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Tag: 2024

  • PRESS RELEASE : Extend Child Benefit for your teen by 31 August [August 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.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Prime Minister and Welsh First Minister: Together we will “supercharge” mission to make Britain a clean energy superpower [August 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.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Change of His Majesty’s Ambassador to Angola – Bharat Joshi [July 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : Change of His Majesty’s Ambassador to Angola – Bharat Joshi [July 2024]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 20 August 2024.

    Mr Bharat Joshi has been appointed His Majesty’s Ambassador to the Republic of Angola and non-resident Ambassador to the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe in succession to Mr Roger Stringer MBE who will be transferring to another Diplomatic Service appointment.  Mr Joshi will take up his appointment during October 2024.

    Curriculum vitae

    Full name: Bharat Suresh Joshi

    Year Role
    2019 to 2023 FCDO, Head of Security Department and Senior Security Adviser
    2018 to 2019 FCDO, South Asia and Afghanistan Department, leading on diaspora engagement and Cricket World Cup outreach
    2013 to 2018 Chennai, Deputy High Commissioner
    2009 to 2013 Yaounde, British High Commissioner and non-resident Ambassador to Gabon, Chad, Equatorial Guinea and the Central African Republic
    2007 to 2009 Doha, UK Border Agency International Group Regional Manager
    2006 to 2007 Dhaka, Director of Visa Services
    2004 to 2006 FCO, Private Secretary to Minister for Africa
    2003 to 2004 UKVisas, Head of Public Affairs
    2002 to 2003  UKVisas, Policy Section Team Leader
    Sept 2001 to   Nov 2001 FCO, Consular team press officer in wake of 9/11 attack
    1999 to 2001 Banjul, Deputy High Commissioner
    1995 to 1998  FCO, Assistant Desk Officer, European Union Department (External)
  • Grenfell Tower Inquiry – Phase 2 Report (Executive Summary)

    Grenfell Tower Inquiry – Phase 2 Report (Executive Summary)

    The summary of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 2, the executive summary, published on 4 September 2024.

    Text of Report (in .pdf format)

  • PRESS RELEASE : Libya’s leaders must protect their people’s rights – UK statement at the UN Security Council [August 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : Libya’s leaders must protect their people’s rights – UK statement at the UN Security Council [August 2024]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 20 August 2024.

    Statement by Ambassador James Kariuki, UK Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, at the UN Security Council meeting on Libya.

    President, Libyans deserve stability and prosperity, but disappointingly a political settlement to enable this remains distant. Clashes over the last few months in Ras Ajdir, Tripoli, Zawiya, and the Ghadames basin, as well as oil field shutdowns in Sharara, demonstrate the fragility of the current situation.

    Let me make three points this morning. First, we note the political initiatives taking place outside of the UN’s auspices, including the recent meeting of members of the House of Representatives and High State Council.

    We welcome all efforts to foster political dialogue. But these should be inclusive if they are to be effective, and should recognise the central role of UNSMIL, as mandated by this Council.

    Second, we share the growing concern expressed by the Panel of Experts over increasing violations and abuses of human rights. These include recent reports of unlawful arrests and mistreatment of journalists.

    There is also a continued lack of protection of women, restricting their ability to participate in all aspects of Libya’s civil, social, and political space. Libya can only prosper when its citizens enjoy universal rights, and when its leaders and institutions uphold the rule of law.

    Third, we note with regret the continued ineffectiveness of the arms embargo. The Panel of Experts continues to highlight flagrant malign breaches, such as the provision of military support, including by members of this Council.

    President, the UK remains steadfast in support of UNSMIL. The Secretary General has our full support in his efforts to appoint a new Special Representative as soon as possible. We continue to call on all Libya’s leaders to engage in the political process in the spirit of compromise.

    We call on members of the Council and others in the international community to work with increased focus and vigour on a shared vision for a stable, peaceful and secure Libya which is in the interests not only of the Libyan people but the wider region.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Pension Credit awareness drive as thousands of eligible pensioners yet to claim [August 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : Pension Credit awareness drive as thousands of eligible pensioners yet to claim [August 2024]

    The press release issued by the Department for Work and Pensions on 20 August 2024.

    Pensioners urged to check if they could be eligible for Pension Credit to secure the Winter Fuel Payment, worth up to £300 per household.

    • Claiming Pension Credit can also passport pensioners to additional help with housing costs, council tax, and heating bills
    • Comes as Deputy Prime Minister and Work and Pensions Secretary write to Local Authorities to boost uptake of pension credit in their local areas

    The Department for Work and Pensions is today urging pensioners to check their eligibility for Pension Credit in order to secure this year’s Winter Fuel Payment.

    It comes as the government has had to make some difficult decisions to fix the foundations of the economy due to the dire state of the public finances, with the Winter Fuel Payment – worth up to £300 – set to be means-tested and delivered to those on Pension Credit to ensure it is targeted towards those in most need.

    Around 1.3 million households in England and Wales will continue to receive Winter Fuel Payments, but the government is determined to boost take-up of Pension Credit to ensure low-income pensioners continue to get this help.

    The Deputy Prime Minister and Work and Pensions Secretary are writing to Local Authorities and will join forces with them, older peoples’ charities, and other groups this September for its annual Pension Credit Week of Action.

    The government’s Pension Credit awareness drive will help identify households not claiming the benefit, and encourage pensioners to apply by 21 December, the last date for making a backdated claim for Pension Credit, in order to receive the Winter Fuel Payment.

    While around 1.4 million pensioners are already receiving Pension Credit there are up to an estimated 880,000 households eligible for the support who are yet to claim.

    Work and Pensions Secretary, Liz Kendall said:

    The £22 billion black hole in the public finances we have inherited has required us to take difficult decisions, but I am determined to ensure low-income pensioners are supported.

    That’s why I urge any pensioner, or their loved ones, to check if they could get Pension Credit.

    This government remains completely committed to pensioners which is why we’re protecting the income of over 12 million pensioners through the Triple Lock.

    Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves said:

    The dire state of the public finances we inherited from the previous government means we’ve had to make some very difficult decisions.

    Our commitment to supporting pensioners remains, which is why we are maintaining the triple lock.

    We want pensioners to get the support they are entitled to. That’s why I urge all pensioners to check whether they are eligible for Pension Credit.

    Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said:

    Everyone has paid the price for over a decade of energy insecurity, which is why we are getting on with delivering clean power by 2030, alongside our ambitious Warm Homes Plan.

    It is imperative that those eligible get the support they need this winter, which is why the government will do everything it can to roll out Pension Credit, making sure as many people as possible qualify for the up to £300 Winter Fuel Payment.

    During the Week of Action, set to commence in September, the DWP and its partners will be tackling some of the myths that may stop people applying, such as how having savings, a pension or owning a home are not necessarily barriers to receiving Pension Credit.

    This work builds on last year’s Invitation to claim pilots, where letters and leaflets were targeted at households already in receipt of Housing Benefit, but not claiming Pension Credit in ten local authorities.

    This work comes alongside wider plans to ensure economic stability for pensioners by protecting the Triple Lock, improving energy security and keeping energy bills low through the Warm Homes Plan and cutting NHS waiting lists.

    Over the next five years over 12 million pensioners will see their State Pension increase by thousands of pounds as a result of the commitment to the Triple Lock.

    And the Warm Homes Plan which will support investment in insulation and low carbon heating – upgrading millions of homes over this Parliament. This government’s long-term plan will protect billpayers permanently and reduce fuel poverty.

    Pensioners whose weekly income is below £218.15 for a single person or £332.95 for a couple should check to see if they could be eligible. It is worth on average £3,900 a year and can also open doors to further financial help, such as housing costs, council tax, and heating bills, and the Winter Fuel Payment worth up to £300.

    And, pensioners who own their own home or have savings or a private pension income could still be eligible – with DWP’s online calculator able to work out how much an individual could get.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Make Noise For Ukraine on Ukrainian Independence Day [August 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : Make Noise For Ukraine on Ukrainian Independence Day [August 2024]

    The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 20 August 2024.

    The UK Government and our partners in NATO are leading an international campaign to Make Noise For Ukraine on Ukrainian Independence Day, 24 August.

    We must not be silent in the face of Russia’s aggression.

    This Ukrainian Independence Day, help us celebrate Ukraine’s bravery and resilience by showing your support on social media.

    Organisations and members of the public are encouraged to join our campaign by posting a video making noise for Ukraine on social media with the hashtag #MakeNoiseForUkraine.

    Please post your video on 24 August 2024, Ukrainian Independence Day.

    You can make noise in any way you like: clap or cheer, play an instrument, sing a song, stomp your feet or ring a bell. You could also shout ‘Slava Ukraini’ – Glory to Ukraine!

    The more unique the better.

    You can also share Ukrainian Independence Day content posted on the Ministry of Defence Facebook, X, Instagram and LinkedIn channels.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Prime Minister meets new First Minister in Cardiff for two day Welsh visit [August 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : Prime Minister meets new First Minister in Cardiff for two day Welsh visit [August 2024]

    The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 19 August 2024.

    The Prime Minister has arrived in Cardiff this afternoon for his first in-person meeting with First Minister Eluned Morgan since she took up the role this month.

    The Prime Minister will meet with the First Minister in the Welsh capital where they will discuss the importance of continuing to reset the crucial relationship between the UK and Welsh Governments and their joint determination to deliver for working people in every part of the country.

    As the UK Government embarks on a decade of national renewal, the people and communities of Wales will be front and centre of the focus to create good quality jobs, drive down energy bills and provide the energy security we need.

    The two leaders are expected to visit a renewable energy site tomorrow where they will look at how Welsh companies are investing in clean power projects to power homes and support jobs in the local community.

    This comes a week after the UK Government has announced the immediate release of £13.5 million in funding to support supply chain businesses and workers affected by Tata Steel’s decision to transition to greener steel-making.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Warship and submarine readiness boost by small British businesses [August 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : Warship and submarine readiness boost by small British businesses [August 2024]

    The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 19 August 2024.

    Small British businesses are to benefit from a new warship and submarine agreement, Defence Minister Maria Eagle has announced today.

    • UK SMEs able to bid for work under large new framework.
    • More than 180,000 different items requiring delivery around the world.
    • Greater Royal Navy fleet readiness to simultaneously support UK economic growth.

    The agreement, which will enhance economic growth across the UK, will also boost overall availability of the UK’s warships and submarines. It will see far greater access from the Ministry of Defence directly to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), allowing them to bid for work under a seven-year framework worth up to £850 million.

    The Marine Systems Transformation (MaST) programme delivers support and spares to non-combat equipment aboard UK warships and submarines, covering 180,000 different items from propulsion systems to galley equipment.

    Across the framework, between a third and half of the suppliers are based outside the south of England with the majority being Midlands or North of England-based, and additional suppliers based in Scotland and Wales.

    Minister for Defence Procurement and Industry, Maria Eagle said:

    The spares and repairs that keep our warships submarines at sea are critical, and this agreement will ensure that more British small businesses – from Southampton to Aberdeen – will be at the heart of supporting the Royal Navy.

    By backing our defence industry, we will keep the nation safe and support more than 200,000 jobs.

    Today’s changes open the market for 39 companies to bid for work through Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S) – the MOD’s procurement arm. Greater warship and submarine availability will be delivered through:

    • Improved access to spare parts, both for planned and unplanned maintenance;
    • Access to specialist equipment-related technical advice and expertise globally; and
    • Reductions in cost without compromising safety or availability.

    The Minister for Defence Procurement and Industry, Maria Eagle, announced the new agreement on a visit in Birmingham, to Somers Forge – manufacturer of bespoke naval parts and one of several businesses based in the Midlands that can bid for work under the new framework.

    Managing Director of Somers Forge, Samson Folkes said:

    Being selected for the MAST framework represents a huge opportunity for our business. We have been a defence supplier since 1912 and are incredibly proud of our heritage supporting the Royal Navy. For Somers Forge, winning contracts through MAST can help us sustain vital jobs and apprenticeships in the Midlands as well as underpin our growth ambitions.

    MaST allows direct access to SME suppliers to deliver value for money for the taxpayer and to drive economic growth through defence industry organisations of all sizes across the UK.

    Toni Gray, Navy Acquisition, Equipment Support Programmes Director, said:

    The MaST frameworks will deliver vital spares, repairs and post design services to support the Royal Navy’s fleet of ships and submarines. The frameworks will widen our market, enable us to contract direct to SMEs, and critically, offer never seen before levels of customer choice to how we sustain our key equipment’s.

    Dr Simon Dakin, DG – Core at DE&S, said:

    The MaST frameworks are a game-changer to spares procurement and in service support to Royal Navy warships and submarines. It brings the agility to respond to increasingly uncertain world events and meet a demanding operational schedule while driving value for money in our procurement approach to the goods and services that we just need to deliver repeatably, cost effectively and well.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Nationwide call to surrender all zombie-style knives and machetes [August 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : Nationwide call to surrender all zombie-style knives and machetes [August 2024]

    The press release issued by the Home Office on 19 August 2024.

    A nationwide call to hand over zombie-style knives and machetes has been launched by the government, before these dangerous weapons are banned from our streets.

    From 24 September, it will be illegal to own zombie-style knives and machetes as they will be added to the list of dangerous prohibited items already banned, including zombie knives, butterfly knives, Samurai swords and push daggers.

    Ahead of the new ban coming into force, anyone who has one of these weapons is being urged to hand them over – safely and legally.

    This scheme​ will be run at police stations across England and Wales for four weeks between 26 August and 23 September, without repercussions for surrendering these potentially dangerous knives safely.

    Individuals can also anonymously dispose of these weapons using safe, surrender bins, by contacting their local police, council or an anti-knife crime charity to find out about alternative options, other than police stations, in their area.

    After 24 September, anyone caught with a zombie-style knife or a machete faces time behind bars.

    Policing Minister, Diana Johnson said:

    Too many people have access to weapons that can lead to devastating, life-changing consequences. There is no legitimate need for a weapon of this kind to be in our homes or on our streets.

    That is why we will continue to make sure the tightest restrictions are in place to limit the availability of these lethal weapons. Implementing a ban on zombie-style knives is just the first step in our ambitious, dedicated plan to halve knife crime within a decade, and will closely be followed by making ninja swords illegal.

    It is absolutely crucial that members of the public come forward and safely hand in these weapons. We are offering people the chance to do the right thing – to help make our streets safer, prevent further loss of life and save so many futures.

    We cannot do this alone, political, policing and community leaders must work together to bring the knife crime epidemic to an end and offer a better future for our young people.

    Participating police stations are spread across the country, and people should contact their designated police station first to get advice on how to package up any weapons and bring them into the station. Members of the public who may be in possession of these weapons should read the government guidance to find their nearest designated police station and for further information about how they can hand these weapons in.

    This scheme is just one part of the government’s pledge to halve knife crime in a decade. Next steps will include further bans, stronger rules to stop online sales, and tough action to stop young people being drawn into crime.