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Tag: 2025

  • PRESS RELEASE : Homes fit for heroes – Raft of news measures to improve military family housing [April 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : Homes fit for heroes – Raft of news measures to improve military family housing [April 2025]

    The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 18 April 2025.

    Living conditions for families in military housing will be transformed under a new Consumer Charter, as Defence Secretary John Healey promised to “stop the rot” in military housing.

    • New Consumer Charter for families in military homes, delivering on the government’s Plan for Change.
    • Measures will include higher move-in standards, more reliable repairs, renovation of the worst homes, and a named housing officer for every family – all in place before the one-year anniversary of 36,000 military homes being brought back into public ownership.
    • Pledge comes alongside the announcement of an independent, expert team appointed to help deliver a rapid Defence Housing Strategy – with work already underway.

    The Charter will be part of a new Defence Housing Strategy, to be published later this year, which will set out further plans to improve the standard of service family homes across the country.

    Under the Charter, basic consumer rights, from essential property information and predictable property standards, to access to a robust complaints system, will be rapidly introduced. These will be underpinned by new, published satisfaction figures, putting forces families front and centre.

    The wider Defence Housing Strategy – overseen by the Defence Secretary and the Minister for Veterans and People, Al Carns – will also turbocharge the development of surplus military land, creating opportunities for Armed Forces homeownership. It will further support the delivery of affordable homes for families across Britain as part of the government’s Plan for Change.

    It follows the Government’s landmark deal, completed in January, to bring back 36,000 military homes into public ownership, reversing a 1996 sale described by the Public Accounts Committee as “disastrous”, and saving the taxpayer £600,000 per day by eliminating rental payments to a private company.

    The announcement follows the Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s pledge to deliver “homes for heroes” and means that under this government, support will be there for veterans at risk of homelessness. This included removing local connection tests for veterans seeking social housing, meaning as of November, veterans will have access to the housing support they need.

    Defence Secretary, John Healey MP, said:

    Our Armed Forces serve with extraordinary dedication and courage to keep us safe. It is only right that they and their families live in the homes they deserve.

    For too long, military families have endured substandard housing without the basic consumer rights that any of us should expect in our homes. That must end and our new Consumer Charter will begin to stop the rot and put families at the heart of that transformation.

    We cannot turn around years of failure on forces housing overnight, but by bringing 36,000 military homes back into public ownership, we’ve already taken greater control and are working at pace to drive up standards. This is about providing homes fit for the heroes who serve our nation, and I’m determined to deliver the decent, affordable housing that our forces families have every right to expect.

    The new Consumer Charter will include the following commitments:

    • A strengthened move-in standard so families can have confidence that the home they are moving into will be ready on time and will be clean and functional.
    • Improved, clearer information for families ahead of a move, including photographs and floor plans of all homes when a family applies for housing.
    • More reliable repairs, including an undertaking to complete urgent repairs within a set timeline consistent with Awaab’s Law, and a new online portal for service personnel to manage repairs.
    • Raising the minimum standard of forces family housing with a new programme of works targeted at the worst homes, with up to 1,000 refurbished as a downpayment on the broader programme of renewal to be set out in the Defence Housing Strategy.
    • Better and clearer communication for families, including a named housing officer for every service family who they can contact for specific housing related queries.
    • A new, simpler complaints process that will shorten the process to two stages in line with industry best practice, so that service personnel and families have a quicker resolution, backed up by the new Armed Forces Commissioner.
    • Modernising policies to allow more freedom for families to make improvements, giving them a greater sense of pride in their homes.

    These improvements will be in place by the one-year anniversary of the announcement to buy back military homes last December, with final detail to be set out in the Defence Housing Strategy following consultation with military personnel and their families.

    Many of the commitments in the Charter will be achieved by driving better performance – and better value for the taxpayer – from existing suppliers of maintenance and support for service family housing.

    The new standards will be underpinned by new published customer satisfaction measures and enhanced accountability so families can have confidence in the improvements being made. This will sit alongside an independently conducted stock survey, as recommended by the Kerslake review of military housing which was published last year.

    The Defence Housing Strategy will be driven by an independent review team whose members have been announced today, and which will be chaired by former Member of Parliament and housing expert Natalie Elphicke Ross OBE, drawing on expertise from industry and forces families.

    In the meantime, the Defence Secretary and the Minister for Veterans and People have instructed the MOD to immediately plan improvements for the new Consumer Charter, as part of a short-term action plan to enhance the family homes after years of neglect.

    Natalie Elphicke Ross, Chair of the Defence Housing Strategy Review said:

    Our pride in our armed forces must include pride in our military homes. Delivering better housing, boosting home ownership opportunities for service personnel and improving the experiences of service families will be at the heart of our work.

    David Brewer, Chief Operating Officer of the Defence Infrastructure Organisation, said:

    We are dedicated to making changes that will bring real improvements to the lives of families living in military homes and the plans set out in the new charter are an important step towards doing this.

    The advisory team, announced today, brings together an exceptional group of individuals, who through their expertise and experience will help ensure our housing strategy maximises benefits, not just to families living in military homes, but to communities and industry more widely.

    Antony Cotton MBE said:

    Our Armed Forces community are the backbone of our society, so improving the standard of service family housing is essential if we are to continue to retain and recruit the soldiers, sailors and aviators that protect us selflessly, every day. I welcome this consumer charter as a starting point to give our military families an improved service, and homes they deserve.

    Background

    The members appointed to the Defence Housing Strategy review team are:

    • Chair, Natalie Elphicke Ross OBE, Director and Head of Housing at The Housing & Finance Institute. Previously Natalie chaired the New Homes Quality Board on standards and redress for customers of new build homes, co-chaired the Elphicke-House Report 2015 on the role of local authorities in housing supply and served as an expert adviser on the development of the national strategy for estate regeneration. A former law firm partner specialising in housing finance, Natalie’s experience includes advising central and local governments, lenders, developers and housing associations on financing, structuring and delivering homes across all tenures.
    • Bill Yardley, Chair of McCarthy Stone Shared Ownership Limited. Bill serves as Chair of a regulated residential development company and is a Non- Executive Director at the Defence Infrastructure Organisation, in the Houses of Parliament and at the Surrey Property Group Limited. He has previously worked at board level in the public and private sectors in residential development, regulated housing, property investment, education and the NHS and has been a public member of Network Rail and chaired a charity. Bill has also served as a Crown Representative and on the Government Construction Board.
    • Cat Calder, Housing Specialist, Army Families Federation. Cat is a housing professional with over 13 years of experience advocating for improved living conditions for families in military accommodation. She has held key positions within the Army Families Federation and has direct experience of military housing, having previously lived in service family accommodation for a number of years.
    • Nigel Holland, former Divisional Chair, Taylor Wimpey and Non-Executive Director of The Riverside Group. Formerly a Divisional Chair of Taylor Wimpey, one of the UK’s largest residential developers. Nigel is also a Non-Executive Director of The Riverside Group, a major provider of affordable housing, care and support services in England and Scotland, with more than 75,000 homes in management. He has a wealth of experience in the homebuilding industry, leading large-scale developments in the UK and overseas.
    • Alex Notay, Chair and Commissioner, Radix Big Tent Housing Commission. Alexandra is an internationally recognised expert on housing, placemaking and ESG. She has 20 years’ strategic advisory and investment experience across four continents and in August 2024 took over as Chair of the Radix Big Tent Housing Commission. Until July 2024 she was Placemaking and Investment Director at Thriving Investments, the fund and asset management arm of Places for People Group, overseeing a UK-wide residential strategy.
    • James Hall, Housing and Land, Greater London Authority. James has over a decade’s experience in housing and development, working with the public, private and not-for-profit sectors. He worked extensively on strategy, policy and communications in Westminster and Whitehall, and most recently worked at the Greater London Authority on housing policy and delivery.
  • PRESS RELEASE : The UK is deeply concerned by the destabilising activities of Libyan security actors and armed groups – UK statement at the UN Security Council

    PRESS RELEASE : The UK is deeply concerned by the destabilising activities of Libyan security actors and armed groups – UK statement at the UN Security Council

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 17 April 2025.

    Statement by Ambassador Barbara Woodward, UK Permanent Representative to the UN, at the UN Security Council meeting on Libya.

    President I would like to make three points.

    First, Libya’s economic trajectory is alarming.

    With no unified budget and, as SRSG Tetteh said, no oversight, present levels of public spending by Libyan authorities risk rapidly diminishing the nation’s wealth.

    Competition for state resources is putting Libya’s institutions under grave pressure, and risks fuelling renewed conflict.

    Libya has the resources to build a prosperous future. But to achieve it, Libya’s leaders must put aside narrow interests and agree on a unified economic framework in the national interest.

    We welcome the return of the World Bank to Tripoli to support this work.

    Second, the UK is deeply concerned by the destabilising activities of Libyan security actors and armed groups.

    This includes reports of unlawful and arbitrary detentions, kidnappings, imprisonment without due process and assassination attempts.

    There needs to be accountability for such acts, to support civic space and trust in Libya’s law enforcement.

    The recent closure of humanitarian organisations’ offices and detention of their employees is particularly troubling.

    We urge Libyan authorities to work with international NGOs and resolve differences through dialogue.

    Humanitarian organisations are an indispensable part of our collective efforts to support Libya, including to help address the Libyan authority’s concerns about illegal migration.

    Third, Libya’s economic and security challenges underscore the urgent need for progress on the political track.

    Libya needs a comprehensive, inclusive political process which will provide the foundation for sound economic governance, rule of law and accountability, and help tackle corruption.

    The UK strongly supports UNSMIL’s efforts and commends SRSG Tetteh for her leadership.

    A revitalised political process, flowing from the Advisory Committee’s deliberations, presents a real opportunity to chart a path towards the peace, stability and prosperity that the Libyan people deserve and yearn for, as I heard during my own visit to Libya and in more recent exchanges with young Libyans.

    So we urge all Libyan actors to engage constructively with the UN’s efforts and the Advisory Committee’s recommendations.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Man who stabbed two strangers has sentence more than doubled after intervention by the Solicitor General [April 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : Man who stabbed two strangers has sentence more than doubled after intervention by the Solicitor General [April 2025]

    The press release issued by the Attorney General on 17 April 2025.

    A man who stabbed two people with a kitchen knife has his sentence increased to a decade after it was referred under the Unduly Lenient Sentence Scheme to the Court of Appeal by Solicitor General, Lucy Rigby KC MP.

    Ismail Uradde, 36, from East Ham, London, has had his sentence increased after an intervention under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme by the Solicitor General Lucy Rigby KC MP.

    The court heard that in the early morning of 26 July 2024, Uradde confronted two men outside his block of flats, accusing them of making a disturbance.

    Brandishing a knife, Uradde confronted and proceeded to attack the men. Uradde stabbed one of them twice in his left thigh and stabbed the other man in the arm, leaving a deep wound.

    Uradde then fled the scene, handing his knife over to a convenience store shopkeeper. The victims suffered significant blood loss but both men survived.

    In court, one of the victims remarked on the impact of the attack, stating he still has “difficulty sleeping” and feels unsafe outside as he fears “he could be attacked again”.

    The Solicitor General, Lucy Rigby KC MP said:

    Ismail Uradde’s violent and unprovoked attack on the two victims was shocking. I welcome the Court of Appeal’s decision to more than double his sentence.

    My thoughts are with the two victims of Uradde’s attack.

    On 20 January 2025, Ismail Uradde was sentenced to three years and eight months’ imprisonment for two counts of wounding with intent and one count of having a bladed article.

    On 15 April 2025, his sentence was increased to a decade after a referral to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence Scheme.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Dangerous driver who killed passenger has sentence increased following intervention by Solicitor General [April 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : Dangerous driver who killed passenger has sentence increased following intervention by Solicitor General [April 2025]

    The press release issued by the Attorney General on 17 April 2025.

    A dangerous driver who killed a teenage passenger and hospitalised another after driving at double the speed limit has had his sentence increased after Solicitor General Lucy Rigby KC MP intervened.

    Adam Ali, 20, from Manchester, has had his sentence increased by more than two years by the Court of Appeal after it was referred under the Unduly Lenient Sentence Scheme.

    The court heard that on the evening of 15 October 2022, Ali drove dangerously with three passengers in the car having passed his test a few months earlier.

    Ali drove through a residential area in wet conditions, in excess of 60mph in an area with a 30mph speed limit. However, he lost control of the car and smashed it into a lamp post.

    Ben Burbridge, a 16-year-old passenger in the back of the car, was pronounced dead at the scene after suffering catastrophic brain injuries.

    Justin Saidi, who was 17 at the time, was hospitalised after he suffered multiple injuries including a collapsed lung, bleeding between his lung and ribcage and fractured ribs and shoulders.

    The court heard that Ali had previously been caught speeding and misusing his car horn, and the fatal accident occurred while he was waiting for his speed awareness course to start.

    While awaiting trial, Ali was caught speeding on two further occasions and later caused another road accident while banned from driving – all while inhaling a nitrous oxide canister at the wheel.

    The Solicitor General Lucy Rigby KC MP said:

    Ben Burbridge was only 16 years old when he died and he had his whole future ahead of him. His life was tragically cut short by Adam Ali’s dangerous driving.

    I welcome the court’s decision to increase Ali’s sentence following my referral. This government is committed to ensuring those who drive dangerously are punished appropriately.

    On 27 January 2025, Adam Ali was sentenced to 4 years detention for one count of death by dangerous driving and another for causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

    On 15 April 2025, this sentence was quashed and substituted with a new sentence of 6 years and 4 months detention after it was referred to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence Scheme.

  • Keir Starmer – 2025 Easter Message

    Keir Starmer – 2025 Easter Message

    The Easter message made by Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister, on 17 April 2025.

    As Lent comes to an end and we move into the Easter weekend, I want to wish Christians everywhere remembering the death and celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ a very happy Easter. The story of Easter is central to the Christian faith: it is a story of hope, redemption and renewal.

    This Easter, as churches hold special services across the UK, and gather to celebrate with friends and family, we remember those Christians facing hardship, persecution or conflict around the world who cannot celebrate freely.

    I also want to thank you for the ways in which you follow Christ’s example of love and compassion in serving your communities. Whether through night shelters, youth clubs, toddler groups, family support, care for the elderly or chaplaincy support, and in a multitude of other ways, you demonstrate steadfast commitment and care.

    We can all take inspiration from the message of Easter and continue to work together for the flourishing and renewal of our country.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Scottish Education Secretary visits University of Dundee [April 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : Scottish Education Secretary visits University of Dundee [April 2025]

    The press release issued by the Scottish Government on 15 April 2025.

    Taskforce membership is announced.

    Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth has met with staff and students as she visited the University of Dundee’s School of Life Sciences.

    It came as the wider membership of an external Taskforce, set up to advise the University on its current financial challenges, was announced, including business and industry organisations, trades unions, enterprise agencies, NHS and academic representatives.

    Visiting the Drug Discovery and Medical Research units at the school, Ms Gilruth heard about how its work has helped contribute to the treatment of conditions like Parkinson’s Disease.

    The university was ranked top in Biological Sciences in the most recent Research Excellence Framework, a UK-wide assessment of research quality at higher education institutions.

    Meeting with university Principal Shane O’Neill, the Education Secretary underlined the Scottish Government’s determination to support the University through its current financial challenges, with a wide-ranging package of financial support and expertise in place to help secure its future.

    Ms Gilruth said:

    “It was inspiring to hear about the world-leading and life changing work being undertaken at the Life Sciences school here at Dundee. This is vitally important research which underlines the strength of academic excellence and innovation in Scotland

    “This work and research also has a major impact on inward investment for the area and the Scottish Government is clear it should be a vital component of our knowledge economy for the coming generations.

    “We know that this unit and the wider Life Sciences school at Dundee attracts students, researchers and cutting-edge companies from across the globe to the city.

    “That’s why this Government has been clear in our determination to ensure that the University of Dundee is fully supported and the wider membership of the taskforce we are setting out today will provide the right mix knowledge and experience to help advise on the current financial challenges.”

    Professor Shane O’Neill, Interim Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Dundee, said:

    “We are extremely grateful to the Scottish Government for their continued support and we have been delighted to welcome the Cabinet Secretary today to see first hand the impactful work of our researchers in Life Sciences.

    “We will continue to work with the Government and the Scottish Funding Council towards a secure and successful future for the University, and we will also engage fully with the Advisory Taskforce regarding our wider impact on Dundee, the Tay Cities region and beyond.”

    Background

    In addition to the Chair Alan Langlands University of Dundee, City of Dundee Council, Scottish Funding Council and the Scottish Government, the membership of the Taskforce will include:

    • Universities Scotland
    • Abertay University
    • University of St Andrews
    • Dundee and Angus College
    • Trade Unions representation
    • Student Union representation
    • Tay Cities Regional Economic  Partnership / City Deal
    • Dundee and Angus Chamber of Commerce
    • Scottish Enterprise
    • Skills Development Scotland
    • NHS Education for Scotland
    • Business representation
    • Alumni/graduates representation

    The Scottish Government has provided £25 million to the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) to support universities like Dundee facing immediate financial challenges. This is on top of £1.1 billion of investment already in the budget for university teaching and research

    Deputy First Minister chairs a regular cross-government group in support of SFC and to consider the issues

  • PRESS RELEASE : First Minister – Preparing Scotland for the future [April 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : First Minister – Preparing Scotland for the future [April 2025]

    The press release issued by the Scottish Government on 14 April 2025.

    First Minister John Swinney has announced he will bring forward the Scottish Government’s legislative programme to ensure the country is as prepared as possible to secure its future in the face of the uncertainty facing the global economy.

    Speaking during a press conference at Bute House, the First Minister announced the Programme for Government will be presented to the Scottish Parliament on Tuesday 6 May 2025.

    It will set out the actions the Scottish Government will take to ensure resilience and deliver on the four core priorities to eradicate child poverty, grow the economy, tackle the climate emergency and ensure high quality and sustainable public services.

    The First Minister also set out plans to immediately begin work with key partners in the business community and trade unions to map out the actions required in Scotland, and the UK as a whole, to respond to emerging economic challenges and ensure the needs of the devolved nations are at the heart of UK decision-making.

    First Minister John Swinney said:

    “I know that this is a time of great uncertainty for people, that many families and businesses are worried about what global events will mean for them.

    “We face yet another storm, after almost two decades of knocks and challenges – the financial crisis, austerity, Brexit, Covid, the energy price spike following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the subsequent inflation spike. Each has weakened us in some way, but none has defeated us.

    “The Programme for Government will be laser-focused on delivery. It will set out what I believe my government can and will deliver for the people of Scotland over the coming year.

    “The economic headwinds are blowing strong across the Atlantic and they demand a response that is both immediate and measured. My Programme for Government will set out what practical steps we will take to strengthen our response to those headwinds and ensure Scottish business and our economy is positioned well to create jobs and grow the economy.

    “I want to make sure the UK Government understands where we need them to do much more to protect Scotland’s economic interests. As a result, I will be bringing together our key partners in the business community and the trades union movement on Wednesday to map out the actions we can take, here in Scotland, and which can be complemented across the UK, to respond to the emerging economic realities. That work will influence my government’s approach, and I want it to shape the response at a UK level into the bargain.

    “A Scotland that is wealthier, fairer, more resilient – that is my ambition. I want people feeling more confident about the future and more secure in the midst of the uncertainties, because they have a government that is fighting Scotland’s corner.

    “A government that is bringing people together, so that our response to the challenges we face is rooted in a Scotland that is united, prepared and determined, a Scotland confident in its ability to, once again, weather the storm and come out of that storm a great deal stronger.”

    Background

    The first roundtable with the business community and trade unions to determine the actions required to ensure the resilience of Scotland’s economy will be held on Wednesday 16 April 2025.

  • PRESS RELEASE : UK backs businesses to trade carbon credits and unlock finance [April 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : UK backs businesses to trade carbon credits and unlock finance [April 2025]

    The press release issued by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero on 17 April 2025.

    British businesses and organisations better supported to trade carbon credits as part of new work to establish the UK as the global hub for green finance.

    • Britain is back in the business of climate leadership, leading a new growth market and cementing UK as the green finance capital of the world
    • voluntary carbon and nature markets to unlock new revenue streams for UK businesses delivering on Plan for Change
    • UK work will boost opportunities for businesses at home and abroad to unlock private finance for the climate crisis

    British businesses and organisations will be better supported to trade carbon credits as part of new work to establish the UK as the global hub for green finance – driving growth and investment while tackling the climate crisis through the Plan for Change.

    Today the government has launched plans to strengthen voluntary carbon and nature markets which can help leverage the finance needed to address the scale of the climate emergency whilst diversifying revenue streams for British businesses.

    These markets support the trading of carbon credits, where a business can reduce their emissions by investing in environmentally friendly projects such as deploying electric vehicles, reducing deforestation, removing carbon dioxide through carbon dioxide or planting trees.

    Currently these markets are not realising their full potential, with a lack of clarity among businesses and organisations on how they can be used, and some poor practice impacting their effectiveness in delivering meaningful climate action and economic growth. There have been widespread calls from businesses and organisations for greater clarity in how to use these markets as part of their plans to reach net zero.

    In response, the UK is establishing a global framework to build trust and confidence in carbon and nature credit trading, with a set of principles to guide and support businesses on how to use carbon credits that provide environmental benefits. This includes making clear what a good credit is, ensuring they are delivering environmental benefits and encouraging businesses to fully disclose what they are being used for in annual sustainability reporting.

    These markets are estimated to be worth up to $250 billion by 2050 for carbon markets, and $69 billion for nature markets, under the right conditions. By increasing confidence in these markets, British businesses – including farmers and land managers –  will be well positioned to seize the economic rewards by creating new revenue streams and investment opportunities.

    These plans will further strengthen the UK as the green finance capital of the world – leading the way in a new growth market, unlocking private finance for climate change and backing businesses on the clean energy transition.

    Positive climate action can lead to significant growth opportunities for UK businesses with the UK seeing £43.7 billion of private investment into UK’s clean energy industries since July. Recent figures from the CBI shows that the net zero economy grew 3 times faster than the economy as a whole last year, with employment in the sector up by over 10%.

    Climate Minister Kerry McCarthy said:

    Building up trust in carbon and nature markets is crucial to their success in driving meaningful climate action and real, lasting change for the environment.

    The UK is determined to spearhead global efforts to raise integrity in these markets so they can channel the finance needed to tackle the climate crisis and speed up the global clean energy transition.

    These principles will cement the UK as the global hub for green finance and carbon markets. This is an opportunity to deliver on the climate crisis and drive investment and growth in the UK as part of our Plan for Change.

    Nature Minister Mary Creagh said:

    Nature underpins everything. Voluntary carbon and nature markets will be an important tool to crowd in private finance to protect our precious peatlands, important habitats and rare species.

    It is why increasing trust in these markets will ensure that they benefit both people and our planet, ensuring money flows towards genuine environmental improvement projects and creates new sources of finance for farmers and land managers in the UK.

    Carbon credits are tradable units that represent the reduction or removal of greenhouse gases emissions from the atmosphere. One credit typically represents one metric tonne of CO2 or its equivalent. Companies or individuals purchase these credits from project developers who have generated them through activities like reforestation, cleaner energy, or other emission reduction projects. By buying the credits, they are financing projects that would not otherwise happen, in addition to steps that they are taking to reduce their own emissions.

    Mark Kenber, Executive Director, Voluntary Carbon Markets Integrity Initiative (VCMI) said:

    Businesses need clarity and confidence to invest in voluntary carbon and nature markets that help meet global climate goals. This consultation from the UK government plays a vital role in delivering this.

    VCMI welcomes the proposal to recognise our Claims Code as international best practice, as well as the global leadership shown by the UK’s proposal to incentivise greater action by companies to address their unabated Scope 3 emissions through the inclusion of our forthcoming Scope 3 Action Code of Practice. The Code of Practice will enable companies to go further, faster and with integrity on climate action.

    The proposals in the consultation align with the UK government’s new approach to ensure regulation supports growth. The consultation explores the recommendation in the recently published Corry Review to launch a Nature Market Accelerator to bring coherence to nature markets and accelerate investment.

    The consultation will be live for 12 weeks, seeking responses from industry organisations and the public:

    Voluntary carbon and nature markets: raising integrity

    Onel Masardule, Co-Chair, Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities Engagement Forum, Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market (ICVCM) said:

    For the voluntary carbon market to succeed, it must respect the rights and interests of Indigenous Peoples and local communities, and make us true partners – rather than just stakeholders – in the market. ICVCM’s The Core Carbon Principles (CCPs) define what high integrity carbon credits should look like: ensuring that new carbon projects have robust social and environmental safeguards, operate with the free, prior and informed consent and are transparent about how they share benefits. I welcome the UK government’s proposal to endorse the use of CCP-labelled credits and encourage other governments to do the same. This will provide clarity on what high integrity means to enable the market to scale to accelerate climate action and deliver positive environmental and social outcomes at the local level.

    Notes to editors

    The 6 integrity principles being consulted on are:

    • suppliers should ensure credits meet recognised high integrity criteria that ensure credits deliver environmental benefits
    • buyers should measure and disclose the planned use of credits as part of sustainability reporting
    • users should consider how credits feed into wider transition plans that align with the 1.5°C goal of the Paris Agreement
    • claims involving the use of credits should accurately communicate an organisation or product’s overall environmental impact, including by using appropriate and accurate terminology
    • market participants should cooperate with others to support the growth of high integrity markets
    • credits should only be used in addition to ambitious climate action within value chains
  • PRESS RELEASE : Owner of North London tyre fitters banned for 10 years after inflating turnover to secure maximum-value Covid loan [April 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : Owner of North London tyre fitters banned for 10 years after inflating turnover to secure maximum-value Covid loan [April 2025]

    The press release issued by the Insolvency Service on 17 April 2025.

    Decade-long ban for director who abused Bounce Back Loan Scheme.

    • Shkelzen Gashi overstated his Smart Tyres Services Ltd company’s turnover by almost double to secure a £50,000 Bounce Back Loan, the most businesses were allowed under the scheme
    • Smart Tyres was entitled to a loan of £33,600 but ended up with £50,000 because of Gashi’s false declaration
    • Gashi has now been disqualified as a company director for a decade following Insolvency Service investigations

    The owner of a North London tyre shop has been banned as a director for 10 years after overstating his company’s turnover to secure a maximum-value Covid loan.

    Shkelzen Gashi ran Smart Tyres Services Ltd from his address on Harringay Road from 2015 to 2022.

    The 53-year-old claimed his company’s turnover was £250,000 when he applied to the bank for a £50,000 Bounce Back Loan in 2020.

    In reality, Smart Tyres had a turnover of little more than half that figure.

    Gashi was banned as a company director until April 2035 and ordered to pay costs of £5,333 at a hearing of the High Court in Birmingham on Wednesday 2 April.

    His ban started on Thursday 17 April.

    Gashi has also repaid £8,000 of the Bounce Back Loan.

    Kevin Read, Chief Investigator at the Insolvency Service, said:

    Shkelzen Gashi blatantly overstated the turnover of his company, ensuring it received significantly more in Covid support than it was entitled to.

    Gashi was given numerous opportunities by our investigators to explain his actions but failed to do so.

    This was taxpayers’ money and Gashi will now no longer be able to be involved in the promotion, formation or management of a company for the next decade as a result of his dishonest conduct.

    Smart Tyres was incorporated in May 2015 with Gashi as the sole director and shareholder.

    Gashi described the company as providing a full range of both mechanical and electrical repairs.

    Insolvency Service analysis of the Smart Tyres’ accounts revealed it had a turnover of £134,401 for the 2019 calendar year.

    However, Gashi falsely declared on the application form that its income was a quarter of a million pounds.

    Gashi received the £50,000 Bounce Back Loan in October 2020.

    Smart Tyres ceased trading in August 2022 with liabilities of more than £100,000.

    A tyre shop operates from the same address Smart Tyres traded from. Gashi is not a director of this company.

    The Bounce Back Loan Scheme helped small and medium-sized businesses to borrow between £2,000 and £50,000, at a low interest rate, guaranteed by the government.

    The loans had to be repaid over six to 10 years, with payments starting one year after companies received the funds.

    Further information

    • Shkelzen Gashi is of Harringay Road, London. His date of birth is 7 January 1972
  • PRESS RELEASE : Reappointment of the Ministry of Justice Lead Non-Executive Director [April 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : Reappointment of the Ministry of Justice Lead Non-Executive Director [April 2025]

    The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 17 April 2025.

    The Lord Chancellor has approved the reappointment of Mark Rawlinson as the Ministry of Justice Lead Non-Executive Director for  12 months from 4 March 2025 to 3 March 2026.

    The Lead Non-Executive Director is a senior figure from outside the department who brings expertise and skills from outside of the department. They:

    • support the Secretary of State in their role as Chair of the Board
    • give guidance and advice to MOJ leaders and ministers
    • support and challenge management on the department’s strategic direction
    • provide support in monitoring and reviewing progress

    The appointment of the Lead Non-Executive Director is regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments and the reappointment process complies with the Cabinet Office Governance Code on Public Appointments.

    Biography

    Mark Rawlinson was first appointed Ministry of Justice Lead Non-Executive Board Member on 4 June 2018.

    Mark has over 30 years of commercial experience as an adviser – from 2016 to 2021 as Chairman of UK Investment Banking at Morgan Stanley and prior to that as a corporate partner for 25 years at international law firm, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer.