Tag: 2024

PRESS RELEASE : New controls on sheep and goat products to protect against peste des petits ruminants (PPR) [August 2024]
The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 21 August 2024.

Strict new controls suspending personal imports of certain sheep and goat commodities, such as meat, cheese and milk products, have been announced today (21 August) to safeguard Britain’s sheep and goat populations from outbreaks of peste des petits ruminants (PPR).

Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) poses no risk to human health but is a highly contagious disease affecting goats and sheep. In recent months, there have been outbreaks in mainland Europe, and the commercial import of certain commodities is already restricted to prevent the spread of PPR into Great Britain.

The new controls come into force in England from today (21 August) and in Wales tomorrow (22 August), with Scotland soon to follow. They will strengthen the requirements for bringing sheep and goat meat and milk into Great Britain from the European Union (EU), European Free Trade Association states, Greenland and Faroe Islands.

It will no longer be permitted to bring unpackaged sheep and goat meat and meat products, or sheep and goat milk and milk products, from these areas. Additionally, commercially produced and packaged sheep and goat milk and milk products are not permitted from Greece or Romania.

These measures will remain in place until PPR no longer presents a risk to GB through the import of those products.

UK Deputy Chief Veterinary Officer Ele Brown said:

There have been recent outbreaks of peste des petits ruminants in Europe. This poses no risks to humans but causes severe illness in sheep and goats. An outbreak in the UK would lead to animal suffering and be very damaging for our farming and livestock industry.

Everyone can do their bit to help stop animal diseases spreading to this country by simply not bringing unpackaged meat, cheese and milk on to our shores.

Everyone can help to stop the spread of PPR to the UK by doing the following:
- If you are visiting PPR-affected countries, do not bring any sheep or goat products back to the UK.
- If you are visiting EU or EFTA countries not affected by PPR, you must not bring back sheep or goat products unless commercially produced and packaged to EU standards.
- Dispose of any leftovers or food waste in secure bins that sheep, goats, or wildlife cannot access.
- Farmers, the public and members of the food industry should practice high biosecurity standards, including never feeding catering waste, kitchen scraps or meat or milk products to sheep and goats, which is illegal and can spread the disease.
The government continually monitors disease outbreaks around the world to assess whether there may be risks for the UK and takes action to limit the risk of the disease reaching our shores.
September 5, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : UK announces new support to Southern African rail [August 2024]

The press release issued by the Department of Business and Trade on 21 August 2024.

UK commits to funding research and technical assistance aimed at promoting regional growth by facilitating railway development across Southern Africa.

The UK Government today (20 August 2024) announced key initiatives to support regional development, trade, and investment in rail infrastructure at the 2024 conference convened by the Southern African Railway Association in Johannesburg.

British High Commissioner to South Africa, Antony Phillipson, announced that new UK funding would support Crossrail International and Transport for London to share their expertise in support of inclusive economic development in Southern Africa.

Crossrail International, formed to share lessons from the £19 billion (R 450 billion) Crossrail project in the UK, will provide technical assistance to SARA, support SARA in implementing regional policies and regulatory reforms, enabling cohesive network planning and sustainable investment under their long-term masterplan. Crossrail International will also assist in developing the business case for the Railway Centre of Excellence. This approach will be underpinned by a research project to benchmark the SADC rail industry for capacity enhancement and information policy reform and management.

Transport for London (TfL), which facilitates 3.3 billion journeys annually, will also provide technical advice to South African local governments to enhance passenger rail services in major metros and share TfL’s experience of delivering decentralised rail operations to increase public transport access and affordability.

Speaking at the event, British High Commissioner to South Africa, Antony Phillipson said:

We are excited to be part of the effort supporting sustainable development in Southern Africa, fostering collaboration between the UK and SARA to promote regional growth through rail infrastructure development.

Executive Director at Southern African Railways Association (SARA), Babe Botana, welcomed the progress made through the Joint Steering Committee and acknowledged the flagship projects which are intended to kick start the implementation of the LOI signed SADC Railway Regional Strategic Plan 2023 to 2027.

Botana said:

This relationship demonstrates the power of international partnerships, in strengthening the collective capabilities of our organisations to drive our regional railway agenda.

Further information

The Southern African Railways Association (SARA)

The Southern African Railways Association (SARA) is the mandated rail transport body for the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region. Established in 1996 and headquartered in Harare, SARA is dedicated to promoting and advancing rail transport services across the SADC region. It serves as a central hub for railway operators—both public and private—and other rail industry stakeholders in Southern Africa.

SARA provides a platform for collaboration, networking and knowledge-sharing among its members, fostering regional integration and advocating for the rail sector’s interests. The association plays an active role in regional policymaking, holding the mandate for Rail Policy advocacy. SARA’s key focus areas include harmonising regulations across different rail systems, coordinating rail corridors, and promoting infrastructure development. Additionally, SARA is committed to improving rail competitiveness and ensuring equitable intermodal competition within the region.

SARA’s core programmes are designed to enhance various aspects of rail transport, such as operational efficiency including harmonisation, safety in corridors through the development of standards, investment promotion and the adoption of international best practices. These initiatives aim to ensure that rail transport remains competitive, reliable and an integral part of the region’s transport logistics chain. The overarching goal is to develop a robust and efficient rail network across Southern Africa, essential for stimulating economic growth, facilitating regional integration, and improving the socioeconomic well-being of the region’s population.

By driving infrastructure development and enhancing rail competitiveness, SARA plays a critical role in supporting regional economic development and trade.

September 5, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : UK steps up support to tackle mpox outbreak on visit to the Democratic Republic of the Congo [August 2024]
The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 21 August 2024.

Africa Minister Lord Collins has announced new funding to tackle the outbreak of mpox cases in the DRC.
- UK support announced for ongoing mpox and cholera outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and to improve access to clean water.
- Lord Collins made the announcement during a visit to the DRC where he also discussed how the two countries can deepen their collaboration across a range of sectors.
- He welcomed the recent ceasefire in eastern DRC and commitments to bring an enduring peace to the region.
The UK has announced new funding to work with DRC to bolster the regional African response to outbreaks of mpox and cholera in the country.

During a visit to the Institute National de Recherche Biomedical (National Institute of Biomedical Research) in the DRC, Lord Collins announced £3.1m of UK funding for a new partnership with UNICEF that will benefit over 4.4 million people in affected communities as well as help preventing the further spread of mpox to neighbouring countries.

This funding announcement follows a declaration from the World Health Organisation (WHO) that the upsurge of mpox in the DRC and a growing number of countries in Africa constitutes a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC).

The Minister for Africa, Lord Collins of Highbury said:

“Working together, with our partners and using the expertise and dedication of Congolese scientists, including those at the world-leading research centre I have visited in DRC, our support will play an important role in ensuring global health security for all.

“By protecting the health and well-being of communities across DRC, and by helping contain these outbreaks, we reduce the risk of diseases spreading further afield. This will ultimately benefit us all.”

The UK remains in regular contact with the WHO and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention on developments of the outbreak and is supporting the World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa to respond to this health emergency.

The UK Health Security Agency is closely monitoring the situation, working with international partners including the World Health Organisation, European, US and Africa Centre for Disease Control and Prevention and national public health agencies.

As the largest flexible donor to the WHO globally the UK is also helping it to allocate resources where most needed through vaccines and treatments. As the second biggest donor to Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance – providing £1.65bn over the 2020-2025 period – the UK is also working closely with them on ensuring access to mpox vaccines for low and middle income countries.

Professor Christian Ngandu, Public Health Emergency Operations Centre Coordinator at DRC’s National Public Health Institute said:

“The UK’s support to the DRC, in partnership with UNICEF, on the mpox response, will contributed to saving the lives of affected populations by aligning with the DRC’s national mpox preparedness and response plan.”

The announcement came as Lord Collins visited DRC this week to bolster bilateral ties between the UK and DRC and drive forward the bilateral relationship in key areas, including climate and trade and investment.

The Minister announced £6m of new UK funding to provide clean drinking water and sanitation to some 200,000 displaced in partnership with UNICEF and SAFER, helping improve access to clean water for all.

In meetings with key government ministers including the President, the Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister, Lord Collins welcomed the UK and DRC’s strong partnership and underlined the UK’s commitment to strengthening collaboration in areas such trade, investment, climate and combatting sexual violence in conflict.

Following the successful UK-DRC Trade and Investment Mission in April, the Minister met with UK-linked businesses to discuss how the UK can play a constructive role in supporting improved supply chains of critical minerals in DRC and assist British businesses entering the DRC market.

The Minister also welcomed an announcement by British International Investment this week to invest up to $35 million (£27 million) into the development of Banana Port, a $300-400m project led by Emirati company DP World, that will help transform DRC’s economy.

In addition, he welcomed the UK’s new £90m Congo Basin Forest Action programme which will look to improve economic livelihoods whilst preserving forests and nature.

Lord Collins also discussed the UK and DRC’s long-standing collaboration to combat Conflict Related Sexual Violence, meeting with government ministers and civil society to understand more about this issue.

On the conflict in eastern DRC, Lord Collins welcomed the ceasefire agreement between DRC and Rwanda, recognising the important role played by Angola. He expressed UK support for President Tshisekedi’s commitment to bring an enduring regional peace to the east and underlined the UK’s condemnation of the actions of all illegal armed groups in eastern DRC, including the UN-sanctioned M23.

The UK is delivering a three-year humanitarian programme in the east of DRC, providing life-saving emergency assistance and increasing the resilience of crisis-affected communities affected by the conflict.
September 5, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : Military ‘silent hangar’ to help protect against foreign GPS jamming [August 2024]

The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 21 August 2024.

A new test facility, one of the largest in Europe, will help military kit to be better protected from attempts to jam GPS devices.

The facility will provide a key capability to develop UK assets that can perform in the harshest electromagnetic environments on operations.

Under the new £20 million contract, QinetiQ will build a radio frequency, anti-jamming test facility at the Ministry of Defence’s Boscombe Down site in Wiltshire.

The ‘silent hangar’ will be large enough to fit some of the biggest military assets, including Protector drones, Chinook helicopters, and F-35 fighter jets – a far greater capacity than existing UK facilities.

Due to open in 2026, the anechoic hangar creates the perfect environment to test the integrity of the UK’s military equipment. The hangar also prevents testing affecting other users, such as the emergency services and air traffic control.

The facility will support new roles over the next two years for the local area around Boscombe Down, further enhancing the UK’s pool of electromagnetic expertise, and skilled technical jobs.

It will also offer a range of opportunities beyond defence, to wider government, industry and to critical national infrastructure.

Minister for Defence Procurement and Industry, Maria Eagle, said:

Hostile threats jamming GPS to disorientate military equipment has become increasingly common.

This cutting-edge test facility will help us eliminate vulnerabilities from our platforms, protect our national security and keep our Armed Forces better protected on global deployments.

It will be one of the largest facilities in Europe and roughly the size of an aircraft hangar, simulating hostile environments and putting the UK’s most advanced military equipment through its paces.

The specialist hangar will reduce reflections, echoes or the escape of radio-frequency waves. The GPS simulators and threat emulators inside the chamber will provide the ability for the UK to create a number of hostile environments to test how well equipment can withstand jamming, and other threats, that attempt to confuse or disrupt military assets.

Will Blamey, Chief Executive, UK Defence, QinetiQ, said:

On an increasingly digital battlefield, the debilitating effects of electronic warfare are a persistent threat.

The testing we will conduct using this new facility will be integral to strengthening the resilience of military equipment, which in turn enhances the safety and security of our Armed Forces and the United Kingdom.

Richard Bloomfield, Head of Electronic Warfare (CBRN) Space at Defence Equipment & Support, said:

The subject of GPS jamming has been well documented in the press, making this new facility all the more vital to help us keep our armed forces safe while protecting the nation and our allies.

Not only will this be one of the largest such chambers in Europe, but it will also be one of the most up to date and high-tech in the world, where hostile environments can be safely recreated to put military equipment, such as fighter jets and drones, through testing to understand their performance in challenging environments representing the many external threats that may be faced.

September 5, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : Distillers toast £25m Brazilian boost for Scotch Whisky [August 2024]
The press release issued by the Department for Business and Trade on 21 August 2024.

Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds is visiting a distillery in Scotland to celebrate Brazil’s decision to grant special protected status to Scotch Whisky.
- Trade Secretary visits distillery to celebrate new protections for Scotch Whisky in South America’s largest economy
- Protections will help stop bootleg products being labelled ‘Scotch Whisky’ and could be worth £25 million to the industry over five years
- Breaking down barriers and unlocking new opportunities for UK exporters in international markets is a priority for this Government
Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds has today [Wednesday 21 August] visited Glengoyne Distillery in Scotland to celebrate Brazil’s decision to grant special protected status to Scotch Whisky – bolstering ‘Brand Scotland’ by promoting iconic Scottish products across the world.

This new protection means the Brazilian legal system recognises the special status of Scotch Whisky, making it easier to tackle counterfeits and giving distillers the confidence to up their exports to Brazil, boosting a sector that already contributes billions to the UK economy and supporting the Government’s mission to kickstart economic growth.

According to industry estimates, Brazil is in the top five global growth markets for alcohol over the next 5 years and its population of over 200 million people already have an appreciation for whisky, with the UK exporting almost £90 million of the spirit to Brazil in 2023 alone.

This new status, known as a Geographical Indication (GI), could be worth around £25 million over five years and will give distillers better access to South America’s largest economy, strengthening international recognition and intellectual property for Scotch Whisky. This success is credit to strong collaboration between DEFRA, including the agri-food attaché in Brazil, DBT and the UK’s Intellectual Property Office.

Business & Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said:

Scotch Whisky is one of Scotland’s finest products and is in high demand across the globe. This Government is committed to maximising Scotland’s potential, and today’s announcement gives Scottish distillers the confidence they need to export to one of the world’s largest economies without having to compete with fake knock-offs and pale imitations.

Businesses who export more are better off, and removing trade barriers like this will unlock more global markets and drive economic growth across the UK.

Minister for Food Security Daniel Zeichner said:

Today’s announcement shows both demand for authentic Scotch Whisky abroad and the value of promoting British products on an international stage.

Our UK GI scheme connects British producers with consumers who appreciate the quality and reputation of their products, giving UK businesses a strong leg up in international markets.

With the agri-food and drink sector being the largest manufacturing sector in the UK, it’s clear there’s an international appetite for British products and we are committed to further growing trade opportunities for producers around the world.

Providing businesses with opportunities to reach new customers around the world is crucial to creating jobs and driving economic growth. UK Export Finance research shows that businesses that export grow at twice the rate of those that don’t.

Securing GIs helps prevent counterfeit products being sold on international markets, ensuring UK businesses can export with confidence and consumers can identify the products they are buying as authentic.

Chief Executive at the Scotch Whisky Association Mark Kent said:

As the first foreign product to be granted Denomination of Origin status in Brazil since 2019, Scotch Whisky now sits beside Tequila, Cognac and Champagne with special legal protection. This is fundamental to ensure that millions of Brazilians can have confidence in the quality and history of what they’re buying.

Achieving this status is ‘Brand Scotland’ in action. Removing trade barriers and securing legal protections for Scotch Whisky is critical to the industry’s success, helping to increase exports and in turn creating more jobs, investment and prosperity in Scotland and across the UK.

Chief Executive of UK Intellectual Property Office Adam Williams said:

The UK IPO places significant importance on supporting UK businesses wanting to export internationally. This is why we have an established network of IP attaches in key markets around the world.

We were thrilled to be able to support the Scotch Whisky Association in securing this GI through our Latin America and Caribbean attaché, based in Brazil. We will continue to work with UK exporters in-country to increase their knowledge and confidence of the Brazilian IP system.

Background

On Geographical Indications
- A Geographical Indication (GI) is an intellectual property right used on products that have qualities or characteristics attributable to a specific geographical origin. Examples include: Scotch Whisky, Welsh Lamb and Melton Mowbray Pork Pies.
- Geographical Indications protect the authenticity of many of our most prestigious food and drink products and give consumers confidence that international GI products are genuine articles.
- The UK’s annual GI exports are estimated to be worth over £6 billion and account for 25% of UK food and drink exports’ value. In 2023 alone Scotch exports were worth £5.6bn, accounting for 74% of Scottish food and drink exports and 22% of all UK food and drink exports.
- Geographical Indications protect the authenticity of many of our most prestigious food and drink products and give consumers confidence that international GI products are genuine articles.
On Valuation Estimate
- The figure £25 million refers to the mid-point of the valuation range for the relevant market access barrier. This is the additional exports expected to be achieved over five years from the resolution of the barrier. Further details on the methodology for valuing market access barriers are published in a DIT analytical working paper.
September 5, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : Home Secretary announces new measures to boost Britain’s border security [August 2024]
The press release issued by the Home Office on 21 August 2024.

Home Secretary announces new measures to strengthen border security, enforce immigration rules and increase returns.

New measures to boost Britain’s border security are being set out today (21 August) by the Home Secretary, including the immediate recruitment of up to 100 new specialist intelligence and investigation officers at the National Crime Agency (NCA) to target, dismantle and disrupt organised immigration crime networks.

Yvette Cooper has also today announced a major surge in immigration enforcement and returns activity, to make sure that immigration and asylum rules are respected and enforced – saying that the government has new plans for the next 6 months to achieve the highest rate of removals of those with no right to be here, including failed asylum seekers, for 5 years (since 2018).

In addition, a new intelligence-driven illegal working programme will be rolled out to target, investigate and take down unscrupulous employers who illegally employ those with no right to work here.

The new measures are fulfilling on the government’s commitment to provide long-term security to our borders. They include:
- up to 100 new specialist intelligence and investigations officers deployed to the National Crime Agency (NCA) to disrupt and smash criminal smuggling gangs and prevent dangerous boat crossings
- a large surge in enforcement and returns flights, with the aim of putting removals at their highest level since 2018, reversing the damaging drop in enforcement over recent years
- increased detention capacity including 290 added beds at Campsfield and Haslar Immigration Removal Centres
- redeployment of staff to drive this increase in returns
- sanctions to be taken against unscrupulous employers who hire workers illegally
This comes on top of the 50% uplift in the number of NCA officers stationed in Europol. These officers have been immediately deployed to support European operations to disrupt the activity of criminal smuggling gangs making millions out of small boat crossings.

The NCA currently has around 70 investigations targeting the highest harm criminal networks involved in people smuggling and trafficking, and worked with international partners to support the seizure of around 400 boats and engines intended for use in channel crossings.

A range of sanctions, including financial penalty notices, business closure orders and potential prosecution, will be taken against those employing illegal workers. Those caught working illegally and eligible for removal will be detained, pending their swift removal.

Alongside this, the government is increasing detention spaces to support the higher pace of removals including reopening and adding 290 beds across Immigration Removal Centres (IRCs) at Campsfield and Haslar. This increase will ensure there is additional capacity to facilitate higher levels of enforcement and returns so that rules are properly respected.

Building on 9 successful returns flights in the last six weeks, including the largest-ever chartered return flight, the government is redeploying personnel and resources to support further activity.

Staff are being redeployed to increase removal of failed asylum seekers, which had dropped by 40% since 2010. Three hundred caseworkers have already been reassigned to progress thousands of failed asylum and returns cases, including enforced and voluntary returns.

Enhanced digital capabilities will be deployed to ensure consistent contact throughout, preventing those with no right to be here from disappearing into exploitative illegal working and ensure they can be returned.

This enforcement surge, overseen by Bas Javid, the Home Office’s Director General for Immigration Enforcement, is part of the government’s plans to transform the asylum system and secure UK borders. This will ensure that all Immigration Enforcement processes are implemented firmly, fairly, and accurately throughout, whilst also taking account of the important lessons learnt from Windrush.

Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper said:

We are taking strong and clear steps boost our border security and ensure the rules are respected and enforced.

Our new Border Security Command is already gearing up, with new staff being urgently recruited and additional staff already stationed across Europe, working with European enforcement agencies to find every route in to smashing the criminal smuggling gangs organising dangerous boat crossings which undermine our border security and putting lives at risk.

And by increasing enforcement capabilities and returns we will establish a system that is better controlled and managed, in place of the chaos that has blighted the system for far too long.

NCA Director General of Operations Rob Jones said:

Tackling organised immigration crime remains a key priority for the NCA and we are dedicating more effort and resource than ever before. These extra officers will play a key role in that, with the NCA currently leading around 70 investigations into the highest harm people smuggling and trafficking groups.

Taking on these dangerous and exploitative gangs requires international co-operation and we continue to further enhance our already strong relationship with Europol and other law enforcement partners. We are determined to do all we can to disrupt and dismantle these networks, whether they are operating in the UK or overseas.

This work builds on the Prime Minister’s meeting at the European Political Community last month, where he held discussions with the migration working group alongside Italy, Albania, Germany, Malta, Denmark, Hungary, The Netherlands, and Slovakia. The European leaders discussed border security, their joint efforts to tackle people-smuggling, and the ambition to work collectively with other countries to deliver solutions.

Since taking office, the Home Secretary has also held calls with a range of partners to discuss increasing cooperation to tackle organised immigration crime.
September 5, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : Guatemala and the UK partner to strengthen climate negotiation capabilities [August 2024]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 21 August 2024.

The British Embassy and the Guatemalan Government are working together to upskill environmental capabilities of civil servants.

Nick Whittingham, British Ambassador to Guatemala, attended the inauguration of the training workshop: “The Art of the International Climate Negotiations 2024”. The project is sponsored by the UK Government and other donors; and was attended by the Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, Maria Luis Ramírez; the Vice Minister of Environment, Edwin Castellanos; Ambassador Rita Mishaan, Director of the workshop, and Carlos Cerezo, representative of the Foundation for Eco-development and Conservation (FUNDAECO) of Guatemala.

The workshop will consist of 17 sessions from August to October 2024 where participants will address a variety of issues, from understanding the Paris Agreement, addressing gender and climate change, prepare for upcoming critical global appointments such as the COP16 and COP29, transition to the use of clean energies and developing of local policies aligned with international commitments.

Climate experts, international consultants and university professors will deliver the lectures which will be available in a hybrid format -in person and online-. The workshop will provide participants with basic negotiation skills, understanding of core environmental topics, and the ability to learn from the experiences of international negotiators. More than 40 people are expected for each session.

Nick Whittingham, British Ambassador to Guatemala, said:

We continue to be working with Guatemala in many environmental priorities, including supporting the development of a water law, protecting biodiversity through our Biodiverse Landscapes Fund and other Darwin initiative projects. This training course will continue this spirit of mutual collaboration and shared benefits.

September 5, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : Keir Starmer call with Prime Minister Netanyahu of Israel [August 2024]

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

The Prime Minister spoke to Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu this afternoon.

The Prime Minister started by expressing his sincere condolences to the Israeli people and the loved ones of the six hostages recovered in Gaza this morning, including British national Nadav Popplewell.

The leaders discussed diplomatic efforts to secure a ceasefire and the release of hostages, and the Prime Minister welcomed Israel’s support for the American ‘bridging proposal’ and emphasised the need to move quickly.

Regional de-escalation was in everyone’s interests, as the impact of miscalculation would come at great costs for all sides, the leaders agreed.

The UK was steadfast in its support for Israel’s right to self defence, and would continue to work with partners to uphold regional security, the Prime Minister added.

The Prime Minister also urged Prime Minister Netanyahu to ensure greater access to detainees held by Israel, the increased delivery of aid to Gaza and to ensure international law was upheld at all times.

The leaders agreed to stay in close touch.

September 5, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : Extend Child Benefit for your teen by 31 August [August 2024]
The press release issued by HM Treasury on 20 August 2024.

Child Benefit can be claimed for children after they turn 16 if they are staying on in approved education or training.

Parents have less than 2 weeks to tell HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) their 16-19 year-old is continuing education or training or their Child Benefit payments will stop.

Hundreds of thousands of teenagers will decide on their future this week as they receive their GCSE results on Thursday (22 August 2024).

For parents of 16-19 year-olds who haven’t yet extended their claim, Child Benefit payments will stop after 31 August. If their child is going to continue in approved education or training, parents can continue receiving Child Benefit and HMRC is urging them to extend their claim now.

To make sure they do not miss out, parents can quickly and easily extend their Child Benefit claim online on GOV.UK or via the HMRC app. More than 270,000 parents have extended their claim digitally so far, with the changes applied to their record without the need to wait on the phone.

Parents should keep their claim details up to date, even if they’ve opted not to receive Child Benefit payments due to the High Income Child Benefit Charge. Parents who want to opt back into receiving Child Benefit payments, can do this quickly and easily online on GOV.UK or in the HMRC app.

Child Benefit is worth up to £1,331 a year for the first or only child, and up to £881 a year for every additional child.

Myrtle Lloyd, HMRC’s Director General for Customer Services, said:

Child Benefit is an important financial support for many households and we don’t want to see any eligible family miss out. You can extend your claim quickly and easily online or via the HMRC app, just search ‘Child Benefit when your child turns 16’ on GOV.UK.

Victoria Benson, CEO of Gingerbread, the charity for single parent families, said:

Child Benefit is valuable to families and particularly single parent families, who are forced to make ends meet on a single income. It’s really important, with the 31 August deadline fast approaching, that parents whose children are going into further education and training extend their claim as soon as possible to avoid missing out on this crucial financial help.

Child Benefit can continue to be paid for children who are studying full time in non-advanced education, which includes:
- A levels or Scottish Highers
- International Baccalaureate
- Home education – if it started before their child turned 16, or after 16 if they have a statement of special educational needs and it was assessed by the local authority
- T levels
- NVQs, up to level 3
Child Benefit will also continue for children studying on one of these unpaid approved training courses:
- in Wales: Foundation Apprenticeships, Traineeships or the Jobs Growth Wales+ scheme
- in Northern Ireland: PEACEPLUS Youth Programme 3.2, Training for Success or Skills for Life and Work
- in Scotland: the No One Left Behind programme.
If a child changes their mind about further education or training, parents can simply inform HMRC online or via the HMRC app and payments will be adjusted accordingly. Parents can check the status of their claims at any time by viewing their proof of entitlement in the app or online.

Parents will need a Government Gateway user ID and password to use HMRC’s online services. If they do not have one already, they can register on GOV.UK and will just need their National Insurance number or postcode, and 2 forms of ID.

Further information

HMRC wrote to 1.5 million parents between May and July this year reminding them to extend by 31 August.

In total, more than 522,000 parents have extended their claim so far.

Parents who can’t extend their Child Benefit online or in the HMRC app can still do so by post or by phone.

More information on Child Benefit for 16-19-year-olds.

Parents cannot claim Child Benefit if their child is taking a course that is part of a job contract.

Parents can view and manage their claim quickly and easily online or on the HMRC app. This includes viewing payment information and proof of their claim, adding additional children and updating their details – all without needing to call HMRC.
September 5, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : Prime Minister and Welsh First Minister: Together we will “supercharge” mission to make Britain a clean energy superpower [August 2024]
The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 20 August 2024.

The Prime Minister and Welsh First Minister will supercharge efforts to make Britain a clean energy superpower today, by investing in homegrown energy to grow the economy, create jobs, boost skills, and strengthen our energy independence.

Visiting a wind farm in West Wales which benefitted from Welsh Government funding, the Prime Minister and First Minister will pledge close cooperation to unleash the benefits of a publicly owned energy company, in the pair’s first official visit since the appointment of the First Minister.

The Prime Minister will pledge to build on work already done by the Welsh Government to establish a publicly owned energy company.

The UK government is seizing the economic opportunity to deliver Great British Energy, that will own and invest in clean power projects in regions and nations across the UK. The company will be backed by £8.3 billion of new money over this Parliament.

As part of the reset in relationship with the Welsh Government, based on a genuine partnership of collaboration and respect, the two leaders are joining forces to deliver clean energy investment across Wales and the rest of the UK. This marks a fresh start under the new Government.

The Prime Minister will reiterate the Government’s commitment to end an era of rocketing energy bills and price instability with a long-term plan to deliver clean power by 2030. Families across the country have suffered during the cost-of-living crisis, as the UK’s over-reliance on fossil fuel markets was exploited by Putin.

Great British Energy is part of the Government’s commitment to make Britain a clean energy superpower, with clean power by 2030. This will boost the country’s energy independence, so that families and businesses are never left that vulnerable again, and kickstart economic growth.

Trydan Gwyrdd Cymru – a company owned by the Welsh Government – was built from scratch in just 12 months and is already boosting Wales’s green economy and setting the UK on course for energy security. This is on course to produce 1 GW of clean energy by 2040 – enough to power up to a million homes in Wales, helping reduce bills in the long term.

The Welsh Government is also already working with The Crown Estate to unlock 1,000 km2 of seabed. This will create brand new windfarms that have the capacity to produce up to 4.5 gigawatts of renewable electricity. The Crown Estate estimates this could generate enough electricity to power the equivalent of every home in Wales three times over, or host 1.4 million events at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium a year.

The visit comes as The Crown Estate embarks on the latest phase of its Offshore Wind Leasing Round 5, which will see bidders set out their plans for delivering new wind farms, explaining how this will support the delivery of wider social and economic benefits for onshore communities.

The Crown Estate also estimates these planned windfarms could create more than 5,000 new jobs in construction and deliver a £1.4 billion boost to the economy.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:

We have inherited an incoherent energy policy that has left homes up and down the country vulnerable to rocketing energy bills.

But the Welsh Government has made important strides that we can now build on, and I am determined that Wales is at the very heart of our mission to make Britain an energy superpower, with renewables powering homes right across the country.

Great British Energy will put the whole of the United Kingdom on the right path to deliver the independence we need, while helping to deliver lower bills for households and businesses and creating the next generation of skilled jobs.

The UK Government has recently announced plans to supercharge this work with a landmark deal between Great British Energy and The Crown Estate which has the potential to leverage up to £60 billion of private investment into the UK’s drive for energy independence.

The government has inherited acute challenges where high energy bills have placed a huge burden on people across the country. Had this work to deliver green energy started earlier, the UK would be producing more of its own homegrown energy sources. This would have left the UK’s energy supply less susceptible to price spikes caused by geopolitical and economic shocks– such as Putin’s illegal invasion of Ukraine.

First Minister of Wales, Eluned Morgan, said:

Our publicly-owned renewable energy developer, Trydan Gwyrdd Cymru, is a long-term sustainable investment that puts net zero and the communities of Wales at the heart of the energy transition.

While the previous UK government focused on fracking and fossil fuels – opposed by most communities and incompatible with our international obligations – we took positive action to ensure we deliver on our environmental commitments.

Harvesting our wind and using it to produce power offers us, and the people of Wales, the ability to own the returns on what will be a significant investment.

The second leg of his two-day visit will focus on the government’s mission to see how green investment can power tens of thousands of homes across the South West Wales region and provide millions of pounds in funding for the neighbouring community.

As one of several renewables sites across Wales, the site they are visiting is a key contributor to the sector’s role in providing clean energy to the nation, supporting thousands of jobs, and training the workforce of the future. ‎He will also meet with apprentices and the workers running the site.

This government is wasting no time in introducing measures that will get us closer to energy independence. Already the Energy Secretary has:
- Scrapped the ban on onshore wind development
- Took planning decisions on three solar farms within days of taking office
- Introduced legislation to build Great British Energy
- Signed a deal with The Crown Estate that will build more offshore wind and could leverage up to £60 billion in investment
That is all ahead of plans to help protect consumers and introduce a Warm Homes Plan that will help homeowners insulate their houses cheaper – helping us achieve clean power by 2030.

Taken together, these steps will help prevent consumers from being beholden to price spikes abroad, while helping us achieve our Net Zero commitments.
September 5, 2024