Tag: 2023

PRESS RELEASE : Mother-to-child transmission of hepatitis B eliminated in England [February 2023]

The press release issued by the UK Health Security Agency on 2 February 2023.

England has succeeded in meeting the new World Health Organization (WHO) targets for eliminating mother-to-child transmission of hepatitis B.

Hepatitis B is a viral infection that affects the liver, and if untreated can lead to serious liver damage including cirrhosis, cancer as well as death. It is passed on through blood, semen and vaginal fluids. An estimated 206,000 people are living with chronic hepatitis B infection in England.

The majority of cases are in migrants who have acquired infection overseas in endemic countries prior to arrival in the UK. Communities at higher risk of getting hepatitis B in the UK include people who inject drugs, gay, bisexual and men who have sex with men who are having sex with multiple partners, sex workers and people detained in prisons or immigration detention centres.

Pregnant women who have hepatitis B can pass the infection onto their baby around the time of birth – this is one of the most common routes of infection globally. To reduce the chances of a baby developing the infection, since the late 1990s all pregnant women in England have been offered an antenatal blood test for hepatitis B (as well as HIV and syphilis).

For women who test positive for hepatitis B, their newborn babies are offered a course of hepatitis B vaccination starting at birth. In addition to the targeted infant vaccination programme, in 2017 the UK introduced universal infant hepatitis B immunisation within the 6-in-1 vaccine at 8, 12 and 16 weeks of age.

In 2021 quarterly coverage for these 3 doses was 91 to 92 per cent, exceeding the WHO target of 90%. Through this successful 3-pronged approach, England has now met the WHO criteria for elimination of mother to child transmission. Achieving this is a key milestone in the WHO’s strategy for the overall elimination of viral hepatitis as a public health threat by 2030.

Although the risk of hepatitis B in the UK is low, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) continues to encourage all those eligible to take up vaccination in order to lower the risk of themselves or their children becoming seriously ill in future. This includes people who have ever injected drugs, gay, bisexual and men who have sex with men, sex workers, people who have immigrated to the UK from countries where hepatitis is common and pregnant women.

Alongside hepatitis B, progress towards eliminating hepatitis C as a public health problem by 2030 in England continues. Hepatitis C is passed on in similar ways to hepatitis B infection, but there is no vaccine. Latest modelling suggests that 92,900 people were living with hepatitis C in the UK at the end of 2021 – a decline of 47.2% since 2015. Thanks to increased testing and curative treatments, the UK is on track to achieve 2030 WHO elimination goal for hep C based on current trends.

Dr Sema Mandal, Deputy Director for Blood Borne Viruses at UKHSA, said:

With the elimination of mother-to-child transmission of hepatitis B, very low hepatitis related death rates and continued reduction of chronic hepatitis C levels, we are on our way to our goal of eliminating hepatitis B and C in England by 2030.

Testing, vaccination for hepatitis B and curative treatments for hepatitis C have all played a significant role in driving down these infections.

Many people are unaware they have hepatitis because the viruses can be symptomless – meaning they aren’t getting the treatments they need and are possibly passing the virus on to others without knowing.

We continue to urge all those who have ever injected drugs, gay, bisexual and men who have sex with men, sex workers and people who have immigrated to the UK from countries where hepatitis B or C is common to come forward for free testing, treatment or hepatitis B vaccination.

Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Steve Barclay said:

We are paving the way for the elimination of hepatitis B and C, with England set to be one of the first countries in the world to wipe out these viruses.

Deaths and prevalence of hepatitis C have fallen consistently thanks to improvements in diagnosis and access to highly effective treatments that are available on the NHS.

This is another example of how we’re at the forefront of tackling serious diseases, through swiftly procuring the best treatments and tackling inequalities through testing and vaccination.

John Stewart, Director for Specialised Commissioning and interim Director of Commercial Medicines at NHS England, said:

We are pleased WHO has confirmed England has eliminated mother-to-child transmission of hepatitis B, thanks to universal screening and immunisation benefitting more than 9 in 10 infants.

The NHS is committed to increasing early detection diagnoses of blood-borne viruses, including rolling out opt-out testing for HIV, hep C and hep B in A&Es – building on the testing already routinely available through GPs and sexual health services across the country – and ensuring people have access to treatments and specialist support as early as possible.

Through screening programmes and national medicines deals that give NHS patients access to the latest drugs, England is also on track to become the first country to eliminate hepatitis C, which will be a landmark international achievement in public health.

Pamela Healy OBE, Chief Executive, British Liver Trust, said:

It is excellent news that England has met the ambitious target set by WHO and eliminated the transmission of Hepatitis B between mothers and children. The challenge now is for us to find the thousands of people living in England who have hepatitis but are completely unaware of it. Both hepatitis B and hepatitis C usually have no symptoms in the early stages, so it is vital to get tested if you have ever been exposed. To find out if you are at risk, the British Liver Trust has a simple questionnaire on their website.

Rachel Halford, CEO of The Hepatitis C Trust, said:

Thanks to government investment in an innovative elimination programme for hepatitis C, we are within reach of eliminating the virus before 2030 in England. To stay on track to reach this goal, we are in need of a hepatitis strategy to ensure that we are able to reach every at-risk population in the country, save more lives and maintain the elimination of both hepatitis C and B once reached.

Treatment for hepatitis C has never been easier and 95% of people are able to clear the virus after just a few months of taking medication. If you are worried about hepatitis C, our message to you is simple: get tested, get treated, get cured.

February 2, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Every child in Ukraine will have suffered due to Russia’s invasion – UK statement to the OSCE [February 2023]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 2 February 2023.

Ambassador Neil Bush highlights the appalling and long-lasting impact Russia’s invasion has on Ukraine’s children.

Thank you Mr. Chair. As we gathered in this Council last week, Russia had just launched its latest wave of mass long-range attacks across Ukraine. The tenth such wave since October 2022. Local officials reported at least 11 people killed.

Just three days later, Russia shelled residential areas in Kherson. According to local authorities, Russian attacks hit a bus station, post office, bank and residential buildings. These buildings are the fabric of everyday life, yet ordinary Ukrainians are risking their lives to access basic services that we take for granted. In these attacks alone, three people were killed, and ten injured. On the same day, a Russian missile hit an apartment building in Kharkiv. An elderly woman’s body was pulled from the rubble. Three others were injured. And once again, as we meet today, we hear reports of a missile strike on a civilian building in Kramatorsk, killing three and injuring eighteen. This vicious cycle has to stop.

Mr Chair, I wish to focus my statement today on the appalling and long-lasting impact of Russia’s invasion on Ukraine’s children.

It is not possible to confirm the exact number of children that have been direct casualties. But the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has verified that, as of last month, Russia’s invasion has killed more than 400 children, and injured over 800. The true toll is likely to be significantly higher. These numbers document only some impacts of Russia’s invasion. They do not account for the childhoods that have been stolen – including children who have endured sexual violence and other abuse. Or the children that have lost family members too soon. Or the devastating and long-term impact on the mental health of this younger generation.

Every child in Ukraine will have suffered because of Russia’s invasion. Hundreds of thousands of children have been forced from Ukraine. Either fleeing to other countries of safety, or through reported forced deportation and abduction by Russian armed forces – sometimes without their parents’ knowledge. According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, Russia is violating fundamental child protection principles by giving Russian passports to unaccompanied child refugees. We are deeply worried by these reports.

Indiscriminate Russian attacks have destroyed countless schools and disrupted education, denying children vital structure and risking life-long consequences on learning. At the same time, many parents and caregivers are reluctant to send children to school due to safety concerns. Frequent power cuts prevent online learning. In temporarily Russian-controlled areas, the Russia-imposed school curriculum propagates disinformation and teachers are punished for teaching in Ukrainian.

And as we know all too well, children suffer disproportionately from lack of power, heating, and water caused by Russian attacks. Families have been forced to use candles, gas burners and generators to have light and to keep their children warm. In the middle of winter. Their struggle is the result of one man’s choosing.

Mr Chair, as we speak, a Russian court is considering the appeals of four Crimean Tatars who were arrested on politically motivated charges. We stand in solidarity with Seytumer and Osman Seytumerov, Amet Suleymanov and Rustem Seytmemetov. Russia must cease this treatment immediately and release all those wrongfully detained.

The Ukrainian people have paid, and continue to pay, an unconscionably high price for their freedom and for their future. We are determined to help Ukraine to bring a swift end to this heinous war – to end the suffering of so many. And we will support Ukraine to ensure that Russia’s egregious human rights abuses and violations will not go unpunished and that the perpetrators of war crimes face justice. We will not stop until Ukraine prevails.

February 2, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : UK and Welsh governments to explore new rail links between south Wales and England [February 2023]
The press release issued by the Department for Transport on 2 February 2023.

A study has been announced that will develop options for new stations and services on the South Wales Main Line.
- UK and Welsh governments today (2 February 2023) announce a new study to improve transport connectivity between south-east Wales and west of England
- the study, backed by £2.7 million of UK government funding, will look at options for new railway stations and rail services on the South Wales Main Line
- this project will focus on relieving congestion on the M4, a vital connector between south Wales and the rest of the UK
The UK and Welsh governments have today announced they are working together on a £2.7 million study, funded by the UK government, to develop options for new stations and services on the South Wales Main Line.

The study follows Lord Hendy’s recommendations from his review of transport connectivity across the UK, which put forward the need to relieve congestion on the M4.

A series of options will be considered as part of this study, among which is the development of 5 brand new stations between Cardiff and Severn Tunnel.

Transport Minister, Richard Holden said:

Delivering better transport links is a vital part of how we transform opportunities for people from across the United Kingdom.

That’s why I am so delighted that, working with the Welsh Government, we are getting the ball rolling on in-depth work to boost connectivity and drive growth.

Following the publication of Lord Peter Hendy’s Union Connectivity Review in 2021, the UK government committed to forging and strengthening transport links that will create a more cohesive and connected United Kingdom.

Research carried out for the report specifically highlighted how important travel across the border between Wales and England is, with a large number of people travelling daily for work, services and leisure.

Secretary of State for Wales David TC Davies said:

Good transport connections between south Wales and western England are essential for the economy in Wales, enabling businesses to grow and flourish and making life easier for people to travel for work and leisure.

This funding from the UK government is vital in exploring how best to relieve congestion across south Wales. I’m pleased to work with the Welsh Government on plans that could have a huge impact on the many thousands of people who use the transport network in south Wales every day.

Lee Waters MS, Deputy Minister for Climate Change:

This is a key step to tackle congestion around Newport and was one of the main recommendations of the Burns Commission, which was endorsed by Lord Peter Hendy’s Union Connectivity Review. The business case is compelling and we are keen to make progress so that we can get more people onto South Wales Main Line trains, complementing Welsh Government’s investments in improving access to rail.

Lord Peter Hendy also proposed reviewing the route connecting north Wales to the north-west of England, better connectivity with HS2 and a package of railway improvements to increase connectivity and reduce journey times between Cardiff, Birmingham and beyond.
February 2, 2023
Justin Welby – 2023 Statement on Stephen Sizer Penalty Judgment

The statement made by Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury, on 30 January 2023.

I note the findings of the Bishop’s Disciplinary Tribunal for the Diocese of Winchester regarding the Revd Dr Stephen Sizer and his subsequent prohibition from licensed ministry in the Church of England. It is clear that the behaviour of Stephen Sizer has undermined Christian-Jewish relations, giving encouragement to conspiracy theories and tropes that have no place in public Christian ministry and the church. I renew my call for the highest possible standards among ordained ministers of the Church of England in combatting antisemitism of all kinds.

February 2, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Archbishop calls for prayer ahead of historic joint visit to South Sudan [January 2023]

The press release issued by the Archbishop of Canterbury on 29 January 2023.

The Archbishop of Canterbury will be visiting South Sudan with Pope Francis and the Moderator of the Church of Scotland from 3rd to 5th February.

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, has urged people to pray for the people of South Sudan ahead of his historic joint visit to the country with the Pope and the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland.

The Archbishop said the church leaders are making their Pilgrimage of Peace to South Sudan “as servants” to “amplify the cries of the South Sudanese people” who continue to suffer from conflict, flooding and famine.

The Archbishop will be visiting South Sudan with the Holy Father, Pope Francis, and the Rt Rev Dr Iain Greenshields from 3rd to 5th February. The unprecedented Ecumenical Pilgrimage of Peace is part of the Pope’s Apostolic Journey to the DRC and South Sudan which begins on Tuesday 31st January.

During the South Sudan visit the three church leaders will meet the country’s political leaders, hold an open-air ecumenical prayer vigil for peace and meet with people displaced by the conflict.

The Archbishop will be accompanied in South Sudan by his wife, Mrs Caroline Welby, who has made several previous visits to South Sudan to support women in the Church in their role as peacebuilders, particularly the wives of South Sudan’s Anglican bishops and archbishops.

Mrs Welby said today that the women of South Sudan are “incredible women of strength”, many of whom bear the trauma of displacement, sexual violence and the daily fear of mistreatment in their own communities.

Archbishop Justin Welby said today:

“I am profoundly grateful to be visiting the people of South Sudan with my dear brothers in Christ, the Holy Father, Pope Francis, and the Rt Rev Dr Iain Greenshields, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland. We have prayed for many years for this visit – and we now look forward to being in Juba together in only a few days’ time.

Our visit is a Pilgrimage of Peace. We come as servants – to listen to and amplify the cries of the South Sudanese people, who have suffered so much and continue to suffer because of conflict, devastating flooding, widespread famine and much more. Over the past three years and even since July, violence has intensified in many parts of the country. We hope to review and renew the commitments made by South Sudanese leadership at the Vatican in 2019, and the commitments they have made to their people since then.

We come as brothers in Christ to worship together and witness to the God who reconciles us. The communities of South Sudan have a legacy of powerful witness to their faith. Through working together, they have been a sign and instrument of the reconciliation God desires for their whole country and all of creation. We hope to build on and reenergise that legacy.

This will be a historic visit. After centuries of division, leaders of three different parts of the Church are coming together in an unprecedented way, and in so doing are seeking to be part of answering another prayer – Jesus’ prayer – that his followers might be one – “ut unum sint” (John: 17). We come as followers of Jesus, the Prince of Peace, knowing that his Holy Spirit is at work in South Sudan and has the power to transform hearts. His love and welcome are on offer to all. It is through him that we find our deepest peace and our most profound hopes for justice. And so I ask you to pray with us for the people of South Sudan.”

Mrs Caroline Welby said today:

“I have worked and worshipped with many of the women in South Sudan and find myself humbled by their stories. They have borne the grief of war and carry the responsibility to provide for their families. Many of them live with the trauma of displacement in their own country, refugees in other countries, sexual violence and the daily fear of mistreatment in their own homes and communities.

And yet they are also incredible women of strength, praising God and coming to him for their refreshment. It is a privilege to walk alongside them, and I pray that their example is held up in South Sudan and around the world.

Women around the world so often bear the scars of conflict in deeply profound, often unseen, ways. Women who have brought life into this world, nurtured children and provided spiritual guidance for their communities have the pain of witnessing lives torn apart.

God creates each life and gives it unique value, potential and purpose according to his will. It is often our physical and spiritual mothers who see that. Which means it is powerful when women unite and their voices are heard. It can be the start of healing and restoration. Please pray with me for the women and men of South Sudan – for unity, for understanding, and for just peace.”

February 2, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Care and Support Reimagined – A National Care Covenant for England [January 2023]

The press release issued by the Archbishop of Canterbury on 24 January 2023.

The Archbishops of Canterbury and York have commissioned a report which sets out a radical and inspiring vision for England’s social care system.

The Archbishops’ report on social care is called Care and Support Reimagined: A National Care Covenant for England.

Nine experts were tasked with reimaging care and support in a way that addressed the needs and concerns of everyone involved: people who draw on care and support; people who work in the social care sector; people who care for their family members, friends, and neighbours.

The Commission spent the last year and half speaking to people who get care and support, those who give it as well as academics, policy makers and politicians. They found out what the existing challenges and frustrations were as well as how people could flourish and live full lives.

The uniqueness of the report is that it calls for a Covenant, which would clearly and simply set out the rights and responsibilities of everyone involved in care. The Covenant would make clear the role of citizens, families, communities and the State both in providing care and paying for it.

Welcoming the report, the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Revd Justin Welby said:

“This report gives me hope that we can rise to the challenge of fixing our broken social care system. Jesus Christ offers every human being life in all its fullness, and so we must broaden our understanding of care and support as the means by which everyone, regardless of age or ability, can experience abundant life. Rooted in the right values, the development of a National Care Covenant is a step towards this, where everyone is engaged in a collaborative effort to ensure that we can all access the care and support we need.”

The Archbishop of York, the Most Revd Stephen Cottrell, said:

“This report outlines a new vision for our society where we learn to be inter-dependent with one another, where I thrive because you do, and together we live in a country where we serve one another and flourish together. In our Church, this begins with us proclaiming loudly and clearly that each of us is made in the image of God, known and loved deeply for who we are, not simply for what we contribute. I pray that this report is the beginning of a wider national conversation about what it means to be a caring society.”

Commenting on the release of the report, the Chair of the Commission, Dr Anna Dixon MBE, said:

“Our reimagined vision for care and support puts relationships at the centre and encourages us to think about how social care can enable everyone to live well. This is no time for tinkering around the edges of a social care system that for too long has left people who draw on care and support feeling marginalised, carers feeling exhausted and undervalued, a system which provides no clarity about what is expected of each of us. A National Care Covenant, with its focus on the mutual responsibilities, will help us to work together towards our common goal.”

The Co-Chair of the Commission, the Rt Revd James Newcome, Bishop of Carlisle, reflected: “It has been a privilege to hear the experiences and aspirations of people from across the country who draw on care and support, unpaid carers, and care workers, and we have sought to reflect their contributions in our report. I believe that the Church of England, alongside other faith communities, has a vital role to play in supporting people and creating spaces where everyone is valued and can participate, regardless of age or ability.”

February 2, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Church Commissioners publishes full report into historic links to transatlantic chattel slavery [January 2023]
The press release issued by the Archbishop of Canterbury on 10 January 2023.

The report follows an interim announcement in June 2022, which reported for the first time, and with great dismay, that the Church Commissioners’ endowment had historic links to transatlantic chattel slavery*. The endowment traces its origins partly to Queen Anne’s Bounty, a fund established in 1704.

In response to the findings, the Church Commissioners’ Board has committed itself to trying to address some of the past wrongs by investing in a better future. It will seek to do this through committing £100 million of funding, delivered over the next nine years commencing in 2023, to a programme of investment, research and engagement. This will comprise:
- Establishing a new impact investment fund to invest for a better and fairer future for all, particularly for communities affected by historic slavery. It is hoped this fund will grow over time, reinvesting returns to enable it to have a positive legacy that will exist in perpetuity, and with the potential for other institutions to participate, further enabling growth in the size and impact of the fund.
- Growth in the impact fund will also enable grant funding for projects focused on improving opportunities for communities adversely impacted by historic slavery.
- Further research, including into the Church Commissioners’ history, supporting dioceses, cathedrals and parishes to research and address their historic links with slavery, and sharing best practice with other organisations researching their slavery legacies. As an immediate action, Lambeth Palace Library is hosting an exhibition** with items from its archives that have links to historic transatlantic chattel slavery.
- The Church Commissioners will also continue to use its voice as a responsible investor to address and combat modern slavery and human rights violations, and to seek to address injustice and inequalities.
A new oversight group will be formed during 2023 with significant membership from communities impacted by historic slavery. This group will work with the Church Commissioners on shaping and delivering the response, listening widely to ensure this work is done sensitively and with accountability.

The full report into historic links Queen Anne’s Bounty had to transatlantic chattel slavery can be found here: Church Commissioners Links to Historic Transatlantic Slavery

The Church Commissioners will use the results of the research to ensure it continues to be at the forefront of responsible investment globally. One of the key principles of its responsible investment approach is ‘Respect for People’. Every human being is made in the image of God, and Jesus teaches us that he came so that we all may have life in all its fullness. Chattel slavery, where people made in the image of God have had their freedom taken away to be owned and exploited for profit was, and continues to be, a shameful and horrific sin.

The Church Commissioners is deeply sorry for its predecessor fund’s links with the transatlantic slave trade.

The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Reverend Justin Welby, who is also Chair of the Church Commissioners, said:
“The full report lays bare the links of the Church Commissioners’ predecessor fund with transatlantic chattel slavery. I am deeply sorry for these links. It is now time to take action to address our shameful past. Only by obeying the command in 1 John 1:6-7*** and addressing our past transparently can we take the path that Jesus Christ calls us to walk and face our present and future with integrity. It is hard to do this at a time when resources in many parishes are so stretched, but by acting rightly we open ourselves to the blessing of God.”

The Bishop of Manchester, the Right Reverend Dr David Walker, Deputy Chair of the Church Commissioners, said:
“It is important for the Church Commissioners to understand and be transparent about our past so we can best support the mission and ministry of the Church of England, today and in the future. Discovering that the Church Commissioners’ predecessor fund had links to transatlantic chattel slavery is shaming and we are deeply sorry. We will seek to address past wrongs by investing in a better future, which we plan to do with the response plan announced today, including the £100 million funding commitment we are making. We hope this will create a lasting positive legacy, serving and enabling communities impacted by slavery.

“We recognise this investment comes at a time when there are significant financial challenges for many people and churches, and when the Church has commitments to address other wrongs from our past. We remain fully committed to our work to support the mission and ministry of the Church of England and we believe that this research and our planned response will help us to do so today and into the future.”

The Church Commissioners in 2019 decided to do research into the origins of its endowment fund and whether there were any links to the transatlantic slave trade. The Church Commissioners recognised that it was important to know its past better in order to understand its present and ensure that the Church Commissioners continues to support the Church of England’s work and mission in the future as best it can
February 2, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : No compelling reasons for the SOS not to act on organ donation law – Alan Chambers [January 2023]

The press release issued by the Ulster Unionist Party on 31 January 2023.

UUP Health spokesperson, Alan Chambers MLA said:

“Little Dáithí Mac Gabhann and his family are due to meet with the Secretary of State on Wednesday to discuss the stalled Organ and Tissue Donation Act. Dáithí has been waiting four years for a heart transplant and has been the public face of the campaign for the introduction of this life saving Act.

“It was due to become law in early spring this year but was found to require further technical changes. In the absence of an Assembly this cannot be completed. Such an Act had been championed in recent years by Jo-Anne Dobson, a former MLA Party colleague in the Assembly. Former UUP Health Minister, Robin Swann MLA, strongly promoted the legislation when it came back to the Assembly over the last few years.

“I wish the Mac Gabhann family well in their meeting with the Secretary of State as they make the case to him to complete the changes at Westminster. It is not controversial and was supported by all Northern Ireland political parties, recognising the life-saving opportunity and hope it will provide to Dáithí and the over 130 other residents of NI currently on the Organ Donation waiting list.

“There are no compelling reasons for the SOS not to urgently act on this issue.”

February 2, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : UK Government must not be found asleep at the wheel on Northern Ireland air connectivity to London [January 2023]

The press release issued by the Ulster Unionist Party on 31 January 2023.

Lord Empey said:

“The latest collapse of Flybe highlights the precarious situation of Northern Ireland’s air connectivity to the rest of the United Kingdom. Within two months, Belfast City has gone from having two airlines flying to Heathrow to one. This has a serious impact on those who are travelling regularly for work and business and creates the danger of if becoming exceptionally expensive on the limited options left.

“There is no question that this should be an issue on the radar of the UK Government. For regional capitals it is important that connectivity to London is protected. But Northern Ireland has the added disadvantage in that we cannot jump in a car or on a train, so air links are vital.

“In the “Union Connectivity Review” ordered by the UK Government, Belfast to Heathrow was shown to be number five in the top ten most used domestic routes of 2019. A key recommendation of the same report was:

“Where journeys are too long to be reasonably taken by road or rail, the UK Government should: Intervene in the assignment of slots at London airports to provide more slots for domestic routes.”

“Yet the Belfast to Heathrow route is being let wither on the vine! There are a number of interventions the UK Government could make, not least one from their own report to provide more slots in the Nation’s capital. They also have a duty to ensure that fares are maintained at a reasonable level and that a monopoly is not allowed to exploit the situation. There is also a quick win available on incentivising NI airports if the Government would finally act on abolishing Air Passenger Duty.

“The UK Government is already failing Northern Ireland in placing us at a disadvantage by allowing a sea border to be placed between us and the rest of the United Kingdom. They must not be found asleep at the wheel again on the issue of connectivity to the rest of our nation.”

February 2, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Police funding crisis highlights need for return to functioning Institutions – Mike Nesbitt [January 2023]

The press release issued by the Ulster Unionist Party on 26 January 2023.

The Ulster Unionist Party’s Policing Board representative, Mike Nesbitt MLA, has warned that today’s announcement of police cuts highlights the importance of restoring devolution and that action is needed urgently to restore police morale.

Mike Nesbitt said:

“I sense this is pushing the PSNI down the same road as the NHS, to become an almost exclusively reactive body, not a preventative one. This has long-term negative implications.

“It also means in many cases reaction times will be slower than the public expects.

“It does not mean the PSNI is no longer fit for purpose. I have been assured the PSNI can continue to deliver. It reminds me of the old Dickens quote about the best of times and the worst of times. Northern Ireland remains one of the safest regions of the UK, yet recorded crime is up, as is the number of homicides and 999 calls.

“Given the NHS and the Education Authority are also in the news because of funding shortfalls, the argument is made that we need a functioning set of devolved institutions to start taking some tough political decisions.

“I remain deeply concerned about the impact on serving officers, who often work 16 hour shifts and are continuously asked to do more for less. My interactions with police officers indicate morale is already very low and today’s news will not help.”

February 2, 2023