work, having a direct impact on people on a national scale.

    This announcement comes as the government opened its Digital Secondments Programme for applications in September, which calls on the UK’s best technical minds from industry to work on the country’s biggest challenges, such as cyber security and new emerging technology.

  • PRESS RELEASE : The UK calls for Security Council expansion: UK statement at the UN General Assembly [November 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : The UK calls for Security Council expansion: UK statement at the UN General Assembly [November 2023]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 28 November 2023.

    Statement by Ambassador James Kariuki at the UN General Assembly meeting on Security Council reform.

    Thank you, President.

    At the outset, let me congratulate Ambassadors Albanai and Marschik for their well deserved reappointment as co-chairs of the intergovernmental negotiations. We appreciate the progress made under your able leadership earlier this year and look forward to that continuing.

    It is difficult to ignore the context for today’s debate. The world and our multilateral system face increasingly complex and interconnected challenges.

    Since we last debated the need for Security Council reform here in the General Assembly, we’ve grappled with increasing conflict around the world. The impact of Russia’s illegal war continues to be felt in Ukraine and globally. In Sudan, conflict is causing mass displacement and huge suffering for the Sudanese people. And of course, we’ve all witnessed the harrowing images from Gaza as the humanitarian crisis there deepens. In that regard, yesterday’s Security Council resolution calling for humanitarian pauses was an important step. There are, regrettably, numerous other examples around the world.

    The United Kingdom believes that global multilateralism is the best tool we have to collectively tackle these challenges. We want it to succeed and thrive. This is why we also support multilateral reform, including reform of the Security Council.

    The Council’s mandate to safeguard international peace and security is as relevant today as it was when the UN Charter was first signed in 1945. But the Council should evolve and expand to make it more representative of the international community it serves.

    The United Kingdom continues to call for the expansion of the Security Council in both the permanent and non-permanent categories. We believe permanent African representation on the Council is long overdue, and we support new permanent seats for India, Germany, Japan and Brazil.

    We also support an expansion of the non-permanent category of membership, taking the total Council membership to the mid 20s. With these changes, the Council will be better able to respond decisively to present and future threats to international peace and security.

    President, since the General Assembly last met on this topic, we reaffirm our position regarding the use of the veto. It is a heavy responsibility and following the introduction of the veto initiative, this assembly can now rightfully hold vetoing powers to account. For our own part, the United Kingdom has not exercised our right to use the veto since 1989. As supporters of the Accountability, Coherence and Transparency Group Code of Conduct, we remain committed not to vote against a credible draft resolution to prevent or end a mass atrocity, and we encourage all States to join us.

    President, agreeing the precise model for reform of the Security Council will take hard work and compromise. We must not let the process stall. We therefore support a move to text-based negotiations and commit to work constructively with all partners to find practical solutions that can command the necessary support.

    In that regard, we welcome the concrete ideas set out by the co-chairs of the intergovernmental negotiations for how to make meaningful progress, and in the meantime, we pledge our commitment to serious and sustained engagement on Security Council reform. I thank you.

  • PRESS RELEASE : The worsening situation in Syria should remind us of the need for a viable political process: UK statement at the UN Security Council [November 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : The worsening situation in Syria should remind us of the need for a viable political process: UK statement at the UN Security Council [November 2023]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 28 November 2023.

    Statement by Ambassador James Kariuki at the UN Security Council meeting on Syria.

    Thank you, President. I thank Ms Rochdi and Ms Wosornu for their briefings. Now more than ever, the international community needs to ensure that our attention remains on Syria, and that we act together to improve the situation for the Syrian people. Today I want to highlight three areas requiring immediate attention.

    First, we urgently need regional de-escalation. After more than 13 years of conflict, violence in Syria is at its highest level in more than three years. We condemn the Syrian regime’s sustained attacks in northwest Syria. We are also gravely concerned by the spate of attacks in the northeast by Iran-affiliated militias against the Global Coalition Against Daesh. Reports that Iran started to use Latakia airbase for weapons shipments are alarming.

    It is essential that the Global Coalition continues its operations against Daesh to ensure we do not see a resurgence. We urge Iran to roll back its militias and we call on the regime and its Russian backers to prioritise stability and prosperity in Syria.

    Second, we should remain committed to ensuring sustainable, predictable and efficient aid flows across the whole of Syria. Increasing hostilities mean increasing need for the reliable provision of humanitarian aid. This highlights the importance of the cross-border operation which is a lifeline for 4.1 million people.

    It is positive that the Bab Al Salam and Al Rai agreements were extended on 14 November, but the situation on the ground means that short term, last minute agreements are not sufficient. As the UN has made clear, we need these agreements for as long as humanitarian needs demand, including for the Bab al-Hawa crossing which is set to expire on 13 January 2024, the height of winter.

    Third, the worsening situation in Syria should remind us all of the need for a viable political process. Until the regime and its backers engage seriously and meaningfully in a political process, the UK will not engage with the regime. We reiterate our wholehearted support for a UN-facilitated settlement in accordance with resolution 2254 as the way to end the conflict.

    Thank you.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Joint statement by Joint Expeditionary Force ministers [November 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Joint statement by Joint Expeditionary Force ministers [November 2023]

    The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 28 November 2023.

    Defence Secretary Grant Shapps met virtually with ministers from Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) and agreed to activate a JEF Response option..

    Today, the Defence Ministers of the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) agreed to activate a JEF Response Option. This includes Maritime and Air capabilities which will deploy across the JEF’s core region as a military contribution to the protection of critical undersea infrastructure.  The activity will take place in early December and will ensure a security presence, strengthening our common efforts with NATO in the Baltic Sea region. The JEF is determined to enhance its preparedness in supporting the JEF Nations to protect their Critical National Infrastructure.

    Throughout 2023, the JEF has developed a series of JEF Response Options, designed to deter, and defend our region from threats and establish how we can quickly respond to crises. This marks the first time a JEF Response Option has been activated. It provides a tangible demonstration of the JEF as a credible contributor to security in Northern Europe and a powerful message of our ability and commitment to bolstering the security of our critical undersea infrastructure and deterrence of hybrid threats. By co-operating through the JEF we are able to find collaborative solutions to common regional security challenges, in line with the JEF Vision published at the JEF Leaders’ Summit in Sweden on 13 October.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Putting savers at the forefront and supporting the UK economy [November 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Putting savers at the forefront and supporting the UK economy [November 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Work and Pensions on 28 November 2023.

    Thank you all for joining me today and thank you to the Professional Pensions Investment Conference for hosting me so generously. My job as Minister for Pensions is to ensure that our pension system operates to the highest standards – securing the best possible outcomes for savers. This is my duty and I take it seriously.

    There needs to be a significant, transformative shift in that market. The announcements made yesterday, build on the Mansion House reforms and will:

    • shift the focus of trustees, managers and employers from cost to value;
    • aim to boost returns in and throughout retirement; and
    • increase opportunities for investment in productive finance assets.

    Through this, we aim to benefit the UK economy and give everyone a better chance of meeting their aspirations over the course of their retirement.

    There’s an important agenda ahead and much more to do. With £2 trillion of assets held, private sector pensions can play a major role in boosting UK productivity and growth.

    Today, I am pleased to be talking about what more we will do to deliver the long-term reforms that pension savers need.  One that could potentially help an average earner have £1,000 more a year in retirement when saving across their entire career.

    Automatic Enrolment has transformed workplace pension saving. It has embedded a new culture of saving for retirement at a national level.

    But around 2-in-5 working age people are still under saving for their retirement. There is more to do to ensure people are saving into schemes which are helping them get the most for their retirement.

    Every pension saver deserves to be confident in their workplace pensions. They must be sure that it is making the most of their hard-earned savings, is fit for purpose and offers them suitable choices that meet their needs – whichever pension scheme they are putting their money in.

    To do this we need to tackle the biggest challenges facing savers today.

    Many employers are still choosing their pension schemes based on convenience and fees. But investment returns need to be factored into these decisions – as we know they are critical to long-term outcomes. For example, a pot of £10,000 invested into the highest performing scheme would be worth nearly 50% more 5 years later than one invested in the lowest performing scheme.

    And considering investment growth does not end when people access their savings – we want pots to grow and pay out sustainably throughout retirement.

    For Defined Contribution (DC) savers, this involves making complex choices and decisions they may not understand or feel equipped to make.

    Finally, we need to unlock more opportunities for schemes to invest in productive finance, supporting the UK economy and boosting member benefits. In the Defined Benefit pension market alone, there is huge potential for its £1.4 trillion in assets to work harder for members and the economy.

    Our reforms will confront these challenges and help improve retirement outcomes. They place value for savers at the heart of decision-making, helping to boost returns in retirement, and contribute to the growth of the UK economy.

    Together with the Government’s commitment to expand the benefits of Automatic Enrolment to younger people, our pension reforms could help an average earner who starts saving at 18 see their pension pot increase around 50% and by over £50,000 if saving across their entire their career.

    Automatic Enrolment has been a huge success with over 20m employees now saving into a pension. Our publication yesterday showed pension saving was holding up despite the challenges over the last few years through Covid and increased cost of living.

    I recognise though that greater investment by schemes requires even greater scale. And I am committed to the implementation of the 2017 Automatic Enrolment Review measures as a first step.

    This Government supported the recent Private Members Bill, and we intend to carry out a consultation on implementation at the earliest opportunity.

    Alongside this, we need to see a clear shift in the market. From consistently focusing on low-cost to centring on overall value and returns for members.

    For too long, short-termism and low costs have dominated decision-making. This has meant savers potentially losing thousands from their retirement pots. Just a small increase in investment returns can lead to £1,000s more at retirement.

    We want to change the tide on this.

    In July we responded to the Value for Money Framework consultation and set a clear direction of travel.

    The Framework will increase comparability, transparency, and competition across DC schemes. It aims to drive up standards, consolidating the market around a smaller number of well-performing, better value schemes.

    It will ensure Regulators have the power they need to tackle consistent underperformance.  – meaning savers do not have to remain trapped in poor performing schemes.

    The statements made yesterday on Value for Money by both Regulators reaffirms our commitment to implement a Framework that drives value for savers. We are maintaining momentum in this vital area.

    The Department and The Pensions Regulator (TPR) are working jointly on progressing this with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and with input from across the pensions industry.

    The FCA intends to consult over the detailed design and rules relating to the Framework in Spring. And as this will be a holistic framework, trust-based schemes should engage with this consultation and start to plan for implementation.

    Taking this approach of evolving the framework means savers can be confident that we are building a pension system that will deliver real value – providing them with the best returns for every hard-earned pound they save.

    This will go a long way towards moving from cost to value, maximising the returns for DC savers and generating the scale for investment in productive finance that will support the UK economy.

    To further drive value, we must definitively tackle the issue of deferred small pots.

    Currently there are at least 12 million deferred pots worth less than £1000, resulting in annual industry-wide losses of up to £225m.

    Without action this problem – of wasted administration costs and inefficiency at the heart of the pension scheme business model – will only worsen.

    And for savers, multiple small pots make it more difficult to engage with their overall pension, limiting and reducing their options at retirement. Or in the worst case being lost altogether.

    We have taken important steps to resolve this. In the summer, we consulted on the proposed multiple default consolidator approach to address this growing problem.

    Yesterday, I published our response to the consultation which confirms our intention to proceed with this approach, ensuring that eligible pension pots are automatically consolidated into a small number of authorised default consolidator schemes.

    Bringing members’ eligible deferred pots together into a high-quality pension scheme that could benefit the average saver by £700 at retirement. This will help generate the scale to invest in productive finance, providing further opportunities to invest in the UK.

    This is a complex and challenging policy to implement.

    We will bring together experts in payroll, data specialists, and leverage knowledge from dashboards, to get the transfer and consolidation system design right.

    My aim is that this will support the development of a viable and cost-effective automated consolidation process; while continuing to ensure that members interests are put first.

    By complementing these reforms with a robust regulatory regime, we will ensure savers are protected.

    I want to enable a more assertive, influential regulatory approach, that drives meaningful behaviour change from those looking after savers’ assets.

    This starts with regulators being absolutely clear about the primacy of investing for good returns in their supervisory and enforcement approaches.

    It also extends to offering greater support and expectations on trustees to fulfil their key responsibilities, including through voluntary accreditation.

    And we will embed this regulatory approach for new types of schemes like Collective Defined Contribution (CDC) schemes and Defined Benefit Superfund (DB) consolidators.

    This also means ensuring the regulatory environment for Master Trusts is future-proofed. Master Trusts are the engines of growth of the DC pension market in the UK. We estimate that 80% of trust-based members will be in the largest 5 Master Trusts by 2030.

    Building on the work done by Mary Starks in her recent review of the Regulator, we are

    working with TPR to propose a different approach to supervision, using its existing powers.

    This includes investigating investment decision-making, demanding greater transparency of schemes when it comes to their investment strategies, and raising standards of trusteeship.

    TPR’s approach to regulation will need to evolve with this changing market. And we will work closely with them to protect savers as schemes reach important sizes.

    I am confident these changes will help drive up performance and returns, protecting member outcomes form the risk of low cost through a robust regulatory regime.

    Members’ journey to retirement and what they want out of their financial provision varies. But maximising value and investment growth should not end at this point.

    How pots are utilised and sustained in later life starts with the choices members make when they access their assets.

    Six in ten individuals who are yet to access their DC savings do not have a clear plan for doing so. Over half of those who do access their pots take cash. Without a clear plan, this may leave future retirees at risk of doing the same where their pots could be better off invested.

    We want to change this and expect more of trustees. I am pleased to confirm that our response to the consultation ‘Helping savers understand their pension choices’ reflects the strong consensus for schemes to adopt retirement products and services, configured to their members’ needs.

    For those savers who can and do engage with their pensions, we will require trustees to provide a retirement income service, which will include the wrap around communications and engagement that is essential for a good service.

    We will also require trustees to design and offer a pre-defined default retirement solution, informed and built around the needs of their members.

    This would work for the generality of members of the scheme and be available as a choice for those that wish to select it. So that every saver can get the most out of their pension savings.

    This way members will benefit from greater opportunities for their assets to stay invested in the scheme for longer, increasing the available funds for schemes to invest in UK productive finance.

    And over the long-term, our ambition is that decumulation only CDCs be offered as a potential access option by schemes.

    CDCs could be a big part of the future for pensions. A new type of scheme that can provide better returns for savers, allowing them to remain invested in high-growth assets for longer and better support growth.

    At the same time offering members the assurance of a regular income in retirement and more predictable outcomes.

    CDCs are new, but the Government is committed to working with industry to facilitate its development and expansion, unlocking CDC offers for many more savers.

    A regulatory framework for CDCs is already in place. And we intend to consult on draft regulations early next year to extend this to whole-life multiple employer schemes, including Master Trusts.

    Looking into the future we want to understand how we can go further to deliver better outcomes for individuals.

    Our solution to deferred small pots is the first step to a simpler pension system.

    A single pension saving experience, where savers are linked to a ‘pot for life,’ could bring a variety of benefits.

    A Lifetime Provider Model would reduce the number of pots and could support members engagement with pensions.

    It could also make decision-making easier where needed and, if combined with broader CDC provision, help bridge the gap to DB schemes.

    I recognise this is a complex terrain. But we need to start the conversation now and build on the other reforms that are already in train. As the Chancellor announced yesterday, as part of our call for evidence we will explore giving savers a legal right to require a new employer to pay pension contributions into their existing pension pot if they choose to bring their pensions savings together.

    Moving to such a system would take time but bringing pensions savings together will have advantages for savers, our ultimate focus.

    We want your input on what elements would need to be in place to support such as system and what are the benefits and challenges in doing so.

    This comprehensive package will result in fewer, better run schemes – and we expect this to unlock further opportunities for pension scheme assets to support the UK economy.

    For DC schemes, where improvement in returns clearly boost incomes, the measures I have just outlined provide clear reasons for trustees to ensure they are focussed on value over cost.

    In the DB market, which holds £1.4 trillion in assets under management, costs are borne by sponsoring employers and there is less opportunity to boost member benefits.

    However, there is still a clear opportunity for these assets to work harder to benefit members, employers and the economy as a whole.

    As part of the Government’s drive to deliver greater economic growth, we are committed to ensure that there are options in the DB regulatory regime which reward productive investment behaviour and move the focus on DB schemes from purely downside risk protection.

    The revised scheme funding arrangements will make it clearer that trustees can continue to invest in a wide range of assets, including productive finance, while ensuring members benefits are protected.

    They also provide additional flexibility for pension scheme surpluses to be used and managed more efficiently.

    Many DB schemes have become better funded over the last decade and have moved closer towards buy-out or a surplus funding level that allows them run on comfortably. But these options aren’t appropriate for every scheme or every sponsoring employer.

    We need to provide other options that allow sponsors of closed legacy schemes to focus on their core business, while protecting the pensions members have worked so hard for.

    The Superfund framework, which was announced earlier this year, will provide an efficient way of effecting consolidation of these DB schemes and I was delighted to see the recent historic announcement of the first transfer of its kind in the emerging Superfund market.

    Thanks to responses received from the DB Call for Evidence – today – I am pleased to announce that we intend to establish a public sector consolidator, run by the Pension Protection Fund.

    This will offer an alternative for schemes which are unattractive to commercial providers. It will help unlock access to higher-growth assets in which some schemes would struggle to invest on their own.

    And for schemes looking to run-on, we will look at the mechanisms for surplus extraction. We believe if it was easier and cheaper to take back funding over certain levels this would encourage more schemes to invest more in productive finance.

    We understand the concerns around safeguards for members, and the opportunity to share benefits. So, we aim to launch a public consultation addressing these questions in the winter.

    These options could allow members to benefit from increased pension returns and support the UK economy – both through unlocking further opportunities and access to more illiquid investments, and by enabling employers to re-invest in their own businesses or DC pensions obligations.

    Today, I’ve set out the direction of travel for the future of the UK’s pension market.

    I want to thank the Chancellor for his commitment to delivering these reforms and industry for their continued engagement and support.

    We are strongly committed to building on these reforms to make a real difference. We estimate these changes will potentially help a median earner have over £16,000 more in retirement when saving across their entire career.

    Building the path to a pension system that puts savers at the forefront and supports the UK economy.