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Tag: 2024

  • PRESS RELEASE : Prevent programme strengthened a year on from independent review [March 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : Prevent programme strengthened a year on from independent review [March 2024]

    The press release issued by the Home Office on 20 February 2024.

    Vast majority of review recommendations implemented within one year, with the remaining recommendations progressing at pace.

    A year on from the Independent Review of Prevent, the government has already implemented the vast majority of recommendations. This delivers on a commitment made at the time of the independent review’s publication.

    A report published today demonstrates the significant progress made to deliver a stronger, more transparent and proportionate approach to stopping people from being radicalised into terrorism.

    Thirty of the 34 recommendations made by Independent Reviewer William Shawcross have already been delivered and progress has been made against each of the remaining recommendations.

    Key recommendations implemented since the independent review include:

    • new Prevent duty guidance came into effect in England and Wales on 31 December 2023 that assists statutory partners to understand how to comply with the duty and strengthen their Prevent delivery
    • new channel duty guidance was published on 9 October 2023 that ensures the multi-agency support provided to those susceptible to radicalisation is robust, effective and consistent
    • strengthened due diligence checks on civil society organisations to ensure that Prevent does not work with or fund those who legitimise or support terrorism
    • research to assess the reviewer’s concerns about the prevalence of antisemitism in channel cases has bolstered our approach to tackling extremist narratives: furthermore, new intervention providers specialising in antisemitism have been hired
    • delivery of the programme has moved from a national to a regional model to ensure we remain dynamic to the threat of radicalisation facing this country: 170+ local authorities in England and Wales are now supported by an expert prevent adviser to maximise delivery.

    In the 12 months since the publication of the independent review, the Home Office has built on the recommendations made by leading a cross-government change programme which directs activity to where it will have the most impact tackling radicalisation and dangerous ideologies.

    Effective partnership and multi-agency working is central to the delivery of Prevent. The government, operational partners and local authorities have worked closely together to implement the recommendations of the review.

    The Home Secretary James Cleverley said:

    Delivering the recommendations of the Independent Review of Prevent has been critical to ensuring a Prevent programme that is fit for purpose and agile enough to meet the threats we face today.

    The conflict in Israel and Gaza has brought the importance of Prevent into sharp focus. Prevent is a key part of our plan to tackle radicalisation and I am confident that it is more capable than ever at meeting that challenge.

    The Security Minister Tom Tugendhat said:

    Protecting the British public isn’t just about waiting for the next threat, we must confront the ideas that drive radicalisation and violence. Prevent is key to our defence.

    This past year we’ve brought Prevent back to its core mission – tackling the ideological causes of terrorism.

    The conflict in the Middle East has demonstrated why that mission has never been more important. We will continue to adapt our approach to keep pace with the evolving threat.

    To ensure rigorous, consistent, and proportionate decision making on all referrals to the programme, a new prevent assessment framework has been implemented so that only those presenting a counter-terrorism risk are supported by Prevent.

    Further, a new security threat check has been implemented across Prevent delivery to ensure that all activity is guided by the current threat picture.

    The independent review placed a strong emphasis on enhancing training and a refreshed training package has been developed alongside partners, including the Commission for Countering Extremism, Department for Education, Department for Health and Social Care and the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.

    This training places an increased focus on extremist ideologies so that frontline professionals can confidently identify those at risk and refer them to Prevent when support is required.

    The overhaul of the Prevent programme has been underpinned by the guiding principles of the independent review to bring Prevent back to its core mission of stopping people from becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism, increasing understanding of extremist ideology, enhancing approach to delivery, and improving transparency and oversight.

    In the coming weeks, a new standards and compliance unit will be operationalised by the Commission for Countering Extremism to create an independent oversight function. It will provide the public and those working on the programme with an avenue to report instances where Prevent may have fallen short of the expected high standards.

    Work will continue to ensure these changes are firmly and consistently embedded across government and the frontline professionals who deliver the programme in communities.

  • Stuart Andrew – 2024 Speech at the Women & Girls in Sport Conference

    Stuart Andrew – 2024 Speech at the Women & Girls in Sport Conference

    The speech made by Stuart Andrew, the Minister for Sport on 20 February 2024.

    Thank you for inviting me here today, it is fantastic to see so many people here today who have a passion for women’s sport.

    I want to take this opportunity to tell you about the work the Government has been doing to ensure that women’s sport continues to thrive and to reiterate our commitment to supporting women’s sport at every opportunity – pushing for greater participation, employment, commercial opportunities, and visibility in the media.

    The Lionesses’ success at the EUROs helped make 2022 a landmark year for women’s sport, with the country winning its first major football trophy since 1966.

    Their journey to the final of the UEFA World Cup in 2023 continued to ignite unprecedented interest in the women’s game.

    This has clearly inspired many women and girls to take up the sport. The proof is in the stats – recent BBC analysis shows that there are now twice as many registered female football teams in England as there were just seven years ago.

    In September 2022, we commissioned Karen Carney to lead the Independent Review of Women’s Football.

    The Review, published in July 2023, was brave and unapologetic in its demand for change.

    It identified ten strategic recommendations that should be implemented to help create a sustainable future for women’s football.

    Our response, published at the end of 2023, sets out the Government’s continued support for the delivery of these recommendations.

    We see this as an opportunity to transform women’s football into a world-leading sport that not only creates significant economic and social benefits, but also raises the minimum standards for women’s sports on an international scale.

    To ensure momentum and delivery remains a priority, the Government will be convening an implementation group with all stakeholders responsible for delivering recommendations within the Review.

    The first meeting is scheduled for March 2024 and will ensure mutual accountability amongst stakeholders.

    The ambition has always been for the Review’s recommendations to go beyond women’s football and to apply to women’s sport more broadly.

    With this in mind, and following the recommendation in the Review, the Government will be convening a Board of Women’s Sports with industry leaders, academics and National Governing Bodies.

    This group will connect leaders from across women’s sports – building a shared vision to support women and girls in sport and looking at existing and future opportunities to help women’s sport continue to grow.

    Women’s sport will be a highlight at the Olympic and Paralympic events in Paris this year.

    Paris 2024 will be the first Olympics in history to achieve numerical gender parity on the field of play, with the same number of female and male athletes participating in the largest sporting event in the world.

    To help increase the visibility of women’s sport we will continue to support and champion the UK’s hosting of major women’s sporting events.

    The UK has an excellent international reputation in hosting major sporting events – with these events delivering benefits for the whole country.

    Future events include both the 2025 Rugby World Cup and the 2026 T20 World Cup, which I am pleased to say will both be held in England.

    This is all good news but we recognise that a number of challenges remain.

    Building a strong evidence base through data is a top priority for DCMS – helping to ensure the impact of sport and physical activity is articulated clearly so that we can see what interventions are needed to get specific groups active.

    The recent Active Lives Children and Young People Survey tells us that boys are more likely to be active than girls.

    Women in Sport’s latest impact report shows that girls as young as five years old don’t feel they belong in sport and that 1.3 million girls who used to love sport disengage as teenagers.

    Statistics like these are precisely why tackling disparities in participation levels is such a key part of our sport strategy, to ensure there is an inclusive offer for all.

    Published in August last year, our sport strategy – Get Active, sets out the long-term strategic policy direction for the sector. Our aim is to see 1.25 million more active women in England by 2030.

    Our focus is on establishing a lifetime of engagement with sport, supporting the sector to be welcoming to all, and ensuring the sector is prepared for future challenges and opportunities.

    This includes our ambition to provide the infrastructure and conditions needed to get as many women and girls involved in sport.

    As part of the sport strategy, we also launched the National Physical Activity Taskforce. The Taskforce connects government departments with the sector and independent experts, to focus on measurable actions that will get an additional 3.5 million people active.

    The Taskforce will ensure that we continue to tackle disparities in participation levels by promoting women’s and disability sport; by championing diversity; and by focussing on helping those who have the most to gain from getting active.

    And there are a number of initiatives which are encouraging more women and girls to be active, such as Sport England’s This Girl Can campaign.

    The campaign aims to eliminate fear of judgement. Sport England’s latest data shows that just over 3 million women said they increased their sport and physical activity levels as a result of the campaign. In addition, almost 1.5 million women say they started or restarted physical activity.

    Sport England have also developed the Studio You PE teaching resource which aims to get young girls engaged in PE lessons. The platform offers video-based lessons covering a range of non-traditional activities, like boxing, dance, pilates and yoga.

    In order to allow more women and girls to access more opportunities to be active, we are also investing over £600 million in school sport across the next two academic years.

    This investment will help deliver girls’ equal access to opportunities to play sport and do physical activity.

    We are also investing over £320 million into grassroots football and multi-sport facilities across the UK by 2025.  This will further support women and girls to get active. And all projects in England need to have a clear women and girls plan to receive funding.

    And we’ve committed to go further still. In November last year, the Government announced it is investing £25 million alongside £5 million from the English Football Association, to create a new Lionesses Futures Fund.

    This fund is expected to deliver up to 30 state-of-the-art 3G artificial grass pitches across England, providing gold-standard provision for women and girls, with reserved peak-time slots, women and girls only evenings and priority bookings for female teams.

    It is vital that everyone participating in sport feels safe and secure and that where allegations of inappropriate or harmful behaviour are made, these are taken seriously.

    UK Sport, Sport England and the Government have already taken significant steps to improve safeguarding in sport, including the revision of standards and protections for children in sport, the piloting of an independent complaints and disclosure system for elite sport, and the strengthening of positions of trust legislation.

    We welcome the recent announcement by UK Sport and Sport England to improve safeguarding in sport, following on from the recommendations of the Whyte Review into gymnastics.

    We will continue working alongside the sport and physical activity sector to identify the most pressing integrity challenges and potential improvements, including how processes around complaint handling and dispute resolution can be strengthened.

    We ran a call for evidence last autumn as a vital first step in this process. We wanted to hear how the current systems for handling concerns in sport work, and how these could be strengthened.

    We hope to publish the results of this exercise soon.

    We also know that one area that is attracting a lot of debate at the moment is the issue of transgender participation in sport.

    We want to ensure that everybody in this country has the opportunity to play and enjoy sport.

    Where sex does have an impact on the fairness of competitive women’s sport, domestic governing bodies and international federations must provide clear direction to protect the integrity of women’s sport.

    A way forward is needed that protects and shows compassion to all athletes, whilst being clear that the integrity of competition must be maintained.

    I will continue to engage with sports on this issue to understand what work national governing bodies are doing to protect women’s sport.

    In terms of media coverage, it is fantastic to see elite women’s sport getting better coverage. Recent data published by the Women’s Sport Trust shows that major international women’s sporting events, such as the Football World Cup and the Solheim Cup, as well as women’s cricket and rugby are continuing to drive record-breaking audience figures.

    In terms of investment, I am delighted to see that we are continuing to see record deals struck.

    The Department for Business and Trade has launched a Women’s Sport Investment Accelerator scheme. The scheme is providing a series of sessions offering market insights, connections and networking events alongside comprehensive mentoring for rights holders who are looking for investment.

    However, we know there is more to do to drive up audience figures and to build the case for further investment in women’s sport.

    Turning to governance, I am pleased that the strengthened Code for Sports Governance requires National Governing Bodies in receipt of significant public funding to agree a detailed and ambitious diversity and inclusion action plan with Sport England and UK Sport.

    Perhaps most importantly though, as Minister for Sport and Equalities, I am committed to creating an environment where women and girls feel safe and encouraged to be involved in sport in any capacity.

    I am hugely concerned about the effect that targeted online abuse can have on women and girls in sport.

    No-one should work in an environment where this behaviour is accepted, everyone should be treated with the respect they deserve.

    I want to take this opportunity to reassure you that we, as Government, take this behaviour very seriously. And I am personally committed to doing all I can to stamp out discrimination of any kind in sport.

    In conclusion, it is our ambition to increase participation, visibility and investment in women’s sport as highlighted in our strategy.

    These three interconnected areas together will help to create system-wide change.

    As I mentioned at my recent Select Committee appearance, I also want to take this opportunity to pay thanks to the heroes up and down the UK – the women and girls who volunteer day in, day out to help their communities engage in sport and physical activity.

    Not only do they contribute massively to sport, but they also help target important wider issues such as loneliness. Thank you to you all.

    I look forward to continuing to work with you all to ensure that all aspects of women’s sport continue to flourish.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Rishi Sunak to announce major innovation boost for farmers feeding the nation [February 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : Rishi Sunak to announce major innovation boost for farmers feeding the nation [February 2024]

    The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 20 February 2024.

    The Prime Minister will announce a major new package of support for rural communities to protect British farming for the next generation when he addresses the National Farmers Union annual conference in Birmingham.

    • Prime Minister set to announce £220 million package of funding for technology and innovation to protect British farming for centuries to come
    • Speaking at the National Farmers Union Conference today [20 February 2024], he will tell the audience he is determined to ensure all farmers and producers are treated fairly and acknowledged for the central role they play in every aspect of British life
    • Comes as bureaucratic red tape set to be slashed to spark diversification and investment in rural communities

    The Prime Minister will announce a major new package of support for rural communities to protect British farming for the next generation when he addresses the National Farmers Union annual conference in Birmingham today [20 February 2024].

    Delivering the keynote address at the annual conference, the Prime Minister will tell farmers that their vital contribution to the British way of life must be protected for years to come.

    He will announce that the government will do that by opening the largest ever grant offer for farmers in the coming financial year, expected to total £427m, including an unprecedented package of funding for technology and productivity schemes. The package will ensure the government delivers on its commitment to maintain the farming budget for England at £2.4 billion per year.

    Around £220 million will be injected into the future-focused technology and productivity schemes to ensure farmers can access new equipment, including kit which increases automation to reduce reliance on overseas workers. It will also fund cost-saving energy measures, such as rooftop solar, to safeguard land for food production.

    The multi-million-pound funding pot will also increase support for processing, packing and retailing on farms.

    The funding doubles investment in productivity schemes, growing the grant offer from £91 million last year to £220 million next year to keep up with demand for the scheme from farmers.

    And in the spring, the Government will double the management payments for the sustainable farming incentive scheme, putting up to an extra £1000 in farmers’ pockets. More than 11,000 farmers already in our schemes will be eligible for the payments, which help farmers and producers to improve soil health, optimise fertiliser, protect waterways and enhance and preserve hedgerows – helping farmers generate income from unproductive corners and edges of fields. It will be further extended in July, opening up to the Countryside Stewardship mid-tier, ensuring there is a single front door to make the application process even easier.

    Almost half of farmers in England are now receiving support from the UK Government through new schemes created post-Brexit. These are ensuing those working the land and producers get support tailored to their needs.

    The Prime Minister is expected to say:

    While the importance of farmers will never change – farming is going through its biggest change in a generation. And as farmers do so, this government will be by their side. They have been dealing with soaring global prices in things like fuel and fertiliser. So, we’ve been working hard to get inflation down – from 11.1% last year to 4% now. And we’re increasing payments in our farming schemes by an average of 10 per cent.

    They are also at the forefront of innovation – from gene editing to boost resilience to disease, to automation to help harvest crops. And while thanks to you we enjoy good quality food all year-round global events – including Russia’s invasion of Ukraine – have put food security back at the top of the agenda. We’ll never take our food security for granted. We’ve got a plan to support British farming – and we’re going further again today.

    He will add:

    I know how important my neighbours – our farmers – truly are. You help to employ millions, add billions to our economy, shape the landscape, but most of all, you produce the food we need – food that is some of the best and highest quality anywhere in the world.

    The Prime Minister will also announce that the Government will cut bureaucratic red tape around permitted development rights so farmers can easily develop buildings and diversify earnings through farm shops, commercial space and sporting venues. The move delivers on the Government’s pledge to consult on the plan last year.

    It is expected to benefit the broader rural community by increasing job opportunities and commercial units available, helping local residents to develop small and medium enterprises in rural communities, and connecting communities more with their local farms.

    The Prime Minister is also expected to announce plans to ensure all farmers and producers are treated fairly, with new regulations set to be laid in Parliament for the dairy sector, ensuring they have reasonable and transparent contracts. Similar regulations for the pig sector will come later this year, with the egg sector expected to follow.

    A new supply chain fairness review of the poultry sector is also set to be launched, and DEFRA are expected to consult stakeholders on whether the sheep and beef sectors should follow.

    And underlining the importance of the food sector, the Prime Minister will tell the audience that the Government will publish an annual Food Security Index at the next Farm to Fork Summit this spring. The UK-wide index will capture and present the key data needed to monitor how we are maintaining our current levels of food security across the country and is expected to be UK-wide. The Prime Minister is also expected to announce that the Farm to Fork summit, the first of which was hosted last year, will become an annual tradition, ensuring Westminster continues to listen to the concerns of the farming community directly for years to come.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Americas Minister champions UK-US relationship in New England [February 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : Americas Minister champions UK-US relationship in New England [February 2024]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 20 February 2024.

    David Rutley will be strengthening UK-US economic links and deepening security ties with the UK’s closest ally on a visit to New England and Washington DC.

    • Americas Minister David Rutley deepens UK ties with states across the US with visit to Massachusetts and New Hampshire
    • With UK-US trade already worth £310 billion a year, visit will build on the close relationship that creates millions of jobs on both sides of the Atlantic
    • Minister Rutley to also attend National Governors Association winter meeting in Washington DC to deepen economic and security links with key state leaders

    Strengthening economic links that support millions of jobs on both sides of the Atlantic and deepening security ties with the UK’s closest ally will be the focus for Americas Minister David Rutley as he begins a visit to New England and Washington DC today (Tuesday 20 February).

    Minister for the Americas, Caribbean and Overseas Territories David Rutley said:

    The UK has no better friend than America. It is a partnership that delivers security and prosperity for communities on both sides of the Atlantic and around the world.

    The strength of that bond has been clear on my visits to states across the US and I am now looking forward to boosting those deep and long-standing links in Massachusetts and New Hampshire, by driving forward trade, technology and cultural partnerships that help tie us together as the closest of allies.

    His trip to New Hampshire and Massachusetts will continue a programme of visits that Minister Rutley is making to states across the US as he champions the UK as a great investment and business partner and highlights the unrivalled security and defence ties between the two allies.

    With the US and UK already having more than £1 trillion invested in each other’s economies, it is a relationship that presents huge opportunities for people and businesses on both sides of the Atlantic – supporting Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s priority to grow the UK’s economy and create better paying jobs.

    The UK supports more jobs in America than any other country, with more than 1.2 million people working for British companies, while almost 1.5 million people do the same for American companies in the UK.

    In Massachusetts and New Hampshire, world-renowned British businesses such as BAE Systems and GlaxoSmithKline support jobs for almost 44,000 Bay Staters and around 13,000 New Hampshirites.

    While in New England, Minister Rutley will discuss with political, business and industry leaders how the UK and US can strengthen cooperation in key sectors, including a meeting with representatives from Fenway Sporting Group at the iconic Fenway Park in Boston.

    At a conference at the Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Science, he will also discuss how a UK-US partnership signed last year is accelerating global fusion energy development.

    The UK is widely recognised as a world leader in the most promising fusion technologies and the UK-US partnership follows the launch of the UK’s updated Fusion Strategy.

    Minister Rutley will also deliver a speech at the Harvard Business School, his alma mater, while in Boston.

    He will reaffirm the strength of the UK’s relationship with its closest strategic ally and their alignment across foreign policy goals, including support for Ukraine, in working towards a sustainable peace in the Middle East and in responding to challenges posed by China.

    Following his trip to New England, Minister Rutley will then travel to Washington DC where he will attend the National Governors Association winter meeting to meet with key state-level political leaders as he further deepens economic and security links across the US.

    Notes to editors:

    • Minister Rutley graduated from Harvard Business School in 1985 having completed a two-year MBA.
    • The UK and Massachusetts share a goods trading relationship that was worth £3.4 billion in 2022. Almost 44,000 Bay Staters go to work each day in jobs supported by UK companies.
    • The UK and New Hampshire share a goods trading relationship that was worth £343 million in 2022. Around 13,000 New Hampshirites go to work each day in jobs supported by UK companies.
    • The UK-US partnership to accelerate global fusion energy development was signed in November 2023 to promote further global collaboration vital and innovation in this flourishing technology and builds on the UK’s Fusion Strategy to lead the global commercialisation of fusion energy, announced in October 2023.
  • PRESS RELEASE : Inspection surge to crack down on water sector pollution [February 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : Inspection surge to crack down on water sector pollution [February 2024]

    The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 20 February 2024.

    Water company inspections will more than quadruple as the government cracks down on poor performing companies.

    • Fourfold increase in water company inspections to hold companies to account.
    • Includes up to 500 additional staff for inspections, enforcement and stronger regulation over the next three years, with recruitment already underway.
    • Part of a tougher regime fully funded by government and water company permits.

    Water company inspections will more than quadruple as the government cracks down on poor performing companies, under plans announced today (20 February). In recent months, robust steps have been made under the Plan for Water with all 15,000 storm overflows now monitored and the cap on civil penalties for pollution removed. Last week, Defra went further in announcing that water bosses are set to be banned from receiving bonuses if a company has committed serious criminal breaches.

    The Environment Agency (EA) is already ramping up inspections on water company assets, with over 930 completed this financial year. Today’s announcement goes further as water company inspections carried out by the EA will rise to 4000 a year by the end of March 2025, and then to 10,000 from April 2026. This will include an increase in unannounced inspections – strengthening oversight of water companies and reducing the reliance on water company self-monitoring, which was established in 2009.

    Increased inspections and enforcement will be backed by around £55 million each year. This will be fully funded through increased grant-in-aid from Defra to the Environment Agency and additional funding from water quality permit charges levied on water companies, subject to a public consultation closing in March 2024.

    Environment Secretary Steve Barclay said:

    We are clear that we need to get much tougher with unannounced inspections to bring an end to the routine lawbreaking we have seen from water companies, which is what this announcement will deliver.

    We are going further to quadruple the Environment Agency’s regulatory capacity – allowing them to carry out 4,000 water company inspections by the end of the next financial year.

    Environment Agency Chair Alan Lovell said:

    Last year we set out measures to transform the way we regulate the water industry to uncover non-compliance and drive better performance. Today’s announcement builds on that. Campaign groups and the public want to see the Environment Agency better resourced to do what it does best, regulate for a better environment.

    Proposals to get extra boots on the ground to increase inspection visits will help further strengthen our regulation of the industry.”

    With 100% of storm overflows now monitored, data-driven analytics will also help the Environment Agency map discharges against rainfall more effectively so they can quickly direct new specialist officers to any sites at risk, identify any non-compliance and take action.

    The EA is already conducting the largest ever criminal investigation into potential widespread non-compliance by water and sewerage companies at thousands of sewage treatment works. Since 2015, the EA has concluded 59 prosecutions against water and sewerage companies securing fines of over £150 million.

    Today’s announcement builds on the recent improvements the government has delivered to the water environment, including:

    • 100% of storm overflows in England are now monitored – providing a complete picture of when and where sewage spills happen.
    • Removing the cap on civil penalties for water companies and broadening their scope so swifter action can be taken against those who pollute our waterways.
    • Increased protections for coastal and estuarine waters by expanding the Storm Overflow Discharge Reduction Plan, prioritising bathing waters, sites of special scientific interest and shellfish waters.
    • Requiring the largest infrastructure programme in water company history – £60 billion over 25 years – to revamp ageing assets and reduce the number of sewage spills by hundreds of thousands every year.
    • Providing £10 million in support for farmers to store more water on their land through the Water Management Grants to support food production and improve water security.
    • Speeding up the process of building key water supply infrastructure, including more reservoirs and water transfer schemes.
  • PRESS RELEASE : UK funding to clear mines around the world will protect more than 50,000 people [February 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : UK funding to clear mines around the world will protect more than 50,000 people [February 2024]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 20 February 2024.

    UK government announces £17 million to help clear explosives across Africa and Asia and raise awareness of the associated risks.

    • eight countries across Africa and Asia to be supported through £17 million in new funding to Mines Advisory Group (MAG) and The HALO Trust (HALO)
    • their work will support the clearance of explosives, as well as raising awareness of the danger of mines
    • combined with programmes announced last year in Ukraine and Afghanistan, more than 50,000 people are expected to benefit from the programme

    The UK government has today announced new funding for leading British organisations, the Mines Advisory Group (MAG) and The HALO Trust (HALO) to help clear mines and educate communities about the associated risks in 8 countries: Angola, Cambodia, Ethiopia, Laos, Myanmar, Somalia, South Sudan and Zimbabwe.

    It follows funding announced last year for projects in Ukraine and Afghanistan, supporting more than 50,000 people from programmes across the 10 countries.

    MAG and The HALO Trust anticipate that almost 17 million square metres of land will be freed of mines in the 10 countries thanks to the UK funding. The release of land for agriculture, housing, and basic social services such as schools, hospitals, water, and sanitation will support and promote economic development within communities around the world, restore livelihoods in rural and marginalised areas, as well as strengthen local production and food security.

    MAG and HALO will also reach over half a million people with more than 34,000 in-person explosive ordnance risk education sessions, which will significantly improve risk awareness and community safety across the countries.

    Minister for Development and Africa, Andrew Mitchell, said:

    Landmines are a nightmare – causing thousands of deaths and injuries each year.

    The UK remains committed in its determination to work towards a mine-free world and is delighted to award extra funding to MAG and The HALO Trust to continue their life-saving work.

    We want to help both organisations create safe and secure environments where communities live freely without fear of the deadly threat of landmines.

    Today’s announcement brings the total amount committed through multi-year contracts under the third iteration of the government’s Global Mine Action Programme (GMAP) to £28 million. GMAP has been running since 2014 and has supported the clearance of hundreds of millions of square metres of land to date.

    The funding announced today will allow work to continue in some of the world’s most heavily mined countries, such as Cambodia and Laos, as well as some of the poorest countries in the world such as South Sudan and Somalia until March 2025. It will also support a new country programme in Ethiopia, where HALO is currently the only active international mine operator.

    Funding will also create new opportunities for women in countries like Angola, Cambodia and Laos through increased employment and career development in demining, with ongoing investment in staff training.

    Darren Cormack, CEO of MAG, said:

    We are immensely grateful for the funding and long-standing support from the UK government and are delighted to partner with The HALO Trust to continue our work in some of the world’s most mine-affected countries.

    Whilst much remains to be done in many active conflict environments in which we are working, this funding will provide vital assistance to many countries that are tackling the legacy of conflict, which continues to claim lives long after the fighting is over. This is an important step towards a mine-free world.

    James Cowan, CEO of The HALO Trust, said:

    This funding announcement coincides with The HALO Trust celebrating the clearance of 5,000 minefields in Cambodia, 1,000 minefields in Angola and a staggering 2 million landmines worldwide. None of these milestones would have been possible without the support of our donors. The sustained commitment of the UK government and generosity of the British taxpayer have played a vital role.

    We will continue our lifesaving work alongside MAG and other partners in the sector until the last mine is gone and last munition defused.

    Background

    For over 30 years, MAG and The HALO Trust have been delivering a broad range of humanitarian mine action initiatives.

    Funding announced today, which totals close to £17 million, will support MAG and HALO to continue their vital ongoing work in 8 countries:

    • Angola: £2 million will be provided to MAG and HALO to deliver clearance and risk education in the east and south of the country. To date, HALO and MAG have released more than 230 million square metres of land back to communities in Angola and in January, HALO celebrated the clearance of 1,000 minefields in Angola.
    • Cambodia: GMAP funding has supported work in Cambodia since 2014, with today’s announcement committing a further £3 million for work in the rest of the country. To date, MAG and HALO have rendered safe more than 600 million square metres in Cambodia, with HALO supporting the clearance of 5,000 minefields in Cambodia.
    • Ethiopia and Somalia: Ethiopia is the latest addition to the GMAP project, with £1.2 million committed to support the HALO Trust’s operations near the Somali border. A further £1.8 million will allow work to continue in Somalia, which has been supported through GMAP since 2016
    • Laos: this year will mark 30 years of MAG’s operations in Laos – the world’s most heavily bombed country per capita – where more than 145 million square metres of land have been cleared. The UK has funded projects in Laos since 2014, with a further £1.9 million being committed over the next year
    • Myanmar: despite a challenging context, MAG and The HALO Trust are successfully delivering risk education and other community liaison activities within the country. £0.75m from GMAP will support this work to continue
    • South Sudan: £2.1 million will help MAG and The HALO Trust clear land for resettlement and agriculture, a prerequisite for refugees and communities to return home and rebuild their lives
    • Zimbabwe: £4.2 million in funding will continue to support country’s efforts in achieving landmine-free status by 2025, a major milestone and a crucial step towards sustainable development in the once affected areas

    Today’s funding follows £11.6 million that was awarded to MAG and HALO for projects in Ukraine and Afghanistan last year.

    MAG and HALO, the world’s leading humanitarian mine action organisations, have decades of experience across all 10 countries and will draw on the additional expertise of a local humanitarian partner to deliver risk-education work in Myanmar.

    As one of the founding signatories to the Mine Ban Treaty in 1997, the UK has had a major role in tackling the legacy of landmines and explosive remnants of war. In the 26 years since the treaty was signed, aid from the UK government has made a substantial contribution to the peace and wellbeing of millions of people around the world.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Government underlines commitment to British farmers [February 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : Government underlines commitment to British farmers [February 2024]

    The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 20 February 2024.

    Prime Minister and Environment Secretary attend NFU Conference and announce range of measures to ensure all farmers and producers are treated fairly.

    The government has today (Tuesday 20 February) underlined its commitment to deliver on its plan to support profitable farming businesses, improve food security and protect the British agriculture sector for generations to come.

    Speaking at the National Farmers Union Conference in Birmingham, the Prime Minister and the Environment Secretary announced a range of measures to boost productivity and resilience in the sector, including the largest ever grant offer for farmers in the coming financial year, expected to total £427 million.

    This includes doubling investment in productivity schemes, bolstering schemes such as the Improving Farming Productivity grant, which provides support for farmers to invest in automation and robotics, as well as solar installations to build on-farm energy security.

    The Prime Minister also announced a new annual UK-wide Food Security Index to capture and present the data needed to monitor levels of food security, that the Farm to Fork Summit will be held annually, and a £15 million fund to help tackle food waste by enabling farmers to redistribute surplus food that cannot be used commercially at the farm gate.

    This comes as new regulations will be laid in Parliament tomorrow to ensure fair and transparent contracts for dairy farmers, meaning clearer pricing terms for farmers; changes to contracts can’t be imposed on farmers without their agreement; and providing more straightforward ways for farmers to raise concerns about their contracts. Alongside this, a review is also set to launch to improve fairness in the poultry supply chain.

    Environment Secretary Steve Barclay said:

    For generations, farmers have worked day in, day out to put food on our tables and are custodians of our beautiful British countryside. This is why we committed £2.4 billion to support British farming and have invested into the sector to boost agricultural productivity and resilience, increase food security and deliver for the environment, delivering on our plan.

    This includes the largest ever package of competitions and grants to foster technology and innovation, bolstered by our increasingly popular farming schemes that support all types and size of farm businesses to produce food sustainably.

    The government also confirmed farmers will benefit from the improved Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) from July this year, following the announcement by the Environment Secretary Steve Barclay in January.

    The improved offer includes a 10% increase in the average value of agreements in SFI and Countryside Stewardship (CS); a streamlined single application process for farmers to apply for the SFI and CS Mid-Tier; and around 50 new actions that farmers can get paid for.

    In addition, the government will double the Management Payment for SFI so those with existing agreements will receive up to an extra £1,000 this spring and it will be extended to Countryside Stewardship mid tier for the first year of agreements starting by March 2025. This means that the 11,000 farmers that have applied for SFI will receive that top up this spring.

    At the conference, the Environment Secretary Steve Barclay will host a roundtable with regional NFU board members to discuss the opportunities and issues facing farmers around the country. The Farming Minister Mark Spencer will speak at the conference as part of a political session on Wednesday.

    Farming Minister Mark Spencer said:

    Maintaining food security and boosting sustainable food production is vital as we see the impacts of more extreme weather and global events, and today’s announcements provide further support for farmers to deliver this while also protecting the environment.

    Almost half of farmers across the country are already signed up to our farming schemes and we continue to work closely with farmers to tweak and improve our offer so as many farmers as possible are encouraged to get involved.

    Further measures announced include making up to £500,000 available to deliver projects that support mental health in the farming sector; and expanding permitted development rights to help farm businesses diversify and run profitable businesses, such as farm shops and sports venues.

    Funding will also be provided to Internal Drainage Boards that protect agricultural land and rural communities from flooding, helping areas recover from recent flooding events and modernising infrastructure to lower costs for farmers and increase their resilience to climate change.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Gen Z offered doubled salary prospects through no-skills-required tech bootcamps [February 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : Gen Z offered doubled salary prospects through no-skills-required tech bootcamps [February 2024]

    The press release issued by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on 20 February 2024.

    Science and Technology Secretary Michelle Donelan launches new push for career-transforming Skills Bootcamps.

    • New marketing push for free government-backed Skills Bootcamps promises doubled salary expectations, with average pay packets hitting £70,000 for cloud computing pros
    • with demand for cloud and coding skills sky high, bootcamps help participants build skills from scratch and guarantee an interview
    • entry-level talent in hot demand as British tech sector still needs junior staff to grow and match superpower ambitions

    Skills offered by free government-backed bootcamps can lead to average salaries exceeding £70,000, two and half times the UK average, new research published today has revealed. The findings from Beauhurst also reveal that roles in technology overall pay an average of 55% more the national average.

    This comes as the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) launches a drive to get more people to sign up to digital Skills Bootcamps in cloud computing, cybersecurity, software development and more.

    The research, published by Barclays Eagle Labs and Beauhurst, and funded by DSIT’s Digital Growth Grant, shows that demand for technology talent surged in 2022 after a slump through the pandemic.

    While tech job adverts decreased through the last year, demand for junior and entry-level roles persisted as technology companies struggled to recruit the early career talent they needed to match their growth ambitions.

    The campaign runs alongside wider government efforts to reward work and drive growth – such as cutting National Insurance Contributions for millions of workers across the UK, which saves the average worker £450 a year.

    Scale-up companies who have already demonstrated high potential and are in their ‘venture-stage’ dominated this demand, with the high-growth group recruiting almost one third (31.3%) of all digital jobs.

    After establishing boosting scale-up growth and tackling the skills gap as two of DSIT’s three priorities for the year ahead, Technology Secretary Michelle Donelan today said:

    The appetite and potential British scale-ups have for growth is immense, we can no longer allow digital skills shortages to limit their ambition.

    Whether your personal ambition is to secure a comfy pay packet, land a creative role, solve the world’s most pressing challenges, or all three – the Skills Bootcamps we are promoting today can help achieve your own career goals while being part of our superpower sector.

    Each bootcamp will see people take part in courses that last up to 16 weeks and will prepare them for high-tech careers, with each guaranteed an interview on completion. No technical knowledge or educational qualifications are required to secure a place. More information and details on how to apply are available here.

    Digital skills is one of several areas where £550 million of funding is aiming to upskill 64000 people through bootcamps by 2024-2025.

    Launched by DSIT, the campaign is focussed on boosting five priority skills to plug gaps in British tech talent – covering cloud computing, software development, data and analytics, cybersecurity, and web development.

    The courses are available part-time and full-time across the country, with many providers offering flexibilities to make sure that everyone can take advantage.

    Adie Nunn completed a web development bootcamp with School of Code, which was funded by the government, and now works at BAE Systems Digital Intelligence.

    Before finding the bootcamp, Adie hopped between jobs through what she describes as a “spotty” career. This included working as an event promoter for a pub company and later as front of house for pop-up events.

    I was interested in computers and tech from a young age. But, without a computer science degree – and having failed my highers in maths and computing at school – I never thought a career in tech would be possible.

    After jumping between roles and being made redundant in the pandemic, I gave the School of Code bootcamp a go and have never looked back. The technical and soft skills I developed on the course were crucial in securing my current role as a software engineer at BAE Systems Digital Intelligence where I get to work on fascinating, challenging projects.

    The Skills Bootcamp Adie completed was funded by the Department for Education (DfE) as part of the same scheme that is receiving a new marketing push from today. The School of Code is still offering Bootcamps as part of this.

    The campaign has been supported by the Digital Skills Council, a group of major technology companies including Google and Amazon Web Services (AWS), as well as skills-focused organisations like Future Dot Now and more.

    Phil Smith, Co-Chair of the Digital Skills Council and Chairman of IQE, said:

    The Digital Skills Council welcomes this research which reinforces just how important the work and goals of the Council are in bringing together government and industry to improve the confidence, capability and leadership of the UK in Digital Skills.

    Digital Skills are vital throughout the economy and existing successful programs such as bootcamps play an important role in providing relevant and focused up-skilling and a proven path into high value enjoyable jobs.

    Katie O’Donovan, Director of Government Affairs and Public Policy at Google and Digital Skills Council Member added:

    We’re committed to helping people learn the skills they need to make the most of the country’s digital economy. That’s why since 2015 we’ve visited over 500 locations across the UK and helped more than 1 million people learn new valuable digital skills. Courses like the Google Cloud engineer bootcamps open up a world of opportunities for young people, helping them to kickstart successful careers in tech and increase their earning potential.

    We’re proud to be part of this important initiative, and we look forward to continuing this work with the government to equip more people with the skills needed to drive growth across the UK’s technology sector.

    Amanda Allan, Director of Barclays Eagle Labs, said:

    The new Eagle Labs report outlines what we have known for some time, that the technology sector continues to grow, with highly paid opportunities available. Vacancies with such high median salaries shows there is clear potential for the tech sector to improve prospects for people right across the UK.

    We think it is important to continue to facilitate growth in the technology sector, which is why we offer one of the largest entrepreneurial networks in the UK. The Digital Growth Grant forms part of this work and we are immensely proud of what has been achieved so far with 13 growth programmes supporting over one thousand businesses.

    Tanuja Randery, EMEA Managing Director, Amazon Web Services said:

    We want to make it easy for everyone to have access to the skills and training they need to grow their careers. AWS is investing hundreds of millions of pounds to provide a wide range of free cloud skills and AI training to people from all walks of life and all levels of knowledge.

    This includes homegrown UK programmes such as AWS re/Start, which prepares learners from unemployed and underemployed populations, who have little technology experience, for careers in the cloud – at no cost to the learner. Affordable and robust training programmes will be integral to creating a future pipeline of talent to ensure that the UK can continue to compete on a global tech stage.

    Hugh Milward, VP, External Affairs at Microsoft UK, said:

    The Advanced Digital Skills communications campaign is a really welcome initiative. At Microsoft, we believe that digital skills will be critical to creating opportunities for all in the era of AI, and we are committed to helping bridge the skills gap.

    Our programs, such as the apprenticeship connector, DigiGirlz, and our commitment to supporting AI training for 1 million people in the UK, provide opportunities for individuals to learn about technology and careers in the field. We are excited to see the impact of this campaign on individuals seeking to get into digital careers.

    Andrew Roughan, CEO at Plexal, said:

    Closing the skills gap in the UK’s tech sector is essential for us to remain a competitive nation and deliver on the government ambition of becoming a science and tech superpower by 2030.

    In order for our companies to achieve scale, they need the right people to grow with them. So, I’m pleased to see our young people receiving more opportunities to enter the tech sector outside of the university path. I’d also encourage businesses to ensure ongoing upskilling of their existing staff to create a continued talent pipeline that will be of ongoing benefit the UK economy.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Minister for Development launches new UK-Nepal development portfolio [February 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : Minister for Development launches new UK-Nepal development portfolio [February 2024]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 20 February 2024.

    Minister for Development and Africa Andrew Mitchell visited Nepal to deepen the UK’s historic partnership and announce a new development portfolio.

    • new UK development portfolio will help Nepal to tackle the climate crisis, mobilise international finance for development, deliver economic transformation, and support governance and inclusion
    • UK development support will see £400 million ($505 million) in grants delivered by 2030
    • impacts will include helping create 13,500 jobs, attracting more than $1 billion in investment and supporting access to quality health and education services for 2 million women and girls

    A new £400 million development portfolio will mobilise vital private sector funding in development, tackle the climate crisis and support economic growth in Nepal.

    The plan will support the creation of 13,500 jobs, help Nepal attract over $1 billion in investment, and deliver access to quality health care and education services for 2 million women and girls by 2030.

    Minister for International Development Andrew Mitchell launched the portfolio during a 2-day visit to Nepal. Its focus on long-term, systemic transformation emphasises the UK’s commitment to supporting sustainable and inclusive development globally, as set out in the recently published White Paper.

    Minister for Development and Africa, Andrew Mitchell, said:

    The UK and Nepal share close bonds, cemented by our deep history as Nepal’s oldest partner. We also share an ambition to secure a more resilient and prosperous future for Nepal.

    During my visit I saw how the UK is helping marginalised communities, building climate resilience and a sustainable economic transformation for Nepal.

    Our new development portfolio will help Nepal on that journey and to mobilise the funding needed to support growth and development. This is part of a partnership fit to respond to the challenges and opportunities during the next hundred years of UK-Nepal friendship.

    In a speech at the Nepalese Ministry of Finance, the minister set out how the UK will work with Nepal to help mobilise development funding, tackle the climate crisis and build business, to support Nepal’s expected transition from Least Developed Country status.

    Read Minister Mitchell’s speech on how the UK will work with Nepal on development issues.

    Improved access to sustainable local infrastructure, a key element of that transition, is expected to benefit 1.7 million people across the country as a result of the UK’s new Development Portfolio.

    During his visit, Minister Mitchell held talks with Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Foreign Minister Narayan Prakash Saud and Finance Minister Dr. Prakash Sharan Mahat. Together they affirmed UK support for Nepal’s Investment Summit in April 2024, and discussed the reforms necessary to mobilise finance and attract investors.

    As part of the new portfolio, Minister Mitchell welcomed the recent agreement by Nepal’s Cabinet on new programmes that will support green and inclusive growth, attract foreign direct investment, and promote more inclusive business.

    While in Nepal, Minister Mitchell visited the Upper-Trishuli-1 Hydropower project to see the impact of nearly $22 million of British International Investment (BII) funding. This investment will provide clean and reliable energy to millions of people, while boosting economic growth by creating jobs. Supporting multilateral development banks and development finance institutions to adopt new business models and mobilise more investment remains a key priority for the government.

    He also saw how UK investment is supporting job creation and entrepreneurship at Upaya, Nepal’s first tech-enabled transportation logistics provider, and with the Youth Innovation Lab who are harnessing digital technology to build Nepal’s disaster resilience.

    Minister Mitchell saw first-hand the threats of climate change in the Hindu Kush Himalaya, and how the UK is helping Nepal manage climate risks. This includes through the £274 million Climate Action for a Resilient Asia (CARA) programme, supporting the Integrated Centre for International Mountain Development (ICIMOD) to promote a more climate resilient and inclusive Hindu Kush Himalaya.

    At the One-Stop Crisis Management Centre at Lumbini Province Hospital, the minister saw how UK funding is improving support to survivors of gender-based violence. He also discussed how the UK is supporting female entrepreneurs, thought leaders and activists to address social exclusion of women and marginalised groups.

  • Andrew Mitchell – 2024 Speech on UK-Nepal Development Portfolio and Funding

    Andrew Mitchell – 2024 Speech on UK-Nepal Development Portfolio and Funding

    The speech made by Andrew Mitchell, the Development Minister, in Nepal on 20 February 2024.

    Distinguished guests, honourable Finance Minister Mahat, friends, and colleagues. Namaste.

    It is wonderful to be in Nepal again. I know we have just celebrated an important milestone: 100 years of our Nepal-Britain Treaty of Friendship.

    But the truth is we go back much further. Bonds forged on the battlefields with the Gurkhas – who are so rightly famed for their extraordinary courage – date back 2 centuries. Those admirable soldiers epitomise the deep and lasting friendship between the UK and Nepal. A friendship that continues to evolve and shape our future together.

    When I last visited Nepal, over a decade ago, you were still recovering after a decade of civil war. Today, we are witnessing the fruits of progress. 92% of people have access to electricity from 67% in 2011. Literacy rates have jumped from 66% to 76%. Infant mortality is nearly one third of what it was 25 years ago. You have made huge strides in economic growth.

    Your constitution enshrines important rights and addresses inequalities. Millions are engaging in the new democratic system. Not just at home but abroad, Nepal is also showing it is a model citizen – whether defending the UN Charter on Ukraine or as a peacekeeping superpower.

    Progress has been remarkable. But Nepal still faces challenges. We need to work together to solve them together.

    This is why, I will today set out how the UK is re-shaping our development approach focusing on 8 programmes that aim to deliver over £400 million in grant support to Nepal by the end of the decade.

    In December, I set out a clear UK vision for development that will help us – together – get our sustainable development goals back on track.

    Nepal is delivering great things. The UK is proud to support its initiatives including on Green Resilient and Inclusive Development.

    And I’ve seen how the UK-Nepal partnership is evolving. I’ve met members of a Dalit community in Karnali who are better able to grow crops thanks to UK-backed climate-resilient irrigation. I met dedicated professionals at Butwal hospital helping end preventable deaths.

    The UK’s new development approach focuses on Nepali leadership and systems, on mobilising money, on opportunities for all, and on securing a future for young Nepalis – a future in Nepal.

    This portfolio is not just about ‘good projects delivering great things’ – although that is what they will do! It is a joined-up, coherent approach, based on strong evidence, and focused on strong outcomes. Spanning economic transformation, climate resilience, stronger social services, inclusion and much more besides.

    How will we do this?

    First. We will work with government to unlock money for Nepal to mobilise funding for development and growth – which in turn will generate further investment.

    The private sector is central to this work. There is no doubt in my mind that the private sector is the engine, not the enemy, of development. The private sector creates jobs, puts food on the table, turbocharges growth and enables societies to thrive on their own terms.

    We’re committed to expand this and support the government’s investment summit – though I stress how vital it is that investors have the right environment. For example, legal reforms and ensuring all actions needed to avoid the Financial Action Task Force grey-list.

    We aim to mobilise private capital – helping government remove barriers to attract investors, supporting the sort of excellent engagement Minister Mahat had with the City of London last year. Helping develop a Sovereign Credit rating, helping Green Bonds, helping Investment Board Nepal get the best deals. With the Asian Development Bank, it will help Nepal access climate finance and work with the World Bank and others to help the country deal with the threats of climate change.

    Developing the economy will also help to create productive, attractive jobs such as those, Upaya – the delivery company – is creating with UK support. And I am looking forward to meeting young innovators who, with UK support, are using technology to identify climate risks.

    Second. Our new portfolio will help tackle the climate change crisis and deliver economic transformation.

    Yesterday I flew over the Himalayas and saw first-hand the beauty and the fragility of glaciers that took thousands of years to form but are melting 3 times faster than elsewhere. Our work with Nepal will help to protect the most vulnerable here, and beyond, recognising the Hindu Kush Himalaya supports a quarter of the world’s population. We will not sit back when reports suggest 80% of the ice here could be gone by the end of the century.

    Yesterday I also saw how British International Investment is helping Nepal realise some of its immense potential in green energy, at Upper Trishuli Hydropower Plant. Our new development portfolio will further support Nepal to access private and UN climate finance for projects like this and wider adaptation. It will help Nepal to plan for risk – like developing early warning systems through our RAIN programme.

    Our third offer focuses on women and girls: I’ve always said that to understand development, you need see the world through the eyes of women and girls.

    Later today I will have the pleasure of meeting inspiring Nepali women leaders, entrepreneurs and activists who spoke about their passions and ambitions. Increasing opportunities for women – which starts by ensuring every girl has a chance at a decent education – is not only the right thing to do but the smart thing to do. The most successful societies are the most inclusive; built around equality of opportunity for all.

    Finally, we will harness innovation and new technologies. Research, digital, AI and data will underpin what we do and how we deliver.

    I want to conclude by assuring you that my visit is just part of the UK’s lasting, and sustained engagement with Nepal.

    We have a tremendous chance now to galvanise the private sectors work in Nepal, and Britain will be your friend at your side throughout this process. Because the conflicts that damaged Nepal in the past are in the past, of the brilliance of your visit to the city of London last year, because of the focus and evidence what the private sector can be here.

    And because of the fact that BII is investing here on the ground now and will be a leader for so many others, now is the time through the use of private sector, the ability of the private sector to deliver huge amounts of investment, huge numbers of jobs, and huge amounts of tax which is so important to any government.

    Now is the time on the back of the Investment Summit that you are holding at the end of April, that we can see real progress made with the laws that are going through your Cabinet and your Parliament are clearly set in action, put in place, to assuring the private sector that here is a welcoming environment in which they can pride and prosper.

    You are, and remain, our uniquely close and valued partner. Today, I have outlined how that partnership will respond to the opportunities and the challenges we share, as we enter a new century of friendship. And today I salute that friendship and say, here’s to the next 100 years of working together.