Tag: 2025

PRESS RELEASE : PS752 – Fifth anniversary statement [January 2025]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 8 January 2025.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has issued a statement marking five years since the downing of Ukrainian International Airlines Flight 752.

A Foreign, Commonwealth & Development spokesperson said:

Today marks five years since Iran’s unlawful downing of Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752.

The UK, alongside our partners in Canada, Sweden and Ukraine, remains committed to delivering transparency, justice and accountability for the 176 innocent victims and their families, including UK nationals.

For five years, Iran has refused to take full legal responsibility for the downing, despite admitting its military shot Flight PS752 out of sky. This cannot stand. We will continue our pursuit of justice through the International Court of Justice and the International Civil Aviation Organization.

The UK is clear in its commitment to hold the Iranian regime accountable for its breaches of international law.

January 9, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : Extreme Right Wing group, Blood and Honour, sanctioned by HM Treasury under Domestic Counter-Terrorism Regulations [January 2025]
The press release issued by HM Treasury on 8 January 2025.

The UK Government has today (8th January 2025) announced a full asset freeze against Blood and Honour, an entity it has reasonable grounds to suspect of being involved in terrorist activities through promoting and encouraging terrorism, seeking to recruit people for that purpose and making funds available for the purposes of its terrorist activities.

All assets and economic resources in the UK belonging to, or owned or controlled by, Blood and Honour must now be frozen. No person or entity required to comply with UK sanctions can deal with any funds or economic resources belonging to, or owned or controlled by Blood and Honour (or any entities it owns or controls). They also cannot make funds, financial services or economic resources available to or for the benefit of Blood and Honour (or any entities it owns or controls) unless they have obtained a licence from HM Treasury or an exception applies.

This action is the first use of the Treasury-led Domestic Counter-Terrorism sanctions regime to target extreme right-wing terrorism. The designation of Blood and Honour is a clear signal that the UK works proactively to stop terrorist financing and will take action against any who try to exploit the UK financial system for this activity.

Further information:
- From 8th January 2025, all parts of Blood and Honour including any aliases it operates under, which are in the UK, the UK Crown Dependencies and Overseas Territories are subject to an asset freeze. Additionally, prohibitions on making funds, financial services and economic resources available to them or for their benefit also apply.
- Regulation 5 of the Domestic Counter-Terrorism sanctions regulations allows HMT to designate entities by name for the purpose of freezing assets and imposing the prohibitions referred to above which apply to them or any of the entities they own or control.
- An asset freeze means that it is generally prohibited to deal with the funds or economic resources which are owned, held, or controlled by a designated person. The prohibitions on making funds, financial services and economic resources available prevent them from being made available directly or indirectly to a designated person or to another person for the benefit of that designated person. Actions that intentionally directly or indirectly circumvent the asset freeze or the aforementioned prohibitions are also prohibited.
- When an asset freeze is applied, the funds or economic resources are frozen immediately by the person in possession or control of them.
- Imposing an asset freeze does not change the ownership of the frozen funds or economic resource and nor are they transferred to HM Treasury for safekeeping.
Also Sanctioned:

The designation extends to all parts of Blood and Honour including any aliases it operates under e.g. 28 Radio and Combat 18.
January 9, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : UK Government brings some of the fastest broadband on the market to 37,000 rural homes in Wales [January 2025]
The press release issued by the Wales Office on 8 January 2025.

Homes and businesses across Wales will no longer be stuck with slow internet speeds as the UK Government’s rollout of gigabit connectivity races ahead.
- Around 37,000 hard-to-reach premises across Wales stuck with slow broadband to gain access to lightning-fast speeds, helping to break down barriers to opportunity and giving people better access to vital online services such as healthcare and education.
- New UK Government contracts worth around £79 million signed to bring gigabit-capable networks to more remote areas across North and South West Wales
- Funding forms part of the UK Government’s mission to end the plight of poor broadband across Great Britain with work already underway to bring upgrades to over one million premises.
Around 37,000 homes and businesses across Wales will no longer be stuck with slow internet speeds as the UK Government’s rollout of gigabit connectivity races ahead.

Some of the most isolated communities in Wales will benefit from access to some of the fastest broadband speeds on the market, gaining better access to services including healthcare at home through virtual consultations and remote monitoring, as well as high-quality video calls, which will help pensioners combat loneliness. It will also support businesses to better grow and serve their customers online and help young people have a better start in life through access to online education and the resources to apply and interview for jobs.

Project Gigabit plays a key role in plans to kickstart economic growth and break down barriers to opportunity as part of the Government’s Plan for Change. With faster internet speeds across the country, communities that would otherwise be left behind with outdated broadband networks will be able to make the most of what the digital world has to offer.

Rural towns and villages, including Betws-y-Coed, Llangollen, the Isle of Anglesey in North Wales, as well as Laugharne, Llangwm and Nantgaredig in South West Wales are set to gain access to gigabit connection, as a new contract – worth around £79 million – has been signed by the UK Government and telecoms provider Openreach.

Telecoms Minister, Sir Chris Bryant, said:

For families and businesses across rural Wales, fighting for bandwidth with neighbours will soon be a thing of the past, thanks to this UK Government programme bringing lightning-fast internet to rural areas.

Better broadband will not only enhance the quality of life for tens of thousands of homes and businesses across rural Wales, such as in Flintshire and Conwy, but it will also help us put an end to disparities between urban and rural areas, making Britain a fairer place for all.

The counties set to benefit from the contracts include Flintshire, Wrexham, Denbighshire, Conwy, Isle of Anglesey, and Gwynedd.

The announcement forms part of four new contracts worth over £289 million the government has signed to deliver gigabit-capable broadband to around 131,000 additional homes and businesses across England and Wales.

The latest contracts add to the approximately 96,600 premises already set to benefit under a UK Government agreement with Openreach, bringing the total so far to around 227,600 premises. The agreement announced in August 2024 will make up to £800 million of funding available to modernise broadband infrastructure in rural areas of England, Scotland and Wales, ending the plight of buffering for many remote communities.

Across the UK, Project Gigabit contracts are now rolling out gigabit connectivity to over 1.1 million hard-to-reach premises – a figure that will continue to rise in the months ahead, meeting the demand for reliable connectivity, stimulating rural economies and reducing regional disparities.

For households, gigabit-capable broadband delivers faster speeds and fewer dropouts, providing a gateway to remote working and online education. Unlike traditional copper-based networks, gigabit connections won’t slow down at peak times, meaning no more battling for bandwidth with neighbours. Gigabit networks can easily handle over a hundred devices all at once with no buffering, meaning the whole family can seamlessly surf, stream and download at the same time.

Welsh Secretary Jo Stevens said:

Powered by this UK Government investment, thousands more people and businesses across Wales will have access to ultra-fast broadband.

Our top priority is to drive sustained economic growth. To achieve this, it is vital that every part of Wales has full coverage quickly as possible to boost productivity in all our communities.

Across the UK, over one million hard-to-reach premises already have access to upgrades thanks to UK Government investment. Over 85 per cent of the country can now access gigabit connections, putting the UK in a strong position to meet the government’s target of full gigabit coverage by 2030.

Dozens of Project Gigabit contracts representing more than £2.2 billion investment have now been signed with over 10 different suppliers to deliver the upgrades, including many smaller, independent broadband providers.

Openreach CEO Clive Selley, said:

Our new Full Fibre broadband network now reaches more than half of all properties in the UK, and we’re confident we can reach as many as 30 million premises by the end of the decade, assuming the right regulatory and investment conditions exist. This is a British infrastructure success story which experts say will boost productivity by £73 billion and bring a raft of social and environmental benefits for the country. We believe that everyone deserves access to fast and reliable broadband, and we’re proud that this partnership will help extend our ultrafast, ultra-reliable network to areas that would otherwise be left behind by the private sector.
January 9, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : UK to launch world first sanctions regime to snare people smugglers travelling upstream [January 2025]
The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 8 January 2025.

The UK will develop a new sanctions regime to cripple people smuggling crime rings and starve them of illicit finance fuelling their operations.
- innovative new sanctions regime will be designed to crack down on people smuggling ringleaders and smash the gangs
- this new regime will boost our ability to prevent, combat, deter and disrupt irregular migration and hold the perpetrators accountable.
- bold innovation delivers on the government’s Plan for Change and commitment to protect the UK’s borders
The UK will develop a new sanctions regime to cripple people smuggling crime rings and starve them of illicit finance fuelling their operations.

In a major speech tomorrow, the Foreign Secretary will reveal plans to bring forward legislation for a new sanctions regime targeting irregular migration and organised immigration crime to secure UK borders in a decade of national renewal.

As the world’s first standalone sanctions regime dedicated to targeting irregular migration and organised immigration crime, it will allow the UK to target individuals and entities enabling dangerous journeys.

The announcement forms part of the government’s bold and credible plan to bring back control of the immigration system, smash the gangs and secure our borders.

As part of the Plan for Change, the government is committed to reducing small boat crossings and net migration and ending the routine use of asylum hotels, meeting our fiscal rules and strengthening national security.

The regime, which is expected to come into force within the year, will target organised immigration networks. Criminal networks are making huge profits exploiting vulnerable people by facilitating irregular migratory movements, including dangerous sea crossings across Europe.

Sanctions experts from across government will work with law enforcement and operational Home Office colleagues to deliver an effective and targeted regime that stems finance flows at their source and deters smugglers from profiting off the trafficking of innocent people.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:

We must dismantle the crime gangs facilitating breaches of our borders. By crippling illicit finance rings allowing smugglers to traffic vulnerable people across Europe, we will deliver on our Plan for Change and secure UK borders.

That means being bold and innovative in our policy making to ensure we are leaving no stone unturned. My government will do everything in our power to save lives and protect our borders for years to come.

Foreign Secretary David Lammy said:

It is completely unrealistic to combat irregular migration without a role for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

It is an issue which ties together the foreign and the domestic most acutely.

I’m proud to announce that the UK is set to be the first country in the world to develop legislation for a new sanctions regime specifically targeting irregular migration and organised immigration crime. This will help to prevent, combat, deter and disrupt irregular migration and the smuggling of migrants into the UK.

People smuggling poses significant challenges to global security and the UK, and alongside partners across Europe, we are working hand in glove to develop novel and bold solutions to tackle irregular upstream migration.

This sanctions development is the latest innovative move by the government to use every tool possible to crack down on vile people smugglers risking people’s lives in the Channel.

While the regime will be an autonomous scheme, the Foreign Office expects to collaborate closely with international allies to combat people smugglers. It builds on months of work with partners by this government, including through the UK-hosted European Political Community in July, hosting the Calais Group, bringing together ministers from France, Belgium and the Netherlands alongside EU agencies, improved working with countries like Moldova, Iraq and Vietnam on returns, and announcing a new anti-Smuggling Action Plan signed with other G7 nations.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said:

Since coming into power, we have taken swift and robust action to smash the gangs, working with international partners to track down and disrupt dangerous criminal networks.

With these new sanctions, we will target those profiting off putting lives at risk and disrupt the gangs’ finances, making it harder for them to operate.

This builds on our work to launch the Border Security Command backed by £150 million, major deals signed with countries including Iraq and Germany to disrupt supply chains and tackle the root of the issue, as well as an anti-Smuggling Action Plan signed with G7 nations. And this year we will introduce new legislation which will go even further to restrict the people smuggling gangs.

This year, the government will also introduce landmark new legislation on border security and asylum to empower law enforcement with the tools they need to dismantle the gangs.

And backed by £150 million in funding, the Border Security Command will continue to coordinate and build the UK’s enforcement capability to go after organised immigration crime.

The announcement comes after the Home Office announced last week a major upgrade to Serious Crime Prevention Orders, with new interim orders allowing suspected people smugglers to face immediate travel bans, social media blackouts and restrictions on phone usage.

In his speech, the Foreign Secretary will reflect on his first 6 months in office through the lens of Progressive Realism. This takes the world as it is not as we wish it to be, with the aim of advancing progressive ends by realist means.

He will illustrate how this government is reforming the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office to play an even more vital role in achieving the government’s missions of generating growth and tackling migration, through innovations including harnessing technology and establishing new partnerships.
January 9, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : New Permanent Under-Secretary Appointed at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office [January 2025]
The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 8 January 2025.

The Cabinet Secretary, with the approval of the Foreign Secretary and Prime Minister, has announced the appointment of Sir Oliver (Olly) Robbins as the new Permanent Under-Secretary at the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO).

Olly is currently Partner and Head of Europe, Middle East and Africa at Hakluyt, a global strategic advisory firm.

He has previously worked at Goldman Sachs and also held senior leadership roles in the Cabinet Office, HM Treasury, Downing Street and as the Second Permanent Secretary in the Home Office and Permanent Secretary in the Department for Exiting the European Union.

Olly will replace Sir Philip Barton who is stepping down after nearly four decades in the FCDO.

The Foreign Secretary, the Rt Hon David Lammy MP, said:

I have set out from day one that I want to rewire the FCDO to act as the international delivery arm of this government’s missions, as well as devising our broader international strategy. Olly Robbins is exactly the person to help me deliver this and I am delighted to welcome him into the FCDO.

His extensive experience of economic and security issues, gained across a range of Whitehall departments, will stand us in good stead as we reorient the FCDO to focus on growth and migration, while continuing to double down on national security – the foundation of our Plan for Change.

I would like to thank Sir Philip Barton for his many years of dedicated public service, in particular his leadership as PUS and his support through the recent political transition.

Cabinet Secretary, Sir Chris Wormald, said:

I would like to congratulate Olly on his appointment and welcome him back to the Civil Service. He brings huge experience to this role, both from his time previously in the Civil Service and his recent experience in the private sector. I look forward to working with Olly in this role as he leads the FCDO to deliver on a wide range of international issues and make a positive difference in a world where geopolitical change is intensifying.

I would also like to thank Sir Philip Barton for his outstanding dedication and service over his 38 year career in the Civil Service, and in particular for almost five years service in his role as Permanent Under-Secretary of FCDO.

Sir Oliver Robbins said:

It has been my pleasure to work alongside the FCDO’s predecessors for most of my Civil Service career. I’ve seen our extraordinary diplomatic and development capabilities first hand from Washington DC to Mogadishu, Dublin to Sana’a and Abuja to New Delhi. After five years out of the Civil Service I return believing more strongly than ever in the value of those capabilities and the public service principles that underpin them, while convinced that maintaining the UK’s lead depends critically on understanding and co-opting the pace of change evident in the UK and around the world.

It is therefore with huge excitement that I take this role on. I look forward to supporting the Foreign Secretary and leading the FCDO’s first-rate staff to strengthen the UK’s influence with our partners around the world.

Notes to Editors:
- This is a Permanent Secretary level appointment, offered on a fixed tenure basis for five years.
- The Permanent Secretary for FCDO is appointed by the Foreign Secretary, with the approval of the Prime Minister.
- The appointment was approved by the independent Civil Service Commissioner.
- Sir Philip Barton has served for 38 years in the Civil Service and almost five years in his role as Permanent Under-Secretary.
- In this role he led the FCDO through complex organisational change – with the merger of the Foreign Office and Department for International Development – whilst at the same time navigating major global events including the fullscale invasion of Ukraine and the ongoing instability in the Middle East.
January 9, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : The new authorities must build a democratic state representative of Syria’s rich diversity – UK statement at the UN Security Council [January 2025]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 8 January 2025.

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

I will make three points today.

First, as we mark the start of this new year, the first for over half a century without the Assad family in power in Syria, this is a moment of hope for the future of Syria and the Syrian people.

But rebuilding a country is not a place for quick fixes.

So we call on all involved to focus on the opportunity to build a democratic state, representative of Syria’s rich diversity and to take the necessary steps to establish participation across all of Syria’s society.

We’re encouraged by the new interim authorities’ timelines for drafting a new constitution and holding elections and national dialogue.

We are encouraged by early engagement with the international community and call for continued cooperation with the UN throughout the transitional period.

Second, there is much to be done, as we’ve heard, in the short term to protect civilians and ensure that humanitarian aid reaches the 17 million people who need it.

We call on all parties to stop activity that could lead to further escalation or suffering for the civilian population and to protect vulnerable displaced populations.

Since the fall of Assad, the UK has committed a further $76 million to support vulnerable Syrians in Syria and across the region.
Third, Syria must eliminate the chemical weapons the Assad regime used against its own citizens.

Colleagues, now is the moment to close the Syria chemical weapons file once and for all.

We welcome the interim authorities’ commitment to secure chemical weapons stocks and their commitment to engage constructively with the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons to fully declare and verify the destruction of Syria’s chemical weapons.

I encourage members of this Council to support cooperation between the interim authorities and the OPCW, to ensure these appalling weapons can never be used again.

In conclusion, President, we look forward to working together, across the Security Council, to support the Syrian people in moving towards a Syrian-led, Syrian-owned political transition leading to an inclusive, non-sectarian and representative government.

January 9, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : New regional skills projects to bolster UK cyber defences and deliver on Plan for Change [January 2025]
The press release issued by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on 8 January 2025.

More than 30 projects across England and Northern Ireland will deliver targeted support to boost the UK’s cyber resilience.
- More than 30 projects to receive funding to deliver targeted support including training to boost cyber skills and new ways to protect businesses against cyber threats
- Located across England and Northern Ireland, the schemes will help protect the security of the UK’s digital economy and grow a pipeline of cyber talent – supporting our Plan for Change
- Students to be put through their paces in latest round of Cyber Explorers competition to encourage the UK’s brightest young minds into careers in the field
More than 30 projects across England and Northern Ireland will deliver targeted support to boost the UK’s cyber resilience – from new ways to better protect businesses and families from potential cyber-attacks, to providing training to increase the nation’s cyber skills – as the government drives forward its Plan for Change to grow the economy and ensure the UK’s digital security.

Announced today (8th January), the new projects will receive a share of £1.9 million in UK government and private funding to bolster the UK’s cyber defences and make sure the country has the cyber workforce it needs as the threat of attacks rises, with schemes in Northern Ireland, the Midlands, Yorkshire and Humber, the South West, North East and North West of England set to benefit.

The UK’s cyber sector is a true success story, contributing £11.9 billion to the British economy. The increasing number of threats we face online though means demand for trained cyber professionals is continuing to rise, with almost half of UK businesses currently reporting a cyber skills shortage. These projects will now help plug the gaps and meet that demand – giving people across the country the skills they need to explore new, highly-paid careers in cyber to ensure the wider security of technology and digital services across the economy.

First announced at a global cyber security meeting convened by the UK in September, these projects – delivered by organisations such as universities, local community groups and businesses – will tap into local know-how and partnerships to support initiatives which meet the needs of individual areas, plugging skills gaps to help keep the UK safe online by providing training for a wide range of groups including everyone from secondary school students and apprentices to working professionals.

Among the projects being supported are programmes in the South West and Yorkshire to upskill workers in small businesses, and a scheme in the North West of England which will unlock new avenues for communities to explore careers in cyber.

A project in Northern Ireland meanwhile will explore how to encourage more neurodiverse workers into the field – boosting the diversity of the UK’s cyber talent pipeline. While a programme in the West Midlands will focus on supporting women and girls to protect them from cyber violence and abuse.

Combined, these projects will help to deliver a stronger workforce, unlock new opportunities, and improve skills right across the country, helping keep the UK’s digital economy safe and secure and ultimately putting more money in people’s pockets as part of our Plan for Change.

Minister for Cyber Security Feryal Clark said:

We live more and more of our lives online – whether that’s for our weekly shopping, banking, browsing the web to book a holiday, or simply staying in touch with our loved ones.

But our growing digital economy is also worth billions to the economy. That’s why having strong defences in place is more important than ever – and as part of our Plan for Change to grow our economy, we also need to protect it.

Attempts to disrupt the technologies and services we rely on daily continue to grow, so we’re leaving no stone un-turned to make sure our communities have the skills to rise to the challenge.

It’s also vital we develop a diverse and talented cyber security workforce, which is why the next phase of the Cyber Explorers Cup competition will be vital in identifying the UK’s cyber leaders of tomorrow.

National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) Director for National Resilience and Future Technology, Jonathan Ellison said:

These projects will help enhance the UK’s cyber resilience by empowering local communities with the skills and support needed to combat growing digital threats.

By upskilling small businesses and individuals, investing in workforce development and encouraging neurodiverse talent, government and industry partners are fostering robust and diverse cyber communities for the future.

This is vital for protecting our digital economy, creating new opportunities for secure innovation and helping make the UK the safest place to live and work online.

Stella Peace, Interim Executive Chair, Innovate UK, said:

Innovate UK are delighted to celebrate the winners of the first Cyber Local competition as they begin their funded projects.

These initiatives play a vital role in addressing the cyber skills gap by equipping local communities with essential cyber security skills and creating greater opportunities for individuals, particularly from underrepresented demographics, to pursue careers in this dynamic sector.

By fostering area partnerships and building strong links between industry, the public sector, and academia, these projects will strengthen local cyber security ecosystems and drive innovation. We look forward to seeing the positive impact these investments will have on both local communities and the broader national cyber resilience.

Encouraging the UK’s brightest young minds into careers in the field is a vital part of building up the country’s online defences and delivering a strong cyber security workforce. The Cyber Explorers Cup competition, launching its second round today, will fuel that drive and help meet the significant demand for cyber security workers in the UK for years to come. Cyber Explorers is a free, interactive cyber security learning platform which has been rolled out to secondary schools across the UK. Focused on 11 to 14 year olds, the programme looks to build essential digital skills to arm students with the tools they need to launch careers in cyber security.

The Cyber Explorers Cup will see competitors from across the country taking part in a series of ‘capture the flag’ style cyber security challenges, solving cyber puzzles and boosting their cyber security knowledge.

To be eligible, students will need to complete a minimum of 3 missions on the Cyber Explorers platform. Building on the strength of last year’s edition which saw 680 students taking part, winners will take home both a certificate of achievement and be supported to join the cyber security workforce in the future through career days with cyber experts.

The steps being taken today show how the government is delivering on its Plan for Change to kickstart 2025 – and as it prepares to introduce a new Cyber Security and Resilience Bill – ensuring the safety and security of our digital economy while unlocking new opportunities for people and communities across the country. They will ensure the UK can meet long-term demand for cyber experts, while also supporting the delivery of new jobs to boost long-term economic growth and ultimately put more money in people’s pockets.
January 9, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : Children’s bill to keep children safe from exploitation [January 2025]
The press release issued by the Department for Education on 8 January 2025.

Major reforms to protect thousands of vulnerable children hidden from sight will take another crucial step forward today.

Major reforms to protect thousands of vulnerable children hidden from sight will take another crucial step forward today, as the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill is debated in Parliament (8 January 2025).

Children not in school registers, stronger powers for councils to make sure children are getting the right education, and a unique identifying number for every child are part of major reforms to help tackle the tragedy of children vanishing from education and protect young people from exploitation, grooming and abuse.

The recent Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel Annual Report 2024 highlighted that children experiencing harm outside the home, including exploitation, were likely to be not enrolled in school, missing education or have poor school attendance, and that’s why the bill will also strengthen multi-agency safeguarding arrangements to quickly identify significant harm. This comes as the government announced action this week on three key recommendations from the Professor Alexis Jay review to address significant failings to keep children safe.

According to the latest government data, around 111,000 children and young people are home educated, up from an estimated 55,000 before the pandemic. This is alongside the 150,000 children missing education all together at some point during the last year. The bill will bring in unprecedented safeguards for home educated children, ratchet up powers for councils and compel local authorities to establish dedicated, multi-agency safeguarding teams to keep track of children.

Measures will also put more cash back in working parents’ pockets by capping the number of branded items schools can require as part of their uniform. This could save some families over £50 per child during the back-to-school shop, ensuring parents have as much flexibility as possible to shop around and save money. It will also give every parent of a primary school child a legal entitlement to a breakfast club, saving them as much as £450 per year.

The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, that will bring these measures into law, has its second reading in Parliament today, helping make child-centred government a reality and deliver on the government’s Plan for Change.

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said:

Keeping children safe will always be my first duty as education secretary, but we can only truly do that if we know where our children are. The sad reality is that at the moment there are thousands of children hidden from sight.

This government will make no apologies for doing whatever is necessary to keep children out of harm’s way, and I will not stand by while some young people fall through the cracks, left without a good education and vulnerable to exploitation and abuse.

This landmark bill is a crucial step forward in our mission to protect all children, while also supporting parents by putting more money in their pockets as we deliver our Plan for Change and give all children the best start in life.

Measures to reform children’s social care and help reduce the number of children missing education that are being introduced in the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill include:
- all councils will be required to hold a register of children who are not in school. Councils will be able to require parents and providers of out of school education to share information like name, address and the nature of the education children are being provided
- a unique number for every child – in the same way every adult has their own national insurance number – to join up systems and make sure no child falls through the cracks. A consistent identifier will allow those responsible for the safeguarding and welfare of children to better join relevant data and identify children who will benefit from additional support
- the removal of the automatic right for parents to educate children at home if their child is subject to a child protection investigation or under a child protection plan. Schools will need to check with the local authority where a parent asks to remove a child from school to home educate, to establish whether the local authority’s consent should be obtained.
- if any child’s home environment is assessed as unsuitable or unsafe, local authorities will have the power to intervene and require school attendance
- making sure every council operates best practice ‘multi-agency’ safeguarding panels, that bring together all the professionals that can best make sure children are kept safe both inside and outside the home
Wider measures in the bill include capping the number of branded items schools can require as part of their uniform. Primary schools will be able to require a maximum of 3 branded items, and secondary schools will have the option to include an additional item if one of those is a tie.

Data shows 24% of primary and 70% of secondary schools still require 5 or more branded items, with some parents saying they were asked to provide 10 or more.

Limiting the number of branded items having to be bought from designated suppliers could save some parents over £50 per child during the back-to-school shop from September 2026 – thanks to greater flexibility to buy from a range of retailers.

Primary school children will also benefit from the option to attend a free breakfast club, which could save parents up to £450 a year. Clubs will launch from April 2025 at schools taking part in the early adopter scheme.

Mark Russell, CEO at The Children’s Society, said:

The high cost of school uniforms has put an unnecessary financial strain on families for far too long. This is a pivotal moment on an issue we’ve campaigned on for years, and it’s very encouraging to see this progress towards a fairer and more affordable approach.

Schools will play a key role in ensuring these changes deliver for families, and so the new measures should be both practical and effective. Every child deserves to feel equal and included, regardless of their family’s income, and removing the pressure of costly branded uniforms is an essential step in making that a reality.

We’ll continue to push for reforms that put children and families first, so no child feels left out or disadvantaged because of the cost of their uniform.

Sir David Holmes CBE, Chief Executive of Family Action said:

It is great to see the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill continuing its passage through Parliament. Second Reading stage provides a crucial opportunity for Parliamentarians and for everyone else who is interested in children’s wellbeing to scrutinise further this new and important draft legislation.

We particularly welcome the proposals to introduce a unique identifier number for children across services, registers to identify children who are not in school and of course the provisions which will introduce universal free breakfast clubs in state-funded primary schools.
January 9, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : UK Statement for Interactive Dialogue with High Commissioner on human rights in Ukraine [January 2025]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 8 January 2025.

Interactive Dialogue with the High Commissioner on the human rights situation in Ukraine. Delivered by the UK’s Permanent Representative to the WTO and UN, Simon Manley.

Thank you, Mr. President,

Let me begin by thanking you, Deputy High Commissioner and your Office, for your continued efforts to shine a light on human rights in Ukraine almost three years on from the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion.

Your update today is a stark reminder of the barbaric character of that invasion. In recent months, as you have recounted, we’ve seen hundreds of civilian deaths including healthcare workers and emergency personnel. Systematic attacks on energy infrastructure. Forced deportations. And further grim evidence of systematic and systemic torture – and more executions – of Ukrainian prisoners of war.

Routine abuse that is facilitated by Russian state entities, with the full knowledge of facility supervisors. Severe beatings, electric shocks, prolonged stress positions, and mock executions have become the norm. Sexual violence during internment is pervasive. Rape, castration and sexualized humiliation have all been reported.

The torture of Ukrainian prisoners of war is not just endemic. It is Russian State policy, in complete violation of the Geneva Conventions. All of this from a permanent member of the UN Security Council, which purports to be a great world power.

Deputy High Commissioner,

We are now three years into this invasion. Three years into the horrors. When will Russia accept its obligations to International Law and end this senseless war?

Thank you and Slava Ukraine.

January 9, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : Government crackdown on explicit deepfakes [January 2025]
The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 7 January 2025.

Predators who create sexually explicit ‘deepfakes’ could face prosecution as the Government bears down on vile online abuse.
- Government to make creating sexually explicit ‘deepfake’ images a criminal offence
- Perpetrators to face up to two years behind bars under new offences for taking an intimate image without consent and installing equipment to enable these offences
- Package delivers on Government’s Plan for Change and manifesto commitment to protect women and girls
Predators who create sexually explicit ‘deepfakes’ could face prosecution as the Government bears down on vile online abuse as part of its mission to make our streets safer.

The proliferation of these hyper-realistic images has grown at an alarming rate, causing devastating harm to victims, particularly women and girls who are often the target.

To tackle this, the government will introduce a new offence meaning perpetrators could be charged for both creating and sharing these images, not only marking a crackdown on this abhorrent behaviour but making it clear there is no excuse for creating a sexually explicit deepfake of someone without their consent.

The Government will also create new offences for the taking of intimate images without consent and the installation of equipment with intent to commit these offences – sending a clear message that abusers will face the full force of the law.

Victims Minister Alex Davies-Jones said:

It is unacceptable that one in three women have been victims of online abuse. This demeaning and disgusting form of chauvinism must not become normalised, and as part of our Plan for Change we are bearing down on violence against women – whatever form it takes.

These new offences will help prevent people being victimised online. We are putting offenders on notice – they will face the full force of the law.

While it is already an offence to share – or threaten to share – an intimate image without consent, it is only an offence to take an image without consent in certain circumstances, such as upskirting.

Under the new offences, anyone who takes an intimate image without consent faces up to two years’ custody. Those who install equipment so that they, or someone else, can take intimate images without consent also face up to two years behind bars.

The move delivers on the Government’s manifesto commitment to ban the creation of sexually explicit deepfakes as well as recommendations from the Law Commission relating to intimate images.

Alongside existing offences of sharing intimate images without consent, this will give law enforcement a holistic package of offences to effectively tackle non-consensual intimate image abuse.

Baroness Jones, Technology Minister, said:

The rise of intimate image abuse is a horrifying trend that exploits victims and perpetuates a toxic online culture. These acts are not just cowardly, they are deeply damaging, particularly for women and girls who are disproportionately targeted.

With these new measures, we’re sending an unequivocal message: creating or sharing these vile images is not only unacceptable but criminal. Tech companies need to step up too – platforms hosting this content will face tougher scrutiny and significant penalties.

Campaigner and presenter Jess Davies said:

Intimate-image abuse is a national emergency that is causing significant, long-lasting harm to women and girls who face a total loss of control over their digital footprint, at the hands of online misogyny.

Women should not have to accept sexual harassment and abuse as a normal part of their online lives, we need urgent action and legislation to better protect women and girls from the mammoth scale of misogyny they are experiencing online.

These new offences follow the Government’s action in September 2024 to add sharing intimate image offences as priority offences under the Online Safety Act. This put the onus on platforms to root out and remove this type of content – or face enforcement action from Ofcom.

The new offences will be included in the Government’s Crime and Policing Bill, which will be introduced when parliamentary time allows. Further details of the new offences will be set out in due course.

Further information
- The sexually explicit deepfakes offences will apply to images of adults. This is because the law already covers this behaviour where the image is of a child (under the age of 18).
- It is already an offence to share or threaten to share intimate images, including deepfakes, under the Sexual Offences Act 2003, following amendments that were made by the Online Safety Act 2023.
- The Government will repeal two existing voyeurism offences that relate to the recording of a person doing a private act, and recording an image beneath a person’s clothing.
- They will be replaced with a range of new offences:
  - Taking or recording an intimate photograph or film without consent or reasonable belief in it
- Taking or recording an intimate photograph or film without consent and with intent to cause alarm, distress, or humiliation
- Taking or recording an intimate photograph or film without consent or reasonable belief in it, and for the purpose of the sexual gratification of oneself or another
- We will also introduce new offences that criminalise someone if they install or adapt, prepare or maintain equipment, and do so with the intent of enabling themselves or another to commit one of the three offences of taking an intimate image without consent.
January 7, 2025