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Tag: 2025

  • PRESS RELEASE : Prime Minister’s remarks at joint press conference in Poland [January 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : Prime Minister’s remarks at joint press conference in Poland [January 2025]

    The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 17 January 2025.

    The Prime Minister’s remarks in a joint press conference with Prime Minister Tusk in Poland today.

    Thank you very much Donald [Tusk].

    It is a real pleasure to be here.

    You know, I remember back in July last year, we spoke on my first day as Prime Minister.

    I told you about my wife’s family roots here in Poland. And of course we talked about our shared passion for Arsenal Football Club – which is not what we spent an hour talking about this afternoon I can assure you.

    So this was always going to be a great partnership.

    But there is so much that brings our two nations together.

    You’ve touched on some of these important issues.

    The deep bonds of family, of history, and of friendship – shared values and shared interests.

    The Polish pilots who gave their lives in the Battle of Britain.

    The Polish government-in-exile, which we hosted for many years in my part of London.

    And I think our two countries are as close as ever today, because we have a shared view of the challenges that are before us.

    Those challenges were of course the focus of our meeting this afternoon.

    We talked about how we can strengthen our economic ties, boosting a trade relationship that is already worth £30 billion, how can we do more together on energy security and climate, and how can we deepen our cooperation on migration.

    Poland of course faces Belarus and Russia, facilitating criminal gangs, driving migrants over the border – we discussed this – horrendously exploiting innocent people.

    So we’re determined to work more closely together to smash the vile gangs that operate across Europe.

    And of course we spent much of our time today focusing on defence and security.

    As two of Europe’s biggest military powers, with our troops serving together, guarding the eastern flank.

    We share an unbreakable commitment to NATO and an unbreakable commitment to Ukraine.

    So Donald, I want to thank you for everything you have done to support Ukraine.

    It’s been a huge and important part of the defence of Ukraine, and it is important that we recognise that, and we say thank you to that – and of course to the President as well.

    We’re clear, together, that the route to a just and lasting peace comes through strength –

    The strength to secure that peace, on Ukraine’s terms. And the strength to maintain it.

    We will work with all allies to that end to step up our efforts to put Ukraine in the strongest possible position now, and guarantee that Ukraine will be able to defend herself and deter Russia in the future.

    The defence of Ukraine is vital for the defence of Europe.

    Poland currently holds the presidency of the EU Council.

    And I want to congratulate you, Donald –

    On making European security the focus of your presidency.

    Because this is the issue of our time. This is where the challenge is that we must rise to.

    We share your view that this is the central issue. The scale of the threat to Europe today must be matched by the scale of our collective response.

    I am determined to deepen our security collaboration. Both with the EU and of course bilaterally.

    And I am very pleased that we have agreed today to launch negotiations on a new UK-Poland security and defence treaty, covering all aspects of the threats we face.

    And the steps we must take to meet them –

    This includes deepening ties between our defence industries.

    The UK has secured £8 billion worth of defence deals together over the last three years alone.

    And we’re going further today, opening a new Joint Programme Office in Bristol to deliver our £4 billion partnership, to deliver the next generation air defence system to Poland.

    Through our new treaty, we will keep deepening these ties.

    Exploring what more we can do for our shared security, and ensuring that this is a strong, strategic partnership to rival any other.

    In closing, I want to say that is a moment for determination, yes. But it is also a moment for reflection.

    This month we mark Holocaust Memorial Day and the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, when the full horror of the Holocaust was exposed for the world to see.

    I visited Auschwitz earlier today. I stood on those railway tracks, looked at the shoes and the suitcases piled high, the hair, the teeth, taken from those murdered by the Nazis.

    For eight decades, the memory and pain of what the Jewish people suffered – of what Poland and others suffered, in that camp, has been passed from country to country. Generation to generation. Family to family.

    I will never forget what I saw today.

    And I will never forget my responsibility to pass this on to the next generation.

    To remember, to learn, and to respect.

    Our solemn promise: Never again.

    That is our duty – now and always.

    Thank you.

  • PRESS RELEASE : UK will support Guatemala to increase its climate ambitions [January 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : UK will support Guatemala to increase its climate ambitions [January 2025]

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

    The British Ambassador and Minister of Environment discussed opportunities to deepen the longstanding climate partnership between the UK and Guatemala.

    Ambassador Juliana Correa visited Patricia Orantes, Minister of Environment, on 16 January to discuss this year’s top priorities on our shared environmental agenda, including the preservation of forests, protection of biodiversity and tackling climate change.

    To help with these objectives, Ambassador Correa announced that the UK has made available more than US$30 million for 40 countries, including Guatemala, to support governments in raising climate ambition, alongside funding for NDC implementation, technical advisory support and cross-ministerial coordination. The World Bank and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) will mange these funds allocated to the NDC Partnership.

    In addition, the Ambassador stressed that the UK continues to implement in Guatemala and Mesoamerica the Biodiverse Landscapes Fund, which will invest more than US$7 million from 2023 to 2029 in the Mayan Jungle in Peten and a forest reserve in Trifinio (Chiquimula), with the aim of protect biodiversity, improve communities’ livelihoods and tackle the impacts of climate change.

    Finally, Ambassador Correa and Minister Orantes agreed to explore the opportunities that environmentally friendly investments pose for the county, including on clean energies or waste management; that would create jobs while deepening the economic relationship between Guatemala and the UK.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Extension of Deborah Taylor’s term as Chair of the Criminal Legal Aid Advisory Board [January 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : Extension of Deborah Taylor’s term as Chair of the Criminal Legal Aid Advisory Board [January 2025]

    The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 15 January 2025.

    The Lord Chancellor has extended the appointment of Deborah Taylor as the Chair of the Criminal Legal Aid Advisory Board (CLAAB) for an additional 12 months from January 2025.

    The CLAAB was established following the recommendation in the Criminal Legal Aid Independent Review (CLAIR) that an independent Advisory Board be set up to take a wider view and encourage a more joined-up approach to criminal legal aid within the criminal justice system.

    The CLAAB plays a vital role in enabling collaboration with stakeholders across the criminal justice system. It ensures that criminal defence practitioners have ongoing input into the future development of the criminal legal aid system.

    Biography

    HH Deborah Taylor was a Senior Circuit Judge, Resident Judge at Southwark Crown Court and Recorder of Westminster until her retirement from the Judiciary in December 2022. In 2022 she was Treasurer of Inner Temple, where she advocated for greater diversity at the Bar.

    Since March 2023, Deborah has been Chair of the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) which deals with doctors’ fitness to practise and ensures members of the public are adequately protected. Deborah is also a Trustee of Shakespeare’s Globe.

    Deborah has chaired the CLAAB since July 2023. During this time, Deborah has established a strong rapport with stakeholders and has fostered collaborative discussions on the operation and structure of the existing and future criminal legal aid schemes. The CLAAB published the first annual report on 14 November 2024.

    Notes

    The CLAAB has been meeting quarterly since it was first established in October 2022. Ministers have agreed to extend the CLAAB for an additional 12 months from January 2025.

    The membership currently includes representatives from the Bar Council, the Law Society of England and Wales, Criminal Bar Association, London Criminal Courts Solicitors’ Association, Criminal Law Solicitors’ Association, CILEX, Young Legal Aid Lawyers, Young Barrister Committee, Crown Prosecution Service, the Legal Aid Agency and Ministry of Justice officials.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Norfolk farmer, Brian Rutterford, fined for taking water during summer drought [January 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : Norfolk farmer, Brian Rutterford, fined for taking water during summer drought [January 2025]

    The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 17 January 2025.

    A Norfolk farmer with a history of environmental offending has been fined for taking and using more water than permitted.

    Following a successful prosecution by the Environment Agency, a Norfolk farmer with a history of environmental offending has been fined for taking and using more water than permitted, including during a summer drought.

    Brian Rutterford, 77, of Undley, Lakenheath, was fined on 15 January at Norwich Magistrates Court for water abstraction offences and ordered to pay £4,300. Over four years, Rutterford took three times the amount of water he was licenced to take, from a small channel next to his farm in Hockwold-cum-Wilton.

    The farmer continued to take water during the record-breaking hot summer of 2022, when East Anglia was officially in drought and many local water courses were dry. Rutterford’s actions impacted water supplies for the local community.

    Brian Rutterford held two water abstraction licences, one for summer and one for winter. His licences required him to keep abstraction records and maintain abstraction meters, which he failed to do. Rutterford pleaded guilty to offences of over-abstraction under both licences between 2018 and 2022.

    Environment Agency prosecutor Mrs Sarah Dunne told the court that, although Rutterford explained that he over-abstracted to address a leak in his lake that put his fish at risk, his activities had continued for a four-year period including during a summer drought. In addition, these water abstraction offences were committed during his suspended sentence for another environmental offence: for operating an unpermitted waste site at his farm.

    The presiding magistrate told Rutterford that he had been ‘chaotic’ and ‘incompetent’, and that his previous environmental offence was an aggravating feature. He was ordered to pay a total of £4,300, which included a £2,000 fine for his offences, £100 for breaching his suspended sentence, £2,000 prosecution costs and a victim surcharge of £200.

    Michelle Herron, East Anglia Operational Water Resources Specialist, said:

    Water is a scarce resource. Abstraction licenses are issued to ensure that there is enough water for everyone and that there is no harm to the environment. Water abstractors have a responsibility to conserve supplies, especially during droughts. Mr Rutterford clearly failed in fulfilling his responsibilities, so it is right that he pleaded guilty and be fined by the court.

    The Environment Agency protects communities from harm by carrying out robust regulation and enforcement on those who break the rules.

    Drier summers will be an enormous challenge over the next few decades, so building resilience to drought is important. To protect water resources, the Environment Agency controls how much, where and when water is abstracted through the licensing system.

    Background information

    Case details:

    • Rutterford held two water abstraction licences which allowed him to abstract water from the channel next to his Black Dyke Farm. Under his winter licence, he was permitted to abstract a limited amount of water to fill a lake at his farm. Under his summer licence, he was permitted to abstract a much smaller amount and only for the purpose of crop spraying.  Conditions on his licences required him to keep abstraction records and maintain abstraction meters.
    • Rutterford pleaded guilty to offences of over-abstraction under both licences between 2018 and 2022; for failing to maintain abstraction records in accordance with his licences and failing to maintain and calibrate his abstraction meters.
    • Rutterford appeared at Kings Lynn Magistrates’ Court in 2019 for operating an unpermitted waste site at Black Dyke Farm. He had been given a suspended sentence of imprisonment. Rutterford’s water abstraction offences were committed during the currency of that suspended sentence.

    Charges:

    • Between 30th October 2018 and 1st November 2022, Brian Rutterford did abstract water otherwise than in accordance with the provisions of Abstraction Licence No 6/33/56/*S/0258 by exceeding permitted volumes contrary to s24(1) and (4) Water Resources Act 1991.
    • Between 30th March 2017 and 1st November 2022, Brian Rutterford did abstract water otherwise than in accordance with the provisions of Abstraction Licence AN.033.0056.014 by exceeding permitted volumes contrary to s24(1) and (4) Water Resources Act 1991.
    • Between 30th October 2018 and 1 st November 2022, Brian Rutterford did fail to comply with condition 9 of Abstraction Licence No 6/33/56/*S/0258 in that he failed to take, record and retain daily water abstraction records contrary to s24(4)(b) Water Resources Act 1991.
    • Between 30th October 2018 and 1 st November 2022, Brian Rutterford did fail to comply with condition 8 of Abstraction Licence No 6/33/56/*S/0258 in that he failed to carry out regular maintenance and calibration of water abstraction meter, 05052121, contrary to s24(4)(b) Water Resources Act 1991.

    Water abstraction licences:

    • The Environment Agency controls how much, where and when water is abstracted through our licensing system. Anyone taking 20m3 of water per day or over is required to have an abstraction licence.
    • Abstraction licences have conditions on them to ensure the environment and the rights of other abstractors are protected.
    • Our powers and duties enable us to regulate the use of water under existing licences and to decide whether to grant new ones. Where abstraction is damaging the environment, we also have the power to amend or revoke existing licences.
  • PRESS RELEASE : Former London minicab driver, Huseyin Houssein, handed 11-year sanctions for Covid loan abuse [January 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : Former London minicab driver, Huseyin Houssein, handed 11-year sanctions for Covid loan abuse [January 2025]

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

    Bankrupt ex-private hire driver exaggerated his turnover by more than £188,000 to falsely claim a £50,000 Bounce Back Loan.

    • Huseyin Houssein gave false business information to claim the maximum Covid loan
    • He overstated the turnover of his private hire business by more than 17 times to claim over £47,000 more than he was entitled to receive
    • Houssein is now subject to 11 years of tough restrictions which include being prevented from acting as a company director without the court’s permission

    A former London minicab driver is subject to 11 years of stringent sanctions after the Official Receiver found he abused the Covid loan scheme to claim over £47,000 more than his business was entitled to.

    Huseyin Houssein, 55, a former private hire driver from Nash Road in Edmonton, North London, applied for a £50,000 Bounce Back Loan in August 2020.

    He stated in the application that his business had a £200,000 turnover during the previous year, enabling him to claim the maximum loan of £50,000.

    But Houssein was made bankrupt in February 2024 and the Official Receiver overseeing his bankruptcy discovered the actual turnover for the private hire business in the year ending 31 March 2020 had actually been £11,446. The amount he would actually have been entitled to was just £2,861.

    Victoria Prime, Official Receiver at the Insolvency Service, said:

    Huseyin Houssein used false information to claim money that was designed to support businesses through the pandemic.

    He took more than £47,000 of taxpayers’ money that he was not entitled to.

    The Insolvency Service takes the abuse of public money seriously and I’m pleased that these lengthy restrictions will help to protect the public from further financial harm.

    The Official Receiver, who has a duty to investigate the cause of a bankruptcy, discovered that Houssein spent the £50,000 between October 2020, when the money arrived in the firm’s bank account, and May 2021. The money was not used to support his business.

    Under the rules of the Bounce Back Loan scheme, businesses could claim up to 25% of their 2019 turnover, up to a maximum of £50,000.

    Houssein signed a Bankruptcy Restrictions Undertaking in which he did not dispute that he had given false information to claim a £50,000 Bounce Back Loan to which he was not fully entitled.

    He also did not dispute that he had failed to use the money for the economic benefit of his business – a further breach of the loan scheme rules.

    Houssein must abide by the restrictions, which extend the terms of his original bankruptcy – usually a 12-month period – for another 11 years.

    They prevent him from acting as a company director without permission from the court, and from borrowing more than £500 without declaring that he is subject to the sanctions. The restrictions also prevent him holding certain roles in public organisations.

    The Secretary of State for Business and Trade accepted the undertaking on 7 January 2025. The restrictions will run until 6 January 2036.

  • Keir Starmer – 2025 Comments Following Visit to Auschwitz

    Keir Starmer – 2025 Comments Following Visit to Auschwitz

    The comments made by Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister, on 17 January 2025.

    Nothing could prepare me for the sheer horror of what I have seen in this place. It is utterly harrowing. The mounds of hair, the shoes, the suitcases, the names and details, everything that was so meticulously kept, except for human life.

    As I stood by the train tracks at Birkenau, looking across that cold, vast expanse, I felt a sickness, an air of desolation, as I tried to comprehend the enormity of this barbarous, planned, industrialised murder: a million people killed here for one reason, simply because they were Jewish.

    My visit today has also shown me more clearly than ever before, how this was not the evil deeds of a few bad individuals. It took a collective endeavour by thousands of ordinary people who each played their part in constructing this whole industry of death. To build the tracks, drive the trains, extract the hair and teeth, conceive the method of mass murder – each stomach-churning step rooted in the hatred of difference. The lessons of this darkest of crimes are the ultimate warning to humanity of where prejudice can lead.

    My wife was equally moved by what she saw today. It was her second visit, but no less harrowing than the first time she stepped through that gate and witnessed the depravity of what happened here.

    Time and again we condemn this hatred, and we boldly say “never again”. But where is never again, when we see the poison of antisemitism rising around the world in aftermath of October 7th? Where is never again, when the pulse of fear is beating in our own Jewish community, as people are despicably targeted once again for the very same reason, because they are Jewish.

    The truth that I have seen here today will stay with me for the rest of my life. So too, will my determination to defend that truth, to fight the poison of antisemitism and hatred in all its forms, and to do everything I can to make “never again” mean what it says, and what it must truly mean: never again.

  • PRESS RELEASE : UK-Ukraine enter schools partnership to drive education standards [January 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : UK-Ukraine enter schools partnership to drive education standards [January 2025]

    The press release issued by the Department for Education on 16 January 2025.

    UK-Ukraine school partnerships programme launched to boost education standards and break down barriers to opportunity.

    Sharing stories and the power of reading is at the heart of a partnership launched today (January 16) between schools in the UK and Ukraine, as part of a century-long commitment to collaboration between the countries.

    Backed by top authors including Michael Morpurgo and current Waterstones children’s laureate Frank Cottrell-Boyce, the UK-Ukraine School Partnerships programme will foster cross-cultural understanding and enhance English language skills while forging lasting links between school communities here and in Ukraine.

    Children in Ukraine have had their education interrupted by Russia’s war. Thousands of schools have been damaged, while children live in fear of attacks, displacement, or the loss of parents or loved ones. Half the children report air alarms disrupting their education and 43% of their teachers reported that the children are feeling nervous or anxious.

    The schools partnership is the first step in our long-term commitment to sharing best practice across both our education systems – aiding Ukraine’s recovery while driving high and rising standards on both sides. It was launched today by the Prime Minister at school № 219 in Kyiv, where he joined a class dialling into All Saints Catholic Primary School in Anfield. Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson, attended the school in Anfield and was joined by War Horse author Michael Morpurgo and Children’s Laureate Frank Cottrell-Boyce who read their own work and talked to the children about their favourite stories.

    It comes as the Prime Minister, Keir Starmer and Volodymyr Zelenskyy sign a 100 Year Partnership demonstrating the UK’s enduring commitment to Ukraine. It will help drive forward the government’s Plan for Change by increasing economic and trade cooperation to boost growth and benefit the health, wealth and security of working people in both countries.

    The treaty will also strengthen our socio-cultural ties, with closer collaboration across education a key driver in bringing our societies closer and boosting standards in both education systems.

    Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:

    Reading is so much more than education, it broadens horizons, nurtures creativity and provides hope and light in uncertain times.

    The resilience of the Ukrainian people is incredible. I’ve seen first-hand how learning and reading helps maintain a sense of normality for Ukraine’s children and young people, who have faced unimaginable adversity as they live, learn and play under bombardment.

    As part of our historic 100 Year Partnership with Ukraine, we’re enriching the cultural connections between our young people, fostering closer ties now and into the future.

    The project, delivered by the British Council in partnership with the National Literacy Trust, will initially see 50 schools in the UK matched with 50 schools in Ukraine on a year-long reading project, sharing their favourite stories from their own cultures and exploring the benefits of reading. Schools will be chosen from across the four nations of the UK between January and the scheme launching in late spring.

    Evidence shows that reading for pleasure helps children understand the views of others and feel more connected to the world. It also helps them feel more able to deal with difficult emotions and feel more confident. The National Literacy Trust found that children who read are three times more likely to have higher levels of mental wellbeing. It is also associated with improved pupil attainment from reading and writing ability to general knowledge as well as a greater insight into other cultures and strengthened decision-making.

    Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson, said:

    I was lucky to be gifted a love of reading as a child. That opened so many doors for me that would have otherwise been closed. Reading brings new perspectives and builds empathy, and it can help children facing adversity make sense of their own experiences. That’s why this partnership is so important.

    Getting more children reading for pleasure is a key part of our Plan for Change, and our work to drive high and rising standards across education by giving children the best start in life. Children in Ukraine have faced things most of us can’t comprehend, but through sharing our stories we can build a collective understanding of our two cultures, creating lasting ties between school communities that will benefit pupils on both sides for years to come.

    Michael Morpurgo, said:

    After a long life of reading and teaching and writing, of telling stories to children, I do know that the right book at the right time, can enrich young lives.

    I know of no greater gift we can pass on to our children, for with literature and stories comes knowledge and understanding of ourselves, of the past and present, of the lives of others, of the world about us. Books ask questions that open new horizons, new pathways. They bring us laughter and tears, companionship and hope.

    International school partnerships broaden horizons and promote understanding of global issues, but they also help children develop skills for life. More than 4 out of 5 teachers taking part in the British Council’s Connecting Classrooms programme reported that partnerships equip pupils with essential skills for a global economy.

    Scott McDonald, Chief Executive of the British Council, said:

    At the British Council, creating opportunities for young people has been at the heart of our mission for the last 90 years. We are delighted to be part of the 100 Year Unbreakable Partnership between the UK and Ukraine.

    International school partnerships are a motivating way for young people to develop the language, communication and intercultural skills that are so important for the future of our two countries. We look forward to supporting many more schools in partnerships and wider connections between our education systems.

    This is an ambitious, long-term commitment to work together across government, civil society and the private sector to strengthen the security and prosperity of both of our countries.

  • PRESS RELEASE : £3 billion worth of illegal drugs seized by Border Force last year [January 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : £3 billion worth of illegal drugs seized by Border Force last year [January 2025]

    The press release issued by the Home Office on 16 January 2025.

    Border Force seized 119 tonnes of illegal drugs, a 52% increase from last year, in the highest number of seizures on record.

    Border Force has made the highest number of illegal drug seizures since records began, taking action at the border to help prevent harmful substances from reaching communities across the UK.

    In the year ending March 2024, over 119 tonnes of illegal drugs were seized by police and Border Force with a street value of around £3 billion. This is a 52% increase from last year and the highest volume since records began.

    Combined action from police and Border Force resulted in a total of 217,644 drug seizures in England and Wales last year, a 13% increase compared to 2023. Border Force made a total of 40,639 drug seizures, the highest since records began and a 57% increase from the previous year.

    Record amounts of cocaine were taken off the streets last year through relentless action and a zero tolerance approach to illegal drugs at the border. The total quantity of cocaine seized by Border Force and police rose by 52% to over 28 tonnes.

    Border Force also saw a strong performance on herbal cannabis seizures, with over 74 tonnes seized. This was the largest quantity since records began in 1973, and a 58% increase from the previous year.

    Minister for Migration and Citizenship Seema Malhotra is today visiting Border Force officers at Stansted Airport to thank them for their relentless work in breaking drug supply chains and preventing harmful substances from entering the country.

    Minister for Migration and Citizenship Seema Malhotra said:

    We are clear in our determination to protect the public from illegal drugs which pose a threat to people’s lives.

    I’d like to thank our dedicated Border Force officers who work tirelessly to seize illegal drugs, alongside our police forces and NCA, who keep them off our streets and the public safe.

    These statistics send a clear message to organised criminal gangs that they will be caught and face the full force of the law if they try to smuggle drugs into our country.

    Working in partnership, police forces, Border Force, the National Crime Agency and international partners use intelligence and technology to keep the UK’s borders safe, prevent drug trafficking and bring those responsible to justice.

    Border Force officers use a range of methods including hi-tech search equipment to detect and stop illegal and restricted goods that criminals attempt to bring into the country.

    Today’s statistics come as more than 20 dangerous substances have been banned, including xylazine, stepping up efforts to combat the increasing drug threat and make our streets safer.

    Through our Plan for Change, the government is working closely with policing and Border Force, expanding the access of the life saving drug naloxone and training Border Force dogs to detect a range of nitazenes and fentanyl.

    The collective response in dismantling drug smuggling operations from police and Border Force is helping the government in its safer streets mission by smashing organised crime and saving lives.

  • PRESS RELEASE : UK-Japan military exercise starts today as Defence Ministers discuss closer cooperation [January 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : UK-Japan military exercise starts today as Defence Ministers discuss closer cooperation [January 2025]

    The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 16 January 2025.

    Defence Secretary meets Japanese counterpart, setting out UK commitment to Indo-Pacific security.

    • Exercise Vigilant Isles begins today with more than 100 UK troops deployed to Japan.
    • Defence Secretary meets Japanese counterpart, setting out UK commitment to Indo-Pacific security.
    • Ministers confirm that next-generation fighter jet programme headquarters will be in Reading, supporting jobs and growth mission.

    British and Japanese troops have kicked off military drills in Japan, as the Defence Secretary met his Japanese counterpart today (15 January) in London for talks on strengthening defence ties between the two countries.

    In the meeting, Defence Secretary John Healey confirmed that the headquarters for the joint UK, Japan and Italian future fighter jet programme will be established in Reading, supporting UK jobs and the government’s growth mission.

    Exercise Vigilant Isles will see more than 100 UK soldiers from 16 Air Assault Brigade, the British Army’s global response force, train with Japanese Ground Self Defence Forces on the island of Kyushu. The annual exercise, now in its third year, will increase interoperability between both countries’ forces. The UK is the only European nation to conduct bilateral military training on Japanese soil.

    The Defence Secretary welcomed the exercise and stressed the indivisibility between Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific security in talks with Defence Minister Gen Nakatani. The two ministers also discussed progress on the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) – a joint initiative between the UK, Japan, and Italy to develop a next-generation combat aircraft – as well as the UK Carrier Strike Group’s visit to Japan later this year.

    Defence Secretary, John Healey MP said:

    With increasing instability across the world, it is more important than ever that we strengthen cooperation with our international partners like Japan.

    Today, Minister Nakatani and I have highlighted the positive progress being made on our important next-generation fighter jet programme, to strengthen our security cooperation.

    There are many miles between our two nations, but the UK and Japan stand closer together than ever in support of peace and security across the globe.

    With the recently ratified GCAP Treaty entering into force, Reading will host the new GCAP headquarters, supporting the delivery of the cutting-edge stealth fighter jet. The headquarters, known as the GCAP International Government Organisation (GIGO) and led by its first Chief Executive Mr Oka Masami from Japan, will strengthen each country’s combat air industrial capability while achieving value for money.

    There are currently more than 3,500 people, including engineers and programmers, working on GCAP across the UK. In December, BAE Systems (UK), Leonardo (Italy), and Japan Aircraft Industrial Enhancement Co Ltd (JAIEC) signed a Joint Venture Agreement to create a new company to lead GCAP delivery. The Joint Venture will also be headquartered in the UK, alongside the GIGO, and together they will support hundreds of UK jobs. This supports delivery of the UK Government’s Plan for Change, safeguarding national security while raising living standards across the UK with skilled jobs which foster economic growth.

    Later this year, the UK’s Carrier Strike Group will visit Japan as part of the flagship 2025 Indo-Pacific deployment. The group, comprised of Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales, her escorts and her aircraft, will work alongside the Japanese Self Defence Forces and other partners to help defend peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific. They will conduct a series of operations and exercises, including a port visit in Japan.

    This follows the successful deployment of HMS Queen Elizabeth to the region in 2021, and the Royal Navy boasts persistently-deployed Offshore Patrol Vessels HMS Tamar and HMS Spey operating closely with Japan and regional partners to promote maritime security.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Massive boost for UK motor industry as £50 million investment deal secured [January 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : Massive boost for UK motor industry as £50 million investment deal secured [January 2025]

    The press release issued by the Department for Business and Trade on 16 January 2025.

    £50 million investment deal between JATCO, Nissan and the UK government secured to build a new manufacturing site in Sunderland.

    • £50m investment deal secured between JATCO, Nissan and UK government to build new manufacturing site in Sunderland.
    • Site will be JATCO’s first UK and European plant and is set to create and support hundreds of jobs in the North East.
    • Announcement is the latest in a series of job-boosting investments to deliver growth as part of the Plan for Change, including £14 billion in AI investment and £4 billion from Malaysian company YTL creating 30,000 jobs.

    Car manufacturing giant Nissan, and the Japan Automatic Transmission Company (JATCO) have secured a £50 million investment deal in partnership with the government to create a new manufacturing plant in Sunderland.

    The new site will help create 183 new high-value jobs in the region and support over 400 in the wider supply chain. It will also establish JATCO’s first and only European plant and will produce 3-in-1 electric vehicle powertrains for Nissan’s neighbouring Sunderland plant.

    Nissan is one of the largest UK-based vehicle manufacturers, employing around 6000 people across its Sunderland facilities, and today’s announcement builds on their £2 billion investment in the region in 2023 to build electric vehicles.

    From 2026, JATCO aim to produce 340,000 electric powertrains (the equivalent of an engine for electric vehicles) per year to supply new generations of Nissan electric vehicles. With the UK already being the largest EV market in Europe, this investment further bolsters the UK’s domestic EV manufacturing capabilities and secures the UK’s position as a world leader in the industry.

    This is the latest in a tidal wave of investments announced this week, including a £4 billion investment by Malaysian company YTL in the UK over the next five years, transforming the greater Bristol area and delivering over 30,000 jobs across the UK. More than £14 billion pounds of investment into the UK’s AI sector and thousands of new jobs have also been secured in just 48 hours since the AI Opportunities Action Plan was published earlier this week.

    Since entering office, the government has been focused on restoring economic stability, the foundation of growth, to give businesses the confidence to invest and expand in the UK – and today’s announcement is a major vote of confidence in the UK’s investment environment.

    Securing investment is also central to the government’s mission to deliver economic growth which will create jobs, improve living standards, and make communities and families across the country better off as part of our Plan for Change.

    Minister for Investment Baroness Gustafsson will visit the North East today [Thursday 16 January] to open the new facility and hear from senior officials from JATCO and Nissan about how the government funding will help bolster the UK’s automotive industry’s transition to electric vehicles and support economic growth, an integral part of the government’s Plan for Change.

    Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said:

    Sunderland is the beating heart of the UK’s automotive industry. Today’s announcement is a massive vote of confidence in the UK economy and this government’s plans to make Britain the destination of choice for investment.

    Not only will this boost our thriving auto industry, but it will help secure hundreds of jobs across the North East.

    The government is working hand in hand with investors to build a globally competitive electric vehicle supply chain in the UK and our modern Industrial Strategy will build on this legacy, bringing growth, jobs and opportunities to every part of the UK.

    The announcement comes ahead of government ministers, including the Minister for Investment, attending Davos later this month where they will tell some of the world’s biggest international investors that UK PLC is open and ready for business.

    The investment has been enabled by the ATF, which is accessed through the Advanced Propulsion Centre UK (APC), and aims to unlock private investment in UK automotive design, development, and manufacturing as the sector transitions to zero emission technology.

    Sunderland has an expanding manufacturing presence, with sites from Nissan and key battery manufacturer AESC. The value of inward FDI stock for the North East at the end of 2021 was £27.9 billion. Unleashing the full potential of the UK’s cities and regions is a core objective of the government’s Industrial Strategy. Facilitating investments like this is central to achieving this goal.

    Tomoyoshi Sato, CEO of JATCO, said:

    I am so proud to officially open JATCO UK in the North East of England.

    And I am very grateful for the support of the UK Government, Sunderland City Council, and all others involved in the establishment of JATCO UK, and look forward to supporting Nissan’s EV36Zero project with our electric powertrains.

    Alan Johnson, Senior Vice President, Manufacturing, Supply Chain and Purchasing for Nissan AMIEO, said:

    This is a fantastic step forward for our world-first EV36Zero plan.

    Welcoming a key supplier to the North East of England provides a big boost to the efficiency of our supply chain. We look forward to continuing our long and successful partnership as we push towards our electric future.

    Julian Hetherington, Automotive Transformation Director at the APC said:

    I am delighted that the Automotive Transformation Fund has been able to contribute to and unlock significant private investment from JATCO who bring high quality and advanced technology to an already successful automotive region. Our support is a reinforcement of the UK’s continued commitment to the extended localised supply chain for low-carbon industries.

    North East Mayor Kim McGuinness said:

    The car industry is synonymous with the North East, and today’s announcement underlines our huge potential in advanced manufacturing and electric vehicles.

    JATCO choosing the North East as the place to do business and locate in our Investment Zone shows the confidence global industry has in our region, and the leading role we are playing in creating jobs and opportunity for local people and UK plc.

    The UK is home to a world-class and comprehensive automotive and innovation ecosystem, including the APC, Faraday Battery Challenge, High Value Manufacturing Catapult and the ATF.

    Through the ATF, the government continues to unlock private investment in UK automotive design, development, and manufacturing as the sector transitions to zero emission technology. To date, ATF and APC funding programmes have leveraged over £6bn of investment from the private sector.

    The Autumn Budget confirmed over £2 billion for capital and R&D funding over five years for zero emission vehicle manufacturing and their supply chains. Building on the achievements of the ATF and APC programmes, this long-term commitment is a vote of confidence in the UK’s automotive industry, supporting investment and productivity growth across UK automotive.

    At the end of last year, the government launched a consultation on support for the zero emission transition, restoring clarity for vehicle manufacturers and the charging industry so that they have the confidence to invest in the UK in the long-term and drive growth in the UK automotive industry.

    The government’s new modern Industrial Strategy will deliver long-term, sustainable, inclusive growth right across the UK by driving investment into the economy and hardwire stability for investors, giving them the confidence to plan not just for the next year, but for the next 10 years and beyond.

    Notes to Editors:

    • JATCO’s total investment has been enabled by over £12 million of government funding through the Automotive Transformation Fund (ATF).
    • JATCO is a global automotive manufacturer headquartered in Japan and is world-leading in the production of transmissions.