Tag: 2024

PRESS RELEASE : Homes and beds to help hundreds of rough sleepers off the streets [February 2024]
The press release issued by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities on 28 February 2024.

Nearly £220 million given to councils across the country to help deliver over 800 homes for rough sleepers and help prevent families from becoming homeless.

Hundreds of families will be prevented from becoming homeless and rough sleepers will be helped off the streets thanks to over £220 million of government funding being given to councils today.

The Minister for Housing and Homelessness Felicity Buchan has announced the funding boost which targets areas most in need and includes specialist support for the most vulnerable who require mental health or substance misuse support.

Further funding includes:
- £107 million to provide more than 800 homes for rough sleepers. The money is being made available immediately to councils to purchase or rent properties to give rough sleepers a safe space to stay whilst they rebuild their lives off the streets.
- A £109 million boost to the Homelessness Prevention Grant, the funding can be used by councils to prevent evictions before they occur or fund temporary accommodation. Bringing the total fund to £1.2 billion, with more than 160,000 people supported since the scheme opened in 2022.
- A further £6 million to boost the number off-street spaces for rough sleepers in winter, to provide warm and safe places to sleep and access services.
This brings total government investment to £2.4 billion over three years (2022-25) to tackle homelessness and end rough sleeping for good.

Minister for Housing and Homelessness Felicity Buchan said:

We are working alongside councils and charities to do all we can to help rough sleepers off the streets and to prevent homelessness.

Today’s announcement brings the total funding to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping to an unprecedented £2.4 billion, meaning we can help thousands of the most vulnerable people and give them the support they need to rebuild their lives.

The councils receiving additional funding to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping include:
- London boroughs will receive a combined £38 million for extra homes, beds and specialist mental health and substance misuse services for rough sleepers.
- Sheffield City Council will be given over £3 million which will include providing 10 properties for those with a history of rough sleeping.
- City of Liverpool will receive over £2 million to deliver 20 homes for single homeless young people to help them live independently to prevent a repeating cycle of homelessness.
The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities has partnered with councils to design tailored support for the issues in their area.

Government departments are working hand-in-hand with the homelessness sector and its partners in local government to tackle homelessness, including:
- Delivering 6,000 homes through the Rough Sleeping Accommodation Programme giving stable, long-term accommodation to those sleeping rough.
- Introducing the Rough Sleeping Drug and Alcohol Treatment Grant has helped over 10,600 vulnerable people access the help they need.
- Providing accommodation for Ex-Offenders programme which has supported 2,750 ex-offenders into their own homes in the private rented sector.
Today’s funding boost builds on the Government’s strategy to tackle homelessness and end rough sleeping for good.

Further information

City of Liverpool YMCA

YMCA Together have be given over £2 million to deliver 20 homes for single homeless young people across Liverpool. The funding will enable young people to move on to more independent living, equipped and empowered with the tools to prevent a repeating cycle of homelessness.

Jon Metcalf (Deputy Chief Exec City of Liverpool YMCA ):

We’re delighted with the announcement of SHAP funding in Liverpool which will enable us to create much needed homes for younger people experiencing homelessness and together with support that we will be able to provide we aim to help people develop their social capital so that they’re able to navigate safely through a challenging time in their lives.
- The Homelessness Code of Guidance is being updated to make it explicit that temporary accommodation should not be considered suitable for a family with children under two if there is not enough space for a cot and that housing authorities should support families to secure a cot where needed. This will help to ensure families can follow safer sleeping guidance and help prevent avoidable infant deaths.
- The StreetLink campaign is now running which enables members of the public to alert local council outreach workers if they see someone sleeping rough. Investment from government has made it simpler than ever for people to support a person sleeping rough off the streets and into safe accommodation.
March 18, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : Scottish Secretary reacts to GDP for Q4 2023 and December 2023 [February 2024]
The press release issued by the Scottish Office on 28 February 2024.

Alister Jack says boosting business and continuing to drive down inflation is key to long-term growth.

Latest figures show Scotland’s onshore GDP is estimated to have grown by 0.4% in December 2023. This follows no growth (0.0% change) in November (revised up from -0.1%) and a 0.8% fall in October (revised from -0.6%).

In the last quarter of 2023, (October to December), GDP is estimated to have contracted by 0.6%, following growth of 0.4% in Quarter 3 (July to September).

Secretary of State for Scotland Alister Jack said:

The UK Government has halved inflation and, in doing so, we’ve broken down the single biggest barrier to growth. We are sticking to our plan to achieve long-term sustainable recovery.

We are boosting business and encouraging trade and opportunities by investing more than £2.9 billion directly across all parts of Scotland. We’re also putting more money in the paypackets of 2.4 million people in Scotland by cutting National Insurance and rewarding hard-working families with the biggest ever increase to the national living wage from next month.

Additional information
- The combined impact of the Autumn and Spring policy packages is a permanent 0.5% increase in the level of potential output by the end of the OBR’s forecast.
- To reward work, we have cut National Insurance for 29 million people worth £9 billion per year, worth £450 for the average employee on £35,400 and £350 for the average self-employed person on £28,200.
- Full expensing is the biggest business tax cut in modern British history worth over £50 billion over the next five years – helping companies to invest for less.
- Since 2010, the UK has grown faster than France, Japan and Italy, and Germany.
- Recent figures have shown that by the end of 2021 the UK had recovered faster from the pandemic than France, Germany, and Japan.
March 18, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : UK’s Minister of State for the UN attends the Human Rights Council in Geneva [February 2024]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 28 February 2024.

UK’s Minister of State for the UN, Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, on his official visit to Geneva to attend the United Nations Human Rights Council High-Level Panel.

Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon, Minister of State for the Middle East, South Asia, Commonwealth, UN and the Prime Minister’s Special Representative on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict, will visit Geneva today (Wednesday) to address the 55th session of the UN Human Rights Council.

He will condemn Russia’s actions in Ukraine, as well as calling out states who violate human rights. He will also reaffirm the Foreign Secretary’s calls for the fighting to stop now, creating the conditions for a sustainable and permanent ceasefire in Gaza, as well as an irreversible pathway for a two-state solution that guarantees justice, peace, and security for the citizens of two states – Israel and Palestine.

Lord Ahmad will also deliver the UK’s national statement during the Conference on Disarmament’s High-Level Week, to an audience of 65 Member and over 20 Observer States. He will emphasise the importance of upholding multilateral institutions as multilateral institutions navigate growing strategic instability and politicisation.

The visit will provide the opportunity for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon to meet the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and discuss the UK’s human rights priorities.

Ahead of the visit, Lord Ahmad said:

“As we face some of the greatest global challenges of our time, the need for a strong multilateral system is more important than ever, and this visit will provide an important opportunity to come together with our international partners to protect and strengthen human rights across the world.”

Ends

Notes to Editors

The Human Rights Council will be in session from 26 February to 5 April. The session will open with a Ministerial High-Level Segment and will be attended by the Minister of State for the Middle East, South Asia, Commonwealth, UN and the Prime Minister’s Special Representative on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict.

March 18, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : Royal Navy ship HMS Spey returns to the Philippines [February 2024]

The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 28 February 2024.

UK’s Royal Navy offshore patrol vessel, HMS Spey, has made her first visit of 2024 to the Philippines.

During the port call in Manila Bay, Royal Navy officers from HMS Spey joined a range of professional and social interactions with the Philippine Navy, Philippine Coast Guard and local community, including a friendly game of football.

Welcoming key personnel from HQ Armed Forces of the Philippines on board the Batch 2 Offshore Patrol Vessel, the British Embassy Embassy and UK Defence and Security Exports discussed ‘Re-Horizon 3’ defence modernisation and interoperability as part of the UK Defence Trade Company Mission to Manila from 26 – 28 February 2024. This Mission is showcasing the wares of 13 premier UK companies in the defence sector, including BAe Systems, Thales and Leonardo.

Welcoming the visit, British Ambassador Laure Beaufils, said:

The third visit of a Royal Navy ship to the Philippines in the past 18 months is a clear demonstration of our strengthening defence relationship. We deeply value cooperation and growing interoperability with the Philippines on maritime issues. This supports security and our shared commitment to upholding the rules-based international system, as well as of trade and environmental protection. The football match organised between the two Navies embodies our mutual commitment to building strong cultural partnerships and shared values, whether on the pitch or at sea.

The football match was held at the Philippine Marine Corps Barracks in Fort Bonifacio with players from the Philippines Navy taking on Royal Navy participants from HMS Spey. The games were facilitated by 10 football coaches from Football for Humanity, a UK-based sport for development charity that uses football-focused interventions to tackle complex social issues.

In addition, HMS Spey hosted tours for Philippine Navy and Philippine Coast Guard personnel, including the officers who had recently graduated from maritime planning course delivered by the Royal Navy in Manila 5 – 8 Feb 24 as part of the UK’s Defence engagement strategy.

The Commanding Officer of HMS SPEY, Commander Paul Caddy said:

It is excellent to visit Manila and improve our ability to work together with colleagues from the Philippine Navy and Philippine Coast Guard. This is part of an increasing level of engagement. With SPEY recently taking part in the multinational Exercise SAMA SAMA for the second time, it is clear that the relationship is only going to grow. The UK and Philippines firmly believe in, and promote the Rules Based International System; we share an interest in upholding international maritime law and supporting a free and open Indo-Pacific.

The Commanding Officer of HMS Spey met with Rear Admiral Cornelio of the Philippine Coast Guard to discuss future cooperation. After departing from Manila, HMS Spey conducted a Passage at Sea Exercise, known as a PASSEX, with Philippine Navy ship BNP VALENTIN DIAZ and an AW159 helicopter.

The ship visit follows two recent training delegations from the British Armed Forces. The British Army sent 20 Regular and Reservist military communications personnel and intelligence analysts to Manila to mentor cyber specialists from the Armed Forces of the Philippines for the first time on Exercise DEFENCE CYBER MARVEL, a global war game which took place 10-18 Feb 2024. The Exercise took international teams from Europe and the Indo-Pacific through their paces on a theoretical hacking attack against national infrastructure.

On 5 – 8 Feb 2024, the British Royal Navy International Maritime Training Team delivered an Integrated Maritime Mission Planning Course (IMMP) at the HQ Philippine Coast Guard. Attendees comprised 15 officers from the Philippine Navy and 15 from the Philippine Coast Guard. Students were taught a planning process to equip them to address threats and challenges whilst manoeuvring at sea, such as during conduct of humanitarian and disaster relief operations, and area reconnaissance. The course was also an ideal mechanism to build interoperability between maritime organisations and navies, and to further deepen the defence partnership between the UK and Philippines, both proud maritime nations.

March 18, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : Landmark review calls on employers to boost support for autistic people [February 2024]
The press release issued by the Department for Work and Pensions on 28 February 2024.

A bold new government-backed review has set out a vision for workplace culture changes to support autistic people to start and stay in work.
- Review sets out 19 recommendations to support more autistic people to start, stay and succeed in work.
- Despite most autistic people wanting to work, just 3 in 10 are currently in employment due to stigma and lack of understanding of their needs.
- More neuro-inclusivity in the workplace can help fill vacancies and grow the economy by unlocking the potential of thousands more people.
A bold new government-backed review has set out a vision for workplace culture changes to support autistic people to start and stay in work.

DWP figures show only around 30 percent of working age autistic people are in employment, compared with half of all disabled people and 8 in 10 non-disabled people, despite the majority saying they would like to be employed.

Commissioned by Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Mel Stride and led by Sir Robert Buckland KC, the Review’s 19 recommendations for businesses and government include:
- signing up for the Autistica Neurodiversity Employers Index to access guidance on designing inclusive processes and procedures
- encouraging career progression by developing packages of training focused on autistic staff
- improving recruitment by ensuring careers advisers can provide appropriate advice to autistic jobseekers
- supporting autistic people who are already in the workplace by producing “autism design guides” to create appropriate premises, furnishings and equipment
- working with software suppliers to develop IT systems that meet autistic people’s needs.
The Buckland Review of Autism Employment was supported by charity Autistica and includes the views of hundreds of employers and autistic people.

It sets out how businesses and government can work together over the next five years – whether that is showcasing the successes of autism employment, developing pilot programmes in national and multinational companies, or providing tailored support for autistic staff at work.

Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Mel Stride MP, said:

I want autistic people to have every opportunity to benefit from work, and recognise that businesses and government must come together if we are to create the cultural change needed to move the dial.

Backed by the extra employment support provided through our £2.5 billion Back to Work Plan, this report provides employers with practical and inexpensive steps to open up workplaces to autistic people, boost employment rates and, above all, change autistic people’s lives.

Sir Robert Buckland KC MP said:

It has been a tremendous privilege to compile this report, and to hear from hundreds of autistic people about their experiences. This is all about them, and we couldn’t have done it without their help.

The review can make a truly radical difference to the lives of autistic people and their families. I call on employers and government to lead this change and make these recommendations a reality.

It is all part of the Government’s long-term plan to build a stronger economy – which has seen unemployment compared to 2010 decline, with four million additional people in work.

The Government has already succeeded in getting one million more disabled people into employment by 2027, five years ahead of schedule, with tailored support helping claimants realise their potential.

Access to Work grants worth up to £66,000 made working easier for nearly 50,000 people last year. The Government’s flagship Universal Support programme is set to provide up to 25,000 people with highly personalised employment support, working closely with employers to navigate any workplace adjustments required to accommodate individual needs.

Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work, Mims Davies MP, said:

There are so many benefits and positives autistic people can bring to the workplace, and this is matched by what employment can bring to them. We must make sure they get the work opportunities they want and deserve.

This welcome and important review will help ensure autistic people can thrive and progress in the labour market. I am keen employers get behind these recommendations, and partner with us to truly make our workforce more inclusive and welcoming.

Minister for Social Care, Helen Whately MP, said:

We want autistic people to have equal opportunities to flourish in society and contribute to the economy.

For too long there have been too many barriers for them in the workplace; this review is a major step to changing that.

This builds on our five-year autism strategy and shows our continued commitment to ensuring autistic people are able to lead happier, healthier and more fulfilling lives.

The review is the latest milestone in the Government’s mission to make the UK the most accessible place in the world, following the publication of the Disability Action Plan earlier this month, the launch of the Lilac Review, which will investigate the barriers disabled entrepreneurs face, and the longer-term National Disability Strategy, which will transform disabled people’s everyday lives for the better.

It also builds on the Government’s employment and welfare reforms – including the new £2.5 billion Back to Work Plan which will help thousands more disabled people and people with health conditions to start and thrive in work.

Additional information
- The Buckland Review of Autism Employment is available online.
- The latest figures for employment of autistic people are available on GOV.UK.
- The review is intended to complement, rather than duplicate, the Government’s national strategy for autistic children, young people and adults. Details of this strategy, which also recognises employment as a priority, are available on GOV.UK.
- Autism charity Autistica, which supported the review, has now launched the Neurodiversity Employers Index, NDEI®, an evidence-based framework to help organisations recruit and support neurodivergent employees and become leading neurodiversity-friendly employers. More information can be found on the Autistica website.
- A dedicated taskforce will be set up to further the work of the review.
March 18, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : Hong Kong national security proposals – UK statement [February 2024]
The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 28 February 2024.

Foreign Secretary David Cameron gave a statement on Hong Kong’s Article 23 national security proposals.

Foreign Secretary David Cameron said:

The Sino-British Joint Declaration on Hong Kong confirmed that for 50 years, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) would maintain a high degree of autonomy and that the rights and freedoms, as provided for by the laws previously in force in Hong Kong, would continue. Hong Kong’s Basic Law sets out those rights and freedoms.

As a co-signatory to the Joint Declaration, the UK has a responsibility to ensure that those rights and freedoms are maintained.

The UK government recognises the right of all jurisdictions to implement legislation to address national security concerns. We also acknowledge that Hong Kong has a constitutional obligation to introduce such legislation under Article 23 of the Basic Law.

Hong Kong is also required to ensure that national security legislation aligns with international standards and upholds rights and freedoms, as set out in the Joint Declaration, the Basic Law, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.

Legislative proposals announced on 30 January by the Hong Kong government do not uphold these obligations. They will have a negative impact on the people of Hong Kong in the exercise of their rights and freedoms.

My officials have raised our concerns privately with the Hong Kong authorities and through the public consultation process. Those concerns include, but are not limited to:
- the toughening of penalties for speech crimes and the use of the broadly defined term ‘state secrets’ will inhibit freedom of speech, of expression and of the press
- the risk that the work of international organisations in Hong Kong could be labelled as ‘foreign interference’
- vague references to ‘external forces’ and the new offence of ‘external interference’ threaten the legitimate and lawful diplomatic and consular activity as protected in the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations
- the absence of any reference to independent oversight, or the mechanisms that would support it
- lack of clarity on the procedures that will govern detention without charge, and the absence of a judicial oversight mechanism
- the absence of any provision for independent and robust mechanisms to safeguard against arbitrary action by the executive on national security grounds
The UK has noted the references to UK national security legislation throughout the consultation document. UK national security legislation is informed by public consultation and was subject to full scrutiny by both Houses of Parliament, including the democratically elected House of Commons. This ensures that our national security legislation is fully representative of the views of the UK public and has democratic legitimacy.

I strongly urge the Hong Kong SAR government to re-consider their proposals and engage in genuine and meaningful consultation with the people of Hong Kong.

We will monitor development of this legislation closely.
March 18, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : Suspected members of Albanian people smuggling ring arrested [February 2024]

The press release issued by the Home Office on 28 February 2024.

Several members of a suspected people smuggling ring have been arrested in a series of raids after allegedly attempting to traffic migrants through UK airports.

Two suspects, both Albanian nationals, were arrested yesterday morning (27 February) as Immigration Enforcement teams carried out a series of raids in Finsbury Park, London.

They are believed to be part of a network using fake travel documents and airline tickets to book 27 Albanian migrants onto UK-bound flights, instructing them to claim asylum using their passports on arrival. The arrests led to the discovery of Class A drugs, and one of the men was later arrested on suspicion of drugs supply.

Seven suspected members of the same criminal network were arrested last month after warrants were executed at 3 addresses in Finsbury Park.

It follows a complex, rapid investigation carried out by the Home Office Criminal and Financial Investigations team with support from Border Force and local police forces.

Officers found evidence of fake UK biometric residence permit documents and airline tickets issued by the suspects to migrants attempting to reach the UK illegally.

The group are believed to have booked migrants onto 11 flights arriving into UK airports.

The men arrested yesterday morning were identified after investigating officers connected their booking details with migrants arriving on flights illegally between July 2022 and January 2023.

Minister for Countering Illegal Migration, Michael Tomlinson, said:

People smuggling networks will stop at nothing in their efforts to abuse our borders and our laws. They are putting lives at risk.

It is vital we stay ahead of the criminal gangs behind these crimes, and I thank our officers whose hard work led to the success of this operation.

Criminal and Financial Investigator at the Home Office, Richard Darwesh, said:

Today’s arrests are an important step towards bringing down this people smuggling network and ensuring its members are detained, brought to justice and swiftly removed from the UK.

Our message is clear – if you put lives at risk, we will ensure you face the full weight of the law.

All of the arrested suspects have been bailed pending further investigation.

The activity comes as the UK steps up cooperation with Albania to speed up the removal of those with no right to be here.

A new joint taskforce has been established to strengthen cooperation, including exchanges of law enforcement personnel between the UK and Albania.

Since 1 July 2021, more than 8,000 Albanian nationals who have committed criminal and immigration offences have been returned, and small boat arrivals from Albania were down 90% in 2023.

March 18, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : Government re-appoints Pubs Code Adjudicator [February 2024]

The press release issued by the Department for Business and Trade on 28 February 2024.

Fiona Dickie has been re-appointed as the Pubs Code Adjudicator.

The Government has re-appointed Fiona Dickie as Pubs Code Adjudicator (PCA) for a further 3-year period. On her re-appointment, Fiona said:

I am delighted to be reappointed as the Pubs Code Adjudicator which affords the unique opportunity to continue to contribute to the Code’s positive impact.

Much progress has been made in restoring balance in the relationship between tied pub tenants and pub-owning businesses through embedding cultural change in the tied sector so that tenants’ businesses can thrive. I am proud of the PCA’s success in reducing arbitration cases and successfully completing the first investigation under the Code.

I will continue the important work to promote transparency and responsible compliance behaviours and, through improved communication and early engagement with the sector, help to avoid formal disputes while ensuring tenants’ Code rights are protected.

The PCA is responsible for enforcing the statutory Pubs Code (the Code), which regulates the relationship between large pub-owning businesses and their tied pub tenants in England and Wales.

The PCA has powers to arbitrate individual disputes about the Code, investigate suspected breaches by pub-owning businesses and impose sanctions, including financial penalties, when there is non-compliance.

The PCA provides advice and guidance about the Code and leads a team based in Birmingham.

About Fiona Dickie

Fiona Dickie was appointed as the PCA in May 2020 for a 4-year term, ending on 2 May 2024. Prior to that, she was the Deputy Pubs Code Adjudicator from November 2017 until May 2020. Fiona was called to the Bar in 1993. She has been a Vice President of the Valuation Tribunal for England from 2009 until 2020 and was appointed Judge of First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) in 2013 (after serving as a Lawyer Chair of its predecessor tribunal from 2006). She was also appointed as a Road User Charging Adjudicator in 2004. Fiona has been a mediator in civil disputes since 2005 and a member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators since 2018.

Additional information

The Small Business, Enterprise and Employment (SBEE) Act 2015 required the introduction of a statutory Pubs Code and the appointment of a Pubs Code Adjudicator. The Code governs the relationship between large pub-owning businesses, which own 500 or more tied pubs in England and Wales, and their tied tenants.

The Government must review the operation of the Code and the performance of the PCA every three years. A report on the second statutory review, for the period from April 2019 – March 2022, was published in October 2023. This concluded the PCA to have been effective in enforcing the Code over the review period, particularly in reducing arbitration cases and successfully completing the first investigation under the Code.

Fiona Dickie will continue as the PCA for a further 3-year term following on from her current term which ends on 2 May 2024. This appointment is regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments and has been made in line with the Governance Code for Public Appointments.

March 18, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : Widespread reforms to transform delivery of kit to UK’s armed forces [February 2024]
The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 28 February 2024.

A new procurement system will see earlier expert assurance of future military programmes, ensuring they deliver for UK forces on the frontline.
- Integration, early industry engagement, and exportability at the heart of Spring 2024 reforms.
- Introducing new checks and balances to avoid procurement challenges, speed up frontline delivery and bring down costs.
- New approach to test and improve advanced new capabilities on the battlefield.
A new procurement system will see earlier expert assurance of future military programmes, ensuring they deliver for UK forces on the frontline, under a raft of reforms announced by the Defence Procurement Minister, James Cartlidge today (Wednesday 28 February).

To avoid previous challenges where programmes have been over-complex, over-budget, and over time, a new Integrated Procurement Model will be brought in from April, which will see:
- The Integration Design Authority (IDA) introducing new checks and balances to avoid some of the challenges faced in previous procurements.
- Greater empowerment of subject matter experts across the defence enterprise including defence scientists, government export leads, finance experts and industry partners to challenge and shape proposals before they receive the go-ahead.
- Increased focus on exportability of a capability at the start of a procurement, to prioritise developing kit that can be sold to and used by other nations.
- Earlier engagement with the UK defence industry to ensure quicker delivery of kit into the hands of the armed forces.
The new model will expose and resolve potential issues in any major programme at the start of the process, aiming to avoid unexpected complications that could cause in-service delays or additional costs.

Minister for Defence Procurement, James Cartlidge said:

There is no question that we are living in an increasingly dangerous world, and so our approach to major military procurement programmes cannot go on as it has before.

Pace, challenge, and integration are vital to setting ourselves up for success and replacing the siloed nature of major programmes that hamper timely delivery and squander global export opportunities.

All parts of UK defence must embrace these reforms as a positive shift in our approach that will deliver a military fit for the future.

Delivering new equipment and technology more quickly is key to the overall reforms, and the concept of ‘spiral’ development will be at the forefront as new programmes are initiated. This will avoid capabilities that are not adaptable to the changing environment or are overly complex and too bespoke to export.

Rather than striving for perfection before delivering to the frontline, capabilities at 60-80% of their full potential will be provided to the user, allowing early application, and subsequent improvements to reach their full potential.

Chief Executive of Defence Equipment & Support, Andy Start said:

This reform is a key turning point for defence procurement and change is already underway in DE&S to help defence realise the ambitions set out today.

We aim to help bring greater insight from industry and allies into the development of capability at an earlier stage, and we go live with the first part of our new operating model in March to set up major programmes up for success from the start.

The Archer capability for the British Army is just one example where we have shown we can bring new systems and platforms into service faster. We look forward to helping defence make this kind of pace the norm.

DE&S, the MOD’s procurement arm, has recently redesigned the way it operates so it can get equipment into the hands of our armed forces faster. Its new operating model features a single-entry point which will engage with the military earlier in the process, to help set up projects for success.

It will encourage collaboration across MOD, industry and with our allies to plan projects coherently and efficiently, injecting the appropriate pace and innovation and making sure work is deliverable, with spiral development built into the plan.

Yet the new reforms aim to go further, avoiding competition between the military Services for programmes to be approved and encouraging people to speak up in the face of emerging challenges for delivery – a key recommendation of Clive Sheldon KC’s report into the AJAX programme.

Today’s announcement follows last week’s launch of the Uncrewed Systems Strategy, backed by £4.5 billion in funding, outlining how the UK is embracing technological change and implementing the lessons from Ukraine, to deliver integrated procurement that is agile and maintains our military competitiveness.
March 18, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : The UK calls for an immediate pause in fighting, then progress towards a sustainable ceasefire [February 2024]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 27 February 2024.

Statement by Ambassador Barbara Woodward at the UN Security Council meeting on food security risks in Gaza.

Thank you, President, and I thank OCHA for the White Note and I thank too our briefers from OCHA, the FAO and the World Food Programme.

Colleagues, we are witnesses to a desperate situation in Gaza which is worsening day by day. In Rafah and the South, people are crammed into tents if they’re lucky, but without sufficient food, water or hygiene. In North Gaza, as we’ve heard from the World Food Programme, humanitarian organisations cannot get aid to people who desperately need it. Hunger is at catastrophic levels. As ever, the most devastating impact falls on the most vulnerable: women and children.

To address this, three things need to happen:

First, we call on all parties to stop fighting immediately. This is crucial to get aid in and hostages out, and then progress towards a sustainable and permanent ceasefire. This is the only way to alleviate catastrophic hunger and suffering in Gaza.

Second, we urge Israel to allow more aid into Gaza, and to facilitate distribution throughout the strip. Thousands of trucks are stuck in Egypt and Jordan, containing food, shelter and other essentials. We need more crossings opened for longer, including Kerem-Shalom. We need unencumbered access for aid coming from Jordan; we need the full opening of Ashdod Port. Key to this too is increasing the speed and capacity of aid screening operations, including at Kerem-Shalom and Nitzana to allow this life-saving aid to reach those who need it as soon as possible.

We are particularly concerned that the World Food Programme has had to suspend aid deliveries into Northern Gaza, due to the breakdown of law and order. Airdrops cannot substitute for land-based delivery; humanitarians need safe and unhindered access to the North through the Erez Crossings now.

We urge Israel to resume water and electricity supplies, which is critical for food production and safe drinking water. Commercial activity also needs to restart.

Third, the UN and humanitarian partners need greater protection and access to the tools needed to accomplish their mission. This includes armoured vehicles, communications equipment, personal protective equipment and visas. They need functioning deconfliction mechanisms and safety guarantees for locations and convoys.

President, colleagues, conflict in Gaza is driving hunger. Hunger is driving a breakdown in law and order, making it impossible for aid agencies to deliver aid safely.

This White Note makes clear that we need to act now. The UK calls for an immediate pause in fighting, then progress towards a sustainable ceasefire. This is the only way to avert famine and alleviate suffering.

Thank you.

March 18, 2024