Tag: 2024

PRESS RELEASE : 45th Universal Periodic Review of human rights: UK statement on Central African Republic [February 2024]
The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 30 January 2024.

The UK’s statement during Central African Republic’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR) at the Human Rights Council in Geneva. Delivered on 26 January 2024.

Thank you, Mr Vice-President,

We welcome the Central African Republic’s implementation of new human rights policies, legislation, and institutional measures, but we remain concerned by the stigmatisation of ethnic and religious minorities, and widespread abuses linked with the Wagner Group, which fuel the protracted conflict.

We call on CAR to protect women and children, and respond to the horrific rise in sexual and gender-based violence.

We recommend that CAR:
1. Take concrete steps to eliminate all forms of discrimination, violence, intimidation and threats, including through comprehensive, anti-discrimination legislation.
2. Adopt legislation to combat sexual and gender-based violence, including by criminalising marital rape, female genital mutilation, and early and forced marriage, and hold perpetrators of these crimes to account.
3. Strengthen the capacity, oversight and accountability of the judicial system, enabling it to independently investigate and prosecute all alleged human rights violations and abuses.
I thank you.
February 1, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : Urgent CPS inspection announced following the Nottingham stabbing case [January 2024]

The press release issued by the Attorney General’s Office on 30 January 2024.

An urgent independent inspection into the Crown Prosecution Service’s handling of the Nottingham stabbing case has been announced by the Government.

Attorney General Victoria Prentis has asked the independent inspectorate – His Majesty’s Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate to carry out a prompt and thorough review into the case following the sentencing of Valdo Calocane.

This will include looking at CPS’s decision to accept Valdo Calocane’s guilty pleas to manslaughter on the basis of diminished responsibility and whether the CPS met its duties to consult with families ahead of accepting pleas.

Attorney General Victoria Prentis said:

The senseless deaths of Barnaby Webber, Grace O’Malley-Kumar, and Ian Coates have horrified the country.

While nothing will bring their loved ones back, the families understandably want to understand what happened in this case.

That’s why I have asked the inspectorate to carry out a prompt and thorough review of CPS actions so we can properly investigate the concerns raised by the families in this devastating case.

This announcement builds on action already taken by the Government to get the families of Barnaby Webber, Grace O’Malley-Kumar and Ian Coates the answers they deserve.

The Health and Social Care Secretary has ordered a special review of the mental health services at the NHS Trust where Valdo Calocane was treated, which will report back within weeks.

The Attorney General is also looking at the sentence under the Unduly Lenient Sentencing Scheme.

Leicestershire Police have referred themselves to the IOPC and the Policing Minister has also met with senior leaders at Nottinghamshire Police to discuss the case.

HMCPSI have been asked to complete their report by Easter. The Attorney General’s Office will work with CPS to make sure any recommendations from the inspection are actioned as quickly as possible.

February 1, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : £24 million boost to deliver improved rail journeys in Bradford [January 2024]
The press release issued by the Department for Transport on 30 January 2024.

New platform at Forster Square Station to increase rail services, reduce delays and better connect the city.
- rail passengers set to benefit from improved rail journeys in Bradford thanks to multi-million-pound government investment
- £24 million boost will deliver a new platform at Forster Square Station, boosting network capacity and connectivity
- comes as Rail Minister meets with local leaders to discuss new station for the city as part of government’s £2 billion Network North commitment to the city
Passengers in Bradford are set to benefit from improved rail journeys thanks to a multi-million-pound government funding boost.

In Bradford today (30 January 2024), Rail Minister Huw Merriman revealed the latest investment in the city as he confirmed £24 million towards a new platform at Forster Square Station to reduce delays and futureproof the station for generations to come.

The new platform will ease congestion and improve access into the city for passengers, commuters and tourists.

Once complete – and subject to future funding decisions – this could result in an extra 5 London North Eastern Railway (LNER) services a day, more than tripling the current provision.

Rail Minister, Huw Merriman, said:

Bradford is benefitting from serious investment in rail infrastructure with £24 million towards a new platform for Forster Square Station helping to improve rail journeys, increase rail services and better connect passengers.

This investment follows £2 billion for Bradford to better connect the city, including with a new station, and to facilitate faster rail journeys to Manchester via Huddersfield as part of our Network North plan, with further funding recently announced to help with the planning work for that station – demonstrating this government’s plan to invest in rail infrastructure in the region.

This announcement comes as Bradford prepares to become the UK’s City of Culture in 2025, with the Rail Minister attending a meeting with local leaders and businesses today to discuss plans to deliver a new government-funded station in the city.

The government’s £36 billion Network North plan to improve local transport connections included £2 billion to provide a new station at Bradford and a new connection to improve journey times from the city to Manchester via Huddersfield.

The meeting follows closely on the heels of £400,000 committed to Bradford in November 2023 to accelerate the council’s masterplans for the new station, which will see it become ‘the King’s Cross of the North’.

Councillor Susan Hinchcliffe, Leader of Bradford Council, said:

I’m really pleased we’ve been able to secure this new investment from government. It’s good to see they now recognise the value of Bradford being better connected to the entire Northern economy.

The new platform at Forster Square Station will provide much-needed additional capacity and connectivity for Bradford in time for the district’s year as City of Culture in 2025 and for generations to come, enabling greater mobility and access to opportunity across the district.

Matt Rice, Route Director for Network Rail’s North and East route, said:

This funding will enable us to deliver extra platform capacity at Bradford Forster Square and allow for improved rail connections for passengers in the future.

We look forward to working with the Department for Transport, Bradford Council and other stakeholders to deliver these upgrades for people travelling to and from the city.

The announcement comes on top of £500 million previously committed to upgrade and electrify the railway between Bradford and Leeds and a further £2.5 billion Network North pledge to support the West Yorkshire Mass Transit System, which will improve connections between Leeds and Bradford, Huddersfield and Halifax.

Kerry Peters, Regional Director for Northern, said:

We welcome this investment and the benefits it will bring to our customers across West Yorkshire. Bradford Forster Square already sees around 2 million passengers every year and, with these developments, we look forward to many more in the coming years.

Warrick Dent, LNER’s Safety and Operations Director, said:

LNER welcomes the news of investment in a new platform at Bradford Forster Square which will allow us to run more trains to and from the city.

Our timetable plans will be announced nearer the time, and need approval by the Department for Transport, but we would expect to see a big increase in the number of LNER services. It’s particularly exciting that the changes should happen during Bradford City of Culture 2025.
February 1, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : Low Pay Commission announces new Chair and Commissioners [January 2024]
The press release issued by the Department for Business and Trade on 30 January 2024.

Baroness Philippa Stroud has today (Tuesday 30 January 2024) been announced as the Chair of the Low Pay Commission (LPC). She replaces Bryan Sanderson, who has been Chair of the LPC since 2019.

Nigel Cotgrove and Andrew Goodacre have also been announced as Commissioners.

The LPC is an independent body that advises the government about the National Living Wage and the National Minimum Wage.

Business Minister Kevin Hollinrake said:

Baroness Philippa Stroud is a fantastic appointment to this role. Her extensive leadership background and specialised experience in social justice will ensure the LPC continues its vital work on pay for our lowest paid workers.

I’m grateful to Bryan Sanderson for all his hard work in his time as Chair and wish him well for the future.

I’d also like to welcome Nigel Cotgrove and Andrew Goodacre in their roles as Commissioners.

Biographies

Baroness Philippa Stroud biography

Baroness Philippa Stroud is a British think tanker and the co-founder of Forum. She is a Member of the House of Lords, CEO of the Alliance for Responsible Citizenship and Chair of the Social Metrics Commission. Prior to this, she was the CEO of the Legatum Institute and Co-Founder and Chief Executive of the Centre for Social Justice.

She was created a life peer on 1 October 2015 taking the title Baroness Stroud, of Fulham in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham.

Nigel Cotgrove biography

Nigel Cotgrove is a Trustee Director of the BT Pension Scheme and a member of the Prison Service Pay Review Body.

Nigel worked for the Communication Workers’ Union for 31 years. He served as a National Officer for over 20 years representing workers in the telecoms, ICT and financial services sectors. Prior to that, he worked as a CWU Research Officer.

Andrew Goodacre biography

BIRA (British Independent Retailers Association) CEO Andrew Goodacre has devoted his career to strengthening Britain’s high streets and the communities they support.

Since taking over BIRA’s leadership in 2018, Andrew has expanded membership by nearly a third, by ensuring the needs of independent retailers are heard by government decision makers.

Andrew represents BIRA on the Department of Business Retail Sector Council and serves as a member of the British Retail Consortium’s Policy Board and the Welsh Retail Council.

Prior to leading BIRA, Andrew spent many years in the hospitality industry, which helped to reinforce his belief of the importance of local high streets to the fabric of local communities and their contribution to the government’s levelling-up agenda.

Notes for editors
- The LPC Chair is remunerated £530.96 per day (3 days per month). This appointment has been made in accordance with the Cabinet Office’s Governance Code on Public Appointments. The appointments process is regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. Under the Code, any significant political activity undertaken by an appointee in the last five years must be declared. This is defined as including holding office, public speaking, making a recordable donation, or candidature for election. Baroness Stroud has declared that she is a Conservative Member of the House of Lords.
- LPC Commissioners are remunerated £242.12 per day (16 days per annum). These appointments have been made in accordance with the Cabinet Office’s Governance Code on Public Appointments. The appointments process is regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. Under the Code, any significant political activity undertaken by an appointee in the last five years must be declared. This is defined as including holding office, public speaking, making a recordable donation, or candidature for election. Both Commissioners have declared no significant political activity.
February 1, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : New framework to support trainee and early career teachers [January 2024]

The press release issued by the Department for Education on 30 January 2024.

The Department for Education has today (30 January) announced a new framework which will help ensure high quality teaching and improve pupil outcomes.

The new initial teacher training and early career framework (ITTECF) combines and updates the initial teacher training core content framework (CCF) and the early career framework (ECF). It will ensure that all new teachers receive three or more years of training underpinned by the best available evidence.

The frameworks were designed to help trainee and early career teachers succeed at the start of their teaching careers and combining them will mean teachers will get a more joined up development journey beyond initial training into the early years of their career.

Schools Minister Damian Hinds said:

Great teaching is key to securing academic success and improving pupil outcomes, which is why it is so important we continue to support teachers with high-quality, evidence-based training.

Today, we have announced a new combined framework to provide trainee and early career teachers with the knowledge and skills they need in those crucial first years in the classroom.

It’s thanks to the hard work of teachers and leaders that education standards have risen significantly since 2010. That is why we will continue to invest in competitive pay and high-quality training, improving teacher wellbeing and easing workload pressures.

Working with experts across the education sector, the framework has been updated to ensure it’s based on the latest evidence, including new and updated content on how teachers should support pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), high quality oral language, and early cognitive development and children’s mental health.

Later this year, the Department for Education will be procuring updated training programmes for early career teachers (ECTs) based on this new framework. They will be designed after an evaluation of the national ECF reforms since September 2021.

The updated programmes, to be rolled out from September 2025, will be better designed to take ECTs’ learning from initial teacher training into account, provide more tailoring based on their level of development, subject and context, and streamline the training and support for mentors so they can better focus on supporting their ECTs.

The framework is a central part of the government’s teacher recruitment and retention strategy and is supported by the £130 million invested annually into the ECF.

The reforms to support trainees and ECTs builds on the government’s action to boost teacher recruitment, with £196 million invested this academic year to fund scholarships, bursaries and salary grants to help thousands of candidates through their initial teacher training.

Margaret Mulholland, ASCL SEN & Inclusion Policy Specialist said:

We must equip new teachers with the confidence and competence to know they can support every child. Whilst there are no ‘quick fixes’ for teachers or children, an Initial Teacher Training and Early Career Framework that gives more specific focus to developing the knowledge and skills to support pupils that need the most help is welcomed.

Professor Becky Francis, CEO of the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF), said:

Like all great professions, teaching deserves to be built upon a core body of knowledge and skills that describe best practice and are drawn from robust research. By setting out what trainee and early career teachers should be entitled to know and do, today’s updated framework is an important step to realising this.

By independently assessing and endorsing the framework, we’ve made sure the claims it makes accurately reflect the evidence from which they were drawn. Our hope is that providers will be able to translate the framework into practically relevant programmes, balancing the need to cover core content alongside the holistic needs of their participants.

Last year, the government delivered on the manifesto commitment to give every new teacher a starting salary of at least £30,000 – alongside the highest pay award for teachers in over 30 years.

In strengthening the focus on helping teachers to support children and young people with SEND, we are building on wider government reform through the SEND and AP improvement plan, which outlines plans to reform the system, ensuring every child has access to a high-quality, fulfilling education.

The SEND system is underpinned by increased investment in the high needs budget, which will have risen by over 60 percent since 2019 to 2020 to over £10.5 billion in 2024 to 2025.

Supporting teachers’ development will continue to improve pupils’ outcomes. With thanks to the hard work of teachers already, standards of education have risen sharply since 2010, with 89 percent of school rated good or outstanding by Ofsted, up from just 68 percent in 2010.

Also, pupils in England have risen up the international rankings for maths, placing England as one of the top performing countries in the western world.

This built on existing international success, with England coming fourth for primary reading proficiency, out of 43 countries that tested children of the same age in the Progress in International Reading Literacy Study.

February 1, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : Foreign Secretary returns to Middle East to support efforts towards regional stability [January 2024]
The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 30 January 2024.

Foreign Secretary David Cameron will focus on the de-escalating of tensions in the region and securing an immediate pause in the conflict in Gaza.
- Lord David Cameron will make his fourth visit to the Middle East as Foreign Secretary, starting in Oman
- he will call for stability over ongoing Houthi attacks in the Red Sea and an immediate pause in the conflict in Gaza
- visit follows the Foreign Secretary’s call for an international ‘Contact Group’ to build momentum towards lasting peace in the region
The Foreign Secretary will be back in the Middle East this week focusing on the de-escalating of tensions in the region and securing an immediate pause in the conflict in Gaza.

He travels to Oman on Tuesday (30 January) for the first leg of the visit. This follows regional travel last week where he met with leaders in Israel, the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Qatar and Turkey.

The Houthi attacks on international shipping, which are harming regional security and exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in Yemen, will be a major focus of his discussions.

Last week, the UK set out new sanctions with the US against key figures within the Houthi regime’s military to disrupt their ability to carry out attacks in the Red Sea. Alongside our partners, we have issued repeated warnings through diplomatic channels to Iran and Houthi leadership to cease their attacks, and we have taken action to deter the Houthis, most recently when HMS Diamond successfully repelled a drone attack in the Red Sea on 28 January.

The Foreign Secretary will also reiterate with regional leaders the UK’s call for an immediate pause in the conflict in Gaza to allow significantly more aid in and hostages out, then progress towards a sustainable ceasefire.

The visit will be an opportunity to move forward the Foreign Secretary’s work to establish a Contact Group to be established between the US, UK, key EU, Gulf and Arab countries and Turkey, to use a pause in fighting to build momentum towards a lasting solution.

Foreign Secretary David Cameron said:

The Houthis continue to attack ships in the Red Sea, risking lives, delaying vital aid getting to the Yemeni people and disrupting global trade. And we cannot ignore the risk that the conflict in Gaza spreads, spilling over borders into other countries in the region.

We will do everything we can to make sure that does not happen – escalation and instability is in nobody’s interests.

In Gaza, there is an urgent need for an immediate pause to allow aid in and hostages out. We are determined to do all we can to press for a sustainable ceasefire, and are stepping up our engagement with countries in the region to make sure that happens.

The Foreign Secretary will reiterate the UK’s commitment to getting life-saving aid into Yemen, and outline the action the UK is taking to deter the Houthis targeting ships in the Red Sea.

In Oman the Foreign Secretary is expected to meet Omani Foreign Minister Badr to discuss de-escalating rising tensions across the region.
February 1, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : ‘Settlements Bring Security’ conference in Jerusalem: FCDO statement [February 2024]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 30 January 2024.

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office gave a statement about the ‘Settlements Bring Security’ conference organised in Jerusalem on 28 January 2024.

A statement from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO):

The UK is alarmed by the conference in Jerusalem calling for the resettlement of Gaza, and that Israeli ministers participated.

The UK’s position is clear: Gaza is occupied Palestinian territory and will be part of the future Palestinian state.

Settlements are illegal. No Palestinian should be threatened with forcible displacement or relocation.

February 1, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : New social housing reforms to crack down on rule breakers [January 2024]

The press release issued by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities on 30 January 2024.

Those who commit anti-social behaviour to face a ban of up to 5 years. People with closest connections to the UK and their local areas to be favoured.

An overhaul of how social housing is allocated, to make the system fairer and not available to those who abuse it, was announced by the government today (30 January 2024).

Measures which could ban those who blight communities and repeatedly make their neighbours’ lives hell through anti-social behaviour or evict them through a ‘three strikes and you’re out’ policy, are part of the new consultation.

At the same time, new measures will prioritise households who have a close connection to the UK and their local area.

Housing Minister Lee Rowley said:

Today we are proposing further steps to make the allocation of social housing fairer for people. If you abuse the system, making peoples’ lives a misery or actively work against our British values, you are making a choice – such choices will have consequences and our proposals seek to stop such people getting a social home.

The message is clear: play by the rules, pay in and we will support you. If you choose not to, this country is not going to be a soft touch.

The public want to know decent and hardworking people that have contributed to this country will be prioritised for new social tenancies. People already living in social homes want to know that anyone moving near them will be respectful of their neighbours with their communities protected from those who persistently break the law.

That is why it is right that the finite resource of social housing is allocated fairly and local law-abiding citizens in need have more access to a home in their own communities.

The government is seeking views from the public, councils, social housing tenants and providers and wants to bring forward the reforms as soon as possible.

The reforms include new UK and local connection tests to determine social housing eligibility, with applicants required to demonstrate a connection to the UK for at least 10 years and their local area for at least 2 years. Prospective tenants on higher incomes could also no longer qualify for social housing, although existing tenants will not be affected.

As part of the reforms, people who have unspent convictions for certain criminal anti-social behaviour or have been subject to certain civil sanctions could be disqualified from social housing for up to 5 years.

This sits alongside measures which could disqualify terrorist offenders from benefiting from social housing.

Changes will be delivered by secondary legislation at the earliest opportunity.

The proposals build on the significant reforms already introduced by the government to improve the quality and quantity of the country’s social housing stock. This includes the Social Housing (Regulation) Act 2023, under which the powers of the Regulator of Social Housing to hold poorly performing landlords to account have been strengthened and social housing residents’ access to redress has been improved due to new powers for the Housing Ombudsman.

This sits alongside the £11.5 billion Affordable Homes Programme, helping to deliver more of the affordable, quality homes this country needs, which will unlock a further £38 billion in public and private investment in affordable housing. It builds on the government’s record since 2010 – with over 696,000 new affordable homes delivered, including over 172,000 for social rent.

Access to most social housing is managed by local housing authorities, who only allocate homes to people who are eligible and who qualify.

These proposed new national requirements will provide greater consistency for social housing applicants and local housing authorities, ultimately providing a fairer overall service.

Further information

The consultation will run until 26 March and can be accessed via an online survey.

The policy proposals set out in the consultation apply to the social rented sector in England and will inform changes to secondary legislation regarding eligibility and qualification criteria under Part 6 of the Housing Act 1996. We are not proposing to change the rules or guidance on reasonable and additional preference that local housing authorities follow to prioritise allocations.

The income test will set out a maximum household income threshold, which if exceeded, would mean households would not qualify for social housing. This will only apply to applicants and have no impact on existing tenants.

February 1, 2024
Ed Davey – 2024 Apology on His Involvement with the Post Office Horizon Scandal

The comments made by Ed Davey, the Leader of the Liberal Democrats, in the Guardian newspaper on 1 February 2024.

The Post Office Horizon scandal is the greatest miscarriage of justice of our time, and I am deeply sorry for the families who have had their lives ruined by it. As one of the ministers over the 20 years of this scandal, including my time as minister responsible for postal affairs, I’m sorry I did not see through the Post Office’s lies – and that it took me five months to meet Alan Bates, the man who has done so much to uncover it.

The Post Office is owned by the government but not run by it, so the official advice I was given when I first became a minister in May 2010 was not to meet Bates. He wrote again urging me to reconsider, and I did then meet him that October. But he shouldn’t have had to wait. When Bates told me his concerns about Horizon, I took them extremely seriously and put them to the Post Office. What I got back were categorical assurances – the same lies we now know they were telling the subpostmasters, journalists, parliament and the courts.

February 1, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : New social housing reforms to crack down on rule breakers [January 2024]

The press release issued by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities on 30 January 2024.

Those who commit anti-social behaviour to face a ban of up to 5 years. People with closest connections to the UK and their local areas to be favoured.

An overhaul of how social housing is allocated, to make the system fairer and not available to those who abuse it, was announced by the government today (30 January 2024).

Measures which could ban those who blight communities and repeatedly make their neighbours’ lives hell through anti-social behaviour or evict them through a ‘three strikes and you’re out’ policy, are part of the new consultation.

At the same time, new measures will prioritise households who have a close connection to the UK and their local area.

Housing Minister Lee Rowley said:

Today we are proposing further steps to make the allocation of social housing fairer for people. If you abuse the system, making peoples’ lives a misery or actively work against our British values, you are making a choice – such choices will have consequences and our proposals seek to stop such people getting a social home.

The message is clear: play by the rules, pay in and we will support you. If you choose not to, this country is not going to be a soft touch.

The public want to know decent and hardworking people that have contributed to this country will be prioritised for new social tenancies. People already living in social homes want to know that anyone moving near them will be respectful of their neighbours with their communities protected from those who persistently break the law.

That is why it is right that the finite resource of social housing is allocated fairly and local law-abiding citizens in need have more access to a home in their own communities.

The government is seeking views from the public, councils, social housing tenants and providers and wants to bring forward the reforms as soon as possible.

The reforms include new UK and local connection tests to determine social housing eligibility, with applicants required to demonstrate a connection to the UK for at least 10 years and their local area for at least 2 years. Prospective tenants on higher incomes could also no longer qualify for social housing, although existing tenants will not be affected.

As part of the reforms, people who have unspent convictions for certain criminal anti-social behaviour or have been subject to certain civil sanctions could be disqualified from social housing for up to 5 years.

This sits alongside measures which could disqualify terrorist offenders from benefiting from social housing.

Changes will be delivered by secondary legislation at the earliest opportunity.

The proposals build on the significant reforms already introduced by the government to improve the quality and quantity of the country’s social housing stock. This includes the Social Housing (Regulation) Act 2023, under which the powers of the Regulator of Social Housing to hold poorly performing landlords to account have been strengthened and social housing residents’ access to redress has been improved due to new powers for the Housing Ombudsman.

This sits alongside the £11.5 billion Affordable Homes Programme, helping to deliver more of the affordable, quality homes this country needs, which will unlock a further £38 billion in public and private investment in affordable housing. It builds on the government’s record since 2010 – with over 696,000 new affordable homes delivered, including over 172,000 for social rent.

Access to most social housing is managed by local housing authorities, who only allocate homes to people who are eligible and who qualify.

These proposed new national requirements will provide greater consistency for social housing applicants and local housing authorities, ultimately providing a fairer overall service.

Further information

The consultation will run until 26 March and can be accessed via an online survey.

The policy proposals set out in the consultation apply to the social rented sector in England and will inform changes to secondary legislation regarding eligibility and qualification criteria under Part 6 of the Housing Act 1996. We are not proposing to change the rules or guidance on reasonable and additional preference that local housing authorities follow to prioritise allocations.

The income test will set out a maximum household income threshold, which if exceeded, would mean households would not qualify for social housing. This will only apply to applicants and have no impact on existing tenants.

February 1, 2024