Tag: 2024

PRESS RELEASE : New controls across government to curb consultancy spend and save over £1.2 billion by 2026 [November 2024]
The press release issued by the Cabinet Office on 14 November 2024.

New controls on the use of consultancies across government are being brought in to cut unnecessary spending and save £1.2 billion by 2026, as set out in the Autumn Statement – with departments already expected to save the £550 million committed to this financial year.
- New controls are being brought in across government to address unnecessary consultancy spending by departments.
- Measures to reduce reliance on larger firms, and support SMEs to increase diversity, innovation, social value and flexibility within the market.
- Alongside the new controls, a new overarching framework agreement and enhanced terms and conditions and guidance will streamline the procurement process and ensure consultants are only used by public sector buyers when necessary.
New controls on the use of consultancies across government are being brought in to cut unnecessary spending and save £1.2 billion by 2026, as set out in the Autumn Statement – with departments already expected to save the £550 million committed to this financial year.

The new controls will provide far greater oversight, with ministerial signoff required for any consultancy spend over £600,000, or for contracts lasting more than nine months, while consultancy spend over £100,000, or that lasts more than three months, will now need to be signed off by the relevant permanent secretary.

When combined with commercial agreements that are focused on value for money, these controls will drive a reduction in consultancy spend in Whitehall.

Georgia Gould, Parliamentary Secretary at the Cabinet Office, said:

We’re taking immediate action to stop all non-essential government consultancy spend in 2024-25 and halve government spending on consultancy in future years, saving the taxpayer over £1.2 billion by 2026.

It comes alongside our work to develop a strategic plan to make the Civil Service more efficient and effective, with bold measures to improve skills and harness digital technology.

To support this, the government is also inviting companies to bid for a new framework agreement which will streamline the way it uses consultants in the years to come.

By providing a single, centralised list of suppliers who have already been through a rigorous and competitive tendering process in order to gain a place on the agreement, it will cut down the time spent by departments on the procurement process, and ultimately ensure better value for money and more competitive prices.

In line with this government’s commitment to cut consultancy spend, the framework’s total value has been cut from £5.7 billion over four years as planned to £1.7 billion over two years.

The new agreement will be managed by the Crown Commercial Service (CCS), the UK’s biggest public procurement organisation and an executive agency of the Cabinet Office, which will play a coordinating role in consolidating the government’s consultancy spend as it delivers change for working people.

Sam Ulyatt, CEO of Crown Commercial Service said:

Consultancy services are sometimes needed to support Government to deliver for citizens, but taxpayers must get value for money.

This agreement will help to ensure a behavioural and cultural change of how consultancy is procured throughout the UK public sector.

It will also provide SMEs with further opportunities to win public sector contracts which allow them to bid as part of consortiums, or as a subcontractor.

CCS has developed the agreement in consultation with departments to ensure that it can best meet their needs. Some of these improvements include expanding the use of alternative fee arrangements, which are linked to supplier performance, to ensure value for money for customers and the taxpayer.
November 27, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : Approaching 1000 days of Russian atrocities and Ukrainian resilience – UK statement to the OSCE [November 2024]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 14 November 2024.

Ambassador Holland marks the grim forthcoming milestone of 1000 days of Russia’s illegal full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Next week marks the 1000th day since Russia launched its unprovoked and illegal full-scale invasion of Ukraine – a grim milestone. From the outset, Russia has shown a blatant disregard for sovereignty, territorial integrity, human rights and the impact of their actions on the frameworks that supports global peace and security.

Russia illegally annexed Crimea in 2014. For nearly a decade, Ukrainian citizens in Crimea – particularly Crimean Tatars – have endured systematic persecution, arbitrary detention and enforced disappearances. And with its renewed aggression, Russia has implemented its campaign to erase Ukrainian culture and identity throughout the newly occupied territories.

In the 995 days since, Russia’s aggression has targeted schools, hospitals, and homes across Ukraine with indiscriminate shelling. Just last week, Russian shells killed 14 civilians, including a one-year-old child, and left 88 more injured. Thousands of other Ukrainian civilians have been killed since February 2022, and millions have been forced to flee. The true scale of devastation is difficult to quantify, but cities such as Mariupol, Bucha, and Kharkiv bear the scars of a terror campaign designed to destabilise Ukraine.

Russia’s attacks on civilians, the systematic use of torture, forced deportations, and weaponisation of energy resources show complete disregard for human life. Recently, Russia has escalated its attacks on Ukrainian export infrastructure, blocking essential grain supplies to the global south and delaying aid to parts of the world that need it the most. As my Prime Minister said: “Putin is willing to gamble on global food security […] harming millions across Africa, Asia, and the Middle East to try and gain the upper hand in his barbaric war.”

Russia has even turned to Iran and DPRK for substantial military support. DPRK’s deployment of thousands of troops to Russia is a dangerous and reckless development that further destabilises European security and raises tensions in the Indo-Pacific. Russia relies on third country support to fuel its war machine and prolong the suffering of the Ukrainian people. So together with our partners we will continue to call on those responsible to stop enabling Russia’s illegal war.

Russia’s actions violate the UN Charter and every OSCE commitment, from the Helsinki Final Act to the Paris Charter. The international community has responded with unity, implementing sanctions that cut off Russian military funding and providing humanitarian and military support to Ukraine. We commend the resilience of the Ukrainian people, who have shown remarkable ingenuity in defence of democratic values.

Colleagues, we are approaching the 1000th day of what was sold as a 3-day war. Even in its original conception it was completely unnecessary. Russia can choose to end this war. The UK reaffirms our commitment to Ukraine’s independence and territorial integrity, alongside international partners. We will continue to hold Russia accountable and urge a just and lasting peace that respects the UN Charter and Helsinki Final Act.

November 27, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : Youth Justice Board appointments [November 2024]

The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 14 November 2024.

The Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice has approved the appointment of Karin Phillips MBE as a member of the Youth Justice Board (YJB) from 1 November 2024 until 30 September 2025.

Ministers consulted the Commissioner for Public Appointments before making the appointment which will ensure that the YJB has a board member, with experience and knowledge of Wales, while a recruitment exercise is run.

The Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice has also approved that the second term of Keith Fraser, the Chair of the YJB Chair, be extended from 14 April 2025 until 31 December 2025.

Karin Phillips MBE

Karin is currently a school governor at a high school in Cardiff, where she serves as the lead governor for music, drama, and safeguarding. Previously, she held the position of vice chair on the governing body of a primary school. Following several years in medical research, she transitioned to the Government Statistical Service. Mrs Phillips has held multiple positions within the Welsh Government, including the role of Deputy Director for Community Safety.

In recognition of her contributions to Community Safety in Wales and to the community in Cardiff, she was honoured with the MBE in the 2014 New Year Honours List.

Keith Fraser YJB Chair

Keith was appointed YJB Chair on 14 April 2020 and was subsequently reappointed on 14 April 2023. Keith is: Non-Executive Director/Trustee at The Work Force Development Trust; Committee Member for the Youth Endowment Fund; Patron for Employability UK. Keith was made a Commissioner for the Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities on 16 July 2020.

Prior to this, Keith was a Superintendent and Chief Inspector in the West Midlands Police, during which time he produced the 2016-19 Preventing Gang Involvement and Youth Violence strategy, having previously joined the Metropolitan Police Service as a Constable.

All did not declare any political activity.

The YJB is a non-departmental public body, responsible for overseeing the youth justice system in England and Wales. Its primary function is to monitor the operation of the youth justice system and the provision of youth justice services.

Appointments to the YJB are made by the Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice and are regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments.

Appointments and Reappointments comply with the Cabinet Office Governance Code on Public Appointments.

November 27, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : Government backs next generation of tech scale ups [November 2024]
The press release issued by the Department for Business and Trade on 14 November 2024.

The Department for Business and Trade has announced four tech scale up businesses as winners of the Unicorn Kingdom Pathfinder Awards.
- Four tech scale up companies announced as winners of the Unicorn Kingdom Pathfinder Awards (UKPA) across innovative categories such as AI and cyber security.
- Programme aims to nurture the world’s most talented scale ups within the UK’s tech ecosystem and help them establish a base in the UK economy.
- The UK has more unicorns than France and Germany combined and continues be a prime destination for tech businesses from across the world.
Four innovative tech scale up businesses tackling challenges from connecting cancer patients to clinical trials, to improving IT systems’ resistance to cyber-attacks, have been announced as winners of the Unicorn Kingdom Pathfinder Awards (UKPA) – the largest global awards for tech scale up companies.

The awards, hosted by the Department for Business and Trade (DBT), provide a unique opportunity to unearth the most promising businesses in tech and builds on the success of the UK’s Tech Rocketship Awards in 2023, which resulted in £67.4 million investment into the UK.

The government is focused on transforming the UK into even more of a magnet for investors and global businesses of all shapes and sizes. The awards serve as a reminder that the UK is the place to do business, helping to advance further opportunities for investment and growth.

Finalists were drawn from four categories: AI, Cyber Security, Connected and Automated Mobility (CAM) technology and Digital Trade Solutions.

The winners were announced yesterday at LinkedIn’s HQ in London, where the 10 finalists pitched to a leading panel of judges from the tech industry. They also heard from entrepreneur Alpesh B Patel OBE in a fireside chat, alongside panellists Envisionit Deep AI and Shopline – two successful businesses that have set up in the UK.

On Thursday, the winners will also attend a roundtable at No10 to discuss their success at the awards, and explore ways in which the UK can maintain its position as a premier destination to grow a business.

Minister for Small Businesses Gareth Thomas said:

We have a thriving tech sector worth over $1 trillion, and our Pathfinder Awards are vital in encouraging more tech scale ups from around the world to do businesses here in the UK.

Not only does the UK have more unicorns than France and Germany combined, but our country continues to be a prime destination for tech businesses from across the world to come and succeed.

Winners of the UKPAs will receive a tailored growth programme to scale up their business in the UK, including support from leading industry and government sector specialists and expertise from DBT’s Global Entrepreneur Programme.

Winners: 
- AI: Massive Bio – an AI-driven platform connecting cancer patients to bio-pharmaceutical clinical trials. The primary goal is for individuals with cancer to be directed to clinical trials tailored almost precisely to their specific condition through accurate and rapid analysis.
- Cyber Security: CyLock – provides a simple solution to test IT systems’ resistance to cyber-attacks, facilitating ready-to-implement solutions for clients to overcome cybersecurity vulnerabilities.
- Digital Trade Solutions: Grubtech – empowering restaurants and grocery chains to adopt omnichannel capabilities without the burden of changing core solutions like point of sales.
- Connected and Automated Mobility: Bottobo – specialises in developing robotics solutions designed to streamline industrial processes and enhance operational efficiency. Mainly focusing autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) and software platforms revolutionising the way warehouses and distribution centres fulfil orders.
Cagatay Culcuoglu, Co-founder and Chief Technology Officer at Massive Bio said:

It’s amazing to win the UKPA award for AI. The UK is a great place to expand globally and for business operations. We are looking forward to building our footprint in Commonwealth nations with the support of DBT and help cancer patients identify the right clinical trials.

Diego Padovan, Chief Executive Officer at CyLock said:

In cyber security, trust is something that is essential to provide your products. This kind of competition is crucial to building trust with our customers.

Mohamed Hamedi, Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer at Grubtech said:

It’s great to have the UK as a base to accelerate our global expansion. Thank you to DBT for supporting us to open doors, remove barriers, and helping us to hit the ground running.

Sancak Gülgen, Co-Founder of Bottobo said:

We really appreciate the support from the UK government for startups and future unicorns. The most important part is that they have a clear plan for the future needs of the technology and focus for us.

Increasing investment is a mission at the heart of this government. Britain is back and open for business, and our thriving tech sector, already worth $1.1 trillion, shows that the UK is the investment destination of choice.

The UK is one of only three economies in the world with a trillion-dollar tech sector, closely behind the US and China, and we’re encouraging more tech scale ups to come to the UK and operate here.

Our new Industrial Strategy will be international from the start, taking learnings from the best of what has been achieved globally. It will build on the UK’s strengths to support even more international businesses to thrive in our market. That’s why digital and tech is one of our growth sectors that will be a focus of the strategy.
November 27, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : £24 million boost for criminal legal aid to support most vulnerable [November 2024]
The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 14 November 2024.

Criminal legal aid will be bolstered by £24 million, as part of government work to tackle crisis in the justice system and keep courts running.
additional funding for criminal legal aid work in police stations and Youth Courts

first step in government plans to support the sustainability of the criminal legal aid sector

The Lord Chancellor, Shabana Mahmood, confirmed that solicitors who work in police stations and Youth Courts will be backed with additional funding, helping to address ongoing challenges in the criminal justice system.

This includes a £18.5 million boost for legal aid work undertaken in police stations. Access to justice is a cornerstone of our justice system and is fundamental to getting criminal cases through the courts and getting our justice system moving again.

There will also be an additional £5.1 million invested in Youth Court legal aid work for the most serious offences, to reflect the severity and complexity involved.

Alongside this, solicitors who work or commute to work in areas with fewer than 2 legal aid providers, as well as the Isle of Wight, will have their travel time reimbursed.

These measures will begin to stabilise the legal aid sector that has been left in dire straits. They mark start of this government’s work to support the sustainability of the justice system both now and in future.

Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice Shabana Mahmood said:

Criminal legal aid solicitors play a crucial role in our justice system, often carrying out incredibly complex work in challenging circumstances.

This Government is determined to improve the criminal legal aid sector which was left neglected for years. This is the first step to stabilising the sector and ensuring that those who take on these cases are properly compensated for their work.

The fee uplifts were proposed in January after the Criminal Legal Aid Independent Review (CLAIR) found that existing police station and youth court fee schemes no longer reflected the complexity of the work carried out by today’s legal profession.

Police station work often takes place at short notice during anti-social hours and the previous fee system was complicated and outdated. This funding will increase the lowest fees and start the process of simplifying the different police station pay schemes, making the system easier to navigate.

Youth Court work can deal with complicated trials involving organised crime and sexual assault, so this pay boost will also enable solicitor firms to better serve the children and teenagers they represent.

Today’s (14 November 2024) announcement comes alongside the publication of the Criminal Legal Aid Advisory Board’s annual report, which makes several recommendations for how the criminal legal aid system can be improved, including fee increases.

The future of criminal legal aid fees is still being considered as the Lord Chancellor takes decisions on how to use her Budget to deliver her agenda.

Notes to editors

changes will come into force on 6 December

£5.1 million has been allocated to increase the pay for solicitors taking on youth court legal aid work for the most serious offences by £598.59 per case

police station fees will increase for the lowest London and non-London fees at a cost of £18.5 million

£400,000 is being set aside to pay for travel time for providers in areas with fewer than 2 providers and the Isle of Wight, and providers willing to travel from surrounding schemes into those areas.
November 26, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : Minister urges live music industry to introduce voluntary ticket levy to protect grassroots venues [November 2024]
The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 14 November 2024.

Creative Industries Minister calls on live music industry to introduce voluntary ticket levy on stadiums and arenas to protect grassroots music sector, including venues, festivals, artists and promoters.
- Creative Industries Minister calls on industry to introduce levy on stadium and arena tickets
- Levy would help ensure sustainability and future success of grassroots music sector, including venues, festivals, artists and promoters
The UK’s live music industry has today been urged by the government to join forces to help safeguard the future of the grassroots music sector.

In the government’s response to the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee’s report on grassroots music venues, Creative Industries Minister Sir Chris Bryant has called on the live music industry to work together to introduce a voluntary levy on all stadium and arena tickets to help support grassroots venues, festivals, artists and promoters – in agreement with the Committee’s recommendation.

Ministers now expect the sector to take forward proposals for a voluntary levy.

The grassroots music sector is the backbone of the UK’s £6.7 billion music industry, with many of Britain’s best-selling artists, including Ed Sheeran, Adele, Coldplay and Stormzy, starting their careers in grassroots venues. The sector offers emerging artists opportunities to hone their craft, employs more than 28,000 people including stage managers, security and sound and lighting engineers, and supports local economies across the country.

However, in recent years grassroots venues have faced considerable challenges such as the pandemic and inflation, leading to a high number of closures and job losses.

Creative Industries Minister Sir Chris Bryant said:

Grassroots music venues are one of the UK’s most valuable and yet undervalued cultural assets. They are where bands try out new material, where whole new genres are born, where musicians experiment and where audiences get to experience the raw power of live music.

These venues support thousands of jobs and are a vital part of our local communities. Without a flourishing grassroots music industry the rest of our music industry will wither.

It is crucial that we work together to support the grassroots including venues, festivals, artists and promoters. That is why I am urging the industry voluntarily to introduce a ticket levy on the biggest commercial players, to help ensure the health and future success of our entire live music industry for decades to come.

While valuable steps have already been taken by artists such as Coldplay and Sam Fender, who are donating a portion of their upcoming tour revenues to support the grassroots sector, and by industry body LIVE which is establishing a charitable trust to distribute proceeds of a voluntary levy, there is still more to do.

It is the government’s view that an industry-led levy within the price of a ticket would be the quickest and most effective way for a small portion of revenues from the biggest shows to be invested in a sustainable grassroots sector. This would help fans to access local music venues, provide even more performance opportunities for emerging talent and benefit the live music industry as a whole.

Ministers have made clear that they want to see a voluntary levy come into effect as soon as possible for concerts in 2025, with clear communication to fans on the purpose of the levy and the benefits it will bring to the grassroots sector.

The government will consider the implementation and effectiveness of a voluntary levy before determining whether further action is needed.

Mark Davyd, CEO and founder, Music Venue Trust, said:

Music Venue Trust warmly welcomes this positive response from the government. We strongly support their stance on the necessity and desirability of a grassroots contribution and believe this response sets out a clear and achievable path for the live music industry to swiftly adopt such a contribution.

We look forward to working with both industry and government to make this financial contribution a reality as soon as possible. Industry-led investment will enable fans across the country to keep accessing the live music that they love whilst also ensuring the talent pipeline to the arena and stadium level is secure and growing. It is the perfect example of a win-win solution for all parties.

The CMS Select Committee report identified significant additional opportunities to return our grassroots live music sector to growth, create jobs, spread opportunity, and deliver thousands of additional events that bind our communities together. We will continue to work with the government to comprehensively address all the report’s recommendations and deliver a sustainable and bright future for the UK’s grassroots venues, artists and promoters.

Jon Collins, chief executive, LIVE, said:

We are glad government has entrusted our sector to play our part in addressing the crisis in grassroots music. Driving forward an industry-led solution to the challenges currently being experienced by venues, artists, festivals and promoters remains our number one priority. Alongside government’s work to deliver an improved trading environment, we are accelerating our work on the development of the LIVE Trust and associated funding to help distribute money to the places it’s needed most.

Together with government, we will continue our work to help safeguard the future of grassroots music, and ensure our sector remains world-leading, brings joy to millions, and delivers economic growth in towns and cities across the UK. We will regularly update on our progress of the LIVE Trust.

The government’s response follows funding announced for the Creative Industries at the Autumn Budget, which DCMS has confirmed will include help to continue the Supporting Grassroots Music Fund.

The Fund, delivered by Arts Council England, enables grassroots music venues, recording studios, promoters and festivals to apply for grants of up to £40,000 to help them develop new revenue streams, make repairs and improvements, hire staff and enhance the experience of millions of gig-goers across the UK.

ENDS

Notes to editors:
- The full Government response to the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee’s report on grassroots music venues can be found here.
- The Government intends to create a fairer business rates system that protects high streets, supports investment and is fit for the 21st century. It was announced at the Autumn Budget that business rates relief for retail, hospitality and leisure (RHL) properties, including grassroots music venues, will be extended for one year at 40% up to a cash cap of £110,000 per business.
- A Discussion Paper has been published, setting out priority areas for reform and inviting stakeholders to a conversation about transforming the business rates system.
November 26, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : UK to help give 10 million people worldwide access to clean cooking [November 2024]
The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 14 November 2024.

At COP29 in Baku, Minister for Development Anneliese Dodds will commit to help the Global South access clean forms of cooking that does not burn wood or coal.
- UK Minister for Development Anneliese Dodds will commit to supporting Global South countries to access clean forms of cooking
- the package, to be announced at COP in Baku, Azerbaijan, will help people to avoid burning wood, charcoal and other polluting fuels to cook – helping their health and the environment
- the minister is also announcing a package to help countries in Africa predict and prepare for extreme weather events
UK Minister for Development Anneliese Dodds will announce a major package to boost global access to clean forms of cooking that avoid burning wood or coal.

Globally, around 2.1 billion people still have to cook on firewood, charcoal or other polluting fuels, often worsening the health of many women and girls in particular, and damaging forests.

The funding of £74 million will extend clean cooking access to an additional 10 million people in countries across Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, and the Indo-Pacific.

Minister for Development Anneliese Dodds said:

Britain is back with a voice on the world stage, and we are leading on new initiatives to support health and the environment.

This package will support 10 million people across Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, and the Indo-Pacific to leave coal and wood cooking behind, helping the environment while also improving the health of women and girls who are so often exposed to damaging fumes from burning coal and wood.

Nothing could be more central to the UK’s own national interest than delivering progress on arresting rising temperatures. This is our chance to achieve clean and secure energy, both globally and at home, and, in doing so, drive growth for the UK.

The Minister for Development will make these pledges while attending COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan. With the Prime Minister, Foreign Secretary, Energy Secretary and others also attending, UK ministers are seeking to encourage ambitious emissions reductions and agreements that take the needs of the Global South into account while also growing the UK’s economy and maximising opportunities for Britain.

£44 million of the clean cooking package will come from a 5-year extension to the UK government’s Modern Energy Cooking Services (MECS) programme up to 2030. The remaining £30 million will come through the Ayrton Fund, which aims to accelerate the clean energy transition in Global South countries.

Alongside this, the minister will announce a $16 million investment by British International Investment (BII) into Africa Go Green, a fund backing early stage businesses taking climate action in Africa including accelerating access to clean cooking solutions.

The Minister for Development has also announced at COP29 a boost to support the Weather and Climate Information Services (WISER) programme in Africa.

WISER sees the UK Met Office partner with meteorological organisations across Africa to increase countries’ capacity to forecast and plan for extreme weather events and climate change. Additional funding of £30 million from the UK will support farmers and communities in adapting to a changing climate. This brings total funding up to £47 million.

This aligns with the modern approach to development outlined by Minister Dodds at Chatham House in October, based on working in partnership with the Global South.

This is additional to a £6 million commitment to launch Jahez, a project supporting climate vulnerable refugees in Jordan. This includes through the restoration of water supplies and introducing climate smart agriculture to generate growth that can withstand the impacts of the climate crisis.

The UK will continue to prioritise the most vulnerable and remains committed to spending £1.5 billion in 2025 to support countries with building resilience to the impacts of climate change, tripling adaptation spend from 2019 levels. This is part of the existing UK commitment to spend £11.6 billion in International Climate Finance between April 2021 and March 2026.

Minister Dodds also met with the Executive Director of the Green Climate Fund (GCF). The UK has confirmed its commitment to the GCF, helping millions of the world’s poorest and most vulnerable people deal with the impact of climate change, and help countries build a cleaner, greener future. The £1.62 billion funding – the UK’s largest single International Climate Finance (ICF) investment – shows the UK is playing a leading role in supporting the fund, which is already delivering 286 projects in 133 countries.
November 25, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : Roll out of faster and more reliable 4G to reach thousands of businesses and households across rural Wales [November 2024]
The press release issued by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on 14 November 2024.

Roll out of faster and more reliable 4G to reach thousands of businesses and households across rural Wales.
- People living and working in rural Wales now benefitting from mobile network upgrades to deliver faster and more reliable internet.
- Seven sites upgraded in North, South West and West Wales now live, bringing fast and reliable 4G coverage to communities as part of the government’s Shared Rural Network scheme.
- Technology Secretary and Telecoms Minister hold talks with industry and charity leaders in Ebbw Vale to hear how barriers to digital inclusion can be broken down in Wales.
Rural towns and villages across Wales will benefit from faster, more reliable mobile coverage as 7 UK government funded mobile network upgrades are now switched on.

Today (14 November) the UK government is announcing that 7 4G mast upgrades in North, South West and West Wales have gone live, bringing reliable connectivity to thousands of residents, local businesses and community organisations.

Rural communities and businesses can face constant buffering and slow download speeds when performing basic tasks online due to outdated mobile connectivity networks. This holds back regional economic growth and can widen the digital divide between urban and rural communities.

Upgrades to existing mobile masts announced today will help close this gap in Wales, with parts of Bontddu, Llanelltyd, Llanarmon Dyffryn Ceiriog, Penmaenpool, Tabor, Snowdonia National Park and Bontgoch now covered by fast 4G internet. This will connect friends and family, help emergency services to save lives, tackle crime and boost productivity for local businesses – supporting the government’s missions to break down barriers to opportunities and boost economic growth.

Technology Secretary Peter Kyle said:

From applying for jobs to staying in touch with loved ones, fast and reliable connectivity is an essential part of modern life and should be the digital reality for communities from Llandudno to Cardiff, which is why the upgrades announced today are a welcome step forward.

But we cannot ignore the fact that millions of people need support when it comes to navigating the online world. That’s why this government is committed to boosting digital skills no matter people live, to support people accessing essential services like banking, or education tools, helping them to get on with their lives and work.

The rollout comes as Technology Secretary Peter Kyle and Telecoms Minister Sir Chris Bryant visit Ebbw Vale in South Wales today to discuss how the UK government can work with charities and businesses to tackle digital exclusion, ensuring more rural communities can access the benefits of being online.

The Secretary of State and Minister will visit BGfm – a local radio station and digital inclusion hub in Blaenau Gwent, supported by digital inclusion charity the Good Things Foundation – to hear additional ways the UK government help tackle the digital divide and support more members of the public to get online.

Telecoms Minister Sir Chris Bryant said:

We are working tirelessly to address the connectivity concerns of rural communities to make sure everyone has access to the opportunities of the online world.

These upgrades mean businesses aren’t constrained by the limits of their mobile signal, 999 services are better equipped to save lives and fight crime, and residents and tourists can get online whilst enjoying the Welsh countryside.

By focussing on bringing digital connectivity and access to communities in every corner of the UK, we will continue to break down barriers to opportunity and kickstart economic growth.

In 2023 an estimated 1.5 million homes in the UK did not have an internet connection, meaning they couldn’t easily access essential services like paying bills and checking bank statements. Bringing connectivity to rural areas is a crucial step to helping people get online.

The Shared Rural Network (SRN) – a joint programme between the UK government and mobile network operators – aims to tackle the gap with 26 government-funded mast upgrades now activated as part of the initiative. It follows the Chancellor confirming in last month’s Budget that the government will be investing over £500 million next year in driving the rollout of digital infrastructure to under-served parts of the UK.

This latest rollout across Wales marks another step towards improving mobile coverage in rural areas across the UK, essential to achieve the government’s mission to break down the barriers to opportunity. A total of 20 of these upgrades are based in Wales and more are planned in the coming months.

In August the government also signed a landmark agreement with Openreach to make around £170 million government investment available for them to deliver gigabit-capable broadband for around 70,000 Welsh hard-to-reach premises, including some in the most remote parts of the country from the South Wales Valleys to the Llyn Peninsula.

Welsh Secretary Jo Stevens said:

Powered by UK government investment, 7 new sites in Wales now have fast and reliable mobile internet access in areas where many would previously struggle to even send a text message.

Connectivity is critical for everything in day-to-day life in rural Wales – from business to tourism, and particularly to ensure that emergency services can be contacted quickly and efficiently when they are needed.

This is an important step forward in our mission to kickstart the economy and unlock opportunity in rural areas across Wales.

The mobile connectivity boost announced today has been carried out by upgrading existing mobile masts which previously only connected EE customers and anyone making 999 calls, meaning communities can benefit from improved mobile internet access without the impacts of building new masts.

Ben Roome, CEO of Digital Mobile Spectrum Limited said:

With the activation of 7 new Shared Rural Network sites, Wales is seeing significant benefits from the Shared Rural Network programme, bringing enhanced connectivity and opportunities to its rural communities.

Notes to editors

The Shared Rural Network programme is on target to deliver the combined coverage target of 95% of the UK’s landmass by the end of 2025, with 94.9% of the UK now in range of 4G thanks to the programme (Source: Ofcom). Further coverage improvements in more hard-to-reach areas will continue to be delivered until early 2027. For more information visit the Shared Rural Network website.

Through the SRN programme, the UK government and the UK’s 4 mobile network operators aim to provide 4G coverage to an additional 280,000 premises and 16,000km of the UK’s roads. The programme also aims to improve 4G geographic coverage to 79% of Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, up from 51% before the programme launched, and 74% of National Parks up from 41%, benefitting millions of visitors to rural areas every year.

The UK government is investing £184 million to upgrade Extended Area Service (EAS) masts to provide coverage from all four mobile operators. Currently, commercial coverage from EAS masts is only available from EE – the operator responsible for the Emergency Services Network.
November 25, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : Birth defects prevented by fortifying flour with folic acid [November 2024]
The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 14 November 2024.

New legislation being introduced today will require millers and flour producers to fortify non-wholemeal wheat flour with folic acid from the end of 2026.
- Folic acid to be added to non-wholemeal flour to protect newborn babies from serious brain and spine problems
- Move will prevent around 200 cases of neural tube defects every year and improve health of pregnant women
- Measures to come into force at the end of 2026 to help businesses prepare
Around 200 cases of debilitating brain and spine defects in babies every year will be prevented by fortifying non-wholemeal wheat flour with folic acid.

New legislation being introduced today (14 November 2024) will require millers and flour producers to fortify non-wholemeal wheat flour with folic acid from the end of 2026.

Folic acid deficiency is a leading cause of neural tube defects, which can cause a large number of serious and debilitating conditions to babies in the womb, including spina bifida.

Flour is already fortified with calcium, niacin, thiamine and iron to improve public health. The move to include folic acid will reduce neural tube defects by 20% in the UK and improve the health of pregnant women. It will also deliver savings of around £20 million to the NHS over 10 years and boost the economy by more than £90 million over 10 years.

Andrew Gwynne, Minister for Public Health and Prevention, said:

Shifting care from sickness to prevention is one of the leading ambitions in our 10 Year Health Plan, as we work to make our NHS fit for the future.

These measures are a simple and effective intervention to improve health outcomes in babies, giving them the best start in life.

Baroness Merron, Minister for Patient Safety, Women’s Health and Mental Health, said:

Fortifying bread and flour with folic acid will help reduce neural tube defects and give women greater peace of mind throughout their pregnancy.

This government is determined to support women and turn around maternity outcomes so every child can live a long, happy and fulfilling life.

The NHS recommends that women who are trying for a baby take folic acid supplements for around 3 months before getting pregnant and for at least 12 weeks after becoming pregnant. This recommendation will remain in place after the new regulations on flour are brought in. It is estimated that half of all pregnancies in the UK are unplanned. The new regulations will help provide women with a higher baseline intake of folic acid, better protecting their babies in all scenarios.

Professor Chris Whitty, England’s Chief Medical Officer, said:

The fortification of flour is a simple and effective way to help to reduce cases of neural tube defects, although it is important that women who are pregnant or intending to become pregnant continue to take folic acid supplements before and during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.

The government is continuing to engage with the food industry to support them to implement the changes, which will apply to the whole of the UK. Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland will introduce their own regulations in due course.

Minister for Food Security, Daniel Zeichner, said:

When it comes to public health, prevention will always be better, and cheaper, than a cure.

Fortified flour has been providing our country with a public health boost for 80 years and this latest collaboration across government will help give the nation’s children a strong start in life.

We are grateful to industry for their efforts to support a smooth transition, with manufacturers having a 24-month transition period to adjust their processes.

Background information

The new measures will deliver the NHS £20 million in reduced costs over 10 years. This is in addition to £571 million in benefits to society through an increase in live births, as well as £54 million due to increased labour market participation and £39 million due to parents prevented from leaving the labour market.

This work forms part of a wider Defra review of the Bread and Flour Regulations 1998 conducted under the Food Compositional Standards and Labelling (FCSL) UK Common Framework, working collaboratively with the devolved governments and the Department of Health and Social Care.

It included a UK-wide public consultation with the proposals also notified to the World Trade Organisation, fulfilling international obligations.

The key changes include:
- technical amendments to clarify requirements and definitions, to ensure consistency with other food standards legislation including increasing minimum levels of nutrients and updating specification criteria, enabling understanding and compliance
- an update to the compositional rules of wholemeal flour, removing barriers to compliance while maintaining consumer protection
- an exemption from fortification requirements for small-scale millers (producing less than 500 metric tonnes of flour per year). This removes disproportionate burden on smaller-scale producers without compromising the public health outcomes of the policy
- introducing the use of improvement notices. This is a more proportionate and efficient way to address non-compliance and reduces risk of excessive costs associated with court time when criminal proceedings are brought
The amending regulations published today in England ensure our rules are robust and fit for purpose, with the changes designed to lead to improved public health outcomes, protect consumers, support industry and assist enforcement authorities.

Further stakeholder quotes

Professor Ian Young, Chair of the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN), said:

SACN welcomes this important initiative which will reduce the number of lives adversely affected by neural tube defects. SACN has consistently recommended folic acid fortification since 2006, alongside ongoing monitoring and continued encouragement for women to take folic acid supplements before pregnancy. SACN is delighted to see these being implemented.

Kate Steele, CEO of Shine, the charity that provides specialist support for people whose lives have been affected by spina bifida and hydrocephalus, said:

After more than 30 years of campaigning, Shine can finally celebrate the introduction of this very important public health initiative.

It will improve the health of the general population across the UK but, more importantly, mandatory fortification will reduce the number of babies affected by spina bifida, a lifelong, complex disability. It also means that fewer families will be given the devastating news that their baby has anencephaly and will not survive.

I am so very grateful to everyone who has kept mandatory fortification of flour with folic acid on the government’s agenda, especially Lord Jeff Rooker and Shine’s Head of Health, Gill Yaz. Collectively, we have made our long-awaited goal a reality. It will make such a difference to so many lives!

Joe Brennan, Head of Technical and Regulatory Affairs at UK Flour Millers, said:

Flour is fortified with folic acid in many countries, such as Australia and Canada, and has proven an effective way of reducing neural tube defects in babies. The UK flour milling sector has been working closely with government to facilitate this public health initiative for some years.

Flour remains one of the most widely consumed ingredients, so there is a logic to fortifying flour with folic acid, supported by public health experts. Folic acid will join other fortificants including vitamins and minerals which have been added to flour since the 1940s, in line with government bread and flour regulations.
November 25, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : East West Rail to boost Oxford-Cambridge region by billions [November 2024]
The press release issued by the Department for Transport on 14 November 2024.
- East West Rail set to bring billions of pounds worth of growth to the Oxford-Cambridge region, along with tens of thousands of new homes and jobs
- Transport Secretary visits Bletchley Station to kickstart public consultation, inviting communities to have their say on latest plans
- comes after Chancellor’s Budget confirms support to deliver the scheme in full, strengthening the region’s thriving life science, technology and innovation sectors
One of the Britain’s largest transport projects is set to boost the Oxford-Cambridge economy by £6.7 billion per year by 2050, thanks to the government’s support for delivering East West Rail in full.

As set out by the Chancellor in the Budget, the new line will bolster the area’s thriving life science cluster, enable new housing developments along the route and support up to 28,000 jobs in Cambridge alone.

The Transport Secretary, Louise Haigh, reaffirmed the government’s mission to kickstart economic growth and productivity across the region during a visit to a new-look Bletchley Station today (14 November 2024) to invite the public’s feedback on the latest plans for the scheme.

Along with East West Railway CEO David Hughes, Louise Haigh launched a 10-week consultation for the project, encouraging communities to have their say and shape the development of the line.
- East West Rail consultation 2024
This will include proposals for how trains could be powered on the route, outlining a preference for greener traction power and hybrid battery-electric trains, which would result in cleaner and faster journeys for passengers.

The public will also be invited to have their say on planned timetables and services, which include up to 4 trains per hour along the route, delivering a turn up and go style service for passengers.

With the first services between Oxford, Bletchley and Milton Keynes set to begin next year, East West Rail will provide easier and faster connectivity across the region, opening up better access to jobs and education opportunities, as well as regenerating town centres and supporting tens of thousands of new homes.

The Budget confirmed the acceleration of the Marston Vale Line, ensuring that services will run from Oxford to Milton Keynes and Bedford from 2030.

Transport Secretary, Louise Haigh said:

East West Rail will boost access to education and business opportunities while unlocking economic growth and productivity right across the region, including Cambridge’s world-leading life science cluster.

With these proposals, passengers can get ready for more frequent, faster and greener journeys through an electrified line, demonstrating our drive to deliver infrastructure that is truly fit for the future.

This consultation marks a significant moment for the project, offering the public an exciting opportunity to shape the development of this transformational line. I encourage local residents and businesses to get involved and have their say.

From today, the public will have the chance to shape how the new line between Oxford, Bedford, Milton Keynes, and Cambridge is developed, ensuring it meets the needs of local communities.

As part of this, East West Rail Company will be inviting feedback on revised infrastructure and design plans for the new stretch of railway between Bedford and Cambridge, plus essential railway improvement works to upgrade the rest of the line.

Over the next 10 weeks, local people will be able to attend drop-in events across the route, as well as online webinars and a virtual consultation room where people and businesses can find out more about the updated plans.

Feedback from the consultation will be taken into account as designs are further developed and preferred options chosen.

East West Rail Company CEO, David Hughes said:

The government set out its support for delivering East West Rail in full in the Autumn Budget, so it’s great to have the Transport Secretary officially launch our latest public consultation on this key infrastructure project.

East West Rail will support the government’s economic growth by providing faster, easier and more reliable journeys, which will improve access to jobs, education and days out.

I encourage people and businesses to get involved in our consultation by attending one of our events and reading our updated proposals, which include electrification to reflect our commitment to running a net zero carbon railway.

Network Rail North West and Central Capital Delivery Director, Christian Irwin OBE, said:

Today’s public consultation on future East-West Rail plans builds on the successful completion of the new railway between Bicester and Bletchley that was delivered ahead of time and under budget allowing passenger services to operate between Oxford and Bletchley/Milton Keynes in 2025.

This exciting new East-West service will deliver a fast sustainable transport option, improved connectivity and opportunity for local communities between Oxford, Milton Keynes, Bedford and Cambridge, as well as new freight connections to improve air quality and reduce congestion by taking lorries off our roads. This major investment can also unlock a multitude of other benefits that include better access to education and employment, including the 8,000 new jobs created by the project, to help drive innovation, business and economic growth.

We look forward to working with the East West Rail Company, the Department for Transport and industry stakeholders to hear local residents’ views on timetables and how trains could be powered along the route in the future.

Once up and running, the new service will provide a fast sustainable transport option for local communities improving connectivity between Oxford, Milton Keynes, Bedford and Cambridge, reducing travel times and providing better access to jobs, innovation and education.”

Ahead of East West Rail services running to Bletchley, the existing station has undergone significant investment over the past 4 years to ensure it’s ready to accommodate faster and more frequent services the line will deliver. This includes a new link bridge to the existing platforms and the construction of 2 new high-level platforms, which connect the station to the Bletchley Flyover and take the total number of platforms from 6 to 8.

Once the scheme is complete, the revamped station will accommodate a three-fold increase in passenger services along the Marston Vale Line between Bletchley and Bedford.

Meanwhile, a key milestone for the project was also reached last month with the first test train successfully completing its first run between Oxford and Milton Keynes.

Today’s announcement marks the latest in the Transport Secretary’s drive to transform the rail network and deliver infrastructure that works for the whole country.
November 25, 2024