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Tag: 2025

  • PRESS RELEASE : Change of UK Permanent Representative to the OECD – Andrew Wood [August 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : Change of UK Permanent Representative to the OECD – Andrew Wood [August 2025]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 7 August 2025.

    Andrew Wood has been appointed UK Permanent Representative to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in Paris.

    Mr Andrew Wood has been appointed UK Permanent Representative to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in Paris, in succession to Ms Natacha Alexander.  Mr Wood will take up his appointment during September 2025.

    Curriculum vitae

    Full name: Andrew David Wood

    Year Role
    2024 to 2025 Head of the Office for Value for Money
    2019 to 2024 Brussels, Economic Counsellor at UK Mission to EU
    2017 to 2019 HM Treasury, Deputy Director, Strategy and Planning
    2016 to 2017 UK Financial Investments, Chief of Staff
    2014 to 2016 HM Treasury, Senior Policy Advisor, Financial Stability
    2012 to 2014 Barclays Bank, Regulatory Manager
    2009 to 2012 HM Treasury, Senior Policy Advisor, Financial Stability
    2008 to 2009 Department of Energy and Climate Change, Senior Policy Advisor, Climate Change Technologies
    2006 to 2008 HM Treasury, Policy Analyst, Energy and Climate Change
    2005 to 2006 HM Treasury, Assistant Economist, Alcohol and Tobacco Tax
    2005 Joined HM Treasury
  • PRESS RELEASE : 37 local heritage sites to benefit from £15 million boost to breathe new life into communities across England [August 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : 37 local heritage sites to benefit from £15 million boost to breathe new life into communities across England [August 2025]

    The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 7 August 2025.

    Heritage buildings are set to benefit from £15 million of funding as part of the government’s ongoing commitment to ensure our heritage is fit for the future.

    • 37 local heritage sites will receive grants to help with repairs, in many cases helping turn historic buildings into the vibrant community spaces people need today
    • Fund will deliver on the government’s Plan for Change by increasing opportunities and ensuring communities can enjoy heritage in the places they call home

    Unseen Arts in Grimsby, MusicAbility Centre in Penzance and St Michael’s Mount Artist’s Studio in Newcastle are among 37 projects set to receive a share of more than £15 million through the government’s Heritage at Risk Fund.

    The funding will support repair works and conservation of heritage buildings at risk, restoring local heritage to ensure it can be enjoyed for many generations to come.

    These projects will provide much needed funding to ensure heritage buildings are fit for the future so they can continue to tell our national story at a local level in communities across the country. The fund has prioritised projects that will restore heritage sites serving disadvantaged communities and which demonstrate strong local benefits, from job creation to cultural events.

    The Heritage at Risk Fund is part of the £270 million Arts Everywhere Fund, which was announced by the Culture Secretary earlier this year. The fund will deliver on the government’s Plan for Change by breaking down barriers to opportunity by transforming historic buildings, creating jobs and spaces that are fit for communities to enjoy in the places they call home.

    Heritage Minister, Baroness Twycross said:

    Our extraordinary heritage weaves together the stories that define who we are as communities and as a nation, connecting us to the generations who came before us and shining a light on the pathways that brought us to where we stand today.

    We are delivering on our Plan for Change, through the Heritage at Risk Fund, by breathing new life into treasured places, buildings and monuments across the country, helping to increase opportunities and ensuring that future generations have access to our rich heritage.

    Some of the recipients of the fund include:

    • Unseen Arts, in Grimsby, which will receive a share of over £430,000 to create a new creative community centre on Grimsby’s historic docks. The funding will repair and convert two unlisted historic buildings in the Kasbah conservation area, celebrating the historic docks, breathing new life into what was once the world’s largest fishing port, at the heart of Grimsby’s local identity. The creative community centre will provide a programme of movement classes, visual arts workshops, exhibitions and performances, outreach and open days, and a café, creating jobs for local people and driving economic growth.
    • MusicAbility Centre in Penzance, which will receive more than £400,000 to restore the music centre and deliver music to the community. The project involves a full restoration of the elegant building, built in 1828, bringing it back into public use as the MusicAbility Centre. The building will welcome visitors 250 days annually, offering music lessons and groups, music therapy and regular concerts. The MusicAbility Centre will add to Penzance’s rich cultural legacy by sharing the beauty of music, ensuring young people have access to learn and experience music and the arts, with a performance space to host inclusive programmes.
    • Two Grade II listed Hobby Rooms on Newcastle’s Byker Wall Estate, which will receive more than £98,000 of funding. Karbon Homes will convert Spires Lane hobby room into a new community hub, whilst St Michael’s Mount will become an artist’s studio for creative production and community engagement. These unique buildings were originally designed as part of architect Ralph Erskine’s bold 1960s social housing vision to encourage community interaction. After years of neglect, the funding will restore their original purpose whilst addressing contemporary needs.  The project is part of Karbon Homes’ Fair Foundations approach to place-making, delivering projects and initiatives in its communities that help make lasting change and support social growth.

    Lou Brennan, Director of Regions at Historic England said:

    Thanks to the extra funding from the Heritage at Risk Capital Fund, we are able to breathe new life into neglected historic buildings that we haven’t been able to help through our existing grant schemes. This initiative will not only boost economic growth but also create amazing opportunities for people in some of the nation’s most disadvantaged areas.

    We’re thrilled to support projects that harness the power of heritage to make a real difference where it’s needed most.

    Notes to editors:

    Full list of recipients receiving a share of the fund:

    North East

    • Woodhorn Colliery Shaft Heads, Ashington, Northumberland – £997,265
    • Byker Estate Hobby Rooms, Newcastle upon Tyne – £98,735
    • Tyre Shop, Sunderland, 177 High St West, Sunderland – £858,208
    • St Michael’s Mount Artist’s Studio, Newcastle – £42,047

    Yorkshire:

    • St Catherine of Siena, Sheffield – £497,615
    • St John’s Church, Goole, East Yorkshire – £100,000

    North West

    • Salford Lads Club, Greater Manchester – £437,961
    • Gawthorpe Great Barn, Burnley. Lancashire – £337,975
    • Morecambe Winter Gardens, Lancashire – £767,222
    • Tullie House, Carlisle, Cumbria – £200,000
    • National Waterways Museum, Ellesmere Port
    • Gosforth Public Hall, Seascale, Cumbria – £424,785

    East of England

    • Lowestoft Town Hall, Suffolk – £707,000
    • St George’s Guildhall and Creative Hub, King’s Lynn, Norfolk – £721,330
    • The Iron Duke Public House, Great Yarmouth – £136,500
    • Laurel Court, Peterborough – £136,653
    • Chapelfield Gardens Bandstand, Norwich – £315,249
    • Greenland Fishery House, King’s Lynn – £99,442

    Midlands

    • Golden Lion, Birmingham – £344,265
    • Worksop Priory Gatehouse, Nottinghamshire – £178,147
    • Burslem Indoor Market, Stoke on Trent – £1,000,000
    • Bethesda Methodist Chapel, Stoke on Trent – £521,737
    • St Mary Magdalene, Newark-on-Trent – £151,163
    • Corporation Bridge, Grimsby – £495,000
    • Bromwich Manor House, Sandwell – £200,000
    • Spilsby Sessions House, Lincolnshire – £1,006,000
    • Unseen Arts, Grimsby – £437,741

    London & South East

    • Treadgolds, Portsea, Portsmouth – £485,200
    • Church of St Mary the Virgin, Somers Town, London – £639,064
    • The Greenhouse Centre, London – £663,100

    South West

    • Market House (Grade I), Penzance Regeneration Company – £672,707
    • Newlyn’s Old Harbour (Grade II*), Newlyn Harbour – £199,301
    • Gaumont Cinema, Nudge Community Builders – £253,494
    • Toll House at Birnbeck Pier (Grade II), North Somerset Council – £111,496
    • Turkish Baths Health Hydro, Swindon – £550,218
    • The Folk Pin Factory (Grade II), Gloucester Civic Trust – £142,871
    • MusicAbility Centre (Grade II), MusicAbility Foundation – £402,000
  • PRESS RELEASE : £143 million funding to secure over 130 disused coal tips [August 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : £143 million funding to secure over 130 disused coal tips [August 2025]

    The press release issued by HM Treasury on 7 August 2025.

    Chancellor Rachel Reeves will outline how £143 million of UK Government funding will secure over 130 disused coal tips in Wales on a visit to Port Talbot today, Thursday 7 August.

    • Chancellor to visit coal tip site in Wales to see the work being done to protect families and businesses from disused coal tips.
    • UK Government and Welsh Government work hand in hand to secure coal tip sites, with more than 130 sites benefiting from funding this year.
    • Funding for the Welsh Government of over £22 billion per year agreed between 2026-27 and 2028-29 as part of this year’s Spending Review, including an additional £5 billion for resource and capital.

    Disused coal tips remain a legacy of Wales’ coal industry, and present severe risks for Welsh communities from landslides or flooding. Just last November, a disused coal tip in Cwmtillery, Blaenau Gwent, partially collapsed, forcing around 40 homes and families to be evacuated.

    The £118 million provided at the Spending Review by the Chancellor to protect Welsh communities comes in addition to £25 million from last year’s Autumn Budget, amounting to £143 million to deliver the essential funding to protect existing homes whilst enabling new areas of land to be secured for future house building by the Welsh Government. When combined with funding from the Welsh Government, £220 million has now been invested to make coal tips in Wales safe.

    Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves said:

    I know the scars that coal tip disasters have left on Welsh communities. This £143 million investment will protect families and communities from the risks posed by disused coal tips, whilst opening up sites to build new homes for hard-working Welsh families.

    These sites need to be safe, and this funding demonstrates how we are delivering our Plan for Change, putting the safety of working people first and supporting economic growth.

    Welsh Secretary, Jo Stevens said:

    Ensuring coal tips across Wales remain safe is of the upmost importance. We want to ensure that communities who are close to coal tips can be confident that their homes and businesses are properly protected.

    This £118 million is in addition to £25 million which has already been provided by the UK Government and is an example of how two governments working in partnership are delivering for the people of Wales.

    These areas previously may not have been in scope for new homes due to the presence of these coal tips but by securing tips and minimising the risk of their collapse, new homes could now be built and can deliver for working families. These new homes will provide the critical infrastructure that underpins economic growth, as this investment today drives forward future productivity and higher living standards.

    The Spending Review in June also delivered a record investment into Wales, which is an integral part of the UK Government’s plans to unlock growth across the whole of the UK. The Welsh economy is already worth £93 billion per year.

    The Spending Review delivered at least £445 million to enhance rail across Wales, including at Padeswood on the Borderlands Line and through upgrading the Core Valley Lines, as part of the 10-year Infrastructure Strategy. The UK Government funding also includes providing £48 million over four years to the Welsh Government to work with them to upgrade the Core Valley Lines.

    Through the Plan for Change the UK Government is investing in Wales’s economic potential and unique contribution to the UK, including across the clean energy of its natural resources. Up to £80 million was also confirmed as port investment to support floating offshore wind deployment in Port Talbot, subject to final due diligence.

    Welsh Government Finance Secretary, Mark Drakeford said:

    We welcome the extra investment from the UK Government for this vital work to protect communities living with the legacy of our industrial past. This builds on previous years of Welsh Government funding and brings combined Welsh and UK Government funding to £220 million. We have long made the case for fair funding to address the impact of coal tips, protect homes, businesses and create new economic opportunities.

    Nick Rolfe, Regional Director, Wales, Walters UK said:

    The Walters Group is proud to be a key partner in this important work to secure, improve, and make safe disused coal tips across Wales. This significant investment from the UK Government, working alongside the Welsh Government and here at Dyffryn Rhondda with Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council, shows a strong commitment to protecting our communities and dealing with the legacy of our industrial past.

    As a proud Welsh company with a long history of working in these communities on environmental and regeneration projects, we understand how important this work is. The funding is not only crucial for keeping our environment safe and protected for future generations but also for giving local people peace of mind and confidence in the future of this area for the community and visitors that make use of  the active travel routes that run the length of this project.

    Further information:

    • The Spending Review delivered a record settlement for Welsh public services, with the Welsh Government’s largest settlement, in real terms, since devolution in 1998.
    • The Welsh Government is receiving £22.4 billion per year on average between 2026-27 and 2028-29, including an additional:
      • £1.6 billion per year on average through the operation of the Barnett formula, with £1.4 billion resource between 2026-27 and 2028-29 and £0.2 billion capital between 2026-27 and 2029-30.
      • £444 million targeted funding between 2026-27 and 2029-30, with £44 million resource and £400 million capital, including for essential work to keep coal tips maintained and safe, City and Growth Deals and enhancements to the Core Valley Lines.
    • This means the Welsh Government will continue to get over 20% more funding per head than the equivalent UK Government spending in the rest of the UK. This reflects the differing needs of Wales.
  • PRESS RELEASE : Regulator to investigate Christian charity after almost £300k appears unaccounted for [August 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : Regulator to investigate Christian charity after almost £300k appears unaccounted for [August 2025]

    The press release issued by the Charity Commission on 7 August 2025.

    The Charity Commission has launched a statutory inquiry into Edmund Kell Unitarian Church and Elizabeth Kell Community Hall over financial and safeguarding concerns.

    The charity, which serves the local community of Southampton, is an excepted charity meaning that it does not require registration with the Commission. As such, it is not listed on the Register of Charities.

    The regulator started engaging with the charity in April 2025 after receiving an application from its trustees to change the charity’s structure. During this process, the regulator identified concerns around the charity’s governance and administration.

    Following these concerns, the Commission conducted a review of the charity’s accounts and obtained information on its investment portfolio. This raised concerns that funds initially estimated as in the region of £290,000 may be unaccounted for. As a result, the regulator has now escalated its engagement to an inquiry which will seek to determine how these funds were used.

    In addition, the Commission has regulatory concerns in relation to safeguarding at the charity and potentially unmanaged risks relating to a connected individual.

    The inquiry will examine:

    1. The trustees’ governance and management of the charity and the extent to which they have fulfilled their legal duties and responsibilities.
    2. The extent to which the trustees have exercised adequate control and oversight over the charity’s financial management, including whether there has been any loss or misappropriation of the charity’s funds.
    3. The sufficiency of the charity’s safeguarding arrangements.

    The Commission may extend the scope of the inquiry if additional regulatory issues emerge.

    It is the Commission’s policy, after it has concluded an inquiry, to publish a report detailing the issues examined, any action taken, and the inquiry’s outcomes.

    ENDS

    Notes to editors:

    1. The Charity Commission is the independent, non-ministerial government department that registers and regulates charities in England and Wales. Its ambition is to be an expert regulator that is fair, balanced, and independent so that charity can thrive. This ambition will help to create and sustain an environment where charities further build public trust and ultimately fulfil their essential role in enhancing lives and strengthening society. Read further information about what the Commission does on gov.uk.
    2. On 29 April 2025, the Charity Commission opened a statutory inquiry into the charity under section 46 of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”) as a result of its regulatory concerns that there is or has been misconduct and/ or mismanagement in the administration of the charity.
    3. A statutory inquiry is a legal power enabling the Commission to formally investigate matters of regulatory concern within a charity and to use protective powers for the benefit of the charity and its beneficiaries, assets, or reputation.
    4. Some charities are ‘excepted’ from charity registration. Apart from not having to register or make annual returns, excepted charities must comply with charity law. Their trustees have the same responsibilities as trustees of any other charity. The Charity Commission regulates them just like registered charities and can use any of its powers if it needs to. An ‘excepted’ charity is different to ‘exempt’ charities, which are exempt from registration and regulation by the Commission. More information is available on gov.uk.
  • PRESS RELEASE : Lord Vallance calls on tech experts to design ways to help reduce electricity bills [August 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : Lord Vallance calls on tech experts to design ways to help reduce electricity bills [August 2025]

    The press release issued by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on 7 August 2025.

    Science Minister Lord Vallance calls on businesses and researchers to develop cutting edge tech, that could cut energy costs in the long-term.

    • Businesses and researchers to turbocharge AI and digital tech to cut peak demand for grid electricity by 2 gigawatts – equivalent to powering over 1.5 million homes
    • It could slash UK reliance on expensive, polluting fossil fuels at the busiest times, boosting energy security and helping to cut energy costs
    • Part of new R&D Missions Accelerator Programme, which backs R&D to directly deliver on core missions, with clear and ambitious targets
    • Scheme could use AI and digital technologies to predict household demand or charge electric vehicles when energy is cheaper.

    Households could benefit from cheaper bills thanks to AI as Science Minister Lord Vallance challenges tech experts to come up with cutting edge tech that will help shift peak electricity demand by 2030 (Thursday 7 August).

    An initial £4 million for the first year of a five-year challenge will support researchers to come up with solutions that help shift electricity demand in evenings and weekends by 2 gigawatts – potentially cutting energy costs in the long-term for the consumer, boosting our energy security, and further reducing our reliance on fossil fuels – helping to make Britain a clean energy superpower and delivering on our Plan for Change.

    As demand for energy spikes – like in the early evening when people return home – the grid often turns to gas-fired power stations, which are more expensive and more polluting, while leaving the UK exposed to volatile global gas markets.

    The work of innovators across the UK will deliver better forecasting, as well as help manage and shift demand at busy times by the equivalent to the amount used by one and a half million homes. Examples could include:

    • Getting AI to predict how much energy we’ll use days ahead of time. It can do this by plugging in data from things like smart meters, weather forecasts, and when people have the telly on.
    • Automatically heating or cooling buildings when clean energy is most available, and at its cheapest.
    • Using parked electric cars as giant batteries – charging them when electricity is cheap and sending power back to the grid when it’s needed.

    This could reduce the need to build network infrastructure and new power plants, leading to a reduction in consumer bills in longer term – supporting our mission to make Britain a Clean Energy Superpower by 2030 through generating at least 95% of UK electricity from clean sources and delivering on a key pillar of our Plan for Change.

    The Clean Energy: 2GW Peak Time Flexibility challenge is the first of 5 to be announced as part of the R&D Missions Accelerator Programme – backed by £500m set out in the Spending Review. It is also the first time government has set a clear, measurable and stretched target for R&D to deliver its core missions.

    The project will be led by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) in collaboration with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), which is responsible for leading the government’s clean energy mission.

    Science Minister Lord Vallance said:

    We’re calling on Britain’s brightest minds and innovative businesses to help us cut energy bills, boost energy security, and reduce our reliance on fossil fuels.

    This is a challenge with real impact – if we get it right, we’ll save families money, protect the planet, and make the UK a clean energy superpower.

    R&D has the power to change lives and we want to harness it to deliver real, measurable progress towards the government’s 5 missions and turn bold ideas into real solutions by 2030.

    Minister for Climate Kerry McCarthy said:

    We are working to build a more flexible electricity system, giving households more choice and control over when and how they use energy.

    This new challenge will help deliver that, exploiting the exciting potential of AI and other cutting-edge tech to help more people access flexible tariffs and save on bills as part of our Plan for Change.

    The initial £4m of funding will by April 2026 bring Britain’s expert AI and energy businesses, universities and research organisations together to explore where current solutions can be scaled up, build use-cases and enable testing – including building simulation and modelling capability – so successful products can be brought to market more quickly.

    The programme will also look at where government involvement and funding can help to get them moving and improve people’s lives more quickly.

    Further challenges will be launched over the coming weeks and months on how cutting-edge research can help make our streets safe, build an NHS that is fit for the future, break down barriers to opportunity and unlock growth to deliver our Plan for Change.

    Funding will be awarded to a consortium of existing world-leading centres based around the UK including the Energy Systems and Digital Catapults, and other leading research institutions to lead the work.

    Susan Bowen, CEO of Digital Catapult, said:

    Digital Catapult is laser focused on accelerating the practical application of deep tech to boost business performance – an outcome of this work is to decarbonise our key sectors, optimising energy efficiency for businesses and consumers alike.

    Our delivery of this programme underpins the government’s goals to kickstart economic growth, position the UK as a clean energy superpower, and harness digital innovation to deliver smarter, more sustainable energy systems.

    Shubhi Rajnish, Chief Information Officer at the National Energy System Operator (NESO), said:

    With nearly 2 million households already registered to our world-first Demand Flexibility Service – rewarding customers to turn down or shift their energy use during peak hours – we know that smart innovation really can make a difference.

    Harnessing new technology like AI to optimise the way Britain uses its electricity isn’t only going to help make things more affordable for consumers, it’s going to help reduce our reliance on fossil fuels and improve energy security, helping us on our road to clean power by 2030.

    Marzia Zafar, Deputy Director for Energy Systems Management and Security at Ofgem, said:

    Encouraging energy companies and innovators to develop their AI capability and trial new products and services is key to a low carbon future, and at Ofgem we’re hugely supportive of those at the forefront of those efforts.

    I’m really excited to see how the new ideas this funding enables will lead to a more efficient and better functioning energy system for us all.

    Sonia Brown, Group Head of Strategy, Innovation and Market Analytics at National Grid, said:

    Innovation across Britain’s electricity networks is already helping to deliver a smarter, more sustainable energy system.

    This new initiative will build on that momentum, boosting efforts to harness AI and digital technologies to reduce peak demand and support a more secure, affordable and clean energy future.

  • PRESS RELEASE : The United Kingdom reiterates its call for all States to fully implement their obligations under Resolution 1540 – UK statement at the UN Security Council [August 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : The United Kingdom reiterates its call for all States to fully implement their obligations under Resolution 1540 – UK statement at the UN Security Council [August 2025]

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

    Statement by Caroline Quinn, UK Deputy Political Coordinator, at the UN Security Council meeting on the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

    President, allow me to make three brief points.

    Firstly, resolution 1540 (2004) is a cornerstone of the international non-proliferation architecture.

    Since its adoption, however, the threat posed by weapons of mass destruction has not diminished. Instead, new challenges have emerged.

    Against this backdrop, the United Kingdom reiterates its call for all States to implement their obligations under this resolution in full.

    Secondly, the United Kingdom remains committed to assisting States in improving their national implementation, including through offering legal and regulatory expertise to help strengthen controls over chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear materials.

    In parallel, however, and underpinning the full implementation of resolution 1540, is the need for the 1540 Committee and Group of Experts to be able to function properly.

    Therefore, we call on all members to engage constructively to agree a robust and forward-looking Programme of Work.

    This will help enable the committee to take forward resolution 1540’s ambitions, in a full and in timely manner.

    Thirdly and finally, President, we also note with concern that unwarranted objections from some committee members have prevented the Group of Experts from attending outreach events to focus on specific thematic and regional issues related to implementation.

    Such activity is critical for the Group of Experts to execute its functions, including to provide insight and technical support to Member States in their implementation of 1540.

    The UK, therefore, calls for the immediate reversal of any such action which might hinder this committee’s vital work.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Bus driver, Martin Asolo-Ogugua, who killed child after taking drugs has sentence increased [August 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : Bus driver, Martin Asolo-Ogugua, who killed child after taking drugs has sentence increased [August 2025]

    The press release issued by the Attorney General’s Office on 6 August 2025.

    A driver who killed a nine-year-old girl after falling asleep at the wheel of a bus under the influence of drugs had his sentence increased following the Solicitor General’s intervention.

    Martin Asolo-Ogugua (23), from Peckham, South London, had his sentence increased by two years and eight months after the Solicitor General Lucy Rigby KC MP referred the case to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme.

    The court heard that on the morning of 3 August 2024, Asolo-Ogugua was driving a bus in Bexleyheath before falling asleep at the wheel.

    The bus drifted across the carriageway and mounted the pavement as Ada Bicakci was riding her bike with her family.

    Ada’s family managed to jump to safety, suffering only superficial wounds, but Ada was left with catastrophic injuries. Ada was taken to hospital but sadly died two days later.

    Asolo-Ogugua failed a drug test at the scene, having taken cannabis the night before.

    CCTV inside the bus showed Asolo-Ogugua yawning, opening the window for fresh air, and appearing to close his eyes frequently.

    In a Victim Personal Statement, Ada’s parents said Ada was a beautiful child with a huge, kind heart, who loved to help those in need.

    The Solicitor General Lucy Rigby KC MP said:

    “Martin Asolo-Oguagua’s selfishness needlessly took the life of a young girl, causing irreparable damage to a family. I welcome the court’s decision to increase his sentence and would like to extend my deepest sympathies to Ada’s family.”

    Martin Asolo-Ogugua was sentenced for four years’ imprisonment for causing death by dangerous driving and causing death by careless driving when over the prescribed limit on 9 June 2025.

    On 6 August 2025, his sentence was increased to six years and eight months after it was referred to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme.

  • PRESS RELEASE : UK Carrier Strike Group visit to Tokyo underlines UK-Japan Strategic Partnership and Indo-Pacific commitment [August 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : UK Carrier Strike Group visit to Tokyo underlines UK-Japan Strategic Partnership and Indo-Pacific commitment [August 2025]

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

    HMS Prince of Wales, flagship of the UK Carrier Strike Group (CSG), will make a port call to Tokyo from late August to early September as part of Operation HIGHMAST, the Royal Navy’s eight-month deployment to the Indo-Pacific region, including Japan.

    The deployment reinforces the UK’s commitment to the Indo-Pacific as outlined in the government’s Plan for Change, supporting the mission to keep Britain secure at home and strong abroad while fostering the international partnerships essential for economic growth and national security.

    The visit of CSG to Japan , symbolises the close alignment of strategic interests and values shared between the UK and Japan, and  representing an opportunity to deepen UK-Japan defence cooperation, enhance interoperability through joint activities, and engage in dialogue on regional challenges.

    The deployment also embodies the deepening partnership between the UK and Japan, demonstrating the unprecedented cooperation established through our enhanced global strategic partnership, including the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA), and the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP).

    Strategic partnership in action

    As each other’s closest security partners in Europe and Asia respectively, the UK and Japan share fundamental values and face common challenges. The CSG visit to Japan, and in particular the port visit to Tokyo by HMS Prince of Wales, marks a significant milestone in the multi-layered cooperation spanning politics, defence, economy, and culture that defines the modern UK-Japan relationship.

    British Ambassador to Japan Julia Longbottom said:

    The visit of HMS Prince of Wales to Tokyo underlines the UK’s strong commitment to a secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific, while showcasing the remarkable depth of our partnership with Japan. Together, as trusted allies, we are strengthening cooperation across defence, economy, and culture. This visit demonstrates our joint determination to safeguard regional stability, and our shared ambition to deliver innovation, prosperity, and a sustainable future for the next generation.

    Multi-day programme of engagement

    The Tokyo port visit will feature a programme of events taking place over multiple days, designed to strengthen bilateral cooperation and regional partnerships. Key events will include the prestigious Pacific Future Forum, bringing together defence, security and industry leaders from across the region to discuss shared security challenges, from future technology to economic security.

    A Defence & Security Industry Day will showcase British defence capabilities and innovation, providing opportunities for UK companies to demonstrate world-leading technologies and explore new partnerships with Japanese counterparts across advanced sectors including space, cyber and emerging technologies.

    Global deployment of unprecedented scale

    Operation HIGHMAST represents the most ambitious UK naval deployment in a generation, involving nearly 4,000 British personnel across the Royal Navy (2,500), Royal Air Force (592), and British Army (900). The eight-month deployment will cover over 26,000 nautical miles, visiting more than 40 countries and undertaking over 70 engagements, exercises and operations.

    The deployment showcases true international partnership, with 12 nations supporting the CSG with ships or personnel. Norway is providing a warship for the entire duration of the deployment, whilst Canada, Spain, and New Zealand have also contributed vessels, demonstrating that the security of the Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific regions is fundamentally indivisible.

    Showcasing British innovation and creativity

    HMS Prince of Wales exemplifies the UK’s world-leading naval engineering and integrated operational capabilities, demonstrating advanced military readiness and technological superiority. The carrier uniquely combines cutting-edge technology with traditional British maritime expertise, representing the very best of UK innovation.

    With up to 24 F-35B Lightning II fighter jets embarked, in squadrons from both the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force, HMS Prince of Wales showcases the largest concentration of fifth-generation aircraft ever deployed by the Royal Navy. These advanced systems demonstrate UK defence innovation whilst laying the groundwork for future UK-Japan joint development projects, including the groundbreaking GCAP programme – a joint initiative between the UK, Japan and Italy to develop a next generation fighter jet.

    The UK’s industrial strategy drives not just security but high-value job creation, innovation, and economic growth across both nations. UK-Japan defence industry cooperation continues to strengthen both countries’ competitiveness in aerospace, cyber, and technology, with applications for solving global challenges that matter to people in both countries.

    Creative cooperation between our nations delivers mutual benefits, with the CSG visit expanding industrial and technological partnerships that will drive innovation for decades to come.

    Guardians of maritime security and global challenges

    The UK’s CSG deployment to Japan demonstrates concrete action toward realising a free and open Indo-Pacific and our unwavering commitment to regional stability. As maritime nations, the UK and Japan will continue to fulfil their vital responsibility as guardians of the maritime rules-based order, ensuring the freedom and safety of the seas for all nations.

    The CSG’s presence reinforces both countries’ shared approaches to complex security challenges, including maritime security, cyber threats, and the safe development of emerging technologies. This collaborative approach addresses the security concerns that affect our people’s prosperity and future.

    The UK Foreign and Defence Secretaries recently visited Australia to observe Exercise Talisman Sabre, the largest-ever military exercise Australia has hosted, involving the CSG and 3,000 UK personnel. As part of the exercise, the AUKUS nations successfully worked alongside Japan to strengthen collaboration on the defence use of robotics and autonomous technologies.

    Boosting UK trade and economic growth

    The deployment directly supports the government’s Plan for Change through economic growth opportunities. Port visits in Singapore, Indonesia, Japan, and the Republic of Korea will showcase British defence capabilities through trade demonstrations and fairs, supporting UK exports and international trade.

    The Indo-Pacific is a critical region for UK trade, with the region accounting for 17% of total UK trade – worth £286 billion in goods and services in the 12 months to September 2024. The deployment provides opportunities for UK companies to participate in trade events during port visits, delivering British jobs and growth whilst building on the strong foundation established through the bilateral UK-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), and the multilateral Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).

    Building a sustainable connection for the future

    Alongside partnership between our governments and militaries, UK engagement with Japan spans civil society, business, culture, academia, and people-to-people links.. This comprehensive connection between our countries means that together, we can tackle the global challenges that both Japanese and British people care about, from environmental sustainability to technological security. The UK is committed to investing in this connection, and the many links between our countries that bring it to life, now and for future generations. The visit of CSG to Japan, and HMS Prince of Wales to Tokyo, will be an unforgettable moment in our partnership.

    Further details of specific programmes and venues will be announced in due course.

    Notes to editors:

    • Operation HIGHMAST involves nearly 4,000 British personnel across the Royal Navy (2,500), Royal Air Force (592), and British Army (900)
    • Exercise Talisman Sabre involved 3,000 UK personnel
    • The deployment includes 12 international partners contributing ships or personnel, including Norway, Canada, Spain, and New Zealand
    • The CSG will cover over 26,000 nautical miles and visit more than 40 countries over eight months
    • This follows the successful 2021 deployment of HMS Queen Elizabeth, which travelled 26,000 nautical miles and engaged with 40 nations
    • The deployment supports the government’s commitment to increase defence spending to 2.6% of GDP
    • This follows the establishment of GCAP headquarters in Reading and continued progress on the trilateral fighter programme between the UK, Japan, and Italy
    • Trade between the UK and Indo-Pacific region accounts for 17% of total UK trade, worth £286 billion annually
    • Japan is the UK’s 15th largest trading partner. Total UK exports to Japan amounted to £14.7 billion in the four quarters to the end of Q3 2024, whilst UK imports from Japan totalled £12.4 billion over the same period.
    • The strong economic partnership is further evidenced by Japan’s record £17.7 billion investment commitment into the UK during the Japan G7, spanning sectors including green energy, offshore wind, real estate and quantum technology. The UK was the number two destination for Japanese investment in 2023, highlighting the mutual confidence in our economic relationship.
    • Access restrictions will be implemented at the port terminal during the port visit.
  • PRESS RELEASE : Police to get cutting edge technology to tackle grooming gangs [August 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : Police to get cutting edge technology to tackle grooming gangs [August 2025]

    The press release issued by the Home Office on 6 August 2025.

    Access to AI-enabled investigation tools expanded to all police forces in England and Wales, helping officers identify, expose and take down criminal networks.

    Children, young people and vulnerable adults across England and Wales will be better protected from grooming gangs and other vile organised exploitation, as all police forces gain access to leading-edge investigative technology. The government is injecting £426,000 of new funding into the Tackling Organised Exploitation (TOEX) Programme so it can extend access to its Capabilities Environment, a suite of state-of-the-art investigative apps and tools, to every police force in England and Wales, building on the 13 which currently have access.

    The TOEX Capabilities Environment expansion supports the first phase of Operation Beaconport, the new national policing operation announced following Baroness Casey’s National Audit on Group-based Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse. Police officers will be able to access the tools to assist with any criminal investigation in their force. To date, these tools have been used 12,500 times by the 13 forces which have access to them, saving over £20 million and 16,000 investigator hours. This is expected to increase exponentially with the funded expansion.

    Led by the National Crime Agency in collaboration with the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC), the Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) Taskforce and the TOEX Programme, Operation Beaconport will, for the first time, bring together the full strength of policing to address past failures, deliver justice, and ensure complex cases of group-based child sexual exploitation – including grooming gangs – are enhanced to ensure offenders are pursued and vulnerable members of our communities are protected.

    Operation Beaconport has already begun work that will lead to the review of more than 1,200 closed cases of group-based child sexual exploitation cases that were not progressed to prosecution. Following this initial review, recommendations will be made to forces to reinvestigate cases that have been improperly closed, and to the Crown Prosecution Service to review a previous charging decision when it appears to be incorrect.

    Jess Phillips, Minister for Safeguarding and Violence Against Women and Girls, said:

    The sexual exploitation of children by grooming gangs is one of the most horrific crimes and we must punish perpetrators, provide justice for victims and survivors, and protect today’s children from harm.

    In June, this government responded to Baroness Casey’s report by announcing a national inquiry to direct targeted local reviews, alongside a new national police operation – measures that will deliver real results – and we’ve wasted no time in making these happen.

    Baroness Casey flagged the need to upgrade police information systems to improve investigations and safeguard children at risk. Today we are investing in these critical tools.

    Part of the Home Office-funded CSE Taskforce, the TOEX Programme provides dedicated intelligence, analytical, and technical expertise to support forces undertaking complex investigations into organised exploitation crimes such as modern slavery, county lines, and child sexual abuse and exploitation, including grooming gangs.

    The TOEX Capabilities Environment is already available in all nine regional organised crime units and is being used by 13 forces. With today’s announcement of new funding, all police investigators in England and Wales will have access to the full array of TOEX’s AI-enabled, time-saving tools. These include the Data Analysis and Review Tool, which analyses large amounts of digital data to identify communications patterns and relationships between suspects; and TOEX Translate, a tool for the bulk translation of foreign language text from seized mobile devices.

    Deputy Chief Constables Becky Riggs, NPCC lead for child protection and abuse investigation and Dave McLaren, NPCC lead for the national intelligence portfolio, said:

    This funding gives every force access to proven tools that make a real difference in our ability to investigate complex crimes, safeguard victims, and pursue offenders more effectively.

    The TOEX Programme is a powerful example of what we can achieve when we combine operational insight with innovative technology. The national rollout of these tools will improve outcomes for victims and deliver a more consistent, intelligence-led approach across the country.

    The Home Secretary has also written to all police forces urging them to make sure they are fulfilling their obligation to collect suspect ethnicity data as part of the government’s commitment to transparency and accountability.

    As part of the Plan for Change mission to create safer streets by increasing public confidence in policing and the criminal justice system, the government is committed to ensuring forces have the tools they need to protect communities.

    Further details on the national inquiry and Operation Beaconport will be announced in the coming weeks as the government continues to prioritise protecting children, pursuing perpetrators and supporting victims and survivors.

    Graeme Biggar, National Crime Agency Director General, said:

    Following the publication of Baroness Casey’s report in June, we have been working with policing partners to develop and implement a national operation, in response to recommendation 2 of the report – to establish a comprehensive national response to group-based CSE across England and Wales.

    Providing reassurance to victims, survivors and their families is our main focus. We must and will ensure their voices are heard and collectively, we will restore confidence that the law enforcement response to child sexual exploitation is without fear or favour, is evidence based and not undermined by fears of inflaming community tensions.

    We are working closely with stakeholders from across many sectors to define the scope and delivery model of the operation and will provide further updates when we are able to.

    Vicki Green, CEO, Marie Collins Foundation, said:

    We welcome the Home Office’s investment in technology that helps detect offenders and protect children. The use of AI tools to support faster investigations, identify victims earlier, and bring offenders to justice is a vital step forward. Technology used to safeguard children and ensure perpetrators have nowhere to hide is something we wholeheartedly applaud.

    Gabrielle Shaw, Chief Executive of the National Association for People Abused in Childhood (NAPAC), said:

    NAPAC welcomes this step towards a more intelligence-driven and trauma-informed policing response. As part of the CSE Taskforce, we have seen how technology can reveal complex patterns of abuse – its true value lies in how it is applied and whether it leads to meaningful action that survivors can trust. Drawing on over 27 years of insight from supporting adult survivors, NAPAC knows how important it is to recognise patterns early and respond with consistency and care. The expanded use of TOEX tools across all police forces is a positive move that could help deliver stronger outcomes for those affected by organised exploitation.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Patients will receive medicines 3-6 months faster under 10-Year Health Plan, as regulators set out plans [August 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : Patients will receive medicines 3-6 months faster under 10-Year Health Plan, as regulators set out plans [August 2025]

    The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 6 August 2025.

    Under a joint information sharing agreement, pharmaceutical companies will be invited to register early with the MHRA and NICE to allow parallel decision making over licencing and value.

    The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) today (Wednesday, 6 August) described how the 10-Year Health Plan will lead to faster medicines access for patients in the NHS in England.

    Under a joint information sharing agreement, pharmaceutical companies will be invited to register early with both agencies to allow parallel decision making over licencing and value. It will mean more medicines receive approval for use on the NHS in England at the same time as they are licensed for use in the UK. It’s anticipated that patients in England will receive the newest medicines 3-6 months earlier as a result.

    Part of the 10-Year Health Plan and industrial strategy, the new joint service reflects the government’s commitment to smarter regulation, with a target to cut administrative costs for businesses by 25%.

    The enhanced coordinated approach offers medicine developers an integrated advice service and an aligned pathway to help them streamline both regulatory and Health Technology Assessment (HTA) requirements and provides a clearer route to help get their treatments to patients.

    To benefit from this service, companies should register their products on UK PharmaScan, the national horizon scanning database, at least three years before their expected marketing authorisation.

    Health and Social Care Secretary, Wes Streeting, said:

    “This government is slashing red tape and turbocharging economic growth of the life sciences sector so patients can get the innovative treatments they need, faster.

    “To save our NHS and make it fit for the future we have to do things differently. By having two of our most important regulators join forces we’ll rapidly remove barriers, get patients access to vital medicines, and grow the economy.

    “With a technological and life sciences revolution taking place, Britain should be at the forefront of it. Our 10 Year Health Plan and Life Sciences Sector Plan will help us drive the breakthroughs we need to be best in class and boost growth across the country.”

    Lawrence Tallon, Chief Executive of the MHRA, said:

    “We are completely focused on making sure patients can benefit from safe, effective and affordable medicines and treatments as soon as possible.

    “We are working in closer partnership with NICE to build a faster and more efficient regulatory system, designed to accelerate UK market entry and deliver innovative, life-changing treatments to NHS patients faster.

    “This marks an important step in delivering smarter regulation – strengthening UK’s global life sciences offer and reinforcing our position as an attractive destination for innovation and international investment.”

    Dr Sam Roberts, Chief Executive of NICE, said:

    “Patients in England are already receiving medicines much earlier as NICE is evaluating treatments faster than ever before. In the year to March the time between licence and guidance was cut by 26% and when companies work with us to reduce timelines NICE guidance is published on average just 48 days after licence.

    “This joint working with our partners at the MHRA will allow us to accelerate medicines into the NHS even further to help transform the health of the nation, alleviate pressure on the service where possible and support a thriving life sciences sector in this country.”

    Mark Samuels, Chief Executive of Medicines UK, said:

    “This new joint approach between NICE and the MHRA is very welcome, particularly in supporting the earlier launch of new biosimilar medicines, which means more patients can be treated sooner.

    “Streamlining market entry will further enhance the UK’s attractiveness as a first-choice country for introducing new medicines.”

    Richard Torbett, Chief Executive of the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry, said:

    “We welcome this initiative, which represents one of many necessary improvements in the UK health and life sciences ecosystem. Streamlining approval processes will allow both agencies to give patients earlier and equitable access to the innovative medicines needed to improve UK health outcomes.

    “We look forward to continued progress in other areas to enable the life sciences sector to fulfil its growth potential for the benefit of patients, the NHS and the economy.”

    Notes to editors

    About MHRA

    • The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is responsible for regulating all medicines and medical devices in the UK by ensuring they work and are acceptably safe.  All our work is underpinned by robust and fact-based judgements to ensure that the benefits justify any risks.
    • The MHRA is an executive agency of the Department of Health and Social Care.
    • For media enquiries, please contact the newscentre@mhra.gov.uk, or call on 020 3080 7651.

    About NICE

    NICE’s core purpose is to help practitioners and commissioners get the best care to people, fast, while ensuring value for the taxpayer.
    We do this by:

    • producing useful and usable guidance for health and care practitioners
    • providing rigorous, independent assessment of complex evidence for new health technologies
    • developing recommendations that focus on what matters most and drive innovation into the hands of health and care practitioners
    • encouraging the uptake of best practice to improve outcomes for everyone.