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Tag: 2025

  • PRESS RELEASE : UK-India Technology Security Initiative – Anniversary Statement [July 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : UK-India Technology Security Initiative – Anniversary Statement [July 2025]

    The press release issued by the Cabinet Office on 24 July 2025.

    Statement on the one-year anniversary of the landmark UK-India Technology Security Initiative.

    On the occasion of the one-year anniversary of the landmark UK-India Technology Security Initiative (TSI), the UK and India reaffirmed their shared commitment to harness frontier technologies to drive economic growth and strengthen national security.

    Both parties welcomed the Initiative’s achievements to date and underscored the transformative potential of the TSI to deliver cutting-edge innovations and generate investment across the entire technology value chain.

    The TSI has already enabled industry, academia and government to deliver new strategic opportunities. Over the past year, both sides have:

    • Launched a flagship £7 million joint research programme on Future Telecoms in 2024 to support joint Open RAN and 5G/6G testbed development.
    • Formalised collaboration between key telecoms lab facilities – India’s Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT) and the UK’s Smart RAN Open Network Interoperability Centre (SONIC) for bilateral collaboration in telecom innovation, testing and emerging technology.
    • Accelerated development in responsible and trustworthy AI, including through the first UK-India Conference on AI opportunities, held in Bengaluru in February 2025.
    • Completed the successful first phase of the world’s first UK-India Critical Minerals Supply Chain Observatory. Phase Two, supported by £1.8 million of new funding, will deliver the world’s largest digital data infrastructure on the critical minerals value chain and establish a new satellite campus at the Indian School of Mines in Dhanbad.
    • Strengthened our partnership in FEMTECH – Women-Orientated Health Tech by collaboration between National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) and Department of Biotechnology (DBT).
    • Initiated several new partnerships between private sector from both sides in the fields of Telecoms, Critical Minerals, Advanced Materials and AI.

    To further our strategic collaboration, both sides will:

    • Harness together, the benefits of the global AI revolution and boost economic growth through a UK-India joint centre for AI that will promote trusted real world AI innovations and widespread adoption.
    • Advance next generation, secure-by-design telecommunications through joint research, development and innovation, strategically collaborating on advanced connectivity and cyber resilience. Establish an India-UK Connectivity and Innovation Centre to pioneer AI-driven telecoms, non-terrestrial networks and secure 5G and 6G. Work together through international fora like ITU and 3GPP for 6G.
    • Secure resilient and sustainable critical mineral supply chains to power the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Establish a UK-India Critical Minerals Guild to transform financing standards and innovation. Together, the two sides will prioritise processing, R&D, recycling, managing risk to supply chains, market development etc. and will champion circular economy principles and advance traceability.
    • Use the UK-India biotechnology partnership to unlock the potential in biofoundries, bioprinting, biomanufacturing, bio-based materials, advanced biosciences and drive innovation across health, clean energy and sustainable agriculture. Explore the possibility of setting up a UK-India Biotechnology Accelerator.

    The UK and India continue to work together across other TSI commitments including the collaboration on Graphene and 2D Materials Technology.
    In recognition of the TSI’s success, the two leaders agreed to expand the TSI into new frontier domains, particularly to unlock engagement on futuristic, secure and strategic technologies. This expansion will further align UK and Indian national security priorities and unlock new opportunities for industry and researchers.

    Both parties called on industry, including start-ups and academia to further catalyse the UK-India technology partnership and to take advantage of the opportunities presented by the TSI.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Prime Minister secures thousands of British jobs and £6 billion in investment and export wins as historic trade deal with India signed [July 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : Prime Minister secures thousands of British jobs and £6 billion in investment and export wins as historic trade deal with India signed [July 2025]

    The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 24 July 2025.

    Today, the Prime Minister will welcome nearly £6 billion in new investment and export wins.

    • Thousands of jobs created for Brits through new Indian investment and export wins worth almost £6 billion
    • New figures show that £4.8bn trade deal will unlock economic growth for each region and nation of the UK – delivering on the government’s Plan for Change
    • UK and India also agree to ramp up joint efforts against organised crime and illegal migration with new framework to tackle trafficking, document fraud and remove barriers to return

    Today, the Prime Minister will welcome nearly £6 billion in new investment and export wins, which will create over 2,200 British jobs across the country as Indian firms expand their operations in the UK and British companies secure new business opportunities in India. These deals will drive jobs in high-growth sectors like aerospace, technology and advanced manufacturing – supporting engineers, technicians and supply chain workers, in every corner of the UK.

    It comes as the Prime Minister is set to meet the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, today for the signing of the landmark UK-India trade deal. From Coventry to Carlisle, new analysis shows communities across every region of the UK will benefit from its £4.8 billion increase to UK GDP each year.

    Thanks to the deal, British workers will enjoy a collective uplift in wages of £2.2 billion each year and could also see cheaper prices and more choice on clothes, shoes, and food products.

    The UK already imports £11 billion in goods from India, but liberalised tariffs on Indian goods will make it easier and cheaper to buy their best products. For businesses, this could mean potential savings when importing components and materials used in areas such as advanced manufacturing or luxury and consumer goods.

    Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:

    Our landmark trade deal with India is a major win for Britain. It will create thousands of British jobs across the UK, unlock new opportunities for businesses and drive growth in every corner of the country, delivering on our Plan for Change.

    We’re putting more money in the pockets of hardworking Brits and helping families with the cost of living, and we’re determined to go further and faster to grow the economy and raise living standards across the UK.

    India’s average tariff on UK products will drop from 15% to 3% which means British companies selling products to India from soft drinks and cosmetics to cars and medical devices will find it easier to sell to the Indian market.

    Whisky producers will benefit from tariffs slashed in half, reduced immediately from 150% to 75% and then dropped even further to 40% over the next ten years – giving the UK an advantage over international competitors in reaching the Indian market.

    Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said:

    The billions brought to our economy from the trade deal signed today will reach all regions and nations of the UK so working people in every community can feel the benefits.

    The almost £6 billion in new investment and export wins announced today will deliver thousands of jobs and shows the strength of our partnership with India as we ensure the UK is the best place in the world to invest and do business.

    This government is proving time and again that we can deliver on our mission to grow the economy, put more money in pockets and boost living standards under our Plan for Change.

    The two Prime Ministers have also signed a renewed Comprehensive and Strategic Partnership, which will see closer collaboration on defence, education, climate, technology and innovation. This comes exactly one year since the countries signed the landmark UK-India Technology Security Initiative, which sees joint work on telecoms security and unlocking investment across emerging technologies – telecoms, critical minerals, AI, quantum, health/bio tech, advanced materials and semiconductors.

    The UK and India have also agreed to strengthen cooperation in tackling corruption, serious fraud, organised crime, and irregular migration through enhanced intelligence sharing and operational collaboration. This includes committing to finalising a groundbreaking new criminal records sharing agreement, facilitating the exchange of criminal records to support criminal proceedings, maintain accurate watchlists and enable the enforcement of travel bans. These measures represent a significant step forward in joint efforts to combat organised immigration crime.

    Aligned with the UK’s recent Industrial and Trade Strategies, the deal will support the sectors which drive the most growth for the economy. The UK’s large and varied manufacturing sectors will benefit from tariffs cut on aerospace (as high as 11% reduced to 0%), automotives (up to 110% down to 10% under a quota) and electrical machinery (from up to 22% down to either 0% of a 50% reduction).

    A reduction in tariffs, combined with a reduction in regulatory barriers to trade between the UK and India are estimated to:

    • Increase UK exports to India by nearly 60% in the long run – this is equivalent to an additional £15.7 billion of UK exports to India when applied to projections of future trade in 2040.
    • Increase bilateral trade by nearly 39% in the long run, equivalent to £25.5 billion a year, when compared to 2040 projected levels of trade in the absence of an agreement

    The clean energy industry will have brand new, unprecedented access to India’s vast procurement market as the country makes the switch to renewable energy and continues to see growing energy demand.

    For financial and professional business services, locked in access will offer certainty to expand in India’s growing market and measures such as binding India’s foreign investment cap for the insurance sector, ensuring UK financial services companies are treated on an equal footing with domestic suppliers.

    Meanwhile, 26 British companies have secured new business in India. Airbus & Rolls-Royce will soon begin delivering Airbus aircraft – with over half powered by Rolls-Royce engines – to major Indian airlines as part of around £5 billion worth of contracts recently agreed. These orders will help sustain hundreds of jobs across their respective sites in Filton, Broughton and Derby.

    18 firms have confirmed new investment including Zerowatt Energy, AI powered energy intelligence platform is setting up its Global HQ in Leicester. The firm will invest £10m and create 50 new jobs across Leicester, Manchester, Edinburgh and London over the next three years.

    Other UK and Indian businesses who have confirmed almost £6 billion in new investments and export deals today creating over 2,200 jobs across the UK includes:

    • Carbon Clean, a UK-based leader in carbon capture, with projected UK export contributions of £83 million over the next five years, has invested £7.6 million in a Global Innovation Centre in Mumbai. This ODI and export wins will unlock 250 jobs across London, Glasgow and Huddersfield as well as 100 jobs in Mumbai.
    • AI and data services company, DCube AI, is investing £5 million in the UK, unlocking 50 jobs across Manchester and London in the next three years to strength its technology offering to UK customers.
    • Occuity, an innovative UK AI healthcare company has partnered with Remidio Innovative Solutions Pvt. Ltd., a leading Indian manufacturer and distributor of ophthalmic medical devices to bring Occuity’ s cutting-edge ophthalmic screening technologies to India, improving access to innovative and non-invasive eye screening and leading to an export value of £74.3 million over 5 years.
    • Johnson Matthey has secured recent contracts of over £20 million for process licensing, engineering, and catalysts supply in India and will invest £4 million in a new plant at Taloja (Maharashtra ) to manufacture novel homogenous catalysts, ligands, and metals salts and in doubling its capacity of Oxidic Nickel at Panki in Uttar Pradesh.
    • Marcus Evans Group, a global business intelligence and summits business company established its new Global Technology office in Mumbai to serve its 59 offices worldwide and has confirmed a combined Export (£42mn) and ODI (£27mn) win of £69 million over the next five years from India.
    • LTIMindtree , a global technology consulting and digital solutions company plans to further expand its London operations by adding over 300 highly skilled jobs, investing £1m. This includes a state-of-the-art AI innovation studio and showcase lab.
    • Aurionpro, a global enterprise technology leader in Banking, Payments, Insurance, Data Centers, and Public Sector technology is investing over £20M to launch its UK HQ, creating 150+ high-value jobs in multiple locations across UK over 3 years. It will also open AI-powered R&D labs in collaboration with top UK universities to develop next-gen transport technology and lead the global Safe Superintelligence (SSI) movement, ensuring AI is built safely and ethically.

    Tufan Erginbiligic, Rolls-Royce CEO, said:

    India is an important market for our business, with over 90 years of partnership with Indian industry and the Indian Government. We welcome the provisions in this Free Trade Agreement, including those that bring closer alignment with international standards for trade in civil aerospace. These agreements will benefit Rolls-Royce and our customers, paving the way for future aerospace growth in India.

    Nik Jhangiani, Interim Chief Executive, Diageo, said:

    This agreement marks a great moment for both Scotch and Scotland, and we’ll be raising a glass of Johnnie Walker to all those who have worked so hard to get it secured.

    William Bain, Head of Trade Policy at the BCC, said:

    The signing of this agreement is a clear signal of the UK’s continuing commitment to free and fair trade. It will open a new era for our businesses and boost investment between two of the world’s largest economies.

    Currently around 16,000 UK companies are trading goods with Indian companies, and there is high interest in our Chamber Network to grow that.  This deal will create new opportunities in the transport, travel, creative and business support sectors alongside traditional strengths in finance and professional services.

    Jean-Etienne Gourgues, Chivas Brothers Chairman and CEO, said:

    Signature of the UK-India FTA is a sign of hope in challenging times for the spirits industry.  India is the world’s biggest whisky market by volume and greater access will be an eventual game changer for the export of our Scotch whisky brands, such as Chivas Regal and Ballantine’s.

    The deal will support long term investment and jobs in our distilleries in Speyside and our bottling plant at Kilmalid and help deliver growth in both Scotland and India over the next decade. Let’s hope that both governments will move quickly to ratification so business can get to work implementing the deal!

    The remaining trade and investment wins included in the aggregate figures includes:

    • Cloudseals pioneers in deep tech and cloud innovations. They specialize in AI, AGI, and quantum computing and have a strong foundation in providing top-tier cloud professional services. Cloudseals is investing £5 million to create 150 jobs over the next three years in the UK.
    • Antino, technology consulting & digital development company, is investing £1 million to create 60 jobs over the next three years in the UK.
    • Kiya.ai, a trusted technology partner for financial institutions, delivering innovative, secure, and scalable software solutions that drive digital transformation, operational excellence, and customer-centric growth is expanding in London and creating scaling to 50 new jobs over 3 years and with £1.5 million investment.
    • Kegien Enterprise a distinguished marine products company specialising in everything from fresh to frozen seafood is investing £2.3 million and creating 25 jobs in UK over next three years
    • Sanvi Industries’ UK-based subsidiary, Sinar Technology, will invest £4.6 million in agri-tech R&D and launch new moisture and smart moisture meters, creating 40 new jobs.
    • PromptTech Global, a leading enterprise technology firm, is investing £11 million and 60 jobs in London/ UK regions over the next three years.
    • 2base technologies global digital transformation company specialising in AI led product engineering, intelligent automation and scalable technology solutions company, investing £10 million and 50 high skilled jobs in the next three years.
    • Allied Digital is embarking on a strategic expansion of its UK operations, aiming to significantly scale its workforce and local capabilities. The company plans to grow its UK team to 500 high skilled jobs by March 2028. To facilitate this growth, Allied Digital anticipates a capital investment of £1.2 million over three-years.
    • Kyzer Software, a leading Indian provider of banking software solutions, is expanding its global footprint with a strategic investment of £10 million over the next 3 years to establish operations in London. This move is set to create 50 new jobs over the coming years, reinforcing Kyzer’s commitment to driving digital transformation in Trade Finance, Compliance, and RegTech across international markets.
    • Mswipe Technologies, one of India’s top payment processors, is launching in the UK this August. Their offering is built on three pillars: a. Low sign-up fees, low processing fees and flexible contracts, b. Dedicated relationship managers, c. Premium hardware with advanced features. They are investing £8 million and creating 50 jobs in the UK over the next three years.
    • CredAble, India’s largest working capital technology platform, is setting up operations in London with plans to invest £15 million over the next three years, creating 25 new roles.
    • Flamingo Pharma is expanding its UK footprint with a £5 million investment and 15 new jobs over a period of 3 years, bringing affordable, high-quality generics across key therapeutic areas — from antibiotics to cardiovascular care.
    • Techvantage Systems, a global leader in AI and Data Analytics, is planning to invest £10 million in London over three years to expand its flagship platform, Zentis AI, focused on automating BFSI processes. This strategic move will create 50 high-quality jobs, with plans to scale operations and innovation across the United Kingdom.
    • Virtual Autopsy UK delivers non-invasive autopsy technology that preserves the dignity of the deceased, projecting £29 million in exports to India over five years.
    • Smile Lab’s Instasmile is set to take India by storm and launch their D2C dental business worth £20 million over 5 years through innovative clip-on veneer and aligner products making smile makeovers accessible to the entire Indian population.
    • Wilson Power Solutions announces £21 million investment in Chennai to quadruple transformer manufacturing capacity, supporting the clean energy transition in both India and the UK through strengthened engineering collaboration between the two countries.
    • MergeXR Studio have secured film production, visual effects automation and live content production technology contracts worth £34 million with Indian studios.
    • International Aerospace Manufacturing Private Limited (IAMPL) – a joint-venture between Rolls-Royce plc and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), is expanding its manufacturing footprint with an investment of £30 million at its facility in Hosur, India.
    • Croda is investing over £50 million in setting up a Greenfield speciality chemicals plant at Dahej in Gujarat and the group already operates a world class manufacturing site near Mumbai.
    • Northern Ireland-based Lakeland Dairies Foodservice, which currently exports its dairy products to 80+ countries worldwide, announces its entry into the Indian market with its flagship product, ‘Millac Gold’, through their Indian Distribution partners ‘Euro Foods Pvt’. The projected export value for 5 years are in excess of £5 million for the Millac brand from the United Kingdom to India.
    • BAPIO Training Academy, a leading organisation in Indo-UK healthcare collaboration has signed business partnerships worth £13 million over 5 years, with multiple Indian hospitals and healthcare providers to develop education, training and capacity building programme for doctors and allied healthcare worker(s) and support the recruitment of over 400 doctors and allied health workers for the UK.
    • Buro Happold is expanding rapidly in India and providing world-class infrastructure consultancy to support India’s development, and this expansion is expected to generate employment for approximately 700 people by investing £5mn over the next 3 yrs.
    • Poweronics UK has signed a Transfer of Technology agreement with Elventive Tech Pvt Ltd worth £3 million for supplying technology for manufacturing of specialised electronic “High Voltage Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor (IGBT) Gate Driver” control cards in India.
    • Kent-based Fitworld Company UK Ltd. is launching its premium BRITPRO London nutraceutical and sports supplement range in India, following a £1.94 million export win spread over next 5 years.
    • Anpario, a UK based specialist in natural feed additives, is actively expanding its presence in the Indian animal and aquaculture market which led to business of £2 million.
    • RedoQ has established its largest operation outside of UK in Kolkata in Jan 2025 with a plan to invest £23.8 million and projected revenue of £25.4 million over the next 5 years.
    • Bikal Technologies Partners with Yotta Data Services to Accelerate Global AI Cloud Adoption and develop Global AI capabilities for Asia’s Largest Tier IV Data Centre (2nd Largest Tier IV Data Center in the World). Bikal Technologies has confirmed Export wins of £21.10 million and ODI win of £4.9 million from India totalling £26 million over the next 5 years from this project.
    • ARUP, a global leader in aviation, has secured contracts worth £2 million from Indian airport operators for benchmarking, design standards and optimisation services.
    • Water Offsets UK has set up a JV company with an Indian company to deliver water conservation and recycling technologies contributing to India’s water security and is projected wins of around £56.4 million over the next five years. The JV will have operational offices in India and the United Kingdom.
    • Thor Specialities secured business deals worth £ 45 million for supplying performance chemicals to Indian Paints and Coatings Industry.
    • SmartViz Limited is bringing its award winning IoT and AI-powered Realtime Building Analytics and Digital Twin platform to make India’s large infrastructure projects more efficient and sustainable. Working on multiple projects within the Smart Buildings and Smart Cities areas, the company has projected wins worth £5.6 million in the next 3 years.
    • Helical Tech has confirmed £ 5.72 million worth new ODI investment to expand its Pune manufacturing facility to make India it’s global supply base.
    • Otter Group announces a £2 million ODI to expand its India facility—strengthening its global manufacturing footprint, boosting supply chain resilience, and accelerating growth across key mobility sectors.
    • UPL, a leading provider of sustainable agricultural solutions and services will create 150 agricultural R&D apprenticeships over three years in partnership with Harper Adams University in Telford, while also investing £2.5m over 5 years towards the Oxford-India Centre for Sustainable Development at Somerville College, the University of Oxford.
    • Smiths Detection sees the overall revenue projection of over £50 million in over next 3 years in Indian aviation security, ports and borders and critical infrastructure market from various customers and is promoting the globally proven aviation security screening technologies like Checkpoint CT for the hand baggage screening at the airports in Indian market for highest standards of safety and security, passenger convenience and operational efficiency of airports.
  • PRESS RELEASE : Andy King appointed to lead Companies House [July 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : Andy King appointed to lead Companies House [July 2025]

    The press release issued by the Department for Business and Trade on 24 July 2025.

    Ministers have today confirmed the appointment of Andy King as the new Chief Executive of Companies House, the UK’s registrar of companies.

    Andy brings extensive experience in leadership roles in customer, business operations, regulatory and enforcement settings, including during his time at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Ministry of Defence. He will lead the organisation as it continues to modernise company registration and strengthen the UK’s business environment.

    Companies House plays a vital role in maintaining the integrity of the UK’s corporate landscape, processing over 14 million company filings each year and providing essential information to businesses, lenders, and the public.

    The appointment comes as the organisation prepares for new reforms designed to improve efficiency, enhance corporate transparency, and tackle economic crime.

    Competition and Markets Minister Justin Madders said:

    I’d like to thank Louise Smyth for her significant contribution for the past eight years as CEO and especially for her leading role in the transformation of the organisation.

    Andy King brings excellent expertise to Companies House and I look forward to working together to improve corporate transparency and tackle economic crime.

    This appointment will help strengthen Britain’s business environment and support our Plan for Change to kickstart economic growth.

    New Companies House CEO Andy King said:

    I’m delighted to be joining Companies House and feel honoured to be able to lead such a motivated and dedicated team.

    I am excited by our mission to deliver essential services to business, and the opportunity to be ambitious in our vision for those services, our workforce and our organisation, as we continue to advance our change programme.

    King will take up the role in September and will be responsible for leading Companies House’s 1900-strong workforce across offices in Cardiff, Edinburgh, and Belfast.

    The appointment was made following an open competition overseen by the Civil Service Commission, ensuring the process met the highest standards of fairness and transparency.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Holidaymakers heading to Europe urged to help protect British farmers by not bringing back meat and dairy products [July 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : Holidaymakers heading to Europe urged to help protect British farmers by not bringing back meat and dairy products [July 2025]

    The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 24 July 2025.

    Call for holidaymakers to follow rules introduced to help protect farmers from Foot and Mouth.

    UK holidaymakers heading to Europe this summer are being urged to help protect British farmers from Foot and Mouth disease by not bringing back meat and dairy products

    Europe has seen a wave of cases impacting Hungary, Austria and Germany, and the UK Chief Vet is today (July 24th) urging the British public to comply with the rules, so we avoid a devastating outbreak like the one that was experienced in 2001.

    Foot and Mouth disease is a highly contagious viral disease that can, in some cases, kill cattle, sheep, pigs and other cloven-hoofed animals. It can be carried in animal products – including meat, dairy products and some processed food. The virus can remain viable for months and can rapidly spread through contaminated objects and the movement of people.

    It is illegal for travellers entering GB to bring with them untreated meat or dairy products including lamb, pork, mutton, venison and goat meat, and all other products made from these meats or containing them – such as sandwiches and sausages – from the EU, regardless of whether they are packed, packaged or have been bought at duty free.

    This includes products such as cheese, chorizo, salami, serrano ham, pâté, yoghurt, butter, milk, and sandwiches containing any of the banned meats.

    These strict rules were introduced due to the toll Foot and Mouth can have on the farming industry . An outbreak could result in the culling of large numbers of the country’s livestock and cost the UK economy billions of pounds in production shortfalls, lost trade and disease control. The outbreak in GB in 2001 is estimated to have cost £15 billion (in current prices) in disease control costs alone.

    Biosecurity Minister, Baroness Hayman, said:

    Maintaining the integrity of our biosecurity against Foot and Mouth Disease is essential, and this updated control strategy reflects our strengthened approach to managing that risk. It reflects our clear determination to safeguard our borders.

    We are asking the public to take this seriously. Do not bring prohibited animal or plant products into the country—doing so puts farmers livelihoods at risk.

    UK Chief Veterinary Officer Christine Middlemiss said:

    Foot and Mouth disease has been recently circulating on the continent. The disease presents a significant risk to Britain’s food security and economy.

    This highly contagious disease causes considerable suffering to livestock and has a devastating economic and personal impact on farmers, who lose their prized animals.  I know it is disappointing not to be able to bring back produce from your holidays, but please avoid temptation – you will be doing your bit to help protect our hard-working farmers.

    To further strengthen the country’s response to foot and mouth disease, the Government has today updated the Foot and Mouth Control Strategy for GB which will support the UK’s ability to prevent, detect, and respond to an outbreak, protecting the livestock industry and rural economy. This is the first update in over a decade. This comes ahead of an exercise later this year to test Government preparedness. The updated framework provides information to help farmers protect their business and outlines how government will respond effectively to outbreaks.

    Last month, the Government announced £1bn funding for a new investment programme to build a new National Biosecurity Centre – a cutting-edge scientific campus in Surrey that will serve as the UKs foremost animal biosecurity facility. This will better protect the public and farmers from animal disease by enhancing the country’s detection, surveillance and control capabilities for high-risk animal diseases, such as avian influenza, foot and mouth disease, and African swine fever, and enhance our ability to manage concurrent disease outbreaks.

    Foot and mouth disease is a notifiable disease and must be reported. If you suspect foot and mouth disease in your animals, you must report it immediately by calling:

      • 03000 200 301 in England
      • 0300 303 8268 in Wales
  • PRESS RELEASE : Charles Donald to step down as UK Government Investments CEO next year [July 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : Charles Donald to step down as UK Government Investments CEO next year [July 2025]

    The press release issued by HM Treasury on 24 July 2025.

    Charles Donald stepping down after successfully leading UKGI as its CEO since early 2020.

    • UKGI’s corporate governance and corporate finance advice and support has been significantly expanded since his appointment, particularly through the setting up of the new Financial Instruments and Transactions Advisory Group.
    • The recruitment process for his successor will be launched shortly.

    Charles Donald has announced today (24 July) that he will step down from his role as CEO of UK Government Investments (UKGI) in early 2026 after over five years of leading the company.

    UKGI is the government’s centre for expertise in corporate governance and corporate finance, providing expert advice and solutions to the government, including financial interventions into corporate structures and corporate finance negotiations.

    As CEO, Charles oversaw a significant expansion of UKGI’s activities during the pandemic including the establishment of the Covid Interventions Resolution Group which supported the Bank of England’s £85 billion Covid Corporate Financing Facility.

    The addition of AWE, BBC Commercial, Eutelsat, Octric, the National Wealth Fund, NESO, Network Rail, Reclaim Fund Limited, Sheffield Forgemasters and Sizewell C to UKGI’s governance portfolio also happened during Charles’ time as CEO.

    He was a key player in securing the Treasury’s full exit as a shareholder in NatWest Group in May 2025.

    Economic Secretary to the Treasury, Emma Reynolds, said:

    Charles has been an excellent CEO of UKGI, having led an impressive expansion of its important work to provide advice and support to the Government on complex corporate governance and corporate finance matters.

    I wish him well and look forward to UKGI’s continued work to support our number one mission – delivering economic growth.

    Charles Donald, outgoing CEO of UKGI, said

    It has been an extraordinary privilege to be the CEO of UKGI since early 2020.

    My objective was to continue building the expertise in corporate finance and corporate governance that UKGI brings to government as well as to ensure that UKGI continued to be an effective bridge between Whitehall and the City.

    I am proud to have had the opportunity to grow and further professionalise an organisation of such skilled and dedicated experts who support departments as government’s in-house corporate finance and corporate governance advisory function.

    Vindi Banga, Chair of UKGI, said:

    I am profoundly grateful to Charles for his leadership and commitment to UKGI over the past seven years.

    It has been a privilege to work with Charles as he has led UKGI in support of some of government’s toughest challenges, with his characteristically calm leadership style, wisdom, and immense professional expertise.

    The recruitment process for Charles Donald’s successor will be launched shortly.

    The Board, led by Vindi Banga, is leading the process and as part of a well-ordered succession, Charles will support the transition to the new CEO following their appointment.

    Further information

    • UKGI is the government’s centre of expertise in corporate governance and corporate finance. It provides expert advice and leading solutions that inform and translate government’s decisions into effective outcomes in the national interest.
    • UKGI acts as shareholder representative for, and leads the establishment of, UK government most complex and commercial arm’s length bodies on behalf of sponsor departments. It advises on major UK government corporate finance matters, including financial interventions into corporate structures and corporate finance negotiations; it analyses and advises on the UK government’s contingent liabilities and advises on major UK government corporate finance matters, including financial interventions into corporate structures and corporate finance negotiations.
    • UKGI is owned by HM Treasury and independently managed with a Board comprised predominantly of independent non-executive directors. UKGI works closely with both the private and public sectors, advising and interacting with ministers, Parliament, and Whitehall departments.
  • PRESS RELEASE : £30 million to decarbonise shipping, boost careers and deliver growth across the UK [July 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : £30 million to decarbonise shipping, boost careers and deliver growth across the UK [July 2025]

    The press release issued by the Department for Transport on 24 July 2025.

    Funding will be crucial in supporting the green fuels and technologies of the future, so we can clean up sea travel and trade.

    • coastal communities across the UK will benefit from £30 million to make shipping and sea travel greener, boosting local economies, and supporting jobs and skills
    • decarb funding is helping to revitalise Glasgow’s strong shipbuilding heritage, as Maritime Minister heralds a new Scottish-built high-tech wing sail which can save ships up to 40% per annum in fuel and emissions
    • latest boost builds on over £136 million for already delivered to more than 142 organisations across every region in the UK, delivering on the government’s Plan for Change missions to kickstart economic growth and become a clean energy superpower.

    Coastal communities across the UK are to benefit from £30 million funding to decarbonise shipping and power up local economies the Maritime Minister will announce today (24 July 2025) during a visit to Clydeport in Glasgow.

    Awarded from the sixth round of the Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition (CMDC), successful companies will be given a share of funding to support the development of clean maritime fuels and technologies such as ammonia, hydrogen, methanol, solar and electric.

    Investment in green fuels not only supports the decarbonisation of shipping, helping cement the UK as a clean energy superpower, it also revitalises coastal communities by growing local economies and boosting jobs and skills.

    CMDC has provided over £136 million funding to date to 142 organisations, as part of the wider UK SHORE funding – the government’s flagship programme dedicated to decarbonising maritime – for over 300 organisations, including 250 SMEs. Successful projects include the installation of electric chargepoint networks across ports, including at Aberdeen, the demonstration of an electric crew transfer vessel at Aberdeen Offshore Wind Farm, and the demonstration of a green hydrogen shore power system at the port of Leith.

    Maritime Minister Mike Kane said:

    It’s so exciting to see investment in green fuels and technologies spurring on skills, innovation and manufacturing across the UK, delivering on our Plan for Change missions to kickstart economic growth and become a clean energy superpower.

    We’ve charted a course to net zero shipping by 2050 and this £30 million will be crucial in supporting the green fuels and technologies of the future, so we can clean up sea travel and trade.

    During his visit to Clydeport, the minister will meet with workers from the National Manufacturing Institute Scotland, which is looking to help Smart Green Shipping scale up the manufacturing of the FastRig windsail going forward. Built nearby in Glasgow, the FastRig is a high-tech wing sail which can be installed onto vessels, reducing fuel use and emissions by up to 40% per annum. The project received £3.3 million from the third round of the CMDC and has now been successfully deployed at sea.

    Chris Courtney, CEO, National Manufacturing Institute Scotland said:

    Clean maritime is a vital part of a wider mission to decarbonise transport. Advanced manufacturing is critical to enable companies to scale up novel solutions that deliver emissions reductions and allow the creation of new jobs in these industries of the future.

    We’ve spent the past 2 years working on the CMDC-funded MariLight projects, led by Glasgow-based Malin Marine Consultants, part of the Malin Group, supported by industry partners, where we demonstrated how advanced manufacturing can cut lead times, lower carbon, and enable localised production in shipbuilding. It’s great to see continued momentum through the programme, and we look forward to supporting Smart Green Shipping’s journey as it scales.

    Diane Gilpin, Smart Green Shipping (SGS), CEO said:

    CMDC3 support enabled SGS, a Scottish based business, to demonstrate the safety and robustness of FastRig, our Clyde built wingsails, and to build out our digital decision-making platform, FastReach, which underpins our unique wind-as-a-service proposition.

    Over the last 3 years SGS has invested £7.6 million in R&D, 60% of that in Scotland. We’ve drawn upon engineering design skills in adjacent sectors like renewables and oil and gas, and digital expertise created in Scotland’s vibrant tech community. We are also working alongside the National Manufacturing Institute of Scotland to design circular manufacturing solutions to reduce embedded emissions and minimise use of precious materials while creating good green jobs as part of a sustainable just transition.

    The minister will meet with Peel Ports and local workers at Clydeport’s King George V Docks. Delivering £3 million of investment to support the growing demand for handling huge wind turbine components for the renewable energy sector, Clydeport is keeping Glasgow’s shipbuilding heritage and manufacturing expertise alive, equipping it to meet the modern-day needs of the sector.

    Jim McSporran, Port Director at Peel Ports Clydeport, said:

    We’re proud to welcome the Maritime Minister to Peel Ports Clydeport today and showcase how our facilities continue to create opportunities for investment, jobs and skills that will benefit the people and businesses of Scotland.

    Our recent £3 million investment in road infrastructure at King George V Dock to accommodate growing demand for handling wind turbine components, and our ongoing transformative work at Hunterston PARC in Ayrshire to support the renewables sector, demonstrate our commitment to decarbonising supply chains and enabling the transition to a greener economy.

    It’s fantastic to see government and industry working together to back innovation and today’s visit reinforces how Glasgow’s maritime legacy is helping to drive the UK’s clean energy future.

    Mike Biddle, Executive Director, Net Zero at Innovate UK, said:

    Congratulations to the awarded projects from Round 6 of the Clean Maritime Demonstrator Competition – a great opportunity for UK innovators to take part in a world-renowned maritime transport R&D grant funding programme. Innovate UK looks forward to working with partners to support these projects focused on the ever-more prevalent issue of decarbonisation with emphasis on a range of physical, digital, system and skills-based innovation.

    Building on its commitment to clean up shipping and deliver on the UK’s climate ambitions, UK SHORE is also delivering £3.85 million to the Clean Maritime Research Hub. Formed from a consortium of 13 universities across the UK, dedicated to conducting scientific research in clean maritime, the funding will enable the hub to continue its important research, and support the installation of a liquid hydrogen facility at Durham University. The centre will develop the maritime sector’s understanding of the potential impact of liquid hydrogen – which is emission free – in the clean maritime transition.

  • PRESS RELEASE : The United Kingdom welcomes the efforts of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation to strengthen its role in conflict prevention – UK statement at the UN Security Council [July 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : The United Kingdom welcomes the efforts of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation to strengthen its role in conflict prevention – UK statement at the UN Security Council [July 2025]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 24 July 2025.

    Statement by Ambassador Barbara Woodward, UK Permanent Representative to the UN, at the UN Security Council open debate on maintaining international peace and security.

    I welcome the opportunity today to discuss the OIC’s important cooperation with the UN on the resolution of conflicts and securing lasting peace and prosperity.

    I will make three points, President.

    First, the United Kingdom welcomes the efforts of the OIC to strengthen its role in conflict prevention, confidence-building, peacekeeping and mediation.

    In particular, we thank OIC members for their invaluable commitment of troops to UN Peacekeeping Operations.

    Effective cooperation and sharing of information between the UN and the OIC is important for developing coherent strategies for conflict prevention to support national prevention efforts.

    Second, the United Kingdom values the role of the OIC and its Member States as a key partner in our shared fight against terrorism and violent extremism.

    This requires a multi-dimensional approach with the support of all relevant UN agencies, regional organisations, governments and civil society partners.

    We encourage the UN and the OIC to maintain close coordination to ensure the protection of human rights while countering terrorism.

    Third, the United Kingdom welcomes its broadening and deepening relationship with the OIC and its members, including this week hosting the OIC’s International Academy of Jurisprudence to strengthen collaboration on key issues and interfaith dialogue.

    We value this collaboration not least because inclusive governance and respect for human rights are fundamental underpinnings of peace and prosperity. And the United Kingdom firmly believes the right to freedom of religion or belief has a crucial role to play in this regard.

    Religious intolerance and persecution fuel instability, impeding both conflict prevention and resolution, as we sadly see in a number of the conflicts on this Council’s agenda.

    That is why the United Kingdom was proud to co-pen Security Council resolution 2686 with the United Arab Emirates in 2023. This was the first time a Security Council resolution had directly addressed the persecution of religious minorities in conflict settings. We remain committed to the full implementation of resolution 2686.

    In conclusion, President, when freedom of religion or belief is respected for all, and interreligious dialogue is promoted, we can build trust and understanding between communities, helping to secure sustainable peace.

    Thank you, President.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Joint Statement on the Invocation of the OSCE Moscow Mechanism [July 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : Joint Statement on the Invocation of the OSCE Moscow Mechanism [July 2025]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 24 July 2025.

    UK and 40 other countries invoke the Moscow Mechanism to address ill treatment of prisoners of war by the Russian Federation.

    Thank you, Chair.   I will deliver an abridged version of this statement this afternoon. The full statement will be circulated in writing and I request that it be attached to the Journal of the Day.

    I am delivering this statement on behalf of the following participating States: Albania, Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France,  Georgia, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta,  Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania,  San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.

    Today, our delegations will send the following letter to ODIHR Director Maria Telalian, invoking the Moscow Mechanism, with the support of Ukraine, as we continue to have concerns regarding violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law following Russia’s full-scale war of aggression against Ukraine, including with regard to ill treatment of Ukrainian Prisoners of War (POW).

    Director Telalian,

    With Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine in its fourth year and as Russia’s illegal occupation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol and certain areas of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine has entered its eleventh year, we continue to witness large scale human suffering and alarming reports of violations of international humanitarian law (IHL) and of international human rights law (IHRL), many of which may amount to the most serious international crimes.

    Against the backdrop of the full-scale war of aggression against Ukraine, launched by the Russian Federation on February 24, 2022, a number of credible sources, including the Moscow Mechanism expert missions, the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry, as well as civil society organizations, have reported that the Russian Federation has consistently violated the rights of prisoners of war (POWs) throughout their detention and at multiple detention facilities within the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine and the Russian Federation. There have been credible reports that the extensive and routine torture and ill-treatment of Ukrainian POWs throughout their detention constitutes a continued systematic pattern of state policy and practice by the Russian Federation. Torture follows common patterns across different locations, indicating it is a coordinated, deliberate, and systematic practice.

    In 2022, 2023 and 2024, 45 OSCE Delegations, following bilateral consultations with Ukraine under the Vienna (Human Dimension) Mechanism, invoked Paragraph 8 of the Moscow (Human Dimension) Mechanism. The reports of the independent missions of experts, received by OSCE participating States, confirmed our shared concerns about the impact of the Russian Federation’s invasion and acts of war, its violations and abuses of IHRL, and violations of IHL in Ukraine.

    We remain particularly alarmed by the findings of the expert missions that some of the violations may amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity as well as the identification of patterns of reported violations of IHL and IHRL regarding the treatment of prisoners of war.

    The prohibition against torture in international law is absolute.  Parties to an armed conflict are obliged to ensure the rights of POWs as set out in the Third Geneva Convention of 1949 relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War and Additional Protocol I to the Geneva Conventions. Prisoners of war must at all times be protected, particularly against acts of violence or intimidation and against insults and public curiosity. No physical or mental torture, nor any other form of coercion, may be inflicted on prisoners of war to secure from them information of any kind whatever. Prisoners of war who refuse to answer may not be threatened, insulted or exposed to unpleasant or disadvantageous treatment of any kin Torture and inhuman treatment of POWs are grave breaches of the Geneva Conventions, and likewise war crimes under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.

    ODIHR’s Ukraine Monitoring Initiative has continued to identify patterns of reported IHL and IHRL violations related to the treatment of Ukrainian POWs including in their Sixth Interim Report of 13 December 2024 and their Seventh Interim Report of 15 July 2025. Interviews with survivors and witnesses attested to a continued practice of systematic torture and other IHL and IHRL violations perpetrated against Ukrainian POWs  prompting serious concerns about the Russian Federation’s failure to comply with the fundamental principles that govern the treatment of POWs.

    In equal measure, the OHCHR and the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU) have reported on the systematic and widespread use of torture of Ukrainian POWs by Russian authorities. In its March 2023 report, the HRMMU documented violations of IHRL and IHL in 32 of 48 detention facilities in Russia and Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine, related to torture and other ill-treatment,  dire conditions of internment  including inadequate quarters, food, hygiene, and medical care, along with restricted communication, forced labor, and a lack of access of independent monitors. .  Many were held incommunicado deprived of the possibility to communicate with family or the outside world. Russian authorities subjected Ukrainian POWs to unlawful prosecutions for mere participation in hostilities; using torture to extract confessions; and denying fair trials.

    According to witness testimonies, there were numerous incidents whereby POWs died in captivity due to execution, torture, ill-treatment and/or inadequate medical attention as well as inhumane conditions during their captivity.

    The OHCHR’s October 2024 Report on the Treatment of Prisoners of War further documented detailed and consistent accounts of torture or ill treatment in Russian Federation custody.

    Survivors have described the wide-ranging methods of torture or ill-treatment of Ukrainian POWs including: severe physical beatings; electrocution (including the targeting of genitalia); excessively intense physical exercise; stress positions; dog attacks; mock executions (including simulated hangings); threats of physical violence and death; sexual violence, including rape; threats of rape and castration; threats of coerced sexual acts; and other forms of humiliation.

    Since the end of August 2024, OHCHR also has recorded a significant increase in credible allegations of executions of Ukrainian servicepersons captured by Russian armed forces, involving at least 97 individuals.

    The UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine (UN COI) stated on 23 September 2024 that it has evidence of widespread and systematic torture by Russian authorities against Ukrainian civilians and POWs in the temporarily occupied territories and in Russia. They concluded that torture follows common patterns across different locations, indicating it is a coordinated practice.  In their March 2025 report, the UN COI again called on the Russian Federation to immediately end the widespread and systematic use of torture and other forms of ill-treatment committed against civilian detainees and prisoners of war

    The Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine is investigating the reported execution of 273 Ukrainian POWs, including 208 who were reportedly executed on the battlefield and 59 in the ‘‘Olenivka’’ colony. However, the real number of those executed is likely much higher.

    We are deeply concerned about the severity and frequency of these violations and abuses. We are particularly appalled by reported executions of Ukrainian POWs and Ukrainian soldiers rendered hors de combat upon their surrender and by the desecration/mutilation of bodies.  We are also deeply concerned with the practice of filming and distributing images of these abhorrent incidents.

    Following grave concerns over the ill-treatment of Ukrainian POWs, highlighted, inter alia, by the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine, the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the OSCE, we call on all parties to the armed conflict ensure that POWs are treated in full compliance with IHL.

    We recall that OSCE participating States have committed themselves to respect IHL, including the Third Geneva Convention relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War of 1949, bearing in mind that the willful killing, torture, inhuman treatment, causing great suffering, or serious injury to body or health of persons protected under the Geneva Conventions, including prisoners of war, constitutes a war crime. No prisoner of war may be subjected to physical mutilation or to medical or scientific experiments of any kind which are not justified by the medical, dental or hospital treatment of the prisoner concerned and carried out in his interest. Likewise, prisoners of war must at all times be protected, particularly against acts of violence or intimidation and against insults and public curiosity.

    We also recall that the prohibition of torture is a peremptory norm of international law without territorial limitation, which applies at all times and in all places.   Measures of reprisal against POWs are prohibited.

    We call on the Russia Federation to end the torture and ill-treatment of all detainees and ensure adequate conditions of detention including the provision of basic needs such as food, water, clothing, and medical care. We further call for providing timely and accurate information on detainees’ whereabouts and legal status, and for granting international humanitarian organizations, like the International Committee of the Red Cross, unfettered access to such persons.

    Gravely concerned by the continuing impacts of Russia’s ongoing aggression against Ukraine, and gravely concerned by credible allegations of the torture, ill-treatment and executions of Ukrainian POWs, and soldiers hors de combat, the delegations of Albania, Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France,  Georgia, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta,  Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania,  San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom, following bilateral consultations with Ukraine under the Vienna Mechanism, invoke the Moscow (Human Dimension) Mechanism under Paragraph 8 of that document.

    We request that ODIHR inquire of Ukraine whether it would invite a mission of experts to build upon previous findings, and:

    To establish the facts and circumstances surrounding possible contraventions of relevant OSCE commitments; violations and abuses of human rights; and violations of IHL, including possible cases of war crimes and crimes against humanity, related to the treatment of Ukrainian POWs by the Russian Federation ;

    To collect, consolidate, and analyse this information including to determine if there is a pattern of widespread and systematic torture, ill-treatment and execution of Ukrainian POWs and soldiers hors de combat and/or at detention facilities by the Russian Federation in the temporarily occupied territories and in Russia and

    To offer recommendations on relevant accountability mechanisms.

    We also invite ODIHR to provide any relevant information or documentation derived from any new expert mission to other appropriate accountability mechanisms, including the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine or the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine, as well as national, regional, or international courts or tribunals that have, or may in future have, jurisdiction.

    Thank you for your attention.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Millions more appointments as more than 2,000 extra GPs recruited [July 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : Millions more appointments as more than 2,000 extra GPs recruited [July 2025]

    The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 24 July 2025.

    Boost is part of Plan for Change to rebuild the NHS by shifting healthcare from hospitals into the community and ending the 8am scramble.

    • More than 2,000 extra GPs have now been hired across the country after government action to slash red tape
    • Independent survey shows progress on ending the 8am scramble, with patients finding it easier to contact GP practices
    • Plan for Change is shifting care out of hospital and into the community as government brings back the family doctor

    Millions more GP appointments are now being delivered across the country and an extra 2,000 GPs have been hired nationwide since last October, as the government’s Plan for Change brings back the family doctor.

    The average GP is responsible for 2,300 patients, and the new tranche could deliver over 4 million additional appointments per year.

    It comes as encouraging new figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show the number of patients who found it difficult to contact their practice has fallen significantly from 18.7% in July and August 2024 to 10.6% in May and June this year.

    A total of 96.3% of patients who tried to contact their practice in the past 28 days were successful, while the number of patients who had a poor experience of their GP practice fell from 15% to 10.9% in the same period.

    In May 2025, an extra 12,000 GP appointments were delivered every working day compared to May 2024.

    The recruitment boost – which has already delivered an extra 2,000 GPs – forms part of the government’s Plan for Change, which is rebuilding the NHS by shifting healthcare out of hospitals into the community and ending the 8am scramble.

    Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said:

    We said we’d deliver 1,000 more GPs this year – and we’ve busted that target, bringing 2,000 more GPs on board. With proper investment and reform we are turning the tide on our NHS, and patients are beginning to feel the benefit.

    We still have a long road ahead, and this government is determined to keep our foot on the gas.

    Our Plan for Change will deliver this progress, creating a Neighbourhood Health Service that puts GPs at its heart and makes sure the NHS is there for everyone, whenever they need it.

    Last month the government set out its 10 Year Health Plan which outlines the reforms government is driving forwards to get the NHS back on its feet and fit for the future. The plan will train thousands more GPs and create a new Neighbourhood Health Service, so millions of patients can be treated and cared for closer to their homes by pioneering teams – some based entirely under one roof.

    When the government came into office last year, unnecessary red tape was preventing practices from hiring newly qualified GPs, meaning more than 1,000 were due to graduate into unemployment.

    At the same time, there were also 1,399 fewer fully qualified GPs than a decade prior, with years of underfunding and neglect eroding GP services.

    The government took immediate action and invested an extra £82 million to allow networks of practices to hire GPs, with the funding continuing past this year.

    This recruitment was made possible by the tough but fair decisions the Chancellor took at the budget to fix the foundations of the NHS, enabling the government to provide almost £26 billion to get the NHS back on its feet and make it fit for the future.

    The Plan for Change is already transforming the NHS for patients and staff. Backed by the government’s major cash injection of over £102 million, more than 1,000 GP surgeries will receive over £102 million to create additional space to see more patients and deliver 8.3 million more appointments each year.

    An extra 4.6 million elective appointments have been delivered since July 2024 – over double the government’s target. The upgraded NHS App will also act as a digital front door to the health service, overhauling how people get advice, manage appointments and interact with services to make their healthcare more convenient and more personalised.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Keir Starmer call with President Zelenskyy of Ukraine [July 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : Keir Starmer call with President Zelenskyy of Ukraine [July 2025]

    The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 24 July 2025.

    The Prime Minister spoke to the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy today.

    The President began by thanking the Prime Minister for the UK’s continued support for Ukraine, including the sanctions announced earlier this week targeting Russia’s energy revenues, which play a vital part in stopping Putin’s war machine. They agreed international partners must continue to ramp up the pressure on Russia.

    The Prime Minister underlined the UK’s unwavering support for Ukraine, and the leaders agreed on the importance of the role of independent anti-corruption institutions at the heart of Ukraine’s democracy.

    Both leaders underscored that Putin must come to the negotiation table and agree an unconditional ceasefire to see a just and lasting peace in Ukraine.

    They agreed to keep in touch.