Tag: 2024

PRESS RELEASE : Emergency hazards to be repaired in 24 hours through Awaab’s Law [January 2024]
The press release issued by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities on 9 January 2024.

The Housing Secretary launches a consultation proposing new legal requirements for social landlords to address hazards including damp and mould quickly.
New plans to clamp down on rogue social landlords who fail to provide safe homes have been announced today, supporting the Government’s pledge to deliver Awaab’s Law.

The two-year-old from Rochdale died from a respiratory condition caused by extensive mould in the flat where he lived, and the Government is taking action to introduce lifechanging reforms in social housing to prevent future tragedies.

The Awaab’s Law consultation has been launched by the Housing Secretary, which proposes introducing new strict time limits for social housing providers and force them to take swift action in addressing dangerous hazards such as damp and mould.

It proposes new legal requirements for social landlords to investigate hazards within 14 days, start fixing within a further 7 days, and make emergency repairs within 24 hours. Those landlords who fail can be taken to court where they may be ordered to pay compensation for tenants.

Landlords will be expected to keep clear records to improve transparency for tenants – showing every attempt is made to comply with the new timescales so they can no longer dither and delay to rectify people’s homes.

Housing Secretary, Michael Gove said:

“The tragic death of Awaab Ishak should never have happened. His family have shown courageous leadership, determination and dignity to champion these changes and now it’s time for us to deliver for them through Awaab’s Law.

“Today is about stronger and more robust action against social landlords who have refused to take their basic responsibilities seriously for far too long. We will force them to fix their homes within strict new time limits and take immediate action to tackle dangerous damp and mould to help prevent future tragedies.

“Alongside Awaab’s Law, our landmark Social Housing Act will drastically improve the quality of life in social housing, granting residents a proper voice to fight those who think they can cheat the system and ensuring rogue landlords face the full force of the law.”

Faisal Abdullah, Awaab’s Father said:

“We hope that Awaab’s Law will stop any other family going through the pain that we went through. Landlords need to listen to the concerns of tenants and we support these proposals.”

Social Housing campaigner, Kwajo Tweneboa said:

“As we know many families across the country are still living in homes with damp and mould, creating misery but more worryingly risks their health and safety.

“I’m pleased to see Awaab’s Law reach the consultation phase and hope that it goes far enough to prevent other families going through the tragedy Awaab’s family have had to. It’s crucial the government are able to make sure this law has teeth and is enforced for it to work as intended.”

Through the measures announced today tenants will be able to take their landlords to court if they fail to fix dangerous hazards. This builds on the progress already made to drive up standards in social housing.

There has been consistent improvement in the quality of social homes since 2010 – with a reduction in non-decent social homes from 20% in 2010 to 10% last year – but the Government recognises there is more work to do.

The Social Housing (Regulation) Act, which became law last year, will equip the Regulator of Social Housing and tenants with stronger powers and rights to hold the small minority of rogue landlords accountable.

New enforcement powers will also be available for the Regulator to weed out bad landlord practices – including issuing unlimited fines and entering properties with only 48 hours’ notice to make emergency repairs in the most severe cases.

As part of changes to deliver Awaab’s Law, the Government recently consulted on what more tenants need to better understand their rights and challenge social landlords when things go wrong – the direction to the Regulator will be published in the coming weeks.

This is the latest step in addressing systemic issues identified following the Grenfell Tower fire – not just the safety and quality of social housing but how tenants are treated by their landlords.

Further information

Awaab’s Law consultation will be open for eight weeks and further details on how to respond can be found here

Following the analysis of responses, we will introduce secondary legislation to bring Awaab’s Law into force as soon as practically possible.

The Government continues to engage with the social housing sector, residents, and experts to address unsafe homes. We publish monthly updates on work to improve the quality of social housing in England and the latest update is available here

More details on Government reforms can be found on the Social Housing Quality page
January 9, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : FCDO statement on Bangladesh election [January 2024]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 8 January 2024.

The FCDO has issued a statement following elections in Bangladesh.

An FCDO spokesperson said:

“The United Kingdom notes the results of the 12th Parliamentary Elections in Bangladesh, which took place on 7 January 2024.

“Democratic elections depend on credible, open, and fair competition. Respect for human rights, rule of law and due process are essential elements of the democratic process. These standards were not consistently met during the election period. We are concerned at the significant number of arrests of opposition party members before polling day.

“We condemn the acts of intimidation and violence that took place prior to and during the campaign period. Such conduct has no place in political life.

“Not all political parties took part in the elections. The Bangladeshi people did not therefore have the fullest range of voting options.

“The United Kingdom and Bangladesh share a deep and historic friendship. Creating the conditions for a sustainable political settlement and vibrant civil society will enable long-term growth. We encourage all political parties to address their differences and find a common way forward in the interests of the people of Bangladesh. We will continue to support this process.”

January 8, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : £20 million bespoke funding for Mansfield as third Levelling Up Partnership [January 2024]
The press release issued by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities on 8 January 2024.

Mansfield named as the third area to benefit from Levelling Up Partnership .

Mansfield has been confirmed as the third area to benefit from a major £400 million bespoke regeneration programme which forms a key part of the government’s levelling up agenda in England.

The area will receive £20 million to improve the town centre and its connectivity, support residents in the most deprived areas access vital services and help divert young people from crime and anti-social behaviour, and ensure the town is best prepared to benefit from future investment. The government is committed to backing businesses all over the country to grow all regions of our economy.

Secretary of State for Levelling Up Michael Gove said:

Levelling Up Partnerships are a key tool to drive much-needed change in local areas, and we are working intensively with places which for too long had been overlooked and undervalued.

Our £20 million funding for Mansfield will help remodel the Bellamy and Oak Tree housing estates, develop young people’s green construction skills in partnership with Nottingham Trent University, address anti-social behaviour, and support East Midlands’ devolution deal.

The investment is made up of:
- £7.4m to remodel the Bellamy and Oak Tree estates and improve housing quality and access to services
- £5m to Mansfield Connect as an exemplar low carbon construction project and for hands-on skills training for retrofit and modern methods of construction in partnership with Vision West Nottinghamshire College and Nottingham Trent University
- £3.2m for a youth centre on the Bellamy estate to help divert young people from crime and anti-social behaviour.
- £2m for streetscaping and public realm improvements in the centre of Mansfield to make the town centre more appealing.
- £2m for improvements to Sainsbury’s junction, a local traffic pinch-point affecting connectivity into the town centre
- £300,000 for the refurbishment of South Mansfield Family Hubs to make them more appropriate for family and youth support
- £250,000 for a school readiness pilot run by Nottingham Trent University in some of Mansfield’s most deprived neighbourhoods
- £250,000 of capacity funding for Mansfield District Council to identity its unique economic and cultural opportunities in preparation for the establishment of the new devolution deal in the East Midlands.
Mansfield District Council and the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) have worked closely together as strategic partners to identify projects most in need and will continue to work together to deliver the much-needed improvements.

Andrew Abrahams, Executive Mayor of Mansfield District Council, said:

Mansfield is set to receive investment that will make a huge difference to communities and help to deliver some of our place-shaping aspirations for the district.  Through Levelling Up we are investing in people and places to make a brighter future for the residents of Mansfield. These projects will bring life-changing opportunities that will make a real difference in some of our most deprived areas.

We’re pleased to be able to finally announce the full funding package for Mansfield, coupled with the Town’s Fund and Long-Term deal for Towns, the district is set to benefit from substantial amounts of much-needed funding to help build thriving communities, grow a more vibrant economy and a place where people are supported to be happy and healthy.

Ben Bradley MP, Leader of Nottinghamshire County Council, said:

The Levelling Up Partnership represents a chance for us to tackle some long-term and important issues for our area, particularly in disadvantaged areas.

Major investments in the Oak Tree and Bellamy estates will be a game-changer for our ability to support people and deliver public services. Residents will also know that the Sainsbury’s junction has been a personal mission of mine for several years so I’m delighted we’ve been able to secure this funding.

I’m grateful to the Ministers and the Department for their support in delivering these projects.

Mansfield is one of 20 areas which will receive tailored support through Levelling Up Partnerships announced in the Spring Budget 2023 and focused on areas most in need of levelling up in England.  It follows the announcement last year that Hull and Sandwell have been confirmed as the first two areas to receive the bespoke support. At the Autumn Statement, the Government announced the extension of Levelling Up Partnerships to Scotland.

The Government has begun working with all areas due to form part of a Levelling Up Partnership in England and will update with details of regeneration packages over the next 18 months.

The announcement builds on recent investment in Mansfield with £20m from the Long-Term Plan for Towns, £20 million from the Levelling Up Fund, a £12.3m Town Deal and £2.9m from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF). Overall, we have committed over £13 billion through levelling up funds to improve everyday life for people across the UK.
January 8, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : Joint Statement from the International Coordination and Response Group for the victims of Flight PS752 [January 2024]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 8 January 2024.

The UK, Canada, Sweden and Ukraine have issued a joint statement on the initiation of dispute settlement proceedings before the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) against Iran.

The International Coordination and Response Group for the victims of Flight PS752 today issued the following joint statement:

We, ministers representing Canada, Sweden, Ukraine and the United Kingdom, have taken another step on the road to transparency, justice and accountability for Iran’s unlawful downing of Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 which killed 176 people including nationals and residents of our countries.

Today we have jointly initiated dispute settlement proceedings before the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) against the Islamic Republic of Iran for using weapons against a civil aircraft in flight in breach of its international legal obligations under Article 3bis of the Convention on International Civil Aviation (known as the Chicago Convention).

For four years now, Iran has refused to take full legal responsibility for the downing of Flight PS752 despite our numerous attempts to engage in negotiations on this matter. As a result, we have referred the dispute to the ICAO Council for a decision pursuant to Article 84 of the Chicago Convention.

Initiating these proceedings today reflects our commitment to the families who deserve justice. It also reflects our trust in the ICAO council, and the international community writ large, as guardian of the safety and security of civil aviation, including by settling disputes when they arise. It is necessary that those who violate the rules are held accountable. Our common hope is that this action alongside our continued pursuit of justice at the International Court of Justice can lead to real change and prevent similar tragic losses in the future. Justice shall prevail.

January 8, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : Renaissance painting depicting The Crucifixion at risk of leaving the UK [January 2024]
The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 8 January 2024.

A temporary export bar has been placed on a 15th century painting by Fra Angelico to allow time for a UK gallery or institution to acquire it.
- The painting is valued at over £5 million and dates from a formative period in the artist’s career
Arts and Heritage Minister Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay has placed an export bar on a 15th-century painting, ‘The Crucifixion with the Virgin, Saint John the Evangelist and the Magdalen’ by Fra Angelico.

The painting, valued at over £5 million, is at risk of leaving the UK unless a domestic buyer can be found.

The work by the leading Renaissance artist Fra Angelico depicts Christ on the Cross surrounded by the Virgin Mary, Mary Magdalene, and Saint John the Evangelist. The luminous colours and refined composition are highly characteristic of Fra Angelico’s techniques, and the work, dated to the early 1420s, was painted at an important moment in Renaissance art.

The painting reflects Fra Angelico’s response to the intense period of creative innovation taking place at the time, when artists were developing new expressive and compelling forms of representation in religious and secular art.

Arts & Heritage Minister Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay said:

This beautiful piece by such an important figure of the early Renaissance represents a key moment in the history of European painting.

It has been in the UK for two centuries, and I hope that a domestic buyer will come forward so that it can remain here to be studied and admired for generations to come.

The Minister’s decision follows the advice of the Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art and Objects of Cultural Interest (RCEWA).

Committee member Christopher Baker said:

Fra Angelico was one of the great innovators in the evolution of early 15th-century Florentine art. This profoundly moving devotional work, with its delicate colour harmonies and deeply considered, expressive figures, demonstrates the enduring power of his achievement. It is an extraordinary rarity that assists with our understanding of a formative period in the artist’s career and in the development of Italian Renaissance painting more widely. Its appeal also extends far beyond such scholarship because of its numinous beauty.

Executed in tempera on a wooden panel, the painting retains its original frame and has been in Britain since the early 19th century. It would constitute a major addition to a UK public collection and every effort should be made if possible to acquire it.

The RCEWA made its recommendation on the basis that the painting met the second and third Waverley criteria for its outstanding aesthetic importance and its outstanding significance for the study of the development of painting in Italy in the early Renaissance.

The decision on the export licence application for the painting will be deferred for a period ending on 7 April 2024 (inclusive). At the end of the first deferral period owners will have a consideration period of 15 Business Days to consider any offer(s) to purchase the painting at the recommended price of £5,001,000 (plus VAT of £180,200 which can be reclaimed by an eligible institution). The second deferral period will commence following the signing of an Option Agreement and will last for six months.

Offers from public bodies for less than the recommended price through the private treaty sale arrangements, where appropriate, may also be considered by the Minister. Such purchases frequently offer substantial financial benefit to a public institution wishing to acquire the item.

Notes to editors
1. In December 2022, Lord Parkinson discussed the Waverley criteria in a speech to mark their 70th anniversary, and used the opportunity to invite thoughts on the way they work – for instance, whether the Committee should say more about how it has considered items’ connection to the history of other countries as well as to the UK’s, or whether the items it considers are destined for public display rather than private collection. His full speech can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/lord-parkinson-speech-at-a-reception-to-mark-70-years-of-the-waverley-criteria
2. Organisations or individuals interested in purchasing the painting should contact the RCEWA on 0207 2680534 or rcewa@artscouncil.org.uk
3. Details of the painting are as follows: Fra Angelico (active 1417; died 1455). ‘The Crucifixion’, early 1420s Tempera on panel, 59.7 x 34.2 cm. The painting retains its original engaged frame
4. Provenance: (Probably) William Bingham Baring, 2nd Lord Ashburton (1799-1864), Bath House, London; by inheritance to his widow, Louisa, Lady Ashburton (1827-1903), Kent House, London or Melchett Court, Hampshire; through her daughter, The Hon. Mary Florence Baring (1860-1902), wife of William Compton, 5th Marquess of Northampton (1851-1913), and their second son, Lord Spencer Compton (1893-1915) and by descent.
5. The Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art and Objects of Cultural Interest is an independent body, serviced by the Arts Council (ACE), which advises the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on whether a cultural object, intended for export, is of national importance under specified criteria.
6. Arts Council England is the national development agency for creativity and culture. Its strategic vision in Let’s Create is that, by 2030, England should be a country in which the creativity of everyone is valued and given the chance to flourish and where everyone has access to a remarkable range of high-quality cultural experiences. ACE invests public money from the Government and the National Lottery to support the sector and deliver the vision. Following the Covid-19 crisis, ACE developed a £160 million Emergency Response Package, with nearly 90 per cent coming from the National Lottery, for organisations and individuals needing support. It is also one of the bodies administering the Government’s unprecedented Culture Recovery Fund.
January 8, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : British-made science component on way to land on the moon for the first time as historic Peregrine Mission One launches [8 January 2024]
The press release issued by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on 8 January 2024.

A major global space mission has launched today that will see a British-built science component land on the moon for the first time.
- Astrobotic’s Peregrine Mission One will see an uncrewed spacecraft orbit the moon before landing on its surface, with science aiming to advance our understanding of the availability of resources such as water, which could be used for more sustained human exploration
- the Lunar Lander features a NASA science instrument called the ‘Peregrine Ion Trap Mass Spectrometer’ (PITMS), with an integral component, the Exospheric Mass Spectrometer (EMS), developed in the UK
- the use of PITMS achieves historic milestone for UK space, as it will be the first UK and European science component to touch down on the surface of the Moon
A major global space mission that will see a British-built science instrument land on the moon for the first time is underway as Astrobotic’s Peregrine Mission One launched today (Monday 8 January).

The Mission will see the Peregrine Lunar Lander spend time orbiting Earth, and then the Moon before beginning its dramatic descent and historic landing, expected to be around mid-February.

Launched from Cape Canaveral in Florida, it includes a scientific instrument, known as the Peregrine Ion Trap Mass Spectrometer. A key component of PITMS has been developed in the UK through £14 million of Government funding through the UK’s membership of the European Space Agency.

The PITMS instrument will explore the Moon’s atmosphere, by measuring water and other molecules, and unlock the mysteries of its ‘water cycle,’ as can be observed on Earth. This study of volatile substances – materials that can turn into gas – will provide valuable insights into lunar composition and conditions. The data collected will contribute to our understanding of the Moon’s potential to provide resources like water, opening new possibilities for future human presence on the lunar surface.

The UK-built component – called the Exospheric Mass Spectrometer – was developed under a European Space Agency contract by scientists at The Open University and RAL Space, UK’s national space lab. It represents the first instrument on the Moon that has been built in the UK and in Europe and embodies the UK’s commitment to economic growth, showcasing the nation’s prowess in cutting-edge space technology.

As part of the PITMS, the Exospheric Mass Spectrometer allows researchers to study atoms and molecules in a gas. Lunar molecules in the Moon’s exosphere will enter the PITMS, be turned into ions, and then stored in an electric field – known as the ‘ion trap’. The ions are released from the trap into the detector, unveiling their chemical makeup and helping scientists to decipher the Moon’s composition.

The Peregrine Lunar Lander carries a suite of diverse NASA and commercial ‘payloads’– often scientific or technological instruments, carried on board a spacecraft for a specific purpose.

Notably, among these commercial payloads are items which add a touch of human creativity to space exploration, including a time capsule, a bitcoin, and even a music album.

Science and Technology Secretary, Michelle Donelan said:

The Exospheric Mass Spectrometer will be the first science component developed in the UK destined for the lunar surface, marking a historic moment for the UK space industry.

This significant achievement also lays the groundwork for understanding how to sustain extended human presence on the Moon in the future – changing the way humankind interacts with the solar system around us forever.

It is also a further sign of our close collaboration with international partners like NASA who I recently visited at the Johnson Centre, where we even discussed the potential for British astronauts to reach the moon in the future.

Understanding water on the Moon is an important part of the Artemis programme, to explore more of the lunar surface than ever before.

NASA contracted Astrobotic as its commercial partner and Peregrine Mission One to provide payload services via the Commercial Lunar Payload Services Initiative for five NASA-provided payloads, of which the PITMS is one.

Libby Jackson, Head of Space Exploration at the UK Space Agency, said:

The Peregrine Lunar Lander will help pave the way for further exploration of our Solar System. Witnessing the first instrument from the UK, and indeed Europe, launch to the Moon is a hugely exciting moment. We are looking forward to seeing Peregrine safely on the surface and the return of important data from PITMS to help unlock the secrets of water on the moon.

It’s fantastic to see our skilled UK experts at the heart of an international mission that will support future long-term presence in space.

Commenting on RAL Space’s contribution, Prof. Mark Thomson, Executive Chair of STFC, said:

Ambitious plans for future space exploration, including crewed missions to the Moon and Mars, will need to be informed by new scientific data. The cutting-edge instrumentation on the Peregrine Lunar Lander will gather essential data from the surface of the moon, paving the way for future missions that will inspire the next generations. STFC and RAL Space are proud to have been able to provide our world-leading expertise in space technology to contribute to the success of this mission.

Roland Trautner, ESA EMS Project Manager said:

As the first ESA payload destined to land on the lunar surface, the Exospheric Mass Spectrometer (EMS) – which forms the heart of the ESA-NASA PITMS instrument – is a groundbreaking instrument for ESA, both as a technology demonstrator and for lunar science. PITMS will answer key questions on the Moon’s exosphere and its evolution, providing invaluable insights into availability and possible utilisation of potential resources for future space exploration, including production of fuel, food and energy. The EMS technology is also a key building block for future instruments for lunar exploration, and new flight opportunities have been identified already.
January 8, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : UK-India to build closer trade and innovation partnership, during UK ministerial visit to Tamil Nadu and Gujarat [January 2024]
The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 8 January 2024.

Lord (Tariq) Ahmad, Minister of State for the Middle East, South Asia, UN and the Prime Minister’s Special Representative on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict arrives in India today (Monday) where he will launch two new UK-funded sustainability projects.
- UK’s Minister of State, Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon, will visit Chennai in Tamil Nadu and Ahmedabad in Gujarat on a three-day visit to India.
- Attending the Tamil Nadu Global Investors Meet (TNGIM), he will announce two new UK-funded sustainability projects.
- His visit will include attendance at Vibrant Gujarat, an innovation-focused summit.
Whilst in Chennai, the Minister will launch a Heat Mitigation project alongside Tamil Nadu’s State Planning Commission. The project will provide recommendations to the Government of Tamil Nadu to address extreme heat related deaths and the loss of vital ecosystems.

With the Tamil Nadu Department of Environment and Climate Change, he will also launch an Electronic and Battery Waste Management project, which will develop a plan to reduce battery waste.

As the states of Tamil Nadu and Gujarat are two of India’s largest economies, the Minister will use his trip to highlight the strong UK-India trade partnership and explore new opportunities to collaborate, including on clean energy growth.

Lord Ahmad Minister of State for the Middle East, South Asia, UN, and the Prime Minister’s Special Representative on Preventing Sexual Violence said:

Tamil Nadu and Gujarat are leading the way in the development of emerging technologies, and I am delighted to see first-hand British businesses pioneering innovation in the region.

During my visit I look forward to further promoting joint innovation projects alongside dynamic Indian businesses – from renewable manufacturing to financial services. These are made possible through the close trade partnership we have between our two countries.”

Attending the TNGIM in Chennai, a flagship investment summit, Lord Ahmad will deliver a keynote speech on the success of innovative UK-India projects in climate and energy.

He will continue to showcase the sustainable success of British businesses overseas at a GREAT reception and will see first-hand how British business is supporting clean growth in India.

At the Biennial Investors’ Summit, Vibrant Gujarat, the Minister will celebrate the close ties between the UK and India through business, culture, and our great links between our peoples.

While at Vibrant Gujarat, he will witness the signing of an MoU between the UK’s Abertay University and India’s École Intuit Lab. The partnership agreement will see teaching, research and innovation expertise shared between the two organisations.

Strengthening the UK-India relationship is a key pillar of the UK’s long-term foreign policy, as part of its enduring engagement in the Indo-Pacific set out in the Integrated Review Refresh.

Further Information
- The 2030 Roadmap for India-UK future relations was launched in 2021. Since then, significant progress has been made, including on health collaboration, advancing the transition to clean energy, cyber-security cooperation and the expansion of our defence and security partnership.
- The UK Government Advanced Manufacturing Plan is supported by £4.5 billion in funding, including £3 billion for automotive and aerospace, the plan focuses on driving innovation and supporting the transition to net zero.
- Launch of UK-funded projects in Tamil Nadu: as part of the ongoing climate and energy collaboration between the UK and Tamil Nadu, notably on offshore wind, green hydrogen and forests, two new collaboration projects will be launched:
  - Heat Mitigation Strategy for Tamil Nadu Project, which will work with the Government of Tamil Nadu to develop a strategy and action plan to address extreme heat related deaths and loss of ecosystems. The project will work towards the common goals of India and UK to address pressing climate challenges, particularly climate induced extreme weather events.
  - Electronic and Battery Waste Management Project, which will work with the Government of Tamil Nadu to develop a strategy and action plan on circular economy for electronic and battery waste to address the issue of increasing e-waste, including batteries, in a leading industrial state.
January 8, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : Major national drive to improve school attendance [January 2024]

The press release issued by the Department for Education on 8 January 2024.

Attendance hubs to more than double to support 1,000 more schools and £15 million investment to expand the attendance mentor pilot programme.

Driving up attendance and tackling persistent absence is at the centre of new stronger measures launched today as pupils return to school.

More than one million children and young people will be supported into regular education as part of a major expansion of the attendance hubs, which provide a range of tailored support to families and pupils to boost time in school.

There will be 18 new attendance hubs across six regions, bringing the total to 32 and will see nearly 2,000 schools helped to tackle persistent absence.

Hubs are run by schools with excellent attendance that share practical ideas with other primary, secondary, alternative provision and special schools in England who need help to boost their attendance.

From direct pupil engagement initiatives like breakfast clubs and extracurricular activities, to improving their processes and analysis of attendance data, lead hub schools provide a range of support to schools that they can tailor to their pupils and families.

The government is also increasing the direct support offered to children and their families with the expansion of the attendance mentor pilot programme.

With an investment of up to £15million, over three years, this programme will provide direct intensive support to more than 10,000 persistent and severely absent pupils and their families.

The programme will see trained attendance mentors working in 10 further areas from September 2024. These areas are in addition to the existing pilot programme with Barnardo’s which is already operating in Middlesbrough, Doncaster, Knowsley, Salford, and Stoke on Trent.

The programme provides intensive one-to-one support to pupils who are persistently absent working with them and their families to find out why the child is skipping school. This can lead to extra support, more intensive work with teachers or in some cases bridge-building between school and family.

Being in school has never been more valuable with standards continuing to rise. 89% of schools are now rated good or outstanding, up from 68% in 2010. We are constantly seeing the success of our reforms rising up the rankings in maths, reading and science. Just this month, England was ranked 11th in the world for maths, up from 27th in 2009, and in May, England was named ‘best in the west’ for primary reading.

Education Secretary Gillian Keegan said:

The benefits of our success in raising education standards can only be when all children are in school.

Tackling attendance is my number one priority. We want all our children to have the best start in life because we know that attending school is vital to a child’s wellbeing, development, and attainment as well as impact future career success.

I am hugely grateful to all our brilliant teachers, heads, and everyone whose worked with us to make the progress we’ve already made with 380,000 fewer children persistently absent.

Children’s Commissioner Rachel De Souza said:

As Children’s Commissioner, I have made school attendance one of my top priorities because children tell me how much they value their education and want to be in school. Every day counts: when children miss school, it’s not just about missing lessons, it’s also about losing valuable moments spent with their friends and teachers.

I very much welcome the government’s announcements today which include the recommendations made last year in my report on school attendance.

I am hopeful that these measures will arm local authorities and schools with real-time information about school absence rates and provide vital support for children who face barriers to attending school.

Chief Executive of Barnardo’s, Lynn Perry MBE, said:

Our Attendance Mentoring pilot scheme shows that one of the best ways to improve attendance is working individually with children, building trust and listening to their concerns. Our mentors encourage children to talk openly about issues such as family finances, bullying, or mental health worries – anything they feel may be preventing them from going to school.

In Middlesbrough, 82% of the children we have worked with improved their attendance through one-on-one support from an attendance mentor, with almost two-thirds of the children saying their mental health also improved.

Rob Tarn CBE, Chief Executive of Northern Education Trust said:

We are delighted that the hard work around attendance at North Shore Academy has led to significant impact for our students and their outcomes.

The fact that this work was recognised as a best practice model meant we felt compelled to share what we are doing with other schools and academies in similar contexts and help where we could. This was, in essence, the beginning of the attendance hub programme. Seeing this work extended, with more hubs supporting more schools, is a source of great pride for the trust.

A national communications campaign on the importance of attendance is also launching today targeting parents and carers. Under the strapline ‘Moments Matter, Attendance Counts’ it outlines the importance of attendance for attainment, wellbeing, and development as well as signposting to advice for further support.

Key advice includes a recent letter from the Chief Medical Officer that outlines best practice when it comes to attendance and illness. The intention is to ensure that parents have the guidance they need when it comes to making decisions when deciding to send their child to school or when to keep them home.

The government has also committed to further legislation in the coming months that will mean all schools will be required to share their daily school registers. This, together with reforming pupil registration practice, will modernise how schools record and share data on attendance and support them to understand what is driving absence in their school and provide early support and intervention where pupils are displaying worrying trends of absence.

January 8, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : UK-India to build closer trade and innovation partnership during UK Ministerial visit [January 2024]
The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 8 January 2024.
- UK’s Minister of State, Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon, will visit Chennai in Tamil Nadu and Ahmedabad in Gujarat on a 3-day visit to India
- attending the Tamil Nadu Global Investor’s Meet (TNGIM), he will announce 2 new UK-funded sustainability projects
- he will also attend Vibrant Gujarat, an innovation-focused summit
Lord (Tariq) Ahmad, Minister of State for the Middle East, South Asia, UN and the Prime Minister’s Special Representative on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict arrives in India today (Monday 8 January) where he will launch 2 new UK-funded sustainability projects.

Whilst in Chennai, the minister will launch a Heat Mitigation project alongside Tamil Nadu’s State Planning Commission. The project will provide recommendations to the Government of Tamil Nadu to address extreme heat related deaths and the loss of vital ecosystems.

With the Tamil Nadu Department of Environment and Climate Change, he will also launch an Electronic and Battery Waste Management project, which will develop a plan to reduce battery waste.

The minister will meet with national and local government representatives and talks will be wide ranging, from clean energy to human rights. He will also discuss progress towards an ambitious trade deal, for which there is strong political will on both sides.

As the states of Tamil Nadu and Gujarat are 2 of India’s largest economies, the minister will use his trip to highlight the strong UK-India trade partnership and explore new opportunities to collaborate, including on clean energy growth.

Lord Ahmad Minister of State for the Middle East, South Asia, UN, and the Prime Minister’s Special Representative on Preventing Sexual Violence said:

Tamil Nadu and Gujarat are leading the way in the development of emerging technologies, and I am delighted to see first-hand British businesses pioneering innovation in the region.

During my visit I look forward to further promoting joint innovation projects alongside dynamic Indian businesses – from renewable manufacturing to financial services. These are made possible through the close trade partnership we have between our 2 countries.

Attending the TNGIM in Chennai, a flagship investment summit, Lord Ahmad will deliver a keynote speech on the success of innovative UK-India projects in climate and energy.

He will continue to showcase the sustainable success of British businesses overseas at a GREAT reception and will see first-hand how British business is supporting clean growth in India.

At the Biennial Investors’ Summit, Vibrant Gujarat, the minister will celebrate the close ties between the UK and India through business, culture, and our great links between our peoples.

While at Vibrant Gujarat, he will witness the signing of an MoU between the UK’s Abertay University and India’s École Intuit Lab. The partnership agreement will see teaching, research and innovation expertise shared between the 2 organisations.

Strengthening the UK-India relationship is a key pillar of the UK’s long-term foreign policy, as part of its enduring engagement in the Indo-Pacific set out in the Integrated Review Refresh.
January 8, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : UK invests in high-tech nuclear fuel to push Putin out of global energy market [January 2024]
The press release issued by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero on 7 January 2024.

£300 million UK investment to support domestic production of fuel required to power next-generation nuclear reactors.
- First European country to launch high-assay low enriched uranium (HALEU) programme with landmark £300 million investment
- Programme will produce enriched uranium needed for next generation of reactors and provide jobs and investment in North West England
- Investment will end Russia’s reign as the only commercial producer of HALEU
The UK will become the first country in Europe to launch a high-tech HALEU nuclear fuel programme, strengthening supply for new nuclear projects and driving Putin further out of global energy markets.

The landmark £300 million investment is part of plans to help deliver up to 24GW of clean, reliable nuclear power by 2050 – a quarter of the UK’s electricity needs.

The government funding will support domestic production of high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU) – the specialist fuel required to power the next generation of nuclear reactors. Most advanced reactors require this fuel that is currently only commercially produced in Russia.

The launch of the HALEU programme will enable the UK to supply the world with specialist nuclear fuel and further isolate Putin’s Russia.

An additional £10 million will also be provided to develop the skills and sites to produce other advanced nuclear fuels in the UK, helping to secure long term domestic nuclear fuel supply and support international allies.

This builds on the UK’s status as a world leader in the production of nuclear fuels, with domestic capability in uranium enrichment and in fuel fabrication in the North-West of England.

Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, Claire Coutinho, said:

We stood up to Putin on oil and gas and financial markets, we won’t let him hold us to ransom on nuclear fuel.

Britain gave the world its first operational nuclear power plant, and now we will be the first nation in Europe outside of Russia to produce advanced nuclear fuel.

This will be critical for energy security at home and abroad and builds on Britain’s historic competitive advantages.

These plans will help build new supplies of affordable and clean domestic power so the transition to net zero doesn’t mean higher prices, protecting households from global instability.

Advanced modular reactors will play an important role in the UK’s nuclear revival as, like small modular reactors, they are smaller, can be made in factories, and could transform how power stations are built by making construction faster and less expensive. Many designs have the potential for a range of applications beyond low-carbon electricity generation, including production of hydrogen or industrial heat.

With the first plant scheduled to be operational in the early 2030s, the funding will boost the North West of England’s nuclear fuel production hub, supporting local industry and jobs while helping to expand our nuclear revival in the UK and overseas – vital to meeting global net zero targets.

This builds on the UK’s work to displace Russia from the global nuclear fuels market, particularly in uranium conversion services, where government and industry are together investing up to £26 million to bring this capability back to the UK by the end of the decade.

At COP28 the UK also restated its commitment to working with G7 nuclear partners to reduce global dependence on Russian fuel.
January 7, 2024