Tag: 2023

Esther McVey – 2023 Speech on Public Appointments

The speech made by Esther McVey, the Cabinet Office Minister, in Edinburgh on 24 November 2023.

Good afternoon – it’s a pleasure to be here with you all.

This is our third event focused on increasing the diversity of our public appointments…

…but importantly it’s our first event here in Scotland…

…and it is also the first Cabinet Office event I’ve been to since arriving in post.

And I am pleased to see such a packed room.

I want to thank you for taking the time to be here today…

…we know you are all busy people, with many busy diaries only getting busier in the run-up to Christmas…

…but it is so important that you’re here.

Looking out of the window on my journey up here, I was reminded of the great variety of our country…

…the rolling hills, the countryside, the towns, the cities.

And I thought those places actually represent the diversity of the people who live in those places.

And so often, we don’t have that diversity of thought. That diversity of expression in those public bodies.

That’s what we’re trying to do today.

I’m originally from Liverpool and I lived up in Edinburgh for a while. It’s one of my favourite places. I think it is such a vibrant, exciting place.

But the Government – as part of our Levelling Up and Places for Growth agendas – needs to build the better, secure, prosperous future for this country.

An important part of my role is being the voice of the people in the very centre of Government…

…and that means that I need to ensure that this bright future I’ve described for every single citizen across the country.

Our UK-wide Public Bodies are a vital part of this work…

…including those Scottish Arms Length Bodies…

…and therefore it is essential we get the best – and the right – people in the right posts to run them.

And we must all be more strategic about how we go about getting those people for those posts.

That’s why I am here today.

I’ve been reading about some of the people in this room and I will say that some of the brightest and the best from a real diversity of backgrounds and careers are here today.

Baroness Neville-Rolfe – who unfortunately could not be here with us today – told me to really focus on diversity in the broadest sense…

…that regional diversity and diversity of thought.

You can be from different parts of the country, but have the same thought patterns.

What we want is that challenge.

People bringing that perspective you don’t always hear.

Maybe being a bit more thoughtful… a bit more savvy… a bit more concentrated on a local area.

And that’s what we intend to do.

We want to break that cycle…

…of what people might describe as group think.

And what better place to do that than Scotland, what better place than Edinburgh, to do that.

We want to call out to those brilliant people from Edinburgh, Glasgow, Liverpool, Cheshire, Birmingham, Manchester, to spread their expertise across the country.

The value of the skills and expertise that people in this room will be priceless…

…and the expertise you have gained throughout your careers could benefit the public sector.

You could help our hospitals be more efficient…

…you could improve education for the very youngest children…

…also help those who want to be apprentices…

…you could ensure some of our greatest museums throughout the country get even better.

However it is not only about harnessing those skills…

… it’s also about ensuring that candidates for public appointments are drawn from across the breadth of the country.

We need diversity – as I said – of thought, of skills, and of capability.

Because it’s those sensibilities which will properly challenge the organisations they are responsible for…

But before we recognise the scale of the challenge we are doing, we owe it to you and to our public services to make sure the right support is in place.

We know that we need to be better throughout the whole process.

For example, where applicants may not be successful for a particular appointment – but may be brilliant at what they do – we need to be able to track those people and take that forward, so that maybe we can consider their expertise elsewhere.

We should never forget about your career, and ensure there’s career progression offered too.

My officials will be on hand today to discuss the upcoming opportunities…

…and we have a number of departments represented here who – I am sure – will be delighted to speak to you about roles later today.

We have some great speakers today…

…who will – no doubt – persuade you that this is something you need to go forward for.

Whether you’ve got that experience, that certain skill, or what it takes to make a real difference.

So I will hand over to the official in the Propriety & Ethics Team at the Cabinet Office…

…who will tell you what is coming up for the rest of the day.

But so you get the best out of today, rather than feeling it’s somebody talking to you or at you…

…I would like you to be an active participant in what we do.

When I do a Q&A session a little bit later, with people who are on boards, who have been on boards, please put your hand up if the questions I’m asking really aren’t the questions you want to ask.

Today is really about you.

I will also say I’ve been on that journey…

…I was Chair of the British Transport Police Authority…

…so I probably know some of the questions you’re thinking:

How do I go about it?

Is it a closed shop?

How do I do my CV?

How do I write that covering letter?

How do I really sell myself so I can be on that board.

I’ve been on this journey too… sometimes unsuccessfully, sometimes successfully.

So warts and all, I’ll tell you what it’s been like for me.

And also what I’ll say is practice makes perfect.

You’ll get into the pattern of how you answer the questions and how you tell your story…

…so people say “ah, they are the skills that I need on this board.”

Hopefully you’ll get a lot out of today, and hopefully you’ll enjoy it.

December 5, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Statement to the 28th Session of the Conference of the States Parties of the OPCW [November 2023]

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

Statement by Her Excellency Joanna Roper, Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Director-General, Mr Chair, Distinguished Delegates,

Let me start by thanking you Director-General and the Technical Secretariat for all your work preparing this Conference.

Many thanks also to our outgoing Chair, Ambassador Vusimusi Madonsela. I further congratulate Ambassador Suljuk Tarar on your appointment – you have our full support.

Mr Chair,

2023 has seen important successes for the Chemical Weapons Convention and the OPCW. Although a small number of States decided to block consensus on the outcome document, the Fifth Review Conference in May served as an important platform to underscore global commitment to uphold the norm against possession and use, and to progress issues including geographical representation and flexible human resourcing in the Technical Secretariat.

We also celebrated the inauguration of the Centre for Chemistry and Technology, which the UK is proud to support. We recently pledged a further 1.1 million Euros international cooperation and assistance funding for this financial year and supported the very successful CHEMEX Africa in Algiers.

And in July we marked the completion of the verified destruction of all declared chemical weapon stockpiles. Quite the milestone.

But, Mr Chair,

That milestone is unfortunately not the end of the story. 2023 has also been a year of serious challenge. A number of States Parties to this Convention still maintain chemical weapons programmes.

Russia used chemical weapons in the UK in 2018 and against Alexey Navalny in 2020.

In May this year, Russian state media reported Russian use of riot control agents against Ukrainian soldiers as part of Russia’s illegal war of aggression. Use of riot control agents as a method of warfare is clearly prohibited by the CWC. Russia has so far failed to provide any plausible explanation.

Meanwhile, we remain gravely concerned by baseless Russian allegations of chemical provocations by Ukraine. Any use of chemical weapons by Russia in Ukraine would have severe consequences.

Further Mr Chair,

In August we marked ten years since the horrific sarin attack in Ghouta by the Assad Regime that killed over 1,400 people.

Since Syria’s subsequent accession to the CWC in 2013, the world has witnessed at least nine further chemical weapon attacks by the Assad regime and chronic non-compliance with its CWC obligations.

In recent weeks, the OPCW Declarations Assessment Team (DAT) released further evidence of serious irregularities with Syria’s declaration. Thousands of Syrian munitions and hundreds of tonnes of chemical agent are still missing.

Mr Chair,

This organisation can have no confidence in the Syrian regime’s declaration and Syria’s handling of toxic chemicals. This matters not only for the people in Syria, its neighbours and the region but for the safety and security of us all.

Over 50 States Parties have co-sponsored a Decision for the attention of this Conference. It recommends additional measures to control the transfer of toxic chemicals to the Syrian Regime and enhance support to criminal investigations, in accordance with international law. It will reduce the threat of further Syrian Regime chemical weapon attacks and of toxic chemical proliferation to non-state actors. I call on all States Parties to support the decision, ‘Addressing the Threat from Chemical Weapons Use and the Threat of Future Use’.

Mr Chair,

The CWC remains one of the most successful disarmament conventions. But we have more work to do to realise the vision of a world free from chemical weapons.

Fast-moving technological developments offer extraordinary opportunities, but also bring new risks for proliferation, including threats from non-state actors. The OPCW can support us all to bolster capacity to prevent, protect and respond to chemical weapons threats.

The OPCW must have the tools it needs to deliver its vital mission. The OPCW’s biennial budget put forward for our consideration this week is the minimum the organisation needs to deliver its core activity. We call on all to support it and in doing so, support the continued work of the OPCW in eradicating the world of chemical weapons.

Thank you, Mr Chair

December 5, 2023
John Glen – 2023 Speech to the Transforming Infrastructure Performance Conference

The speech made by John Glen, the Minister for the Cabinet Office, on 27 November 2023.

Good morning, everyone.

It’s a great pleasure to be here with you all today.

I don’t think I could have picked a better place to give my first speech as the new Minister for Cabinet Office, because here today, in this audience, at this Live Summit, are the leaders who will create the public sector that we all vitally need – a public sector of the future.

I know you’ve all been very busy – in fact this year, we’ve recorded the biggest portfolio of projects on record. I’ve been in post now for 14 days and it was great to sit down with Nick Smallwood last week to discuss his work and understand the challenges and opportunities that he and all of you face.

It’s reassuring for me to remember, as a former Treasury minister, that in 2024/25 we are investing 30 billion pounds more in real terms than at the start of this Parliament. In fact, this year we recorded the biggest portfolio of projects on record. two-hundred-and-forty-four to be exact, with an overall worth of eight-hundred-and-five-billion pounds.

I want to thank you all for your dedication to this work. Through the teamwork between the public and private sector, we are delivering a vibrant infrastructure, one that will benefit every one of our citizens.

Whether it’s nuclear power stations generating clean energy, our prisons rehabilitating offenders giving them a chance to lead a crime-free life, or our hospitals providing critical healthcare, we are delivering for the British public.

Challenges

Your delivery is remarkable, not only for the complexity of the task, but for the challenging circumstances you’re delivering these major construction projects through.

The Covid pandemic and the war in Ukraine have created both high inflation and low affordability.

But those challenges shouldn’t deter us – on the contrary, they are the reason the projects we work on must be delivered effectively.

Public infrastructure plays a vital role in economic growth, and, indeed, it is a growth industry in itself, and we’ll need over a million new workers until 2025 to deliver the projects currently scheduled.

So, it is up to government to get those trained workers in place – the apprentices, technicians, graduates – indeed, all skilled workers, and give them the opportunity in this thriving area.

But that’s not the only opportunity we’re focused on – no, through the infrastructure you’re building we are embracing new opportunities, to be greener, to be more innovative, to be more modern than ever before.

I want to thank the IPA for their leadership here. Their ‘Transforming Infrastructure Performance’ programme describes a vision for the future in which we must prioritise societal outcomes, paving the way for sustainability, digitalisation and modernisation.

It’s the right approach to take, and we want to ensure that when people invest in our infrastructure, they’re investing in a revitalised sector. One which can withstand new challenges, adapt to and adopt new technologies, and benefit our citizens and the whole of society.

Already our net zero promises are the cornerstone of our New Hospitals Programme and the Schools Rebuilding Programme.

These are fantastic new initiatives, and they allow us to put the design and planning innovations to the test.

The government will progress the National Infrastructure Commission’s April recommendations on planning by delivering reforms to return the nationally significant infrastructure project regime to the two and a half year average consenting time achieved in 2012.

Productivity

The government will take further action by including the publishing of spatial data on major infrastructure projects for the first time and ensuring a more reliable process for updating national policy statements.

As you saw last week in the Chancellor’s remarks at Autumn Statement, we are also taking steps overall in the reform of planning – a new premium planning service, new guaranteed accelerated decision dates, and a critical national priority designation for nationally significant low carbon energy projects, which will also be a helpful intervention. As well, the reforms to the grid connection process, halving the time to build new grid infrastructure.

My new boss, The Deputy Prime Minister – and, indeed, my predecessor – spoke about the role that data and AI will play in our public services, and I believe it will have a crucial position in your sector.

We have seen how digitalisation is already being used in our infrastructure – the new prison HMP Millsike, for example, has digital and data throughout its processes. Its progress is being tracked in real-time, supply-chain progress and decisions are being digitally recorded. That means reduced cost and reduced risk – time saved and timescales on target.

The new prison HMP Fosse Way was also built 22% faster than a traditional build, all thanks to 70% of the project using modern methods of construction.

And generative AI was used on HS2 London Tunnels in Euston to shorten the build time by 86 working days, which also saved twelve-million-pounds. Better efficiency, safety and quality was the result – this is what innovation brings.

And I’m delighted to say that, next year, the IPA will launch a new benchmarking service to improve decision making, which I hope will lead to stronger business cases and greater confidence in cost and schedules – all powered by innovative practices.

Conclusion

Ladies and gentlemen, now is the time for the UK to be at the forefront of creativity, innovation and a clean future.

I passionately believe the new methods this industry has been leading on will not only provide economic stability, it will also provide opportunity throughout our regions, levelling up all public infrastructure to an excellent level.

I can promise you that, in my new role, I will always put people at the very heart of our projects, whether that is the taxpayer or business leaders, whether in a big city or a small town.

I want to reiterate my thanks to all of you – yes, we are aware of the challenges ahead of us, but I believe we have an ever more sophisticated plan to tackle them.

I look forward to a future where our TIP principles not only create thriving UK towns and cities, but are used as an example of how to create world-leading infrastructure.

And I look forward to working with you to make those ambitions – your ambitions, our ambitions – a reality.

I wish you well with your conference today and with the workshops that you will be doing later this morning. Thank you for the opportunity to make this my first speech as the minister for the Cabinet Office and Paymaster General.

December 5, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Over 1,200 new homes for rough sleepers [November 2023]
The press release issued by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities on 28 November 2023.

People at risk of homelessness will be helped into stable, long-term accommodation thanks to nearly £150 million of government funding.
- Nearly £150 million allocated to build 1,230 homes for rough sleepers
- 46 local authorities and housing providers will receive money as part of the government’s Single Homelessness Accommodation Programme
- The programme also provides wrap around services to address substance misuse, domestic violence and abuse, wellbeing and mental health
People with a history of rough sleeping and those at risk of homelessness will be helped into stable, long-term accommodation thanks to nearly £150 million of government funding.

46 local authorities, housing providers, and charities across England will build or buy 1,230 homes for the most vulnerable, all funded by £148.4 million of the government’s Single Homelessness Accommodation Programme.

The money also funds a wide range of accommodation and support services for vulnerable adults, including purpose-built accommodation and supported housing, as well as helping with building repairs and renovations.

These new services also include 24/7 support for the most vulnerable, with access to specialist teams where people can address substance misuse, domestic violence and abuse or improve their wellbeing and mental health. The project forms a major part of the major cross-government’s £2 billion programme to end rough sleeping for good.

Felicity Buchan, Minister for Housing and Homelessness from the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, said:

Everyone deserves a safe place to call home. This is why we are so committed to supporting the most vulnerable in our society and helping them off the streets for good.

This funding will not only provide housing for rough sleepers but will also give tailored support to help those most in need off the streets, rebuild their lives, and begin to live independently.

Funding has been targeted at areas where it is needed the most – this includes £9.9 million to Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council, over £6.4 million to Leeds County Council, and £5.2 million to Manchester Council.

Worthing Homes in Sussex will receive £4 million to deliver 34 homes, communal rooms for group therapy, and a homeless drop-in centre. While The Homeless Action Resource Project in Southend-on-Sea will receive £3.3 million to deliver 32 homes by redeveloping and retrofitting existing properties.

The Deputy Mayor of London for Housing and Residential Development, Tom Copley, said:

I’m extremely pleased that we’ve secured over £50 million to support local councils to build more homes and deliver vital support services to people sleeping rough in London.

This will make a real and lasting difference for hundreds of people in our capital, ranging from those recovering from addiction, to young people at risk of homelessness.

No-one should have to sleep rough on our streets and the Mayor is doing everything in his power to ensure that everyone in this position gets the support they need.

The fifth and final bidding round for the Single Homelessness Accommodation Programme is underway now, and final allocations will be announced early next year.
December 5, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Greater protections for children from future strike action [November 2023]

The press release issued by the Department for Education on 28 November 2023.

Proposals will put in place protections for children’s education and provide certainty for parents. Minimum service levels to be in place by next academic year.

Today the government has launched a consultation to introduce new protections for children and young people’s education during any future strike action. The planned measures will provide greater reassurance and certainty for children and parents.

Minimum service levels will ensure that in the event of any future strike action, children and young people can continue to receive education and do not miss out on any vital learning. The legislation brings us in line with countries like France, Italy, Spain where public services reliably continue in times of industrial action.

This year’s school strikes were part of the biggest outbreak of industrial action in a generation, with far reaching consequences across the education system. Cumulatively over 25 million school days have been lost over 10 strike days in schools alone.

This strike action also came at a time when schools and colleges were doing their best to recover from the impact of Covid on children and young people’s education. Setting regulations for minimum service levels will help us safeguard children’s time in education from further disruption caused by industrial action.

The consultation invites views on a number of proposals. These include priority attendance for vulnerable children and young people, exam groups, children of critical workers and primary school pupils, as well as the use of rotas for strikes lasting five days or more.

Education Secretary, Gillian Keegan said:

Keeping children in school is my number one priority. Last year’s school strikes were some of the most disruptive on record for children and parents with 25 million cumulative days lost, alongside the strike action that badly affected students in colleges and universities.

We cannot afford a repeat of that disruption – particularly as young people continue to catch up from the pandemic.

Whilst I know many schools and colleges worked really hard to keep children and young people in face-to-face education during strikes, we must make sure that approach is applied in every school, in every area of country.

This decision follows on from recent discussions between Education Secretary, Gillian Keegan, and education trade unions to explore voluntary agreements in schools and colleges.

While talks with the education unions were constructive, not enough progress was made to ensure protections for children and young people would be in place for the next academic year.

The government has therefore taken the step to open the nine-week consultation to hear the views of parents, young people and the education sector on how best to ensure minimum service levels in schools, colleges as well higher education institutions.

Many school and college leaders worked hard to keep classrooms open and prioritise places for pupils and students sitting external exams, vulnerable children and children of critical workers.

The government’s proposals set out minimum service levels which would ensure the groups who need face-to-face education the most can continue to access education on strike days.

The government is also seeking evidence of the impact of strike action in higher education to determine if a minimum service level could mitigate the impact of any future strike action.

Earlier this month the Prime Minister announced that minimum service levels legislation for rail, ambulance and border force workers will be passed to mitigate disruption to the public if strikes are called.

December 5, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : £121 Million Investment into future Submarines supports 250 Jobs [November 2023]
The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 28 November 2023.

Two contracts, worth collectively over £100 million, have been awarded to Babcock to support the development of the UK’s future nuclear deterrent.
- Contracts awarded to Babcock for in-service support expertise and weapon handling.
- Supporting 250 jobs across the UK
- Will support development of the new Dreadnought Class submarines.
Two contracts, worth collectively over £100 million, have been awarded to Babcock to support the development of the UK’s future nuclear deterrent.

The first, worth £66 million, has been awarded to Babcock to provide in-service submarine support expertise into the development of the UK’s Dreadnought Class submarines – the future of the UK’s nuclear deterrent. Covering the next 4.5 years, the contract will see Babcock provide the Ministry of Defence with technical and management support, engineering best practice and submarine maintenance achievability.

Supporting the Prime Minister’s priority to grow the economy, the contract will sustain a total of 150 jobs, primarily in Bristol, but also include specialised roles across other key sites, including Devonport, Clyde, Barrow in Furness, Leicester and Warrington.

In addition, Babcock has also been awarded a £55 million contract by BAE Systems for Weapon Handling and Launch System (WHLS) and Submerged Signal Ejector equipment for boats 2-4 of the Dreadnought Class. The contract will support a further 100 jobs across the UK and will see Babcock work with BAE Systems and the MOD together to ensure the Dreadnought Class is delivered on time.

This programme will support the design, development, and manufacture of the four new Dreadnought Class ballistic missile submarines – the largest submarines ever to be operated by the Royal Navy.

Ensuring the future security of the UK and its NATO Allies, the Dreadnought Class will replace the current Vanguard Class submarines in the early 2030s, maintaining the UK’s Continuous At Sea Deterrent.

Minister for Defence Procurement, James Cartlidge said:

It is undeniable the pivotal role that British industry plays in the defence of our nation and our Allies, and I’m committed to supporting UK companies who are continuing to bolster our security whilst driving prosperity across our economy.

The Dreadnought Class will be central to keeping our country safe and will further enhance our world-renowned submarine fleet.

Babcock CEO David Lockwood said:

Contributing our extensive expertise on the complex support submarines require is a hugely important aspect to the design of this new platform. By participating early in the programme, we will help to maximise the UK’s future defence capabilities.

The new Dreadnought Class submarines will be over 150 metres long and will have a crew of 130 personnel. In a first for a Royal Navy submarine, innovative new lighting will allow the crew to simulate night and day and it will be the first Royal Navy submarine to be built with separate female crew quarters. It will also have modern gym facilities for the crew, including exercise bikes, rowers, weights, benches, a running machine and cross trainer.
December 5, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Reforms bring hope to rehabilitated people still serving abolished indefinite sentences [November 2023]
The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 28 November 2023.

Thousands of rehabilitated ex-prisoners serving long-since abolished indefinite sentences will become eligible to have their licence period terminated earlier as part of new reforms.
- more than 1,800 people could see unjust, long-served sentences end by March 2025
- reduces numbers still on licence despite being rehabilitated, long after the end of their original sentence
- only those living safely in the community are eligible
Offenders released from prison on licence while serving Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) sentences currently have to wait a minimum of 10 years before they can have their licence reviewed by the Parole Board.

The new changes will mean IPP offenders serving their sentence in the community are referred for review 3 years after their first release.

IPP sentences were introduced in 2005, designed to prevent offenders who were considered dangerous from being released even though the offence did not merit a life sentence. There is broad consensus against the IPP sentence and the policy was scrapped in 2012 due to the inconsistent and more frequent application of these sentences than was intended.

If a licence is not terminated at the three-year mark by the Parole Board, it will automatically terminate after a further two years if the offender is not recalled to prison in that time. This is the first time these offenders will have a defined ‘end date’ to their sentence.

Lord Chancellor and Justice Secretary, Alex Chalk KC, said:

We are taking decisive action to curtail IPP licence periods to give rehabilitated people the opportunity to move on with their lives, while continuing to make sure the public are protected from the most serious offenders.

This is a major step towards wiping away the stain of IPP sentences from our justice system, without compromising public protection.

The changes will be applied retrospectively, meaning licences will immediately end for around 1,800 rehabilitated offenders once the legislation comes into force. Offenders who have been recalled to prison or taken into secure hospitals will not be eligible.

The government has amended its Victims and Prisoners Bill to make these changes which will accelerate the process of reducing the number of people bound by IPP sentences.

Around 800 will become newly eligible for Parole Board consideration by March 2025. The new legislation will also introduce a presumption that the Parole Board will terminate the licence unless it is still required to protect the public to give offenders the best opportunity to move on from their sentence.

Since IPP sentences were scrapped in 2012, the number of unreleased IPP prisoners has been reduced by three-quarters and those in custody are being supported to progress towards release through the government’s refreshed IPP Action Plan.

The legislation is expected to come into force 2 months after the Bill receives Royal Assent.
December 5, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : New phase of campaign encourages students to say Enough to abuse [November 2023]

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

The third phase of the government’s award-winning Enough campaign includes a new partnership with over 30 universities to help make campuses safer.

The government’s innovative Enough campaign will join forces with over 30 UK universities in a bid to protect women and girls on university campuses.

Launching its third phase today (25 November), the Enough campaign targets potential perpetrators of violence against women and girls.

For the first time, it will partner up with universities to deliver bespoke campaign materials designed to reflect the scenarios and forms of abuse that students could witness.

This fresh phase of the campaign follows statistics from the Crime Survey for England and Wales, in the year ending March 2022, which revealed full-time students were more than 4 times as likely to have experienced sexual assault within the last year than those in any other type of occupation.

The campaign provides advice to anyone witnessing abuse, including students, on the safe ways to intervene if they see an incident of violence against women and girls, ranging from sexual harassment – on the street, on public transport or at work – to sharing intimate images of someone without their consent; coercive control in a relationship; or unwanted touching.

This phase will see a wider rollout of the campaign’s STOP prompt – Say something, Tell someone, Offer support, Provide a diversion – which provides the public with multiple options for intervening if they witness abuse in public places and around universities.

Graphics on posters, digital screens and university social media accounts will encourage students to act if they witness abuse, as part of wider efforts to make university campuses safer.

Alongside the partnership with the Higher Education sector, the latest phase of Enough also contains billboard and poster advertising on public transport networks and in sports clubs, as well as social media adverts, including on platforms relevant to younger audiences.

Home Secretary, James Cleverly said:

No woman or girl should ever feel unsafe in her home or in her community and we have gone further than ever before in protecting them from abuse.

The Enough campaign aims to deliver a generational shift in the attitudes and behaviours which lead to abuse – everyone has a role to play.

While the government will continue to bring into force new laws to tackle these vile crimes, equip the police to bring more criminals to justice and provide victims with the support they need, the Enough campaign empowers the public to do their part to call out abuse when they see it and safely intervene when appropriate.

Minister for Victims and Safeguarding, Laura Farris said:

In order to bring about real and lasting change, we need to address the issue of violence against women and girls from all sides, and that includes educating the public on the role they have to play.

We are driving forward our plans to protect women from abuse, whenever and wherever it occurs – online, in public, at work or behind closed doors.

Already this year we have classified violence against women as a national threat for policing and rolled out a new approach to how rape is investigated by forces in England and Wales. There will be more to come.

Baroness Newlove, Victims’ Commissioner for England and Wales said:

If we are to effectively tackle violence against women and girls, this requires a whole society approach with the education sector playing a key role. I welcome the latest phase of the Enough campaign as it expands into university campuses. Government commitments to future iterations of this campaign are crucial if we are to see the wider cultural shifts we know are necessary.

Nicole Jacobs, Domestic Abuse Commissioner for England and Wales said:

I welcome this phase of the Enough campaign which aims to tackle violence against women and girls on university campuses.

We will all know someone who has been impacted by domestic abuse and we have a collective responsibility to respond empathetically and effectively the first time they come forward for support.

This campaign is an important step forward, providing the resources we need to tackle violence against women and girls. We must show zero tolerance to abuse in all its forms.

Professor Eunice Simmons, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Chester, one of the universities partnering with Enough, said:

Campaigns such as Enough are fundamental in driving the proactive message that violence against women and girls will not be tolerated and we are proud to support such an initiative which underpins the many projects we already have in place to ensure the safety of our student body and our wider community.

We want every member of our university community to feel secure, safe and supported. With the help of valued external local and regional partners and the support of the Enough campaign, we can help create an environment where safety, respect, and dignity prevail.

Andrea Simon, Director of the End Violence Against Women Coalition (EVAW), said:

We’re pleased to see this latest phase of the government’s Enough campaign partner with universities, which is important if we are to address the sexual harassment and violence experienced by students, prevent abuse, and shift the deeply rooted attitudes and beliefs that drive male violence against women.

Implementing violence prevention and bystander programmes can empower students to recognise abuse and intervene safely when they witness problematic behaviour, but it is also critical that students know where they can go for support if they experience abuse.

Ending violence against women is everyone’s business and it is particularly crucial that this next phase of this campaign is well-funded, over the longer-term, and positively engages boys and young men, who are a key part of this work.

The Enough campaign has previously partnered with Channel 4 programme Hollyoaks on a specific storyline around violence against women and girls. In the episode, Maxine Minniver, played by Nikki Sanderson, was attacked when walking home from a night out. The episode, which aired in November 2022, aimed to prompt discussion from the audience about women’s safety and how we can all build a safer society for women.

Hollyoaks Actor, Nikki Sanderson said:

It’s now a year on from the Hollyoaks’ special ‘Long Walk Home’ episode and I’m so proud of what we achieved with this campaign. I am also really thankful for the opportunity to be a part of such a powerful episode and to support the government’s Enough campaign in attempting to change attitudes and behaviours that influence violence against women and girls. I believe it is an important issue to revisit as violence against women and girls is unfortunately something that we still see every day. It is a long-term societal issue that we are all working together to tackle.

As highlighted in both the episode and the Enough campaign messaging, women and girls should be free to enjoy their lives without experiencing abuse. The Enough campaign is uniting the public around the rejection of abuse and ensuring perpetrators behaviour will be challenged, and I am proud for the opportunity I had to bring this serious issue to life within this episode.

The Enough Campaign, which launched in March 2022, has to date included television adverts, billboards, social media and radio advertising. The campaign, informed by over 180,000 responses to the Home Office’s call for evidence and engagement with a network of over 40 stakeholder organisations and academic experts, has so far reached millions of people, driving action among bystanders and prompting reflection among potential perpetrators of violence against women and girls.

The campaign is just one way the government is prioritising tackling violence against women and girls.

The Chancellor unveiled £12 million of new funding to tackle domestic abuse in the Autumn Statement on Wednesday (22 November), including £2 million of funding for payments directly to victims to help them leave abusive relationships and rebuild their lives.

All police forces across England and Wales are now following a new approach for the investigation of rape, funded by the Home Office, with police referrals to the Crown Prosecution Service for adult rape offences already up more than 200% since 2019.  Under the new model, police and prosecutors can access better support and 2,000 police investigators will be specially trained in sexual offences by April 2024.

Earlier this year, the government added violence against women and girls to the Strategic Policing Requirement – meaning it is now categorised as a national threat for forces to respond to, alongside other serious threats like terrorism.

The Home Office also continues to fund “perpetrator intervention” projects which aim to stop domestic abusers and stalkers from repeatedly targeting victims and terrorising vulnerable people.

December 5, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : The future of flight takes off as Virgin airliner crosses Atlantic solely powered by sustainable aviation fuel [November 2023]
The press release issued by the Department for Transport on 28 November 2023.

First-ever 100% SAF-fuelled commercial transatlantic flight marks a milestone in decarbonising air travel.
- Transport Secretary takes to the sky in world’s first 100% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) transatlantic flight by a commercial airline, made possible by up to £1 million of UK government funding
- this historic event is a huge step towards Jet Zero – helping people travel sustainably while creating jobs and helping to grow the UK economy
- during an official visit to the US, the Transport Secretary will show how the UK is a global leader in transport innovation, including SAF and automated vehicles
One of Virgin Atlantic’s Boeing 787s took off for a world-first flight from London Heathrow to JFK International Airport, New York today (28 November 2023) powered by 100% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).

The Transport Secretary travelled on the flight alongside Virgin Atlantic Chief Executive Shai Weiss and Virgin’s founder, Sir Richard Branson, making them the first commercial airline to fly across the pond without the use of any fossil-based jet fuel.

Today’s flight is a major milestone towards making air travel more environmentally friendly as we move towards our goal of net zero by 2050. The historic trip is powered by SAF made from waste fats that cannot enter the food chain. Repurposing waste products into jet fuel to cut emissions provides the most immediate solution to help decarbonise our skies.

Virgin Atlantic and their consortium were awarded up to £1 million of UK government funding in December 2022, following a challenge from the Department for Transport to support the industry in achieving the first transatlantic flight on a commercial aircraft powered by 100% SAF. The funding has played a vital role in supporting the testing of today’s fuel and the flight’s operational delivery to make this a reality. It will also provide an opportunity to generate important data that will accelerate SAF approval and boost our understanding of its efficiency.

SAF has a greenhouse gas emissions reduction of around 70% when compared against standard jet fuel over its life cycle – allowing greener travel and keeping the UK connected to the world.

With the world about to convene in Dubai COP28 this week, today lays down a marker that the UK is already taking action when it comes to tackling the decarbonisation challenges that face the transport sector.

Transport Secretary, Mark Harper, said:

Today’s historic flight, powered by 100% sustainable aviation fuel, shows how we can both decarbonise transport and enable passengers to keep flying when and where they want.

This government has backed today’s flight to take-off and we will continue to support the UK’s emerging SAF industry as it creates jobs, grows the economy and gets us to Jet Zero.

SAF will become an increasing part of the standard jet fuel mix, driven by our upcoming SAF mandate, with at least 10% of jet fuel being from sustainable sources in 2030. This will mean that business or leisure travellers can fly knowing their carbon footprint will be lower than ever before.

Sir Richard Branson, Founder, Virgin Atlantic, said:

The world will always assume something can’t be done, until you do it. The spirit of innovation is getting out there and trying to prove that we can do things better for everyone’s benefit. Virgin Atlantic has been challenging the status quo and pushing the aviation industry to never settle and do better since 1984.

Fast forward nearly 40 years, that pioneering spirit continues to be Virgin Atlantic’s beating heart as it pushes the boundaries from carbon fibre aircraft and fleet upgrades to sustainable fuels. I couldn’t be prouder to be onboard Flight100 today alongside the teams at Virgin Atlantic and our partners, which have been working together to set the flight path for the decarbonisation of long-haul aviation.

Shai Weiss, Chief Executive Officer, Virgin Atlantic, said:

Flight100 proves that sustainable aviation fuel can be used as a safe, drop-in replacement for fossil-derived jet fuel and it’s the only viable solution for decarbonising long-haul aviation. It’s taken radical collaboration to get here and we’re proud to have reached this important milestone, but we need to push further.

There’s simply not enough SAF and it’s clear that in order to reach production at scale, we need to see significantly more investment. This will only happen when regulatory certainty and price support mechanisms are in place. Flight100 proves that if you make it, we’ll fly it.

Today’s flight shows the future of flying, following in the footsteps of John Alcock and Arthur Brown, who flew the first non-stop transatlantic flight in 1919, opening the eyes of the world to the potential of long-haul air travel.

This landmark moment is another step towards cleaner skies after we announced the second round of the Advanced Fuels Fund on 17 November 2023. This saw 9 projects receive £53 million to help scale up the UK SAF production industry, leading the global charge towards making these fuels more readily available. Increasing the supply for operators, making it cheaper and providing reassurance for industry that the UK is the world leader in decarbonising aviation backs our commitment of having 5 SAF commercial plants to be in construction by 2025.

The flight to the US will also provide the Transport Secretary with the opportunity to showcase the UK’s progress in the future of transport. Promoting the UK’s work on SAF, the Transport Secretary will co-chair a SAF Investor Summit in New York to further unlock private investment to build a sustainable aviation sector that creates jobs in the UK and boosts the economy. Investing in SAF is key to helping scale up the industry, similar to the International Airlines Group (IAG), which recently invested in UK SAF production company Nova Pangaea Technologies, something we aim to mimic with US investors.

The Transport Secretary will then travel to San Francisco to meet with US Automated Vehicles operators, seeing how the UK can become a new global hub for developing self-driving cars – fully seizing the opportunities enabled by our recently announced Automated Vehicles Bill. The trip will provide valuable insight into a high-growth industry which, in the UK, could create 38,000 jobs in a market worth £42 billion by 2035.
December 5, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : New research paves way for Artificial Intelligence in education [November 2023]

The press release issued by the Department for Education on 28 November 2023.

Over 500 respondents contributed to the Department for Education’s call for evidence on generative AI.

Education professionals, Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology specialists, and ed-tech experts are embracing the opportunities offered by AI in the education sector, according to the results of the government’s first ever Call for Evidence on Artificial Intelligence in Education, published today.

Results show that many respondents recognise the benefits of AI and some are already using AI tools to streamline administrative tasks, create subject-specific resources and provide personalised support for learners with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

Other opportunities cited include the creation of more interactive lessons, and additional support for learners for whom English is an additional language.

The respondents range from educators in schools, colleges and universities, to research bodies including The Alan Turing Institute and Jisc.

The report will provide a base to inform future policy on AI, and the government is already supporting the sector to realise the potential of AI in education.

In October, the government announced an additional investment of up to £2 million in Oak National Academy to create new teaching tools using AI, followed by a two-day hackathon hosted by the Department for Education in collaboration with Faculty AI, the National Institute of Teaching, which brought together teachers, leaders, students and technology experts to experiment with AI.

Education Secretary Gillian Keegan said:

Artificial intelligence is here to stay and it’s already changing the way we work and learn. To take advantage of this transformative technology, it’s crucial we get our approach to it right.

It’s heartening that many education professionals are already seeing the tangible benefits of AI – something I witnessed myself at our AI hackathon earlier this month – while remaining alert to its risks.

The results of the call for evidence give us a crucial evidence base to inform our future work on AI, helping us make the right decisions to get the best out of generative AI in a safe and secure way.

Michael Webb, Director of Technology and Analytics at Jisc, said:

It’s encouraging to see from this report how many institutions are already embracing AI, and how staff are using it in creative ways to improve education.

The findings also help us understand the types of support and guidance staff need in order to make the best use of the technology going forward. This will enable us to ensure that the right skills training is in place, along with guidelines around safe, ethical use of AI.

The Technology in Schools Survey, also published today, sets out how technology is used in schools and where they need support to use technology effectively. To improve access to technology, the Department for Education is investing up to £200 million to upgrade schools that fall below Wi-Fi connectivity standards in 55 Education Investment Areas, and working with commercial providers to enable all schools to have access to a high-speed connection by 2025.

Morgan Briggs, Policy Research and Strategy Manager at The Alan Turing Institute, said:

The use of generative AI in the education sector is a critically important area that deserves significant attention, and we welcome the Department for Education’s continued focus on it.

There are multiple ways in which generative AI could benefit the sector – but simultaneously, there are concerns and risks that must be addressed. These include dependency on commercial generative AI, the possible infringement of rights, the spread of bias and misinformation, and plagiarism.

To realise the full potential of these tools, it will be crucial to engage children and young people in the development and deployment of generative AI in education.

Sir Antony Seldon, founder of AI in Education and Headmaster of Epsom College, said:

It is great that the Department for Education is being proactive in its approach to artificial intelligence.

It’s crucial that the government is alive to the risks and opportunities AI offers to the education sector, and this Call for Evidence, which we were pleased to contribute to, will form an essential part of that.

While respondents are broadly optimistic about the benefits AI could bring, they also recognise risks around harmful content, intellectual property protection and concerns about accuracy.

The Government’s AI Regulation White Paper set out the first steps towards establishing a regulatory framework for AI, including working with UK regulators on how they might need to regulate the technology given its cross-cutting nature and impact on various sectors, including education.

The government committed to evaluate and adapt the UK’s regulatory approach as AI evolves, and the insights from this call for evidence will continue to shape policy in this emerging area.

Earlier this year, the UK also convened the world’s first AI Safety Summit at Bletchley Park, which brought together world leaders, businesses, and civil society to build consensus on international action to ensure safety at the frontier of AI.

This drive to harness the potential of AI comes as new analysis is published by the government on the impact of AI on Jobs and Training.

The report illustrates how the education system and employers will need to adapt to ensure the workforce has the skills necessary to benefit from this emerging technology, which the Department for Education is supporting through a number of training opportunities, including skills bootcamps, apprenticeships and the Lifelong Learning Entitlement.

The Department for Education has also today published research trialling the use of AI to explore how it could be used to support the civil service by providing summaries and analysis. AI was used to analyse the 38 Local Skills Improvements Plans as part of a pilot project with Faculty AI.

In spring, the Department for Education will publish the results of the hackathon, further supporting the department’s work to understand how AI could safely transform the education sector.

December 5, 2023