Tag: 2025

PRESS RELEASE : Faster cancer treatment thanks to new radiotherapy machines [May 2025]
The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 26 May 2025.

Thousands of cancer patients will see faster treatment thanks to new radiotherapy machines.
- Cutting-edge machines will cut waiting times and help 4,500 more patients get treatment faster
- Upgraded tech being rolled out at 28 hospitals can cut the rounds of radiotherapy needed and reach cancers in harder to treat areas like chest, abdomen and pelvis
- Rollout is backed by £70 million provided by government as part of its mission to improve cancer care through its Plan for Change
Thousands of patients will benefit from faster and safer cancer treatment thanks to new cutting-edge radiotherapy machines being rolled out to every region in the country.

The government has paid for new linear accelerator (LINAC) machines at 28 hospitals, which use modern technology to reduce delays to treatment and, in some cases, could reduce the number of hospital visits a patient needs to make by half, helping to cut waiting lists faster.

Replacing these older machines will save as many as 13,000 appointments from being lost to equipment breakdown.

The machines will be rolled out at hospitals across the country from August, funded by a £70 million government investment as part of its plans to improve cancer care through the Plan for Change.

By March 2027, up to 27,500 additional treatments per year will be delivered, including up to 4,500 receiving their first treatment for cancer within 62 days of referral, helping to treat more cancer patients in faster time.

Equipped with cutting-edge technology, the machines are safer for patients and can more precisely target tumours, causing less damage to surrounding healthy tissues. They are particularly effective at targeting cancers in harder to treat areas, such as the chest, abdomen and pelvis.

Health and Social Care Secretary, Wes Streeting, said:

There is a revolution taking place in medical technology which can transform treatment for cancer patients. But NHS hospitals are forced to use outdated, malfunctioning equipment thanks to 14 years of underinvestment under the previous government.

Thanks to the investment this government is making in our NHS, we will provide more cancer patients with world-class, cutting-edge care.

By reducing the number of hospital visits required and preventing cancelled appointments, these state of the art radiotherapy machines free up capacity so that thousands more patients are treated on time.

As a cancer survivor, I know just how important timely treatment is. These machines are part of the investment and modernisation that will cut waiting times for patients, through our Plan for Change.

The tech is being prioritised in hospitals which are currently using outdated treatment machines older than 10 years, meaning patients can be treated faster and reducing cancelled appointments due to faults.

It will also increase the availability of Stereotactic Ablative Radiotherapy (SABR) cancer treatments, which can more precisely target tumours.

NHS national clinical director for cancer, Professor Peter Johnson, said:

Radiotherapy is essential for many cancer patients, so it’s great news that the investment in new machines means that some will need fewer rounds of treatment, as we bring in more sophisticated techniques.

These machines will deliver more precise treatment for patients, which helps them to recover sooner, as well as enabling the NHS to treat people more efficiently as we continue in our efforts to catch and treat more cancers faster.

The new LINAC radiotherapy machines were allocated across England by specialised commissioning teams at NHS England, which will help to improve health inequalities by ensuring every radiotherapy service has the modern equipment needed to offer innovative radiotherapy treatments.

Alongside turbocharging treatment for patients, significant work is being carried out to get cancers diagnosed more quickly than ever before.

Improved performance against the Faster Diagnosis Standard has led to the equivalent of 4,000 extra patients given the all-clear or a definitive cancer diagnosis within 4 weeks in March 2025 compared to the same time the year before, to reach over 217,000 in total in March 2025.

Patients are also getting easier access to vital tests, checks and scans, with community diagnostic centres delivering almost 2.5 million on high streets and at other convenient locations in March.

Senior policy manager at Cancer Research UK, Matt Sample, said:

All cancer patients, no matter where they live, should have access to the best treatment, so it’s great to see investment in cutting-edge equipment for hospitals across the country.

Modern LINAC machines can offer more efficient, targeted treatment with fewer side effects for patients, which is why it’s vital that there is sustained funding to replace them routinely.

The government has a huge opportunity in its upcoming national cancer plan for England to tackle unequal access to optimal treatment, and we look forward to working with them to help give every patient the care they deserve.

Kate Seymour, Head of External Affairs at Macmillan Cancer Support, said:

Today marks an exciting step forward for cancer treatment in England. Many people across the country are facing long delays for care but today proves that better is possible.

Investment in cutting-edge technology is essential to bring down waiting times and help more people with cancer get the best care the UK has to offer, whoever and wherever they are.

The investment in this new technology follows on from the government rolling out 13 new DEXA scanners across the country, which will allow 29,000 extra bone scans per year to be delivered for patients as part of the Plan for Change.

The government’s Plan for Change will continue to put patients first as it works to end the misery felt by millions up and down the country who have been denied the care they need for too long.

Over 3 million appointments have already been delivered since the end of June 2024, smashing the government’s target of delivering 2 million extra operations, scans and appointments. This is alongside over 8.3 million more appointments each year becoming available as 1,000 doctors surgeries receive a bricks and mortar upgrade to modernise practices and expand capacity.

Trusts getting an upgraded scanner

The 28 trusts receiving an upgraded scanner are:
- Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust
- Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust
- United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust
- University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust
- Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust
- Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust
- Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust
- Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- The Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust
- Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust
- Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust
- Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust
- University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust
- South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- The Christie NHS Foundation Trust
- Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust
- Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust
- The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre NHS Foundation Trust
- University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust
- Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust
- University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- Barts Health NHS Trust
- Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust
May 27, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : Largest ever UK defence AI trial conducted across land, sea and air [May 2025]

The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 25 May 2025.

Sailors and air crews are set to benefit from new artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities following the UK’s largest ever multi-domain AI trial, bringing together land, sea and air equipment.

The trial provides valuable data to develop and validate AI algorithms. It strengthens the UK’s position as a leader in defence innovation, supporting the government’s Plan for Change.

For the Royal Navy, AI technologies developed through these trials will enhance maritime surveillance, improve threat detection in complex sea environments, while enabling faster decision-making during naval operations.

The Royal Air Force (RAF) will benefit from advanced target recognition systems that can process information from multiple airborne sensors simultaneously, reducing pilot cognitive load and enabling more effective air operations in challenging conditions.

Building on previous trials – known as WINTERMUTE – this third iteration involved around 200 scientists from the Defence Science Technology Laboratory (Dstl), military personnel from the Royal Navy and RAF, industry representatives and international partners collaborating at Portland Harbour to develop critical AI systems for automatic target detection and recognition.

Over a five-day period, visual infrared and band radar data was recorded from Royal Navy vessels, ground vehicles, and both manned and unmanned aircraft, operating in mission-based scenarios. The groundbreaking trial follows the Prime Minister’s historic commitment to increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP, recognising the critical importance of military readiness in an era of heightened global uncertainty.

Minister for Defence Procurement and Industry, Rt Hon Maria Eagle MP said:

We can all see how AI has the potential to impact our lives and enhance our war fighting ability, and UK defence is embracing this leap forward in technology to better support our personnel on the frontline.

Significant trials like this, working with international and industry partners, demonstrate the rapid progress we’re making to utilise new technology for keeping Britain secure at home and strong abroad.

The programme included crucial participation from the United States and Australia, reinforcing the UK’s commitment to international defence partnerships, which helps drive long-term national growth and support the government’s Plan for Change.

Dr Paul Hollinshead, Dstl’s Chief Executive, said:

This innovative trial represents a significant advancement in how we develop and test defence technologies. By bringing together multiple domains and partners, we’re not just collecting data – we’re creating the foundation for mission success and operational advantage that will protect our forces for decades to come.

The use of these AI systems is designed to support, not replace, human decision-making in defence operations. The technology aims to reduce cognitive burden on military personnel by filtering information and providing clearer battlefield intelligence.

By curating high-quality data from multiple domains, Dstl is creating the foundation for future AI systems that will provide UK forces with operational advantage in complex environments.

May 27, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : ‘Get on and Build’ Deputy Prime Minister urges housebuilders [May 2025]
The press release issued by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government on 25 May 2025.
- Councils will get new powers to keep housebuilders on track to ensure they play their part to deliver 1.5 million homes.
- New housebuilding timeframes must be set before planning permission is granted
- Developers who repeatedly fail to build out or use planning permissions to trade land speculatively could face new ‘Delayed Homes Penalty’ or be locked out of future permissions by councils
- Part of the government’s Plan for Change to grow the economy and deliver security for working people.
Thousands of new homes promised to communities will be delivered faster, thanks to major changes to make sure developers deliver on their commitments and do not leave sites half-finished for years.

For the first time, under new government proposals announced today, housebuilders will have to commit to delivery timeframes before they get planning permission, making sure they play their part to accelerate housebuilding and tackle the housing crisis head on to deliver security for working people.

Under new rules, housebuilders will also have to submit annual reports showing their progress to councils to keep them on track. While most developers want to get on and build, those who consistently fail to build out consented sites and those who secure planning permissions simply to trade land speculatively could also face a ‘Delayed Homes Penalty’ worth thousands per unbuilt home, paid directly to local planning authorities.

Those deliberately sitting on vital land, without building the homes promised, could see their sites acquired by councils where there is a case in the public interest and stripped of future planning permissions, showing the government’s Plan for Change means business to deliver 1.5 million new homes.

Large housing sites, producing over 2,000 homes, can take at least 14 years to build, meaning working families and young people spend years deprived of homeownership or the ability to rent an affordable home.

But where more than 40% of homes are affordable, build-out is twice as fast. The government is therefore also testing a new requirement for large sites to be mixed tenure by default – helping to build more homes, including more affordable homes, faster.

Deputy Prime Minister and Housing Secretary, Angela Rayner said:

“This government has taken radical steps to overhaul the planning system to get Britain building again after years of inaction. In the name of delivering security for working people, we are backing the builders not the blockers. Now it’s time for developers to roll up their sleeves and play their part.

“We’re going even further to get the homes we need. No more sites with planning permission gathering dust for decades while a generation struggle to get on the housing ladder. Through our Plan for Change, we will deliver 1.5 million homes, fix the housing crisis and make the dream of home ownership a reality for working people.”

These decisive changes will support housebuilders to adapt to build more, and faster, by incentivising a model that works for developers and communities.

When major reforms to streamline the planning system were introduced last summer, the industry pledged to work with the government to build out as quickly as possible.

They now need to make good on that promise. The government continues to back the industry with the tools and support it needs—but in return, the Deputy Prime Minister’s message to housebuilders is they need to get on and build.

These reforms play a key part of the government’s Plan for Change to build 1.5 million homes this Parliament and deliver the biggest boost in social and affordable housebuilding in a generation.

Work is already underway through the new pro-growth National Planning Policy Framework, including mandatory housing targets for councils, which will drive UK housebuilding to its highest level in over 40 years and add £6.8 billion to the UK economy by 2029/30.

This is on top of seismic planning reforms through the landmark Planning and Infrastructure Bill to make it quicker and easier to build 1.5 million homes and boost the economy by up to £7.5 billion over the next decade.

Housing spokesperson for the Local Government Association, Cllr Adam Hug said:

“We are pleased the Government has acted on the LGA’s call for it to be easier for councils to penalise developers and acquire stalled housing sites or sites which have not been built out to timescales contractually agreed, ideally with the recovery being made at pre-planning gain prices.

“Local government shares ambitions to boost housebuilding and work hard with communities and developers to deliver new sites. Too often they are frustrated when developers do not build the homes they have approved. While intervention of this sort is a last resort, this move is crucial to help ensure meaningful build out of sites.

“The ability to apply a ’Delayed Homes Penalty’ is a power that councils have been asking for and means that local taxpayers are not missing out on lost income due to slow developers, but it must be set at a level that incentivises build out.

“Private developers have a key role in solving our chronic housing shortage but they cannot build the homes needed each year on their own. Ahead of the Spending Review, we have also set out the measures needed to empower councils to also be able to build more affordable, good quality homes quickly and at scale.”

Further information

The government is publishing a Planning Reform Working Paper entitled ‘Speeding Up Build Out’. This is alongside publishing a technical consultation on requiring transparency and accountability measures for build out rates on housing sites.

The technical consultation sets out proposals to require developers of 50 or more homes utilising powers introduced in the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023 to provide:
- a build out statement with their planning application;
- a commencement notice when they commence their development; and
- an annual progress report tracking build out progress,
The Working Paper on ‘Speeding Up Build Out’ makes proposals for discussion with the sector. This includes:
- An overall strategy to speed up build out, drawing on the best available evidence of the causes of slow build out.
- A new proposal on a Delayed Homes Penalty, which would be a last resort measure available for local authorities where a developer has agreed a build out schedule in their planning permission but falls materially (10% or more) behind it, without a good reason. This will require primary legislation and only apply to future planning permissions.
- Confirmation the government will implement a new power introduced by the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023 relating to the compulsory purchase of land which will remove risks to the use of compulsory purchase orders on stalled sites.
- Confirmation the government will implement the reforms to completion notices in the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023 which local planning authorities can issue if development is unlikely to be completed within a reasonable period.
May 27, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : British firepower deployed on NATO’s eastern flank in show of force [May 2025]

The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 24 May 2025.

UK shores up NATO’s eastern flank with deployment to Finland.

Hundreds of UK military personnel deployed to NATO’s eastern flank to add critical firepower to a major NATO exercise in Northern Finland.

Exercise Northern Strike will see the UK Armed Forces join thousands of personnel from Finland and Sweden, NATO’s two newest Allies. The show of force and firepower reinforces the Alliance’s readiness, capability, and commitment to defend every inch of NATO territory. This is the latest demonstration of strong collaboration between the UK and our international partners as set out in the government’s Plan for Change.

New British Army AH64E Apache attack helicopters will fire Hellfire missiles and 30mm guns simulating close support to allied combat forces on the ground, including British Army infantry units.

Bringing their cutting-edge rocket systems to the battlefield, The British Army’s 3rd Regiment Royal Horse Artillery will fire their Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) throughout and put their troops to the test during a field training exercise. MLRS has been proven in battle in the war in Ukraine and this will be the first time the British Army fire the system on European soil alongside AH64E Apache helicopters.

Minister for the Armed Forces, Luke Pollard MP, said :

Exercise Northern Strike demonstrates our unshakeable commitment to NATO and highlights the key capabilities the UK brings to the Alliance. This government’s commitment to increasing defence spending to 2.5% of GDP from April 2027 ensures the UK’s strength and leadership.

From the skies over Poland, to the northern reaches of Finland, the UK is standing shoulder to shoulder with our allies in leading the way in defending NATO’s eastern flank. Working with our international partners is at the core of this government’s Plan for Change.

Deepening partnerships with key Allies across the exercise is a key part of this Government’s NATO first policy, to ensure the UK is secure at home and strong abroad. Strengthening NATO by showcasing our capabilities and increasing interoperability assures our allies and deters our adversaries.

Exercise Northern Strike is part of a wider operation to secure NATO’s eastern flank; Operation RAZOREDGE. RAZOREDGE is made up of 13 exercises involving 13 NATO allies across 6 countries. The UK has contributed assets across air, land and sea with over 6,000 UK personnel taking part alongside 16,500 allied troops.

Operated by 4 Regiment, Army Air Corps, the Apache Helicopters also support jobs across the country at the Army Aviation Centre in Hampshire and Suffolk. UK industry also plays a key role with 75 British companies, including 33 SMEs also contributing a range of critical components to the aircraft.

Keeping the country safe is the Government’s first priority, and an integral part of its Plan for Change. The work of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force, is critical to the security and stability of the UK, supporting all of the Government’s five missions in its plan.

May 27, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : Animal welfare rules in British zoos set for major overhaul [May 2025]
The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 24 May 2025.

New Zoo Standards will enhance welfare and protections for animals in Great Britain’s zoos and aquariums.

Major update in rules for keeping animals in zoos as government introduces new standards which will ensure the UK’s famous zoos remain global leaders in the zoo industry.

Larger habitat enclosures for elephants, better training for staff to handle exotic animals, and improved public safety measures will be required as part of the new Standards of Modern Zoo Practice for Great Britain, published today (Saturday 24th May)

For the first time in over a decade, the rules protecting Great Britain’s most loved zoo animals such as the majestic snowy owl and golden eagle, iconic elephants, and wonders of the sea like sting rays and octopus will be modernised to reflect the very latest in zoo best practice:
- Larger habitats will be introduced for elephants to better replicate the large territories elephants naturally inhabit.
- The practice of tethering birds of prey as a method of long term accommodation will be phased out, with a shift to large aviary enclosures.
- Aquariums will no longer be allowed to let visitors touch fish and cephalopods – creatures such as ray and octopus are highly intelligent animals and handling causes them stress.
Animal Welfare Minister, Baroness Hayman said:

We are a nation of animal lovers, and our best zoos and aquariums are truly world leaders in setting the standard for how wild animals should be kept.

Today’s long-overdue reforms lay the foundation for an even stronger, even more compassionate future for all zoos and aquariums —and the animals they protect.  This is the first step as part of our commitment to deliver the most ambitious animal welfare reforms in a generation.

We’re making sure all sectors have the tools they need thrive, which is vital in our mission to deliver economic growth and make lives better for people across the country under our Plan for Change.

Cam Whitnall, Managing Director of The Big Cat Sanctuary and star of CBBC’s One Zoo Three, said:

For too long, zoos have been misunderstood as places of entertainment, but these new standards make it unmistakably clear: modern, good zoos put wildlife first. They are hubs for conservation, education, and world-leading animal care. I’m proud to be part of the UK’s zoo, sanctuary and aquarium community, setting the global benchmark for the welfare of endangered species.

This is a huge step forward and also a call to action for other countries to now raise their standards, so animals everywhere benefit from the same level of care, and we can align globally for wildlife.

Dr Jo Judge, CEO of the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums (BIAZA) which represents over 130 zoos and aquariums said:

The new standards are a significant step up in legal requirements and cement Britain’s position as a global leader for zoos and aquariums. BIAZA members already lead the way in animal care and conservation and we have been working closely with Defra officials to realise these updated standards.

We are delighted to see them published today, demonstrating government’s and the sector’s commitment to the highest levels of animal care, and helping empower zoos and aquariums to keep leading the fight for nature.

Jamie Christon, CEO at Chester Zoo, said:

We were delighted to welcome the Zoos Minister, Baroness Hayman, to Chester Zoo for the official launch of the updated Secretary of State’s standards of modern zoo practice. These new standards set a clear vision for the future of zoos in the UK and we’re pleased to have worked closely with Defra to help shape them and ensure that they represent world class animal care.

Kathryn England, Chief Operating Officer for ZSL, the international conservation charity behind London and Whipsnade Zoos said:

These standards will help bring the whole sector up to a level the public rightly expects – and that animals everywhere deserve.

London and Whipsnade Zoos are conservation powerhouses, delivering world-leading animal care and driving global efforts to protect wildlife. We welcome these new Standards of Modern Zoo Practice and the clarity they bring – every animal in every UK zoo deserves the same high standard of care, and every zoo should be contributing meaningfully to conservation.

Other measures in the Standards include:
- Improved conservation – Clear steps to help enforce conservation standards with new requirements for record keeping – helping drive up standards across the whole sector. This could include breeding programs for endangered species, research into animal behaviour and reproduction, and education to raise awareness about conservation issues. There will also be a curb on the sourcing of animals from the wild.
- Protecting the public – All zoos will need to ensure appropriate safety measures are in place if they want to keep dangerous animals, including double-gated entry systems, lone worker procedures, and the appropriate availability of firearms.
- Updated business plans – To ensure zoos are prepared to protect animals in the event of financial hardship, they will now be required to develop clear business continuity plans
There is a 2 year timeline on zoos and aquariums to adapt to the changes, with further phased timelines for some species-specific changes. This gives enough time to implement the changes efficiently, while support and guidance will be available -keeping welfare at the heart of zoo operations.

These changes, part of the wider Plan for Change, will modernise the way animals are cared for in zoos and aquariums and reaffirm the UK’s position as a global leader in ethical and responsible wildlife management. The new published standards are available from today on gov.uk.
May 27, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : Fresh funding for Exeter research hub creating new medical sensors and healthier soft drinks [May 2025]
The press release issued by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on 24 May 2025.

Researchers in Exeter have today (Saturday 24 May) been selected to host a state-of-the-art facility developing new materials designed at microscopic scale.
- From new medical sensors to components for next-generation computers that could boost cyber security or discover new medicines, Exeter experts are bringing state-of-the-art new materials to life with £19.6 million backing
- Exeter University’s MetaHub will design materials with specially engineered properties, not found in nature, at microscopic scale
- MetaHub has already attracted £4.5 million of private investment, boosting to the high-growth technologies and sectors that will drive our Plan for Change in the South West and beyond
Researchers in Exeter have today (Saturday 24 May) been selected to host a state-of-the-art facility developing new materials designed at microscopic scale – paving the way for new jobs and businesses in everything from medical sensors to healthier food colourings in soft drinks.

The University of Exeter’s MetaHub will be supported by £19.6 million in public and private backing, announced by Science Minister Lord Vallance at the University.

The MetaHub is focused on ‘nanoscale metamaterials’ – a new class of advanced materials, designed at the tiniest, molecular level, so that they have new and useful properties that cannot be found in the natural world. This could enable components to be created that are much smaller than current technology allows, or that can perform new functions that aren’t possible with existing materials.

These new materials could be used to make the next generation of computer components and radio transmitters for defence systems, diagnostic tools for healthcare, and healthier food colourings for soft drinks. Their work is being backed by businesses ranging from defence and security firms QinetiQ and Leonardo to multinational drinks manufacturer PepsiCo.

This is a growing field, emerging from just a handful of groups doing such research, with the UK already leading the way. Investing now in the UK’s metamaterials expertise paves the way for the products of the future to be discovered and commercialised in Britain – with new jobs, businesses and even entire industries to potentially flow from them.

Delivering this growth in partnership with the private sector, £10.5 million of the total funding comes from UK Research and Innovation, with a further £4.5 million in private investment crowded in – showing the value of cutting-edge research as a driver of investment into all corners of the country, in support of the Plan for Change. A further £4.65 million comes from the University of Exeter and other higher education institutions.

Speaking at the University of Exeter, Science Minister Lord Vallance said:

The work happening here in Exeter is a prime example of how cutting-edge research can attract private investment and drive economic growth, in every corner of the UK, which will be critical to our economic mission at the core of the Plan for Change.

Our backing for the MetaHub is an investment, for both today and for tomorrow. We are securing the UK’s leadership in the high-potential field of metamaterials, a new class of materials specially engineered to have new and useful properties. This work is paving the way for future products and innovations that will deliver jobs and growth, in the years ahead.

At the University yesterday, Lord Vallance met researchers leading major new initiatives across climate change, critical minerals and human genomics which together with MetaHub represent £80 million of new public and private sector investment into Cornwall and Devon.

University of Exeter Deputy Vice-Chancellor Stuart Brocklehurst said:

Our world leading research across many of the hottest areas of science will both help address profound global challenges and create opportunity across the South West. It’s been great to welcome Lord Vallance to the University of Exeter to celebrate the work of our researchers and the investment which their work is attracting from public and private sources alike.

Professor Charlotte Deane, Executive Chair at EPSRC said:

We’ve nurtured metamaterials research for many years and it’s fantastic to see it grow from a few individual research groups in the 1990s to a rapidly expanding and thriving research community today.

By harnessing the control of light, energy and information, the MetaHub has the potential to benefit both civil and defence sectors. From more efficient, effective and secure computing and communication to advanced sensing and energy generation, this research will take curiosity-led research to tangible outcomes.

Whilst in Exeter, Lord Vallance also visited another hub for world-leading science and research which is based there: the Met Office. As the UK’s national weather forecasting service, the Met Office’s work is critical to the safe and routine operation of transport, energy, businesses and even national security – efforts bolstered by the switchover to the world’s first cloud-based supercomputer dedicated to weather and climate science, which went online last month. Lord

Vallance also saw how the Met Office is using technologies like AI, to overhaul how we study and understand weather and climate change.
May 27, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : We should use the conference to form measures to safeguard the Two-State Solution and uphold international law – UK statement at the UN [May 2025]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 23 May 2025.

Statement by Stephen Hickey, Director for Middle East and North Africa in the FCDO, at the Preparatory meeting of the High-Level International Conference for the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution.

In addition to co-chairing Working Group Five on Humanitarian Action and Reconstruction in Gaza with our Egyptian colleagues, the UK is also looking forward to engaging across all the working groups.

I would like to set out three priority areas where the UK thinks this Conference can have real impact in moving us closer to achieving a Two-State Solution.

First, the Palestinian Authority. To achieve a sovereign and unified Palestinian State living in peace and security with Israel, we need to provide support to the Palestinian Authority so that it can effectively govern the entirety of the Occupied Palestinian Territories. This includes financial and technical assistance, as it delivers vital reforms.

We should also explore how to strengthen support for Palestinian Authority fiscal and trade reforms, especially under the PA-EU reform framework, with the aim of restoring the Palestinian Authority’s economic viability.

Second, security. Through Working Group Two, we have an important opportunity to consider how we can ensure long-term security for Israelis and Palestinians alike.

We should use this to build international consensus on the transitional security and governance arrangements for the future of Gaza, without Hamas, that can lay the ground for sustainable peace in the region.

Third, we should use the conference to consider concrete measures for safeguarding the Two-State Solution and upholding international law. This should include concrete measures to oppose illegal settlement activities and any attempts at annexation.

For its part, the UK has announced a series of sanctions targeting those responsible for supporting, inciting and promoting violence against Palestinian communities in the West Bank.

In addition to these three important themes, we must continue to press for an immediate and rapid increase in humanitarian aid delivery and distribution in Gaza. And we must also support the efforts led by the United States, Qatar and Egypt to secure an immediate ceasefire, the release of all remaining hostages, and achieve a long-term political solution.

This is the best and only way to ensure lasting prosperity and stability in the region.

May 27, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : The Arab Plan for Early Recovery, Reconstruction and Development sets out a realistic path for the reconstruction of Gaza – UK statement at the UN [May 2025]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 23 May 2025.

Statement by Stephen Hickey, Director for Middle East and North Africa in the FCDO, at the Preparatory meeting of the High-Level International Conference for the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution.

I’d also like to express the UK’s thanks to Saudi Arabia and to France for your excellent leadership in steering our preparations for this high-level conference at the UN.

We are delighted to be co-chairing the Working Group on Humanitarian Action and Reconstruction with Egypt.

The Working Group has three main goals.

First, as the Egyptian Ambassador has just set out, we want to mobilise support for the Arab/Islamic Plan for Early Recovery, Reconstruction and Development.

The plan sets out a realistic path for the reconstruction of Gaza and, if implemented, promises swift and sustainable steps to improve the catastrophic living conditions for the Palestinians living in Gaza.

We strongly encourage all delegations ahead of the Conference in June to consider what concrete measures or commitments you can make to provide financial, technical, and capacity-building support to the plan, and to empower the Palestinian Authority to lead it.

Of course, recovery and reconstruction efforts must also be based upon a solid political and security framework, which provides peace and security for both Israelis and Palestinians alike.

We therefore encourage delegations to consider what enabling elements, including financial, governance and security arrangements, are required. We urgently need to get these in place so that reconstruction efforts are sustainable, inclusive, and can support longer-term peace.

Second, our Working Group will look to identify how we can address the dire humanitarian situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

As my Prime Minister said this week, the level of human suffering in Gaza is intolerable.

Humanitarian access to the Gaza Strip has been completely blocked or severely restricted since 2 March, and the entire population is at risk of famine according to the latest IPC report of 12 May. Meanwhile, hostages continue to be held in appalling conditions.

The Secretary-General has been clear that the entry of humanitarian assistance must be restored immediately with UN agencies allowed to work in full respect of humanitarian principles.

The UK has allocated $135 million this year to support the OPTs, including to provide humanitarian relief and support for Palestinian economic development.

Our working group will explore how we can ensure sufficient funding of the response, and the steps that can be taken to ensure it is consistent with humanitarian principles and with International Humanitarian Law. This includes the needs of the most vulnerable groups.

Third and finally, UNRWA delivers essential services and life-saving humanitarian assistance to Palestinian refugees in the OPTs and in the region. It is indispensable. That is why in the last financial year, the UK provided $55 million in funding to support its important work.

Yet UNRWA is still facing a shortfall of more than $450 million from a budget of $880 million, as it confronts the biggest humanitarian crisis seen in the organisation’s history.

Our working group will consider what further support can be provided by all of us to UNRWA, including through securing sustainable financial contributions.

Further details on the aims of our Working Group Five are set out in the Concept Note, which has been circulated. We encourage written submissions on the guiding questions from delegations and the UN system by Friday, 30 May.

Co-chairs, in closing, the UK has long been clear that lasting peace and security for Palestinians and Israelis alike can only be achieved through a two-state solution.

We look forward to working with our Egyptian colleagues, the entire UN membership, and colleagues across the UN system to help deliver a conference which moves us towards this goal.

May 27, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : West of England to benefit from recent trade deals [May 2025]
The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 23 May 2025.

The three trade deals that we have struck in three weeks will benefit manufacturing that accounts for around 5% of all employment in the West of England.
- Prime Minister to meet with the Mayor for the West of England Helen Godwin to discuss the benefits of his recent trade deals.
- Comes as we’ve nailed three trade deals in as many weeks to deliver growth that is a priority for the Plan for Change.
- Agreement with the EU a huge boost to 64,000 people employed in agriculture across the South West.
The three trade deals that we have struck in three weeks will benefit manufacturing that accounts for around 5% of all employment in the West of England.

Reducing India’s tariffs on machinery, reducing the US tariff on cars and removing American tariffs on UK aerospace will support employers with a significant presence in the region like Airbus, Rolls-Royce and GKN Aerospace.

This means job security for workers, jobs creation supported in local communities and higher living standards across the West of England – priorities that we are delivering through Plan for Change.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:

The trade deals that we have closed provides certainty for the 5% of all working people who are employed in manufacturing, delivers security for their families and puts more in people’s pockets.

It also will create opportunities for more seamless trade, attracting inward investment that will grow the local economy and make a difference to people’s lives.

These changes will be felt everywhere, whether it’s lower food prices at the checkout, more choice for consumers and higher living standards that will improve livelihoods across the West of England.

68,000 people employed in agriculture (a fifth of all agriculture workers in England) across the South West will benefit significantly from our trade deal with the EU, that removes red tape and burdens on business, meaning regional specialities like Cheddar Cheese now have easy access to the UK’s biggest trading market.

In another win for local producers, the deal means goods like Gloucestershire sausages that previously could not be exported can now be sold to customers in the EU.

Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said:

The three landmark deals secured this month with the US, India, and the EU have shown this government is serious about striking the deals that our businesses want and need.

We are delivering billions for the UK economy and wages every year as part of our Plan for Change. For businesses in the West of England, these deals will mean stability and jobs protected as they seize new opportunities to sell to some of our biggest trading partners.

The Prime Minister will tell the English Mayors and the Leaders from the Devolved Governments at a meeting of the Council of Nations and Regions in London today (Friday 23 May) that his trade deals with India, the United States and the EU will deliver economic growth that will improve people’s lives at home.

He will challenge those in attendance to drive economic growth in their local areas to deliver for working people.

John Harrison, Chair of Airbus UK, said:

We welcome this new chapter in the UK-EU relationship. In an uncertain world, closer cooperation gives businesses greater certainty and unlocks new opportunities for investment, innovation and growth.

For Airbus, with our unique industrial footprint across both the UK and EU, this reset provides a vital platform to strengthen partnerships in defence, space and civil aerospace, areas where collaboration is essential to Europe’s long-term security and competitiveness.

Our increased trade with India will unlock opportunities for every region in the UK to access the world’s fastest growing major economy, including the West of England.

Under the Free Trade Deal that was concluded, the barriers to trading have been dropped, with India agreeing to reduce tariffs on products including advanced machinery, aerospace and medical devices that are made in the West of England.

Based on 2022 trade alone, this amounts to India cutting tariffs worth over £400 million when the deal comes into force, which will more than double to around £900 million after 10 years.

India reduced tariffs on medical devices and machinery exported from the UK, that will deliver significant benefits for firms across Bristol and the wider region.

The deals both support collaboration on green energy tech, aligning with the region’s initiatives in renewables and energy innovation. They also bring benefits to the financial, digital and services companies that are based in Bristol which employ local people and generate economic growth across the region.

Peter Dilnot, CEO of GKN Aerospace, said:

These deals provide the certainty our industry needs to continue investing in the UK. The aerospace exemption in particular is critical as our supply chains operate globally and tariffs disrupt the efficient flow of parts and technology.

GKN Aerospace looks forward to continue developing the advanced technologies and future skills needed to maintain the UK’s aerospace leadership.

Just this week, the Prime Minister acted in the national interest by confirming a new agreement with the European Union that will deliver on his core mission to grow the economy, creating more jobs in the West of England, raising standards and putting more money in people’s pockets.

At today’s meeting of the Council of Nations and Regions the Prime Minister will also lead discussions about spreading AI to help working people access the services that they need in their local areas.
May 27, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : Over 30 arrests made in Northern Ireland people smuggler crackdown [May 2025]

The press release issued by the Home Office on 23 May 2025.

33 illegal entrants and suspected people smugglers arrested as part of Home Office operation tackling abuse of the Common Travel Area.

The operation comes as part of a renewed crackdown on immigration crime as this government restores order to our borders through the Plan for Change.

A Home Office crackdown against people-smuggling gangs and people exploiting the Common Travel Area (CTA) has led to the arrest of 33 people, and the seizure of £17,000 in suspected criminal assets and the detention of a heavy goods vehicle related to an unpaid Clandestine Entrants Civil Penalty worth £144,000. Officers also issued civil penalties to the value of more than £10,000.

As part of the government’s latest initiative to take down the criminal gangs exploiting UK borders, Home Office Immigration Enforcement teams executed a three-day multi-agency operation tackling abuse of the CTA, descending on ports and airports in Northern Ireland, North West England and Wales.

The operation, the sixth of its kind, saw collaborative working between the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), An Garda Síochána, the National Crime Agency (NCA), other UK police forces, Border Force and international partners to gather intelligence, trace offenders and take action against UK border breaches.

This operation builds on the success of previous enforcement activity in Northern Ireland by the Criminal and Financial Investigations team, part of Home Office Immigration Enforcement.

Since July 2024 over 60 arrests have been made and over £405,000 of criminal cash seized in the crackdown on abuse of the CTA, protecting migrants at risk of exploitation and disrupting criminality that threatens the public’s safety.

This latest success comes alongside the announcement that nearly 30,000 people with no right to be here have been returned under this government, including a 23% increase in enforced returns and a 14% increase in foreign criminals deported since the election.

It also follows a series of measures introduced by this government to tackle organised immigration crime under the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill, which will enable smarter, faster and more effective interventions to protect UK border security; and make it easier to detect, disrupt and deter those seeking to engage in and benefit from organised immigration crime.

Minister for Border Security and Asylum, Dame Angela Eagle said:

This government is using every tool at its disposal to take down the criminal gangs who exploit vulnerable people in order to make quick cash. We are breaking down the criminal networks at their root with enforcement visits and arrests up by 38%.

The government’s Plan for Change will ensure that criminal networks who abuse our borders face the full force of the law, which is exactly why we have introduced the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill giving law enforcement new counter-terror style powers to smash the people-smuggling gangs.

Alongside robust legislation at the heart of this mission, the Border Security Command is coordinating our efforts to reduce irregular migration by working alongside our international partners to restore order to our borders.

Home Office Immigration Enforcement Deputy Director Ben Thomas said:

Our team alongside law enforcement agencies are dedicated to breaking down the business model of criminal gangs who put lives at risk every day, the strength of our partnership and success of this operation serves as evidence.

Criminal networks seek to bypass robust border checks through fraudulent means and trap vulnerable people into further illegal activities.

The success of this operation marks a significant step up in enforcement activity leading to the arrest of 33 criminals who attempted to abuse the Common Travel Area and undermine the UK’s border security.

I would like to thank my team and partners across the country for their around the clock dedication to root out the criminal gangs and bring them to justice, protecting those they exploit and the citizens of the UK.

May 27, 2025