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Tag: 2025

  • Chris Bryant – 2025 Speech at LEAD Advertising Conference

    Chris Bryant – 2025 Speech at LEAD Advertising Conference

    The speech made by Chris Bryant, the Creative Industries Minister, in London on 6 February 2025.

    My name is Chris Bryant. I’m the Minister for lots of things. And Peter Mandelson, when I was first elected back in 2001 as the Member of Parliament for the Rhondda, I asked him for some advice. And he said he had lots of pieces of advice, but one of them was: “Never go to the same event two years in a row.” Because it means if you don’t go to the third year, everybody will condemn you for being a complete lazy so and so. But this is my second year in a row at this event. So I’ve broken Peter Mandelson’s advice.

    And the second piece of advice he gave me was: “The one word you can never use in advertising and in politics is the word trust.” Because the moment you start talking about trust in politics, people start thinking: “Oh, can I trust you?” And they nearly always come to the conclusion that they can’t.

    But in the end, advertising, I suppose, is fundamentally about trust. It’s about trying to persuade the public that you can trust a particular product or that you can trust a particular brand that is promoting a particular product, or that you can trust the person who is promoting the brand that is promoting the product, or that you can trust the space in which you’re watching or seeing this particular piece of advertising.

    Of course, to enable trust in all and to create great advertising, that requires all sorts of different things. First of all, imagination. And I think sometimes when I speak to some other parts of the creative industries, they think of advertising as the kind of workhorses of the creative industries. But I actually think that in many regards, you’re more imaginative than nearly all the other parts of creative industries put together. And sometimes, of course, you have to bring them all together.

    But the original idea for how to launch a product, or how to sell a product, how to promote it, how to keep it in the public mind, or how to completely change a view of a product or a brand, that’s a phenomenally imaginative process.

    I always think to myself: “How do you come up with a television or a cinema advert for perfume?” How on earth can you give the impression that this is a perfume that somebody would want to wear when you cannot smell it? Which is fundamentally what perfume is all about. And of course, you do that in advertising with so many different products. Sometimes you’re trying to encourage people to try products that they would never have touched before, either because they’re brand new products, or because they’re something that has never come into their way of life before or because their life has changed.

    That requires phenomenal imagination, but it also requires craft, serious craft, whether that’s using statistics and market analysis to be able to determine what is really going to work, how big a particular market is, or it’s that whole ecosystem of the whole of the creative industries, through from writers, actors and technicians, location scouts and everybody else that’s part of making a really good advert.

    That combination of imagination, craft and that whole ecosystem is what I think is so special in the United Kingdom. We’re at the moment working with Shriti Vadera and Peter Bazalgette on putting together our Industrial Strategy for the creative industries. We decided as a government that the creative industries are one of the eight key sectors in the UK that are potential growth sectors we want to build on.

    And putting that together, one of the key elements that we keep on arguing with the Treasury and the Department for Business and Trade and everybody else in government is that this is an ecosystem. You don’t get great British films without great British marketing of films. You don’t get great British films without actors who probably performed on the stage as well as in television and in movies. You don’t get great British actors without a commercial theatre that’s successful in the UK and also without a subsidised theatre in the UK.

    All of these things hang together, and it’s really important that we promote the whole of that sector. And that’s, of course, why we are the second largest exporter of advertising in the world. I remember when I first came across this statistic, I thought: “That can’t be right. It must just be the second largest in Europe.” But we are the second largest in the world and I think we could do a great deal more boasting about that.

    I don’t know whether there’s anybody in advertising who could promote the idea of advertising being a very significant part of our economy, worth £21 billion of GVA in 2023 and on track this year for £43 billion of spending. So in the words of Yazz: the only way is up.

    We are very keen on this being a cooperation between industry and government. So first of all, the single most important thing we know that we can do to enable this industry to grow in the UK is to provide political, fiscal and economic stability in the country, so that people can make long-term investments and know where they’re going.

    [political content redacted]

    And secondly, as I just said, we’re working on our Industrial Strategy for the creative industries. If there’s stuff that you still feel that you have you haven’t heard from us in this world, then please do get in touch.

    Thirdly, obviously, there’s a really important issue around skills. For me, this is a matter of passionate belief that you don’t get a good education unless you also get a good creative education. I want to praise Eton and Winchester and everybody else, because they’ll have a pottery class, they’ll have an art room, they’ll have a well equipped theatre, they’ll have a dance studio, they’ll have musical instruments. I just want that for every single child in this country, and that’s why I think it’s so important that we turn the corner on the curriculum in the UK.

    That’s what Bridget Phillipson as the Secretary of State for Education is very intent on doing. Trying to bring a creative education right back into the heart, so that it’s not just STEM, which is very important, but STEAM, including arts and creative education, is part of it.

    Secondly, we need to reform the Apprenticeship Levy. I know lots of people in the industry have said to me: “It just doesn’t work for us at the moment.” And that’s what we’re very focused on doing.

    The first thing we’ve already done is we’ve announced that from August this year, you won’t have to do a 12-month apprenticeship. You’ll be able to do six months and that’s so important for people who are working on a project base, and we need to provide a greater sense of portability between different employers as well, to be able to make that Apprenticeship Levy work across the creative sector.

    Indeed, there’s a perfectly good argument for saying, because of the ecosystem that I’ve been talking about, that the Apprenticeship Levy should enable you to go from different parts of the ecosystem to be able to perfect your craft.

    Now just a few specific things on the Online Advertising Taskforce. Online has provided new challenges and new opportunities. I’m really glad that the influencer working group has come up with its fourth version of a code of conduct, the first in the world. If anybody knows any influencers who could persuade more influencers to take up the influencers’ code of conduct, I’ll be really grateful.

    But that is a really important campaign, because it goes to this issue of trust. If it becomes a whole world when you simply can’t trust what you’re seeing in front of you as promoting a product, then that undermines the whole of the industry. So I think the more we can do in that field, the better.

    I’m really grateful for the work that’s being done on an AI working group. At the moment we’re engaged in a consultation on this and precisely how it works out in relation to copyright. I am absolutely clear that we as a country sell IP. It’s one of the key things that we sell. So making sure that we have a strong copyright system in the UK, that we maintain that, and maintain the ability of people to be remunerated and to control their rights, is a vital part of anything we do in this field.

    But of course, many of you will use AI in all sorts of different ways already, and my guess is in two or three years’ time, every single person will have an AI assistant of some kind on their laptop or on their phone. We need to make sure that we think that there’s a possibility for a win-win in this. If you haven’t looked at the consultation yet, please do. It closes on February 25.

    On less healthy food, some of you might be interested in this subject. Obviously the previous government legislated in relation to less healthy foods and advertising, and we did too in the statutory instrument that was brought forward just before Christmas. I’ve already had several meetings with the ASA. We are very keen on coming to a sensible solution. I think a bit of common sense in this space would be really, really useful. We discussed the matter. I’m saying to you what I said to the ASA the other day. Our priority is proportionate regulation and clear guidance for businesses operating in the sector. And as you would expect from us, we want to reduce the NHS backlog, and we want to support people to lead healthier lives. We want there to be incentives for brands to offer more healthy products. That only happens if we have a clear set of guidance that is proportionate and sensible. I can’t go any further than that, because I’ve got another meeting with all the organisations concerned next week.

    I want to end with my key point, which is that we are very serious about growing the creative industries in the UK. I heard somebody say: “Well, aren’t the arts and the creative industries a bit frou-frou?” I don’t know what that means, really, but I get the point, I suppose.

    But actually, if the UK had no creative industries, we would be a poorer, weaker, less happy, less stable society than we are. And I think that the creative industries not only have an economic role to play – a vastly significant one, one in 14 people in the UK works in the creative industries today and I guess it will be one in 10 in a few years’ time – but if we’re going to build that, we need you to tell us what are the barriers to growth in your sector.

    We need to make sure that there’s a steady stream of people through into these industries. I asked this question last year, and I’m going to ask it again, and I’m going to keep on asking every single year that I come here, which is: If you came to my constituency and asked a 13 year old: “What are you going to do when you grow up, or what careers are you thinking about?” They would probably know what it is to be a doctor and how they would start trying to be a doctor or a lawyer or a teacher, but they wouldn’t have the faintest idea how they would start the process of going into advertising or any of the other creative industries.

    So in four years’ time, I would like us to be in a place where every single child in the country has the creative industries, including advertising, as one of the possible future careers for them, and that they know how to approach that, so that your seats are taken in 10, 15, 20 years’ time by young people who might just as well come from Wigan, Gateshead, Newcastle, London, the Rhondda, Shetland. People with completely varied backgrounds and different experiences, so that they can bring their imagination and their storytelling to the great industry that is yours.

  • PRESS RELEASE : NFU Scotland conference 2025 – UK Government keynote address [February 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : NFU Scotland conference 2025 – UK Government keynote address [February 2025]

    The press release issued by the Scotland Office on 6 February 2025.

    Today (Thursday, 6 February) UK Government Scotland Office Minister Kirsty McNeill spoke at the NFU Scotland conference in Glasgow.

    Good morning everyone, thank you for inviting me to be here with you today. I’d like to thank Martin Kennedy for that kind introduction and congratulate him for his work in leading the NFUS as he finishes his term as your President.

    I’d also like to start with a huge thanks for your dedicated work in continuing to produce, gather and distribute top quality food across the whole of the UK. But more than that, thank you to all farmers and crofters for the central role you play in our national life and heritage in Scotland.

    Despite countless challenges – not least the famous Scottish climate – farmers continue to work tirelessly, day after day, to feed the United Kingdom, and further afield.

    And be in no doubt, the UK Government will continue to do our part in supporting Scottish farmers and crofters, who form such a central part of our rural and island communities.

    Of course, the majority of environmental policy is devolved, with agriculture policy fully devolved. We will continue to respect the devolution settlement and strengthen relations with the Scottish Government as part of our ongoing resetting of relations.

    But there is much we can and are doing for farming and rural communities more broadly through our Plan for Change to turbo-charge economic growth and deliver a decade of national renewal and opportunity for all.

    Now, let’s be real. I know what you want to ask me about today. And I know that you’re angry. So I’m not going to shy away from a conversation about APR. But I do want to contextualise it. It’s the job of the NFU to make the case for your members. And it’s the job of the UK Government to listen, yes, but to also take a broad and long term view, balancing competing perspectives.

    And the facts are these. The UK Government’s Autumn Budget last year delivered the largest settlement for the Scottish Government in the history of devolution.

    The Chancellor announced on 30 October an additional £1.5 billion for the Scottish Government to spend in this financial year, and an additional £3.4 billion in the next.

    The Scottish Government will be able to allocate this record funding to devolved areas, including agriculture and rural communities. And that does mean your interests will be weighed alongside other devolved policy areas – that’s devolution in action. But I hope you will also see the benefit to your members of this record investment we’ve made available for Scotland’s public services. Because you know better than anyone that our farming communities are too often the ones with the worst access to NHS services. Public transport is sparse or non-existent. Cuts to schools and local services often hit your families harder than those in our big cities. I’m proud of this investment into the Scottish Government and I hope you will come to be too.

    And where policy is reserved, such as in relation to immigration or international trade, we will help support the industry through continuous engagement and development of policy. This is how devolution should work, and we are determined that it does.

    Our new Food Strategy will deliver clear long-term outcomes that create a healthier, fairer, and more resilient food system. We will work together with the Scottish government to complement the progress that they have already made in this area.

    Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine sent shock waves across the global supply chain, and the price of fertilisers and energy bills skyrocketed. That is one reason why we have launched our Clean Power 2030 Action Plan. By sprinting towards clean, homegrown energy, we will protect our energy security from international shocks, create thousands of good quality jobs, tackle climate change and drive down bills for good.

    We are taking some bold steps, including by setting up Great British Energy. This new, homegrown energy company – headquartered here in Scotland – will provide a catalyst for new, clean energy projects across the UK.

    Unpredictable weather has been causing floods and droughts as the climate continues to change, directly impacting crop production and, consequently, your profits. This hits particularly hard in areas that are less favourable for farming, and there are many of these in Scotland.

    This industry is resilient. I am in awe of everyone in this room who contributes to our food security, our rural and island communities and the growth of the UK economy. But let me make one thing clear – this Government does not take your resilience and adaptability for granted.

    My own constituency of Midlothian is dotted with farms and farmers, many of whom I have had the pleasure of meeting both as I campaigned, and in my first proud months as their representative in Parliament.

    I know that there is no substitute for meeting people in the places they live and work, on their terms. I have carried this principle into my first months as a Minister in the Scotland Office. On one of my very first ministerial visits last year I met with Lucy and Pete Grewar, who own Sheriffton Farm in Perthshire.

    I was there to discuss their challenges in finding staff to help pick their broccoli, and made a promise to come back with a Home Office ministerial colleague to visit Scotland to hear about these issues directly. I was thrilled that we were able to do that earlier this week when alongside NFUS representatives, Seema Malhotra, the Minister for Migration and Citizenship, and I visited a soft fruit farm in Aberdeenshire.

    Whilst on the farm, Seema and I had further discussion with the owners and NFUS about the Seasonal Workers; Visa scheme and how labour shortages impact their work, but also the need to drive economic growth and encourage domestic workers to take up these vital jobs.

    I also had similarly frank and productive conversations with crofters on the Isle of Lewis. We will continue to engage with you, and I will continue to invite my UK Government colleagues to come up to Scotland and hear directly from rural communities what they need.

    I value every single one of these visits as it gives me the opportunity to really hear from the people who are directly impacted by Government policy, and who also help us achieve our goals of food security, sustainability, Net Zero, economic growth, and countless others.

    And I just want to reassure you that I really listen in these conversations and I do, personally, read everything that I am sent in follow up. So if you have evidence you want me to read, stories you want me to hear or places you want me to visit I give you my word: you will always get a hearing from me. Just be in touch.

    Now there are four areas of UK Government policy that I want to focus on in the time I have left.

    Firstly, inheritance tax.

    This Government was forced to make many difficult decisions when it came into power due to our own challenging inheritance of the £22 billion financial black hole in public finances left by the previous Conservative administration.

    We could have just ignored it. We could have kicked the problem down the road. But when we stood for election we promised to take the hard choices head on. We needed to act.

    I know many of you in this room don’t agree with how we responded and feel let down. So I want you to hear in my own words, as someone who represents farmers right across my own constituency, why the Government made this decision.

    Under the current system, APR and BPR have granted 100% relief since 1992 on business and agricultural assets. However, this is heavily skewed towards the very wealthiest landowners and business owners.

    According to the latest data from HMRC, 40% of agricultural property relief is claimed by just 7% of UK estates making claims. That means that just 117 estates across the UK were claiming over £200 million of relief in 2021-22.

    Unfortunately, we also know that the reality today is that buying agricultural land is one of the most well-known ways to avoid inheritance tax.

    This has artificially inflated the price of farmland, locking younger farmers out of the market.

    None of this is either fair or sustainable. That is why we are reforming how agricultural and business property relief work. From April 2026, relief will be targeted in a way that still maintains significant tax relief while supporting the public finances, and protecting working people.

    I would like to thank Martin and his colleagues at NFUS for their helpful engagement with myself and the Secretary of State for Scotland, Ian Murray, on this issue. I am grateful for the dialogue we have had and will continue to have.

    We have had a disagreement, not a falling out – a difference of opinion on one question should not – must not – prevent us from talking about all the others. And talking is what we will continue to do. We will continue to engage with stakeholders in meetings like this and on farms, and we will continue to strengthen relations with the Scottish Government, respecting the fact that agriculture policy is devolved.

    That’s why in the coming months the Scotland Office will host a food and farming roundtable where we will invite the industry and the Scottish Government to sit together and discuss these important issues. This will allow us to keep these conversations going.

    Now I would like to further address the devolved agriculture budget.

    I appreciate the vital role Scottish agriculture plays in rural communities and the economy in Scotland. The Secretary of State for Scotland wrote to the Defra Minister for Rural Affairs and Food Security outlining this prior to the Autumn Budget.

    And at the Budget, Defra announced the biggest budget for sustainable food production and nature recovery in history. This included £620m for Scotland for 2025-2026, baselined from last year. This is an above-population share, and the ringfence was removed to respect the devolution settlement – meaning it is for the Scottish Government to determine how they support farmers and rural communities with the public services they rely on.

    But we did not stop there. We wanted to address the issues rural communities face holistically – and the Autumn Budget delivered on that.

    The fuel duty freeze extension means that rural communities who depend on cars, vans and tractors will be able to save more of their income.

    The Budget also gave the go ahead for rural growth deals in Scotland, such as for Argyll and Bute, creating hundreds of jobs and countless opportunities for rural and island communities there.

    We recognise how important it is for rural areas, especially in Scotland, to have the same broadband connectivity and opportunities as the rest of the UK, so we announced in the Budget last year an additional £500 million for Project Gigabit and the Shared Rural Network.

    Next I would like to touch on seasonal workers, referred to earlier.

    While we are not currently considering a Scotland-only visa, this Government knows how important securing the right workforce is to the agri-food chain. This includes skilled jobs such as butchers and vets and temporary roles, such as seasonal horticulture harvesting and poultry processing jobs.

    Underlining the government’s commitment to the horticultural and poultry industry, the Seasonal Worker visa route has been confirmed for 2025, with a total of 43,000 Seasonal Worker visas available for horticulture and 2,000 for poultry next year.

    This will help the sector secure the labour and skills needed to bring high quality British produce, including strawberries, rhubarb, turkey and daffodils to market.

    In addition, Defra published the 2023 Seasonal Workers Survey report on 21 October 2024.

    The survey showed that the vast majority of respondents reported a positive experience from their time in the UK and 95% expressed a desire to return. This excellent feedback reflects so well on farmers and the vibrancy of rural communities.

    When I visited a Perthshire farm weeks into office, the clearest thing I heard was that Scotland’s farmers wanted a hearing at the Home Office – I promised then that I’d try to bring a Home Office minister to Scotland to hear from farmers directly and that’s a promise kept. Just two days ago I was in a farm in Aberdeenshire with Seema Malhotra, the immigration minister, hearing about how seasonal worker rules could be made to work better for you. The door is always open and so are our minds – we want an ongoing relationship with a practical focus on getting things done.

    -And finally, just let me say something on future trade deals.

    Supporting farmers will always be a priority for this Government. We have been clear we will protect farmers from being undercut by low welfare and low standards in trade deals.

    We will continue to maintain our existing high standards for animal Health and food hygiene, ensuring that imported products comply with our domestic standards and import requirements.

    We are committed to developing a trade strategy that will support economic growth and promote the highest standards of food production.

    The UK has a network of sixteen agrifood and drink attachés around the world who break down market access barriers, create new export opportunities and protect existing trade. Our attachés work closely with Scottish Development International’s global network on delivering market access / export opportunities for Scotland.

    Promoting Scotland internationally through initiatives such as Brand Scotland – a new initiative led by my department backed by three quarters of a million pounds of funding – is a priority for this Government, and these export opportunities are an excellent way to do that.

    In addition, we will seek to negotiate a Sanitary and Phytosanitary agreement with the EU to reduce trade frictions, boost trade and deliver significant benefits on both sides.

    I want to reiterate my commitment to you that this Government will do everything it can to support you, listen to you and advocate for you, to ensure we not only protect but also maximise the potential of this incredible industry.

    Let me end by saying that it has been the honour of my life to serve as MP of Midlothian since July of last year, so I am here today telling you that I will fight for you as a Minister, but I also understand the views of my constituents. Many of them have the same concerns as you.

    Many of them are either farmers themselves, or live in a rural community where farming is a crucial backbone.

    And I want to assure you I understand your importance is more than the material benefits you bring – important though that is. Alongside farming, tourism and heritage are also in my portfolio. I treasure Scotland’s vibrant national museums, and the National Museum of Rural Life is no different – it’s a beautiful, living tribute to Scottish farming and rural life.

    Every time I visit, I can feel the importance of farming to the Scottish identity. I know that all you want is to be able to do what you are good at, what you love.

    It is my duty and that of this Government to ensure you have everything you need to do that, to protect your place in this extremely important endeavour. I promise you we will not let you down. It’s just too important.

    I am going to take a few questions now. Thank you to NFUS for inviting me here today, and to all of you for coming along. I wish you the very best for the rest of your conference.

  • PRESS RELEASE : OSCE Co-operation with the Council of Europe – UK statement to the OSCE [February 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : OSCE Co-operation with the Council of Europe – UK statement to the OSCE [February 2025]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 6 February 2025.

    Ambassador Holland thanks Minister Bettel for outlining Luxembourg’s priorities at the Council of Europe, and for the close collaboration with the OSCE.

    Thank you Chair. And may I express my condolences – and those of my delegation and country – to our Swedish colleagues for the tragic school attack this week. Our thoughts are with you and the families and friends of the victims.

    Minister Bettel welcome to the Permanent Council. Thank you for your presentation and for your commitment to the work of the Council of Europe as Chair of the Committee of Ministers. The Council of Europe has been, and will continue to be, hugely important to the UK’s human rights and foreign policy agenda.

    The longstanding relationship between the OSCE and the Council of Europe is rooted in the promotion of human rights, democracy and rule of law – values that the UK is firmly committed to uphold. Respect for these common principles defines our shared endeavours in Vienna and in Strasbourg. Values such as the rule of law not only provide the freedoms which allow people to interact with each other in their day-to-day lives but also matter for growth, jobs and people’s livelihoods.

    We meet today at a particularly challenging time for European Security, with Russia‘s unprovoked and unjustified war in Ukraine about to enter a fourth year. We call on all OSCE participating States to uphold our common commitments to shared security on our continent.  We must strengthen Ukraine’s position to keep fighting through 2025 and beyond – for the sake of Ukraine itself, and Euro-Atlantic security.

    The UK is proud to be Chair of the Conference of Participants for the Register of Damage for Ukraine. The Register, now with over 14,000 claims, serves as a significant step towards securing justice for the Ukrainian people.

    The Council of Europe and the OSCE share much common ground – tackling serious organised crime and human trafficking, counter-terrorism, as well as promoting free and fair elections, media freedom, and gender rights. As both the OSCE and the Council of Europe face up to a series of common challenges this year, including a difficult security environment and – as you rightly say – the challenges of democratic backsliding, it is important that we continue to recognise each organisation’s individual merits and distinctiveness. We need to work in a coordinated way to employ the unique set of instruments and tools which each organisation offers to its States.

    Minister Bettel – like your country, the UK is, and will remain, a steadfast supporter of the work of both the Council of Europe and the OSCE. We offer you, and your team, our best wishes for your work throughout your Presidency.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Statement – Foreign Office summons Russian Ambassador [February 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : Statement – Foreign Office summons Russian Ambassador [February 2025]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 6 February 2025.

    The Russian Ambassador was summoned for a meeting to revoke the accreditation of a Russian diplomat.

    A Foreign Office spokesperson said:

    We have summoned the Russian Ambassador for a meeting with a senior British official to revoke the accreditation of a Russian diplomat.

    This is in response to Russia’s unprovoked and baseless decision to strip the accreditation of a British diplomat in Moscow in November.

    The UK will not stand for intimidation of our staff in this way, and so we are taking reciprocal action.

    Any further action taken by Russia will be considered an escalation and responded to accordingly.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Spades in the ground on £295 million West Midlands Metro extension [February 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : Spades in the ground on £295 million West Midlands Metro extension [February 2025]

    The press release issued by the Department for Transport on 6 February 2025.

    Trams will run from Wednesbury to Brierley Hill, providing faster and more reliable transport connections to centre of Birmingham and wider West Midlands.

    • Transport Secretary, Heidi Alexander in the West Midlands to begin work on the £295 million project
    • the extension will better connect the Black Country with the centre of Birmingham, improving access to jobs and opportunities
    • government investment to transform infrastructure and grow the economy as it delivers the Plan for Change

    The Transport Secretary, Heidi Alexander is in the West Midlands today (6 February 2025) to put spades in the ground on the extension of the West Midlands Metro tram network in the Black Country.

    Funded through the government’s £1.05 billion City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS) for the West Midlands, the project will see drastically improved connections for currently underserved communities.

    For the first time, this investment will mean trams will run from Wednesbury to Brierley Hill, providing faster and more reliable transport connections between Dudley and Brierley Hill to the city centre and wider West Midlands and so to jobs and opportunities.

    Providing first time light rail connection for many local residents, passengers will benefit from journey time savings of up to 30% compared to taking the bus and with greater reliability at peak times.

    The first phase of the extension, running from Wednesbury to Dudley town centre, is already well underway and due to open to passengers in autumn of this year.

    Poor local transport stifles local productivity, particularly in smaller towns and rural areas where so many rely on local buses, trains and trams. That’s why boosting local transport infrastructure is central to the government’s Growth Mission, as is empowering local leaders to deliver better transport for their communities through the Devolution White Paper. This is helping support jobs, boost local business and deliver growth in all 4 corners of the UK as part of the government’s Plan for Change.

    Transport Secretary, Heidi Alexander, said:

    Residents in and around the Black Country have been chronically underserved by public transport, limiting access to jobs and opportunities and stunting economic growth.

    We’re turning the tide on poor transport connections in the West Midlands and delivering a transport system that people can rely on, raising living standards across the region.

    The extension of the West Midlands Metro will be transformational and I am delighted to officially mark the start of work today as this government gets on with supporting local jobs and business while empowering local leaders to deliver our Plan for Change.

    Once complete, the extension will provide a major boost to local businesses as the extension is set to pass through Cinder Bank, Pedmore Road and the Waterfront business park.

    The Transport Secretary is meeting with West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker and being given a tour of Parkhead Viaduct in Dudley – an iconic 19 century Brunel structure which will come back into use as part of the Metro route.

    Richard Parker, the Mayor of the West Midlands, said:

    Good transport links are essential – helping people get to school, work, local shops and to enjoy a day out. Extending the metro further into the Black Country opens up routes for job opportunities, skills and growth, ensuring fast, reliable journeys for everyone across the West Midlands.

    Now that I have secured the funding from government and we’ve got the approvals needed, the work can start to make this long-awaited project a reality. The restoration of this viaduct shows how we can protect our region’s industrial heritage while developing modern infrastructure.

    With the first phase nearly complete, the Metro is already creating jobs, supporting local businesses, and attracting investment to the area, and soon it will take those same opportunities into Dudley and Merry Hill.

  • PRESS RELEASE : New Chair of The Royal Mint announced [February 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : New Chair of The Royal Mint announced [February 2025]

    The press release issued by HM Treasury on 6 February 2025.

    The Treasury has today announced the appointment of Chris Walton as Non-Executive Chair of The Royal Mint.

    Chris Walton will be in position for an initial three-year term, succeeding Graham Love, who served as Chair since December 2018. Chris will oversee the Mint as it continues to diversify its portfolio into new business areas, and to produce UK circulating coins in line with demand.

    Commenting on the appointment, Economic Secretary to the Treasury and City Minister, Emma Reynolds said:

    I’m delighted to welcome Chris Walton to The Royal Mint as the new Chair. Chris brings a wealth of leadership experience to the role, and I look forward to working with him as he shapes the strategic vision of The Royal Mint in the years ahead.

    I want to thank Graham Love for his leadership over the last six years. Graham has overseen a number of successes in his time as Chair and has set the foundations for The Royal Mint of the future.

    Chris Walton added:

    It is a privilege to join The Royal Mint during this fascinating period of transformation. With sustainability at its core, the Mint is evolving for the future, and I am eager to support its growth and build on a remarkable legacy.

    The Royal Mint is one of the oldest companies in the world – supplying coins to the UK for over 1,100 years. It also produces commemorative coins, to mark events of national, historical and cultural significance, offers investment in precious metals, a jewellery collection and recycling precious metals from e-waste.

    The Chair of The Royal Mint is responsible for providing strategic direction and works closely with the Board of Directors and Executive Team.

  • PRESS RELEASE : £8 million for Port Talbot growth and regeneration project [February 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : £8 million for Port Talbot growth and regeneration project [February 2025]

    The press release issued by the Wales Office on 6 February 2025.

    A new project will support more than 100 jobs and eventually generate more than £87 million for the South Wales economy.

    • The first of the growth and regeneration projects in Port Talbot will receive £8.2 million from the Tata Steel / Port Talbot Transition Board.
    • Plans will support more than 100 jobs and eventually generate more than £87 million for the South Wales economy.
    • Tata Steel / Port Talbot Transition Board has now allocated £51 million into the local community.

    More than 100 jobs are expected to be created and supported with the UK Government announcement of £8.2 million funding for the first regeneration project in Port Talbot with other projects set to follow.

    Chairing the latest meeting of the Tata Steel Port Talbot Transition Board today (6 February) Welsh Secretary Jo Stevens will announce £8.2 million for the South Wales Industrial Transition from Carbon Hub (SWITCH) supporting more than 100 jobs.

    The South Wales Industrial Transition from Carbon Hub project will redevelop a four-acre site at Harbourside, Port Talbot which will include the construction of additional shared space, undertake flood mitigation and the provision of specialist equipment. This investment will help establish an Innovation District in Port Talbot.

    This will allow the development of a new facility targeted at supporting the steel and metal industry and supply chain to reduce carbon emissions in production. The facility is expected to create and support more than 100 jobs and eventually benefit the South Wales economy by £87 million.

    The latest funding comes from the UK Government’s £80m Tata Steel / Port Talbot Transition Board fund which, since last July, has announced £51 million to support individual steelworkers and businesses in Tata Steel’s supply chain to protect jobs and grow the local economy. The latest announcement is the first project to support growth and regeneration of the region. In the coming months, there will be up to £30 million (as part of the overall £80 million) put into growth and regeneration projects.

    This funding supports the UK Government’s mission to kickstart economic growth and will help deliver the ambition to raise living standards in every part of the United Kingdom as set out its Plan for Change.

    Welsh Secretary Jo Stevens said:

    We said we would back the community of Port Talbot through Tata Steel’s transition and we continue to do exactly that.

    In just six months there has now been over £50 million announced by the Transition Board to support individual steelworkers and their families, businesses in the supply chain and now on a major regeneration project for the town.

    Millions more will follow and while this remains a very difficult time for Tata workers, their families and the community, we are determined to support our steel communities whatever happens.

    The Secretary of State will also ensure that work is progressing at pace to develop a range of wellbeing and mental health interventions. This work will prioritise the provision of mental health support, help build community cohesion, support the delivery of wellbeing initiatives and peer support within the local community including that currently delivered via local community and other support groups. Funding to support this work will be announced at the next transition board meeting.

    Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning Rebecca Evans said:

    This announcement builds on the investment that will be unlocked through the recent Celtic Freeport and other investments and innovation we are supporting in and around Port Talbot.

    Working alongside our Transition Bard partners, we will continue to do everything we can to provide opportunities for growth wherever they arise as well as making sure that the right assistance and support is in place for those impacted by the Tata changes.

    The Leader of Neath Port Talbot Council, Cllr Steve Hunt, said:

    We welcome this extra tranche of funding as the SWITCH project will attract jobs and investment to Neath Port Talbot as it progresses over the next few years. It also means this area can build on its long history in the steel and metals industries to address the challenges of our time.”

    Professor Helen Griffiths, Pro Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation at Swansea University, said:

    SWITCH will leverage Swansea University’s history of uniting academia, industry, local authorities, and government. This significant investment will make Welsh research and innovation expertise even more accessible to business and industry, and help stimulate economic growth, provide long-term employment and foster a thriving community.

    The South Wales Industrial Transition from Carbon Hub (SWITCH) delivers research to support industrial decarbonisation transition. This announcement of Transition Board funding for the SWITCH Harboursideproject will create a new base for SWITCH. This will add to the facility’s £20 million funding from the Swansea Bay City Deal, which is also part-funded by the UK Government.

  • PRESS RELEASE : New UK High Commissioner to Solomon Islands presents credentials [February 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : New UK High Commissioner to Solomon Islands presents credentials [February 2025]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 6 February 2025.

    Paul Turner was appointed British High Commissioner to Solomon Islands and Nauru in July 2024.

    His Majesty’s new High Commissioner to Solomon Islands and non-resident High Commissioner to the Republic of Nauru, His Excellency Paul Robert Turner presented his credentials this week to the Prime Minister of Solomon Islands, Hon. Jeremiah Manele.

    Paul Turner was appointed British High Commissioner to Solomon Islands and Nauru in July 2024. Paul’s experience covers the UK Government and international organisations, including the World Bank, African Development Bank and the European Union.

    With the UK Department for International Development (DFID), Paul oversaw economic and trade portfolios in East and Southern Africa as well as in China. More recently, he worked for the World Bank in Uganda.

    Paul has also led development teams in a range of fragile states including Afghanistan and the Western Balkans. Earlier in his career, he was private secretary to Ministers in DFID and the Home Office.

    Acknowledging the bilateral relations between the two countries, Prime Minister Manele said UK is one of the first countries to forge ties with Solomon Islands since 1978. He also provided an overview of his government’s priorities including education, health, climate change and trade.

    In response, High Commissioner Paul Turner said that his mission was to expand bilateral relations between the two countries and be a key partner of the Government of Solomon Islands in addressing the impact of climate change.

    The High Commissioner said he was keen to explore opportunities in a number of economic sectors, especially the local cocoa industry and affirmed that one of his personal goals is to produce tangible outcomes in the sector during his time in office.

    The High Commissioner is the UK Government’s representative in a Commonwealth nation. They are responsible for the direction and work of the High Commission and its Deputy High Commissions and/or Consulates, including political work, trade and investment, press and cultural relations, and visa and consular services.

  • PRESS RELEASE : New survey suggests benefits system is letting down people with mental health conditions who want to work [February 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : New survey suggests benefits system is letting down people with mental health conditions who want to work [February 2025]

    The press release issued by the Department for Work and Pensions on 6 February 2025.

    Many sick and disabled people say they want to work to help boost their living standards – but aren’t given the right support, according to new data published on Time to Talk day today [6 February].

    • New survey suggests 200k people claiming health and disability benefits are ready for work now if the right job or support were available.
    • Comes as number of young people with a mental health condition who are economically inactive due to long-term sickness reaches over a quarter of a million (270,000).
    • Overhaul of health and disability benefit system set to be unveiled in Spring to ensure it provides meaningful support to help long term sick back into work.

    New research published by the Department for Work and Pensions shows that nearly half (44%) of people with a mental health condition expect to be able to work in future if their health improves.

    This comes as the number of young people (aged 16 to 34) who are economically inactive due to long-term sickness and have a mental condition reaches 270,000. This number has been rising consistently over the past decade and has increased by 60,000 (26%) in the last year alone. The equivalent figure for all people of working-age (16 to 64) is 790,000 – an increase of 140,000 (22%) over the last year.

    The Work Aspirations of Health and Disability Claimants survey also finds that a third (32%) of those claiming health and disability benefits believe they can work now or in future.  (5%) say that they would be ready now if the right job or support were available. This equates to around 200,000 individuals.

    The survey also finds that those out of jobs overwhelmingly see work as a key part of their identity and a route to higher self-esteem, happiness and security.

    In further evidence that the current system pushes people away from work, the survey revealed that 50% of people who are on health and disability benefits and are not currently in work said they were worried they would not get their benefits back if they tried paid employment and it did not work out.

    It comes as the Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall visits Workbridge charity which offers support to people who are unable to work due to mental ill health, to hear how they’re supporting people with mental health conditions into work.

    Responding to the stark survey results, the Work and Pensions Secretary has said the report demonstrates the need to reform the current welfare system, so that it offers better, meaningful support to give disabled people and people with long-term health conditions a real opportunity to find work.

    The upcoming reforms will be a key part of the government’s Plan for Change to boost employment by breaking down barriers to opportunity – creating a welfare system that promotes tailored pathways into work and accommodates the complex nature of disabilities and health conditions – and consequently, improving people’s living standards.

    Work and Pensions Secretary, Rt Hon Liz Kendall MP said:

    Today’s report shows that the broken benefits system is letting down people with mental health conditions who want to work.

    People claiming Health and Disability benefits have been classed by the system as “can’t work” and shut out of jobs and have been ignored – when they’ve been crying out for support.

    That is a serious failure. It’s bad for people, bad for businesses, which miss out on considerable talent, and bad for the economy.

    For young people in particular, being out of work can have a scarring effect that lasts a lifetime.

    On Time to Talk day, it’s time to change how we support people with long-term health conditions, such as a mental health condition, so that they have a fair chance and choice to work.

    On her visit to Workbridge, Kendall will speak to experts to hear their insights on how government and employers can better accommodate the fluctuating nature of people’s mental health – ensuring that people’s views and voices are at the heart of changes that affect them.

    We know that being in work has a positive effect on people’s mental and physical health – providing people with confidence and independence, as well as financial benefits.

    The UK remains the only G7 country that has higher levels of economic inactivity now than before the pandemic, with the benefits bill spiralling – largely driven by the increase in people claiming incapacity benefits for mental health conditions, who had not received the care and treatment they deserve.

    The reforms to the health & disability benefit system due to be unveiled in a Green Paper in Spring will consider these issues and how the government can tackle these barriers to employment, and the government will work closely alongside charities, organisations and disabled people to ensure their voices help shape any proposals for reform.

    The Green Paper will set key ambitions for creating a system that is fairer on disabled people – offering support into work which takes into consideration the realities of their health condition and life circumstances, and fairness for the taxpayer by bringing down the benefits bill.

    The reforms are expected to build on the Get Britain Working White Paper, which set out the first steps to achieving the government’s target 80% employment rate, driving up growth and driving down poverty in every corner of our country.

    Successful steps have already been taken to offer work and life-changing support, with a record number of people with mental health conditions receiving employment advice through the NHS Talking Therapies programme.

    Alongside this support, the Government has settled record funding for the NHS – so that all people can get the care they need – and have pledged:

    • 8,500 more mental health staff
    • Mental health support teams in every school
    • Open-access mental health hubs in every community
  • PRESS RELEASE : Armed Forces to cut red tape and deliver quicker and easier recruitment service [February 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : Armed Forces to cut red tape and deliver quicker and easier recruitment service [February 2025]

    The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 6 February 2025.

    Joining the Armed Forces will become quicker and easier under a new first-of-its kind recruitment service that cuts red tape and transforms the way people sign up to serve.

    • A new recruitment service will streamline the process for candidates to join the Armed Forces.
    • Launching in 2027, the first-of-its kind service will speed up recruitment to boost national security – the foundation of Government’s Plan for Change.
    • Single-entry point for prospective recruits to attract the best talent from across the country and deliver better value for taxpayer money.

    Joining the Armed Forces will become quicker and easier under a new first-of-its kind recruitment service that cuts red tape and transforms the way people sign up to serve.

    Armed Forces Minister Luke Pollard has today announced that a new, combined Armed Forces Recruitment Service (AFRS) will launch in 2027, replacing the individual schemes run by the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force. The new contract will ensure better value for taxpayer money and better outcomes for our Armed Forces.

    The first-ever tri-service recruitment service will provide a streamlined, single-entry point for prospective recruits, with the aim of attracting the best talent from across the country into the Armed Forces to strengthen national security as the foundation of the Government’s Plan for Change.

    The announcement follows the Defence Secretary’s commitment last year to tackle long application waiting times for the Armed Forces, with a new ambition to make a conditional offer within 10 days and confirmation of a training start date within 30 days.

    Under the innovative new recruitment service, candidates will complete one application and one medical evaluation via a single, digital system – offering a more straightforward process that seeks to retain applicant interest. The digitally enhanced process will see applications reviewed, offers made and training begin at a faster pace than individual services currently.

    In efforts to deliver value for money, the Ministry of Defence will mimic the Cabinet Office’s standard model services contract, allowing for decisive action on supplier-caused performance issues through profit-based performance goals and contract break-clauses.

    Existing processes have struggled to meet the evolving needs of modern recruitment, with inefficiencies and delays leading to fewer than one in 10 applicants joining in 2023.

    Minister for the Armed Forces Luke Pollard said:

    This Government is delivering for defence and taking decisive action to address recruitment and retention challenges within our Armed Forces. For too long, we have seen keen and capable prospective recruits failed by an outdated system, full of delays and inefficiencies.

    Our innovative new Armed Forces Recruitment Service will help us attract top talent from across the UK – bolstering our national security as the foundation for our government’s Plan for Change.

    By making it quicker and easier for people to sign up to serve, while maintaining the very highest standards, we will strengthen our Armed Forces and make the UK more secure.

    Our ambition is for those who apply to serve our country to receive a conditional answer within 10 days and a training start date within 30 days. As global threats increase, we are making the changes necessary to get the brightest and best into Britain’s military.”

    Developed in partnership with Serco, the new programme will ultimately help to ensure that the UK military remains ready to face emerging threats while enhancing the support for those who serve.

    AFRS will also see Service Personnel playing an active role in the recruitment process, leveraging their unique skills and experience to engage the next generation of military professionals.

    In a separate move to attract a broader range of Armed Forces recruits, the Minister for the Armed Forces, Luke Pollard has also announced today a new direct entry initiative for cyber roles. With reduced basic training, a starting salary of £40,000 and specialist cyber training, recruits will support our Forces and bolster the UK’s cyber strength.

    The Government is committed to bettering the Armed Forces career offer and has also delivered one of the largest pay increases for the Armed Forces in the last 20 years, scrapped over 100 outdated policies that block or slow recruitment, and are establishing an Armed Forces Commissioner to champion Service Personnel and their families.

    With recruitment across the three Forces being unified, AFRS will see all applicant data held centrally at MOD, offering improved data security and enhanced access to information.