Tag: 2025

PRESS RELEASE : UK and Ukraine sign landmark 100 Year Partnership to deepen security ties and strengthen partnership for future generations [January 2025]
The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 16 January 2025.

The UK and Ukraine will sign a historic partnership, as the Prime Minister travels to the country to meet President Zelenskyy.
- Treaty will bolster military collaboration on maritime security through a new framework to strengthen Baltic Sea, Black Sea, and Azov Sea security and deter ongoing Russian aggression
- Will bring together experts to advance scientific and technology partnerships, in areas such as healthcare and disease, agri-tech, space and drones, and build lifelong friendships through classroom projects
- New UK-built Grain Verification Scheme will also be launched to track stolen grain from occupied Ukrainian territories
The UK and Ukraine will sign a historic partnership, as the Prime Minister travels to the country to meet President Zelenskyy.

The unbreakable bonds between the UK and Ukraine will be formalised through the landmark new 100 Year Partnership between the two countries, broadening and deepening the relationship across defence and non-military areas and enabling closer community links.

From working together on the world stage to breaking down barriers to trade and growth and nurturing cultural links, the mutually beneficial partnership will see the UK and Ukraine advocate for each other to renew, rebuild and reform for generations to come.

The partnership underpins the Prime Minister’s steadfast leadership on Ukraine as his government continues to provide support. Spanning nine key pillars, it will harness the innovation, strength and resilience that Ukraine has shown in its defence against Russia’s illegal and barbaric invasion; and foster it to support long-term security and growth for both our countries. The Treaty and political declaration, which form the 100 Year Partnership, will be laid in Parliament in the coming weeks.

It is expected to bolster military collaboration on maritime security through a new framework to strengthen Baltic Sea, Black Sea, and Azov Sea security and deter ongoing Russian aggression, bring together experts to advance scientific and technology partnerships, in areas such as healthcare and disease, agri-tech, space and drones, and build lifelong friendships through classroom projects.

It also cements the UK as a preferred partner for Ukraine’s energy sector, critical minerals strategy and green steel production.

The 100 Year Partnership is a major step in supporting Ukraine’s long-term security – ensuring they are never again vulnerable to the kind of brutality inflicted on it by Russia – and committing to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with a sovereign Ukraine for the next century.

Ukraine has a highly trained military, and a thriving technology sector that is rapidly designing and deploying state of the art battle-ready equipment: a security partnership with Ukraine will make Britain stronger.

To mark the signing of the partnership today, the Prime Minister is expected to announce new UK support for Ukraine from lethal aid to economic resilience.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:

Putin’s ambition to wrench Ukraine away from its closest partners has been a monumental strategic failure. Instead, we are closer than ever, and this partnership will take that friendship to the next level.

This is not just about the here and now, it is also about an investment in our two countries for the next century, bringing together technology development, scientific advances and cultural exchanges, and harnessing the phenomenal innovation shown by Ukraine in recent years for generations to come.

The power of our long-term friendships cannot be underestimated. Supporting Ukraine to defend itself from Russia’s barbaric invasion and rebuild a prosperous, sovereign future, is vital to this government’s foundation of security and our Plan for Change.

Through this partnership, we are creating a strong economy that works for the British people, a safe country that protects our interests at home and abroad, and a prosperous society.

The Prime Minister will join a Ukrainian class dialling into a primary school in Liverpool today, who will be joined by the Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson. He will hear from the next generation about how the partnership will deliver brighter futures for children in both countries, fostering cultural exchanges and learning for youngsters.

100 schools in the UK and Ukraine will be partnered over the coming months as part of a two-way programme built around reading for pleasure. Through sharing stories from their own cultures, they will explore the power of reading to overcome adversity – building links between the countries for generations to come.

The Prime Minister is also expected to see firsthand how UK aid is supporting Ukrainians living under bombardment through a visit to a Ukrainian hospital. He will meet patients and doctors and hear how £100m of UK humanitarian funding is supporting needs across Ukraine and specialist medical care for burn victims, including those maimed by Russian missiles raining down on neighbourhoods.

The hospital is being supported by specialist NHS doctors, who are upskilling Ukrainian medical teams and providing lifesaving opinions on treatment for severely injured patients, both virtually and through short deployments to the country. Many admitted to the hospital have burns to between 30% and 40% of their body surface.

The Prime Minister will also announce £40m for a new economic recovery programme to unlock hundreds of millions of pounds worth of private lending to bolster the growth and economic resilience of small and medium businesses in Ukraine, which form the backbone of the country’s economy.

The programme will create opportunities for UK companies by supporting key growth sectors in Ukraine, opening up enhanced trade and investment opportunities with one of our closest allies. The funding will be targeted at businesses supporting the green economy, women, veterans and marginalised groups.

It is hoped over the long term, the programme, called TIGER (Triggering Investment Growth and Economic Resilience), will reduce reliance in Ukrainian communities on humanitarian support and help build economic resilience.

And as part of the partnership, a new Grain Verification Scheme will also be launched to track stolen grain from occupied Ukrainian territories. The UK developed the new scheme following an ask from Ukraine to the G7 to help trace snatched grain from Ukraine fields under Russian control, which is then relabelled and sold on.

Using cutting edge science to help determine where grain has been grown and harvested, the UK has developed a database to support Ukraine’s efforts to trace and stop theft of grain from occupied regions.

Ukraine, a country which remains a major supplier of agricultural produce, is crucial for global food security. The database will be handed over to Ukraine from the Environment Secretary in the coming weeks.

Today’s announcement builds on the £12.8 billion package of support the UK has given Ukraine, including £7.8bn of military assistance, a commitment for £3bn in military aid until as long as it takes, and ongoing energy infrastructure support to help hospitals and community facilities provide light and warmth to innocent civilians impacted by Putin’s invasion.

The UK and Ukraine will use an annual high-level Strategic Dialogue to ensure progress on the partnership for decades to come.
January 16, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : Plan for Change to deliver jobs and growth in UK leading fusion industry [January 2025]
The press release issued by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero on 16 January 2025.

Government announces £410 million investment to accelerate development of fusion energy and kickstart economic growth as part of its Plan for Change.
- Record funding into fusion energy to drive growth into the energy of the future
- new research and development investment to help deliver Plan for Change and mission for UK to become a clean energy superpower
- funding announced as construction and engineering partners shortlisted to help progress world-leading fusion plant in Nottinghamshire, unlocking limitless clean power and creating thousands of new jobs
A future powered by limitless clean energy is a step closer to reality, as researchers developing cutting-edge fusion energy receive a record £410 million investment, helping to kickstart economic growth as part of government’s Plan for Change.

The funding will support the rapid development of the UK fusion energy sector over 2025 to 2026 with investment in the skills needed for scientists, engineers, welders and programme managers to enter the cutting-edge industry. Fusion already supports thousands of jobs in the UK, with thousands more to follow as the technology advances.

Industry leaders have been shortlisted by UK Industrial Fusion Solutions (UKIFS) to help construct a world-leading fusion power plant in Nottinghamshire, unlocking a new clean energy industry for the UK.

Five construction and engineering bids have progressed to the next round of the UKIFS competition to deliver the prototype fusion energy plant by 2040, driving progress towards the commercialisation of fusion in the UK to supply families and businesses with secure, clean and unlimited energy.

The prototype fusion energy plant is set at the site of a former coal power plant in Nottinghamshire, and will revitalise a UK industrial heartland, supporting new, skilled jobs in former coal communities.

Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said:

After scientists first theorised over 70 years ago that it could be possible, we are now within grasping distance of unlocking the power of the sun and providing families with secure, clean, unlimited energy.

Britain is at the forefront of this global race to deliver fusion, and today’s record level of funding will provide investment and economic growth through our Plan for Change, delivering on net zero and creating the clean energy of the future.

Climate Minister Kerry McCarthy said:

Last year Nottinghamshire marked the end of coal in our country after 142 years and today it starts the process to create the energy of the future.

We are taking a step forward in the global race to commercialise fusion, growing our economy, attracting investment and harnessing the power of the sun to create clean limitless secure energy.

This is what our clean energy transition is about – creating jobs in our local communities and building the skills that we need on the path to net zero.

Professor Sir Ian Chapman, UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) CEO, said:

I am delighted by the strong support from government to delivering fusion as a safe, sustainable energy of the future, and to anchor this exciting new industry in the UK.

Mayor for the East Midlands Claire Ward said:

This is fantastic news for Nottinghamshire and the East Midlands, a region that’s ready and willing to lead the way in clean, green energy.

I am delighted the government is committed to this investment in the East Midlands and look forward to working together to kickstart a green industrial revolutions, creating skilled jobs in our former coal mining communities.

Fusion uses the same process that powers the sun by combining 2 forms of hydrogen and heating them at extreme temperatures, releasing vast amounts of energy. The UK is at the forefront of the global race to commercialise fusion and unlock its potential.

Earlier this week the government also proposed plans for the UK’s first AI Growth Zone to be at the UKAEA’s fusion energy campus at Culham, Oxfordshire, which will utilise the advancements of AI to leverage computing power for fusion research and benefit the UK’s wider national AI infrastructure and the local area.

The multi-stage procurement process to deliver a fusion plant, known as STEP (Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production), is led by UK Industrial Fusion Solutions (UKIFS), a wholly owned subsidiary of the UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) Group.

The shortlisted companies will undertake detailed discussions with UKIFS, with one successful engineering and one successful construction partner set to be awarded contracts, worth an initial combined value of hundreds of millions of pounds, in late 2025 / early 2026.

Notes to editors

The £410 million investment of R&D funding will fund the UK fusion programme in 2025 to 2026. This includes:
- STEP (a world leading prototype powerplant)
- Fusion Futures (a suite of measures aimed at building fusion capability, including skills development and LIBRTI, a new fusion fuel R&D facility)
- repurposing JET (the old fusion machine at Culham)
- supporting the UK Atomic Energy Authority’s existing research, innovation and facilities
This follows the announcement at Autumn Budget 2024 of “significant support in 2025-26 for UK fusion energy research”.

The following construction partners have been chosen by the UKIFS for the next stage of the procurement process, bidding to help build STEP.
- Inovus Infrastructure, consisting of Balfour Beatty Civil Engineering as the lead member and Vinci Construction, AtkinsRealis, Mott Macdonald and WSP as other members
- ILIOS, consisting of Kier Infrastructure and Overseas as the lead member and Bam Nuttal, Nuvia Limited, AECOM Ltd, Turner and Townsend Infrastructure Ltd and Amanda Levete Architects Ltd as other members
- Ferrovial Mace JV, consisting of Ferrovial Construction UK Ltd as the lead member and Mace Consult Ltd as the other member
The following engineering partners have been chosen for the next stage of the process.
- Celestial JV, consisting of Eni UK Limited as the lead member and AtkinsRealis, Jacobs Clean Energy (now Amentum), Westinghouse and Tokamak Energy as other members
- Phoenix (UK) Fusion Limited, consisting of Cavendish Nuclear Ltd as the lead member, KBR Ltd and Assystem Energy and Infrastructure Ltd as other members
January 16, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : UK government advances growth mission overseas by strengthening links with leading European businesses [January 2025]
The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 16 January 2025.

Minister Stephen Doughty will travel to Madrid and Lisbon to meet with counterparts and senior representatives from top European businesses.
- Minister Stephen Doughty to visit Spain and Portugal to reset relationships and advance opportunities for investment and growth with European partners
- trip to Madrid and Lisbon includes talks with world-leading companies Iberdrola and Avincis to explore further opportunities to deliver UK jobs and growth
- demonstrates how government is leveraging international engagement to deliver its Plan for Change and make Britain better off
Today (Thursday 16 January) as part of the government’s priority to kickstart economic growth, Minister of State for Europe, North America and Overseas Territories Stephen Doughty will travel to Madrid and Lisbon to meet with counterparts and senior representatives from top European businesses to foster closer ties and explore opportunities for investment and jobs in the UK.

With a trading relationship worth £63 billion annually, the UK is the number one European destination for Spanish investment. To build on this the minister will visit Iberdrola Innovation Centre in Madrid – one of the biggest energy companies in Europe – to tour the training campus and see demonstrations from chief engineers of the main technologies driving the clean energy transition.

Iberdrola has invested over £30 billion in the UK since 2007, and through Scottish Power employs over 6,000 UK staff. In 2023 the company successfully completed their biggest ever recruitment drive to fill 1,000 new green jobs. The shared ambitions of the government and Iberdrola in industrial development and jobs have led the company to announce they will double their investment in the UK over the next 4 years to reach up to £24 billion, in a clear vote of confidence in the UK’s policy direction and stable regulatory frameworks.

Minister of State for Europe, North America and Overseas Territories, Stephen Doughty said:

Through our Plan for Change, this government is taking a laser focus on driving economic growth, and a powerful lever for this will be showcasing what the UK has to offer overseas investors – including our friends in Europe.

Both Spain and Portugal will be an essential part of this commitment, and I will be speaking to key businesses that are supporting British jobs, investing in our economy and helping us become a clean energy superpower.

During his time in Madrid, Minister Stephen Doughty will also meet Spanish counterparts, to discuss cooperation on European security.

The minister will also travel to Lisbon where he will spend time at the headquarters of Avincis Helicopter Services, provider of lifesaving emergency air services owned by London-based Ancala Partners. With UK exports in services to Portugal having increased by more than 10% in 2024 compared with the previous year, the minister will discuss how the UK government’s support is helping the company to grow and continue their vital work across Europe, and the further opportunities to work together to create prosperity and opportunity.

With the historic Anglo-Portuguese Alliance dating back to 1373, the UK and Portugal share close links, from foreign and defence policy to people-to-people ties. Minister Stephen Doughty will see Inês Domingos, Portugal’s Secretary of State for European Affairs, following Portugal’s donation of €52 million for drones for the International Fund for Ukraine which will make a vital difference on the battlefield for Ukraine.

Background
- total trade in goods and services (exports plus imports) between the UK and Spain was £63 billion in the 4 quarters to the end of Q2 2024. Read more in the Department for Business and Trade’s Spain trade and investment factsheet
- Avincis is owned by the London-based Ancala Partners. In early 2023 Ancala Partners announced the acquisition of Babcock International’s aerial emergency services in Portugal, Spain, Italy, Norway, Sweden and Finland, renaming the company Avincis
January 16, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : Green light for groundbreaking hearing aids [January 2025]
The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 16 January 2025.

Fresh guidance will give businesses the green light to sell certain pioneering hearing aids.
- Tens of thousands of people with hearing loss to benefit from government action as it delivers Plan for Change to drive growth and improve living standards
- Green light for companies to sell innovative devices, like earphones with hearing aid functionality
- Pro-business move supports UK’s ambitions to be tech superpower and shift healthcare from analogue to digital
Tens of thousands of people with hearing loss will have access to groundbreaking new hearing aid devices, thanks to government action.

Fresh guidance has been published today (16 January 2025), giving businesses around the world the green light to sell certain pioneering hearing aids here in the UK.

This includes earphones with both hearing test and hearing aid software functionalities. Such revolutionary products allow someone to take a hearing test at home using their earphones and an app on their phone. If the test indicates mild to moderate hearing loss, the person can then switch on the hearing aid function on the same earphones.

This will make it easier and more convenient for patients to manage their own health. Combating hearing loss can also reduce associated risks like social isolation.

The government’s Plan for Change has a laser focus on securing the UK’s position as a global tech powerhouse which fosters innovation to transform the lives of working people, with the Prime Minister this week setting out a blueprint to unleash artificial intelligence (AI) across the UK – including in healthcare – and deliver a decade of national renewal.

Health and Social Care Secretary, Wes Streeting, said:

Britain can be a powerhouse for medical technology, but only if we rip out pointless regulation that suffocates innovation.

Groundbreaking new hearing aid devices have the potential to help tens of thousands of people with hearing loss, helping them to live their life to the full. The action we’re taking will give businesses the green light to start selling these products to patients across the UK.

This is part of the work this government is undertaking in partnership with leading technology companies, to harness the revolution in medical technology, bring our analogue healthcare into the digital age and make life more convenient for patients.

One in 3 adults in the UK are deaf or experience hearing loss or tinnitus – which rises to more than 50% of over 55s.

Of these, approximately 53% use hearing aids. Currently, there is uncertainty about whether patients are able to buy hearing aids directly, including as part of testing their hearing at home. Today’s guidance will put an end to this confusion – speeding up patient access to the devices while making the UK an attractive place to manufacture innovative and wearable medical technology.

The move delivers on the Prime Minister’s commitment at the International Investment Summit to tackle bureaucracy blocking investment and remove unnecessary regulatory burdens that have previously stifled growth.

There are lots of possible causes of hearing loss. It may be caused by something treatable or it may be permanent. The NHS advises that if patients have not already undergone a clinical assessment, they should see a GP if:
- they think their hearing is getting gradually worse
- they’ve had treatment for an ear infection or earwax build-up but their hearing has not come back
- they have sudden hearing loss in one or both ears
- their hearing has been getting worse over the last few days or weeks
- they have hearing loss along with other symptoms, such as earache or discharge coming out of the ear
Patients can also have hearing tests at some pharmacists and opticians too.

Patient safety will be paramount, and the government will ensure that all manufacturers comply with the relevant legislation. People will also still be encouraged to seek clinical advice through their GP if they are having problems with their hearing.

This will help fulfil 2 of the 10 Year Health Plan’s key goals – moving care from hospital to the community and shifting the health service from analogue to digital.

The move will help establish the UK as a global leader for innovative treatments and technologies, supporting sustained economic growth, good jobs and increased productivity across the country, while ensuring patients have greater control of their own healthcare.

Background information

The government has already set out a series of steps to ensure this kind of innovation is nurtured in the UK.

In October, a new group was set up to ensure new technologies – like AI for better treatments in our NHS and drones delivering emergency supplies to all corners of the UK, could reach the public faster.

The Regulatory Innovation Office (RIO) will reduce the burden for businesses hoping to bring new products and services to the market, including AI training software for surgeons to deliver more accurate surgical treatments for patients.

It will speed up approvals and ensure different regulatory bodies work together smoothly.
January 16, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : 2025 should be a year of progress and reform, in the service of the rule of law, cooperation and peace – UK Statement at the UN General Assembly [January 2025]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 15 January 2025.

Statement by Ambassador Barbara Woodward, UK Permanent Representative to the UN, at the UN General Assembly briefing by the UN Secretary-General on his 2025 priorities.

Effective multilateralism remains the key to effective global leadership, to peace and development.

But around the world, we see conflict exacting a terrible toll in the Middle East, Ukraine, Sudan and beyond; we see rights being rolled back, climate changing and development stalling.

As my Prime Minister said in this hall in September, we should not accept this slide into greater conflict, instability and injustice. And we will do all we can to work together for peace, human rights and development.

As we approach the 80th anniversary of the UN, with the world in turmoil, we must come together and deliver.

For the UK there are three core elements to this:

First, we recognise the opportunity this year presents to turbocharge practical and tangible action as we mark other significant milestones, including the UN Ocean Conference, the 30th climate COP, a decade since the Paris Agreement, and the Social Development Summit.

At the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development we want to work in genuine partnership to unlock the finance, reforms and impact needed to accelerate the implementation of the SDGs.

2025 is also a critical year for advancing women’s rights. As we mark Beijing+30 and the 25th anniversary of the landmark Security Council resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security, we reaffirm the need for women’s full, equal, meaningful, and safe participation in peace processes and decision-making.

Second, we take our responsibility as a Permanent Member of the UN Security Council seriously.

We will continue to work hard to ensure that the Council delivers on this crucial mandate.

This includes efforts to secure lasting peace for the people of the Middle East towards an inclusive political transition in Syria, an enduring ceasefire and political stability in Lebanon and of course, bringing to an end the awful conflict in Gaza, returning the hostages home, injecting aid and delivering a two-state solution.

Finally, we must also turn our attention to the UN’s potential for the decades ahead and ensure the organisation is fit for the future.

We need to make the system more representative and more responsive to those who need it most.

When we come together and when there is political will for change, we can make a difference.

Adopting the Pact for the Future by consensus at the Summit of the Future last year was a prime example of this.

Now we must implement the commitments we made in the Pact and its Annexes.

We renew our commitment to General Assembly revitalisation and to Security Council reform to ensure these bodies can continue to deliver on their mandates, as outlined in the UN Charter.

Mr President, 2025 should be a year of progress and reform.

It is in this spirit, that we reaffirm our unwavering commitment to work with all UN members in the service of the rule of law, cooperation and peace.

January 16, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : Yemen will only prosper when all Yemenis can play their role in building a better future for their country – UK statement at the UN Security Council [January 2025]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 15 January 2025.

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

First, we welcome the visits and continuing efforts of both WHO Director-General Tedros and Special Envoy Grundberg to secure the release of detainees.

We are deeply concerned about claims of Houthis further arbitrary and unlawful detentions of Yemeni citizens.

We call on this Council to unite in condemning Houthi detentions in the strongest terms and demand that the Houthis immediately and unconditionally release all those detained, enabling a safe operating environment for the delivery of humanitarian assistance to those most in need.

This is more important than ever with nearly 20 million Yemenis now in need of assistance, as Ms Msuya spelled out so starkly for us.

Second, the UK will continue to support Freedom of Navigation including in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden and we look forward to the extension later today of the mandate of UNSCR 2722.

The UK condemns the ongoing and reckless Houthi attacks against Israeli population centres.

We are clear on Israel’s right to self-defence against these attacks.

But this must be done in compliance with Israel’s international humanitarian law obligations, including the need to avoid damage to critical civilian infrastructure such as Hodeidah port, the main entry point for food and humanitarian supplies into Yemen.

Third, the UK is resolute in our support to the Government of Yemen and that is why we are co-hosting an event this month to galvanise international support for the Government as the legitimate representatives of the Yemeni people, and in order to promote stability and stable governance.

Yemen can only truly prosper, when all Yemenis are able to play their role in building a better future for their country.

Finally, President, on the occasion of General Beary’s final briefing to this Council I would like to commend his efforts in support of UNMHA and the Yemeni people in Hodeidah Governorate. I thank him for his service.

January 16, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : Joint investment in Scottish City Deals now more than £3 billion [January 2025]

The press release issued by the Scottish Office on 15 January 2025.

UK Government investment in the City Region and Growth Deal programme in Scotland is now £1.5 billion – meaning more than £3 billion in total.

The Secretary of State for Scotland, Ian Murray, has today [15 January] confirmed that, following the Chancellor’s Autumn Budget, the total UK Government investment specifically on City Region and Growth Deals in Scotland has now reached £1.5 billion. The Scottish Government is also investing £1.6 billion in the City Region and Growth Deals programme. That means that total investment now tops £3 billion in total.

Of the UK Government contribution, £527 million was part of a nearly £1.4 billion package of local growth investment signed off by the Chancellor in her Autumn Budget. That means that the UK Government is also, separately, investing £840 million in some two dozen local growth projects and programmes across Scotland. Driving growth and improving living standards across the UK is a key part of our Plan for Change, and these investments are an important part of that.

The Scottish Secretary gave evidence to the Scottish Parliament’s Economy and Fair Work Committee today [15 January]. He is the first Cabinet Minister since the General Election to appear before a Holyrood committee.

Mr Murray was invited by the Committee to give evidence on the UK Government’s involvement in the City Region and Growth Deals programme, which is delivered jointly in Scotland with the Scottish Government.

Mr Murray said:

I am delighted to confirm that UK Government investment in City Region and Growth Deals alone in Scotland is now £1.5 billion. This is our Plan for Change in action, and this funding will drive economic growth and improve living standards right across Scotland.

I am very pleased to be the first minister from this administration to give evidence at Holyrood. We have changed the way we do business and work with the Scottish Government and the Scottish Parliament. We have reset those relationships to ensure we can work together to deliver for people in Scotland. That means genuine partnership working with the Scottish Government, and the City Region and Growth Deals programme, delivered jointly across Scotland, is an excellent example of that.

City Region and Growth Deals are packages of funding agreed between the Scottish Government, UK Government and local authority partners.

At the Autumn Budget, the Chancellor confirmed additional funding for the Falkirk and Grangemouth Growth Deal to support Grangemouth refinery workers and their communities, confirmed funding for a number of projects not yet in delivery, and gave the go-ahead for the signing of the Argyll and Bute Growth Deal. That means that we will shortly have City Region and Growth Deals covering every part of Scotland, with UK Government investment in them specifically, since 2014, totalling more than £1.5 billion.

January 16, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : Government reaffirms commitment to Free Speech in universities [January 2025]

The press release issued by the Department for Education on 15 January 2025.

Key provisions from the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act 2023 will be brought into force, whilst burdensome provisions will be scrapped.

The Education Secretary has confirmed that key provisions of the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act 2023 will be brought into force, defending the free speech rights of students, academics and speakers.

The Office for Students will have the power to investigate complaints over breaches of free speech from academics, external speakers and members of universities, as well as issuing fines.

The Act will require all universities to have robust codes of practice to ensure the protection of free speech, which will be enforced by the Office for Students (OfS).

The new workable, robust complaints system will uphold academic freedom without exposing universities to potentially disproportionate and crippling costs that could have forced them to divert cash away from students.

Universities who flout the rules will be publicly held to account and could end up paying compensation, risk facing fines and the suspension of their registration, in the most extreme circumstances.

There will be a complete ban on the use of non-disclosure agreements to silence victims of bullying, harassment or sexual misconduct on campus, which will be upheld by the Office for Students.

Arif Ahmed will remain in post as Director for Freedom of Speech and Academic Freedom at the OfS, to ensure that these measures are rigorously upheld.

Unnecessary elements of the Act which risk leaving universities vulnerable to disproportionate costs for legal disputes will be scrapped, including the statutory tort.

This would have exposed already struggling providers to large costly legal fees, driven by potentially unnecessary complaints, that would have forced money intended for students to be diverted.

The threat of legal action and the financial fallout for universities breaching their duties under the Act might push some providers to overly defend hateful or degrading speech instead of looking out for students who feel intimidated, out of fear of the consequences.

The Act was initially placed on pause due to widespread concerns about the negative impact it would have on vulnerable groups. There were fears that the legislation would encourage providers to overlook the safety and wellbeing of minority groups, including Jewish students, and instead protect those who use hateful or degrading speech on campus.

The move to pause implementation of the Act reflected widespread concern that the legislation was disproportionate, burdensome and damaging to the welfare of students while not addressing hate speech on campuses.

Groups representing Jewish students also expressed concerns that sanctions could lead to providers overlooking the safety and well-being of minority groups.

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said:

Academic freedom and free speech are fundamental to our world-leading universities and this government is committed to protecting them.

These changes protect free speech but avoid implementing excessive and burdensome provisions which could have exposed struggling universities to disproportionate costs, diverting money away from students to pay lawyers.

The decisions we are making about the Act demonstrate that we were right to pause commencement and to review its impact before making decisions on its future.

The Government will bring into force strengthened duties on providers to take steps to secure freedom of speech and establish a code of practice, as well as a new duty to promote the importance of freedom of speech and academic freedom.

As part of the Act, Higher Education providers must establish a set of policies and values that provide a space for robust discussion and all academic freedoms.

The Office for Students will have the power to investigate complaints over breaches of free speech from staff, external speakers and members of universities, as well as issuing fines and penalties.

All higher education students will be able to make similar complaints to the Office of the Independent Adjudicator (OIA).

As part of changes to make the Act fair and proportionate, the government has decided to remove the overly burdensome duties placed directly on students’ unions.

The Act, as it stands, makes demands which would require students’ unions to take on complex legal responsibilities, which would leave the majority student-led organisations to be overwhelmed with additional costs and administrative burdens, distracting from work to support students.

The Department for Education aims to ensure that any protections introduced to increase transparency around foreign funding and influence, do not impose unnecessary burdens on providers and regulators, such as the Office for Students.

The Government is also working at pace on the implementation of the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme, which will apply to universities across the UK, and will encourage transparency and deter harmful covert activity from foreign states.

To ensure careful consideration of this important issue, the overseas transparency provisions in the Act will be kept under review, while assessment of the existing approaches to managing foreign interference are reviewed and as we implement the Foreign Interference Registration scheme.

The Office for Students already has powers to request information when concerns arise about free speech or academic freedom, including issues related to suspected foreign interference and funding, and the Department will consider whether these powers require strengthening as part of our review.

The Department for Education is closely monitoring these measures and working with the sector to assess current strategies for managing these risks. This ensures a targeted and proportionate approach to increasing transparency.

In making changes to the future of the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act 2023, the Government will ensure that the right to academic freedom is rigorously defended, without compromising the safety of students and staff, or taking away vital resources from an already stretched sector.

During the review of the Act which began in July 2024, Ministers and officials met with a range of providers, academics, unions and minority groups to discuss their views on the future of the Act and what would work best for the sector, while maintaining a space for healthy debate and exposure to new ideas for students and staff.

January 16, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : Government introduces import ban of cattle, pigs and sheep from Germany to protect farmers after Foot and Mouth case [January 2025]

The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 15 January 2025.

Exports of animals and meat susceptible to the disease prohibited.

The Government has stepped up measures to prevent the spread of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD), following a case being confirmed in Germany.

The commercial import of cattle, pigs, sheep, deer, buffaloes and their products such as meat, and dairy from Germany will now be banned to protect farmers and their livelihoods. GB health certificates will no longer be issued for animals susceptible to FMD including all live animals and fresh meat and animal products.

As of 15 January it is no longer permitted for travellers to bring unpackaged meat, meat products, milk and dairy products, certain composite products and animal by products of pigs and ruminants into Great Britain from the EU,  EFTA states, Faroe Islands and Greenland. Additionally, these products may not be brought to Great Britain from Germany, even if commercially packaged. These products can be placed in the secure bins provided in ports and airports.

The UK Chief Veterinary Officer is also urging livestock keepers to remain vigilant to the clinical signs of FMD following an outbreak of the disease in Germany. There are no cases in the UK currently.

FMD poses no risk to human or food safety, but is a highly contagious viral disease of cattle, sheep, pigs and other cloven-hoofed animals. Livestock keepers should therefore be absolutely rigorous about their biosecurity.

Maintaining good biosecurity is essential to protecting the health and welfare of herds and critical to preventing the spread of diseases such as FMD and preventing an outbreak spreading.

FMD causes significant economic losses due to production losses in the affected animals as well as loss of access to foreign markets for animals, meat and milk for affected countries.

Clinical signs to be aware of vary depending on the animals, but in cattle the key signs are sores and blisters on the feet, mouth and tongue with potentially a fever, lameness and a reluctance to feed. In sheep and pigs signs tend to manifest with lameness with potential for blistering.

UK Chief Veterinary Officer Dr Christine Middlemiss said:

We remain in constant contact with German counterparts to understand the latest situation following their confirmation of a single case of Foot and Mouth disease.

We have robust contingency plans in place to manage the risk of this disease to protect farmers and Britain’s food security, which means using all measures to limit the risk incursion and spread of this devastating disease.

I would urge livestock keepers to exercise the upmost vigilance for signs of disease, follow scrupulous biosecurity and report any suspicion of disease immediately to the Animal and Plant Health Agency.

Everyone can help stop animal diseases spreading to this country by not bringing home meat, cheese and milk products when they travel abroad.

Farming Minister Daniel Zeichner said:

The Government will do whatever it takes to protect our nation’s farmers from the risk posed by Foot and Mouth.

That is why restrictions have immediately been brought in on animal products from Germany to prevent an outbreak and we will not hesitate to add additional countries to the list if the disease spreads.

We will continue to keep the situation under review working closely with the German authorities.

This comes as the Government announced a £200 million investment in the UK’s main research and laboratory testing facilities at Weybridge to bolster protection against animal disease.

Foot and Mouth Disease is a legally notifiable disease and must be reported. If you suspect a notifiable disease in your animals you must report it immediately by calling the Government Helpline. Failure to do so is an offence.

January 16, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : Britain working at pace to curb rising synthetic drugs threat [January 2025]

The press release issued by the Home Office on 15 January 2025.

More than 20 dangerous substances have been banned by the government as efforts stepped up to combat the increasing drug threat and make our streets safer.

Significant efforts are being made to combat the threat of devastating synthetic drugs, which the UK government warns is increasing.

Measures are being stepped up across government to better equip policing, healthcare and Border Force to deal with this growing issue, as well as contributing to international efforts to better protect communities.

Latest figures show since June 2023, there have been at least 400 drug-related deaths across the UK linked to nitazenes, a type of synthetic opioid, and this figure is expected to increase in the coming years.

As part of the effort to make our streets safer, legislation will come into force today (Wednesday 15 January) which bans xylazine, as well as several other synthetic drugs that can be hundreds of times more potent than heroin, meaning tougher sentences for drug dealers.

Xylazine, often known as ‘tranq’, is a high-strength veterinary sedative, which has increasingly been used in combination with opioids such as heroin. Its effects can leave users prone to non-healing skin lesions and more liable to overdose.

The UK is also training Border Force dogs to detect a range of nitazenes and fentanyl – currently the only country in the world doing so – to stop these substances entering the country in the first place.

As of December 2024, police officers in forces across the country are now trained to carry and administer naloxone – a lifesaving medicine that reverses the effects of opioid overdose. The government is working closely with the National Police Chiefs’ Council to see the provision rolled out across most forces.

The National Crime Agency is also working in partnership with policing and Border Force to ensure that all lines of enquiry are prioritised and vigorously pursued to stem any supply of nitazenes and fentanyl to and within the UK.

Policing Minister Dame Diana Johnson said:

Synthetic drugs cause devastation wherever they are found – to individuals, to families, to our town centres and our communities.

I have been concerned about the growing presence of these drugs on UK streets and I don’t think enough has been done in recent years to get a grip on it. Stepping up efforts to tackle this threat will form a key part of this government’s approach to drugs, which we hope to set out later this year.

As part of our Plan for Change and mission to make our streets safer, we are dedicated to driving down drug misuse and harms through prevention and treatment while acting quickly to stop the criminals peddling these harmful substances.

As part of the international effort to combat these substances, the UK is spearheading a workstream under the US-led Global Coalition to Address Synthetic Drug Threats which will focus on how governments across the world can control the availability of these drugs through legislation and further strengthen efforts at the border by sharing intelligence.

This is a multi-nation effort run by core coalition countries, who are developing their own initiatives that aim to disrupt supply chains and enhance public health interventions.

The government also has an enhanced early warning system, which is designed to improve our ability to respond to emerging drug threats with several new data streams, such as hospital admissions and lab-tested police seizures, which are monitored and fed into the decision-making processes.

Today’s legislation will see 22 substances banned under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, 6 of which will be controlled as Class A.

This means that anyone caught producing or supplying these could now face up to life in prison, an unlimited fine, or both. Anyone caught possessing a Class A drug can also face up to 7 years in prison, a fine or both.

Xylazine will be controlled as a Class C substance, meaning its unlawful supply carries a maximum sentence of up to 14 years in prison, a fine or both and unlawful possession up to 2 years, a fine or both.

A generic definition of nitazenes, a type of synthetic opioid, has also been introduced into law today, which will prevent drug gangs from trying to make adjustments to drug recipes to attempt to bypass UK drug law.

January 16, 2025