Tag: 2024

PRESS RELEASE : UK Minister of State for the Indo-Pacific completes first UK official visit to Maldives in two years [May 2024]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 12 May 2024.

Minister for the Indo-Pacific, Anne-Marie Trevelyan, visited Maldives to build closer links on maritime security, climate, and trade.

UK Minister of State for the Indo-Pacific, Anne-Marie Trevelyan arrived in Maldives on 9 May for the first UK ministerial visit to the country in two years.

During the visit, Minister Trevelyan held talks with Maldives Vice President Uz Hussain Mohamed Latheef, Minister of Climate Change, Environment and Energy Thoriq Ibrahim, Minister of Homeland Security and Technology Ali Ihusaan, and Minister of Economic Development and Trade Mohamed Saeed. Topics focused on opportunities for closer bilateral and regional cooperation including on justice reform, climate change, the security sector, trade and maritime security.

With around 60% of global shipping passing through the Indo-Pacific, ensuring maritime security is of critical importance to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s priority of growing the UK’s economy.

Minister Trevelyan met Maldivian and British businesses operating in Maldives and discussed opportunities to further strengthen trade and commercial links between the UK and Maldives.

Minister Trevelyan also met with female judges in Maldives to hear about the impact of UK programmes to support the justice sector, and understand the challenges faced by female judges.

The Minister also visited the first, UK-backed marine plastics lab in Maldives where she met beneficiaries of UK programmes.

May 16, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : More public institutions can apply for a portrait of The King [May 2024]

The press release issued by the Cabinet Office on 12 May 2024.

Hospitals, coastguard operations centres, job centres, universities and Church of England churches can now claim a free official portrait of King Charles III.

His Majesty The King’s Official Portrait Scheme has been extended to include hospitals, coastguard operations centres, job centres, universities, Church of England churches and other public institutions.

From 5 June more public institutions, as well as Church of England places of worship, will be eligible for a free portrait of His Majesty The King. Should they wish to, they can request one free framed portrait per establishment.

Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden said:

“His Majesty’s accession marked a new chapter in the history of our nation.

“Our public authorities and established churches are an essential part of the fabric of the nation and it is right that they have the chance to commemorate this moment.

“Displaying this new portrait also serves as a reminder of the example set by our ultimate public servant. Like his mother before him, The King has dedicated his life and work to serving others.”

The portrait, taken at Windsor Castle last year by photographer Hugo Burnand shows His Majesty wearing a Royal Navy uniform of an Admiral of the Fleet and official medals and decorations.

Portraits of Heads of State are a common feature in public buildings across the world and official portraits of Queen Elizabeth II and previous monarchs are currently on display in many public institutions in the UK.

The Church of England is the Established Church in England, meaning that it is established by law and has a unique relationship with the State. As well as being Head of State, The King is also Supreme Governor of the Church of England.

This extension follows the success of earlier phases of the scheme. The initial phase of The King’s Official Portrait Scheme was open to local authorities, court buildings, schools, police forces and fire and rescue services and other public institutions across England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, among others.

May 16, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : Childcare applications for parents of 9-month-olds now open [May 2024]

The press release issued by the Department for Education on 12 May 2024.

Hundreds of thousands of families set to benefit as working parents of 9-month-olds can now apply for government-funded childcare for first time.

Parents of children from 9 months old can now apply to access government-funded childcare from September 2024, as England’s largest ever childcare expansion continues.

From today (12 May 2024), eligible working parents of children who will be 9 months old by 31 August can apply to access 15 hours of funded childcare a week – set to benefit hundreds of thousands of families across the country.

This is the second step in the government’s long-term plan to support hard-working parents to balance their family and career. As the successful launch of the offer in April demonstrates, this plan is working.

Since the launch of the offer, 211,027 2-year-olds are already benefitting from government-funded places, providing parents with financial support to return to work or increase their hours and kick-starting the government’s commitment to grow the economy through affordable access to quality childcare.

Working parents whose children will be aged between 9- and 23-months old on 31 August 2024 can apply for their government-funded childcare code via the childcare service, which they then take to their chosen childcare provider to validate.

In this next stage, the historic rollout will deliver direct government support with childcare costs from the term after their child turns 9 months old, until they start school. By September 2025, support will increase to 30 government-funded hours a week, saving families an average of £6,900 per year.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said:

Last year we promised the biggest ever expansion in childcare provision in history and we are delivering. Over 210,000 children have already benefited from 15 hours of government funded care and parents of 9-month-olds can apply from today.

Our full expansion will save parents an average of £6,900 a year, meaning no parent has to choose between their career and caring for their child.

This will give working families the peace of mind that they will be supported, helping to build a brighter future for families and to grow our economy.

Education Secretary Gillian Keegan said:

Last month, we successfully delivered on our promise to expand free childcare to 2-year-olds, with over 210,000 families now feeling the benefits.

Last year, just two thirds of local authorities felt confident they could deliver the rollout for April, but with our support, 100% have done so.

That was only the beginning, and we will continue to support the sector so that every eligible parent can access the high-quality childcare they deserve.

Parents on parental leave or starting a new job by the end of September 2024, can now apply for their childcare code 16 weeks before returning to work, extended from the original period of 31 days.

These parents are urged to apply online via the childcare service and will receive a letter in the post within one to 2 weeks, enabling them to get their code well in advance of provider deadlines.

Chief Secretary to the Treasury Laura Trott said:

No parent should be forced to choose between looking after their children and having a successful career.

Backed by significant funding, we are providing hundreds of thousands of families across the country with access to high-quality childcare – making sure every child has the chance to fulfil their potential while also providing a boost to the economy.

All local authorities have reported they are currently meeting the demand from parents for childcare places, and an increase of just 1% – 15,000 places – will be needed for September.

Last year, the number of childcare places already increased by around 15,000, and the number of staff by around 13,000, before direct government interventions to increase capacity.

The government is continuing to work closely with local authorities to deliver the rollout, including allocating £100 million of capital investment and an additional £12 million of delivery support.

This will build on continued growth over the last year, driven by higher average rates paid by government for the new entitlements than those paid by parents, and a commitment to further rate increases worth up to £500m for the next 2 years – giving providers the confidence to continue expanding.

Jason Elsom, Chief Executive of Parentkind said:

As a father to a blended family of 8 children, I know only too well the sacrifices that many parents make for their children. The cost of childcare often leads many parents to go without, or even sacrifice their careers as it simply makes no sense to put 2 children in childcare at the cost of a whole salary.

Many families will welcome the lifeline that this support offers.

Parents with a preferred provider are urged to speak to them directly about a place for September. Any who are struggling to find a place should contact their local authority, who will be able to help them find a provider in their area.

The application system requires parents to reconfirm their eligibility every 3 months, so parents new to the system, who apply before 1 June, will need to reconfirm their code prior to the offer starting in September.

Eligible parents with an existing Tax-Free Childcare account registered on the application system will be able to apply for a code at their next reconfirmation window.

To make sure every parent eligible for the September rollout can access the scheme, parents who had to reconfirm their eligibility before 12 May, and whose next application window opens on 9 June or later, will receive a letter from HMRC containing a code by 24 May.

Parents can check their eligibility before applying at gov.uk or through our online eligibility checker tool at childcarechoices.gov.uk.

May 16, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : Battle against pests and pathogens stepped up with new funding for national tree health laboratory [May 2024]
The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 11 May 2024.

£4 million to expand world-leading laboratories to improve UK biosecurity and tackle emerging threats to tree health.

The battle against tree-disease spreading beetles such as the Emerald ash borer and the larger eight-toothed spruce bark beetle has taken a significant step forward today thanks to new government funding.

The funding will pay for a new £4 million research and containment facility at the UK’s Forest Research Alice Holt Research Station in Surrey and will better equip the country in managing the risks posed by these harmful pests and pathogens, in plans unveiled today (Friday 10 May) by Defra and the Forestry Commission as part of National Plant Health Week.

The new facility will expand the capacity of the existing Holt containment laboratory by almost double. This will boost capability to study pests and pathogens in a contained and controlled environment – enhancing our national response and facilitating safe international trade.

Statistics released by Forest Research today show there were 2350 tree pests and diseases reported via the TreeAlert service service from April 2023-March 2024.

By assessing the pests and pathogens in a contained laboratory, scientists from Forest Research – Great Britain’s leading organisation for forestry research – will be able to study them in a safe and controlled manner using cutting-edge technology and equipment to safeguard our treescapes.

Biosecurity Minister Lord Douglas-Miller said:

The UK is a world leader in tree health and biosecurity and today we are going further in boosting our armoury to combat tree pests and diseases and manage emerging threats.

We are committed to protecting the country’s tree health and maintaining biosecurity to ensure our trees and woodlands are resilient to fight climate change. Building on the existing vital work of Alice Holt will be a key part to achieving this.

Defra Chief Plant Health Officer Professor Nicola Spence said:

Pests and diseases are a threat to our nation’s trees and plants. They cause significant damage, economic losses and in many cases tree death. Tackling them is a key part of commitments set out in our world-leading Plant Biosecurity Strategy to protect our nation’s plants and trees.

Funding this new facility at Alice Holt will boost our capacity in the fight against new and emerging threats and help us maintain some of the strongest biosecurity measures in the world.

Forestry Commission Chair Sir William Worsley said:

Trees and woodlands support our wellbeing, and are home to some of our most treasured species. The play an important role in tackling climate change.

It is vital that we expand our research to counter new tree health outbreaks which are a threat to our nation’s trees. This new facility at Forest Research’s renowned Alice Holt Research Station will boost and expand our response to ensure trees are resilient for the future.

Forest Research Chief Executive Professor James Pendlebury said:

The Alice Holt Research Station has played a key role in researching pests and pathogens to protect our forests, strengthening UK-wide efforts to combat pest and disease outbreaks.

It is important that we increase our capacity to combat these threats so we can continue our world-leading research. This investment will help Forest Research fight to safeguard our trees and woodlands for future generations.

Due to a changing climate, we are seeing a rise in the number of pests and recent years have seen an increase in the eight-toothed spruce bark beetle Ips typographus and ongoing responses to Phytophthora ramorum and oak processionary moth. The laboratory will also help prepare for known threats which are not currently present, such as Emerald ash borer – an exotic emerald coloured beetle from Asia which has spread to North America and caused significant damage to ash trees – and Xylella, a ferocious bacterial disease which has devastated olive trees in France and Italy.

Today’s announcement supports delivery of the Plant Biosecurity Strategy for Great Britain, which committed to work with the industry and general public to protect the country’s plants from risks posed by pests and pathogens. The new facility will boost capacity for research on regulated pests and pathogens and ensure we can better respond to future threats.

The government has ambitious targets to increase tree canopy and woodland cover in England to at least 16.5% by 2050 and continues to take action to meet this with more than 15 million trees having been planted this Parliament, with future proofing our forests from disease a key part of our plans to increase tree cover.

Public vigilance is a key part of the fight against tree pests and diseases. You can look out for any unusual symptoms – like leaf discolouration or ‘bleeding’ lesions – on trees and report any sightings via TreeAlert, the GB’s online tree pest and disease reporting tool.

In a further move to protect the UK from harmful pests and diseases, the government has introduced a new set of global, risk-based border controls which will improve UK biosecurity, part of the Border Target Operating Model.

Find out more about Forest Research’s Holt Laboratory here.

ENDS

Notes to editors:
- National Plant Health Week, a collaborative week of action with over 32 organisations, is taking place from 6-12 May 2024.
- This announcement supports delivery of the vision of the Plant Biosecurity Strategy for Great Britain.
- Improving UK biosecurity and addressing threats to tree health is essential to meeting the government’s manifesto pledge on tree planting and the long-term vision set out in the England Trees Action Plan 2021-2024.
- The announcement follows the launch of the Holt Laboratory, funded by Defra, in 2022, meaning Defra will have invested almost £10m on state-of-the-art tree health facilities in the last five years.
- Forest Research is Great Britain’s principal organisation for forestry and tree-related research and is internationally renowned for the provision of evidence and scientific services in support of sustainable forestry.
May 16, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : 4th Islands Forum opens up collaboration on housing for islands [May 2024]
The press release issued by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities on 11 May 2024.

The UK Government hosted the 4th Islands Forum on the Isle of Anglesey/Ynys Môn in Wales on 8 May 2024 to discuss housing delivery for island communities.

On Wednesday 8 May representatives from participating islands across the UK joined the Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove, with ministers and senior officials from the Welsh Government, Scottish Government and Northern Ireland Executive, and local MP for Ynys Môn Virginia Crosbie to discuss housing.

The fourth Islands Forum focussed on the housing challenges faced by islands wherever they are in the UK, such as the additional costs of construction and pressures caused by higher numbers of holiday homes and seasonal demand.

Attendees discussed pioneering and dynamic approaches to tackling housing challenges, shared best practices and lessons, and ways effectively to deploy powers and funding, including using expanded council powers to tackle second and vacant homes and working with local development trusts to build new housing units. Participants also agreed on the importance of ensuring UK Government levelling up funding programmes are supporting work to increase housing and regeneration.

This builds on significant progress from previous forums, including the establishment of a Connectivity Task and Finish Group and a new £1.6 million UK Government project to help improve vital transport links for island communities. £3 million has also been awarded to the Orkney-based European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) over two years – the world’s first and leading wave and tidal energy testing facility, with a further role in green hydrogen development. Ministers visited its facilities at the inaugural Islands Forum hosted in Orkney in 2022.

The Islands Forum is an important part of UK Government’s programme to level up the whole of the UK. It is now a well-established and effective forum for member councils to meet with UK and devolved governments, to discuss common challenges and share learning.

The Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove chaired the Forum on behalf of the UK Government and was supported by the Levelling Up Minister Jacob Young.

The devolved governments were also represented, with Northern Ireland Executive Minister John O’Dowd MLA and Welsh Government Minister Rebecca Evans MS taking part. The Scottish Government was represented by Erica Clarkson, Head of Islands Policy. Virginia Crosbie, MP for Ynys Môn, and Rhun ap Iorwerth, MS for Ynys Môn, also attended. They were joined by council leaders and representatives from:
- Cyngor Sir Ynys Môn / Isle of Anglesey County Council
- Comhairle nan Eilean Siar/Western Isles Council
- Orkney Islands Council
- Shetland Islands Council
- Highland Council
- North Ayrshire Council
- Argyll and Bute Council
- Isle of Wight Council
- Council of the Isles of Scilly
- Rathlin Development & Community Association
Attendees also had an opportunity to visit the MSparc Science and Technology Park, to see Anglesey’s innovative work on skills, energy, and housing. Recognising the importance of the Welsh language to the Isle of Anglesey, Levelling Up Secretary of State Michael Gove explored a virtual reality village developed by Animated Technology to practise his Welsh language skills.

The next Islands Forum in Autumn 2024 will be hosted by Argyll and Bute Council.
May 11, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : “Setting out a horizon for a Palestinian state should be one of the vital conditions for moving from a pause in the fighting to a sustainable ceasefire.” [May 2024]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 10 May 2024.

Explanation of vote by Ambassador Barbara Woodward on the General Assembly resolution on Palestinian UN membership, rights and privileges.

Thank you, President. The UK remains firmly committed to a two-state solution that guarantees security and stability for both the Israeli and the Palestinian people.

As we said in the Security Council last month, we are abstaining on this resolution because we believe that the first step towards achieving this goal is resolving the immediate crisis in Gaza. The fastest way to end the conflict is to secure a deal which gets the hostages out and allows for a pause in the fighting in Gaza. We must, then, work together to turn that pause into a sustainable, permanent ceasefire.

Setting out a horizon for a Palestinian state should be one of the vital conditions for moving from a pause in the fighting to a sustainable ceasefire. Recognising a Palestinian State, including at the UN, should be part of that process. As my Foreign Secretary has said, “while this shouldn’t be at the start of a new process, it doesn’t have to be at the very end of the process”.

President, we remain deeply concerned about the prospect of a major operation in Rafah. We are clear that we would not support this unless there is a very clear plan for how to protect civilians, who must be safe and able to access food, water and medical care. We have not seen that plan, so in these circumstances we would not support a major operation in Rafah.

The UK is doing all it can to reach a long-term solution to this crisis. In addition to our support for a deal which would secure a pause in the fighting and the immediate release of all hostages, we are pushing as hard as we can to get aid to Palestinian civilians; working with partners to deescalate the situation in the region; and building momentum towards a lasting peace.

The UK has offered the Palestinian Authority our support as the new Palestinian government implements much-needed reforms. An effective Palestinian Authority is vital for lasting peace and progress towards a two-state solution.

And just as the PA must act, so must Israel. This means releasing frozen funds, halting settlement expansion and holding to account those responsible for extremist settler violence. Last week, the UK announced a second package of sanctions targeting individuals and groups directly responsible for egregious violence against Palestinian civilians. The Israeli authorities must put a stop to this.

President, in conclusion, we will continue to work urgently to bring the Gaza conflict to a sustainable end as quickly as possible, and to build a credible and irreversible pathway towards a two-state solution and lasting peace.

May 11, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : Child rapists to automatically have parental responsibility stripped [May 2024]
The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 10 May 2024.

Vile abusers who rape a child will have their own parental responsibilities automatically removed under new laws.
- paedophile rapists will automatically lose the right to have a say in their child’s life
- innocent parents saved from instigating and funding court battles
- changes to Criminal Justice Bill build on landmark Jade’s Law
An amendment to the Criminal Justice Bill tabled by the government today (10 May 2024) will mean when child rapists are sentenced, their ability to make decisions about their own children’s lives will also be suspended.

The change will apply in cases where the perpetrator attacks any child.

This builds on Jade’s Law, introduced through the Victims and Prisoners Bill currently progressing through the Lords, which applies an automatic suspension of parental responsibility in cases where a perpetrator has killed a partner or ex-partner with whom they share children.

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

Our priority will always be to make sure the best interests of children are protected.

This new law will ensure they are automatically safeguarded against those whose despicable actions have shown them to utterly lack any nurturing and caring instincts.

This amendment will also provide important protections for innocent parents.

While the courts do have the power to strip parental responsibility when it is in the best interest of a child, currently it requires families and former partners of perpetrators to instigate and fund proceedings to secure these orders to protect their children. Costs for these types of proceedings can run into tens of thousands of pounds.

However, under the new rule, parental responsibility will be automatically suspended.

It means the perpetrator will no longer have any say over key elements of a child’s life – including whether they can access therapeutic support, go on holiday or change schools.

The case will then be referred to the family courts, and it will be for the perpetrator to prove to a judge it is in the child’s best interests for their parental responsibility to be reinstated.

Justice Minister, Laura Farris, said:

It is right that those who commit the most vile and unspeakable act against children should have their parental responsibility automatically removed rather than this being something the innocent parent is required to apply for.

I want to thank those who have campaigned for this change including Harriet Harman and Sanchia Berg for bringing this issue to the fore.

The new law will be subject to a review after three years to ensure it is working for victims and innocent parties, and to evaluate how the power may be developed.

The government also tabled amendments to the Criminal Justice Bill to:
- Introduce a new offence of creating a sexually explicit deepfake image, meaning anyone who creates such an image without consent for their own sexual gratification or to cause alarm, humiliation or distress faces a criminal record and unlimited fine.
- Create a new statutory aggravating factor to tackle offenders who cause death through abusive, degrading or dangerous sexual behaviour meaning so-called ‘rough sex’ killers face tougher sentences than ever before.
- Strengthen the law on sexual activity in the presence of a child, removing the need to prove the perpetrators knew, believed, or intended that the child was aware of the sexual act ensuring no prosecutions are missed.
- Update the language of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861, to make crystal clear in law and to the public that spiking is illegal.
The government previously amended the Victims and Prisoners Bill to introduce an automatic suspension of parental responsibility in tragic cases where one parent has killed the other, also known as ‘Jade’s Law’.

This law is named after Jade Ward, who was murdered by her former partner in 2021. Her family campaigned tirelessly to change the law after her murderer was able to continue to take part in decisions relating to their four children inflicting further trauma on them and Jade’s parents.

Notes to editors
- Under this new approach local authorities will be responsible for making the application to the family courts, shielding the families involved from the burden of initiating proceedings and meeting legal costs. MOJ will be funding the additional costs this will create for local authorities via the New Burdens process.
- The family court ‘review’ stage will allow for detailed consideration of the best interests of any children involved in the case, the cornerstone of the Children Act 1989. It will also provide an opportunity for the perpetrator to make representations as to why they feel they should retain their parental responsibility, in line with Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).
- In determining the child’s welfare needs, the family court will apply the factors set out in the ‘welfare checklist’ in the Children Act 1989. These include the ascertainable wishes and feelings of the child concerned, the impact on the child of any change in circumstances, and how capable each parent is of meeting the child’s needs. The court will also consider any harm the child has suffered or is at risk of suffering.
- Parental responsibility can already be restricted by the court through a range of orders if it is in the best interests of the child. In the most serious cases, this can effectively amount to restricting all exercise of parental responsibility. These types of orders include Prohibited Steps Orders and Specific Issues Orders and they can be made whether the parent has been convicted of a crime or not.
- The family court can also prevent an individual attempting to repeatedly bring issues back before the court as a form of abuse through measures such as a Section 91(14) Order. These orders prohibit an individual from making further applications without the court’s permission, for example in cases where a perpetrator may seek to repeatedly bring a victim back to court as a means of perpetuating their abuse.
May 11, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : More than 1,000 newly-refurbished homes for UK families [May 2024]
The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 10 May 2024.

Over a thousand properties have been brought back into use for the Armed Forces and their families thanks to £400m investment in military accommodation.
- Military accommodation refurbishments mean over 1,000 properties available to home personnel and their families
- £400 million programme of military housing investment
- Heat efficiency improvements in more than 4,000 properties
Over a thousand properties have been brought back into use for the Armed Forces and their families thanks to £400m investment in military accommodation, it has been announced today (10 May).

The programme of extensive refurbishments to long-term, so called ‘void’ houses, launched in September last year following a £400m additional investment by the Ministry of Defence (MOD) into military homes.

The programme of works has allowed the MOD to significantly increase the number of high-quality homes available to service families.

Minister for Defence Procurement, James Cartlidge, said:

Improving accommodation for our service personnel and their families is a top priority – that’s why we are investing an additional £400 million into maintaining and upgrading homes.

I am grateful for the collaborative work between the Defence Infrastructure Organisation and contractors to ensure as many of our people as possible have access to high-quality homes, which will include damp and mould improvements to around 5,000 properties.

One beneficiary of the refurbishment programme has been Corporal Tom Amponsah-Dadzie, who serves with the Royal Logistic Corps. He has recently moved, along with his wife and children, into one of the newly available properties in Aldershot, Hampshire.

He said:

This new home is one of the best places I have ever lived in – I can’t express the reaction on the face of my wife when she saw the house for the first time. She couldn’t stop talking about it, she took so many pictures of everywhere. But not only her, my Army friends when they come to visit always ask if this is a military house. They keep thinking it’s a newly purchased home.

On a personal level, living in a house like this brings excitement and peace to my life. Coming home makes me happy. The house allows me to sleep well at night and gives me peace of mind during the day so I can carry out my job effectively.

The houses that have benefited from the refurbishments were previously deemed uninhabitable, primarily due to their age and condition. The Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO), working alongside contractors VIVO Defence Services and Amey, have carried out the works with funds prioritised for accommodation, allocated through last year’s Defence Command Paper Refresh.

Over a thousand properties across the UK, including 142 in Tidworth, Wiltshire; 134 in Aldershot, Hampshire; 48 in Brize Norton, Oxfordshire, and 41 in Catterick, Yorkshire, have all now undergone the extensive work needed to bring them back to the required standard. Works varied from new kitchens and bathrooms to new boilers carpets and curtains.

A number of properties have had a full refurbishment, including rewiring, new heating, new doors and windows, internal redecoration work and external work to outside spaces. All completed houses are now warm, comfortable, safe, more energy efficient and, most importantly, available to military personnel and their families.

In addition to the refurbishment, DIO is also carrying out work to more than 4,000 properties to improve their thermal efficiency. New doors, windows, roofs, and external wall insulation will act to prevent issues with damp and mould and reduce the overall cost of living for service families.

Phil Riley, Director of Accommodation at DIO, said:

Improving the standard of Service Family Accommodation is my top priority, I’m delighted to see the tremendous work that has been done to ensure high-quality homes have been made available to our service families.

These high-standard refurbishments, along with the steps taken to improve ventilation and thermal efficiency, are making Service family homes more energy efficient and resilient to issues such as damp and mould. DIO will continue to work closely and collaboratively with our contractors to build on the progress made.

Jerry Moloney, Managing Director of VIVO Defence Services, said:

We at VIVO are very proud of the part we have played bringing such a quantity of previously uninhabitable homes back into use.

Our teams have worked at exceptional pace since last summer transforming these unused properties into high-quality, energy efficient homes, ready for Service personnel and their families to move into.

Tom Silvey, Business Director Defence at Amey said:

Amey is proud to have demonstrated consistently high standards throughout an extremely challenging programme. The properties have been expertly refurbished in the Central and North regions, increasing the housing options for Service families and providing comfortable and modern homes that are sustainable for the long-term.

We are now building on this success by piloting an initiative across our contracts that will see additional staff specifically tasked with managing voids. This will reduce turnaround times and ensure quicker delivery of homes for families.

Of the thousand homes, VIVO Defence has refurbished 667 homes across southeast and southwest England and Amey has completed 195 across the central and northern regions. Due to the large number of refurbishments works to be completed in a short timeframe, DIO engaged Mitie to deliver 180 in the North and Central Regions.

In addition to the refurbishment programme, Amey has carried out External Wall Insulation (EWI) to hundreds of homes across sites in Woodbridge, East Anglia; Catterick, North Yorkshire and Old Dalby, East Midlands.
May 11, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : Treasured pets to be safer as microchipping deadline approaches [May 2024]
The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 10 May 2024.

Mandatory microchipping of cats will help reunite thousands of lost or stray pets every year.

Cat owners are today being urged to have their pets microchipped ahead of new legislation coming into force on 10 June to keep treasured pets safe.

The legal deadline was previously confirmed in legislation laid in March 2023, following a Government call for evidence and consultation on the issue in December 2020, in which 99% of respondents expressed support for the measure.

With the number of pet cats in England now more than 9 million, the introduction of mandatory microchipping will make it easier for lost or stray pet cats to be reunited with their owners and returned home safely. Microchipping is proven to be the most effective method for identifying lost pets, with microchipped dogs more than twice as likely to be reunited with their owner.

Microchips are safe and easy to implant with an average cost of around £25 for microchipping and registration. Often, charities and reputable cat rescue organisations may be able to microchip your cat for a reduced rate.

The process of microchipping involves the insertion of a chip, generally around the size of a grain of rice, under the skin of a pet. The microchip has a unique serial number that the keeper needs to register on a database. When an animal is found, the microchip can be read with a scanner and the registered keeper identified on a database so the pet can quickly be reunited with them.

The introduction of mandatory microchipping follows a public consultation where there was overwhelming support for the measure. Owned cats must be microchipped before reaching 20 weeks of age, with their contact details stored and kept up to date in a pet microchipping database.

UK Chief Veterinary Officer Christine Middlemiss said:

Microchipping is by far the most effective and quickest way of identifying lost pets. As we’ve seen with dog microchipping, those who are microchipped are more than twice as likely to be reunited with their owner.

I urge all owners to ensure their cat is microchipped before the legal deadline so they can increase the likelihood that they will be reunited with their beloved pet in the event of it going missing.

British Veterinary Association President Anna Judson said:

Microchipping is a safe, simple technology that can have a big impact; enabling vets to reunite hundreds of lost, stray and stolen cats with their families each year, and allowing injured cats to be quickly identified and treated. With the deadline for compulsory microchipping fast approaching we urge owners with unchipped cats to make an appointment with their practice today. If you have any concerns or are unsure if your cat needs to be chipped, please speak to your vet.

Battersea’s Head of Policy and Public Affairs, Michael Webb, said:

Last year more than two thirds of the cats brought to our centres were sadly not microchipped, making it incredibly difficult for us to trace an owner or help the cat return home.

Now that owners will be required to get their pet cats microchipped and keep their details up to date, rescues like Battersea can reunite more missing cats, and owners can avoid the devastation of losing their pet. We would urge anyone who hasn’t yet got their cat microchipped to do so as soon as possible ahead of the change in law next month. It’s a simple and painless procedure and an up-to-date microchip is the easiest way for missing pets to be reunited with their worried owners.

Alice Potter, Cat Welfare Expert at the RSPCA said:

We all want the best for our cats and microchipping them is a responsible and kind part of pet ownership as it means should your pet become lost, stolen, or injured, they can more easily be reunited with you.

In one month, cat microchipping becomes mandatory for all cat owners, so – as we strive to create a better world for every kind – we’d urge owners who haven’t got their cat microchipped yet to contact their vet to book an appointment.

Being on the frontline of animal rescue, we have seen cats coming into our care who are sadly not microchipped and may never be reunited with their owners. We’ve also rescued cats who have been microchipped, but the details haven’t been kept up-to-date which is arguably even more frustrating as it means cats spend a long time in our care whilst we fruitlessly try to contact the owner with out of date information. But we’ve also seen countless stories of cats who have been missing days, weeks, months, years and even decades, being reunited with their owners thanks to a tiny microchip – showing what this change of legislation will achieve for animal welfare.

Madison Rogers, Head of Advocacy, Campaigns and Government Relations for Cats Protection said:

With just one month to go, it’s vitally important that all pet cats are microchipped with the details kept up to date. It isn’t a question of just doing it because it’s the law. Microchipping a pet cat vastly improves the chances of a happy reunion should they go missing as it’s a safe and permanent means of identification that remains with a cat for their lifetime.

No matter how far from home they are found, or how long they have been missing, if a cat has a microchip there is a good chance they can be swiftly returned home.

This legislation forms part of wider work to reform microchipping and clamp down on pet theft by taking forward key recommendations from the Pet Theft Task Force. We recently announced reforms to the pet microchipping system including making microchip records easier to access, improving the accuracy of microchip information, and standardising database operator processes. We have also confirmed Government support for the Pet Abduction Bill.

This forms part of a wider Government effort to build on our existing world-leading animal welfare standards. Since publishing the Action Plan for Animal Welfare in 2021, we have brought in new laws to recognise animal sentience and introduced tougher penalties for animal cruelty offences.

ENDS

Notes to editors
- Microchipping is not compulsory for free living cats that live with little or no human interaction or dependency, such as farm, feral or community cats.
- Owners failing to comply by June 10, 2024, could face a fine of up to £500.
- The new microchipping rules follow a Government call for evidence and consultation on the issue in which 99% of respondents expressed support for the measure. The introduction of compulsory cat microchipping was a manifesto commitment and an Action Plan for Animal Welfare pledge.
May 11, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : Announcement of reappointments – Defra’s Science Advisory Council [May 2024]
The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 10 May 2024.

The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has confirmed the reappointment of four members to the Science Advisory Council.

The Secretary of State has confirmed the reappointment of 4 members to the Science Advisory Council for a second term of 3 years. These members are:
- Professor Lisa Collins
- Professor Nicholas Hanley
- Professor Susan Owens
- Professor Richard Bardgett
Members are reappointed for a further 3-year term taking effect on 6 July 2024 and expiring on 5 July 2027.

The reappointments have been made in accordance with the Ministerial Governance Code on Public Appointments published by the Cabinet Office. All appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process.

There is a requirement for appointees’ political activity (if significant) to be declared. All candidates declared that they have not taken part in any significant political activity in the past 5 years.
May 11, 2024