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Tag: 2025

  • PRESS RELEASE : With each day that passes, the suffering increases. We urge the parties to secure an immediate ceasefire – UK statement at the UN Security Council [July 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : With each day that passes, the suffering increases. We urge the parties to secure an immediate ceasefire – UK statement at the UN Security Council [July 2025]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 16 July 2025.

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

    The United Kingdom, together with Denmark, France, Greece and Slovenia, called for this meeting out of deep concern for the Israeli government’s inhumane approach to the crisis in Gaza.

    This week marks 650 days since the horrific Hamas attacks of October 7th.

    With each day that passes, the hostages suffer yet more agony, in appalling conditions and deprived from contact with their loved ones.

    And with each day that passes, the people of Gaza suffer death, desperation and displacement.

    This conflict has gone on for far too long.

    There is a deal to be done.

    We urge the parties to engage in the spirit of compromise to secure an immediate ceasefire, the release of the hostages and a pathway towards lasting peace.

    I will make three points.

    First, it is imperative that Israel lift its restrictions on aid entering Gaza.

    Without fuel, water systems and hospitals in Gaza are on the verge of collapse.

    Without medical supplies, treatable illnesses are costing lives.

    And without food, Palestinians are dying from malnutrition or forced desperately to scramble for supplies.

    The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation has acknowledged that the UN has the unique capacity to meet the immense humanitarian need.

    So we call on Israel to allow the UN to save lives immediately and without obstruction.

    The United Kingdom welcomes the agreement between the EU and Israel, but we need to see words turned into action.

    Second, we strongly oppose the expansion of Israel’s military operations.

    We urge Israel immediately to implement and enforce robust measures to protect civilians.

    In the past four months, more than 1,000 children have been killed.

    Palestinians have also been fired upon by the IDF while desperately seeking food, with 800 people killed at aid sites.

    This is abhorrent.

    Third, the United Kingdom is appalled by the Israeli Defence Minister’s comments on forced displacement of Palestinians to Rafah.

    This would contravene the fundamental principles upon which the UN was founded.

    Palestinian territory must not be reduced, and civilians must be able to return home.

    President, the path forward lies in diplomacy and compromise to deliver lasting peace for Israelis and Palestinians alike.

    We commend the leadership of France and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in co-chairing the upcoming conference on a Two-State Solution, which offers us a crucial opportunity to advance this goal.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Environment Agency grants incinerator permit [July 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : Environment Agency grants incinerator permit [July 2025]

    The press release issued by the Environment Agency on 16 July 2025.

    The Environment Agency has granted an environmental permit for Viridor Tees Valley Ltd to operate an energy from waste facility in Teesside.

    This follows a public consultation on the Agency’s ‘minded to’ decision, which took place during May.

    The decision is based on Viridor demonstrating that it has met and will continue to meet expected mandatory conditions as outlined in the permit.

    The operator wants to run the proposed Tees Valley Energy Recovery Facility (TVERF) at Grangetown, Redcar.

    The Environment Agency only issues permits if it’s satisfied the operator can comply with the permit conditions and has appropriate systems in place to operate the incinerator without causing harm to the environment, human health or wildlife.

    The proposed site also has planning permission.

    Permit will ensure ‘environmental protections are met’

    Ian Preston, Installations Team Leader at the Environment Agency, said:

    I want to reassure people that the permit will ensure that robust levels of environmental protection are met.

    Environmental law sets out these conditions, and as a regulator we are obliged to issue the permit if we can find no reason that the operator would not be able to comply.

    There is a decision document which explains in more detail how the Environment Agency reached this decision.

    It also outlines the concerns raised during the consultation and how the Environment Agency has addressed these.

    View the decision document and permit.

    For more information on the facility visit Tees Valley Energy Recovery Facility.

    Background:

    Environmental Permits

    • Environmental permits set out strict legal conditions by which an operator must comply in order to protect people and the environment. Should an environmental permit be issued, the Environment Agency has responsibility for enforcing its conditions.
    • Our powers include enforcement notices, suspension and revocation of permits, fines and ultimately criminal sanctions, including prosecution.
    • We may only refuse a permit if it does not meet one or more of the legal requirements under environmental legislation, including if it will have a significant impact on the environment or harm human health. If all the requirements are met, we are legally required to issue a permit.

    Tees Valley Energy Recovery Facility (TVERF)

    • Viridor must comply with the environmental permit if it begins operating and Environment Agency staff will regulate the site to ensure it does.
    • The site also has planning permission.
    • The project partners for the proposed site have been engaged in a tender process to find an experienced operator to design, build, finance and operate the Tees Valley Energy Recovery Facility (TVERF).
    • The outcome of this procurement process is due to conclude this year.
    • This will be followed by construction, testing and commissioning, which is anticipated to take approximately four years. The facility is therefore expected to commence commercial operations in late 2029.
  • PRESS RELEASE : Patient safety boost as PA review recommendations accepted [July 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : Patient safety boost as PA review recommendations accepted [July 2025]

    The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 16 July 2025.

    The review looked into the safety of the roles of physician associates (PAs) and anaesthesia associates (AAs) and how they support wider health teams.

    Patient safety will be strengthened across the country, as the government accepts all the recommendations of an independent review into physician associates (PAs) and anaesthesia associates (AAs).

    The review chaired by Professor Gillian Leng CBE – an experienced leader in the UK healthcare system – has made 18 recommendations aimed at providing clarity to patients and improving patient safety.

    Launched in November 2024, it looked into the safety of the roles of PAs and AAs and how they support wider health teams.

    Professor Leng sought evidence from a range of voices including patients, staff groups, employers within the NHS, professional bodies and academics. The review’s recommendations cover recruitment and training, supervision and professional regulation.

    Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said:

    Patients should always know who they are being treated by and should always receive appropriate care.

    Legitimate concerns about patient safety have been ignored for too long – that’s why I sought out the very best clinical advice to review physician associates and anaesthesia associates’ roles in the NHS.

    I want to thank Gillian Leng, one of the UK’s most experienced healthcare leaders, for her comprehensive, thorough report.

    We’re accepting all of the recommendations of the Leng review, which will provide clarity for the public and make sure we’ve got the right staff, in the right place, doing the right thing. Patients can be confident that those who treat them are qualified to do so.

    Physician assistants, as they will now be known, will continue to play an important role in the NHS. They should assist doctors, but they should never be used to replace doctors.

    Our Plan for Change will build on its findings and we will work to implement these findings in the interests of staff and patients alike.

    Dr Claire Fuller, Co-National Medical Director (Primary Care) at NHS England, said:

    We welcome the publication of this review and the clarity it provides on how these vital and valued roles can best support high-quality care for patients as part of multidisciplinary teams.

    Following legitimate concerns raised, it is right this review has gathered expert insight and evidence from across the health service and internationally and we will now work with the service and government to fully consider and implement its recommendations.

    Professor Gillian Leng said:

    I’m pleased the government is implementing the recommendations in full.

    My review provides the opportunity of a reset, but this must be the start of the conversation, not the end.

    Now it’s time to focus on delivery: bringing clarity for patients, complementarity between doctors and assistant roles, collaboration across teams, focused on ensuring safe and effective high-quality care.

    The Health and Social Care Secretary today confirmed he would accept all the recommendations and begin work to bring them in as quickly as possible, directing NHS England to write to systems leaders setting out the immediate actions for them to take.

    Resident doctors have raised concerns about the safety and lack of clarity for PA and AA roles – and the government is listening to them.

    Implementing the review’s recommendations will provide clarity for the public and – crucially – improve patient safety and quality of care. PAs and AAs still have a vital role to play in wider teams and caring for patients, with many hard-working PAs and AAs making a vital contribution across the healthcare system. These recommendations will provide certainty and options for their career development.

    At the same time, clear guidance will be offered to other healthcare professionals and patients about the contributions and limits of these roles.

    PAs will in future be identified as physician assistants and AAs will be renamed as physician assistants in anaesthesia, reflecting their role as supportive members of medical teams. They will also not be able to treat undiagnosed patients, except within clearly defined cases.

    Permanent faculties will be established to provide professional leadership and set standards for physician assistants and physician assistants in anaesthesia. They will also form part of a clear team structure – led by a senior clinician – where everyone is aware of their roles, responsibilities and accountability.

    Doctors will receive training in line management and leadership, ensuring they can properly fulfil their supervisory roles.

    Collaboration will be vital in the face of increasing NHS demand and the recommendations should serve as a reset – encouraging greater teamwork across healthcare teams. These reforms all form part of the Plan for Change’s mission to build an NHS fit for the future, and one which works for patients and staff.

    Lessons learned from the review will feed into the government’s upcoming workforce plan, ensuring the NHS has the right staff in the right place at the right time.

    The 10 Year Health Plan will also ensure that new and expanded roles are rolled out in a way which ensures that public, patient and professional confidence is maintained.

  • David Lammy – 2025 Africa Debate Speech

    David Lammy – 2025 Africa Debate Speech

    The speech made by David Lammy, the Foreign Secretary, in London on 2 July 2025.

    Ladies and Gentleman, Friends.

    It’s a great, great pleasure to be here today. Thank you to Sumaila and the team behind the Africa Debate, for bringing us all together.

    This week, it’s 25 years since I was first elected the Member of Parliament for Tottenham and therefore began my journey in public life. So I want to start by looking back for just a moment in time.

    I was a Member of Parliament and then a Junior Minister in the governments of Tony Blair and Gordon Brown. And they were both very, very focused on Africa and the continent of Africa.

    However, when I look back on that period, it was most definitely  principally through the lens of development and aid. This was the era of the Jubilee debt campaign. It was absolutely the era of the Millennium Development Goals. Make Poverty History was the theme of the day and the G8 Summit in Gleneagles in 2005, implementing many of the recommendations of Blair’s Commission for Africa.

    These efforts left of course a legacy. In 2000, almost two-thirds of all sub-Saharan Africans lived on under three dollars a day, by 2010, when Gordon Brown left office, the figure was under half.

    But when I became Foreign Secretary last year, I wanted to modernise our approach to Africa, modernise our approach to development.

    I of course had been travelling to the continent for many, many years, the first country I ever visited was Kenya. But I’d seen the transformation of cities and communities, all brimming with huge potential.

    And I suppose I also benefited from my own heritage in the Global South. My parents hailed from Guyana. And so I understood some of the frustrations of countries and communities when it felt like the West was ignoring people or not listening to people, not understanding what they really needed.

    I wanted to change that. And to reset relations then with the Global South, and particularly with Africa. And to implement a new approach, partnership, not paternalism.

    Genuine partnership is, by definition, between two equals each respecting the other. So in this job, I have tried to show that respect. And in the past year, I have visited eight African countries. The first Foreign Secretary to visit South Africa or Morocco since William Hague. And the first Foreign Secretary ever to visit the great country of Chad.

    And on my first visit to the continent as Foreign Secretary, I launched consultations on our new Africa Approach. A five-month listening exercise, hearing from governments, from civil society and diaspora communities, from businesses and universities, from Cape Town to Cairo, from Dakar to Djibouti, what they valued, what they wanted to see from Britain.

    We needed to listen. And I thank you all for your engagement over the course of this process and for what you told us, what we needed to hear.

    The message actually didn’t surprise me. Because what African people want from Britain is exactly what British people want from Africa. You want, we want, growth.

    And not just any form of growth, a jump in numbers on a spreadsheet for a year or two.

    But a secure, sustainable growth for everyone, high-quality jobs, affordable prices, citizens living better lives than those of their ancestors.

    You want, we want, opportunity.

    Opportunity arising from our respective strengths, like the British education system, like of course the City of London, the incredible natural assets and energised young people across Africa, and our collective commitment to multilateralism.

    And you want, and we want partnerships. Partnerships that harness our deep historic ties, and the array of personal connections that exist between us.

    But partnerships that also continue to grow and deepen, as we both invest in them. That’s just a snapshot of a detailed piece of work.

    But of course, the work can only be beginning. The real test of our Africa Approach, and this was clear in the consultation as well, is how we put it into practice.

    Because talk is cheap. It’s actions in the end that count. I am excited by the deals driving growth that we have been delivering so far.

    A new Strategic Partnership with Nigeria, a new growth plan with South Africa, a new partnership with Morocco, joint work on a new AI strategy in Ghana, and new investments in Tanzania and of course in Kenya, announced in the first East Africa Trade and Investment Forum here in London in May.

    And thanks to our Developing Countries Trading Scheme, and free trade agreements with many African countries, almost £15 billion of goods were exported from Africa to Britain tariff-free last year.

    And following the publication of the British Government’s new Trade Strategy, we will further simplify the rules of the DCTS scheme which benefits thirty-eight African countries, and review our tariffs with South Africa, Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia.

    The Trade Strategy reinforces Britain’s belief in the power of free trade. And the largest free trade area in the world is Africa’s.

    And that’s why we back the rollout of the African Continent Free Trade Agreement, reducing barriers to intra-African trade through support in areas like digital trade and custom cooperation.

    And we will increase opportunities for British firms to play their part, just as it will increase prosperity in Africa. The British businesses and investors in this room have a big part to play. And I want our Ambassadors, our High Commissioners working closely with you, so that together, we can play a confident role in investing more, and supporting the growth of the African market.

    So, more trade, more investment, this is the best path to prosperity for all.

    And there is a role of course for development as well. But this has to be a modernised approach to development, recognising that fundamentally development is about growth, development is about jobs, development is about business.

    The modern development expert needs to have a mindset of an investor, not a donor. Looking for the best return, not offering the biggest handout.

    And it’s in that spirit that British International Investment recently signed an MoU with South Africa’s Public Investment Corporation, one of Africa’s largest asset managers.

    And this week agreed to support Wave Money Mobile, an exciting African fintech unicorn.

    And it’s also in that spirit that Britain is co-hosting the next Global Fund replenishment summit in South Africa.

    And just last week I made a £1.25 billion pledge to the recent Gavi replenishment in Brussels, the largest of any sovereign donor.

    That work will save lives – many, many millions. But it will also unlock economic value -every pound given to Gavi drives £54 in wider economic benefit.

    And, crucially, it unlocks value in Britain and Africa. Gavi works closely with cutting-edge British pharmaceutical firms like GSK. And it’s also designed the first African Vaccine Manufacturing Accelerator, which is using industry partnerships to deliver vaccines for Africa.

    Vaccines, and this is very important, because people talked about that during the COVID pandemic, they asked the question, why, why are we failing, the West failing to vaccinate the African continent, and that was an important question.

    But there was a second question – why has the African continent not got its own manufacturing capability, and that is what we now need to deliver in Africa.

    Working with partners like Nigeria, we are pushing for organisations like Gavi and the Global Fund to work together and reform, so that their work has national ownership at its heart.

    National ownership is similarly important when it comes to reforming wider international finance, especially for climate and nature.

    And thank you, President Ruto, for your leadership on the climate issue particularly. The theme of your conference is precisely the right framing, Africa has Natural Capital. But it cannot unlock this if we make it impossibly challenging for states to access the finance that they need.

    At the recent Development Finance Summit in Seville, we were again pushing for reforms of the multilateral development banks and the IMF. We have to mobilise private capital and use guarantees to unlock more funds.

    To empower regional development banks, like the African Development Bank, where developing countries have more of a voice. To tackle unsustainable debt. To work with the City to bring innovations like disaster risk insurance and strengthen local capital markets.

    One example of what this can mean comes from Sierra Leone, where I can announce £2 million pounds worth of British government investment to back a mangrove restoration project by West Africa Blue. The project protects over 90,000 hectares of mangrove estuaries, improving coastal and community resilience.

    But it is also demonstrating how this model can be commercially viable, unlocking future investment in similar projects in the future. And finally, alongside our work on trade, on investment and development finance, we have heard the clear message from the consultation on illicit finance as well.

    I know that this message is not new. For years, friends in Africa have been saying Britain needs to do more to tackle dirty money. Kleptocrats and money launderers rob all our citizens of wealth and security.

    And now, the Government is listening too. That’s why I’ve started imposing sanctions on crooks who siphon off public money for themselves, like Isabel dos Santos of Angola and Kamlesh Pattni’s illicit gold smuggling network.

    And that’s why I’ve also announced that London will be hosting a Countering Illicit Finance Summit, bringing together a broad range and a broad coalition from the Global North and the Global South, to drive these criminals out of our economies.

    Friends, I said the messages of our recent consultations were that Africa wanted more growth, Africa wanted more opportunities, Africa wanted more partnerships.

    In effect, Africa wants Britain to help them to have more choices. Choices over who to do business with, because it’s choices which matter in a volatile geopolitical age.

    Britain wants choices too. And I believe that, given the choice, more and more British businesses and investors will be choosing Africa in the coming years.

    But don’t take my word for it – let’s hear from an African voice. It’s my pleasure now to introduce to the stage a great partner of the UK, a global leader on climate and nature action, and our next keynote speaker, His Excellency, Dr William Ruto, President of the Republic of Kenya.

  • PRESS RELEASE : United Kingdom reaffirms commitment to protect Guatemalan forests [July 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : United Kingdom reaffirms commitment to protect Guatemalan forests [July 2025]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 16 July 2025.

    The British Ambassador, Juliana Correa, met with the Manager of the National Forest Institute (INAB), Bruno Enrique Arias Rivas, to strengthen bilateral collaboration in the protection of biodiversity and sustainable forest management.

    The meeting allowed for the exchange of priorities and exploration of new opportunities for technical and institutional cooperation, including within the framework of the UK’s environmental flagship project in Guatemala, the Biodiverse Landscapes Fund (BLF).

    Among the topics discussed were INAB’s support for the BLF and other UK-funded projects, such as the Darwin projects, as well as the Aim4Forests programme, which seeks to strengthen forest monitoring through innovative technologies and sustainable solutions.

    Progress was discussed in key areas such as Paso Caballos, in Laguna del Tigre National Park, and the Trifinio region, where forests conservation and ecosystem restoration are promoted.

    The meeting reaffirmed the United Kingdom’s commitment to protecting biodiversity in Guatemala and promoting joint solutions to climate change, deforestation, and forest degradation.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Government tackles postcode lottery of school technology [July 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : Government tackles postcode lottery of school technology [July 2025]

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

    Every school to have reliable, safe tech in classrooms as government rolls out plans for the future of digital standards to ensure no child is left behind.

    Pupils and staff across the country will have access to reliable, safe technology in their classroom as the government announces plans to help narrow the digital divide in schools – making outdated systems and patchy connectivity a thing of the past.

    Across the country there are stark inequalities where some pupils suffer from basic digital access whilst others benefit from cutting-edge technology, including AI – creating unfair barriers to learning and future opportunities.

    Following consultation with schools, the government is today (16 July) setting out expectations for schools and colleges to meet six digital standards by 2030, helping to end the postcode lottery in access to tech that has left too many pupils behind, by preventing teachers from delivering modern lessons and stopping pupils developing digital skills essential for modern careers.

    The six standards cover broadband internet, wireless networks, network switches, digital leadership, plus two safety requirements: cyber security and filtering and monitoring to keep pupils safe online.

    Online safety is at the heart of the government’s plans, with the cyber security and filtering and monitoring standards designed so that as digital access improves, school IT systems are protected from cyber security threats and the risk of online threats – ensuring technology enhances children’s education.

    To support schools, the government will expand its Plan technology for your school service to give every school tailored support and guidance on how and where to make lasting, cost effective improvements to their technology.

    This comes alongside a £45 million investment from government this year to boost school infrastructure, including upgrades to fibre and wireless networks – helping get classrooms online and boosting standards where it is most needed.

    Minister for Early Education, Stephen Morgan, said:

    Every child deserves access to the digital tools that will prepare them for the modern world, regardless of which school they attend. For too long, we’ve seen a postcode lottery where some pupils thrive with cutting-edge technology whilst others are held back by outdated equipment.

    Meeting our six digital standards will ensure that by 2030, all schools have the digital provision they need. We’re investing in our children’s futures, supporting pupils to get the digital access they need to succeed whilst keeping them safe online.

    This is a key part of our Plan for Change – ensuring every child has the chance to reach their full potential and no pupil is left behind in the digital age.

    The Plan technology for your school service helps schools understand their bespoke technology needs, create digital strategies fit for the future and save money with guidance to enable them to strike the best deal possible with suppliers.

    Jisc will also continue to support colleges with expert advice on the use of technology and access to Janet, the UK’s National Research and Education Network.

    Evidence is clear that access to technology can boost a student’s attainment and meeting the standards will ensure every school has the digital infrastructure to deliver the technological support for staff and pupils for years to come.

    The work forms part of the Government’s wider plan to break down barriers to opportunity, as too many pupils currently miss out on digital skills that are essential for modern careers, creating lasting disadvantage and impacting their future. The Connect the Classroom programme has so far improved connectivity for more than 1.3 million pupils in 3,700 schools.

    By ensuring schools have reliable, safe technology, the Government is giving pupils – regardless of their school’s location or resources – the digital foundation they need to succeed in education and beyond.

    Schools will work towards meeting the standards by 2030, with government support to ensure no pupil is left behind in the digital age.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Scottish defence dividend £250m investment launched [July 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : Scottish defence dividend £250m investment launched [July 2025]

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

    Scottish Secretary and Minister for Defence Procurement & Industry visit HMNB Clyde to launch the multi-decade, multi-billion pound Clyde 2070 programme.

    The UK’s security and economic growth in Scotland are top of the agenda as the Scotland Office and Ministry of Defence meet today with naval base chiefs and local authority leaders to discuss maximising the benefits from future-proofing HMNB Clyde.

    Home to the Royal Navy Submarine Service and the UK’s nuclear deterrent, the base is Scotland’s largest military establishment and second biggest employment site with over 6,500 military and civilian personnel.

    The Ministers will meet navy chiefs and tour key facilities and receive briefing on how the £250 million will support upgrades to infrastructure and the working environment, ensuring the site is ready to accommodate next-generation nuclear submarines including the Dreadnought-class (which will carry the nuclear deterrent) and SSN-AUKUS (the Royal Navy’s future attack class that will replace the Astute-class fleet).

    The Ministers, navy chiefs and base staff will then meet with council leaders and local MPs from areas surrounding the Clyde to discuss how Clyde 2070’s defence dividend can be maximised by local communities for years to come. They will explore opportunities for effective coordination between government, local authorities and the defence sector, focusing on infrastructure development, skills training, regional economic opportunities and local job creation.

    Approximately 26,100 skilled jobs – including shipbuilding – across Scotland are already supported by the Ministry of Defence’s annual multi-billion pound spend and the UK Government’s Brand Scotland campaign is working to build on that success and help the sector export its world-class technology internationally.

    Scottish Secretary Ian Murray said:

    This defence dividend for Scotland will help ensure Britain’s security, deter our adversaries and drive economic growth in the area for years to come as part of our Plan for Change.

    With Faslane home to the nation’s first and final line of defence – the UK’s nuclear deterrent, it’s only right that Clyde 2070 represents one of the most significant UK Government investments over the coming decades. It will ensure the Royal Navy can deliver the Continuous At Sea Deterrent from a modern, efficient base which will result in a better environment for our hero submariners to live, work and train in.

    Crucially it will also create skilled jobs – including for small and medium size firms – boost the economy and help tackle the critical skills gaps facing the country in sectors such as nuclear, construction, maritime and project management, by bringing together government, Scottish communities, industry, supply chains and academia to address the challenges. The Defence Nuclear Enterprise already supports a supply chain of over 3,000 businesses across the UK, benefiting regions like the West of Scotland, and I urge the Scottish Government to work with us on maximising these clear benefits.

    Defence Nuclear Enterprise (DNE) is a partnership of organisations that operate, maintain, renew and sustain the UK’s nuclear deterrent as part of a national endeavour which supports more than 48,000 jobs across the country – set to rise to 65,000 in the next decade.

    Minister for Defence Procurement & Industry Maria Eagle said:

    Our nuclear deterrent is the bedrock of the UK’s defence and the cornerstone of our commitment to NATO and global security and Scotland plays a crucial role in that. We are today re-affirming that unshakeable commitment by launching this multi-billion-pound investment to His Majesty’s Naval Base Clyde, which is vital to our deterrence capability.

    The initial £250 million of funding over 3 years will support jobs, skills and growth across the West of Scotland. This Government will keep the UK safe for generations to come while delivering on the Plan for Change and making defence an engine for growth.

    Leader of Argyll and Bute Council Jim Lynch said:

    Close coordination with local councils and particularly Argyll and Bute is vital to maximise the potential economic benefits and to manage local infrastructure and skills issues as HMNB Clyde develops. I welcome the opportunity to discuss these issues with the Secretary of State for Scotland and the Minister for Defence Procurement & Industry.

    The vital role of HMNB Clyde in the UK’s national security strategy was underscored in the recent Strategic Defence Review – launched by the Prime Minister at BAE Systems Govan shipyard in Scotland – with a commitment to construct up to 12 new nuclear-powered attack subs, building on the £15 billion investment set out for the UK’s sovereign nuclear warhead programme.

    It follows the UK Government’s historic uplift in defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by April 2027, and the ambition to hit 3% in the next parliament, when economic and fiscal conditions allow. The Chancellor’s Spring Statement pledged a new era of security and national renewal, including a £2.2 billion increase in the UK-wide defence budget for 2025-26, on top of £2.9 billion announced at Autumn Budget.

    This investment reflects the government’s commitment to national defence while bringing economic, skills, and employment benefits to Scotland.

    For over 50 years the site has operated and maintained the deterrent fleet – first with the Resolution Class of submarines and then the current Vanguard Class boats. During that time there has always been at least one nuclear-armed deterrent submarine on patrol at sea, providing the ultimate guarantee of our safety and security and of our NATO Allies.

    As a multi-generational effort, the renewal of the nuclear deterrent requires long-term direction so that the MoD and industry can manage risk and improve performance and value for money over time and £250m has been allocated immediately for the next three years. This investment will be focussed on three main areas:

    · Early site enabling activity and master planning.

    · Development and approval for the first major programmes.

    · Working with industry to design an organisation and structure capable of delivering transformation at scale and pace for decades to come.

    The programme includes the need to meet defence net-zero targets and long-term climate change mitigation.

    Last week recommendations were unveiled by the Defence and Economic Growth Taskforce to build upon the 272,000 UK industry jobs (11,800 in Scotland) directly and indirectly supported by government investment in the defence sector. When combining jobs supported in industry with MoD civilians and UK Regular Armed Forces personnel based in the UK, the figure is 463,000 (26,100 in Scotland).

    The UK Government has already begun work on three of the report’s recommendations:

    ·  Establishing a defence SME Hub to provide support to new market entrants.

    ·  Commencing work on a Defence Exports Office in the MoD, as announced in the Strategic Defence Review.

    ·  Committing to developing Defence Growth Deals across the UK at the Spending Review.

    Further information

    The Ministers will meet Vice Admiral Sir Martin Connell, Second Sea Lord and Deputy Chief of Naval Staff, Major General Mark Totten, Royal Marines, Director Naval Staff and Commander Jenna Kelway, Royal Navy, Military Assistant to Second Sea Lord, Commodore Sharon Malkin, ADC Royal Navy, Naval Base Commander Clyde, Brigadier Andy Muddiman, Royal Marines, Naval Regional Commander Scotland and Northern Ireland and Andy Tims, Senior Responsible Officer, Clyde Capital Programme, Lynton Simmonds, Site Managing Director (Clyde) Babcock, Hamish Tetlow, Naval Base Commander, Chief of Staff.

    They will also meet Argyll and Bute Council leader Jim Lynch and executive director Douglas Hendry,  Inverclyde Council leader Stephen McCabe and chief executive Stuart Jamieson, West Dunbartonshire council leader Martin Rooney and chief executive Peter Hessett. Local MPs Martin McCluskey, MP for Inverclyde and Renfrewshire West, and Alison Taylor, MP for Paisley and Renfrewshire North, will also attend the discussion.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Insolvency Service launches ambitious strategy to tackle economic crime and improve corporate standards [July 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : Insolvency Service launches ambitious strategy to tackle economic crime and improve corporate standards [July 2025]

    The press release issued by the Insolvency Service on 16 July 2025.

    New five-year strategy commits agency to prominent role in fight against economic crime.

    • The Insolvency Service’s new investigation and enforcement strategy will see the agency play a leading role in tackling economic crime and improving corporate standards
    • Over the next five years, the agency will prosecute a wider range of offences, increase enforcement against companies acting against the public interest, and recover proceeds of crime
    • The Insolvency Service will play a leading role helping the UK remain a safe and fair place to do business for all

    The Insolvency Service has announced ambitious and transformational plans to play a more prominent role in the fight against economic crime and be recognised as the UK’s leading authority in enforcing corporate and insolvency standards.

    Published today (Wednesday 16 July), the strategy commits the agency to broadening its remit, taking robust action against criminals who defraud businesses and taxpayers, and using artificial intelligence and advanced analytics to combat sophisticated financial wrongdoing.

    The agency will also step up efforts to tackle money laundering through hiring experts in cryptoassets seizing more criminal proceeds of crime, and continuing to expand its intelligence functions. These teams were crucial in recent progress tackling networks of overseas criminals using shell companies registered in the UK.

    Specialist investigators will continue to investigate COVID-19 Bounce Back Loan abuse, with the government announcing earlier this year that viable existing casework would be transferred to the Insolvency Service from the National Investigation Service (NATIS).

    In 2024-25, the Insolvency Service secured 77 criminal convictions, over 1,000 director disqualifications, and more than £4 million in compensation. Forty-one companies were also wound-up in the public interest following investigations by the agency.

    The economic benefits of the agency’s work in disqualifying company directors and shutting down rogue companies was calculated at in excess £50 million for this period.

    Matt Ray, Director of Economic Crime Implementation at the Insolvency Service, said:

    Fraud is now the most common crime affecting businesses and individuals across the UK. Meanwhile criminal and corrupt actors continue to use UK corporate structures at huge scale to obscure their activities and launder the proceeds.

    Alongside our ongoing role upholding the UK’s insolvency framework we will adopt a much more central role in the fight against economic crime and work with Companies House and other partners to tackle the mass misuse of our corporate framework – helping us deliver economic confidence.

    Over the course of the strategy, our investigators will protect more consumers than ever before from rogue companies, target directors who fail to meet the high standards of behaviour we expect from them and lead the fight against fraudsters who have exploited government schemes designed to help small businesses.

    By acting against those who are unfit to run companies, we are reducing the harm caused to legitimate businesses and creditors and creating a prosperous environment that supports economic growth.

    Martin Swain, Director of Intelligence and Law Enforcement Engagement at Companies House, said:

    Collaboration with key partners such as the Insolvency Service, in helping us improve compliance and prevent misuse of the Companies House register, is central to our enforcement approach.

    We already work closely with these partners in tackling misuse and – as we are now demonstrating – delivering real-world impacts in the fight against economic crime.

    I’m delighted that moving forward these links will be strengthened further.

    Further information

    The enforcement strategy has three core objectives:

    • Enforcement of the UK’s insolvency framework
    • Enforcement of the Companies Act 1985 and associated legislation
    • Tackling economic crime facilitated through companies

    The Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 and its subsequent regulations created more than 100 new offences under the Companies Act and has provided funding for the Insolvency Service to play a more prominent role in corporate enforcement.

    This will be supported by proactive intelligence gathering to keep pace with those who abuse the insolvency framework, manipulate victims, and take advantage of the corporate landscape.

    The strategy will also see the Insolvency Service deepen its partnership with other agencies including the National Crime Agency and HMRC as well as working even more closely with Companies House to enforce corporate standards.

    The Insolvency Service’s core role in protecting the insolvency framework and investigating national interest cases remains undiminished.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Aurora Antrim and Jane Hurst have been reappointed to The Royal Parks and Bronwyn Hill’s second term extended [July 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : Aurora Antrim and Jane Hurst have been reappointed to The Royal Parks and Bronwyn Hill’s second term extended [July 2025]

    The press release issued by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport on 16 July 2025.

    The Secretary of State has reappointed Aurora Antrim and Jane Hurst as Trustees of The Royal Parks and has extended Bronwyn Hill’s second term as Trustee.

    Aurora Antrim

    Reappointed for a 4 year term commencing 14 August 2025 to 13 August 2029.

    Aurora Antrim is an award-winning arts documentary filmmaker who, as Aurora Gunn, spent many years working on The South Bank Show for ITV and Sky making films on subjects ranging from Shakespeare to Tracey Emin to Herbie Hancock.

    Aurora has over 20 years’ experience managing an historic landscape, with a focus on income diversification and sustainability, while overseeing the running of the Glenarm Castle estate in Northern Ireland. Her horticultural experience includes the complete restoration and replanting of an historic walled garden which won, by public vote, the Historic Houses Garden of the Year Award in 2023.

    This is Aurora’s second term on the Board of The Royal Parks where she serves on the HR Committee. She also sits on The Regent’s Park Store Yard Programme Board, responsible for the creation of a brand new garden in The Regent’s Park due to open in 2026.

    Jane Hurst

    Reappointed for a 4 year term commencing 14 August 2025 to 13 August 2029.

    Jane is a Chartered Accountant and currently CFO of a health tech business. Prior to this she was a partner in KPMG UK with 20 years’ experience of complex restructuring, performance improvement and turnaround. She has worked in a wide range of businesses- from the very large and global to the very small. She has also supported multiple public sector entities undergoing change.

    Jane has been a trustee at the Royal Parks for four years, she chairs the Audit and Risk Committee and is a member of the Investment Committee.

    Bronwyn Hill CBE

    Second term extended for 9 months from 15 June 2025 to 14 March 2026.

    As Permanent Secretary at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs from 2011 to 2015, Bronwyn led a complex organisation through transformational change and a series of crises, including the 2012-13 flooding. A CBE for transport services was in recognition of her contribution to national transport strategy, major projects and transport in London.

    Her interest in the environment and the importance of green spaces for people led to her joining The Royal Parks Board. Bronwyn contributed to its transformation into a successful charity, and on projects like Greenwich Park Revealed which has restored the historic landscape, created a new education space and welcomes more people to events and activities in the park.

    Remuneration and Governance Code

    Trustees of The Royal Parks are not remunerated. This appointment has been made in accordance with the Cabinet Office’s Governance Code on Public Appointments.

    The appointments process is regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. Under the Code, any significant political activity undertaken by an appointee in the last five years must be declared. This is defined as including holding office, public speaking, making a recordable donation, or candidature for election. Aurora Antrim, Bronwyn Hill and Jane Hurst have not declared any significant political activity.

  • Daniel Zeichner – 2025 Good Food Cycle Speech

    Daniel Zeichner – 2025 Good Food Cycle Speech

    The speech made by Daniel Zeichner, the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, in Bradford on 15 July 2025.

    Well, good afternoon everybody and thank you. First of all, thank you to Andrew, and to all our brilliant contributors – really fantastic.

    Politicians often say they’re really pleased to be in places. And I am pleased to be in places – but I have been really thrilled to be here. I’ve not been to Bradford before, and I’ve been absolutely knocked out by what I’ve seen this morning. I’m so pleased to be here.

    I’m told you’re one of the UK’s youngest, most diverse, and dynamic cities. I represent Cambridge, and we probably could have a little discussion about that – but I think you may be winning! What I know for sure is that you’ve got a rich food culture here. I’ve been seeing it outside, I’ve been hearing about it, and I’m so thrilled that we made the decision that Bradford should be the place to come and talk about the government’s vision for our food system. What we’re calling the Good Food Cycle.

    And I hope that’s a phrase that will stick in your minds – because that’s what this is all about.

    Let me start, though, by thanking some of the people who’ve made this morning possible: Bradford 2025, the local council – I’m delighted to be here working with you – and Inn Churches. Very impressed by the work you’re doing.

    I’ve heard about Jamie Oliver’s Ministry of Food, I’ve seen some of the demonstrations that are being done outside with some of the children – I’ve met some of the children – who are extraordinarily confident and well-informed about raw beans! Very good for them!

    Living Well, the wider community, all the efforts being made to empower, educate, and inspire as many people as possible to cook great-tasting, healthy food for themselves and their families. I think this project here, which I’ve been hearing about – clearly a long time in the making – what a fantastic achievement in this year of 2025.

    It really does show how communities, local government, food producers and processors can work together for the community. Because it shows that good, healthy food can be accessible to everyone, and help bring communities together.

    And just in my brief tour around, I could see how that’s being brought to life.

    I’m told it’s £31 million of investment into the heart of Bradford – it shows what can be done to support local food producers, what you’re making, and how we used to have those strong local food production systems. What a chance to re-energise that!

    But of course, this sits in a wider context – one that includes household-name food businesses with a national footprint, like Morrisons, like Marks and Spencer. They all play a part in our national food system.

    And let’s pay tribute to that national food system, because it is one of the most extraordinary and advanced in the world. Huge, huge things. I remember, I was the shadow minister during the Covid crisis, and there was a point where it wasn’t entirely clear that we could carry on feeding the nation. But people stepped up. And it really showed what an amazing system this is.

    But we also have to be aware that the current food system does have some challenges.

    Henry Dimbleby – a lot of you will be aware – did a lot of work a few years ago on this. He called it the junk food cycle. Which, at one level, is harsh. But what he was pointing out was that there are internal dynamics within the system that keep producing negative feedback loops.

    That’s the thing we want to address.

    I think it can be addressed. I think there are many people in this room who have been working on this for many, many years. But it’s possible to do something about it. To do it differently.

    And that’s why I’ve come here today – to launch what we’re calling the Good Food Cycle. We think it’s a really significant step in the change we want to take together.

    And I think this is actually a very special moment because it’s the first time, as far as I can see, that the whole of government is aligned on a vision for the food system, looking ahead to the future. And it’s one which puts people and the planet at its heart.

    Now, we haven’t done this alone. This is not just about government. We’ve worked across the food system.

    Sarah [Bradbury, IGD CEO] has been saying this – and our colleagues involved in the systems process have told us too – we’ve worked with industry, trying to do what only government can do: convene and coordinate action on food.

    And the reason we’re doing this is not just because it’s a good thing to do – it’s because what we’re hearing from people, right across the country, across generations and communities, is that this is really, really important.

    Because the one thing we all do – is eat. And we should take joy and celebration in that. It’s really important.

    So, over the last six months – in the early part of this government – we’ve spoken to over 400 individuals. That’s been coordinated through the process – thank you to everyone who helped make that happen.

    We’ve heard from organisations, from businesses. We’ve been asking the question: What would a good food system look like?

    I’m very grateful to the people who’ve been sitting on the Food Strategy Advisory Board – some of you may have read about that – Sarah has been providing the secretariat and more; keeping together a complicated group of people with very different views, but we’re working well together – and the Systems Advisory Council. Also, the F4 – that’s the grouping of the key parts of industry. All of them have been involved in this discussion. So many people from academia as well – I see leading academic figures locally.

    All have given time and effort to help us develop what we believe is a shared vision.

    [Political line removed]

    Well, I’m absolutely determined, as the food minister, that we will not make that mistake.

    We will listen. We’ll work alongside those in the food system who make key decisions – and also those who play key roles in that system. Whether that’s a supermarket boss, or someone who’s making the Sunday lunch. Or someone working in a shop.

    All those people are going to be involved in this discussion.

    This is a vision for a healthier, more affordable, sustainable, and resilient 21st-century UK food system that grows the economy, feeds the nation, nourishes people, and protects the environment and climate – now and in the future.

    So, for the next steps to make our Good Food Cycle vision a reality, we’ve identified ten priority outcomes that we’ll be working with people to deliver.

    Those outcomes are focused on:

    • Ensuring everyone has access to healthier and more affordable food
    • Creating the conditions for a thriving and growing food sector, with more investment in healthy, sustainable, affordable food
    • Ensuring a secure, sustainable and resilient food supply
    • Building on vibrant local food cultures – like we’ve seen here in Bradford

    We know there’s a huge prize for investing in the UK food system, which is why we are focused on creating the right conditions to bring money and talent into the UK food system.

    Because when we grow, make, and sell healthy food, frankly, everyone benefits.

    Now, the cost of healthy food is a key concern for working people across the country. And we’re focused on food and nutritional security, from a household to a national level.

    One way to support a secure and more resilient food system is to enhance our food security monitoring – in response to continued volatility from geopolitical and climate shocks.

    It’s critical that this information is transparent and available to people across the food system.

    Today I am committing to a new annual food security statistics publication to be published in the years between the triennial UK Food Security Report, starting this year.

    It will be a more frequent and focused publication, designed to ensure that key UK food security analysis is made public in order to capture emerging trends, and to support both policymakers and the public.

    That’s a government step we’re announcing today – to ensure we continue to support a more secure food supply chain in this country, so we can build a stronger future.

    I believe now is the time to act and make positive change to support our nation. Because with climate, health, and economic pressures growing, we stand to lose out if we don’t act now. Action on improving the food system isn’t just for national government – frankly, it’s for all of us.

    So, I’d like to say just a little bit about what I’ve heard is happening here in Bradford – and I hope you’ll find it as inspirational as I do.

    I understand that in February of this year, the Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture, in collaboration with others, unveiled over 30 innovative projects as part of its Creative Health programme, harnessing the transformative power of culture and creativity to tackle some of the district’s most urgent health and social challenges.

    And we’re already seeing great outcomes from this work.

    The Cookery School, run by Inn Churches in this Market, in partnership with Jamie Oliver’s Ministry of Food,  teaches children and adults how to make healthy, fresh, tasty meals from scratch for themselves and their families.

    Living Well is an initiative led by Bradford Council Public Health, the NHS Bradford and Craven Health and Care Partnership and a wide range of key stakeholders and community groups. They are helping to address the rising levels of obesity and reduce the high levels of early and preventable deaths within the district.

    I’d like to thank the initiatives leaders, the Bradford Council and Bradford District and Craven Health and Care Partnership for all their hard work in helping individuals to live well.

    This government wants to work across the food system to make the healthy choice the easy choice for people in Bradford and across the country.

    But a healthy food system is not only about what we eat, it is also about how our food is produced and the impact it has on the environment.

    When we come together to eat – we are sharing in something incredibly powerful. Culture.

    Which brings me back to why I am here in Bradford today. Culture and Community are closely interlinked. Communities build culture. This building is the site of a shift in culture. One which is about connecting people with their local food producers, as well as supporting them to have the skills to use this amazing bounty of British ingredients.

    Everyone should be able to take pride and joy in what they grow and eat. And we want local producers to grow more of what we eat and communities to eat more of what we grow.

    This Government is here to enable, protect and prepare. Enable health, growth and productivity. Protect food standards. Prepare for the impacts of a more extreme weather and more volatile world.

    This is a cross-government strategy, and we will work collaboratively to ensure we take the right steps to address the needs of the nation.

    This is a milestone in our commitment to transform the food system. So today, we set out what we want to achieve, and why it’s important.

    Now and in the future, we’ll work with citizens, with civil society, with farmers, with fishers, with food businesses to agree how to reach that vision, and how we will measure our progress.

    If we can replicate some of the energy and commitment I have seen today and enable the growth of other Darley Street markets in other towns across the country; enable every class of school children to enjoy healthy, delicious food; enable investment in responsible food businesses , we will be well on our way.

    Friends, together we can make the healthy, sustainable choice the easy and obvious one – for everyone. Together, we can create the Good Food Cycle.