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Tag: 2025

  • PRESS RELEASE : First illegal immigrants detained under landmark UK-France deal [August 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : First illegal immigrants detained under landmark UK-France deal [August 2025]

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

    First illegal immigrants detained under the groundbreaking UK-France treaty.

    Immigrants who arrived in the UK on a small boat have been detained under the UK-France treaty, which is now operational.

    Detentions began for those who arrived in the UK on a small boat yesterday lunchtime (August 6). They will be held in immigration removal centres pending their removal. The UK will make referrals to France within 3 days, and the French authorities will be expected to respond within 14 days. Those detained will be briefed on the procedure through which their return to France will take place, and the next operational phase of preparing each individual for removal will be activated.

    Today (August 7) the reciprocal process to allow migrants to submit an expression of interest to come the UK has also begun. Applicants must satisfy the eligibility and suitability criteria, including uploading a passport or other identity documents as well as a recent photograph. For those selected, they will have to pass further stringent security checks and biometric controls, meaning that only those individuals that the UK Government has approved for entry will be allowed through the new route.

    As the one-in, one-out pilot scheme continues into its implementation phase, the Home Office is also working to communicate information about the new treaty to any migrants in Northern France and beyond who are considering making a dangerous small boat crossing, with a hard-hitting campaign warning them not to risk their money or their life, to be promoted in the coming days across multiple channels.

    Border Force, Immigration Enforcement and Home Office officials will continue to work round the clock over the coming weeks to identify and detain individuals under the treaty, and undertake the necessary processes to prepare them for their return to France. Both the UK and French authorities will also be keeping the operation of the scheme under constant review in these initial weeks to deal with any emerging issues, as well as seeking to ramp up the pace and scale of returns as the agreement progresses.

    Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said:

    Yesterday, under the terms of this groundbreaking new treaty, the first group of people to cross the Channel were detained after their arrival at Western Jet Foil and will now be held in detention until they can be returned to France. That sends a message to every migrant currently thinking of paying organised crime gangs to go to the UK that they will be risking their lives and throwing away their money if they get into a small boat.

    No one should be making this illegal and dangerous journey that undermines our border security and lines the pockets of the criminal gangs.

    Criminal gangs have spent 7 years embedding themselves along our border and it will take time to unravel them, but these detentions are an important step towards undermining their business model and unravelling the false promises they make. These are the early days for this pilot scheme, and it will develop over time. But we are on track to do what no other government has done since this crisis first started – sending small boat arrivals back to France and strengthening our borders through the Plan for Change.

    Returns to other countries and immigration enforcement work will continue alongside the treaty. In its first year in office, this government returned more than 35,000 people with no right to be in the UK – a 28% increase in returns of failed asylum seekers and a 13% increase in overall returns compared to the previous year. The government also ramped up activity against illegal working, with over 9,000 raids since July 2024, resulting in 6,410 arrests – up 48% and 51% on the previous year.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Record attendance gains unlock over £2bn in future earnings [August 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : Record attendance gains unlock over £2bn in future earnings [August 2025]

    The press release issued by the Department for Education on 7 August 2025.

    School attendance in England has surged, with 5 million more days in classrooms and 140,000 fewer persistently absent pupils.

    Children across England are returning to school in record numbers, with over 5 million more days in classrooms this year – signalling the biggest year-on-year improvement in attendance for a decade.

    New figures show more than 140,000 fewer pupils are persistently absent compared to last year, as the government’s relentless focus on tackling the inherited school attendance crisis begins to pay dividends.

    Of those, 45,000 are young people from deprived backgrounds, reflecting particular improvement among disadvantaged children.

    The dramatic improvement means teachers have saved over 10,000 days that would have been spent helping absent pupils catch up, freeing them to focus on delivering excellent education to whole classes.

    Spending more time in school boosts learning outcomes for children, but it’s also about making friends and having new experiences, helping them to achieve and thrive. It also has a huge impact on children’s future chances in life.  With a single day out of school costing an estimated £750 in lost earnings across the course of a career for a typical student, this year’s progress alone will protect over £2bn in pupils’ future earnings and building the skilled workforce needed to drive economic growth.

    The attendance breakthrough demonstrates the start of a fundamental shift in classrooms across the country, with attendance improving in all regions, as more children get back into the habit of attending every day.

    The department is already making progress through our Plan for Change and this year has delivered major upgrades to school and LA-level data. This puts AI-powered reports into the hands of schools so they can benchmark their attendance against schools in similar circumstances to tackle attendance issues head on, alongside significantly expanding our pilot mentors scheme to directly target young people who need more support.

    This builds on the government’s wider approach to tackle the root causes of absence, including rolling out free breakfast clubs in every primary school, expanding access to mental health support in schools, and ensuring earlier intervention for pupils with special educational needs.

    Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson said:

    The record improvement in school attendance shows we are turning the tide on a crisis that saw a generation go missing from England’s schools.

    Getting children back in classrooms, where they belong, is non-negotiable if we are to break the unfair link between background and success so we can build a fairer country – a cornerstone of our Plan for Change.

    When we tackle attendance head-on, everyone benefits – pupils get the consistent education they deserve, teachers can focus on driving up standards, and we build the stronger workforce our economy needs.

    With fewer children missing crucial learning, pupils are more likely to develop the consistent study habits, knowledge and social skills that will serve them whether they progress to apprenticeships, colleges or universities.

    The attendance gains sit alongside for the government’s mission to ensure 75% of five-year-olds reach key development milestones by 2028, recognising that regular school attendance from the earliest years creates the foundation for lifelong success.

    To go further, new attendance and behaviour hubs will work nationwide to support more than 5,000 schools a year in tackling absence, while specialist attendance mentors are working directly with 10,000 of the most vulnerable children over the next three years to remove barriers to attending school.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Lebanese Army Commander Ends Visit to The United Kingdom [August 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : Lebanese Army Commander Ends Visit to The United Kingdom [August 2025]

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

    Lebanon’s inclusion in the ‘Dragon Group’ meetings underscores its strategic importance & longstanding partnership with the UK in promoting regional stability.

    The Commander of the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF), General Rodolph Haykal attended the UK-hosted “Dragon Group” between 4-5 August, accompanied by UK Defence Attaché to Lebanon Lt Col Charlie Smith, reinforcing the strong military partnership between Lebanon and the UK.

    The Dragon Group is a UK-led initiative launched in 2018 aboard HMS Dragon to bring together Chiefs of Defence from across the Middle Eastern region. Initially comprising nine nations, the group has evolved to reflect the region’s broader security landscape. Lebanon’s inclusion this year underscores its strategic importance and longstanding partnership with the UK in promoting regional stability.

    The ninth meeting took place in Edinburgh, Scotland, to coincide with the world-famous Military Tattoo.

    During his visit, General Haykal met with the UK Chief of Defence Staff Admiral Sir Tony Radakin and Chiefs of Defence from across the Middle East. Discussions focused on enhancing bilateral cooperation, regional security, and continued UK support for the LAF as the sole legitimate defender of Lebanon.

    This visit underscores the UK’s commitment to Lebanon’s stability and sovereignty. Since 2009, the UK has provided over £161 million in support to Lebanon’s security institutions, including £106 million in direct assistance to the LAF through training, equipment, and infrastructure.

    Charge D’Affaires Victoria Dunne said:

    The visit of the Lebanese Army Commander General Haykal to the UK reflects the strength of our defence partnership and the UK’s ongoing support for the Lebanese Armed Forces. We stand with Lebanon in its efforts to maintain peace, security, and sovereignty.

    UK Defence Attaché Lt. Col. Charlie Smith said:

    The Lebanese Armed Forces plays a vital role in Lebanon’s and the region’s stability. I am grateful for General Haykal’s valuable contribution to this meeting of the Dragon Group. We are proud to work alongside the LAF supporting with training, kit and equipment. Our bilateral military cooperation remains strong and we reaffirm our commitment to their mission and capabilities.

  • 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.