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Tag: 2023

  • PRESS RELEASE : Aid and political solutions are needed to alleviate the humanitarian crisis in Syria – UK statement at the UN Security Council [October 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Aid and political solutions are needed to alleviate the humanitarian crisis in Syria – UK statement at the UN Security Council [October 2023]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 30 October 2023.

    Statement by Ambassador Barbara Woodward at the UN Security Council meeting on Syria.

    Thank you, President, and I join others in thanking Special Envoy Pedersen and Director Wosornu for their briefings.

    As we have heard today, this remains a live conflict and an entrenched humanitarian crisis. I want to set out three tangible steps that would improve the situation for the people of Syria and these overlap very closely with Special Envoy Pedersen’s four priorities.

    Firstly, we need to ensure sustainable, predictable and efficient aid flows across the whole of Syria. There is no substitute for cross-border access to deliver for people in the North West. Short term, last minute agreements are inappropriate.

    As Director Wosornu just said, we must insist that cross-border access is granted for as long as humanitarian needs demand, across all three crossing points.

    We have also heard that humanitarian funding remains inadequate. The UK continues to be a top donor for Syrians in humanitarian need, pledging up to $180 million this year alone. But as a donor, we are concerned that 17 cents of every dollar in aid being sent to UN agencies based in Damascus is being lost to the regime who manipulate exchange rates for their benefit.

    Secondly, at a fragile moment for the region all parties should be focused on avoiding further escalation of conflict elsewhere in the Middle East. We are concerned at reports of increased Iranian-affiliated militia activity, and increasing hostilities between Israel and militia groups in southern Syria. We call on the regime to prioritise de-escalation and to focus on fostering stability and prosperity.

    Thirdly, this backdrop of violence in the region underscores even more urgently the need for a viable political process in Syria. We call on the regime to act in good faith and engage.

    Thus far, attempts at normalisation have not borne fruit. Insecurity persists, the captagon trade continues, and the safe, dignified and voluntary return of refugees remains out of reach. The UK’s position has not changed – we will not engage Damascus without evidence of genuine, consistent behaviour change.

    Resolution 2254 provides the framework to deliver an inclusive and sustainable political process. The Constitutional Committee has been deadlocked for too long. We strongly support efforts to convene a meeting, with the Syrian parties alone if necessary, in Geneva later this year.

    Thank you, President.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Op-ed: New procurement rules will strengthen our national security [October 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Op-ed: New procurement rules will strengthen our national security [October 2023]

    The press release issued by the Cabinet Office on 30 October 2023.

    An Op-Ed by Ministers Jeremy Quin and Alex Burghart, originally published in The Telegraph.

    Under the new rules in the Procurement Act we are throwing complicated and bureaucratic EU rules into the bin. We are stripping back red tape and making it easier for small businesses to win government contracts, delivering on one of the Prime Minister’s five priorities to grow the economy.

    But as well as bringing economic benefits, the new rulebook also strengthens our national security, as part of this government’s commitment to take long term decisions for a brighter future.

    We are all too aware that the UK is a target for state-sponsored spying and that we need to protect it from those who seek to disrupt our democracy.

    Our approach must be scrupulous, with safeguards and deterrents built into every avenue of access to our public services; this is about actions rather than words.

    We have also passed the National Security Act, which gives us stronger legal powers to protect our industries and institutions. But we must go further to ensure we always outsmart those who want to disrupt our everyday lives.

    One important way of keeping public services safe from foreign spies is by securing how they are procured for in the first place.

    We have seen time and again that dangerous actors infiltrate states by giving their operations the camouflage of a company – a company offering essential services like communications or administration assistance. This can allow them to have unhindered access to public services information and potentially give them the capability to interfere with those services.

    Our response to this challenge must be unequivocal. That’s why as part of our landmark Procurement Act we have strengthened the scrutiny facing companies that bid for public contracts.

    Alongside the new rules, we are creating a new National Security Unit for Procurement, sitting within the Cabinet Office. This will work across government, including with our national security community, to investigate suppliers who could pose a risk to national security. The Unit will create a new layer of protection, by assessing whether companies should be struck off from competing to supply goods and services to the public sector where they pose a threat.

    Next week the UK will lead the first ever, and UK-hosted, AI safety summit. As we take action to seize the opportunities of new technology, our new National Security Unit for Procurement will coordinate with the national security community to assess whether public sector use of AI and procurement with emerging tech companies could do us harm.

    This new approach means that we’re strengthening our defences, ensuring that those who seek to use their influence in all areas to undermine our security, cannot prevail.

    So this landmark legislation will not only simplify our procurement rules and help small businesses, it will help us protect our security for decades to come.

  • PRESS RELEASE : UK supports moratorium on deep sea mining to protect ocean and marine ecosystems [October 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : UK supports moratorium on deep sea mining to protect ocean and marine ecosystems [October 2023]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 30 October 2023.

    UK announces support for moratorium on granting of exploitation licences for deep sea mining by the International Seabed Authority.

    The UK government has today announced its support for measures designed to protect the world’s ocean and improve the conservation of marine biodiversity.

    Ahead of International Seabed Authority (ISA) negotiations starting today, and a month ahead of COP28, the UK government has announced its support for a moratorium on the granting of exploitation licences for deep sea mining projects – which involve the extraction of minerals such as precious metals, copper and cobalt – by the ISA.

    This means the UK will not sponsor or support the issuing of any such licences until sufficient scientific evidence is available to assess the potential impact of deep sea mining activities on marine ecosystems and strong, enforceable environmental regulations, standards and guidelines have been developed and adopted by the ISA.

    The UK is an international advocate for the highest possible environmental standards and has been pushing the ISA to develop strong and enforceable environmental regulations, standards and guidelines on deep sea mining.

    To support this, a new UK-based environmental science expert network on deep sea mining will be launched to gather scientific data and increase the effective use of the UK’s world-class research through cross-disciplinary learning. This will build on the independent evidence review on deep sea mining carried out by independent experts following a government commission in 2022.

    The network will bring together the UK’s environmental science expertise to help fill the current evidence gaps on the environmental impact of deep sea mining and share internationally.

    Environment Secretary Thérèse Coffey said:

    The UK is a global leader when it comes to protecting the marine environment. That is why we will use our scientific expertise to fully understand the impact of deep sea mining on precious ecosystems; and in the meantime, we will not support or sponsor any exploitation licences.

    This work will go alongside our wider efforts to conserve and enhance precious marine habitats around the world.

    The Rt Hon Andrew Mitchell MP, Minister of State (Development and Africa) said:

    The UK is an international advocate for the highest possible environmental standards and we will keep pushing for strong and enforceable regulations, standards and guidelines for deep-sea mining. Until we fully understand the impact of deep-sea mining on our marine ecosystems, it is right that we seek to protect them.

    Clare Brook, CEO of Blue Marine Foundation, said:

    Deep-sea mining threatens some of the rarest and most vulnerable ecosystems on Earth. Blue Marine is therefore delighted to see the UK supporting a moratorium on deep-sea mining, along with other leading economies such as Germany, France and Sweden.

    There are cheaper, cleaner and more secure ways of producing minerals as the world transitions to net zero without causing the catastrophic and permanent destruction of fragile ocean life.

    Blue Marine welcomes the Government’s proposal to convene a UK scientific expert group on deep-sea mining, which would underline the UK’s position as a leading voice in ocean conservation.

    The measures set out today further demonstrate the UK’s commitment towards ocean conservation and protection.

    Over recent years, the UK has:

    • Committed to protecting at least 30% of the global ocean by 2030 through a network of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and Other Effective Area-based Conservation Measures (OECMs), and driven this forward through UK-chaired Global Ocean Alliance
    • Supported developing countries to protect the marine environment through projects to protect and restore habitats such as mangroves, coral reefs and seagrasses through the £500 million Blue Planet Fund
    • Tackled the scourge of plastic pollution, recently consulting on a ban on wet wipes containing plastic, as part of efforts to eliminate all avoidable plastic waste by 2042
    • Designated the first three Highly Protected Marine areas in English waters, enabling nature to fully recover by removing all harmful activities including fishing, construction and dredging, increasing marine biodiversity and supporting climate-resilient ecosystems to thrive
    • Created a network of 178 marine protected areas across 35,000 square miles of English waters, with a commitments for 70% of designated features to be in a favourable position by 2042

    This action will support the delivery of targets in the UK’s Environment Act, underpinned by its Environment Improvement Plan – the five-year blueprint for action to halt and reverse the decline of nature.

  • PRESS RELEASE : New plans to promote media freedom and protect journalists [October 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : New plans to promote media freedom and protect journalists [October 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 30 October 2023.

    In Journalism Matters Week, new plans are being set out to boost protections for reporters against rising threats and abuse.

    • Journalists who have faced abuse and those who have broken powerful stories invited to a celebration of journalism reception at No 10 as part of Journalism Matters Week
    • New plans to protect journalists from threats and abuse, including enhanced training for police officers and a new industry taskforce on keeping staff safe
    • The National Action Plan for the Safety of Journalists has seen journalist safety officers rolled out in 22 police forces and extensive guidance to help reporters tackle online abuse

    Journalists from across the UK will gather at 10 Downing Street today for a special reception with the Culture Secretary to celebrate their contribution to UK democracy, as new plans are set out to boost protections for reporters against rising threats and abuse.

    Journalists from all over the UK dedicated to exposing wrongdoing and holding power to account – as well as some who have faced abuse as a result of their reporting – have been invited to the event which marks the start of Journalism Matters Week, the News Media Association’s annual campaign recognising the important role journalism plays in a democratic society. Editors and senior leaders from the UK’s major publishers, broadcasters and industry bodies will also be in attendance.

    Journalists are increasingly suffering violence and intimidation while going about their work. To tackle this problem, the Culture Secretary is launching a refreshed National Action Plan for the Safety of Journalists, introducing new measures to protect journalists from harm and building on previous pledges to create a safe environment for them to operate.

    The enhanced plan will see the creation of a new online tool where journalists can report abuse and help build greater understanding of safety issues affecting them.

    New opportunities will be provided for police officers to undertake Public Order training to increase understanding of how journalists can report and observe protests. In addition, a new working group is being created for publishers and broadcasters to share learnings and best practices for safeguarding editorial staff.

    Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer said:

    Today we celebrate the vital work of our world-class journalists who keep our democracy alive through their investigations and ruthless scrutiny of the powerful.

    At a time when reporters are losing their lives while showing the world what is happening in the Middle East and Ukraine, and where misinformation about the conflicts is rife on social media, the importance of rigorous, fact-checked journalism has never been more apparent.

    As Culture Secretary I want to protect and enhance the freedom of our press. No journalist should be prevented from doing their job due to fear of violence, abuse or harassment. Our revamped national action plan will strengthen efforts to protect journalists working in the UK from harm, enhancing their freedom to hold the powerful to account without fear of abuse or harassment.

    Dawn Alford, Executive Director of the Society of Editors, said:

    At a time when accurate and verifiable news and information remains critical to the public’s understanding of world affairs, it is devastating that abuse and harassment of journalists remains so commonplace.

    The renewed action plan contains additional commitments aimed at prioritising journalists’ safety including broader police and industry engagement and a taskforce dedicated to exploring non-legislative means of combating SLAPPs.

    These measures should ensure that awareness-raising and regulation work hand-in-hand with legislation in this area. We look forward to working together to help create a safe and free environment for journalists to report on behalf of the public.”

    The National Action Plan for the Safety of Journalists aims to increase understanding of the abuse faced by some journalists, bolster the criminal justice response to crimes against journalists and support journalists and their employers to build resources to protect personal safety. It also sets out to help online platforms tackle wider online abuse and improve public recognition of the value of journalists to society.

    Since the publication of the first Action Plan in 2021, significant progress has been achieved, including:

    • The appointment of a Journalist Safety Officer at 22 police forces across the UK, including Police Scotland and Police Service Northern Ireland.
    • New guidance to combat online harassment and abuse, published by the Media Lawyers Association.
    • An online safety toolkit which covers a variety of issues such as physical and digital safety, mental health, as well as signposting a number of other helpful resources, launched by the National Union of Journalists and the Society of Editors.
    • A free e-learning course created by the National Council for the Training of Journalists on journalism safety and resilience as part of its Journalism Skills Academy

    The plan established collaborative working relationships with key industry partners like the National Council for Training of Journalists, the Media Lawyers Association, Meta and X, delivering targeted action to protect journalists safety online and in the field.

    It follows the launch of a new dedicated taskforce in September to tackle Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs), increasingly used by wealthy individuals to intimidate or silence journalists from reporting information in the public interest.

    Michelle Stanistreet, NUJ general secretary, said:

    The safety of journalists is the NUJ’s top priority, which is why the work of the UK’s National Committee for the Safety of Journalists’ and its action plan is so important. To follow on from our successful mobile safety toolkit, we will be creating a press safety tracker so journalists will be able to report incidents ranging from online abuse, problems during demonstrations caused by protestors or the police, and sexual harassment to the wider challenges posed by Slapps and other legal threats designed to stymie and interfere with journalistic reporting and investigations.

    Attacks on journalists are deployed to silence and intimidate those who work to uphold the public’s right to know. NUJ members have shared horrific experiences of being attacked, abused and threatened – on and offline – simply for doing their job. The action plan is a central part of stamping out such behaviour and ensuring that journalists can go about their vital work safely and free from interference.

  • PRESS RELEASE : New support for teachers powered by Artificial Intelligence [October 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : New support for teachers powered by Artificial Intelligence [October 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Education on 30 October 2023.

    £2 million investment in Oak National Academy to improve and expand Artificial Intelligence tools for teachers.

    Every teacher in England is set to benefit from new resources powered by Artificial Intelligence (AI), supporting them to plan lessons and build classroom quizzes, and helping to reduce workloads.

    The Government is investing up to £2 million in Oak National Academy, which was established to support teachers with high-quality curriculum resources online, to create new teaching tools using AI – marking the first step towards providing every teacher with a personalised AI lesson-planning assistant.

    This follows a pilot of an AI-powered quiz builder and lesson planner. Thousands of teachers have already signed up to use these tools, helping them to create individualised content that is tailored to teaching their pupils and based on Oak’s high-quality curriculum content.

    This new cash boost will help Oak to improve these tools further before making them available to teachers across England for free.

    Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said:

    AI has extraordinary potential to reform our education system for the better, with considerable value for both teachers and students.

    Oak National Academy’s work to harness AI to free up the workload for teachers is a perfect example of the revolutionary benefits this technology can bring.

    This investment will play a defining role in giving our children and the next generation of students a better education and a brighter future.

    Education Secretary, Gillian Keegan, said:

    Throughout my career, I have seen the positive impact that technology can have, which is why it is great we’re harnessing the potential of AI and supporting Oak National Academy to develop new resources for teachers.

    Whether it’s drafting lesson plans or producing high-quality teaching resources, I am confident that by tapping into the benefits of AI we will be able to reduce teachers’ workloads so that they can focus on what they do best – teaching and supporting their pupils.

    Teachers have provided positive feedback from the initial testing, noting the tools’ ability to help them to speed up planning and refine existing materials.

    One Year 4 teacher from Berkshire, who used the Quiz Designer stated: “Oak’s AI tool has massively improved the quality and variety of quizzes I can create. And it’s much faster than making them myself from scratch.”

    A secondary school teacher in Devon stated: “Oak’s AI lesson planner offers a really helpful starting point if stuck or low on inspiration and I was particularly impressed at how good it is at highlighting common misconceptions.”

    With 30,000 teachers already using Oak every week, the resources will support teachers to save valuable time on planning.

    Building on Oak’s commitment to make resources available on Open Government Licence, the project will also provide access to Oak’s curriculum resources for edtech companies experimenting with AI to build from this high-quality content. This means that any school, publisher or AI developer can be confident that any content produced through these tools will be accurate, safe, and high-quality.

    Oak National Academy Co-Founder and Chief Executive, Matt Hood OBE, said:

    Teachers spend hours each week searching for resources and planning their lessons. Oak National Academy is already helping cut workload with our free, high-quality teaching resources, but we believe we can supercharge this by harnessing safe AI – giving teachers even more scope to adapt their resources and freeing them up to spend more time directly with their pupils.

    We’re excited to build on our initial work and start to develop improved AI lesson planning tools, bringing the benefits to even more schools, and to help other organisations to innovate and create their own AI products, built off our safe, high-quality educational materials.

    Today’s (30 October) announcement coincides with the start of a two-day AI hackathon hosted by the Department for Education, in collaboration with Faculty AI, the National Institute of Teaching, and the AI in Schools Initiative. The event will bring together teachers and leaders from schools and trusts across England to experiment with AI.

    Over the coming months, the Government will continue to work with teachers, and experts on the Workload Taskforce to develop solutions to minimise the time teachers spend working beyond their teaching hours. This will support its ambition to reduce working hours for teachers and leaders by five hours per week.

    Next month, the Department for Education will also publish the results of its AI call for evidence. Launched to gather views from educational professionals on the risks, ethical considerations, and possibilities of AI in education, the results will support the government’s work to identify AI’s potential and ensure it advances in a safe, reasonable, and fair way.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Industry Minister makes historic visit to Mongolia to boost UK critical minerals supply chains [October 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Industry Minister makes historic visit to Mongolia to boost UK critical minerals supply chains [October 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Business and Trade on 30 October 2023.

    Industry Minister Nusrat Ghani is in Mongolia in an historic visit to boost the UK’s critical minerals supply chains.

    • Industry Minister Nusrat Ghani visits Mongolia to unlock opportunities for UK mining businesses and bolster UK’s minerals supply chain.
    • Visit marks 60th anniversary of UK being first Western country to establish diplomatic relations with Mongolia.
    • Minister to explore significant opportunities for UK mining businesses with mineral-rich Mongolia and promote UK renewable energy sector.

    In an historic visit to Mongolia today, Industry Minister Nusrat Ghani will boost opportunities for UK businesses across the critical minerals supply chain, bolster trade and investment ties and mark the 60th anniversary of the UK establishing diplomatic relations with the mineral-rich East Asian country.

    By 2040 the world will need four times more critical minerals than it does today, and during her visit Minister Ghani will engage with senior Mongolian government and business leaders to explore the significant opportunities available for UK businesses across the critical minerals supply chain, in particular surveying and extraction.

    The visit will also build on the UK’s already strong trade relationship with Mongolia, which was worth more than £200 million in 2022.

    During her visit, the Minister will also take part in commemorative events in the capital of Ulaanbaatar to mark the landmark 60th anniversary of the UK being the first Western country to establish diplomatic relations with Mongolia.

    Recognising the potential of strengthening centuries-old economic and social ties the UK became the first Western country to establish diplomatic relations in 1963, after supporting Mongolia’s bid to join the UN in 1961 which paved the way to establishing relations.

    Minister for Industry and Economic Security Nusrat Ghani said:

    By 2040 the world will need four times more critical minerals than it does today, and there are huge opportunities for us to work together with Mongolia to help secure the UK’s minerals supply chain and grow the industries of the future.

    I’m pleased to be here in Ulaanbaatar to build on our historic relationship with Mongolia and unlock even more opportunities for UK businesses in our world-class industries, from transport to green energy and mining sectors.

    In addition to meeting senior government leaders, including the Mongolian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Economic Development, the Minister will also engage with the Mongolian private sector and business community to hear first-hand about their successes and challenges, and how the UK can work together with them to boost growth and prosperity.

    The Minister will also meet representatives of Rio Tinto – the world’s second-largest mining company, who have invested almost $16 billion in partnership with the Government of Mongolia to develop the Oyu Tolgoi mine in the south Gobi Desert – on how UK businesses in the critical minerals supply chain can capitalise on Rio Tinto’s investment.

    During her trip, Minister Ghani will promote the UK’s capabilities across renewable energy and other sectors spanning the critical minerals supply chain, as well as the UK’s export finance offer to help support large-scale infrastructure projects in Mongolia, which could transform the country’s industry and energy supplies for the future as it aims to reduce dependency on fossil fuels and build a sustainable future.

    Minister Ghani’s visit also builds on the historic meeting of the Minerals Security Partnership (MSP) group held during London Metals Exchange Week earlier this month, which marked the first time the UK has hosted the meeting.

    The MSP is a group of 14 partners that aims to catalyse investment in responsible critical minerals supply chains globally, and the meeting this month brought Mongolia and a number of other mineral-rich nations together with the core partners to discuss opportunities to boost critical minerals investment even further.

    Background

    • Mining is a large economic sector in Mongolia: the country has large mineral deposits including gold, copper and coal. There is significant opportunity for UK companies in mining exploration, extraction and production, equipment supply, technology, related research and consultancy services.
    • Total UK exports to Mongolia for the four quarters to the end of Q1 2023 were £129 million. (Source: ONS UK total trade: all countries, seasonally adjusted)
  • PRESS RELEASE : Aviation Council makes progress on futureproofing aviation sector [October 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Aviation Council makes progress on futureproofing aviation sector [October 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Transport on 30 October 2023.

    Vital reforms considered by the Aviation Council to achieve an innovative and efficient sector that provides more choice and better value for passengers.

    • fourth Aviation Council updates on progress made to deliver airspace modernisation and reforms to airport slots
    • TUI Group joins the Council, bringing a wealth of knowledge to help deliver government’s Flightpath to the Future plan
    • the Council is set to build on improved outreach thanks to Generation Aviation helping open the industry to a new generation of young people

    The Aviation Council is set to meet today (30 October 2023) to continue its progress towards futureproofing the UK aviation sector and maintain its status as one of the strongest in the world.

    Established to deliver the government’s long-term aviation strategy, Flightpath to the Future, over the next 10 years, the Aviation Council will meet for the fourth time to consider vital reforms to help deliver a modern, innovative and efficient sector fit for the future. These key improvements will allow for new flights and destinations, providing more choice and better value for passengers with fewer delays. The meeting will also be a chance to welcome newest members UK tour operator TUI in the process.

    A key area of work for the Council to improve the sector is airspace modernisation, which will deliver new and efficient planning that will help reduce aviation emissions. In addition, progress continues to be made towards reforming the current slot system, so it helps maintain a competitive and environmentally conscious aviation industry. This will provide more reliability and competition for passengers to choose from.

    Aviation Minister, Baroness Vere of Norbiton, said:

    The UK aviation sector is one of the most competitive in the world and is a significant contributor to growth and jobs both domestically and internationally, so it’s vital the Aviation Council collaborates to help to build on that sustainably.

    We will continue to push the UK aviation industry forward as we welcome newest member TUI, which has a strong record of delivering jobs and skills, bolstering the UK’s aviation workforce for the future.

    Since the last Council, there has been considerable progress reducing the barriers for entry into the aviation sector and enhancing the use of apprenticeships, which has opened up routes for young people to join an industry that may have previously seemed inaccessible.

    This progress will be supported by TUI’s addition to the Council. TUI champions it own multi-crew pilot licence (MPL) cadet programme, which see applicants train as a pilot before becoming a Cadet Pilot for TUI.

    Marco Ciomperlik, Chief Airline Officer, TUI Group, said:

    TUI offers top quality holidays to over 6 million British customers each year and TUI Airways has a unique position in UK aviation by flying from 22 UK airports to over 80 destinations with over 60 aircraft.

    We are delighted to contribute to the Aviation Council to help drive progress on vital issues that will deliver more for passengers and create new job opportunities in our dynamic industry.

    This training is paid for by TUI and paid off by the pilot as they earn an additional salary, helping those who otherwise would not be able to pay for the required training. With a clear track record in building a sustainable workforce, TUI’s inclusion to the Council will only help bolster the Council’s accrued knowledge.

    Securing interest from young people to deliver the aviators of tomorrow is a key aim of the joint government-industry Generation Aviation programme. The latest data shows that over the course of the year, the programme has reached over 75,000 young people and jobseekers across its roadshows, education visits and general outreach – planting the seed that aviation is a fun, challenging and, most of all, exciting career path to explore.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Philanthropic partnership unlocks £32 million for the future of best-in-class UK Biobank [October 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Philanthropic partnership unlocks £32 million for the future of best-in-class UK Biobank [October 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on 30 October 2023.

    Eric Schmidt and Ken Griffin are being announced as the first members of a new consortium that will shape the future of the best-in-class UK Biobank.

    • Former CEO and Chairman of Google Eric Schmidt and Citadel CEO Ken Griffin donate over £16 million – matched by government – for consortium to scale up UK Biobank’s wealth of health data
    • UK Biobank is the world’s leading biomedical database, containing in-depth genetic and health information from half a million UK volunteers that approved researchers can access to further breakthroughs in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases
    • Government will match fund the consortium’s private and philanthropic contributions up to £25 million, with the aim of achieving at least £50 million overall
    • AI could be used to analyse UK Biobank data to generate transformative health discoveries, building on aims set out by new AI Life Sciences Accelerator Mission

    Former CEO and Chairman of Google Eric Schmidt, and Ken Griffin, founder and CEO of Citadel and founder of Griffin Catalyst, are today (Monday 30 October) being announced as the first members of a new consortium that will shape the future of the best-in-class UK Biobank, starting with £16 million funding matched by government.

    Their donations will support UK Biobank to grow its already-unrivalled wealth of health data, to enable research unlocking the next great leaps in our understanding of health and disease.

    This could include using AI’s ability to rapidly analyse vast quantities of data to draw new insights from UK Biobank’s data, such as in the analysis of cancer samples – the sort of uptake of AI in health and research being encouraged by the new AI Life Sciences Accelerator Mission, announced by the Prime Minister, last week.

    UK Biobank is the world’s most significant resource for health research, and one of the country’s most important scientific assets. It is a database of in-depth genetic, health and lifestyle information from half a million UK volunteers, giving approved researchers worldwide access to an unparalleled source of data that is enabling medical breakthroughs, from treating cardiac disease to Alzheimer’s.

    UK Biobank has supported ground-breaking advancements in healthcare, such as the development of a genetic test to detect people born with an increased risk of coronary heart disease[Note 1], only made possible via analysis of UK Biobank’s genomic data. During the pandemic, UK Biobank data helped researchers deepen their understanding of how lifestyle and inherited factors impacted how patients were affected by COVID-19.

    The more than £16 million ($20 million USD) being donated by Eric Schmidt and Ken Griffin will be matched by the government, which will provide up to £25 million in funding in total for the UK Biobank, provided that an equal amount of private and philanthropic donations are also secured. The ultimate aim is to achieve at least £50 million in contributions for UK Biobank.

    Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology Michelle Donelan said:

    UK Biobank is one of the jewels in the crown of UK science, making an unparalleled contribution to improving everyone’s health through the sheer scale of information it puts at researchers’ fingertips.

    We are determined to ensure that it can continue to support life-changing breakthroughs, combining with new technologies like AI to help those suffering from arthritis, dementia and more. But this is about more than just putting up public funding: I want to unlock a new wave of private and philanthropic donations, right across our science and tech sectors. To have 2 titans of business such as Eric Schmidt and Ken Griffin join us at the start of this exciting journey is testament to our scientific capabilities.

    Citadel Founder and CEO Ken Griffin said:

    UK Biobank is revolutionizing our understanding and treatment of disease. I am honored to support this groundbreaking initiative to advance scientific discoveries, improve public health and save lives.

    Eric Schmidt, former CEO and chairman of Google said:

    Scientific advancements have the potential to bring profound transformations to humanity for generations to come. It is vital that we cultivate an environment that fosters and supports revolutionary applications of science and technology, such as UK Biobank, while creating opportunities for further innovation for public benefit.

    Professor Sir Rory Collins, Chief Executive Officer and Principal Investigator of UK Biobank, said:

    It is 15 years since we first saw our incredible half a million volunteers for their baseline assessments, with most of our participants engaging in follow-up analyses. It is down to the dedication and altruism of each of our volunteers that we have been able to grow UK Biobank into the world’s most comprehensive database for scientific and health related research.

    We are immensely grateful for today’s funding, which will allow us to pilot new projects that will add further depth to our already rich goldmine of data for scientific researchers everywhere. UK Biobank data has already resulted in over 9,000 peer-reviewed papers, including studies looking into cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer’s, depression, tinnitus and heart disease. The research that we are helping to power is generating evidence which is relevant to everyone, from patients and carers to healthcare providers and practitioners everywhere.

    Unlocking greater private and philanthropic funding for UK R&D is one of the key objectives of The UK Science and Technology Framework, and partnerships with industry and philanthropists are already delivering for the UK’s science sector.

    This pioneering new way of funding UK science and research builds on the approach of the Research Ventures Catalyst, launched in July, to open up new funding pathways that will enable our brightest minds to take greater risks and pursue new means of working that might not be supported via traditional avenues. By working in partnership with private and philanthropic funders, we will unlock tens of millions of pounds to drive new discoveries in health, tech and science.

    The consortium being unveiled today will deliver a transformative investment into UK Biobank’s future research capacity. This builds on the £154 million investment in UK Biobank’s physical infrastructure, announced as part of the Chancellor’s £650 million ‘Life Sci for Growth’ warchest, which is supporting their move to a purpose-built new home at Manchester Science park.

    Schmidt and Griffin are providing this funding on a philanthropic basis to UK Biobank because the study’s breadth of data, long-term follow-up of health outcomes, and accessibility to researchers worldwide make it a unique resource to help the scientific community better understand a wide range of common and life-threatening diseases.

    Delivering new, innovative, agile models of funding such as these delivers on the government’s response to the findings of Sir Paul Nurse’s Landscape Review, and builds on the already-record levels of public sector commitment to spending on R&D. This government has committed to invest £20 billion in R&D in 2024 to 2025.

    UK Biobank’s database is regularly augmented with additional data, such as a recent addition of the largest ever proteomic dataset, and the on-going results of the world’s largest imaging study of whole-body scanning. All of this data will enable researchers to open up new ways to investigate disease mechanisms for all conditions, from depression and anxiety to coronary heart disease, cancer and osteoporosis.

  • PRESS RELEASE : AI to speed up lung cancer diagnosis deployed in NHS hospitals [October 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : AI to speed up lung cancer diagnosis deployed in NHS hospitals [October 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 30 October 2023.

    £21 million is being allocated to 64 NHS trusts across England to roll out AI tools to speed up the diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer.

    • AI tools to help NHS staff analyse X-rays and CT scans expected to be in place by winter, increasing efficiency and cutting waiting times
    • Health and Social Care Secretary hosts AI roundtable with industry leaders to drive forward innovation in health and social care

    Ground-breaking artificial intelligence (AI) that can help clinicians diagnose lung cancer quickly and accurately is being rolled out in NHS hospitals across England following a £21 million funding boost from the government.

    The funding is being allocated to 64 NHS trusts across all regions of the country so they can deploy AI tools that analyse X-rays and CT scans, speeding up diagnosis and treatments for patients.

    With over 600,000 chest X-rays performed each month in England, the deployment of this technology to more NHS trusts will support clinicians in their work with quicker, more accurate diagnosis of conditions.

    The new tools will start being deployed in NHS hospitals for winter, which will help to ease pressures on the NHS and free up staff time.

    The Health and Social Care Secretary hosted a roundtable with NHS trusts, industry leaders and health officials today (30 October 2023) to identify ways of speeding up the roll out of AI in health and social care.

    Discussions focused on the safe deployment of AI to help cut waiting lists and relieve pressure on hospitals, free up staff time by automating admin tasks, and support people in care settings to live more independently.

    Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay said:

    We are rolling out more cutting-edge AI technology across the NHS to help with quicker, more accurate diagnosis of lung cancer because patients deserve the best care possible.

    AI is already being used in the NHS to halve treatment times for stroke patients and to assist doctors in analysing brain scans, reducing the time between admission and treatment by more than one hour – saving valuable staff time and improving patient recovery.

    We’re building on this success to make sure lung cancer patients get the support they need, when they need it.

    Dr Vin Diwakar, national director of transformation at NHS England, said:

    Artificial intelligence is already helping to save lives from faster diagnosis of a stroke allowing faster emergency treatment to providing patients with their personalised risk of a heart attack allowing their clinicians to intervene earlier.

    This investment will allow 64 NHS trusts from across the country to harness the power of AI to tools to speed up the diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer.

    The use of AI in the NHS is already having a positive impact on outcomes for patients. AI tools are now live in over 90% of stroke networks in England – halving the time for stroke victims to get treatment in some cases, helping to cut waiting times.

    For example, Brainomix e-Stroke uses AI to analyse brain scans of people who have had strokes to assist doctors with diagnosis and treatment decisions. Early studies have shown Brainomix can reduce the time between a patient arriving at hospital after they’ve had a stroke, to receiving treatment by more than one hour through providing instant interpretations of brain scans to help guide treatment and transfer decisions for stroke patients faster. The studies also showed it can triple the number of people achieving functional independence after having a stroke, from 16% to 48%, through allowing more patients to get the right treatment, in the right place, at the right time.

    The roundtable, held at the Department of Health and Social Care, also focused on the importance of safely deploying AI across the health and care system, placing emphasis on regulation and ethics.

    AI has the potential to transform patient care in the NHS, but does not always lend itself to traditional methods of demonstrating evidence for effectiveness. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency is rolling out a world-leading partnership between government, regulators and industry which will see advanced AI technology used in NHS settings safely ahead of regulatory approval – allowing NHS patients to benefit earlier from emerging technology before it is available anywhere else in the world.

    This system, known as AI-Airlock, will open for products in April 2024 and will allow innovators to test the technology in NHS settings, helping to generate data quickly on its effectiveness. This will prioritise patient safety while encouraging innovation at pace within the industry – meaning there is no delay in patients benefiting from potentially lifesaving technology between regulatory approval and deployment.

    Alongside this, a team at the University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust and University of Birmingham has released new international standards, supported by the NHS AI Lab and The Health Foundation, to ensure AI systems are developed using diverse and inclusive datasets that can benefit all demographic groups. The team worked with over 350 stakeholders from more than 58 countries to build recommendations on how data should be recorded and used for AI, helping to boost transparency and address any potential biases.

    The government has already invested £123 million into 86 AI technologies, which is helping patients by supporting stroke diagnosis, screening, cardiovascular monitoring and managing conditions at home.

    Background information

    The following trusts are receiving a share of the £21 million funding:

    • East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust
    • West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
    • Royal Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
    • James Paget University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
    • The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, King’s Lynn, NHS Foundation Trust
    • West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust
    • North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust
    • Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
    • East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust
    • Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust
    • Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
    • Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
    • London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust
    • The Hillingdon Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
    • Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
    • Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust
    • Barts Health NHS Trust
    • Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust
    • Homerton Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
    • Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
    • Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
    • Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
    • Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust
    • Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
    • Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
    • University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust
    • Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
    • York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
    • Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust
    • County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust
    • Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust
    • North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust
    • North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust
    • Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
    • South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust
    • South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
    • Bolton NHS Foundation Trust
    • Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust
    • Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust
    • Tameside and Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust
    • The Christie NHS Foundation Trust
    • Stockport NHS Foundation Trust
    • Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust
    • The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre NHS Foundation Trust
    • Countess Of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
    • East Cheshire NHS Trust
    • Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
    • Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
    • Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
    • Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
    • Liverpool Women’s NHS Foundation Trust
    • Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
    • Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
    • University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust
    • Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
    • Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust
    • Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust
    • University Hospitals Sussex
    • Ashford and St Peter’s Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
    • East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust
    • Royal Surrey County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
    • Queen Victoria Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
    • Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust
    • Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust

    For more information on innovation used in the NHS, visit our media blog: how we are delivering innovation in health and social care services.

    The Health and Social Care Secretary announced the £21 million funding in June this year. The money is now being allocated to NHS trusts.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Rishi Sunak call with Prime Minister Rutte of the Netherlands [October 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Rishi Sunak call with Prime Minister Rutte of the Netherlands [October 2023]

    The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 29 October 2023.

    The Prime Minister spoke to the Prime Minister of the Netherlands, Mark Rutte, this evening about the crisis in the Middle East.

    The leaders shared their serious concern at the worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza and stressed the importance of increasing the supplies of water, medicines and fuel reaching civilians. They discussed options to help expedite the supply of aid and efforts to support British and Dutch nationals in Gaza and to ensure the safe return of hostages.

    The Prime Minister and Prime Minister Rutte reflected on their visits to Israel, where they had witnessed the deep grief and trauma caused by Hamas’ attack.

    The two leaders agreed on the vital importance of maintaining international humanitarian law and protecting civilians in Gaza. They also discussed the importance of avoiding further damaging and destabilising escalation in the region, and to reinvigorate the process towards a peaceful resolution to the conflict and a two-state solution. The leaders agreed to remain in close contact on the next steps.