Tag: 2024

PRESS RELEASE : New guidance to enhance e-bike and e-scooter safety [February 2024]
The press release issued by the Department for Transport on 1 February 2024.

Guidance includes information on how to safely buy, store and charge e-cycles and e-scooters.
- information issued for users, owners and transport operators
- guidance designed to ensure public safety and mitigate fire risk
Information around how to safely purchase, charge and use e-bikes and e-scooters has been published by the government today (1 February 2024) to improve consumer safety.

Following extensive consultation with industry, guidance on battery safety for both e-scooters and e-bikes will raise awareness for owners on how to safely purchase an e-cycle or e-scooter, ensure it meets manufacturing requirements and is only bought from reputable sellers. The documents also cover safe storage and charging, the warning signs for fire risk and how to address them, and how to dispose of batteries responsibly.

The guidance also reminds people that e-scooters cannot be used legally on roads unless they are part of an official rental trial.

Separate guidance has been issued to help public transport operators assess and manage fire risks associated with the carriage of e-bikes and e-scooters on trains and buses. Similar information has been produced for those managing premises such as schools and workplaces.

Technology and Decarbonisation Minister, Anthony Browne, said:

Safety has always been our top priority, which is why our latest guidance aims to improve the awareness of e-bike and e-scooter users in the trial areas where they’re authorised.

Today’s announcement follows the Home Offices’s advice on fire safety for e-scooters and e-bikes, which was published last year. To further understand the safety of the lithium-ion batteries used in e-cycles and e-scooters, the Office for Product Safety and Standard (OPSS) is currently conducting a safety study and taking enforcement action where unsafe products are found.

The extension of e-scooter trials until May 2026 will also enable us to build on current learning across areas including usage, safety and environmental impacts, and to explore changing travel patterns since the COVID-19 pandemic.
February 1, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : Ban on unregistered XL Bully dogs now in force [February 2024]
The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 1 February 2024.

It is now illegal to own an XL Bully dog unless it is registered and complies with strict rules including being neutered and muzzled in public.

This delivers on the Government’s pledge to take quick and decisive action to protect the public from devastating dog attacks by adding the breed type to the list of dangerous dogs.

The decision was made following a concerning rise in fatal dog attacks involving the XL Bully breed type. Up until 2021 there were around 3 fatalities per year. There have been 23 since the start of 2021 – with the XL Bully being involved in many of these tragic attacks.

From today, anyone found in possession of these dangerous dogs and is not meeting the strict rules will have their dog seized and faces prosecution and a criminal record.

Environment Secretary Steve Barclay said:

“The ban on XL Bullies is now in place meaning it is illegal to own one of these dogs unless it has been registered.

“We have delivered our pledge to bring in this important measure to protect public safety, and we expect all XL Bully owners to comply with the strict conditions.”

In order to safely manage the existing population of these dogs, owners of XL Bully dogs must register their dogs and make sure they comply with strict rules. This includes having them microchipped, kept on a lead and muzzled when in public and, to ensure these dogs cannot continue breeding, they must also be neutered. For most dogs, this will be by 30 June, and for dogs under one year old, this should be by the end of 2024.

The Government will continue supporting the police to make sure the ban is effectively enforced, and ministers met with police chiefs this week to discuss their preparations to implement the ban.

The ban applies to England and Wales. The Scottish Government has also announced they will be bringing forward an XL Bully Ban

Notes to editors:
- Latest figures show over 35,000 dogs have now been registered with full details of ownership provided enabling authorities to keep the public safe.
- There have been over 150 claims for compensation. -It can take a few days to process applications and so you may not receive your Certificate of Exemption by the 1st February. If the authorities ask to see your Certificate of Exemption during this period, you can show them evidence that you have applied.
- Neutering guidelines:
- If your dog less than one year old on 31 January 2024, it must be neutered and evidence received by 31 December 2024
- If your dog is more than one year old on 31 January 2024, it must be neutered and evidence received by 30 June 2024
- If your dog is already neutered, a vet must confirm this by:
- 31 December 2024 for dogs less than one year old on 31 January 2024
- 30 June 2024 for dogs more than one year old on 31 January 2024
February 1, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : Tap-in, tap-out train travel is on track for the West Midlands and Greater Manchester [February 2024]
The press release issued by the Department for Transport on 1 February 2024.

Over 90 rail stations will be included in the ‘pay as you go’ pilots.
- more than 90 rail stations in the West Midlands and Greater Manchester set to be part of 2 ‘pay as you go’ pilots
- latest step forward in the government’s commitment to reform the railways, making fares and ticketing simpler for passengers
- comes as barcoding technology rollout completed across the country, allowing customers to scan digital tickets at the gate
Thousands more passengers will benefit from simpler, more flexible travel from next year, under new pilot schemes confirmed by the Rail Minister today (1 February 2024).

Stations across the West Midlands and selected routes in Greater Manchester are set to be fitted with technology allowing people to simply tap-in and tap-out of their local network knowing they will pay the best fare – meaning no need to plan ahead or search for the right ticket.

The project is part of the government’s plans to reform the railways, while also delivering on Trailblazer devolution deals aimed at giving local leaders a bigger say in how the network is run.

These trials will also pave the way for the future rollout of similar technology to more stations across the North and Midlands, funded in part by £100 million reallocated from High Speed 2 (HS2), enabling the further rollout of such technology in more places.

Rail Minister, Huw Merriman, said:

We want to encourage more people back onto our trains, with tap-in technology meaning using our stations couldn’t be easier.

Our railways have a long history, but projects like these – part of the government’s wider plans for reform – will ensure they have a bright future too.

The West Midlands pilot is planned to cover 75 stations across the Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) area (including 5 currently under construction), and use existing ‘Swift’ smartcards, meaning passengers can travel seamlessly on local bus and tram services as well.

Greater Manchester’s pilot scheme is planned to include 17 stations on the Glossop to Manchester Piccadilly and Stalybridge to Victoria lines. It will use contactless bank cards and devices and will support the wider ambition to deliver full multi-modal fares and ticketing integration across bus, Metrolink, rail and cycle hire as part of the Bee Network by 2030.

In preparing the pilots, the Department for Transport (DfT), Great British Railways Transition Team (GBRTT) and Rail Delivery Group (RDG) have worked closely with TfWM, the West Midlands Rail Executive, Transport for Greater Manchester and train operators. Work will continue to finalise plans for the pilots ahead of launch in 2025.

Meanwhile, work being led by GBRTT on the development of new regional partnerships with Transport for West Midlands and Transport for Greater Manchester is also underway, to help more towns and cities across the country benefit from greater local decision-making on local ticketing, services and stations. Separately, the Transport Secretary and Rail Minister met with regional mayors on Wednesday to discuss their proposals for alternative rail connections between Birmingham and Manchester.

Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands, said:

Our Swift smartcard already enables passengers to transfer seamlessly between our various local bus operators and Metro tram services whilst guaranteeing they get best value fares.

Now thanks to this pilot scheme, we will now add rail to our offering – making Swift truly multi-modal and bringing us much closer to a London ‘Oyster card’ style system.

This is a practical example of how the Deeper Devolution Deal we agreed with government is delivering tangible benefits for local people right across our region.

Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, said:

We are transforming how people travel in Greater Manchester, with the aim for people to pay for journeys easily and seamlessly across buses, trams, trains and cycle hire. We look forward to progressing with these new contactless rail pilots and working together to develop a more meaningful and accountable partnership that allows us to integrate local rail services across the city-region into the Bee Network by 2030.

Stewart Fox-Mills, Director for Fares, Ticketing and Retail at GBRTT said:

Buying a train ticket is often too complicated. Which is why work to simplify the experience customers have is such a vital part of wider rail reforms.

Partnership working, bringing the railway together to work with local partners, has unlocked pilots that will deliver a more seamless travel experience for customers in the West Midlands and Greater Manchester. GBRTT will continue to work with partners to deliver a more locally accountable, integrated rail network.

With plans already in motion for industry to expand pay as you go in the South East later this year, the pilot stations confirmed today will see the total number of tap-in-tap-out stations in England surge to around 500 in 2025.

The news comes as the RDG and industry partners – supported by £16.4 million DfT funding – completed the final phase of rolling out barcoding technology, which allows customers to scan digital tickets at the gate. As a result, passengers at every station in Great Britain (outside devolved Merseyrail and TfL) will have greater flexibility around how they buy train tickets.

Jacqueline Starr, Chief Executive of RDG, said:

We’re glad the rail industry has made it easier for customers to travel on a digital barcode ticket across the National Rail network by completing the rollout of barcode scanners on gatelines.

We are also proud to support the pay as you go pilots in Greater Manchester and West Midlands. This is another significant step in making fares and ticketing easier for everyone.

Other recent milestones on the rail reform agenda include the launch of London North Eastern Railway’s Simpler Fares pilot following the rollout of single leg pricing on its network, while the government will be bringing forward a draft bill this Parliamentary session on Great British Railways for pre-legislative scrutiny.
February 1, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : Tax saving for 38,000 pubs as alcohol duty freeze takes effect [February 2024]
The press release issued by HM Treasury on 1 February 2024.

More than 38,000 pubs are set to benefit from six-month freeze to alcohol duty from today.
- The great British pub receives further boost from today as a six-month alcohol duty freeze to 1 August 2024 takes effect.
- This tax saving will help support around 38,175 pubs to face rising costs.
- Duty freeze comes in addition to £4.3 billion in business rates cuts and duty protection for pints sold in pubs.
Pubs and hospitality venues have received a tax saving today, 1 February 2024, as a six-month alcohol duty freeze takes effect.

British pubs are a significant part of the fabric of communities across the UK and a further freeze on alcohol duty will help to support the sector while the government continues to bring down inflation while driving growth and investment.

This will impact around 38,175 pubs across the country and was announced as part of a multi-billion support package by Chancellor Jeremy Hunt in his Autumn Statement which also included £4.3 billion business rates relief.

Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, Gareth Davies, said:

The great British pub remains a critical part of communities across the country, that’s why we’re helping to keep costs low by freezing alcohol duty, reducing business rates, and supporting on energy costs.

Our decisive action has also helped to more than halve inflation last year, protecting pubs and other businesses from the higher costs they would have otherwise faced.

And we need to stick to our plan, so we can deliver the long-term change our country needs to deliver a brighter future for Britain, and improve economic security and opportunity for everyone.

The six-month duty freeze, from 1 February to 1 August 2024, follows the biggest reform of alcohol duties taking effect last August, where, for the first time in over 140 years the UK’s alcohol duty system simplified so the duty paid reflects the amount of alcohol in it.

These reforms cut duty on pints in pubs by up to 11p when sold in supermarkets. Not increasing alcohol duty in line with inflation has now saved a further 3p to the duty on a typical pint of beer, 2p to a pint of cider, 4p to a glass of whisky, or 18p to a bottle of wine.

Welcoming the decision by the Chancellor to freeze alcohol duty, Nuno Teles, Managing Director, Diageo Great Britain, said:

By freezing duty until August, HM Treasury has listened to the industry’s plea for support and decided to back our homegrown sector, that employs so many people across the UK, and we urge the Chancellor to continue to back pub-goers, hospitality owners and producers.

Andy Slee, Chief Executive of the Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA) said:

While trading has been tough for pubs and independent breweries, the government’s continued support is very welcome. The beer duty freeze for six months provides some certainty for brewers as the new alcohol duty system is embedded.

As part of this, the government introduced Draught Relief allowing beer destined for the pub to have a lower rate – and already there are signs that this is working to support pubs.

The duty freeze formed part of a multi-billion pound support package for the alcohol duty industry announced at the Autumn Statement.

Retail, Hospitality and Leisure business rates relief was extended for a fifth year to 2024-25. This means around 230,000 retail, hospitality and leisure properties will receive 75% relief, up to a cap of £110,000 per business, on their business rates bills from the 2024-25 tax year. This is a tax cut worth nearly £2.4 billion and comes on top of one third of business properties being taken out of paying business rates completely thanks to other government reliefs.

The small business multiplier for business rates was also frozen for a fourth consecutive year, protecting over a million ratepayers from an inflation increase in their bills.

August 2023’s historical alcohol duty reforms saved on taxes in three ways. Firstly, on draught drinks in the pub for all draught products below 8.5% alcohol by volume (ABV) through increasing Draught Relief. This is part of this government’s Brexit Pubs Guarantee commitment for every pint in every pub to pay less duty than their supermarket equivalent. Secondly, tax was cut on lots of popular drinks in shops like sparkling wines and ready-made drinks. Finally, the new Small Producer Relief was announced to help small businesses and start-ups create new drinks, innovate and grow.
February 1, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : Travel to the UK now cheaper for Gulf and Jordanian visitors [February 2024]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 1 February 2024.

UK’s electronic travel authorisation (ETA) scheme opens for Gulf Cooperation Council and Jordanian nationals, making travel to the UK smoother and cheaper.

The UK’s electronic travel authorisation (ETA) scheme has opened for Gulf Cooperation Council and Jordanian nationals who are travelling to the UK from 22 February 2024. This expansion of the scheme follows the successful launch for Qataris, who have been able to benefit since October 2023, with most applying using the UK ETA mobile app.

ETAs replace electronic visa waivers (EVW) and remove the visa requirement for short stays to the UK for Gulf and Jordanian nationals.

Nationals of Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain and Jordan can now make unlimited visits to the UK over a 2-year period, or until the holder’s passport expires – whichever is sooner, for just £10. Previously, Gulf nationals paid £30 through the electronic visa waiver scheme and Jordanians paid £115 for a single-use visitor visa.

Gulf visitors are highly valuable to the UK economy, with almost 800,000 Gulf visitors spending £2 billion during their stays in the UK in 2022.

The ETA is part of the UK government’s transformation and digitisation of the UK border and immigration system, enabling an increasingly seamless customer experience in the future for legitimate visitors. Ensuring robust security checks on every visitor pre-travel enables us to bolster the security of the UK border, prevent abuse and keep our communities safe.

The Home Secretary is marking the expansion of the scheme today at a celebratory event with the Gulf and Jordanian ambassadors and representatives from the travel and tourism sectors.

Home Secretary, James Cleverly, said:

The ETA will improve the experience of travelling to the UK for the thousands of visitors from the Gulf and Jordan, who represent our second largest tourism market and contribute billions to the UK economy.

The scheme is a vital step on our path to cementing the UK’s position as a world leader in border innovation and security.

Minister of State for the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia Lord Ahmad said:

I am delighted that with the introduction of ETAs it will be even easier for our Gulf and Jordanian friends to visit the UK.

Our strong people to people links underpin our close partnership, and we all benefit from the boost to trade, education and tourism ties ETAs will bring.

The application process for an ETA is simple and fast to complete, with the process being entirely digital via a mobile phone app. Applicants need to provide biographic and biometric details and answer questions on suitability and criminality. Once individuals have successfully applied, their ETA is digitally linked to their passport.

Decisions will usually be made within 3 working days, however the majority are decided within hours.

VisitBritain CEO, Patricia Yates, said:

It is great to see the electronic travel authorisation scheme roll out to more Gulf nationals as well as for Jordanians, making travel to the UK easier, cheaper and more accessible for them. Combined with our strong airline connections, the scheme boosts our competitive tourism offer and our welcome to visitors.

Our GREAT Britain campaigns are underway across the region to showcase the breadth of exciting experiences and destinations to inspire travel to Britain. VisitBritain is also working with travel trade and partners in the Gulf so British destinations are sold internationally and to drive bookings now. We look forward to welcoming even more visitors to experience our vibrant and dynamic tourism offer.

The scheme will apply worldwide to those who do not currently need a visa to visit or transit through the UK or who do not hold a UK immigration status, including nationals from Europe and America.

Other nationalities cannot and do not need to apply yet and timings for when the scheme opens for them will be confirmed in due course.

February 1, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : Myanmar military-linked enterprises and infantry divisions sanctioned 3 years on from the military coup [February 2024]
The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 1 February 2024.

The UK has imposed fresh sanctions on Myanmar military-linked entities and infantry divisions to mark 3 years since the military coup.
- UK imposes fresh sanctions against military divisions and enterprises involved in the repression of the civilian population and serious human rights violations in Myanmar
- in the 3 years since the military coup, the UK has sanctioned 25 individuals and 33 entities under the Myanmar sanctions regime
- the UK and partners have published a joint statement condemning the military’s ongoing violence against civilians
3 years on from the military coup in Myanmar, the UK has imposed further sanctions against those responsible for ongoing repression in the country. Sanctioned today are 2 Myanmar military divisions responsible for carrying out serious human rights violations and 2 state-owned enterprises which provide economic resources and support to the Myanmar security forces.

Sanctions against 2 state-owned enterprises affiliated with the Myanmar security forces will help block the regime’s access to vital resources used to strengthen the military’s grip. Also sanctioned today are 2 Light Infantry Divisions of the Myanmar security forces, which since the coup have escalated their appalling attacks against civilians, including targeting voices of dissent and opposition.

Since the coup the UK has sanctioned 25 individuals and 33 entities under the Myanmar Sanctions Regime, targeting the military’s access to finance, arms and equipment. The UK has also targeted the military’s 2 key conglomerates and their 111 subsidiaries, as well as 3 individuals under the Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime, most recently in December 2023.

In addition to fresh sanctions, the United Kingdom has, alongside 8 countries and the EU, released a joint statement, reiterating our condemnation of the military regime’s continued violence against and repression of its own people.

Foreign Secretary David Cameron said:

Three years after its coup, we are increasing our pressure on the Myanmar military to stop its brutal repression of the Myanmar people.

That’s why the UK is imposing new sanctions to help stop the military’s access to resources. We are joining with international partners to call for renewed efforts to secure a peaceful and democratic future for Myanmar.

Read the full statement by the UK and international partners on the third anniversary of the coup: Three years since the military coup in Myanmar: foreign ministers’ joint statement.

The entities sanctioned today
1. Mining Enterprise 1 (ME1) for involvement in the repression of the civilian population in Myanmar, by being affiliated to the Myanmar Security Forces (MSF) and making available funds or other economic resources to the MSF.
2. Mining Enterprise 2 (ME2) for involvement in the repression of the civilian population in Myanmar, by being affiliated to the Myanmar Security Forces and by making available funds or other economic resources to the MSF.
3. Light Infantry Division 77 (LID 77) for involvement in serious human rights violations in Myanmar. Namely the crackdown on protestors involving excessive lethal force and killing, and internet shutdowns during protests in Bago.
4. Light Infantry Division 101 (LID 101) for involvement in serious human rights violations in Myanmar. This includes arbitrary arrests, detention or enforced disappearance; torture or cruel treatment against people for their political opinion, religious belief or ethnicity; and forms of sexual and gender-based violence.
February 1, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : Rishi Sunak call with the Sultan of Oman [February 2024]

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 1 February 2024.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak spoke to the Sultan of Oman, His Majesty Haitham bin Tarik al Said, this morning.

He welcomed the long friendship between the UK and Oman, stretching back centuries, and committed to continue deepening that partnership in areas including trade, defence and security.

The leaders discussed the ongoing Houthi attacks against commercial shipping in the Red Sea, agreeing that it was vital for international security and stability to deescalate tensions in the region.

The Prime Minister stressed that military action was a last resort in the face of intolerable threats to global shipping, and followed consistent international warnings. The UK continued to urge the Houthis to end their reckless attacks.

The Prime Minister also raised the UK’s position on the devastating conflict in Gaza. He said the immediate priority was agreeing a humanitarian pause to allow more aid to be delivered across Gaza and to secure the release of all hostages.

The UK was pushing for more routes to be opened to bring far greater quantities of aid into the suffering civilian population, including maritime routes.

He reiterated the UK’s support for progress towards a viable two state solution, where Palestinians and Israelis can live in dignity and security. That would require Israel’s security to be guaranteed, Hamas no longer in charge in Gaza, and a bolstered Palestinian Authority. The leaders agreed on the importance of international cooperation to reach a sustainable long-term settlement to the crisis.

The Prime Minister closed the call by reaffirming his personal commitment to building on the long UK-Oman relationship, and the leaders looked forward to working closely together in the future.

February 1, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : UK and State of North Carolina hold Third Working Group Meeting [January 2024]
The press release issued by the Department of Business and Trade on 31 January 2024.

UK and North Carolina host the third working group meeting since the signature of the UK / North Carolina Memorandum of Understanding.
On Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024, representatives of the UK and state of North Carolina governments attended the third government-to-government working group meeting in Charlotte, North Carolina. Charlotte continues to register as one of the fastest growing cities in the US and is the country’s second largest banking centre after New York City. This meeting follows the first two convenings in Raleigh, NC (January 2023) and Manchester, UK (June 2023).

Rachel Galloway, Consul General at the British Consulate in Atlanta, co-chaired the meeting with Machelle Baker Sanders, Secretary of Commerce for the state of North Carolina, attended by officials from the respective governments.

Attendees discussed the progress made since the last meeting in June 2023 pointing to the measurable achievements in key focus areas, including:

Boosting trade and investment: Cambridge-based Marshall Aerospace is opening a new aircraft maintenance facility and engineering hub at the Piedmont Triad International Airport in Greensboro, North Carolina. The $50 million investment will result in 240 jobs for the local community and is expected to open in 2025. At the ground-breaking ceremony in North Carolina in September 2023, the new home of Marshall USA, Marshall Aerospace credited the official North Carolina-UK relationship, including the MoU, for helping to create the enabling environment for their investment.

Improving access to procurement opportunities: In November, the UK and North Carolina co-chaired a government procurement and commercial opportunities roundtable. North Carolina officials shared insights into how UK companies can best engage in the North Carolina procurement process, including through registering on the state’s procurement information and e-vendor portals, soliciting public records to better understand successful bids, forming partnerships with North Carolina companies with prior success in state procurement, researching legal and IT security requirements in advance of bidding, and seeking opportunities at the local level.

Attendees also considered and identified fresh opportunities to further knowledge exchange and activities to develop all areas of the MoU over the coming six months, including:

UK companies and officials will participate in the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Clean Tech Summit in March 2024.

The UK will send an outbound Motorsport mission to North Carolina in May 2024. This follows on the success of a previous mission in 2023.

The UK and North Carolina will hold the next working group meeting to coincide with a delegation of North Carolina officials’ visit to the Farnborough Air Show in July 2024.

The meeting was followed by a business lunch attended by UK and North Carolina business and civic leaders where attendees were invited to get involved on future MoU delivery activity.

Finally, British American Business Council Carolinas hosted a panel discussion on Macro Political and Economic Trends in Trade and Investment as part of their annual general meeting. The panel, comprising of Rachel Galloway, UK Consul General for the Southeastern US; Chris Chung, CEO of the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina; and Sally Webb, Non-Executive Director of The Special Event Company, was moderated by Chris William, Executive Producer of the Carolina Business Review. The panel was attended by a cross-section of representatives from the Charlotte business community.

The British American Business Council Carolinas will host the British American Business Network annual transatlantic conference in Charlotte for the first time later this year, acknowledging the increasingly close relationship being developed between the UK and North Carolina as a result of the Memorandum of Understanding between both parties.
February 1, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : We continue to work intensively with the UN and partners to get more aid into Gaza – UK statement at the UN Security Council [January 2024]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 31 January 2024.

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

Thank you President and I join others in thanking Under-Secretary Griffiths for his powerful briefing.

On the 7th of October, Israel suffered the worst terror attack in its history at the hands of Hamas. The UK wants to see the hostages taken on that day released as soon as possible. And an end to the fighting in Gaza as soon as possible. The humanitarian situation is desperate. We are calling for an immediate suspension of fighting in order to get vital aid in and hostages out, that progresses towards a permanent, sustainable ceasefire, without a return to destruction, fighting, and loss of life.

We continue to work intensively with the UN and all partners on practical solutions to get more aid into Gaza. During his visit to the region last week, my Foreign Secretary, Lord Cameron, again pressed Israel to allow unhindered humanitarian access. We are supporting the World Food Programme to deliver a humanitarian land corridor from Jordan into Gaza. And the UK has trebled our humanitarian aid commitment to the Occupied Palestinian Territories this year.

The UK continues to engage closely with Israel on the conduct of their military campaign, including on IHL, and to call for Israel to take greater care to avoid harming civilians and civilian infrastructure.

The UK respects the role and independence of the ICJ. We welcome the ICJ’s call for the immediate release of hostages and the need to get more aid into Gaza, as well as the Court’s reminder that all parties to the conflict are bound by international humanitarian law. It is for the Court, not countries, to determine genocide.

Nevertheless, we were troubled by the way in which this action was taken, and we’ve made our views about this very clear. As Lord Cameron said in the Middle East last week, echoed in the Minister of State Lord Ahmad’s intervention at the Security Council also last week, we believe the five following steps are vital.

First, a political horizon which provides a credible and irreversible pathway towards a two-state solution. Second, the formation of a new Palestinian Government for the West Bank and Gaza, accompanied by an international support package. Third, removing Hamas’ capacity to launch attacks against Israel. Fourth, the release of all Israeli hostages, and finally, Hamas no longer in charge of Gaza.

As my Foreign Secretary has said, it is only when the prize of peace is more attractive than the potential benefit of continued conflict that we will have the chance of a better future for Israelis and Palestinians.

February 1, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : Joint Communique issued at the end of the UK-Ghana Business Council meeting [January 2024]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 31 January 2024.

Ninth UK-Ghana Business Council (UKGBC) high level bilateral meeting communique issued in Accra.

The UK-Ghana Business Council (UKGBC) held its ninth meeting in Accra on 31 January 2024. The meeting was co-chaired by the Vice-President of the Republic of Ghana His Excellency Alhaji, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia and the UK Minister for Development and Africa, Rt Honourable Andrew Mitchell MP.

The Council welcomed Ghana’s progress on reaching an agreement with the official creditor committee and completion of the first review of the IMF programme. Members acknowledged Ghana’s progress in implementing the programme, which has since resulted in improving economic stabilisation.

The UK assured council members of its continued support for a successful exit from the IMF programme, including through new programming developed in collaboration with the Government of Ghana targeting macro-economic resilience.

Council members discussed the global climate finance architecture and welcomed Ghana’s commitment to unlock climate financing to support a pipeline of impactful climate activities in areas such as carbon finance blends, EVs, shipping and a hydrogen economy.

The Council welcomed UK’s announcement of the Green Cities and Infrastructure Technical Assistance Programme for Ghana. The programme will focus on delivering climate finance, low-carbon, climate-resilient infrastructure, and support cities to become hubs of innovation while bolstering sustainable economic growth.

Members welcomed the successful auto sector investor mission, which took place from 22 to 26 January 2024. It brought together leading UK automobile companies to explore opportunities in Ghana’s auto sector. Against this backdrop, members agreed to work collaboratively to identify opportunities to support Ghana’s industrial transformation in the auto and E-mobility industry, pharmaceutical manufacturing, and garments sector.

The Council welcomed the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the UK’s Society Motor Manufacturing and Traders’ Industry Forum and the Ministry of Trade’s Auto Development Centre agreeing to pursue skills, knowledge, and technology transfer partnerships, as part of the JET programme.

Members celebrated the first investments into Ghanaian businesses by British International Investment’s Growth Investment Partners fund. Council members witnessed the signing of the Science, Technology and Innovation MoU which will drive economic prosperity through science and technology.

The co-chairs acknowledged the significant progress the Council had made since its inception in 2018. Council members agreed to continue to advance work on the UKGBC priority sectors to deepen the UK-Ghana relationship, while it explores other areas such as climate finance and electric vehicles.

Members agreed to convene the next UKGBC meeting in summer of 2024.

February 1, 2024