Tag: 2023

PRESS RELEASE : Civil Service Fast Stream exceeds target to boost STEM expertise across Government [October 2023]
The press release issued by the Cabinet Office on 25 October 2023.

The Civil Service Fast Stream programme has exceeded its ambition to increase the number of hires with a STEM qualification to 50% across all schemes.
- The Civil Service Fast Stream programme has exceeded its ambition to increase the number of hires with a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) qualification to 50% across all schemes.
- This delivers on Government’s ambitions to change the way the Civil Service does recruitment so it can deliver better for the public by bringing in the brightest minds in data and science.
- Applications for the 2024 intake of the Civil Service Fast Stream are now live and we encourage people from all backgrounds and disciplines to apply.
Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics skills are being boosted across the Civil Service, with the Government announcing it has exceeded its STEM fast stream recruitment ambition today. This will bring fresh perspectives to policy making so the Government can better deliver on the people’s priorities and bring lasting change to communities up and down the country.

In May 2022, the Civil Service Fast Stream set an ambition to increase the number of external Fast Stream hires with a STEM degree qualification to at least 50% across all Fast Stream schemes. The Cabinet Office set out to achieve this in the 2023 recruitment campaign, and new analysis shows that the 50% ambition has now been exceeded, advancing STEM expertise across the Civil Service.

These findings build on the vision of Minister for the Cabinet Office Jeremy Quin to modernise and reform the civil service, as the Government takes long-term decisions to change our country for the better.

Minister for the Cabinet Office, Jeremy Quin, said:

We’re taking long-term decisions that will put innovation at the very core of policy making – attracting the best scientists, engineers, technologists and mathematicians from across the UK into the heart of Government.

Today’s announcement that we have exceeded our STEM recruitment ambition is an important step forward in building a modern civil service which can deliver more efficient services for the British public.

Whilst the Civil Service has traditionally attracted the best and brightest graduates with a range of backgrounds, such as in humanities, this new drive for STEM talent will bring a fresh perspective into government.

By putting STEM fast stream entrants into the heart of policy making across different roles and departments, government is diversifying its thinking around key policy decisions, developing innovative solutions to challenges, and advancing understanding in science and technology policy areas.

STEM skills are also key to meeting the Prime Minister’s priorities: from halving inflation to ease the cost of living and provide people with financial security, to building a stronger economy with better jobs, and ensuring that NHS waiting lists will fall and people will get the care they need more quickly.

Applications for the Civil Service Fast Stream 2024 recently opened, encouraging applications from all backgrounds. With 15 specialist programmes, the Fast Stream opens up a range of opportunities across several disciplines.

The Fast Stream will continue to have an ambition to appoint over 50% STEM Graduates in 2024.
November 1, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Earlier mental health support announced for thousands nationwide [October 2023]
The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 25 October 2023.

The government has announced almost £5 million to fund early support hubs nationwide to deliver mental health support for children and young people.
Government funding drop-in early support hubs nationwide to deliver early mental health and wellbeing support for children and young people

Backed by government’s Youth Mental Health Ambassador Dr Alex George following campaign for more services to provide earlier intervention

Additional £2.3 billion already helping an extra 345,000 children and young people to access NHS-funded mental health support by 2024

Thousands of children and young people will receive earlier mental health treatment in a move to help save lives and ensure fewer youngsters reach crisis point, through early support hubs across the country.

The government is making nearly £5 million available to provide earlier, open-access mental health intervention at 10 hubs in community locations.

The drop-in centres offer mental health support and advice to local young people who will not need a referral by a doctor or school. They will not even need an appointment. Services provided include group work, counselling, psychological therapies, specialist advice and signposting to information and other services.

Around 50% of mental health conditions are established by the time a child reaches the age of 14, and 75% by the age of 24. However, access to early support can prevent infants, children and young adults from developing enduring conditions that can have devastating long-term impacts on their lives and life chances, as well as the lives of their loved ones.

Mental Health Minister Maria Caulfield said:

To parents across the nation – I want to assure you we’re working to get your children that vital early support. Our funding will help hubs to hire counsellors, youth workers and other local experts. It comes on top of an extra £2.3 billion a year to transform NHS mental health services and help millions of people.

I’d like to thank Dr Alex George and campaigners for their efforts highlighting the importance of early intervention in mental health. This funding can help to avoid tragic waits and save lives.

The hubs are open to those aged 11 to 25 years old, and importantly they are for anyone who may not meet the threshold to receive NHS support. Youngsters going through the trauma of worry, anxiety or stress will have a physical space to go to when their problems first emerge.

A network of roughly 60 early support hubs currently exists across the country. They are run by a range of local services including volunteer organisations, local NHS trusts and local authorities.

The £4.92 million will enable 10 existing hubs to expand their current services locally and employ new staff like counsellors or youth workers. The 10 hubs benefiting from the funding will be announced in due course.

The government’s Youth Mental Health Ambassador, Dr Alex George, said:

Early intervention in mental health is paramount, and today’s announcement of additional funding for early support hubs across the country is a milestone to be celebrated.

No child or young person experiencing trauma should reach crisis point, and nobody should endure the enormous tragedy of losing a loved one to mental illness. We have to make sure the support is there as early as possible.

That is why I will keep working with the government to ensure every child and young adult knows they have somewhere to go when they feel lost, overwhelmed or down.

Early support hubs also offer advice on wider issues which may affect a young person’s mental health, including sexual health, exam worries, jobs, drugs, alcohol and financial worries.

Alongside the pilots, an evaluation of how the funding has benefited local children and young people will be conducted by the government. This will ensure our young people are receiving the best possible care and also further strengthen the evidence base for early intervention and prevention support.

Fund the Hubs campaign group, comprising The British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, Black Thrive Global, Centre for Mental Health, The Children’s Society, Children and Young People’s Mental Health Coalition, Mind, Youth Access, and YoungMinds, said:

The government’s announcement to provide additional support for 10 existing early support hubs recognises the vital role these community services play in bringing mental health support and advice to young people.

With now over a million referrals to children and young people’s mental health services every year, we know that services are struggling to keep up with demand. Early intervention services are desperately needed across the country and will make a huge difference to many young people who are struggling with their mental health.

Tens of thousands of young people have fought hard to fund the hubs. These spaces will mean that young people can get support for their mental health as soon as they need it, rather than waiting months and sometimes years for help. In the context young people are navigating, this additional funding for services is worth celebrating. We welcome this step in the right direction and hope that more hubs will be funded in the future, so every young person in every community can access the support they provide.

Vital progress is being made to support more children and young people with their mental health, regardless of background or location, with investment in NHS mental health services continuing to increase each year from almost £11 billion in 2015 to 2016 to almost £16 billion in 2022 to 2023.

An additional £2.3 billion of funding a year by March 2024 is being used to expand and transform services, so an extra 2 million people can get mental health support. This includes an extra 345,000 children and young people who will be able to access NHS-funded mental health support.

Support in school is also important, which is why the government is continuing to roll out mental health support teams to schools and colleges in England. There are currently around 400 mental health support teams in place across England, covering over 3 million children or around 35% of pupils in schools and colleges, and we’re extending coverage to at least 50% of pupils in England by the end of March 2025.
November 1, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Government announces support for flood-hit areas [October 2023]
The press release issued by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, on 25 October 2023.

Thousands of pounds of government funding to help communities recover from the impact of Storm Babet.

Communities impacted by flooding will benefit from thousands of pounds of government funding to help them recover from the impact of Storm Babet.

The Communities Secretary Michael Gove and Environment Secretary Thérèse Coffey have announced support will be available to areas in England that have experienced exceptional localised flooding.

Under the measures announced today:
- Flooded households in affected areas can apply for up to £500 to give cash quickly to help with immediate costs.
- Households and businesses significantly affected by recent flooding will be eligible for 100% council tax and business rates relief for at least 3 months.
- Small-to-medium sized businesses in affected areas will be eligible for up to £2,500 from the Business Recovery Grant to help them return quickly to business as usual.
- Eligible flood-hit property owners will be able to apply for up to £5,000 to help make their homes and businesses more resilient to future flooding via the Property Flood Resilience Repair Grant Scheme.
The support will be made available through a scheme known as the Flood Recovery Framework, which is used in exceptional circumstances to support councils and communities following severe flooding.

Communities Secretary, Michael Gove MP said:

The support I am announcing today will give those impacted by these terrible floods a helping hand so they can get back on their feet and recover from Storm Babet.

I will continue to work closely with our partners across government and councils to make sure we are doing all we can to support businesses and families who have had to face such challenging and upsetting circumstances.

Environment Secretary Thérèse Coffey said:

My sympathies are with everyone who has experienced the devastating effects of flooding. I would like to thank our Environment Agency teams and first responders, with 62,000 properties already protected thanks to our flood defences.

Our Property Flood Resilience Repair Grant Scheme will soon be open to help residents better protect their property in the future, giving some peace of mind as they rebuild and repair.

Environment Agency teams and first responders have been working round the clock on the ground with local partners to manage the risk of flooding, including operating flood defences, flood storage reservoirs and putting up temporary barriers where needed to help protect our communities. Around 62,000 properties have been protected thanks to the defences in place.

Funding for flood defences has increased with over 374,000 homes better protected since 2015 thanks to this investment, and the government is going even further by delivering a record £5.2 billion investment to better protect hundreds of thousands of properties.

Support will be available through councils who will announce further details on eligibility and how to apply.
November 1, 2023
Michelle Donelan – 2023 Speech at Onward on the Future of AI

The speech made by Michelle Donelan, the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, on 24 October 2023.

Firstly let me say a massive thank you to Onward.

I said when I first launched this new and exciting Department that people could expect to see a constant drumbeat of action from my officials, from my ministers and my entire team…

What I didn’t expect was for Onward to take that challenge on too!

From your brilliant report on generative AI earlier this year, to Allan Nixon’s Wired for Success Report which gave us insights into DSIT that illumined Whitehall.

And I hear through the grapevine that Onward are publishing another AI-focused report in the coming weeks, so I look forward to reading that.

It is safe to say that the world is now wide awake to the opportunities and the challenges posed by artificial intelligence.

In the last 3 years alone, MPs have mentioned Artificial Intelligence more times in the House of Commons than they did in the entire 30 years before that.

And when I stood up to give my first speech as the Secretary of State for the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, I made it clear that we were going to be different and we were going to do things differently.

So, when it comes to AI, I think it is especially important because we cannot afford for DSIT to be a normal ‘business as usual’ Whitehall department.

Nor can we deliver extraordinary things without more extraordinary people in our Departmental team.

We need to be as agile, innovative and as accessible just like the entrepreneurs and businesses and researchers that we represent.

And I am pleased to report that we have done exactly that.

Over a matter of months we have added world-renowned AI experts to our Department and Taskforce…

From renowned AI professors like David Krueger and Yarin Gal…

To one of the Godfathers of AI, Yoshua Bengio….

With our skills, Frontier AI Taskforce and our global AI Safety Summit, it is clear that the UK is perfectly placed to lead the international charge on seizing the opportunities of AI whilst gripping the risks.

However, today I want to get beyond the statistics and go deeper into the philosophy that is driving our approach to AI.

Many of you will have heard me talk about AI safety being the UK’s priority, and how we can only truly utilise the extraordinary benefits AI has to offer once we have tackled some of the safety challenges associated with the frontier.

To some this may sound overcautious, or that we are being driven by fear of the risks rather than optimism about the opportunities. But actually I think it is rather about the opportunities that we are focusing on.

Today, I want to smash these myths head on.

Here at Onward, I want to set out how the UK’s approach to safety and security in AI will make it the best place in the world for new AI companies to not only grow but locate here.

Safety and security are key to unlocking innovation.

The country which tackles key AI safety risks first will be the first to fully take advantage of the huge potential that AI has to provide.

That is why the UK is putting more investment into these questions right now than any other country in the world.

Questions like “how do we prevent misuse of Frontier AI by malicious actors?”

And “how do we ensure we don’t lose human control and oversight of this new technology?”

And how can we protect our society including our democratic system.

Think of how air travel – once considered a dangerous new technology by many – is now one of the safest and most beneficial technologies in human history.

We got there by working with countries across the world to make sure we have the right safety mechanisms in place – and now we all reap the benefits of flying safely.

Safety is absolutely critical to unlocking adoption across our economy.

Boosting consumer confidence is what will make the difference between a country taking a few years to adopt new technology into their lives, or a few decades.

I want to make sure the UK is at the forefront of reaping the benefits of this transformative technology.

Our approach to AI has been commended for being agile, open and innovative. But we need more research to guide our approach.

In many cases, we simply don’t understand the risks in enough detail or certainty right now because this an emerging technology that is developing quicker than any other technology in human history.

It took mankind just over a lifetime to go from the horse and cart to the space race.

Yet in the last four years large language models have gone from barely being able to write a coherent sentence to now being able to pass the bar exam and medical exams and who knows what large language models have are set to hold.

So the pace of development is fast and unpredictable which means our focus needs to be on understanding the risks.

And in life I do think its important to understand the problem before rushing to solutions. And with AI this should be no different.

That is why we established the Frontier AI Taskforce and have appointed a world-leading research team to turbo-charge our understanding of frontier AI with expert insights.

The Taskforce is already making rapid progress, forging partnerships with industry and developing innovative approaches to addressing the risks of AI and harnessing its benefits.

The Global AI Safety Summit is also an opportunity to build that understanding, share learnings and establish a network globally to work together to ensure our research can keep up with this transformative emerging technology.

Indeed, one of the key objectives of the Summit is to form an agreement on what the key risks actually are.

By bringing countries, leading tech organisations, academia and civil society together, the UK will lead the international conversation on frontier AI.

The global nature of AI means that international concerted action is absolutely critical. AI doesn’t stop at geographical boundaries and nor should our approach.

But of course, we do also need to make sure we have the right domestic approach in place to drive safe, responsible AI innovation.

Earlier this year we set out a principles-based approach through the AI Regulation White Paper.

Our approach is agile, targeted and sector-specific.

We here in the UK understand that AI use cases are drastically different across different sectors.

A one size fits all system that treats agri-tech the same way as military drones because they both use AI is unreasonable and undeliverable.

By empowering existing regulators to regulate AI in their own sectors where they have their own expertise, we have created the most tailored and responsive regulatory regime anywhere in the world.

We have also supported different sectors with a Central risk function – horizon scanning.

Later this year, we will publish a full response to our White Paper – showing how our approach is keeping pace with this transformative technology.

So, what does this all mean for small businesses?

The regulatory approach set out in the White Paper is specifically designed to be flexible, support innovation and ensure that small, new and challenger AI companies can grow and succeed here in the UK.

And indeed, we are already taking steps to deliver on those aims by working with the Digital Regulation Cooperation Forum to pilot a new advisory service for AI and digital innovators so companies can bring their products more quickly and safely to market.

We want the UK to remain one of the most nimble and innovative places in the world for AI companies to grow.

That is why it is right to reaffirm our commitment to our principles-based approach to regulation whilst also taking bold steps to address risks at the frontier,

investing in world-class research capabilities and working closely with industry and civil society to make sure our AI governance approach keeps pace.

Our proportionate and targeted approach will enable us to foster innovation and encourage companies to grow to catch up with the frontier – because we are not pulling up the drawbridge –in fact what we want to do is give consumers and the public confidence to boost adoption and it will ensure we can seize the opportunities safely.

Far from a race to the bottom, the key AI developers across the world and here in the UK are telling me they are looking for countries where they will have certainty, clarity and support when it comes to building and deploying AI safely.

They want a mature, considered and agile approach to AI that maximises the potential for innovation by mitigating the risks.

They want to open up in countries where consumers are open-minded and excited about using their AI tools to improve their lives, which is why with the global AI Safety Summit, we are not only talking about risks, but also talking about opportunities for the benefit of mankind.

And the proof is in the pudding Open AI, Anthropic have opened their international offices here.

I want the UK people to use AI with the same confidence and lack of fear as we do when we book an airplane ticket.

And I want AI companies to know that the UK is the most up-to-date, agile and economically rewarding place in the world to build their business in.

So, to all the smaller AI companies out there, let me send this message out to you today: the UK is and will remain the most agile and innovative place for you to develop your business.

Safety at the frontier means prosperity across the sector.

We will grip the risks so that we can seize the opportunities.

Thank you.

November 1, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Details of the review into police use of force published [October 2023]

The press release issued by the Home Office on 24 October 2023.

The review into police use of force and police driving investigations has commenced.

The terms of a review looking at whether existing legislation on police use of force and driving provides sufficient protections for those in the line of duty, and maintains public confidence in policing, have been published today (24 October 2023).

The review, which was requested by the Home Secretary and will be coordinated by the Home Office, is expected to provide findings to Suella Braverman by the end of the year.

The first part of the review will assess whether the existing legal and regulatory framework that underpins police use of force and police driving offers the right protections to the police, particularly firearms officers. It will also examine if these frameworks are sufficient to maintain the public’s confidence in policing, particularly communities and families impacted by police actions.

The review will also consider the systems for investigating police officers, including referrals to the Independent Office for Police Conduct, especially in incidents where members of the public have been killed or injured, and whether cases involving those acting in the line of duty should be treated differently from other cases.

The timeliness of investigations and legal processes will also be looked into, including whether more effective working between the Independent Office for Police Conduct and the Crown Prosecution Service can reduce timescales of criminal investigations and whether there are options to reduce any duplications in criminal, coronial and misconduct processes.

Finally, the review will examine whether improvements need to be made to officer suspension and anonymity. This will look at communications following an incident and ask if they strike the right balance between providing clarity to officers and reassuring members of the public.

Home Secretary Suella Braverman said:

We depend on our brave police officers to put themselves in harm’s way in order to keep us safe.

It is one of the toughest jobs, relying on officers to make life or death decisions in a split second and we should never take it for granted.

It is why I requested this review to ensure the legal frameworks under which the police operate command the confidence of both officers and members of the public.

The Home Office will work with the Ministry of Justice and the Attorney General’s Office on this review and is clear that it will not impinge on the operational independence of the police and other relevant bodies in the criminal justice system. The review will also not consider ongoing investigations or live legal proceedings.

November 1, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Home Office to exit first 50 asylum hotels by the end of January [October 2023]

The press release issued by the Home Office on 24 October 2023.

The first 50 hotels across the UK will stop housing asylum seekers by the end of January, as a result of a more than 20% drop in small boat crossings compared to last year, the Immigration Minister has confirmed today (24 October 2023).

The Home Office has already notified local authorities, MPs and the accommodation providers, informing them that the first 50 hotels temporarily accommodating asylum seekers will be exited as part of the move to return hotels to their proper use by communities.

Initial efforts will focus on hotels that can be exited quickly. This announcement will help to relieve pressures on local services in the areas where exits are taking place, and provide a boost to the local economy.

These hotels will be gradually handed back to hoteliers by the end of January 2024, with the first of these expected to be exited in the coming days.

Asylum seekers currently accommodated in these hotels will be moving to other parts of the UK’s asylum estate, including the Bibby Stockholm barge.

Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick said:

Taxpayers cannot be expected to foot the eye-watering bill for the use of hotels to accommodate individuals making illegal, dangerous and wholly unnecessary small boat crossings.

Our strategy to stop the boats is making progress. With small boat arrivals down more than 20% compared with last year, we can now start to restore these hotels to their rightful use for local communities.

We remain absolutely determined, through the implementation of the Illegal Migration Act and our Rwanda partnership, to dismantle the smuggling gangs’ business models and stop the boats entirely.

The move comes amid a decrease in small boat crossings, which are down by more than 20% compared to this point in 2022.

This move has been achieved due to the government’s wider efforts to tackle illegal migration, including our ongoing work with our international partners such as our agreement with the French government, and strengthened partnerships with Turkey and Italy to tackle organised immigration crime.

On top of this, the government is going even further through our Illegal Migration Act which will mean that people arriving in the UK illegally are detained and promptly removed to their country of origin or a safe third country.

Capacity has also been increased by making better use of sites in the current asylum estate, by optimising room sharing and alternative accommodation sites, such as the former military base at Wethersfield and the Bibby Stockholm barge, which offer better value for the taxpayer and are more manageable for communities.

The Home Office will work closely with accommodation providers and local authorities to manage the exit process in a way which limits the impact on partners and service users alike.

Today’s announcement on exiting hotels is just one part of the government’s wider efforts to tackle illegal migration.

Specifically, since the signing of the Joint Communiqué with the government of Albania in December 2022, more than 4,100 Albanian nationals with no right to be in the UK have been returned. This includes some people who were returned 48 hours after illegally arriving by small boat.

There has also been a clamp down on rogue employers, with 4,721 illegal working visits carried out between the start of January and the end of September 2023. A shake up of civil penalties in August also means employers of illegal workers are set to face fines of up to £60,000.

November 1, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Secretary of State announces appointment of Chair and five members to the Board of the Livestock and Meat Commission (LMC) [October 2023]
The press release issued by the Northern Ireland Office on 24 October 2023.

The Secretary of State, the Rt Hon Chris Heaton-Harris MP, has today announced the appointment of a Chairperson and five Members to the Livestock and Meat Commission Board.
Joseph Stewart has been appointed to the position of Chairperson. The five new members are John Hood, David Mark, Sean McKeever, David Torrens and Elaine Willis. In the absence of Ministers in the Northern Ireland Executive, these appointments were made under the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation etc) Act 2022.

The new Chair took up the role on Monday 4 September 2023.

The appointment of the five new members is effective from Monday 23 October 2023.

Biography of appointees

Mr Joseph M Stewart OBE, LLB, JP, is retired and brings significant experience from the private and public sector, having held positions in the Engineering Employers Federation, Harland & Wolff, Police Authority (NI) and PSNI (in a non-police role). Joseph has served as an LMC Board Member since 2021 and is a Non-Executive Director of the Public Health Agency. He also serves as Council Member of the Suffolk Sheep Society Ltd. Joseph was awarded an OBE for Public Service in 1994.

Mr John Hood has over 23 years in-depth experience in investment, marketing and economic development. For the last 10 years he was the Director of the Food and Drink Division at Invest NI where he delivered significant growth across the food and drink sector.

Mr David Mark has extensive experience across the agri-food sector. Throughout his career he has worked directly with producers and major customers on agricultural technical areas. He previously served on the Northern Ireland Food Advisory Committee of the Food Standards Agency and is Chair of the Trade Exhibits Committee in the Royal Ulster Agricultural Society (RUAS).

Mr Sean McKeever is a Chartered Accountant and has substantial strategy, finance and governance experience within Health and Personal Social Services and NHS organisations. He currently serves as a non-executive director, and chair of the Governance and Audit Committee, of the Business Services Organisation. He also brings on farm experience as a producer of beef.

Mr David Torrens is a recently retired vet who has an in-depth knowledge of the agriculture sector through his role as Director of DAERA’s Veterinary Service Animal Health Group. He currently serves as the Northern Ireland representative on the British Veterinary Association’s Policy Committee. He has extensive experience in the public sector, including in corporate governance and financial and risk management.

Mrs Elaine Willis is a Retail Operations Director and brings significant experience in the Agri-Food Processing Industry, including New Product Development, Business Development and Sales and Marketing. Elaine represents the red meat processing sector on the College of Agriculture Farming and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE) Advisory Group.

Details of body

The LMC is an Executive Non-Departmental Public Body, sponsored by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA). The main duty of the LMC is to examine and recommend improvements in the marketing of livestock and livestock products.

Terms of Chair Appointment

The Chair role requires approximately 48 days per annum.

The Chair appointment to the LMC is for a three-year term.

The Chairperson post is remunerated at £17,315 per annum.

Terms of Member Appointment

The member role requires approximately 30 days per annum.

The member appointment to the LMC is for a three-year term.

The member post is remunerated at £6,485 per annum.

Regulation

The appointments are made in accordance with the Livestock and Meat Commission Act (Northern Ireland) 1967 and the Commissioner for Public Appointments for Northern Ireland (CPANI) Code of Practice.

Political Activity

All appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process. However, the Commissioner for Public Appointments for Northern Ireland requires the political activity of appointees to be published. None of the candidates have declared any political activity in the last five years.

Notes to editors

The LMC was added by Statutory Instrument to the Northern Ireland Executive Formation Act 2022 on 10 July 2023.

Media queries should be directed to the DAERA Press Office: pressoffice.group@daera-ni.gov.uk or phone 02890 524619.

The Executive Information Service operates an out of hours service for media enquiries only between 1800hrs and 0800hrs Monday to Friday and at weekends and public holidays. The duty press officer can be contacted on 028 9037 8110.
November 1, 2023
Oliver Dowden – 2023 Speech to the Future Investment Initiative
The speech made by Oliver Dowden, the Deputy Prime Minister, in Riyadh on 24 October 2023.
Today’s theme is ‘defining dynamism amid global shocks’.

And there could be no more apt place to discuss dynamism than Saudi Arabia.

The pace of change in the Kingdom is dizzying:

Asserting global leadership from the Gulf…

…rocketing up the rankings for ease of doing business…

…leapfrogging the world’s largest economies…

…embracing technological change…

… and transforming an economy fuelled by oil… into one powered by renewables…

…making Vision 2030 not just a vision, but a reality.

That is true dynamism: embracing change, and leading the charge.

With your megacities and giga-projects, Saudi is not just adopting clean technologies but pioneering them…

…delivering solutions that we will all be using in the future.

So That’s why the UK is proud to partner with you in a huge array of areas, such as financial services, clean energy, urban regeneration, academia, defence, sports, e-gaming and more.

Truly a partnership for the future.

AGE OF SHOCKS

But we do so in a world where shocks have become the new norm.

We rightly refer to them as global shocks because their impact ripples from the epicentre right across our planet.

The great financial crisis … the Covid pandemic … Russia’s invasion of Ukraine …

…Record temperatures and devastating natural disasters…

…and, of course, the brutal strike into the heart of Israel by Hamas terrorists just two weeks ago…

…the very worst of humanity.

Thousands of people have died horrifically… unnecessarily.

Tens of thousands more are injured, or are in mourning.

And millions are now living in fear of the consequences.

This has caused untold misery and has led to deep, widespread insecurity.

And we stand with all innocent victims of this conflict.

Urging respect for international humanitarian law…

And for parties to take every possible step to avoid harming civilians.

And we welcome ongoing efforts to open up humanitarian access to Gaza…

…we have pledged millions extra in aid…

…and we remain committed to the two state solution.

Britain stands together to reject terror, hate and prejudice.

…and to reset the path to peace and long-term stability.

TRADITIONAL SECURITY

And as the Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, the Prime Minister has tasked me personally to drive cross-Government resilience towards shocks of all kinds.

Understanding the nature of the threats we face today…

…and scanning the horizon to predict the threats we may face tomorrow.

The first duty of every government is to protect their civilians.

Of course, our first line of defence is always our armed forces.

Those brave men and women are our resilience personified.

And the UK and Saudi Arabia have a proud partnership in security which stretches back into our history…

…sharing intelligence, exchanging military hardware, training alongside one another…

…and continuing into the future with our world-leading Typhoon jets.

ECONOMIC SECURITY (AND TECH SHOCKS)

But increasingly, the ripples of recent global shocks…

…reverberate in an economic sense…

…disrupting supply chains… driving up energy prices… and causing food shortages.

And it on this economic front, where I am leading the UK’s charge to be out in front, in terms of our resilience…

…developing and retaining critical domestic capabilities…

…screening investment into UK companies…

…protecting Government procurement from national security threats…

…and better understanding our supply chains.

As we scan the horizon, we see that rapid technological advancements will only make this task more urgent.

We’ve had a glimpse into this future…

…with cyberattacks bringing public services to a halt…

…and ransomware wiping millions off companies’ share prices.

Deepfakes have duped consumers…

…bots have interfered in elections…

…and intellectual property has been stolen from businesses and academic institutions.

Now so far, these have been relative skirmishes…

…wrought by an unholy alliance between hostile states and non-state actors.

But with the enormous potential of artificial intelligence and quantum computing…

…there is a very real possibility that the world’s next shock will be a tech shock.

And so next week the United Kingdom will be convening the world’s leading nations and pioneering AI companies for the first global frontier AI safety summit.

These emerging technologies represent exciting opportunities.

…they exist at the cutting edge of development, often yet to be commercialised and with unknown end applications…

But we also know that hostile state actors are actively seeking these technologies for their own competitive advantage…

… or even to enhance their military capability.

And the most valuable commodities to both businesses and nations are increasingly the source code… the technical designs… or other – intangible – intellectual property that underpins innovation.

Where they have a military or dual-use application, traditional means of controlling these transfers are often simply not enough.

These Intangible products can now be exported in a second – attached to an email…

….with no customs official to check any documentation…

…nor a list of multilaterally agreed product categories to check against…

…because these technologies have only just been invented…

…often in small university spin-outs, rather than the established defence contractors used to working with Government.

This dynamism in the tech sphere, must be met with dynamism within Government.

Now I know that ‘Dynamism’ and ‘Government’, not, perhaps, two words which you often put together…

But we cannot afford not to be…

This is why I am reviewing our tools to ensure they are fit for purpose:

Examining our export regime controls, to ensure that it is striking the right balance for emerging technologies relevant to national security…

Exploring other paths through which this sensitive technology can leak out unchecked such as through outbound investment flows…

And working with academic institutions and start-ups to ensure they are alert to the risks, and have the toolkit to protect themselves.

We need to build a policy environment that provides the private sector with the confidence to innovate…

Confidence to build partnerships…

Confidence to grow.

Economic security should never be seen as a constraint on growth.

It is an enabler of it.

UK-KSA ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP

So just as allies work together on physical security, so we need to work together to build economic security.

Just as important as the collaboration between nation states is the partnership between Government and business.

Which is why, earlier this year, we established the National Protective Security Authority within MI5 – so that our security services can support business in understanding and protecting themselves against the threats they face.

The partnership between the UK and Saudi Arabia is a fine example of the collaboration we need.

We made the green finance deal made last year – ensuring we protect our energy needs for the future…

We’ve made an agreement on critical minerals this year – enhancing our collaboration and exploring new sources of supplying these elements that are so vital to our future prosperity and national security.

And through to next year I will personally be prioritising building the bond between our two kingdoms.

So today I can announce that I will be leading a new strand of engagement with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to enhance our cooperation and mutually-beneficial investment relationships, building on similar relations across the gulf.

The partnership between our kingdoms has helped to shape the world we live in, and will be a linch-pin of shaping the future through to 2030.

But just as important as the collaboration between nation states, is the partnership between government and business.

So I will be Chairing a new Public-Private Forum between Government and business on economic security challenges… with the first meetings later this year.

And I want to be very clear to all of you, that my door is always open to investors to discuss our economic security agenda.

And our first task when Prime MInister Rishi Sunak was to restore the predictability and stability that investors so cherish in the United Kingdom.

Our task now is to drive growth, jobs, prosperity and investment. And I know that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will be a key partner in that mission.

PROSPERITY AGENDA

But we should also never underestimate how much our peace, stability, and resilience to shocks are underpinned by our prosperity.

A strong, growing economy doesn’t just allow you to invest in your armed forces….

…it also allows you to deliver for your people…

…it is a signal to the world that you are a serious partner and a key player.

Those who will succeed in this age of uncertainty, as new economic powers vie for pole position…

…are those with the fastest-growing, most vibrant, dynamic economies.

And those nations – and those businesses – will get to shape the new global order.

And the UK is laser-focused on that prosperity agenda.

We are wide open for business…

…a world-leader in climate solutions, life sciences and creativity…

…a wonderful place to invest and innovate…

…and a partner with whom to seize technological opportunities.

Happily these areas where we excel are the areas where Saudi wants to grow.

So your Vision 2030 is our vision too.

We’re by your side…

…with scores of fund managers flocking to Riyadh…

…and hundreds of UK businesses operating all across Saudi.

Meanwhile, of course London’s global financial centre remains committed to being the preferred hub for this part of the world…

…thousands of Saudi students and tourists are in Britain…

…and Saudi investment is benefitting every corner of our country.

That is all part of a deepening partnership with the wider GCC – the UK’s 7th largest export market…

…and with whom we hope to increase trade still further through a free trade agreement.

Geopolitical shifts are a great challenge to all our economies…

…but we can turn them into an opportunity to build a new world order based on rules, competition, open markets, innovation and investment.

Because that is the definition of dynamism: turning challenges into opportunities.

Not ignoring the threat of climate change but seizing the opportunities we have to build a green future.

Not shunning artificial intelligence but using it to solve some of the greatest problems we face.

Not turning inwards as new powers emerge and challenges arise, but forging new alliances and strengthening old ones.

That is how we will withstand shocks, build resilience and embrace opportunities for all our people.

Thank you.
November 1, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Farmers and growers to be given continued access to crucial plant protection products [October 2023]
The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 24 October 2023.
British farmers and growers will continue to have access to important pesticides to support resilient and profitable food production and cut input costs, the government has announced today.

Following feedback from farmers and industry, these plans will ensure farmers and growers can continue to buy and use seeds treated with EU-approved pesticides, and more cost-effective pesticides identical to those authorised in Great Britain can continue being imported.

The plans will not only provide certainty to farmers so they know which treated seeds and plant protection products they can use in coming growing seasons, but will also help improve the availability and reduce the cost of pesticides.

These treated seeds are important for both the arable and horticulture sectors and are particularly important for maize – a crop that is crucial for dairy farmers and in energy production.

The government shared these plans with Parliament yesterday which, once agreed, will come into force by the end of the year. This means there will be no break in the existing treated seed schemes (currently due to expire on 31 December), so that farmers can buy and use treated seeds ready for next growing season.

These measures will provide the agricultural industry and farming communities with valuable time to adapt, whilst also ensuring that we continue to support our farmers to put affordable and high-quality food on our tables.

Farming Minister Mark Spencer said:

The government recognises the challenges faced by farmers and growers in importing treated seeds and more cost-effective pesticide products from the EU as the transition period concludes.

Ensuring that British farmers and growers have access to the tools they need to produce food sustainably and affordably is a priority. The measures announced today will address the potential impacts and concerns raised by our valued farming sector.

Under current timelines, farmers and growers were set to lose access to these products at the end of this year. However, the temporary measures will enable farmers and growers in Great Britain to:

Continue using seeds treated with plant protection products authorised for use in the EU for an additional 3.5 years, extending up to 1 July 2027.

Reinstate trade permits for the import of PPPs that are identical to those authorised in Great Britain for a maximum of two years.

Continuing to give farmers access to these products will help to improve their availability and reduce costs, while providing certainty for the sector over the coming years.

In the long term, this change will ensure manufacturers have time to submit full applications for GB authorisations for seed treatments in order to ensure that they can continue to benefit from the UK market. They have heard from farmers and understand the demand – the regulator will continue working with industry to support them in submitting successful applications.

We are also encouraging farmers to develop and adapt their practices, including through integrated pest management approaches, which can increase resilience by diversifying crop protection techniques. We are already supporting farmers to increase their use of integrated pest management – including through new paid actions such as the Sustainable Farming Incentive scheme’s integrated pest management Standard which includes payments to carry out an assessment and produce an integrated pest management plan.

The bureaucratic Common Agricultural Policy disproportionately rewarded the largest landowners and held back smaller farmers, while delivering little for food productivity or the environment.

The government will continue to make improvements to our Environmental Land Management schemes to ensure they work best for farmers, such as bringing forward early payments in a way which would not have been possible under the Common Agricultural Policy.

The 2023 offer has been expanded and made more flexible in response to farmer feedback with over 23 paid-for actions now on offer including improving hedgerows, nutrient management, farmland wildlife and low input grassland. Other improvements mean that farmers can choose what combination of actions are right for them – unlike previously where actions were grouped into standards.

ENDS

Notes to editors:

The measures are set out in a draft affirmative Statutory Instrument which was laid in Parliament yesterday: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukdsi/2023/9780348252651/pdfs/ukdsi_9780348252651_en.pdf

These measures must be agreed through the Houses of Parliament before they are made into law.

Seed Treatments:

After exiting the EU, the government put arrangements in place until the end of 2023 to continue the import and use of seeds treated in the EU. However, recognising the importance of the scheme, we have today laid secondary legislation in Parliament to introduce an extension to measures that allow seeds treated with PPPs authorised for use in an EU or EEA member state to be imported, marketed and used in GB for an additional three-and-a-half years, up to 1 July 2027.

Following these proposals, manufacturers will have the opportunity to submit applications for full PPP authorisations for seed treatments, covering both existing and new products.

Simultaneously, farmers and growers will have the flexibility to consider utilising new products and alternative methods as part of an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach. Notably, the government is already assisting farmers in increasing their adoption of IPM, including through newly introduced incentivised actions in the Sustainable Farming Incentive scheme, which was announced earlier this year.

Parallel Trade:

The arrangements put in place at the point of the EU exit aimed to smooth the transition to a GB regime without parallel trade. However, global events have led to price increases across a range of important sectors, meaning that the need to access cost effective PPPs has become more acute.

Therefore, in response to stakeholder concern from across farming industry, we have today also laid secondary legislation in Parliament to introduce measures which will allow those who held a valid Parallel Trade Permit on 31 December 2022, to apply for it be reinstated for a maximum of two years.

This temporary measure will be in place while we address the limited competition and potential short-term gaps in the market that have arisen from the potential loss of parallel pesticide products.

Guidance will be published on HSE’s website when the regulation has completed the Parliamentary process.

Standards:

As with any policy on pesticides, maintaining protections for the environment and human health is paramount.

Products imported through the parallel trade scheme must be identical to the GB reference product. We will continue to use both intelligence-led investigation and a broad range of controls to monitor, identify and act on any products that do not meet these standards.

The import of treated seeds will be restricted to products authorised in one or more EU countries. This means that they must have passed through a strict regulatory regime with similar high standards to GB to be imported and used in this country. Any products for which the authorisation is withdrawn in the EU will no longer be legal to import and use in GB.
November 1, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Innovation projects in adult social care receive £42.6 million boost [October 2023]
The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 24 October 2023.

Accelerating Reform Fund to support innovation in local areas to boost quality and accessibility of adult social care in England.
Projects include new ways to support unpaid carers, new digital tools for recruitment and retention, and increased social prescribing

Local authorities invited to register for a share of the £42.6 million in grant funding for projects in their area

Unpaid carers and those requiring care are in line to benefit from innovative new projects backed by a £42.6 million fund announced by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) today (24 October 2023), as the government continues to deliver on its vision for social care reform.

The Accelerating Reform Fund will focus on trialling and expanding new approaches to providing care and improving services for unpaid carers and is part of the department’s Innovation and Improvement Unit. This fund includes our commitment to invest up to an additional £25 million to support unpaid carers.

It is intended to fund projects which support our 10-year vision for adult social care, which focuses on 3 objectives:

people have choice, control and support to live independent lives

people can receive outstanding quality and tailored care and support

people find adult social care fair and accessible

Local authorities are invited to register their interest in partnership with others in their integrated care systems to fund local innovation projects, which will be evaluated for potential rollout across the country.

Minister for Care, Helen Whately, said:

I’m delighted to see the sector developing creative ways to move towards our 10-year vision for adult social care, and this funding is intended to help accelerate and grow these innovative approaches more widely.

Our selfless unpaid carers are often the unsung heroes of the care sector – which is why I’ve asked that they are at the heart of this funding, aimed at supporting locally tailored projects that boost the quality, accessibility and independence of care.

Examples of projects include Shared Lives, a care and support service that matches people aged 16 and above who want to live independently in their community with Shared Lives carers. People move in with their Shared Lives carers and are supported within the context of the carer’s home and family. Support can vary depending on what suits the person, but can include temporary care and support, a day service or longer-term overnight care.

An independent cost comparison of Shared Lives found that it has significantly lower costs for people with learning disabilities and people with mental ill health than other forms of regulated social care, such as residential care. Research by the Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) found that Shared Lives can result in an average saving of £8,000 for people with mental health needs and £26,000 for people with learning disabilities.

For more examples of innovation priorities, including case studies, see accelerating reform in adult social care in England: priorities for innovation and scaling.

Kirsty McHugh, Carers Trust’s CEO, said:

Carers Trust welcomes the focus in the Accelerating Reform Fund on the essential role that unpaid family carers play in our health and social care system. We know from our network of local carer organisations that innovation is already underway across the country.

We’re therefore looking forward to some fruitful collaborations between local authorities, local carer organisations and unpaid family carers themselves in the development and scaling of support which provide unpaid family carers with the help they desperately need.

Helen Walker, Chief Executive of Carers UK, said:

We’re pleased that the £25 million committed to unpaid carers is now in play – it will be vital in helping to establish innovative and supportive local practices that support unpaid carers’ needs.

With an estimated 12,000 people a day becoming unpaid carers, and a rise in the numbers providing more than 50 hours of care each week, this funding is really necessary.

We hope it paves the way forward for longer-term innovation and support that is focused on unpaid carers’ unique needs.

The fund will support local authorities to take forward projects relevant to their local needs, working collaboratively with local partners in their integrated care system regions, including the NHS, care providers, and voluntary and community sector groups.

It will support at least 2 projects per region, with one of those having a particular focus on unpaid carers. All projects should consider the needs of people who receive care as well as unpaid carers, and ensure they are inclusive of the diverse needs of local populations.

SCIE will be offering hands-on support to local authorities to develop local partnerships and deliver projects. The institute will also collect and share valuable learnings from projects across the country.

Kathryn Smith, Chief Executive of SCIE, said:

SCIE looks forward to working with local authorities to deliver the Accelerating Reform Fund for adult social care. This exciting programme focuses on scaling and spreading urgently needed social care innovation in key areas like supporting the UK’s incredible army of hardworking unpaid carers and delivering new care models.

SCIE’s hands-on support will ensure participating projects benefit from shared learning and expert insights. We will shortly be offering a series of information sessions about the fund, what’s expected from programme participants and how to apply for funding, including with local partnerships.

Those projects that are funded will be evaluated to inform future decisions on embedding models of care in the community and overcome barriers around the lack of evidence on efficacy in the future.

Local authorities, in collaboration with partners in their integrated care system area, are invited to submit their expression of interest to DHSC by 12 January 2024.
November 1, 2023